Book XV…

Book XV

The fourth battle in Ireland That Sir Edward won with strong hand.

Qwhen thai within has seyn swa slane Thair men, and chassit hame agane, Thai war all wa, and in gret hy “Till armys!” hely can thai cry. Than armyt thame all at thar war, 5 And for the battale maid thame yhar. Thai yschit out, all weill arayit, In battale with baneris displayit; Bowne on thar best wis till assale Thair fayis in-to fell battale. 10 And quhen Schir Philip the Mowbray Saw thame ysche in sa gud aray, Till Schir Edward the Brus went he And said, “Schir, it is gude that we “Schape for sum slicht that may availl 15 “Till help us in this gret battaill. “Our men ar quheyn, bot thai haf will “Till do mair than thai may fullfill. “Tharfor I rede, our caryage, “Forouten ony man or page, 20 “By thame-selvyne arayit be; “And thai sall seyme fer ma than we. “Set we before thame our baneris; “Yhon folk that cummys out of Coigneris, “Quhen thai our baneris thair may se, 25 “Sall trow trastly that thair ar we, “And thidder in gret hy sall ryde. “Cum we than on thame at a syde, “And we sall be at avantage; “For, fra thai in our caryage 30 “Be enterit, thai sall cummyrrit be; “And than with all our mycht may we “Lay on, and do all that we may.” All as he ordanit done haf thai. And thai that com out of Coigneris 35 Adressit thame to the baneris; And smat with spures the hors in hy, Ruschand emang thame sodanly. The barell-ferraris that war thar Cumrayd thame fast that rydand war. 40

[34: C And (S).]

[Sidenote: SEPT. 1315] Battle of Connor]

And than the Erll, with his battale, Com on, and sadly can assale. And Schir Edward, a litill by, Assemblit swa richt hardely, That mony fey fell under feit; 45 The felde wox soyne of blud all weit. With so gret felony thar thai faucht, And sic rowtis till othir raucht, With stok, with stane, and with retrete, As athir part can othir bet, 50 That it wes hidwys for to se How thai mantemyt that gret melle So knychtlik apon athir syde, Giffand and takand woundis wyde, That pryme wes passit, or men mycht se 55 Quha mast at thair abovin mycht be. Bot soyne eftir that pryme wes past, The Scottis men dang on so fast, And schot on thame at abandoune, As ilk man war a campioun, 60 That all thar fayis tuk the flicht. Wes nane of thame that wes so wicht, That evir durst abyde his fere; Bot ilkane fled thair wayis sere. Till the toune fled the mast party. 65 And Erll Thomas sa ynkirly, And his rout, chassit with swerdis bar, That all emang thame mellit war, And all to-gidder come in the toune. Than wes the slauchter so felloune, 70 That all the rewis ran of blude. Thame that thai gat to dede all yhude, Swa that than thar weill neir wes ded Als feill as in the battell-sted.

[54: E rowtis roid; cf. Bk. VI., 288.]

The Fizwaryne wes taken thar; 75 Bot so rad wes Richard of Clar, That he held to the sowth cuntre. All that moneth I trow that he Sall haf no gret will for to ficht. Schir Johne Steward, ane nobill knycht, 80 Wes woundit throu the body thair With a sper that richt scharply schair. To the Mont-peleris went he syne, And lay thair lang in-to helyne, And at the last helit wes he. 85 Schir Edward than, with his menyhe, Tuk in the toune thair herbery. That nycht thai blith war and joly For the victory that thai had thar. And on the morn, forouten mar, 90 Schir Edward gert men gang and se All the vitalis of that cite. And thai fand sic fusioune thar-in Of corn and flour and wax and wyne, That thai had of it gret ferly; 95 And Schir Edward gert halely To Cragferguss it cartit be. Syne thidder went his men and he, And helde the sege full stalwardly, Quhill Palme Sonday wes passit by. 100 Than, quhill the Tysday in Pask-owk, On athir half thai trowis tuk; Swa that thai mycht that haly tyd In pennance and in prayer byd.

[Sidenote: APRIL 10-11, 1316] Attempt to surprise the Scots]

Bot apon Paske evin all richt 105 To the castell, in-till the nycht, Fra Devilling come schippis fyftene, Chargit with armit men bedeyne; Four thousand, trow I weill, thai war: In the castell thai enterit thair. 110 The Mawndvell, ald Schir Thomas, Capitane of that menyhe he was. In the castell all prevaly Thai enterit, for that thai gert spy That mony of Schir Edwardis men 115 War scalit in the cuntre then. Tharfor thai thoucht in the mornyng Till ysche, but langer delaying, And till suppris thame suddanely; For thai thoucht thai suld traistly ly, 120 For the trewis that taken war. Bot I trow falsat evirmar Sall have unfair and evill ending. Schir Edward wist of this na thing, For of tresoune had he na thoucht. 125 Bot for the trewis he lefit noucht Wachis till set to the castele; Ilk nycht he gert men wach it wele. And Neyll Flemyng wachit that nycht With sexty men worthy and wicht. 130 And als soyne as the day wox cleir, Thai that within the castell weir Had armyt thame, and maid thame boune, And syne the bryg avaled doune, And yschit in-till gret plente. 135 And quhen Neyll Flemyng can thaim se, He send ane till the Kyng in hy; And said to thame that war hym by, “Now sall men se, I undirtak, “Quha dar de for his lordis sak! 140 “Now beir yhow weill, for sekirly “With all thir menyhe fecht will I. “In-till bargane thame hald sall we, “Quhill that our mastir armyt be.” And with that worde assemblit thai; 145 Thai war to few all out, perfay, With sic a gret rout for to ficht. Fot nocht-for-thi with al thar mycht Thai dang on thame so hardely, That all thair fayis had gret ferly, 150 That thai war all of sic manheid, That thai no dreid had of thar dede. Bot thar fell fayis sa can assaill, That thar mycht no worschip availl That thai ne war slayn evirilkane 155 So cleyn, that thar eschapit nane.

How the King of Ireland called Edward came upon the Scotsmen

And the man that went till the Kyng, For till warn hym of thair ysching, Warnit him in-till full gret hy. Schir Edward wes comonly 160 Callit the Kyng of Irland, Quhen that he herd sic hy on hand, In full gret hast he gat his ger. Tuelf wicht men in his chalmer wer That armyt thame in full gret hy. 165 Syne with his baneris hardely The myddis of the toune he tais. With that neir cummand war his fais, That had delt all thar men in thre. The Mawndvell, with a gret menyhe, 170 Richt throu the toune his way held doune; The layff on athir syde the toune Held to meit thame that fleand war; Thai thoucht that all that thai fand thar Suld de but ransoune evirilkane: 175 Bot othir wayis the gle is gane. For Schir Edward, with his baner, And his men that I tald of ere, On all that rout so hardely Assemblit, that it wes ferly. 180 For Gib Harpar befor him yheid, That wes the douchtyest of deid That than wes liffand of his stat, And with ane ax maid him sic gat That he the first fellit to the grounde; 185 And eftir, in a litill stounde, The Mawndvell be his armyng He knew, and roucht him sic a swyng That he till erd yheid hastely. Schir Edward, that wes neir hym by, 190 Reversit hym, and with a knyff Richt in that place him reft the liff.

[187: C by his (S).]

[Sidenote: APRIL 11, 1316] The Maundevilles are slain]

With that of Ardrossane Fergus, That wes ane knycht rycht curageous, Assemblit with sexty and ma. 195 Thai pressit than thair fayis swa, That thai, that saw thair lord slayne, Tynt hert, and wald have beyn agane. And ay, as Scottis men mycht be Armyt, thai come to the melle; 200 And dang apon thai fayis swa, That thai all hale the bak can ta, And thai thame chassit to the yhat; Thar wes hard ficht and gret debat. Thar slew Schir Edward, with his hand 205 A knycht, that of all Irland Wes callit best, and of mast bounte, To surname Mawndvell hecht he, His propir nayme I can nocht say. Bot his folk till so hard assay 210 War set, that thai of the dungeoune Durst oppyn no yhat, na bryg let doune. And Schir Edward, I tak on hand, Soucht thame that fled thar to warrand, So felly, that of all, perfay, 215 That yschit apon hym that day, Eschapit of thaim nevir ane, That thai ne war outhir tane or slane. For to the ficht Maknakill then Come with twa hundreth of gude sper-men, 220 And slew all they mycht to wyn. This ilk Maknakill, with a gyn, Wan of thair schippes four or fiff, And halely reft the men thair liff. Quhen end wes maid of this fechting, 225 Yheit then wes liffand Neill Fleming. Schir Edward went him for to se; About him slayne lay his menyhe All in a lump, on athyr hand, And he, redy to dey, throwand. 230 Schir Edward had of him pite, And him full gretly menyt he, And regratit his gret manhede, And his worschyp with douchty dede. Sic mayn he maid, thai had ferly; 235 For he wes nocht custumabilly Wount for till meyne ony thing, Na wald nocht heir men mak menyng. He stude thar by quhill he wes ded, And syne had him till haly sted, 240 And him with worschip gert he be Erdit, with gret solempnite.

[221: C slow (S).]

How King Robert Bruce passed through the Tarbats, and won the Isles.

[Sidenote: 1315] King Robert is drawn Overland]

On this wis yschit the Mawndvele; Bot sekirly falsat and gyle Sall evir have ane evill ending, 245 As weill wes seyn be this ysching. In tyme of trewis yschit thai, And in sic tyme as on Paske day, Quhen God rais for to sauf mankyne Fra wem of ald Adammis syne. 250 Tharfor sic gret myschans thame fell, That ilkane, as yhe herd me tell, War slane up, or than takyn thar. And thai that in the castell war War set in-till sic fray that hour, 255 For thai couth se quhar na succour Suld come to releif thame, that thai Shortly swa tretit, and on a day The castell till him yhald thai fre, Till sauf thame thair liffis; and he 260 Held thame full well all his cunnand. The castell tuk he in his hand, And vittalit it weill, and has set A gud wardane it for to get; And a quhile thair than restit he. 265 Of him no mair now spek will we, Bot till King Robert will we gang, That we haf left unspokyn of lang. Quhen he convoyit had to the se His brothir Edward, and his menyhe, 270 With his shippes he maid him yhar *271 *In-till the Ilis for till fare. *Walter Steward with hym tuk he, His mawch, and with him gret menyhe; *274 And othir men of gret nobillay. Till the Tarbard thai held thar way In galayis ordanit for thair fair. Bot thame worthit draw thar schippes thar: And a myle wes betuix the seis, 275 Bot that wes lownyt all with treis. The Kyng his schippis thar gert draw, And for the wynd can stoutly blaw Apon thair bak, as thai wald ga, He gert men rapis and mastis ta, 280 And set thame in the schippis hye, And salys to the toppis te, And gert men gang thar-by drawand. The wynd thame helpit, that wes blawand; Swa that, in-till a litill spas, 285 Thar flot all weill our-drawyn was.

[246: C by (S).]

[*271-*274: From C H. Not in E.]

[276: E lompnyt.]

And quhen thai that in the Ilis war, Herd tell how the gud Kyng had thar Gert schippis with the salys ga Out-our betuix the Tarbartis twa, 290 Thai war abasit all utrely. For thai wist throu ald prophesy That he that suld ger schippis swa Betuix the seis with salis ga, Suld wyn the Ilis swa till hand, 295 That nane with strynth suld him withstand. Tharfor thai come all to the Kyng; Wes nane that withstude his biddyng, Outaken Johne of Lorne alane. Bot Weill soyne eftir he wes tane, 300 And presentit wes to the Kyng. And thai that war of his leding, That to the King had brokyn fay, War all ded, and distroyit away. The Kyng this Johne of Lorne has tane, 305 And send soyne him till Dumbertane, A quhile in presone thair till be, And to Louchlevin syne send wes he, Quhar he wes lang tyme in festnyng: Thair-in, I trow, he maid endyng. 310 The King, quhen all the Iles war Brocht till his liking, les and mar, Still all that sesoune thar duelt he At huntyng, and gammyne, and gle.

The Battle betwixt the Lord Douglas and the Lord Nevill of England.

[Sidenote: FEB. 14, 1316] Douglas attacks the Forayers]

Qwhen the King on this maner 315 Dantit the Iles, as I tell her, The gud Schir James of Dowglas In-till the Forest duelland was, Defendand worthely the land. That tyme in Berwik wes wonnand 320 Edmound de Cailow, a Gascoune, That wes a knycht of gret renoune; And in-till Gascone, his cuntre, Lord of gret senyheroy wes he. He had than Berwik in keping, 325 And maid ane preve gaddering, And gat him a gret cumpany Of wicht men armit jolely. And the nethir end of Tevydaill He prayit doune till him all haill, 330 And of the Mers ane gret party; Syne toward Berwik went in hy. Schir Adam of Gordoune, that than Wes becummyne a Scottis man, Saw thame swa drif away thar fe, 335 And wend thai had beyn quheyn, for he Saw bot the fleand scaill, perfay, *337 *And thame that sesyt on the pray. *Than till Schir James of Douglas In-to gret hye the way he tais; *340 *And tald how Inglis men thair pray *Had tane; and syne went thar way *Toward Berwik with all thar fee, *And said they quheyn war; and gif he Wald speid him, he suld weill lichtly Wyn thame, and reskew all the ky. Schir James richt soyne gaf his assent *345 *Till follow thame, and furth is went, *Bot with the men that he had thair, *And met hym by the gat but mair. *Thai followit thame in full gret hy, And com weill neir thame hastely; *350 *For, or thay mycht thame fully se, *Thai come weill neir with thair menyhe. *And than bath the forreouris and the scaill *In-till a childrome knyt all haill, *And wes a richt fair cumpany. Befor thame gert thai driff the ky *356 With knavis and swanys, that na mycht Had for till stand in feild to ficht. 340 The laiff behynd thame maid a staill. The Dowglass saw thair purpos haill, And saw thame of sa gud covyne, And at thai war sa mony syne, That thai for ane of his war twa. 345 “Lordingis,” he said, “sen it is swa “That we haff chassit on sic maner, “That we now cummyn ar so ner “That we may nocht eschewe the ficht “Bot gif we fowly tak the flicht, 350 “Lat ilk man on his luf than meyne, “And how he mony tyme has beyne “In grat thrang, and come weill away. “Think we till do richt swa this day; “And tak we of this furde heir-by 355 “Our avantage, for in gret hy “Thai sall come on us for to ficht. “Set we than will, and strynth, and mycht “For till meyt thame richt hardely.” And, with that word, full hastely, 360 He hes displayit his baner; For his fayis war cumand neir, That, quhen thai saw he wes so quhoyne, Thai thoucht with thame soyne till haf done, And assemblit full hardely. 365 Thar men mycht se men fecht felly, And richt ane cruell melle mak, And mony strakis giff and tak.

