Chapter VI: Part 6

In Feueryher befell the sammyn cace,
That Inglissmen tuk trewis with Wallace.
This passyt our till Marche till end was socht.
The Inglismen kest all the wayis thai mocht,
With suttelté and wykkit illusione, 5
The worthi Scottis to put to confusioune.
In Aperill the king off Ingland come
In Cvmmyrland of Pumfrat fro his home;
In to Carleill till a consell he yeid,
Quhar off the Scottis mycht haiff full mekill dreid. 10
Mony captane that was off Ingland born, Fol. 44 a
Thidder thai past, and semblit thar king beforn;
Na Scottis man to that consell thai cald,
Bot Schyr Amer, that traytour was off ald.
At him thai sperd, how thai suld tak on hand 15
The rychtwyss blud to scour out off Scotland.
Schir Amer said; “Thair chyftayne can weill do,
“Rycht wyss in wer, and has gret power to;
“And now this trew gyffis thaim sic hardyment,
“That to your faith thai will nocht all consent. 20
“Bot wald ye do rycht as I wald yow ler,
“This pess to thaim it suld be sald full der.”
Than demyt he, the fals Sotheroun amang,
How thai best mycht the Scottis barownis hang.
For gret bernys that tyme stud in till Ayr, 25
Wrocht for the king, quhen his lugyng wes thar;
Byggyt about, that no man entir mycht,
Bot ane at anys, nor haiff off othir sicht.
Thar ordand thai thir lordis suld be slayne;
A justice maid, quhilk wes of mekill mayne. 30
To lord Persye off this mattir thai laid.
With sad awyss agayne to thaim he said;
“Thai men to me has kepit treuth so lang,
“Desaitfully I may nocht se thaim hang.
“I am thar fa, and warn thaim will I nocht; 35
“Sa I be quytt, I rek nocht quhat yhe wrocht.
“Fra thine I will, and towart Glaskow draw,
“With our byschope to her off his new law.”
Than chesyt thai a justice fers and fell,
Quhilk Arnwlff hecht, as my auctour will tell, 40
Off South hantoun, that huge hie her and lord;
He wndretuk to pyne thaim with the cord.
Ane othir ayr in Glaskow ordand thai,
For Cliddisdaill men, to stand that sammyn day:
Syne chargyt thaim, in all wayis ernystfully, 45
Be no kyn meyne Wallace suld nocht chaip by.
For weill thai wyst, and thai men war ourthrawin,
Thai mycht at will bruk Scotland as thair awin.
This band thai cloiss wndre thair seillis fast;
Syne south our mur agayn king Edward past. 50
The new justice rasawit was in Ayr:
The lord Persye can on to Glaskow fayr.
This ayr was set in Jun the auchtand day,
And playnly cryt, na fre man war away.
The Scottis marweld, and pess tane in the land, 55
Quhy Inglissmen sic maistir tuk on hand.
Schir Ranald set a day befor this ayr,
At Monktoun kyrk; his freyndis mett him thar.
Wilyham Wallace on to the tryst couth pass, Fol. 44 b
For he as than wardane off Scotland was. 60
This maistir Jhone a worthi clerk was thar;
He chargyt his kyne for to byd fra that ayr.
Rycht weill he wyst, fra Persey fled that land,
Gret perell was till Scottis apperand.
Wallace fra thaim [in] to the kyrk he yeid; 65
Pater Noster, Aue, he said, and Creid.
Syne to the grece he lenyt him sobyrly;
Apon a sleip he slaid full sodandly.
Kneland folowed, and saw him fallyn on sleip;
He maid na noyis, bot wysly couth him kepe. 70
In that slummir, cummand him thocht he saw
Ane agit man, fast towart him couth draw;
Sone be the hand he hynt him haistelé,
“I am,” he said, “in wiage chargit with the.”
A suerd him gaiff off burly burnist steill; 75
“Gud sone,” he said, “this brand thou sall bruk weill.”
Off topastone him thocht the plumat was;
Baith hilt and hand all glitterand lik the glas.
“Der sone,” he said, “we tary her to lang;
“Thow sall go se quhar wrocht is mekill wrang.” 80
Than he him led till a montane on hycht;
The warld him thocht he mycht se with a sicht.
He left him thar, syne sone fra him he went.
Tharoff Wallace studiit in his entent;
Till se him mar he had still gret desyr. 85
Tharwith he saw begyne a felloune fyr,
Quhilk braithly brynt on breid throu all the land,
Scotland atour, fra Ross to Sulway sand.
Than sone till him thar descendyt a qweyne,
Inlumyt lycht, schynand full brycht and scheyne. 90
In hyr presens apperyt so mekill lycht,
At all the fyr scho put out off his sycht;
Gaiff him a wand off colour reid and greyne,
With a saffyr sanyt his face and eyne.
“Welcum,” scho said, “I cheiss the as my luff. 95
“Thow art grantyt, be the gret God abuff,
“Till help pepill that sufferis mekill wrang:
“With the as now I may nocht tary lang.
“Thou sall return to thi awne oyss agayne;
“Thi derrast kyne ar her in mekill payne. 100
“This rycht regioun thow mon redeme it all:
“Thi last reward in erd sall be bot small.
“Let nocht tharfor, tak redress off this myss:
“To thi reward thou sall haiff lestand blyss.”
Off hir rycht hand scho betaucht him a buk; 105
Humylly thus hyr leyff full sone scho tuk;
On to the cloud ascendyt off his sycht.
Wallace brak vp the buk in all his mycht. Fol. 45 a
In thre partis the buk weill writyn was;
The fyrst writtyng was gross letteris off bras, 110
The secound gold, the thrid was siluer scheyne.
Wallace merueld quhat this writyng suld meyne.
To rede the buk he besyet him so fast,
His spreit agayne to walkand mynd is past;
And wp he raiss, syne sodandly furth went. 115
This clerk he fand, and tald him [his] entent
Off this wisioun, as I haiff said befor,
Completly throuch. Quhat nedis wordis mor?
“Der sone,” he said, “my witt vnabill is
“To runsik sic, for dreid I say off myss. 120
“Yeit I sall deyme, thocht my cunnyng be small:
“God grant na chargis efftir my wordis fall!
“Saynct Androw was, gaiff the that suerd in hand;
“Off sanctis he is wowar off Scotland.
“That montayne is, quhar he the had on hycht, 125
“Knawlage to haiff off wrang that [thow] mon rycht.
“The fyr sall be fell tithingis, or ye part,
“Quhilk will be tald in mony syndry art.
“I can nocht witt quhat qweyn at it suld be,
“Quhethir fortoun, or our lady so fre. 130
“Lykly it is, be the brychtnes scho brocht,
“Modyr off him that all this warld has wrocht.
“The prety wand, I trow be myn entent,
“Assignes rewlle and cruell jugément.
