Chapter VII: Part 7

Till Abyrdeyn than haistely thai pass, 1065
Quhar Inglissmen besyly flittand was.
A hundreth schippis, that ruther bur and ayr,
To turss thair gud, in hawyn was lyand thar.
Bot Wallace ost come on thaim sodeynlye;
Thar chapyt nane off all that gret menyhe; 1070
Bot feill serwandis, in thaim lewyt nane.
At ane eb se the Scottis is on thaim gayne; Fol. 55 a
Tuk out the ger, syne set the schippys in fyr;
The men on land thai bertynyt bayne and lyr.
Yeid nane away bot preistis, wyffis and barnys; 1075
Maid thai debait, thai chapyt nocht but harmys.
In to Bowchane Wallace maid him to ryd,
Quhar lord Bewmound was ordand for to bid.
Erll he was maid off bot schort tyme befor;
He brukit [it] nocht for all his bustous schor. 1080
Quhen he wyst weill that Wallace cummand was,
He left the land, and couth to Slanys pass;
And syne be schip in Ingland fled agayne.
Wallace raid throw the northland in to playne.
At Crummadé feill Inglissmen thai slew. 1085
The worthi Scottis till hym thus couth persew.
Raturnd agayne, and come till Abirdeyn,
With his blith ost, apon the Lammess ewyn;
Stablyt the land, as him thocht best suld be.
Syne with ane ost he passit to Dundé, 1090
Gert set a sege about the castell strang.
I leyff thaim thar, and forthir we will gang.

Schir Amar Wallang haistit him full fast,
In till Ingland with his haill houshald past;
Bothwell he left, was Murrays heretage, 1095
And tuk him than bot till King Eduuardis wage:
Thus his awne land forsuk for euirmar;
Off Wallace deid gret tithandis tald he thar.
Alss Englissmen sair murnyt in thar mude,
Had lossyt her bathe lyff, landis, and gud. 1100
Eduuard as than couth nocht in Scotland fair;
Bot Kertyingame, that was his tresorair,
With him a lord, than erll was off Waran,
He chargyt thaim, with nowmeris mony ane
Rycht weill beseyn, in Scotland for to ryd. 1105
At Stirlyng still he ordand thaim to bid,
Quhill he mycht cum with ordinance off Ingland:
Scotland agayne he thocht to tak in hand.
This ost past furth, and had bot litill dreid;
The erle Patrik rasauit thaim at Tweid. 1110
Malice he had at gud Wallace befor
Lang tyme by past, and than incressyt mor:
Bot throuch a cass that hapnyt off his wyff,
Dunbar scho held fra him in to thair striff,
Throuch the supplé off Wallace in to playne: 1115
Bot he be meyne gat his castell agayne
Lang tyme or than, and yeit he couth nocht cess;
Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony press;
With Inglissmen suppleit thaim at his mycht.
Contrar Scotland thai wrocht full gret wnrycht. 1120 Fol. 55 b
Thar mustir than was awfull for to se;
Off fechtand men thousandis thai war sexté.
To Stirlyng past, or thai likit to bid,
To erll Malcome a sege thai laid that tid;
And thocht to kep the commaund off thar king: 1125
Bot gud Wallace wrocht for ane othir thing.
Dundé he left, and maid a gud chyftane,
With twa thousand, to kepe that houss off stayne,
Off Angwiss men, and duellaris off Dundé;
The samyn nycht till Sanct Jhonstoun went he. 1130
Apon the morn till Schirreff mur he raid;
And thar a quhill, in gud aray, thai baid.
Schir Jhon the Grayme, and Ramsay that was wicht,
He said to thaim; “This is my purpos rycht;
“Our mekill it is to proffer thaim battaill 1135
“Apon a playne feild, bot we haiff sum awaill.”
Schir Jhon the Grayme said; ‘We haiff wndirtayn,
‘With less power, sic thing that weill is gayn.’
Than Wallace said; “Quhar sic thing cummys off neid,
“We suld thank God that makis ws for to speid. 1140
“Bot ner the bryg my purposs is to be,
“And wyrk for thaim sum suttell jeperté.”
Ramsay ansuerd: ‘The brig we may kepe weill;
‘Off way about Sotheroun has litill feill.’
Wallace sent Jop the battaill for to set, 1145
The Twysday next to fetch with outyn let.
On Setterday on to the bryg thai raid,
Off gud playne burd was weill and junctly maid;
Gert wachis wait that nane suld fra thaim pass.
A wricht he tuk, the suttellast at thar was, 1150
And ordand him to saw the burd in twa,
Be the myd streit, that nane mycht our it ga;
On charnaill bandis nald it full fast and sone,
Syne fyld with clay as na thing had beyne done.
The tothir end he ordand for to be, 1155
How it suld stand on thre rowaris off tre,
Quhen ane war out, that the laiff doun suld fall;
Him selff wndyr he ordand thar with all,
Bownd on the trest in a creddill to sit,
To louss the pyne quhen Wallace leit him witt. 1160
Bot with a horn, quhen it was tyme to be,
In all the ost suld no man blaw bot he.
The day approchit off the gret battaill;
The Inglissmen for power wald nocht faill.
Ay sex thai war agayne ane off Wallace; 1165
Fyfty thousand maid thaim to battaill place.
The ramaynand baid at the castell still; Fol. 56 a
Baithe feild and houss thai thocht to tak at will.
The worthi Scottis, apon the tothir side,
The playne feild tuk, on fute maid thaim to bid. 1170
Hew Kertyngayme the wantgard ledis he,
With twenty thousand off likly men to se.
Thretty thousand the erll off Waran had;
Bot he did than as the wyssman him bad;
All the fyrst ost befor him our was send. 1175
Sum Scottis men, that weill the maner kend,
Bade Wallace blaw, and said thai war enew.
He haistyt nocht, bot sadly couth persew,
Quhill Warans ost thik on the bryg he saw.
Fra Jop the horn he hyntyt and couth blaw 1180
Sa asprely, and warned gud Jhon Wricht:
The rowar out he straik with gret slycht;
The laiff yeid doun, quhen the pynnys out gais.
A hidwyss cry amang the peple raiss;
Bathe horss and men in to the wattir fell. 1185
The hardy Scottis, that wald na langar duell,
Set on the laiff with strakis sad and sar,
Off thaim thar our as than souerit thai war.
