Scots

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 1

[This book the true story of King Robert and Sir James Douglas]
Storys to rede ar delatibill
Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill,
Than suld storys that suthfast wer
And thai war said on gud maner
5 Have doubill plesance in heryng.
The first plesance is the carpyng,
And the tother the suthfastnes
That schawys the thing rycht as it wes,
And suth thyngis that ar likand
10 Till mannys heryng ar plesand.
Tharfor I wald fayne set my will
Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill
To put in wryt a suthfast story
That it lest ay furth in memory
15 Swa that na tyme of lenth it let
Na ger it haly be foryet.
For auld storys that men redys
Representis to thaim the dedys
Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar
20 Rycht as thai than in presence war.
And certis thai suld weill have prys
That in thar tyme war wycht and wys
And led thar lyff in gret travaill,
And oft in hard stour off bataill
25 Wan gret price off chevalry
And war voydyt off cowardy,
As wes King Robert off Scotland
That hardy wes off hart and hand,
And gud Schir James off Douglas
30 That in his tyme sa worthy was
That off hys price and hys bounte
In ser landis renownyt wes he.
Off thaim I thynk this buk to ma,
Now God gyff grace that I may swa
35 Tret it and bryng till endyng
That I say nocht bot suthfast thing.

[Alexander III's death; the dispute over the succession submitted to Edward
I's arbitration]
Quhen Alexander the king wes deid
That Scotland haid to steyr and leid,
The land sex yer and mayr perfay
40 Lay desolat eftyr hys day
Till that the barnage at the last
Assemblyt thaim and fayndyt fast
To cheys a king thar land to ster
That off auncestry cummyn wer
45 Off kingis that aucht that reawté
And mayst had rycht thair king to be.
Bot envy that is sa feloune
Maid amang thaim gret discencioun,
For sum wald haiff the Balleoll king
50 For he wes cummyn off the offspryng
Off hyr that eldest syster was,
And other sum nyt all that cas
And said that he thair king suld be
That war in als ner degre
55 And cummyn war of the neyst male
And in branch collaterale.
Thai said successioun of kyngrik
Was nocht to lawer feys lik,
For thar mycht succed na female
60 Quhill foundyn mycht be ony male
How that in lyne evyn descendand.
Thai bar all otherwayis on hand,
For than the neyst cummyn off the seid
Man or woman suld succeid.
65 Be this resoun that part thocht hale
That the lord off Anandyrdale
Robert the Bruys erle off Carryk
Aucht to succeid to the kynryk.
The barounys thus war at discord
70 That on na maner mycht accord
Till at the last thai all concordyt
That thar spek suld be recordyt
Till Edward off Yngland king
And he suld swer that but fenyeyng
75 He suld that arbytre disclar
Off thir twa that I tauld off ar
Quhilk succeid to sic a hycht,
And lat him ryng that had the rycht.
This ordynance thaim thocht the best,
80 For that tyme wes pes and rest
Betwyx Scotland and Ingland bath,
And thai couth nocht persave the skaith
That towart thaim wes apperand.
For that at the king off Ingland
85 Held swylk freyndschip and cumpany
To thar king that wes swa worthy,
Thai trowyt that he as gud nychtbur
And as freyndsome compositur
Wald have jugyt in lawté
90 But othir-wayis all yheid the gle.

[Edward I's ambitions]
A! Blind folk full off all foly,
Haid ye umbethocht you enkrely
Quhat perell to you mycht apper
Ye had nocht wrocht on that maner.
95 Haid ye tane keip how at that king
Alwayis foroutyn sojournyng
Travayllyt for to wyn senyhory
And throu his mycht till occupy
Landis that war till him marcheand
100 As Walis was and als Ireland,
That he put to swylk thrillage
That thai that war of hey parage
Suld ryn on fute as rebaldaill
Quhen he wald our folk assaill.
105 Durst nane of Walis in bataill ride
Na yhet fra evyn fell abyd
Castell or wallyt toune within
That he ne suld lyff and lymmys tyne,
Into swilk thrillage thaim held he
110 That he ourcome throu his powste.
Ye mycht se he suld occupy
Throu slycht that he ne mycht throu maistri.
Had ye tane kep quhat was thrillag
And had consideryt his usage
115 That gryppyt ay but gayne-gevyng,
Ye suld foroutyn his demyng
Haiff chosyn you a king that mycht
Have haldyn weyle the land in rycht.
Walys ensample mycht have bene
120 To you had ye it forow sene,
And wys men sayis he is happy
That be other will him chasty,
For unfayr thingis may fall perfay
Als weill to-morn as yhisterday.
125 Bot ye traistyt in lawté
As sympile folk but mavyté,
And wyst nocht quhat suld efter tyd.
For in this warld that is sa wyde
Is nane determynat that sall
130 Knaw thingis that ar to fall,
But God that is off maist powesté
Reservyt till his majesté
For to knaw in his prescience
Off alkyn tyme the movence.

[Edward I offers Scotland to Robert Bruce; and to John Balliol]
135 On this maner assentyt war
The barounis as I said you ar,
And throuch thar aller hale assent
Messengeris till hym thai sent,
That was than in the Haly Land
140 On Saracenys warrayand.
And fra he wyst quhat charge thai had
He buskyt hym but mar abad
And left purpos that he had tane
And till Ingland agayne is gane,
145 And syne till Scotland word send he
That thai suld mak ane assemble,
And he in hy suld cum to do
In all thing as thai wrayt him to.
Bot he thocht weile throuch thar debat
150 That he suld slely fynd the gate
How that he all the senyhoury
Throu his gret mycht suld occupy.
And to Robert the Bruys said he,
'Gyff thou will hald in cheyff off me
155 For evermar, and thine ofspryng,
I sall do swa thou sall be king.'
'Schyr,' said he, 'sa God me save
The kynryk yharn I nocht to have
Bot gyff it fall off rycht to me,
160 And gyff God will that it sa be
I sall als frely in all thing
Hald it as it afferis to king,
Or as myn eldris forouth me
Held it in freyast reawté.'
165 The tother wreyth him and swar
That he suld have it never mar
And turnyt him in wreth away.
Bot Schyr Jhon the Balleoll perfay
Assentyt till him in all his will,
170 Quharthrouch fell efter mekill ill.
He was king bot a litill quhile
And throuch gret sutelte and ghyle
For litill enchesone or nane
He was arestyt syne and tane,
175 And degradyt syne wes he
Off honour and off dignite,
Quhether it wes throuch wrang or rycht
God wat it that is maist off mycht.

[The miseries of English occupation]
Quhen Schyr Edward the mychty king
180 Had on this wys done his likyng
Off Jhone the Balleoll, that swa sone
Was all defawtyt and undone,
To Scotland went he than in hy,
And all the land gan occupy
185 Sa hale that bath castell and toune
War intill his possessioune
Fra Weik anent Orknay
To Mullyr Snuk in Gallaway,
And stuffyt all with Inglismen.
190 Schyrreffys and bailyheys maid he then,
And alkyn other officeris
That for to govern land afferis
He maid off Inglis nation,
That worthyt than sa rycht fellone
195 And sa wykkyt and covatous
And swa hawtane and dispitous
That Scottismen mycht do na thing
That ever mycht pleys to thar liking.
Thar wyffis wald thai oft forly
200 And thar dochtrys dispitusly
And gyff ony of thaim tharat war wrath
Thai watyt hym wele with gret scaith,
For thai suld fynd sone enchesone
To put hym to destruccione.
205 And gyff that ony man thaim by
Had ony thing that wes worthy,
As hors or hund or other thing
That war plesand to thar liking,
With rycht or wrang it have wald thai,
210 And gyf ony wald thaim withsay
Thai suld swa do that thai suld tyne
Othir land or lyff or leyff in pyne,
For thai dempt thaim efter thar will,
Takand na kep to rycht na skill.
215 A! Quhat thai dempt thaim felonly,
For gud knychtis that war worthy
For litill enchesoune or than nane
Thai hangyt be the nekbane.
Alas that folk that ever wes fre,
220 And in fredome wount for to be,
Throu thar gret myschance and foly
War tretyt than sa wykkytly
That thar fays thar jugis war,
Quhat wrechitnes may man have mar.

[In praise of freedom; on the pains of thralldom]
225 A! Fredome is a noble thing
Fredome mays man to haiff liking.
Fredome all solace to man giffis,
He levys at es that frely levys.
A noble hart may haiff nane es
230 Na ellys nocht that may him ples
Gyff fredome failyhe, for fre liking
Is yharnyt our all other thing.
Na he that ay has levyt fre
May nocht knaw weill the propyrte
235 The angyr na the wrechyt dome
That is couplyt to foule thyrldome,
Bot gyff he had assayit it.
Than all perquer he suld it wyt,
And suld think fredome mar to prys
240 Than all the gold in warld that is.
Thus contrar thingis evermar
Discoveryngis off the tother ar,
And he that thryll is has nocht his.
All that he has enbandounyt is
245 Till hys lord quhatever he be.
Yheyt has he nocht sa mekill fre
As fre wyll to leyve or do
That at his hart hym drawis to.
Than may clerkis questioun
250 Quhen thai fall in disputacioun
That gyff man bad his thryll owcht do,
And in the samyn tym come him to
His wyff and askyt him hyr det,
Quhether he his lordis neid suld let,
255 And pay fryst that he awcht, and syne
Do furth his lordis commandyne,
Or leve onpayit his wyff and do
Thai thingis that commaundyt is him to.
I leve all the solucioun
260 Till thaim that ar off mar renoun
Bot sen thai mak sic comperyng
Betwix the dettis off wedding
And lordis bidding till his threll,
Ye may weile se thoucht nane you tell
265 How hard a thing that threldome is.
For men may weile se that ar wys
That wedding is the hardest band
That ony man may tak on hand,
And thryldome is weill wer than deid,
270 For quhill a thryll his lyff may leid
It merrys him body and banys,
And dede anoyis him bot anys.
Schortly to say, is nane can tell
The halle condicioun off a threll.

[The fate of Sir William Douglas; his son James goes as a boy to Paris]
275 Thusgat levyt thai and in sic thrillage
Bath pur and thai off hey parag,
For off the lordis sum thai slew
And sum thai hangyt and sum thai drew,
And sum thai put in hard presoune
280 Foroutyn caus or enchesoun,
And amang other off Douglas
Put in presoun Schyr Wilyam was
That off Douglas was lord and syr,
Off him thai makyt a martyr.
285 Fra thai in presoune him sleuch
His land that is fayr inewch
Thai the lord off Clyffurd gave.
He had a sone, a litill knave,
That was than bot a litill page,
290 Bot syne he wes off gret vaslage.
Hys fadyr dede he vengyt sua
That in Ingland I underta
Wes nane off lyve that hym ne dred,
For he sa fele off harnys sched
295 That nane that lyvys thaim can tell.
Bot wonderly hard thing fell
Till him or he till state wes brocht.
Thair wes nane aventur that mocht
Stunay hys hart na ger him let
300 To do the thing that he wes on set,
For he thocht ay encrely
To do his deid avysily.
He thocht weill he was worth na seyle
That mycht of nane anoyis feyle,
305 And als for till escheve gret thingis
And hard travalys and barganyngis,
That suld ger his price doublyt be.
Quharfor in all hys lyvetyme he
Wes in gret payn and gret travaill,
310 And never wald for myscheiff faill
Bot dryve the thing rycht to the end
And tak the ure that God wald send.
His name wes James of Douglas,
And quhen he herd his fader was
315 Put in presoune so fellounly,
And at his landis halyly
War gevyn to the Clyffurd perfay
He wyst nocht quhat to do na say,
For he had na thing for to dispend
320 Na thar wes nane that ever him kend
Wald do sa mekill for him that he
Mycht sufficiantly fundyn be.
Than wes he wonder will off wane,
And sodanly in hart has tane
325 That he wald travaile our the se
And a quhile in Parys be,
And dre myscheiff quhar nane hym kend
Til God sum succouris till hym send.
And as he thocht he did rycht sua,
330 And sone to Parys can he ga
And levyt thar full sympylly,
The-quhether he glaid was and joly,
And till swylk thowlesnes he yeid
As the cours askis off youtheid,
335 And umquhill into rybbaldaill.
And that may mony tyme availl,
For knawlage off mony statis
May quhile availye full mony gatis
As to the gud erle off Artayis
340 Robert befell in his dayis
For oft fenyeyng off rybbaldy
Availyeit himand that gretly.
And Catone sayis us in his wryt
That to fenyhe foly quhile is wyt.
345 In Parys ner thre yer dwellyt he,
And then come tythandis our the se
That his fadyr wes done to ded.
Then wes he wa and will of red,
And thocht that he wald hame agayne
350 To luk gyff he throu ony payn
Mycht wyn agayn his heritage
And his men out off all thryllage.

[Douglas returns to Scotland, to serve the bishop of St Andrews; his
appearance]
To Sanct Androws he come in hy,
Quhar the byschop full curtasly
355 Resavyt him and gert him wer
His knyvys forouth him to scher,
And cled him rycht honorabilly
And gert ordayn quhar he suld ly.
A weile gret quhile thar dwellyt he.
360 All men lufyt him, for his bounte,
For he wes off full fayr effer
Wys curtais and deboner.
Larg and luffand als wes he,
And our all thing luffyt lawté.
365 Leawté to luff is gretumly,
Throuch leawté liffis men rychtwisly.
With a vertu and leawté
A man may yeit sufficyand be,
And but leawté may nane haiff price
370 Quether he be wycht or he be wys,
For quhar it failyeys na vertu
May be off price na off valu
To mak a man sa gud that he
May symply callyt gud man be.
375 He wes in all his dedis lele,
For him dedeynyeit nocht to dele
With trechery na with falset.
His hart on hey honour wes set,
And hym contenyt on sic maner
380 That all him luffyt that war him ner.
Bot he wes nocht sa fayr that we
Suld spek gretly off his beauté.
In vysage wes he sumdeill gray
And had blak har as Ic hard say,
385 Bot off lymmys he wes weill maid
With banys gret and schuldrys braid,
His body wes weyll maid and lenye
As thai that saw hym said to me.
Quhen he wes blyth he wes lufly
390 And meyk and sweyt in cumpany,
Bot quha in battaill mycht him se
All othir contenance had he.
And in spek wlispyt he sumdeill,
Bot that sat him rycht wonfre weill.
395 Till gud Ector of Troy mycht he
In mony thingis liknyt be.
Ector had blak har as he had
And stark lymmys and rycht weill maid,
And wlispyt alsua as did he,
400 And wes fullfillyt of leawté
And wes curtais and wys and wycht
Bot off manheid and mekill mycht
Till Ector dar I nane comper
Off all that ever in warldys wer.
405 The-quhethyr in his tyme sa wrocht he
That he suld gretly lovyt be.

[Douglas asks Edward I for his lands]
He dwellyt thar quhill on a tid
The King Edward with mekill prid
Come to Strevillyne with gret mengye
410 For till hald thar ane assemble.
Thidderwart went mony baroune,
Byschop Wilyame off Lambyrtoun
Raid thiddyr als and with him was
This squyer James of Douglas.
415 The byschop led him to the king
And said, 'Schyr, heyr I to you bryng
This child that clemys your man to be,
And prays you par cheryté
That ye resave her his homage
420 And grantis him his heritage.'
'Quhat landis clemys he?' said the king.
'Schyr, giff that it be your liking
He clemys the lordschip off Douglas,
For lord tharoff hys fader was.'
425 The king then wrethyt him encrely
And said, 'Schyr byschop, sekyrly
Gyff thou wald kep thi fewté
Thoue maid nane sis speking to me.
His fadyr ay wes my fay feloune
430 And deyt tharfor in my presoun
And wes agayne my majesté
Tharfor hys ayr I aucht to be.
Ga purches land quharever he may
For tharoff haffys he nane, perfay.
435 The Clyffurd sall thaim haiff for he
Ay lely has servyt to me.'
The bischop hard him swa answer
And durst than spek till him na mar,
Bot fra his presence went in hy
440 For he dred sayr his felouny
Swa that he na mar spak tharto.
The king did that he com to do
And went till Ingland syn agayn
With mony man off mekill mayn.

[The romance begins; the Scots and the Macabees]
445 Lordingis, quha likis for till her,
The romanys now begynnys her
Off men that war in gret distres
And assayit full gret hardynes
Or thai mycht cum till thar entent.
450 Bot syne our Lord sic grace thaim sent
That thai syne throu thar gret valour
Come till gret hycht and till honour,
Magré thar fayis everilkane
That war sa fele that ay till ane
455 Off thaim thai war weill a thousand,
Bot quhar God helpys quhat may withstand.
Bot and we say the suthfastnes
Thai war sum tyme erar may then les,
Bot God that maist is off all mycht
460 Preservyt thaim in his forsycht
To veng the harme and the contrer
At that fele folk and pautener
Dyd till sympill folk and worthy
That couth nocht help thaim self. For-thi
465 Thai war lik to the Machabeys
That as men in the bibill seys
Throw thar gret worschip and valour
Faucht into mony stalwart stour
For to delyver thar countre
470 Fra folk that throu iniquite
Held thaim and thairis in thrillage.
Thai wrocht sua throu thar vasselage
That with few folk thai had victory
Off mychty kingis as sayis the story,
475 And delyveryt thar land all fre,
Quharfor thar name suld lovyt be.

[Comyn's proposal to Bruce]
Thys lord the Bruys I spak of ayr
Saw all the kynryk swa forfayr,
And swa troublyt the folk saw he
480 That he tharoff had gret pitte.
Bot quhat pite that ever he had
Na contenance tharoff he maid,
Till on a tym Schyr Jhone Cumyn
As thai come ridand fra Strevillyn
485 Said till him,'Schyr, will ye nocht se
How that governyt is this countre.
Thai sla our folk but enchesoune
And haldis this land agayne resoune,
And ye tharoff suld lord be.
490 And gyff that ye will trow to me
Ye sall ger mak you tharoff king,
And I sall be in your helping
With-thi ye giff me all the land
That ye haiff now intill your hand.
495 And gyff that ye will nocht do sua
Ne swylk a state upon you ta,
All hale my land sall youris be
And lat me ta the state on me
And bring this land out off thyrllage,
500 For thar is nother man na page
In all this land than thai sall be
Fayn to mak thaim selvyn fre.'
The lord the Bruis hard his carping
And wend he spak bot suthfast thing,
505 And for it likit till his will
He gave his assent sone thartill
And said, 'Sen ye will it be swa
I will blythly apon me ta
The state, for I wate that I have rycht,
510 And rycht mays oft the feble wycht.'

[The dangers of treason]
The barounys thus accordyt ar,
And that ilk nycht writyn war
Thair endenturis, and aythis maid
To hald that thai forspokyn haid.
515 Bot of all thing wa worth tresoun,
For thar is nother duk ne baroun
Na erle na prynce na king off mycht
Thocht he be never sa wys na wycht
For wyt worschip price na renoun,
520 That ever may wauch hym with tresoune.
Was nocht all Troy with tresoune tane
Quhen ten yeris off the wer wes gane?
Then slayn wes mony thousand
Off thaim without throu strenth of hand,
525 As Dares in his buke he wrate,
And Dytis that knew all thar state.
Thai mycht nocht haiff beyn tane throu mycht,
Bot tresoun tuk thaim throu hyr slycht.
And Alexander the conqueroure
530 That conqueryt Babilonys tour
And all this warld off lenth and breid
In twelf yher throu his douchty deid
Wes syne destroyit throu pusoune
In his awyne hous throu gret tresoun,
535 Bot or he deit his land delt he;
To se his dede wes gret pite.
Julius Cesar als, that wan
Bretane and Fraunce as douchty man,
Affryk, Arrabe, Egipt, Surry
540 And all Europe halyly,
And for his worschip and valour
Off Rome wes fryst made emperour,
Syne in his capitole wes he
Throu thaim of his consaill preve
545 Slayne with punsoune rycht to the ded,
And quhen he saw thar wes na rede
Hys eyn with his hand closit he
For to dey with mar honeste.
Als Arthur that throu chevalry
550 Maid Bretane maistres and lady
Off twelf kinrikis that he wan,
And alsua as a noble man
He wan throu bataill Fraunce all fre,
And Lucius Yber vencusyt he
555 That then of Rome wes emperour,
Bot yeit for all his gret valour
Modreyt his syster son him slew,
And gud men als ma then inew
Throu tresoune and throu wikkitnes,
560 The Broite beris tharoff wytnes.
Sa fell of this conand-making,
For the Cumyn raid to the king
Off Ingland and tald all this cas
Bot I trow nocht all as it was
565 Bot the endentur till him gaf he
That soune schawyt the iniquite.
Quharfor syne he tholyt ded,
Than he couth set tharfor na rede.

[Edward I confronts Bruce with the indenture in parliament]
Quhen the king saw the endentur
570 He wes angry out of mesur,
And swour that he suld vengeance ta
Off that Bruys that presumyt swa
Aganys him to brawle or rys
Or to conspyr on sic a wys.
575 And to Schyr Jhon Cumyn said he
That he suld for his leawté
Be rewardyt and that hely,
And he him thankit humyly.
Than thocht he to have the leding
580 Off all Scotland but gane-saying
Fra at the Bruce to dede war brocht.
Bot oft failyeis the fulis thocht,
And wys mennys etling
Cummys nocht ay to that ending
585 That thai think it sall cum to,
For God wate weill quhat is to do.
Off hys etlyng rycht swa it fell
As I sall efterwartis tell.
He tuk his leve and hame is went,
590 And the king a parlyament
Gert set tharefter hastely
And thidder somounys he in hy
The barounys of his reawté,
And to the lord the Bruce send he
595 Bydding to cum to that gadryng.
And he that had na persavyng
Off the tresoun na the falset
Raid to the king but langer let,
And in Lundon hym herberyd he
600 The fyrst day off thar assemble,
Syne on the morn to court he went.
The king sat into parleament
And forouth hys consaile preve
The lord the Bruce thar callyt he
605 And schawyt hym the endentur.
He wes in full gret aventur
To tyne his lyff, bot God of mycht
Preservyt him till hyer hycht,
That wald nocht that he swa war dede.
610 The king betaucht hym in that steid
The endentur the seile to se,
And askyt gyff it enselyt he?
He lukyt the seyle ententily
And answeryt till him humyly
615 And sayd, 'How that I sympill be
My seyle is nocht all tyme with me.
Ik have ane other it to ber.
Tharfor giff that your willis wer
Ic ask you respyt for to se
620 This letter and tharwith avysit be
Till tomorn that ye be set,
And then foroutyn langer let
This letter sall I entyr heyr
Befor all your consaill planer,
625 And thartill into borwch draw I
Myn herytage all halily.'
The king thocht he wes traist inewch
Sen he in bowrch hys landis drewch,
And let hym with the letter passe
630 Till entyr it as forspokin was.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 2

[Bruce escapes to Lochmaben]
The Bruys went till his innys swyth,
Bot wyt ye weile he wes full blyth
That he had gottyn that respyt.
He callit his marschall till him tyt
5 And bad him luk on all maner
That he ma till his men gud cher,
For he wald in his chambre be
A weile gret quhile in prevate,
With him a clerk foroutyn ma.
10 The marschell till the hall gan ga
And did hys lordys commanding.
The lord the Bruce but mar letting
Gert prevely bryng stedys twa,
He and the clerk foroutyn ma
15 Lap on foroutyn persavyng,
And day and nycht but sojournyng
Thai raid quhill on the fyften day
Cummyn till Louchmaben ar thai.
Hys broder Edward thar thai fand
20 That thocht ferly Ic tak on hand
That thai come hame sa prevely.
He tauld hys brodyr halyly
How that he thar soucht was
And how that he chapyt wes throu cas.

[The killing of Comyn and his uncle]
25 Sa fell it in the samyn tid
That at Dumfres rycht thar besid
Schir Jhone the Cumyn sojornyng maid.
The Brus lap on and thidder raid
And thocht foroutyn mar letting
30 For to quyt hym his discovering.
Thidder he raid but langer let
And with Schyr Jhone the Cumyn met
In the Freris at the hye awter,
And schawyt him with lauchand cher
35 The endentur, syne with a knyff
Rycht in that sted hym reft the lyff.
Schyr Edmund Cumyn als wes slayn
And othir mony off mekill mayn.
Nocht-for-thi yeit sum men sayis
40 At that debat fell other-wayis,
Bot quhat-sa-evyr maid the debate
Thar-throuch he deyt weill I wat.
He mysdyd thar gretly but wer
That gave na gyrth to the awter,
45 Tharfor sa hard myscheiff him fell
That Ik herd never in romanys tell
Off man sa hard frayit as wes he
That efterwart com to sic bounte.

[Edward hears of Bruce's flight; news of Comyn's death reaches the bishop of
St Andrews]
Now agayne to the king ga we
50 That on the morn with his barne
Sat intill his parleament,
And eftyr the lord the Bruys he sent
Rycht till his in with knychtis kene.
Quhen he oft-tyme had callit bene
55 And his men efter him askit thai,
Thai said that he sen yhysterday
Dwelt in his chambyr ythanly
With a clerk with him anerly.
Than knokyt thai at his chamur thar
60 And quhen thai hard nane mak answar
Thai brak the dur, bot thai fand nocht
The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht.
Thai tald the king than hale the cas
And how that he eschapyt was.
65 He wes off his eschap sary
And swour in ire full stalwartly
That he suld drawyn and hangit be.
He manansyt as him thocht, bot he
Thoucht that suld pas ane other way
70 And, quhen he as ye herd me say
Intill the kyrk Schyr Jhone haid slain,
Till Louchmabane he went agayne
And gert men with his lettres ryd
To freyndis apon ilk sid
75 That come to hym with thar mengye,
And his men als assemblit he
And thocht that he wald mak him king.
Our all the land the word gan spryng
That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn,
80 And amang other, lettres ar gayn
To the byschop off Androws towne
That tauld how slayn wes that baroun.
The letter tauld hym all the deid,
And he till his men gert reid
85 And sythyn said thaim, 'Sekyrly
I hop Thomas prophecy
Off Hersildoune sall veryfyd be
In him, for swa Our Lord help me
I haiff gret hop he sall be king
90 And haiff this land all in leding.'

[Douglas leaves St Andrews on the bishop's horse and joins Bruce]
James off Douglas that ay-quhar
Allwayis befor the byschop schar
Had weill hard all the letter red,
And he tuk alsua full gud hed
95 To that the byschop had said.
And quhen the burdys doun war laid
Till chamyr went thai then in hy,
And James off Douglas prevely
Said to the byschop, 'Schyr, ye se
100 How Inglismen throu thar powste
Dysherysys me off my land,
And men has gert you understand
Als that the erle off Carryk
Clamys to gevern the kynryk,
105 And for yon man that he has slayn
All Inglismen ar him agayn
And wald disherys hym blythly,
The-quhether with hym dwell wald I.
Tharfor, schir, giff it war your will
110 I wald tak with him gud and ill.
Throu hym I trow my land to wyn
Magré the Cliffurd and his kyn.'
The byschop hard and had pite
And said, 'Swet son, sa God help me
115 I wald blythly that thou war thar
Bot at I nocht reprovyt war.
On this maner weile wyrk thou may.
Thou sall tak Ferrand my palfray,
For thar is na hors in this land
120 Sa swytht na yeit sa weill at hand.
Tak him as off thine awyne hewid
As I had gevyn tharto na reid,
And gyff his yhemar oucht gruchys
Luk that thou tak him magré his,
125 Swa sall I weill assonyeit be.
Mychty God for his powste
Graunt that he that thou pasis to
And thou in all tyme sa weill to do
That ye you fra your fayis defend.'
130 He taucht him siluer to dispend
And syne gaiff him gud day
And bad him pas furth on his way,
For he ne wald spek till he war gane.
The Douglas then his way has taine
135 Rycht to the hors, as he him bad,
Bot he that him in yhemsell had
Than warnyt him dispitously,
Bot he that wreth him encrely
Fellyt hym with a swerys dynt,
140 And syne foroutyn langer stynt
The hors he sadylt hastely,
And lap on hym delyverly
And passyt furth but leve-taking.
Der God that is off hevyn king
145 Sauff hym and scheld him fra his fayis.
All him alane the way he tais
Towart the towne off Louchmabane,
And a litill fra Aryk stane
The Bruce with a gret rout he met
150 That raid to Scone for to be set
In kingis stole and to be king.
And quhen Douglas saw hys cummyng
He raid and hailsyt hym in hy
And lowtyt him ffull curtasly,
155 And tauld him haly all his state
And quhat he was, and als how-gat
The Cliffurd held his heritage,
And that he come to mak homage
Till him as till his rychtwis king,
160 And at he boune wes in all thing
To tak with him the gud and ill.
And quhen the Bruce had herd his will
He resavyt him in gret daynté
And men and armys till him gaff he.
165 He thocht weile he suld be worthy
For all his eldris war douchty.
Thusgat maid thai thar aquentance
That never syne for nakyn chance
Departyt quhill thai lyffand war.
170 Thair frendschip woux ay mar and mar,
For he servyt ay lelely,
And the tother full wilfully
That was bath worthy wycht and wys
Rewardyt him weile his service.

[Bruce becomes king; Edward I sends Aymer de Valence against him; King
Robert's force at Perth]
175 The lord the Bruce to Glaskow raid
And send about him quhill he haid
Off his freyndis a gret menyhe,
And syne to Scone in hy raid he
And wes maid king but langer let,
180 And in the kingis stole wes set
As in that tyme wes the maner.
Bot off thar nobleis, gret affer,
Thar service na thar realté
Ye sall her na thing now for me,
185 Owtane that he off the barnage
That thidder come tok homage
And syne went our all the land
Frendis and frendschip purchesand
To maynteym that he had begunnyn.
190 He wyst or all the land war wonnyn
He suld fynd full hard barganyng
With him that wes off Ingland king,
For thar wes nane off lyff sa fell
Sa pautener na sa cruell.
195 And quhen to King Edward wes tauld
How at the Bruys that wes sa bauld
Had brocht the Cumyn till ending,
And how he syne had maid him king,
Owt off his wyt he went weill ner,
200 And callit till him Schir Amer
The Vallang that wes wys and wycht
And off his hand a worthy knycht,
And bad him men off armys ta
And in hy till Scotland ga,
205 And byrn and slay and rais dragoun,
And hycht all Fyfe in warysoun
Till him that mycht other ta or sla
Robert the Bruce that wes his fa.
Schir Aymer did as he him bad,
210 Gret chevalry with him he had,
With him wes Philip the Mowbray,
And Ingram the Umfravill perfay
That wes bath wys and averty
And full off gret chevalry,
215 And off Scotland the maist party
Thai had intill thar cumpany,
For yheit then mekill off the land
Wes intill Inglismennys hand.
Till Perth then went thai in a rout,
220 That then wes wallyt all about
With feile towris rycht hey bataillyt
To defend giff it war assaylit,
Tharin dwellyt Schyr Amery
With all his gret chevalry.
225 The King Robert wyst he wes thar
And quhatkyn chyftanys with him war
And assemblyt all his mengye.
He had feyle off full gret bounte
Bot thar fayis war may then thai
230 Be fyften hunder as Ik herd say,
The-quhether he had thar at that ned
Full feill that war douchty off deid
And barounys that war bauld as bar.
Twa erlis alsua with him war,
235 Off Levynax and Atholl war thai.
Edward the Bruce wes thar alsua,
Thomas Randell and Hew de le Hay
And Schyr David the Berclay
Fresale, Somerveile, and Inchmertyn.
240 James off Douglas thar wes syne
That yheyt than wes bot litill off mycht,
And othir fele folk forsye in fycht
Als was gude Cristell of Setoun 243*
And Robert Boyd of greit renoun, 244*
245 And uther feill of mekill micht 245*
Bot I can nocht tell quhat thai hycht. 243

[At Perth; Umfraville's advice to Valence]
Thocht thai war quheyn thai war worthy
And full off gret chevalry,
And in bataill in gud aray
250 Befor Sanct Jhonystoun com thai 247
And bad Schyr Amery isch to fycht,
And he that in the mekill mycht
Traistyt off thaim that wes him by
Bad his men arme thaim hastily.
255 Bot Schir Ingram the Umfravill 252
Thocht it war all to gret perill
In playne bataill to thaim to ga
Or-quhill thai war arayit sa,
And till Schyr Amer said he,
260 'Schir, giff that ye will trow to me, 257
Ye sall nocht ische thaim till assaile
Till thai ar purvayt in bataill,
For thar ledar is wys and wycht
And off his hand a noble knycht,
265 And he has in his cumpany 262
Mony a gud man and worthi
That sall be hard for till assay
Till thai ar in sa gud aray,
For it suld be full mekill mycht
270 That now suld put thaim to the flycht, 267
For quhen folk ar weill arayit
And for the bataill weill purvait
With-thi that thai all gud men be,
Thai sall fer mar be avisé
275 And weill mar for to dreid then thai 272
War sumdele out off aray.
Tharfor ye may, schyr, say thaim till
That thai may this nycht and thai will
Gang herbery thaim and slep and rest,
280 And to-morn but langer lest 277
Ye sall isch furth to the bataill,
And fecht with thaim bot gyf thai faile.
Sa till thar herbery went sall thai
And sum sall went to the forray,
285 And thai that dwellis at the logyng 282
Sen thai cum out off travelling
Sall in schort tyme unarmyt be.
Then on our best maner may we
With all our fayr chevalry
290 Ryd towart thaim rycht hardyly. 287
And thai that wenys to rest all nycht
Quhen thai se us arayit to fycht
Cummand on thaim sa sudanly,
Thai sall affrayit be gretumly,
295 And or thai cummyn in bataill be 292
We sall speid us swagat that we
Sall be all redy till assembill.
Sum man for erynes will trymbill
Quhen he assayit is sodanly
300 That with avisement is douchty.' 297

[The Scots go to Methven to camp; the English advance on them]
As he avisyt have thai done,
And till thaim utouth send thai sone
And bade thaim herbery thaim that nycht
And on the morn cum to the fycht.
305 Quhen thai saw thai mycht no mar 302
Towart Meffayn then gan thai far
And in the woud thaim logyt thai.
The thrid part went to the forray,
And the lave sone unarmyt war
310 And skalyt to loge thaim her and thar 307
Schyr Amer then but mar abaid
With all the folk he with him haid
Ischyt inforcely to the fycht,
And raid intill a randoun rycht
315 The straucht way towart Meffen. 312
The king that wes unarmyt then
Saw thaim cum swa inforcely,
Then till his men gan hely cry,
'Till armys, swyth, and makis you yar,
320 Her at our hand our fayis ar.' 317
And thai did swa in full gret hy
And on thar hors lap hastily.
The king displayit his baner
Quhen that his folk assemblyt wer
325 And said, 'Lordingis now may ye se 322
That yone folk all throu sutelte
Schapis thaim to do with slycht
That at thai drede to do with mycht.
Now I persave he that will trew
330 His fa, it sall him sum-tyme rew. 327
And nocht-for-thi, thocht thai be fele
God may rycht weill our werdis dele
For multitud mais na victory,
As man has red in mony story
335 That few folk has oft vencusyt ma. 332
Trow we that we sall do rycht sua.
Ye ar ilkan wycht and worthy
And full of gret chevalry,
And wate rycht weill quhat honour is.
340 Wyrk yhe then apon swylk wys 337
That your honour be savyt ay.
And a thing will I to you say,
That he that deis for his cuntre
Sall herbryit intill hevyn be.'
345 Quhen this wes said thai saw cumand 342
Thar fayis ridand ner at the hand
Arayit rycht avisely
Willfull to do chevalry.

