V. Of the King’s Handseling in Carrick at his First Arrival…

V. Of the King’s Handseling in Carrick at his First Arrival

This wes in vere, quhen wyntir tyde, With his blastis hydwis to byde, Wes ourdriffin: and byrdis smale, As thristill and the nychtingale, 4 Begouth rycht meraly to syng, And for to mak in thair synging Syndry notis, and soundis sere, And melody plesande to here. 8 And the treis begouth to ma Burgeonys, and brycht blumys alsua, To wyn the heling of thar hevede. That wikkit wyntir had thame revede; 12 And all grevis begouth to spryng. In-to that tyme the nobill King, With his flot and a few menyhe, Thre hundir I trow thai mycht weill be, 16 Is to the se, furth of Arane A litill forrow the evyn gane.

[13: E gressys.]

[17: Is in E. C and H give Went, which must be wrong. S alters to Wes. Cf. 254.]

[Sidenote: 1307] Who made the Fire?]

Thai rowit fast with all thar mycht, Till that apon thame fell the nycht, 20 That it wox myrk on gret maner, Swa that thai wist nocht quhar thai wer. For thai na nedill had na stane; Bot rowyt alwayis in-till ane, 24 Stemmand alwayis apon the fyre, That thai saw byrnand licht and schire. It wes bot aventur that thame led: And thai in schort tym swa thame sped, 28 That at the fyre arivit thai, And went to land but mair delay. And Cuthbert, that has seyn the fyre, Wes full of angir and of ire, 32 For he durst nocht do it away; And he wes alsua doutand ay That his lord suld pas the se. Tharfor thair cummyng watit he,36 And met thame at thair ariving. He wes weill soyne brocht to the King, That sperit at hym how he had done. And he with sair hert tald him sone, 40 How that he fand nane weill willand, Bot all war fais that evir he fand: And at the lord the Persy, With neir thre hundreth in cumpany, 44 Was in the castell thar besyde, Fulfillit of dispit and pride. Bot mair than twa part of his rowt War herbreit in the toune tharout; 48 “And dispisis yhow mair, Schir King, “Than men may dispis ony thing.” Than said the Kyng, in full gret ire, ‘Tratour, quhy maid thou on the fyre?’ 52 “A! Schir,” said he, “sa God me se! “That fyre wes nevir maid on for me. “Na, or this nycht, I wist it nocht; “Bot fra I wist it, weill I thocht 56 “That yhe, and haly yhour menyhe, “In hy suld put yhow to the se. “Forthi I com to meit yhow her, “To tell peralis that may aper.” 60

[25: E Sterand all tyme.]

[27: E omits that, and with aventur accented as in line 69 it seems superfluous.]

The King wes of his spek angry, And askit his preve men in hy, Quhat at thame thocht wes best to do. Schir Edward ferst answerd thar-to, 64 His brothir that wes so hardy, And said: “I say yhow sekirly “Thar sall na peralis that may be, “Dryve me eftsonis to the se. 68 “Myne aventure heir tak will I, “Quhethir it be eisfull or angry.” ‘Brothir,’ he said, ‘sen thou will sa, ‘It is gud that we sammyn ta 72 ‘Dises or ese, or pyne or play, ‘Eftir as God will us purvay. ‘And sen men sais that the Persy ‘Myne heritage will occupy, 76 ‘And his menyhe sa neir us lyis, ‘That us dispytis mony wys; ‘Ga we venge sum of the dispit, ‘And that we may haf don als-tit; 80 ‘For thai ly trastly, but dreding ‘Of us, or of our heir-cummyng. ‘And thouch we slepand slew thaim all, ‘Repreif us tharof na man sall. 84 ‘For weriour na fors suld ma, ‘Quhethir he mycht ourcum his fa ‘Throu strynth, or throu sutelte; ‘Bot at gud faith ay haldin be.’ 88

[65: E brodyr.]

Here the King secretly enters the Town and slays All.

Quhen this wes said thai went thare way; And till the toun soyn cumin ar thai, Sa prevely, bot noys making, That nane persavit thair cummyng. 92 Thai scalyt throu the toune in hy, And brak up dures sturdily, And slew all that thai mycht ourtak: And thai that na defens mycht mak, 96 Full pitwisly couth rair and cry; And thai slew thame dispitwisly, As thai that war in-to gud will To venge the angir and the ill, 100 That thai and thairis had to thaim wrocht; Thai with so felloun will thaim socht, That thai slew thame evirilkane, Outtak Makdowall hym allane, 104 That eschapit throu gret slicht, And throu the myrknes of the nycht.

[Sidenote: 1307] The Carrick Men are Overawed]

In the castell the lorde Persy Herd weill the noyis and the cry: 108 Sa did the men, that with-in wer, And full effraytly gat thair ger. But off thaim wes nane sa hardy, That evir ischyt fourth to the cry. 112 In sic afray thai baid that nycht, Till on the morn that day wes licht: And than cesit in-to party The noyis, slauchtir, and the cry. 116 The King gert be departit then All haill the reif amang his men; And duelt all still thair dais thre. Sic hansell to the folk gaf he, 120 Richt in the first begynnyng, Newly at his arivyng.

[109-112: From E. C omits by an oversight, reading on from the second cry.]

A Certain Lady, a Relative of the King, comes to him with Forty Men.

Qwhen at the King and his folk ware Arivit, as I tald yhow are, 124 A quhill in Carrik lendit he, To se quha frend or fa wald be. Bot he fand litill tendirnes: And nocht-for-thi the pepill wes 128 Inclynit to hym in-to party; Bot Inglis men sa angirly Led thame with danger and wyth aw, That thai na frendschip durst him schaw. 132 Bot a lady of that cuntre, That wes till hym in neir degre Of cosynage, wes wounder blith Of his arivale, and als swith 136 Sped hir till hym, in full gret hy, With fourty men in cumpany, And betacht thame all to the King, To help hym in his warrayng. 140 And he resavit thame in daynte, And hir full gretly thankit he; And sperit tithandis of the Queyn, And of his frendis all bedeyn, 144 That he had left in that cuntre, Quhen that he put hym to the se. And scho hym tald, sychand full sair, How that his brothir takyn wair 148 In the castell of Kildrummy, And syne destroyit sa vilonysly; And of the Erll Adell alsua: And how the Queyn and othir ma 152 That till his party war heldand, War tane and led in-to Ingland, And put in-to feloun presoune. And how that Cristole of Setoun 156 Wes slane, gretand scho tald the King, That soroufull wes of that tithing; And saide, quhen he had thoucht a thraw, Thir wordis that I sall yhow schaw:-- 160 “Allas,” he said, “for luf of me, “And for thair mekill laute, “Thai nobill men and thai worthy, “Ar distroyit sa vilonisly! 164 “Bot and I lif in lege pouste, “Thair ded sall rycht weill vengit be. “The King the-quhethir of Ingland “Thoucht that the kinrik of Scotland 168 “Wes to litill to hym and me; “Tharfor I will it all myn be. “Bot of gud Cristal of Setoune, “That wes of sa nobill renoune, 172 “That he suld de war gret pite, “Bot quhar worschip mycht prufit be.”

[138: E and H fourty: xv. (S); but Skeat inserts the rubric containing xl. from E.]

[162: C omits thair, and adds gud after mekill (S).]

Here Henry Percy flies to England.

[Sidenote: 1307] The Englishmen are Afraid]

The Kyng thus sychand maid his mayn, And the lady hir leif has tane, 176 And went hyr hame to her wonnyng. And feill sis confort scho the Kyng Bath with silver and with met, As scho in-to the land mycht get. 180 And he oft ryot to the land, And maid all his that evir he fand; And syne he drew him to the hicht, To stynt bettir his fayis mycht. 184 In all that tym wes the Persy, With a full sympill cumpany, In Turnberyis castell lyand; For the King Robert sua dredand, 188 That he durst nocht ysche out to fair, Fra thine to the castell of Air, That than wes full of Inglismen; Bot lay lurkand as in a den, 192 To the men of Northumberland Suld cum armyt, and with strang hand, Till convoy him till his cuntre. For his saynd till thame send he: 196 And thai in hy assemblyt then, Passand, I trow, a thousand men, And askit avisment thame emang. Quhethir at thai suld duell or gang. 200 Bot thai war schonand wounder sair So fer in Scotland for to fair. For a knycht, Schir Gawter the Lile, Said it wes all to gret perell 204 So neir the schavalduris to ga. His spek discomfort thame all sua, That thai had left all that viage, Na war a knycht of gret corage, 208 That Schir Roger of Sanct Johne hicht, That thame confort with all his mycht; And sic wordis can till thame say, That thai all sammyn held thair way 212 To Turnbery; quhar the Persy Lap on, and went with thaim in hy In-to Ingland his castell till, Without distrowbilling or ill. 216

[181: For to E gives all. H omits and reads ryoted.]

[204: C omits all (S).]

Now in Ingland is the Persy, Quhar he, I trow, a quhill sall ly, Or that he schap hym for to fair To warray Carrik ony mar. 220 For he wist that he had no richt; And als he dred the Kyngis mycht, That in Carrik wes travalland, Quhar the mast strynth wes of the land. 224 Quhar James of Douglas, on a day, Com to the Kyng, and can him say; “Schir, with yhour leiff, I wald ga se “How that thai do in my cuntre; 228 “And how my men demanit are. “For it anoyis me wounder sare, “That the Clyffurd sa pesabilly “Brukis and haldis the senyhory, 232 “That suld be myn with alkyn rycht. “Bot quhill I liff, and may haf mycht “To lede a yheman or a swane, “He sall nocht bruk it but bargane.” 236 The Kyng said; ‘Certis I can nocht se ‘How that thou yheit may sekir be ‘In-to that cuntre for to fair. ‘Quhar Inglis men sa mychty are; 240 ‘And thou wat nocht quha is thi frend.’ He said, “Schir, neidwais I will wend, “And tak aventur that God will giff, “Quhethir sa it be till de or liff.” 244 The King said, ‘Sen that it is sua, ‘That thou sic yharnyng has to ga, ‘Thou sall pas furth with my blessing. ‘And gif the hapnys ony thing 248 ‘That anoyus or scathfull be, ‘I pray the, speid the soyne to me; ‘Tak we sammyn quhat-evir may fall.’ “I grant,” he said; and thar-with-all 252 He lowtit, and his leyf has tane, And is towart his cuntre gane.

[220: E ony. C has than no (S).]

The Passing of James of Douglas to Douglas-dale, his Heritage.

[Sidenote: 1307] Douglas sends for Dickson]

Now takis James his viage Toward Douglas, his heritage, 256 With twa yhomen, forouten ma; That wes a sympill stuff to ta, A land or castell for to wyn! The-quhethir he yharnyt to begyn 260 To bryng his purpos till ending; For gude help is in begynnyng. For gude begynnyng and hardy, And it be followit wittely, 264 May ger oftsis unlikly thing Cum to full conabill endyng. Sa did it her: bot he wes wis, And saw he mycht, on nakyn wis, 268 Warray his fais with evyn mycht; Tharfor he thoucht to wirk with slight. In Douglasdaill, his awn cuntre, Apon ane evynnyng enterit he, 272 And with a man wonnit thar-by, That wes of frendis richt mychty, And rich of mubill and catell, And had been till his fader lele; 276 And till him-self, in his yhoutheid, He had done mony thankfull deid. Thom Dicson wes his name, perfay. Till him he send and can him pray, 280 That he wald cum all anerly For to spek with hym prevely. And he but danger till him gais: Bot fra he tald him quhat he wes, 284 He gret for joy and for pite, And hym richt till his hous had he; Quhar in a chalmer prevaly He held him and his cumpany, 288 That nane of him had persaving. Of mete and drink and othir thing, That mycht thaim eis, thai had plente. Swa wroucht he than throu sutelte, 292 That all the leill men of the land, That with his fader wes duelland, This gud man gert cum, ane and ane, And mak him manrent evirilkane; 296 And he him-self first homage maid. Douglas in hert gret blithnes had, That the gud men of his cuntre Wald swa-gat bundin till him be. 300 He sperit the covyn of the land, And quha the castell had in hand. And thai him tald all halely; And syne emang thame prevaly 304 Thai ordanit, that he still suld be In hyddillis, and in prevate, Till Palme Sonday that wes neir hand, The thrid day eftir followand. 308 For than the folk of the cuntre Assemblit at the kirk wald be; And thai that in the castell were, Wald als be thar, thar palmys to bere, 312 As folk that had na dreid of ill; For thai thoucht all wes at thar will. Than suld he cum with his twa men. Bot, for that men suld nocht him ken, 316 He suld a mantill haf, ald and bare, And a flaill, as he a taskar war. Undir the mantill nocht-for-thi He suld be armyt prevaly; 320 And quhen the men of his cuntre, That suld all bown befor him be, His ensenyhe mycht heir him cry, Than suld thai, full enforsaly, 324 Richt in myddis the kirk assale The Inglis men with hard batale, Swa that nane mycht eschap thaim fra; For thar-throu trowit thai to ta 328 The castell, that besyde wes neir. And quhen this, that I tell yhow her, Wes devisit and undirtane, Ilkane till his hous is gane; 332 And held the spek in prevate, Till the day of thair assemble.

[298: Blithness in C (S). E glaidschip. H gladnesse.]

Here James of Douglas slays them in the Kirk.

[Sidenote: 1307] Douglas! Douglas!]

The folk apon the Sononday Held to Sanct Brydis kirk thair way; 336 And thai that in the castell were Ischit out, bath les and mare, And went thair palmys for to bere; Outane a cuke and a portere. 340 James of Douglas of thare cummyng And quhat thai war, had wittering; And sped him to the kirk in hy. Bot, or he com, to hastely 344 Ane of his cryit, “Douglas! Douglas!” Thomas Dicsone, that nerest was Till thame that war of the castel, That war all innouth the chancell, 348 And quhen he “Douglas!” sa herd cry, Drew out his suerd, and fellely Ruschit emang thame to and fra. And ane othir forouten ma; 352 Bot thai in hy war left lyand. With that Douglas com rycht at hand, That than enforsit on thame the cry. Bot thair chancer full sturdely 356 Thai held, and thaim defendit weill, Till of thair men war slayne sumdeill. Bot the Douglas so weill him bare, That all the men that with hym ware, 360 Had confort of his weill-doing; And he him sparit na-kyn thing, Bot prufit swa his foris in ficht, That throu his worschip, and his mycht, 364 His men sa kenly helpit he than, That thai the chanser on thame wan. Than dang thai on thame sa hardely, That in schort tym men mycht se ly 368 The twapart ded, or than deand. The laiff war sesit soyn in hand. Swa that of threttie wes levit nane, Na thai war slane ilkane, or tane. 372

[354: E Quhill Dowglas.]

[355: E And then.]

[371: Threttie is from H. Others give numerals.]

Here makes he “the Douglas Larder.”

[Sidenote: 1307] Douglas burns his Castle]

James of Douglas, quhen this wes done, The presoners has tane alsone; And with thame of his cumpany Towart the castell went in hy, 376 Or ony noys or cry suld ris. And for he wald thame soyn suppris, That levit in the castell were, That war but twa forouten mare, 380 Fiffe men or sex befor send he, That fand all oppyn the entre; And enterit, and the portar tuk Richt at the yhat, and syne the cuk. 384 With that Douglas come to the yhet, And enterit in forout debat, And fand the met all reddy grathit, With burdis set, and clathis layit. 388 The yhettis than he gert thame spare, And sat and ete all at lasare. Syne all the gudis tursit thai, Thai thoucht that thai mycht haf away; 392 And namly wapnys and armyng, Silver, tresour, and ek clethyng. Vittalis, that mycht nocht tursit be, On this maner distroit he. 396 All the vittale outakin salt, As quhet, flour, meill and malt, In the wyne-sellar gert he bryng; And sammyn on the flure all flyng. 400 And the presoners that he had tane Richt tharin gert he hed ilkane; Syne of the tunnys the hedis out-strak: A foull melle thair can he mak. 404 For meill, malt, blude, and wyne, Ran all to-gidder in a mellyne That wes unsemly for to se; Tharfor the men of that cuntre 408 For sic thingis thar mellit were, Callit it “the Douglas Lardenere.” Syne tuk he salt, as I herd tell, And ded hors, and fordid the well; 412 And syne brynt all, outakyn stane; And is furth with his menyhe gane Till his reset; for him thocht weill, Gif he had haldin the casteill, 416 It suld have beyn assegit rath, And that him thoucht to mekill vath; For he na hop had of reskewyng. And it is to perelous thing 420 In castell till assegit be, Quhar that ane wantis of thir thre, Vittale, or men with thair armyng, Or than gud hop of reskewing. 424 And for he dred thir thingis suld fale, He chesit forthward to travale, Quhar he mycht at his larges be, And sua driff furth his destane. 428

[388: C has laid (S), which is no rhyme.]