“The red colour, quha graithly wndrestud, 135
“Betaknes all to gret battaill and blud:
“The greyn, curage that thow art now amang,
“In strowbill wer thou sall conteyne full lang.
“The saphyr stayne, scho blissit the with all,
“Is lestand grace, will God, sall to the fall. 140
“The thrynfald buk is bot this brokyn land,
“Thou mon rademe be worthines off hand.
“The bras lettris betakynnys bot to this,
“The gret oppress off wer and mekill myss,
“The quhilk thow sall bryng to the rycht agayne; 145
“Bot thou tharfor mon suffer mekill payne.
“The gold takynnis honour and worthinas,
“Wictour in armys, that thou sall haiff be grace.
“The siluer schawis cleyne lyff, and hewynys blyss;
“To thi reward that myrth thou sall nocht myss. 150
“Dreid nocht tharfor, be out off all dispayr.
“Forthir as now her off I can no mair.”

He thankit hym, and thus his leyff has tayne;
Till Corsbé syne with his wncle raid hayme. Fol. 45 b
With myrthis thus all nycht thai soiornyt thar. 155
Apon the morn thai graith thaim to the ar;
And furth thai ryd, quhill thai come to Kingace.
With dreidfull hart thus sperit wicht Wallace
At Schyr Ranald, for the charter off pees.
“Neuo,” he said, “thir wordis ar nocht les. 160
“It is lewyt at Corsbé, in the kyst
“Quhar thou it laid; tharoff na othyr wist.”
Wallace ansuerd; ‘Had we it her to schaw,
‘And thai be falss, we suld nocht entir awe.’
“Der sone,” he said, “I pray the pass agayne; 165
“Thocht thou wald send, that trawaill war in wayne:
“Bot thou, or I, can nane it bryng this tid.”
Gret grace it was maid him agayne to ryd.
Wallace raturnd, and tuk with him bot thre;
Nane off thaim knew this endentour bot he. 170
Wnhap him led, for bid him couth he nocht;
Off fals dissayt this gud knycht had na thocht.
Schir Ranald raid but restyng to the town,
Wittand na thing off all this falss tresown.
That wykked syng so rewled the planait; 175
Saturn was than in till his heast stait.
Aboune Juno in his malancoly,
Jupiter, Mars, ay cruell off inwy,
Saturn as than awansyt his natur.
Off terandry he power had and cur; 180
Rebell renkis in mony seir regioun;
Trubbill weddyr makis schippis to droune,
His drychyn is with Pluto in the se;
As off the land, full off iniquité,
He waknys wer, waxyng off pestilence, 185
Fallyng off wallis with cruell wiolence,
Pusoun is ryff, amang thir othir thingis;
Sodeyn slauchter off empriouris and kingis.
Quhen Sampsone powed to grond the gret piller,
Saturn was than in till the heast sper. 190
At Thebes als off his power thai tell,
Quhen Phiorax sank throuch the erd till hell.
Off the Troianis he had full mekill cur,
Quhen Achilles at Troy slew gud Ectur,
Burdeous schent, and mony citeis mo; 195
His power yeit it has na hap to ho.
In braid Brytane feill wengeance has beyne seyne;
Off this and mar, ye wait weill quhat I meyn.
Bot to this hous, that stalwart wes and strang,
Schir Ranald come, and mycht nocht tary lang. 200
A bawk was knyt all full of rapys keyne; Fol. 46 a
Sic a towboth sen syn was neuir seyne.
Stern men was set the entré for to hald;
Nayne mycht pass in, bot ay as thai war cald.
Schir Ranald fyrst, to mak fewté for his land, 205
The knycht, went in, and wald na langar stand:
A rynnand cord thai slewyt our his hed,
Hard to the bawk, and hangyt him to ded.
Schyr Bryss the Blayr next with hys eyme in past;
On to the ded thai haistyt him full fast, 210
Be he entrit, hys hed was in the swar;
Tytt to the bawk, hangyt to ded rycht thar.
The third entrit, that peté was for thy,
A gentill knycht, Schyr Neill off Mungumry;
And othir feill off landit men about. 215
Mony yeid in, bot na Scottis com out.
Off Wallace part, thai putt to that derff deid,
Mony Craufurd sa endyt in that steid.
Off Carrik men Kennadyss slew thai alss;
And kynd Cambellis, that neuir had beyne falss. 220
Thir rabellit nocht contrar thair rychtwiss croun;
Sotheroun for thi thaim putt to confusioun;
Berklais, Boidis, and Stuartis off gud kyn:
Na Scott chapyt that tyme that entrit in.
Vpon the bawk thai hangit mony par, 225
Be sid thaim ded in the nuk kest thaim thar.
Sen the fyrst tyme that ony wer wes wrocht,
To sic a dede so mony sic yeid nocht
Vpon a day, throuch curssit Saxons seid:
Vengeance off this throuch out that kynrik yeid. 230
Grantyt wes fra God in the gret hewyn,
Sa ordand he that law suld be thair stewyn.
To falss Saxons, for thair fell jugément,
Thar wykkydnes our all the land is went.
Yhe nobill men, that ar off Scottis kind, 235
Thar petous dede yhe kepe in to your mynd;
And ws rawenge, quhen we ar set in thrang.
Dolour it is her on to tary lang.
Thus auchtene scor to that derff dede thai dycht,
Off barronis bald, and mony worthi knycht. 240
Quhen thai had slayne the worthiast that was thar,
For waik peple thai wald na langar spar:
In till a garth kest thaim out off that sted,
As thai war born, dispulyeit, bar, and ded.
Gud Robert Boid on till a tawern yeid, 245
With twenty men that douchty war in deid,
Off Wallace houss, full cruell off entent;
He gouernyt thaim quhen Wallace was absent.
Kerlé turnyt with his mastir agayne,
Kneland and Byrd, that mekill war off mayne. 250 Fol. 46 b
Stewyn off Irland went furth; apon the streit
A trew woman full sone with him couth meit.
He speryt at hir, quhat hapnyt in the ayr.
“Sorou,” scho said, “is nothing ellis thar.”
Ferdly scho ast, “Allace! quhar is Wallace?” 255
‘Fra ws agayne he passit at Kingace.’
“Go warn his folk, and haist thaim off the toun;
“To kepe him selff I sall be reddy boun.”
With hir as than no mar tary he maid;
Till his falowis he went with outyn baid. 260
And to thaim tald off all this gret mysfair.
To Laglane wood thai bownyt with outyn mar.
Be this Wallace wes cummand wondir fast;
For his freyndis he was full sar agast.
On to the bern sadly he couth persew 265
Till entir in, for he na perell knew.
This woman than apon him loud can call;
“O fers Wallace, feill tempest is befall.
