X. Here the King passes against John of Lorn…

X. Here the King passes against John of Lorn

[Sidenote: 1308] John of Lorn occupies a Pass]

Qwhen Thomas Randol, on this wis Wes takyn, as I heir devis, And send to duell in gud keping, For the speke he spak to the King; 4 The gud King, that thoucht on the scath, The dispit and felony bath, That John of Lorne had till him done, His host assemblit he than soyn, 8 And toward Lorn he tuk the way, With his men in-to gude aray. Bot Johne of Lorn of his cummyng, Lang or he com, had witteryng; 12 And men on ilk syde gaderit he, I trow twa thousand thai mycht be; And send thame for to stop the way, Quhar the King behufit to ga: 16 And that wes in ane evill place, That so strat and so narrow was, That twa men sammyn mycht nocht ryde In sum place of the hyllis syde. 20 The nethir half wes perelous; For a schoir crag, hye and hyduous, Raucht till the se, doun fra the pas. On the owthir half ane montane was 24 So cumrous and ek so stay, That it wes hard to pas that way. Crechanben hecht that montane. I trow that nocht in all Bretane, 28 Aye hyer hill may fundyn be. Thar Johne of Lorne gert his menyhe Enbuschit be abovyn the way; For, gif the gud King held that way, 32 He thoucht he suld soyn vencust be; And hym-self held hym on the se, Weill neir the pas with his galays. Bot the King, that in all assays 36 Wes fundyn wis and averte, Persavit thair subtilite, And that he neid that gat suld ga. His men departit he in twa; 40 And to the gud lorde of Douglas, Quham in all wit and worschip was, He taucht the archaris evirilkane. And this gud lord has with him tane 44 Schir Alysander Freser the wicht, And Williame Wisman, a gud knycht, And with thame gud Schir Androu Gray: Thir with thair menyhe held thar way, 48 And clam the hill delyverly. And, or thai of the tothir party Persavit thame, thai had ilkane The hicht abovyn thair fayis tane. 52

Here the King meets with John of Lorn’s Company.

[Sidenote: 1308] The Fight for the Bridge]

The King and his men held thar way, And quhen in-to the pas war thai Enterit, the folk off Lorne in hy Apon the King rasit ane cry, 56 And schot, and tumlit on hym stanys, Richt gret and hevy for the nanys. Bot thai scathit nocht gretly the King; For he had thar, in his leding, 60 Men that licht and delyver war, And licht arming had on thaim thar, Swa that thai stoutly clam the hill, And lettit thair fayis to fullfill 64 The mast part off thar felony. And als, apon the tothir party, Com James of Douglas and his rout, And schot apon thame with a schout, 68 And woundit thame with arrowis fast. Syne with thair swerdis, at the last, Thai ruschit emang thame hardely. For thai of Lorn, full manlely, 72 Grete and apert defens can ma. Bet quhen thai saw at thai war swa Assalyheit apon twa parteis, And saw weill that thair enymyis 76 Had all the farer off the ficht, In full gret hy thai tuk the flicht. And thai a felloun chas can ma, And slew all at thai mycht ourta. 80 And thai that mycht eschap, perfay, Richt till ane wattir held thair way, That ran doun by the hillis syde, And wes rycht styth, bath deip and wyde, 84 That men in na place mycht it pas Bot at ane brig beneth thaim was. To that brig held thai fast thair way, And till brek it can fast assay. 88 Bot thai that chassit, quhen thai thaim saw, Mak thair arest, but dreid or aw Thai ruschit apon thame hardely, And discumfit thame utrely, 92 And held the brig haill, quhill the King, With all the folk of his leding, Passit the bryg all at thair ese. Till Johne of Lorne it suld displese, 96 I trow, quhen he his men mycht se, Out of his schippis fra the se, Be slayn and chassit fra the hill, And he mycht set no help thar-till. 100 For it angeris als gretumly, To gud hertis that ar worthy, Till se thair fais fulfill thair will, As to thame-self to thole the ill. 104

[72: C manfully (S), which is not a rhyme.]

[81: E but delay.]

Here the King besieges and wins Dunstaffnage Castle.

At sic myscheiff war thai of Lorne; For feill the lyffis thair has lorne, And othir sum thai flede away. The Kyng in hy gert ses the pray 108 Of all the land; quhar men mycht se So gret aboundans cum off fe, That it war woundir till behald. The King, that stout wes, stark and bald, 112 Till Dunstaffynch richt suddanely He past, and segit it sturdely And assalyheit, the castell to get. And in schort tyme he has thame set 116 In sic thrang, that tharin war than, That, magre tharis, he it wan, And a gud wardane thair-in set, And betaucht hym bath men and met, 120 Swa that he thair lang tym mycht be, Magre thaim all of that cuntre. Schir Alexander of Argill that saw The King distroy up, cleyn and law, 124 His land, send tretis to the King, And com his man but tarying; And he resavit him till his pes. But Johne of Lorn his son yheit wes 128 Rebell, as he wes wont to be, And fled with schippes to the see.

[113-115: E has--

_sturdely A sege set; and besyly Assaylit_, etc.]

[118: C is wan (S), which is certainly wrong.]

[126: E mar duelling.]

[Sidenote: 1313] William Bunnock’s Stratagem]

Bot thai that left apon the land War to the King all obeysand; 132 And he thar homage all has tane; Syne toward Perth is passit agane, To play hym thair in-to the playn: Yheit Lowdyan wes him agayn. 136 And at Lythkow wes than a peill, Mekill and stark, and stuffit weill With Inglis men, that wes reset Till thaim that with armouris or met 140 Fra Edinburgh wald to Strevilling ga, And fra Strevilling again alsua; And till the cuntre did gret ill. Now may yhe heir, gif that yhe will, 144 Interludys and juperdys, That men assayit on mony wis, Castellis and pelis for till ta. And this Lithkow wes ane of thai; 148 And I sall tell how it wes tane. In the cuntre thar wonnyt ane That husband wes, and with his fee Oftsis hay to the peill led he. 152 Wilyhame Bunnok to nayme he hicht, *That stalward man wes in-to ficht. He saw sa hard the cuntre stad, *That he gret noy and pite had Throu fortrassis that war then Governit and led with Inglis men, 156 Thai travalit men outour mesur. He wes a stout carle and a sture, And of him-self dour and hardy, And had frendis wonnand hym by, 160 And schew till sum his prevate; That apon his covyn gat he Men that mycht ane enbuschement ma, Quhill that he with his wayn suld ga 164 Till lede thaim hay in-to the peill. Bot his wayn suld be stuffit weill: For aucht men armyt in the body Of his wayn suld syt prevaly, 168 And with hay helyt be about. And hym-self, that wes dour and stout, Suld by the wayn gang ydilly; And ane yheman, wicht and hardy, 172 Befor suld dryf the wayn, and ber Ane hachit, that war scharp to scher, Undir his belt; and quhen the yhet Wes opnyt, and thai war thar-at, 176 Quhen he herd hym cry sturdely, “Call all! Call all!” than hastyly He suld stryk with the ax in twa The hede-soyme; than in hy suld thai, 180 That war within the wayn, cum out, And mak debat, quhill at thar rout, That suld neir by enbuscht be, Cum for to manteyme the melle. 184

[*154, *156: E omits. In C and H.]

This wes in-till the harvist tyde, Quhen feldis, that war fair and wyde, Chargit with corne assoverit war; For syndri cornys that thai bair 188 Woxe rype to wyn to mannys fude; And the treis all sammyn stude Chargit with froytis on syndri wis. That sammyn tym, as I devis, 192 Thai of the peill had wonnyn hay, And with this Bunnok spokin had thai To leid thair hay, for he wes neir; And he consentit but dangeir, 196 And said that in-to the mornyng Weill soyn ane fudyr he suld bring, Farer and greter, and weill mor Than eny he broucht that yher befor: 200 And held thaim cunnand sekirly. For that nycht warnyt he prevaly Thaim that in the wayn suld ga, And bad the buschement be alsua. 204 And thai so grathly sped thaim thar, That or day thai enbuschit war Weill neir the peill, quhar thai mycht heir The cry alsoyne as ony weir, 208 And held thame swa still but stering, That nane of thame had persavyng.

[192: E and H have In this swete tyme.]

[Sidenote: 1313] Linlithgow Castle is Taken]

And this Bunnok fast can him payn Till dres his menyhe in his wayn; 212 And all a quhile befor the day, He had thaim helit with the hay; Than maid he him to yhok his fee, Till men the sone schynande mycht se. 216 And sum that war within the peill War yschit, on thair awn unseill, To wyn thair harvist neir thar-by. Than Bunnok, with the cumpany 220 That in his wayn closit he had, Went on his way but mair abaid, And callit his wayn toward the peill. And the portar, that saw hym weill 224 Cum neir the yhat, it opnyt soyn: And than Bunnok, forouten hoyn, Gert call the wayn deliverly. And quhen it wes set evinly 228 Betuix the chekys of the yhet, Swa that men mycht it spar na gat, He cryit, “Theif! Call all! Call all!” And he than leyt the gadwand fall, 232 And hewit in twa the soym in hy. Bunnok with that deliverly Raucht till the portar sic ane rout That blude and harnys bath com out. 236 And thai that war within the wayn Lap out belif, and soyn has slayn Men of the castell that war by. Than in a quhill begouth the cry: 240 And thai that neir enbuschit war Lap out, and com with swerdis bar, And tuk the castell all but payn, And thame that tharin wes has slayn. 244 And thai that war went furth beforn, Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn, Thai fled to warrand to and fra; And sum till Edinburgh can ga, 248 And till Strevilling ar othir gane, And sum in-to the way war slayn.

[230: C has And he that wald no longer let.]

How Earl Thomas Randolph became Man to the Good King Robert the Bruce.

Bunnok on this wis, wyth his wayn, The peill tuk, and the men has slayn; 252 Syne taucht it to the Kyng in hy, That hym rewardit worthely; And gert doun driff it to the ground; And syne our all the land can found, 256 Settand in pes all the cuntre, That till hym obeisand wald be.

And quhen a litill tym wes went, Eftir Thomas Randale he sent, 260 And with hym so weill tretit he, That he his man hecht for till be. And the king him soyn forgaf: Ande, for till hye his stat, hym gaf 264 Murref, and tharof Erll hym maid And othir syndri landis braid He gaf him in-till heritage. He knew his worthy vassalage, 268 And his gret wit and his avis, His trast hart and his leill servis. Tharfor in hym affyit he, And maid him rych of land and fee, 272 As it wes certis richt worthy. *For, and men spek of him trewly, *He was so curageous a knycht, *So wis, so worthy, and so wycht, And of so soverane gret bounte, That mekill of him may spokin be. Therfor I think of hym to reid, 276 And till schaw part of his gud deid, And till discryve yhow his fassoun With part of his condicioun. He wes of mesurabill stature, 280 And portrait weill at all mesure, With braid visage, plesand and fair, Curtas at poynt, and debonar; And of richt sekir contenyng. 284 Laute he lufit atour all thing; Falsade, tresoune, and felony, He stude agayne ay ythandly. He hyet honour and larges, 288 And ay mantemyt richtwisnes. In cumpany solacious He wes, and thar-with amorus. And gud knychtis he lufit ay. 292 For gif that I the suth sall say, He wes fullfillit of all bunte, And off all vertuis maid wes he. I will commend him heir no mar, 296 Bot yhe sall weill heir forthirmar That he, for his dedis worthy, Suld weill be prisit soveranly.

[*274-*276: In E, but omitted by Pinkerton.]

[Sidenote: 1314] Randolph besieges Edinburgh Castle]

Qwhen the King wes thus with him saucht, 300 And gret lordschippis had him betaucht, He wex so wis and avise, That his land first weill stablist he; And syne he sped him to the were, 304 Till help his eym and his effere. With the consent of the gud Kyng, Bot with a sympill apparalyng, Till Edinburgh he went in hy, 308 With gud men in-till cumpany, And set a sege to the castele, That than wes warnyst wondir wele With men and vittale at all richt, 312 So that it dred no mannis mycht. Bot this gud Erll nocht-for-thi The sege tuk full apertly: And presyt the folk that thar-in was 316 Swa that nocht ane the yhet durst pas. Thai may abyde thar-in and et Thair victaill, quhill thai oucht mai get: Bot I trow thai sall lettit be 320 To purchas mair in the cuntre.

[305: E in his myster.]

[316: C wes (S).]

[319: C mycht get (S).]

That tym Edward, of Ingland Kyng, Had gevin the castell in keping Till Schir Peris Lumbard a Gascoun. 324 And quhen thai of his warnysoun Saw the sege set thair stithly, Thai mystrowit hym of tratory, For that he spokin had with the King. 328 And, for that ilk mystrowing Thai tuk him and put in presoun; And off thair awne nacioun Thai maid a constabill thaim to leid, 332 Richt war and wis and wicht of deid. And he set wit and strinth and slicht To kepe the castell at his mycht.

But now of thame I will be still, 336 And spek a litill quhill I will Of the douchty lord Dowglas, At that tym in the Forest was. Quhar he full mony a juperdye, 340 And fair poyntis off chevelry, Previt, als weill be nycht as day, Till thame that in the castellis lay, Off Roxburgh and Jedworth; bot I 344 Will let fele of thame pas forby. For I can nocht rehers thame all, And thouch I couth, trow weill yhe sall, That I might nocht suffice thar-to, 348 Sa mekill suld be thair ado. Bot thai that I wat wittirly, Eftir my wit rehers sall I.

The winning of the Castle of Roxburgh by the Douglas through the Sleight of John Ledhouse.

[Sidenote: FEB. 27, 1314] The Scots are taken for Oxen]

This tym that the gud Erll Thomas 352 Assegit, as the lettir sais, Edinburgh, James of Douglas Set all his wit for till purchas How Roxburgh throu subtilite 356 Or ony craft, mycht wonnyn be; Till he gert Sym of the Ledows, A crafty man and a curious, Of hempyn rapis ledderis ma, 360 With treyn steppis bundin swa, That wald brek apon nakyn wis. A cruk thai maid, at thair devis, Of irn, that wes styth and square; 364 That, fra it in ane kyrnaill ware, And the leddir thar-fra stratly Strekit, it suld stand sekirly. This lord of Douglas than, alsoyn 368 As this devisit wes and done, Gaderit gud men in prevate; Thre score I trow at thai mycht be. And on the Fasteryn evyn rycht, 372 In the begynnyng of the nycht, Till the castell thai tuk the way. With blak froggis all helit thai The armouris at thai on thame had. 376 Thai com ner by thar but abaid, And send haly thair hors thame fra, And on range in ane rod can ga On handis and feit, quhen thai war neir, 380 Richt as thai ky and oxin weir, That war unbondyn left therout. It wes richt merk forouten dout: The-quhethir ane, on the wall that lay, 384 Besyde him till his feir can say, “This man thinkis to mak gude chere,” (And nemmyt ane husband thar-by neir) “That has left all his oxyne out.” 388 The tothir said, ‘It is na dout ‘He sall mak merye this nycht, thouch thai ‘Be with the Douglas led away.’ Thai wende the Douglas and his men 392 Had beyn oxyne, for thai yheid then On handis and feit, ay ane and ane. The Dowglas rycht gud tent has tane Till all thar speke, bot als-soyn thai 396 Held carpand inward on thar way.

[359: C has That wes a man rycht craftyus. Text from E and H (S).]

The Douglas men thar-of wes blith. And till the wall thai sped thame swith, And soyn has up thair ledderis set, 400 That maid a clap, quhen the cleket Wes festnyt fast in the kyrnell. That herd ane of the wachis wele, And buskit thiddirward but baid; 404 Bot Ledous, that the leddyr maid, Sped hym to clym first to the wall: Bot, or he wes up gottin all, He at that ward had in keping, 408 Met him rycht at the up-cummyng; And for he thoucht to dyng hym doune, He maid na noyis na cry na sowne, Bot schot till him deliverly. 412 And he that wes in juperdy Till de, a lans till him he maid, And gat him be the nek but baid, And stekit him upward with ane knyff, 416 Quhill in his hand he left the liff. And quhen he ded sa saw him ly, Upon the wall he went in hy, And doune the body kest thame till, 420 And said, “All gangis as we will. “Speid yhow upward deliverly.” And thai did swa in full gret hy. Bot, or thai wan up, thar com ane, 424 And saw Ledows stand him allane, And knew he wes nocht of thar men. In hy he ruschit till hym then, And hym assalyheit sturdely; 428 Bot he hym slew deliverly, For he wes armyt and wes wycht, The tothir nakyt wes, I hicht, And had nocht for till stynt no strak. 432 Sic melle tharup can he mak, Quhill Douglas, and his menyhe all War wonnyn up apon the wall.