On this wis wes the castell tane, And slane that war tharin ilkane. The Douglas syne all his menyhe Gert in seir placis departit be; 432 For men suld les wit quhar thai war, That yheid departit here and thar. Thame that war woundit gert he ly In-till hyddillis all prevely; 436 And gert gud lechis to thame bryng, Quhill that thai war in-to helyng. And him-self, with a few menyhe, Quhile ane, quhill twa, and quhile thre, 440 And umquhile all hym allane, In hyddillis throu the land is gane. Sa dred he Inglis mennys mycht, That he durst nocht weill cum in sicht; 444 For thai that tyme war all weldand As mast lordis our all the land.

Here Clifford builds the Castle again.

Bot tythandis, that scalis sone, Of the deid Douglas had done, 448 Com to the Cliffurdis ere in hy, That for his tynsale wes sary, And menit his men that he had slayne, And syne has till his purpos tane 452 To byg the castell up agane, Tharfor, as man of mekill mane, He assemblit gret cumpany, And till Douglas he went in hy. 456 And biggit up the castell swith, And made it rycht stalward and stith; And put thar-in vittale and men. Ane of the Thrill-wallis then 460 He left behynd hym capitane, And syne till Ingland went agane.

[447: Is from E. C reads Bot the tithandis war scalit sone (S), which leaves Com (449) without a subject.]

[448: Is from C. E has Off this deid that Douglas has done.]

How one Man and his Two Sons undertook to slay King Robert.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce in Carrick]

In-to Carrik yheit wes the King, With a full sympill gaderyng; 464 He passit nocht twa hundreth men. Bot Schir Edward his brothir then Wes in Galloway, weill neir tharby; With hym ane othir cumpany. 468 Thai held the strynthis of the land; For thai durst nocht yheit tak on hand Till our-ride the land planly. For of Vallanch Schir Amery 472 Wes in-till Edinburgh lyand, That wes wardane of the land Under-neth the Inglis kyng. And quhen he herd of the cummyng 476 Of King Robert and his menyhe In-to Carrik; and how that he Had slane of the Persyis men; His consell he assemblit then, 480 And, with assent of his consale, He send till Are, hym till assale, Schir Ingerame Bell, that wes hardy, And with hym a gret cumpany. 484

[483: Name a misreading: see note.]

Here the English Knight fees a Traitor.

And quhen Ingerame cumin wes thair, Him thoucht nocht speidfull for to fair Till assale hym in-to the hicht. Tharfor he thoucht to wirk with slycht, 488 And lay still in the castell than, Till he gat spering at a man Of Carrik, that wes sle and wicht, And als a man of mekill mycht, 492 As of the men of that cuntre And to King Robert wes preve. As he that wes his sib-man neir, And quhen he wald, for-out danger, 496 Micht to the Kyngis presens ga. The-quhethir he and his sonnis twa War wonand still in the cuntre, For thai wald nocht persavit be, 500 That thai war speciall to the King; Thai maid him mony tyme warnyng, Quhen that thai his tynsale mycht se; For-thi in thame affyit he. 504 His name I can nocht tell perfay; Bot I herd syndir men oft say *Forsuth that his ane e wes out; *Bot he sa sturdy wes and stout, That he wes the mast dowtit man That in-to Carrik liffit than. 508 And quhen Schir Ingerame gat wittering Forsuth that this wes no gabbing, Eftir him in hy he sent, And he com at his commandment. 512 Schir Ingerame, that wes sle and wis, Tretit with hym than on sic wis, That he maid sekir undirtaking In tresone for to slay the King; 516 And he suld have for his service, Gif he fulfillit thair devis, Weill fourte pundis worth of land Till hym and his ayris lestand. 520

[*: In C and H. E omits.]

[507: C has worthy (S) for dowtit in E.]

Here King Robert is in Great Peril.

[Sidenote: 1307] The King is Warned]

The tresone thus is undirtane; And he hame till his hous is gane, And watit opportunite For to fulfill his mavite. 524 In gret perell than wes the King, That of his tresone wist na thing. For he, that he trowit mast of ane, His dede falsly had undirtane: 528 And nane may treson do titar than he That man in trowis leawte. The King in hym trastit; for-thi He had fulfillit his felony, 532 Na war the King, throu Goddis grace, Gat hale wittering of his purchas, And how, and for how mekill land, He tuk his slauchtir upon hand. 536 I wat nocht quha the warnyng maid, Bot in all tym he sic hap had, That quhen men schupe him to betrais, He gat witting tharof alwayis: 540 And mony tyme, as I herd say, Throu women, that he wald with play, That wald tell all that thai mycht here. And sua mycht happyn that it fell here. 544

Bot how that evir it fell, perde, I trow he sall the warrar be. Nocht-for-thi, this tratour ay Had in his thocht, bath nycht and day, 548 How he mycht best bring till ending His tresonabill undirtaking; Till he umbethocht him at the last, In till his hert can umbecast, 552 That the King had in custum ay For to ris airly evirilk day, And pas weill fer fra his menyhe, Quhen he wald pas to the preve, 556 And seik a covert him alane, Or at the mast haf with him ane. Thair thoucht he, with his sonnys twa, For to suppris the King, and slay, 560 And syne wend to the wod away: Bot yheit of purpos falyheit thai. And nocht-for-thi thai com all thre In a covert that wes preve, 564 Quhar the King wes oft wount to ga, His preve nedis for to ma. Thair hid thai thame till his cummyng. And the King in the mornyng, 568 Rais quhen that his liking wes, And richt towart that covert gais, Quhar liand war the traitouris thre, For till do thar his prevate. 572 To treson tuk he than no heid: But he wes wount, quhar-evir he yheid, His suerd about his hals to bere; that avalit hym gretly ther. 576 For had nocht God, all thing weldand, Set help in-till his awne hand, He had ben ded withouten dreid. A chalmir page thar with him yheid. 580 And sua, forouten followis ma, Towart the covert can he ga.

[576: C thar (S).]

[577: C all-weldand (S), which is a syllable short.]

Here the Noble King slays three Traitors, Himself, Alone.

[Sidenote: 1307] The King Fights with Three]

Now, bot God help the nobill King, He is neir hand till his ending! 584 For that covert that he yheid till, Wes on the tothir syde a hill, That nane of his men mycht it se. Thiddirward went his page and he; 588 And quhen he cummin wes in the schaw, He saw thai thre cum all on raw Aganis him full sturdely. Than till his boy he said in hy, 592 “Yhone men will slay us and thai may! “Quhat wappyn has thou?” ‘A Schir! perfay, ‘I haf a bow bot and a vyre.’ “Gif me thame smertly baith.” ‘A! Syre, 596 ‘How-gat will yhe than that I do?’ “Stand on fer and behald us to. “Gif thow seis me abovin be, “Thou sall haf wapnys in gret plente: 600 “Ande gif I de, withdraw the soyne.” With thai wordis, forouten hoyn, He tit the bow out of his hand, For the tratouris wes neir cumand. 604 The fader had a suerd but mair, The tothir bath suerd and hand-ax bair, The thrid a suerd had and a speir. The King persavit, be thair effeir, 608 That all wes suth men till hym tald. “Tratour,” he said, “thou has me sald. “Cum na forthir, bot hald the thair, “I will thou cum na forthir mair.” 612 ‘A! Schir, umbethinkis yhow,’ said he, ‘How neir to yhow that I suld be; ‘Quha suld cum neir to yhow bot I?’ The King said, “I will sekirly 616 “That thou at this tym cum nocht ner, “Thou may say quhat thou will on fer.” Bot he, with fals wordis flechand, Wes with his sonnys ay cumand. 620 Quhen the King saw he wald nocht let, Bot ay cum on fenyheand falset, He tasit the vyre and leit it fle, And hit the fader in the e, 624 Till it rycht in the harnys ran; And he backward fell doun rycht than. The brothir, that the hand-ax bar, That saw his fader lyand thar, 628 A gyrd rycht to the King can mak, And with the ax he him ourstrak. Bot he, that had his suerd on hicht, Raucht him sic rout in randoun richt. 632 That he the hed to harnis clafe, And him doun ded to the erd drafe. The tothir brothir, that bare the spere, Saw his brothir sa fallin ther, 636 With his speir, as angry man, In a rais till the King he ran. Bot the King, that him dred sum-thing, Watit the sper in the cummyng, 640 And with a wysk the hed of-strak; And or the tothir had toym to tak His suerde, the King sic swak him gaiff, That he the hede till harnys claif: 644 He ruschit doune of blude all rede. And quhen the King saw thai war ded, All thre lyand, he wyppit his brand. With that his boy com fast rynand, 648 And said; “Our Lord mot lovit be, “That grantit yhow mycht and powste “To fell the felony and pride “Of thir thre in sa litill tyde.” 652 The King said; ‘Sa our Lord me se! ‘Thai had beyn worthy men all thre, ‘Had thai nocht beyn full of tresoune; ‘Bot that maid thair confusione.’ 656

[586: C and H have syde of. E omits.]

Book VI

The King is went till his luging. And of his dede soyn com tithing To Schir Ingerame the Umphrevell, That thoucht his sutelte and gyle 4 Had all falyheit in-to that place. Tharfor anoyit swa he wes, That he agane to Lowdiane To Schir Amer his gate has tane; 8 And till him tald all haill the cas, That tharof all forwounderit was, How ony man sa suddandly Micht do so gret a chevelry, 12 As did the King, that, him alane, Vengeans of thre tratouris has tane. He said, “Certis I may weill se “That it is all gret certante 16 “That ure helpis ay hardy men; “As be this deid yhe may weill ken. “War he nocht outrageous hardy “He had nocht swa unabasitly 20 “Sa smertly seyn his avantage. “I dreid that his gret vassalage, “And his travell will bring til end “That at men quhile full litill wend.” 24

[7: C gives sair (S): E swa, which is needed to correlate with That.]

[14: C has the thre (S).]

[18: C has by (S). E be, which is the correct Scots form.]

[24: It that in C and S.]

Here Galloway Men seek him.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce has only Sixty Men]

Sik speking maid he of the King, That ay, forouten sudjornyng, Travalit in Carrik heir and thair. His men fra him sua scalit war, 28 Till purches thame necessite And als the cuntre for to se, That thai left nocht with him sexty. And quhen the Gallowais wist suthly 32 That he wes with a few menyhe, Thai maid a preve assemble Of weill twa hundreth men and ma; Ane sluth-hund with thaim can thai ta, 36 For thai thoucht him for to suppris; And gif he fled on ony wis, To follow him with the hunde swa, That he suld nocht eschape thaim fra. 40

[31: E thai. C thair (S).]

Thai schupe, thame in ane evynnyng, Suddandly to suppris the King, And till him held thai straucht thare way. Bot he, that had his wachis ay 44 On ilk syde, of thar cummyng, Lang or thai com, had wittering, Quhat and how feill at thai mycht be. Tharfor he thoucht, with his menyhe, 48 To withdraw him out of the place, For the nycht neir fallyn was. And for nycht wes he thoucht that thai Suld nocht have sicht to hald the way 52 Quhill he war passit with his menyhe. And as he thoucht rycht sua did he: And went hym doune till a marras, Our a wattir that rynand was; 56 And in a bog he fand a place Weill strate, that weill twa bowdraucht was Fra thai the wattr passit had. He said, ‘Heir may yhe mak abade, 60 “And rest yhow all a quhile and ly. “I will ga wach all preuely, “Giff I heir oucht of thar cummyng; “And gif I may heir ony thyng, 64 “I sall ger warn yhow, sua that we “Sall ay at our avantage be.”

[56: C has On (S), but cf. line 86, where S adopts our from H.]

Here he fights alone against Two Hundred.

[Sidenote: 1307] The King hears a Hound]

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce beats them off]

The King now takis his gat to ga, And with him tuk he servandis twa. 68 And Schir Gilbert de la Hay left he Thar, for to rest with his menyhe. To the wattir he com in hy, And lisnyt full ententily 72 Gif he oucht herd of thare cummyng; Bot yheit than mycht he heir na thing. Endlang the wattir than yheid he On athir syde gret quantite; 76 And saw the brayis hye standand, The wattir holl throu slike rynand, And fand na furd that men mycht pas Bot quhar himself our passit was. 80 And sua strate wes the up-cummyng That twa men mycht nocht sammyn thryng, Na on na maner pres thame sua That thai sammyn the land mycht ta. 84 His twa men bad he than in hy *85 Ga to thair feris to rest and ly; For he wald wach thar com to se. “Schir,” said thai, “quha sall with yhow be?” *88 “God,” he said, “forouten ma; “Pas on, for I will it be swa.” Thai did as he thame biddin had, And he thar all allane abaid. *92 Quhen he a quhile had biddin thare, And herbryit, he herd as it war A hundis quhistlyng apon fer, That ay com till him ner and ner. 88 He stude still for till herkyn mair, And ay the langer quhill he wes thair, He herd it ner and ner cumand: Bot he thoucht he thair still wald stand, 92 Till that he herd mair taknyng, For, for a hundis quhestlyng, He wald nocht walkyn his menyhe. Tharfor he walde abyde and se 96 Quhat folk thai war, and quethir thai Held toward him the richt way; Or passyt ane othir way fer by: The moyn wes schynand rycht cleirly. 100 Sa lang he stude, that he mycht her The noyis of thaim that cummand wer. Than his twa men in hy send he To warne and walkyn his menyhe. 104 And thai ar furth thar wayis gane; And he left thar all hym allane. And sua lang stude he herkynand, Till that he saw cum at his hand 108 The haill rowt, in full gret hy; Than he umbethoucht him hastely, Gif he yheid to feche his menyhe, That, or he mycht reparit be, 112 Thai suld be passit the furde ilkane. And than behufit he chesit him ane Of thir twa, outhir to fle or de. Bot his hert, that wes stout and he, 116 Consalit hym allane to byde And kep thame at the furdis syde, And defend weill the up-cummyng, Sen he wes warnysit of armyng 120 That he thair arrawis thurt nocht dreid. And gif he war of gret manheid, He mycht stonay thame evirilkane, Sen thai mycht cum bot ane and ane. 124 He did rycht as his hert hym bad; Stark outrageous curage he had, Quhen he sa stoutly hym allane, For litill strynth of erd, has tane 128 To ficht with twa hundreth and ma. Thar-with he to the furd can ga. And thai, apon the tothir party, That saw him stand thair anerly, 132 Thryngand in-till the wattir raid, For of him litill dout thai had; And raid till him in full gret hy. He smat the first sa rygorusly 136 With his spere, that richt scharply schare, Till he doun to the erd hym bare. The laif com than in a randoune; Bot his hors, that wes born doune, 140 Cummerit thaim the upgang to ta. And quhen the Kyng saw it wes sua, He stekit the hors, and he can flyng, And syne fell at the upcummyng. 144 The laif with that com with a schowt; And he, that stalward wes and stout, Met thame richt stoutly at the bra, And sa gud payment can thaim ma 148 That fiff-sum in the furd he slew. The laif than sumdeill thaim with-drew, That dred his strakis woundir sare, For he in nathing thame forbare. 152 Than ane said: “Certis, we ar to blame; “Quhat sall we say quhen we cum hame, “Quhen a man fechtis agains us all? “Quha wist evir men sa fouly fall 156 “As us, gif that we thusgat leif?” With that all haill a schout thai geve, And cryit, “On hym! he may nocht last.” With that thai presit hym so fast, 160 That, had he nocht the bettir beyn, He had beyn ded forouten weyn. Bot he sa gret defens can mak, That, quhar he hit with evin strak, 164 Thar mycht no thing agane it stand. In litill space he left lyand Sa feill, that the upcom wes then Dittit with slayn hors and men; 168 Swa that his fayis, for that stopping, Micht nocht cum to the up-cummying. A! deir God! quha had beyn by, And seyn how he sa hardely 172 Adressit hym agane thame all, I wat weill that thai suld him call The best that liffit in-till his day. And gif that I the suth sall say, 176 I herd nevir in na tyme gane Ane stynt sa mony hym allane.