At the forbreist thai prewit hardely,
Wallace and Grayme, Boid, Ramsay, and Lundy; 1190
All in the stour fast fechtand face to face.
The Sotheron ost bak rerit off that place
At thai fyrst tuk, fyve akyr breid and mar.
Wallace on fute a gret scharp sper he bar;
Amang the thikest off the press he gais. 1195
On Kertyngaym a straik chosyn he hais
In the byrnes, that polyst was full brycht.
The punyeand hed the plattis persyt rycht,
Throuch the body stekit him but reskew;
Derffly to dede that chyftane was adew. 1200
Baithe man and horss at that strak he bar doun.
The Ingliss ost, quhilk war in battaill boun,
Comfort thai lost quhen thair chyftayne was slayn;
And mony ane to fle began in playne.
Yeit worthi men baid still in to the sted, 1205
Quhill ten thousand was brocht on to thair dede.
Than fled the laiff, and mycht no langar bid;
Succour thai socht on mony diuerss sid,
Sum est, sum west, and sum fled to the north.
Sewyn thousand large at anys flottryt in Forth, 1210
Plungyt the depe, and drownd with out mercy; Fol. 56 b
Nayne left on lyff off all that feill menyhe.
Off Wallace ost na man was slayne off waill,
Bot Androw Murray, in to that strang battaill.
The south part than, saw at thar men was tynt, 1215
Als fersly fled as fyr dois off the flynt.
The place thai left, castell, and Stirlyng toune;
Towart Dunbar in gret haist maid thaim boune.
Quhen Wallace ost had won that feild throuch mycht,
Tuk wp the bryg, and loussit gud Jhone Wricht; 1220
On the flearis syne folowed wondyr fast.
Erll Malcom als out off the castell past,
With Lennox men, to stuff the chace gud speid.
Ay be the way thai gert feill Sotheroun bleid;
In the Torwod thai gert full mony de. 1225
The erll off Waran, that can full fersly fle,
With Corspatrik, that graithly was his gyd,
On changit horss throuch out the land thai rid,
Strawcht to Dunbar, bot few with thaim thai led;
Mony was slayne our sleuthfully at fled. 1230
The Scottis horss that had rown wondyr lang,
Mony gaiff our, that mycht no forthyr gang.
Wallace and Grayme euir to giddyr baid;
At Hathyntoun full gret slauchtir thai maid
Off Inglissmen, quhen thair horss tyryt had. 1235
Quhen Ramsay come, gud Wallace was full glad;
With him was Boid, and Richard off Lundy,
Thre thousand haill was off gud chewalry;
And Adam als Wallace off Ricardtoune,
With erll Malcome, thai fand at Hathyntoune. 1240
The Scottis men on slauchtir taryt was;
Quhill to Dunbar the twa chyftanys couth pass,
Full sitfully, for thar gret contrar cass.
Wallace folowed till thai gat in that place.
Off thair best men, and Kertyngaym off renoune, 1245
Twenty thousand was dede but redemptioune.
Besyd Beltoun Wallace raturnd agayn,
To folow mar as than was bot in wayn.

In Hathyntoun lugyng thai maid that nycht;
Apon the morn to Stirling passit rycht. 1250
Assumptioun day off Marye fell this cass;
Ay lowyt be our lady off hir grace!
Conuoyar offt scho was to gud Wallace,
And helpyt him in mony syndry place.
Wallace in haist, sone efftir this battaill, 1255
A gret aith tuk off all the barrons haill,
That with gud will wald cum till his presens;
He hecht thaim als to bid at thar defens.
Schir Jhon Menteth, was than off Aran lord, Fol. 57 a
Till Wallace come, and maid a playne record; 1260
With witnes thar be his ayth he him band,
Lauta to kep to Wallace and Scotland.
Quha with fre will till rycht wald nocht apply,
Wallace with force pwnyst [thaim] rygorusly;
Part put to dede, part set in prysone strang; 1265
Gret word off him throuch bathe thir regiouns rang.
Dundé thai gat sone be a schort treté,
Bot for thar lywes, and fled away be se.
Ingliss capdans, that houss had in to hand,
Left castellis fre, and fled out off the land. 1270
Within ten dayis efftir this tyme was gayne,
Ingliss captanys in Scotland left was nayne,
Except Berweik, and Roxburch castell wicht;
Yeit Wallace thocht to bryng thai to the rycht.
That tyme thar was a worthi trew barroun, 1275
To nayme he hecht gud Cristall off Cetoun.
In Jedwort wod for saiffgard he had beyne,
Agayne Sotheroun full weill he couth opteyn.
In wtlaw oyss he lewit thar but let;
Eduuard couth nocht fra Scottis faith him get. 1280
Herbottell fled fra Jedwort castell wicht,
Towart Ingland; thar Cetoun met him rycht.
With fourty men Cristall in bargane baid
Agayne aucht scor, and mekill mastir maid;
Slew that captane, and mony cruell man; 1285
Full gret ryches in that jornay he wan,
Houshald and gold, as thai suld pass away,
The quhilk befor thai kepit mony day.
Jedwort thai tuk; and Ruwan lewit he,
At Wallace will captane off it to be. 1290
Bauld Cetoun syne to Lothiane made repair:
In this storye ye ma her off him mair,
And in to Bruce quha likis for to rede;
He was with him in mony cruell deid.
Gud Wallace than full sadly can dewyss 1295
To rewill the land with worthi men and wyss;
Captans he maid, and schirreffis that was gud,
Part off his kyn, and off trew othir blud.
His der cusyng in Edynburgh ordand he,
The trew Crawfurd, that ay was full worthé, 1300
Kepar off it, with noble men at wage;
In Mannuell than he had gud heretage.
Scotland was fre, that lang in baill had beyne,
Throw Wallace won fra our fals enemys keyn.
Gret gouernour in Scotland he couth ryng, 1305
Wayttand a tyme to get his rychtwiss king Fol. 57 b
Fra Ingliss men, that held him in bandoune,
Lang wrangwysly fra his awn rychtwis croun.

EXPLICIT LIBER SEPTIMUS,
ET INCIPIT OCTAVUS.