[Sidenote: FEB. 27, 1314] Douglas holds the Hall]

Than in the tour thai went in hy. 436 The folk that tym wes halely In-to the hall at thair dansyng, Synging, and othir wayis playing: As apon Fastryn evyn is 440 The custom to mak joy and blis, To folk that ar in-to savite; Swa trowit thai that tym to be. Bot, or thai wist, rycht in the hall 444 Douglas and his men cummyn war all. And cryit on hicht, “Douglas! Douglas!” And thai, that ma war than he was, Herd “Dowglas!” cryit richt hidwisly, 448 Thai war abasit for the cry, And schupe richt na defens to ma. And thai but pite can thame sla, Till thai had gottyn the ovir hand. 452 The tothir fled to seyk warrand, That out-our mesure dede can dreid. The wardane saw how that it yheid, That callit wes Gylmyne de Fenis, 456 In the gret toure he gotten is, And othir of his cumpany, And sparit the entre hastily. The layff, that levit war without, 460 War tane or slane, forouten dout, Bot giff that ony lap the wall. The Douglas held that nycht the hall, All-thouch his fais thar-of wes wa. 464 His men war gangand to and fra Throu-out the castell all that nycht, Till on the morn that day wes lycht. The wardane that wes in the tour, 468 That wes a man of gret valour, Gylmyne the Fynis, quhen he saw The castell tynt, bath hye and law, He set his mycht for till defende 472 The tour; but thai without him send Arrowes in so gret quantite, That anoyit tharof wes he. Bot to the tothir day nocht-for-thi 476 He held the tour full sturdely, And than at ane assalt he was Woundit so felly in the face, That he wes dredand of his lif: 480 Tharfor he tretit thame belif, And yhald the tour on sic maner, That he and all that with hym weir Suld saufly pas in-to Ingland. 484 Douglas held thame gud cunnand, And convoyit thame to thair cuntre. Bot thar full schort tym liffit he; For throu the wound in-till the face 488 He deit soyn, and beryit was. Douglas the castell sesit all, At than wes closit with stalward wall, And send this Leydous till the Kyng, 492 That maid hym full gret rewarding. And his brothir in full gret hy, Schir Edward, that wes sa douchty, He send thiddir to tummyll it doune 496 Bath tour, castell, and dungeoune. And he com with gret cumpany, And gert travale so besaly, That tour and wall rycht to the ground 500 War tumlyt in ane litill stound: And duelt still thar, quhill Tevydaie Com to the Kyngis pes all haill, Outane Jedworth and othir that neir, 504 The Inglis mennis bowndis weir.

[471: E has be clene; cf. line 124.]

Here Sir Thomas Randolph besieges Edinburgh.

Qwhen Roxborgh won wes on this wis, The Erll Thomas, that hye enpris Set ay apon soverane bounte, 508 At Edinburgh with his menyhe Was lyand at the sege, as I Tald yhow befor all oppynly. Bot fra he herd how Roxburgh was 512 Tane with a trane, all his purchas, With wit and besynes, I hicht, He set to purches him sum slicht, How he mycht help hym throu body 516 Mellit with full hye chevelry, To wyn the wall of the castell Throu sumkyn slicht; for he wist weill That no strinth mycht it planly get, 520 Quhill thai within had men and met. Tharfor prevely sperit he Gif ony man mycht fundin be, That couth ony gude jupardye 524 To clym the wallis prevelye; And he suld haf his warisoune. For it wes his entencioune Till put him in-to aventure, 528 Or at that sege on him forfure.

[516: C has throu vietory, from which S adopts voidry = “cunning” as “a shrewd guess.” Text from E.]

[Sidenote: MARCH, 1314] William Francis offers to Guide]

Than wes thair ane William Francas, Wicht and apert, wis and curtas, That in-till his yhouthede had beyn 532 In the castell; quhen he has seyn The Erll sa ynkirly hym set Sum sutelte or wile to get, Quhar-throu the castell haf mycht he, 536 He com till hym in prevate, And said; “Me think yhe wald blithly “That men fand yhow sum juperdy, “How yhe mycht our the wallis wyn: 540 “And certis gif yhe will begyn “For till assay on sic a wis, “I undirtak, for my service, “For to ken yhow to clym the wall, 544 “And I sall formast be off all; “Quhar with a schort leddir may we, “I trow of tuelf fut it may be, “Clym to the wall up all quytly. 548 “And gif that yhe will wit how I “Wat this, I sall yhow lichtly say. “Quhen I wes yhoung this hendir day, “My fader wes kepar of yhon hous, 552 “And I wes sumdele volageous, “And lufit ane wench her in the toune; “And for I, but suspicioun, “Micht repair till hir prevely, 556 “Of rapis ane leddir to me maid I, “And tharwith our the wall I slaid. “Ane strat rod, that I spyit had “In-till the crag, syne doune I went; 560 “And oftsis com to myne entent; “And quhen it neir drew to the day, “I held agane that ilke way, “And ay com in but persaving. 564 “I oysit lang that travailing, “So that I can that rod ga richt, “Thouch men se nevir so myrk the nycht. “And gif yhow thinkis yhe will assay 568 “To pass up eftir me that way, “Up to the wall I sall yhow bring, “Gif God us kepis fra persaving “Of thame that wachis on the wall. 572 “And gif that us so fair may fall, “That we our leddir up may set, “Giff a man on the wall may get, “He sall defend, gif it beis neid, 576 “Quhill the remanand up thaim speid.” The Erll wes blith of his carping, And hicht him full fair rewardyng; And undirtuk that gat to ga, 580 And bad him soyn his leddir ma, And hald him preve quhill thai mycht Set for thair purpos on ane nycht.

[529: E H mysfure.]

[531: In C pert, E curyus (S).]

[568: E yhe think.]

The winning of the Castle of Edinburgh by Good Earl Thomas Randolph.

[Sidenote: MARCH 14, 1314] A Dangerous Climb]

Soyne eftir wes the leddir maid; 584 And than the Erll, but mair abaid, Purvait hym on a nycht prevaly, With thritty men, wicht and hardy; And in ane myrk nycht held thar way. 588 Thai put thame in full hard assay, And to gret perell sekyrly. I trow, mycht thai haf seyne cleirly, That gat had nocht beyn undirtane, 592 Thouch thai to let thame had nocht ane. For the crag wes hye and hidwous, And the clymbyng rycht perelus: For hapnyt ony to slyde or fall, 596 He suld be soyne to-fruschit all. The nycht wes myrk, as I herd say, And till the fut soyn cummyn ar thai Of the crag, that wes hye and schore, 600 Than Williame Francous thame befor Clam in the crykis forouth thaim ay, And at the bak him followit thai, With mekill payne, quhill to, quhill fra; 604 Thai clam in-to the crykis swa, Quhill half the craggis thai clummyn had, And thair ane place thai fand so braid, That thai mycht syt on anerly. 608 And thai war ayndles and wery, And thair abaid thair aynd to ta. And richt as thai war syttand swa, Abovyn thame, apon the wall, 612 The chak-wachis assemblit all. Now help thame God that all thing may! For in full gret perell ar thai. For, mycht thai se thame, thair suld nane 616 Eschap out of that place unslane; Till ded with stanys thai suld thaim dyng, That thai mycht help thame-self no thing.

Bot wondir myrk wes all the nycht, 620 Swa that thai had of thame na sycht. And nocht-for-thi yheit wes thar ane Of thame that swappit doun a stane, And said, “Away! I se yhow weill.” 624 The-quhethir he saw thame nocht a deill. Out-our thair hedis flaw the stane, And thai sat still, lurkande ilkane. The wachis, quhen thai herd nocht stere, 628 Fra that ward passit all sammyn were, And carpand held fer by thair way. Erll Thomas than alsoyne, and thai That on the crag thar satt hym by, 632 Toward the wall clam hastely, And thiddir com with mekill mayne, And nocht but gret perell and payne. For fra-thine up wes grevousar 636 To clym up, na be-neth be fer. Bot quhatkyn payn at evir thai had, Richt to the wall thai com but baid, That had weill neir tuelf fut on hicht. 640 And, for-owt persaving or sicht, Thai set their ledder to the wall, And syne Francous, befor thame all, Clam up, and syne Schir Androu Gray, 644 And syne the Erll him-self, perfay, Wes the thrid man the wall can ta. Quhen thai thair doun thair lord swa Saw clymen up apon the wall, 648 As wood men thai clame eftir all.

Bot or up cummyn all wer thai, Thai that war wachis till assay Herd bath stering and ek speking, 652 And alswa fraying of armyng, And on thame schot full sturdely: And thai met thame richt hardely; And slaw off thame dispitwisly. 656 Than throu the castell ras the cry, “Tresoune! Tresoune!” thai cryit fast. Than sum of tham war sa agast, That thai fled and lap our the wall. 660 Bot to say suth, thai fled nocht all; For the constabill, that wes hardy, All armyt schot furth to the cry, And with him feill hardy and stout. 664 Yheit wes the Erll with his rout, Fechtand with thame apon the wall; Bot soyn he thame discomfit all. Be that his men war cummyn ilkane 668 Up at the wall, and he has tane His way doune to the castell soyne. In gret perell he has hym done; For thair wes fer ma men tharin, 672 And thai had beyn of gude covyn, Than he; bot thai effrayit war. And nocht-for-thi with wapnys bar, The constabill and his cumpany 676 Met hym and his richt hardely,

[650: E clumbene.]

[Sidenote: MARCH 14, 1314] The Fight for the Castle]

Thar men micht se gret bargane rys, For with wapnys, on mony wis, Thai dang on othir at thar mycht, 680 Quhill swerdis, that war fayr and brycht, War till the hyltis all bludy. Then hidwisly begouth the cry; For thai that fellit or stekit war 684 With gret noyis can cry and rar. The gud Erll and his cumpany Faucht in that ficht so sturdely, That all thair fayis ruschit war. 688 The constabill wes slayn richt thar: And fra he fell, the remanand Fled quhar thai best mycht to warrand: Thai durst nocht byde na mak debat. 692 The Erll wes handlyt thair sa hat, That had it nocht hapnyt throw cas, That the constabill thair slayn was, He had beyn in gret perell thar; 696 Bot than thai fled, thar was no mar, Ilke man for to sauf his lif, And furth his dayis for to drif; And sum slaid doune out our the wall. 700 The Erll has tane the castell all, For than wes nane durst him withstand. I hard nevir quhar in ane land, Wes castell tane so hardely, 704 Outakyn Tyre all anerly, Quhen Alexander the Conquerour, That conquerit Babilonys tour, Lap fra a berfrois on the wall; 708 Quhar he emang his fayis al Defendit him full douchtely, Quhill that his noble chevelry With ledderis our the wallis yheid, 712 That nouthir left for ded no dreid; For fra thai wist weill at the king Wes in the toune, ther wes no thing In-till that tyme that stint thame mocht, 716 For all perell thai set at nocht. Thai clam the wallis, quhar Arestee Com first to the gude king, quhar he Defendit him with all his mycht, 720 That than wes set so hard, I hicht, That he wes fellit on a kne: He till his bak had set ane tre, For dreid thai suld behynd assalyhe. 724 Arestee then to the battalyhe Sped him in all hye sturdely, And dang on thame so douchtely, That the king weill reskewit was. 728 For his men, in-to syndry plas, Clam our the wall and soucht the kyng, And him reskewit with hard fichting; And wan the toune deliverly. 732 Outakyn this takyng all anerly, I herd nevir in na tyme gane Quhar castell wes sa stoutly tane.

[Sidenote: 1314] The Prophecy of Queen Margaret]

And of this takyng that I meyne, 736 Sanct Mergaret, the gud haly queyne, Wist in hir tyme, throw reveling Of him that knawis and wat all thing. Tharfor, in stede of prophesye, 740 Scho left ane takyne richt joly, That is that scho in hir chapell Gert weill be portrait ane castell, A leddir up to the wall standand 744 And a man thar-on clymande, And wrat owth him, as old men sayis, In Franch, Gardis vous de Francois. And for this word scho gert writ swa, 748 Men wend the Franch-men suld it ta. Bot for Francois hattyn wes he, That swa clam up in prevate, Scho wrat that as in prophesy: 752 And it fell eftirward suthly Richt as scho said; for tane it was, And Francois led thame up that place.

[742: E That is yheit in-till; but cf. line 746.]

On this wis Edinburgh wes tane; 756 And thai that war tharin ilkane War tane, or slane, or lap the wall; Thair gudis haff thai sessit all, And soucht the housis evirilkane. 760 Schir Peris Lumbard that wes tane, As I said ere befor, thai fand In presoune, fetterit with boyis, sittand. Thai broucht hym to the Erll in hy, 764 And he gert lows hym hastely; Than he becom the Kingis man. Thai send word to the King rycht than, And tald how the castell wes tane; 768 And he in hy is thiddir gane, With mony men in cumpany, And gert myne doune all halely Bath tour and wall richt to the ground: 772 And syne our all the land can found, Sesand the cuntre till his pes. Of this deid, that so worthy wes, The Erll wes prisit gretumly. 776 The King, that saw him sa worthy, Wes blith and joyfull our the laif, And to manteym his stat, him gaff Rentis and landis fair eneuch. 780 And he to sa gret worschip dreuch, That all spak of his gret bounte. His fayis gretly stonayit he, For he fled nevir throu fors of ficht. 784 Quhat sall I mair say of his mycht? His gret manheid, and his bountee Gerris him yheit oft renownyt be.

How Sir Edward won Ru’glen peel And Dundee, then Stirling, besieged well.

In this tyme that thir juperdyis 788 On thir castellis, that I devis, War eschevit swa hardely, Schir Edward the Brois, the worthy, Had all Galloway and Nyddis-daill 792 Wonnyn till his liking all haill; And doungyn doune the castellis all Richt in the dik, bath tour and wall. He herd than say, and knew it weill, 796 That in Ruglyne wes ane peill. Thiddir he went with his menyhe, And wonnyn it in schort tym has he. Syne till Dunde he tuk the way, 800 That than wes haldin, as I herd say, Agane the King; tharfor in hy He set ane sege thar-to stoutly, And lay thar quhill it yholdyn was. 804 Till Strevilling syne the way he tais, Quhar gud Schir Philip the Mowbra, That wes full douchty at assay, Wes wardane, and had in keping 808 That castell of the Inglis Kyng. Thar-till ane sege he set stythly; Thai bykkirrit oftsis sturdely; Bot gret chevelry done wes nane. 812 Schir Edward, fra the sege wes tane, A weill lang tyme about it lay, Fra the Lenteryne, that is to say, Quhill forrouth the Saint Johnnis mes. 816 The Inglis folk, that tha-rin wes, Begouth to fale the vittale than. Than Schir Philip, the douchty man, Tretit, quhill thai consentit weir, 820 That gif at Mydsummer tyme ane yheir To cum, it war nocht with bataill Reskewit, that than, withouten faill, He suld the castell yheld quytly. 824 That cunnand band thai sekirly.

Book XI

[Sidenote: 1313] The Compact about Stirling]

And quhen this cunnand thus wes maid, Schir Philip in-to Ingland raid, And tald the King all haill this tale, How he a tuelf moneth all hale Had, as it writtin wes in thair tale, 5 Till reskew Strevilling with battale. And quhen he herd Schir Philip say That Scottis men had set ane day To fecht, and at sic space he had Till purvay hym, he wes rycht glad; 10 And said, it wes gret succuddry That set thame apon sic folye; For he thocht to be, or that day, So purvait, and in sic aray, That thair suld na strinth him with-stand. 15 And quhen the lordis of Ingland Herd at this day wes set planly, Thai jugit it to gret foly, And thoucht till haff all thair liking, Giff men abaid thame in fechting. 20 Bot oft falyheis the fulys thoucht: And wis mennis etling cumis nocht Till sic end as thai weyn alwayis. A litill stane oft, as men sayis, May ger weltir a mekill wane. 25 Na manis mycht may stand agane The grace of God, that all thing steris; He wat quhat-to all thing efferis, And disponis at his liking, Eftir his ordinans, all thyng. 30

The winning of Stirling by Sir Edward the Bruce, though the Battle was set over a Year and a Day, betwixt him and Sir Philip the Mowbray.