[The battle of Methven]
On athir syd thus war thai yhar
350 And till assemble all redy war. 347
Thai straucht thar speris on athir syd
And swa ruydly gan samyn ryd
That speris al to-fruschyt war
And feyle men dede and woundyt sar,
355 The blud out at thar byrnys brest, 352
For the best and the worthiest
That wilfull war to wyn honour
Plungyt in the stalwart stour
And routis ruyd about thaim dang.
360 Man mycht haiff seyn into that thrang 357
Knychtis that wycht and hardy war
Under hors feyt defoulyt thar
Sum woundyt and sum all ded,
The gres woux off the blud all rede.
365 And thai that held on hors in hy 362
Swappyt out swerdis sturdyly
And sa fell strakys gave and tuk
That all the renk about thaim quouk.
The Bruysis folk full hardely
370 Schawyt thar gret chevalry 367
And he him selff atour the lave
Sa hard and sa hevy dyntis gave
That quhar he come thai maid him way.
His folk thaim put in hard assay
375 To stynt thar fais mekill mycht 372
That then so fayr had off the fycht
That thai wan feild ay mar and mar.
The kingis small folk ner vencusyt ar,
And quhen the king his folk has sene
380 Begouth to faile, for propyr tene 377
His assenyhe gan he cry
And in the stour sa hardyly
He ruschyt that all the semble schuk.
He all till-hewyt that he ourtuk
385 And dang on thaim quhill he mycht drey. 382
And till his folk he criyt hey,
'On thaim, on thaim, thai feble fast,
This bargane never may langer last.'
And with that word sa wilfully
390 He dang on and sa hardely 387
That quha had sene him in that fycht
Suld hald him for a douchty knycht.
But thocht he wes stout and hardy
And othir als off his cumpany,
395 Thar mycht na worschip thar availye 392
For thar small folk begouth to failye
And fled all skalyt her and thar.
Bot the gude at enchaufyt war
Off ire abade and held the stour
400 To conquyr thaim endles honour. 397 And quhen Schyr Amer has sene
The small folk fle all bedene
And sa few abid to fycht
He releyt to himm mony a knycht
405 And in the stour sa hardyly 402
He ruschyt with hys chevalry
That he ruschyt his fayis ilkane.
Schyr Thomas Randell thar wes tane
That then wes a young bacheler
410 And Schyr Alexander Fraseyr 407
And Schyr David the Breklay
Inchmertyne and Hew de le Hay
And Somervell and other ma.
And the king him selff alsua
415 Wes set imtill full hard assay 412
Throu Schyr Philip the Mowbray
That raid till him full hardyly
And hynt hys rengye and syne gan cry,
'Help! Help! I have the new-maid king.'
420 With that come gyrdand in a lyng 417
Crystall off Seytoun quhen he swa
Saw the king sesyt with his fa,
And to Philip sic rout he raucht
That thocht he wes of mekill maucht
425 He gert him galay disyly, 422
And haid till erd gane fullyly
Ne war he hynt him by his sted,
Then off his hand the brydill yhed.
And the king his enssenye gan cry,
430 Releyt his men that war him by 427
That war sa few that thai na mycht
Endur the fors mar off the fycht.
Thai prikyt then out off the pres,
And the king that angry wes
435 For he his men saw fle him fra 432
Said then, 'Lordingis, sen it is swa
That ure rynnys agane us her,
Gud is we pas of thar daunger
Till God us send eft-sonys grace.
440 And yeyt may fall giff thai will chace 437
Quyt thaim corn-but sumdele we sall.'
To this word thai assentyt all
And fra thaim walopyt ovyr-mar.
Thar fayis alsua wery war
445 That off thaim all thar chassyt nane, 442
Bot with presoneris that thai had tane
Rycht to the toune thai held thar way,
Rycht glaid and joyfull off thar pray.
That nycht thai lay all in the toun,
450 Thar wes nane off sa gret renoun 447
Na yeit sa hardy off thaim all
That durst herbery with-out the wall,
Sa dred thai sar the gayne-cummyng
Off Schyr Robert the douchty king.
455 And to the king off Ingland sone 452
Thai wrate haly as thai haid done,
And he wes blyth off that tithing
And for dispyte bad draw and hing
All the presonneris thocht thai war ma.
460 Bot Schyr Amery did nocht sua 457
To sum bath land and lyff gaiff he
To leve the Bruysis fewte
And serve the king off Ingland
And off him for to hald the land
465 And werray the Brus as thar fa. 462
Thomas Randell wes ane off tha
That for his lyff become thar man.
Off other that war takyn than
Sum thai ransounyt, sum thai slew
470 And sum thai hangyt and sum thai drew. 467

[The king goes to the Mounth as a refugee]
In this maner rebutyt was
The Bruys that mekill murnyn mais
For his men that war slayne and tane,
And he wes als sa will off wane
475 That he trowit in nane sekyrly 472
Outane thaim off his cumpany,
That war sa few that thai mycht be
Fyve hunder ner off all mengye.
His broder alwayis wes him by
480 Schyr Edward that wes sa hardy, 477
And with him wes a bauld baroun
Schyr Wilyam the Boroundoun.
The erle off Athole als wes thar,
Bot ay syn thai discomfyt war
485 The erle off the Levenax wes away 482
And wes put to full hard assay
Or he met with the king agayn,
Bot always as a man off mayn
He mayntemyt him full manlyly.
490 The king had in his cumpany 487
James alsua of Douglas
That wycht wys and averty was,
Schyr Gilbert de le Hay alsua
Schir Nele Cambell and other ma
495 That I thar namys can nocht say, 492
As utelawys went mony day
Dreand in the Month thar pyne,
Eyte flesch and drank water syne.
He durst nocht to the planys ga
500 For all the commounys went him fra 497
That for thar liffis war full fayn
To pas to the Inglis pes agayn.
Sa fayris ay commounly,
In commounys may nane affy
505 Bot he that may thar warand be. 502
Sa fur thai then with him, for he
Thaim fra thar fais mycht nocht warand
Thai turnyt to the tother hand,
Bot threldome that men gert thaim fele
510 Gert thaim ay yarne that he fur wele. 507

[The king goes to Aberdeen; the queen joins him; a Theban analogy; they ride
to the hills and live rough]
Thus in the hyllis levyt he
Till the mast part off his menye
Wes revyn and rent, na schoyn thai had
Bot as thai thaim off hydis mad.
515 Tharfor thai went till Aberdeyne 512
Quhar Nele the Bruys come and the queyn
And other ladyuis fayr and farand
Ilkane for luff off thar husband
That for leyle luff and leawté
520 Wald partenerys off thar paynys be. 517
Thai chesyt tyttar with thaim to ta
Angyr and payne na be thaim fra,
For luff is off sa mekill mycht
That it all paynys makis lych,
525 And mony tyme mais tender wychtis 522
Off swilk strenthtis and swilk mychtis
That thai may mekill paynys endur
And forsakis nane aventur
That evyr may fall, with-thi that thai
530 Tharthrou succur thair liffys may. 527
Men redys, quhen Thebes wes tane
And Kyng Aristas men war slane
That assailyt the cite,
That the wemen off his cuntre
535 Come for to fech him hame agayne 532
Quhen thai hard all his folk wes slayne,
Quhar the King Campaneus
Throu the help off Menesteus
That come percas ridand tharby
540 With thre hunder in cumpany 537
That throu the kingis prayer assailyt
That yeit to tak the toun had failyeit.
Then war the wiffys thyrland the wall
With pikkis, quhar the assailyeis all
545 Entryt and dystroyit the tour 542
And slew the pupill but recour.
Syn quhen the duk his way wes gayne
And all the kingis men war slayne
The wiffis had him till his cuntre
550 Quhar wes na man leiffand bot he. 547
In wemen mekill comfort lyis
And gret solace on mony wis,
Sa fell yt her, for thar cummyng
Rejosyt rycht gretumly the king.
555 The-quhether ilk nycht himselvyn wouk 552
And rest apon daiis touk.
A gud quhile thar he sojournyt then
And esyt wonder weill his men
Till that the Inglis-men herd say
560 That he thar with his menye lay 557
All at ese and sekyrly.
Assemblit thai thar ost in hy
And thar him trowit to suppris
Bot he that in his deid wes wys
565 Wyst thai assemblyt war and quhar, 562
And wyst that thei sa mony war
That he mycht nocht agayne thaim fycht.
His men in hy he gert be dycht
And buskyt of the toun to ryd,
570 The ladyis raid rycht by his syd. 567
Then to the hill thai raid thar way,
Quhar gret defaut off mete had thai.
Bot worthy James off Douglas
Ay travailland and besy was
575 For to purches the ladyis mete 572
And it on mony wis wald get,
For quhile he venesoun thaim brocht,
And with his handys quhile he wrocht
Gynnys to tak geddis and salmonys
580 Trowtis elys and als menounys, 577
And quhill thai went to the forray,
And swa thar purchesyng maid thai.
Ilk man traveillyt for to get
And purches thaim that thai mycht ete.
585 Bot off all that ever thai war 582
Thar wes nocht ane amang thaim thar
That to the ladyis profyt was
Mar then James of Douglas,
And the king oft comfort wes
590 Throu his wyt and his besynes. 587
On this maner thaim governyt thai
Till thai come to the hed off Tay.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 3

[The lord of Lorn attacks the king's men]
The lord off Lorne wonnyt thar-by
That wes capitale ennymy
To the king for his emys sak
Jhon Comyn, and thocht for to tak
5 Vengeance apon cruell maner.
Quhen he the king wyst wes sa ner
He assemblyt his men in hy,
And had intill his cumpany
The barounys off Argyle alsua.
10 Thai war a thousand weill or ma
And come for to suppris the king
That weill wes war of thar cummyng.
Bot all to few with him he had
The-quhethir he bauldly thaim abaid,
15 And weill ost at thar fryst metyng
War layd at erd but recoveryng.
The kingis folk full weill thaim bar
And slew and fellyt and woundyt sar,
Bot the folk off the tother party
20 Faucht with axys sa fellyly,
For thai on fute war everilkane,
That thai feile off thar hors has slayne,
And till sum gaiff thai woundis wid.
James off Douglas wes hurt that tyd
25 And als Schyr Gilbert de le Hay.
The king his men saw in affray
And his ensenye can he cry
And amang thaim rycht hardyly
He rad that he thaim ruschyt all
30 And fele off thaim thar gert he fall.
Bot quhen he saw thai war sa feill
And saw thaim swa gret dyntis deill
He dred to tyne his folk, forthi
His men till him he gan rely
35 And said, 'Lordyngis, foly it war
Tyll us for till assembill mar,
For thai fele off our hors has slayn,
And giff yhe fecht with thaim agayn
We sall tyne off our small mengye
40 And our selff sall in perill be.
Tharfor me thynk maist avenand
To withdraw us us defendand
Till we cum out off thar daunger,
For our strenth at our hand is ner.'
45 Then thai withdrew thaim halely
Bot that wes nocht full cowartly
For samyn intill a sop held thai
And the king him abandonyt ay
To defend behind his mengye,
50 And throu his worschip sa wrouch he
That he reskewyt all the flearis
And styntyt swagat the chassaris
That nane durst out off batall chas,
For alwayis at thar hand he was.
55 Sa weile defendyt he his men
That quha-sa-ever had seyne him then
Prove sa worthely vasselage
And turn sa oft-sythis the visage
He suld say he aucht weill to be
60 A king off a gret reawté.

[Comparisons from Celtic and classical legends with the king's defence of
his men]
Quhen that the lord off Lorne saw
His men stand off him ane sik aw
That thai durst nocht folow the chase
Rycht angry in his hart he was,
65 And for wondyr that he suld swa
Stot thaim him ane but ma
He said, 'Me think Marthokys sone
Rycht as Golmakmorn was wone
To haiff fra Fyn all his mengne,
70 Rycht swa all his fra us has he.'
He set ensample thus mydlike,
The-quhethir he mycht mar manerlik
Lyknyt hym to Gaudifer de Larys
Quhen that the mychty Duk Betys
75 Assailyeit in Gadyrris the forrayours,
And quhen the king thaim maid rescours
Duk Betys tuk on him the flycht
That wald ne mar abid to fycht.
Bot Gaudifer the worthi
80 Abandonyt him so worthyly
For to reskew all the fleieris
And for to stonay the chasseris
That Alysander to erth he bar
And alsua did he Tholimar
85 And gud Coneus alsua
Danklyne alsua and othir ma,
Bot at the last thar slayne he wes.
In that failyeit the liklynes,
For the king full chevalrusly
90 Defendyt all his cumpany
And wes set in full gret danger
And yeit eschapyt haile and fer.

[The king kills the two Mac na Dorsair brothers and their fellow]
Twa brethir war in that land
That war the hardiest off hand
95 That war intill all that cuntre,
And thai had sworn iff thai mycht se
The Bruys quhar thai mycht him our-ta
That thai suld dey or then hym sla.
Thar surname wes Makyne Drosser,
100 That is al-so mekill to say her
As the Durwarth sonnys perfay.
Off thar covyne the thrid had thai
That wes rycht stout ill and feloune.
Quhen thai the king off gud renoune
105 Saw sua behind his mengne rid
And saw him torne sa mony tid,
Thai abaid till that he was
Entryt in ane narow place
Betwix a louch-sid and a bra
110 That wes sa strait Ik underta
That he mycht nocht weill turn in his sted.
Then with a will till him thai yede
And ane him by the bridill hynt,
Bot he raucht till him sic a dynt
115 That arme and schuldyr flaw him fra.
With that ane other gan him ta
Be the lege and his hand gan schute
Betwix the sterap and his fute,
And quhen the king feld thar his hand
120 In his sterapys stythly gan he stand
And strak with spuris the stede in hy,
And he lansyt furth delyverly
Swa that the tother failyeit fete,
And nocht-for-thi his hand wes yeit
125 Undyr the sterap magré his.
The thrid with full gret hy with this
Rycht till the bra-syd he yeid
And stert behynd hym on his sted.
The king wes then in full gret pres,
130 The-quhether he thocht as he that wes
In all hys dedys avisé
To do ane outrageous bounte,
And syne hyme that behynd him was
All magré his will him gan he ras
135 Fra behynd him, thocht he had sworn,
He laid hym evyn him beforn,
Syne with the swerd sic dynt hym gave
That he the heid till the harnys clave.
He rouschit doun off blud all rede
140 As he that stound feld off dede.
And then the king in full gret hy
Strak at the tothir vigorusly
That he efter his sterap drew
That at the fyrst strak he him slew.
145 On this wis him delyverit he
Off all thai felloun fayis thre.

[Mac Nachtan praises the king]
Quhen thai of Lorne has sene the king
Set in hym selff sa gret helping
And defendyt him sa manlely,
150 Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy
That durst assailye him mar in fycht,
Sa dred thai for his mekill mycht.
Thar wes a baroune Maknauchtan
That in his hart gret kep has tane
155 To the kingis chevalry
And prisyt him in hert gretly,
And to the lord off Lorne said he,
'Sekyrly now may ye se
Be tane the starkest pundelan
160 That evyr your lyfftyme ye saw tane,
For yone knycht throu his douchti deid
And thro his outrageous manheid
Has fellyt intill litill tyd
Thre men off mekill prid,
165 And stonayit all our mengye swa
That eftyr him dar na man ga,
And tournys sa mony tyme his stede
That semys off us he had na dred.'
Then gane the lord off Lorn say,
170 'It semys it likis ye perfay
That he slayis yongat our mengye.'
'Schyr,' said he, 'sa Our Lord me se,
To sauff your presence it is nocht swa,
Bot quhether-sa he be freynd or fa
175 That wynnys prys off chevalry
Men suld spek tharoff lelyly,
And sekyrly in all my tyme
Ik hard never in sang na ryme
Tell off a man that swa smertly
180 Eschevyt swa gret chevalry.'
Sic speking off the king thai maid,
And he eftyr his mengye raid
And intill saufte thaim led
Quhar he his fayis na-thing dred,
185 And thai off Lorne agayn ar gayn
Menand the scaith that thai haiff tayn.

[The king comforts his men with the example of the recovery of Rome from
Hannibal]
The king that nycht his wachis set
And gert ordayne that thai mycht et,
And bad conford to thaim tak
190 And at thar mychtis mery mak.
For disconford, as then said he,
Is the werst thing that may be,
For throu mekill disconforting
Men fallis oft into disparing,
195 And fra a man disparyt be
Then utraly vencusyt is he,
And fra the hart be discumfyt
The body is nocht worth a myt.
'Tharfor,' he said, 'atour all thing
200 Kepys you fra disparyng,
And think thouch we now harmys fele
That God may yeit releve us weill.
Men redys off mony men that war
Fer harder stad then we yhet ar
205 And syne Our Lord sic grace thaim lent
That thai come weill till thar entent.
For Rome quhilum sa hard wes stad
Quhen Hanniball thaim vencusyt had
That off ryngis with rich stane
210 That war off knychtis fyngeris tane
He send thre bollis to Cartage,
And syne to Rome tuk his viage
Thar to distroye the cite all.
And thai within bath gret and small
215 Had fled quhen thai saw his cummyng
Had nocht bene Scipio the king,
That or thai fled wald thaim haiff slayn,
And swagat turnyt he thaim agayn.
Syne for to defend the cite
220 Bath servandis and threllis mad he fre,
And maid thaim knychtis everilkane,
And syne has off the templis tane
The armys that thar eldrys bar,
In name off victory offeryt thar.
225 And quhen thai armyt war and dycht
That stalwart karlis war and wycht
And saw that thai war fre alsua,
Thaim thocht that thai had lever ta
The dede na lat the toun be tane,
230 And with commoune assent as ane
Thai ischit off the toune to fycht
Quhar Hannyball his mekill mycht
Aganys thaim arayit was.
Bot throu mycht off Goddis grace
235 It ranyt sa hard and hevyly
That thar wes nane sa hardy
That durst into that place abid,
Bot sped thaim intill hy to rid,
The ta part to thar pailyounys,
240 The tother part went in the toune is.
The rayne thus lettyt the fechtyn,
Sa did it twys tharefter syne.
Quhen Hanibal saw this ferly
With all his gret chevalry
245 He left the toune and held his way,
And syne wes put to sik assay
Throu the power off that cite
That his lyff and his land tynt he.
Be thir quheyne that sa worthily
250 Wane sik a king and sa mychty,
Ye may weill be ensampill se
That na man suld disparyt be,
Na lat his hart be vencusyt all
For na myscheiff that ever may fall,
255 For nane wate in how litill space
That God umquhile will send grace.
Had thai fled and thar wayis gane
Thar fayis swith the toune had tane.
Tharfor men that werrayand war
260 Suld set thar etlyng ever-mar
To stand agayne thar fayis mycht
Umquhile with strenth and quhile with slycht,
And ay thynk to cum to purpos,
And giff that thaim war set in chos
265 To dey or to leyff cowartly,
Thai suld erar dey chevalrusly.

[The king cites the example of Caesar]
Thusgat thaim comfort the king
And to comfort thaim gan inbryng
Auld storys off men that wer
270 Set intyll hard assayis ser
And that fortoun contraryit fast,
And come to purpos at the last.
Tharfor he said that thai that wald
Thar hartis undiscumfyt hald
275 Suld ay thynk ententily to bryng
All thar enpres to gud ending,
As quhile did Cesar the worthy
That traveillyt ay so besyly
With all his mycht folowing to mak
280 To end the purpos that he wald tak,
That hym thocht he had doyne rycht nocht
Ay quhill to do him levyt ocht.
Forthi gret thingis eschevyt he
As men may in his story se.
285 Men may se be his ythen will,
And it suld als accord to skill
That quha tais purpos sekyrly
And folowis it syne ententily
Forout fayntice or yheit faynding,
290 With-thi it be conabill thing,
Bot he the mar be unhappy
He sall eschev it in party,
And haiff he lyff-dayis weill may fall
That he sall eschev it all.
295 For-thi suld nane haff disparing
For till eschev a full gret thing,
For giff it fall he tharoff failye
The fawt may be in his travailye.

[Atholl asks to be left; the king sends him, Neil Bruce and the ladies to
Kildrummy]
He prechyt thaim on this maner
300 And fenyeit to mak better cher
Then he had mater to be fer,
For his caus yeid fra ill to wer,
Thai war ay in sa hard travaill,
Till the ladyis began to fayle
305 That mycht the travaill drey na mar,
Sa did other als that thar war.
The Erle Jhone wes ane off tha
Off Athole that quhen he saw sua
The king be discumfyt twys,
310 And sa feile folk agayne him rys,
And lyff in sic travaill and dout,
His hart begane to faile all-out
And to the king apon a day
He said, 'Gyff I durst you say,
315 We lyff into sa mekill dreid,
And haffis oftsys off met sic ned,
And is ay in sic travailling
With cauld and hunger and waking,
That I am sad off my selvyn sua
320 That I count nocht my liff a stra.
Thir angrys may I ne mar drey,
For thoucht me tharfor worthit dey
I mon sojourne, quharever it be.
Levys me tharfor par cheryte.'
325 The king saw that he sa wes failyt
And that he ik wes for-travaillyt.
He said, 'Schyr erle, we sall sone se
And ordayne how it best may be.
Quharever ye be, Our Lord you send
330 Grace fra your fais you to defend.'
With that in hy to him callyt he
Thaim that till him war mast preve.
Then amang thaim thai thocht it best
And ordanyt for the liklyest
335 That the queyne and the erle alsua
And the ladyis in hy suld ga
With Nele the Bruce till Kildromy,
For thaim thocht thai mycht sekyrly
Dwell thar quhill thai war vittaillit weile,
340 For swa stalwart wes the castell
That it with strenth war hard to get
Quhill that tharin war men and mete.
As thai ordanyt thai did in hy,
The queyne and all hyr cumpany
345 Lap on thar hors and furth thai far.
Men mycht haiff sene quha had bene thar
At leve-takyng the ladyis gret
And mak thar face with teris wet,
And knychtis for thar luffis sak
350 Bath bsich and wep and murnyng mak,
Thai kyssyt thar luffis at thar partyng.
The king umbethocht him off a thing,
That he fra thine on fute wald ga
And tak on fute bath weill and wa,
355 And wald na hors-men with him haiff,
Tharfor his hors all haile he gaiff
To the ladyis that myster had.
The queyn furth on hyr wayis rade
And sawffly come to the castell
360 Quhar hyr folk war ressavyt weill
And esyt weill with meyt and drynk,
Bot mycht nane eys let hyr to think
On the king that wes sa sar stad
That bot twa hunder with him had,
365 The-quhethir thaim weill comfortyt he ay.
God help him that all mychtis may.

[The king plans to go to Kintyre; Neil Campbell sent to find ships; the king
and his men cross Loch Lomond; he reads a romance to them]
The queyne dwelt thus in Kyldromy,
And the king and his cumpany
That war twa hunder and na ma
370 Fra thai had send thar hors thaim fra
Wandryt emang the hey montanys,
Quhar he and his oft tholyt paynys,
For it wes to the wynter ner,
And sa feile fayis about him wer
375 That all the countre thaim werrayit.
Sa hard anoy thaim then assayit
Off hunger cauld with schowris snell
That nane that levys can weill it tell.
The king saw how his folk wes stad
380 And quhat anoyis that thai had,
And saw wynter wes cummand ner,
And that he mycht on na maner
Dre in the hillys the cauld lying
Na the long nychtis waking.
385 He thocht he to Kyntyr wald ga
And swa lang sojournyng thar ma
Till wynter wedder war away,
And then he thocht but mar delay
Into the manland till aryve
390 And till the end his werdis dryv.
And for Kyntyr lyis in the se
Schyr Nele Cambel befor send he
For to get him navyn and meite,
And certane tyme till him he sete
395 Quhen he suld meite him at the se.
Schir Nele Cambell with his mengye
Went his way but mar letting
And left his brother with the king,
And in twelf dayis sua traveillit he
400 That he gat schippyne gud plente
And vittalis in gret aboundance.
Sa maid he nobill chevisance
For his sibmen wonnyt tharby
That helpyt him full wilfully.
405 The king efter that he wes gane
To Louch Lomond the way has tane
And come on the thrid day,
Bot tharabout na bait fand thai
That mycht thaim our the water ber.
410 Than war thai wa on gret maner
For it wes fer about to ga,
And thai war into dout alsua
To meyt thar fayis that spred war wyd.
Tharfor endlang the louchhis syd
415 Sa besyly thai socht and fast
Tyll James of Douglas at the last
Fand a litill sonkyn bate
And to the land it drew fut-hate,
Bot it sa litill wes that it
420 Mycht our the watter but a thresum flyt.
Thai send tharoff word to the king
That wes joyfull off that fynding
And fyrst into the bate is gane,
With him Douglas, the thrid wes ane
425 That rowyt thaim our deliverly
And set thaim on the land all dry,
And rowyt sa oftsys to and fra
Fechand ay our twa and twa
That in a nycht and in a day
430 Cummyn out-our the louch ar thai,
For sum off thaim couth swome full weill
And on his bak ber a fardele.
Swa with swymmyng and with rowyng
Thai brocht thaim our and all thar thing.
435 The king the quhilis meryly
Red to thaim that war him by
Romanys off worthi Ferambrace
That worthily our-cummyn was
Throu the rycht douchty Olyver,
440 And how the duk-peris wer
Assegyt intill Egrymor
Quhar King Lavyne lay thaim befor
With may thousandis then I can say,
And bot ellevyn within war thai
445 And a woman, and war sa stad
That thai na mete thar-within had
Bot as thai fra thar fayis wan.
Yheyte sua contenyt thai thaim than
That thai the tour held manlily
450 Till that Rychard off Normandy
Magré his fayis warnyt the king
That wes joyfull off this tithing,
For he wend thai had all beyne slayne.
Tharfor he turnyt in hy agayne
455 And wan Mantrybill and passit Flagot,
And syne Lavyne and all his flot
Dispitusly discumfyt he,
And deliveryt his men all fre
And wan the naylis and the sper
460 And the crowne that Jhesu couth ber,
And off the croice a gret party
He wan throu his chevalry.
The gud king apon this maner
Comfort thaim that war him ner
465 And maid thaim gamyn and solace
Till that his folk all passyt was.

[Lennox joins the king; a reflection on weeping]
Quhen thai war passit the water brad
Suppos thai fele off fayis had
Thai maid thaim mery and war blyth.
470 Nocht-for-thi full fele syth
Thai had full gret defaut of mete,
And tharfor venesoun to get
In twa partys ar thai gayne.
The king himselff wes intill ane
475 And Schyr James off Douglas
Into the tother party was.
Then to the hycht thai held thar way
And huntyt lang quhill off the day
And soucht schawys and setis set
480 Bot thai gat litill for till ete.
Then hapnyt at that tyme percas
That the erle of the Levenax was
Amang the hillis ner tharby,
And quhen he hard sa blaw and cry
485 He had wonder quhat it mycht be,
And on sic maner spyryt he
That he knew that it wes the king,
And then foroutyn mar duelling
With all thaim off his cumpany
490 He went rycht till the king in hy,
Sa blyth and sa joyfull that he
Mycht on na maner blyther be
For he the king wend had bene ded,
And he wes alsua will off red
495 That he durst nocht rest into na place,
Na sen the king discumfyt was
At Meffan he herd never thing
That ever wes certane off the king.
Tharfor into full gret daynte
500 The king full humyly haylist he,
And he him welcummyt rycht blythly
And askyt him full tenderly,
And all the lordis that war thar
Rycht joyfull off thar meting war,
505 And kyssyt him in gret daynte.
It wes gret pite for til se
How thai for joy and pite gret
Quhen that thai with thar falow met
That thai wend had bene dede, forthi
510 Thai welcummyt him mar hartfully,
And he for pite gret agayne
That never off metyng wes sa fayne.
Thocht I say that thai gret sothly
It wes na greting propyrly,
515 For I trow traistly that gretyng
Cummys to men for mysliking,
And that nane may but angyr gret
Bot it be wemen, that can wet
Thair chekys quhenever thaim list with teris,
520 The-quhethir weill oft thaim na thing deris,
But I wate weill but lesyng
Quhatever men say off sic greting
That mekill joy or yeit pete
May ger men sua amovyt be
525 That water fra the hart will rys
And weyt the eyne on sic a wys
That is lik to be greting,
Thocht it be nocht sua in all thing,
For quhen men gretis enkrely
530 The hart is sorowful or angry,
Bot for pite I trow gretyng
Be na thing bot ane opynnyng
Off hart that schawis the tendernys
Off rewth that in it closyt is.
535 The barounys apon this maner
Throu Goddis grace assemblyt wer.
The erle had mete and that plente
And with glad hart it thaim gaiff he,
And thai eyt it with full gud will
540 That soucht na nother sals thar-till
Bot appetyt, that oft men takys,
For rycht weill scowryt war thar stomakys.
Thai eit and drank sic as thai had
And till Our Lord syne lovyng maid,
545 And thankit him with full gud cher
That thai war mete on that maner.
The king then at thaim speryt yarne
How thai sen he thaim seyne had farne,
And thai full petwysly gan tell
550 Aventuris that thaim befell
And gret anoyis and poverte.
The king tharat had gret pite
And tauld thaim petwisly agayne
The noy, the travaill and the payne
555 That he had tholyt sen he thaim saw.
Wes nane amang thaim hey na law
That he ne had pite and plesaunce
Quhen that he herd mak remembrance
Off the perellys that passyt war,
560 Bot quhen men oucht at liking ar
To tell off paynys passyt by
Plesys to heryng petuisly,
And to rehers thar auld disese
Dois thaim oftsys comfort and ese,
565 With-thi tharto folow na blame
Dishonour wikytnes na schame.

[They row past Bute; Lennox's boat escapes pursuers]
Efter the mete sone rais the king
Quhen he had levyt hys speryng,
And buskyt him with his mengye
570 And went in hy towart the se
Quhar Schyr Nele Cambell thaim mete
Bath with schippis and with meyte
Saylys ayris and other thing
That wes spedfull to thar passyng.
575 Then schippyt thai foroutyn mar
Sum went till ster and sum till ar,
And rowyt be the ile of But.
Men mycht se mony frely fute
About the cost, thar lukand
580 As thai on ayris rais rowand,
And nevys that stalwart war and squar,
That wont to spayn gret speris war,
Swa spaynyt aris that men mycht se
Full oft the hyde leve on the tre.
585 For all war doand, knycht and knave,
Wes nane that ever disport mycht have
Fra steryng and fra rowyng
To furthyr thaim off thar fleting.
Bot in the samyn tyme at thai
590 War in schipping, as ye hard me say,
The erle off the Levenax was,
I can nocht tell you throu quhat cas
Levyt behynd with his galay
Till the king wes fer on his way.
595 Quhen that thai off his cuntre
Wyst that so duelt behynd wes he
Be se with schippys thai him socht,
And he that saw that he wes nocht
Off pith to fecht with thai traytouris
600 And that he had na ner socouris
Then the kingis flote, forthi
He sped him efter thaim in hy,
Bot the tratouris hym folowyt sua
That thai weill ner hym gan ourta
605 For all the mycht that he mycht do.
Ay ner and ner thai come him to,
And quhen he saw thai war sa ner
That he mycht weill thar manance her
And saw thaim ner and ner cum ay,
610 Then till his mengye gan he say,
'Bot giff we fynd sum sutelte
Ourtane all sone sall we be.
Tharfor I rede but mar letting
That outakyn our armyng
615 We kast our thing all in the se,
And fra our schip swa lychtyt be
We sall row and speid us sua
That we sall weill eschaip thaim fra,
With that thai sall mak duelling
620 Apon the se to tak our thing
And we sall row but resting ay
Till we eschapyt be away.'
As he divisyt thai have done
And thar schip thai lychtyt sone
625 And rowyt syne with all thar mycht,
And scho that swa wes maid lycht
Raykyt slidand throu the se.
And quhen thar fayis gan thaim se
Forouth thaim alwayis mar and mar,
630 The thingis that thar fletand war
Thai tuk and turnyt syne agayne,
And leyt thai lesyt all thar payne.

[Arrival in Kintyre; Angus of Islay submits at Dunaverty; they sail for
Rathlin]
Quhen that the erle on this maner
And his mengye eschapyt wer,
635 Eftyr the king he gan him hy
That then with all his cumpany
Into Kyntyr aryvyt was.
The erle tauld him all his cas,
How he wes chasyt on the se
640 With thaim that suld his awyn be,
And how he had bene tane but dout
Na war it that he warpyt out
All that he had him lycht to ma
And swa eschapyt thaim fra.
645 'Schyr erle,' said the king, 'perfay,
Syn thou eschapyt is away
Off the tynsell is na plenyeing.
Bot I will say the weile a thing,
That thar will fall the gret foly
650 To pas oft fra my cumpany,
For fele sys quhen thou art away
Thou art set intill hard assay,
Tharfor me thynk best to the
To hald the alwayis ner by me.'
655 'Schyr,' said the erle, 'it sall be swa.
I sall na wys pas fer you fra
Till God giff grace we be off mycht
Agayne our fayis to hald our stycht.'
Angus off Ile that tyme wes syr
660 And lord and ledar off Kyntyr,
The king rycht weill resavyt he
And undertuk his man to be,
And him and his on mony wys
He abandounyt till his service,
665 And for mar sekyrnes gaiff him syne
His castell off Donavardyne
To duell tharin at his liking.
Full gretumly thankyt him the king
And resavyt his service.
670 Nocht-forthi on mony wys
He wes dredand for tresoun ay,
And tharfor, as Ik hard men say,
He traistyt in nane sekyrly
Till that he knew him utraly.
675 Boy quhatkin dred that ever he had
Fayr contenance to thaim he maid,
And in Donavardyne dayis thre
Foroutyne mar then duellyt he.
Syne gert he his mengye mak thaim yar
680 Towart Rauchryne be se to far
That is ane ile in the se,
And may weill in mydwart be
Betuix Kyntyr and Irland,
Quhar als gret stremys ar rynnand
685 And als peralous and mar
Till our-saile thaim into schipfair
As is the rais of Bretangye
Or Strait off Marrok into Spanye.

[The stormy crossing; the panic and the submission of Rathlin]
Thair schippys to the se thai set,
690 And maid redy but langer let
Ankyrs rapys bath saile and ar
And all that nedyt to schipfar.
Quhen thai war boune to saile thai went,
The wynd wes wele to thar talent.
695 Thai raysyt saile and furth thai far,
And by the Mole thai passyt yar
And entryt sone into the rase
Quhar that the stremys sa sturdy was
That wavys wyd wycht brakand war
700 Weltryt as hillys her and thar.
The schippys our the wavys slayd
For wynd at poynt blawand thai had,
Bot nocht-forthi quha had thar bene
A gret stertling he mycht haiff seyne
705 Off schippys, for quhilum sum wald be
Rycht on the wavys as on a mounté
And sum wald slyd fra heycht to law
Rycht as thai doune till hell wald draw,
Syne on the wav stert sodanly,
710 And other schippys that war tharby
Deliverly drew to the depe.
It wes gret cunnanes to kep
Thar takill intill sic a thrang
And wyth sic wavis, for ay amang
715 The wavys reft thar sycht of land
Quhen thai the land wes rycht ner-hand,
And quhen schippys war sailand ner
The se wald rys on sic maner
That off the wavys the weltrand hycht
720 Wald refe thaim oft off thar sycht.
Bot into Rauchryne nocht-forthi
Thai aryvyt ilkane sawffly,
Blyth and glaid that thai war sua
Eschapyt thai hidwys wavis fra.
725 In Rauchryne thai aryvyt ar
And to the land thai went but mar
Armyt apon thar best maner.
Quhen the folk that thar wonnand wer
Saw men off armys in that cuntre
730 Aryve into sic quantite
Thai fled in hy with thar catell
Towart a rycht stalwart castell
That in the land wes tharby.
Men mycht her wemen hely cry
735 And fle with cataill her and thar.
Bot the kingis folk that war
Deliver of fute thaim gan our-hy
And thaim arestyt hastely
And brocht thaim to the king agayne
740 Swa that nane off thaim all wes slayne.
Then with thaim tretyt swa the king
That thai to fulfill his yarnyng
Become his men everilkane,
And has him trewly undertane
745 That thai and tharis loud and still
Suld be in all thing at his will,
And quhill him likit thar to leynd
Everilk day thai suld him send
Vittalis for thre hunder men,
750 And thai as lord suld him ken,
Bot at thar possessioune suld be
For all his men thar awyn fre.
The cunnand on this wys was maid,
And on the morn but langer baid
755 Off all Rauchryne bath man and page
Knelyt and maid the king homage,
And tharwith swour him fewté
To serve him ay in lawté,
And held him rycht weill cunnand,
760 For quhill he duelt into the land
Thai fand meit till his cumpany
And servyt him full humely.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 4

[English harshness to prisoners]
In Rawchryne leve we now the king
In rest foroutyn barganyng,
And off his fayis a quhile speke we
That throu thar mycht and thar powste
5 Maid sic a persecucioune
Sa hard, sa strayt and sa feloune
On thaim that till hym luffand wer
Or kyn or freynd on ony maner
That at till her is gret pite.
10 For thai sparyt off na degre
Thaim that thai trowit his freynd wer
Nother off the kyrk na seculer,
For off Glaskow Byschop Robert
And Marcus off Man thai stythly speryt
15 Bath in fetrys and in presoune,
And worthy Crystoll off Seytoun
Into Loudoun betresyt was
Throu a discipill off Judas
Maknab, a fals tratour that ay
20 Wes off his dwelling nycht and day
Quhom to he maid gud cumpany.
It wes fer wer than tratoury
For to betreys sic a persoune
So nobill and off sic renoune,
25 Bot tharoff had he na pite,
In hell condampnyt mocht he be.
For quhen he him betrasyt had
The Inglismen rycht with him rad
In hy in Ingland to the king,
30 That gert draw him and hede and hing
Foroutyn pete or mercy.
It wes gret sorow sekyrly
That so worthy a persoune as he
Suld on sic maner hangyt be,
35 Thusgat endyt his worthynes.
Off Crauford als Schyr Ranald wes
And Schyr Bryce als the Blar
Hangyt intill a berne in Ar.
The queyn and als Dame Marjory,
40 Hyr dochter that syne worthily
Wes coupillyt into Goddis band
With Walter Stewart off Scotland,
That wald on na wys langar ly
In the castell off Kyldromy
45 To byd a sege, ar ridin raith
With knychtis and squyeris bath
Throu Ros rycht to the gyrth off Tayne.
Bot that travaill thai maid in vayne,
For thai off Ros that wald nocht ber
50 For thaim na blayme na yeit danger
Out off the gyrth thame all has tayne
And syne has send thaim everilkane
Rycht intill Ingland to the king,
That gert draw all the men and hing,
55 And put the ladyis in presoune
Sum intill castell sum in dongeoun.
It wes gret pite for till her
The folk be troublyt on this maner.

[The siege of Kildrummy Castle]
That tyme wes in Kyldromy
60 Wyth men that wycht and hardy
Schyr Neile the Bruce and I wate weile
That thar the erle was off Adheill.
The castell weill vittalyt thai
And mete and fuell gan purvay
65 And enforcyt the castell sua
That thaim thocht na strenth mycht it ta.
And quhen it to the king was tauld
Off Ingland how thai schup till hauld
That castell, he wes all angry
70 And callyt his sone till hym in hy
The eldest and aperand ayr
A young bacheler and stark and fayr
Schyr Edward callyt off Carnauerane,
That wes the sterkast man of ane
75 That men fynd mycht in ony countre
Prynce of Walys that tyme wes he.
And he gert als call erlys twa
Glosyster and Harfurd war tha
And bad thaim wend into Scotland
80 And set a sege with stalwart hand
To the castell off Kyldromy.
And all the halderis halyly
He bad distroy for-owtyn ransoun
Or bryng thaim till him in presoune.
85 Quhen thai the commaundment had tane
Thai assemblyt ane ost onane
And to the castell went in hy
And it assegyt vigorusly
And mony tyme full hard assaylyt.
90 Bot for to tak it yeit thai failyt
For thai within war rycht worthy
And thaim defendyt douchtely
And ruschyt thair fayis oft agayne
Sum beft sum woundyt sum alslayne
95 And mony tymys ische thai wald
And bargane at the barrais hald
And wound thar fayis oft and sla.
Schortly thai thaim contenyt sua
That thai withoute disparyt war
100 And thocht till Ingland for to far
For thai sa styth saw the castell
And with that it wes warnyst weill
And saw the men defend thaim sua
That thai nane hop had thaim to ta,
105 Nane had thai done all that sesoune
Gyff it ne had bene fals tresoun
For thar with thaim wes a tratour.
A fals lourdane a losyngeour
Hosbarne to name maid the tresoun,
110 I wate nocht for quhat enchesoun
Na quham with he maid that conwyn
Bot as thai said that war within
He tuk a culter hate glowand
That yeit wes in a fyr brynnand
115 And went him to the mekill hall
That then with corn wes fyllyt all
And heych up in a mow it did,
Bot it full lang wes nocht thar hid
For men sayis oft that fyr na prid
120 But discovering may na man hid,
For the pomp oft the prid furth schawis
Or ellis the gret boist that it blawis,
Na thar may na man fyr sa covyr
Than low or rek sall it discovyr.
125 Sa fell it her, for fyr all cler
Son throu the thak-burd gan apper
Fyrst as a stern syne as a mone
And weill bradder tharefter sone
The fyr out syne in bles brast
130 And the rek rais rycht wondre fast.
The fyr our all the castell spred
That mycht na force of man it red.
Than thai within drew to the wall
That at that tyme wes bataillit all
135 Within rycht as it wes withoute
That bataillyne withoutyn dout
Savit thar lyvis, for it brak
Bles that thaim wald ourtak.
And quhen thar fayis the myscheiff saw
140 Till armys went thai in a thraw
And assaylyt the castell fast
Quhar thai durst come for fyris blast,
Bot thai within that myster had
Sa gret defence and worthy mad
145 That thai full oft thar fayis rusit
For thai nakyn perall refusyt,
Thai travaillyt for to sauff thar lyffis
Bot werd that till the end ay dryvis
The warldis thingis sua thaim travaillyt
150 That thai on twa halfys war assailyt,
In with fyr that thaim sua broilyit
And utouth with folk that thaim sua toilyit
That thai brynt magre thaim the yat
That, for the fyre that wes sua hate
155 Thai durst nocht entyr sua in hy,
Tharfor thar folk thai gan rely
And went to rest for it wes nycht
Till on the morn that day wes lycht.