“Our men ar slayne, that peté is to se,
“As bestiall houndis hangit our a tre; 270
“Our trew barrounis be twa and twa past in.”
Wallace wepyt for gret loss off his kyne.
Than with wness apon his horss he baid;
Mair for to sper to this woman he raid.
‘Der nece,’ he said, ‘the trewth giff thow can tell, 275
‘Is my eyme dede, or hou the cace befell?’
“Out off yon bern,” scho said, “I saw him borne,
“Nakit, laid law on cald erd, me beforn.
“His frosty mouth I kissit in that sted;
“Rycht now manlik, now bar, and brocht to ded. 280
“And with a claith I couerit his licaym;
“For in his lyff he did neuir woman schayme.
“His systir sone thou art, worthi and wicht;
“Rawenge thar dede, for Goddis saik, at thi mycht:
“Als I sall help, as I am woman trew.” 285
‘Der wicht,’ he said, ‘der God, sen at thou knew
‘Gud Robert Boid, quhar at thou can him se;
‘Wilyham Crawfurd als giff he lyffand be.
‘Adam Wallace wald help me in this striff,
‘I pray to God send me [thaim] all in liff; 290
‘For Marys saik bid thaim sone cum to me.
‘The justice innys thow spy for cheryté;
‘And in quhat feir that thai thair lugyne mak.
‘Son efftir that we will our purposs tak
‘In to Laglane, quhilk has my succour beyne. 295
‘Adew market, and welcum woddis greyne!’
Her off as than till hir he spak no mair;
His brydill turnyt, and fra hir can he fair:
Sic murnyng maid for his der worthi kyn,
Him thocht for baill his breyst ner bryst in twyn. 300 Fol. 47 a
As he thus raid in gret angyr and teyne,
Off Inglissmen thar folowed him fyfteyn,
Wicht, wallyt men, at towart him couth draw,
With a maser, to tach him to the law.
Wallace raturnd in greiff and matelent; 305
With his suerd drawyn amang thaim sone he went.
The myddyll off ane he mankit ner in twa;
Ane othir thar apon the hed can ta;
The thrid he straik, and throuch the cost him claiff;
The ferd to ground rycht derffly ded doun he draiff; 310
The fyft he hit with gret ire in that sted;
With out reskew dreidles he left thaim ded.
Than his thre men had slayn the tothir fyve.
Fra thaim the laiff eschapit in to lyff;
Fled to thair lord, and tald him off this cass. 315
To Laglane wode than ridis wicht Wallas.
The Sotheroun said, quhat ane that he hit rycht,
With out mercye, dredles, to ded wes dycht.
Merwell thai had sic strenth in ane suld be;
Ane off thair men at ilk straik he gert de. 320
Than demyt thai, it suld be Wallace wicht.
To thar langage maid ansuer ane ald knycht;
“Forsuth,” he said, “be he chapyt this ayr,
“All your new deid is eking off our cair.”
The justice said, quhen thar sic murmur raiss; 325
‘Yhe wald be ferd, and thar come mony faiss,
‘That for a man me think yow lik to fle,
‘And wait nocht yeit in deid gyff it be he.
‘And thocht it be, I cownt him bot full lycht;
‘Quha bidis her, ilk gentill man sall be knycht: 330
‘I think to deill thair landis haill to morn
‘To yow about, that ar off Ingland born.’

The Sotheron drew to thar lugyng but mar;
Four thousand haill that nycht was in till Ayr.
In gret bernyss, biggyt with out the toun, 335
The justice lay, with mony bald barroun.
Than he gert cry about thai waynys wide,
Na Scottis born amang thaim thar suld bid.
To the castell he wald nocht pass for eyss,
Bot soiornd thar with thing that mycht him pleyss. 340
Gret purwians be se to thaim was bocht,
With Irland ayle, the mychteast couth be wrocht.
Na wach wes set, be caus thai had na dout
Off Scottis men that leiffand was with out.
Lawberand in mynd thai had beyne all that day, 345
Off ayle and wyne yneuch chosyne haiff thai:
As bestly folk tuk off thaim selff no keip;
In thair brawnys sone slaid the sleuthfull sleip;
Throuch full gluttré in swarff swappyt lik swyn.
Thar chyftayne than was gret Bachus off wyn. 350 Fol. 47 b
This wyss woman besy amang thaim was;
Feill men scho warnd and gart to Laglayne pass,
Hyr selff formest, quhill thai with Wallace met.
Sum comfort than in till his mynd was set;
Quhen he thaim saw, he thankit God off micht. 355
Tithandis he ast; the woman tald him rycht;
“Slepand as swyn ar all yone fals menyhe;
“Na Scottis man is in that cumpané.”
Than Wallace said; ‘Giff thai all droukyn be,
‘I call it best with fyr sor thaim to se.’ 360
Off gud men than thre hundreth till him socht;
The woman had tald thre trew burges, at brocht
Out off the toun, with nobill aile and breid,
And othir stuff, als mekill as thai mycht leid.
Thai eit and drank, the Scottis men at mocht. 365
The noblis than Jop has to Wallace brocht.
Sadly he said; “Der freyndis, now you se,
“Our kyn ar slayne, tharoff is gret peté;
“Throuch feill murthyr, the gret dispite is mor;
“Now sum rameid I wald we set tharfor. 370
“Supposs that I was maid wardane to be,
“Part ar away sic chargis put to me;
“And ye ar her, cummyn off als gud blud,
“Als rychtwis born be awentur, and als gud,
“Alss forthwart, fair, and als likly off persoun, 375
“As euir was I; tharfor till conclusioun,
“Latt ws cheyss fyve off this gud cumpany;
“Syne caflis cast quha sall our master be.”
Wallace and Boyd, and Craufurd off renoun,
And Adam als than lord off Ricardtoun; 380
His fadyr than wes wesyed with seknes,
God had him tayne in till his lestand grace;
The fyft Awchinlek, in wer a nobill man;
Caflis to cast about thir fyve began.
It wald on him, for ocht thai cuth dewyss, 385
Continualy, quhill thai had castyn thryss.
Than Wallace raiss, and out a suerd can draw;
He said, “I wow to the Makar off aw,
“And till Mary, his modyr wirgyne cler,
“My wnclis dede now sall be sauld full der, 390
“With mony ma off our der worthi kyn.
“Fyrst, or I eit or drynk, we sall begyn;
“For sleuth nor sleip sall nayne remayne in me,
“Off this tempest till I a wengeance se.”
Than all inclynd rycht humyll off accord, 395
And him resawit as chyftayne and thair lord.
Wallace a lord he may be clepyt weyll,
Thocht ruryk folk tharoff haff litill feill;
Na deyme na lord, bot landis be thair part.
Had he the warld, and be wrachit off hart, 400 Fol. 48 a
He is no lord as to the worthines;
It can nocht be, but fredome, lordlyknes.