BUKE AUCHT.

Fywe monethis thus Scotland stud in gud rest;
A consell cryit, thaim thocht it wes the best
In Sanct Jhonstoun at it suld haldyn be;
Assemblit thar clerk, barown, and bowrugie.
Bot Corspatrik wald nocht cum at thair call, 5
Baid in Dunbar, and maid scorn at thaim all.
Thai spak off him feill wordis in that parlyment.
Than Wallace said; “Will ye her to consent,
“Forgyff him fre all thing that is bypast;
“Sa he will cum and grant he has trespast, 10
“Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croune?”
Thai grant tharto, clerk, burgess, and barroune:
With haill consent thar writyng till him send;
Rycht lawly thus till him thai thaim commend;
Besocht him fair, as a peyr off the land, 15
To cum and tak sum gouernaill on hand.
Lychtly he lowch, in scorn as it had beyn,
And said; “He had sic message seyldyn seyne,
“That Wallace now as gouernowr sall ryng:
“Her is gret faute off a gud prince or kyng. 20
“That king off Kyll I can nocht wndirstand;
“Off him I held neuir a fur off land.
“That bachiller trowis, for fortoun schawis hyr quhell,
“Thar with to lest; it sall nocht lang be weill.
“Bot to yow, lordis, and ye will wndirstand, 25
“I mak yow wyss, I aw to mak na band.
“Als fre I am in this regioun to ryng,
“Lord off myn awne, as euyr was prince or king.
“In Ingland als gret part off land I haiff;
“Manrent tharoff thar will no man me craiff. 30
“Quhat will ye mar? I warne yow, I am fre;
“For your somoundis ye get no mar off me.”
Till Sanct Jhonstone this wryt he send agayne,
Befor the lordis was manifest in playne.
Quhen Wallace herd the erll sic ansuer mais, 35
A gret hate ire throu curage than he tais;
For weyll he wyst thar suld be bot a king
Off this regioun, at anys for to ryng;
“A king off Kyll!” for that he callyt Wallace.
“Lordis,” he said, “this is ane wncouth cace. 40
“Be he sufferyt, we haiff war than it was.”
Thus raiss he wp, and maid him for to pass.
“God has ws tholyt to do so for the laiff:
“In lyff or dede, in faith, him sall we haiff, Fol. 58 a
“Or ger him grant quhom he haldis for his lord; 45
“Or ellis war schaym in story to racord.
“I wow to God, with eyss he sall nocht be
“In to this realme, bot ane off ws sall de;
“Less than he cum, and knaw his rychtwiss king.
“In this regioun weill bathe we sall nocht ryng. 50
“His lychtly scorn he sall rapent full sor,
“Bot power faill, or I sall end tharfor.
“Sen in this erd is ordand me no rest,
“Now God be juge, the rycht he kennys best.”
At that consaill langar he tary nocht, 55
With twa hundreth fra Sanct Jhonston he socht;
To the consaill maid instans or he yeid,
Thai suld conteyn, and off him haiff na dreid.
“I am bot ane, and for gud causs I ga.”
Towart Kyngorn the gaynest way thai ta; 60
Apon the morn atour Forth south thai past;
On this wyage thai haistit wondyr fast.
Robert Lauder at Mussilburgh met Wallace,
Fra Inglissmen he kepyt weill his place;
Couth nayne him trete, knycht, squier, nor lord, 65
With king Eduuard to be at ane accord.
On erll Patrik to pass he was full glaid;
Sum said befor the Bass he wald haiff haid.
Gud men come als with Crystell off Cetoun;
Than Wallace was four hundreth off renoun. 70
A squier Lyll, that weill that cuntré knew,
With twenty men to Wallace couth persew,
Besyd Lyntoun; and to thaim tald he than.
The erll Patrik, with mony likly man,
At Coburns peth he had his gaderyng maid, 75
And to Dunbar wald cum with outyn baid.
Than Lawder said, “It war the best, think me,
“Faster to pass, in Dunbar or he be.”
Wallace ansuerd; ‘We may at laysar ryd;
‘With yon power he thinkis bargane to bid. 80
‘And off a thing ye sall weill wndrestand,
‘A hardyar lord is nocht in to Scotland:
‘Mycht he be maid trew stedfast till a king,
‘Be wit and force he can do mekill thing:
‘Bot willfully he likis to tyne him sell.’ 85
Thus raid thai furth, and wald na langar duell,
Be est Dunbar, quhar men him tald on cass,
How erll Patrik was warnyt off Wallace:
Ner Ennerweik chesyt a feild at waill,
With nyne hundreth off likly men to waill. 90
Four hundreth was with Wallace in the rycht,
And sone onon approchit to thair sicht.
Gret fawte thar was of gud trety betweyn,
To mak concord, and that full sone was seyne. Fol. 58 b
With out raherss off actioun in that tid, 95
On athir part to gydder fast thai rid.
The stour was Strang, and wondyr peralous,
Contenyt lang with dedis chewalrous;
Mony thar deit off cruell Scottis blud.
Off this trety the mater is nocht gud; 100
Tharfor I cess to tell the destructioune;
Peté it was, and all off a natioune.
Bot erll Patrik the feild left at the last,
Rycht few with him; to Coburns peth thai past;
Agrewit sar that his men thus were tynt. 105

Wallace raturnd, and wald no langar stynt,
Towart Dunbar, quhar suthfast men him tald,
Na purweance was left in to that hald.
Nor men off fens; all had beyne with thair lord.
Quhen Wallace hard the sekyr trew record, 110
Dunbar he tuk all haill at his bandown;
Gaiff it to kepe to Crystell off Cetoun,
Quhilk stuffit it weill with men and gud wictall.
Apon the morn, Wallace that wald nocht faill,
With thre hundreth, to Coburns peth he socht: 115
Erll Patrik wschyt, for bid him wald he nocht.
Sone to the park Wallace a range has set;
Till Bonkill wood Corspatrik fled but let,
And out off it till Noram passit he.
Quhen Wallace saw it mycht na bettir be. 120
Till Caudstreym went and lugit him on Tweid.
Erll Patrik than, in all haist can him speid,
And passit by, or Wallace power raiss;
With out restyng, in Atrik forrest gais.