[84: E gives thai to gidder mycht lang ga, and H similarly.]

[: *85-92 are from C. They are not consistent with 103-106, and these again are not in agreement with 295, 296. E omits the first set.]

[92: C arranges Bot he thair still thoucht (S).]

Example: how Tydeus slew Forty-nine Men, And the Lieutenant tholed Shame and Paine.

Suth is, quhen till Ethiocles Fra his brothir Polynices 180 Wes send Thedeus in-to message Till ask haly the heritage Of Thebes till hald for a yheir, For thai cummyn of a byrth weir; 184 Thai straif, for athir kyng wald be. Bot the barnage of thar cuntre Gert thame assent on this maner, That the tane suld be kyng a yhere; 188 And than the tothir, na his menyhe, Suld nocht be fundin in the cuntre, Quhill the first brothir ryngand were. Syne suld the tothir ryng a yhere; 192 Ande syne the first suld leif the land, Quhill that the tothir war ryngand. Thus ay a yheir suld ryng the tane, The tothir a yheir fra that war gane. 196 To ask halding of this assent, Thedeus wes to Thebes went; And sua spak for Polynices, That of Thebes Ethiocles 200 Bad his constabill with hym ta Fifty weill armyt, and forouth ga To meit Thedeus in the way, And slay hym but langar delay. 204 The constabill his way is gane, And nyne and fourty with him has tane, Swa that he with thame maid fifty. In-till the evynnyng, prevely 208 Thai set enbuschement in the way, Quhar Thedeus behufit away Betuix ane hye crag and the se. And he, that of thair mavite 212 Wist na thing, his way has tane, And toward Grece agane is gane. And as he raid in-to the nycht, Sa saw he, with the monys licht, 216 Schynyng of scheldis gret plente; And had woundir quhat it mycht be. With that all haill thai gaf a cry, And he, that herd sa suddanly 220 Sic noyis, sumdeill affrayit was; Bot in schort time he till him tais His spiritis full hardely; For his gentill hert and worthy, 224 Assurit him in-till that neide. Then with the spuris he strak his steide, And ruschit in amang thame all. The first he met he gert him fall, 228 And syne his suerd he swappit out, And raucht about him mony a rout, And slew sex-sum weill soyn and ma, Than undir him his hors thai sla. 232 And he fell; bot he smertly rais, And, strikand, rowm about him mais, And slew of thame a quantite: Bot woundit woundir sair wes he. 236

[184: E and H give twynnys, twynnes for cummyn.]

[Sidenote: 1307] How Tydeus overcame Fifty]

With that a litill rod he fand, Up toward the crag strikand. Thiddir went he in full gret hy, Defendand him full douchtely, 240 Till in the crag he clam sum-deill; And fand a place enclosit weill, Quhar nane but ane mycht him assale. Thair stude he and gaf thame battale: 244 And thai assalit evirilkane; And oft fell, quhen that he slew ane, As he doun to the erd wald driff, He wald beir doun weill four or fiff. 248 Thair stude he and defendit swa, Till he had slane thame half and ma. A gret stane than by him saw he, That throu the gret anciente, 252 Was lowsyt reddy for to fall; And quhen he saw thaim cumand all, He tumlit doun on thaim the stane; And aucht men tharwith has he slane, 256 And sua stonait the remanand, That thai war weill neir recryand. Then wald he preson hald no mare, Bot on thame ran with suerd al bare, 260 And hewit and slew with all his mayn Till he had nyne and fourty slane. The constabill syne can he ta, And gert him suere that he suld ga 264 To King Ethiocles, and tell The aventure that thame befell. Thedeus bare him douchtely, That our-com him allane fyfty. 268

Yhe that this redis, jugis yhe, Quhethir that mair suld presit be: The King, that, with avisment, Undirtuk sic hardyment 272 As for to stynt, him ane but fer, Thai folk that weill twa hundreth wer; Or Thedeus, that suddanly, Fra thai had rasit on him the cry, 276 Throu hardyment that he had tane, Wan fifty men all him allane. Thai did thair dede bath in the nycht, And faucht bath with the monys licht; 280 Bot the King discumfit ma, And Thedeus the ma can sla. Now demys, quhethir mair lovyng Suld Tedeus haf, or the King! 284

In this maner that I haf tald, The King, that stout wes, stark and bald, Wes fechtand on the furdis syde, Gyffand and takand rowtis ryde; 288 Till he sic martirdome thair maid That he the furde all stoppit had, That nane of thame mycht till him ryde. Than thoucht thame foly for to byde, 292 And halely the flicht can ta, And went hamward quhar thai com fra. For the Kingis men with that cry Walknyt, and full affraitly, 296 Com for to seik thair lord the King. The Galloway men herd thair cummyng And fled, that durst nocht byde no mair. The Kingis men, that dredand wair 300 For thair lord, full spedaly Com to the furde, and soyn in hy Thai fand the Kyng sytand alane, That of his basnet than had tane, 304 To tak the air, for he wes hate; Than sperit thai at him of his stat; And he tald thaim all haill the cas, Howgat that he assalyheit was; 308 And how that God hym helpit sua, That he eschapit haill thame fra. Than lukit thai how feill war ded, And thai fand liand in that sted 312 Fourteyn, that slayn war with his hand. Than lovit thai God fast, all-weldand, That thai thar lord fand haill and feir; And said, “Thaim byrd on na maner 316 “Dreid thair fayis, sen thair chiftane “Wes of sic hert and of sic mane, “That he for thame had undertane “With sa feill folk to ficht him ane.” 320

[288: C has woundis wyde (S), but there is no hint of the King’s wounds; cf. line 315. E has rowtis roid. H routes red. Cf., however, Bk. XV., 54, which indicates that the line is a stock one in both forms.]

[Sidenote: 1307] True Courage is a Mean]

Syk wordis spak thai of the Kyng: And, for his hye undertaking Farlyit, and yharnyt hym to se, That with hym ay wes wount to be. 324 A! quhat worschip is prisit thing! For it makis men to haf loving, Gif it be followit ythandly. For pris of worschip nocht-forthi 328 Is hard to wyn but gret travale; Oft till defende and oft assale, And till be in thair dedis wis, Gerris men of worschip wyn the pris. 332 That may no man haf worthyhede, Bot he haf wit to steir his stede And se quhat is to leif or ta. Worschip extremyteis has twa; 336 Fule-hardyment the formast is, And the tothir is cowardis: And thai ar bath for to forsak. Fule-hardyment will all undertak, 340 Als weill thingis to leiff as ta; Bot cowardis dois na thing sua, Bot uterly forsakis all; And that war woundir for to fall, 344 Na war falt of discrecione. For-thi has worschip sic renoune, That it is mene betuix thai twa, And takis that is till undirta, 348 And levis that is to leif; for it Has so gret warnasyng of wit, That it all peralis weill can se, And all avantagis that may be. 352 It wald till hardyment hald haly, With-thi away war the foly. For hardyment with foly is wis. Bot hardyment that mellit is 356 With wit, is worschipay, per de, For, but wit, worschip may nocht be.

[325: E perfyt. H a perfite.]

This nobill Kyng, that we of reid, Mengit all tyme with wit manheid; 360 That may men be this melle se. His wit hym schawit the strat entre Of the furde, and the ysche alsua; He thoucht that thai mycht nevir our-ga 364 Apon a man that wes worthy. Tharfor his hardyment hastely Thoucht weill it mycht be undirtane, Sen that anis mycht assale bot ane. 368 Thus hardyment, governit with wit, That he all tym wald sammyn knyt, Gert him off worschipe haf the pris, And oft our-cum his enymys. 372

[360: E Mellyt.]

[364: E has That, as him thocht, war hard to ta. H That him thought was hard to ta.]

How Douglas slew Thirlwall.

[Sidenote: 1307] Thirlwall would seize the Castle]

The King in Carrik duelt all still: His men assemblit fast him till, That in the land war travalande, Quhen thai of this deid herd tithand. 376 For thai thar ure with him wald ta, Gif he war eft assalyheit swa. Bot yheit than James of Douglas In Douglasdaill travaland was; 380 Or ellis weill neirhand thar-by, In hiddillis sum-deill prevely. For he walde se his governyng, That hade the castell in keping: 384 And gert mak mony a juperdy, To se quhethir he wald ysche blithly. Quhen he persavit weill that he Wald blithly ysche with his menyhe, 388 He maid a gaddering prevely Of thame that war of his party; That wes so feill that thai durst ficht With Thrillwall and all the mycht 392 Of thame that in the castell were. He schup him in the nycht to fare To Sandylandis; and neir thar-by He him enbuschit prevely, 396 And fand a few a trayn to ma; That sone in the mornyng can ta, Cattale, that wes the castell by, And syne with-drew thame halely 400 Toward thame that enbuschit ware. Than Thrillwall, forouten mare, Gert arme his men forouten baid; And yschit with all the men he had, 404 And followit fast eftir the ky. He wes arayit at poynt clenly, Outakyn that his hede wes bair. Than, with the men that with him war, 408 The cattale followit he gude speid, Richt as a man that had no dreid, Till that he of thame gat a sicht. Than prikit thai with all thair mycht, 412 Followand thame out of aray; And thai sped thame fleand, quhill thai Fer by thar buschement war all past; And Thrillwall evir chasit on fast. 416 And than thai that enbuschit war Yschit till him, bath les and mar, And rasit suddandly the cry; And thai that saw sa suddandly 420 That folk sa egirly cum prikand Betuix thame and thair warrand, Thai war in-to full gret affray. And, for thai war out of aray, 424 Sum of thaim fled, and sum abaid: And Douglas, that thar with him had A gret menyhe, full egirly Assalit, and scalit thame hastely, 428 And in schort tym cummerit thaim sua, That weill nane eschapit thaim fra. Thrillwall, that wes thair capitane, Wes thair in-to the bargane slane, 432 And of his men the mast party; The laif fled full affrayitly. Douglas his menyhe fast can chas, And the flearis thair wais tais 436 To the castell in full gret hy; The formast enterit spedely, Bot the chassaris sped thame so fast, That thai ourtuk sum at the last, 440 And thame forout mercy can sla. And quhen thai of the castell swa Saw thaim slay of thair men thaim by, Thai sparit the yhettis hastely, 444 And in hy to the wallis ran. James of Douglas his menyhe than Sesit weill hastely in hand At thai about the castell fand; 448 Till thair reset syne went thair way. Thusgat yschit Thrillwall that day.

Qwhen Thrillwall on this maner Had yschit, as I tell yhow heir, 452 James of Douglas and his men Buskit thame all sammyn then, And went thair way toward the Kyng In gret hy; for thai herd tithyng 456 That of Vallanch Schir Amery, With a full gret chevelry Bath of Inglis and Scottis men, With gret felony war reddy then 460 Assemblit for to seik the Kyng, That wes that tym with his gaderyng In Cumnok, quhar it stratest was. Thiddir went James of Douglas, 464 That wes richt welcum to the Kyng. And quhen he tald had that tithing, How that Schir Amer wes cumand For to hunt hym out of the land 468 With hund and horn, rycht as he were A wolf, a theif, or thefis fere; Than said the King: “It may weill fall, “Thouch he cum and his power all, 472 “We sall abyde in this cuntre; “And gif he cumis we sall him se.”

[373: E ay still.]

[397: E And send.]

Here Sir Aymer and John of Lorn follow King Robert with a Sleuth-hound.

[Sidenote: 1307] Valence goes to hunt Bruce]

The King spak apon this maner; And of Vallanch Schir Amer 476 Assemblit a gret cumpany Of nobill men and of worthy, Of Ingland and of Lowdiane. And he has alsua with him tane 480 Johne of Lorn and all his mycht, That had of worthy men and wicht With him aucht hundreth men and ma. A sleuthhund had he thar alsua, 484 Sa gude that change wald for na thing. And sum men sayis yheit that the King As a strecour him nurist had, And ay sa mekill of hym maid, 488 That with his hand he wald hym feyd. He followit hym quhar-evir he yheid; Swa that the hund hym lufit swa, That he wald part na wis him fra. 492 Bot how that John of Lorn him had, I herd nevir mencione be made. Bot men sais it wes certane thing That he had him in his sesing, 496 And throu hym thoucht the Kyng to ta; For he wist he hym luffit swa, That fra he mycht anys feill The Kyngis sent, he wist rycht weill 500 That he wald change it for na thyng. This John of Lorn hatit the King For Schir John Cumyn his emys sak; Micht he him outhir sla or tak, 504 He wald nocht pris his liff a stra, With-thi he vengeans on hym mycht ta.

How Sir Aymer and John of Lorn Chased the King with Hound and Horn.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce divides his Men]

The wardane than, Schir Amery, With Johne of Lorne in cumpany, 508 And othir of gud renoune alsua, Thomas Randale wes ane of thai, Come in-till Cumnok to seik the King, That wes weill war of thar cummyng, 512 And wes up in the strenthis then, And with hym weill thre hundreth men. His brothir that tyme with him was, And alsua James of Douglas. 516 Schir Ameryis rout he saw, That held the playn ay and the law, And in haill battale alwayis raid. The Kyng, that na supposing had 520 That thai war mair than he saw thair, Till thame, and nouthir ellis-quhar, Had ey, and wroucht unwittandly. For Johne of Lorn full sutelly 524 Behynd thoucht to suppris the Kyng. Tharfor with all his gaderyng, About ane hill he held his way, And held hym in-to covert ay, 528 Till he so neir com to the Kyng, Or he persavit his cummyng, That he wes cummyn on hym weill neir. The tothir host and Schir Amer 532 Presit on the tothir party. The Kyng wes in gret juperdy, That wes on athir syde umbeset With fayis that to slay hym thret, 536 And the lest party of thame twa Was starkar fer na he, and ma. And quhen he saw thame pres him to, He thoucht in hy quhat wes to do, 540 And said, “Lordis, we haf no mycht “As at this tyme for to stand and ficht. “Thar-for departis us in thre, “All sall nocht swa assalyheit be: 544 “And in thre parteis hald our way.” Syne till his consall can he say, Betuix thame in-to prevate, In quhat stede thar repair suld be. 548

[511: From E. C has That cum in Cumnok to seik the King (S), which leaves the first group of subjects without a predicate. H has Came in.]

[514: H three. E iiij, a stroke too many.]

With that thair gat all ar thai gane, Ande in thre partis thair way has tane. Than John of Lorn com to the plas Quhar-fra the Kyng departit was, 552 And in his trais the hund he set, That than, forouten langar let, Held evyn the way eftir the Kyng, Richt as he had of him knawing, 556 And left the tothir parteis twa, As he na kepe to thame wald ta. And quhen the Kyng saw his cummyng, Eftir his route in-till a lyng, 560 He thoucht thai knew that it wes he: Tharfor he bad till his menyhe Yheit than in thre depart thame sone; And thai did sua forouten hoyn, 564 And held thair way in thre parteis. The hund did than sa gret mastris, That he held ay, forout changing, Eftir the rout quhar wes the Kyng. 568

[561: C has he knew (S). E and H as text.]