At the Roddis thai mak full mony ane,
Quhilk worthy ar, thocht landis haiff thai nane.
This discussyng I leiff herroldis till end; 405
On my mater now brieffly will I wend.
Wallace commaunde a burgess for to get
Fyne cawk eneuch, that his der nece mycht set
On ilk yeit, quhar Sotheroun wer on raw.
Than twenty men he gert fast wetheis thraw, 410
Ilk man a pair, and on thair arme thaim threw;
Than to the toune full fast thai cuth persew.
The woman past befor thaim suttelly;
Cawkit ilk yett, that thai neid nocht gang by.
Than festnyt thai with wetheis duris fast, 415
To stapill and hesp, with mony sekyr cast.
Wallace gert Boid ner hand the castell ga,
With fyfté men, a jeperté to ma.
Gyff ony ischet, the fyr quhen that thai saw,
Fast to [the] yett he ordand thaim to draw. 420
The laiff with him about the bernys yheid.
This trew woman thaim seruit weill in deid,
With lynt and fyr, that haistely kendill wald;
In euir ilk nuk thai festnyt blesis bald.
Wallace commaund till all his men about, 425
Na Sotheron man at thai suld lat brek out:
Quhat euir he be, reskewis off that kyn
Fra the rede fyr, him selff sall pass tharin.
The lemand low sone lanssyt apon hycht.
“Forsuth,” he said, “this is a plessand sycht; 430
“Till our hartis it suld be sum radress:
“War thir away, thar power war the less.”
On to the justice him selff loud can caw;
“Lat ws to borch our men fra your fals law,
“At leyffand ar, that chapyt fra your ayr. 435
“Deyll nocht thar land, the wnlaw is our sayr.
“Thou had no rycht, that sall be on the seyne.”
The rewmour raiss with cairfull cry and keyne.
The bryme fyr brynt rycht braithly apon loft;
Till slepand men that walkand was nocht soft. 440
The sycht with out was awfull for to se:
In all the warld na grettar payne mycht be,
Than thai with in, insufferit sor to duell,
That euir was wrocht, bot purgatory or hell.
A payne off hell weill ner it mycht be cauld, 445
Mad folk with fyr hampryt in mony hauld.
Feill byggyns brynt, that worthi war and wicht;
Gat nane away, knaiff, capitane, nor knycht.
Quhen brundis fell off raftreis thaim amang,
Sum rudly raiss in byttir paynys strang; 450 Fol. 48 b
Sum nakyt brynt, bot beltless all away;
Sum neuir raiss, bot smoryt quhar thai lay;
Sum ruschyt fast, till Ayr gyff thai mycht wyn,
Blyndyt in fyr, thar deidis war full dym.
The reik mellyt with fylth off carioune, 455
Amang the fyr, rycht foull off offensioune.
The peple beryt lyk wyld bestis in that tyd,
Within the wallis, rampand on athir sid;
Rewmyd in reuth, with mony grysly grayne;
Sum grymly gret, quhill thar lyff dayis war gayne. 460
Sum durris socht the entré for to get;
Bot Scottis men so wysly thaim beset,
Gyff ony brak, be awntur, off that steid,
With suerdis sone bertnyt thai war to dede;
Or ellys agayne beforce drewyn in the fyr: 465
Thar chapyt nayne bot brynt wp bayne and lyr.
The stynk scalyt off ded bodyis sa wyde,
The Scottis abhord ner hand for to byd;
Yeid to the wynd, and leit thaim ewyn allayne,
Quhill the rede fyr had that fals blude ourgayne. 470
A frer Drumlay was priour than off Ayr;
Sewyn scor with him that nycht tuk herbry thar,
In his innys; for he mycht nocht thaim let.
Till ner mydnycht a wach on thaim he set;
Him selff wouk weyll quhill he the fyr saw ryss: 475
Sum mendis he thocht to tak off that suppryss.
Hys brethir sewyn till harnes sone thai yeid,
Hym selff chyftayne the ramanand to leid.
The best thai waill off armour and gud ger;
Syne wapynnys tak, rycht awfull in affer. 480
Thir aucht freris in four partis thai ga,
With suerdis drawyn, till ilk houss yeid twa.
Sone entrit thai quhar Sotheroune slepand war,
Apon thaim sett with strakis sad and sar.
Feill frekis thar thai freris dang to dede, 485
Sum nakit fled, and gat out off that sted,
The wattir socht, abaissit out off slepe.
In the furd weill, that was bath wan and depe,
Feyll off thaim fell, that brak out off that place,
Dowkit to grounde, and deit with outyn grace. 490
Drownyt and slayne war all that herbryt thar,
Men callis it yeit, “The Freris blyssyng off Ayr.”
Few folk off waill was lewyt apon cace
In the castell; lord Persye fra that place,
Befor the ayr, fra thine to Glaskow drew; 495
Off men and stuff it was to purwa new.
Yeit thai within, saw the fyr byrnand stout,
With schort awiss ischet, and had na dout.
The buschement than, as weryouris wyss and wicht,
Leit thaim allayne, and to the houss past rycht. 500
Boyd wan the port, entryt and all his men; Fol. 49 a
Keparis in it was left bot nyne or ten.
The formast sone hym selff sesyt in hand,
Maid quyt off hym, syne slew all at thai fand.
Off purwyaunce in that castell was nayne; 505
Schort tyme befor Persye was fra it gayne.
The erll Arnulff had rasawit that hauld,
Quhilk in the toune was brynt to powder cauld.
Boyd gert ramayn off his men twenty still,
Him selff past furth to witt off Wallace will, 510
Kepand the toune, quhill nocht was lewyt mar
Bot the woode fyr, and beyldis brynt full bar.
Off lykly men, that born was in Ingland,
Be suerd and fyr, that nycht deit fyve thousand.

Quhen Wallace men was weill to gydder met, 515
“Gud freyndis,” he sayd, “ye knaw that thar wes set
“Sic law as this now in to Glaskow toune,
“Be byschope Beik, and Persye off renoun.
“Tharfor I will in haist we thidder fair;
“Off our gud kyn [sum] part ar lossyt thair.” 520
He gert full sone the burges till him caw,
And gaiff commaund in generall to thaim aw.
In kepyng thai suld tak the houss off Ayr,
And “hald it haill quhill tyme that we her mayr;
“To byd our king castellys I wald we had; 525
“Cast we doun all, we mycht be demyt our rad.”
Thai gart meit cum, for thai had fastyt lang;
Litill he tuk, syne bownyt thaim to gang.
Horsis thai cheyss, that Sotheroun had brocht thar,
Anew at will; and off the toune can fair. 530
Thre hundreth haill was in his cumpany.