[The surrender of Kildrummy and the death of Edward I]
At sik myscheiff as ye her say
160 War thai within, the-quhethyr ay
Thai thaim defendyt douchtely
And contenyt thaim sa manlily
That or day throu mekill payn
Thai had muryt up thar yat agayn.
165 But on the morn quhen day wes lycht
And sone wes ryssyn schynand brycht
Thai without in hale bataill
Come purvayt redy till assaill,
Bot thai within that sua war stad
170 That thai vitaill na fewell had
Quhar-with thai mycht the castell hald
Tretyt fyrst and syne thaim yauld
To be in-till the kingis will,
Bot that to Scottis men wes ill
175 As sone eftyr weill wes knawin
For thai war hangyt all and drawyn.
Quhen this cunnand thus tretyt wes
And affermyt with sekyrnes
Thai tuk thaim of the castell sone
180 And in-till schort tyme has done
That all a quarter of Snawdoun
Rycht till the erd thai tummyllyt doun
Syne towart Ingland went thar way.
Bot quhen the king Edward hard say
185 How Neill the Bruce held Kildromy
Agayne his sone sa stalwartly,
He gadryt gret chevalry
And towart Scotland went in hy,
And as in-till Northummyrland
190 He wes with his gret rout ridand
A sekness tuk him in the way
And put him to sa hard assay
That he mycht nocht ga na ryd.
Him worthit magre his abid
195 In-till ane hamillet tharby
A litill toun and unworthy,
With gret payne thidder thai him brocht.
He wes sa stad that he ne mocht
His aynd bot with gret paynys draw
200 Na spek bot giff it war weill law
The-quhether he bad thai suld him say
Quhat toun wes that that he in lay.
'Schyr,' thai said, 'Burch-in-the-sand
Men callis this toun in-till this land.'
205 'Call thai it Burch, als,' said he.
My hop is now fordone to me
For I wend never to thole the payne
Of deid till I throu mekill mayn
The burch of Jerusalem had tane,
210 My lyff wend I thar suld be gayne.
In burch I wyst weill I suld de
Bot I wes nother wys na sle
Till other burch kep to ta.
Now may I na wis forther ga.'
215 Thus pleynyeit he off his foly,
As he had mater sekyrly
Quhen he covyt certante
Off that at nane may certan be,
The-quhether men said enclosit he had
220 A spyryt that him answer maid
Off thingis that he wald inquer.
Bot he fulyt foroutyn wer
That gaiff throuth till that creatur,
For feyndys ar off sic natur
225 That thai to mankind has invy
For thai wate weill and witterly
That thai that weill ar liffand her
Sall wyn the sege quharoff thai wer
Tumblyt throuch thar mekill prid.
230 Quharthrou oft-tymys will betid
That quhen feyndys distrenyeit ar
For till aper and mak answar
Throu force of conjuracioun
That thai sa fals ar and feloun
235 That thai mak ay thar answering
Into doubill understanding
To dissaiff thaim that will thaim trow.
Insample will I set her now
Off a wer as I herd tell
240 Betwix Fraunce and the Flemyngis fell.
The erle Ferandis modyr was
Nygramansour, and Sathanas
Scho rasyt and him askyt syne
Quhat suld worth off the fechtyn
245 Betwix the Fraunce king and hyr sone,
And he, as all tyme he wes wone,
Into dissayt maid his answer
And said till hyr thir thre vers her,
'Rex ruet in bello tumilique carebit honore
250 Ferrandus comitissa tuus mea cara Minerva
Parisius veniet magna comitante caterva.'
This wes the spek he maid perfay
And is in Inglis toung to say,
'The king sall fall in the fechting
255 And sall faile honour off erding,
And thi Ferand Mynerve my der
Sall rycht to Parys went but wer,
Folowand him gret cumpany
Off nobill men and off worthy.'
260 This is the sentence off this saw
That the Latyn gan hyr schaw.
He callyt hyr his Mynerve
For Mynerve ay wes wont to serve
Him, till scho leffyt, at his divis
265 And for scho maid the samyn service
His Mynerve hyr callyt he,
And als throu his sutelte
He callyt hyr der hyr till dissaiff
That scho the tyttar suld consaiff
270 Off his spek the undyrstanding
That mast plesyt till hyr liking.
This doubill spek sua hyr dissavit
That throu hyr feill the ded ressavit,
For scho wes off hyr answer blyth
275 And till hyr sone scho tald it swyth,
And bad him till the batell sped
For suld victory haiff but dred.
And he that herd hyr sermonuyng
Sped him in hy to the fechting
280 Quhar he discomfyt wes and schent
And takin and to Paris sent,
Bot in the fechting nocht-forthi
The king, throu his chevalry,
Wes laid at erd and lawit bath,
285 Bot his men helpyt him weill rath.
And quhen Ferandis moder herd
How hyr sone in the bataill ferd
And at he wes sua discomfyt,
Scho rasyt the ill spyryt als tyt
290 And askyt quhy he gabyt had
Off the answer that he hyr mad,
And he said he had said suth all.
'I said ye that the king suld fall
In the bataill, and say did he,
295 And failyeid erding, as men may se.
And I said that thi sone suld ga
To Paris, and he did rycht sua,
Folowand sic a mengye
That never in his lyff-tyme he
300 Had sic a mengye in leding.
Now seis thou I maid na gabbing.'
The wyff confusyt wes perfay
And durst no mar than till him say
Thusgat throu doubill understanding
305 That bargane come till sic ending
That the ta part dissavyt was.
Rycht sagat fell yt in this cas.
At Jerusalem trowit he
Gravyn in the burch to be,
310 The-quhethyr at Burch-into-the-sand
He swelt rycht in his awn land.
And quhen he to the ded wes ner
The folk that at Kildromy wer
Come with presoneris that thai had tane,
315 And syne to the king ar gane
And for to comfort him thai tald
How thai the castell to thaim yauld
And how thai till his will war brocht,
To do off thame quhatever he thocht,
320 And askyt quhat men suld off thaim do.
Than lukyt he angyrly thaim to
And said grynnand, 'Hangis and drawys.'
That wes wonder off sik sawis,
That he that to the ded wes ner
325 Suld answer apon sic maner
Foroutyn menyng and mercy.
How mycht he traist on Hym to cry
That suthfastly demys all thing
To haiff mercy, for his criying,
330 Off him that throu his felony
Into sic point had na mercy.
His men his maundment has done
And he deyt thatefter sone
And syne wes brocht till berynes.
335 His sone syne king efter wes.

[Douglas and Boyd go from Rathlin to Arran]
To the King Robert agayne ga we
That in Rauchryne with his menye
Lay till wynter ner wes gane
And off that ile his mete has tane
340 James off Douglas wes angry
That thai langar suld ydill ly
And to Schyr Robert Boid said he,
'The pure folk off thys countre
Ar chargit apon gret maner
345 Off us that idill lyis her,
And ik her say that in Arane
Intill a styth castell off stane
Ar Inglis men that with strang hand
Haldys the lordschip off the land
350 Ga we thidder, and weill may fall
Anoy thaim in sum thing we sall.'
Schir Robert said, 'I grant thar-till,
Till her mar ly war litill skill.
Tharfor till Aran pas will we,
355 For I knaw rycht weill the countre
And the castell rycht sua knaw I
We sall cum thar sua prevely
That thai sall haiff na persavyng
Na yeit witting off our cummyng,
360 And we sall ner enbuschyt be
Quhar we thar outecome may se.
Sa sall it on na maner fall
Na scaith thaim on sum wis we sall.'
With that thai buskyt thaim on-ane
365 And at the king thar leiff has tane
And went thaim furth syne on thar way.
Into Kyntyr sone cummyn ar thai,
Syne rowyt alwayis by the land
Till that the nycht wes ner on hand,
370 Than till Arane thai went thar way
And saufly thar aryvyt thai,
And in a glen thar galay drewch
And syne it helyt weill ineuch.
Thar takyll ayris and thar ster
375 Thai hyde all on the samyn maner
And held thar way rycht in the nycht
Sua that or day wes dawyn lycht
Thai war enbuschyt the castell ner
Armyt apon thair best maner
380 And thoucht thai wate war and wery
And for lang fastyng all hungry
Thai thocht to hald thaim all preve
Till that thai weill thar poynt mycht se.

[Douglas plunders the provisions being brought to Brodick Castle]
Schir John the Hastingis at that tid
385 With knychtis off full mekill prid
And squyeris and yemanry,
And that a weill gret cumpany,
Wes in the castell off Brathwik
And oftsys quhen it wald him lik
390 He went huntyng with his menye
And sua the land abandounyt he
That durst nane warne to do his will.
He wes into the castell still
The tyme that James off Douglas
395 As Ik haiff tald enbuschit was.
Sa hapnyt that tyme throu chance
That with vittalis and purvyaunce
And with clething and with armyng
The day befor in the evynning
400 The undyr-wardane arivyt was
With thre batis weill ner the place
Quhar that the folk I spak off ar
Prevely enbuschyt war.
Syne fra tha batis saw thai ga
405 Off Inglismen thretty and ma
Chargit all with syndry thingis.
Sum bar wyne and sum armyngis,
The remanant all chargit wer
With thingis off syndry maner,
410 And other syndry yeid thaim by
As thai war maistrys ydilly.
Thai that enbuschyt war that saw
All foroutyn dreid or aw
Thar buschement on thaim thai brak
415 And slew all that thai mycht ourtak.
The cry rais hidwysly and hey
For thai that dredand war to dey
Rycht as bestis gan rar and cry.
Thai slew thaim foroutyn mercy.
420 Sua that into the samyne sted
Weill ner fourty thar war dede.
Quhen thai that in the castell war
Hard the folk sa cry and rar
Thai ischyt furth to the fechting,
425 Bot quhen the Douglas saw thar cummyng

His men till him he gan rely

And went till meit thaim hastily.
And quhen thai off the castell saw
Him cum on thaim foroutyn aw
430 Thai fled foroutyne mar debate
And thai thaim folowit to the yate
And slew of thaim as thai in past,
Bot thai thair yate barryt fast
That thai mycht do at thame na mar.
435 Tharfor thai left thaim ilkane thar
And turnyt to the se agayne
Quhar that the men war forouth slayn.
And quhen thai that war in the batis
Saw thar cummyng and wyst howgatis
440 Thai had discumfyt thar menye
In hy thai put thaim to the se
And rowyt fast with all thar mayne,
Bot the wynd wes thaim agayne
That sua hey gert the land-bryst rys
445 That thai moucht weld the se na wis.
Then thai durst nocht cum to the land,
Bot held thaim thar sa lang hobland
That off the thre batis drownyt twa
And quhen the Douglas saw it wes sua
450 He tuk armyng and cleything
Vittalis wyne and other thing
That thai fand thar and held thar way

Rycht glaid and joyfull off thar pray.

[The king comes to Arran and is joined by Douglas and Boyd]
Quhen this James off Douglas
455 And his menye throu Goddis grace
War relevyt with armyng
And with vittaill and clething
Syne till a strenth thai held thar way
And thaim full manly governyt ay
460 Till on the tend day that the king
With all that war in his leding
Aryvyt into that countre
With thretty small galayis and thre.
The king aryvyt in Arane
465 And syne to the land is gane
And in a toune tuk his herbery,
And speryt syne specially
Gyff ony man couth tell tithand
Off ony strang man in that land.
470 'Yhis,' said a woman, 'Schyr perfay
Off strang men I kan you say
That ar cummyn in this countre,
And schort quhile syne throu thar bounte
Thai haff discomfyt our wardane
475 And mony off his men has slane,
Intill a stalwart place her-by
Reparis all thar cumpany.'
'Dame,' said the king, 'wald thou me wis
To that place quhar thar repair is
480 I sall reward the but lesing,
For thai ar all off my dwelling
And I rycht blythly wald thaim se
And sua trow I that thai wald me.'
'Yhis,' said scho, 'Schir I will blythly
485 Ga with you and your cumpany
Till that I schaw you thar repair.'
'That is ineuch my sister fayr,
Now ga we forth-wart,' said the king.
Than went thai furth but mar letting
490 Folowand hyr as scho thaim led
Till at the last scho schawyt a sted
To the king in a wode glen
And said, 'Schir, her saw I the men
That yhe sper after mak logyng.
495 Her I trow be thar reparyng.'
The king then blew his horn in hy
And gert the men that wer him by
Hald thaim still and all preve
And syne agayn his horn blew he.
500 James off Douglas herd him blaw
And he the blast alsone gan knaw
And said, 'Sothly yon is the king,
I knaw lang quhill syne his blawyng.'
The thrid tym thar-with-all he blew
505 And then Schir Robert Boid it knew
And said, 'Yone is the king but dreid
Ga we furth till him better speid.'
Than went thai till the king in hy
And hm inclynyt curtasly,
510 And blythly welcummyt thaim the kimg
And wes joyfull of thar meting
And kissit thaim and speryt syne
How thai had farne in thar outyne,
And thai him tauld all but lesing.
515 Syne lovyt thai God off thar meting,
Syne with the king till his herbery
Went bath joyfull and joly.

[The king sends a man to Carrick to see if he might land there]
The king apon the tother day
Gan till his preve menye say,
520 'Ye knaw all weill and ye may se
How we are out off our cuntre
Banyst throu Inglismennys mycht
And that that suld be ouris of rycht
Throu thar maistrys thai occupy,
525 And wald alsua foroutyne mercy
Giff thai haid mycht destroy us all.
Bot God forbeid it suld sa fall
Till us as thai mak manassyng
For than war thar na recoveryng,
530 And mankind biddis us that we
To procur vengeance besy be.
For ye may se we haiff thre thingis
That makis us oft monestingis
For to be worthi wis and wycht
535 And till anoy thaim at our mycht.
Ane is our lyffis saufte
That on na wys suld sauft be
Gyff thai had us at thar liking
The tother that makys us eggyng
540 Is that thai our possessioune
Haldis strenthly agayn resoun.
The thrid is the joy that we abid
Giff that it happyn as weill may tid
That we wyn victour and maistry,
545 Till ourcum thar felony.
Therfor we suld our hartis rais
Sua that na myscheyff us abais
And schaip us alwayis to that ending
That beris in it mensk and loving.
550 And tharfor lordingis gyff ye se
Amang you giff that it speidfull be
I will send a man in Carrik
To spy and sper our kynrik
How it is led and freynd and fa.
555 And giff he seis we land may ta
On Turnberys snuke he may
Mak a fyr on a certane day
And mak takynnyng till us that we
May thar aryve in saufte.
560 And giff he seis we may nocht sua,
Luk on na wys the fyr he ma.
Sua may we thar-throu haiff wittring
Off our passage or our dwelling.'
To this spek all assentyt ar,
565 And than the king withoutyn mar
Callyt ane that wes till him preve
And off Carrik his countre,
And chargyt him in les and mar
As ye hard me divis it ar
570 And set him certane day to mai
The fyr giff he saw it war sua
That thai had possibilite
To maynteyme wer in that cuntre.
And he that wes rycht weill in will
575 His lordis yharnyng to fullfill
As he that worthy wes and leile
And couth secreis rycht weill conseil
Sad he wes boune intill all thing
For to fulfill his commaunding,
580 And said he suld do sa wisely
That na repruff suld efter ly
Syne at the king his leiff has tane
And furth apon his way is gane.

[Cuthbert the spy discovers that Percy, in Turnberry Castle, controls
Carrick]
Now gais the messynger his way
585 That hat Cuthbert as I herd say.
In Carrik sone aryvyt he
And passyt throu all the countre,
Bot he fand few tharin perfay
That gud wald off his maister say,
590 For fele off thaim durst nocht for dreid,
And other sum rycht into deid
War fayis to the nobill king,
That rewyt syne thar barganyng.
Baith hey and law the land wes then
595 All occupyit with Inglismen
That dispytyt atour all thing
Robert the Bruce the douchty king.
Carrik wes giffyn then halyly
To Schir Henry the lord Persy
600 That in Turnberyis castell then
Was with weill ner three hunder men,
And dauntyt sagat all the land
That all wes till him obeysand.
This Cuthbert saw thar felony,
605 And saw the folk sa halely
Be worthyn Inglis baith rich and pur
That he to nane durst him discur,
But thocht to leve the fyr unmaid,
Syne till his maister went but baid
610 And all thar convyne till him tell,
That wes sa angry and sa fell.

[The king thinks he sees a fire; he prepares to cross to Carrick; his
hostess predicts his ultimate success, and gives him her two sons]
The king that intill Arane lay
Quhen that cummyn wes the day
That he set till his messinger
615 As Ik divisit you lang er
Eftyr the fyr he lokyt fast
And als sone as the none wes past
Him thocht weill he saw a fyr
Be Turnbery byrnand weill schyr,
620 And till his menye it gan schaw.
Ilk man thocht weill that he it saw,
Then with blyth hart the folk gan cry,
'Gud king, speid you deliverly
Sua that we sone in the evynnyng
625 Aryve foroutyn persayving.'
'I grant,' said he. 'Now mak you yar,
God furthyr us intill our far.'
Then in schort time men mycht thaim se
Schute all thar galayis to the se
630 And ber to se baith ayr and ster
And other thingis that myster wer,
And as the king apon the sand
Wes gangand up and doun, bidand
Till that his menye redy war,
635 His ost come rycht till him thar,
And quhen that scho him halyst had
A preve spek till him scho made
And said, 'Takis gud kep till my saw,
For or ye pas I sall you schaw
640 Off your fortoun a gret party,
Bot our all specially
A wyttring her I sall you ma
Quhat end that your purpos sall ta,
For in this land is nane trewly
645 Wate thingis to cum sa weill as I.
Ye pas now furth on your viage
To venge the harme and the outrag
That Inglismen has to you done,
Bot ye wat nocht quhat-kyne forton
650 Ye mon drey in your werraying.
Bot wyt ye weill withoutyn lesing
That fra ye now haiff takyn land
Nane sa mychty na sa strenththi of hand
Sal ger you pas out off your countre
655 Till all to you abandounyt be.
Within schort tyme ye sall be king
And haiff the land at your liking
And ourcum your fayis all,
Bot fele anoyis thole ye sall
660 Or that your purpos end haiff tane,
Bot ye sall thaim ourdryve ilkane.
And that ye trowis this sekyrly
My twa sonnys with you sall I
Send to tak part of your travaill,
665 For I wate weill thai sall nocht faill
To be rewardyt weill at rycht
Quhen ye are heyit to your mycht.'

[A discourse on prophecy]
The king that herd all hyr carping
Thankit hyr in mekill thing,
670 For scho confort him sumdeill,
The-quhethir he trowyt nocht full weill
Hyr spek, for he had gret ferly
How scho suld wyt it sekyrly,
As it wes wounderfull perfay
675 How ony mannys science may
Knaw thingis that ar to cum
Determinabilly, all or sum,
Bot giff that he inspyrit war
Off Him that all thing evermar
680 Seys in his presciens
As it war ay in presens, 680*
As was David and Jeremy 681
Samuell, Joell and Ysai,
That throu His haly grace gan tell
685 Fele thingis that efter fell, 684
Bot the prophetis sa thyn ar sawyn
That nane in erd now is knawin.
Bot fele folk ar sa curyous
And to wyt thingis covatous
690 That thai, throu thar gret clergy 689
Or ellys throu thar devilry,
On thir twa maneris makis fanding
Off thingis to cum to haiff knawing.
Ane of thaim is astrologi,
695 Quhar-throu clerkys that ar witty 694
May knaw conjunctiones of planetis,
And quhethir that thar cours thaim settis
In soft segis or in angry,
And off the hevyn all halyly
700 How that the dispositioun 699
Suld apon thingis wyrk her doun
On regiones or on climatis,
That wyrkys nocht ay-quhar agatis
Bot sumquhar les and sumquhar mar
705 Eftyr as thar bemys strekyt ar 704
Othir all evyn or on wry.
Bot me think it war gud maistri
Till ony astrolog to say
'This sall fall her and on this day.'
710 For thoucht a man his lyff haly 709
Studyit sua in astrology
That on sternys his hewid he brak,
The wys man sayis he suld nocht mak
All his lyff certane dayis thre,
715 And yeit suld he ay doute quhill he 714
Saw how that it come till ending.
Than is that na certane demyng.
Or gyff thai men that will study
In the craft off astrology
720 Knaw all mennys nacioun 719
And knew the constellacioun
That kyndlik maneris gyfis thaim till
For till inclyne to gud or ill,
How that thai throu science of clergi
725 Or throu slycht off astrology 724
Couth tell quhatkyn perell apperis
To thaim that haldys kyndlik maneris,
I trow that thai suld faile to say
The thingis that thaim happyn may.
730 For quhethir-sa men inclynyt be 729
To vertu or to mavyte,
He may rychtg weill refreynye his will
Othir throu nurtur or thru skill
And to the contrar turne him all.
735 And men has mony tyme sene fall 734
That men kyndly till ivill gevyn
Throu thar gret wit away has drevyn
Thar ill and worthin off gret renoun
Magre the constellacioun,
740 As Arestotill, giff as men redis 739
He had folowyt his kyndly dedis,
He had bene fals and covatous
Bot his wyt maid him vertuous.
And sen men may on this kyn wys
745 Wyrk agayne that cours that is 744
Principaill caus off thar demyng
Me think thar dome na certane thing.
Nygromancy the tother is
That kennys men on syndry wys
750 Throu stalwart conjuracionys 749
And throu exorcizacionys
To ger spyritis to thaim apper
And giff answeris on ser maner,
As quhilum did the Phitones
755 That quhen Saul abaysyt wes 754
Off the Felystynys mycht,
Raysyt throu hyr mekill slycht
Samuelis spyrite als tite,
Or in his sted the ivill spyrite
760 That gaiff rycht graith answer hyr to, 759
Bot off hyr selff rycht nocht wyst scho.
And man is into dreding ay
Off thingis that he has herd say,
Namly off thingis to cum, quhill he
765 Knaw off the end the certante. 764
And sen thai ar in sic wenyng
Foroutyne certante off witting,
Me think quha sayis he knawis thingis
To cum he makys gret gabingis.
770 Bot quhether scho that tauld the king 769
How his purpos suld tak ending
Wenyt or wist it witterly,
It fell efter halyly
As scho said, for syne king wes he
775 And off full mekill renommé 774.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 5

[The king goes to Carrick; he upbraids Cuthbert]
Thys wes in ver quhen wynter tid
With his blastis hidwys to bid
Was ourdryvyn and byrdis smale
As turturis and the nychtyngale
5 Begouth rycht sariely to syng
And for to mak in thar singyng
Swete notis and sounys ser
And melodys plesand to her
And the treis begouth to ma
10 Burgeans and brycht blomys alsua
To wyn the helynd of thar hevid
That wykkyt wynter had thaim revid,
And all gressys beguth to spryng.
Into that tyme the nobill king
15 With his flote and a few mengye
Thre hunder I trow thai mycht be,
Is to the se oute off Arane
A litill forouth evyn gane.
Thai rowit fast with all thar mycht
20 Till that apon thaim fell the nycht
That woux myrk apon gret maner
Sua that thai wyst nocht quhar thai wer
For thai na nedill had na stane,
Bot rowyt alwayis intill ane
25 Sterand all tyme apon the fyr
That thai saw brynnand lycht and schyr.
It wes bot aventur thaim led
And thai in schort tyme sa thaim sped
That at the fyr aryvyt thai
30 And went to land but mair delay.
And Cuthbert that has sene the fyr
Was full of angyr and off ire,
For he durst nocht do it away
And wes alsua doutand ay
35 That his lord suld pas to se.
Tharfor thar cummyng waytit he
And met thaim at thar aryving.
He wes wele sone brocht to the kimg
That speryt at him how he had done,
40 And he with sar hart tauld him sone
How that he fand nane weill luffand
Bot all war fayis that he fand,
And that the lord the Persy
With ner thre hunder in cumpany
45 Was in the castell thar besid
Fullfillyt of dispyt and prid
Bot ma than twa partis off his rowt
War herberyt in the toune without,
'And dyspytyt you mar, schyr king,
50 Than men may dispyt ony thing.'
Than said the king in full gret ire,
'Tratour, quhy maid thou than the fyr?'
'A schyr,' said he, 'Sa God me se
The fyr wes nevyr maid for me,
55 Na or the nycht I wyst it nocht,
Bot fra I wyst it weill I thocht
That ye and haly your menye
On hy suld put you to the se,
For-thi I come to mete you her
60 To tell perellys that may aper.'

[The king decides to stay to attack Percy's men in a village by Turnberry]
The king wes off his spek angry
And askyt his pryve men in hy
Quhat at thaim thocht wes best to do.
Schyr Edward fryst answert tharto
65 His brodyr that wes sua hardy,
And said, 'I say you sekyrly
Thar sall na perell that may be
Dryve me eftsonys to the se.
Myne aventur her tak will I
70 Quhethir it be esfull or angry.'
'Brother,' he said, 'sen thou will sua
It is gud that we samyn ta
Dissese or ese or payne or play
Eftyr as God will us purvay.
75 And sen men sayis that the Persy
Myn heritage will occupy,
And his menye sa ner us lyis
That us dispytis mony wys,
Ga we and venge sum off the dispyte,
80 And that may we haiff done als tite
For thai ly traistly but dreding
Off us or off our her-cummyng,
And thocht we slepand slew thaim all
Repruff tharoff na man sall
85 For werrayour na fors suld ma
Quhether he mycht ourcum his fa
Throu strenth or throu sutelte,
Bot that gud faith ay haldyn be.'
Quhen this wes said thai went thar way,
90 And to the toune sone cummyn ar thai
Sa prevely but noyis making
That nane persavyt thar cummyng.
Thai skalyt throu the toun in hy
And brak up duris sturdely
95 And slew all that thai mycht ourtak,
And thai that na defence mocht mak
Full petously gan rar and cry,
And thai slew thaim dispitously
As thai that war in full gud will
100 To venge the angyr and the ill
That thai and thairis had thaim wrocht.
Thai with sa feloun will thaim soucht
That thai slew thaim everilkan
Owtane Makdowell him allan
105 That eschapyt throu gret slycht
And throu the myrknes off the nycht.
In the castell the lord the Persy
Hard weill the noyis and the cry,
Sa did the men that within wer
110 And full effraytly gat thar ger,
Bot off thaim wes nane sa hardy
That ever ischyt fourth to the cry.
In sic effray thai baid that nycht
Till on the morn that day wes lycht,
115 And than cesyt into party
The noyis the slauchtyr and the cry.
The king gert be departyt then
All hale the reff amang the men
And dwellyt all still thar dayis thre.
120 Syk hansell to that fokk gaiff he
rycht in the fyrst begynnyng
Newlingis at his aryvyng.

[A kinswoman gives him news and forty men]
Quhen that the king and his folk war
Aryvyt as I tauld you ar,
125 Aquhile in Karryk leyndyt he
To se quha freynde or fa wald be,
Bot he fand litill tendyrnes,
And nocht-forthi the puple wes
Enclynyt till him in party,
130 Bot Inglismen sa angrely
Led thaim with daunger and with aw
That thai na freyndschip durst him schaw.
Bot a lady off that cuntre
That wes till him in ner degre
135 Of cosynage wes wonder blyth
Off his aryvyng and alswyth
Sped hyr till him in full gret hy
With fourty men in cumpany
And betaucht thaim all to the king
140 Till help him in his werraying,
And he resavyt thaim in daynte
And hyr full gretly thankit he,
And speryt tythandis off the queyne
And off his freyndis all bedene
145 That he had left in that countre
Quhen that he put him to the se.
And scho him tauld sichand full sar
How that his brothyr takyn war

In the castell off Kyldromy

150 And destroyit sa velanysly
And the erle off Athall alsua
And how the queyn and other ma
That till his party war heldand
War tane and led in Ingland
155 And put in feloun presoune,
And how that Cristole off Setoun
Wes slayn, gretand scho tauld the king,
That sorowful wes off that tithing
And said quhen he had thocht a thraw
160 Thir wordis that I sall you schaw.
'Allace,' he said, 'For luff off me
And for thar mekill lawte
Thai nobill men and thai worthy
Ar destroyit sa velanysly,
165 Bot and I leyff in lege-powyste
Thar deid rycht weill sall vengit be.
The king the-quhether off Ingland
Thocht that the kynrik off Scotland
Was to litill to thaim and me
170 Tharfor he will it myn all be.
Bot off gud Cristole off Setoun
That wes off sa nobill renoun
That he suld dey war gret pite
Bot quhar worschip mycht provyt be.'

[Percy is rescued from Turnberry castle]
175 The king sichand thus maid his mayn
And the lady hyr leyff has tayn
And went hyr hame till hyr wonnyng
And fele sys confort the king
Bath with silver and with mete
180 Sic as scho in the land mycht get.
And he oft ryot all the land
And maid all his that ever he fand
And syne drew him till the hycht
To stynt better his fayis mycht.
185 In all that tym wes the Persy
With a full sympill cumpany
In Turnberys castell lyand,
For the King Robert sua dredand
That he durst nocht isch furth to fayr
190 Fra thine to the castell off Ayr
That wes then full off Inglismen,
Bot lay lurkand as in a den
Tyll the men off Northummyrland
Suld cum armyt and with strang hand
195 Convoy him till his cuntre.
For his saynd till thaim send he,
And thai in hy assemblyt then
Passand I weyne a thousand men
And askyt avisement thaim amang
200 Quhether that thai suld dwell or gang,
Bot thai war skownrand wonder sar
Sa fer into Scotland for to far,
For a knycht, Schyr Gawter the Lile
Said it wes all to gret perile
205 Sua ner thai schavalduris to ga.
His spek discomfort thaim sua
That thai had left all thar vyage
Na war a knycht off gret corage
That Schyr Roger off Sanct Jhon hycht
210 That thaim confort with all his mycht,
And sic wordis to thaim gan say
That thai all samyn held thar way
Till Turnbery, quhar the Persy
Lap on and went with thaim in hy
215 In Ingland his castell till
Foroutyn distroublyne or ill.

[Douglas decides to visit his lands]
Now in Ingland is the Persy
Quhar I trow he a quhile sall ly
Or that he schap hym for to fayr
220 To werray Carryk ony mar,
For he wyst he had na rycht
And als he dreid the kyngys mycht
That in Carrik wes travailland
In the maist strenth off the land,
225 Quhar Jamys off Douglas on a day
Come to the king and gan him say,
'Schyr, with your leyve I wald ga se
How that thai do in my contre
And how my men demanyt ar,
230 For it anoyis me wonder sar
That the Clyffurd sa pesabylly
Brukys and haldys the senyoury
That suld be myn with alkyn rycht
Bot quhile I lyff and may haiff mycht
235 To lede a yowman or a swayne
He sall nocht bruk it but bargayne.'
The king said, 'Certis I can nocht se
How that thou yeit may sekyr be
Into that countre for to far
240 Quhar Inglismen sa mychty ar
And thou wate nocht quha is thi freynd.'
He said, 'Schyr, nedways I will wend
And tak that aventur will giff
Quhether-sa it be to dey or lyff.'
245 The king said, 'Sen it is sua
That thou sic yarning has to ga
Thou sall pas furth with my blyssing,
And giff the hapnys ony thing
That anoyis or scaithfull be
250 I pray the sped the sone to me
And tak we samyn quhatever may fall.'
'I grante,' he said and thar-with-all
He lowtyt and his leve has tane
And towart his countre is he gane.

[Douglas meets Tom Dickson; he acquires a following]
255 Now takis James his viage
Towart Douglas his heritage
With twa yemen foroutyn ma.
That wes a symple stuff to ta
A land or castell to wyn,
260 The-quhether he yarnyt to begyn
Till bring purpos till ending
For gud help is in gud begynnyng
For gud begynnyng and hardy
Gyff it be folowit wittily
265 May ger oftsys unlikly thing
Cum to full conabill ending.
Sua did it her, bot he wes wys
And saw he mycht on nakyn wys
Werray his fa with evyn mycht
270 Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht,
And in Douglasdaile his countre
Apon ane evynnyng entryt he.
And than a man wonnyt tharby,
That wes off freyndis weill mychty
275 And ryche off mobleis and off cateill
And had bene till his fadyr leyll,
And till himselff in his youthed
He haid done mony a thankfull deid,
Thom Dicson wes his name perfay.
280 Till him he send and gan him pray
That he wald cum all anerly
For to spek with him prevely,
And he but daunger till him gais.
Bot fra he tauld him quhat he wais
285 He gret for joy and for pite
And him rycht till his hous had he,
Quhar in a chambre prevely
He held him and his cumpany,
That nane of him had persaving.
290 Off mete and drynk and other thing
That mycht thaim eys thai had plente.
Sa wrocht he throu sutelte
That all the lele men off that land
That with his fadyr war dwelland
295 This gud man gert cum ane and ane
And mak him manrent everilkane,
And he himselff fyrst homage maid.
Douglas in hart gret glaidschip haid
That the gud men off his cuntre
300 Wald suagate till him bundyn be.
He speryt the convyne off the land
And quha the castell had in hand
And thai him tauld all halily,
And syne amang thaim prevely
305 Thai ordanyt that he still suld be
In hiddillis and in prevete
Till Palme Sonday that wes ner-hand
The thrid day efter folowand
For than the folk off that countre
310 Assemblyt at the kyrk wald be,
And thai that in the castell wer
Wald als be thar thar palmys to ber
As folk that had na dreid off ill
For thai thocht that all was at thar will.
315 Than suld he cum with his twa men,
Bot for that men suld nocht him ken
He suld ane mantill have auld and bar
And a flaill as he a thresscher war.
Under the mantill nocht-forthi
320 He suld be armyt prevely,
And quhen the men off his countre
That suld all boune befor him be
His ensenye mycht her hym cry,
Then suld thai full enforcely
325 Rycht ymyddys the kirk assaill
The Inglismen with hard bataill
Sua that nane mycht eschap thaim fra,
For thar-throuch trowyt thai to ta
The castell that besid wes ner.
330 And quhen this that I tell you her
Wes divisyt and undertane
Ilkane till his hous hame is gane
And held this spek in prevete
Till the day off thar assemble.

[The garrison are attacked and many slain in kirk; the castle is taken; the
Douglas Lardner; slighting of the castle]
335 The folk apon the Sonounday
Held to Saynct Bridis kyrk thar way,
And thai that in the castell war
Ischyt out bath less and mar
And went thar palmys for to ber,
340 Outane a cuk and a portere.
James off Douglas off thar cummyng
And quhat thai war had witting,
And sped him till the kyrk in hy,
Bot or he come, to hastily
345 Ane of his cryit, 'Douglas, Douglas.'
Thomas Dikson, that nerrest was
Till thaim that war off the castell
That war all innouth the chancell,
Quhen he 'Douglas' sua hey hard cry
350 Drew out his swerd and fellely
Ruschyt amang thame to and fra,
Bot ane or twa foroutin ma
Than in hy war left lyand,
Quhill Douglas come rycht at hand
355 And then enforcyt on thaim the cry,
Bot thai the chansell sturdely
Held and thaim defendyt wele
Till off thar men war slayne sumdell.
Bot the Douglace sa weill him bar
360 That all the men that with him war
Had confort off his wele-doyng,
And he him sparyt nakyn thing
Bot provyt sua his force in fycht
That throu his woschip and his mycht
365 His men sa keynly helpyt than
That thai the chansell on thaim wan.
Than dang thai on sua hardyly
That in schort tyme men mycht se ly
The twa part dede or then deand,
370 The lave war sesyt sone in hand
Sua that off thretty levyt nane
That thaine war slayne ilkan or tane.
James off Douglas quhen this wes done
The presoneris has he tane alsone
375 And with thaim off his cumpany
Towart the castell went in hy
Or noyis or cry suld rys,
And for he wald thaim sone suppris
That levyt in the castell war
380 That war bot twa foroutyn mar,
Fyve men or sex befor send he
That fand all opyn the entre
And entryt and the porter tuk
Rycht at the yate and syne the cuk.
385 With that the Douglas come to the yat
And entryt in foroutyn debate
And fand the mete all redy graid
And burdys set and claithis laid
The yhattis then he gert sper
390 And sat and eyt all at layser,
Syne all the gudis turssyt thai
That thaim thocht thai mycht haiff away,
And namly wapnys and armyng
Silver and tresour and clethyng.
395 Vittalis that mycht nocht tursyt be
On this maner destroyit he,
Als quheyt and flour and meill and malt
In the wyne-sellar gert he bring
400 And samyn on the flur all flyng
And the presonaris that he had tane
Rycht tharin gert he heid ilkane,
Syne off the tounnys the hedis outstrak.
A foul melle thar gane he mak,
405 For meile and malt and blud and wyne
Rane all togidder in a mellyne
That was un semly for to se.
Tharfor the men off that countre
For sua fele thar mellyt wer
410 Callit it 'the Douglas lardner.'
Syne tuk he salt as Ic hard tell
And ded hors and fordid the well,
And brynt all outakyn stane,
And is furth with his menye gayne
415 Till his resett, for him thocht weill
Giff he had haldyn the castell
It had bene assegyt raith
And that him thocht to mekill waith,
For he had na hop of reskewyng.
420 And it is to peralous thing
In castell assegyt to be
Quhar want is off thir thingis thre,
Vittaill or men with thar armyng
Or than gud hop off rescuyng,
425 And for he dred thir thingis suld faile
He chesyt furthwart to travaill
Quhar he mycht at his larges be
And sua dryve furth his destane.

[Douglas withdraws; Clifford repairs the castle]
On this wise wes the castell tan
430 And slayne that war tharin ilkan.
The Douglas syne all his menye
Gert in ser placis departyt be,
For men suld les wyt quhar thai war
That yeid departyt her and thar.
435 Thaim that war woundyt gert he ly
Intill hiddillis all prevely,
And gert gud lechis till thaim bring
Quhill that thai war intill heling,
And himselff with a few menye
440 Quhile ane quhile twa and quhilis thre
And umquhill all him allane
In hiddillis throu the land is gane.
Sa dred he Inglismennys mycht
That he durst nocht wele cum in sycht
445 For thai war that tyme all-weldand
As maist lordis our all the land.
Bot tithandis that scalis sone
Off this deid that Douglas has done
Come to the Cliffurd his ere in hy,
450 That for his tynsaill wes sary
And menyt his men that thai had slane,
And syne has to his purpos tane
To big the castell up agayne.
Tharfor as man off mekill mayne
455 He assemblit gret cumpany,
And till Douglas he went in hy
And biggyt up the castell swyth
And maid it rycht stalwart and styth
And put tharin vittalis and men.
460 Ane of the Thyrlwallys then
He left behind him capitane
And syne till Ingland went agayne.

[Umfraville finds a kinsman of the king willing to slay him]
Into Carrik lyis the king
With a full symple gadryng,
465 He passyt nocht twa hunder men.
Bot Schyr Edward his broder then
Wes in Galloway weill ner him by,
With him ane other cumpany
That held the strenthis off the land,
470 For thai durst nocht yeit tak on hand
Till our-rid the land planly.
For off Valence Schyr Amery
Was intill Edynburgh lyand
That yeyt was wardane of the land
475 Underneyth the Inglis king,
And quhen he herd off the cummyng
Off King Robert and his menye
Into Carryk and how that he
Had slain off the Persyis men
480 His consaile he assemblit then,
And with assent off his consaill
He sent till Ar him till assaill
Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill that wes hardy
And with him a gret cumpany.
485 And quhen Schyr Ingram cummyn wes thar
Him thocht nocht speidfull for till far
Till assaile him into the hycht,
Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht
And lay still in the castell than
490 Till he gat speryng that a man
Off Carrik, that wes sley and wycht
And a man als off mekill mycht
As off the men off that cuntre,
Wes to the King Robert mast preve
495 As he that wes his sibman ner,
And quhen he wald foroutyn danger
Mycht to the kingis presence ga,
The-quhether he and his sonnys twa
War wonnand still in the cuntre
500 For thai wald nocht persayvit be
That thai war speciall to the king.
Thai maid him mony tyme warnyng
Quhen that thai his tynsaill mycht se,
Forthi in thaim affyit he.
505 His name can I nocht tell perfay,
Bot Ik haiff herd syndry men say
Forsuth that his ane e wes out 506*
Bot he sa sturdy wes and stout 507*
That he wes the maist doutit man 507
510 That in Carrik lyvyt than. 508
And quhen Schyr Ingrame gat wittering
Forsuth this wes na gabbing,
Efter him in hy he sent
And he come at his commandment.
515 Schyr Ingrame that was sley and wis 513
Tretyt with him than on sic wys
That he maid sekyr undertaking
In tresoun for to slay the king,
And he suld haiff for his service
520 Gyff he fullfillyt thar divice 518
Weill fourty pundis worth off land
Till him and till his ayris ay lestand.

[The traitor and his sons seek to kill the king but are killed]
The tresoun thus is undertane,
And he hame till his hous is gane
525 And wattyt opertunyte 523
For to fulfill his mavyte.
In gret perell than was the king
That off this tresoun wyst na thing,
For he that he traistit maist of ane
530 His ded falsly has undertane, 528
And nane may betreys tyttar than he
That man in trowis leawté.
The king in him traistyt, forthi
He had fullfillyt his felony
535 Ne war the king throu Goddis grace 533
Gat hale witting of his purchace,
And how and for how mekill land
He tuk his slauchter apon hand.
I wate nocht quha the warnyng maid,
540 Bot on all tym sic hap he had 538
That quhen men schup thaim to betrais
He gat witting tharoff allwayis
And mony tyme as I herd say
Throu wemen that he wyth wald play
545 That wald tell all that thai mycht her, 543
And sua myvht happyn that it fell her,
Bot how that ever it fell perdé
I trow he sall the warrer be.
Nocht-forthi the tratour ay
550 Had in his thocht bath nycht and day 548
How he mycht best bring till ending
His tresonabill undretaking,
Till he umbethinkand him at the last
Intill his hart gan umbecast
555 That the king had in custome ay 553
For to rys arly ilk day
And pas weill fer fra his menye
Quhen he wald pas to the preve,
And sek a covert him allane
560 Or at the maist with him ane. 558
Thar thocht he with his sonnys twa
For to supprise the king and sla
And syne went to the wod thar way,
Bot yeit off purpos failit thai,
565 And nocht-forthi thai come all thre 563
In a covert that wes preve
Quhar the king oft wes wont to ga
His preve nedys for to ma.
Thair hid thai thaim till his cumming,
570 And the king into the mornyng 568
Rais quhen that his liking was
And rycht towart that covert gais
Quhar lyand war the tratouris thre
For to do thar his prevete.
575 To tresoun tuk he then na heid 573
Bot he wes wont quharever he yeid
His swerd about his hals to ber
And that availlyt him gretli ther
For had nocht God all thing weldand
580 Set help intill his awine hand 578
He had bene ded withoutyn dreid.
A chamber page thar with him yeid,
And sua foroutyn falowis ma
Towart the covert gan he ga.
585 Now bot God help the noble king 583
He is ner-hand till his ending,
For that covert that he yeid till
Wes on the tother sid a hill
That nane of his men mycht it se.
590 Thiddirwart went this page and he 588
And quhen he cummyn wes in the schaw
He saw thai thre cum all on raw
Aganys him full sturdely.
Than till his boy he said in hy,
595 'Yon men will slay us and thai may. 593
Quhat wapyn has thou?' 'Ha, Schyr, perfay
Ik haiff bot a bow and a wyr.'
'Giff thaim me smertly bath.' A, Schyr
Howgaite will ye that I do?'
600 'Stand on fer and behald us to. 598
Giff thou seis me abovyn be
Thou sall haiff wapynnys gret plente,
And giff I dey, withdraw the sone.'
With thai wordis foroutyn hone
605 He tyte the bow out off his hand, 603
For the tratouris war ner cummand.
The fader had a swerd but mar,
The tother bath swerd and hand-ax bar,
The thrid a swerd had and a sper.
610 The king persavt be thar affer 608
That all wes as men had him tauld.
'Tratour,' he said, 'thou has me sauld.
Cum na forthyr bot hald the thar.
I will thou cum na forthermar.'
615 'A, Schyr, umbethinkis you,' said he, 613
How ner that I suld to you be.
Quha suld cum ner you bot I?'
The king said, 'I will sekirly
That thou at this tyme cum nocht ner.
620 Thou may say quhat thou will on fer.' 618
Bot he with fals wordis flechand
Was with his twa sonnys cummand.
Quhen the king saw he wald nocht let
Bot ay come on fenyeand falset
625 He taisyt the wyre and leit it fley, 623
And hyt the fader in the ey
Till it rycht in the harnys ran
And he bakwart fell doun rycht than.
The brother that the hand-ax bar
630 Sua saw his fader liand thar, 628
A gyrd rycht to the king he couth maik
And with the ax hym our-straik,
Bot he that had his sword on hycht
Roucht him sic rout in randoun rycht
635 That he the hede till the harnys claiff 633
And dede downe till the erd him draiff.
The tother broder that bar the sper
Saw his brodyr fallin ther
And with the sper as angry man
640 With a rais till the king he ran. 638
Bot the king that him dred sumthing
Waytyt the sper in the cummyng
And with a wysk the hed off strak,
And or the tother had toyme to tak
645 His swerd the king sic swak him gaiff 643
That he the hede till the harnys claiff,
He ruschyt down off blud all reid.
And quhen the king saw thai war all ded
All thre lyand he wipit his brand,
650 With that his boy come fast rynnand 648
And said, 'Our Lord mot lovyt be
That grantyt you mycht and powste
To fell the felny and the prid
Off thir thre in sua litill tid.'
655 The king said, 'Sa our Lord me se 653
Thai had bene worthi men all thre
Had thai nocht bene full off tresoun,
Bot that maid thar confusioun.'