[321: C Ewmound (S). H Edmound. C Calion (S). H Calhow. (See note.)]

[*337-*344 and *345-*356: From C H; not in E.]

[Linenote: *347-*348 in C only.]

[338: C in the (S); but Skeat suggests that ‘perhaps it should be on.’]

[341: C scaill (S); but S in note seems to prefer staill.]

[351: E his lemman (love).]

[366: C Thair mycht men se ficht fellely (S).]

[Sidenote: 1316] Neville is jealous of Douglas]

The Douglass thair weill hard wes stad, Bot the gret hardyment that he had 370 Comfort his men apon sic wis, That no man thoucht on cowardis; Bot faucht so fast with all thar mayne, That thai feill of thair fayis has slayne. And thouch thai wer be fer full ma 375 Than thai, yheit ure demanyt thaim swa, That Edmound de Cailow wes ded Richt in that ilk fechting-sted. And all the lave, fra he wes done, War planly thair discumfit sone; 380 And thai that chassit sum has slayne, And turnyt the prayis haill agane. The hardest fechting forsuth this wes That evir the gud lord of Dowglas Wes in, as of sa few menyhe. 385 For, had nocht beyne his gret bounte That slew thair chiftane in the ficht, His men till ded had all beyne dicht. He had in-till custum all-way, Quhen evir he com till hard assay, 390 To press hym the chiftane to sla; And hap him fell that he did swa, That gert him victor have feill sis. Quhen Schir Edmound apon this wis Wes ded, the gud lord of Douglas 395 Till the Forest his way he tais. His fayis gretly can hym dreid; The word weill fer sprang of this deid, Swa that in Ingland neir thar-by Men spak of it weill comonly. 400 Schir Robert de Nevell in that tyde Wonnyt at Berwyk, neir besyde The marchis, quhar the lord Dowglas In the Forest reparande was, And had at him full gret invy, 405 For he him saw so manfully Mak his boundis ay mar and mar. He herd the folk that with him war Spek of the lorde Dowglasis mycht, And how forsy he wes in fycht, 410 And how hym oft fell fayr fortoune. He wrethit him thar-at all soyne, And said, “Quhat weyn yhe, is thar nane “That evir is worth bot hym alane? “Yhe set hym as he war but peir: 415 “But I avow, befor yhow heir, “Gif evir he cum in-till this land, “He sall fynd me neir at his hand. “And giff I evir his baneir “May see displayit apon wer, 420 “I sall assembill on hym but dout, “All thouch yhe hald him nevir sa stout.”

[371: C confortit (S).]

[377: C Ewmound de Caleone (S).]

Of this avow soyne bodword was Brocht till Schir James of Douglas, That said, “Giff he will hald his hicht, 425 “I sall do swa he sall haf sicht “Of me and of my cumpany, “Yheit or oucht lang, weill neir hym by.” His reten new than gaderit he, That war gud men of gret bounte, 430 And to the marchis in gud aray Apon ane nycht he tuk the way; Swa that, in the mornyng airly, He wes, with all his cumpany, Before Berwyk; and thair he maid 435 Men to display his baner braid. And of his menyhe sum send he For till burne townys twa or thre, And bad thame soyn agane thame speid; Swa that on hand, gif thar com neyd, 440 Thai mycht be for the ficht redy. The Nevell that wist verraly. That Dowglas cummyn wes so neir, And saw all braid stand his baneir, Than with the folk that with hym wer, 445 (And he had a gret menyhe thar; For all the gud of that cuntre In-till that tyme with hym had he; Swa that he with hym thar had then Weill may then wes the Scottis men) 450 He held his way up till ane hill, And said; “Lordyngis, it war my will “Till mak end of the gret deray “That Dowglass makis us ilk day. “Bot me think it speidful that we 455 “Abyde, quhill his men scalit be “Throu the cuntre to tak the pray: “Than fersly schute on hym we may, “And we sall have thame at our will.” Thus all thai gaiff consent thar-till, 460 And on the hill abaid huvande. The men fast gadderit of the land, And drew till hym in full gret hy. The Douglas than, that wes worthy, Thoucht it wes foly mair till byde. 465 Toward the hill than can he ryde; And quhen the Nevell saw at thai Wald nocht pass furth to the forray, Bot pressit till thame with thar mycht, He wist weill than that thai wald ficht, 470 And till his menyhe can he say; “Lordingis, now hald we furth our way. “Heir is the flour of this cuntre, “And ma than thai alsua ar we. “Assemmyll we than hardely: 475 “For Douglas with yhon yhemanry, “Sall haf no mycht till us, perfay.” Than in a frusche assemblit thai. Than mycht men heir the speris brast, And men dyng apon othir fast, 480 And blude brist out at woundis wyde. Thai faucht fast apon athir syde; For athir party can thame payne Till put thair fais on-bak agane.

[Sidenote: 1316] The Fight between Douglas and Neville]

The lordis of Nevell and Douglas, 485 Quhen that the fichting fellest was, Met to-giddir richt in the pres. Betuix thame than gret bargane wes; Thai faucht felly with all thair maucht, Gret rowtis athir till othir raucht. 490 Bot Douglas sterkar wes, I hicht, And mair usit alsua to ficht, And he set hert, and will alsua, For till delyver him of his fa; Quhill at the last, with mekill mayne, 495 Throu fors the Nevell has he slayne. Than his ensenyhe he can hye cry, And on the laiff so hardely He ruschit, with all his menyhe, That in-till schort tym men mycht se 500 Thair fayis tak on thame the flicht. And thai thame chassit with all thar mycht. Schir Ralf the Nevell, in the chas, And the Baroun of Hiltoun was Takin, and othyr of mekill mycht. 505 Thar wes fele slayne in-to that fycht, That worthy in thar tyme had beyn. And quhen the feld wes clengit cleyn, Swa that thair fayis evirilkane War slayn, or chassit away or tane, 510 Than gert he forray all the land, And sessit all that evir he fand, And brynt the townys in thar way; Syne haill and feir haym cummyn ar thai. The pray soyne emang his menyhe, 515 Eftir thar meritis, delit he, And held no thing till his behuf. Sic dedis aucht till ger men luf Thair lorde, and swa thai did, perfay. He tretit thame so wisly ay, 520 And with so mekill luf alsua, And sic a countenans wald ma Of thair deid, that the mast coward Stoutar he maid than a libard; With cherising thusgat maid he 525 His men wicht, and of gret bounte.

[506: C That wes slayn thair in-to the ficht (S), which does not seem to explain the context.]

[Sidenote: 1316] The English dread of Douglas]

Qwhen Nevell thus wes broucht to ground, And of Cailow Schir Edmound, The dreid of the lorde Dowglas, And his renoun, swa scalit was 530 Throu-out the marchis of Ingland, That all that war thar-in duelland Thai dred him as the devill of hell. And yheit haf I herd oftsis tell, That he so gretly dred wes than 535 That quhen wiffis wald thar childir ban, Thai wald with rycht ane angry face, Beteche thaim “to the blak Dowglas.” *For, with thair taill, he wes mair fell *Than wes ony devill in hell. Throu his gret worschip and bounte, Swa with his fayis dred wes he 540 That thaim growyt till heir his name. He may at eis now duell at hame A quhile, for I trow he sall nocht With fais all a quhile be socht. Now let him in the Forest be: 545 Of him no mair spek will we. Bot of Schir Edward the worthy, That with all his gude chevelry, Wes at Cragfergus yheit liand, To spek mair will we tak on hand. 550

[528: C Calyheoun (S). H Calhow. C Ewmond. H Edmound. Names in text from E.]

[*539, *540: In C only. These lines seem to be a repeat of 533, 534.]

[541: C grevit (S). H groowed. E H give the more effective term--shuddered.]

Book XVI

Here passed in Ireland the noble King To his brother with great gathering.

Quhen Schir Edward, as I tald air, Had discumfit Richard of Clair, And of Irland all the barnage Thris, throu his worthy vassalage, And syne with all his men of mayne 5 Till Cragfergus wes cummyn agayn, The gud Erll of Murreff, Thomas, Tuk leiff in Scotland for till pas. And he hym levit with a gruching, And syne him chargit to the King, 10 Till pray him specialy that he Suld cum in Irland him to se. For, war thai bath in-to that land, Thai suld fynd nane suld thaim withstand. The Erll furth than his way has tane, 15 And till his schippes is he gane, And salit out weill our the se, In Scotland soyne arivit he. Syne to the king he went in hy: And he resavit hym gladsumly; 20 And sperit of his brotheris fair, And of journeis that he had thair; And he him tald all but lesyng. Quhen the King had left spering, His charge to the gud king tald he. 25 And he said, he wald blithly se His brothir, and als all the effeire Of that cuntre and of thar were. A gret menyhe than gaderit he: And twa lordis of gret bounte, 30 The tane the Steward Walter was, The tothir, James of Dowglas, Wardanis in his absens maid he, For till manteym weill the cuntre. Syne to the se he tuk his way; 35 And at Lowchryan in Galloway He schippit, with all his menyhe; Till Cragfergus soyne cummyn is he. Schir Edward of his com wes blith, And went down for to meit him swith, 40 And welcummyt him with gladsum cher: Sa did he all that with him wer; And specialy the Erll Thomas Of Murreff, that his nevo was. Syne to the castell went thai thar, 45 And maid thame mekill fest and far. Thai sojournyt thair dayis thre In gret myrth and in rialte.

[16: E shipping.]

[46: C He maid (S). E H And maid.]

[47, 52: C sudjornyt (S).]

[48: E And that in myrth and jolyte. H royaltie.]

How King Robert the Bruce passed in Ireland with his brother Edward.

[Sidenote: 1316] The Month of May]

King Robert, apon thiskyn wis, In-till Irland arivit is: 50 And quhen in Cragfergus had he With his men sojournyt dais thre, Thai tuk to consell that thai wald, With all thar folk, thar wayis hald Throu all Irland, fra end to othir. 55 Schir Edward than, the Kingis brothir, Befor in the avaward raid; The Kyng him-self the reirward maid, That had in-till his cumpany The Erll Thomas, that wes worthy. 60 Thair wayis furthwarde haf thai tane, And soyne are passit Inderwillane. This wes in the moneth of May, Quhen byrdis syngis on the spray; Melland thair notys with sydry sowne, 65 For softnes of that sweit sesoune; And levis on the branchis spredis, And blomys bricht besyd thame bredis And feldis florist ar with flowris Well savourit, of seir colowris; 70 And all thing worthis blith and gay; Quhen that this gud king tuk his way To ryd furthward, as I said are. The wardane than, Richard of Clare, Wist the Kyng wes arivit swa, 75 And wist that he schupe for till ta His way toward the south cuntre. Of all Irland assemblit he Bath burges and chevalry And hobilleris and yhumanry; 80 Quhill he had neir fourty thousand. Both he wald nocht yheit tak on hand With all his fayis in field to ficht, But umbethoucht him of a slicht; That he with all that gret menyhe 85 Wald in a wode enbuschit be, And prevely besyde the way, Quhar at thar fayis suld pas away, And let the vaward pas fer by, And syne assemmyll hardely 90 On the reirward, with all thar men. Thai did as thai devisit then. In a wode thai enbuschit wer: The Scottis hoost raid by thame nere; For thai na schawing of thame maid. 95 Schir Edward weill fer forrouth raid With thame that war of his menyhe; To the reirward na tent tuk he.

[61: E southwart. H fordward.]

[64: E in ilk spray. H on ilk.]

[65: E H seymly.]

[69: E ar strowyt. H strowed ar.]

[70: E saverand. H savouring.]

[73: E southwart. H southward.]

[79, 80: C gives--

_Till him a full gret chevelry Of squyaris, burges and yhemanry_ (S).

But burgesses and yeomanry would not be chevelry, and H agrees with E.]

And Schir Richard of Clare in hy, Quhen Schir Edward wes passit by, 100 Send wicht yhomen, that weill couth schut, To bikkir the reirward apon fut. Than twa of thame that send furth war At the wode-syde thame bykkirrit thar, And schot emang the Scottis men. 105 The King, that had thar with him then Five thousand wicht and ek hardy, Saw thai twa sa abaundonly Schut emang thaim, and cum so neir; He wist richt weill, withouten weir, 110 That thai weill neir suppowal had. Tharfor a bydding has he mad, That no man suld be so hardy Till prik till thame, but sarraly Ryde reddy ay in-till battale, 115 Till defend gif men wald assale. “For we sall soyne, I undirta,” He said, “haf for till do with ma.”