And quhen the Kyng has seyn thaim sua All in a rout eftir hym ta The way, and follow nocht his men, He had a gret persavying then 572 That thai knew him; for-thi in hy He bad his men richt hastely Scale, and ilk man hald his way All be hym-self, and sua did thai. 576 Ilk man a syndri gat is gane, And the King has with him tane His forstir brothir, forouten ma, And sammyn held thair gat thai twa. 580 The hund alwais followit the Kyng, And changit nocht for na parting, Bot ay followit the Kyngis tras, But wavering, as he passit was. 584 And quhen that Johne of Lorn saw The hund so hard eftir hym draw, And followit straucht eftir thai twa, He knew the Kyng wes ane of thai, 588 And bad five of his cumpany, That war richt wicht men and hardy, And als on fute spediast ware Of all that in that rout war thar, 592 Ryn eftir hym, and him our-ta, And lat him na wys pas thaim fra.

Here Five Chosen Men are sent to take the King.

And fra thai herd had the biddyng, Thai held the way eftir the Kyng. 596 And followit hym so spedely, That thai him weill soyn can our-hy. The King than saw thame cumand ner, And wes anoyit in gret maner, 600 For he thoucht, gif thai war worthy, Thai mycht hym travale and tary, And hald hym suagat taryand Till the remanand suld cum at hand. 604 Bot had he dred bot anerly Thame five, I trow all sekirly He suld nocht haf full mekill dreid. And till his fallow, as he yheid, 608 He said, “Yhon five ar fast cumand: “Thai ar weill neir now at our hand. “Swa is thair ony help with the? “For we sall soyn assalit be.” 612 ‘Yha, Schir,’ he said, ‘all that I may.’ “Thou sais weill,” said the Kyng, “perfay. “I se thame cumand till us neir. “I will na forthir, bot richt heir 616 “Byde, quhill that I am in aynd, “And se quhat fors that thai can faynd.”

[594: From E. C has And let hym na-wis pas yhow fra (S), passing suddenly to direct speech. H has you.]

*How the King slew the five men That John of Lorn sent to him then.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce and Another against Five]

[*: The rubric is from H, inserted at line 598. C runs on.]

The Kyng than stude full sturdely, And the five soyn, in full gret hy, 620 Com with gret schoyr and mannasyng. Thre of thame went on-to the Kyng; And till his man the tothir twa With swerd in hand can stoutly ga. 624 The Kyng met thame that till hym socht, And till the first sic rowt he rocht, That ere and cheik doun in the hals He schare, and of the schuldir als 628 He ruschyt doun all desaly. The twa, that saw sa suddanly Thair fallow fall, effrayit war, And stert a litill ouirmair. 632 The Kyng with that blenkyt him by, And saw the twa full sturdely Agane his man gret melle ma. With that he left his awn twa, 636 And till thame that faucht with his man A lowp richt lychtly maid he than, And smat the hed of of the tane. To mete his awn syne is he gane. 640 Thai com on hym rycht hardely. He met the first sa egyrly, That with his swerd, that scharply schare, The arm he fra the body bare. 644 Quhat strakis thai gaf I can nocht tell, Bot to the Kyng so fair befell, That, thouch he travale had and payn, He of his famen four has slayn. 648 His fostir brothir eftir soyn The fift has out of dawis done.

And when the King saw that all fiff War on that wis broucht out of lif, 652 Till his fallow than can he say, “Thou has helpit richt weill, perfay.” ‘It likis yhow to say sua,’ said he, ‘Bot the gret part to yhow tuk yhe, 656 ‘That slew four off the fyve, yhow ane.’ The Kyng said; “As the glew is gane, “Bettir than thou I mycht it do, “For I had mair lasair thar-to. 660 “For the twa fallowis that delt wyth the, “Quhen thai me saw assalyheit with thre, “Of me richt na kyn dout thai had; “For thai wend I wes stratly stad. 664 “And for-thi that thai dred me nocht, “Noy thaim fer out the mair I moucht.” With that the Kyng lukyt hym by, And saw of Lorn the cumpany 668 Neir, with thair sleuthhund fast cumand; Than till a wod, that wes neir hand, He went with his fallow in hy. God sauf thame for his gret mercy! 672

[656: C Bot till (S). E gives the. Skeat in his note suggests to = too for till!]

[657: C has That slew four or I slew ane (S). E as in text, and H similarly.]

[661: C begins The (S).]

Book VII

How John of Lorn sought the Good King Robert Bruce with the Sleuth-hound.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce takes to the Water]

The Kyng toward the wod is gane, Wery, for-swat, and will of wayn. In-till the wod soyn enterit he, And held doun toward a vale 4 Quhar throu the wod a wattir ran. Thiddir in gret hy went he than, And begouth to rest hym thair, And said he mycht no forthirmar. 8 His man said; “Schir, that may nocht be: “Abyde yhe heir, yhe sal soyn se “Five hundreth yharnand yhou to sla, “And thai ar fele aganis twa; 12 “And, sen we may nocht deill wyth mycht, “Help us all that we may wyth slycht.” The King said; ‘Sen that thou will swa, ‘Ga furth, and I sall with the ga. 16 ‘Bot I haf herd oftsis say, ‘That quha endlang a wattir ay ‘Wald wayd a bow-draucht, he suld ger ‘Bath the sleuthhund and the ledar, 20 ‘Tyne the sleuth men gert him ta, ‘Pruf we gif it will now do swa. ‘For war yhon devillis hund a-way, ‘I roucht nocht of the layff, perfay.’ 24

Here the Sleuth-hound lost his Scent.

As he devisit thai haf done, And enterit in the wattir sone, And held on endlang it thar way, And syne to the land yheid thai, 28 And held thair way as thai did ere. And John of Lorn, with gret effere, Com with his rout richt to the place, Quhar that his five men slan was. 32 He menyt thame quhen he thaim saw; And said, eftir a litill thraw, That he suld wenge in hy thar blude: Bot othir wayis the gammyn yhude. 36 Thair wald he mak no mair duelling, Bot furth in hy followit the King, Richt to the burn thai passit ar; Bot the sleuth-hund maid stynting thar, 40 And waveryt lang tyme to and fra, That he na certane gat couth ga; Till at the last than Johne of Lorn Persavit the hund the sleuth had lorn, 44 And said; “We haf tynt this travell; “To pas forthir may nocht avale; “For the wode is bath braid and wyde, “And he is weill fer be this tyde. 48 “Tharfor I rede we turn agane, “And wast no mair travale in vayn.” With that releyt he his menyhe, And his way to the host tuk he. 52

Or else he was Slain with an Arrow.

[Sidenote: 1307] The King Escapes]

Thus eschapit the nobill Kyng. Bot sum men sais, this eschaping Apon ane othir maner fell Than throu the wading; for thai tell 56 That the Kyng a gud archer had, And quhen he saw his lord swa stad, That he wes left swa anerly, He ran on fut alwayis him by, 60 Till he in-till the wod wes gane. Then said he till hym-self allane, That he arest rycht thair wald ma, And luk gif he the hund mycht sla. 64 For gif the hund mycht lest on lif, He wist full weill that thai wald drif The Kyngis tras till thai hym ta; Than wist he weill thai wald him sla. 68 And for he wald his lord succour, He put his lif in aventur. And stud in-till a busk lurkand Quhill that the hund com at his hand, 72 And with ane arrow soyn him slew, And throu the wod syne hym withdrew. Bot quhethir his eschaping fell As I tald first, or now I tell, 76 I wat it weill, without lesyng, At that burn eschapit the King.

How the Three Men that bare the Wedder Sheep thought to have slain King Robert Bruce.

The King has furth his wayis tane. And Johne of Lorn agane is gane 80 To Schir Amer, that fra the chas With his men than reparit was, That litill sped in thair chassing; For thow that thai maid following 84 Full egirly, thai wan bot small; Thair fayis neir eschapit all. Men sais, Schir Thomas Randale than, Chassand, the Kyngis baner wan; 88 Quhar-throu in Ingland wyth the Kyng He had rycht gret price and lovyng. Quhen the chaseris releit war, And Johne of Lorn had met thaim thar, 92 He tald Schir Amer all the cas, How that the King eschapit was; And how that he his fif men slew, And syne he to the wod hym drew. 96 Quhen Schir Amer herd this, in hy He sanyt hym for the ferly, And said; “He is gretly to pris; “For I knaw nane that liffand is 100 “That at myscheif can help hym swa. “I trow he suld be hard to sla “And he war bodyn all evynly.” On this wis spak Schir Amery. 104

Here Three Traitours meet the King, with a Wedder.

And the gud Kyng held furth his way, He and his man, ay quhill that thai Passit owt throu the forest war; Syne in a mure thai enterit ar. 108 That wes bath hee and lang and braid; And or thai half it passit had, Thai saw on syde thre men cumand, Lik to licht men and waverand. 112 Swerdis thai had and axis als, And ane of thame apon his hals A mekill bundyn weddir bare. Thai met the Kyng, and halsit him thar: 116 And the Kyng thame thar halsing yhald, And askit thame quhethir thai wald. Thai said, Robert the Bruce thai socht, To meit with hym gif that thai mocht, 120 Thair duelling with hym wald thai ma. The King said, “Gif that yhe will swa, “Haldis furth yhour way with me, “And I sall ger yhow soyn him se.” 124

[Sidenote: 1307] The King goes with the Men]

Thai persavit be his spekyng And his effer, he wes the Kyng. Thai changit contenans and late, And held nocht in the first stat; 128 For thai war fayis to the Kyng; And thoucht to cum in-to scowkyng, And duell with hym quhill that thai saw Thar tym, and bryng hym than of daw. 132 Thai grantit till his spek for-thi, Bot the Kyng, that wes witty, Persavit weill be thair havyng That thai lufit hym in na thing: 136 He said; “Fallowis, yhe man all thre “Forthir aquynt quhill that we be, “All be yhour-self forrouth ga, “And, on the sammyn wis, we twa 140 “Sall fallow yhow behynd weill neir.” Quod thai; ‘Schir, it is na mysteir ‘To trow in-till us any ill.’ “Nane do I,” said he, “bot I will 144 “That yhe ga forrow us, quhill we “Bettir with othir knawyn be.” ‘We grant,’ thai said, ‘sen yhe will swa:’ And furth apon thair gat can ga. 148

[126: In E That he wes the selvyn Robert king.]

Thus yheid thai till the nycht wes neir. And than the formast cumin weir Till a wast husbandis hous; and thar Thai slew the weddir at thai bar, 152 And slew fyre for to rost thar met, And askit the Kyng gif he wald et, And rest hym till the met war dicht? The Kyng, that hungry wes I hicht, 156 Assentit to thair speke in hy: Bot he said, he wald anerly Betuyx hym and his fallow be At a fyre, and thai all thre 160 In the end of the hous suld ma Ane othir fyre; and thai did swa. Thai drew thame in the hous end, And half the weddir till him send; 164 And thai rostit in hy thair met, And fell rycht frakly for till et. The King weill lang he fastyt had, And had rycht mekill travale made: 168 Tharfor he ete richt egyrly. And quhen he etyn had hastely, He had to slepe sa mekill will, That he mycht set na let thar-till. 172 For quhen the wanys fillit ar, The body worthis hevy evirmar; And to slepe drawis hevynes. The Kyng, that all for-travalit wes, 176 Saw that hym worthit slep neidwais; Till his fostir brothir he sais, “May I trast the me to walk, “Till I a litill slepyng tak?” 180 ‘Yha, Schir,’ he said, ‘till I may dre.’ The Kyng than wynkit a litill we, And slepit nocht full ynkurly, Bot gliffnyt up oft suddandly; 184 For he had drede of thai thre men, That at the tothir fyre war then. That thai his fais war he wyst; Tharfor he slepit as foul on twist. 188

[153: H And strake (S). C E as text.]

[174: E Men worthis.]

[181, 182: E drey--wey.]

Here he slew the three traitors.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce’s Foster-Brother is Slain]

The Kyng slepit bot litill than, Quhen sic a slepe fell on his man That he mycht nocht hald up his e, Bot fell on slepe and routit he. 192 Now is the King in gret perell: For slepe he swa a litill quhile, He sall be ded, forouten dred. For the thre tratouris tuk gud hede, 196 That he on slep wes and his man. In full gret hy thai rais up than, And drew thair swerdis hastely, And went toward the King in hy, 200 Quhen that thai saw he slepit swa, And slepand thoucht thai wald hym sla. *Till hym thai yheid a full gret pas, Bot in that tym, throu Goddis grace, *204 The Kyng blenkit up hastely, And saw his man slepand him by, 204 And saw cumand the tratouris thre. Delyverly on fut gat he, And drew his suerd out and thame met, And, as he yheid, his fut he set 208 Apon his man weill hevaly. He walkynt, and rais all desaly: For the sleip maisterit hym swa, That, or he gat up, ane of thai, 212 That com for to sla the Kyng, Gaf hym a strake in his rysyng, Swa that he mycht help hym no mair. The Kyng so stratly stad wes thair, 216 That he wes never yheit swa stad; Na war the armyng that he had, He had beyn ded foroutyn weyr. Bot nocht-for-thi on sic maneir 220 He helpit hym swa in that bargane, That thai thre tratouris he has slane, Throu Goddis grace and his manheid. His fostir-brothir thair wes ded. 224 Than wes he wounder will of wayn, Quhen he saw he wes left allane. His fostir-brothir menyt he, And waryit all the tothir thre, 228 And syne his way tuk hym allane, And richt toward his trist is gane.

[*203, 204: Not in E, but in C and H (S).]

[210: E omits all.]

Here the King goes to his Tryst.

The Kyng went furth wrath and angry, Menand his man full tendirly, 232 And held his way all hym allane, And richt toward the hous is gane, Quhar he set trist to mete his men; It wes weill lat of nycht be then. 236 He come soyn in the hous, and fand The gud wif on the bynk sytand Scho askit hym soyn quhat he wes, And quhyne he com, and quhar he gais. 240 “A travalland man, dame,” said he, “That travalys heir throu the cuntre.” Scho said, ‘All that travaland ere, ‘For saik of ane, ar welcom here.’ 244 The Kyng said, “Gud dame, quhat is he “That garris yhow have sik specialte “Till men that travalis?” ‘Schir, perfay,’ Quod the gud wif, ‘I sal yhow say; 248 ‘Gud Kyng Robert the Bruce is he, ‘That is rycht lord of this cuntre. ‘His fayis him haldis now in thrang; ‘Bot I thynk to se or oucht lang 252 ‘Hym lord and kyng our all the land, ‘That na fayis sall hym withstand.’ “Dame, lufis thou hym sa weill?” said he. ‘Yha Schyr,’ scho said, ‘sa God me se!’ 256 “Dame,” said he, “lo! hym her the by, “For I am he”;--‘Sa yhe suthly?’ “Yha, certis, dame.”--‘And quhar are gane ‘Yhour men, quhen yhe ar thus allane?’ 260 “At this tyme, dame, I have no ma.” Scho said, ‘It may no wis be swa; ‘I have twa sonnys wicht and hardy, ‘Thai sall becum yhour men in hy.’ 264 As scho devisit thai have done, His sworn men becom thai sone. The wif gart soyn him syt and et. Bot he had schort quhil at the met 268 Sittyn, quhen he herd gret stampyng About the hous; than, but lettyng, Thai stert up, the hous to defend; Bot soyn eftir the Kyng has kend 272 James of Douglas: than wes he blith, And bad oppyn the dures swith: And thai com in, all at thai ware. Schir Edward the Bruce wes thare, 276 And James als of Douglas, That wes eschapit fra the chas, And with the Kyngis brothir met. Syne to the trist that thame wes set 280 Thai sped thame with thair cumpany, That war ane hundreth and fyfty.

[236: E inwith nycht.]