Qwhen Schir Edward, as I yhow say, Had gevyn sa outrageous a day To yheld or reskew Strevilling, Richt soyne he went on-to the King. And tald quhat tretis he had maid, 35 And quhat day he thame gevyn had. The King said, quhen he herd the day, “That wes unwisly done, perfay; “I herd nevir quhar so lang warnyng “Wes gevin to so mychty ane Kyng 40 “As is the Kyng of England. “For he has now in-till his hand “Ingland, Irland, and Walys alsua, “And Akatane yhet, with all tha “That duellis undir his senyhory, 45 “And of Scotland a gret party. “And off tresour so stuffit is he, “That he may wageowris haf plente. “And we ar qwheyn agane so fele; “God may richt weill our werdis deill, 50 “Bot we ar set in juperdy “To tyne or wyn than hastely.” Schir Edward said; ‘Sa God me reid! ‘Thouch he and all that he may leid ‘Cum, we sall fecht, all war thai ma.’ 55 Quhen the King herd his brothir swa Spek to the battale so hardely, He prysit hym in his hert gretly, And said; “Brothir, sen swa is gane “At this thing thus is undirtane, 60 “Schap we us tharfor manfully; “And all that lufis us tendirly “And the fredome of this cuntre, “Purvay thaim at that time to be “Bowne with all mycht that evir thai may; 65 “Swa that gif our fayis assay “To reskew Strevillyng throu battale, “That we of purpos ger thame faill.”

The assembling of the English host, That with great power came and boast.

[Sidenote: 1314] The Preparations in both Countries]

[Sidenote: JUNE, 1314] The English Host at Berwick]

Till this all thai assentit ar, And bad thair men all mak thaim yhare 70 For to be boune agane that day On the best wis that evir thai may. Than all, that worthi war to ficht Of Scotland, set all haill thair mycht Till purvay thame agane that day; 75 Wapnys and armowris purvayit thai, And all that efferis to fichting. And of Ingland the mychty Kyng Purvait hym on so gret aray, That certis nevir I herd yheit say 80 That Inglis men mair aparaile Maid, than thai did than for battale. And quhen the tym wes cummyn ner, He assemblit all his power. And, but his awne chevelry, 85 That wes so gret it wes ferly, He had of mony a fer cuntre With hym gud men of gret bounte. Of Frans ane worthy chevelry He had in-till his cumpany; 90 The Erll of Hennaut als wes thar, And wyth him men that worthy war; Of Gascon and of Almanyhe; Of Duche als and of Bretanyhe He had wicht men and weill farrand, 95 Armyt clenly at fut and hand. Of Ingland hale the chevelry *97 He had thair gaderit so clenly, *98 That he left nane mycht wapnys welde, Or worthy war to ficht in felde. Of Walis als wyth hym had he, And of Irlande ane gret menyhe; 100 Of Pouty, Aquytane, and Bayon He had full mony of gret renoun. And of Scotland he had yheit then *103 *A gret menyhe of worthy men. *Quhen all thir sammyn assemblit war, He had of fechtaris with hym thar. *106 Ane hundreth thousand men and ma: And fourty thousand war of tha Armyt on hors, bath hede and hand. 105 And yheit of thai war thre thousand Wyth helit hors in plate and mailyhe, Till mak the front of the batailyhe And fifty thousand of archerys He had, forouten hoblerys; 110 With men on fut and small rangale, That yhemyt harnas and vittale He had so fele it wes ferly. Of cartis als that yheid thame by So feill that, but all thai that bar 115 Harnas, and als that chargit war Of palyheonys and veschall with-all, And apparall of chalmyr and hall, And wyne and wax, schot and vittale, Four scor wes chargit with fewale. 120 Thai war so fele quhar at thai raid, And thar batalis war ek so braid, And so gret rowme held thar charre, That men that mekill host mycht se Our-tak the landis so largely. 125 Men mycht se than, that had beyn by, Mony ane worthy man and wycht, And mony ane gayly armyt knycht, And mony ane sturdy sterand steid Arayit in-till so ryche weid; 130 And mony helmys, and hawbyrschownys, *Scheldis and speris, and pennownys, And so mony a cumly knycht, At semyt weill that in-to ficht Thai suld vencus the warld all hale. Quhy suld I mak to lang my tale? 135 Till Berwik ar thai cummyn ilkane, And sum thar-in thar innys has tane, And sum lugit without the townys, In tentis and in palyheownis.

[93: E has And off the worthyast of Bretangny.]

[*97, *98: omitted by P.]

[*103, *106: Not in E. In C. H.]

[109: C in-till playn male ... battale (S). H as in E.]

[120: E viii.: pulaile. H as in C.]

How Englishmen menaced at will The Scots and dealt their lands till.

And quhen the Kyng his host has seyne 140 So gret, so gud men, and so cleyne, He wes richt joyfull in his thoucht, And weil presumyt thar wes nocht In warld a Kyng mycht him withstand. Hym thoucht all wonnyn till his hand, 145 And largely emang his men The landis of Scotland delt he then. Of othir mennis landis large wes he. And thai, that war of his menyhe, Mannausit the Scottis men halely 150 With gret wordis; but, nocht-for-thi, Or thai cum all to thair entent, Howis in haill clath sall be rent!

In ten battles the English men Were dealt and taught to chieftains then.

The Kyng, throu consall of his men, His folk he delt in battalis ten. 155 In ilkane war weill ten thousand, That thoucht thai stalwardly suld stand In the battale and stoutly ficht, And leif nocht for thair fayis mycht. He set ledaris till ilk battale, 160 Knawyn war of gud governale. And till renownyt erllis twa, Of Glowcister and Herfurd war thai, He gaf the vangard in ledyng, With mony men at thar bydding, 165 Ordanit in-till full gret aray. Thai war so chevelrus, that thai Trowit, gif thai com to the ficht, Thair suld no strynth with-stand thar mycht. And the Kyng, quhen his menyhe wer 170 Devisit in-to battalis ser, His awne battale ordanit he, And quha suld at his bridill be. Schir Gylys de Argente he set Upon ane half, hys renyhe to get; 175 And of Vallanch Schir Amery On othir half, that wes worthy; For in thair soverane gret bownte Atour the layff affyit he.

[161: E That knawin.]

How all the noble chivalry At Edinburgh took harbery.

[Sidenote: JUNE 18, 1314] The Splendour of the English March]

And quhen the Kyng, apon this wis, 180 Had ordanit, as I heir devis, His battalis and his stering, Arly he rais in ane mornyng, And fra Berwik he tuk the way. Bath hyllis and valayis helit thai, 185 And the battalis that war so braid Departit, our the feldis raid. The sonne wes brycht and schynand cler, And armys, that new burnyst wer, So blenknyt with the sonnys beyme, 190 That all the land wes in ane leyme With baneris richt freschly flawmand, And pensalis to the wynd waffand, So fele thai war of ser quyntis, That it war gret slicht to devis. 195 For suld I tell all thar effer, Thair countynans and thar maner, Thouch I couth, I suld cummerryt be. The King, with all that gret menyhe, Till Edinburgh he raid on rycht. 200 Thai war all out to fele to ficht With few folk of ane sympill land; Bot quhar God helpis quhat may withstand?

[191: C felde (S). E H land.]

How in this time assembled then, To King Robert have certain men.

The Kyng Robert, quhen he herd say That Inglis men in sic aray 205 And in-to sa gret quantite, Com in his land, in hy gert he His men be summond generaly; And thai come all full willfully To the Torwod, quhar at the Kyng 210 Had ordanit to mak thar meting. Schir Edward the Bruce, that wes worthy, Com with a full gret cumpany Of gud men, armyt weill and dicht, Hardy and forsy for the ficht. 215 Waltir, Steward of Scotland, syne, That than wes bot ane berdlas hyne, Com with a rout of nobill men, That all be contynans mycht ken. And the gud lord Dowglas alswa 220 Brocht with him men, I undir-ta, That weill war oysit in fichting; Thai sall the les haf abaysing, Giff men betyd in thrang to be; And avantage sall tytar se 225 For till stonay thar fayis mycht, Than men that oysis nocht to ficht. The Erll of Murreff, with his men Arrayit weill, com alsua then In-to gud covyne for to ficht, 230 In gret will to maynteyme thar rycht; With othir mony gud baroune, And knychtis of full gret renoune, Com with thair men full stalwardly. Quhen thai assemblit halely, 235 Of fechtand men I trow thai ware Thretty thousand and sum deill mare, Foroutyn cariage and pouerale, That yhemyt harnas and vittale.

[235: C has assemblit worthely (S). H hailly, as in E.]

Our all the host than yheid the Kyng, 240 And beheld to thair contenyng, And saw thame of full fair effer; Of hardy contynans thai wer, Be liklynes the mast cowart Semyt till do richt weill his part. 245 The King has seyn all thair having, That knew hym weill in-to sic thing, And saw thame all comonly Of sekyr contynans and hardy, Forouten effray or abaysyng. 250 In his hert had he gret liking. And thoucht that men of sa gret will, Gif thai wald set thair mycht thair-till, Suld be full hard till wyn, perfay. Ay as he met thame in the way, 255 He welcummyt thame with gladsum fair, Spekand gud wordis heir and thair. And thai, that thar lord so mekly Saw welcum thame and so hamly, Joyfull thai war, and thoucht at thai 260 Micht weill put thame in-till assay Of hard fechting in stalwart stour, For till maynteym weill his honour.

[259: E hamly. H hamely. C myldly (S).]

The parting of the Scots men, That in four battles dealt were then.

[Sidenote: JUNE, 1314] Bruce explains his Plan]

The worthy Kyng, quhen he has seyn His host assemblit all bedeyn, 265 And saw thame wilfull to fulfill His liking, with gud hert and will; And to maynteym weill thair franchis, He wes rejosit on mony wis; And callit all his consell preve, 270 And said thame; “Lordingis, now yhe se “That Inglis men with mekill mycht “Has all disponit thame for the ficht; “For thai yhon castell wald reskew. “Tharfor is gud we ordane now 275 “How we may let thame of purpos, “And swa to thame the wayis clos “That thai pas nocht but gret lettyng. “We haf heir with us at byddyng “Weill thretty thousand men and ma. 280 “Mak we four battalis of all thai; “And ordane us on sic maner, “That, quhen our fayis cummys neir, “We till the New Park hald our way; “For thair behufis thaim pas, perfay, 285 “Bot gif that thai beneth us ga “And our the marras pas, and swa “We sall be at avantage thair. “For me think that richt speidfull war “To gang on fut to this fechting, 290 “Armyt bot in-to licht armyng; “For schupe we us on hors to ficht, “Syn our fayis ar mar of mycht, “And bettir horsit than ar we, “We suld in-to gret perell be. 295 “And gif we fecht on fut, perfay, “At avantage we sall be ay; “For in the park emang the treis, “The hors men alwais cummerit beis. “And the sykis alswa thair doune, 300 “Sall put thame to confusioune.”

[285: E nede away. C neidwais gay. Reading from H (S).]

[287: E passand. There is a difficulty in either reading.]

All thai consentit to that saw, And than, in-till ane litill thraw, Thair four battalis ordanit thai. And to the Erll Thomas, perfay, 305 He gaf the vaward in leding; For in his nobill governyng And in his hye chevelry Thai assoueryt rycht soveranly. And, for to maynteym his baner, 310 Lordis, that of gret worschip wer, War assignit with thair menyhe, In-till his battale for till be. The tothir battale wes gevin to lede Till hym that douchty wes of dede, 315 And prisit of gret chevelry, That wes Schir Edward the worthy; I trow he sall manteyme him swa That, how sa evir the gammyn ga, His fayis to plenyhe sall mater haf. 320 And syne the thrid battale he gaf To Waltir Stewart for to leid, And till Dowglas douchty of deid. Thai war cosyngis in neir degre, Tharfor till hym betaucht wes he, 325 For he wes yhoung; but nocht-for-thi I trow he sall sa manfully Do his devour, and wirk so weill, That hym sall neyd no mar yheymseill. The ferd battalle the nobill Kyng 330 Tuk till hym-self in governyng, And had in-till his cumpany The men of Carryk all halely, And of Argile and of Kentyre, And of the Ilis, quhar-off wes syre 335 Angus of Ile, and But, all tha. He of the playne-land had alsua Of armyt men ane mekill rout; His battale stalward wes and stout. He said the rerward he wald ma, 340 And evyn forrouth hym suld ga The vaward, and on athir hand The tothir battalis suld be gangand Behynd, on syde a litell space: And the Kyng, that behynd thaim was, 345 Suld se quhar thair war mast mystir, And relief thaim with his baneir.

[309: C Thai had assouerans, trast trewly! (S). H Thai had affiance soverainely.]

[326: C and nocht (S).]

[336: C of Ilis (S). He was “of Islay.”]

How King Robert gart pots make And cover them well, I undertake.

[Sidenote: JUNE 21, 1314] The Scots march to the New Park]

The King thus, that wes wicht and wis, And richt worthy at all devis, And hardy als atour all thing, 350 Ordanit his men for the fechting. And on the morn, on Settirday, The King herd his discurrouris say That Inglis men with mekill mycht Had lyin at Edinburgh that nycht. 355 Tharfor, forouten mair delay, He to the New Park held his way With all that in his leding war, And in the Park thame herbryit thar. And in ane playne feld, by the way, 360 Quhar he thoucht neid behufit away The Inglis men, gif that thai wald Throw the Park to the castell hald, He gert men mony pottis ma, Of a fut breid round, and all tha 365 War deip up till ane manis kne, Swa thik, that thai mycht liknyt be Till ane wax-cayme that beis mais. All that nycht travaland he was; Swa that, or day wes, he had maid 370 Thai pottis, and thame helit had With stikis and with gyrs al greyne, Swa that thai mycht nocht weill be seyne.

[350: E omits. In C and H. E gives after line 351 In gud aray in alkin thing.]

On Sonday than in the mornyng, Weill soyn eftir the sonne-rising, 375 Thai herd the mes full reverently. And mony shraf thame devotly, That thoucht till de in that melle, Or than to mak thar cuntre fre. To God for thair richt prayit thai. 380 Thair dynit nane of thame that day, Bot, for the vigill of Sanct Johne, Thai fastit bred and wattir ilkone. The King, quhen that the mes wes done, Went for to se the pottys soyne; 385 And at his liking saw thaim maid. On athir syde the way weill braid It wes pottit, as I haf tald. Gif that thair fais on hors will hald Furth in that way, I trow thai sall 390 Nocht weill eschew foroutyn fall. Throu-out the host syne gert he cry That all suld arme thame hastely, And busk thame on thar best maner. And quhen thai all essemblit wer, 395 He gert aray thame for the ficht, And syne our all gert cry on hicht, That quhat sa evir he war that fand His hert nocht sekir for till stand To wyn all or de with honour, 400 For to maynteyme that stalward stour, That he be tyme suld tak his way; And nane suld duell with him bot thai That wald stand with him to the end, And tak the ure that God wald send. 405 Then all ansuerd with a cry, And with a voce said generaly; That nane for dout of dede suld fale, Quhill discumfit war the battale.

[376: E thair mess commounaly.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] The Camp-followers in a Valley]

Qwhen the gud King had herd his men 410 Sa hardely him ansuer then, Sayand that nouthir ded no dreid Till sic discomfort suld thame leid, That thai suld eschew the fechting, In hert he had gret rejosyng. 415 For him thoucht men of sic covyne, So gud so hardy and so fyne, Suld weill in battall hald thair rycht Agane men of full mekill mycht. Syne all the small folk and pouerale 420 He send with harnase and vittale In-till the Park, weill fer him fra, And fra the battall gert thame ga; And as he bad, thai went thair way; Twenty thousand weill neir war thai. 425 Thair way thai held till ane vale, The King left with ane clene menyhe; The-quhethir thai war thretty thowsand. I trow they stalwardly sall stand, And do thair devour as thai aw. 430 Thai stude than rangit all on raw, Reddy for till byde battale, Gif ony folk wald thame assale.

How the King bad the Earl Murray To keep beside the Kirk the way.

The King gert thame all buskit be, For he wist in-to certante 435 That his fayis all nycht lay At the Fawkirk, and syne at thai Held toward him the way all straucht, With mony men of mekill mawcht. Tharfor till his nevo bad he, 440 The Erll of Murreff, with his menyhe, Besyd the kirk till kepe the way, That na man pass that gat away, For-out debat, to the castele. And he said, that him-self suld wele 445 Kepe the entre with his battale, Gif that ony wald thair assale. And syne his brothir, Schir Edward, And yhoung Waltir, the gud Steward, And the lord Dowglas alsua, 450 With thair menyhe, gud tent suld ta, Quhilk of thaim had of help mister, And help with thame that with him weir.