Wallace folowed, bot he wald nocht assaill; 125
A rang to mak as than it mycht nocht waill:
Our few he had, the strenth was thik and strang,
Sewyn myill on breid, and tharto twyss so lang.
In till Gorkhelm erll Patrik leiffit at rest.
For mar power Wallace past in the west. 130
Erll Patrik than him graithit hastelye,
In Ingland past to get him thar supplye:
Out throuch the land rycht ernystfully couth pass;
Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.
Wallace him put out off Glaskow befor, 135
And slew Persye; thair malice was the mor.
The byschope Beik gert sone gret power ryss,
Northummyrland apon ane awfull wyss.
Than ordand Bruce in Scotland for to pass,
To wyn his awne; bot ill dissauit he was: 140
Thai gart him trow that Wallace was rabell,
And thocht to tak the kynryk to hym sel.
Full fals thai war, and euir yeit has beyn; Fol. 59 a
Lawta and trouth was ay in Wallace seyn;
To fend the rycht all that he tuk on hand, 145
And thocht to bryng the Bruce fre till his land.
Off this mater as now I tary nocht.
With Strang power Sotheroun to gidder socht;
Fra Owys watter assemblit haill to Tweid.
Thar land ost was thretty thousand in deid. 150
Off Tynnys mouth send schippis be the se,
To kep Dunbar, at nayne suld thaim supplé.
Erll Patrik, with twenty thousand but lett,
Befor Dunbar a stalwart sege he sett.
The bischope Beik and Robert Bruce baid still, 155
With ten thousand, at Noram at thair will.
Wallace be this, that fast was lauborand,
In Lothyane com witht gud men fyve thowsand,
Rycht Weill beseyn, all in to armyss brycht;
Thocht to reskew the Cetoun bauld and wycht. 160
Undyr Yhester that fyrst nycht lugit he.
Hay com till him with a gud chewalré;
In Duns forest all that tyme he had beyne;
The cummyng thar off Sotheroun he had seyne.
Fyfty he had off besy men in wer; 165
Thai tald Wallace off Patrikis gret affer.
Hay said; “Forsuth, and ye mycht him our set,
“Power agayne rycht sone he mycht nocht get,
“My consaill is, that we giff him battaill.”
He thankit him off comfort and consaill, 170
And said; ‘Freynd Hay, in this causs that I wend,
‘Sa that we wyn, I rek nocht for till end.
‘Rycht suth it is that anys we mon de:
‘In to the rycht quha suld in terrour be?’
Erll Patrik than a messynger gert pass, 175
Tald Anton Beik that Wallace cummand was.
Off this tithingis the byschope was full glaid,
Amendis off him full fayne he wald haiff haid.
But mar prolong throuch Lammermur thai raid,
Ner the Spot mur in buschement still he baid; 180
As erll Patrik thaim ordand for to be.
Wallace off Beik wnwarnyt than was he.
Yeit he befor was nocht haisty in deid;
Bot than he put bathe him and his in dreid.
Apon swyft hors scurrouris past betweyn. 185
The cummyng than off erll Patrik was seyn:
The houss he left, and to the mur is gayn,
A playne feild thar with hiss ost he has tayn.
Gud Cetoun syne wschet with few menyhe; Fol. 59 b
Part off his men in till Dunbar left he; 190
To Wallace raid, was on the rychtwyss sid;
In gud aray to the Spot mur thai ryd.
Sum Scottis dred, the erll sa mony wass,
Twenty thousand agayn sa few, to pass.
Quhen Jop persauit, he bad Wallace suld bid: 195
“Tyne nocht thir men, bot to sum strenth ye ryd,
“And I sall pass to get yow power mar;
“Thir ar our gud thus lychtly for to war.”
Than Wallace said; ‘In trewth I will nocht fle
‘For four off his, ay ane quhill I may be. 200
‘We ar our ner, sic purpos for to tak;
‘A danger chace thai mycht vpon ws mak.
‘Her is twenty, with this power, to day,
‘Wald him assay, supposs I war away.
‘Mony thai ar, for Goddis luff be we strang; 205
‘Yon Sotheron folk in stour will nocht bid lang.’

The brym battaill, braithly on athir sid,
Gret rerd thar raiss all sammyn quhar thai ryd.
The sayr semblé, quhen thai to gidder met,
Feill strakis thar sadly on athir set. 210
Punyeand speris throuch plattis persit fast;
Mony off hors to the ground doun thai cast;
Saidlys thai teym off horss bot maistris, thar;
Off the south sid fyve thousand doun thai bar.
Gud Wallace ost the formast kumraid sa, 215
Quhill the laiff was in will away to ga.
Erll Patrik baid, sa cruell off entent,
At all his ost tuk off him hardiment.
Agayne Wallace in mony stour was he.
Wallace knew weill, that his men wald nocht fle 220
For na power that leiffand was in lyff,
Quhill thai in heill mycht ay be ane for fyfe.
In that gret stryff mony was handlyt hate;
The feill dyntis, the cruell hard debait,
The fers steking, maid mony grewous wound, 225
Apon the erd the blud did till abound.
All Wallace ost in till a cumpaiss baid;
Quhar sa thai turnd full gret slauchtyr thai maid.
Wallace and Grayme, and Ramsay full worthi,
The bauld Cetoun, and Richard off Lundy, 230
[And] Adam, als Wallace, off Ricardtoun,
Bathe Hay and Lyll, with gud men off renoun,
Boyde, Bercla, Byrd, and Lauder, that was wycht,
Feill Inglissmen derffly to ded thai dycht.
Bot erll Patrik full fersly faucht agayn; 235
Throuch his awin hand he put mony to payn. Fol. 60 a
Our men on him thrang forthwart in to thra.
Maide throuch his ost feill sloppis to and fra.
The Inglissmen began playnly to fle;
Than byschope Beik full sodeynly thai se; 240
And Robert Bruce, contrar his natiff men:
Wallace was wa, fra tyme he couth him ken.
Off Brucis deid he was agrewit far mar
Than all the laiff that day at semblit thar.
The gret buschement at anys brak on breid, 245
Ten thousand haill that douchty war in deid,
The flearis than with erll Patrik relefd
To fecht agayn, quhar mony war myscheifd.