Here meets he with his Company.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce Plans a Surprise]

And quhen at thai has seyn the Kyng, Thai war joyfull of thair metyng: 284 And askit how he eschapit was, And he thaim tald all haill the cas; How the five men him presit fast, And how he throu the wattir past, 288 And how he met the thevis thre, And how he slepand slayn suld be, Quhen he walknyt, throu Goddis grace; And how his fostyr-brothir was 292 Slayne, he tald thame halely. Than lovyt thai God all comonly, That thair lord wes eschapit swa. Than spak thai wordis to and fra, 296 Till at the last the Kyng can say; “Fortoun has travalit us this day, “That scalit us sa suddandly. “Our fayis this nycht sall trastly ly;” 300 For thai trow we so scalit ar *301 *And fled to-waverand her and thar, *That we sall nocht thir dayis thre All to-giddir assemblit be *304 *Tharfor this nycht thai sall trastly. “But wachis, tak thair eis and ly. “Quharfor, quha knew thair herbery, “And wald cum on thame suddanly, “With few menyhe mycht soyn thame scath, 304 “And yhet eschape withouten vath.” ‘Perfay,’ quoth James of Douglas, ‘As I com hiddirward, per-cas ‘I com so neir thair herbery, 308 ‘That I can bring yhow quhar thai ly. ‘And wald yhe speid yhow, yheit or day ‘It may sa happyn that yhe may ‘Do thame a gretar scath weill soyn 312 ‘Than thai us all the day has done, ‘For thai ly scalit as thame lest.’ Than thocht thai all it wes the best To speid thame to thaim hastely; 316 And thai did swa in full gret hy, And com on thame in the dawyng, Richt as the day begouth to spryng.

[Linenote: *301-305 not in E, running on from the second trastly.]

Here the King and his Company come hastily upon their Enemies, and slay Many.

[Sidenote: 1307] Sir Aymer praises Bruce]

So fell it that a cumpany 320 Had in toune tane thair herbry, Weill fra the host a myle or mair; Men said that thai twa thousand war. Thar assemblit the nobill Kyng. 324 And soyn eftir thair assemblyng, Thai, that slepand assalyheit war, Rycht hyduisly can cry and rar; And othir-sum, that herd the cry, 328 Ran furth rycht swa effraytly, That sum of thame all nakyt war, Fleand to-waverand heir and thair; And sum thair armys with thaim drew: 332 And thai without mercy thame slew; And swa cruell vengeans can ta, That the twa part of thame and ma, War slayn rycht in that ilk sted; 336 Till thar host the remanand fled. The host, that herd the noyis and cry, And saw thair men sa wrechidly Cum nakit, fleand heir and thair, 340 Sum haill, and sum woundit sair, In-to full gret affray thai rais, And ilk man to his baner gais: Swa that the host wes all on steir. 344 The Kyng and thai that with hym weir, Quhen thai on steir the host saw swa, Toward thair warrand can thai ga, And tharin swith cummyn ar thai. 348 And quhen Schir Amery herd say How that the Kyng thar men had slayn, And how thai turnit war agane, He said, “Now may we cleirly se 352 “That nobill hert, quhar-evir it be, “Is hard till ourcum throu mastry. “For quhar a hert is rycht worthy “Agane stoutnes it is ay stout; 356 “And, as I trow, thair may na dowt “Ger it all out discumfit be, “Quhill body liffand is and fre; “As be this melle may be seyn. 360 “We wend Robert the Bruce had beyn “Swa discumfit that, be gud skill, “He suld nouthir haff hert no will “Swilk juperdy till undirta; 364 “For he wes put at undir swa “That he wes left all hym allane, “And all his folk war fra hym gane; “And he wes sa fortravalit, 368 “To put of thame that hym assalit, “That he suld haf yharnit restyng “Mair than fechtyng or travalyng. “Bot his hert fillit is of bownte, 372 “Swa that it vencust may nocht be.”

[323: E hundir.]

[331: E to warrand.]

[359: C has all fre (S).]

[371: E This nycht atcur all othir thing. H as in C.]

Here Sir Aymer passes to Carlisle.

On this wis spak Schir Amery. And quhen thai of his cumpany Saw how thai travalit had in vane, 376 And how the Kyng thar men had slane, That at his larges wes all free, Thame thoucht it wes a nyste For to mak thair langer duellyng, 380 Sen thai mycht nocht anoy the Kyng; And said that to Schir Amery, That umbethoucht hym hastely That he to Carleill than wald ga, 384 And a quhill thar-in sojorn ma; And haf his spyis on the Kyng, To knaw alwais his contenyng. For quhen that he his poynt mycht se, 388 He thoucht that with a gret menyhe He suld schute on hym sodanly. Tharfor, with all his cumpany, Till Ingland he the way has tane, 392 And ilk man till his hous is gane. In hy till Carleill went is he. And thar-in thynkis for to be Till he his poynt saw of the Kyng, 396 That than with all his gaderyng Wes in Carrik, quhar umbestount He wald went with his men till hount.

[378: E And that his wes gane al fre.]

Here the King meets three Traitors.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce taunts the Bowmen]

Swa hapnyt it that on a day 400 He went till hunt, for till assay Quhat gammyn wes in that cuntre. And swa hapynt that day that he By a wode-syde to sett is gane, 404 With his twa hundis, hym allane; Bot he his swerd ay with hym bare. He had bot schort quhill syttyn thare, Quhen he saw fra the wode cumand 408 Thre men with bowis in thar hand, That toward hym com spedely; And he persavit that in hy, Be thair effeir and thair havyng, 412 That thai lufit hym na kyn thyng. He rais and his leysche till him drew he, And leit his houndis gang all fre. God help the Kyng now for his mycht! 416 For bot he now be wis and wicht, He sall be set in mekill pres. For thai thre men, withouten les, War his fayis all utrely: 420 And had wachit so besaly, To se quhen thai vengeans mycht tak Of the Kyng for Jhone Cumynys sak, That thai thoucht than thai laser had; 424 And, sen he hym allane wes stad, In hy thai thoucht thai suld him sla: And gif that thai mycht chevis swa, Fra that thai the Kyng had slayn, 428 That thai mycht wyn the wode agayn, His men, thai thoucht, thai suld nocht dreid. In hy towart the Kyng thai yheid, And bend thair bowis quhen thai war neir; 432 And he, that dred in gret maneir Thar arowis, for he nakit was, In hy ane spekyng to thame mais, And said; “Yhe aucht to shame, perde, 436 “Syn I am ane and yhe ar thre, “For to schut at me on fer. “Bot haf yhe hardyment, cum ner “With yhour swerdis me till assay; 440 “Wyn me on sic wis gif yhe may; “Yhe sall weill mair all prisit be.” ‘Perfay,’ quod ane than of the thre, ‘Sall no man say we drede the swa, 444 ‘That we with arrowis sall the sla.’

With that thair bowis away thai kest, And com on fast, but langar frest. The Kyng thame met full hardely, 448 And smat the first so rigorusly, That he fell ded doun on the greyn. And quhen the Kyngis hounde has seyn Thai men assale his mastir swa, 452 He lap till ane and can hym ta Richt be the nek full felonly, Till top our taill he gert hym ly. And the Kyng, that his swerd up had, 456 Saw he so fair succour hym maid, Or he that fallyn wes mycht rys, He hym assalyheit on sic wis, That he the bak strak evyn in twa. 460 The thrid, that saw his fallowis swa Forouten recoveryng, be slayne, Tuk till the wod his way agane. Bot the Kyng followit spedely; 464 And als the hound that wes hym by, Quhen he the man saw gang hym fra, Schot till hym soyn, and can him ta Richt be the nek, and till hym dreuch; 468 And the Kyng, that wes neir eneuch, In his risyng sik rowt hym gaf, That stane-ded till the erd he draf.

[459: C Had hym.]

The Kyngis menyhe that war neir, 472 Quhen at thai saw on sic maneir The Kyng assalit sa suddandly, Thai sped thame toward hym in hy, And askit how that cas befell? 476 And he all haly can thaim tell, How thai assalyheit hym all thre. “Perfay,” quod thai, “we may weill se “That it is hard till undirtak 480 “Sic mellyng with yhow for to mak, “That so smertly has slayn thir thre “Forouten hurt.” ‘Perfay,’ said he, ‘I slew bot ane forouten ma, 484 ‘God and my hund has slane the twa; ‘Thair tresoune cumrit thame, perfay, ‘For richt wicht men all thre war thai.’

[484: Not in E, which has after 485 The thrid eschapyt nocht alsua. H as in C.]

Here Sir Aymer sets the King in Great Jeopardy.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce is in Glentrool]

Qwhen that the Kyng, throu Goddis grace 488 On this maner eschapit was, He blew his home, and than in hy His gud men till hym can rely; Than hamwardis buskit he to fair, 492 For that day wald he hunt no mair. In Glentruell a quhile he lay, And went weill oft to hunt and play, For to purchase thame venysoun, 496 For than the deir war in sesoun. In all that tyme Schir Amery, With nobill men in cumpany, In Carleill lay, his poynt to se; 500 And quhen he herd the certante That in Glentruell wes the King, And went to hunt and to playing, He thoucht than with his chevelry, 504 To cum apon hym suddanly; Fra Carleill all on nychtis ryde, And in covert on dayis byde. And swagat, with sic tranonting, 508 He thoucht he suld suppris the Kyng. Than he assemblit a gret menyhe Of folk of full gret renowne. Bath of Scottis and Inglis men. 512 Thair way all sammyn held thai then, And raid on nychtis so prevaly, Till thai com to the wode neir by Glentruell, quhar lugit wes the Kyng, 516 That wist richt nocht of thair cummyng. In-to gret perell now is he, For, bot God throu his gret powste, Saif hym, he sall be tane or slane; 520 For thai war sex quhar he wes ane.

[494: C has all a quhile (S), where all seems a duplication of the preceding syllable.]

How Sir Aymer Valence sent the Woman to spy King Robert in Glentrool.

Qwhen Schir Amer, as I herd tald, With his men that wes stout and bald, Wes cum so neir the Kyng that thai 524 War bot a myle fra hym away, He tuk avisment with his men, On quhat maner thai suld do then. For he said thame, that the King wes 528 Lugit in-to so strate a place, That hors-men mycht hym nocht assale; And gif fut-men gaf hym battale, He suld be hard to wyn, gif he 532 Of thair cummyng ma warnit be: “Tharfor I rede, all prevaly “We send a woman hym to spy, “That pouerly arayit be. 536 “Scho may ask met per cherite, “And se thair covyne halely, “And on quhat maner at thai ly, “The quhilis we and our menyhe, 540 “Cumand throu-out the wod may be “On fut, all arayit as we ar. “May we do swa, that we cum thar “On thaim or thai wit our cummyng 544 “We sall fynd in thame no styntyng.”

[Sidenote: 1307] The Woman Discloses the Plot]

This consall thoucht thaim wes the best, Than send thai furth, but langar frest, The woman that suld be thar spy, 548 And scho hir way can hald in hy Richt to the logis, quhar the King, That had no dreid of supprising, Yheid unarmyt, mery and blith. 552 The woman has he seyn alswith, He saw hir uncouth, and for-thi He beheld hir mayr ynkirly, And by hir countenans hym thoucht 556 That for gud cummyn wes scho nocht. Than gert he men in hy hir ta; And scho, that dred men suld hir sla, Tald thame how that Schir Amery, 560 With the Cliffurd in cumpany, And the flour of Northumbirland, War cummand on thame at thar hand.

[556: C has And by (S).]

Quhen at the King herd that tithing, 564 He armyt hym but mair duelling; Sa did thai all that evir thar war, Syne in a sop assemblit ar: I trow they war thre hundreth ner. 568 And quhen thai all assemblit wer, The King his baner gert display, And set his men in gude aray. Thai had nocht standyn bot a thraw, 572 Richt at thair hand quhen at thai saw Thair fayis throu the wod cumand, Armyt on fut, with sper in hand, That sped thame full enforsaly. 576 The noyis begouth soyne and the cry; For the gud King, that formast was, Stoutly towart his fayis gais, And hint out of a manis hand, 580 That neir besyde him wes gangand, A bow and a braid arrow als, And hyt the formast in the hals, Till throppill and wassand yheid in twa, 584 And he doune to the erd can ga.

Here were Fifteen Hundred discomfited with Few Scots.

The laiff with that maid a stopping; Than, but mair baid, the nobill King Hynt fra his baneour the banar, 588 And said, “Apon thame! for thai ar “Discomfit all!” and with that word He swappit swiftly out his sword, And on thame ran so hardely, 592 That all thai of his cumpany Tuk hardyment of his gud dede. For sum, that first thar wayis yhede, Again com to the ficht in hy, 596 And met thair fayis so rigorusly, That all the formast ruschit war. And quhen thai that war hendirmar Saw that the formast left the stede, 600 Thai turnit soyn the bak and fled, And of the wod thai thaim with-drew. The King a few men of thame slew, For thai rycht soyn thair gat can ga; 604 It discomfortyt thame all swa, That the King with his menyhe was All armyt to defend that plas, That thai wend throu thar tranonting 608 Till have wonnyn for-out fichting, That thai effrayit war suddanly. And he thame soucht so angyrly, That thai in full gret hy agane 612 Out of the woud ran to the plane. For thai falyheit of thair entent, Thai war that tym sa fowly schent, That fiften hundreth men and ma 616 Wyth fewar war rebutit swa, That thai with-drew thaim schamfully. Tharfor emang thame sudanly Thair rais debate and gret distans 620 Ilkane with othir of thar myschans; Clyffurd and Vaus maid a melle, Quhar Cliffurd raucht him a cole; And athir syne drew to partis. 624 Bot Schir Amer, that wes wis, Departit thame with mekill pane, And went till Ingland hame agane. He wist, fra stryff rais thame amang, 628 He suld thame nocht hald sammyn lang For-outen debat or melle; Tharfor till Ingland turnit he With mar schaym than he com of toune; 632 Quhen sa mony of sic renoun Saw sa few men bid thaim battale, Quhar thai ne war hardy to assale.

[605: C discumfit (S), which is metrically short, and does not suit the context or the sense.]

[623: E roucht nocht him to lee. H raught him routes three, which so far supports the reading of the text.]

Book VIII

How James of Douglas discomfited then At Ederford Philip Mowbray with many men.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce leaves the Mountains]

The King, fra Schir Amer was gane, Gadert his menyhe evirilkane; And left bath woddis and montanis, And held his way straucht to the planys. 4 For he wald fayn that end war maid Of that at he begonnyn had, And he wist weill he mycht nocht bring It to gud end but travalyng. 8 To Kyle first went he, and that land He maid till him all obeysand: The men mast fors com till his pes. Syne eftirward, or he wald ces, 12 Of Cunyngame the mast party He gert helde till his senyhory.

In Bothwell than Schir Amer was, That in his hert gret angyr has; 16 For thai of Cunyngame and Kyle, That war obeysand till hym quhile, Left the Inglis menis fewte: Tharof fayn vengit wald he be; 20 And send Schir Philip the Mowbray, With a thousand, as I herd say, Of men that war in his leding, To Kyle to warray the nobill Kyng. 24

Bot James of Douglas, that all tyde, Had spyis out on ilka syde, Wist of thar cummyng, and that thai Wald hald doune Makyrnokis way. 28 He tuk with hym all prevely Thame that war of his cumpany, That war sexty withouten ma. Syne till a strate place can he ga, 32 That is in Makyrnokis way, The Edry-furd it hat perfay; It lyis betuix marras twa, Quhar that na hors on lif ma ga. 36 On the south half, quhar James was, Is ane upgang, ane narrow plas, And on the north half is the way Sa ill, as it apperis to day. 40

[28: C Machyrn-noxis.]

[31: E fourty. H sixtie.]

[34: E Nether-foord, and so in H, differing from his own rubric.]