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 6
[Sir Ingram Umfraville praises the king; the men of Galloway pursue him with
a tracker dog]
The king is went till his logyng
And off this deid sone come tithing
Till Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill
That thocht his sutelte and gyle
5 Haid al failyeit in that place.
Tharfor anoyit sua he was
That he agayne to Lothyane
Till Schyr Amer his gate has tane
And till him tauld all hale the cas,
10 That tharoff all forwonderyt was
How ony man sa sodanly
Mycht do so gret chevalry
As did the king that him allane
Vengeance off thre traytouris has tane,
15 And said, 'Certis, I may weill se
That it is all certante
That ure helpys hardy men
As be this deid we may ken.
War he nocht outrageous hardy
20 He had nocht unabasytly
Sa smertly sene his avantage.
I drede that his gret vassalag
And his travaill may bring till end
That at men quhile full litill wend.'
25 Sik speking maid he off the king
That ay foroutyn sojournyng
Travaillit in Carrik her and thar.
His men fra him sa scalit war
To purches thar necessite
30 And als the countre for to se
That thai left nocht with him sexty.
And quhen the Gallowais wyst suthli
That he wes with sa few mengye
Thai maid a preve assemble
35 Off wele twa hunder men and ma,
And slewth-hundis with thaim gan ta,
For thai thocht him for to suppris
And giff he fled on ony wys
To folow him with the hundis sua
40 That he suld nocht eschaip thaim fra.
Thai schup thaim in ane evynnyng
To suppris sodanly the king
And tillhim held thai straucht thar way,
Bot he, that had his wachis ay
45 On ilk sid, off thar cummyng
Lang or thai come had wyttering
And how fele that thai mycht be,
Tharfor he thocht with his menye
To withdraw him out off the place,
50 For the nycht weill fallyn was
And for the nycht he thocht that thai
Suld nocht haiff sycht to hald the way
That he war passyt with his menye.
And as he thocht rycht sua did he
55 And went him down till a morras
Our awatter that rynnand was,
And in the bog he fand a place
Weill strait that weill twa bow-draucht was
Fra the watter thai passit haid.
60 He said, 'Her may ye mak abaid
And rest you all a quhile and ly,
I will ga wach all prevely.
Giff Ik her oucht off thar cummyng
And giff I may her onything
65 Isall ger warn you sa that we
Sall ay at our avantage be.'

[The king alone defends the ford]
The king now takys his gate to ga
And with him tuk he sergandis twa
And Schyr Gilbert de le Hay left he
70 Thar for to rest with his menye.
To the watter he come in hy
And lysnyt full ententily
Giff he herd oucht off thar cummyng
Bot yeit then mocht he her na thing.
75 Endlang the watter then yeid he
On ather syd a gret quantite
And saw the brayis hey standand,
The watter holl throu slik rynnand
And fand na furd that men mycht pas
80 Bot quhar himselvyn passit was,
And sua strait wes the up-cumming
That twa men mycht nocht samyn thring
Na on na maner pres thaim sua
That thai togidder mycht land ta.
85 His twa men bad he than in hy *85
Ga to thair feris to rest and ly *86
For he wald wach thar com to se. *87
'Schyr,' said thai, 'Quha sall with you be?' *88
'God,' he said, 'forouten ma *89
90 Pas on, for I will it be sua.' *90
Thai did as he thame biddin had *91
And he thar all allane abaid, *92
And quhen he a lang quhile had bene thar 85
He herknyt and herd as it war
95 A hundis questyng on fer 87
That ay come till him ner and ner.
He stud still for till herkyn mar
And ay the langer he wes thar
He herd it ner and ner cummand,
100 Bot he thocht he thar still wald stand 92
Tyll that he herd mar takynnyng.
Than for ane hundis questyng
He wald nocht wakyn his menye,
Tharfor he wald abid and se
105 Quhat folk thai war and quhethir thai 97
Held towart him the rycht way
Or passyt ane other way fer by.
The moyne wes schynand clerly, 100
[no no.] [Sa lang he stude that he mycht her 101
[no no.] The noyis off thaim that cummand wer 102
[no no.] Than his twa men in hy send he 103
[no no.] To warn and wakyn and walkyn his menye 104
[no no.] And thai ar furth thar wayis gane 105
[no no.] And he left thar all hym allane] 106
109 And sua stude he herknand 107
110 Till that he saw cum at his hand 108
The hale rout intill full gret hy.
Then he umbethocht him hastily
Giff he held towart his menye
That or he mycht reparyt be
115 Thai suld be passit the furd ilkan, 113
And then behuffyt him ches ane
Off thir twa, other to fley or dey.
Bot his hart that wes stout and hey
Consaillyt hym allane to bid
120 And kepe thaim at the furd syde 118
And defend weill the upcummyng
Sen he wes warnyst of armyng
That thar arowys thurth nocht dreid,
And gyff he war off gret manheid
125 He mycht stunay thaim everilkane 123
Sen thai ne mycht cum bot ane and ane,
And did rycht as hys hart hym bad.
Strang utrageous curage he had
Quhen he sa stoutly him allane
130 For litill strenth off erd has tane 128
To fecht with twa hunder and ma.
Tharwith he to the furd gan ga,
And thai apon the tother party
That saw him stand thar anyrly
135 Thringand intill the water rad 133
For off him litill dout thai had
And raid till him in full gret hy.
He smate the fyrst sua vygorusly
With his sper that rycht scharp schar
140 Till he doun till the erd him bar. 138
The lave come then intill a randoun,
Bot his hors that wes born doun
Combryt thaim the upgang to ta,
And quhen the king saw it wes sua
145 He stekyt the hors and he gan flyng 143
And syne fell at the upcummyng.
The layff with that come with a schout,
And he that stalwart wes and stout
Met thaim rycht stoutly at the bra
150 And sa gud payment gan thaim ma 148
That fyvesum in the furd he slew.
The lave then sumdell thaim withdrew
That dred his strakys wondre sar
For he in na thing thaim forbar.
155 Then said ane, 'Certis we ar to blame. 153
Quhat sall we say quhen we cum ham
Quhen a man fechtis agane us all.
Quha wyst ever men sa foully fall
As us gyff that we thusgat leve.'
160 With that all haile a schoute thai geve 158
And cryit, 'On him, he may nocht last.'
With that thai pressyt him sa fast
That had he nocht the better bene
He had bene dede withoutyn wen,
165 Bot he sa gret defence gan mak 163
That quhar he hyt evyn a strak
Thar mycht nathing agane-stand.
In litill space he left liand
Sa fele that the upcummyng wes then
170 Dyttyt with slayn hors and men 168
Sua that his fayis for that stopping
Mycht nocht cum to the upcummyng.
A! Der God, quha had then bene by
And sene howe he sa hardyly
175 Adressyt hym agane thaim all 173
I wate weile that thai suld him call
The best that levyt in his day,
And giff I the suth sall say
I herd never in na tym gane
180 Ane stynt sa mony him allane. 178

[The story of Tydeus of Thebes]
Suth is, quhen till Ethiocles
Fra his brother Polnices
Wes send Thedeus in message
To ask haly the heritage
185 Off Thebes till hald for a yer, 183
For thai twynnys off a byrth wer,
Thai strave, for ather king wald be.
Bot the barnage off thar cuntre
Gert thaim assent on this maner,
190 That the tane suld be king a yer, 188
And then the tother and his mengye
Suld nocht be fundyn in the countre
Quhill the fyrst brother regnand wer,
Syne suld the tother renge a yer
195 And then the fyrst suld leve the land 193
Quhill that the tother war regnaND.
Thus ay a yer suld regne the tane,
The tother a yer fra that war gane.
To ask haldyn off this assent
200 Wes Thedeus to Thebes sent, 198
And sua spake for Polnices
That off Thebes Ethiocles
Bad his constabill with him ta
Men armyt weill and forouth ga
205 To mete Thedeus in the way 203
And slay him but langer delay.
The constable his way is gane
And nyne and fourty with him tane
Sua that he with thaim maid fyfty.
210 Intill the evynnyng prevely 208
Thai set enbuschement in the way
Quhar Thedeus behovyt away
Betuix ane hey crag and the se,
And he that off thar mavyte
215 Wyst na thing his way has tane 213
And towart Grece agane is gane.
And as he raid into the nycht
Sa saw he with the monys lycht
Schynyng off scheldys gret plente,
220 And had wondre quhat it mycht be. 218
With that all hale thai gaiff a cry
And he that hard sa suddanly
Sic noyis sumdele affrayit was,
Bot in schort time he till him tais
225 His spyritis full hardely, 223
For his gentill hart and worthy
Assuryt hym into that nede.
Then with te spuris he strak the sted
And ruschyt in amang thaim all.
230 The fyrst he met he gert him fall, 228
And syne his sword he swapyt out
And roucht about him mony rout
And slew sexsum swill sone and ma.
Then undre him his hors thai sla
235 And he fell, bot he smertly ras 233
And strykand rowm about him mas
And slew off thaim a quantite
Bot woundyt wondre sar wes he.
With that a litill rod he fand
240 Up towart the crag strekand. 238
Thidder went he in full gret hy
Defendand him full douchtely
Till in the crag he clam sumdell
And fand a place enclosyt weill
245 Quhar nane bot ane mycht him assail, 243
Thar stud he and gaiff thaim bataill
And thai assaylyt everilkane
And oft fell quhen that he slew ane
As he doun to the erd wald dryve
250 He wald ber doun weill four or fyve. 248
Thar stud he and defendyt sua
Till he had slayne thaim halff and ma.
A gret stane then by him saw he
That throu the gret anciente
255 Wes lowsyt redy for to fall, 253
And quhen he saw thaim cummand all
He tumblyt doun on thaim the stane,
And aucht men thar with it has slayn
And sua stonayit the remanand
260 That thai war weile ner recreand. 258
Then wald he presone hald no mar
Bot on thaim ran with swerd all bar
And hewyt and slew with all his mayn
Till he has nyne and fourty slayne.
265 The constabill syne gan he ta 263
And gert him swer that he suld ga
Till King Ethiocles and tell
The aventur that thaim befell.
Thedeus bar him douchtely
270 That him allane ourcome fyfty. 268
Ye that this redys, cheys yhe
Quhether that mar suld prysit be
The king, that with avisement
Undertuk sic hardyment
275 As for to stynt him ane but fer 273
The folk that twa hunder wer,
Or Thedeus, that suddanly
For thai had raysyt on him the cry
Throu hardyment that he had tane
280 Wane fyfty men allhim allane. 278
Thai did thar deid bath on the nycht
And faucht bath with the mone-lycht,
Bot the king discomfyt ma
And Thedeus then ma gan sla.
285 Now demys quhether mar loving 283
Suld Thedeus haiff or the king?

[His men find the king]
On this maner that Ik haiff tauld
The king that stout wes and bauld
Wes fechtand on the furd syd
290 Giffand and takand rowtis rid 288
Till he sic martyrdom thar has maid
That he the ford all stoppyt haid
That nane of thaim mycht till him rid.
Thaim thocht than foly for to byd
295 And halely the flycht gan ta 293
And went hamewartis quhar thai come fra,
For the kingis men with the cry
Walknyt full effrayitly
And com to sek thar lord the king.
300 The Galloway men hard thar cummyng 298
And fled and durst abid no mar.
The kingis men that dredand war
For thar lord full spedyly
Come to the furd and sone in hy
305 Thai fand the king syttand allane, 303
That off his bassynet has tane
Till avent him for he wes hate.
Than speryt thai at him off his state
And he tauld thaim all hale the case
310 Howgate that he assailyt was 308
And how that God him helpyt sua
That he eschapyt hale thaim fra.
Than lukyt thai how fele war ded,
And thai fand lyand in that sted
315 Fourtene that war slayne with his hand. 313
Than lovyt thai God fast all-weildand
That thai thar lord fand hale and fer,
And said thaim byrd on na maner
Drede thar fayis sen thar chyftane
320 Wes off sic hart and off sic mayn 318
That he for thaim had undretan
With sua fele for to fecht him ane.

[A comment on valour]
Syk wordis spak thai of the king,
And for his hey undretaking
325 Farlyit and yarnyt hym for to se 323
That with hym ay wes wont to be.
A! Quhat worschip is prisit thing,
For it mays men till haiff loving
Gyff it be folowit ythenly,
330 For pryce off worschip nocht-forthi 328
Is hard to wyn, for gret travaill
Offt to defend and oft assaill
And to be in thar dedis wys
Gerris men off worschip wyn the price,
335 And may na man haiff worthyhed 333
Bot he haiff wyt to ster his deid
And se quhat ys to leve or ta.
Worschip extremyteys has twa,
Fule-hardyment the formast is
340 And the tother is cowartys, 338
And thai ar bath for to forsak.
Fule-hardyment all will undertak,
Als weill thingis to leve as ta,
Bot cowardys dois na thing sua
345 But uttrely forsakis all, 343
Bot that war derer for to fal
Na war faute of discretioun.
Forthi has worschip sic renoun,
That it is mene betuix tha twa
350 And takys that is till underta 348
And levys that is to leve, for it
Has sa gret warnysing of wyt
That it all perellis weile gan se
And all avantagis that may be.
355 I wald till hardyment heyld haly 353
With-thi away war the foly
For hardyment with foly is vice
Bot hardyment that mellyt is
With wyt is worschip ay perde,
360 For but wyt worschip may nocht be. 358
This nobile king that we off red
Mellyt all tyme with wit manheid,
That may men by this melle se.
His wyt schawyt him the strait entre
365 Off the furd and the uschyng alsua 363
That as him thocht war hard to ta
Apon a man that war worthy,
Tharfor his hardyment hastily
Thocht it mycht be weill undretan
370 Sen at anys mycht assail bot ane. 368
Thus hardyment governyt with wyt
That he all tyme wald samyn knyt
Gert him off worschip haiff the price
And oft ourcum his ennymyis.

[Douglas attacks Thirlwall at Douglas Castle]
375 The king in Carrik dwellyt ay still, 373
Hys men assemblyt fast him till
That in the land war travailland
Quhen thai off this deid herd tithand
For thai thar ure wald with him ta
380 Gyff that he eft war assaylyt sua. 378
Bot yeit than James of Douglas
In Douglas daile travailland was
Or ellysweill ner-hand tharby
In hydillys sumdeill prevely,
385 For he wald se his governyng 383
That had the castell in keping,
And gert mak mony juperty
To se quhether he wald ische blythly.
And quhen he persavyt that he
390 Wald blthly ische with his menye, 388
He maid a gadring prevely
Of thaim that war on his party,
That war sa fele that thai durst fycht
With Thyrwall and all the mycht
395 Of thaim that in the castell war. 393
He schupe him in the nycht to far
To Sandylandis, and ner tharby
He him enbuschyt prevely
And send a few a trane to ma,
400 That sone in the mornyng gan ta 398
Catell that wes the castell by
And syne withdrew thaim hastily
Towart thaim that enbuschit war.
Than Thyrwall foroutyn mar
405 Gert arme his men foroutyn baid 403
And ischyt with all the men he haid
And folowyt fast efter the ky.
He wes armyt at poynt clenly
Outane his hede wes bar.
410 Than with the men that with him war 408
The catell folowit he gud speid
Rycht as a man that had na dreid
Till that he gat off thaim a sycht.
Than prekyt thai with all thar mycht
415 Folowand thaim out off aray, 413
And thai sped thaim fleand quhill thai
Fer by thar buschement war past,
And Thyrwall ay chassyt fast.
And than thai that enbuschyt war
420 Ischyt till him bath les and mar 418
And rayssyt sudanly the cry,
And thai that saw sa sudandly
That folk come egyrly prekand
Rycht betwix thaim and thar warand,
425 Thai war into full gret effray 423
And for thai war out off aray
Sum off thaim fled and sum abad,
And the Douglas that thar with him had
A gret mengye full egrely
430 Assaylyt and scalyt thaim hastyly 428
And in schort tyme ourraid thaim sua
That weile nane eschapyyt thaim fra.
Thyrwall that wes thar capitane
Wes thar in the bargane slane
435 And off his men the mast party, 433
The lave fled full effraytly.
Douglas his menye fast gan chas,
And the flearis thar wayis tays
Till the castell in full gret hy.
440 The formast entryt spedyly 438
Bot the chaseris sped thaim sa fast
That thai ourtuk sum of the last
And thaim foroutyn mercy gan sla.
And quhen thai off the castell sua
445 Saw thaim sla off thar men thaim by 443
Thai sparyt the yattis hastily
And in hy to the wallis rane.
James off Douglas his menye than
Sesyt weile hastily in hand
450 That thai about the castell fand 448
To thair resett, syne went thar way.
Thus ischyt Thyrwall that day.

[The king is pursued by John of Lorn and his tracker-dog; he and his foster
brother kill five men]
Quhen Thyrwall on this maner
Had ischit as I tell you her,
455 James off Douglas and his men 453
Buskit thaim all samyn then
And went thar way towart the king
In gret hy, for thai herd tything
That off Valence Schyr Amery
460 With full gret chevalry 458
Bath off Scottis and Inglis men
With gret felny war rerdy then
Assemblyt for to sek the king,
That wes that tyme with his gadring
465 In Cumnok quhair it straitast was. 463
Thidder went James of Douglas
And wes rycht welcum to the king
And quhen he had tauld that tithing,
How that schyr Amer wes cummand
470 For till hunt him out off the land 468
With hund and horne rycht as he war
A woulff, a theyff, or theyffis fer,
Than said the king, 'It may weill fall
Thocht he cum and his power all
475 We sall abid in this countre, 473
And gyff he cummys we sall him se.'
The king spake apon this maner,
And of Valence Schyr Amer
Assemblyt a gret cumpany
480 Off noble men and off worthy 478
Off Ingland and of Lowthiane,
And he has alsua with him tane
Jhone off Lorn and all his mycht
That had off worthi men and wycht
485 With him aucht hunder men and ma 483
A sleuth-hund had he thar alsua
Sa gud that wald chang for na thing,
And sum men sayis yeit that the king
As a strecour him noryst had
490 And sa mekill off him he maid 488
That hys awyn handis wald him feid.
He folowyt him quharever he yeid
Sa tthat the hund him lovit sua
That he wald part na wys him fra.
495 Bot how that Jhon of Lorn him had 493
Ik herd never mencioun be mad,
Bot men sayis it wes certane thing
That he had him in his sesyng
And throu him thocht the king to ta,
500 For he wyst he him luffyt sua 498
That fra that he mycht anys fele
The kingis sent he wyst rycht weill
That he wald chaung it for na thing.
This Jhon off Lorne hattyt the king
505 For Jhon Cumyn his emys sak, 503
Mycht he him other sla or tak
He wald nocht prys his liff a stra
Sa that he vengeance of him mycht ta.
The wardane than Schyr Amery
510 With this Jhone in cumpany 508
And other off gud renoun alsua,
Thomas Randell was ane off tha,
Come intill Cumnok to sek the king
That wes weill war off that cummyng
515 And wes up in the strenthis then 513
And with him weill four hunder men.
His broder that tym with him was
And alsua James off Douglas.
Schyr Ameryys rowte he saw
520 That held the plane ay and the law 518
And in hale battaill alwayis raid.
The king that na supposyn had
That thai wer may then he saw thar
Till thaim and nother ellisquhar
525 Had ey and wrocht unwittily, 523
For Jhom off Lorn full sutelly
Behind thocht to supprys the king.
Tharfor with all his gadring
About ane hill he held the way
530 And held him into covert ay 528
Till he sa ner come to the king
Or he persavyt his cummyng
That he wes cummyn on him weill ner.
The tother ost and Schyr Amer
535 Pressyt aponthe tother party. 533
The king wes in gret juperty
That wes on ather sid umbeset
With fayis that to sla him thret,
And the leyst party off the twa
540 Was starkar than he and ma. 538
And quhen he saw thaim pres him to
He thocht in hy quhat was to do
And said, 'Lordis we haiff na mycht
As at this tyme to stand and fycht,
545 Tharfor departis us in thre, 543
All sall nocht sa assailyt be,
And in thre partis hald our way.'
Syne till his preve folk gan he say
Betwix thaim into prevete
550 In quhat sted thar repayr suld be. 548
With that thar gate all ar thai gane
And in thre partis thar way has tane.
Jhone of Lorne come to the place
Fra quhar the king departyt was
555 And in his trace the hund he set 553
That then foroutyn langer let
Held even the way efter the king
Rycht as he had off him knawing,
And left the tother partys twa
560 As he na kep to thaim wald ta. 558
And quhen the king saw his cummyng
Efter hys route intill a ling
He thocht thai knew that it wes he,
Tharfor he bad till his menye
565 Yeit then in thre depart thaim sone, 563
And thai did sua foroutyn hone
And held thar way in thre partys.
The hund did thar sa gret maistrys
That held ay foroutyn changing
570 Eftre the rowt quhar wes the king. 568
And quhen the king had sene thaim sua
All in a rowt efter him ga
The way and folow nocht his men
He had a gret persaving then
575 That thai knew him, forthi in hy 573
He bad his men rycht hastily
Scaile and ilkan hald his way
All himselff, and sua did thai.
Ilk man a syndry gate is gane
580 And the king with him has tane 578
His foster broder foroutyn ma
And samyn held thar gate thai twa.
The hund folowyt alwayis the king
And changyt for na departing
585 Bot ay folowit the kingis trace 583
But waveryng as he passyt was
And quhen Jhon off Lorn saw
The hund sa hard eftre him draw
And folow strak after thai twa
590 He knew the king wes ane of tha, 588
And bad fyve off his cumpany
That war rycht wycht men and hardy
And als off fute spediast war
Off all that in thair rowt war
595 Ryn eftre him and him ourta 593
And lat him na wys pas thaim fra,
And fra thai had herd the bydding
Thai held thar way efter the king
And folowyt him sa spedely
600 That thai him weill sone gan ourhy. 598
The king that saw thaim cummand ner
Wes anoyit on gret maner,
For he thocht giff thai war worthi
Thai mycht hi, travaile and tary
605 And hald him swagate tariand 603
Till the remanand com at hand,
Bot had he dred bot anerly
Thai fyve I trow all sekyrly
He suld have had na mekill dred.
610 And till his falow as he yeid 608
He said, 'Thir fyve ar fast cummand
Thai ar weill ner now at our hand,
Sa is thar ony help at the
For we sall sone assailyt be.'
615 'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'all that I may.' 613
'Thou sayis weill,' said the king. 'Perfay
I see thaim cummand till us ner.
I will na forthyr bot rycht her
I will byd quhill Ic am in aynd
620 And se quhat force that thai can faynd.' 618
The king than stud full sturdely
And the fyvesum in full gret hy
Come with gret schor and manassing.
Then thre off thaim went to the king,
625 And till his man the tother twa 623
With swerd in hand gan stoutly ga.
The king met thaim that till him socht
And to the fyrst sic rowt he roucht
That er and chek downe in the hals
630 He scharnand off the schuldir als, 628
He ruschyt down all disyly.
The twa that saw sa sudanly
Thar falow fall effrayit war
And stert a litill ovyrmar.
635 The king with that blenkit him by 633
And saw the twasome sturdely
Agane his man gret melle ma.
With that he left his awin twa
And till thaim that faucht with his man
640 A loup rycht lychtly maid he than 638
And smate the hed off the tane,
To mete his awne syne is he gane.
Thai come on him full sturdely,
He met the fyrst sa egrely
645 That with the swerd that scharply schar 643
The arme fra the body he bar.
Quhat strakys thai gaiff I can nocht tell,
Bot to the king sa fayr befell
That thocht he travaill had and payne
650 He off his fa-men four has slayn, 648
His foster broder tharefter sone
The fyft out of dawys has done.
And quhen the king saw that all fyve
War on that wys broucht out off lyve
655 Till hys falow than gan he say, 653
'Thou has helpyt weile perfay.'
'It likys you to say sua,' said he,
'Bot the gret part to you tuk ye
That slew four off the fyve you ane.'
660 The king said, 'As the glew is gane 658
Better than thou I mycht it do
For Ik had mar layser tharto,
For the twa falowys that delt with the
Quhen thai saw me assailyt with thre
665 Off me rycht nakyn dout thai had 663
For thai wend I sa straytly war stad,
And forthi that thai dred me noucht
Noy thaim fer out the mar I moucht.'
With that the king lokyt him by
670 And saw off Lorn the company 668
Weill ner with thar sleuth-hund cummand.
Than till a wod that wes ner-hand
He went with his falow in hy.
God sayff thaim for his gret mercy.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 7

[The king escapes from the hound]
The king towart the wod is gane
Wery forswayt and will of wane
Intill the wod sone entryt he
And held doun towart a vale
5 Quhar throu the woid a watter ran.
Thidder in gret hy wend he than
And begouth for to rest him thar
And said he mycht no forthirmar.
His man said, 'Schyr, it may nocht be.
10 Abyd ye her ye sall son se
Fyve hunder yarnand you to sla,
And thai ar fele aganys us twa.
And sen we may nocht dele with mycht
Help us all that we may with slycht.'
15 The king said, 'Sen that thou will sua,
Ga furth, and I sall with the ga.
Bot Ik haiff herd oftymys say
That quha endlang a watter ay
Wald waid a bow-draucht he suld ger
20 Bathe the slouth-hund and his leder
Tyne the sleuth men gert him ta.
Prove we giff it will now do sa,
For war yone devillis hund away
I roucht nocht off the lave perfay.'
25 As he dyvisyt thai haiff doyn
And entryt in the watter sone
And held down endlang thar way,
And syne to the land yeid thai
And held thar way as thai did er.
30 And Jhone off Lorn with gret affer
Come with hys rout rycht to the place
Quhar that his fyve men slane was.
He menyt thaim quhen he thaim saw
And said eftre a litill thraw
35 That he suld veng thar bloude,
Bot otherwayis the gamyn youde.
Thar wald he mak na mar dwelling
Bot furth in hy folowit the king.
Rycht to the burn thai passyt war,
40 Bot the sleuth-hund maid styntyn thar
And waveryt lang tyme to and fra
That he na certane gate couth ga,
Till at the last that Jhon of Lorn
Persavyt the hund the slouth had lorn
45 And said, 'We haiff tynt this travaill.
To pas forthyr may nocht availe
For the void is bath braid and wid
And he is weill fer be this tid,
Tharfor is gud we turn agayn
50 And waist no mar travaill in vayne.'
With that relyit he his mengye
And his way to the ost tuk he.

[An alternative account of the escape]
Thus eschapyt the nobill king,
Bot sum men sayis this eschaping
55 Apon ane other maner fell
Than throu the wading, for thai tell
That the king a gud archer had,
And quhen he saw his lord sua stad
That he wes left sa anerly
60 He ran on sid alwayis him by
Till he into the woude wes gane.
Than said he till him selff allane
That he arest rycht thar wald ma
To luk giff he the hund mycht sla,
65 For giff the hund mycht lest in lyve
He wyst rycht weile that thai wald dryve
The kingis trace till thai him ta,
Than wyst he weile thai wald him sla.
And for bhe wald his lord succur
70 He put his liff in aventur,
And stud intill a busk lurkand
Till that the hund come at his hand
And with ane arow sone him slew
And throu the woud syne him withdrew.
75 Bot quhether this eschaping fell
As I tauld fyrst or I now tell,
I wate weill without lesing
That at the burn eschapyt the king.

[Three men with a wethertry to kill the king and kill his foster-brother]
The king has furth his wayis tane,
80 And Jhon of Lorn agayne is gane
To Schyr Aymer that fra the chace
With his men repayryt was
That sped lytill in thar chassyng
Thoucht at thai maid gret folowing
85 Full egrely thai wan bot small,
Thar fayis ner eschapyt all.
Men sayis Schyr Thomas Randell than
Chassand the kingis baner wan,
Quharthrou in Ingland with the king
90 He had rycht gret price and loving.
Quhen the chasseris relyit war
And Jhon of Lorn had met thaim thar
He tauld Schyr Aymer all the cas,
How that the king eschapyt was
95 And how that he his fyve men slew
And syne to the wode him drew.
Quhen Schyr Aymer herd this, in hy
He sanyt him for the ferly
And said, 'He is gretly to prys,
100 For I knaw nane that liffand is
That at myscheyff gan help him sua.
I trow he suld be hard to sla
And he war bodyn evynly.'
On this wis spak Schyr Aymery,
105 And the gud king held furth his way
Betwix him and his man quhill thai
Passyt out throu the forest war.
Syne in the more thai entryt ar
That wes bathe hey and lang and braid,
110 And or thai halff it passyt had
Thai saw on syd the men cummand
Lik to lycht men and waverand,
Swerdis thai had and axiys als
And ane off thaim apon his hals
115 A mekill boundyn wether bar.
Thai met the king and halist him thar,
And the king tthaim thar hailsing yauld
And askyt thaim quhether thai wauld.
Thai said Robert the Bruys thai socht,
120 For mete with him giff that thai moucht
Thar dwelling with him wauld thai ma.
The king said, 'Giff that ye will sua,
Haldys furth your way with me
And I sall ger you sone him se.'
125 Thai persavyt be his speking
That he wes the selvyn Robert king,
And chaungyt contenance and late
And held nocht in the fyrst state,
For thai war fayis to the king
130 And thocht to cum into Sculking
And dwell with him quhill that thai saw
Thar poynt, and bryng him than off daw.
Thai grantyt till his spek forthi,
Bot the king that wes witty
135 Persavyt weill be thar having
that thai luffyt him nathing
And said, 'Falowis, ye mon all thre,
Forthir aquent till that we be,
All be yourselvyn forrouth ga,
140 And on the samyn wys we twa
Sall folow behind weill ner.'
Quod thai, 'Schyr, it is na myster
To trow in us ony ill.'
'Nane do I,' said he, 'bot I will
145 That yhe ga forrourth thus quhill we
Better with othyr knawin be.'
'We grant,' thai said, 'sen ye will sua.'
And furth apon thar gate gan ga.
Thus yeid thai till the nycht wes ner,
150 And than the formast cummyn wer
Till a waist husbandis hous, and thar
Thai slew the wethir that thai bar
And slew fyr for to rost thar mete,
And askyt the king giff he wald ete
155 And rest him till the mete war dycht.
The king that hungry was, Ik hycht,
Assentyt till thar spek in hy,
Bot he said he wald anerly
Betwix him and his fallow be
160 At a fyr, and thai all thre
In the end off the hous suld ma
Ane other fyr, and thai did sua.
Thai drew thaim in the hous end
And halff the wethir till him send.
165 And thai rostyt in hy thar mete
And fell rycht freschly for till ete,
For the king weill lang fastyt had
And had rycht mekill travaill mad,
Tharfor he eyt full egrely
170 And quhen he had etyn hastily
He had to slep sa mekill will
That he mocht set na let thartill,
For quhen the vanys fillyt ar
Men worthys hevy evermar
175 And to slepe drawys hevynes.
The king that all fortravaillyt wes
Saw that him worthyt slep nedwayis.
Till his foser-broder he sayis,
'May I traist in the me to waik
180 Till Ik a litill sleping tak.'
'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'till I may dre.'
The kingbthen wynkyt a litill wey,
And slepyt nocht full encrely
Bot gliffnyt up oft sodanly,
185 For he had dreid of thai thre men
That at the tother fyr war then.
That thai his fais war he wyst,
Tharfor he slepyt as foule on twyst.
The king slepyt bot a litill than
190 Quhen sic slep fell on his man
That he mycht nocht hald up his ey,
Bot fell in slep and rowtyt hey.
Now is the king in gret perile
For slep he sua a litill quhile
195 He sall be ded fotoutyn dreid,
For the thre tratouris tuk gud heid
that he on slep wes and his man.
In full gret hy thai rais up than
And drew thar swerdis hastily
200 And went towart the king in hy
Quhen that thai saw him sleip sua,
And slepand thocht thai wald him sla.
Till him thai yeid a full gret pas, 203*
Bot in that tym throu Goddis grace 204*
205 The king up blenkit hastily 203
And saw his man slepand him by
And saw cummand the tother thre.
Deliverly on fut gat he
And drew his swerd out and thaim mete,
210 And as he yude his fute he set 208
Apon his man weill hevily.
He waknyt and rais disily,
For the slep maistryt hym sway
That or he gat up ane off thai
215 That com for to sla the king 213
Gaiff hym a strak in his rysing
Sua that he mycht help him no mar.
The king sa straitly stad wes thar
That he wes never yeit sa stad,
220 Ne war the armyng that he had 218
He had bene dede foroutyn wer.
Bot nocht-forthi on sic maner
He helpyt him in that bargane
That thai thre tratouris he has slan
225 Throu Goddis grace and his manheid. 223
Hys fostyr brother thar wes dede,
Then wes he wondre will of wayn
Quhen he saw him left allane.
His foster broder meny he
230 And waryit all the tother thre, 228
And syne his way tuk him allane
And rycht towart his tryst is gane.

[The king goes to a house, where the goodwife gives him her two sons; he
meets his companions and they take an enemy force in a village by surprise]
The king went furth way and angri
Menand his man full tenderly
235 And held his way all him allane, 233
And rycht towart the hous is gan
Quhar he set tryst to meit his men.
It wes weill inwyth nycht be then,
He come sone in the hous and fand
240 The houswyff on the benk sittand 238
That askit him quhat he was
And quhen he come and quethir he gais.
'A travailland man, dame,' said he,
'That travaillys throu the contre.'
245 Scho said, 'All that travailland er 243
For ane his sak ar welcum her.'
The king said, 'Gud dame, quhat is he
That gerris you haiff sik specialte
To men that travaillis?' 'Schyr, perfay,'
250 Quod the gud-wyff, 'Isall you say, 248
The King Robert the Bruys is he,
That is rycht lord off this countre.
His fayis now haldis him in thrang,
Bot I think to se or ocht lang
255 Him lord and king our all the land 253
That na fayis sall him withstand.'
'Dame, luffis thou him sa weil,' said he.
'Ya, schyr,' said scho, 'sa God me se.'
'Dame,' said he, 'hym her the by,
260 For Ik am he, I say the soithly, 258
Yha certis, dame.' 'And quhar ar gane
Your men quhen ye ar thus allane?'
'At this tyme, dame, Ik haiff no ma.'
Scho said, 'It may na wys be swa.
265 Ik haiff twa sonnys wycht and hardy, 263
Thai sall becum your men in hy.'
As scho divisyt thai haiff done,
His sworn men become thai sone.
The wyff syn gert him syt and ete,
270 Bot he has schort quhile at the mete 268
Syttyn quhen he hard gret stamping
About the hous, then but letting
Thai stert up the hous for to defende,
Bot sone eftre the king has kend
275 James off Douglas. Than wes he blyth 273
And bad oppyn the durris swyth
And thai come in all that thar war.
Schyr Edward the Bruce wes thar,
And James alsua off Douglas
280 That wes eschapyt fra the chace 278
And with the kingis brother met,
Syn to the tryst that thaim wes set
Thai sped thaim with thar cumpany
That wer ane hunder and weile fyfty.
285 And quhen that thai haiff sene the king 283
Thai war joyfull of thar meting
And askyt how that he eschapyt was,
And he thaim tauld all hale the cas.
How the fyve men him pressyt fast,
290 And how he throu the water past, 288
And how he met the thevis thre
And how he slepand slane suld be
Quhen he waknyt throu Goddis grace
And how his foster brodyr was
295 Slayne he tauld thaim all haly. 293
Than lovyt thai God commounly
That tthar lord wes eschapyt sua,
Than spak thai wordis to and fra
Till at the last the king gan say
300 'Fortoun us travaillyt fast today 298
That scalyt us sa sodanly.
Our fayis tonycht sall ly traistly
For thai trow we so scalit ar *301
And fled to-waverand her and thar *302
305 That we sall nocht thir dayis thre *303
All togiddir assemblit be. *304
Tharfor this nycht thai sall trastly *305
But wachys tak thar ese and ly. 301
Quharfor quha knew thar herbery
310 And wald cum on thaim sodanly 303
With few mengye mycht thaim scaith
And eschape foroutyn waith.'
'Perfay,' quod James of Douglas,
'As I come hyddyrwart per cas
315 I come sa ner thar herbery 308
That I can bring you quhar thai ly,
And wald ye speid you yeit or day
It may sua happin that we may
Do thaim a gretar scaith weile sone
320 Than thai us all day has done, 313
For thai ly scalyt as thaim lest.'
Than thocht thaim all it wes the best
To sped thaim to thaim hastily,
And thai did sua in full gret hy
325 And come on thaim in the dawing 318
Rycht as the day begouth to spryng.
Sa fell it that a cumpany
Had in a toun tane thar herbery
Weile fra the ost a myle or mar,
330 Men said that thai twa hunder war. 323
Thar assemblyt the nobill king,
And sone eftre thar assembling
Thai that slepand assaylyt war
Rycht hidwysly gan cry and rar,
335 And other sum that herd the cry 328
Ras sa rycht effrayitly
That sum of thaim nakit war
Fleand to warand her and thar,
and sum his armys with him drew,
340 And thai foroutyn mercy thaim slew 333
And sa evyll vengeance can ta
That the twa partis of thaim and ma
War slayn rycht in that ilk sted,
Till thar oist the remanand fled.
345 The oyst that hard the noyis and cry 338
And saw thar men sua wrechytly
Sum nakit fleand her and thar,
Sum all hale, sum woundyt sar,
Into full gret effray thai rais
350 And ilk man till his baner gays 343
Sua that tthe oyst wes all on ster.
The king and thai that with him wer
Quhen on ster the oyst saw sua
Towart thar warand gan thai ga,
355 And thar in savete com thai 348
And quhen Schyr Aymer herd say
How that the king thar men had slayn
And how that thai turnyt war agayn
He said, 'Now may we clerly se
360 That nobill hart quharever it be 353
It is hard till ourcum throu maystri,
For quhar ane hart is rycht worthy
Agayne stoutnes it is ay stoute,
Na as I trow thar may na doute
365 Ger it all-out dis cumfyt be 358
Quhill body levand is and fre,
As be this melle may be sene.
We wend Robert the Bruce had bene
Sua discomfyt that be gud skill
370 He suld nother haiff haid hart ne will 363
Swilk juperty till undreta
For he put was at undre sua
That he wes left all him allane
And all his folk war fra him gayn,
375 And he sagat fortravaillyt 368
To put thaim off that him assaylit
That he suld haiff yarnyt resting
This nycht atour all other thing.
Bot his hart fillyt is off bounte
380 Sua that it vencusyt may nocht be.' 373

[The king goes hunting and is attacked by three men beside a wood]
On this wys spak Schyr Aymery,
And quhen thai off his cumpany
Saw how thai travaillit had in vayn
And how the king thar men had slayn
385 And that his wes gane all fre, 378
Thaim thocht it wes a nycete
For to mak thar langer dwelling
Sen thai mycht nocht anoy the king,
And said that to Schyr Amery,
390 That umbethocht him hastily 383
That he to Carlele wald ga
And a quhill tharin sojourn ma
And haff his spyis on the king
To knaw alwayis his contenyng,
395 And quhen that he his poynt mycht se 388
He thocht that with a gret menye
He suld schute apon him sudanly.
Tharfor with all his cumpany
Till Ingland he the way has tane,
400 And ilk man till his hous is gane. 393
In hy till Carlele wesnt is he
And tharin thinkys for till be
Till he his poynt saw off the king,
That then with all his gaderring
405 Wes in Carryk quhar umbestount 398
He wald went with his men til hunt.
Sa happynyt that on a day
He went till hunt for till assay
Quhat gamyn was in that countre,
410 And sua hapnyt that day that he 403
By a woud-syd to sett is gane
With his twa hundys him allane,
Bot his swerd ay with him bar.
He had bot schort quhile syttyn thar
415 Quhen he saw fra the woud cummand 408
Thre men with bowys in thar hand
That towart him come spedely,
And he that persayvyt in hy
Be thar affer and thar having
420 That thai luffyt him nakyn thing, 413
He rais and his leysche till him drew he
And leyte hys hundis gang all fre.
God help the king now for his mycht,
For bot he now be wys and wycht
425 He sall be set in mekill pres, 418
For thai thre men foroutyn les
War his fayis all utrely,
And wachyt him sa bysyly
To se quhen thai vengeance mycht tak
430 Off the king for Jhon Comyn his sak 423
That thai thocht than thai layser had.
And sen he hym allane wes stad
In hy thai thocht thai suld him sla,
And gyff that thai mycht chevys sua
435 Fra that thai the king had slayn 428
THat thai mycht wyn the woud agayn,
His men thaim thocht thai suld nocht dred.
In hy towart the king thai yeid
and bent thar bowys quhen thai war ner,
440 And he that dred on gret maner 433
thar arowys, for he nakyt was,
In hy a speking to thaim mais
And said, 'You aucht to schame perde
Sen ik am ane and ye ar thre
445 For to schute at me apon fer. 438
Bot had ye hardyment to cum ner
And with your swerdis till assay,
Wyn me apon sic wys giff ye may,
Ye sall wele oute mar prisyt be.'
450 'Perfay,' quod ane than off the thre 443
'Sall na man say we dred the sua
That we with arowys sall the sla.'
With that thar bowys away thai kest
And come on fast but langer frest.
455 The king thaim met full hardyly 448
And smate the fyrst sa vygorusly
that he fell dede doun on the gren.
And quhen the kingis hund has sene
Thai men assailye his maister sua
460 He lap till ane and gan him ta 453
Rycht be the nek full sturdyly.
Till top our tale he gert him ly,
And the king that his swerd out had
Saw he sa fayr succour him maid.
465 Or he that fallyn wes mycht rys 458
He him assayllyt on sic wys
That he the bak strak evyn in twa.
The thrid that saw his falowis sua
Foroutyn recoveryng be slayne
470 Tok to the wod his way agane, 463
Bot the king folowit spedyly,
And als the hund that wes him by
Wquhen he the man saw fle him fra
Schot till him sone and gan him ta
475 Rycht be the nek and till him dreuch 468
And the king that wes ner yneucht
In his ryssing sik rowt him gaff
That stane-dede to the erd he draff.
The kingis men that wer than ner
480 Quhen that thai saw on sic maner 473
The king assailyt sa sodanly
Thai sped towart him in hy
And askyt how that cas befell,
And he all haly gan thaim tell
485 How thai assaillyt him all thre 478
'Perfay,' quod thai, 'we may wele se
That it is hard till undretak
Sic melling with you to mak
That sua smertly has slayn tthir thre
490 Foroutyn hurt.' 'Perfay,' said he, 483
I slew bot ane forouten ma
God and my hund has slayn the twa.
Thar tresoun combryt thaim perfay
For rycht wycht men all thre war thai.'