Quhen Wallace knew the buschement brokyn was,
Out off the feild on hors thai thocht to pass. 250
Bot he saw weill his ost sownd in thair weid;
He thoucht to fray the formast or thai yeid.
The new cummyn ost befor thaim semblit thar,
On athir sid with strakis sad and sar.
The worthi Scottis sa fersly faucht agayne, 255
Off Antonys men rycht mony haiff thai slayne:
Bot that terand so wsit was in wer,
On Wallace ost thai did full mekill der.
And the bauld Bruce sa cruelly wrocht he,
Throuch strenth off hand feill Scottis he gert de. 260
To resist Bruce Wallace him pressit fast,
Bot Inglissmen so thik betuixt thaim past:
And erll Patrik, in all the haist he moucht,
Throuch out the stour to Wallace sone he socht;
On the thé pess a felloun strak him gaiff, 265
Kerwit the plait, with his scharp groundyn glaiff,
Throuch all the stuff, and woundyt him sumdeill.
Bot Wallace thocht he suld be wengit weill,
Folowed on him, and a straik etlyt fast.
Than ane Mawthland rakless betwix thaim past: 270
Apon the heid gud Wallace has him tane,
Throuch hat and brawn in sondyr bryst the bane;
Dede at that straik doun to the ground him drawe.
Thus Wallace was disseuiryt fra the lawe
Off hys gud men, amang thaim him allane. 275
About him socht feill enemyss mony ane,
Stekit his horss; to ground behufid him lycht,
To fend him selff as wysly as he mycht.
The worthy Scottis, that mycht na langar bid,
With sair hartis out off the feild thai ryd. 280
With thaim in feyr thai wend Wallace had beyne,
On fute he was amang his enemyss keyn.
Gud rowme he maid about him in to breid; Fol. 60 b
With his gud suerd that helpyt him in neid.
Was nayne sa strang, that gat off him a strak, 285
Eftir agayne maid neuir a Scot to waik.
Erll Patrik than, that had gret crafft in wer,
With speris ordand gud Wallace doun to ber.
Anew thai tuk was haill in to the feild;
Till him thai yeid, thocht he suld haiff no beild; 290
On athir sid fast poyntand at his ger.
He hewid off hedys, and wysly coud him wer.
The worthy Scottis off this full litill wyst;
Socht to gud Graym quhen thai thair chyftane myst.
Lauder, and Lyle, and Hay, that was full wicht, 295
And bauld Ramsay, quhilk was a worthy knycht;
Lundy, and Boid, and Crystell off Cetoun,
With fyve hundreth, that war in bargane boun,
Him to reskew full rudly in thai raid,
About Wallace a large rowme thai maid. 300
The byschop Beik was braithly born till erd;
At the reskew thar was a glamrous rerd.
Or he gat wp, feill Sotheroun thai slew.
Out off the press Wallace thai couth raskew;
Sone horssit him apon a coursour wicht; 305
Towart a strenth ridis in all thair mycht,
Rycht wysly fled, reskewand mony man.
The erll Patrik to stuff the chace began.
On the flearis litill harm than he wrocht:
Gud Wallace folk away to giddyr socht. 310
Thir fyve hundreth, the quhilk I spak off ayr,
Sa awfully abawndownd thaim sa sar,
Na folowar durst out fra his falow ga;
The gud flearis sic raturnyng thai ma.
Four thousand haill had tane the strenth befor, 315
Off Wallace ost, his comfort was the mor;
Off Glaskadane that forrest thocht till hauld.
Erll Patrik twrnd, thocht he was neir sa bauld,
Agayne to Beik, quhen chapyt was Wallace,
Curssand fortoun off his myschansit cace. 320
The feild he wan, and sewyn thowsand thai lost,
Dede on that day, for all the byschoppis bost.
Off Wallace men fyve hundreth war slayne, I gess;
Bot na chyftayne, his murnyng was the less.

Ner ewyn it was, bot Beik wald nocht abid; 325
In Lammermur thai trauuentyt that tid;
Thair lugyng tuk quhar him thocht maist awaill;
For weyll he trowit the Scottis wald assaill.
Apon the feild, quhar thai gaiff battaill last,
The contré men to Wallace gaderyt fast. 330
Off Edynburch, with Crawfurd that was wicht, Fol. 61 a
Thre hundreth come in till thar armour brycht.
Till Wallace raid, be his lugeyng was tayne.
Fra Tawydaill come gud men mony ane,
Out off Jedwart, with Ruwane, at that tyd 335
To giddyr socht fra mony diuerss sid.
Schir Wilyham Lang, that lord was off Douglas,
With him four scor that nycht come to Wallace.
Twenty hundreth off new men met that nycht,
Apon thair fais to weng thaim at thair mycht. 340
At the fyrst feild thir gud men had nocht beyn.
Wallace wachis thair aduersouris had seyn,
In to quhat wiss thai had thair lugeyng maid.
Wallace bownyt eftir soupper, but baid,
In Lammermur thai passit hastely; 345
Sone till aray yheid this gud chewalry.
Wallace thaim maid in twa partis to be.
Schir Jhon the Graym and Cetoun ordand he,
Lawder and Hay, with thre thousand to ryd;
Hym selff the layff tuk wysly for to gid; 350
With him Lundy, bathe Ramsay and Douglace,
Berkla and Boid, and Adam gud Wallace.
Be this the day approchit wondyr neir,
And brycht Titan in presens can apper.
The Scottis ostis sone semblit in to sycht 355
Off thair enemyss, that was nocht redy dycht;
Owt oft aray feill off the Sotheroun was.
Rycht awfully Wallace can on thaim pas.
At this entray the Scottis so weill thaim bar,
Feill off thair fais to dede was bertnyt thar. 360
Redles thai raiss, and mony fled away;
Sum on the ground war smoryt quhar thai lay.
Gret noyis and cry was raissit thaim amang.
Gud Grayme come in, that stalwart was and strang:
For Wallace men was weill to gyddyr met. 365
On the south part sa aufully thai set,
In contrar thaim the frayt folk mycht nocht stand;
At anys thar fled off Sotheroun fyve thousand.
The worthi Scottis wrocht apon sic wyss,
Jop said hym selff, thai war mekill to pryss. 370
Yeit byschope Beik, that felloun tyrand strang,
Baid in the stour rycht awfully and lang.