Rycht wondir fast raid this gud chewalry
To Glaskow bryg, that byggyt was off tre;
Weyll passit our or Sotheroun mycht thaim se.
Lorde Persye wycht, that besy wes in wer, 535
Semblyt his men fell awfull in affer.
Than demyt thai that it was wicht Wallace,
He had befor chapyt throw mony cace.
The byschope Beik, and Persye that was wicht,
A thousand led off men in armyss brycht. 540
Wallace saw weill quhat nowmyr semblit thar,
He maid his men in twa partis to fair;
Graithit thaim weill without the townys end.
He callit Awchinlek, for he the passage kend.
“Wncle,” he said, “be besy in to wer. 545
“Quhethir will yhe the byschoppys taill wpber,
“Or pass befor, and tak his benysone?”
He ansuerd hym, with rycht schort provision,
‘Wnbyschoppyt yeit, for suth I trow ye be;
‘Your selff sall fyrst his blyssyng tak for me: 550
‘For sekyrly ye seruit it best the nycht. Fol. 49 b
‘To ber his taill we sall in all our mycht.’
Wallace ansuerd; “Sen we mon sindry gang,
“Perell thar is and ye bid fra ws lang;
“For yone ar men will nocht sone be agast. 555
“Fra tyme we meit, for Goddis [saik] haist yow fast.
“Our disseueryng I wald na Sotheroune saw;
“Behynd thaim cum, in [throw] the Northeast raw.
“Gud men off wer ar all Northummyrland.”
Thai partand thus tuk othir be the hand. 560
Awchinlek said; ‘We sall do at we may;
‘We wald ilk ill to byd oucht lang away.
‘A boustous staill betwix ws sone mon be;
‘Bot to the rycht all mychty God haiff E!’
Adam Wallace and Awchinlek was boune, 565
Sewyn scor with thaim, on the baksid the toune.
Rycht fast thai yeid, quhill thai war out off sycht:
The tothir part arrayit thaim full rycht.
Wallace and Boid the playne streyt wp can ga.
Sotheroun marweld be causs thai saw na ma; 570
Thar senyhe cryit vpon the Persys syde,
With byschop Beik that bauldly durst abide.
A sayr semlay was at that metyng seyne,
As fyr on flynt it ferryt thaim betweyne.
The hardy Scottis rycht awfully thaim abaid; 575
Brocht feill to grounde throuch weid that weill was maid;
Perssyt plattis with poyntis stiff off steill;
Befors off hand gert mony cruell kneill.
The strang stour raiss, as reik, vpon thaim fast,
Or myst, throuch sone, vp to the clowdis past. 580
To help thaim selff ilkayne had mekill neid.
The worthy Scottis stud in fellone dreid;
Yeit forthwart ay thai pressit for to be,
And thai on thaim, gret wondyr was to se.
The Perseis men, in wer was oysit weill, 585
Rycht fersly faucht, and sonyeit nocht adeill.
Adam Wallace and Awchinlek com in,
And partyt Sotheron rycht sodeynly in twyn;
Raturnd to thaim as noble men in wer.
The Scottis gat rowme, and mony doun thai ber; 590
The new cowntir assailyeit thaim sa fast,
Throuch Inglissmen maid sloppys at the last.
Than Wallace selff, in to that felloune thrang,
With his gud swerd, that hewy was and lang,
At Perseis face with a gud will he bar; 595
Bath bayne and brayne the forgyt steill throw schair.
Four hundreth men, quhen lord Persie was dede,
Out off the gait the byschope Beik thai lede,
For than thaim thocht it was no tyme to bid,
By the Frer kyrk, till a wode fast besyd. 600
In that forest forsuth thai taryit nocht;
On fresche horss to Bothwell sone thai socht. Fol. 50 a
Wallace folowed with worthi men and wicht;
Forfouchtyn thai war and trawald all the nycht.
Yeit feill thai slew in to the chace that day; 605
The byschope selff and gud men gat away.
Amar Wallang reskewit him in that place;
That knycht full oft did gret harme to Wallace.
Wallace began off nycht ten houris in Ayr;
On day be nyne in Glaskow semlyt thair; 610
Be ane our nowne at Bothwell yeit he was,
Repreiffit Wallang or he wald forthir pass;
Syne turnd agayne, as weyll witnes the buk;
Till Dundaff raid, and thar restyng he tuk;
Tald gud Schyr Jhon off thir tithandis in Ayr: 615
Gret mayne he maid he was nocht with him thar.
Wallace soiornd in Dundaff at his will,
Fyve dayis out, quhill tithandis come him till,
Out off the hycht, quhar gud men was forlorn;
For Bouchane raiss, Adell, Menteth, and Lorn, 620
Apon Argyll a fellone wer thai mak;
For Eduuardis saik thus can thai wndirtak.

The knycht Cambell in Argyll than wes still,
With his gud men, agayne king Eduuardis will;
And kepyt fre Lowchow his heretage: 625
Bot Makfadyan than did him gret owtrage.
This Makfadyan till Inglissmen was suorn;
Eduuard gaiff him bath Argill and Lorn.
Falss Jhon off Lorn to that gyft can concord;
In Ingland than he was new maid [ane] lord. 630
Thus falssly he gaiff our his heretage,
And tuk at London off Eduuard grettar wage.
Dunkan off Lorn yeit for the landis straiff,
Quhill Makfadyan ourset him with the laiff;
Put him off force to gud Cambell the knycht, 635
Quhilk in to wer was wyss, worthi, and wicht.
Thus Makfadyan was entrit in to Scotland,
And marwalusly that tyrand tuk on hand,
With his power, the quhilk I spak off ayr.
Thai four lordschippis all semlyt till him thair. 640
Fyftene thousand off curssyt folk in deid,
Off all gaddryn, in ost he had to leid:
And mony off thaim was out off Irland brocht,
Barnyss nor wyff thai peple sparyt nocht;
Waistyt the land als fer as thai mycht ga; 645
Thai bestly folk couth nocht bot byrn and sla.
In to Louchow he entryt sodeynly.
The knycht Cambell maid gud defens for thi;
Till Crage Vuyn with thre hundir he yeid;
That strenth he held, for all his cruell deid; 650
Syne brak the bryg, quhar thai mycht nocht out pass, Fol. 50 b
Bot throuch a furd, quhar narow passage was.
Abandounly Cambell agayne thaim baid,
Fast vpon Aviss that was bathe depe and braid.
Makfadyane was apon the tothir syd, 655
And thar on force behuffit him for to byd;
For at the furde he durst nocht entir out,
For gud Cambell mycht set him than in dout.
Makfadyane socht, and a small passage fand;
Had he lasar, thai mycht pass off that land, 660
Betuix a roch and the gret wattir sid,
Bot four in front; na ma mycht gang nor rid.