[The king goes to Glen Trool; Valence follows him there]
495 Quhen that the king throu Goddis grace 488
On this maner eschapyt was
He blew his horn and then in hy
His gud men till him gan rely,
tthen hamwartis buskyt he to far
500 For that day wald he hunt no mar. 493
In Glentruell all a quhile he lay,
And went weyle oft to hunt and play
For to purches thaim venesoun,
For than der war in sesoun.
505 In all that tyme Schyr Aymery 498
With nobill men in cumpany
Lay in Carlele hys poynt to se,
And quhen he hard the certante
That in Glentrewle wes the king
510 And went till hunt and till playing, 503
He thocht with hys chevalry
To cum apon him sodanly
And fra Carlele on nychtys ryd
And in covert on dayis bid,
515 And swagate with sic tranonting 508
He thocht he suld suppris the king.
He assemblyt a gret mengne
Off folk off full gud renomme
Bath off Scottis and Inglis-men.
520 Thar way all samyn held thai then 513
And raid on nycht sa prevely
Till thai come in a wod ner by
Glentruele, quhar logyt wes the king
That wyst rycht nocht off thar cummyng.
525 Into gret perile now is he, 518
For bot God throu his gret powste
Save him he sall be slayne or tane,
For thai war sex quhar he wes ane.

[Valence sends a woman ahead to spy, but she is discovered; Valence attacks
and is discumfitted; his captains quarrel]
Quhen Schyr Amery, as Ik haiff tauld
530 With his men that war stout and bauld 523
Wes cummyn sa ner the king that thai
War bot a myle fra him away
He tuk avisement with his menm
On quhat maner thai suld do then.
535 For he said thaim that the king was 528
Logyt into sa strayt a place
That horsmen mycht nocht him assaile
And giff futemen gaiff him bataile
He suld be hard to wyn giff he
540 Off thar cummyng may wytteryt be. 533
'Tharfor I rede all prevely
We send a woman him to spy
That pouerly arrayit be.
Scho may ask mete per cherite
545 And se thar convyn halily 538
And apon quhat maner thai ly,
The quhilis we and our menye
Cumand out-throu the wode may be
On fute all armyt as we ar.
550 May we do sua that we cum thar 543
On thaim or thai wyt our cummyng
We sall fynd in thaim na sturting.'
This consaill thocht thaim wes to best,
Then send thai furth but langer frest
555 The woman that suld be thar spy, 548
And scho hyr way gan hald in hy
Rycht to the logis quhar the king
That had na drede of supprising
Yheid unarmyt mery and blyth.
560 The woman has he sene alswyth, 553
He saw hyr uncouth and forthi
He beheld hyr mar encrely,
And be hyr ccontenance him thocht
That for gud cummyn was scho nocht.
565 Then gert he men in hy hyr ta, 558
And scho that dred men suld hyr sla
Tauld how that Schyr Amery
With the Cliffurd in cumpany
With the flour off Northummyrland
570 War cummand on thaim at thar hand. 563
Quhen that the king herd that tithing
He armyt him but mar dwelling,
Sa did thai all that ever wes thar,
Syne in a sop assemblyt ar,
575 I trow thai war thre hunder ner. 568
And quhen thai all assemblit wer
The king his baner gert display
And set his men in gud aray,
Bot thai had standyn bot a thraw
580 Rycht at thar hand quhen that thai saw 573
Thar fayis throu the wod cummand
Armyt on fute with sper in hand
That sped thaim full enforcely.
The noyis begouth sone and the cry,
585 For the gud king that formast was 578
Stoutly towart his fayis gays,
And hynt out off a mannys hand
That ner besyd him wes gangand
A bow and a braid arow als,
590 And hyt the formast in the hals 583
Till thropill and wesand yeid in twa
And doun till the erd gan ga.
The laiff with that maid a stopping,
Than but mar bad the nobill king
595 Hynt fra his baneour his banar 588
And said, 'Apon thaim, for thai ar
Discumfyt all.' With that word
He swappyt swiftly out his sword
And on thaim ran sa hardely
600 That all thai off his cumpany 593
Tuk hardyment off his gud deid,
For sum that fryst thar wayis yeid
Agayne come to the fycht in hy
And met thair fayis vigorusly
605 That all the formast ruschyt war, 598
And quhen thai that war hendermar
Saw that the formast left the sted
Thai tornyt sone the bak and fled
And out off the wod thaim withdrew.
610 The king a few men off thaim slew 603
For thai rycht sone thar gat gan ga.
It discomfortyt thaim all sua
That the king with his mengne was
All armyt to defend that place
615 that thai wend throu thar tranonting 608
Till haiff wonnyn foroutyn fechtin
That thai effrayit war sodanly,
And he thaim soucht sa angyrly
That thai in full gret hy agane
620 Out off the wod rane to the plane 613
For thaim faillyt off thar entent.
Thai war that tyme sa foully schent
That fyften hunder men and ma
With a few mengne war reboytyt sua
625 That thai withdrew thaim schamfully. 618
Tharfor amang thaim sodanly
Thar rais debate and gret distance,
Ilkan wytt other off thar myschance.
Cliffurd and Waus maid a melle
630 Quhar Cliffurd raucht him a cole 623
And athir syne drew till partys,
Bot Schyr Aymer that wes wys
Departyt thaim with mekill payn,
And went till Ingland hame again.
635 He wyst fra stryff ras thaim amang 628
He suld thaim nocht hals samyn lang
Foroutyn debate or melle,
Tharfor till Ingland turnyt he
Eith mar schame then he went of ton,
640 Quhen sa mony off sic renone 633
Saw sa few men bid thaim battaill

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 8

[The king in Kyle]
The king fra Schyr Aymer wes gane
Gadryt his menye everilkan
And left bath woddis and montanys
And held hys way strak till the planys
5 For he wald fayne that end war maid
Off that that he begunnyn had,
And he wyst weill he mycht nocht bring
It to gud end but travalling.
To Kyle went he fryst and that land
10 He maid all till him obeysand,
The men maist force come till his pes.
Syne efterwart or he wald ses
Of Conyngayme the maist party
He gert held till his senyoury.
15 In Bothweill then Schyr Aymer was
That in hys hart gret angre has
For thai off Cunyngame and Kile
That war obeysand till him quhile
Left Inglismennys fewte.
20 Tharoff fayne vengyt wald he be,
And send Philip the Mowbray
With a thousand as Ik herd say
Off men that war in his leding
To Kile for to werray the king.

[Douglas defeats Sir Philip Mowbray at Edirford]
25 Bot James of Douglas that all tid
Had spyis out on ilka sid
Wyst off thar cummyng and that thai
Wald hald doune Makyrnokis way.
He tuk with him all prevely
30 Thaim that war off his cumpany
That war fourty withoutyn ma,
Syne till a strait place gan he ga
That is in Makyrnokis way,
The Edirford it hat perfay,
35 It lyis betwix marrais twa
Quhar that na hors on lyve may ga.
On the south halff quhar James was
Is ane upgang, a narow pas,
And on the north halff is the way
40 Sa ill as it apperis today.
Douglas with thaim he with him had
Enbuschyt him and thaim abaid,
He mycht weile fer se thar cummyng
Bot thai mycht se of hym na thing.
45 Thai baid in buschement all the nycht,
And quhen the sone was schynand brycht
Thai saw in bataillyng cum arayit
The vaward with baner displayit,
And syne sone the remanand
50 Thai saw weile ner behind cummand.
Then held thai thaim still and preve
Till the formast off that mengye
War entryt in the ford thaim by,
Then schot thai on thaim with a cry
55 And with wapnys that scharply schar
Sum in the ford thai bakwart bar,
And sum with arowis barblyt braid
Sa gret martyrdome on thaim has maid
That thai gan draw to voyd the place,
60 Bot byhynd thaim sa stoppyt was
The way that thai fast mycht nocht fle,
And that gert mony off thaim de,
For thai on na wys mycht away
Bot as thai come bot giff that thai
65 Wald throu thar fayis hald the gat,
Bot that way thocht thaim all to hat.
Thar fayis met thaim sa sturdely
And contenyt the fycht sa hardily
That thai sa dredand war that thai
70 That fyrst mycht fle fyrst fled away,
And quhen the rerward saw thaim sua
Discumfyt and thar wayis ga
Thai fled on fer and held thar way.

[The flight of Sir Philip Mowbray to Inverkip]
Bot Schyr Philip the Mowbray
75 That with the formast ridand was
That entryt wes in the place,
Quhen that he saw how he wes stad
Throu the gret worschip that he had
With spuris he strak the steid off pryce
80 And magre all his ennymys
Throu the thikkest off thaim he raid,
And but challance eschapyt had
Ne war ane hynt him by the brand,
Bot he the gud steid that wald nocht stand
85 Lansyt furth deliverly.
Bot the tother sa stalwartly
Held that the belt braist off the brand
And swerd and belt left in hys hand,
And he but swerd his wayis raid
90 Weill otouth thaim and thair abaid,
And beheld how that his menye fled
And how his fayis clengyt the steid
That war betwix him and his men.
Tharfor furth the wayis tuk he then
95 To Kylmarnok and Kilwynnyne
And till Ardrossane eftre syne,
Syne throu the Largis him allane
Till Ennirkyp the way has tane
Rycht to the castell that wes then
100 Stuffyt all with Inglismen
That him resaiffyt in daynte,
And fra thai wyst howgat that he
Sa fer had rydin him allane
Throu thaim that war his fayis ilkan
105 Thai prisyt him full gretumly
And lovyt fast his chevalry.

[The reactions of Valence and King Robert]
Schyr Philip thus eschapyt was,
And Douglas yet wes in the place
Quhar he sexty has slayne and ma,
110 The layff fouly thar gat gan ga
And fled to Bothwell hame agayne
Quhar Schyr Aymer wes na thing fayn
Quhen he herd tell on that maner
That his mengne discumfyt wer.
115 Bot quhen to King Robert wes tauld
How that the Douglas that wes bauld
Vencussyt sa fele with fewe menye
Rycht joyfull in his hart wes he,
And all his menye confortyt war
120 For thaim thocht weille bath les and mar
That thai suld less thar fayis dreid
Sen thar purpos sa with thaim yeid.

[Valence challenges the king to open battle at Loudoun hill]
The king lay in Galliston
That is evyn rycht anent Loudoun
125 And till his pes tuk the cuntre.
Quhen Schyr Aymer and his menye
Hard how he ryotyt the land
And how that nane durst him withstand
He wes intill his hart angry,
130 And with ane off his cumpany
He send him word and said giff he
Durst him into the planys se
He suld the tend day of May
Cum under Loudoun hill away,
135 And giff that he wald meyt him thar
He said his worschip suld be mar,
And mar be turnyt in nobillay,
To wyn him in the playne away
With hard dintis in evyn fechtyng
140 Then to do fer mar with skulking.
The king that hard his messynger
Had dispyt apon gret maner
That Schyr Aymer spak sa heyly,
Tharfor he answeryt irusly
145 And to the messynger said he,
'Say to thi lord giff that I be
In lyfe he sall me se that day
Weyle ner giff he dar hald the way
That he has said, for sekyrly
150 Be Loudoun hill mete him sall I.'
The messinger but mare abaid
Till his maistre the wayis raid
And his answer him tauld alswith
Quharof he wes bath glaid and blyth,
155 For he thocht throu his mekill mycht
Gyff the king durst cum to fycht
That throu the gret chevalry
That suld be in his cumpany
He suld sua ourcum the king
160 That thar suld be na recovering.

[The king chooses and prepoares a battle field]
And the king on the tother party
That was all wis and averty
Raid for to se and cheis the place,
And saw the hey gat liand was
165 Apon a fayr feild evyn and dry,
Bot apon athir sid tharby
Wes a gret mos mekill and braid
That fra the way wes quhar men raid
A bow-draucht weile on ather sid,
170 And that place thocht him all to wyd
Till abyd men that horsyt war.m
Tharfor thre dykys our-thwort he schar
Fra baith the mossis to the way
That war sa fer fra other that thai
175 War ytwyn a bow-draucht or mar.
So holl and hey the dykys war
That men mycht nocht but mekill pane
Pas thaim thocht nane war thaim agan,
Bot sloppys in the way left he
180 Sa large and off sic quantite
That fyve hunder mycht samyn rid
In at the sloppis sid be sid.
Thar thocht he bataile for to bid
And bargane thaim, for he na drede
185 Had that thai suld on sid assaile
Na yeit behind giff thaim battaile,
And befor thocht him weill that he
Suld fra thar mycht defendyt be.
Thre dep dykys he gert thar ma,
190 For gyff he mycht nocht weill ourta
To mete thaim at the fyrst, that he
Suld havve the tother on his pouste,
Be than the thrid gyff it war sua
That thai had passyt the tother twa.
195 On this wys him ordanys he,
And syne assemblit his mengne
That war sex hunder fechtand men,
But rangale that wes with him then
That war als fele as thai or ma.
200 With all that mengne gan he ga
The evyn or that the bataill suld be
Till litill Loudoun quhar that he
Wald abid to se thar cummyng,
Syne with the men of his leding
205 He thocht to sped him sua that he
Suld at the dyk befor thaim be.

[The armies before the battle of Loudoun]
Schyr Aymer on the tother party
Gadryt sua gret chevalry
That he mycht be thre thousand ner
210 Armyt and dycht on gud maner,
Than as man off gret noblay
He held towart his trist his way
Quhen the set day cummyn was.
He sped him fast towart the place
215 That he nemmyt for to fycht,
The sone wes ryssyn schynand brycht
thyat schawyt on the scheldis brade
In twa eschelis ordanyt he had
The folk that he had in leding.
220 The king weile sone in the mornyng
Saw fyrst cummand thar fyrst eschele
Arrayit sarraly and weile,
And at thar bak sumdeill ner-hand
He saw the tother folowand,
225 Thar bassynettis burnyst all brycht
Agayne the son glemand off lycht,
Thar speris pennonys and thar scheldis
Off lycht enlumynyt all the feldis,
Thar best and browdyn brycht baneris
230 And hors hewyt on ser maneris
And cot-armouris off ser colour
And hawbrekis that war quhyt as flour
Maid thaim gleterand as thai war lyk
Till angelys hey off hevynnys ryk.
235 The king said, 'Lordis now ye se
How yon men throu thar gret poweste
Wald, and thai mycht fulfill thar will,
Sla us, and makys sembland thartill,
And sen we knaw thar felny
240 Ga we mete thaim sa hardily
That the stoutest of thar mengye
Off our meting abaysit be,
For gyff the formast egrely
Be met ye sall se sodanly
245 The henmaist sall abaysit be.
And thoucht that thai be ma than we
That suld abays us litill thing,
For quhen we cum to the fechting
Thar may mete us no ma than we.
250 Tharfor lordingis, ilkan suld be
Off us worthi off gret valour
For to maynteyme her our honour.
Thynkis quhat glaidschip us abidis
Gyff that we may aqs weile betidis
255 Haff victour off our fayis her,
For thar is nane than fer na ner
In all thys land that us thar doute.'
Then said thai all that stud about,
'Schyr gyff God will we sall sa do
260 That na reprov sall fall tharto.'
'Now ga we furth than,' said the king,
'Quhar He that maid off nocht all thing
Lede us and saiff us for his mycht
And help us for till hald our rycht.'
265 With that thai held thar way in hy
Weill sex hunder in cumpany
Stalwart and stout, worthi and wycht
Bot thai war all to few Ik hycht
Agayne sa fele to stand in stour
270 Ne war thar utrageous valour.

[The battle at Loudoun]
Now gais the nobill king his way
Rycht stoutly and in gud aray,
And to the formast dyk is gane
And in the slop the feld has tane.
275 The cariage and the povyrall
That war nocht worth in the bataill
Behynd him levyt he all still
Syttand all samyn on the hyll.
Schyr Aymer the king has sene
280 With his men that war cant and kene
Come to the playne doune fra the hill
As him thocht in full gud will
For to defend or to assaile
Gyff ony wald him bid bataill.
285 Tharfor his men confortit he
And bad thaim wycht and worthi be,
For gyff that thai mycht wyne the king
And haiff victour off his fechting
Thai suld rycht weile rewardyt be
290 And ek gretly thar renomme.
With that thai war weill ner the king
And he left his amonesting
And gert trump to the assemble,
And the formest off his mengne
295 Enbrasyt with the scheldis braid
And rycht sarraly togydder raid
With heid stoupand and speris straucht
Rycht to the king thar wayis raucht,
That met thaim with sa gret vigour
300 That the best and off maist valour
War laid at erd at thar meting
Quhar men mycht her sic a breking
Off speris that to-fruschyt war
And the woundyt sa cry and rar
305 That it anoyus wes to her
For thai that fyrst assemblyt wer
Fwyngyt and faucht full sturdely.
The noyis begouth then and the cry.

[The victory of King Robert]
A! mychty God quha thar had bene
310 And had the kingis worschip sene
And his brodyr that waine him by
That stonayit thaim sa hardely
That thair gud deid and thair bounte
Gaiff gret confort to thar mengye,
315 And how Douglas sa manlily
Confortyt thaim that war him by,
He suld weile say that thai had will
To wyn honour and cum thar-till.
The kingis men sa worthi war
320 That with speris that scharply schar
Thai stekit men and stedis baith
Till rede blud ran off woundis raith.
The hors that woundyt war gan fling
And ruschyt thar folk in thar flynging
325 Sua that thai that the formast war
War skalyt in soppys her and thar.
The king that saw thaim ruschyt sua
And saw thaim reland to and fra
Ran apon thaim sa egrely
330 And dang on thaim sa hardely
That fele gart off his fayis fall.
The feild wes ner coveryt all
Bath with the slane hors and with men,
For the gud king thar folowit then
335 With fyve hunder that wapnys bar
That wald thar fayis na thing spar.
Thai dang on thaim sa hardely

That in schort tyme men mycht se ly

At erd ane hunder and wele mar.
340 The remanand sa fleyit war
That thai begouth thaim to withdraw,
And quhen thai off the rerward saw
Thar vaward be sa discumfyt
Thai fled foroutyn mar respyt
345 And quhen Schyr Aymer has sene
His men fleand haly beden
Wyt ye weile him wes full way
Bot he moucht nocht ammonys sway
That ony for him walde torne agane,
350 He turnyt his bridill and to-ga,
For the gud king thaim presit sua
That sum war dede and sum war tane
And the laiff thar gat ar gane

[Valence resigns his keepership and returns to England]
355 The folk fled apon this maner
Forout arest and Schir Aymer
Agane to Boithweill is gane
Menand the scaith that he has tane
Sa schamfull that he vencusit wais
360 That till Ingland in hy he gais
Rycht to the king and schamfully
He gaff up thar his wardanry,
Na nevyr syne for nakyn thing
Bot giff he come rycht with the king
365 Come he to werray Scotland,
Sa hevyly he tuk on hand
That the king into set battaill
With a quhone lik to poverall
Vencusyt him with a gret menye
370 That war renonyt off gret bounte.
Sic anoy had Schyr Amery,
And King Robert that wes hardy
Abaid rycht still into the place
Till that his men had left the chace,
375 Syne with presonaris that thai had tane
Thai ar towart thar innys gane
Fast lovand God off thar weilfar.
He mycht haiff sene that had bene thar
A folk that mery wes and glaid
380 For thar victour, and als thai haid
A lord that sa swete wes and deboner
Sa curtais and off sa fayr effer
Sa blyth and als weill bourdand
And in bataill sa styth to stand
385 Sua wys and rycht sua avisé
That thai had gret cause blyth to be.
Sua war thai blyth withoutyn dout,
For fele that wynnyt thaim about
Fra thai the king saw help him sua
390 Till him thar homage gan thai ma.

[The king decides to go north across the Mounth]
Than woux his power mar and mar,
And he thoucht weile that he wald far
Oute-our the Mounth with his menye
To luk quha that his frend wald be.
395 Into Schyr Alexander Fraser
He traistyt for thai cosyngis wer
And his broder Symon, thai twa.
He had mystre weile of ma
For he had fayis mony ane.
400 Schir Jhon Cumyn erle off Bouchquhane
And Schyr Jhon the Mowbray syne
And gus Schyr David off Brechyne
With all the folk off thar leding
War fayis to the noble king,
405 And for he wyst thai war his fayis
His viage thidderwart he tais,
For he wald se quhatkyn ending
Thai wald set on thar manassing.
The king buskyt and maid him yar
410 Northwartis with his folk to far,
His brodyr gan he with him ta
And Schyr Gilbert de le Hay alsua,
The erle off Levenax als wes thar
That with the king was our-all-quhar,
415 Schyr Robert Boyd and other ma.

[Douglas returns to Douglasdale, to trick the garrison of Douglas Castle]
The king gan furth his wayis ta,
And left James off Douglas
With all the folk that with him was
Behind him for to luk giff he
420 Mycht recover his countre.
He left into full gret perill,
Bot eftre in a litill quhile
Throu his gret worschip sa he wrocht
That to the kingis pes he brocht
425 The forest of Selcrik all hale,
And alsua did he Douglasdale
And Jedworthis forest alsua.
And quha-sa weile on hand couth ta
To tell his worschippis ane and ane
430 He suld fynd off thaim mony ane,
For in his tyme as men said me
Thretten tymys vencusyt wes he
And had victouris sevin and fyfty.
Hym semyt nocht lang ydill to ly,
435 Be his travaill he had na will,
Me think men suld him love with skill.
This James quhen the king wes gane
All prevely his men has tane
And went to Douglas daile agane,
440 And maid all prevely a trane
Till thaim that in the castell war.
A buschement slely maid he thar,
And off his men fourtene or ma
He gert as thai war sekkis ta
445 Fyllyt with gres, and syne thaim lay
Apon thar hors and hald thar way
Rycht as thai wald to Lanark far
Outouth quhar thai enbuschyt war.

[The garrison comes out]
And quhen thai off the castell saw
450 Sa fele ladys gang on raw
Off that sycht thai war wonder fayn
And tald it to thar capitane
That hate Schyr Jhone of Webetoun.
He wes baith yong stoute and felloun
455 Joly alsua and valageous,
And for that he wes amorous
He wald isch fer the blythlyar.
He gert his men tak all thar ger
And isch to get thaim vittaille,
460 For thar vittaile gan fast thaim faile.
Thai ischyt all abandounly
And prykkyt furth sa wilfully
To wyn the ladys that thai saw pas
Quhill that Douglas with his was
465 All betwix thaim and the castell.
The laid-men that persavyt weill,
Thai kest thar ladys doun in hy,
And thar gownys deliverly
That heylyt thaim thai kest away,
470 And in gret hy thar hors hint thai
And stert apon thaim sturdely
And met thar fayis with a cry
That had gret wonder quhen thai saw
Thaim that war er lurkand sa law
475 Cum apon thaim sa hardely.
Thai woux abaysit sodanly
And at the castell wald haiff bene,
Quhen thai on other halff has sene
Douglas brak his enbuschement
480 That agayne thaim rycht stoutly went.
Thai wyst nocht quhat to do na say,
Thar fayis on athir sid saw thai
That strak on thaim foroutyn sparing,
And thai mycht help thaim selvyn na thing
485 Bot fled to warrand quhar thai mocht,
And thai sa angryly thaim socht
That off thaim all eschapyt nane.

[The letter of Webiton, the taking of the castle and the freeing of its
garrison]
Schyr Jhoun Webetoun thar wes slane,
And quhen he dede wes as ye her
490 Thai fand intill his coffeir
A lettyr that him send a lady
That he luffyt per drouery,
492a The letter spak on this maner 493*
That said quhen he had yemyt a yer
In wer as a gud bachiller
494a And governit weill in all maner 495*
495 The aventuris castell off Douglas
That to kepe sa peralus was
Than mycht he weile ask a lady
Hyr amouris and hyr drouery,
The lettyr spak on this maner.
500 And quhen thai slayne on this wyse wer
Douglas rycht to the castell raid
And thar sa gret debate he maid
That in the castell entryt he,
I wate nocht all the certante
505 Quhethyr it was throu strenth or slycht,
Bot he wrocht sua with mekill mycht
That the constabill and all the laiff
That war tharin, bath man and knav
He tuk and gaiff thaim dispending
510 And sent thaim hamr but mar greving
To the Cliffurd in thar countre.
And syne sa besily wrocht he
That he tumblyt doun all the wall
And destroyit the housis all,
515 Syne till the Forest held his way
Quhar he had mony ane hard assay
And mony fayr poynt off wer befell.
Quha couth thaim all rehers or tell
He suld say that his name suld be
520 Lestand into full gret renoune.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 9

[The king goes to Inverurie and falls ill]
Now leve we intill the Forest
Douglas that sall bot litill rest
Till the countre deliveryt be
Off Inglis folk and thar powste,
5 And turne we till the noble king
That with the folk off his leding
Towart the Month has tane his wai
Rycht stoutly and intill gud array,
Quhar Alysander Frayser him met
10 And als his broder Symonet
With all the folk thai with thaim had.
The king gud contenance thaim made
That wes rycht blyth off thar cummyne.
Thai tauld the king off the convyne
15 Off Jhone Cumyn erle of Bouchane
That till help him had with him tane
Schyr Jhon Mowbray and other ma,
Schyr David off Brechyn alsua,
With all the folk off thar leding,
20 'And yarnys mar na ony thing
Vengeance off you, schyr king, to tak
For Schyr Jhone the Cumyn his sak
That quhylum in Drumfres wes slayn.'
The king said, 'Sa our Lord me sayn,
25 Ik had gret caus him for to sla,
And sen that thai on hand will ta
Becaus off him to werray me
I sall thole a quhile and se
On quhat wys that thai pruve thar mycht,
30 And giff it fall that thai will fycht
Giff thai assaile we sall defend,
Syne fall eftre quhat God will send.'
Eftre this spek the king in hy
Held straucht his way till Enrowry,
35 And thar him tuk sik a seknes
That put him to full hard distress.
He forbar bath drynk and mete,
His men na medicyne couth get
That ever mycht to the king availe,
40 His force gan him halyly faile
That he mycht nother rid na ga.
Then wyt ye that his men war wa,
For nane wes in that cumpany
That wald haiff bene halff sa sary
45 For till haiff sene his broder ded
Lyand befor him in that steid
As thai war for his seknes,
For all thar confort in him wes.
Bot gud Schyr Edward the worthy
50 His broder that wes sa hardy
And wys and wycht set mekill payn
To comfort thaim with all his mayn,
And quhen the lordis that thar war
Saw that the ill ay mar and mar
55 Travaillyt the king, thaim thocht in hy
It war nocht spedfull thar to ly,
For thar all playne wes the countre
And thai war bot a few menye
To ly but strenth into the playne.
60 Forthi till that thar capitane
War coveryt off his mekill ill
Thai thocht to wend sum strenthis till.

[A reflection on leadership; the king goes to Slioch]
For folk foroutyn capitane
Bot thai the better be apayn
65 Sall nocht be all sa gud in deid
As thai a lord had thaim to leid
That dar put him in aventur
But abaysing to tak the ure
That God will send, for quhen that he
70 Off sic will is and sic bounte
That he dar put him till assay
His folk sall tak ensample ay
Off his gud deid and his bounte,
And ane off thaim sall be worth thre
75 Off thaim that wikkyt chifftane hais,
His wrechytnes sa in thaim gais
That thai thar manlynes sall tyn
throu wrechitnes of his convyn.
For quhen the lord that thaim suld leid
80 May do nocht bot as he that war ded
Or fra his folk haldis his way
Fleand, trow ye nocht than that thai
Sall vencusyt in thar hartis be.
Yis sall thai, as I trow per de,
85 Bot giff thar hartis be sa hey
That thai na will for thar worschip flei,
And thaocht sum be of sic bounte
Quhen thai the lord and his menye
Seys fley, yeit sall thai fley apayn
90 For all men fleis the deid rycht fayne.
Se quhat he dois that sua foully
Fleys thus for his cowardy,
Bath him and his vencusys he
And gerris his fayis aboune be.
95 Bot he that throu his gret noblay
Till perallis him abandounys ay
To recomfort his menye
Gerris thame be off sa gret bounte
That mony tyme unlikly thing
100 Tha bring rycht weill to gud ending.
Sa did this king that Ik off reid,
And for his utrageous manheid
Confortyt his on sic maner
That nane had radnes quhar he wer.
105 Thai wald nocht fecht till that he wes 105*
Liand intill his seknes, 105
Tharfor in litter thai him lay
And till the Slevauch hald thar way
And thocht thar in that strenth to ly
110 Till passyt war his malady. 109

[The skirmishing at Slioch]
Bot fra the erle of Buchane
Wyst that thai war thidder gane
And wyst that sa sek wes the king
That men doutyt off his covering,
115 He sent eftre his men in hy 114
And assemblyt a gret cumpany,
For all his awine men war thar
And all his frendis with him war,
That wes Schir Jhonne the Mowbray
120 And his brodyr as Ik hard say 119
And Schyr David off Brechynge
With fele folk in thar ledyng.
And quhen thai all assemblit war
In hy thai tuk thar way to far
125 To the Slevauch with all thar men` 124
For till assaile the king that then
Wes liand intill his seknes.
This wes eftyr the Martymes
Quhen snaw had helyt all the land.
130 To the Slevauch thai come ner-hand 129
Arayit on thar best maner
And thane the kingis men that wer
War off thar come thaim apparaylyt
To defend giff thai thaim assaylyt
135 And nocht-forthi thar fayis war 134
Ay twa for ane that thai war thar.
The erlys men ner cummand war
Trumpand and makand mekill far
And maid knychtis quhen thai war ner,
140 And thai that in the woddis sid wer 139
Stud in aray rycht sarraly
And thocht to byd thar hardyly
The cummyng off thar ennymys,
Bot thai wald apon nakyn wys
145 Ische till assaile thaim in fechting 144
Till coveryt war the nobill king,
Bot and othir wald thaim assailye
Thai wald defend vailye que vailye.
And quhen the erlis cumpany
150 Saw that thai wrocht sa wisely 149
That thai thar strenth schupe to defend,
Thar archeris furth to thaim thai send
To bykkyr thaim and men off mayn,
And thai send archeris thaim agayne
155 That bykkyrryt thaim sa sturdely 154
Till thai off the erlis party
Intill thar bataill dryvyn war.
Thre dayis on this wys lay thai thar
And bykkyryt thaim everilk day
160 Bot thar bowmen the war had ay. 159
And quhen the kingis cumpany
Saw thar fayis befor thaim ly
That ilk day wox ma and ma,
And thai war quhone and stad war sua
165 That thai had na thing for till eyt 164
Bot giff thai travaillit it to get,
Tharfor thai tuk consale into hy
That thar wald thai na langer ly
Bot hald thar way quhar thai mycht get
170 To thaim and tharis vittaillis and mete. 169

[The king withdraws from Slioch]
In a littar the king thai lay
And redyit thaim and held thar way
That all thar fayis mycht thaim se,
Ilk man buskyt him in his degre
175 To fycht giff thai assaillyt war. 174
In myddis thaim the king thai bar
And yeid about him sarraly
And nocht full gretly thaim gan hy.
The erle and thai that with him war
180 Saw that thai buskit thaim to far, 179
And saw how with sa litill effray
Thai held furth with the king thar way
Redy to fycht quha wald assaile.
Thar hartis begouth all to faile
185 And in pes lete thaim pas thar way 184
And till thar housis hame went thai.

[The king goes to Strathbogie then to Inverurie]
The erle his way tuk to Bouchane,
And Schyr Edward the Bruce is gane
Rycht to Strabolghy with the king
190 And sua lang thar maid sojorning 189
Till he begouth to covyr and ga,
And syne thar wayis gan thai ta
Till Innerroury straucht agane
For thai wald ly into the plane,
195 The wynter sesone, for vittaile 194
Intill the plane mycht thaim nocht faile.
The erle wyst that thai war thar
And gaderyt a mengne her and thar.
Brechyne and Mowbray and thar men
200 All till the erle assemblyt then 199
And war a full gret cumpany
Off men arayit jolyly.
Till Auld Meldrum thai yeid the way
And thar with thar men logit thai
205 Befoir Yhule evyn a nycht but mar, 204
A thousand trow I weile thai war.
Thai logyt thaim all thar that nycht
And on the morn quhen day wes lycht
The lord off Brechyn Schyr Davy
210 Is went towart Innerroury 209
To luk gyff he on ony wys
Mycht do skaith till his ennymys,
And till the end off Innerroury
Come ridand sa sodanly
215 That off the kingis men he slew 214
A part, and other sum thaim withdrew
And fled thar way towart the king
That with the maist off his gadryng
On the yond half Doun wes than lyand.

[Preparation for battle]
220 And quhen men tauld him tithand 219
How Schyr Davy had slayn his men
His hors in hy he askyt then
And bad his men all mak thaim yar
Into gret hy, for he wald far
225 To bargane with his ennymys. 224
With that he buskyt for to rys
That wes nocht all weill coveryt then.
Then said sum off his preve men,
'Quhat think ye thusgat to far
230 To fycht and nocht yeit coveryt ar.' 229
'Yhis,' said the king, 'withoutyn wer,
Thar bost has maid me haile and fer,
For suld na medicyne sa sone
Haiff coveryt me as thai haiff done.
235 Tharfor, sa God himself me se, 234
I sall othir haiff thaim or thai me.'
And quhen his men has hard the king
Set him sa hale for the fechting,
Off his coveryng all blyth thai war
240 And maid thaim for the battaill yar. 239

[The battle of Old Meldrum]
The nobill king and his mengye
That mycht weile ner sevin hunder be
Towart Auld Meldrum tuk the way
Wuhar the erle and his menye lay.
245 The discurrouris saw thaim cummand 244
With baneris to the wynd wavand
And yeid to thar lord in hy
That gert arme hys men hastely
And thaim arayit for battaile,
250 Behind thaim set thai thar merdale 249
And maid gud sembland for to fycht.
The king come on with mekill mycht
And thai abaid makand gret fayr
Till thai ner at assembling wayr,
255 Bot quhen thai saw the nobill king 254
Cum stoutly on foroutyn fenyeing
A litill on bridill thai thaim withdrew,
And the king that rycht weill knew
That thai war all discumfyt ner
260 Pressyt on thaim with his baner 259
And thai withdrew mar and mar.
And quhen the small folk thai had thar
Saw thar lordis withdraw them sua
Thai turnyt the bak all and to-ga
265 And fled all scalyt her and thar. 264
The lordis that yeyt togydder war
Saw that thar small folk war fleand
And saw the king stoutly cummand,
Thai war ilkane abaysit swa
270 That thai the bak gave and to-ga, 269
A litill stound samyn held thai
And syne ilk man has tane his way.
Fell never men sa foule myschance
Eftre sa sturdy contenance
275 For quhen the kingis cumpany 274
Saw that thai fled sa foulyly
Thai chasyt thaim with all thair mayn
And sum thai tuk and sum has slayn.
The remanand war fleand ay,
280 Quha had gud hors gat best away. 279
Till Ingland fled the erle of Bouchquhane
Shyr Jhon Mowbray is with him gane
And war resett with the king,
Bot thai had bath bot schort lesting
285 For thai deyt sone eftre syne. 284
And Schyr David off Brechyne
Fled till Brechyne his awine castell
And warnyst it bath fayr and weill,
Bot the erle of Atholl, Davy,
290 His sone that wes in Kildromy 289
Come syne and him assegyt thar,
And he that wald hald were ne mar
Na bargane with the nobile king
Come syne his man with gud treting.