[440: C said he (S).]

[443: C past (S). H sould passe.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] The Scots are Encouraged]

The King send than James of Douglas And Schir Robert of Keth, that wes 455 Marshal of all the host of fee, The Inglis mennys com to se. And thai lap on and furth thai raid; Weill horsit men with thame thai had: And soyn the gret host haf thai seyne 460 Quhar scheldis schynand war so scheyne, And basnetis weill burnyst bricht, That gaf agane the sonne gret licht. Thai saw so fele browdyn baneris, Standartis, pennownys and speris, 465 And so feill knychtis apon stedis, All flawamand in-to thair wedis, And so fele battalis and so braid, That tuk so gret rowme as thai raid, That the mast host and the stoutest 470 Of Crystyndome, and ek the best, Suld be abasit for till se Thair fais in-to sic quantite, And swa arayit for to ficht. Quhen the discurrowris has had sicht 475 Of thair fais, as I herd say, Towart the King thai tuk the way, And tald him, in gret prevate, The multitude and the bewte Of thair fais, that comme so braid, 480 And of the gret mycht at thai had. Than the King bad thame thai suld ma Na contynans that it war swa; Bot bad thame in-to commoune say That thai com in-till evill aray, 485 And confort his man on that wis. For oftsis of ane word may ris Discomfort and tynsall with-all. And throu a word, als weill may fall, Confort may ris and hardiment, 490 That gerris men cum to thair entent. And on the sammyn wis it did her; Thair comfort and thair hardy cher Confortit thame so gretumly, That of thar host the lest hardy 495 Be countinans, wald formast be For till begin the gret melle.

[453: C Suld help (S).]

How with a hundred the Earl Murray To eight hundred battle gave.

Apon this wis the nobill King Gaf all his men reconforting, Throu hardy countynans and cher 500 That he maid on sa gud maner. Thame thoucht that na myscheif mycht be Sa gret with-thi thai him mycht se Befor thame, that suld swa engreiff, That na hys worschip suld thame releif. 505 His worschip thame confortit swa, And contenans that he can ma, That the mast coward wes hardy. On athir half, full stalwardly, The Inglis men, in sic aray 510 As yhe haf herd me forouth say, Com with thair battalis approchand, The banerys to the wynd waffand. And quhen thai cummyn war so neir, That bot twa myle betuix thaim wer, 515 Thai chesit ane gud cumpany Of men that wicht war and hardy, On fair courseris armyt at rycht: Thre banrentis of full mekill mycht War capitanys of all that rout: 520 The lord Clyffurd, that wes so stout, Wes of thame all soverane ledeir, Aucht hundreth armyt, I trow, thai weir. Thai war all yhong men and joly, And yharnand till do chevelry; 525 The best of all the host war thai Off contenans and of aray: Thai war the farast cumpany That men mycht find of sa mony.

[519: E Four lordys off.]

[527: C Be.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] The English pass Murray]

To the castell thai thoucht to fair: 530 For, gif that thai mycht weill cum thair, Thai thoucht it suld reskewit be. Furth on thair way held this menyhe, And toward Strevilling tuk the way. The New Park all eschewit thai, 535 For thai wist weill the King wes thair; Beneth the New Park can thai fair, Quhill neuth the kirk, in-till a rout. The Erll Thomas, that wes so stout, Quhen he saw thame swa tak the playne, 540 In gret hye went he thame agane With fif hundreth, forouten ma, Anoyit in his hert and wa That thai so fer war passit by. For the King had said hym roydly, 545 That ane rose of his chaplet Wes faldyn; for, quhar he wes set To kep the way, thai men war past. Tharfor he hastit hym so fast That cummyn in schort tyme wes he 550 To the playn feld with his menyhe. For he thoucht that he suld amend That he trespassit had, or than end. And quhen the Inglis men him saw Cum on, forouten dreid or aw, 555 And tak sa hardely the playne, In hy thai sped thame him agane, And strak with spuris the stedis stith, That bar thame evyn hard and swith. And quhen the Erll saw that menyhe 560 Cum so stoutly, tiil his said he; “Beis nocht abasit for thair schor, “Bot settis speris yhow befor, “And bak to bak set all yhour rout “And all the speris poyntis out; 565 “Swagat defend us best may we, “Enveronyt with thame gif we be.”

[537: C And beneth, but S drops the And. E And newth. H And beneath.]

[538: E Weill newth.]

[547: E fallen.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 13, 1314] The Dusk darkens the Air]

And as he bad thame thai haf done; And the tothir come alsoyne. Before thame all thair com prikand 570 A knycht, hardy of hert and hand; He wes a weill gret lord at hame, Schir Wilyhame Dencort wes his name; He prekit on thame so hardely, And thai him met so sturdely, 575 That he and hors war born all doune And slayne rycht thair for-out ransoune. With Inglis men gretly wes he Menyt that day, and his bountee. The layffe com on thame sturdely; 580 Bot nane of thame so hardely Ruschit emang thame as did he. Bot with fer mair maturite, Thai assemblit all in ane rout, And enveronyt thame all about, 585 Assalyheand thame on ilka syde. And thai with speris woundis wyde Gaf to the hors that com thame neir: And thai that rydand on thame weir, That doune war born, lossit the lyvis. 590 And mony speris, dartis and knyvis, And wapnys apon seir maneir, Kest emang thame that fechtand weir, That thame defendit so wittandly That thair fayis had gret ferly. 595 For sum wald schut out of thar rout, And of thame that assalyheit about, Stryk stedis, and ber doune men. The Inglis men so roydly then Kest emang thame swerdis and mas, 600 That inwith thame ane montane was Of wapnys, that war warpit thair. The Erll and his thus fechtand war At gret myscheiff, as I yhow say; For quhenar, be full fer, war thai 605 Than thair fayis, and all about Enveronyt war, quhar mony a rout War roucht, and full dyspitfully-- Thair fayis demanit thaim rycht stratly. On athir half thai war so stad, 610 For the rycht gret heit that thai had Of fechting and of sonnys het, That all thair flesche of swat wes wete. And sic ane stew rais owth thame then Of aynding, bath of hors and men, 615 And of powdir, that sic myrknes In-till the ayr abovyn thame wes, That it wes woundir for till se: Thai war in gret perplexite. Bot with gret travale nocht-for-thi 620 Thai thame defendit manfully, And set bath will and strenth and mycht Till rusch thair fais in that ficht, That than demanit thame angrely. Bot gif God help thame hastely, 625 Thai sall thar fill haf of fechtyng!

How good James of Douglas asked of King Robert the Bruce Leave to go to support Earl Thomas Randolph.

Bot quhen the nobill renownyt Kyng, With othir lordis that war hym by, Saw how the Erll abaundonly Tuk the playn feld, James of Douglas 630 Come to the Kyng richt quhar he was, And said; “A Schir! Sanct Mary! “The Erll of Murreff oppynly “Takis the playne feld with his menyhe. “He is in perell bot giff he be 635 “Soyne helpit, for his fayis ar ma “Than he, and horssit weill alsua. “And, with yhour leif, I will me speid “To help him, for that he has neid; “All enveronyt with fayis is he.” 640 The King said; ‘Sa our Lord me se, ‘A fut till hym thou sall nocht ga. ‘Giff he weill dois, let him weill ta. ‘Quhethir him happin to win or los, ‘I will nocht for him brek purpos.’ 645 “Certis,” he said, “I will no wis “Se that his fayis him suppris, “Quhen that I may set help thar-till. “With yhour leiff, sekirly I will “Help hym, or de in-to the payne.” 650 ‘Do than, and speid the soyn agane,’ The King said: and he held his way. Gyff he may cum in tyme, perfay, I trow he sall hym help so weill, That of his fayis sum sall it feill! 655

[655: It in E H. C omits (S).]

Book XII

How the King slew Sir Henry Boune, With his handaxe, and struck him down.

Now Douglas furth his wayis tais, And in that self tyme fell, throu cas, That the Kyng of Ingland, quhen he Wes cummyn with his gret menyhe Neir to the place, as I said air, 5 Quhar Scottis men arayit war, He gert arest all his battale At othir als to tak consale, Quhethir thai wald herbery thame that nycht, Or than, but mair, ga to the ficht. 10 The vaward, that wist no kyn thing Of this arest na thair duelling, Raid to the Park all straucht thar way, Forout styntyng, in gude aray. And quhen the Kyng wist at thai weir 15 In haill battale cummand so neir, His battale gert he weill aray. He raid apon ane gray palfray, Litill and joly, arayande His battall, with ane ax in hande; 20 And on his basnet hye he bar Ane hat off quyrbolle ay-quhar, And thar-upon, in-to taknyng, Ane hye croune, that he wes ane kyng.

[18: C ane gay. E a litill. H a gray (S).]

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] Bruce and De Boune]

And quhen Glowcister and Herfurd wer, 25 With thair battalis, approchand ner, Befor thame all thar com rydand, With helme on hed and sper in hand, Schir Henry of Boune, the worthy, That wes ane gud knycht and hardy, 30 And to the Erll of Herfurd cosyne, Armyt in armys gude and fyne; Com on a steid, a merk-schote neir Before all othir that thair wer, And knew the King, for that he saw 35 Hym swa araynge his men on raw, And be the croun that wes set Abovin his hed on the basnet; And toward him he went in hy. And quhen the Kyng so apertly 40 Saw hym cum forrouth all his feris, In hy till hym his hors he steris; And quhen Schir Henry saw the Kyng Cum on for-outen abaysyng, Till him he raid in full gret hy. 45 He thoucht that he suld weill lichtly Wyn him, and haf hym at his will, Sen he hym horsit saw so ill. Than sprent thai sammyn in-till a lyng; Schir Henry myssit the nobill Kyng; 50 And he, that in his sterapis stude, With ax that wes bath hard and gude With so gret mayn roucht hym ane dynt, That nouthir hat no helm mycht stynt The hevy dusche that he him gaf, 55 That he the hed till harnys claf. The hand-ax-schaft frushcit in twa, And he doune till the erd can ga All flatlyngis, for hym falyheit mycht; This wes the first strak of the ficht 60 That wes perfornyst douchtely. And quhen the Kingis men so stoutly Saw him, richt at the first metyng, For-outen dout or abaysing, Have slayn ane knycht swa at ane strak, 65 Sic hardyment than can thai tak, That thai com on richt hardely. Quhen Inglis men saw thame stoutly Cum on, thai had gret abaysyng; And specialy, for that the Kyng 70 So smertly that gud knycht had slayne; Than thai with-drew thaim evir-ilkane, And durst nocht than abyde to ficht, Sa dred thai the Kyngis mycht.

[25: C omits quhen (S).]

[33: E H bow-schote.]

[57: C ruschit (S).]

And quhen the Kyngis men thame saw 75 Swa in haill battale thame withdraw, A gret schot till thame can thai mak, And thai in hy tuk all the bak, And thai, that followit thame, has slayne Sum of thame that thai haf our-tane. 80 Bot thai war few, forsuth to say; Thar hors fete had ner all away. Bot, how sa quheyn deit thair, Rebotyt fellely thai war, And raid thair gait with weill mair schame, 85 Be full fer, than thai com fra hame.

Qwhen at the King reparit was, That gert his men leif all the chas, The lordis of his cumpany Blamyt him, as thai durst, gretly, 90 That he hym put in aventure To mete so stith a knycht and sture, In sic poynt as he than wes seyn; For thai said, weill it mycht haf beyne Caus of thair tynsale evirilkane. The King thame answer maid he nane, 95 Bot menyt his hand-ax-schaft, that swa Wes with ane strak brokyn in twa.

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] Randolph’s Success]

The Erll Thomas wes yheit fechtand With fayis apon athyr hand, 100 And slew of thame ane quantite, Bot wery war his men and he. The-quhethir with wapnys sturdely Thai thame defendit manfully, Quhill that the lord Dowglas come neir, 105 That sped hyme apon gret maneir. The Inglis men, that war fechtand, Quhen thai the Douglas saw at hand, Thai wayndist and maid ane opnyng. Schir James Dowglas, be thair relyng, 110 Knew at thai war discumfit neir: Than bad he thame that with him weir Stand still, and pres no forthirmar; “For thai that yhondir fechtand ar,” He said, “ar of sa gret bounte, 115 “That thair fayis weill soyn sall be “Discumfit throu thair awn mycht, “Thouch no man help thaim for to ficht. “And cum we now in-to fechting, “Quhen thai ar at discumfyting, 120 “Men suld say we thame ruschit had, “And swa suld thai, that caus has mad “With gret travaill and hard fechting, “Leis ane part of thair lovyng. “And it war syn to leis his prys, 125 “That of sa soverane bounte is, “That he, throu playn and hard fechting, “Has heir eschewit unlikly thing; “He sall haf that he wonnyn has.” The Erll with thame that fechtand was, 130 Quhen he his fayis saw brawll swa, In hy apon thame can he ga, And pressit thame so woundir fast With hard strakis, quhill, at the last, Thai fled and durst nocht byde no mar. 135 Bath men and horse slayn left thai thar, And held thair way in full gret hy, Nocht all to-gidder bot syndrely, And thai that war ourtane war slayne. The layff went to thair host agane, 140 Off thair tynsall sary and wa. The Erll, that had hym helpit swa, And his men als that war wery, Hynt of thair basnetis in-till hy Till avent thame, for thai war hat, 145 Thai war all helit in-to swat. Thame semyt men forsuth, I hicht, That had fayndit thair fayis in ficht; And swa thai did full douchtely. Thai fand of all thair cumpany 150 That thar wes bot ane yheman slayn, Than lovit thai God and war full fayn, And blith that thai eschapit swa. Toward the King than can thai ga, And till him soyne weill cumin ar. 155 He askit thame of thair weill-fair, And gladsum cher to thame he maid, For thai so weill than born thame had. Than all ran in-to gret dantee The Erll of Murreff for till se; 160 For his hye worschip and valour All yharnit till do him honour. So fast thai ran till se hym thair, That neir all sammyn assemblit war. And quhen the gud King can thaim se 165 Befor him swa assemblit be, Blith and glad that thair fayis war Sa reboytit, as said wes ar, A litill quhil he held him still, Syne on this wis he said thame till. 170

[87: C wes (S).]

[119: C For (S). And E H.]

[121: E fruschit.]

[134: C sad (S). E H hard.]

[168: E Rabutyt apon sic maner. H similarly.]

“Lordyngis,” he said, “we aucht to luf “Almychty God that sittis abuf, “That sendis us so fair begynnyng. “It is ane gret disconfortyng “Till our fais, that on this wis 175 “Sa soyn reboytit has beyn twis.

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] The Scots determine to Fight]

“For quhen thai of thair host sall heir, “And knaw suthly on quhat maneir “Thair avaward, that wes so stout, “And syne yhon othir joly rout, 180 “That I trow of the best men war “That thai mycht get emang thame thar, “War reboytit so suddandly, “I trow, and knawis it all cleirly, “That mony ane hert sall waverand be 185 “That semyt ere of gret bounte. “And fra the hert be discumfite, “The body is nocht worth a myt. “Thar-for I trow that gud ending “Sall follow till our begynnyng. 190 “The-quhethir I say nocht this yhow till, “For that yhe suld follow my will “To ficht, for in yhow sall all be. “For gif yhe think spedfull that we “Fecht, we sall ficht; and gif yhe will, 195 “We leiff, yhour liking to fulfill. “I shall consent on alkyn wis “Till do richt as yhe will devis; “Tharfor sais on yhour will planly.” Than with ane voce all can thai cry; 200 ‘Gud King, forouten mair delay, ‘To-morn als soyn as yhe se day, ‘Ordane yhow haill for the battale, ‘For dout of ded we sall nocht fale; ‘Na nane payn sall refusit be 205 ‘Quhill we have maid our cuntre fre!’

[206: C Till (S).]