In till Louchow wes bestis gret plenté;
A quhill he thocht thar with his ost to be,
And othir stuff that thai had with thaim brocht. 665
Bot all his crafft awailyeit him rycht nocht.
Dunkane off Lorn has seyne the sodeyne cace;
Fra gud Cambell he went to seik Wallace,
Sum help to get off thar turment and teyne.
To gydder before in Dundé thai had beyne, 670
Lerand at scule in to thair tendyr age.
He thocht to slaik Makfadyanys hie curage.
Gylmychell than with Dunkan furth him dycht;
Agyd he was, and fute man wondyr wicht.
Sone can thai witt quhar Wallace lugyt was; 675
With thair complaynt till his presence thai pass.
Erll Malcom als the Lennox held at ess;
With his gud men to Wallace can he press.
Till him thar come gud Rychard off Lundy;
In till Dundaff he wald no langar ly. 680
Schir Jhon the Graym als bownyt him to ryd.
Makfadyanis wer so grewit thaim that tid,
At Wallace thocht his gret power to se,
In quhat aray he reullyt that cuntré.
The Rukbé than he kepit with gret wrang 685
Stirlyng castell, that stalwart wes and strang.
Quhen Wallace come be sowth it in a waill,
Till erll Malcome he said he wald assaill.
In diuerss partis he gert seuer thar men,
Off thair power that Sotheroun suld nocht ken. 690
Erll Malcome baid in buschement out off sicht.
Wallace with him tuk gud Schyr Jhone the knycht,
And a hundreth off wyss wer men but dout;
Throuch Stirlyng raid, gyff ony wald ysche out.
Towart ye bryg the gaynest way thai pass. 695
Quhen Rukbé saw quhat at thair power was,
He tuk sewyn scor off gud archaris was thar,
Wpon Wallace thai folowed wondyr sayr;
At fell bykkyr thai did thaim mekill der.
Wallace in hand gryppyt a nobill sper; 700 Fol. 51 a
Agayne raturnd and has the formast slayne.
Schir Jhon the Grayme, that mekill was off mayne,
Amang thaim raid with a gud sper in hand.
The fyrst he slew that he befor him fand;
Apon a nothir his sper in sowndyr yeid; 705
A suerd he drew quhilk helpyt him in neid.
Yngliss archaris apon thaim can ranew,
That his gud horss with arrowis sone thai slew;
On fute he was. Quhen Wallace has it seyne,
He lychtyt sone, with men off armys keyne, 710
Amang the rout fechtand full wondyr fast.
The Inglissmen raturnyt at the last.
At the castell thai wald haiff [beyne] full fayne;
Bot erll Malcome, with men off mekill mayne,
Betuix the Sotheroun and the yettis yeid; 715
Mony thai slew that douchty wes in deid.
In the gret press Wallace and Rukbé met;
With his gud suerd a straik apon him set;
Derffly to dede the ald Rukbé he draiff
His twa sonnys chapyt amang the laiff. 720
In the castell be awentur thai yeid,
With twenty men; na ma chapyt that dreid.
The Lennox men, with thair gud lord at was,
Fra the castell thai said thai wald nocht pass:
For weill thai wyst it mycht nocht haldyn be, 725
On na lang tyme; forthi thus ordand he.
Erll Malcom tuk the houss, and kepyt that tyd.
Wallace wald nocht fra his fyrst purpos bid;
Instance he maid to this gud lord and wyss,
Fra thine to pass he suld on nakyn wyss, 730
Quhill he had tane Stirlyng the castell strang;
Trew men him tald he mycht nocht hald it lang.
Than Wallace thocht was maist on Makfadyane;
Off Scottis men he had slayne mony ane.
Wallace awowide, that he suld wrokyn be 735
On that rebald, or ellis tharfor to de.
Off tyrandry king Eduuard thocht him gud;
Law born he was, and off law simpill blud.
Thus Wallace was sar grewyt in his entent;
To this jornay rycht ernystfully he went. 740
At Stirlyng bryg assemlyt till hym rycht
Twa thowsand men, that worthi war and wycht.
Towart Argyll he bownyt him to ryd;
Dunkan off Lorn was thair trew sekyr gid.
Off ald Rukbé, the quhilk we spak off ayr, 745
Twa sonnys on lyff in Stirlyng lewit thair:
Quhen thai brethir consawit weill the rycht,
This houss to hald that thai na langar mycht, Fol. 51 b
For causs quhi thai wantyt men and meit,
With erll Malcome thai kest thaim for to treit. 750
Grace off thair lyff, and thai that with thaim [was];
Gaiff our the houss, syne couth in Ingland pass,
On the thrid day that Wallace fra thaim raid.
With king Eduuard full mony yer thai baid;
In Brucis wer agayne come in Scotland; 755
Stirlyng to kepe the toune off thaim tuk on hand.
Mencione off Bruce is oft in Wallace buk;
To fend his rycht full mekill payne he tuk.
Quhar to suld I her off tary ma?
To Wallace furth now schortlye will I ga. 760

Dunkan off Lorne Gilmychall fra thaim send,
A spy to be, for he the contré kend.
Be our party was passit Straithfulan,
The small fute folk began to irk ilkane;
And horss, off fors, behuffyt for to faill. 765
Than Wallace thocht that cumpany to waill.
“Gud men,” he said, “this is nocht meit for ws;
“In brokyn ray and we cum on thaim thus,
“We may tak scaith, and harme our fayis bot small;
“To thaim in lik we may nocht semble all. 770
“Tary we lang, a playne feild thai will get;
“Apon thaim sone sa weill we may nocht set.
“Part we mon leiff ws folowand for to be;
“With me sall pass our power in to thre.”
A hundyr fyrst till him selff he has tayne, 775
Off westland men, was worthi knawin ilkane.
To Schyr Jhon Grayme als mony ordand he,
And fyve hundreth to Rychard off Lundye
In that part was Wallace off Ricardtoun;
In all gud deid he was ay redy boun. 780
Fyve hundreth left, that mycht nocht with thaim ga,
Supposs at thai to byd was wondyr wa.
Thus Wallace ost began to tak the hicht;
Our a montayne sone passit off thar sicht.
In Glendowchar thair spy met thaim agayn, 785
With lord Cambell; than was our folk rycht fayn.
At that metyng gret blithnes mycht be seyne;
Thre hundreth he led that cruell was and keyne.
He comford thaim, and bad thaim haiff no dreid:
“Yon bestly folk wantis wapynnys and weid; 790
“Swne thai will fle, scharply and we persew.”
Be Louchdouchyr full sodeynly thaim drew.
Than Wallace said; “A lyff all sall we ta;
“For her nayne will fra his falow ga.”
The spy he send, the entré for to se; 795
Apon the moss a scurrour sone fand he.
To scour the land Makfadyane had him send; Fol. 52 a
Out off Cragmor that day he thocht to wend.