[Sidenote: 1307] Mowbray escapes with Difficulty]

Douglas, with thame he with hym had, Enbuschit hym, and thame abaid. He mycht weill fer se thair cummyng, Bot thai mycht se of hym na thing. 44 Thai maid enbuschement all the nycht, And quhen the sone wes schynand brycht, Thai saw in battale cum arayit The vaward with baner displayit, 48 And syne soyn the remanand Thai saw weill neir behynd cumand. Than held thai thaim still and preve, Till the formast of thair menyhe 52 War enterit in the furde thame by; Than schot thai on thame wyth a cry; And with wapnys that scharply schare Sum in the furde thai bakward bare, 56 And sum, with arrowes barblyt braid, Sa gret martirdome on thame maid, That thai gan draw to voyd the place; Bot behinde thame so stoppit was 60 The way, that thai fast mycht nocht fle, And that gert of thaim mony de. For thai on na syde mycht away Bot as thai com, bot gif at thai 64 Wald throu thair fayis hald thar gat; Bot that way thoucht thame all to hat. Thair fayis met thame so sturdely, And continit the ficht so hardely, 68 That thai so dredand war at thai Quha first mycht fle, first fled away. And quhen the reirward saw thaim swa Discumfit, and thair wayis ga, 72 Thai fled on fer, and held thair way. Bot Schir Philip the Mowbray, That with the formast rydand was, That enterit war in-to the plas, 76 Quhen that he saw how he wes stad, Throu the gret worschip that he had, With spurys he strak the steid of pris, And, magre all his enymys, 80 Throu the thikkest of thame he raid, And but challans eschapit had, Ne war ane hynt hym by the brand; Bot the guid steid, that wald nocht stand, 84 He lansit furth deliverly; Bot the tothir sa stalwardly Held, that the belt brist of the brand, That swerd and belt left in his hand. 88 And he but swerd his wayis raid, Weill otow thame, and thair abaid, Behaldand how his menyhe fled, And how his fais clengit the sted 92 That war betuix him and his men; Tharfor the wayis tuk he then To Kylmernok and Killwynnyn, And till Ardrossan eftir syne. 96 Syne throu the Largys, him allane, Till Ennirkyp the way has tane, Richt till the castell that wes then Stuffit all with Inglis men, 100 That him resavit in gret dante. And fra thai wist how-gat that he Sa fer had ryddyn, hym allane, Throu thame that war his fais ilkane, 104 Thai prisit him so gretumly, And alsua lovit his chevelry.

[59: From E (S). Thoucht throu the wode to pass (C).]

[75: C wes (S).]

Schir Philip thus eschapit was, And Douglas, that wes in the plas, 108 Quhar he sexty has slane and ma; The laiff fouly thar gat can ga, And fled to Bothwell hame agane; Quhen Schir Amer wes na thing fane, 112 Quhen he herd tell on quhat maner That his menyhe discumfit wer. Bot quhen to King Robert wes tald, How the gud Douglas, that wes bald, 116 Vencust sa feyll with few menyhe, Richt joyfull in his hert wes he. And all his men confortit war: For thame thoucht weill, bath les and mair 120 That thai suld les thar fayis drede, Sen thair purpos sa wyth thaim yheide.

Here Sir Aymer urges a Fight on the Plain.

[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce accepts the Challenge]

The Kyng lay in-to Gawlistoun, That is rycht evyn anent Lowdoun; 124 And till his pes tuk the cuntre. Quhen Schir Amer and his menyhe, Herd how he rewlit all the land, And how that nane durst him withstand, 128 He wes in-till his hert angry; And with ane of his cumpany He send him word ande said, gif he Durst hym in-to the planys se, 132 He suld the tend day of May Cum undir Lowdoun hill away: And gif that he wald met him thair, He said, his worschip sulde be mair, 136 And mair be turnit to nobillay, To wyn him in the playn away, With hard dyntis in evyn fichting, Than till do fer mair in scowking. 140 The King, that herd his messinger, Had despit apon gret maner, That Schir Amer spak sa hely, Tharfor he ansuerd irusly, 144 And till the messynger said he; “Sa to thi lord that, gif I be “In lif, he sall me se that day “Weill neir, gif he dar hald the way 148 “That he has said; for sekirly “By Lowdoun hill mete hym sall I.”

[144: C has ernystfully (S). H angerly, agrees with E.]

Here King Robert provides for Advantage in the Place where they should Fight.

The messinger, but mair abade, Till his mastir his wais raide, 152 And his ansuer him tald alswith; Than wes na neid to mak him blithe. For he thoucht, throu his mekill mycht, Gif the King durst apeir to ficht, 156 That, throu the gret chevelry That suld be in his cumpany, He suld swa ourcum the Kyng, That thar suld be na recoveryng. 160 And the Kyng, on the tothir party, That wes ay wis and a-verty, Raid for to se and ches the plas, And saw the hye-gat lyand was 164 Apon a fair feild, evin and dry; Bot apon athir syde thar-by Wes a gret mos, mekill and braid, That fra the way wes, quhar men raid, 168 A bowdraucht neir on athir syde: And that place thocht hym all to wyde Till abyde men that horsit war. Tharfor thre dykis ourthwort he schar, 172 Fra bath the mosis to the way: That war sa fer fra othir, that thai War in-twyn a bow-draucht and mar. Sa holl and hye the dykis war, 176 That men mycht nocht, but mekill pane, Pas thaim, thouch nane war thaim agane. Bot sloppis in the way left he, So large, and of sic quantite, 180 That fyffe hundir mycht sammyn ryde In at the sloppis, syde for syde. Thar thoucht he battale for to beid, And bargane thaim; for he na drede 184 Had at thai suld on syde assale, Na yheit behynd gif him battale. And befor hym thocht weill that he Suld fra thar mycht defendit be. 188 Thre deip dykis he gert thar ma; For gif he mycht nocht weill our-ta To met thame at the first, that he Suld haf the tothir at his pouste; 192 Or than the thrid, gif it war swa At thai had passit the tothir twa. On this wis him ordanit he, And syne assemblit his menyhe, 196 That war sex hundreth fechtand men, But rangald, that wes with him then, That war als feill as thai, or ma. With all that menyhe can he ga, 200 The evyn befor the battale suld be, To litill Lowdoun, quhar that he Wald abide to se thair cummyng; Syne with the men of his leding 204 He thoucht to speid hym, swa that he Suld at the dik befor thaim be.

[154: E Quharof he was bath glaid and blyth. H agrees with C.]

Here Sir Aymer comes with his Host in Sight.

[Sidenote: 1307] The Splendid Array of the English]

Schir Amer, on the tothir party, Gaderit so great chevelry, 208 That he mycht be thre thousand neir, Armyt and dicht in gud maner; And than, as man of gret noblay, He held toward the trist his way. 212 And quhen the set day cumin was, He sped him fast toward the place That he had nemmyt for to ficht. The sone wes rysyn schynand bricht, 216 That blenknyt on the scheldis braid. In twa eschelis ordanit he had The folk that he had in leding. The Kyng, weill soyn in the mornyng, 220 Saw first cumand thair first eschele, Arrait sarraly and weill, And at thair bak, sum-deill neirhand, He saw the tothir followand: 224 Thair basnetis burnyst war all brycht, Agane the sone glemand of licht; Thair speris, thair pennownys, and thar scheldis Of licht illumynit all the feldis. 228 Thair best and browdyn bricht baneris, And hors hewit on seir maneris, And cot-armouris off seir colour, And hawbrekis, that war quhit as flour, 232 Maid thame glitterand, as thai war lik Till angellis he of hevinis rik.

Here King Robert meets him with Few.

The King said; “Lordingis, now yhe se “How yhon men, throu thar gret pouste, 236 “Wald, and thai mycht fulfill thar will, “Slay us, and mak sembland thar-till. “And sen we knaw thair felony, “Ga we and meit thame hardely, 240 “That the stoutest of thair menyhe, “Of our metyng abaysit be. “For gif the formast egirly “Be met, yhe sall se suddanly 244 “The henmast sall abasit be; “And thouch that thai be ma than we, “That suld abais us litill thing; “For quhen we cum to the fichting, 248 “Thar may met us no ma than we. “Tharfor, lordingis, ilkane suld be “Of worschip and of gret valour, “For till maynteme heir our honour. 252 “Thinkis quhat gladschip us abydis, “Gif that we may, as us betydis, “Haf victour of our fayis heir! “For thar is nane her, fer no neir, 256 “In all this land that us thar dout.” Than said thai all that stude about, ‘Schir, gif God will, we sall sa do, ‘That no repruf sall ly thar-to.’ 260 “Than ga we furth now,” said the King, “And he, that maid of nocht all thing, “Leyd us, and sauf us for his mycht, “And help us for till hald our richt!” 264 With that thai held thar way in hy, Weill sex hundreth in cumpany, Stalward and stout, worthy and wicht: Bot thai war all to few, I hicht, 268 Agane so feill to stand in stour, Ne war thair outrageous valour.

[Sidenote: MAY 10, 1307] The Battle of Loudoun Hill]

Now gais the nobill Kyng his way, Richt stoutly and in gude aray, 272 And to the formast dyk is gane, And in the slop the feld has tane. The cariage-men and the pouerale, That wes nocht worth in the batale, 276 Behynd him levit he al still, Standand all sammyn on the hill. Schir Amery the King has seyn, With his men that war cant and keyn, 280 Cum to the playn doune fra the hill, As him thoucht in-to full gud will For to defend or till assaill, Gif ony wald hym byde battale. 284 Tharfor his men confortit he, And bad thame wicht and worthy be; For gif at thai mycht wyn the Kyng, And victor haf of the fechting, 288 Thai suld richt weill rewardit be, And gretly ek thair renownee. With that thai war weill neir the Kyng, And he left his amonystyng, 292 And gert trumpe to the assemble; And the formast of his menyhe Enbrasit with that thar scheldis braid, And rycht sarray to-gidder raid, 296 With hedis stowpand and speris straucht Richt to the Kyng thar way thai raucht; That met thame with sa gret vigour, That the best and of mast valour 300 War laid at erd at thair metyng; Quhar men mycht her sic a brekyng Of speris that to-fruschyt war, And the woundit so cry and rar, 304 That it anoyus wes till her. For thai, that first assemblit wer, Funyheit and fawcht full sturdely; The noyis begouth than and the cry. 308

Here King Robert wins in Plain Battle.

A! mychty God! quha thair had beyn, And had the Kyngis worschip seyn, And his brothir that wes hym by, That contenit thame so hardely, 312 That thair gud deid and thar bounte, Gaiff gret confort to thair menyhe; And how Dowglas so manfully Confortit thame that war hym by; 316 He suld weill say that thai had will To wyn honor and cum thair-till. The Kingis men, that worthy war, With thair speris that scharply schar, 320 Stekit men and stedis bath, Till red blud ran of woundis rath. The hors that woundyt war can fling, And ruschit the folk in thair flynging, 324 Swa that thai that than formast war War skalyt in soppis heir and thar. The King that saw thame ruschit swa, And saw thame reland to and fra, 328 Ran apon thaim so egirly, And dang on thame sa hardely, He gert feill of his fayis fall. The feld wes weill neir coverit all 332 Bath with slayn hors and with men; For the gud King thame followit then, With weill fif hundreth that wapnys bar, That wald thair fayis no thing spar. 336 Thai dang on thame so hardely, That in schort tyme men mycht se ly At erd ane hundreth and wele mar; The remanand the waykar war, 340 Than thai begouth thame to withdraw; And quhen thai of the reirward saw Thair vawarde be sa discomfit, Thai flede withouten mair respit. 344 And quhen Schir Amer hes seyn His men fleand haly bedeyn, Wit yhe weill he wes full way; Bot he mycht nocht amonist swa 348 That ony for him wald turne agane. And quhen he saw he tynt his pane, He turnit his bridill, and to-ga: For the gud King thame presit swa 352 That sum war dede, and sum war tane; The remanand thar gat ar gane.

[326: C stekit (S) for skalyt.]

[339: C weill and (S).]

Here Sir Aymer passes to England.

[Sidenote: MAY, 1307] The Rejoicing of the Scots]

The folk fled apon this maner For-outen arest, and Schir Amer 356 Agane to Bothwell is he gane, Menand the scath that he had tane; Sa schamfull that he vencust wes, That till Inglande in hy he gais 360 Richt till the King, and schamfully He gaf up thar his wardanry. Na never syne, for na kyne thing, Bot gif he com richt with the King, 364 Com he to warra Scotland. Sa hevely he tuk on hand, That the King, in set battalyhe, With a quheyn lik poueralyhe, 368 Vencust him with a gret menyhe, That wes renownit of gret bounte. Sic anoy had Schir Amery: And King Robert, that wes hardy, 372 Abaid all still in-to the plas, Till that his men left all the chas; Syne with presoners that thai had tane, Thai ar towart thair innys gane, 376 Fast lovand God of thair weillfair. Men mycht haf seyn, quha had beyn thair, A folk that mery war and glad For thair victour; and als thai haid 380 A lord so swet and deboner, So curtas, and of sa fair effer, So blith als, and so weill bowrdand, And in battale so stith to stand, 384 So wis, and richt sua avise, That thai had gret caus blith to be. So war thai blith forouten dout; For feill, that wonnyt thaim about, 388 Fra thai the King saw help him swa, Till him thar homage can thai ma. Than wox his power mair and mair, And he thoucht weill that he wald fair 392 Outour the Month with his menyhe, To luk quha that his frend wald be. In-to Schir Alexandir the Freser He trastit, for thai cosyngis wer, 396 And his brothir Symon, thai twa. He had myster weill of ma, For he hade fais mony ane; Schir Johne Cumyne Erll of Bouchane, 400 And Schir Johne the Mowbray syne, And gud Schir David of Brechyne, With all the folk in thair leding, War fayis to the nobill King. 404 And, for he wist thai war his fayis, His viage northwardis he tais; For he wald se quhat-kyn ending Thai walde mak of thair manasing. 408

[375: C he had (S).]

[381: C debonar (S).]

How the Good King Robert the Bruce passed North beyond the Mounth.

The king buskit and maid him yhar, Northwardis with his men to fair. His brothir can he with hym ta, And Schir Gilbert de le Hay alsua; 412 The Erll of Lennax als wes thar, That with the King was our all quhar; Schir Robert Boyd and othir ma. The King can furth his wais ta, 416 And left James of Douglas, With all the folk that with him was, Behynd hym, for till luk gif he Micht recover his cuntre. 420 He left him in-to gret perill; Bot eftir, in ane litill quhill, Throu his gret worschip sa he wrocht, That to the Kingis pes he brocht 424 The forest of Selcryk all hale, And alsua did he Douglasdale, And Gedword forest alsua. And quha sa weill on hand couth ta 428 To tell his worschippis ane and ane, He suld fynd of thaim mony ane. For in his tym, as men said me, Threttene tymes vencust wes he, 432 And victory wan sevin and fifty. He semyt nocht lang ydill to ly, Be his travale he had na will; Me think men suld him luf of skill. 436

[427: E Jedworthis.]

Here Sir James wins Many Men, and makes First a Train on the Castle.