[Sidenote: 1317] Bruce strikes Sir Colin Campbell]

Bot Schir Colyne Cammell, that ner Wes by quhar thai twa yhomen wer, 120 Schutand emang thame hardely, Prikit on thame in full gret hy, And soyne the tane he has our-tane, And with his sper him soyne has slayne. The tothir turnyt and schot agayne, 125 And at a schot his hors has slayne. With that the King come hastely, And, in his gret malancoly, With ane trunsione in-till his nave To Schir Colyne sic dusche he gave, 130 That he dynnyt on his arsoune. The King bad smertly tyt hym doune, Bot othir lordis, that war him by, Ameyssyt the King in sum party. He said, “The breking of bydding 135 “Micht caus be of discomfiting. “Weyn yhe yhon rebaldis durst assale “Us so neir, in-till our battale, “Bot gif thai had suppowale neir? “I wat richt weill, forouten weir, 140 “That we sall have till do in hy; “Tharfor luk ilk man be reddy.” With that weill neir thretty and ma Of bowmen com, and bykkyrrit swa That thai hurt of the Kyngis men. 145 The King has gert his archeris then Schute for till put thaim than agayne. With that thai enterit in ane playne, And saw arayit agane thame stand, In four battellis, fourty thousand. 150

[134: C Avisit (S). H Hes meased.]

[Sidenote: 1317] Success of the Scots]

The king said, “Now, lordingis, lat se “Quha worthy in this ficht sall be. “On thame forouten mair abaid!” So stoutly than on thame thai raid, And assemblit so hardely 155 That of thair fayis a gret party War laid at erd at thar meting. Thar wes of speris sic bristing, As athir apon othir raid, That it a weill gret frusche has maid. 160 Hors com thair fruschand, hed for hed, Swa that feill on the grund fell ded. Mony a wycht and worthy man, As athir apon othir ran, War duschit ded doune to the ground; 165 The rede blude out of mony a wound Ruschit in sa gret fusioune than, That of the blude the stremes ran. And thai, that wrath war and angry, Dang on othir so hardely, 170 With wapnys that war bricht and bar, That mony a wicht man ded wes thar. For thai that hardy war and wicht, And frontly with thar fayis can ficht, Pressit thame formast for till be. 175 Thair mycht men cruell bargane se, And hard battall, I tak on hand. In all the weir of Irland So hard ane fichting wes nocht seyne: The-quhethir of gret victoris nynteyne 180 Schir Edward had, withouten wer, In-till les than in-to thre yheir; And in syndry battelis off thai He vencust twenty thousand and ma, With trappit hors richt to the feit. 185 Bot in all tymis he wes yheit Ay ane for fyve, quhen lest wes he, Bot the Kyng, in-to this melle, Had allwayis aucht of his famen For ane, bot he swa bar him then, 190 That his gud deid and his bounte Confortit swa all his menyhe, That the mast coward hardy wes. For, quhar he saw the thykkest pres, So hardely on thame he raid, 195 That ay about hym rowme he maid. And Erll Thomas, the worthy, Wes in all tymis neir hym by, And faucht as he war in a rage; Swa that, throu thar gret vassalage, 200 Thar men sic hardyment can tak, That thai no perell wald forsak; Bot thame abaundonyt so stoutly, And dang on thame so hardely, That all thair fayis afrayit war. 205 And thai, that saw weill, be thair fair, That thai eschewit sumdeill the ficht, Thai dang on thame with all thar mycht, And pressit thame dyngand so fast, *209 *That thai the bak gaf at the last, *And thai, that saw thaim tak the flicht, Pressit thame than with all thar mycht, *212 And in thair fleying feill can sla. The Kingis men has chasit swa, 210 That thai war scalit evirilkane. Richard of Clare the way has tane To Devillyng, in full gret hy, With othir lordis that fled him by, And warnyst bath castell and townys 215 That war in thair possessiownis.

[177: C I undirstand (S). E H tak on hand.]

[178: C In-til (S). S also inserts all, which C omits here, but inserts before Irland, which it gives as Ingland. C is clearly defective.]

[*197, *198:

_That he slew all he might ourtak And rudely rushed them abak._--In H only.]

[184: E xxx. H twentie.]

[206: C by thair (S).]

[*209-*212: In C H, not in E; owing to occurrence of two mychts.]

Thai war so felly fleyit thar, That, as I trow, Richard of Clar Sall haf no will to faynd hys mycht In battell, na in fors of fycht, 220 Quhill King Robert and his menyhe Is duelland in-to that cuntre. Thai stuffit strynthis on this wis; And the King, that wes sa till pris, Saw in the feild richt mony slayn. 225 And ane of thame that thar wes tane, That wes arayit jolely, He saw greit wondir tendirly, And askit him quhy he maid sic cher: He said him, “Schir, forouten wer, 230 “It is no wonder thouch I grete, “I se feill heir fellit to fete, “The flour of all north Irland, “That hardyest wes of hert and hand, “And mast doutit in hard assay.” 235 The King said, ‘Thou has wrang, perfay; ‘Thou has mair caus myrthis till ma, ‘For thou the ded eschapit swa.’

[229: C He askit (S).]

[232: E lossyt the suet. H slain at my feete.]

[Sidenote: 1317] The King and the Laundress]

Rychard of Clare on this maner, And all his folk, discumfit wer, 240 With few folk, as I to yhow tald. And quhen Edward the Bruce so bald, Wist at the King had fouchten swa, With sa feill folk, and he thar-fra, Micht no man se ane wrathar man. 245 Bot the gude King said till hym than, That it wes in his awn foly, For he raid sa unwittandly So fer befor, and no avaward Maid to thame of the reirward, 250 For, he said, quha on were wald ryde In the vaward, he suld na tyde Press fra his rerward fer of sycht; For gret perell so fall thair mycht. Of this ficht will we spek no mair. 255 The King, and all that with him war, Raid furthwarde in-to bettir aray, And neir to-giddir than ere did thai. Throu all the land planly thai raid; Thai fand nane that thame warnyng maid. 260 Thai raid evin forrouth Drouchyndra, And forrouth Devilling syne alsua: Bot to gif battale nane thai fand. Syne thai went forthwarde in the land, And sowth till Lynrike held their way, 265 That is the southmast toune, perfay, That in Irland may fundyn be. Thair lay thai dayis twa or thre, And buskit syne agane to fare. And quhen that thai all reddy war, 270 The King has herd ane woman cry, He askit quhat that wes in hy. “It is ane landar, schir,” said ane, “That hir childyne richt now has tane; “And mon leve now behynd us her, 275 “Tharfor scho makis yhon evill cher.” The King said; ‘Certis, it war pite ‘That scho in that poynt left suld be; ‘For certis, I trow, thar is no man ‘That he ne will rew a woman than.’ 280 His host all than arestit he, And gert ane tent soyne stentit be, And gert her gang in hastely, And othir women till be hir by, Quhill scho delyver wes, he bad; 285 And syne furth on his wayis raid; And how scho furth suld caryit be, Or evir he fure, than ordanit he. This wes a full gret curtasy, That sic a Kyng and swa mychty, 290 Gert his men duell on this maner Bot for a full pouir laynder. Northward agane thai tuk the way, Throu all Irland thus passit thai, Throw Conage richt to Devilling, 295 And throu all Myth, and Irell syne, And Monester, and Lenester, And syne haly throu Ullister, To Cragfergus, forout battell; For thar wes nane durst thame assale. 300 The kingis than of the Eryschrye Come to Schir Edwarde halely; And thair manrent till him ma, Bot gif that it war ane or twa. Till Cragfergus thai come agane; 305 In all that way wes no bargane, Bot gif that ony punyhe wer, That is nocht for till spek of her. The Erische kyngis than evirilkane Hayme till thar awne repar ar gane, 310 And undirtuk in all-kyn thyng For till obeys till the biddyng Of Schir Edward, that thar king call thai. He wes weill set now in gud way To conquest the land all halely; 315 For he had apon his party The Eryschry and Ullister, And he wes swa furth of his wer That he was passit throu all Irland, Fra end till end throu strynth of hand. 320 Couth he haf governit hym throu skill, And fallowit nocht to fast his will, Bot with mesour haf led his deid, It wes weill lik, withouten dreid, That he mycht haff conquerit weill 325 The land of Irland everilk deill. Bot his outrageous succudry And will, that mar wes than hardy, Of purpos letit hym, perfay, As I heir-eftir sall yhow say. 330

[260: E obstakill maid.]

[264: E southwart.]

[265: E rycht till.]

[265: C Lunyk (S). E Kynrike. H Lynrike. In Anderson’s edition we find Lymrik.]

[280: C up-on woman (S). H like E.]

[293: E H lavender.]

[295: E Connach. H Connoch.]

[296: E Methy. H Mich. E Iereby. H Irrelle.]

How the Good Douglas slew the Earl Richmond of England.

[Sidenote: APRIL 1317] Douglas at Lintalee]

Now leiff we heir the nobill King All at his eis, and his liking, And spek we of the lord Douglas, That left to kep the marchis was. He gert get wrichtis that wes sle, 335 And in the hawch of Lyntoun-le He gert thame mak a fair maner. And quhen the housis biggit wer, He gert purvay him richt weill thar; For he thoucht for till make infair, 340 And till mak gud cher till his men. In Rychmond wes thar wonnand then Ane Erll men callit Schir Thomas. He had invy at the Dowglas, And said, gif that he his baner 345 Micht se displayit apon wer, That soyn assemble on it suld he. He herd how Dowglas thoucht to be At Lyntoun-le ane fest till ma. And he had wittyng weill alsua, 350 That the King and a gret menyhe, War passit than of the cuntre, And the Erll of Murref, Thomas. Tharfor he thoucht the cuntre was Febill of men for till withstand 355 Men that thame soucht with stalward hand: And of the marchis than had he The governale, and the pouste. He gaderit folk about hym then, Quhill he wes neir ten thousand men, 360 And wode-axis gert with hym tak; For he thoucht he his men wald mak Till hew doune Jedward forest cleyne, That na tre suld tharin be seyne.

[336: E Lyntaile. H Lyntalle.]

[Sidenote: APRIL, 1317] Douglas slays Richmond]

Thai held thaim furthward on thar way; 365 Bot the gud lord of Dowglas ay Had spyis out on ilka syde, And had gud witting that thai wald ryde, And cum apon hym suddanly. Than gaderit he richt hastely 370 Thame that he mycht of his menyhe. I trow that than with hym had he Fifty, that worthy war and wicht, At all poynt armyt weill and dicht; And of archeris a gret menyhe 375 Assemblit als with hym had he. A place thar was thar in the way, Quhar he wist weill thai wald away, That had wode apon athir syde; The entre wes weill large and wyde; 380 And as ane schelde it narrowit ay Quhill that, in-till ane place, the way Wes nocht a penny-stane cast of breid. The lord of Douglas thidder yheid, Quhen he wist thai war neir cumand, 385 And in a clewch on the ta hand, All his archeris enbuschit he, And bad thame hald thame all preve Quhill that thai herd him rais the cry, And than suld thai schute hardely 390 Emang thar fayis, and hald thame thar Quhill that he throu thame passit war; And syne with him furth hald suld thai. Than byrkis on athir syde the way, That yhoung and thik wes growand ner, 395 He knyt to-giddir on sic maner, That men mycht nocht weill throu thame ryde. Quhen this wes done, he can abyde Apon the tothir half the way: And Richmond in-till gude aray 400 Com rydand in the first escheill. The lorde Dowglas has seyn him weill, And gert his men all hald thame still, Quhill richt at hand thai com thame till And enterit in the narrow way. 405 Than with a schout on thame schot thai, Cryand on hicht, “Douglas! Douglas!” Than Richmonde, that rycht worthy was, Quhen he has herd sa ris the cry, And Dowglas baner saw planly, 410 He dressit him thiddir-ward in hy. And thai come on sa hardely, That thai throu thame maid thame gud way; All at thai met till erd bar thai. The Richmond borne doune thar was; 415 On hym arestit the Dowglas, And him reversit, syne with a knyff Richt in that place hym reft the liff. Ane hat apon his helm he bare, And that tuk Douglas with him thar 420 In taknyng, for it furrit was. And syne in hy his way he tais, Quhill in the wode thai enterit war. The archeris weill has borne thame thar; For weill and hardely schot thai. 425 The Inglis rout in gret effray War set, for Douglas suddandly, With all thame of his cumpany, Or evir thai wist, war in thar rout, And thrillit thame weill neir throuout; 430 And had almast all done his deid, Or thai till help thame couth take hede.

[391: E and sow thaim sair. H saile them saire.]

[401: C battale (S). H eshell.]

[402: C seyn weill all (S). H as E.]

[408: Rycht is from H alone (S).]