A knycht Skelton, that cruell was and keyn,
Befor him stud in till his armour scheyn,
To fend his lord full worthely he wrocht. 375
Lundy him saw, and sadly on him socht;
With his gud suerd an awkwart straik him gaiff,
Throuch pesan stuff his crag in sondyr draiff;
Quhar off the layff astunyt in that sted,
The bauld Skelton off Lundyis hand is dede. 380 Fol. 61 b
Than fled thai all, and mycht no langar bid;
Patrik and Beik away with Bruce thai ryd.
Fyve thousand held in till a slop away
Till Noram houss, in all the haist thai may.
Our men folowed, that worthi war and wicht; 385
Mony flear derffly to dede thai dycht.
The thre lordis on to the castell socht;
Full feill thai left, that was off Ingland brocht.
At this jornay twenty thousand thai tynt,
Drownyt and slayn be sper and suerdis dynt. 390
The Scottis at Tweid haistyt thaim sa fast,
Feill Sotheroun men in to wrang furdis past.
Wallace raturnd, in Noram quhen thai war;
For worthi Bruce his hart was wondyr sar;
He had leuer haiff had him at his large, 395
Fre till our croun, than off fyne gold to carge,
Mar than in Troy was fund, at Grekis wan.
Wallace than passit, with mony awfull man,
On Patrikis land, and waistit wondyr fast;
Tuk out gudis, and placis doun thai cast. 400
His stedis sewyn, that mete hamys was cauld,
Wallace gert brek thai burly byggyngis bauld,
Baithe in the Merss, and als in Lothiane;
Except Dunbar, standand he lewit nane.
Till Edynburgh apon the auchtand day; 405
Apon the morn, Wallace with out delay
Till Pert he passit, quhar the consaill was set;
To the barrownis he schawit with outyn let,
How his gret wow rycht weill eschewyt was.
Till a maister he gert erll Patrik pass, 410
Be causs he said off Scotland he held nocht:
Till king Eduuard, to get supplé, he socht.
The lordis was blyth, and welcummyt weill Wallas,
Thankand gret God off this fair happy chass.
Wallace tuk state to gowern all Scotland; 415
The barnage haill maid him ane oppyn band.
Than delt he land till gud men him about,
For Scotlandis rycht had set their lyff in dout.
Stantoun he gaiff to Lauder in his wage;
The knycht Wallang aucht it in heretage. 420
Than Birgeane cruk he gaiff Lyle that was wicht;
Till Scrymgeour als full gud reward he dycht.
Syne Wallace toun, and othir landis thartill,
To worthi men he delt with nobill will.
Till hys awne kyn heretage nayne gaiff he, 425
Bot office haill, at [euer] ilk man mycht se,
For cowatice thar couth na wicht him blayme;
He baid reward quhill the king suld cum hayme.
Off all he dyd, he thoucht to bid the law Fol. 62 a
Be for his king, master quhen he him saw. 430
Scotland was blyth, in dolour had beyne lang:
In ilka part to gud laubour thai gang.

Be this the tyme off October was past;
Ner Nouember approchit wondyr fast.
Tithandis than come, king Eduuard grewit was, 435
With his power in Scotland thocht to pass;
For erll Patrik had gyffyn hym sic consaill.
Wallace gat wit, and semblit power haill,
Fourty thousand on Roslyn mur thar met.
“Lordis,” he said, “thus is King Eduuard set, 440
“In contrar rycht to sek ws in our land.
“I hecht to God, and to yow, be my hand,
“I sall him meit, for all his gret barnage,
“With in Ingland, to fend our heretage.
“His falss desyr sall on him selff be seyn; 445
“He sall ws fynd in contrar off his eyn.
“Sen he with wrang has ryddyn this regioun,
“We sall pass now in contrar off his crown.
“I will nocht bid gret lordis with ws fayr;
“For myn entent I will playnly declar. 450
“Our purposs is othir to wyn or de;
“Quha yeildis him, sall neuir ransownd be.”
The barrons than him ansuerd worthely,
And said, thai wald pass with thair chewalry.
Him selff and Jop prowidyt that menyhé; 455
Twenty thousand off waillit men tuk he,
Harnes and hors he gert amang thaim waill;
Wappynnys enew, at mycht thaim weill awaill;
Grathyt thar men, that cruell wes and keyn;
Bettir in wer in warld coud nocht be seyn. 460
He bad the laiff on laubour for to bid.
In gud aray fra Roslyn mur thai ryd.
At thair muster gud Wallace couth thaim ass,
Quhat mysteryt ma in a power to pass?
“All off a will, as I trow, set ar we, 465
“In playne battaill can nocht weill scumfit be.
“Our rewme is pur, waistit be Sotheroun blud;
“Go wyn on thaim tresour, and othir gud.”
The ost inclynd all in till humyll will,
And said, thai suld his commandment fulfill. 470
The erll Malcome with thir gud men is gayne;
Bot nayme off rewill on him he wald tak nayne.
Wallace him knew a lord and full worthi;
At his consaill he wrocht full stedfastly.
Starkar he was, gyff thai had battaill seyn; 475
For he befor had in gud jornays beyn.
A man off strenth, that has gud wit with all,
A haill regioune may comfort at his call: Fol. 62 b
As manly Ectour wrocht in till his wer;
Agayn a hundreth cowntyt was his sper. 480
Bot that was nocht throuch his strenth anerly;
Sic rewill he led off worthi chewalry.
Thir ensampyllis war noble for to ken.
Ectour I leiff, and spek furth off our men.
The knycht Cambell maid hime to that wiage, 485
Off Louchow cheiff, that was his heretage.
The gud Ramsay furth to that jornay went;
Schir Jhone the Grayme, forthwart in his entent;
Wallace cusyng, Adam, full worthi was,
And Robert Boid; full blythly furth thai pass. 490
Baith Awchynlek, and Richard off Lundy,
Lawder and Hay, and Cetoun full worthy.
This ryall ost, but restyng, furth thai rid,
Till Browis feild, and thar a quhill thai bid.
Than Wallace tuk with him fourty, but less, 495
Till Roxburgh yett raid sone, or he wald cess.