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] Bruce’s Address to his Men]

Qwhen the King herd thaim so manly Spek to the ficht and hardely, In hert gret gladschip can he ta, And said; “Lordyngis, sen yhe will sa, 210 “Schapis us tharfor in the mornyng “Swa that we, be the sonne-rysing, *212 “Haf herd mes, and be buskit weill “Ilk man in-till his awne yscheill, “Without the palyhownys arayit 215 “In battales with baneris displayit. “And luk yhe na way brek aray; “And, as yhe luf me, I yhow pray “That ilk man for his awne honour “Purvay hym a gud baneour. 220 “And quhen it cummys to the ficht, “Ilk man set his hert and mycht “To stynt our fais mekill pryd. “On hors thai sall arayit ryd, “And cum on yhow in weill gret hy; 225 “Meit thame with speris hardely, “And wreik on thame the mekill ill “That thai and tharis has done us till, “And ar in will yheit for till do, “Gif thai haf mycht till cum thar-to. 230 “And, certis, me think weill that we, “Forout abasyng, aucht till be “Worthy and of gret vassalage; “For we have thre gret avantage. “The first is, that we haf the richt; 235 “And for the richt ay God will ficht. “The tothir is, thai ar cummyn heir “For lypnyng in thair gret power, “To seik us in our awne land; “And has broucht her, richt till our hand, 240 “Riches in-to so gret plentee, “That the pouerest of yhow sall be “Bath rych, and mychty thar-with-all, “Gif that we wyn, as weill may fall. “The thrid is, that we for our lyvis 245 “And for our childer and our wyvis, “And for the fredome of our land, “Ar strenyheit in battale for to stand. “And thai for thair mycht anerly, “And for thai leit of us lichtly, 250 “And for thai wald distroy us all, “Mais thame to ficht: bot yhet ma fall “That thai sall rew thar barganyng. “And, certis, I warne yhow of a thing, “That happyn thame (as God forbeid). 255 “Till fynd fantis in-till our deid, “Swa that thai wyn us opynly, “Thai sall haf of us no mercy. “And, sen we knaw thar felloune will, “Me think it suld accorde till skill 260 “To set stoutnes agane felony, “And mak swagat ane juperdy. “Quharfor I yhow requeir and pray, “That, with all mycht that evir yhe may, “Yhe pres yhow at the begynnyng, 265 “But cowardis or abaysing, “To meit thame that first sall assemmyll “So stoutly that the henmast trymmyll. “And menys on yhour gret manheid, “Yhour worschip, and yhour douchty deid, 270 “And of the joy that yhe abyd, “Giff that us fallis, as weill may tyd, “Hap to vencus the gret battale. “In-till yhour handis, forouten faill “Yhe ber honour, pris, and riches, 275 “Fredome, welth, and gret blithnes, “Gif yhe conteyn yhow manfully; “And the contrar all halely “Sall fall, gif yhe let cowardis “And wikkidness yhour hertis surpris. 280 “Yhe mycht haf lifit in-to thrildome, “Bot, for yhe yharnyt till haf fredome, “Yhe ar assemblit heir with me; “Tharfor is neidful that yhe be “Worthy and wicht but abaysing. 285 “I warne yhow weill yheit of a thing, “That mair myscheif may fall us nane “Than in thair handis to be tane: “For thai suld slay us, I wat weill, “Richt as thai did my brothir Neill. 290 “Bot quhen I meyn of yhour stoutnes, “And on the mony gret prowes “That yhe have done so worthely, “I trast and trowis sekirly “Till have playne victor in this ficht. 295 “For thouch our fayis have mekill mycht, “Thai haf the wrang, and succudry “And covatis of senyhory “Amovis thame forouten mor. “Na us thar dreid thame bot befor; 300 “For strynth of this place, as yhe se, “Sall let us enveronyt to be. “And I pray yhow als specialy, “Both mor and les all comonly, “That nane of yhow for gredynes 305 “Haf e till tak of thair riches, “Na presoners yheit for till ta, “Quhill yhe se thame cumrayit swa, “That the feld planly ouris be. “And than, at yhour liking, may yhe 310 “Tak all the riches that thar is. “Gif yhe will wirk apon this wis, “Yhe sall haf victor sekirly. “I wat nocht quhat mar say sall I; “Yhe wat weill all quhat honour is, 315 “Conteyn yhow tharfor on sic wis “That yhour honour ay savit be. “And I hecht heir, in my lawte, “Gif ony deis in this battaill, “His air, but ward, releif, or taill, 320 “On the first day his land sall weild, “All be he nevir so yhoung of eild. “Now makis yhow reddy till the ficht. “God help us, that is mast of mycht! “I red armyt all nycht yhe be, 325 “Purvait in battale, sa that we “To meit our fais ay be boune.” Than ansuerd thai all with a sowne, ‘As yhe devis sa sall be done.’ Than till thair innys went thai soyne, 330 And ordanit thame for the fichting; Syne assemblit in the evynnyng, And swa-gat all the nycht baid thai Till on the morn that it wes day.

[*209:

_Saying that nouther life nor dead *209 To sik discomfort sould them lead That they sould eschew the feghting. In heart he had great rejoycing._ *212

These lines in H only, not in C E. They do not fit into the text. Line *212 is a doublet of 209.]

[214: C yscheill (S).]

[216: C battale (S). E bataillis.]

[234: C ilk man suld (S). E H ay God will.]

[246: C wifis (S).]

[255: C To (S). E That. H Gif.]

[256: E That deyt on roid for mankyn heid. H For to prevaile into this steed.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] The English are Discouraged]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The English encamp on the Carse]

Qwhen the Cliffurd, as I sayd air, 335 And all his rowt reboytit war, And thar gret vaward alsua Wes distrenyheit the bak till ta, And thai haf tald thair reboyting, Thai of the vaward, how the King 340 Slew at a strak, sa apertly, A knycht that wycht wes and hardy; And how all haill the Kyngis battaill Schupe thame richt stoutly till assaill, And Schir Edward the Brus alsua, 345 Quhen thai all haill the bak can ta: And how thai lessit off thair men: And Cliffurd had tald alsua then, How Thomas Randall tuk the playne With few folk, and how he has slayne 350 Schir Wilyhame Dancort the worthy; And how the Erll faucht manfully, That, as ane hyrcheoune, all his rout Gert set out speris all about; And how at thai war put agane, 355 And part of thair gud men wes slane: The Inglis men sic abaysing Tuk, and sik dreid of that tithing, That in fyve hundreth placis and ma Men mycht thame sammyn se rownand ga, 360 Sayand; “Our lordis, for thar mycht, “Will all-gat ficht agane the richt. “Bot quha sa warrayis wrangwisly, “Thai faynd God all too gretumly, “And thai may happin to mysfall; 365 “And sa may tyd that her we sall.” And quhen thir lordis had persaving Of the discomford, and the rownyng, That thai held sammyn twa and twa, Throu-out the hoost soyne gert thai ga 370 Heraldis, for till mak ane crye, That nane discomford suld it be; For in punyheis is oft hapnyne Quhill for to wyne, and quhill to tyne; And that, in-to the gret battale, 375 That apon na maner may fale; Bot, gif the Scottis flee away, Sall all amendit be, perfay. Tharfor thai monyst thame to be Of gret worschip and of bounte, 380 And stithly in the battale stand, And tak amendis at thair hand. Thai may weill monyss as thai will, And thai may als hecht till fulfill With stalwart strakis thair byddingis all; 385 Bot nocht-for-thi I trow thai sall In-till thair hertis dredande be. The King, with his consell preve, Has tane to rede that he wald nocht Fecht or the morne, bot he war socht. 390 Thair thai herbryit thame that nycht Doune in the Kers, and gert all dicht, And mak reddy ther apparale, Agane the morne for the battale. And, for in the Kers pulis war, 395 Howsis and thak thai brak, and bar To mak bryggis quhar thai mycht pas. And sum sais yheit, the folk that wes In the castell, quhen nycht can fall, For at thai knew thair myscheiff all, 400 Thai went furth neir all at thai war, And durys and wyndowis with thaim bar, Swa that thai had befor the day Briggit the pollis, swa that thai War passit our evir-ilkane, 405 And the hard feld on hors has tane *406 All reddy for till gif battale, *407 Arayit in till thair apparaill.

[342: C The best knycht of thair chevelry (S). H as E.]

[371: C Herrodis (S). Cf. Language: l.]

[395: C For in the Kers pollis ther war (S).]

[397: C Ta mak (S), where ta is clearly a slip.]

[Linenote: For 405 E has ilkane all hale.]

[*406, *407: Not in E, but in C and H.]

The Battle of Bannockburn.

The Scottis men, quhen it wes day, Thair mes devotly herd thai say, Syne tuk a sop, and maid thame yhar. And quhen thai all assemblit war, 410 And in thair battalis all purvait, With thair braid baneris all displayit, Thai maid knychtis, as it afferis To men that oysis thai mysteris. The Kyng maid Walter Stewart knycht, 415 And James of Douglas, that wes wicht, And othir als of gret bounte He maid, ilkane in thair degre. Quhen this wes done, that I yhou say, Thai went all furth in gud aray, 420 And tuk the playne full apertly. Mony wicht man, gud and hardy, That wer fulfillit of gret bounte, In-till thair rowtis men mycht se. The Inglis men in othir party, 425 That richt as angelis schane brichtly, War nocht arayit on sic maner; For all thair batalis sammyn wer In a schiltrum; bot quhethir it wes Throu the gret stratnes of the plas 430 That thai war in, till byd fichting, Or that it wes for abaysing, I wat nocht; bot in a schiltrum It semyt thai war all and some, Outane the vaward anerly, 435 That with ane richt gret cumpany Be thame-selvin arayit war. Quha had bene by mycht have sene thar That folk ourtak ane mekill feld On breid; quhar mony a schynand scheld, 440 And mony a burnyst bricht armour, And mony man of gret valour, And mony a baner bricht and scheyne, Micht in that gret schiltrum be seyne.

[431: C war rad (S).]

[438-9: C And till the battale maid thame yhar (S). H as in E.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The Scots kneel in Prayer]

And quhen the Kyng of Ingland 445 Saw Scottis men saw tak on hand To tak the hard feild sa opynly, And apon fut, he had ferly, And said, “Quhat! will yhon Scottis ficht?” ‘Yhaa sekirly, Schir!’ than said a knycht, 450 Schir Ingerame the Umphrevell hat he, And said, ‘Forsuth, Schir, now I se ‘All the mast ferlifull sycht ‘That evir I saw, quhen for to ficht ‘The Scottis men has tane on hand, 455 ‘Agane the gret mycht of Ingland, ‘In plane hard feild to gif battale. ‘Bot and yhe will trow my consale, ‘Yhe sall discomfit thame lichtly. ‘Withdraws yhow hyne suddanly, 460 ‘With battalis, baneris and pennownys, ‘Quhill that we pas our palyheownys; ‘And yhe sall se als soyne at thai, ‘Magre thair lordis, sall brek aray, ‘And scale thame our harnes to ta. 465 ‘And, quhen we se thame scalit swa, ‘Prik we than on thame hardely, ‘And we sall haf thame weill lichtly. ‘For than sall nane be knyt to ficht, ‘That may withstand our mekill mycht.’ 470 “I will nocht,” said the King, “perfay, “Do sa: for ther sall no man say, “That I suld eschewe the battale, “Na withdraw me for sic rangale.” Quhen this wes said that er said I, 475 The Scottis men full devotly Knelyt all doune, till God to pray, And a schort prayer thair maid thai Till God, till help thame in that ficht. And quhen the Inglis King had sicht 480 Of thame kneland, he said in hy-- “Yhon folk knelis till ask mercy.” Schir Ingerame said; ‘Yhe say suth now; ‘Thai ask mercy, bot nocht at yhow: ‘For thair trespas to God thai cry. 485 ‘I tell yhow a thing sekirly, ‘That yhon men will wyn all or de, ‘For dout of ded thar sall nane fle.’ “Now be it swa,” than said the Kyng. And than, but langar delaying, 490 Thai gert trump up to the assemble. On athir syd than men mycht se Full mony wycht men and worthy, All ready till do chevelry.

[447: C So plainly (S).]

[460: C Yhe sall withdraw (S); so too in H. E as in text.]

[473: E sall.]

[490: C We sall it se but delaying (S). E H as in text.]

Thus war thai boune on athir syde; 495 And Inglis men, with mekill prid, That war in-till thar avaward, Till the battall that Schir Edward Governyt and led, held straucht thair way. The hors with spuris hardnyt thai, 500 And prikit apon thame sturdely; And thai met thame richt hardely: Swa that, at the assemble thair, Sic a frusching of speris wair That fer away men mycht it her. 505 At thar metyng, for outen wer, Wer stedis stekit mony ane; Mony gud man borne doune and slane, And mony ane hardyment douchtely Wes thair eschevit full hardely. 510 Thai dang on othir with wapnys ser; Sum of the hors, that stekit wer, Ruschit and relit rycht roydly. Bot the remanant, nocht-for-thi, That mycht cum to the assembling, 515 For that lat maid rycht no stynting, Bot assemblit full hardely. And thai met thame full sturdely, With speris that wer scharp to scher, And axis that weill grundyn wer, 520 Quhar-with wes roucht full mony rout. The ficht wes thair so fell and stout, That mony worthy men and wicht Throu fors wes fellit in that ficht, That had no mycht to rys agane. 525 The Scottis men fast can thame payne Thair fais mekill mycht to rus. I trow thai sall no payne refus, Na perell, quhill thar fais be Set in-till herd proplexite. 530

[527: E frusch. H frush.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The Earl of Murray attacks]

And quhen the Erll of Murref sa Thair avaward saw stoutly ta The way to Schir Edward all straucht, That met thame with full mekill maucht. He held his way with his baner 535 Till the gret rout, quhar sammyn wer The nyne battales that wes so braid, That so feill baneris with thame had, And of men sa gret quantite, That it war wonder for to se. 540 The gud Erll thiddir tuk the way With his battale in gud aray, And assemblit so hardely, That men mycht her, that had beyn by, A gret frusche of the speres that brast. 545 For thair fais assalyheit fast, That on stedis, with mekill prid, Com prikand as thai wald our-ryd The Erll and all his cumpany. Bot thai met thame so sturdely, 550 That mony of thame till erd thai bar. For mony a steid wes stekit thar, And mony gud man fellit undir feit That had no power to ris yheit. Ther men mycht se ane hard battale, 555 And sum defend and sum assale, And mony a riall rymmyll ryde Be roucht thair, apon athir syde, Quhill throu the byrneis brist the blud, That till the erd doune stremand yhud. 560 The Erll of Murreff and his men So stoutly thame contenit then, That thai wan plas ay mair and mair On thair fais; the-quhethir thai war Ay ten for ane, or ma, perfay; 565 Swa that it semyt weill that thai War tynt emang so gret menyhe, As thai war plungit in the se. And quhen the Inglis men has seyne The Erll and all his men be-deyne 570 Fecht sa stoutly, but effraying, Rycht as thai had nane abaysing, Thai pressit thame with all thar mycht. And thai, with speris and suerdis brycht, And axis that rycht scharply schar, 575 In-myd the visage met thame thar. Thar men mycht se a stalwart stour, And mony men of gret valour With speris, macys, and with knyvis, And othyr wapnys, vissill thair lyvis, 580 Swa that mony fell doune all ded; The gyrs wox with the blude all red. The Erll, that wicht wes and worthy, And his men faucht so manfully, That quha sa had seyne thaim that day, 585 I trow forsuth that thai suld say That thai suld do thair devour wele, Swa that thair fayis suld it feill.

[544: C Quhill (S).]

Book XIII

How Walter Stewart and Douglas Came with their battle that worthy was.

Qwhen that thir twa first batellis wer Assemblit, as I said yhow er, The Steward, Walter that than was, And the gud lord als of Douglas, In a battale quhen that thai saw 5 The Erll, for outen dreid or aw, Assemmyll with his cumpany On all the folk so sturdely, For till help him thai held thar way With thar battale in gud aray, 10 And assemmyllit so hardely Besyd the Erll a litill by, Thair fais feld thair cummyng weill; For with wapnys stalwart of steill Thai dang on thame with all thar mycht. 15 Thar fayis resavit them weill, I hycht, With swerdis, speris, and with macys. The battale thair so felloune was, And sua richt gret spilling of blud, That on the erd the flus it stud. 20 The Scottis men so weill thame bar, And sua gret slauchtir maid thai thar, And fra so feill the livis revit, That all the feild wes bludy levit. That tym thir three battalis wer 25 All syde be syde fechtand weill neir. Thar mycht man her richt mony dynt, And wapnys apon armour stynt, And see tummyll knychtis and stedis, With mony rich and ryoll wedis 30 Defoulit roydly under feit. Sum held on loft, sum tynt the suet. A long quhill thus fechtand thai wer, That men no noyis na cry mycht her; Men hard nocht ellis bot granys and dyntis 35 That slew fire, as men dois on flyntis. Sa faucht thai ilkane egirly, That thai maid nouthir noyis no cry, Bot dang on othir at thar mycht, With wapnys that war burnyst brycht. 40 The arrows als so thik thai flaw, That thai mycht say weill, at thaim saw, That thai ane hydwis schour can ma: For quhar thai fell, I undirta, Thai left eftir thame taknyng 45 That sall neid, as I trow, lechyng.