And quhen thai saw thar lord wes slayne, Thai tuk him up, and turnyt agayne Till draw thame fra the schot away. 435 Than in ane playne assemblit thai; And, for thar lord that thar wes ded, Thai schupe thame in that ilke sted For till take herbery all that nycht. And than the Douglas, that wes wicht, 440 Gat wittering that ane clerk, Elys, With weill thre hundreth enymys, All straucht till Lyntoun-le war gane, And herbery for thair host had tane. Than thiddir is he went in hy, 445 With all thame of his cumpany, And fand clerk Elis at the met, And all his rout about him set. And thai com on thaim stoutly thair, And with suerdis that scharply schar 450 Thai servit thame full egyrly. Thai war slayn doune so halely, That thar weill neir eschapit nane; Thai servit thame in sa gret wayne With scherand swerdis and with knyvis, 455 That weill neir all lesyt thar livis. Thai had ane felloune entremas, For that surcharge to chargeand was! Thai that eschapit thair throu cas Richt till thar host thar wayis tais, 460 And tald how that thar men war slayne So cleyne that neir eschapit nane. And quhen thai of the host has herd How that the Dowglas with thame ferd, That had thar herbreouris all slayne, 465 And ruschit als thame-self agane, And slew thar lord in-myd thar rowt, Ther wes nane of thame all sa stowt, That mair will had than till assale The Dowglas; tharfor till consale 470 Thai yheid, and till purpos has tane Till wend hamward, and haym ar gane; And sped thame swa apon thair way, That in Ingland soyne cummyn ar thai. The forest left thai standand still; 475 Till hew it than thai had no will: And specialy quhill the Dowglas So neir hand by thair nychtbour was. And he, that saw thame turn agane, Persavit weill thar lord wes slane, 480 And by the hat that he had tane He wist alsua weill; for ane, That takyn wes, said him suthly, That the Richmond commonly Wes wount that furrit hat to were. 485 Than Dowglas blithar wes than ere; For he weill wist that the Richmond, His felloune fa, wes broucht to ground.

[434: C and went (S). H turned.]

[449: C on hym (S). H as E.]

[Sidenote: 1317] Three Feats by Fifty Men]

Schir James of Dowglas, on this wis, Throu his worschip and gret empris, 490 Defendit worthely the land. This poynt of weir, I tak on hand, Wes undirstane so apertly, And eschevit richt hardely. For he stonayit, withouten weir, 495 The folk that weill ten thousand weir, With fifty armyt men but ma. I can als tell yhow othir twa Poyntis, that weill eschevit weir With fifty men; and, but all weir, 500 Thai war done swa richt hardely, *501 *That thai war prisit soveranly, *Atour all othir poyntis of wer That in thar tym eschevit wer. *504 This wes the first, that sa stoutly Wes broucht till end weill with fifty. In Galloway the tothir fell; Quhen, as yhe forrouth herd me tell, Schir Edward the Bruys, with fifty, 505 Vencust of Saint Johne Schir Amery, And fifteene hundreth men be tale. The thrid fell in-to Eske-dale, Quhen that Schir Jhone the Sowlis was The governour of all that plas, 510 That to Schir Androu the Herdclay With fifty men withset the way, That had thar in his cumpany Thre hundreth horsit jolely. This Schir Jhone in-to plane melle, 515 Throu hardyment and soverane bounte Vencust thame sturdely ilkane, And Schir Androu in hand has tane. I will nocht rehers all the maner; For quha sa likis, thai may heir 520 Yhoung women, quhen thai will play, Syng it emang thame ilke day. Thir war the worthy poyntis thre, That, I trow, evirmar sall be Prisit, quhill men may on thaim meyn. 525 It is weill worth, forouten weyn, That thar namys for evirmar, That in thar tyme so worthy war That men till heir yheit has dantee Of thair worschip and gret bounte, 530 Be lestand ay furth in lovyng: Quhare he, that is of hevyn the king, Bring thame hye up till hevynnis blis, Quhar alway lestand loving is!

[*501-*504: Not in E. In C H.]

[505: C Brys (S).]

[507: E fyfty. H fifteene. C xv (S).]

[Sidenote: 1317] An English Fleet in the Forth]

In-till this tyme that the Rychmond 535 Was on this maner broucht to ground, Men of the cost of Ingland, That duelt on Hummyr or neirhand, Gaderit thame a gret menyhe, And went with schippes to the se, 540 And toward Scotland went in hy, And in the Firth com hastely. Thai wend till haf all thar liking: For thai wist richt weill at the King Wes than fer out of the cuntre, 545 And with him mony of gret bounte. Tharfor in-to the Firth com thai And endlang it up held thai thar way, Quhill thai, besyde Enverkethyne, On west half, toward Dunfermlyne, 550 Tuk land, and fast begouth to reif. The Erll of Fiff and the schirreff Saw till thar cost schippes approachand: Thai gaderit till defend thair land, And ay forgane the schippis ay, 555 As thai salit, thai held thar way, And thoucht till let thame land to tak, And quhen the schipmen saw thame mak Sie contenans in sic aray, Thai said emang thaim all, that thai 560 Wald nocht let for thame land to ta, Than to the land thai sped thame swa, That thai com thair in full gret hy And arivit full hardely. The Scottis men saw thair cummyng, 565 And had of thame sic abasyng, That thai all sammyn raid thame fra, And the land letles leit thame ta. Thai durst nocht fecht with thame, for-thi Thai withdrew thame all halely; 570 The-quhethir thai war fyve hundreth ner. Quhen thai away thus ridand wer, And na defens begouth to schop, Of Dunkelden the gude bischop, That men callit Willyhame Syncler 575 Com with a rout in gud manere, I trow on hors thai war sexty. Hym-self wes armyt jolely, And raid apon a stalward steid. A chemeyr, for till heill his weid, 580 Above his armyng had he then; And als weill armyt wes his men. The Erll with the schirreff met he, Awayward with thar gret menyhe: And askyt thame weill soyn, quhat hy 585 Maid thame till turne so hastely. Thai said, thair fais with stalward hand Had in sic fusioune takyne land, That thai thoucht thame allout to fele, And thame to few with thame to dele. 590 Quhen the bischop herd it wes sa, He said; “The King aucht weill to ma “Of yhow, that takis sa weill on hand “In his absens till wer the land. “Certis, gif he gert serve yhow weill, 595 “The gilt spuris, richt by the heill, “He suld in hy ger hew yhow fra; “Richt wald with cowardis men did swa. “Quha lufis his lord and his cuntre, “Turne smertly now agane with me!” 600 With that he kest of his chemer, And hynt in hand a stalward sper, And raid toward his fayis in hy. All turnyt with hym halely; For he had thame reprevit swa, 605 That of thame all nane went him fra. He raid befor thame sturdely, And thai hym followyt sarraly, Quhill that thai com neir approchand To thar fais that had tane land. 610 And sum war knyt in gud aray, And sum war set to the forray.

[548: C endlang furth held thai thar way. E it up held thai. H it held up their way.]

[549: E Enverkething.]

[550: E Dunferling.]

[Sidenote: 1317] The Wonderful Feat of an Englishman]

The gud bischop, quhen he thame saw, He said; “Lordingis, but dreid or aw, “Prek we apon thame hardely, 615 “And we sall haf thame weill lichtly, “Se thai us cum but abaysing, “Swa that we mak heir na stynting, “Thai sall weill soyne discumfit be. “Now dois weill; for men sall se, 620 “Quha lufis the Kyngis mensk to-day.” Than all to-giddir in gud aray Thai prekit apon thame sturdely. The bischop, that wes richt hardy And mekill and stark, raid forrouth ay. 625 Than in a frusche assemblit thai. And thai that, at the first metyng Of speris, feld so sair sowing, Wayndist and wald haf beyn away; Toward thar schippis in hy held thai, 630 And thai com chassand felonly, And slew thame sa dispitfully, That all the feldis strowit war Of Inglis men that slayn wes thar. And thai that yheit held unslayn, 635 Pressit thame to the se agane. And Scottis men, that chassit swa, Slew all that thai mycht our-ta. Bot thai that fled yheit, nocht-for-thi, Swa till thar schippis can thame hy, 640 And in sum bargis sa feill can ga, And thair fais thame chasit swa, That thai ourtummyllit, and the men That war thar-in all drownit then. Thar did ane Inglis man, perfay, 645 A weill gret strynth, as I herd say. For quhen he chassit wes to the bat, A Scottis man, that him handlyt hat, He hynt than by the armys twa; And, war him weill or war him wa, 650 He evin apon his bak hym flang, And with hym till the bat can gang, And kest him in, all magre his. This wes ane weill gret strynth, i-wis. The Inglis men, that wan away, 655 Till thair schippes in hy went thai. And salit hayme, angry and wa That thai had beyn reboytit swa.

How Good King Robert the Bruce came Home again from Ireland.

[Sidenote: 1318] King Robert returns from Ireland]

Qwhen that the schipmen on this wis War discumfit, as I devis, 660 The bischop, that so weill hym bare That he all hertit that was thar, Wes yheit in-to the fechting-sted, Quhar that fyve hundreth neir wes ded, Forouten thame that drownyt war. 665 And quhen the feld wes spulyheit bare, Thai went all hayme to thar repare. To the bischop is fallen faire, That, throu his pris and his bounte, Has eschevit sa gret journee; 670 The Kyng tharfor, ay fra that day, Hym lufit, honorit and prisit ay, And held hym in-to sic daynte That “his awne bischop” him callit he. Thus thai defendit the cuntre 675 Apon bath halfis the Scottis Se, Quhill that the King wes out of land, That than, as I have borne on hand, Throu all Irland his cours had maid, And agane to Cragfergus raid. 680 And quhen his brothir, as he war King, Had all Erischry at his bidding, And halely Ulcister alsua, He buskit hame his way to ta. Of his men that war mast hardy 685 And prisit of all chevelry, With his brothir gret part left he, And syne he went on-to the se. Quhen thair levis on athir party Wes tane, he went to schip in hy. 690 The Erll Thomas with him he had; Thai rasit salys but abaid, And in the land of Gallowa, Forouten perell, arivit thai.

Book XVII

The Winning of the Town of Berwick by the Scots Men, through the Means of Sim of Spalding.

The lordis of the land wes fayne Quhen thai wist he wes cummyn agane, And till him went in full gret hy, And he resavit thame richt gladly, And maid a fest and gladsum cher. 5 And thai so wondirly blith wer Of his come, that na toung mycht say; Gret fest and fair till him maid thai. Quhar-evir he raid, all the cuntre Gaderit in daynte him to se. 10

Gret gladschip than wes in the land; All than wes wonnyne till his hand; Fra Redis Swyr till Orkynnay Wes nocht of Scotland fra his fay, Outaken Berwik it allane. 15 That tyme thar-in wonnyt ane, That capitane wes of the toune. All Scottis men in suspicioune He held, and tretit thame richt ill; He had ay at thame hevy will, 20 And had thame fast at undir ay. Quhill that it fell, apon a day, That a burges, Sym of Spaldyng, Thoucht it wes richt ane angry thing Ay swagat till reboytit be; 25 Tharfor in-till his hert thoucht he, That he wald slely mak covyne With the marschall, quhais cosyne He had weddit on-till his wiff; And as he thoucht he did beliff. 30 Letteris till him he send in hy With a trast man all prevaly; And set hym tym to cum a nycht With ledderis and gud men and wicht, Till the Kow-yhet all prevely; 35 And bad him hald his trast treuly, And he suld meit thame at the wall; For his wach thar that nycht suld fall. Quhen the marschall the letteris saw, He umbethoucht him than a thraw; 40 For he wist, be him-selvin he Micht nocht of mycht na power be For till escheve so gret a thing: And gif he tuk till his helping, Ane or othir suld wrethit be. 45 Tharfor richt till the King yheid he, And schawit him betuix thai twa The lettir and the charge alsua. Quhen that the King herd that this trane Wes spokin in-to sic certane, 50 That him thoucht thar-in na fantys, He said him; “Certis, thou wroucht has wis, “That thou discoverit first till me; “For gif thou had discoverit thee “Till my nevo, the Erll Thomas, 55 “Thou suld disples the lord Douglas; “And him alsua in the contrer. “Bot I sall wirk on sic maner, “That thou at thine entent sall be, “And have of nane of thame magre. 60 “Thou sall tak kep weill to thi day, “And with thame that thou purches may “At evin thou sall enbuschit be “In Duns park; bot be preve. “And I sall ger the Erll Thomas, 65 “And the lord alsua of Dowglas, “Athir with ane quheyne of men, “Be thair till do as thou sall ken.”

[33: C at (S). H ane. E a.]