[Sidenote: 1307] The Activity of Douglas]

This James, quhen the King wes gane, All prevely his men has tane, And went to Douglasdaill agane, And maid all prevely a trane 440 Till thaim that in the castell war. A buschement slely maid he thair; And of his men fourteyn and ma He gert, as thai war, sekkis ta 444 Fillit with gyrs, and syne thame lay Apon thair hors, and hald thair way Richt as thai wald to Lanrik fair, Otow quhar the enbuschement war. 448 And quhen thai of the castell saw So feill ladis gang on raw, Of that sight war thai wondir fayn, And tald it to thair capitane, 452 That hicht Schir Johne off Webitoune. He wes bath yhoung, stout, and felloun, Richt joly als, and volageous; And for that he was amourous, 456 He wald ysche fer the blithlyer. He gert his men all tak thar ger, And yschit to get that vittale, For thar vittale all fast couth fale. 460 Thai yschit all abaundanly, And prikit furth sa wilfully To win the ladis at thai saw pas, Quhill that Douglas with his men was 464 All betuix thame and the castell. The layd-men that persavit weill Thai kest thair ladis doun in hy, And thair gownys deliverly, 468 That helit thame, thai kest away, And in gret hy thair hors hint thai, And stert upon thame sturdely, And met thair fayis with a cry; 472 That had gret woundir, quhen thai saw Thaim that war ere lurkand full law, Cum apon thame so hardely, Thai wox abasyd suddandly, 476 And at the castell wald haf beyn. Quhen thai, on the othir haf, has seyn Douglas brek his enbuschement, That agane thame rycht stoutly went, 480 Thai wist nocht quhat till do no say. Thar fayis at thair hand saw thai, That strak on thame forout sparing, And thai mycht help thaim-self no thing, 484 Bot fled to warrand quhar thai mocht; And thai so angirly on thame socht, That of thame all eschapit nane. Schir Jhone of Webitoun thar wes slaine; 488 And quhen he ded wes, as yhe her, Thai fand in-till his awmener A letter, that him send ane lady That he lufit per drowry; 492 The letter spak on this maner *493 That said, quhen he had yhemyt a yher In wer, as ane gud bachiller, And governit weill, in all maner, *495 The aventurus castell off Douglas, That to kepe so perelous was, 496 Than mycht he weill ask ane lady Hir amouris and hir drowry.

[482: E has on othir sid.]

[491: E his coffer.]

[*493, *495: From C (S); not in E or H. The first is probably misplaced to begin with, and the second inserted to complete the couplet (see note).]

[Sidenote: 1307] Douglas destroys his Castle]

The letter spak on this maner. And quhen thai slayn on this wis wer, 500 Douglas richt to the castell raid, And thair so gret debate he maid, That in the castell enterit he. I wat nocht all the certante, 504 Quhethir it wes throu strinth or slicht, Bot he wrocht swa, throu his gret mycht, That the constabill and all the lafe That war thar-in, bath man and knaf, 508 He tuk, and gaf thame dispending, And send thame hame, but mair greving, Till the Cliffurde in thair cuntre. Ande syne so besely wrocht he, 512 That he all tumlit doune the wall, And distroit the hous all: Syne till the Forest held his way, Quhar he had mony harde assay, 516 And mony fair poynt of wer befell; Quha couth thame all rehers and tell, He suld say that his name suld be Lestande in full gret renoune. 520

[506: E with mekill mycht.]

[520: C ranowne (S). H renounie.]

IX. How Good King Robert lay Sick in Inverury

Now leif we in-to the Forest Douglas, that sall haf litil rest, Till the cuntre deliverit be Of Inglis men and thair pouste: 4 And turne we to the nobill Kyng; That, with the folk of his leding, Toward the Month has tane the way Richt stoutly, in-to gud aray; 8 Quhar Alysandir Freser him met, And als his brothir, Symon het, With all the folk thai with thaim hade. The Kyng gud counternans thaim maid, 12 That wes richt blith of thair cummyng. Thai tald the King all the covyng Of Jhone Cumyne the Erll of Bouchane, That till help him had with him tane 16 Schir John Mowbra and othir ma, Schir David the Brechyne alsua, With all the folk of thair leding, “And yharnis mair than ony thing 20 “Vengeans on yhow, Schir Kyng, to tak, “For Schir John the Cumynis sak, “That quhilom in Drumfreis wes slayn.” The King said, ‘Sa our lord me sayn, 24 ‘I had gret caus hym for to slay. ‘And syn that thai on hand will ta, ‘Becaus of hym, to warra me, ‘I sall thoill all a quhile, and se 28 ‘On quhat wis that thai preif thar mycht. ‘And gif it fall at thai will ficht, ‘Giff thai assalyhe we mon defend; ‘Syne fall quhatevir that God will send.’ 32

Eftir this spek the Kyng in hy Held straucht the way till Enverrowry: And thair him tuk sic ane seiknes, That put him till full hard distres, 36 That he forbare bath drink and met. His men no medicine couth get That evir mycht to the King availyhe. His strinth so haly can him falyhe, 40 That he mycht nouthir ryde no ga. Than, wit yhe weill his, men wes wa! For nane wes in that cumpany, That wald haf beyn half so sary 44 For till half seyn his brothir ded Lyand befor hym in that sted, As thai war all for his sekness; For all thair confort in him wes. 48

But gud Schir Edward the worthy, His brothir that wes so hardy, And wis and wicht, set mekill payn To confort thame with all his mayn. 52 And quhen the lordis that war thair Saw that the evill ay mair and mair Travalit the King, thai thoucht in hy It war nocht speidfull thair to ly: 56 For thair all playn wes the cuntre, And thai war bot ane few menyhe To ly, but strinth, in-to the playn. For-thi, till that thair capitane 60 War coverit of his mekill ill, Thai thoucht to wend sum strinth soyn til.

[Sidenote: 1307] The Importance of a Captain]

For folk for-outen capitane, Bot thai the bettir be a-pane, 64 Sall nocht be all so gud in deid, As thai ane lord had thame to leid, That dar put him in aventure, But abasing, to tak the ure 68 That God will send: for quhen that he Is of sic will and sic bounte, That he dar put him till assay, His folk sall tak ensampill ay 72 Of his gud deid and his bounte, That ane of thame sall be worth thre Of thame that wikkid chiftane has; His wrechidnes so in thame gais, 76 That thai thair manlynes sall tyne Throu wrechidnes of his covyne. For quhen the lord at thame suld leid, May do nocht bot as he war ded, 80 Or fra his folk haldis his way Fleand, trow yhe nocht than that thai Sall vencust in thair hertis be? Yhus, sall thai, as I trow, per de, 84 Bot gif thair hertis be so hye Thai will nocht for thair worschip fle. And thouch sum be of sic bounte, Quhen thai the lord and his menyhe 88 Seis fle, yhit sall thai fle a-payn; For all men fleis the ded richt fayn. Se quhat he dois, that swa fowly Fleis thus for his cowardy! 92 Bath him and his, vencust is he, And gerris his fayis abovin be. Bot he that, throu his gret nobillay, To perellis him abawndonys ay 96 For to reconfort his menyhe, Gerris thame be of so gret bounte, That mony tym unlikly thing Thai bring richt weill to gud ending. 100

So did this King that I of reid, And, for his outrageous manheid, Confortit his men on sic maneir, That nane had radnes quhar he wer. 104 *Thai wald nocht ficht quhill that he wes Liand in-till sic seiknes; Tharfor in littar thai him lay, And till the Slevach held their way, And thoucht thair in that strinth to ly, 108 Till passit war his malady.

Here the Earl of Buchan gathers against the King.

[Sidenote: NOV.-DEC. 1307] Skirmishing at Slevach]

Bot fra the Erll of Bouchane Wist that thai war thiddir gane, And wist that swa seik wes the King 112 That men doutit of his coveryng, He send eftir his men in hy, And assemblit gret cumpany. For all his awne men war thar, 116 And als frendis with him war; That wes Schir Johne the Mowbray, And his brothir, as I herd say, And als Schir David of Brechyne, 120 With fele folk in thair leding. And quhan thai all assemblit war, In hy thai tuk thair way till fair To the Slevach, with all thar men, 124 For till assaill the King, that then Wes liand in-till his seiknes. This was eftir the Martymes, Quhen snaw had helit all the land. 128 To the Slevach thai com neirhand, Arayit on thair best maneir. And than the Kingis men, that wer War of thair com, thame apparalit 132 Till defend, gif thai thame assalit. And nocht-for-thi thair fayis war Ay twa for ane that thai war thair. The Erlis men neir cumande war, 136 Trumpand and makand mekill fair, And maid knychtis quhen thai war neir. And thai, that in the wodsyde weir, Stude in aray richt sarraly, 140 And thoucht to byde thair hardely The cummyng of thair enymys. Bot thai wald apon nakyn wis Ysche till assale thame in fichting, 144 Till coverit war the nobill Kyng. Bot gif othir wald thame assalyhe, Thai wald defend, avalyhe que valyhe.

[147: E vailyhe quod vailyhe.]

And quhen the Erlis cumpany 148 Saw that thai wroucht so besaly, That thai that strinth schup to defend, Thair archaris furth to thame thai send To bykkir thame, as men of mayn. 152 And thai send archaris thame agayn, That bykkirrit thame so sturdely, Till thai of the Erlis party In-to thair battale withdrawin war. 156 Thre dayis on this wis lay thai thar, And bikkirrit thame evirilke day: Bot thar bowmen the wer had ay. And quhen the Kingis cumpany 160 Saw thair fayis befor thame ly, That ilka day wox ma and ma, And thai war quhoyn, and stad war swa That thai had no-thing for to et, 164 Bot gif thai travalit it to get, Tharfor thai tuk consale in hy That thai wald thar no langer ly, Bot hald thair way quhar thai mycht get, 168 Till thaim and thairis vittale and met.

In a littar the Kyng thai lay, And redyit thame and held thar way, That all thair fayis mycht thame se; 172 Ilk man buskit in his degre, To ficht gif thai assalyheit war. In myddis thame the King thai bair, And yheid about hym sarraly, 176 And nocht full gretly can thame hy. The Erll, and thai that with him war, Saw that thai buskit thame to fair; And saw how with so litill affray 180 Thai held furth with the King thar way, Reddy to ficht quha walde assale, Thair hertis all begouth to fale, And in pes let thame pas thar way, 184 And till thair hous hame went thai.

How the King discomfited at Inverury The Earl of Buchan shamefully.

[Sidenote: DEC. 23, 1307] Brechin attacks at Inverury]

The Erll his way tuk to Bouchane; And Schir Edward the Broys is gane Richt to Strabogy, with the Kyng; 188 And swa lang thair maid sojornyng, Till he begouth to cover and ga, And syne thair wayis can thai ta Till Enverrowry straucht agane; 192 For thai wald ly in-till the plane, The wyntir sesoune; for vittale In-to the playn mycht nocht thame fale. The Erll wist that thai war thar, 196 And gaderit his menyhe heir and thar, Brechyne, Mowbra, and thair men, All to the Erll assemblit then, And war a full gret cumpany 200 Of men arayit jolely. Till Ald Meldrom thai held the way, And thar with thair men lugit thai, Before Yhoill-evyn ane nycht bot mair; 204 And thousand, trow I weill, thai war. Thai lugit thame all thair that nycht; And on the morn, quhen day wes licht, The lord of Brechine, Schir Davy, 208 Is went towart Inverrowry, To luk gyff he on ony wys Mycht do skaith till his ennemys. In-to the end of Enverrowry 212 He com ridand so suddandly, That of the Kingis men he slew A part, and othir-sum thaim withdrew, And fled thair way toward the King, 216 That, with the mast of his gaderyng, On yhond half doun wes than lyand. And quhen men tald him the tithand, How Schir David had slayn his men, 220 His hors in hy he askit then, And bad his men all mak thame yhare In-to gret hy, for he wald fare To bargane with his enymys. 224 With that he buskit for to ris, That wes nocht all weill coverit then. Then said sum of his preve men; “Quhat think yhe, Schir, thusgat to fair 228 “To ficht, and yheit nocht coverit ar?” ‘Yhis,’ said the Kyng, ‘forouten wer; ‘Thair bost has maid me haill and fer. ‘For suld no medicine so soyne 232 ‘Haff coverit me, as thai haf done. ‘Tharfor, sa God him-self me se! ‘I sall outhir haf thaim, or thai me.’ And quhen his men has herd the King 236 Set him so haill for the fechting, Of his covering all blith thai war, And maid thame for the battale yhar.

[210, 211: C omits; in E and H.]

Here the Earl of Buchan flies, and Sir David Brechin yields himself to the King.

The nobill King ande his menyhe, 240 That mycht weill neir sevin hundreth be, Toward Ald Meldrome tuk the way, Quhar the Erll and his menyhe lay. The discurrouris saw thame comande 244 With baneris to the wynd wafand; And tald it to thar lord in hy, That gert arm his men hastely, And thame arayit for battale. 248 Behynd thame set thai thar merdale, And maid gude sembland for the ficht. The King com on with mekill mycht; And thai abaid, makand gret fair, 252 Till thai neir at assemble war. Bot quhen thai saw the nobill King Cum stoutly on without stinting, A litill on bridill thai thaim with-drew; 256 And the King, that rycht weill knew That thai war all discumfit neir, Pressit on thame with his baneir; And thai with-drew thaim mair and mair. 260 And quhen the small folk thai had thar, Saw thair lordis with-draw thame swa, Thai turnit thar bak all, and to-ga; And fled all scalit heir and thair. 264 The lordis, that yheit to-giddir war, Saw that thair small folk war fleand, And saw the Kyng stoutly cumand, Thai war ilkane abasit swa, 268 That thai the bakkis gaf, and to-ga. A litill stound sammyn held thai, And syne ilk man has tane his way.

[257: E gives rycht (S). C has thame.]

[Sidenote: DEC. 23, 1307] Buchan is Defeated]

Fell nevir men so foull myschans 272 Eftir so sturdy cuntyrnans. For quhen the Kyngis cumpany Saw at thai fled so fowlely, Thai chasyt thame with all thar mayn, 276 And sum thai tuk, and sum war slayn. The remanand war fleand ay; Quha had gud hors gat best away! Till Ingland fled the Erll of Bouchane, 280 Schir Johne Mowbray is with him gane, And war resettit with the King. Bot thai had bath bot schort lesting, For thai deit soyn eftir syne. 284 And Schir David of Brechyne Fled to Brechine, his awn castele, And warnyst it bath fair and wele. Bot the Erll of Adell Davy, 288 His sone that wes in Kyldromy, Com syne, and him assegit thar. And he, that wald hald weyr no mair, Nor bargane with the nobill Kyng, 292 Com syne his man with gud treting.

Here the King burns all Buchan, and gets the Castle of Forfar and destroys it.

Now ga we to the King agane, That of his victor wes richt fane, And gert his men burn all Bouchane 296 Fra end till end, and sparit nane; And heryit thame on sic maneir, That eftir that, weile fifty yheir, Men menyt “the heirschip of Bouchane.” 300 The King than till his pes has tane The north cuntre, that humylly Obeysit till his senyhory. Swa that be north the Month war nane 304 That thai ne war his men ilkane. His lordschip wox ay mair and mair. Toward Angus than couth he fair, And thoucht soyn to mak all fre 308 Apon north half the Scottis Se. The castell of Forfer wes then Stuffit all with Inglis men. Bot Philip the Forster of Platan 312 Has of his frendis with him tane, And with ledderis all prevely To the castell he can hym hy, And clam out-our the wall of stane, 316 And swagat has the castell tan, Throu falt of wach, with litill payn. And syn all that he fand has slayn: Syne yhald the castell to the King, 320 That maid hym richt gud rewarding, And syne gert brek doune the wall, And fordid well and castell all.

[299: C neir fifty (S). E weile.]

[309: Skeat reads Apon from All on in C; cf. lines 329, 460. E has That wes on the: H similarly.]

How Good King Robert the Bruce besieged the Town of Perth.

[Sidenote: JAN. 1313] Perth is too Strong for Assault]

Qwhen that the castell of Forfar, 324 And all the towris tumlit war Doun to the erd, as I haf tald, The wis king, that wes wicht and bauld, That thoucht that he wald mak all fre 328 Apon north half the Scottis Se, Till Perth is went with all his rout, And umbeset the toune about, And till it has ane sege soyn set. 332 Bot quhill it mycht haf men and met, It mycht nocht, but gret payn, be tane For the wallis war all of stane, With thik towris and hye standand. 336 And that tym war thar-in duelland Moffat, and als Olyfard; Thai twa the toun had all in ward. Of Strathern als the Erll wes thar; 340 Bot his sone and of his men war Without, in-to the Kingis rout. Thar wes oft bikkyrring stith and stout, And men slayn apon ilk party. 344 Bot the gud King, that all vitty We in his dedis evirilkane, Saw the wall so stith of stane, And saw defens at thai can ma, 348 And how the toun wes hard to ta With oppyn assale, be strinth or mycht, Tharfor he thoucht to wirk with slicht. And all the tym that he thair lay 352 He spyit, and slely gert assay Quhar of the dik the schawdest was; Till at the last he fand a place That men mycht to thair schulderis waid. 356 And quhen he that place fundyn had, He gert his menyhe busk ilkane, Quhen sex woukis of the sege wes gane. Thai tursit thair harnas halely, 360 And left the sege all oppinly, And furth with all his folk can fair, As he wald do thar-to no mair.