[3, 4: C wes ... Dougles (S).]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The English Archers dispersed]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] Bruce brings up his Reserve]

The Inglis archeris schot so fast, That, mycht thar schot haf had last, It had beyne hard to Scottis men. Bot King Robert, that weill can ken 50 That the archeris war perelous, And thar schot hard and richt grevous, Ordanit forrouth the assemble His Marschall with a gret menyhe, Fiff hundreth armyt weill in steill 55 That on licht hors war horsyt weill, For to prik emang the archeris, And sua assailyhe thame with speris That thai no laser haf to schute. This Marschall that I of mut, 60 That Schir Robert of Keth wes cald, As I befor has to yhow tald, Quhen that he saw the battalis swa Assemmyll and to-giddir ga, And saw the archeris schut stoutly, 65 With all thame of his cumpany In hy apon thame can he ryde, And our-tuk thame at a syde, And rushit emang thame sa roydly, Strikand thame sua dispitfully, 70 And in sic fusioune berand doune, And slayand thame without ransoune, That thai thame scalit evirilkane; And fra that time furth ther wes nane That assemlit sic schot till ma. 75 Quhen Scottis archeris saw at swa Thai war rebutit, thai wox hardy, With all thar mycht schot egirly Emang the hors-men that thar raid, And woundis wyde to thame thai maid, 80 And slew of thame a wele gret dele; Thai bar thame hardely and weill. For fra thair fais archeris were Scalit, as I have said yhow ere, That ma than thai war be gret thing, 85 Swa that thai dred nocht thar schuting, Thai wox so hardy that thame thoucht Thai suld set all thair fais at noucht.

The Marschall and his cumpany Wes yheit, as to yhow ere said I, 90 Amang the archeris, quhar thai maid With speris rowme quhar at thai raid, And slew all that thai mycht ourta. And thai weill lichtly mycht do swa, For thai had nocht a strak to stynt, 95 Na for to hald agane a dynt. And agane armyt men to ficht May nakit men haff litill mycht. Thai scalit thame on sic maner, That sum to thar gret battelis wer 100 Withdrawin thaim in full gret hy, And sum war fled all utrely. Bot the folk that behynd thame was, That for thair awne folk had no space Yheit than to cum to the assemblyng, 105 In agane smertly can thai ding The archeris, that thai met fleand, That than war maid so recryand, That thair hertis war tynt cleirly, I trow thai sall nocht scath gretly 110 The Scottis men with schot that day. And the gud King Robert, that ay Was fillit of full gret bounte, Saw how that his battellis thre So hardely assemblit thar, 115 And so weill in the ficht thame bar, And so fast on thair fais can dyng That him thoucht nane had abaysing, And how the archeris war scalit then, He was all blith, and till his men 120 He said; “Lordingis, now luk that yhe “Worthy and of gud covyne be “At this assemble, and hardy; “And assemmyll so sturdely “That no thing may befor yhow stand. 125 “Our men so freschly ar fechtand, “That thai thair fais has cumrait swa “That, be thai presit, I undirta, “A litill fastar, yhe sall se “That thai discumfit soyn sall be.” 130

[109: E tynt clenly.]

[116: C That so (S).]

[127: E grathyt sua. H cumbred.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The English Van driven back]

Quhen this wes said, thai held thar way, And on a syde assemblit thai So stoutly, that at thar cummyng Thair fais wer ruschit a gret thing. Ther men mycht se men freschly ficht, 135 And men that worthy war and wycht Do mony worthy vassalage; Thai faucht as thai war in a rage. For quhen the Scottis ynkirly Saw thair fais sa sturdely 140 Stand in-to battale thame agane, With all thar mycht and all thar mayne Thai layd on, as men out of wit; And quhar thai with full strak mycht hit, Thar mycht no armyng stynt thar strak; 145 Thai to-fruschit thame thai mycht our-tak, And with axis sic duschis gaff That thai helmys and hedis claff. And thair fais richt hardely Met thame, and dang on douchtely 150 With wapnys that war stith of steill: Thar wes the battell strikyn weill. So gret dynnyng ther wes of dyntis, As wapnys apon armor styntis, And of speris so gret bristing, 155 And sic thrawing and sic thristing, Sic gyrnyng, granyng, and so gret A noyis, as thai can othir bet, And cryit ensenyheis on everilk syd, Gifand and takand woundis wyd, 160 That it wes hydwiss for till her All four the bataillis wicht that wer Fechtand in-till a front haly. Almychty God! how douchtely Schir Edward the Brus and his men 165 Amang thair fais contenyt thame then! Fechtand in-to sa gud covyne, So hardy, worthy and so fyne, That thar avaward ruschit was, And, magre tharis, left the plas, 170 And to thar gret rowt to warrand Thai went, that than had apon hand So gret not, that thai war effrait, For Scottis men thame hard assait, That than war in ane schiltrum all. 175 Quha hapnit in that ficht to fall, I trow agane he suld nocht ris. Ther men mycht se on mony wis Hardyment eschevit douchtely, And mony that wicht war and hardy 180 Doune under feit lyand all dede, Quhar all the feild of blud wes red. Armoris and quyntis that thai bare, With blud wes swa defowlit thar, That thai mycht nocht discrivit be. 185 A! mychty God! quha than mycht se The Steward, Walter, and his rout And the gud Douglas that wes stout Fechtand in-to that stalward stour, He suld say that till all honour 190 Thai war worthy, that in that ficht Sa fast presit thair fais mycht, That thai thame ruschit quhar thai yheid. Thair mycht men se mony a steid Fleand on stray, that lord had nane. 195 A! Lord! quha than gud tent had tane To the gud Erll off Murreff And his, that swa gret rowtis gaf, And faucht sa fast in that battale, Tholand sic payne and sic travale, 200 That thai and thairis maid sic debat, That quhar thai come thai maid thaim gat. Than mycht men heir ensenyheis cry, And Scottis men cry hardely, “On thame! On thame! On thame! Thai faill!” 205 With that so hard thai can assaill, And slew all that thai mycht our-ta. And the Scottis archeris alsua Schot emang thame so sturdely, Ingrevand thame so gretumly, 210 That quhat for thame that with thame faucht And swa gret rowtis to thame raucht, And presit thame full egirly; And quhat for arrowes that felly Mony gret woundis can thame ma, 215 And slew fast of thair hors alsua, That thai wayndist a litell we; Thai dred so gretly thane till de That thair covyne wes war than eir: For thai that with thame fechtand weir, 220 Set hardyment and strynth and will And hart and corage als, thar-till, And all thair mayne, and all thar mycht, To put thame fully to the flycht.

[*131-*144:

_Now ga we on them sa hardely, *131 And ding on them sa doughtely, That they may feele, at our comming, That we them hate in meekle thing: For great cause they have us made, *135 That occupied our landis brade, And put all to subjectioun: Your goodis made all theirs commoun: Our kyn and frendis, for their awne, Dispitteously hanged and drawne: *140 And wald destroy us gif they might. Bot, I trow, God, through his foresight, This day hes granted us his grace To wrek us on them in this place._ *144

From H: not in C E. These remarks seem quite out of place. The spirit of animosity is not in harmony with the tenour of Bruce’s other speeches; the language at certain points is not Barbour-like; and the whole passage is thus of questionable authenticity. See Preface, pp. vii-viii.]

[144: C For quhar (S).]

[164: C full douchtely (S). E H how, in accord with the exclamatory phrase.]

[173: E gret anoy.]

[183: E quhytys. H coates. (See note.)]

[209: E deliverly.]

[224: C thame fouly (S). H fully.]

How the Yeomen and the Poor Men made of Sheets the Manner of Banners in Support of King Robert the Bruce and his Folk.

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The Camp-followers appear]

In this tyme that I tell of her, 225 That the battall on this maner Wes strikin, quhar on athir party Thai war fechtand richt manfully, Yhemen, swanys, and poueraill, That in the Parc to yheyme vittale 230 War left; quhen thai wist but lesing That thair lordis, with fell fichtyng, On thair fais assemblit war, Ane of them-selvyne that wes thar Capitane of thame all thai maid; 235 And schetis, that war sum-deill braid, Thai festnyt in steid of baneris Apon lang treis and on speris, And said that thai wald se the ficht, And help thar lordis at thar mycht. 240 Quhen her-till all assentit war, And in a rowt assemblit ar, Fiften thousand thai war and ma. And than in gret hy thai can ga With thair baneris all in a rout, 245 As thai had men beyn stith and stout. Thai com, with all that assemble, Richt quhill thai mycht the battale se; Than all at anys thai gaf ane cry, “Sla! sla! Apon thaim hastily!” 250 And thar-with all cumand ar thai: Bot thai war yheit weill far away, And Inglis men, that ruschit war Throu fors of ficht, as I said air, Quhen thai saw cum with sic a cry 255 Toward thame sic ane cumpany, That thai thoucht weill als mony war As at war fechtand with thame thar, And thai befor had thame nocht seyne, Than, wit yhe weill, withouten weyne, 260 Thai war abasit so gretumly, That the best and the mast hardy That war in-till the oost that day, Wald with thair mensk have beyn away.

[250: C Apon thame! on thame hardely! (S). H as in E.]

The King Robert be thair relyng, 265 Saw thai war neir discomfyting, And his ensenyhe can hely cry. Than, with thame of his cumpany, His fais presit so fast that thai Wer than in-till sa gret effray, 270 That thai left place ay mar and mar. For all the Scottis men that war thar, Quhen thai saw thame eschew the ficht, Dang on thame swa with all thar mycht, That thai scalit in tropellis ser, 275 And till discumfitur war ner; And sum of thame fled all planly. Bot thai that wicht war and hardy, That schame letit till ta the flicht, At gret myschef mantemyt the ficht, 280 And stithly in the stour can stand. And quhen the King of Ingland Saw his men fle in syndry place, And saw his fais rout, that was Worthyn so wicht and so hardy, 285 That all his folk war halely Swa stonayit, that thai had no mycht To stynt thair fais in the ficht, He was abaysit so gretumly That he and all his cumpany, 290 Fif hundreth armyt weill at rycht, In-till a frusche all tuk the flycht, And till the castell held ther way. And yheit, as I herd sum men say, That of Vallanch Schir Amer, 295 Quhen he the feld saw vencust ner, By the renyhe led away the King, Agane his will, fra the fichting.

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] Death of Argentine]

And quhen Schir Gelis de Argente Saw the King thus and his menyhe 300 Schape thame to fle so spedely, He com richt to the King in hy And said; “Schir, sen that it is swa “That yhe thusgat yhour gat will ga, “Haffis gud day! for agane will I: 305 “Yheit fled I nevir sekirly, “And I cheis heir to byde and de “Than till lif heir and schamfully fle.” His brydill than but mar abaid He turnyt, and agane he raid, 310 And on Schir Edward the Brusis rout, That wes so sturdy and so stout, As dreid of nakyn thing had he, He prikit, cryand, “Argente!” And thai with speris swa him met, 315 And swa feill speris on hym set, That he and hors war chargit swa That bath doune to the erd can ga: And in that place than slayne wes he. Of his ded wes rycht gret pite. 320 He wes the thrid best knycht, perfay, That men wist liffand in his day: He did mony a fair journe. On Sarisenis thre derenyheis did he; And in-till ilk derenyhe of thai, 325 He vencust Sarisenis twa; His gret worschip tuk thar ending. And fra Schir Amer with the King Wes fled, wes nane that durst abyde, Bot fled, scalit on ilka syde. 330 And thair fais thame presit fast, Thai war, to say suth, all agast, And fled swa, richt effrayitly, That of thame a full gret party Fled to the wattir of Forth; and thar 335 The mast part of thame drownit war. And Bannokburn, betuix the brais, Of hors and men so chargit was, That apon drownit hors and men Men mycht pass dry atour it then. 340 And laddis, swanys, and rangall, Quhen thai saw vencust the battall, Ran emang thame, and swa can sla Thai folk that na defens mycht ma, That it war pite for to se. 345 I herd nevir quhar, in na cuntre, Folk at swa gret myschef war stad; On a syde thai thair fais had, That slew thame doune without mercy, And thai had on the tothir party 350 Bannokburne, that sa cummyrsum was Of slyk and depnes, for till pas, That thair mycht nane atour it ryde. Thame worthit, magre tharis, abyde; Swa that sum slayne, sum drownit war; 355 Micht nane eschap that evir com thar. The-quhethir mony gat away, That ellis-whar fled, as I herd say.

[299: E the Argente.]

[308: E Than for to lyve schamly, and fley.]

[311: C Brysis (S); y too in 165.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The Flight of King Edward]

The Kyng, with thame he with him had, In a rout till the castell raid, 360 And wald have beyn tharin, for thai Wist nocht quhat gat to get away. Bot Philip the Mowbray said him till, “The castell, Schir, is at yhour will; “Bot, cum yhe in it, yhe sall se 365 “That yhe sall soyne assegit be. “And thar sall nane of all Ingland “To mak yhow rescours tak on hand. “And, but rescours, may no castele “Be haldin lang, yhe wat this wele. 370 “Tharfor confort yhow, and relye “Your men about yhow richt straitlye, “And haldis about the Park the way. “Knyt yhow als sadly as yhe may, “For I trow that nane sall haf mycht, 375 “That chassis, with so feill to ficht.” And as he consalit thai have done; Beneth the castell went thai soyne, Richt by the Rownde Tabill thair way, And syne the Park enveronyt thai, 380 And toward Lithkew held in hy. But, I trow, thai sall hastely Be convoyit with folk that thai, I trow, mycht suffer weill away! For Schir James, lord of Douglas, 385 Com till his Kyng and askit the chas, And he gaf him leif but abaid. Bot all to few of hors he hade; He had nocht in his rowt sexty, The-quhethir he sped him hastely 390 The way eftir the King to ta. Now let him on his wayis ga, And eftir this we sall weill tell Quhat till hym in his chas byfell.

[377: E And his consaill.]

How Good Douglas chased the King of England after the Battles of Bannockburn.

Qwhen the gret battell on this wis 395 Wes discumfit, as I devis, Quhar thretty thousand thar wes ded, Or drownit in-to that ilk sted; And sum war in-to handis tane; And othir sum thair gat wes gane; 400 The Erll of Herfurd fra the melle Departit, with a gret menyhe And straucht to Bothwell tuk the vay, That than at Inglis mennys fay Wes, and haldin as place of wer. 405 Schir Walter Gilbertson wes ther Capitane, and it had in ward. The Erl of Herfurde thiddirward Held, and wes tane in our the wall, And fyfty of his men with-all, 410 And sett in housis syndrely, Swa that thai had thar no mastry. The layff went toward Ingland. Bot of that rout, I tak on hand, The thre parteis war tane or slayne: 415 The layff with gret payne hame ar gane.

[406: C Gilbertstoune (S), but see note.]

Schir Moris alsua de Berclay Fra the gret battell held his way, With a gret rout of Walis men; Quhar-evir thai yheid men mycht tham ken; 420 For thai weill neir all nakid war, Or lynyng clothis had but mair. Thai held thair wayis in full gret hy; Bot mony of thair cumpany, Or thai till Ingland com, war tane, 425 And mony als of thame war slane. Thai fled als othir wais ser, Bot to the castell, that wes ner, Of Strevilling fled sic a menyhe, That it wes wonder for to se; 430 For the craggis all helit war About the castell, heir and thar, Of thame that, for strinth of that sted, Thiddirward till warrande fled. And for thai war sa feill that thair 435 Flede under the castell war, The King Robert, that wes witty, Held ay his gude men neir him by, For dreid that ris againe suld thai. This wes the caus, forsuth to say, 440 Quhar-throu the King of Ingland Eschapit hame in-to his land.

[417: E H the Berclay.]

Qwhen that the feld so cleyn wes maid Of Inglis men, that nane abad, The Scottis men soyne tuk in hand 445 Of tharis all that evir thai fand, As silver, gold, clathis, and armyng, *447 With vessel and all other thing That evir thai mycht lay on thar hand; So gret a riches thair thai fand, *450 That mony man wes mychty maid Of the riches that thai thar had.