[Sidenote: APRIL, 1318] The Scots enter Berwick secretly]

The marschall than but mair delay Tuk lief, and held on furth his way; 70 And held the spek preve and still, Quhill the day that wes set him till. Than of the best of Lowdyane He with him till his trist has tane; For schirreff thar-off than wes he. 75 Till Duns park with his menyhe He come at evyn all prevely. And syne, with a gude cumpany, Soyne eftir come the Erll Thomas, That wes met with the lord Douglas. 80 A richt fair cumpany thai war, Quhen thai war met to-giddir thar. And quhen the marschall the covyne Till bath the lordis, lyne be lyne, Had tald, thai went on furth thar way; 85 Fer fra the toune thar hors left thai. Till mak it schort, swa thai wroucht than That, but seying of ony man, Outane Sym of Spaldyne allane, That gert the deid be undirtane, 90 Thai set thair ledderis to the wall, And, but persaving, com up all; And held thame in ane nuke preve, Quhill at the nycht suld passit be. And ordanit that the mast party 95 Of thair men suld gang sarraly With thar lordis, and hald a staill, And the remanand suld all haill Scaill throu the toun, and tak and sla The men that thai mycht our-ta. 100

[Sidenote: APRIL, 1318] The Bravery of Sir William Keith]

Bot soyn thar ordinans brak thai; For, als soyn as it dawit day, The twa part of thair men and ma, All scalit, throu the toun to-ga; Sa gredy war thai till the gude, 105 That thai ran richt as thai war woude, And sesit housis and slew men. And thai that saw thair fais then Cum apon thame suddanly, Throu-out the toun thai rasit the cry, 110 And schot to-gidder heir and thair: And ay, as thai assemblit war, Thai wald abyde and mak debat. Had thai beyn warnyt, weill I wat, Thai suld haf sald thair dedis der; 115 For thai war gud men, and thai wer Fer ma than thai war at thame soucht; Bot thai war scalit sa at thai moucht On na maner assemblit be. Thar wes gret melleis twa or thre; 120 Bot Scottis men so weill thame bar That thair fais ay ruschit war; And cumrayit at the last war swa That thai haly the bak can ta. Sum gat the castell, bot nocht all; 125 And sum ar slyddin our the wall, And sum war in-to handis tane, And sum war in the bargane slane. On this wis thame contenit thai, Quhill it wes neir noyne of the day; 130 Than thai that in the castell war, And othir that fled to thame thar, That war a richt gret cumpany, Quhan thai the baner saw sympilly Swa standand, stuffit with sa quhoyn, 135 Thar yhettis haf thai opnyt soyn, And yschit on thame hardely. Than Erll Thomas, that wes worthy And als the gude lord of Douglas, With the few folk that with thame was, 140 Met thame stoutly with wapnys seir; Thar men mycht se, that had beyn neir, Men abaundoune thame hardely. The Inglis men faucht cruelly, And with all mychtis can thame payne 145 Till rusche the Scottis men agane. I trow thai had swa done, perfay, For thai war fewar far than thai, Gif it ne had beyn ane new maid knycht, That till his name Schyr Wilyhame hicht 150 Of Keth, and of the Gawlistoune He hecht, throu difference of sur-noune, That bair him sa rycht weill that day, And put him till sa hard assay, And sic dyntis about him dang, 155 That, quhar he saw the thikast thrang, He prikit with sa mekill mycht, And sua enforsaly can ficht, That he maid till his menyhe way: And thai that neir war by him ay 160 Dang on thair fayis sa hardely, That thai haf tane the bak haly And till the castell held thair way. And at gret myscheiff enterit thai, For thai war pressit thair so fast, 165 That thai feill lesit of the last; Bot thai that enterit, nocht-for-thi, Sparit thair yhettis hastely; And in hy to the wallis ran, For thai war nocht all sekir than. 170

The toune wes takyn on this wis Throu gret worschip and hye empris; And all the gud that thai thar fand Wes sesit smertly in-till hand. Vittaill thai fand in gret fusionne, 175 And all that fell till stuff of toune; That kepit that fra distroying, And syne has word send to the King. And he wes of that tithing blith, And sped him thiddirward full swith. 180 And as he throu the cuntre raid Men gaderit till him, quhill he had A mekill rout of worthy men. And the folk that war wonand then In-till the Mers and Tevidaill, 185 And in the Forest als all haill, And the est end of Lowdiane, Befor that the King com, ar gane To Berwik with a stalward hand, That nane that wes that tyme wonand 190 On yhond half Tweid durst weill apeir. And thai that in the castell weir, Quhen thai thair fais in sic plente Saw forrouth thame assemblit be, And had na hope of reskewyng, 195 Thai war abasit in gret thing. Bot thai the castell, nocht-for-thi, Held thai fiff dayis sturdely, Syne yhald it on the sext day, And till thair cuntre syne went thai. 200

[172: C With gret. H Through.]

Here Walter Stewart took of the King Both town and castle in keeping.

Thus wes the castell and the toune Till Scottis mennys possessioun Broucht: and soyn eftir the King Com ridand with his gadering Till Berwik; and in the casteill 205 He herbryit is, bath fair and weill And all his gret lordis hym by. The remanand all comonly Till herbry in the toun ar gane. The King has than till consell tane, 210 That he wald nocht brek doune the wall, Bot castell, and the toune with-all, Stuff weill with men and with vittaill And alkynd othir apparaill That mycht availl, or yheit mysteir 215 Till hald castell or toune of wer.

And Walter, Steward of Scotland, That than wes yhoung and avenand, And sone-in-law wes to the King, Had sa gret will and sic yharnyng, 220 Neirhand the marchis for till be, At Berwik to yhemsall tuk he; And resavit of the Kyng the toune, Bath the castell and the dungeoune.

[202: C Scottis men (S).]

[Sidenote: 1318] Berwick prepared for Siege]

The king gert men of gret nobillay 225 Ryde in-till Ingland for till pray, That broucht out gret plente of fee; And sum cuntreis trewit he For vittale, that in gret foysoune He gert bring smertly to the toune, 230 Swa that bath toune and castell war Weill stuffit for ane yheir and mair. The gude Steward of Scotland then Send for his frendis and his men, Quhill he had with him, but archeris, 235 But burges and botoblesteris, Fiff hundreth men wicht and worthy, That armys bar of ancistry. Johne Crab, a Flemyne, als had he, That wes of gret subtilite, 240 Till ordane till mak aparale For till defend and till assale Castell of wer or than cite, That nane slear mycht fundin be. He gert engynis and trammys ma, 245 And purvait grec fyre alsua; Spryngaldis and schotis on seir maneris That till defend castell afferis, He purvait in-till full gret wane. Bot gynis for crakkis had he nane; 250 For in Scotland yheit than, but wene, The oys of thame had nocht beyn sene And quhen the toune apon this wis Wes stuffit, as I heir devis, The nobill King his way has tane 255 And ryddin toward Lowiane. And Walter Steward, that wes stout, He left in Berwik with his rout, And ordanit fast for apparaill Till defend gif men wald assaill. 260

[245: C trammys or crammys. E cranys or tranys. H trames. Owing to the similarity of ‘t’ and ‘c’ in MSS. the reading is uncertain.]

[246: For the reason explained above it is doubtful whether we should here read gret or grec--i.e., Greek--probably the latter.]

[Sidenote: AUG.-SEPT., 1319] Berwick beset by Land and Sea]

Qwhen till the King of Ingland Wes tald how that, with stalward hand, Berwik wes tane, and stuffit syne With men and vittale and armyne, He wes anoyit gretumly; 265 And gert assembill hastely His consale, and has tane to rede That he his host wald thiddir leid, And, with all mycht that he mycht get, To the toune ane assege set, 270 And gert dik thame so stalwardly, That, quhill thame likit thair to ly, Thai suld fer out the traster be. And gif the men of the cuntre With strynth of men wald thame assale, 275 At thair dykis in-to battale, Thai suld avantage have gretly, And thouch all suth, for gret foly War till assaill in-to fechting At his dikis so stark a thing. 280 Quhen his consell on this maneir Wes tane, he gert bath fer and neir His host haly assemblit be: A gret folk than with him had he. Of Lancister the Erll Thomas, 285 That syne wes sanctit, as men sais, In-till his cumpany wes thar, And all the erllis als that war In Ingland worthy for to ficht, And baronis als of mekill mycht, 290 With him to that assege had he: And gert the schippes by the se Bring schot and othir apparale, With gret warnysing of vittale. To Berwik with all this menyhe, 295 With his bataillis arayit, come he; And till gret lordis, ilkane syndri, Ordanit ane felde for thar herbry. That men mycht se soyne palyheonis Be stentit on syndry fassownys, 300 So feill that thai a toune maid thair Mair than bath toune and castell war. On othir half syne, on the se, The schippis com in sic plente, With vittale, armyng, and with men, 305 That all the havyn wes stoppit then.

[271: C E gert. H gart. Skeat says these are “all wrong,” and that the proper reading is ger.]

[285: E H Longcastill.]

[296: C vittalis (S). H battels as in E.]

And quhen thai that war in the toune Saw thair fais in sic foysoune By land and se cum sturdely, Thai, as wicht men and richt worthy 310 Schupe thame for till defend thar stede, That thai in aventur of dede Suld put thame, or than rusche agane Thar fais; for thair capitane Tretit thame sa lusumly, 315 And thar-with-all the mast party Of thame that armyt with hym wer, War of his blude and sib him ner, Or ellis thai war his allye. Of sic confort men mycht thaim se, 320 And of sa richt fair contenyng, As nane of thame had abasing. On dayis arayit weill war thai, And on the nycht weill wachit ay. Weill sex dais thai swa abaid, 325 That thai na full gret bargane maid.

[318: C sib men (S).]

How Walter Stewart was assailed in Berwick by the King of England.

In-till this tym that I tell here, That thai withouten bargane wer, The Inglis-men sa closit had Thar host with dikis at thai maid, 330 That thai war strynthit gretumly. Syne with all handis besaly Thai schupe thame with thar apparale Thame of the toune for till assale. And of our Ladeis evin Mary, 335 That bare the byrth that all can by, That men callis hir Nativite, Soyn in the mornyng men mycht se The Inglis host arme thame in hy, And display baneris sturdely; 340 And assemmyll till thar baneris With instrumentis on seir maneris, As scaffaldis, ledderis, and coveryngis, Pykis, howis, and ek staff-slyngis; Till ilk lord and his battale 345 Wes ordanit quhar he suld assale. And thai within, quhen that thai saw That menyhe raynge thame swa on raw, Till thar wardis thai went in hy, That war stuffit rycht stalwardly 350 With stanys, schot, and othir thing That nedit till thair defending: And in-to sic maner abaid Thair fais that till assayl thame maid.

[343: C scaffatis (S). H scaffolds.]

[Sidenote: SEPT. 7, 1319] A Fierce Attack and Defence]

Quhen thai without war all redy, 355 Thai trumpit till ane sawt in hy; And ilk man with his apparale, Quhar he suld be, went till assaile. Till ilk kyrneill that wes thair Archeris till schute assignit war. 360 And quhen on this wis thai war boune, Thai went in hy toward the toune, And fillit dykis richt hastely, Syne to the wallis hardely Thai went with ledderis that thai haid; 365 Bot thai so gret defens has maid, That war abovin apon the wall, That oft ledderis, and men with-all, Thai gert fall flatlynges to the grounde. Than men mycht se in litill stound 370 Men assalyheand richt hardely, Dressand up ledderis douchtely, And sum on ledderis pressand war; Bot thai that on the wall wes thar Till all perellis can abandoune 375 Thame, till thair fais war doungyn doune. At gret myschef defendit thai Thair toune; for, gif we suth sall say, The wallis of the toune than wer Sa law, that a man with a sper 380 Micht strike ane othir up in the face. And the schot als so thik thar was That it wes wonder for till se. Walter Steward, with a menyhe, Raid ay about, for to se quhar 385 That for till help mast myster war: And quhar men pressit mast, he maid Succoure till his that myster had. The mekill folk that wes without Haid enveronyt the toune about, 390 Swa that na part of it wes fre. Thar mycht men the assailyheouris se Abandoune thame richt hardely; And the defendouris douchtely With all thar mychtis can thame payne 395 Till put thair fais fors agane.

[Sidenote: SEPT. 7, 1319] The Assault is abandoned]

On this wis thame contenit thai Quhill noyne wes passit of the day. Than thai that in the schippes war Ordanit a schip with full gret far 400 Till cum with all hir apparale Richt to the wall, for till assale. Till myd-mast up thair bat thai drew, With armyt men tharin inew: A brig thai had for till lat fall 405 Richt fra the bat apon the wall. With bargis by hir can thai row, And pressit thame full fast to tow Hir by the brighous to the wall: On that entent thai set thame all. 410 Thai broucht hir quhill scho com weill neir: Than mycht men se on seir maner Sum men defend, and sum assale Full besaly with gret travale. Thai of the toune so weill thame bare, 415 That the schipmen sa handillit war, That thai the schip on na maner Mycht ger cum till the wall so neir, That thar fall-brig mycht reik thar-till, So lang abaid thai fechtand still 420 Quhill that scho ebbit on the ground; Than mycht men, in a litill stound, Se thame be fer of war covyne Than thai war eir, that war hir in. And quhen the se wes ebbit sa, 425 That men all dry till hir mycht ga, Out of the toune yschit in hy Till hir a weill gret cumpany, And fyre till hir has kendlyt soyne: In-till schort tyme swa haf thai done, 430 That thai in fyre has gert hir bryn. And sum war slayn that war hir in, And sum fled and away are gane. Ane engynour thair haf thai tane, That sleast wes of that mister 435 That men wist outhir fer or ner; In-to the toun syne enterit thai. It fell thame happely, perfay, That thai gat in so hastely; For thar come a gret cumpany 440 In full gret hy up by the se, Quhen thai the schip saw byrnand be. Bot or thai com, the tothir war past, The yhet thai barrit and closit fast. That folk assalyheit fast that day, 445 And thai within defendit ay On sic a wis, that thai that war With gret enfors assalyheand thar Mycht do thar will on na maner. And quhen that evynsang-tym wes neir, 450 The folk without, that wer wery, And sum woundit full cruelly, Saw thame within defend thaim swa; And saw it wes nocht eyth till ta The toune, with sic defens wes maid 455 By thaim, that it in stering had. The host saw that thar schip wes brynt, And of thame that thar-in war tynt, And thar folk woundit and wery; Thai gert blaw the retret in hy. 460 Fra the schipmen reboytit war, Thai let the tothir assale no mar; For throu the schip thai wend ilkane That thai the toune weill suld haf tane. Men sais that ma schippis than swa 465 Pressit that tyme the toune till ta; Bot for that thar wes brynt bot ane, And the gynour tharin wes tane. Now heir tharfor mencione maid I Bot off a schip all anerly. 470

[420: From C H. E For oucht thai mycht, gud or ill.]