[The ravaging of Buchan; the taking of Forfar Castle]
295 Now ga we to the king agayne 294
That off his victory wes rycht fayn,
And gert his men bryn all Bowchane
Fra end till end and sparyt nane,
And heryit thaim on sic maner
300 That eftre weile fyfty yer 299
Men menyt the herschip off Bouchane.
The king than till his pes has tane
The north cuntreys that humbly
Obeysyt till his senyoury
305 Sua that benorth the Month war nane 304
Then thai his men war everilkan,
His lordschip wox ay mar and mar.
Towart Angus syne gan he far
And thocht sone to mak all fre
310 That wes on the north halff the Scottis se. 309
The castell off Forfayr wes then
Stuffyt all with Inglismen,
Bot Philip the Forestar of Platane
Has off his freyndis with him tane
315 And with leddrys all prevely 314
Till the castell he gan him hy
And clam up our the wall off stane
And swagate has the castell tane
Throu faute off wach with litill pane,
320 And syne all that he fand has slayne 319
Syne yauld the castell to the king
That maid him rycht gud rewarding,
And syne gert brek doun the wall
And fordyd well and castell all.

[The king goes to Perth and besieges it]
325 Quhen that the castell off Forfar 324
And all the towris tumblyt war
Down till the erd as Ik haiff tauld
The king that wycht wes wys and bauld
That thocht that he wald mak all fre
330 Apon the northhalff the Scottis se 329
Till Perth is went with all his rout
And umbeset the toun about
And till it a sege has set.
Bot quhill it mycht haiff men and met
335 It mycht nocht but gret payne be tane 334
For all the wall wes then of stane
And wycht towris and hey-standand,
And that tyme war tharin dwelland
Muschet and als Olyfard,
340 Thai twa the toun had all in ward 339
And off Straitherne als the erle wes thar,
Bot his sone and off his men war
Without intill the kingis rowt.
Thar wes oft bekering styth and stout
345 And men slayne apon ilk party, 344
Bot the gud king that all wytty
Wes in his dedis everilkane
Saw the wallis sa styth off stane
And saw defens that thai gan ma
350 And how the toun wes hard to ta 349
With opyn sawt strenth or mycht.

Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht,

And in all tyme that he thar lay
He spyit and slely gert assay
355 Quhar at the dyk schaldest was, 354
Till at the last he fand a place
That men mycht till thar schuldris wad.
And quhen he that place fundyn had
He gert his men busk ilkane
360 Quhen sex woukis off the sege war gane, 359
And tursyt thar harnes halyly
And left the sege all opynly
And furth with all his folk gan fayr
As he wald do tharto no mayr.
365 And thai tha war within the toun 364
Quhen thai to fayr sa saw him boun
Thai schoutit him and skornyn mad,
And he furth on his wayis rad
As he ne had will agayne to turn
370 Na besyd thaim mak sojourn. 369

[The assault on Perth]
Bot in aucht dayis nocht-forthi
He gert mak leddrys prevely
That mycht suffice till his enent,
And in a myrk nycht syne is went
375 Toward the toun with his menye 374*
Bath hors and knafis all left he 375*
Fer fra the toun, and syne has tane 376*
Thair ledderis and on fut ar gane 377*
Towart the toun all prevely. 374
380 Thai hard na wachys spek na cry 375
For thai war within may-fall
As men that dred nocht slepand all.
Thai haid na dreid then off the king
For thai off him herd na thing
385 All thai thre dayis befor or mar, 380
Thairfor sekyr and traist thai war.
And quhen the king thaim hard nocht ster
He was blyth on gret maner,
And his ledder in hand gan ta
390 Ensample till his men to ma, 385
Arayit weill in all his ger
Schot in the dik and with his sper
Taistyt till he it our-woud,
Bot till his throt the watyr stud.
395 That tyme wes in his cumpany 390
Aknycht off France wycht and hardy,
And quhen he in the watyr sua
Saw the king pas and with him ta
His ledder unabasytly,
400 He saynyt him for the ferly 395
And said, 'A, lord, quhat sall we say
Off our lordis off Fraunce that thai
With gud morsellis fayrcis thar pawnce
And will bot ete and drink and dawnce
405 Quhen sic a knycht and sa worthy 400
As this throu his chevalry
Into sic perell has him set
To win a wrechyt hamillet.'
With that word to the dik he ran
410 And our efter the king he wan, 405
And quhen the kingis menye saw
Thar lord out-our intill a thraw
Thai passyt the dik and but mar let
Thar leddrys to the wall thai set
415 And to clymb up fast pressyt thai, 410
Bot the gud king as I herd say
Was the secund man tuk the wall
And bad thar till his mengye all
War cummyn up in full gret hy.

[The king takes Perth; his treatment of the townsfolk]
420 Yeit than rais nother noyis na cry, 415
Bot sone efter thai noyis maid
That off thaim fyrst persaving had
Swa that the cry rais throu the toun,
Bot he that with his men wes boun
425 Till assaill to thte toun is went 420
And the maist off his menye sent
All scalyt throu the toun, bot he
Held with himselvyn a gret mengne
Sa that he moucht be ay purvayit
430 To defend giff he war assayit. 425
Bot thai that he send throu the toun
Put to sa gret confusioun
Thar fayis that in beddis war
Or scalyt fleand her and thar
435 That or the sone rais thai had tane 430
Thar fayis or discumfyt ilkane.
The wardanys bath tharin war tane,
And Malice off Straithern is gane
Till his fadyr the Erle Malice
440 And with strenth tuk him and his, 435
Syne for his sak the noble king
Gave him his in governyng.
The lave that ran out-throu the toun
Sesyt to thaim into gret fusoun
445 Men and armyng and marchandis 440
And other gud on syndry wys,
Quhill thai that er war pour and bar
Off that gud rych and mychty war,
Bot thar wes few slayne for the king,
450 That thaim had gevyn in commanding 445
On gret payne that thai suld slay nane
That but gret bargane mycht be tane.
That thai war kynd to the countre
He wyst and off thaim had pite.

[The king controls Scotland north of the Forth]
455 On this maner the toun wes tane 450
And syne towris everilkane
And wallis gert he tumble down.
He levyt nocht about that town
Towr standand na stane na wall
460 That ne haly gert stroy thaim all, 455
And presonerys that thar tuk he
He send quhar thai mycht haldyn be,
And till his pes tuk all the land.
Wes nane that durst him than withstand
465 Apon northhalff the Scottis se, 460
All obeysyt till his majeste
Outane the lord of Lorn and thai
Off Arghile that wald with him ga.
He held him ay agayne the king
470 And hatyt him atour all thing, 465
Bot yete or all the gamyn ga
I trow weill that the king sall ta
Vengeance off his gret cruelte,
And that him sar repent sall he
475 That he the king contraryit ay, 470
May-fall quhen he it mend na may.

[Edward Bruce's reputation; he goes to Galloway]
The kingis broder, quhen the toun
Wes takyn thus and dongyn doun,
Schyr Edward that wes sa worthy
480 Tuk with him a gret cumpany 475
And tuk his gayt till Galloway,
For with his men he wald assay
Giff he mycht recover that land
And wyn it fra Inglismennys hand.
485 This Schyr Edward forsuth Ik hycht 480
Wes off his hand a noble knycht
And in blythnes suete and joly,
Bot he wes outrageous hardy
And of sa hey undretaking
490 That he haid never yeit abaysyng 485
Off multitud off men, forthi
He discumfyt commounly
Mony with quhone, tharfor had he
Out-over his peris renomme.
495 And quha wald rehers all the deid 490
Off his hey worschip and manheid
Men mycht a mekill romanys mak,
And nocht-forthi I think to tak
On hand Off him to say sum thing
500 Bot nocht tende part his travalyn. 495
This gud knycht that I spek off her
With all the folk that with him wer
Weill sone to Galloway cummyn is,
All that he fand he makyt his
505 And ryotyt gretly the land. 500
Bot than in Galloway war wonnand
Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that wes
Renommyt off sa hey prowes
that he off worschippassyt the rowt,
510 Tharfor he gert ay ber about 505
Apon a sper a rede bonet
Into takyn that he wes set
Into the hycht off chevalry,
And off Saynct Jhone als Schyr Aymry.

[The battle by the Cree]
515 Thir twa the land had in stering, 510
And quhen thai hard off the cummyng
Off Schyr Edward that sa playnly
Oure-raid the land, thare in gret hy
Thai assemblyt all thar mengne,
520 I trow tuelf hunder thai mycht be. 515
Bot he with fewar folk thaim met
Besyd Cre and sa hard thaim set
With hard battaill and stalwart fycht
That he thaim all put to the flycht
525 And slew twa hunder wrill and ma, 520
And the chyftanys in hy gan ta
Thar way to Buttill for to be
Thar resavyt to sawfte,
And Schyr Edward thaim chasit fast,
530 Bot till the castell at the last 525
Gat Schyr Ingrahame and Schyr Amery,
Bot the best off thar cumpany
Left ded behind thaim in the place.
And quhen Schyr Edward saw the chace
535 Wes falyt he gert seys the pray 530
And sua gret cattell had away
That it war wonder for to se.
Out of Buttill thai saw how he
Gert his men dryve with him thar pray
540 Bot na let tharin mycht thai. 535
Throu his chevalrous chevalry
Galloway wes stonayit gretumly
And he dowtyt for his bounte.
Sum off the men off the countre
545 Cum till his pes and maid him aith. 540
Bot Schyr Amery that had the skaith
Off the bargane I tauld off er,
Raid till Ingland till purches ther
Off armyt men gret cumpany
550 To veng him off the velany 545
That Schyr Edward that noble knycht
Him did by Cre into the fycht.
Off gud men he assemblit thar
Weill fyften hunder men and mar
555 That war rycht of gud renowne. 550
His way with all that folk tuk he,
And in the land all prevely
Entryt with tha chevalry
Thynkand Schyr Edward to suppris
560 Giff that he moucht on ony wis 555
For he thocht he wald him assaile
Or that he left in playn bataill.

[In a second encounter Edward Bruce defeats a much larger force]
Now may ye her off gret ferly
And off rycht hey chevalry,
565 For Schyr Edward into the land 560
Wes with his mengne rycht ner-hand,
And in the mornyng rycht arly
Herd the countre men mak cry
And had wyttryng off thar cummyng.
570 Than buskyt he him but delaying 565
And lapp on hors deliverly,
He had than in toute fyfty
All apon gud hors armyt weill,
His small folk gert he ilk-deill
575 Withdraw thaim till a strait thar-by, 570
And he raid furth with his fyfty.
A knycht that then was in his rowt
Worthi and wycht stalwart and stout
Curtais and fayr and off gud fame
580 Schyr Alane off Catkert be name 575
Tauld me this taile as I sall tell.
Gret myst into the mornyng fell
Sa thai mycht nocht se thaim by
For myst a bow-draucht fullely.
585 Sa hapnyt that thai fand the trais 580
Quhar at the rowt furth passyt wais
Off thair fayis that forouth raid.
Schyr Edward that gret yarnyn had
All tymys to do chevalry
590 With all his rout in full gret hy 585
Folowyt the trais quhar gane war thai,
And befor mydmorne off the day
The myst wox cler all sodanly
And than he and his cumpany
595 War nocht a bowdraucht fra the rout. 590
than schot thai on thaim with a schout,
For gyff thai fled thai wyst that thai
Suld nocht weill feyrd part get away,
Tharfor in aventur to dey
600 He wald him put or he wald fle. 595
And quhen the Inglis cumpany
Saw on thaim cum sa sodanly
Sik folk foroutyn abaysyng
Thai war stonayt for effrayng,
605 And the tother but mar abaid 600
Swa hardely amang thaim raid
That fele off thaim till erd thai bar.
Stonayit sa gretly than thai war
Throu the force off that fyrst assay
610 That thai war intill gret effray, 605
And wend be fer thai had bene ma
For that thai war assailit sua.
Quhen thai had thyrlyt thaim hastily
Than Schyr Edwardis cumpany
615 Set stoutly in the heid agayne, 610
And at that cours borne doune and slayn
War off thar fayis a gret party
That thai effrayit war sa gretly
That thsi war scalyt gretly then.
620 And quhen Schyr Edward and his men 615
Saw thaim intill sa evill aray
The thrid tyme on thaim prekyt thai,
And thai that saw thaim sa stouly
Come on dred thaim sa gretumly
625 That all thar rowt bath les and mar 620
Fled prekand scalyt her and thar.

Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy

To bid, bot all comonaly
Fled to warand, and he gan chas
630 That wilfull to distroy thaim was 625
And sum he tuk and sum war slayn,
Bot Schyr Amery with mekill payn
Eschapyt and his gat in gayn.
His men discumfyt war ilkane,
635 Sum tane, sum slayne, sum gat away, 630
It wes a rycht fayr poynt perfay.

[A comment on Edward Bruce in Galloway]
Lo! how hardyment tane sa sudandly
And drevyn to the end scharply
May ger oftsys unlikly thingis
640 Cum to rycht fayr and gud endingis 635
As it fell into this cas her.
For hardyment withoutyn wer
Wan fyften hunder with fyfty
Quhar ay for ane thar wes thretty,
645 And twa men ar a mannys her, 640
Bot ure thaim led on swilk maner
That thai discumfyt war ilkane.
Schyr Amery hame his gat is gane
Rycht blyth that he swa gat away,
650 I trow he sall nocht mony day 645
Haiff will to werray that countre,
With-thi Schyr Edward tharin be.
And he dwelt furth into the land
Thaim that rebell war werrayand,
655 And in a yer sa werrayit he 650
That he wane quyt that countre
Till his broderys pes the king.
Bot that wes nocht but hard fechting,
For in that tyme thar him befell
660 Mony fayr poynt as Ik herd tell 655
The quhilk that ar nocht writyn her,
Bot I wate weile that in that yer
Thretten castellis with strenth he wan
And ourcome mony a mody man.
665 Quha-sa off him the south will reid, 660
Had he had mesure in his deid
I trow that worthyar then he
Mycht nocht in his tym fundyn be
Outakyn his broder anerly,
670 To quham into chevalry 665
Lyk wes nane in his day,
For he led him with mesur ay,
And with wyt his chevalry
He governyt sa worthily
675 That he oft full unlikly thing 670
Broucht rycht weill to gud ending.

[Douglas in the Forest surrounds and takes enemy Scots in a house]
In all this tyme James of Douglas
In the Forest travaland was,
And it throu hardiment and slycht
680 Occupyit all magre the mycht 675
Off his fell fayis, the-quhether thai
Set him full oft in full hard assay,
Bot oft throu wyt and throu bounte
His purpos to gud end brocht he.
685 Intill that tyme him fell throu cas 680
On ane nycht as he travaland was
And thocht till haiff tane resting
In ane hous on the watyr off Lyne
And as he come with his mengne
690 Ner-hand the hous sua lysnyt he 685
And herd thair sawis ilke deill,
And be that he persavyt weill
That thai war strang men that thar
That nycht tharin herbryd war.
695 And as he thocht it fell per cas, 690
For off Bonkle the lord thar was
Alexander Stewart hat he
With other twa off gret bounte,
Thomas Randell off gret renowne
700 And Adam alsua off Gordoune, 695
That thar come with gret cumpany
And thocht into the Forest to ly
And occupy it throu thar mycht,
And with travaill and stalwart fycht
705 Chace Douglas out of that countre. 700
Bot otherwayis then yeid the gle
For quhen James had wittering
That strang men had taken herbryng
In the place that he schup him to ly
710 He to the hous went hastily 705
And umbeset it all about.
Quhen thai within hard swilk a rout
About the hous thai rais in hy
And tuk thar ger rycht hastily
715 And schot furth fra thai harnasyt war. 710
Thar fayis thaim met with wapnys bar
And assaylit rycht hardely
And thai defendyt douchtely
With all thar mycht, till at the last
720 Thar fayis pressyt thaim sa fast 715
That thar folk failyt thaim ilkane.

Thomas Randell thar wes tane

And Alexander Stewart alsua
Woundyt in a place or twa.
725 Adam of Gordoun fra the fycht 720
Quhat throu his strenth and his mycht
Eschapyt and ser off thar men,
Bot thai that war arestyt then
War off thar taking wondre wa,
730 Bot neidlingis behovit it be sua. 725

[Thomas Randolph upbraids the king]
That nycht the gud lord off Douglas
Maid to Schyr Alysander that was
His emys sone rycht glaidsome cher,
Sua did he als withoutyn wer
735 Till Thomas Randell for that he 730
Wes to the king in ner degre
Off blud, for his sistre him bar,
And on the morne foroutyn mar
Towart the noble king he raid
740 And with him bath thai twa he haid. 735
The king off his present wes blyth
And thankyt him weill fele syth,
And till his nevo gan he say,
'Thou has ane quhill renyid thi fay,
745 Bot thou reconsalit now mon be.' 740
Then till the king answerit he
And said, 'Ye chasty me, bot ye
Aucht bettre chastyt for to be,
For sene ye werrayit the king
750 Off Ingland, in playne fechtyng 745
Ye suld pres to derenyhe rycht
And nocht with cowardy na with slycht.'
The king said, 'Yeit may-fall it may
Cum or oucht lang to sic assay.
755 Bot sen thou spekys sa rudly 750
It is gret skyll men chasty
Thai proud wordis till that thou knaw
The rycht and bow it as thou aw.'
The king foroutyn mar delaying
760 Send him to be in ferme keping 755
Quhar that he allane suld be,
Nocht all apon his powste fre.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 10

[Preparations for battle against John of Lorn]
Quhen Thomas Randell on this wis
Wes takyn as Ik her devys
And send to dwell in gud keping
For spek that he spak to the king,
5 The gud king that thocht on the scaith
The dispyt and felny bath
That Jhone off Lorne had till him doyn
His ost assemblyt he then sone
And towart Lorn he tuk the way
10 With his men intill gud aray.
Bot Jhone off Lorn off his cummyng
Lang or he come had wittering,
And men on ilk sid gadryt he
I trow twa thousand thai mycht be
15 And send thaim for to stop the way
Quhar the gud king behovyt away,
And that wes in an evill plas
That sa strayt and sa narow was
That twasum samyn mycht nocht rid
20 In sum place off the hillis sid.
The nethyr halff was peralous
For schor crag hey and hydwous
Raucht to the se doun fra the pas,
On athyr halff the montane was
25 Sua combrous hey and stay
That it was hard to pas that way.
I trow nocht that in all Bretane
Ane heyar hill may fundyn be.
30 Thar Jhone off Lorne gert his menye
Enbuschyt be abovyn the way,
For giff the king held thar away
He thocht he suld sone vencussyt be,
And himselff held him apon the se
35 Weill ner the pais with his galayis.
Bot the king that in all assayis
Wes fundyn wys and avisé
Persavyt rycht weill thar sutelte,
And that he neid that gait suld ga.
40 His men departyt he in twa
And till the gud lord off Douglas
Quham in herbryd all worschip was
He taucht the archerys everilkane
And this gud lord with him has tane
45 Schyr Alysander Fraser the wycht,
And Wylyam Wysman a gud knycht
And with thaim syne Schyr Androw Gray.
Thir with thar mengne held thar way
And clamb the hill deliverly
50 And or thai off the tother party
Persavyt thaim thai had ilkane
The hycht abovyne thar fayis tane.

[The battle beneath Ben Cruachan]
The king and his men held thar way,
And quhen intill the pas war thai
55 Entryt the folk of Lorne in hy
Apon the king raysyt the cry
And schot and tumblit on him stanys
Rycht gret and hevy for the nanys,
Bot thai scaith nocht gretly the king
60 For he had thar in his leding
Men that lycht and deliver war
And lycht armouris had on thaim thar
Sua that thai stoutly clamb the hill
And lettyt thar fayis to fulfill
65 The maist part of thar felny.
And als apon the tother party
Come James of Douglas and his rout
And schot apon thaim with a schout
And woundyt thaim with arowis fast,
70 And with thar swerdis at the last
Thai ruschyt amang thaim hardely,
For thai of Lorn full manlely
Gret and apert defens gan ma.
Bot quhen thai saw that thai war sua
75 Assaylit apon twa partys
And saw weill that thar ennemys
Had all the fayrer off the fycht
In full gret hy thai tuk the flycht,
And thai a felloun chas gan ma
80 And slew all that thai mycht ourta,
And thai that mycht eschap but delay
Rycht till ane water held thar way
That ran doun be the hillis syd.
It was sa styth and depe and wid
85 That men in na place mycht it pas
Bot at ane btyg that beneuth thaim was.
To that brig held thai straucht the way
And to brek it fast gan assay,
Bot thai that chassyt quhen thai thaim saw
90 Mak arest, but dred or aw
Thai ruschyt apon thaim hardely
And discumfyt thaim uterly,
And held the brig haile quhill the king
With all the folk off his leding
95 Passyt the brig all at thar ese.
To Jhone off Lorne it suld displese
I trow, quhen he his men mycht se
Oute off his schippis fra the se
Be slayne and chassyt in the hill,
100 That he mycht set na help thartill,
For it angrys als gretumly
To gud hartis that ar worthi
To se thar fayis fulfill thhar will
As to thaim selff to thoke the ill.

[The taking of Dunstaffnage and the surrender of Alexander of Argyll]
105 At sic myscheiff war thai of Lorn,
`For fele the lyvys thar has lorne
And other sum war fled thar way.
The king in hy gert sese the pray
Off all the land, quhar men mycht se
110 Sa gret habundance come of fe
That it war wonder to behauld.
The king that stout wes stark and bauld
Till Dunstaffynch rycht sturdely
A sege set and besily
115 Assaylit the castell it to get,
And in schort tym he has thaim set
In swilk thrang that tharin war than
That magre tharis he it wan,
And ane gud wardane tharin set
120 And betaucht hym bath men and met
Sua that he lang tyme thar mycht be
Magre thaim all off that countre.
Schyr Alerandir off Arghile that saw
The king dystroy up clene and law
125 His land send treyteris to the king
And cum his man but mar duelling,
And he resavit him till his pes,
Bot Jhone off Lorne his sone yeit wes
Rebell as he wes wont to be
130 And fled with schippis on the se,
Bot thai that left apon the land
War to the king all obeysand.
And he thar hostage all has tane
And towart Perth agayne is gane
135 To play him thar into the playne.

[The plan to take the peel of Linlithgow]
Yeit Lothyane was him agayne,
And at Lythkow wes than a pele
Mekill and stark and stuffyt wele
With Inglismen, and wes reset
140 To thaim that with armuris or met
Fra Edynburgh wald to Strevelyn ga
And fra Strevelyng agane alsua,
And till the countre did gret ill.
Now may ye her giff that ye will
145 Entrmellys and juperdyis
That men assayit mony wys
Castellis and peyllis for to ta,
And this Lithquhow wes ane off tha
And I sall tell You how it wes tane.
150 In the contre thar wonnyt ane
That husband wes, and with his fe
Oftsys hay to the peile led he,
Wilyame Bunnok to name he hicht
That stalwart man wes into ficht. 154*
155 He saw sa hard the contre staid 154
That he gret noy and pite had 155*
Throw the gret force that it was then 155
Governyt and led with Inglismen,
That travalyt men out-our mesure.
160 He wes a stout carle and a sture 158
And off himselff dour and hardy,
And had freyndis wonnand him by
And schawyt ti sum his prevete,
And apon his convyne gat he
165 Men that mycht ane enbuschement ma 163
Quhill that he with his wayne suld ga
To lede thaim hay into the pele
Bot his wayne suld be stuffyt wele,
For aucht men in the body
170 Off his wayn suld sit prevely 168
And with hay helyt be about,
And himselff that wes dour and stout
Suld be the wayne gang ydilly,
And ane yuman wycht and hardy
175 Befor suld dryve the wayne and ber 173
Ane hachat that war scharp to scher
Under his belt, and quhen the yat
War apynnyt and thai war tharat
And he hard him cry sturdely,
180 'Call all, call all,' than hastyly 178
He suld stryk with the ax in twa
the soyme, and than in hy suld tha
That war within the wayne cum out
And mak debate quhill that thar rout
185 That suld nerby enbushyt be 183
Cum for to manteyme the melle.

[The taking of the peel of Linlithgow]
This wes intill the hervyst tyd
Quhen feldis that ar fayr and wid
Chargyt with corne all fully war,
190 For syndry cornys that thai bar 188
Wox ryp to wyn to mannys fud,
And the treys all chargyt stud
With ser frutis on syndry wys.
In this swete tyme that I devys
195 Thai off the pele had wonnyn hay 193
And with this Bunnok spokyn had thai
To lede thar hay, for he wes ner,
And he assentyt but daunger
And said that he in the mornyng
200 Weile sone a fothyr he suld bring 198
Fayrer and gretar and weile mor
Than he brocht ony that yer befor,
And held thaim cunnand sekyrly.
For that nycht warnyt he prevely
205 Thaim that in the wayne suld ga 203
And that in the buschement suld be alsua,
And thai sa graithly sped thaim thar
That or day thai enbuschyt war
Weile ner the pele quhar thai mycht her
210 The cry als sone as ony wer, 208
And held thaim sua still but stering
That nane off thaim had persaving.
And this Bunnok fast gan him payne
To dres his menye in his wayne
215 And all a quhile befor the day 213
He had thaim helyt weile with ha
And maid him to yok his fe
Till men the son schynand mycht se,
And sum that war within the pele
220 War ischyt on thar awne unsele 218
To wyn thar hervyst ner tharby.
Than Bunnok with the cumpany
That in his wayne closyt he had
Went on his way but mar abaid
225 And callit his wayne towart the pele, 223
And the portar that saw him wele
Cum ner the yet, it opnyt sone,
And then Bunnok foroutyn hone
Gert call the wayne deliverly,
230 And quhen it wes set evynly 228
Betwix the chekis of the yat
Sua that men mycht it spar na gat
He cryit hey, 'Call all, call all,'
And he than lete the gad-wand fall
235 And hewyt in twa the soyme in hy. 233
Bonnok with that deliverly
Roucht till the portar sic a rout
That blud and harnys bath come out,
And thai that war within the wayne
240 Lap out belyff and sone has slayne 238
Men off the castell that war by
Than in ane quhile begouth the cry,
And thai that ner enbuschyt war
Lap out and come with swerdis bar
245 And tuk the casell all but payn 243
And has thaim that war tharin was slayn,
And thai that war went furth beforn
Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn
Thai fled to warand to and fra,
250 And sum till Edinburgh gan ga 248
And sum till Strevilline ar other gane
And sum inyill the gat war slayne.

[A profile of Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray]
Bonnok on this wis with his wayne
The pele tuk and the men has slane,
255 Syne taucht in till the king in hy 253
That him rewardyt worthely
And gert dryve it doun to the ground,
And syne our all the land gan found
Settand in pes all the countre
260 That at his obeysance wald be. 258
And quhen a litill time wes went
Eftre Thomas Randell he sent
And sa weile with him tretit he
That he his man hecht for to be,
265 And the king his ire him forgave 263
And for to hey his state him gave
Murreff and erle tharoff him maid,
And other syndry landis braid
He gave him intill heritage.
270 He knew his worthi vasselage 268
And his gret wyt and his avys
His traist hart and his lele service,
Tharfor in him affyit he
And ryche maid him off land and fe,
275 As it wes certis rycht worthi. 273
For and men spek off him trewly
He wes sua curageous ane knycht
Sa wys, sa worthy and sa wycht
And off sa soverane gret bounte
280 That mekill off him may spokyn be, 278
And for I think off him to rede
And to schaw part off his gud dede
I will discryve now his fassoun
And part off his condicioun.
285 He wes off mesurabill statur 283
And weile porturat at mesur
With braid vesage plesand and fayr,
Curtais at poynt and debonayr
And off rycht sekyr contenyng.
290 Lawte he lovyt atour all thing, 288
Falset tresoun and felony
He stude agayne ay encrely,
He heyit honour ay and larges
And ay mentemyt rychtwysnes.
295 In cumpany solacious
He was and tharwith amorous,
And gud knychtis he luffyt ay,

And giff I the suth sall say

He wes fulfilly off bounte
300 As off vertuys all maid was he. 298
I will commend him her no mar
Bot ye sall her weile forthyrmar
That he for his dedis worthy
Suld weile be prisyt soverandly.

[Moray sets siege toi Edinburgh Castle]
305 Quhen the king thus was with him sauch 303
And gret lordschyppis had him betaucht
He wox sa wyse and sa avysé
That his land fyrst weill stablyst he
And syne he sped him to the wer
310 Till help his eyme in his myster 308
And with the consent off the king
Bot with a symple aparaling
Till Edinburgh he went in hy
With gud men intill cumpany,
315 And set a sege to the castell 313
That than was warnyst wonder weill
With men and vyttalis at all rycht
Sua that it dred na mannys mycht.
Bot this gud erle nocht-forthi
320 The sege tuk full apertly 318
And pressyt the folk that tharin was
Sua that nocht ane the yet durst pas.
Thai may abid tharin and ete
Thair vittaill quhill thai oucht mai get
325 Bot I trow thai sall lettyt be 323
To purchas mar in the contre.

[The situation in Edinburgh; Douglas's activity]
That tyme Edward off Ingland king
Had gevyn that castell in keping
Till Schyr Perys Lombert a Gascoun,
330 And quhen thai of his varnysoun 328
Saw the sege set thar sa stythly
Thai mystrowit him off tratoury
For that he spokyn had with the king,
And for that ilk mystrowing
335 Thai tuk him and put in presoun, 333
And off thar awine nacioun
Thai maid ane constable thaim to lede
Bath wys and war and wycht off deid,
And he set wyt and strenth and slycht
340 To kep the castell at his mycht. 338
Bot now off thaim I will be still,
And spek a litill quhill I will
Off the douchty lord off Douglas
At that tyme in the Forest was
345 Quhar he mony a juperty 343
And fayr poyntis off chevalry
Servyt als weill be nycht as day
Till tthaim that in the castellis lay
Of Roxburch and Jedwort, bot I
350 Will let fele off thaim pas forby 348
For I can noucht rehers thaim all,
And thoucht I couth, weill trow ye sall
That I mycht nocht suffice tharto,
Thar suld mekill be ado,
355 Bot thai that I wate utterly 353
Eftre my wyt rehers will I.

[Douglas plans to take Roxburgh Castle]
This tyme that the gud erle Thomas
Assegyt as the lettre sayis
Edinburgh, James off Douglas
360 Set all his wit for to purchas 358
How Roxburch throu sutelte
Or ony craft mycht wonnyn be,
Till he gert Syme off the Leidhous
A crafty man and a curious
365 Off hempyn rapis leddris ma 363
With treyn steppis bundyn sua
That brek wald nocht on nakyn wis.
A cruk thai maid at thair divis
Off irne that wes styth and squar
370 That fra it in a kyrneill war 368
And the ledder tharfra straitly
Strekit, it suld stand sekyrly.
This gud lord off Douglas alsone
As this divisit wes and dome
375 Gaderyt gud men in prevete 373
Thre scor I trow thai mycht be,
And on the fasteryngis evyn rycht
In the begynnyng off the nycht
To the castell thai tuk thar way.
380 With blak frogis all helyt thai 378
The armouris that thai on thaim had.
Thai come nerby thar but abad
And send haly thar hors thaim fra,
And thai on raunge in ane route gan ga
385 On handis and fete quhen thai war ner 383
Rycht as thai ky or oxin wer
That war wont to be bondyn left tharout.
It wes rycht myrk withoutyn dout,
The-quhether ane on the wall that lay
390 Besid him till his fere gan say, 388
'This man thinkis to mak gud cher,'
And nemmyt ane husband tharby ner,
'That has left all his oxyn out.'
The tother said, 'It is na dout
305 He sall mak mery tonycht thocht thai 303
Be with the Douglas led away.'
Thai wend the Douglas and his men
Had bene oxin, for thai yeid then
On handis and fete ay ane and ane.
400 The Douglas rycht gud tent has tane 398
Till thar spek, bot all sone thai
Held carpand inwart thar way.

[The taking of the enclosure of Roxburgh Castle]
Douglas men tharoff war blyth
And to the wall thai sped thaim swith,
405 And sone has up thar ledder set 403
That maid ane clap quhen the cruchet
Wes fixit fast in the kyrneill.
That herd ane off the wachis weill
And buskyt thidderwart but baid,
410 Bot Ledehous that the ledder maid 408
Sped him to clymb fyrst to the wall,
Bot or he wes up gottyn all
He at that ward had in keping
Met him rycht at the up-cummyng,
415 And for he thocht to ding him doun 413
He maid na noys na cry na soun
Bot schot till him deliverly.
And he that wes in juperty
To de a launce he till him maid
420 And gat him be the nek but baid 418
And stekyt him upwart with a knyff
Quhill in his hand he left the lyff.
And quhen he ded sua saw him ly
Up on tthe wall he went in hy
425 And doun the body kest thaim till 423
And said, 'All gangis as we will,
Spede you upwart deliverly.'
And thai did sua in full gret hy.
Bot or thai wan up thar come ane
430 And saw Ledhous stand him allane 428
And knew he wes nocht off thar men.
In hy he ruschyt till him then
And him assailit sturdely,
Bot he slew him deliverly
435 For he wes armyt and wes wycht, 433
The tother nakyt wes, Ik hicht
And had nocht for to stynt the strak.
Sic melle tharup gan he mak
Quhill Douglas and his mengne all
440 War cummyn up apon the wall, 438
Than in the tour thai went in hy.

[The taking of the hall at Roxburgh Castle; the garrison in the tower]
The folk wes that tyme halily
Intill the hall at thar daunsing
Syngyng and other wayis playing,
445 And apon Fasteryngis evyn this 443
As custume is to mak joy and blys
Till folk that ar into pouste.
Sua trowyt thai that tyme to be,
Bot or thai wyst rycht in the hall
450 Douglas and his rout cummyn war all 448
And cryit on hycht, 'Douglas! Douglas!'
And thai that ma war than he was
Hard 'Douglas!' criyt hidwysly,
Thai war abaysit for the cry
455 And schup rycht na defens to ma, 453
And thai but pite gan thaim sla
Till thay had gottyn the overhand.
The tother fled to sek warand
That out off mesure ded gane dreid.
460 The wardane saw how that it yeid 458
That callyt wes Gilmyn de Fynys,
In the gret toure he gottyn is
And other off his cumpany
And sparryt the entre hastily.
465 The lave that levyt war without 463
War tane or slayne, this is na dout,
Bot giff that ony lap the wall.
The Douglas that nycht held the hall
Allthocht his fayis tharoff war wa,
470 His men was gangand to and fra 468
Throu-out the castell all that nycht
Till on the morn that day wes lycht.

[Surrender of the tower at Roxburgh Castle; slighting of the castle]
The wardane that was in the tour
That wes a man off gret valour
475 Gilmyn the Fynys, quhen he saw 473
The castell tynt be clene and law
He set his mycht for to defend
The tour, bot thai without him send
Arowys in sa gret quantite
480 That anoyit tharoff wes he, 478
Bot till the tother day nocht-forthi
He held the tour full sturdely,
And than at ane assalt he was
Woundyt sa felly in the face
485 That he wes dredand off his lyff. 483
Tharfor he tretit than beliff
And yauld the tour on sic maner
That he and all that with him wer
Suld saufly pas in Ingland.
490 Douglas held thaim gud conand 488
And convoid thaim to thar countre,
Bot thar full schort tyme levyt he
For throu the wound intill tthe face
He deyt sone and beryit was.
495 Douglas the castell sesyt all 493
That thane wes closyt with stalwart wall,
And send this Leidhous till the king
That maid him full gud rewarding
And hys brother in full gret hy
500 Schyr Edward that wes sa douchty 498
He send thidder to tumbill it doun
Bath tour and castell and doungeoun.
And he come with gret cumpany
And gert travaile sa besyly
505 That tour and wall rycht to the ground 503
War tumblit in a litill stound,
And dwelt thar quhill all Tevidale
Come to the kingis pes all haile
Outane Jedwort and other that ner
510 The Inglismennys boundis wer. 508

[Moray seeks a means of taking Edinburgh Castle]
Quhen Roxburgh wonnyn was on this wis
The Erle Thomas that hey empris
Set ay on soverane he bounte
At Edynburgh with his mengne
515 Wes lyand at a-sege as I 513
Tauld you befor all opynly.
Bot fra he hard how Roxburgh was
Tane with a trayne, all his purchas
And wyt and besines Ik hycht
520 He set for to purches sum slycht 518
How he mycht halp him throu body
Mellyt with hey chevalry
To wyn the wall off the castell
Throu sumkyn slycht, for he wyst weill
525 That na strenth mycht it playnly get 523
Quhill thai within had men and met.
Tharfor prevely speryt he
Giff ony man mycht fundyn be
That couth fynd ony juperty
530 To clymb the wallis prevely 528
And he suld have his warysoun,
For it wes his entencioun
To put him till all aventur
Or that a sege on him mysfur.

[The plan suggested by William Francis]
535 Than wes thar ane Wilyame Francus 533
Wycht and apert wys and curyus
That intill hys youtheid had bene
In the castell. Quhen he has sene
The erle sua enkerly him set
540 Sum sutelte or wile to get 538
Quharthrou the castell have mycht he
He come till him in prevete
And said, 'Me think ye wald blythly
That men fand you sum jeperty
545 How ye mycht our the wallis wyn, 543
And certis giff ye will begyn
For till assay on sic a wys
Ik undertak for my service
To ken you to clymb to the wall,
550 And I sall formast be off all, 548
Quhar with a schort ledder may we,
I trow off tuelf fute it may be,
Clymb to the wall up all quytly,
And gyff that ye will wyt how I
555 Wate this I sall you blythly say. 553
Quhen I wes young this hendre day
My fader wes kepar of yone hous,
And I wes sumdeill valegeous
And lovyt a wench her in the toun,
560 And for i but suspicioun 558
Mycht repayr till hyr prevely
Off rapys a leddre to me mad I
And tharwith our the wall I slaid.
A strait roid that I sperit had
565 Intill the crage syne doun I went 563
And oftsys come till myn entent,
And quhen it ner drew to the day
Ik held agayne that ilk way
And ay come in but persaving.
570 Ik usyt lang that travaling 568
Sua that I kan that roid ga rycht
Thoucht men se nevyr sa myrk the nycht.
And giff ye think ye will assay
To pas up efter me that way
575 Up to the wall I sall you bring, 573
Giff God us savys fra persaving
Off thaim that wachys on the wall.
And giff that us sua fayr may fall
that we our ledder up may set,
580 Giff a man on the wall may get 578
He sall defend and it be ned
Quhill the remanand up thaim sped.'
The erle wes blyth off his carping
And hycht him fayr rewarding
585 And undretuk that gat to ga 583
And bad him sone his ledder ma
And hald him preve quhill thai mycht
Set for thar purpos on a nycht.

[The climbing of Edinburgh Castle rock]
Sone efter was the ledder made,
590 And than the erle but mar abaid 588
Purvayt him a nycht prevely
With thretty men wycht and hardy,
And in a myrk nycht held thar way
That put thaim till full hard assay
595 And to gret perell sekyrly. 593
I trow mycht thai haiff sene clerly
That gat had nocht bene undretane
Thoucht thai to let thaim had nocht ane,
For the crag wes hey and hidwous
600 And the clymbing rycht peralous, 598
For hapnyt ony to slyd and fall
He suld sone be to-fruschyt all.
The nycht wes myrk as Ik hard say,
And to the fute sone cummyn ar thai
605 Off the crag that wes hey and schor, 603
Than Wilyame Fransoys thaim befor
Clamb in crykes forouth ay
And at the bak him folowyt thai.
With mekill payne quhile to quhile fra
610 Thai clamb into thai crykys sua 608
Quhile halff the crag thai clumbyn had
And thar a place thai fand sa brad
That thai mycht syt on anerly,
And thai war ayndles and wery
615 And thar abaid thar aynd to ta, 613
And rycht as thai war syttand sua
Rycht aboune thaim up apon the wall
The chak-wachys assemblyt all.
Now help thaim God that all thing mai
620 For in full gret perell ar thai! 618
For mycht thai se thaim thar suld nane
Eschape out off that place unslane,
To dede with stanys thai suld thaim ding
That thai mycht halp thaimselvyn na thing.
625 Bot wonder myrk wes the nycht 623
Sua that thai off thaim had na sicht,
And nocht-forthi yete wes thar ane
Off thaim that swappyt doun a stane
And said, 'Away, I se you weile,'
630 The-quhether he saw thaim nocht a dele. 628
Out-our thar hedis flaw the stane
And thai sat still lurkand ilkane.
The wachys quhen thai herd nocht ster
Fra that ward samyn all passit er
635 And carpand held fer by thar way. 633
The erle Thomas alsone and thai
That on the crag thar sat him by
Towart the wall clamb hastily
And thidder come with mekill mayn
640 And nocht but gret perell and payn. 638
For fra thine up wes grevouser
To clymb up ne beneth be fer.