Gylmychall fast apon him folowed thar,
With a gud suerd, that weill and scharply schar; 800
Maid quyt off him, at tithandis tald he nane:
The out spy thus was lost fra Makfadyhane.
Than Wallace ost apon thair fute thai lycht;
Thar horss thai left, thocht thai war neuir so wicht;
For moss and crag thai mycht no langar dre. 805
Than Wallace said; “Quha gangis best lat se.”
Throuch out the moss delyuerly thai yeid;
Syne tuk the hals, quharoff thai had most dreid.
Endlang the schoir ay four in frownt thai past,
Quhill thai with in assemblit at the last. 810
Lord Cambell said; “We haiff chewyss this hauld;
“I trow to God thair wakynning sall be cauld.
“Her is na gait to fle yone peple can,
“Bot rochis heich, and wattir depe and wan.”
Auchtene hundreth off douchty men in deid 815
On the gret ost, but mar process, thai yeid,
Fechtand in frount, and mekill maistry maid;
On the frayt folk buskyt with outyn baid.
Rudly till ray thai ruschit thaim agayne;
Gret part off thaim wes men off mekill mayne. 820
Gud Wallace men sa stowtly can thaim ster,
The battaill on bak fyve akyr breid thai ber;
In to the stour feill tyrandis gert thai kneill.
Wallace in hand had a gud staff off steyll;
Quhom euir he hyt to ground brymly thaim bar; 825
Romde him about a large rude and mar.
Schir Jhon the Grayme in deid was rycht worthy;
Gud Cambell als, and Rychard off Lundy,
Adam Wallace, and Robert Boid in feyr,
Amang thair fayis, quhar deidis was sald full der. 830
The felloun stour was awfull for to se;
Macfadyane than so gret debait maid he,
With Yrage men, hardy and curageous,
The stalwart stryff rycht hard and peralous;
Boundance of blud fra woundis wid and wan; 835
Stekit to deid on ground lay mony man.
The ferfast thar ynewch off fechtyn fand;
Twa houris large into the stour thai stand,
At Jop him selff weill wyst nocht quha suld wyn.
Bot Wallace men wald nocht in sowndyr twyn; 840
Till help thaim selff thai war off hardy will;
Off Yrage blud full hardely thai spill;
With feyll fechtyn maid sloppys throuch the thrang.
On the fals part our wicht wer men sa dang, Fol. 52 b
That thai to byd mycht haiff no langar mycht. 845
The Irland folk than maid thaim for the flycht;
On craggis clam, and sum in wattir flett:
Twa thousand thar drownyt with outyn lett.
Born Scottis men baid still in to the feild;
Kest wappynys [fra] thaim, and on thar kneis kneild: 850
With petouss woice thai cryt apon Wallace,
For Goddis saik to tak thaim in his grace.
Grewyt he was; bot rewth off thaim he had,
Resauit thaim fair with contenance full sad.
“Off our awne blud we suld haiff gret peté; 855
“Luk yhe sla nane off Scottis will yoldyn be.
“Off outland men lat nane chaip with the liff.”
Makfadyane fled, for all his felloun stryff,
On till a cave, within a clyfft off stayne,
Wndyr Cragmor, with fyftene is he gayne. 860
Dunkan off Lorn his leyff at Wallace ast;
On Makfadyane with worthi men he past.
He grantyt him to put thaim all to ded:
Thai left nane quyk, syne brocht Wallace his hed;
Apon a sper throuch out the feild it bar. 865
The lord Cambell syne hynt it by the har;
Heich in Cragmor he maid it for to stand,
Steild on a stayne for honour off Irland.
The blessit men, that was off Scotland borne,
Fwnde at his faith Wallace gert thaim be sworn; 870
Restorit thaim to thar landis, but less:
He leit sla nayne that wald cum till his pes.
Efftir this deid in Lorn syne couth he fayr;
Reullyt the land had beyne in mekill cayr.

In Archatan a consell he gert cry, 875
Quhar mony man socht till his senyory.
All Lorn he gaiff till Duncan, at was wicht,
And bad him hald [in] Scotland with the rycht:
“And thow sall weill bruk this in heretage.
“Thi brothir sone at London has grettar wage; 880
“Yeit will he cum, he sall his landis haiff.
“I wald tyne nayne that rychtwisnes mycht saiff.”
Mony trew Scot to Wallace couth persew;
At Archatan fra feill strenthis thai drew.
A gud knycht come, and with him men sexté; 885
He had beyn oft in mony strang jeperté
With Inglissmen, and sonyeid nocht adeill.
Ay fra thar faith he fendyt him full weill;
Kepyt him fre, thocht king Eduuard had suorne;
Schir Jhon Ramsay, that rychtwyss ayr was borne 890 Fol. 53 a
Off Ouchterhous, and othir landis was lord,
And schirreff als, as my buk will record;
Off nobill blud, and alss haill ancestré;
Contenyt weill with worthi chewalré.
In till Straithern that lang tyme he had beyne, 895
At gret debait agaynys his enemyss keyne;
Rycht wichtly wan his lewing in to wer;
Till him and his Sotheroun did mekill der;
Weill eschewit, and sufferyt gret distress.
His sone was calld the flour of courtlyness; 900
As witnes weill in to the schort tretty
Eftir the Bruce, quha redis in that story.
He rewllit weill bathe in to wer and pess;
Alexander Ramsay to nayme he hecht, but less.
Quhen it wes wer, till armes he him kest; 905
Wndir the croun he wes ane off the best:
In tyme off pees till courtlynes he yeid;
Bot to gentrice he tuk nayne othir heid.
Quhat gentill man had nocht with Ramsay beyne;
Off courtlynes thai cownt him nocht a preyne. 910
Fredome and treuth he had as men would ass;
Sen he begane na bettyr squier was.
Roxburch hauld he wan full manfully;
Syne held it lang, quhill tratouris tresonably
Causit his dede, I can nocht tell yow how; 915
Off sic thingis I will ga by as now.
I haiff had blayme to say the suthfastnes;
Tharfor I will bot lychtly ryn that cace,
Bot it be thing that playnly sclanderit is;
For sic I trew thai suld deyme me no myss. 920
Off gud Alexander as now I spek no mar.
His fadyr come, as I tald off befor:
Wallace off hym rycht full gud comford hais;
For weill he coud do gret harmyng till his fais.
In wer he was rycht mekill for to pryss; 925
Besy and trew, bath sobyr, wicht, and wyss.
A gud prelat als to Archatan socht;
Off his lordschip as than he brukyt nocht.
This worthi clerk, cummyn off hie lynage,
Off Synclar blude, nocht fourty yer off age, 930
Chosyne he was be the Papis consent;
Off Dunkell lord was maid with gud entent.