[338: C has Olifert (S), but Olifard on record as in E.]

[359: C gives owkis (S).]

Here he gets it with Jeopardy.

And thai that war within the toune, 364 Quhen thai to fair so saw him boune, Thai schowtit hym and scornyng maid; And he furth on his wayis raid, As he na will had agane to turne, 368 Na besyde thame to mak sojorne. Bot in aucht dais nocht-for-thi, He gert mak ledderis prevely, That mycht suffice till his entent, 372 And in a myrk nycht syne is went *Toward the toun with his menyhe. *Bot hors and knafis all left he Fer fra the toun, and syne has tane *376 *Thair ledderis, and on fut are gane Toward the toune all prevely. Thai herd no wachis spek no cry: For thai that war within, ma fall, 376 As men that drede nocht, slepit all. Thai had no dreid than of the King, For thai of hym herd no tithing All thai thre dais befor and mair; 380 Tharfor sekir and trast thai war. And quhen the King herd thame nocht steir, He wes blith apon gret maneir; And his leddir in hand can ta, 384 Ensampill till his men till ma, Arayit weill in all his geir, Schot in the dik, and with his speir Tastit, quhill he weill our woude, 388 Bot till his throt the wattir stude.

[*374-*377: Four lines from C and H. E omits for usual reason.]

[Sidenote: JAN. 1313] Perth is captured]

That tym wes in his cumpany A knycht of France, wicht and hardy; And quhen he in the wattir swa 392 Saw the King pas, and with him ta His leddir unabasitly, Ha sanyt him for the ferly, And said; “A Lord! quhat sall we say 396 “Of our lordis of France, that ay “With gud morsellis farsis thair panch, “And will bot et and drynk and dance, “Quhen sic a knycht, sa richt worthy 400 “As this is throu his chevelry, “In-to sic perill has hym set, “To wyn ane wrechit hamlet?” With that word to the dik he ran, 404 And our eftir the Kyng he wan. And quhen the Kyngis menyhe saw Thar lord pas our, in-till a thraw Thai passit the dik, and, but mar let, 408 Thair ledderis to the wall thai set; And to clym up fast pressit thai; Bot the gud Kyng, as I herd say, Was the tothir man that tuk the wall, 412 And baid thair, till his menyhe all War cummyn our in full gret hy; Yheit rais thar nouthir nois nor cry. Bot soyn eftir thai noyis maid, 416 That of thame first persaving had, So that the cry rais throu the toune; Bot he, that with his men wes boune Till assale, to the toune is went, 420 And the mast of his menyhe sent All scalit throu the toun, bot he Held with him-self a gret menyhe, Swa that he mycht be appurvait, 424 To defend, gif he war assayit.

Bot thai, that he send throu the toune, Put soyn to gret confusioune Thair fayis, that in beddis war, 428 Or scalit, fleand heir and thair; That, or the sone rais, thai had tane Thair fayis, or discumfit ilkane. The wardanis bath tharin war tane: 432 And Malis of Strathern is gane Till his fader, the Erll Malis, And with strinth tuk him and all his; Syne, for his sake, the nobill King 436 Gaf hym his land in governyng. The laif, that ran out throu the toune, Sesit to thame in gret fusioune Men, armyng and marchandis, 440 And othir gudis on syndri wis; Quhill thai, that war eir pouer and bare, Of that gude rych and mychty war. Bot thair wes few slayne; for the King, 444 Had gevin thame in commandyng, On gret payn, thai suld slay nane, That, but gret bargane, mycht be tane; That thai war kynde to the cuntre 448 He wist, and had of thame pite.

On this maner the toun wes tane. And syne the towris everilkane And wallis gert he tummyll doune: 452 He levit nocht about that toune Tour standand, stane no wall, That he na haly gert distroy all. And presoneris, that thair tuk he, 456 He send quhar thai mycht haldin be, And till his pes tuk all the land; Wes nane that durst him than withstand.

Here All Scots obey the King except Lorn.

Apon north half the Scottis Se 460 Obeysit all till his majeste, Outane the Lord of Lorn, and thai Of Argile that wald with him ga. He held evir agane the King, 464 And hatit hyme atour all thing. Bot yheit, or all the gammyn ga, I trow weill that the King sall ta Vengeans of his gret cruelte, 468 And that him sair repent sall he, That he the King contraryit ay, May fall, quhen he no mend it may.

Here Sir Edward Bruce is much commended.

[Sidenote: JUNE 1308] Edward Bruce is in Galloway]

The Kingis brothir, quhen the towne 472 Wes takyn thus and doungyn doune, Schir Edward, that wes so worthy, Tuk with him a gret cumpany, And tuk his gat toward Galloway. 476 For with his men he walde assay Gif he recover mycht that land, And wyn fra Inglis mennys hande. This Schir Edward, forsuth, I hicht, 480 Wes of his handis a nobill knycht, And in blithnes swet and joly; Bot he wes outrageous hardy, And of so hye undirtaking, 484 That he had nevir none abasing Of multitude of men; for-thi He discumfit commonly Mony with quheyn: tharfor had he 488 Outour his peris renowne. And quha rehers wald all his deid, Of his hye worschipe and manheid Men mycht mony romanys mak; 492 And, nocht-for-thi, I think till tak On hand off hym to say sum thing, Bot nocht the tend part his travaling.

This gud knycht, that I spek of heir, 496 With all the folk that with hym weir, Weill soyn to Galloway cummyn is, All that he fand he maid it his; And ryotit gretly the lande. 500 Bot than in Galloway war wonnand Schir Ingerame Umphrevell, that wes Renownit of so hye prowes, That he of worschip passit the rout: 504 Tharfor he gert ay ber about Apon a sper ane red bonat, In-to the takyn that he wes set In-to the hicht of chevelry; 508 Of Sanct Johne als Schir Amery. Thai twa the land had in stering, And quhen thai herd of the cummyng Of Schir Edward, that so planly 512 Our-raid the land, than in gret hy Thai assemblit all thair menyhe. I trow twelf hundreth thai mycht be.

Here Sir Edward Bruce discomfits the Englishmen at Cree.

Bot he with fewar folk thaim met 516 Besyde Cre, and so hard thame set, With hard battale in stalwarde ficht, That he thame all put to the flicht, And slew twa hundreth wele and ma, 520 And the chiftanis in hy can ta Thair way to Buttill, for till be Resavit in-to gude savite. And Schir Edward thame chasit fast; 524 Bot till the castell at the last Gat Schir Ingerame and Schir Amery; Both the best of thair cumpany Left ded behynd thame in the plas. 528 And quhen Schir Edward saw the chas Wes falit, he gert seys the pray; A swa gret cattell had away, That it war woundir for till se. 532 Of Buttill tour thai saw how he Gert his men drif with him thar pray, Bot no let set tharin mycht thai.

[Sidenote: JUNE 1308] Umfraville thinks to surprise Edward]

Throu his chevelrous chevelry 536 Galloway wes stonayit gretumly, And doutit hym for his bounte. Sum of the men of the cuntre Com till his pes, and maid him ath. 540 Both Schir Amery, that had the scath Of the bargane I tald of er, Raid till Ingland, and purchast ther Of armyt men gret cumpany, 544 To venge hym of the velany That Schir Edwarde, the nobill knycht, Him did by Cre in-till the ficht. Of gude men he assemblit thair 548 Weill fyftene hundreth men and mar, That war of rycht gude renowne. His way with all that folk tuk he, And in the land, all prevely, 552 He enterit with that chevelry; Thinkand Schir Edward to suppris, Gif that he mycht on ony wis: For he thoucht he wald him assale, 556 Or that he left, in playn batale. Now may yhe heir of gret ferly, And of richt hye chevelry. For Schir Edward into the land 560 Wes with his menyhe neir at hand; And in the mornyng richt airly He herd the cuntre men mak cry, And had wittering of thair cummyng. 564 Than buskit he him but delaying. And lap on hors deliverly. He had than in his rowt fifty, Apon gude hors armyt richt weill. 568 His small folk gert he ilk deill With-draw thame till a strate neir by: And he raid furth with his fifty.

Here he discomfits far more manfully, that is to say, Fifteen Hundred with Fifty.

A knycht, that than wes in his rout, 572 Worthy and wicht, stalward and stout, Curtas and fair, and of gude fame, Schir Alane of Catkert be name, Tald me this taill as I sall tell. 576 Gret myst in-to the mornyng fell, Swa that men mycht nocht se thaim by, For myst, ane bow-draucht fullely. Sa hapnyt that thai fand the trais, 580 Quhar at the rout furth passit was Of thair fayis, that forouth raid. Schir Edward, that gret yharnyng had All tyme for till do chevelry, 584 With all his rout in full gret hy, Followit the tras quhar gane war thai: And, before myd-morne of the day The myst wox cleir all suddanly; 588 Than he and all his cumpany War nocht ane bow-draucht fra the rout. Than schot thai on thame with a schout; For gif thai fled, thai wist that thai 592 Suld nocht weill ferd part get away. Tharfor in aventure till de He wald him put or he wald fle. And quhen the Inglis cumpany 596 Saw on thame cum so suddanly Sic folk, forouten abasing, Thai war stonayit for affraying. And the tothir, but mair abaid, 600 So hardely emang thame raid, That fele of thame to erde thai bare. Richt gretly thus stonayit thai ware Throu the fors of that first assay, 604 That thai war in-to gret affray, And wend be fer thai had beyn ma, For that thai war assalyhit swa. And syne Schir Edwardis cumpany, 608 Quhen thai had thrillit thame hastely, Set stoutly in the hedis agane, And at that cours borne doun and slane War of thair fais a gret party, 612 That than affrait war so gretly, That thai war scalit gretly then. And quhen Schir Edward and his men Saw thame in-to so ill aray, 616 The thrid tyme on thame prikid thai. And thai that saw thame so stoutly Cum on thame, dred thame gretumly, That all thair rout, bath les and mair, 620 Fled, ilkane scalit, heir and thair. Wes nane emang thame so hardy To byde, bot all comonly Fled to warand; and he can chas, 624 That wilfull till distroy thame was: For sum he tuk, and sum war slayn, Bot Schir Amery with mekill payn Eschapit, and his gat is gane. 628 His men discumfit war ilkane; Sum tane, sum slayn, sum gat away. This wes a richt fair point, perfay!

[575: C Carcat: S adopts Catcart.]

Sir Edward Bruce in a Year won Thirteen Castles.

[Sidenote: 1308] Edward Bruce subdues Galloway]

Lo! how hardyment tane suddanly, 632 And drivin syne till end scharply, May ger oft-sis unlikly thyngis Cum to richt fair and gud endingis! Richt as it fell in this case heir; 636 For hardyment, withouten weir, Wan fyftene hundreth with fifty, Quhar ay for ane thai war thretty: And twa men ar a manis her; 640 Bot ure thame led on sic maner, That thai discumfit war ilkane. Schir Amery hame his gate is gane, Richt blith that he so gat away. 644 I trow he sall nocht mony day Have will to warra that cuntre, With-thi Schir Edward tharin be! Ande he duelt furth in-to the land, 648 Thame that rebelland war warrand, And in a yheir so warrait he, That he wan quytly that cuntre Till his brothiris pes, the king; 652 Bot that wes nocht but hard fichting. For in that time thair him befell Mony fair poynt, as I herd tell, The quhilk that ar nocht writin heir. 656 Bot weill I wat that, in that yheir, Thretten castellis with strynth he wan, And ourcom mony a mody man. Quha-sa the suth of hym wald reid; 660 Had he had mesur in his deid, I trow that worthyar than he Micht nocht in his tyme fundyn be, Outakyn his brothir anyrly, 664 To quhom, in-to gude chevelry, I dar peir nane wes in his day. For he led hym with mesure ay, And with gret wit his chevelry 668 He governit ay sa worthely, That he oft full unlikly thing Brocht rycht weill to gud ending.

[666: E Lyk wes nane in his day. Neither reading is quite satisfactory. Skeat puts a comma after nane, but what, then, is the subject of wes? Is it not a suppressed relative?--that? Cf. x. 86.]

[671: C omits rycht and inserts full gud. Skeat adopts both, but one is surely superfluous.]

Here Sir James Douglas meets with Sir Alexander Stewart, Lord Bonkill.

In all this tym James of Douglas 672 In the Forest travaland was, And it throu hardiment and slicht Occupyit, magre all the mycht Of his feill fayis, the-quhethir thai 676 Set him full oft in hard assay. Bot oft throu wit and throu bounte His purpos to gud end brocht he. In-till that tym him fell, throu cas, 680 A nycht, as he travaland was, And thought for till have tan restyne In a hous on the wattir of Lyne; And as he com with his menyhe 684 Neirhand the hous, swa lisnyt he, And herd thair sawis ilke deill, And be that he persavit weill At thai war strange men at thair 688 That nycht thar-in herberyit wair. And as he thoucht it fell, per cas; For of Bonkill the lord thar was, Alysander Stewart hat he, 692 With othir ma of gret bounte, Thomas Randole of gret renown, And Adame alsua of Gordoun, That com thair with gret cumpany, 696 And thoucht in the Forest to ly, And occupy it throu thar gret mycht, Bath with travale and stallwart ficht, To chas Douglas of that cuntre; 700 Bot othir wayis than yheid the gle.

[686: E has And herd ane say tharin, “The devill!” H like C.]

[Sidenote: 1308] Randolph is Taken]

For quhen James had witteryng That strange men had tane herbreyng In the place quhar he schupe to ly, 704 He till the hous went hastely, And umbeset it all about. Quhen thai within herd sic a rout About the hous, thai rais in hy, 708 And tuk thair geir rycht hastely, And schot furth, fra thai harnast war. Thair fayis thaim met with wapnys bar, And assalyheit richt hardely; 712 And thai defendit douchtely With all thair mycht, till at the last Thar fais pressit thame so fast, That thair folk falyheit thame ilkane. 716 Thomas Randoll thar wes tane; And Alexander Stewarde alsua Wes woundit in a place or twa. Adame of Gordoun fra the ficht, 720 Quhat throu slicht and quhat throu mycht, Eschapit, and feill of his men; Bot thai that war arestit then, War of thair taking woundir wa; 724 Bot nedlyngis thame behufit be swa.

Here Sir James Douglas comes to the King with Sir Alexander Stewart and Thomas Randolph.

That nycht the gud lord of Douglas Maid to Schir Alysander, that was His emys son, richt gladsum cheir: 728 Sa did he als, forouten weir, Till Thomas Randole, for that he Wes till the King in neir degre Of blude, for his sister him bare. 732 And on the morn, forouten mare, Toward the nobill King he raid, And with him bath thai twa he had. The King of his cummyng wes blith, 736 And thankit him tharof feill sith. And till his nevo can he say, “Thou has a quhill renyit thi fay; “Bot thou reconsalit now mon be.” 740 Then to the King soyn anseurd he, And saide, ‘Yhe chasty me, bot yhe ‘Aw bettir chastyit for till be. ‘For sen that yhe warrait the King 744 ‘Of Ingland in-to playn fichting ‘Yhe suld pres till derenyhe yhour richt, ‘And nocht with voidre na with slicht.’ The King said; “Yheit may fall it may 748 “Cum, or oucht lang, to sic assay. “Bot sen thou spekis so ryaly, “It is gret skill at men chasty “Thi prowd wourdis till at thou knaw 752 “The richt, and bow it as thou aw.” The King, for-out mair delaying, Send hym to be in ferm keping, Quhar that he all a quhill suld be, 756 Nocht all apon his awn pouste.