Sotheroun marueld giff it suld be Wallace,
With out souerance come to persew that place.
Off Schyr Rawff Gray sone presence couth he ass;
And warnd him thus, forthwart [or] he wald pass. 500
“Our purposs is in Ingland for to ryd;
“No teyme we haiff off segyng now to bid.
“Tak tent and her off our cummyng agayne;
“Gyff our the houss, send me the keyis in playn.
“Thus I commaund befor this witnes large, 505
“Gyff thow will nocht, ramayne with all the charge.
“Bot this be done, throuch force and I tak the,
“Out our the wall thow sall be hyngit hye.”
With that he turnd, and till his ost can wend.
This ilk commaund to Berweik sone he send, 510
With gud Ramsay, that was a worthi knycht.
The ost but mar full awfully he dycht;
Began at Tweid, and spard nocht at thai fand;
Bot brynt befor throuch all Northummyrland.
All Duram toun thai brynt wp in a gleid. 515
Abbays thai spard, and kyrkis quhar thai yeid.
To York thai went but baid, or thai wald blyn;
To byrn and sla off thaim he had na syne.
Na syn thai thocht, the samyn thai leit ws feill;
Bot Wilyam Wallace quyt our quarell weill. 520
Fortrace thai wan, and small castellis kest doun;
With aspre wapynnys payit thair ransoune.
Off presonaris thai likit nocht to kep;
Quhom thai our tuk, thai maid thair freyndis to wepe.
Thai sawft na Sotheroun for thair gret riches; 525
Off sic koffre he callit bot wretchitnes.
On to the yettis and faboris off the toun Fol. 63 a
Braithly thai brynt, and brak thair byggyngis doun;
At the wallys assayed fyfetene dayis;
Till king Eduuard send to thaim, in this wayis, 530
A knycht, a clerk, and a squier of pes;
And prayit him fayr off byrnyng [for] to cess;
And hecht battaill, or fourty dayis war past,
Souerance so lang, gyff him likit, till ass.
And als he sperd, quhy Wallace tuk on hand 535
The felloun stryff, in defens off Scotland.
And said, he merweld on his wyt for thy,
Agayn Inglande was off so gret party;
“Sen ye haiff maid mekill off Scotland fre.
“It war gret tym for to lat malice be.” 540
Wallace has herd the message say thair will;
With manly wytt rycht thus he said thaim till:
‘Yhe may knaw weill that rycht ynewch we haiff;
‘Off his souerance I kep nocht for to craiff.
‘Be causs I am a natyff Scottis man, 545
‘It is my dett to do all that I can
‘To fend our kynrik out off dangeryng.
‘Till his desyr we will grant to sum thing;
‘Our ost sall cess, for chans that may betid,
‘Thir fourty dayis, bargane for till bid. 550
‘We sall do nocht, less than it mowe in yow;
‘In his respyt my selff couth neuir trow.’
King Eduuardis wrytt wndir his seill thai gaiff,
Be fourty dayis that thai suld battaill haiff.
Wallace thaim gaiff his credence off this thing. 555
Thair leyff thai tuk, syne passit to the king,
And tauld him haill how Wallace leit thaim feill,
“Off your souerance he rekis nocht adeill;
“Sic rewllyt men, sa awfull off affer,
“Ar nocht crystynyt, than he ledis in wer.” 560
The king ansuerd, and said; ‘It suld be kend,
‘It cummys off witt enemyss to commend.
‘Thai ar to dreid rycht gretly in certane;
‘Sadly thai think off harmys thai haiff tane.’
Leyff I thaim thus at consell with thair king, 565
And off the Scottis agayne to spek sum thing.

Wallace tranountyt on the secund day;
Fra York thai passyt rycht in a gud aray.
Northwest thai past in battaill buskyt boun,
Thar lugeyng tuk besyd Northallyrtoun, 570
And cryit his pess, thar market for till stand,
Thai fourty dayis, for pepill off Ingland,
Quha that likyt ony wyttaill till sell.
Off all thair fer was mekill for to tell.
Schyr Rawff Rymunt, captane off Maltoun was, 575 Fol. 63 b
With gret power ordand he nycht to pass
On Wallace ost, to mak sum jeperté.
Feyll Scottis men, that duelt in that cuntré,
Wyst off this thing, and gaderyt to Wallace;
Thai maid him wyss off all that suttell cace. 580
Gud Lundy than till hym he callit thar,
And Hew the Hay, off Louchowort was ayr.
With thre thousand that worthely had wrocht,
Syne prewaly out fra the ost he socht.
The men he tuk, that come till hym off new, 585
Gydys to be, for thai the contré knew.
The ost he maid in gud quyet to be;
A space fra thaim he buschyt prewalé.
Schyr Rawff Rymunt with sewyn thousand com in,
On Wallace ost a jeperté to begyn. 590
The buschement brak, or thai the ost come ner;
On Sotheroun men the worthi Scottis thai ster.
Thre thousand haill was braithly brocht to ground;
Jornay thai socht, and sekyrly has found.
Schyr Rawff Rymunt was stekit on a sper; 595
Thre thousand slayn, that worthi war in wer.
The Sotheroun wyst quhen thair chyftayn wes dede;
To Maltoun fast thai fled, and left that sted.
Wallace folowed with his gud chewalry;
Amang Sotheroun thai entrit sodeynly, 600
Ingliss and Scottis in to the toun at anys.
Sotheroun men schot, and braithly kest doun stanys,
Off thar awn rycht feyll thair haiff thai slayn.
The Scottis about, that war off mekill mayn,
On grecis ran, and cessyt all the toun. 605
Derffly to dede the Sotheroun was dongyn doun.
Gud Wallace thair has found full gud ryches,
Jowellis and gold, bathe wapynnys and harnes;
Spoulyeid the toun off wyn, and off wittaill;
All off send with caryagis off gret waill. 610
Thre dayis still with in the toun thai baid;
Syn brak doun werk that worthely was maid.
Wyffis and childre thai put owt off the toun;
Na man he sawft that was off that nacioun.