Bot Inglissmen, that Scotland gryppit all,
Off benyfice thai leit him bruk bot small.
Quhen he saw weill tharfor he mycht nocht mwte, 935
To saiff his lyff thre yer he duelt in But; Fol. 53 b
Leifyde as he mycht, and kepyt ay gud part,
Wndir saifté off Jamys than lord Stewart,
Till gud Wallace, quhilk Scotland wan with payne,
Restord this lord till his leyffing agayne; 940
And mony ma, that lang had beyne ourthrawin,
Wallace thaim put rychtwisly to thair awin.
The small ost alss, the quhilk I spak off ayr,
In to the hycht that Wallace lewyt thar,
Come to the feild quhar Makfadyane had beyne, 945
Tuk at was left, baithe weid and wapynnys scheyne;
Throw Lorn syne past als gudly as thai can:
Off thair nowmyr thai had nocht lost a man.
On the fyft day thai wan till Archatan,
Quhar Wallace baid with gud men mony ane. 950
He welcummyt thaim apon a gudly wyss,
And said thai war rycht mekill for to pryss.
All trew Scottis he honourit in to wer;
Gaiff that he wan, hym selff kepyt no ger.

Quhen Wallace wald no langar soiorn thar, 955
Fra Archattan throu out the land thai far
Towart Dunkell, with gud men off renoun;
His maist thocht than was haill on Sanct Jhonstoune.
He calld Ramsai, that gud knycht off gret waill;
Sadly awysyt, besocht him off consaill: 960
“Off Saynct Jhonstoun now haiff I in remembrance;
“Thar I haiff beyne, and lost men apon chance:
“Bot ay for ane we gert ten off thaim de.
“And yeit me think that is no mendis to me;
“I wald assay, off this land or we gang, 965
“And lat thaim witt thai occupy her with wrang.”
Than Ramsay said; ‘That toune thai may nocht kep;
‘The wallis ar laych, supposs the dyk be depe.
‘Ye haiff enewch, that sall thaim cummyr sa;
‘Fyll wp the dyk, that we may playnly ga 970
‘In haill battaill, a thowsand our at anys:
‘Fra this power thai sall nocht hald yon wanys.’
Wallace was glaid that he sic comfort maid;
Furth talkand thus on to Dunkell thai raid.
Four dayis thar thai lugyt with plesance, 975
Quhill tyme thai had forseyne thair ordinance.
Ramsay gert byg strang bestials off tre,
Be gud wrychtis the best in that cuntré:
Quhan thai war wrocht, betaucht thaim men to leid
The wattir doun, quhill thai come to that steid. 980
Schir Jhon Ramsay rycht gudly was thair gid,
Rewillyt thaim weill at his will for to bid. Fol. 54 a
The gret ost than about the willage past;
With erd and stayne thai fillit dykis fast.
Flaikis thai laid on temyr lang and wicht; 985
A rowme passage to the wallis thaim dycht.
Feill bestials rycht starkly wp thai raiss;
Gud men of armys sone till assailye gais.
Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht.
The turat bryg segyt with all thair mycht; 990
And Wallace selff, at mydsid off the toune,
With men of armys thai was to bargane bown.
The Sotheron men maid gret defens that tid,
With artailye, that felloune was to bid.
With awblaster, gaynye, and stanys fast, 995
And hand gunnys rycht brymly out thai cast;
Pwnyeid with speris men off armys scheyn.
The worthi Scotts, that cruell war and keyne,
At hand strakis fra thai to gidder met,
With Sotheroun blud thair wapynnys sone thai wet. 1000
Yeit Inglissmen, that worthi war in wer,
In to the stour rycht bauldly can thaim ber.
Bot all for nocht awailyeid thaim thar deid;
The Scottis throw force apon thaim in thai yeid.
A thousand men our wallis yeid hastely; 1005
In to the toun raiss hidwiss noyis and cry.
Ramsay and Graym the turat yet has wown,
And entrit in, quhar gret striff has begown.
A trew squier, quhilk Rwan hecht be nayme,
Come to the salt, with gud Schyr Jhon the Grayme; 1010
Thretty with him off men that prewit weill,
Amang thair fais with wapynnys stiff off steill.
Quhen at the Scottis semblyit on athir sid,
Na Sotheroun was that mycht thair dynt abid.
Twa thousand sone, was fulyied vnder feit, 1015
Off Sotheroun blud, lay stekit in the streit.
Schir Jhon Sewart saw weill the toune was tynt;
Tuk him to flycht, and wald no langar stynt;
In a lycht barge, and with him men sexté,
The water doun, socht succour at Dundé. 1020
Wallace baid still, quhill the ferd day at morn;
And left nane thar that war off Ingland born.
Riches thai gat off gold and othir gud;
Plenyst the toun agayne with Scottis blud.
Rwan he left thair capteyn for to be; 1025 Fol. 54 b
In heretage gaiff him office to fee
Off all Straithern, and schirreiff off the toun;
Syne in the north gud Wallace maid him boune.
In Abyrdeyn he gert a consaill cry,
Trew Scottis men suld semble hastely. 1030
Till Cowper he raid to wesy that abbay;
The Ingliss abbot fra thine was fled away.
Bischop Synclar, with out langar abaid,
Met thaim at Glammyss, syne furth with thaim he raid.
In till Breichyn thai lugyt all that nycht; 1035
Syne on the morn Wallace gert graith thaim rycht,
Displayed on breid the baner off Scotland
In gud aray, with noble men at hand;
Gert playnly cry, that sawfté suld be nayne
Off Sotheroun blud, quhar thai mycht be ourtayn. 1040
In playne battaill throuch out the Mernyss thai rid.
The Inglissmen, at durst thaim nocht abid,
Befor the ost full ferdly furth thai fle
Till Dwnottar, a snuk within the se.
Na ferrar thai mycht wyn out off the land. 1045
Thai semblit thar quhill thai war four thousand;
To the kyrk rane, wend gyrth for till haiff tayne,
The laiff ramaynd apon the roch off stayne.
The byschope than began tretty to ma
Thair lyffis to get, out off the land to ga. 1050
Bot thai war rad, and durst nocht weill affy;
Wallace in fyr gert set all haistely,
Brynt wp the kyrk, and all that was tharin,
Atour the roch the laiff ran with gret dyn.
Sum hang on craggis rycht dulfully to de, 1055
Sum lap, sum fell, sum floteryt in the se.
Na Sotheroun on lyff was lewyt in that hauld,
And thaim with in thai brynt in powdir cauld.
Quhen this was done, feill fell on kneis doun,
At the byschop askit absolutioun. 1060
Than Wallace lewch, said; “I forgiff yow all;
“Ar ye wer men, rapentis for sa small?
“Thai rewid nocht ws in to the toun off Ayr;
“Our trew barrownis quhen that thai hangyt thar.”