[455: E quhill sik. H while.]

Qwhen thai had blawen the ratret, Thai folk, that tholit had panys gret, Withdrew thame haly fra the wall; The assalt haf thai levit all. And thai within, that wery war, 475 And mony of thame woundit sar, War blith and glad quhen at thai saw Thair fais swagat thame withdraw. And, fra thai wist suthly that thai Held to thair palyheonys thair way, 480 Thai set gud wachis to thar wall; Syne to thar innys went thai all, And esyt thame that wery war. And othir, that war woundit sar, Had lechis gude forsuth, I hicht, 485 That helpit thame as thai best mycht. On athir syde wery war thai; That nycht thai did no mair perfay. Fiff dayis thar-eftir thai war still, That nane till othir did mekill ill. 490

[Sidenote: 1319] The Scots raid England]

Now leiff we thir folk heir liand All still, as I haf borne on hand, And turn the cours of our carpyng Till Schir Robert the douchty King, That assemblit bath fer and neir, 495 Ane host, quhen that he wist, but weir, That the king swa of Ingland Had assegit with stalward hand Berwik, quhar Walter Steward was. Till purpos with his men he tais, 500 That he wald nocht sa soyne assale The King of Ingland with battale, And at his dykis specially, For it mycht weill turn to foly. Tharfor he ordanit lordis twa, 505 The Erll of Murreff wes ane of tha, The tothir wes the Lord Dowglas, With fyftene thousand men to pas In Ingland, for till burn and sla, And swa gret ryot thar till ma, 510 That thai that lay segande the toune, Quhen thai herd the distructione, That thai suld in-till Ingland ma, Suld be sa dredand, and sa wa For thair childir and for thair wiffis, 515 That thai suld dreid suld leis thar liffis, And thar gudis alsua, that thai Suld dreid than suld be had away, That thai suld leif the sege in hy, And wend to reskew hastely 520 Thair gude, thair frendis, and thair land. Tharfor, as I haf borne on hand, Thir lordis send he furth in hy; And thai thair way tuk hastely, And in Ingland gert byrn and sla, 525 And wroucht tharin so mekill wa As thai forrayit the cuntre, That it wes pite for to se Till thame that wald it ony gude, For thai distroyit all as thai yhude. 530 So lang thai raid distroyande swa, As thai traversit to and fra, That thai ar cummyne till Repoune, And distroyit haly that toune. At Burrow-brig syne thar herbry 535 Thai tuk, and at Mytoun thar-by.

[496: C that, quhen (S), but there is no predicate for that.]

And quhen the men of that cuntre Saw thar land sa distroyit be, Thai gaderit, in-till full gret hy, Archeris, burges, with yhemenry, 540 Prestis, clerkis, monkis, and freris, Husbandis, and men of all mysteris, Quhill at thai sammyn assemmyllit war Weill tuenty thousand men and mair. Richt gud armyng eneuch thai had. 545 The archbischop of York thai maid Thair capitane; and to consale Has tane, that thai in playn battale Wald assale the Scottis men, That fer fewar than thai war then. 550 Than he displayit his baneir, And othir bischoppes, that thar wer, Gert display baneris alsua. All in a rout furth can thai ga Toward Mytoune the reddy way; 555 And quhen that Scottis men herd say That thai war till thame cumand neir, Thai buskit thame on thar best maneir, And delit thame in-till battellis twa. Dowglas the vaward he can ma; 560 The reirward maid the Erll Thomas, For chiftane of the host he was. And, sua ordanit in gude aray, Toward thair fais thai held their way. Quhen athir had of othir sicht, 565 Thai pressit on bath halfis to ficht. The Inglis men com on sadly With gud contenans and hardy, Rycht in a frount with a baner, Quhill thai thair fayis com so neir, 570 That thai thar visage weill mycht se. Thre sper-lynth, I trow weill, mycht be Betuix thame, quhen sic abasing Tuk thame, but mar, in-to a swyng, Thai gaf the bak all, and to-ga. 575 Quhen Scottis men has seyn thame swa Affrayitly fle all thar way, In gret hy apon thame schot thai, And slew and tuk a gret party. The laiff fled full effrayitly 580 As thai best mycht, to seik warrand. Thai war chassit so neir at hand, That weill ane thousand deit thar; And of thaim yheit thre hundreth war Prestis, that deit in-to that chas. 585 Tharfor that bargane callit was “The Chaptour of Mytoune;” for thare Slayn sa mony prestis ware.

[Sidenote: 1319] The ‘Sow’ and the ‘Crane’]

Qwhen thir folk thus discumfit was, And Scottis men had left the chas, 590 Thai went thame furthwarde in the land Slayand, distroyand, and byrnand, And thai that at the sege lay, Or it wes passit the fift day, Had made thame syndry apparale 595 To gang eftsonis till assale. Of gret gestis ane Sow thai maid, That stalward heling owth it had, With armyt men enew thar-in, And instrumentis als for to myne. 600 Syndry scaffaldis thai maid with-all, That war weill hyar than the wall, And ordanit als that by the se The toune suld weill assalyheit be. And thai within, that saw thame swa 605 So gret apparale schap till ma, Throu Crabbis consale, that wes sle, Ane cren thai haif gert dres up hey Rynand on quhelis, that thai mycht bring It quhar neid war of mast helping. 610 And pik and ter als haf thai tane, And lynt and hardis with brynstane, And dry treis that weill wald brin; And mellit syne athir othir in: And gret flaggatis tharof thai maid, 615 Gyrdit with irne bandis braid. Of thai flaggatis mycht mesurit be Till a gret tunnys quantite. Thai flaggatis byrnand in a baill With thair cren thoucht thai till availl. 620 And gif the Sow come to the wall, Till lat thame byrnand on hir fall, And with ane stark cheyne hald thame thar Quhill all war brint up that thar war. Engynys alsua for till cast 625 Thai ordanit, and maid redy fast, And set ilk man syne till his ward. And Schir Walter, the gude Steward, With armyt men suld ryde about, And se quhar at thar war mast dout; 630 And succur thar with his menyhe. And quhen thai in-to sic degre Had maid thame for thair asaling, On the Rude-evyn, in the dawing, The Inglis host blew till assale. 635 Than mycht men with ser apparale Se that gret host cum sturdely; The toune enveremyt thai in hy, And assalit with sa gud will, For all thair mycht thai set thar-till, 640 That thai thame pressit fast of the toune. Bot thai, that can thame abandoune Till ded, or than till woundis sare, Sa weill has thame defendit thare, That ledderis to the ground thai flang, 645 And with stanys so fast thai dang Thair fais, that feill thai left lyand, Sum ded, sum hurt, and sum swonand.

[601: C scaffatis (S).]

[Sidenote: SEPT. 13, 1319] The ‘Sow’ is smashed]

Bot thai that held on fut in hy Drew thame away deliverly, 650 And skunnyrrit tharfor na-kyn thing, Bot went stoutly till assalyng. And thai abovin defendit ay, And set thame till so harde assay, Quhill that feill of thame woundit war: 655 And thai so gret defens maid thar, That thai styntit thair fais mycht. Apon sic maner can thai ficht, Quhill it wes neir noyne of the day; Than thai without, in gret aray, 660 Pressit thair Sow toward the wall; And thai within weill soyne gert call The engynour that takyne was, And gret manans till him mais; And swoir that he suld de, bot he 665 Provit on the Sow sic sutelte, That he to-fruschyt hir ilke deill. And he, that has persavit weill That the dede wes weill neir hym till, Bot gif he mycht fulfill thar will, 670 Thoucht that he all his mycht wald do; Bendit in gret hy than wes scho, And till the Sow wes evin set. In hye he gert draw the cleket, And smertly swappit out the stane 675 That evyn out-our the Sow is gane, And behynd hir a litill we It fell, and than thai cryit hey That war in hir, “Furth to the wall. “For dreidles it is ouris all!” 680 The engynour that deliverly Gert bend the gyne in full gret hy, And the stane smertly swappit out: It flaw out, quhedirand, with a rout, And fell richt evin befor the Sow. 685 Thair hertis than begouth till grow; Bot yheit than, with thair mychtis all, Thai pressit the Sow toward the wall, And has hir set thar-to juntly. The gynour than gert bend in hy 690 The gyne, and wappyt out the stane, That evin toward the lift is gane, And with gret wecht syne duschit doune Richt by the wall, in a randoune, And hyt the Sow in sic maner, 695 That it, that wes the mast summer And starkast for till stynt a strak, In-sundir with that dusche he brak. The men ran out in full gret hy, And on the wallis thai can cry, 700 That thair Sow ferryit wes thair. Johne Crab, that had his geir all yhar, In his fagattis has set the fyre, And our the wall syne can thame vyre, And brynt the Sow till brandis bair. 705 With all this, fast assalyheand war The folk without with felloune ficht, And thai within with mekill mycht Defendit manfully thar stede, In-till gret aventur of dede. 710

[689: C juntly (S), but suggesting justly ( = exactly) as right reading. H cunningly. E gentilly.]

[691: C swappit (S).]

The schipmen, with gret apparale, Com with thair schippes till assale, With top-castellis warnist weill, And wicht men armyt in-till steill. Thair batis up apon thair mastis 715 Drawyn weill hye and festnyt fast is, And pressit with that gret atour Toward the wall, bot the gynour Hit in ane espyne with a stayne, And the men that war thar-in gane, 720 Sum dede, sum dosnyt, come doun wyndland. Fra thine-furth durst nane tak on hand With schippes pres thame to the wall. Bot the laiff war assalyheand all On ilka syde sa egyrly, 725 That certis it wes gret ferly, That thai folk sic defens has maid, For the gret myscheif that they had. For thair wallis so law than weir, That a man richt weill with a sper 730 Micht strik ane othir up in the face, As eir befor tald till yhow was. And feill of thame war woundit sare, And the layf so fast travaland war, That nane had tume rest for till ta, 735 Thair adversouris assailyheit swa.

[735: E tyme.]

[Sidenote: SEPT. 13, 1319] The Drawbridge is burnt down]

Thai war within sa stratly stad That thar wardane, that with him had Ane hundreth men in cumpany Armyt, that wicht war and hardy, 740 And raid about for till se quhar That his folk hardest pressit war, To relief thame that had mister, Com syndry tymes in placis ser Quhar sum of the defensouris war 745 All dede, and othir woundit sare; Swa that he of his cumpany Behufit to leiff thair party: Swa that, be he a cours had maid About, of all the men he had 750 Thar wes levit with him bot ane, That he ne had thame left ilkane To releve quhar he saw mister. And the folk, that assalyheand wer At Mary-yhet, to-hewyn had 755 The barras, and a fyre had maid At the draw-brig, and brynt it doune; And war thringand in gret foysoune Rycht to the yhet ane fyre till ma. Than thai within gert smertly ga 760 Ane to the wardane, for till say How thai war set in hard assay. And quhen Schir Walter Steward herd How men sa stratly with thame ferd, He gert cum of the castell then 765 All that war thar of armyt men, For thar that day assalyheit nane, And with that rout in hy is gane To Mary-yhet, and till the wall Is went, and saw the myscheif all: 770 And umbethoucht him suddandly Bot gif gret help war set in hy Thar-to, thai suld burne up the yhet That fra the wall thai suld nocht let. Tharfor apon gret hardyment 775 He suddanly set his entent; And gert all wyde set up the yhet, And the fyre that he fand thar-at With strinth of men he put away. He set him in full hard assay; 780 For thai that war assalyheand thar Pressit on hym with wapnys bair, And he defendit with all his mycht. Thar mycht men se a felloune sicht, With staffing, stoking, and striking. 785 Thar maid thai sturdy defending; For with gret strynth of men the yhet Thai defendit, and stude thar-at, Magre thair fais, quhill the nycht Gert thame on bath halfis leif the ficht. 790

[774: C and H (S). With the fire that he fand thar-at. Seems an anticipation of 778. Text from E.]

[785: E Off stabing.]

Thai of the host, quhen nycht can fall, Fra the assalt with-drew thame all, Woundit, and wery, and forbeft. With mate cher the assalt thai left, And till thar innys went in hy 795 And set thar wachis hastely. The laif thame esit as thai mycht best; For thai had gret myster of rest. That nycht thai spak al comonly Of thame within, and had ferly 800 That thai sa stout defens has maid Agane the gret assalt thai had. And thai within, on othir party, Quhen thai thair fayis so halely Saw thame withdraw, thai war all blith, 805 And wachis has ordanit swith; And syne ar till thar innys gane. Thar wes bot few of thame wes slaine, Bot feill war woundit wikidly, The laiff our mesur war wery. 810 It wes ane hard assalt, perfay, And certis, I hard nevir say Quhar quheyn men mair defens had maid, That swa richt hard assalyheing had. And of a thing that thair befell 815 I haf ferly, that I of tell; That is, that in-till all that day, Quhen all thair mast assalyheit thai, And the schot thikkest wes with-all, Women with child and childir small 820 In arme-fullis gaderit up, and bair Till thame that on the wallis war Arowes, and nocht ane slayne wes thar, Na yheit woundit; and that wes mar The myrakill of God Almychty, 825 And to nocht ellis it set can I.

[809: E woundyt uttrely.]

[812: C certanly, but E is admittedly better.]