[The taking of Edinburgh Castle]
Bot quhatkyn payne sua ever thai had
Rycht to the wall thai come but bad
645 That had weile ner twelf fute of hycht, 643
And forout persaving or sycht
Thai set thar ledder to the wall,
And syne Fransoys befor thaim all
Clamb up and syne Schyr Androw Gray,
650 And syne the erle himselff perfay 648
Was the thrid that the wall can ta.
Qhuhen thai thar-doune thar lord sua
Saw clumbyne up apon the wall
As woud men thai clamb eftre all,
655 Bot or all up clumbene war thai 653
Thai that war wachys till assay
Hard steryng and preve speking
And alsua fraying off armyng
And on thaim schot full sturdely,
660 And thai met thaim rycht hardely 658
And slew off thaim dispitously.
Than throu the castell rais the cry,
'Tresoun! Tresoun!' thai cryit fast.
Than sum of thaim war sua agast
665 That thai fled and lap our the wall, 663
Bot to sa swyth thai fled nocht all,
For the constabill that wes hardy
All armyt schot furth to thte cry
And with him fele hardy and stout.
670 Yeyt wes the erle with his rout 668
Fechtand with thaim apon the wall
Bot sone he discumfit thaim all.
Be that his men war cummyn ilkan
Up to the wall and he has tane
675 His way doun to the castell sone. 673
In gret perell he has him doyn
For thai war fer ma men tharin
And thai had bene of gud covyn
Than he, bot thai effrayit war,
680 And nocht-forthi with wapnys bar 678
The constabill and his cumpany
Met him and his rycht hardely.
Thar mycht men se gret bargane ris,
For with wapnys of mony wis
685 Thai dang on other at thar mycht 683
Quhill swerdis that war fayr and brycht
War till the hiltis all bludy.
Then hydwysly begouth the cry
For thai that fellyt or stekyt war
690 Hidwysly gan cry and rar. 688
The gud erle and his cumpany
Faucht in that fycht sa sturdely
That all thar fayis ruschyt war.
The constable wes slane rycht thar,
695 And fra he fell the ramanand 693
Fled quhar thai best mycht to warand,
Thai durst nocht bid to ma debate.
The erle wes handlyt thar sa hat
That had it nocht hapnyt throu cas
700 That the constable thar slane then was 698
He had bene in gret perell thar,
Bot quhen thai fled thar wes no mar,
Bot ilk man to sauff his lyff
Fled furth his dayis for to dryve,
705 And sum slaid doune out-our the wall. 703

[Comparison with the taking of Tyre by Alexander the Great]
The erle has tane the castell all
For then wes nane durst him withstand.
I hard nevyr quhar in nakin land
Wes castell tane sa hardely
710 Outakyn Tyre all anerly, 708
Quhen Alexandir the conquerour
That conqueryt Babylonys tour
Lap fra a berfrois on the wall
Quhar he amang his fayis all
715 Defendyt him full douchtely 713
Quhill his noble chevalry
With leddris our the wall yeid
That nother left for deid no dreid,
For thai wyst weill that the king
720 Wes in the toune thar wes na thing 718
Intill that tym that stynt thaim moucht,
For all the perell thai set at nocht.
Thai clamb the wall and Aristé
Come fyrst to the gud king quhar he
725 Defendyt him with all his mycht 723
That then sa hard wes set Ik hycht
That he wes fellit on a kne,
He till his bak had set a tre
For dred thai suld behind assaile.
730 Aristé then to the bataile 728
Sped him in all hy sturdely
And dang on thaim sa douchtely
That the king weiiile reskewit was,
For his men into syndri plas
735 Clamb our the wall and soucht the king 733
And him reskewit with hard fechting
And wane the toun deliverly.
Outane this taking anerly
I herd nevyr in na tym gane
740 Quhar castell wes sa stoutly tane. 738

[St Margaret's prophecy]
And off this taking that I mene
Sanct Margaret the gud haly quene
Wyst in hyr tyme throu reveling
Off him that knawis and wate all thing,
745 Tharfor in sted of prophecy 743
Scho left a taknyng rycht joly,
That is that intill hyr chapele
Scho gert weile portray a castell,
A ledder up to the wall standand
750 And a man up thar-apon climband, 748
And wrat outht him as auld men sais
In Frankis, 'Gardys vous de Francais.'
And for this word scho gert writ sua
Men wend the Frankis-men suld it ta,
755 Bot for Fraunsois hattyn wes he 753
That sua clamb up in prevete
Scho wrat that as in prophecy,
And it fell efterwart sothly
Rycht as scho said, for tane it was
760 And Fraunsoys led thaimup that pas. 758

[Treatment of Piers Lubaud; rewards of the earl of Moray]
On this wis Edinburgh wes tane
And thai that war tharin ilkane
Other tane or slane or lap the wall.
Thar gudis haiff thai sesyt all
765 And souch the hous everilkane. 763
Schyr Peris Lubaut that wes tane,
As I said er, befor thai fand
In boyis and hard festnyng sittand.
Thai brocht him till the erle in hy
770 And he gert lous him hastily,
Then he become the kingis man.
Thai send word to the king rycht than
And tauld how the castell wes tane,
And he in hy is thidder gane
775 With mony ane in cumpany 773
And gert myne doun all halily
Bath tour and wall rycht to the grond,
And syne our all the land gan fond
Sesand the countre till his pes.
780 Off this deid that sa worthy wes 778
The erle wes prisyt gretumly,
The king that saw him sa worthi
Wes blyth and joyfull our the lave
And to manteyme his stat him gave
785 Rentis and landis fayr inewch, 783
And he to sa gret worschip dreuch
That all spak off his gret bounte.
Hys fayis gretly stonayit he
For he fled never for force off fycht.
790 Quhat sall I mar say off his mycht? 788
His gret manheid and his bounte
Gerris him yeit renownyt be.

[Places taken by Sir Edward Bruce; his siege of Stirling Castle]
In this tyme that thir jupertys
Off thir castellis that I devis
795 War eschevyt sa hardely, 793
Schyr Edward the Bruce the hardy
Had all Galloway and Nydysdale
Wonnyn till his liking all haile
And doungyn doun the castellis all
800 Rycht in the dyk bath tour and wall. 798
He hard then say and new it weill
That into Ruglyne wes a pele,
Thidder he went with his menye
And wonnyn it in schort tyme has he,
805 Syne to Dunde he tuk the way 803
That then wes haldyne as Ic herd say
Agayne the king, tharfor in hy
He set a sege tharto stoutly
And lay thar quhill it yoldyn was.
810 To Strevillyne syne the way he tais 808
Quhar gud Schyr Philip the Mowbray
That wes sa douchty at assay
Wes wardane and had in keping
That castell of the Inglis king.
815 Thartill a sege thai set stythly, 813
Thai bykyrrit oftsys sturdely
Bot gret chevalry done wes nane.
Schyr Edward fra the sege wes tane
A weile lang tyme about it lay,
820 Fra the Lentryne that is to say 818
Quhill forouth the Sanct Jhonys mes.
The Inglis folk that tharin wes
Begouth to failye vitaill be than.
Than Schyr Philip that douchti man
825 Tretyt quhill thai consentit war 823
That gyff at mydsomer the neyst yer
To cum it war nocht with bataile
Reskewyt, then that foroutyn faile
He suld the castell yauld quytly,
830 That connand band thai sickerly. 828

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 11

[Criticism of the compact about Stirling Castle]
And quhen this connand thus wes mad
Schir Philip intill Ingland raid
And tauld the king all haile his tale,
How he a tuelf moneth all hale
5 Had as it writyn wes in thar taile
To reskew Strevillyne with bataill.
And quhen he hard Schyr Philip say
That Scottismen had set a day
To fecht and that sic space he had
10 To purvay him he wes rycht glaid,
And said it wes gret sukudry
That set thaim apon sic foly,
For he thocht to be or that day
Sa purvayit and in sic aray
15 That thar suld nane strenth him withstand,
And quhen the lordis off Ingland
Herd that this day wes set planly
Thai jugyt all to gret foly,
And thoucht to haiff all thar liking
20 Giff men abaid thaim in fechting,
Bot oft faillys the fulis thocht
And yeit wys mennys ay cummys nocht
To sic end as thai wene allwayis.
A litill stane oft, as men sayis,
25 May ger weltyr a mekill wayn,
Na mannys mycht may stand agayn
The grace off God that all thing steris,
He wate quhat till all thing afferis
And disponys at his liking
30 Efter his ordynance all thing.

[King Robert criticises his brother]
Quhen Schyr Edward, as I you say,
Had gevyn sa outrageous a day
To yeld or reskew Strevillyne,
Rycht to the king he went him syne
35 And tauld quhat tretys he had mad
And quhat day he thaim gevyn had.
The king said quhen he hard the day,
'That wes unwisly doyn, perfay.
Ik herd never quhar sa lang warnyng
40 Wes gevyn to sa mychty a king
As is the king off Ingland,
For he has now intill hand
Ingland, Ireland and Walis alsua
And Aquitayngne yeit with all tha,
45 And off Scotland yeit a party
Dwellis under his senyoury,
And off tresour sa stuffyt is he
That he may wageouris haiff plente,
And we are quhoyne agayne sa fele.
50 God may rycht weill oure werdys dele,
Bot we ar set in juperty
To tyne or wyn then hastely.'
Schyr Edward said, 'Sa God me rede,
Thocht he and all that he may led
55 Cum, wes sall fecht, all war thai ma.'
Quhen the king hard his broder sua
Spek to the bataile sa hardyly
He prisyt him in hys hart gretumly
And said, 'Broder, sen sua is gane
60 That this thing thus is undretane
Schap we us tharfor manlely,
And all that luffis us tenderly
And the fredome off this countre
Purvay thaim at that time to be
65 Boune with all mycht that ever thai may,
Sua giff that our fayis assay
To reskew Strevilline throu bataill
That we off purpos ger thaim faill.'

[Both sides prepare for an English invasion; King Edward's resources]
To this thai all assentyt ar
70 And bad thar men all mak thaim yar
For to be boun agayne that day
On the best wis that ever thai may.
Than all that worthi war to fycht
Off Scotland set all hale thar mycht
75 To purvay thaim agane that day,
Wapynnys and armouris purvayit thai
And all that afferis to fechting.
And in Ingland the mychty king
Purvayit him in sa gret aray
80 That certis hard I never say
That Inglismen mar aparaile
Maid than did than for bataill,
For quhen the tyme wes cummyn ner
He assemblit all his power,
85 And but his awne chevalry
That wes sa gret it wes ferly
He had of mony ser countre
With him gud men of gret bounte.
Of Fraunce worthi chevalry
90 He had intill his cumpany,
The erle off Henaud als wes thar
And with him men that worthi war,
Off Gascoyne and off Almany
And off the duche of Bretayngny
95 He had wycht men and weill farand
Armyt clenly bath fute and hand,
Off Ingland to the chevalry 97*
He had gaderyt sa clenly 98*
That nane left that mycht wapynnys weld 97
100 Or mycht war to fecht in feild, 98
All Walis als with him had he
And off Irland a gret mengne,
Off Pouty Aquitane and Bayoun
He had mony off gret renoune,
105 And off Scotland he had yeit then 103*
A gret menye of worthy men. 104*

[The appearance of the English host]
Quhen all thir sammyn assemblit war 105*
He had of fechtaris with him thar 106*
Ane hunder thousand men and ma 103
110 And fourty thousand war of tha 104
Armyt on hors bath heid and hand,
And of thai yeit war thre thousand
With helyt hors in plate and mailye
To mak the front off the batailye,
115 And fyfty thousand off archeris 109
He had foroutyn hobeleris,
And men of fute and small rangale
That yemyt harnays and vittaile
He had sa fele it wes ferly.
120 Off cartis als thar yeid thaim by 114
Sa fele that, but all thai that bar
Harnays and als that chargyt war
With pailyounys and veschall with-all
And aparaile of chambyr and hall
125 And wyne and wax schot and vittaile, 119
Aucht scor wes chargyt with pulaile.
Thai war sa fele quhar that thai raid
And thar bataillis war sa braid
And sua gret roume held thar chare
130 That men that mekill ost mycht se 124
Ourtak the landis largely.
Men mycht se than that had bene by
Mony a worthi man and wycht
And mony ane armur gayly dycht
135 And mony a sturdy sterand stede 129
Arayit intill ryche wede,
Mony helmys and haberjounys
Scheldis and speris and penounys, 132*
And sa mony a cumbly knycht 132
140 That it semyt that into fycht 133
Thai suld vencus the warld all haile.

[The dispositions of the English host; the march from Berwick]
Quhy suld I mak to lang my taile?
To Berwik ar thai cummyn ilkane
And sum tharin has innys tane
145 And sum logyt without the town ys 138
In tentis and in pailyounys.
And quhen the king his ost has sene
So gret and sa gud men and clene
He wes rycht joyfull in his thocht
150 And weile supposyt that thar wes nocht 143
In warld a king mycht him withstand,
Him thocht all wonnyn till his hand,
And largly amang his men
The land of Scotland delt he then,
155 Off other mennys thing larg wes he. 148
And thai that war off his menye
Manausyt the Scottismen hely
With gret wordis, bot nocht-forthi
Or thai cum all to thar entent
160 Howis in haile claith sall be rent. 153
The king throu consaile of his men
His folk delt in bataillis ten,
In ilkane war weile ten thousand
That lete thai stalwartly suld stand
165 In the bataile and stythly fycht 158
And leve nocht for thar fayis mycht.
He set ledaris till ilk bataile
That knawin war of gud governaile,
And till renownyt erlis twa
170 Off Glosyster and herfurd war tha 163
He gaf the vaward in leding
With mony men at thar bidding
Ordanyt into full gud aray.
Thai war sa chevalrous that thai
175 Trowyt giff thai come to fycht 168
Thar suld na strenth withstand thar mycht.
And the king quhen his mengne wer
Divisit intill bataillis ser
His awyne bataill ordanyt he
180 And quha suld at his bridill be, 173
Schyr Gilis Argente he set
Apon a half his reyngye to get,
And off Valence Schyr Amery
On other half that wes worthy,
185 For in thar soverane bounte 178
Out-our the lave affyit he.
Quhen the king apon this kyn wys
Had ordanyt as Ik her divis
His bataillis and his stering
190 He rais arly in a mornyng 183
And fra Berwik he tuk the way.
Bath hillis and valis hely thai
As the bataillis that war braid
Departyt our the feldis raid.
195 The sone wes brycht and schynand cler 188
And armouris that burnysyt wer
Sua blomyt with the sonnys beme
That all the land wes in a leme,
Baneris rycht fayrly flawmand
200 And penselys to the wynd wavand 193
Sua fele thar wer of ser quentis
That it war gret slycht for to divise,
And suld I tell all thar affer
Thar con tenance and thar maner
205 Thoucht I couth I suld combryt be. 198
The king with all that gret menye
Till Edinbyrgh he raid him rycht,
Thai war all-out to fele to fycht
With few folk of a symple land,
210 Bot quhar God helpys quhat ma withstand. 203

[Muster of the Scottish army; its size and commanders]
The king Robert quhen he hard say
That Inglismen in sic aray
And into sua gret quantite
Come in his land, in hy gert he
215 His men be somound generaly, 208
And thai come all full wilfully
To the Torwod quhar that the king
Had ordanyt to mak thar meting.
Schir Edward the Bruce the worthi
220 Come with a full gret cumpany 213
Off gud men armyt weill at rycht
Hardy and forsy for to fycht,
Walter Stewart of Scotland syne
That than wes bot a berdles hyne
225 Come with a rout of noble men, 218
That men mycht be contynence ken.
The gud lord of Douglas alsua
Brocht with him men Ik underta
That weile war usit in fechting,
230 Thai sall the les haiff abaysimg 223
Giff thaim betid in thrang to be,
Avantage thai sall tittar se
For to stonay thar fayis mycht
Than men that usis nocht to fycht.
235 The erle off Murreff with his men 228
Arayit weile come alsua then
Into gud covyne for to fycht
And gret will for to manteym thar mycht
Outakyn other mony barounys
240 And knychtis that of gret renowne is 233
Come with thar men full stalwartly.
Quhen thai war assemblyt halely
Off fechtand men I trow thai war
Thretty thousand and sumdele mar,
245 Foroutyn cariage and pettaill 238
That yemyt harnayis and vittaill.
Our all the ost than yeid the king
And beheld to thar contenyng
And saw thaim of full fayr affer.
250 Off hardy contenance thai wer, 243
Be liklynes the mast cowart
Semyt full weill to do his part.
The king has sene all thar having
That knew him weile into sic thing,
255 And saw thaim all commounaly 248
Off sic contenance and sa hardy
Forout effray or abaysing.
In his hart had he gret liking
And thoucht that men of sa gret will
260 Giff thai wald set thar will thartill 253
Suld be full hard to wyn perfay.
Ay as he met thaim in the way
He welcummyt thaim with glaidsum far
Spekand gud wordis her and thar,
265 And thai that thar lord sa mekly 258
Saw welcum thaim and sa hamly
Joyfull thai war, and thocht that thai
Aucht weill to put thaim till assay
Off hard fechting or stalwart stur
270 For to maynteyme hys honur. 263

[King Robert proposes the division of his host]
The worthi king quhen he has sene
Hys ost assemblit all bedene
And saw thaim wilfull to fulfill
His liking with gud hart and will
275 And to maynteyme weill thar franchis 268
He wes rejosyt mony wys
And callyt all his consaile preve
And said thaim, 'Lordis, now ye se
That Inglismen with mekill mycht
280 Has all disponyt thaim for the fycht 273
For thai yone castell wald reskew.
Tharfor is gud we ordane now
How we may let thaim of thar purpos
And sua to thaim the wayis clos
285 That thai pas nocht but gret letting. 278
We haiff her with us at bidding
Weile thretty thousand men and ma,
Mak we four bataillis of tha
And ordane us on sic maner
290 And quhen our fayis cummys ner 283
We to the New Park hald our way,
For thar behovys thaim nede away
Bot giff that thai will beneuth us ga
And our the merrais pass, and sua
295 We sall be at avantage thar. 288
And me think that rycht spedfull war
To gang on fute to this fechting
Armyt bot in litill armyng,
For schup we us on hors to fycht
300 Sen our fayis ar mar off mycht 293
And bettyr horsyt than ar we
We suld into gret perell be,
And gyff we fecht on fute perfay
At a vantage we sall be ay,
305 For in the park amang the treys 298
The horsmen alwayis cummerit beis,
And the sykis alssua that ar thar-doun
Sall put thaim to confusioune.'

[The four divisions and their commanders]
All thai consentyt till that saw
310 And than intill a litill thraw 303
Thar four bataillis ordanyt thai,
And till the Erle Thomas perfay
Thai gaiff the vaward in leding
For in his noble governyng
315 And in his hey chevalry 308
Thai assoueryt rycht soveranly,
And for to maynteyme his baner
Lordis that off gret worschip wer
Wer assygnyt with thar mengne
320 Intill his bataill for to be. 313
The tother bataill wes gevyn to led
Till him that douchty wes of deid
And prisyt off hey chevalry,
Thar wes Schyr Edward the worthy,
325 I trow he sall maynteyme it sua 318
That howsaever the gamyn ga
His fayis to plenye sall mater haf.
And syne the thrid bataill thai gaff
Till Walter Stewart for to leid
330 And to Douglas douchty of deid 323
Thai war cosyngis in ner degre
Tharfor till him betaucht wes he
For he wes young, bot nocht-forthi
I trow he sall sa manlily
335 Do his devour and wirk sa weill 328
That him sall nede ne mar yemseill.
The ferd bataile the noble king
Tuk till his awne governyng,

And had intill his cumpany

340 The men of Carrik halely 333
And off Arghile and of Kentyr
And off the Ilis quharof wes syr
Angus of Ile, and but all tha
He off the plane land had alsua
345 Off armyt men a mekill rout, 338
His bataill stalwart wes and stout.
He said the rerward he wald ma
And evyn forrouth him suld ga
The vaward, and on ather hand
350 The tother bataillis suld be gangand 343
Besid on sid a litill space,
And the king that behind thaim was
Suld se quhar thar war mast myster
And releve thar with his baner.

[The digging of pots by the roadside]
355 The king thus that wes wycht and wys 348
And rych avisé at divis
Ordanyt his men for the fechting
In gud aray in alkyn thing.
And on the morn on Setterday
360 The king hard his discourouris say 353
That inglismen with mekill mycht
Had lyin at Edinburgh all nycht.
Tharfor withoutyn mar delay
He till the New Park held his way
365 With all that in his leding war 358
And in the Park thaim herberyt thar,
And in a plane feld be the way
Quhar he thoucht ned behovyd away
The Inglismen, gif that thai wald
370 Throu the Park to the castell hald 363
He gert men mony pottis ma
Off a fute-breid round, and al tha
War dep up till a mannys kne,
Sa thyk that thai mycht liknyt be
375 Till a wax cayme that beis mais. 368
All that nycht travailland he wais
Sua that or day he has maid
Thai pottis, and thaim helit haid
With stykkis and with gres all grene
380 Sua that thai moucht nocht weil be sen. 373

[Sunday; the Scots prepare for combat with mass and by arming themselves]
On Sonday than in the mornyng
Weile sone after the sone rising
Thai hard thar mes commounaly
And mony thaim schraiff full devotly
385 That thocht to dey in that melle 378
Or than to mak thar contre fre.
To God for thar rycht prayit thai,
Thar dynit nane of thaim that day
Bot for the vigil off Sanct Jhane
390 Thai fastyt water and breid ilkan. 383
The king quhen that the mes wes don
Went furth to se the pottis sone
And at his liking saw thaim mad,
On ather sid rycht weill braid
395 It wes pittyt as Ik haif tauld. 388
Giff that thar fayis on hors wald hald
Furth in that way I trow thai sall
Nocht weill eschaip foroutyn fall.
Throu-out the ost thar gert he cry
400 That all suld arme thaim hastily 393
And busk thaim on thar best maner,
And quhen thai assemblyt wer
He gert aray thaim for the fycht,
And syne gert cry our-all on hycht
405 That quha-sa-ever he war that fand 398
Hys hart nocht sekyr for to stand
To wyn all or dey with honur
For to maynteyme that stalwart stour
That he betyme suld hald his way,
410 And suld duell with him bot thai 403
That wald stand with him to the end

And tak the ure that God wald send.

Than all answerd with a cry
And with a voce said generaly
415 That nane for dout off deid suld faile 408
Quhill discumfyt war the gret bataile.

[Disposition of the small folk; preparations for the English advance]
Quhen the gud king has hard his men
Sa hardely answer him then
Sayand that nother dede na dreid
420 Till sic discomfort suld thaim leid 413
That thai suld eschew the fechting
In hart he had gret rejosing,
For him thocht men off sic covyn
Sa gud and hardy and sa fyne
425 Suld weile in bataill hald thar rycht 418
Agayne men off full mekill mycht.
Syne all the smale folk and pitall
He send with harnays and with vitaill
Intill the Park weill fer him fra
430 And fra the bataillis gert thaim ga 423
And als he bad thai went thar way,
Twenty thousand weile ner war thai.
Thai held thar way till a vale,
The king left with a clene mengne
435 The-quhethir thai war thretty thousand 428
That I trow sall stalwartly stand
And do thar devour as thai aw.
Thai stud than rangyt all on a raw
Redy for to gyff hard bataill
440 Giff ony folk wald thaim assaile. 433
The king gert thaim all buskit be
For he wyst in certante
That his fayis all nycht lay
At the Fawkyrk, and syne that thai
445 Held towart him the way all straucht 438
With mony men of mekill maucht.
Tharfor till his nevo bad he
The erle off Murreff with his menye
Besid the kyrk to kepe the way
450 That na man pas that gat away 443
For to debate the castell,
And he said himself suld weill
Kepe the entre with his bataill
Giff that ony wald assale,
455 And syne his broder Schyr Edward 448
And young Walter alsua Steward
And the lord of Douglas alsua
With thar mengne gud tent suld ta
Quhilk off thaim had of help myster
460 And help with thaim that with him wer. 453

[King Robert has the English host surveyed; spreads a false account of its
strength]
The king send than James of Douglas
And Schyr Robert the Keyth that was
Marschell off the ost of fe
The Inglismennys come to se,
465 And thai lap on and furth thai raid 458
Weile horsyt men with thaim thai haid,
And sone the gret ost haf thai sene
Quhar scheildis schynand war sa schene
And bassynetis burnyst brycht
470 That gave agayne the sone gret lycht. 463
Thai saw sa fele browdyne baneris
Standaris and pennounys and speris,
And sa fele knychtis apon stedis
All flawmand in thar wedis,
475 And sa fele bataillis and sa braid 468
That tuk sa gret roume as thai rqaid
That the maist ost and the stoutest
Off Crystyndome and the grettest
Suld be abaysit for to se
480 Thair fayis into sic quantite 473
And sua arayit for to fycht.
Quhen thar discourrouris has had sycht
Off thar fayis as I you say
Towart the king thai tuk thair way,
485 And tauld him intill prevete 478
The multitud and the beaute
Off thair fayis that come sa braid
And off the gret mycht that thai haid.
Than the king bad thaim thai suld ma
490 Na contenance that it war sua 483
Bot lat thaim into commoune say
That thai cum intill evyll aray
To confort his on that wys,
For oftsys throu a word may rys
495 Discomford and tynsaill with-all, 488
And throu a word als weill may fall
Comford may rys and hardyment
May ger men do thar entent.
On the samyn wys it did her,
500 Thar comford and thar hardy cher 493
Comford thaim sa gretumly
Off thar ost that the leyst hardy
Be contenance wald formast be
For to begyne the gret melle.

[The English send an advance party to rescue the castle]
505 Apon this wis the noble king 498
Gaff all his men recomforting
Throu hardy contenance of cher
That he maid on sa gud maner.
Thaim thocht that na myscheiff mycht be
510 Sa gret with-thi thai him mycht se 503
Befor thaim sua tha thaim suld greve
That ne his worschip suld thaim releve,
His worschip confort thaim sua
And contensnce that he gan ma
515 That the mast coward wes hardy. 508
On other half full sturdely
The Inglismen in sic aray
As ye haf herd me forouth say
Comed with thar bataillis approchand
520 The baneris to the wynd wavand, 513
And quhen thai cummyn war sa ner
That bot twa myle betwix thaim wer
Thai chesyt a joly cumpany
Off men that wicht war and hardy
525 On fayr courseris armyt at rycht, 518
Four banrentis off mekill mycht
War capitanys of that route,
The Syr the Clyffurd that wes stout
Wes off thaim all soverane leidar,
530 Aucht hunder armyt I trow thai war. 523
Thai war all young men and joly
Yarnand to do chevalry,
Off best of all the ost war thai
Off contenance and off aray.
535 Thai war the fayrest cumpany 528
That men mycht find of sa mony,
To the castell thai thocht to far
For giff that thai weill mycht cum thar
Thai thocht it suld reskewit be.
540 Forth on thar way held this menye 533
And towart Strevilline held thar way,
The New Park all eschewit thai
For thai wist weill the king wes thar
And newth the New Park gan thai far
545 Weill newth the kyrk intill a rout. 538

[The advance party is challenged by Moray; his force is surrounded]
The Erle Thomas that wes sa stout
Quhen he saw thaim sa ta the plane
In gret hy went he thaim agane
With fyve hunder foroutyn ma
550 Anoyit in his hart and wa 543
That thai sa fer wer passit by,
For the king haid said him rudly
That a rose of his chaplete
Was fallyn, for quhar he wes set
555 To kep the way thai men war passit 548
And tharfor he hastyt him sa fast
That cummyn in schort tyme wes he
To the plane feld with his menye,
For he thocht that he suld amend
560 That he trespassit had or than end. 553
And quhen the Inglismen him saw
Cum on foroutyn dyn or aw
And tak sa hardely the plane
In hy thai sped thaim him agane
565 And strak with spuris the stedis stith 558
That bar thaim evyn hard and swith.
And quhen the erle saw that menye
Cum sa stoutly, till his said he
'Be nocht abaysit for thar schor,
570 Bot settis speris you befor 563
And bak to bak set all your rout
And all the speris poyntis out,
Suagate us best defend may we
Enveronyt with thaim gif we be.'
575 And as he bad thaim thai haif done, 568
And the tother come on alsone.
Befor thaim all come prikand
A knycht hardy off hart and hand
And a wele gret lord at hame
580 Schyr Gilyame Danecourt wes his nam 573
And prikyt on thaim hardely
And thai met him sturdely
That he and hors wes borne doune
And slayne rycht thar forout ransoun,
585 With Inglismen gretly wes he 578
Menyt that day and his bounte.
The lave come on rycht sturdely
Bot nane off thaim sa hardely
Ruschyt amang thaim as did he,
590 Bot with fer mar maturyte 583
Thai assemblyt all in a rout
And enveround thaim all about
Assailyeand thaim on ilka sid.

[The fight between Moray's force and the English]
And thai with speris woundis wyd
595 Gaff till the hors that come thaim ner, 588
And thai that ridand on thaim wer
That doune war borne losyt the lyvis,
And other speris dartis and knyffis
And wapynnys on ser maner
600 Kast amang thaim that fechtand wer 593
That thaim defendyt sa wittily
That thar fayis had gret ferly,
For sum wald schout out of thar rout
And off thaim that assaylyt about
605 Stekyt stedis and bar doun men. 598
The Inglismen sa rudly then
Kest amang thaim swerdis and mas
That ymyd thaim a monteyle was
Off wapynnys that war warpyt thar.
610 The erle and his thus fechtand war 603
At gret myscheiff as I you say,
For quhonnar be full far war thai
Than thar fayis and all about
War inveround, quhar mony rout
615 War roucht full dispitously. 608
Thar fayis demenyt thaim full starkly,
On ather half thai war sa stad
For the rycht gret heyt that thai had
For fechtyn and for sonnys het
620 That all thar flesche of swate wes wete, 613
And sic a stew rais out off thaim then
Off aneding bath of hors and men
And off powdyr that sic myrknes
Intill the ayr abovyne thaim wes
625 That it wes wondre for to se. 618
Thai war in gret perplexite
Bot with gret travaill nocht-forthi
Thai thaim defendyt manlily
And set bath will and strenth and mycht
630 To rusch thar fayis in that fycht 623
That thaim demanyt than angyrly.
Bot gyff God help thaim hastily
Thai sall thar fill have of fechting.

[Douglas proposes to help Moray]
Bot quhen the noble renownyt king
635 With other lordis that war him by 628
Saw how the erle abandounly
Tuk the plane feld, James of Douglas
Come to the king rycht quhar he was
And said, 'A! Schyr, Sanct Mary!
640 The erle off Murref opynly 633
Tays the plane feld with his mengne,
He is in perell bot he be
Sone helpyt for his fayis ar ma
Than he and horsyt weill alsua,
645 And with your leve I will me speid 638
To help him for he has ned,
All umbeveround with his fayis is he.'
The king said, 'Sa our Lord me se,
A fute till him thou sall nocht ga,
650 Giff he weile dois lat him weile ta. 643
Quhatever him happyn, to wyn or los,
I will nocht for him brek purpos.'
'Certis,' said James, 'I may na wis
Se that his fayis him suppris
655 Quhen that I may set help thartill, 648
With your leve sekyrly I will
Help him or dey into the payn.'
'Do than and speid the sone agayn,'
The king said, and he held his way.
660 Gyff he may cum in tyme perfay 653
I trow he sall him help sa weill
That off his fayis sall it feill.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 12

[The king prepares his division]
Now Douglas furth his wayis tais,
And in that selff tyme fell throw cais
That the king off Ingland quhen he
Was cummyn with his gret menye
5 Ner to the place, as I said ar,
Quhar Scottismen arayit war,
He gert arest all his bataill
And other alsua to tak consaill
Quhether thai wald herbry thaim that nycht
10 Or than but mar ga to the fycht.
The vaward that wist na thing
Off this arest na his dwelling
Raid to the Park all straucht thar way
Foroutyn stinting in gud aray,
15 And quhen the king wist that thai wer
In hale bataill cummand sa ner
His bataill gert he weill aray.
He raid apon a litill palfray
Laucht and joly arayand
20 His bataill with ane ax in hand,
And on his bassynet he bar
Ane hat off quyrbolle ay-quhar,
And thar-upon into taknyng
Ane hey croune that he wes king.

[The king kills Henry de Bohun]
25 And quhen Glosyster and Herfurd wer
With thar bataill approchand ner
Befor thaim all thar come ridand
With helm on heid and sper in hand
Schyr Henry the Boune the worthi,
30 That was a wycht knycht and a hardy
And to the erle off Herfurd cusyne,
Armyt in armys gud and fyne
Come on a sted a bow-schote ner
Befor all other that thar wer,
35 And knew the king for that he saw
Him sua rang his men on raw
And by the croune that wes set
Alsua apon his bassynet,
And towart him he went in hy.
40 And quhen the king sua apertly
Saw him cum forouth all his feris
In hy till him the hors he steris.
And quhen Schyr Henry saw the king
Cum on foroutyn abaysing
45 Till him he raid in full gret hy,
He thocht that he suld weill lychtly
Wyn him and haf him at his will
Sen he him horsyt saw sa ill.
Sprent thai samyn intill a ling,
50 Schyr Hanry myssit the noble king
And he that in his sterapys stud
With the ax that wes hard and gud
With sua gret mayne raucht him a dynt
That nother hat na helm mycht stynt
55 The hevy dusche that he him gave
That ner the heid till the harnys clave.
The hand-ax schaft fruschit in twa,
And he doune to the erd gan ga
All flatlynys for him faillyt mycht.
60 This wes the fryst strak off the fycht
That wes perfornyst douchtely,
And quhen the kingis men sa stoutly
Saw him rycht at the fyrst meting
Foroutyn dout or abaysing
65 Have slayne a knycht sua at a strak
Sic hardyment tharat gan thai tak
That thai come on rycht hardely.
Quhen Inglismen saw thaim sa stoutly
Cum on tthai had gret abaysing
70 And specially for that the king
Sa smartly that gud knycht has slayne
That thai withdrew thaim everilkane
And durst nocht ane abid to fycht
Sa dred thai for the kingis mycht.
75 And quhen the kingis men thaim saw
Sua in hale bataill thaim withdraw
A gret schout till thaim gan thai mak
And thai in hy tuk all the bak,
And thai that folowit thaim has slane
80 Sum off thaim that thai haf ourtane
Bot thai war few forsuth to say
Thar hors fete had ner all away.
Bot how-sa quhoyne deyt thar
Rebutyt foulily thai war
85 And raid thar gait with weill mar schame
Be full fer than thai come fra hame.

[Douglas admires the struggle of Moray and his men]
Quhen that the king reparyt was
That gert his men all leve the chas
The lordis off his cumpany
90 Blamyt him as thai durst gretumly
That he him put in aventur
To mete sa styth a knycht and sture
In sic poynt as he than wes sene,
For thai said weill it mycht haiff bene
95 Cause off thar tynsaill everilkan.
The king answer has maid thaim nane
Bot menyt hys handax schaft that sua
Was with the strak brokyn in twa.
The Erle Thomas wes yete fechtand
100 With fayis apon athyr hand
And slew off thaim a quantite,
Bot wery war his men and he
The-quhether with wapynnys sturdely
Thai thaim defendyt manlely
105 Quhill that the Douglas come ner
That sped him on gret maner,
And Inglismen that war fechtand
Quhen thai the Douglas saw ner-hand
Thai wandyst and maid ane opynnyng.
110 James of Douglas be thar relying
Knew that thai war discumfyt ner,
Than bad thaim that with him wer
Stand still and pres na forthyrmar.
'For thai that yonder fechtand ar,'
115 He said, 'ar off sa gret bounte
That thar fayis weill sone sall be
Discumfyt throu thar awne mycht
Thocht na man help thaim for to fycht,
And cum we now to the fechting
120 Quhen thai ar at discumfiting
Men suld say we thaim fruschit had,
And sua suld thai that caus has mad
With gret travaill and hard fechting
Los a part of thar loving,
125 And it war syn to les thar prys
That off sa soverane bounte is.
And he throu plane and hard fechting
Has her eschevyt unlikly thing
He sall haff that he wonnyn has.'

[Moray's victory over Clifford's men]
130 The erle with that that fechtand was
Quhen he hys fayis saw brawland sua
And hy apon thaim gan he ga,
And pressyt thame sa wonder fast
With hard strakys quhill at the last
135 Thai fled that dust abid ne mar.
Bath hors and men slane left thai thar
And held thar way in full gret hy
Nocht all togydder bot syndryly
And thai that war ourtane war slayn,
140 The lave went till thar ost agayne
Off thar tynsall sary and wa.
The erle that had him helpyn sua
And his als that wer wery
Hynt off thar bassynettis in hy
145 Till avent thaim for thai war wate,
Thai war all helyt into swate.
Thai semyt men forsuth Ik hycht
That had fandyt thar force in fycht
And sua did thai full douchtely.
150 Thai fand off all thar cumpany
That thar wes bot a yuman slayne
And lovyt God and wes full fayne
And blyth that thai eschapyt sua.
Towart the king than gan thai ga
155 And till him weill sone cummyn ar.
He wyttyt at thaim of thar far
And glaidsome cher to thaim mad
For thai sa weile thaim borne had.
Than pressyt into gret daynte
160 The erle off Murreff for to se,
For his hey worschip and gret valour
All yarnyt to do him honour,
Sa fast thai ran to se him thar
That ner all samyn assemblit ar.
165 And quhen the gud king gan thaim se
Befor thaim sua assemblit be
Blyth and glaid that thar fayis wer
Rabutyt apon sic maner
A litill quhill he held him still,
170 Syne on this wys he said his will.

[The king asks his men whether they should stay and fight]
'Lordingis, we aucht to love and luff
Allmychty God that syttis abuff
That sendis us sa fayr begynnyng.
It is a gret discomforting
175 Till our fayis that on this wis
Sa sone has bene rabutyt twis,
For quhen thai off thar ost sall her
And knaw suthly on quhat maner
Thar vaward that wes sa stout,
180 And syne yone othyr joly rout
That I trow off the best men war
That thay mycht get amang thaim thar,
War rebutyt sa sodanly,
I trow and knawis it all clerly
185 That mony ane hart sall waverand be
That semyt er off gret bounte,

And fra the hart be discumfyt

The body is nocht worth a myt,
Tharfor I trow that gud ending
190 Sall folow till our begynnyng.
The-quhether I say nocht this you till
For that ye suld folow my will
To fycht, bot in you all sall be,
For gyff you thinkis spedfull that we
195 Fecht we sall, and giff ye will
We leve, your liking to fulfill.
I sall consent on alkyn wis
To do rycht as ye will dyvys,
tharfor sayis off your will planly.'
200 And with a voce than gan thai cry,
'Gud king, foroutyn mar delay
Tomorne alsone as ye se day
Ordane you hale for the bataill,
For doute off dede we sall nocht faill
205 Na na payn sall refusyt be
Quhill we haiff maid our countre fre.'

[The king's address to his men: the reasons for the fight]
Quhen the king had hard sa manlily
Thai spak to fechting and sa hardely
In hart gret gladschip can he ta
210 And said, 'Lordingis, sen ye will sua
Schaip we us tharfor in the mornyng
Sua that we be the sone-rysing
Haff herd mes and buskyt weill
Ilk man intill his awn eschell
215 Without the palyounys arayit
In bataillis with baneris displayit,
And luk ye na wis brek aray.
And, as ye luf me, I you pray
That ilk man for his awne honour
220 Purvay him a gud baneour,
And quhen it cummys to the fycht
Ilk man set hart will and mycht
To stynt our fayis mekill prid.
On hors thai will arayit rid
225 And cum on you in full gret hy,
Mete thaim with speris hardely
And think than on the mekill ill
That thai and tharis has done us till,
And ar in will yeit for to do
230 Giff thai haf mycht to cum tharto.
And certis me think weill that ye
Forout abasing aucht to be
Worthy and of gret vasselagis
For we haff thre gret avantagis
235 The fyrst is that we haf the rycht
And for the rycht ay God will fycht.
The tother is that thai cummyn ar
For lyppynyng off thar gret powar
To sek us in our awne land,
240 And has brocht her rycht till our hand
Ryches into sa gret quantite
That the pourest of you sall be
Bath rych and mychty tharwithall
Giff that we wyne, as weill may fall.
245 The thrid is that we for our lyvis
And for our childer and for our wyvis
And for our fredome and for our land
Ar strenyeit in bataill for to stand,
And thai for thar mycht anerly
250 And for thai lat of us heychtly
And for thai wald distroy us all
Mais thaim to fycht, bot yeit may fall
That thai sall rew thar barganyng.
And certis I warne you off a thing
255 That happyn thaim, as God forbed,
Till fynd fantis intill our deid
That thai wyn us opynly
Thai sall off us haf na mercy,
And sen we knaw thar felone will
260 Me think it suld accord to skill
To set stoutnes agayne felony
And mak sa-gat a juperty.
Quharfor I you requer and pray
That with all your mycht that ye may
265 That ye pres you at the begynnyng
But cowardys or abaysing
To mete thaim at sall fyrst assemble
Sa stoutly that the henmaist trymble,
And menys of your gret manheid
270 Your worschip and your douchti deid
And off the joy that we abid
Giff that us fall, as weill may tid,
Hap to vencus this gret bataill.
In your handys without faile
275 Ye ber honour price and riches
Fredome welth and blythnes
Giff you contene you manlely,
And the contrar all halily
Sall fall giff ye lat cowardys
280 And wykytnes your hertis suppris.
Ye mycht have lyvyt into threldome,
Bot for ye yarnyt till have fredome
Ye ar assemblyt her with me,
Tharfor is nedfull that ye be
285 Worthy and wycht but abaysing.