[*447-*450: In C H. Not in E.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 24, 1314] The Knights who fell]

Quhen this wes done that ere said I, The King send a gret cumpany 450 Up to the crag, thame till assale That war fled fra the gret battale; And thai thame yhald for-out debat, And in hand has thame tane fut-hat, Syne to the Kyng thai went thar way. 455 Thai dispendit haly that day In spoulyheing and riches taking, Fra end wes maid of the fechting. And quhen thai nakit spulyheit war That war slayne in the battale thar, 460 It wes forsuth a gret ferly Till se sammyn so feill dede ly. Twa hundreth payr of spuris rede War tane of knychtis that war dede. The Erll of Glowcister ded wes thar, 465 That men callit Schir Gilbert of Clar; And Schir Gelis de Argente alsua, And Payne Typtot, and othir ma, That thair namys nocht tell can I. And apon Scottis mennis party 470 Thar wes slayne worthy knychtis twa; Wilyhame Vepownt wes ane of tha, And Schir Walter the Ros ane othir, That Schir Edward, the Kyngis brothir, Lufit, and held in sic dante 475 That as him-self him lufit he. And quhen he wist that he wes dede, He wes so wa and will of rede, That he said, makand full evill cher, That him war levar that journye wer 480 Undone, than he swa ded had bene. Outaken him, men has nocht seyn Quhar he for ony man maid menyng; And the caus wes of his lufing, That he his sistir paramouris 485 Lufit, and held all at rebouris His awyne wif dame Esobell. And tharfor swa gret distans fell Betwix him and the Erll Davy Of Adell, brother to this lady, 490 That he, apon Sanct Johnnis nycht, Quhen bath the Kyngis war boune to ficht, In Cambuskynneth the Kyngis vittale He tuk, and sadly gert assale Schir Wilyham of Herth, and him slew, 495 And with hym ma men than enew. Quharfor syne in-till Ingland He wes banyst, and all his land Was sesit and forfalt to the Kyng, That did tharof syne his likyng. 500

[463: C Sevin hundreth paris (S). Twa E H.]

[485: C That he (S).]

[490: E H Athole.]

[493: R Camyskynnell.]

[495: E Keth. H Airth.]

[Sidenote: JUNE 25, 1314] Stirling Castle is surrendered]

Qwhen the feld, as I said air, Wes dispulyheit and left all bair, The King and all his cumpany Joyfull and blyth war and mery Of the grace that thame fallyn was, 505 Towards thar innys thair wayis tais Till rest thame; for thai wery war. Bot for the Erll Gilbert of Clar, That slayne wes in the battale-place, The king somdeill anoyit was, 510 For till hym neir syb wes he. Than till a kirk he gert hym be Brocht, and walkit all that nycht. And on the morn, quhen day wes licht, The king rais, as his wille was; 515 Than till ane Inglis knycht, throu cas, Hapnyt that he yheid waverand, Swa that na man laid on hym hand, And in a busk hyd his armyng, And waytit quhill he saw the Kyng 520 In the mornyng cum forth airly: Till him than is he went in hy. Schir Marmeduk the Twengue he hecht. He rakit till the Kyng all richt, And halsit hym apon his kne. 525 “Welcome, Schir Marmeduk,” said he, “Tui quhat man art thou presoner?” ‘To nane,’ he said, ‘bot till yhow her ‘I yheld me at yhour will to be.’ “And I resaiff the, Schir,” saide he. 530 Than gert he trete hym curtasly. He dwelt lang in his cumpany: And syne in Ingland him send he Arayit weill, but ransoune fre, And gaf hym gret giftis thar-to; 535 A worthy man that wald swa do Micht mak him gretly for to pris. Quhen Marmeduk, apon this wis, Wes yholden, as I to yhow say, Than com Schir Philip the Mowbray, 540 And to the king yhald the castele; His cunnand has he haldyne wele, And with him tretit swa the King, That he become of his duellyng; And held him lelely his fay 545 Quhill the last end of his lyf-day.

[516: C wille wes (S).]

[523: C Marmadak Betung (S), but see note.]

Now will we of the Lord Dowglas Tell, how that he followit the chas. He had quheyne in his cumpany, Bot he sped him in full gret hy, 550 And as he by the Torwode fur, Sa met he, rydand on the mur Schir Lowrens of Abyrnethy, That, with four scor in cumpany, Com for till help the Inglis men, 555 For he was Inglis man yheit then. Bot quhen that he herd how it wes, He left the Inglis mennys pes, And till the lord Douglas richt thar For till be leill and trew he swar; 560 And than thai bath followit the chas. And, or the Kyng of Ingland was Passit Lythkew, thai com so neir, With all the folk that with thame wer, That weill emang thame schut thai mycht; 565 Bot thai thoucht thame our few to ficht With the gret rowt that thai had thar, For fif hundreth men armyt thai war. To-giddir sarraly raid thai, And held thame apon brydill ay. 570 Thai war governit full wittely; For it semit ay thai war redy For till defend thame at thar mycht, Gif thai assalyheit war in ficht. And the lord Douglas and his men 575 Thoucht thai wald nocht purpos then For to ficht with thame all planly, He convoyit thame so narrowly, That of the henmast ay tuk he: Micht nane behynd his fallowis be 580 Nocht a stane cast, bot he in hy Wes ded, or tane delyverly, That nane rescours wald till hym ma, All-thouch he lufit hym nevir swa.

[581: A pennystane cast E H.]

[Sidenote: 1314] The English King escapes]

On this wis thame convoyit he, 585 Quhill at the Kyng and his menyhe To Wynchburch all cummyne ar. Than lichtit thai, all that war thar, Till bayt thar hors that war wery; Then Douglas and his cumpany 590 Baytit alsua besyde thame neir. Thai war so feill, withouten weir, And in armys so clenly dicht, And swa arayit ay to ficht, And he so quheyne and but gadering; 595 That he wald nocht in playne fichting, Assaill thaim; bot ay raid thame by, Waytand his poynt ay ythandly. A litill quhile thai baitit thar, And syne lap on, and furth thai fair; 600 And he wes alwais by thame neir; He leit thame nocht haf sic laseir As anys wattir for to ma; And gif ony stad war swa, That behynd war left ony space, 605 Sesit all soyne in hand he was. Thai convoit thame apon this wis, Quhill that the King and his rout is Cummyn to the castell of Dunbar, Quhar he and sum of his men war 610 Resavit richt weill; for yheit than The Erll Patrik wes Inglis man, That gert with met and drink alsua Refresche thame weill, and syne gert ta A bate, and send the King by se, 615 Till Balmeburch in his awne cuntre. Thair hors thar left thai all on stray, Bot sesit wele soyne I trow war thai: The laiff, that levit war without, Adressit thame in-till ane rout, 620 And till Berwik helde straucht the way In rout; bot, and we suth sall say, Thai levit of thair rout party, Or thai come thar; bot nocht for-thi, Thai come till Berwik weill; and thar 625 In-till the toune resavit war; Ellis at gret myscheiff had thai beyne. And quhen the lord Douglas has seyne That he had lesit thar his payne, Toward the King he went agane. 630

[595: E but supleyng. H as in C.]

[616: E Bawmburgh.]

[623: E Stad thai war full narrowly.]

The Kyng eschapit on this wis. Lo! quhat falding in fortoune is! That quhile apon a man will smyle, And prik him syne ane othir quhile. In na tyme stabilly can sche stande. 635 This mychty Kyng of Ingland Scho had set on her quheill on hicht, Quhen, with so ferlifull a mycht, Of men of armys and archeris, And of fute men and hobleris, 640 He com rydand out of his land, As I befor has borne on hand. And in a nycht syne and a day, Scho set hym in so hard assay, That he, with sevintene, in a bat, 645 Wes fayne for to hald hame his gat! Bot of this ilk quhelis turnyng Kyng Robert suld mak no murnyng; For on his syd the quheyle on hycht Raiss, quhen the tothyr doun gan lycht. 650 For twa contraris yhe may wit wele, *651 *Set agane othir on a quhele; *Quhen ane is hye, the tothir is law, *And gif it fall that fortoune thraw *The quheill about, it that on hicht Was ere, on force it most doune lycht; *656 And it, that wondir lawch were ere, Mon lowp on loft in the contrere. So fure it of thir Kyngis twa; Quhen that King Robert stad wes sua, That in his gret myscheiff wes he, 655 The tothir wes in his majeste. And quhen the Kyng Edwardis mycht Wes lawit, Kyng Robert lap on hicht: And now sic fortoune fell hym till, That he wes hye and at his will. 660

[643: C on (S). E H in.]

[645: E H with few men.]

[649, 650: C--

_For his syde, throu the quhele on hicht, Vencust thar fais, wes mekill of mycht._

H as in E.]

[*651-*656: In C H. Not in E. Similar rhymes occur just before and at end.]

[654, 655: C two-so (S); two only here. Text from E.]

[Sidenote: 1314] The Exchange of Prisoners]

At Strevilling wes he yheit lyand; And the gret lordis that he fand Ded in the felde, he gert berye In haly placis honorabilly; And the laiff syne that dede war thar 665 In-to gret pittes erdit war. The castell and the towrys syne Richt to the grund doune gert he myne, And syne to Bothwell send has he Schyr Edward with a gret menyhe; 670 For thar wes fra thine send him worde That the riche Erll of Herfurde, And othir mychty als, wes thar. Soyne tretit he with Schir Waltar, That Erle and castell and the laiff 675 In-to Schir Edwardis hand he gaf. And to the King the Erll send he, That gert him richt weill yhemyt be, Quhill at the last thai tretit swa That he till Ingland hame suld ga 680 Without paying of ransoune, fre; And that for hym suld changit be Bischop Robert, that blynd wes maid, With the queyne, that thai takin had In presoune, as befor said I, 685 And hyr douchtir dame Marjory. The Erll wes changit for thir thre; And, quhen they cummyn hame war fre, The Kyngis douchter, that wes fair, And wes als his apperand air, 690 With Walter Stewart can he wed; And thai weill soyne gat of thar bed Ane knaiff child, throu our Lordis grace, That eftir his gude eld-fadir was Callit Robert, and syne wes King, 695 And had the land in governyng, Eftir his worthy eyme, Davy, That regnyt twa yher and fourty; And in tyme of the compyling Of this buk, this Robert wes Kyng. 700 And of his kynrik passit was Fif yheir; and wes the yher of grace Ane thousand thre hundreth and sevinty And fif, and of his elde sexty. And that wes aftir that the gud King, 705 Robert, wes brocht till his ending, Sex and fourty wyntir but mar. God grant that thai, that cummyne ar, Of his ofspring, maynteyme the land, And hald the folk weill to warrand; 710 And manteyme rycht and ek laute, As weill as in his tyme did he!

[707: C H Six; E v.]

[Sidenote: 1314-15] The Scots abound in Riches]

Kyng Robert now wes weill at hycht, For ilk day than grew mair his mycht. His men war rich, and his cuntre 715 Aboundanit weill of corne and fee, And of alkynd othir riches: Myrth, solas and ek blithnes Wes in the land all comonly, For ilk man blith wes and joly. 720 The King, eftir the gret journee, Throu consell of his folk preve, In seir townys gert cry on hicht, That quha so clamyt to haf richt To hald in Scotland land or fe, 725 That in that tuelf moneth suld he Cum and clayme it; and tharfor do To the King that pertenyt thar-to. And gif thai come nocht in that yher, Than suld thai wit, withouten weir, 730 That herd thar-eftir nane suld be. The King, that wes of gret bounte And besynes, quhen this wes done, Ane hoost gert summond eftir sone, And went syne soyne in-till Ingland, 735 And our-raid all Northumbirland, And brynt hous, and tuk the pray, And syne went hame agane thar way. I let it shortly pass for-by; For thair wes done na chevelry 740 Provit, that is till spek of heir. The King went oft on this maneir In Ingland, for till riche his men, That in riches aboundanit then.

Book XIV

How the Earl of Carrick passed into Ireland to win it, and with him Earl Thomas Randolph and Sir Philip the Mowbray, Sir John Stewart, Sir John Soulis, and Ramsay of Ochterhouse.

The Erll of Carrik, Schir Edward, That stowtar wes than ane libbard, And had no will till be in pes, Thoucht that Scotland to litill wes Till his brothir and him alsua; 5 Tharfor till purpos can he ta, That he of Irland wald be kyng. Tharfor he send and had treting With the Erischry of Irland, That in thar lawte tuk on hand 10 Of Irland for to mak hym king, With-thi that he with hard fechting Micht our-cum the Inglis men, That in the land war wonnand then; And thai suld help with all thair mycht. 15 And he, that hard thame mak sic hicht, In-till his hert had gret liking: And, with the consent of the King, Gaderit hym men of gret bounte, And at Air syne schippit he, 20 In-till the next moneth of Maii; Till Irland held he straucht his way. He had thair in his cumpany The Erll Thomas that wes worthy, And good Schir Philip the Mowbray, 25 That sekir wes in herd assay; Schir Johne the Sowlis, a gude knycht, And Schir Johne Steward that wes wicht; The Ramsay als of Ouchtirhous, That wes richt wicht and chevelrous; 30 And Schir Fergus de Ardrossane, And othir knychtis mony ane.

In Wokingis Fyrth arivit thai Saufly, but bargane or assay, And send thair schippis home ilkane. 35 A gret thing have thai undertane, That with sa quheyne as thai war thar, That wes sex thousand men but mar, Schupe for to warray all Irland, Quhar thai sall se mony thousand 40 Cum armyt on thame for to ficht. Bot thouch thai quheyne war, thai war wicht, And, for-outen dreid or effray, In twa battelis thai tuk the way Toward Cragfergus it to se. 45 Bot the lordis of that cuntre, Maundwell, Byset, and Logane, Thar men assemblit evirilkane; The Savagis wes alsua thair. And quhen thai all assemblit war, 50 Thai war weill neir tuenty thousand. Quhen thai wist that in-till thar land Sic a menyhe arivit war, With all the folk that thai had thar Thai went toward thame in gret hy. 55 And fra Schir Edward wist suthly That neir till him cumand war thai, His men he gert richt weill aray. The vaward had the Erll Thomas, And in the rerward Schir Edward was. 60

[33: C Wavering Fyrth (S). Wolyngs H.]

[49: C De Savagis (S).]

The first battle that Sir Edward Won in Ireland, with fighting hard.

[Sidenote: 1315] The Flower of Ulster defeated]

Thar fais approchit to the fichting, And thai met thame but abaysing. Thar mycht men se a gret melle For Erll Thomas and his menyhe Dang on thair fais sa douchtely, 65 That in schort tym men mycht se ly Ane hundreth that all bludy war. For hobynis, that war stekit thar, Rerit, and flang, and gret rowme maid, And kest thame that apon thame raid. 70 And Schir Edwardis cumpany Assemblit syne so hardely That thai thar fais ruschit all. Quha hapnyt in that ficht to fall, It wes perell of his risyng. 75 The Scottis men in that fechting Swa apertly and weille thame bar, That thair fayis swa ruschit war, That thai haly the flicht has tane. In that battale wes tane or slane 80 All hale the flour of Ullister. The Erll of Murreff gret pris had ther; For his richt worthy chevelry Confortit all his cumpany. That wes a full fair begynnyng; 85 For, newlyngis at thair arivyng, In playne ficht thai discomfit thar Thar fais, that ay fowr for ane war. Syne to Cragfergus ar thai gane, And in the toune has innys tane. 90 The castell wele wes stuffit then Of-new with vittale and with men; Thar-till thai set ane sege in hy. Mony ysche full apertly Wes maid, quhill thar the sege lay, 95 Quhill trewis at the last tuk thai.

The Withletting of the Pass of Endnellan

Quhen that the folk of Ullister Till his pes haly cummyn wer, For Schir Edward wald tak on hand Till ryde forthirmar in the land, 100 Thair come till hym and maide fewte Sum of the kyngis of that cuntre, Weill ten or tuelf, as I herd say: Bot thai held hym schort quhile thar fay. For twa of thame, ane Makfulchiane, 105 And ane othir hat Makartane, With-set ane place in-till his way, Quhar him behufit neyd away, With twa thousand of men with speris, And als mony of thair archeris; 110 And all the cattale of the land War drawin thidder to warrand. Men callis that place Endwillane: In all Irland strater is nane. For Schir Edward that kepit thai; 115 Thai thoucht he suld nocht thar away. Bot he his viage soyne has tane, And straucht toward the plas is gane. The Erll of Murreff, Schir Thomas, That put hym ay first till assayis, 120 Lichtit on fut, with his menyhe, And apertly the plas tuk he. Thir Erische kyngis I spak of ar, With al the folk that with thame war, Met him richt sturdely; bot he 125 Assalyheit swa with his menyhe, That, magre thairis, thai wan the plas: Slayne of thair fayis fele thar was. Throu-out the wod thame chasit thai, And sesit in sic fusione thar pray, 130 That all the folk of thar host war Refreschit weill ane owk or mair.