[Sidenote: SEPT. 14, 1319] A Division in the English Council]

[Sidenote: SEPT., 1319] The Return of the Scots]

On athir syde that nycht thai war All still, and on the morne, but mar, Thar come tithandis out of Ingland, Till thame of the host, that bare on hand 830 How that by Borrow-brig and Mytoune Thair men war slayne and dungin doune; And at Scottis-men throu-out the land Raid yheit byrnand and distroyand. And quhen the King has herd this taill, 835 His consell he assemblit haill, Till se quhethir farar war him till Till ly about the toune all still, And assaill quhill it wonnyne war, Or than in Ingland for till fare 840 And reskew his land and men. His consell fast discordit then; For Southren men wald that he maid Arest thar, quhill he wonnyn had The toune and the castell alsua. 845 Bot Northir men wald no-thing swa, That dred thar friendis for till tyne, And mast part of thar gudis syne Throu Scottis mennys cruelte; Thai wald he leit the sege be 850 And raid for till reskew the land. Of Longcastell, I tak on hand, The Erll Thomas wes ane of thai That consalit the King hame to ga. And, for that mair enclynit he 855 Till the folk of the south cuntre Than till the northir mennys will, He tuk it to sa mekill ill That he gert turs his geir in hy, And with his batall halely, 860 That of the host neir thrid part was, Till Ingland hame his way he tais. But leiff he hame has tane his gat: Tharfor fell eftir sic debat Betuix him and the King, that ay 865 Lestit quhill Androu Herdclay, That throu the King wes on him set, Tuk hym syne in-to Pomfret, And on the hill besyde the toune Strake of his hede but ransoune; 870 Tharfor syne drawin and hangit wes he, And with him weill a fair menyhe. Men said syne eftir, this Thomas, That on this wis maid martir was, Was sanctit and myraclis did, 875 Bot envy syne gert thame be hid. Bot quhethir he haly wes or nane, At Pomfret thusgat was he slane. And syne the King of Ingland, Quhen that he saw hym tak on hand 880 Till pass his way sa oppinly, Hym thoucht it wes perell to ly Thar with the laiff of his menyhe; And his harnas tursit has he And in-till Ingland hame can far. 885 The Scottis men, that distroyand war In Ingland, herd soyne tell tithyng Of this gret sege the departing. Tharfor thai tuk westward the way, And by Carlele hame went ar thai 890 With prayis and with presoneris, And othir gudis on seir maneris. The lordis till the King ar gane, And the laiff has thar wayis tane; Ilk man till his repair is gane. 895 The King, iwis, was woundir fayne That thai war cummyn haile and feir, And at thai sped on sic maner, That thai thair fais discumfit had, And, but tynsale of men, had maid 900 Reskowris to thame that in Berwik War assegit richt till thar dik. And quhen the Kyng had sperit tithand How thai had faryne in-till Ingland, And thai haf tald hym all thar fair, 905 How Inglis men discumfit war, Richt blith in-till his hert wes he, And maid thame fest with gammyn and gle.

[887, 888: H expands these two lines into eight.

_Throughout England full cruelly, Burning and wasting right rigorously, When that they have heard tythings tell Of this great Siege that was sa fell: That they all skailed were and gane, Unto England hame againe: Sa that their folks relieved were And set now free from all danger._

Skeat relegates this expansion of two lines to a footnote, and rightly.]

[*903:

_That into full gret danger wes, *903 Through strength of them that sieged hes. *904 And of their journey what progresse, *905 That thai have had, and with successe._ *906

These, too, are from H only. Skeat brackets them in the text, but they are surely spurious.]

Berwik wes on this maner Reskewit, and thai that thar-in wer. 910 He wes worthy ane prince till be, Throu manheid and subtilite, That couth throu wit sa hye a thyng, But tynsale, bryng till gude ending. Till Berwik syne the way he tais: 915 And quhen he herd thar how it was Defendit swa richt apertly, He lovit thame that war thar gretly. Walter Stewardis gret bounte Atour the laif commendit he, 920 For the richt gret defens he maid At the yhet, quhar men brynt had The brig, as yhe herd me devis. And certis he wes weill till pris, That sa stoutly with playne fecthing 925 At oppyn yhet maid defending. Mycht he haf lifit quhill he had beyne Of perfit elde, withouten weyne, His renoune suld haf strekit fer. Bot dede, that wachis ay to mar 930 With all hyr mycht waik and worthy, Had at his worschip gret invy; That in the flour of his yhoutheid Scho endit all his douchty deid, As I sall tell yhow forthirmar. 935 Quhen the King had a quhill beyne thar He send for masonis fer and neir, That sleast wes of that misteir, And gert weill ten fute hye the wall About Berwikis toune our all. 940 And syne soyne toward Lowdyane With his menyhe his gat has gane; And syne he gert ordane in hy Bath armyt men and yhemanry In-till Irland in hy till fair 945 Till help his brothir that wes thair.

[922: C quhar that. E H omit that.]

[940: C Berwyk his (see note).]

XVIII. How Sir Edward the Bruce was slain in Ireland

[Sidenote: OCT. 14, 1318] Edward Bruce is bent on Fighting]

Bot he, that rest anoyit ay, And wald in travaill be all-way, A day forrouth thair arivyng That war send till hym fra the King, He tuk his way south-wart to fare 5 Magre them all that with hym war. For he had nocht than in that land Of all men, I trow, twa thousand, Outane the kyngis off Erischry That in gret rowtis raid hym by. 10 Toward Dundawk he tuk the way: And quhen Richard of Clare herd say That he com with ane few menyhe, All that he mycht assemblit he, Of all Irland, of armyt men: 15 Swa that he had thar with him then Of trappit hors tuenty thousand, But thaim that war on fut gangand; And held furth northwarde on his way. And quhen Schir Edward has herd say 20 That cummyn neir till hym wes he, He send discurrouris hym till se: The Sowlis and the Steward war thai, And als Schir Philip the Mowbray. And quhen thai seyn had thar cummying, 25 Thai went agane to tell the King, And said weill thai war mony men. In hie Schir Edward ansuered then, And said that he suld fecht that day Thouch tryplit or quadruplit war thai. 30 Schir Johne Steward said, “Sekirly, “I red ye nocht ficht in sic hy. “Men sais my brothir is cumand “With fyftene hundreth men neir hand; “And war thai knyt with yhow, yhe mycht 35 “The trastlyar abyde to ficht.” Schir Edward lukit richt angrely, And till the Sowlis said in hy, ‘Quhat sais thou?’ “Schir,” he said, “perfay, “As my fallow has said, I say.” 40 And than till Schir Philippe than said he, “Schir,” said he, “sa our Lord me se! “Me think it na foly to byde “Yhour men, that spedis thame to ryde. “For we ar few, our fais ar feill; 45 “God may rycht weill our weirdis deill; “Bot it war woundir that our mycht “Suld ourcum so feill in ficht.” Than, with gret ire, ‘Allas,’ said he, ‘I wend nevir till here that of the! 50 ‘Now help quha will, for sekirly ‘This day, but mair baid, fecht will I. ‘Sa na man say, quhill I may dre, ‘That strynth of men sall ger me fle! ‘God scheld that ony suld us blame, 55 ‘That we defoull our noble name.’ “Now be it swagat than,” quod thai, “We sall tak that God will purvay.”

[5: C furthwarde (S). H southward.]

[30: E tribill and quatribill.]

[34: E thowsand. H as in C.]

[Sidenote: OCT. 14, 1318] Edward Bruce is slain]

And quhen the kyngis of Erischry Herd say, and wist all sekirly, 60 That that King, with sa quheyn, wald ficht Agane folk of sa mekill mycht, Thai come till him in full gret hy, And consalit hym full tendirly For till abid his men; and thai 65 Suld hald thar fais all that day Doand, and on the morne alsua, With thar saltis that thai suld ma. Bot thair mycht na consel availl, He wald all-gat haff the battaill. 70 And quhen thai saw he wes so thra To fecht, thai said; “Yhe may weill ga “To ficht with yhon gret cumpany; “Bot we acquyt us utirly, “That nane of us will stand to ficht, 75 “Assuris nocht tharfor in our mycht. “For our maner is of this land “To follow and ficht, and ficht fleand, “And nocht till stand in plane melle “Quhill the ta part discumfit be.” 80 He said; ‘Sen that your custum is, ‘Ik ask no mair at yhow bot this, ‘That is, that yhe and yhour menyhe ‘Wald all to-giddir arayit be, ‘And stand on fer, but departing, 85 ‘And se our ficht and our endyng.’ Thai said weill at thai suld do swa, And syne toward thair men can ga, That war weill forty thousand neir. Edward, with thame that with him weir, 90 That war nocht fully twa thousand, Arayit thame stalwardly till stand Agane fourty thousand and ma. Schir Edward that day wald nocht ta His cot-armour; bot Gib Harper, 95 That men held als withouten peir Of his estat, had on that day All haill Schir Edwardis aray. The ficht abaid thai on this wis; And in gret hy thair enymys 100 Com, till assemmyll all reddy, And thai met thame richt hardely. Thai war sa few, forsuth to say, That ruschit with thair fais war thai; And thai that pressit mast to stand 105 War slane doune, and the remanand Fled till Erischry for succour. Schyr Edward, that had sic valour, Wes ded, and Johne Steward alsua; And Johne de Sowlis als with thai, 110 And othir als of thair cumpany. Thai vencust war sa suddanly That few in-till the place war slayne; For the laif has thair wayis tane Till the Erische kyngis that wes thar, 115 And in haill battale howand war.

[89: E twenty. H twettie (!).]

Johne Tomassun, that wes leder Of thame of Carrik that thair wer, Quhen he saw the discumfiting, With-drew him till ane Erische king 120 That of his acquyntans had he; And he resavit him in lawte. And quhen Johne cummyn wes to that king, He saw be led fra the fechting Schir Philipe the Mowbray, the wicht, 125 That had beyne doysnyt in the ficht. And be the armys led was he With twa men, apon the cawse That wes betuix thame and the toune, That strekit lang in a randoune. 130 Toward the toune thai held thair way, And quhen in myd cawse war thai, Schir Philip of his desynais Ourcome, and persavit he wes Tane, and swagat led with twa: 135 The tane he swappit soyne him fra, And syne the tothir in gret hy; Syne drew his suerde deliverly, And till the fecht the way he tais Endlang the cawse, that than was 140 Fillit in-to sa gret foysoune Of men that than went to the toune. And he, that met thame, can thame ma Sic payment, quhar he can ga, That weill ane hundreth men gert he 145 Leiff, magre thairis, the cawsee; As Johne Tomassun said suthly, That saw his deid all halely. Toward the battall evyn he yheid. Johne Tomassun, that tuk gud heid 150 That thai war vencust all planly, Cryit on hym in full gret hy, And said, “Cum heir, for thar is nane “On liff, for thai ar dede ilkane.” Than stude he still a quhile, and saw 155 That thai war all done out of daw; Syne went toward him sarraly. This Johne wroucht syne sa wittely That all that thidder fled than wer, Thouch that thai lesit of thair ger, 160 Com till Cragfergus haill and feir. And thai, that at the fechting weir Soucht Schir Edward, to get his hede, Emange the folk that thar wes ded; And fand Gib Harper in his ger: 165 And, for sa gude his armys wer, Thai strak his hed of; and syne it Thai haf gert saltit in-till a kyt, And send it syne in-till Ingland, To Edward King in-till presand. 170 Thai wend Schir Edwardis it had beyne; Bot, for the armyng that wes scheyne, Thai of the hed dissavit war, All-thouch Schir Edward deit thar.

[117: E Thomas sone. H Thomson.]

[Sidenote: OCT., 1318] The Skilful Retreat of the Scots]

On this wis war thai nobill men 175 Throu wilfulnes all losit then; And that wes syn and gret pite. For had thair outrageous bounte Beyne led with wit and with mesure, Bot gif the mair misadventure 180 Befell thame, it suld richt hard thing Be till leid thame till outrayng. Bot gret outrageous succudry Gert thame all deir thair worschip by. And thai, that fled fra the melle, 185 Sped thame in hy toward the se, And to Cragfergus cummyn ar thai. And thai that war in-to the way, To Schir Edward send fra the King, Quhen thai herd the discumfiting, 190 Till Cragfergus thai went agane: And that wes nocht forouten pane. For thai war mony tymes that day Assalit with Erischry, bot thai Ay held to-gidder sarraly, 195 Defendand thame so wittely That thai eschapit oft throu mycht, And mony tymes als throu slycht; For oft of thairis till thame gaf thai Till let thame scathles pass thar way, 200 And to Cragfergus com thai swa. Than batis and schippes can thai ta, And salit till Scotland in hy, And thar arivit all saufly. Quhen thai of Scotland had wittering 205 Of Schir Edwardis discomfiting, Thai menyt hym full tendrely Our all the land comonly; And thai that with him slane war thar Full tendrely als menyt war. 210

[184: E all her.]

How King Edward came again to Scotland with his Power, to Edinburgh, after the Death of Good Sir Edward the Bruce in Ireland.