Quhen Scottis had tane to turss at thair desyr, 615
Wallis thai brak, syn set the layff in fyr,
The temir werk thai brynt wp all in playn,
On the ferd day till his ost raid agayn,
Gert cast a dyk that mycht sum strynthyng be,
To kepe the ost fra sodeyn jeperté. 620
Than Inglissmen was rycht gretly agast,
Fra north and south in to thair king thai past,
At Pomfray lay, and held a parlement. Fol. 64 a
To gyff battaill the lordis couth nocht consent,
Less Wallace war off Scotland crownyt king. 625
Thar consaill fand it war a peralous thing:
For thocht thai wan, thai wan bot as thai war;
And gyff thai tynt, thai lossyt Ingland for euirmar,
A payn war put in to the Scottis hand.
And this decret thar wit amang thaim fand; 630
Gyff Wallace wald apon him tak the croun,
To gyff battaill thai suld be redy boun.
The sammyn message till him thai send agayn;
And thar entent thai tald him in to playn.
Wallace thaim chargyt his presens till absent; 635
His consaill callyt, and schawit thaim his entent.
He and his men desyrit battaill till haiff,
Be ony wayis, off Ingland our the laiff.
He said; “Fyrst, it war a our hie thing,
“Agayne the faith to reyff my rychtwis king. 640
“I am his man, born natiff of Scotland;
“To wer the croun I will nocht tak on hand.
“To fend the rewm it is my dett be skill;
“Lat God abowe reward me as he will.”
Sum bad Wallace apon him tak the croun. 645
Wyss men said; ‘Nay, it war bot derysioun,
‘To croun him king bot woice off the parlyment:’
For thai wyst nocht gyff Scotland wald consent.
Othir sum said, it was the wrangwis place.
Thus demyt thai on mony diuerss cace. 650
This knycht Cambell, off witt a worthi man,
As I said ayr, was present with thaim than,
Herd and ansuerd, quhen mony said thair will;
“This war the best, wald Wallace grant thar till,
“To croun him king solemply for a day, 655
“To get ane end off all our lang delay.”
The gud erll Malcome said, that Wallace mycht.
As for a day, in fens off Scotlandis rycht,
Thocht he refusyt it lestandly to ber,
Resawe the croun, as in a fer off wer. 660
The pepill all till him gaiff thar consent:
Malcome off auld was lord off the parlyment.
Yeit Wallace tholyt, and leit thaim say thair will.
Quhen thai had demyt be mony diuerss skill,
In his awne mynd he abhorryt with this thing. 665
The commounis cryit, ‘Mak Wallace crownyt king.’
Than smylyt he, and said; “It suld nocht be:
“At termys schort, ye get no mar for me.
“Wndyr colour we mon our ansuer mak;
“Bot sic a thing I will nocht on me tak. 670
“I suffer yow to say that it is sa. Fol. 64 b
“It war a scorn the croun on me to ta.”
Thai wald nocht lat the message off Ingland
Cum thaim amang, or thai suld wndirstand.
Twa knychtis passit to the message agayn, 675
Maid thaim to trow Wallace was crownyt in playn;
Gart thaim traist weill that this was suthfast thing.
Delyuyrit thus, thai passit to thair king;
To Pomfrait went, and tald that thai had seyn
Wallace crownyt, quharoff the lordis was teyn, 680
In barrate wox, in parlement quhar thai stud.
Than said thai all; “Thir tithingis ar nocht gud.
“He did so weyll in to thir tymys befor,
“And now thair king, he will do mekill mor.
“A fortonyt man, no thing gois him agayn. 685
“To gyff battaill we sall it rew apayn.”
And othir said; ‘And battaill will he haiff,
‘Or stroy our land; na tresour may ws saiff.
‘In his conquest, sen fyrst he coud begyn,
‘He sellis nocht, bot takis at he may wyn. 690
‘For Inglissmen he settis no doym bot ded;
‘Pryce off pennys may mak ws no ramed.’
And Wodstok said; “Yhe wyrk nocht as the wyss,
“Gyff that ye tak the awnter, off supprice:
“For thocht we wyn that ar in till Ingland, 695
“The laiff ar stark agaynys ws for to stand.
“Be Wallace saiff, othir thai cownt bot small.
“For thi me think this war the best off all,
“To kepe our strynth off castell and off wall toun,
“Swa sall we fend the fek off this regioun. 700
“Thocht north be brynt, bettir off sufferans be,
“Than set all Ingland on a jeperté.”
Thai grantyt all, as Wodstok can thaim say;
And thus thai put the battaill on delay;
And kest thaim haill for othir gouernance, 705
Agayn Wallace to wyrk sum ordinance.
Thus Wallace has in playn discumfyt haill,
Agayn king Eduuard, all his strang battaill;
For throucht falsheid, and thar subtilité,
Thai thocht he suld, for gret necessité, 710
And faute off fude, to steyll out off the land.
And this decret thair wytt amang thaim fand;
Thai gert the king cry all thar merket doun,
Fra Trent to Tweid off throchtfayr and fre toun,
That in thai boundis na man suld wittaill leid, 715
Sic stuff, nor wyn, on na less payn bot deid.
This ilk decret thai gaiff in thar parlement.
Off Scottis forsuth to spek is myne entent.
Wallace lay still, quhill fourty dayis was gayn,
And fyve atour; bot perance saw he nayn 720 Fol. 65 a
Battaill till haiff, as thair promyss was maid.
He gert display agayne his baner braid;
Rapreiffyt Eduuard rycht gretlye off this thing;
Bawchillyt his seyll, blew out on that fals king,
As a tyrand; turnd bak, and tuk his gait. 725
Than Wallace maid full mony byggyng hayt.
Thai rassyt fyr, brynt wp Northallyrtoun,
Agayn throucht Yorkschyr bauldly maid thaim boun;
Dystroyed the land, als fer as euir thai rid;
Sewyn myle about thai brynt on athir sid. 730
Palyce thai spylt, gret towris can confound;
Wrocht the Sotheroun mony werkand wound.
Wedowis wepyt with sorow in thar sang;
Madennys murnyt with gret menyng amang.
Thai sparyt nocht bot wemen and the kyrk. 735
Thir worthy Scottis off laubour wald nocht yrk.
Abbayis gaiff thaim rycht largly to thair fud;
Till all kyrk man thai did no thing bot gud.
The temporall land thai spoulyeit at thair will,
Gud gardens gay, and orchartis gret thai spill. 740