[Sidenote: 1315] Edward Bruce marches to Dundalk]

At Kilsaggart Schir Edward lay; And thar weill soyne he has herd say, That at Dundawk wes ane assemble 135 Maid of the lordis of that cuntre; In host thai war assemblit thar. Thar wes first Schir Richard of Clare, That in all Irland luf-tenand Was off the King of Ingland. 140 The Erll of Desmownt als wes thar, And the Erll alsua of Kyldare; The Bremayne with the Wardoune; Thir war lordis of gret renoune. The Butler alsua thair was, 145 And Schir Moris le Fyss-Thomas. Thir with thair men ar cummyn thar, A rycht gret hoost forsuth thai war. And quhen Schir Edward wist suthly That thar wes sic ane chevelry, 150 His host in hy he gert aray, And thiddirwardis he tuk the way; And neir the toune he tuk herbery. Bot for he wyst all utirly That in the toune wes mony men, 155 His battalis he arrayit then, And stude arayit in battale To kep thame, gif thai wald assale.

[148: C thair wes (S).]

And quhen that Schir Richard of Clare, And othir lordis that war thare, 160 Wist at the Scottis men so neir With thar battellis than cummyne weir, Thai tuk to consell at that nycht, For it wes layt, thai wald nocht ficht: Bot on the morne in the mornyng, 165 Weill soyn eftir the sone-rysing, Thai suld ysch furth all that war thair; Therfor that nycht thai did no mair: Bot herbreyt thame on athir party. That nycht the Scottis cumpany 170 War wachit rycht weill, all at richt; And on the morn, quhen day wes licht, In twa battellis thai thame arayit; Thai stude with baneris all displayit, For the battell all reddy boune. 175 And thai that war within the toune, Quhen sone wes rysyn schynand clere, Send furth of thame that within were Fifty, till se the contenyng Of Scottis men and thar cummyng. 180 And thai raid furth and saw thaim soyne, Syne come agane forouten hoyne. And quhen thai sammyn lichtit war, Thai tald thair lordis that wes thar, That Scottis men semyt to be 185 Worthye and of full gret bounte, “Bot thai ar nocht, withouten wer, “Half-deill ane dyner till us here!” The lordis had of this tithyng Gret joy and gret reconforting; 190 And gert men throu the cité cry That all suld arme thame hastely.

[178: C that with him (S).]

[Sidenote: JUNE 29, 1315] The Scots enter Dundalk]

Quhen thai war armyt and purvayit, And for to ficht all haill arayit, Than went thai furth in gude aray; 195 Soyn with thair fayis assemblit thai, That kepit thame richt hardely. The stour begouth thair cruelly; For athir part set all thair mycht Till rusche thair fayis in the ficht; 200 And with all mycht on other dang. The stalward stour lestit weill lang, That men mycht nocht persave, no se, Quha mast at thar abovin mycht be. For fra soyn eftir the sone-rysyng, 205 Quhill eftir mydmorne, the fichting Lestit in-till sic ane dout; Bot than Schir Edward, that wes stout, With all thame of his cumpany, Schot apon thame so sturdely, 210 That thai mycht thole no mar the ficht. All in a frusche thai tuk the flicht, And thai followit full egirly: In-to the toune all comonly Thai enterit bath intermelle. 215 Thair mycht men felloune slauchtir se; For the richt nobil Erll Thomas, That with his rout followit the chas, Maid sic a slauchtir in the toune, And swa felloune occisioune, 220 That the rewis all bludy war Of slayne men that war liand thar. The lords war gottin all away. And quhen the toune, as I yhow say, Wes throu gret fors of fechting tane, 225 And all thair fayis fled or slane, Thai herbryit thame all in the toune, Quhar of vittale was sic fusione, And swa gret aboundans of wyne, That the gud Erll had gret dowtyne 230 That of thair men suld dronken be, And mak in drunkynnes sum melle. Tharfor he maid of wyne lufre Till ilk man, that he payit suld be; And thai had all yneuch, perfay. 235 That nycht rycht weill at eis war thai, And richt blith of the gret honour That thame befell for thair valour.

The third battle in Ireland That good Sir Edward took on hand.

Eftir this ficht thai sojornyt thair, In-to Dundawk, thre dayis and mar; 240 Syne tuk thai southwardis thar way. The Erll Thomas wes forrouth ay. And, as thai raid throu the cuntre, Thai mycht apon the hillis se Sa mony men, it wes ferly. 245 And quhen the Erll wald sturdely Dress him to thame with his baner, Thai wald fle all that evir thai wer, Swa that in ficht nocht ane abaid. And thai southwardis thair wais raid, 250 Quhill till a gret forest come thai; Kilros it hat, as I herd say: And thai tuk all thar herbiry thair. In all this tyme Richard of Clare, That wes the Kyngis luf-tenand, 255 Of all of the barnage of Irland A gret hoost he assemblit had. Thai war fyve bataillis, gret and braid, That soucht Schir Edward and his men; Weill neir him war thai cummyn then. 260 He gat soyne wittyng that thai weir Cumand on him, and war so neir. His men addressit he thame agane, And gert thame stoutly tak the plane; And syne the Erll thar come to se, 265 And Schir Philip the Mowbra send he, And Schir Johne Steward went alsua, Furth till discovir thair way thai ta. Thai saw the host cum soyne at hand; Thai war, to ges, fiffty thousand. 270 Haym to Schir Edward raid thai then, And said weill thai war mony men. He said agane, “The ma thai be, “The mair honour allout have we, “Gif that we beir us manfully. 275 “We are set heir in juperdy “Till wyn honour, or for till de. “We ar fra hayme to fer to fley, “Tharfor let ilk man worthy be. “Yhone ar gadering of the cuntre; 280 “And thai sall fle, I trow, lichtly, “And men assail thaim manfully.” All said thai than, thai weill suld do. With that approchand neir thame to, The battellis come, reddy to ficht; 285 And thai met thame with mekill mycht, That war ten thousand worthy men. The Scottis all on fut war then, And thai on stedis trappit weill, Sum helyt all in irne and steill. 290

[Sidenote: 1315] The Scots make merry in the Forest]

Bot Scottis men, at thair metyng, With speris perssit thar armyng, And stekit hors, and men doune bar. Ane felloune fechting wes than thair. I can nocht tell thair strakis all, 395 Na quha in ficht gert othir fall; Bot in schort tyme, I undirta, Thai of Irland war cummyrrit swa That thai durst nane abyde no mar, Bot fled scalit, all that thai war, 300 And levit in the battell-stede Weill mony of thar gud men ded. Of wapnys, armyng, and ded men The feld wes haly strewit then. That gret hoost roydly ruschit wes; 305 Bot Schir Edward leit no man chas; Bot with presoners, that thai had tane, Thai till the wod agane ar gane, Quhar that thair harnes levit wer. That nycht thai maid thame mery cher, 310 And lovit God fast of his grace. This gud knycht, that so worthy was, Till Judas, Machabeus that hicht, Micht liknyt weill be in that ficht; Na multitud he forsuk of men, 315 Quhill he hade ane aganis ten.

Thus, as I said, Richard of Clare And his gret hoost rebutit war. Bot he about him nocht-for-thi Wes gaderand men ay ythandly: 320 For he thoucht yheit to covir his cast. It angerit him richt ferly fast, That twis in-to battell wes he Discumfit with ane few menyhe. And Scottis men, that in the forest 325 War ryddin, for till tak thair rest, All thai twa nychtis thair thai lay, And maid thame myrth, solace, and play. Toward Odymsy syne thai rayde, Ane Erische kyng, that ayth had mayd 330 Till Schir Edwarde of fewte. For forrouth that him prayit he To se his land, and na vittale, Na nocht that mycht him help, suld fale. Schir Edward trowit in his hicht, 335 And with his rout raid thiddir richt. A gret revar he gert hym pas; And in a richt fair place, that was Lawch by a brym, he gert thame ta Thair herbry, and said he wald ga 340 To ger men vittale to thame bring. He held his way but mair duelling: For till betrais thame wes his thoucht. In sic ane place he has thame broucht, Quhar of journeis weill twa and mair 345 All the cattell withdrawin war. Swa that thai in that land mycht get No thing that worth war for to et. With hungyr he thoucht thaim to feblis, Syne bring on thame thair enymys. 350

[339: E bourne. H burne.]

[Sidenote: 1315] Thomas of Dun rescues the Scots]

This fals tratour his men had maid, A litell owth quhar he herbryit hade Schir Edward and the Scottis men, The ysche of a louch to den; And leit it out in-to the nycht. 355 The wattir than, with sic a mycht, On Schir Edwardis men come doune, That thai in perell war till droune; For, or thai wist, on flot war thai; With mekill payne thai gat away, 360 And held thar livis, as God gaf gras, Bot of thair harnes tynt ther was. He maid thame na gud fest, perfay, And nocht-for-thi yneuch had thai. For thouch thame failit of the met, 365 I warne yhow weill thai war weill wet. In gret distres thair war thai stad, For gret defalt of mete thai had; For thai betuix thai riveris tway War set, and mycht pas nane of thai. 370 The Bane, that is ane arme of se, That with hors may nocht passit be, Wes betuix thame and Ullister. Thai had beyn in grett perell ther, Ne war ane scummar of the se, 375 Thomas of Dun hattyn wes he, Herd that the host so stratly than Wes stad, and salyt up the Ban, Quhill he com weill neir quhar thai lay. Thai knew him weill, and blith war thai. 380 Than, with four schippes that he had tane, He set thame our the Ban ilkane. And quhen thai come in biggit land, Vittale and mete yneuch thai fand: And in a wode thame herbryit thai. 385 Nane of the land wist quhar thai lay; Thai esyt thame and maid gud cher.

[354: H to dem.]

[376: E Downe. H Dun.]

In-till that tyme, besyde thame ner, With a gret host, Richarde of Clar, And othir gret of Irlande, war 390 Herbryit in-till a forest syde. And ilke day thai gert men ryde To bring vittalis, on ser maneris, Till thame fra the toune of Coigneris, That weill ten gret myle wes thaim fra. 395 Ilk day, as thai wald cum and ga, Thai come the Scottis host so ner, That bot twa myle betuix thaim wer.

How Sir Thomas of Randell Won from the Irish their Vittell.

And quhen Erll Thomas had persaving Of thair come and thair gaderyng, 400 He gat him a gud cumpany, Thre hundreth on hors, wycht and hardy. Thar wes Schir Philip the Mowbray, And Sir Johne Stewart als, perfay, With Schir Alane Stewart alsua, 405 Schir Robert Boyde, and other ma. Thai raid till meit the vittelleris, That with ther vittale fra Coigneris Com, haldand to the host the way. So suddanly on thame schot thai, 410 That thai war sa abaysit all, That thai leit all thair wapnys fall, And mercy pitwysly can cry. And thai tuk thame in thair mercy, And has thame up so clenly tane, 415 That of thame all eschapit nane.

[406: E H Robert. C Gilbert.]

The Erll of thame gat wittering That of thair host, in the evynnyng, Wald cum out at the woddis syde And aganis thair vittale ryde. 420 He thoucht than on a juperdy, And gert his menyhe halely Dicht thame in the presoners aray; Thair pennownys als with thame tuk thai. And quhill the nycht wes neir thai baid, 425 And syne toward the host thai raid. Sum of thair mekill host has seyne Thair come, and wende weill thai had beyne Thair vittelouris; tharfor thai raid Agane thame scalit, for thai hade 430 Na dreid that thai thair fayis wer; And thame hungerit alsua weill sair; Tharfor thai come abandonly. And quhen thai neir war, in gret hy The Erll, and all that with him war, 435 Ruschit on thame with wapnys bar, And thair ensenyheis hye can cry; Than thai, that saw so sudandly Thair fayis dyng on thame, wes rad, That thai no hert till help thame had; 440 Bot to thar host the way can ta; And thai chasit, and feill can sla, That all the feldis strowit war; Ma than ane thowsand ded wes thar. Rycht to thar hoost thai can thame chass, 445 And syne agane thair wayis tais.

[Sidenote: 1315] Irish Spies are captured]

On this wiss wes the vittal tane, And of the Erysche men mony slane. The Erll syne, with his cumpany, Presoners and vittalis halely 450 Has brocht till Schir Edward als swith; And he wes of thair cummyng blith. That nycht thai maid thame merye cher; Richt all than at thair eis thai wer. Thai war all wachit sekyrly, 455 And thair fais, on the tothir party, Quhen thai herd how thar men was slane, And how thar vittal all wes tane, Thai tuk to consell at thai wald Thair wayis towart Coigneris hald, 460 And herbry in the cite ta. And in gret hye thai have done swa; And raid on nycht to the cite. Thai fand thair vittale of gret plente, And maid thame merely gud cher; 465 For all trast in the toune thai wer. Apon the morn thai send to spy Quhar Scottis men had tane herbery. Bot thai war met with all, and tane, And brocht richt till the hoost agane. 470 The Erll of Murreff richt mekly Sperit at ane of thar cumpany, Quhar thar host wes, and quhat thai thoucht Till do; and said him, gif he moucht Fynd that till hym the suth said he, 475 He suld gang hame but ransoune fre. “Forsuth,” he said, “I sall yhow say, “Thai thynk, the morn, quhen it is day, “To seik yhow with all thair menyhe, “Giff thai may get wit quhar yhe be. 480 “Thai haf gert throu the cuntre cry, “On payne of liff, full felounly, “That all the men of this cuntre “This nycht in-to the cite be. “And trewly thai sall be so feill, 485 “That yhe sall no wis with thame deill.” ‘De pardew,’ said he, ‘weill may be!’ To Schir Edward with that yheid he, And tald hym utrely this taill. Than haf thai tane for consell haill, 490 That thai wald ryde to the cite That ilk nycht, swa that thai mycht be Betuix the toune, with all thar rout, And thame that war the toune without.

[478: E to-morn.]

[Sidenote: 1315] A Great Gathering against the Scots]

As thai devisit swa have thai done; 495 Befor the toune thai come alsoyne: And bot half deill a myle of way Fra the cite, thar rest tuk thai. And quhen the day wes dawin licht, Fifty on hobynis, that war wicht, 500 Com till a litill hill, that was Bot fra the toune a litill spas, And saw Schir Edwardis herbery, And of the sicht had gret ferly, That sa quheyn durst on ony wis 505 Undertak sa hye empris, As for till cum sa hardely Apon all the gret chevelry Of Irland, for till byde battale. And swa it wes, forouten fale; 510 For agane thame war gaderit thair, With the wardane Richard of Clar, The Butler, with the Erllis twa, Of Desmund and Kildar war tha, Bruman, Wardun, and Fiz-Waryn; 515 And Schir Pascalle a Florentyn, That wes ane knycht of Lumbardy, And wes full of gret chevelry. The Maundvilis war thar alsua, Besatis, Loganys, and othir ma; 520 Savagis als; and yheit wes ane, Hat Schir Nycholl of Kylkenane. And with thir lordis so feill wes then, That, for ane of the Scottis men, I trow that thai war fiff or ma. 525 Quhen thair discurrowris seyne has swa The Scottis host, thai went in hy And tald thair lordis all opynly, How thai till thaim wer cummand ner; To seik thame fer wes na myster. 530 And quhen the Erll Thomas had seyne That thai men at the hill had beyne, He tuk with him a gude menyhe, On hors ane hundreth thai mycht be, And till the hill thai tuk the way. 535 In a slak thame enbuschit thai: And, in schort tyme, fra the cite Thai saw cum rydand a menyhe, For till discovir, to the hill. Than war thai blith, and held thame still 540 Quhill thai war cummyn to thame ner; Than in a frusche, all that thar wer, Thai schot apon thame hardely. And thai that saw so suddandly That folk cum on, abaysit war. 545 And nocht-for-thi sum of thame thar Abaid stoutly to mak debat; And othir sum ar fled thar gat. And in-to weill schort tyme war thai, That maid arest, cumrayit swa, 550 That thai fled halely thair gat; And thai thame chassit richt to the yhate, And a gret part of thame has slane, And syne went till thar host agane.

[501: C that wes (S).]

[515: C Syr Waryn; but cf. xv., 75.]

[522: C Kyllvanane (S); but see note.]