[Sidenote: AUG., 1322] The English invade Scotland]

Edward the Bruce, as I said air, Wes discumfit on this manare. And quhen the feld wes clengit cleyne, Sa that na resisteris wes seyne, The wardane than, Richard of Clare, 215 And all the folk that with him war, Toward Dundawk has tane the way; Swa that richt na debat maid thai At that tyme with the Erischrye, Bot to the toune thai held in hy. 220 And syne has send furth to the King, That Ingland had in governyng, Gib Harperis hed in-till ane kyt. Johne Mawpas till the King had it. Quhilk he resavit in gret dayntee; 225 Richt blith of that present wes he; For he was swa glad that he wes swa Deliverit of sic felloune a fa. In hert tharof he tuk sic pryde, That he tuk purpos for to ryde 230 With a gret host in-till Scotland, Till revenge hym, with stalward hand, Of the tray, travaill, and of teyne That done till hym thar-in had beyne. And a richt gret hoost gaderit he, 235 And gert his schippes by the se Cum with gret foysoune of vittale; For at that tyme he thoucht all hale For till distroy so cleyn Scotland That nane suld be thar-in liffand; 240 And with his folk, in gret aray, Toward Scotland he tuk the way. And quhen King Robert wist that he Com on hym with sic ane menyhe, He gaderit men, bath fer and neir, 245 Quhill sa feill till him cummyn weir, And war als for till cum hym to, That him weill thoucht he suld weill do. He gert with-draw all the catele Of Lowdiane, evirilk deill, 250 And till strynthis gert thame be send, And ordanit men thame to defend. And with his hoost all still he lay At Culros, for he walde assay Till ger his fais throu fasting 255 Be feblist, and throu lang walking; And fra he feblist had thair mycht Assemmyll he wald with thame till ficht.

[225: E And he it (see note).]

[239: E To dystroy up sa clene the land. H as C.]

[Sidenote: AUG.-SEPT., 1322] The Skirmish at Melrose]

He thoucht till wirk apon this wis; And Inglis men with gret mastris 260 Com with thar hoost in Lowdiane, And soyne till Edinburgh ar gane, And thair abaid thai dayis thre. Thair schippes that war on the se Had the wynd contrar till thame ay, 265 Swa that apon no maner thai Had power till the Fyrth till bring Thair vittale, till releiff the King. And thai of the host that falit met, Quhen thai saw that thai mycht nocht get 270 Thair vittalis to thame by the se, Than send thai furth a gret menyhe For till forray all Lowdiane; Bot cattell haf thai fundyn nane, Outane a kow that wes haltand, 275 That in Tranentis corne thai fand; Thai broucht hir till thair hoost agane. And quhen the Erll of Warane That cow saw anerly cum swa, He askit gif thai gat no ma. 280 And thai haf said all till him, “Nay.” “Than, certis,” said he, “I dar say “This is the derrest beiff that I “Saw evir yheit; for sekirly “It cost ane thousand pund and mar!” 285 And quhen the King and thai that war Of his consell saw thai mycht get Na catell till thar host till et, That than of fasting had gret payne, Till Ingland turnyt thai hame agayne. 290 At Melros schupe thai for till ly, And send befor ane cumpany, Thre hundreth neir of armyt men. Bot the lord Dowglas, that wes then Besyde in-till the Forest neir, 295 Wist of thar com and quhat thai weir; And with thame of his cumpany In-till Melros all prevely He hufit in-till ane enbuschement. And a richt sturdy frer he sent 300 Without the yhet, thar com till se, And bad him hald him all preve, Quhill that he saw thame cumand all Richt till the cunyhe of the wall, And than crye hye, “Dowglas! Dowglas!” 305 The frer furth than his way he tais, That wes derff, stout, and ek hardy; His mekill hude helit haly The armyng that he on hym had; Apon a stalward hors he raid, 310 And in his hand he had a spere, Abydand apon that maner Quhill that he saw thame cumand neir. And quhen the formast passit weir The cunyhe, he cryit, “Dowglas! Dowglas!” 315 Than till thame all ane cours he mais, And bare ane doune deliverly; And Dowglas, with his cumpany, Yschit apon thame with a schout. And quhen thai saw sa gret a rout 320 Cum apon thame sa suddanly, Thai war abaysit richt gretumly, And gaf the bak but mar abaid. The Scottis men emang thaim raid, And slew all thaim thai mycht ourta; 325 Ane gret martirdome thair can thai ma. And thai that eschapit unslayne Ar till thar gret host went agane, And tald thame quhat kyn welcummyng Dowglas thaim maid at thair metyng, 330 Convoyand thame agane roydly, And warnyt thame the playn herbery.

[275: E a bule. H as C.]

[283: E best. H beast.]

How the Good King Robert the Bruce followed King Edward of England South into his own Land.

[Sidenote: OCT. 21, 1322] The Fight at Byland]

The King of Ingland and his men, That saw thair herbreouris then Cum reboytit on that maneir 335 Anoyit gretly in hert thai wer, And thoucht that it war gret foly In-to the wode till tak herbery. Tharfor by Driburgh, in the playne, Thai herbryit thame; and syne agane 340 Ar went till Ingland haym thar way. And quhen the King Robert herd say That thai war turnyt hame agane, And how thair herbreouris war slane, In hy his host assemblit he, 345 And went south our the Scottis Se, And till Ingland his way he tais. Quhen his host all assemblit was, Auchty thowsand he wes and ma, And aucht battellis he maid of tha: 350 In ilk battell wes ten thousand. Syne went he furth on to Ingland, And in hale rout followit sa fast The Inglis King, quhill at the last He com approchand to Byland, 355 Quhar, at that tyme, thar wes liand The King of Ingland with his men. Kyng Robert, that had wittering then That he lay thair with mekill mycht, Tranontit swa on hym ane nycht, 360 That, be the morne that it wes day, Cummyn in-till playn feld war thai, Fra Biland bot ane litill space. Bot betuix thaim and it thar was Ane craggy bra, strekit weill lang, 365 And a gret peth up for to gang. Othirwayis mycht thai nocht away Till pass till Bilandis abbay, Bot gif thai passit fer about. And quhen the mekill Inglis rout 370 Herd at King Robert wes so neir, The mast part of thame that thar weir Went to the path and tuk the bra, Thair thoucht thai thair defens to ma. Thair baneris thair thai gert display 375 And thair battellis on breid aray, And thoucht weill to defend the place. Quhen King Robert persavit has That thai thame thoucht thair to defend, Eftir his consell has he send, 380 And askit quhat wes best till do. The lord Dowglas ansuerd thar-to, And said, “Schir, I will undir-ta “That in schort tyme I sall do swa, “That I sall wyn yhon place planly, 385 “Or than ger all yhon cumpany “Cum doun till yhow heir in this plane.” The King than said till him agane, ‘Do than,’ he said, ‘and God the speid!’ Than he furth on his wayis yheid, 390 And of the host the mast party Put thame in-till his cumpany, And held thar way toward the plas. The gud Erll of Murreff, Thomas, Left his battell, and in gret hy 395 Bot with thre men of his cumpany, Com till the lordis rout of Dowglas; And, or he enterit in the plas, Befor thame all the place tuk he; For he wald that men suld him se. 400 And quhen Schir James of Dowglas Saw that he swagat cummyn was, He prisit him thar-of gretly, And welcummyt hym full humylly, And syne the place can sammyn ta. 405 Quhen Inglis men saw thaim do swa, Thai lichtit and agane thame yheid. Twa knychtis, that douchty war of deid, Thomas Ouchtre ane hat to name, The tothir Schir Rauf of Cobhame, 410 Com doune befor all thair menyhe. Thai war bath of full gret bounte, And met thair fais richt manly; Bot thai war pressit gretumly. Thair mycht men se men weill assale, 415 And men defend with stout battale, And arrowes fle in gret foysoune, And thai that owth war tummyl doune Stanis apon thame fra the hicht. Bot thai that set bath will and mycht 420 To wyn the peth, thame pressit swa, That Schir Raulf of Cobhame can ta The way richt till his host in hy, And left Schir Thomas manfully Defendand with gret mycht the plas, 425 Quhill that he swa supprisit was, That he wes tane throu herd fechting. And tharfor syne, quhill his ending, He wes renownyt for best of hand Of a knycht wes in all Ingland. 430 For this ilk Schyr Raulf of Cobhame, In all Ingland he had the name For the best knycht of all the land; And for Schir Thomas duelt fechtand Quhar Schir Raulf, as befor saide we, 435 With-drew him, prisit our hym wes he.

[Linenote: 377, 393, 398, etc., E the pass.]

[391: E mast hardy.]

[396: E four. H few.]

[404: E hamlyly.]

[409: C Arthyn (S), but see note.]

[399, 405, 425: E the pass. H as C.]

[410, 422: C Coubane: H Cowbane.]

The discomfiting of Englishmen At Bylands Path into the glen.

Thus war thai fechtande in the plas; And quhen the King Robert, that was Wis in his deid and averty, Saw his men ay swa douchtely 440 The peth apon thair fayis ta; And saw his fais defend thame swa, Than gert he all the Erischry That war in-till his cumpany, Of Argyle and the Ilis alsua, 445 Spede tham in hy on-to the bra: He bad thame leiff the peth haly And clym up in the craggis by, And speid thame fast the hicht to ta. And thai in gret hy has done swa, 450 And clymb allgait up to the hycht, And leve nocht for thair fayis mycht. Magre thair fayis, thai bar thaim swa, That thai ar gottyn aboun the bra. Than mycht men se thame ficht felly, 455 And rusche thair fais sturdely. And thai that till the pass war gane, Magre thair fais, the hycht has tane. Than layd thai on with all thar mycht: Thair mycht men se men felly ficht. 460 Ther wes ane perelus bargane: For a knycht, hat Schir Johne Bretane, That lichtit wes abovyn the bra, With his men gret defens can ma. And Scottis men sa can assaill, 465 That gaf thame so felloune battale, That thai war set in sic affray That thai, that fle mycht, fled away. Schir Johne of Bretane thar wes tane, And richt feill of his folk war slane. 470 Of Frans thar tane wes knychtis twa; The lord of Souly wes ane of tha, The tothir wes the marschall Bretane, That wes a weill gret lord at hame. The laiff sum deid and sum war tane, 475 The remanand thai fled ilkane.

[439: C ek verty (S).]

[450: E Than mycht men see thaim stoutly ga. H like C.]

[451-454: not in C but in E H.]

[451: H clamb (S).]

[452: H left (S).]

[Sidenote: OCT. 21, 1322] The King of England flies]

And quhen the King of Ingland, That yheit at Biland wes liand, Saw his men discumfyt planly, He tuk his way in full gret hy, 480 And southwardis fled with all his mycht. The Scottis men chast hym herd, I hycht, And in the chas has mony tane. The king quytly away is gane, And the mast part of his menyhe. 485 Walter Stewart, that gret bounte Set ay on hye chevelry, With fyve hundreth in cumpany, Till Yorkis yhettis chas can ma, And thair sum of thair men can sla, 490 And abaid thair quhill neir the nycht, To se gif ony wald ysche to ficht. And quhen he saw nane wald cum out, He turnyt agane with all his rout, And till the host is went in hy, 495 That than tane had thair herbery In-till the abbay of Biland And Riveus that wes by neir hand. Thai delt emang thame that war ther The King of Inglandis ger, 500 That he had levit in-to Biland; All gert thai lepe out our thar hand, And maid thame all glaid and ek mery. And quhen the King had tane herbery, That broucht till him the presoneris 505 All unarmyt, as it efferis; And quhen he saw Johne of Bretane He had at hym richt gret disdeyne; For he wount wes to spek hely At hayme, and our dispitfully; 510 And bad haf him away in hy, And luk he kepit war stratly, And said, “War it nocht that he war “Sic a catiff, he sulde by sair “His wourdis that war sa angry;” 515 And mekly he hym cryit mercy. Thai led him furth, forouten mair, And kepit hym weill ay quhill thai war Cummyn hame to their awne cuntre. Lang eftir syne ransonyt wes he 520 For tuenty thousand pund to pay, As I haf herd mony men say.

[498: E Ryfuowis.]

[Sidenote: OCT., 1322] The Scots return with much Plunder]

Qwhen that the King this spek had maid, The Franche knychtis, that tane men had, Wes broucht richt thar byfor the King; 525 And he maid thame fair welcummyng, And said; “I wat richt weill that yhe, “For yhour gret worschip and bounte “Com for till se the fichting heir. “For sen yhe in the cuntre war, 530 “Yhour strinth, yhour worschip, and yhour mycht “Wald nocht thoill yhow escheve the ficht. “And sen that caus yhow led thar-till, “And nouthir wreth na evil will, “As frendis yhe sall resavit be, 535 “Quhar welcum heir all tym be yhe.” Thai knelit, and thankit him gretly, And he gert tret thame curtasly; And lang quhill with him thaim had he, And did thaim honour and bounte. 540 And quhen thai yharnyt to thair land, To the King of Fraunce in presand He sent thaim quit, but ransoun fre, And gret gyftis to thaim gaff he. His frendis thusgat curtasly 545 He couth ressave, and hamely, And his fais stoutly to-stonay. At Biland all that nycht he lay. For thair victor all blith thai war. And on the morn, forouten mair, 550 Thai haff furthwarde tane thair way. So fer at that tyme travalit thai, Byrnand, slayand, and distroyand, Thair fayis with thair mycht noyand, Quhill to the Wald cummyn war thai. 555 Syne northwarde tuk thai hame thar way; And distroyit, in thair repair, The vale haly of Beauvare. And syne with presoners and catele, Riches, and mony fair jowele, 560 Till Scotland tuk thai hame thar way, Blith and glad, joyfull and gay. And ilk-man went to thair repair, And lovit God thame fell so fair, That thai the King of Ingland, 565 Throu worschip and throu strinth of hand, And throu thair lordis gret bounte, Discumfit in his awne cuntre.

[536: C yhe be (S). Buss considers E better here (Anglia ix. 511).]

[537: For next line C has--Of the grace he thame did suthly (S). But this gives a triple rhyme, which is not Barbour-like; and C, in any case, is defective here, giving but one line between 538 and 547 for the eight found in E and H.]