[The king's address to his men: practical advice]
And I warne you weill off a thing,
That mar myscheff may fall us nane
Than in thar handys to be tane,
For thai suld sla us, I wate weill
290 Rycht as thai did my brothyr Nele.
Bot quhen I mene off your stoutnes
And off the mony gret prowes
That ye haff doyne sa worthely
I traist and trowis sekyrly
295 To haff plane victour in this fycht,
For thoucht our fayis haf mekill mycht
Thai have the wrang, and succudry
And covatys of senyoury
Amovys thaim foroutyn mor.
300 Na us thar dreid thaim bot befor
For strenth off this place as ye se
Sall let us enveronyt to be.
And I pray you als specially
Bath mar and les commonaly
305 That nane of you for gredynes
Haff ey to tak of thar riches
Ne presonaris for to ta
Quhill ye se thaim contraryit sa
That the feld anerly youris be,
310 And than at your liking may ye
Tak all the riches that thar is.
Giff ye will wyrk apon this wis
Ye sall haff victour sekyrly.
I wate nocht quhat mar say sall I
315 Bot all wate ye quhat honour is,
Contene you than on sic a wis
That your honour ay savyt be.
And Ik hycht her in leaute
Gyff ony deys in this bataille
320 His ayr but ward releff or taile
On the fyrst day his land sall weld
All be he never sa young off eild.
Now makys you redy for to fycht,
God help us that is maist of mycht.
325 I rede armyt all nycht that we be
Purvayit in bataill sua that we
To mete our fayis ay be boune.'
Than answeryt thai all with a soune,
'As ye dyvys all sall be done.'
330 Than till tha innys went thai sone
And ordanyt thaim for the fechting
Syne assemblyt in the evynnyng,
And suagat all the nycht bad thai
Till on the morn that it wes day.

[The English prepare: the night before the battle]
335 Quhen the Cliffurd, as I said ar,
And all his rout rebutyt war
And thar gret vaward alsua
War distrenyeit the bak to ta
And thai had tauld thar rebuting -
340 Thai off the vaward how the king
Slew at a strak sa apertly
A knycht that wycht wes and hardy,
And how all haile the kingis bataill
Schup thaim rycht stoutly till assaill
345 And Schyr Edward the Bruce alsua
Quhen thai all haill the bak gan ta
And how thai lesyt of thar men,
And Cliffurd had tauld alsua then
How Thomas Randell tuk the plane
350 With a few folk and how wes slane
Schyr Gilyame Danecourt the worthi,
And how the erle faucht manly
That as ane hyrchoune all his rout
Gert set out speris all about
355 And how that thai war put agayne
And part off thar gud men slayne -
The Inglismen sic abasing
Tuk and sic drede of that tithing
That in fyve hunder placis and ma
360 Men mycht se samyn routand ga
Sayand, 'Our lordis for thar mycht
Will allgate fecht agane the rycht,
Bot quha-sa werrayis wranguysly
Thai fend God all to gretumly
365 And thaim may happyn to mysfall,
And swa may tid that her we sall.'
And quhen thar lordys had persaving
Off discomfort and rownnyng
That thai held samyn twa and twa,
370 Throu-out the ost sone gert thai ga
Heraldis to mak a crye
That nane discomfort suld be,
For in punye is oft hapnyne
Quhile for to wyn and quhile to tyne,
375 And that into the gret bataill
That apon na maner may faill
Bot giff the Scottis fley thar way
Sall all amendyt be perfay.
Tharfor thai monest thaim to be
380 Off gret worschip and off bounte
And stoutly in the bataill stand
And tak amendis at thar hand.
Thai may weill monys as thai will
And thai may hecht als to fulfill
385 With stalwart hart thar bidding all
Bot nocht-forthi I trow thai sall
Intill thar hartis dredand be.
The king with his consaill preve
Has tane to rede that he wald nocht
390 Fecht or the morne bot he war socht,
Tharfor thai herberyd thaim that nycht
Doune in the Kers, and gert all dycht
And maid redy thar aparaill
Agayne the morne for the bataill,
395 And for in the Kers pulis war
Housis thai brak and thak bar
To mak briggis quhar thaim mycht pas,
And sum sayis that yeit the folk that was
In the castell quhen nycht gan fall
400 For that thai knew the myscheiff all
Thai went full ner all that thai war
And duris and wyndowys with thaim bar,
Swa that thai had befor the day
Briggyt the pulis swa that thai
405 War passyt our everilkane,
And the hard feld on hors has tane 406*
All reddy for till gif batale 407*
Arayit intill thar apparaill. 406

[The Scottish and English preparations on the morning]
The Scottismen quhen it wes day
410 Thar mes devotly gert thai say 408
Syne tuk a sop and maid thaim yar,
And quhen thai all assemblyt war
And in thar bataillis all purvayit
With thar braid baneris all displayit
415 Thai maid knychtis, as it afferis 413
To men that usys thai mysteris.
The king maid Walter Stewart knycht
And James of Douglas that wes wycht,
And other als of gret bounte
420 He maid ilkane in thar degre. 418
Quhen this wes doyne that I you say
Thai went all furth in gud aray
And tuk the plane full apertly,
Mony gud man wicht and hardy
425 That war fulfillyt of gret bounte 423
Intill thai routis men mycht se.
The Inglismen on other party
That as angelis schane brychtly
War nocht arayit on sic maner
430 For all thar bataillis samyn wer 428
In a schilthrum, but quhether it was
Throu the gret straitnes of the place
That thai war in to bid fechting
Or that it was for abaysing
435 I wate nocht, bot in a schiltrum 433
It semyt thai war all and sum,
Outane the avaward anerly
That rycht with a gret cumpany
Be thaimselvyn arayit war.
440 Quha had bene by mycht have sene thar 438
That folk ourtak a mekill feild
On breid quhar mony a schynand scheld
And mony a burnyst brycht armur
And mony man off gret valour
445 And mony a brycht baner and schene 443
Mycht in that gret schiltrum be sene.

[Umfraville's advice to Edward II rejected]
And quhen the king of Ingland
Swa the Scottis saw tak on hand
Takand the hard feyld sa opynly
450 And apon fute he had ferly 448
And said, 'Quhat, will yone Scottis fycht?'
'Ya sekyrly, schir,' said a knycht,
Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill hat he,
And said, 'Forsuth now, schyr, I se
455 It is the mast ferlyfull sycht 453
That evyre I saw quhen for to fycht
The Scottismen has tane on hald
Agayne the mycht of Ingland
In plane hard feld to giff bataile.
460 Bot and ye will trow my consaill 458
Ye sall discomfy thaim lychtly.
Withdrawys you hyne sodandly
With bataillis and with penounys
Quhill that we pas our palyounys,
465 And ye sall se alsone that thai 463
Magre thar lordys sall brek aray
And scaile thaim our harnays to ta.
And quhen we se thaim scalit sua
Prik we than on thaim hardely
470 And we sall haf thaim wele lychtly 468
For than sall nane be knyt to fycht
That may withstand your mekill mycht.'
I will nocht,' said the king, 'perfay
Do sa, for thar sall na man say
475 That I sall eschew the bataill 473
Na withdraw me for sic rangaile.'
Quhen this wes said that er said I
The Scottismen commounaly
Knelyt all doune to God to pray
480 And a schort prayer thar maid thai 478
To God to help thaim in that fycht,
And quhen the Inglis king had sycht
Off thaim kneland he said in hy,
'Yone folk knelis to ask mercy.'
485 Schyr Ingrahame said, 'Ye say suth now, 483
Thai ask mercy bot nane at you,
For thar trespas to God thai cry.
I tell you a thing sekyrly,
That yone men will all wyn or de,
490 For doute of dede thai sall nocht fle.' 488
'Now be it sa,' than said the king,
And than but langer delaying
Thai gert trump till the assemble.
On ather sid men mycht than se
495 Mony a wycht man and worthi 493
Redy to do chevalry.

[The English attack Edward Bruce's division]
Thus war thai boune on ather sid,
And Inglismen with mekill prid
That war intill thar avaward
500 To the bataill that Schyr Edward 498
Governyt and led held straucht thar way
The hors with spuris hardnyt thai
And prikyt apon thaim sturdely,

And thai met thaim rycht hardely

505 Sua that at thar assemble thar 503
Sic a fruschyng of speris war
That fer away men mycht it her.
At that meting foroutyn wer
War stedis stekyt mony ane
510 And mony gude man borne doune and slayne, 508
And mony ane hardyment douchtely
Was thar eschevyt, for hardely
Thai dang on other with wapnys ser.
Sum of the hors that stekyt wer
515 Ruschyt and relyt tycht rudlye, 513
Bot the remanand nocht-forthi
That mycht cum to the assembling
For that led maid na stinting
` Bot assemblyt full hardely,
520 And thai met thaim full sturdely 518
With speris that wer scharp to scher
And axys that weile groundyn wer
Quhar-with was roucht mony a rout.
The fechting wes thar.sa fell and stout
525 That mony a worthi man and wicht 523
Throu fors wes fellyt in that fycht
That had na mycht to rys agane.
The Scottismen fast gan thaim payn
Thar fayis mekill mycht to rus,
530 I trow thai sall na payn refuse 528
Na perell quhill thar fayis be
Set in weill hard perplexite.

[Moray's men attack the main English host]
And quhen the erle of Murref swa
Thar vaward saw sa stoutly ga
535 The way to Schyr Edward all straucht 533
That met thaim with full mekill maucht,
He held hys way with his baner
To the gret rout quhar samyn wer
The nyne bataillis that war sa braid,
540 That sa fele baneris with thaim haid 538
And of men sa gret quantite

That it war wonder for to se.

The gud erle thidder tuk the way
With his battaill in gud aray
545 And assemblit sa hardily 543
That men mycht her that had bene by
A gret frusch of the speris that brast,
For thar fayis assemblyt fast
That on stedis with mekill prid
550 Come prikand as thai wald our-rid 548
The erle and all his cumpany,
Bot thai met thaim sa sturdely
That mony of thaim till erd thai bar,
For mony a sted was stekyt thar
555 And mony gud man fellyt under fet 553
That had na hap to rys up yete.
Thar mycht men se a hard bataill
And sum defend and sum assaile
And mony a reale romble rid
560 Be roucht thar apon ather sid 558
Quhill throu the byrnys bryst the blud
That till erd doune stremand yhude.
The erle of Murreff and his men
Sa stoutly thaim contenyt then
565 That thai wan place ay mar and mar 563
On thar fayis the-quhether thai war
Ay ten far ane or may perfay,
Sua that it semyt weill that thai
War tynt amang sa gret menye
570 As thai war plungyt in the se. 568
And quhen the Inglismen has sene
The erle and all his men bedene
Faucht sa stoutly but effraying
Rycht as thai had nane abasing
575 Thaim pressyt thai with all thar mycht 573
And thai with speris and swerdis brycht
And axis that rycht scharply schar
Ymyddis the vesag met thaim thar.
Thar mycht men se a stalwart stour
580 And mony men of gret valour 578
With speris mas and knyffis
And other wapynnys wyssyll thar lyvis
Sua that mony fell doune all dede,
The greys woux with the blud all reid
585 The erle that wycht wes and worthi 583
And his men faucht sa manlyly
That quha-sa had sene thaim that day
I trow forsuth that thai suld say
That thai suld do thar devor wele
590 Swa that thar fayis suld it fele. 588

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 14

[Edward Bruce goes to Ireland]
The erle off Carrik Schyr Edward,
That stoutar wes than a libard
And had na will to be in pes,
Thocht that Scotland to litill wes
5 Till his brother and him alsua,
Tharfor to purpos gan he ta
That he off Irland wald be king.
Tharfor he send and had tretyng
With the Irschery off Irland,
10 That in thar leawte tuk on hand
Off all Irland to mak him king
With-thi that he with hard fechting
Mycht ourcum the Inglismen
That in the land war wonnand then,
15 And thai suld help with all thar mycht.
And he that hard thaim mak sic hycht
Intill his hart had gret liking
And with the consent of the king
Gadryt him men off gret bounte
20 And at Ayr syne schippyt he
Intill the neyst moneth of Mai,
Till Irland held he straucht his wai.
He had thar in his cumpany
The Erle Thomas that wes worthi
25 And gud Schyr Philip the Mowbray
That sekyr wes in hard assay,
Schyr Jhone the soullis ane gud knycht
And Schyr Jhone Stewart that wes wycht
The Ramsay als of Ouchterhous
30 That wes wycht and chevalrous
And Schyr Fergus off Ardrossane
And other knychtis mony ane.
In Wolringis Fyrth aryvyt thai
Sauffly but bargan or assay
35 And send thar schippis hame ilkan.
A gret thing have thai undretane
That with sa quhoyne as thai war thar
That war sex thousand men but mar
Schup to werray all Irland,
40 Quhar thai sall se mony thousand
Cum armyt on thaim for to fycht,
But thocht thai quhone war thai war wicht,
And forout drede or effray
In twa bataillis tuk thar way
45 Towart Cragfergus it to se.

[The Scots defeat the lords of Ulster]
Bot the lordis of that countre
Mandveill, Besat and Logane
Thar men assemblyt everilkane,
The Savagis wes alsua thar,
50 And quhen thai assemblit war
That war wele ner twenty thousand.
Quhen thai wyst that intill thar land
Sic a menye aryvyt war
With all the folk that thai had thar
55 Thai went towart thaim in gret hi,
And fra Schyr Edward wist suthly
That ner till him cummand war thai
His men he gert thaim wele aray,
The avaward had the Erle Thomas
60 And the rerward Schyr Edward was.
Thar fayis approchyt to the fechting
And thai met thaim but abaysing.
Thar mycht men se a gret melle,
For Erle Thomas and his menye
65 Dang on thar fayis sa douchtely
That in schort tym men mycht se ly
Ane hunder that all blody war,
For hobynys that war stekyt thar
Relyt and flang and gret rowme mad
70 And kest thaim that apon thaim rad,
And Schyr Edwardis cumpany
Assemblyt syne sa hardely
That thai thar fayis ruschyt all.
Quha hapnyt in that fycht to fall
75 It wes perell off his rysing.
The Scottismen in that fechting
Sua apertly and wele thaim bar
That thar fayis sua ruschyt war
That thai haly the flycht has tane.
80 In that bataill wes tane or slane
All hale the flur off Ulsyster.
The Erle off Murreff gret price had ther,
For his worthi chevalry
Comfort all his cumpany.
85 This wes a full fayr begynnyng,
For newlingis at thar aryving
In plane bataill thai discomfyt thar
Thar fayis that four ay for ane war,
Syne to Cragfergus ar thai gane
90 And in the toune has innys tane.
The castell weill wes stuffyt then
Off new with vittaill and with men,
Thartill thai set a sege in hy.
Mony eschewe full apertly
95 Wes maid quhill thar the sege lay
Quhill trewys at the last tuk thai,
Quhen that the folk off Hulsyster
Till his pes haly cummyn wer,
For Schyr Edward wald tak on hand
100 To rid furth forthyr in the land.

[Defeat of two Irish kings; the Lieutenant assembles an army at Dundalk]
Off the kingis off that countre
Thar come till him and maide fewte
Weill ten or twelf as Ik hard say,
Bot thai held him schort quhile thar fay,
105 For twa off thaim, ane Makgullane
And ane other hat Makartane,
Withset a pase intill his way
Quhar him behovyt ned away
With twa thousand off men with speris
110 And als mony of thar archeris,
And all the catell of the land
War drawyn thidder to warand.
Men callys that plase Innermallane,
In all Irland straytar is nane.
115 For Schyr Edward that kepyt thai,
Thai thoucht he suld nocht thar away,
Bot he his viage sone has tane
And straught towart the pas is gane.
The erle off Murreff Schyr Thomas
120 That put him fyrst ay till assayis
Lychtyt on fute with his menye
And apertly the pase tuk he.
Thir Ersch kingis that I spak off ar
With all the folk that with thame war
125 Met him rycht sturdely, bot he
Assaylyt sua with his menye
That maugre tharis thai wan the pas.
Slayne off thar fayis fele thar was,
Throu-out the wod thaim chasyt thai
130 And sesyt in sic fusoune the pray
That all the folk off thar ost war
Refreschyt weill ane wouk or mar.
At Kilsagart Schyr Edward lay,
And wele sone he has hard say
135 That at Dundalk wes assemble
Made off the lordis off that countre.
In ost thai war assemblyt thar,
Thar wes fyrst Schyr Richard of Clar
That in all Irland lufftenande
140 Was off the king off Ingland
The erle of Desmond wes thar
And the erle alsua of Kildar,
The Breman and the Wardoune
That war lordis of gret renoune,
145 The Butler alsua thar was
And Schyr Morys le fys Thomas,
Thai with thar men ar cummyn thar,
A rycht gret ost forsuth thai war.

[The two sides prepare for battle]
And quhen Schyr Edward wyst suthly
150 That thar wes swilk chevalry
His ost in hy he gert aray
And thidderwartis tuk the way
And ner the toune tuk his herbery,
Bot for he wyst all witterly
155 That in the toune war mony men
His bataillis he arayit then,
And stud arayt in bataill
To kep thaim gif thai wald assaile,
And quhen that Schyr Rychard of Clar
160 And other lordis that thar war
Wyst that the Scottis men sa ner
With thar bataillis cummyn wer,
Thai tuk to consaile that that nycht
For it wes layt thai wald nocht fycht
165 Bot on the morne in the mornyng
Weile sone aftre the sone-rysing
Thai suld isch furth all that thar war,
Tharfor that nycht thai did no mar
Bot herbryit thaim on athyr party.
170 That nycht the Scottis cumpany
War wachyt rycht weill all at rycht,
And on the morn quhen day wes lycht
In twa bataillis thai thaim arayit,
Thai stud with baneris all displayit
175 For the bataill all redy boun.
And thai that war within the toun
Quhen sone wes rysyn schenand cler
Send furth of thaim that within wer
Fyfty to se the contenyng
180 Off Scottismen and thar cummyng,
And thai raid furth and saw thaim sone,
Syne come agayne withoutyn hone.
And quhen thai samyn lychtyt war
thai tauld thar lordis that wer thar
185 That Scottismen semyt to be
Worthi and off gret bounte,
'Bot thai ar nocht withoutyn wer
Half-dell a dyner till us her.'
The lordys had off this tithing
190 Gret joy and gret reconforting
And gert men throu the cite cry
That all suld arm thaim hastily.

[The Scots are victorious and take Dundalk; drunkenness in the army]
Quhen thai war armyt and purvayit
And for the fycht all hale arayit
195 Thai went thaim furth in gud aray,
Sone with thar fayis assemblyt thai
That kepyt thaim rycht hardely.
The stour begouth thar cruelly
For athyr part set all thar mycht
200 To rusche thar fayis in the fycht
And with all mycht on other dang.
The stalwart stour lestyt wele lang
That men mycht nocht persave na se
Qyha maist at thar above suld be,
205 For fra sone eftre the sone-rissing
Quhill eftre mydmorne the fechting
Lestyt intill swilk a dout.
Bot than Schyr Edward that wes stout
With all thaim of his cumpany
210 Schot apon thaim sa sturdely
That thai mycht thole no mar the fycht,
All in a frusche thai tuk the flycht
And thai folowyt full egrely,
Into the toun all commonaly
215 Thai entryt bath intermelle.
Thar men mycht felloune slauchter se,
For the rycht noble erle Thomas
That with his rout folowyt the chas
Maid swilk a slauchter in the toun
220 And sua felloune occisioun
That the rewys all bludy war
Off slayne men that war lyand thar,
The lordis war gottyn all away.
And quhen the toun as I you say
225 Wes throu gret force of fechting tane
And all thar fayis fled or slayne
Thai herbryit thaim all in the toun
Quhar off vitaill wes sic fusoun
And sua gret haboundance of wyne
230 That the gud erle had doutyne
That off thar men suld drunkyn be
And mak in drunkynnes sum melle.
Tharfor he maid of wyne levere
Till ilk man that he payit suld be,
235 And thai had all yneuch perfay.
That nycht rycht weill at ese war thai
And rycht blyth of the gret honour
That thaim befell for thar valour.
Eftyr this fycht thai sojornyt thar
240 Into Dundalk thre dayis but mar,
Syne tuk thai southwartis thar way.
The Erle Thomas wes forouth ay
And as thai raid throu the countre
Thai mycht apon the hillis se
245 Sua mony men it wes ferly,
And quhen the erle wald sturdely
Dres him to thaim with his baner
Thai wald fle all that evir thai wer
Sua that in fycht nocht ane abad.
250 And thai southwart thar wayis raid
Quhill till a gret forest come thai,
Kylrose it hat as Ik hard say,
And thai tuk all thar herbery thar.

[The Lieutenant is defeated in another battle]
In all this tyme Rychard of Clar
255 That wes the kingis luftenand
Off the barnagis of Irland
A gret ost he assemblyt had,
Thai war fyve bataillis gret and braid
That soucht Schir Edward and his men,
260 Weill ner him war thai cummyn then.
He gat sone wittring that thai wer
Cummand on him and war sa ner.
His men he dressyt thaim agayn
And gert thaim stoutly ta the playn
265 And syne the erle thar come to se
And Schyr Philip the Mowbray send he,
And Schyr Jhone Stewart went alsua.
Furth to discover thar way thai ta,
Thai saw the ost sone cum at hand
270 Thai war to ges fyfty thousand,
Hame till Schyr Edward raid thai then
And said weill thai war mony men.
He said agayne, 'The ma thai be
The mar honour all-out haff we
275 Giff that we ber us manlyly.
We ar set her in juperty
To wyn honour or for to dey,
We ar to fer fra hame to fley
Tharfor lat ilk man worthi be.
280 Yone ar gadryngis of this countre
And thai sall fley I trow lychly
And men assaile thaim manlyly.'
All said than that thai weile suld do,
With that approchand ner thaim to
285 The bataillis come redy to fycht,
And thai met thaim with mekill mycht
That war ten thousand worthi men.
The Scottismen all on fute war then,
And thai on stedys trappyt weile
290 Sum helyt all in irne and stele,
Bot Scottismen at thar meting
With speris persyt thar armyng
And stekyt hors and men doun bar.
A feloun fechting wes than thar,
295 I can nocht tell thar strakys all
Na quha in fycht gert other fall
Bot in schort tyme Ik underta
Thai of Irland war contraryit sua
That thai durst than abyd no mar
300 Bot fled scalyt all that thai war,
And levyt in the bataill sted
Weill mony off thar gud men dede,
Off wapnys, armyng and of ded men
The feld was haly strowyt then.
305 That gret ost rudly ruschyt was
Bot Schyr Edward let na man chas
Bot with presonaris that thai had tane
Thai till the woud agayne ar gane
Quhar that thar harnys levyt war.
310 That nycht thai maid thar men gud cher
And lovyt God fast off his grace.
This gud knycht that sa worthi was
Till Judas Machabeus mycht
Be lyknyt weill that into fycht
315 Forsuk na multitud off men
Quhill he had ane aganys ten.

[The Scots go to O'Dempsy, who gives them quarters; he seeks to starve and
drown them]
Thus as I said Rychard of Clar
And his gret ost rebutyt war,
Bot he about him nocht-forthi
320 Wes gaderand men ay ythenly
For he thocht yete to covyr his cast.
It angyrryt him rycht ferly fast
That twys intill batell wes he
Discomfyt with a few mengne.
325 And Scottismen that to the forest
War ridyn for to mak thar rest
All thai twa nychtis thar thai lay
And maid thaim myrth solace and play.
Towart Ydymsy syne thai raid,
330 Ane Yrsche king that aith had maid
To Schyr Edward of fewte,
For forouth that him prayit he
To se his land and na vittaill
Na nocht that mycht thaim help suld faile.
335 Schyr Edward trowit in his hycht
And with his rout raid thidder rycht
A gret ryver he gert him pas
And in a rycht fayr place that was
Lauch by a bourne he gert thaim ta
340 Thar herbery, and said he wald ga
To ger men vittaill to thaim bring,
He held hys way but mar dwelling.
For he betrais thaim wes his thocht,
In sic a place he has them broucht
345 Quharof twa journais wele and mar
All the cattell withdrawyn war,
Swa that thai in that land mycht get
Na thing that worth war for til ete,
With hungyr he thocht thaim to feblis
350 Syne bring on thaim thar ennemys.
This fals traytouris men had maid
A litill outh quhar he herbryit had
Schyr Edward and the Scottismen
The ischow off a louch to den
355 And leyt it out into the nycht.
The water than with a swilk a mycht
On Schyr Edwardis men com doun
That thai in perell war to droun
For or thai wist on flot war thai.
360 With mekill payn thai gat away
And held thar lyff as God gaff grace,
Bot off thar harnayis tynt thar was.
He maid thaim na gud fest perfay
And nocht-forthi yneuch had thai,
365 For thoucht thaim faillyt of the mete
I warn you wele thai war wele wet.

[The Scots are rescued; they camp near an enemy army, seize its foragers and
make a surprise attack]
In gret distres thar war thai stad
For gret defaut off mete thai hade,
And thai betwix reveris twa
370 War set and mycht pas nane off tha,
The Bane that is ane arme of the se
That with hors may nocht passyt be
Wes betwix thaim and Hulsyster.
Thai had bene in gret perell ther
375 Ne war a scowmar of the se,
Thomas of Downe hattyn wes he,
Hard that the ost sa straytly than
Wes stad, and salyt up the Ban
Quhill he come wele ner quhar thai lay,
380 Thai knew him weil and blyth war thai,
Than with four schippys that he had tane
He set our the Ban ilkane.
And quhen thai come in biggit land
Vittaill and mete yneuch thai fand
385 And in a wod thaim herberyt thai,
Nane of the land wist quhar thai lay,
Thai esyt thaim and maid gud cher.
Intill that tym besid thaim ner
With a gret ost Schyr Richard of Clar
390 And othyr gret of Irland war
Herberyt in a forest syde,
And ilk day thai gert men rid
To bring vittaill on ser manerys
To thaim fra the toun off Coigneris
395 That wele ten gret myle wes thaim fra.
Ilk day as thai wald cum and ga
Thai come the Scottis ost sa ner
That bot twa myle betwix thaim wer,
And quhen the Erle Thomas persaving
400 Had off thar cummyng and thar ganging
He gat him a gud cumpany,
Thre hunder on hors wycht and hardy,
Thar wes Schyr Philip the Mowbray
And Schyr Jhone Stewart als perfay
405 And Schyr Alan Stewart alsua
Schyr Robert Boid and other ma.
Thai raid to mete the vittaleris
That with thar vittaill fra Coigneris
Come haldand to thar ost the way.
410 Sua sudanly on thaim schot thai
That thai war sua abaysyt all
That thai leyt all thar wapnys fall
And mercy petously gan cry,
And thai tuk thaim in thar mercy
415 And has thaim up sa clenly tane

That off thaim all eschapyt nane.

The erle of thaim gat wittering
That off thar ost in the evynnyng
Wald cum out at the woddis sid
420 And agaynys thar vittail rid.
He thocht than on ane juperty,
And gert his menye halily
Dycht thaim in the presoneris aray,
Thair pennounys als with thaim tuk thai,
425 And quhill the nycht wes ner thai bad
And syne towart the ost thai raid.
Sum of thar mekill ost has sene
Thar come and wend thai had bene
Thar vittalouris, tharfor thai raid
430 Agaynys thaim scalyt, for thai haid
Na dred that thai thar fayis war
And thaim hungryt alsua weill sar,
Tharfor thai come abandounly.
And quhen thai ner war in gret hi
435 The erle and all that with him war
Ruschyt on thaim with wapnys bar
And thar ensenyeis hey gan cry.
Than thai that saw sua sodanly
Thar fayis dyng on thaim war sa rad
440 That thai na hart to help thaim had
Bot to the ost thar way gan ta,
And thai chassyt and sua fele gan sla
That all the feldys strowyt war,
Ma than a thousand ded war thar.
445 Rycht till thar ost thai gan thaim chas
And syne agane thar wayis tais.

[The Lieutenant and his army occupy Connor and plan to attack the Scots]
On this wis wes that vittaill tane
And of the Irche-men mony slane.
The erle syne with his cumpany
450 Presoneris and vittalis halily
Thai broucht till Schyr Edward alswith
And he wes of thar cummyn blyth.
That nycht thai maid thaim mery cher
For rycht all at thar eys thai wer,
455 Thai war ay walkyt sekyrly.
And thar fayis on the tother party
Quhen thai hard how thar men war slane
And how thar vittalis als wes tane
Thai tuk to consaill that thai wald
460 Thair wayis towart Coigneris hald
And herbery in the cite ta,
And than in gret hy thai haf don sua
And raid be nycht to the cite,
Thai fand thar of vittalis gret plente
465 And maid thaim rycht mery cher
For all traist in the toun thai wer.
Apon the morne thai send to spy
Quhar Scottismen had tane herbery,
Bot thai war withall als tane
470 And brocht rycht till the ost ilkane.
The erle of Murreff rycht mekly
Speryt at ane of thar cumpany
Quhar thar ost wes and quhat thai thocht
To do, and said him gif he moucht
475 Fynd that till him the suth said he
He suld gang hame but ransoun fre.
He said, 'Forsuth I sall you say,
Thai think to-morn, quhen it is day,
To sek you with all thar menye
480 Giff thai may get wit quhar ye be.
Thai haff gert throu the countre cry
Off payne of lyve full felounly
That all the men of this countre
Tonycht into the cyte be,
485 And trewly thai sall be sa fele
That ye sall na wis with thaim dele.'
'De pardew,' said he, 'weill may be.'
To Schyr Edward with that yeid he
And tauld him utrely this tale.

[The Scots move camp; the enemy scouts survey them, and decide to attack;
Moray ambushes the enemy]
490 Than haf thai tane for consale hale
That thai wald rid to the cite
That ilk nycht sua that thai mycht be
Betwix the toune with all thar rout
And thaim that war to cum with-out.
495 Als thai devisyt thai haf done,
Befor the toune thai come alsone
And bot halfindall a myle of way
Fra the cite arest tuk thai.
And quhen the day wes dawyn lycht
500 Fyfty on hobynys that war wycht
Come till a litill hill that was
Bot fra the toun a litill space
And saw Schyr Edwardis herbery,
And off the sycht had gret ferly
505 That sua quhone durst on ony wis
Undretak sa hey enprys
As for to cum sa hardely
Apon all the chevalry
Off Irland for to bid battaill.
510 And sua it wes withoutyn faill,
For agane thaim war gadryt thar
With the wardane Richard of Clar
The Butler and erlis twa,
Off Desmound and Kildar war tha,
515 Bryman, Werdoune and fis Waryne
And Schyr Paschall the Florentine
That wes a knycht of Lumbardy
And wes full of chevalry.
The Maundveillis war thar alsua
520 Besatis Loganys and other ma
Savages als, and yeit wes ane
Hat Schyr Nycholl of Kylkenane,
And with thir lordis sa fele wes then
That for ane of the Scottismen
525 I trow that thai war fyve or ma.
Quhen thir discourouris seyne had sua
The Scottis ost thai went in hy
And tauld thair lordis opynly
How thai to thaim war cummyn ner
530 To sek thaim fer wes na myster.
And quhen the erle Thomas had sene
That thai men at the hill had bene
He tuk with him a gud menye
On hors, ane hunder thai mycht be,
535 And till the hill thai tuk thar way.
In a slak thaim enbuschyt thai
And in schort tyme fra the cite
Thai saw cum ridand a mengne
For to discur to the hill.
540 Then war thai blyth and held thaim still
Quhill thai war cummyn to thaim ner,
Than in a frusche all that thai wer
Thai schot apon thaim hardely,
And thai that saw sa sudandly
545 That folk cum on abaysit war.
And nocht-forthi sum of thaim thar
Abad stoutly to ma debate,
And other sum ar fled thar gate,
And into wele schort tym war thai
550 That maid arest contraryit sua
That thai fled halyly thar gat,
And thai thaim chassyt rycht to the yat
And a gret part off thaim has slayn,
And syne went till thar ost agayn.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 13

[Douglas's division attacks]
Quhen thir twa fyrst bataillis wer
Assemblyt as I said you er,
The Stewart Walter that than was
And the gud lord als of Douglas
5 In a bataill, quhen that thai saw
The erle foroutyn dred or aw
Assembill with his cumpany
On all that folk sa sturdely
For till help him thai held thar way
10 And thar bataill in gud aray,
And assemblyt sa hardely
Besid the erle a litill by
That thar fayis feld thar cummyn wele,
For with wapynnys stalwart of stele
15 Thai dang apon with all thar mycht.
Thar fayis resavyt weile Ik hycht
With swerdis speris and with mase,
The bataill thar sa feloune was
And sua rycht gret spilling of blud
20 That on the erd the flousis stud.
The Scottismen sa weill thaim bar
And sua gret slauchter maid thai thar
And fra sa fele the lyvis revyt
That all the feld bludy wes levyt.
25 That tyme thar thre bataillis wer
All syd be sid fechtand weill ner,
Thar mycht men her mony dynt
And wapynnys apon armuris stynt,
And se tumble knychtis and stedis
30 And mony rich and reale wedis
Defoullyt foully under fete,
Sum held on loft sum tynt the suet.
A lang quhill thus fechtand thai war
That men na noyis mycht her thar,
35 Men hard nocht bot granys and dintis
That slew fyr as men slayis on flyntis,
Thai faucht ilk ane sa egerly
That thai maid nother moyis na cry
Bot dang on other at thar mycht
40 With wapnys that war burnyst brycht.
The arowys als sua thyk thar flaw
That thai mycht say wele that thaim saw
That thai a hidwys schour gan ma,
For quhar thai fell Ik undreta
45 Thai left efter thaim taknyng
That sall ned as I trow leching.

[Sir Robert Keith's cavalry disperses the English archers]
The Inglis archeris schot sa fast
That mycht thar schot haff ony last
It had bene hard to Scottismen
50 Bot King Robert that wele gan ken
That thar archeris war peralous
And thar schot rycht hard and grevous
Ordanyt forouth the assemble
Hys marschell with a gret menye,
55 Fyve hunder armyt into stele
That on lycht hors war horsyt welle,
For to pryk amang the archeris
And sua assaile thaim with thar speris
That thai na layser haiff to schut.
60 This marschell that Ik off mute
That Schyr Robert of Keyth was cauld
As Ik befor her has you tauld
Quhen he saw the bataillis sua
Assembill and togidder ga
65 And saw the archeris schoyt stoutly,

With all thaim off his cumpany

In hy apon thaim gan he rid
And ourtuk thaim at a sid,
And ruschyt amang thaim sa rudly
70 Stekand thaim sa dispitously
And in sic fusoun berand doun
And slayand thaim foroutyn ransoun
That thai thaim scalyt everilkane,
And fra that tyme furth thar wes nane
75 That assemblyt schot to ma.
Quhen Scottis archeris saw that thai sua
War rebutyt thai woux hardy
And with all thar mycht schot egrely
Amang the horsmen that thar raid
80 And woundis wid to thaim thai maid
And slew of thaim a full gret dele.
Thai bar thaim hardely and wele
For, fra thar fayis archeris war
Scalyt as I said till you ar
85 That ma na thai war be gret thing
Sua that thai dred nocht thar schoting
Thai woux sa hardy that thaim thocht
Thai suld set all thar fayis at nocht.

[The king addresses his division and commits it to the battle]
The merschell and his cumpany
90 Wes yeit, as till you er said I,
Amang the archeris quhar thai maid
With speris roume quhar that thai raid

And slew all that thai mycht ourta,

And thai wele lychtly mycht do sua
95 For thai had nocht a strak to stynt
Na for to hald agayne a dynt,
And agayne armyt men to fycht
May nakyt men have litill mycht.
Thai scalyt thaim on sic maner
100 That sum to thar gret bataill wer
Withdrawyn thaim in full gret hy
And sum war fled all utrely,
Bot the folk that behind thaim was,
That for thar awne folk had na space
105 Yheyt to cum to the assembling
In agayn smertly gan thai ding
The archeris that thai met fleand
That then war maid sa recreand
That thar hartis war tyny clenly,
110 I trow thai sall nocht scaith gretly
The Scottismen with schot that day.
And the gud King Robert that ay
Wes fillyt off full gret bounte
Saw how that his bataillis thre
115 Sa hardely assemblyt thar
And sa weill in the fycht thaim bar
And sua fast on thair fayis gan ding
That him thocht nane had abaysing
And how the archeris war scalyt then,
120 He was all blyth and till his men
He said, 'Lordingis, now luk that ye
Worthy and off gud covyn be
At thys assemble and hardy,
And assembill sa sturdely
125 That na thing may befor you stand.
Our men ar sa freschly fechtand
That thai thar fayis has contrayit sua
That be thai pressyt, Ik underta,
A litill fastyr, ye sall se
130 That thai discumfyt sone sall be.'
Quhen this wes said thai held thar way
And on ane feld assemblyt thai
Sa stoutly that at thar cummyng
Thar fayis war ruschyt a gret thing.

[A further description of the fighting]
135 Thar mycht men se men felly fycht
And men that worthi war and wycht
Do mony worthi vasselage,
Thai faucht as thai war in a rage,
For quhen the Scottis ynkirly
140 Saw thar fayis sa sturdely
Stand into bataill thaim agayn
With all thar mycht and all thar mayn
Thai layid on as men out of wit
And quhar thai with full strak mycht hyt
145 Thar mycht na armur stynt thar strak.
Thai to-fruschyt that thai mycht ourtak
And with axis sic duschys gave
That thai helmys and hedis clave,
And thar fayis rycht hardely
150 Met thaim and dang on thaim douchtely
With wapmys that war styth of stele.
Thar wes the bataill strikyn wele.
Sa gret dyn tthar wes of dyntis
As wapnys apon armur styntis,
155 And off speris sa gret bresting
And sic thrang and sic thrysting,
Sic gyrnyng granyng and sa gret
A noyis as thai gan other beit
And ensenyeys on ilka sid
160 Gevand and takand woundis wid,
That it wes hydwys for to her.
All four thar bataillis with that wer
Fechtand in a frount halyly.
A! mycht God! how douchtely
165 Schyr Edward the Bruce and his men
Amang thar fayis contenyt thaim then
Fechtand in sa gud covyn
Sa hardy worthy and sa fyne
That thar vaward ruschyt was
170 And maugre tharis left the place,
And till thar gret rout to warand
Thai went that tane had apon hand
Sa gret anoy that thai war effrayit
For Scottis that thaim hard assayit
175 That than war in a schiltrum all.
Quha hapnyt into that fycht to fall
I trow agane he suld nocht rys.
Thar mycht men se on mony wys
Hardimentis eschevyt douchtely,
180 And mony that wycht war and hardy
Sone liand undre fete all dede
Quhar all the feld off blud wes red,
Armys and quyntys that thai bar
With blud war sa defoulyt thar
185 That thai mycht nocht descroyit be.
A! mychty God! quha than mycht se
That Stewart Walter and his rout
And the gud Douglas that wes sa stout
Fechtand into that stalwart stour,
190 He suld say that till all honour
Thai war worthi that in that fycht
Sa fast pressyt thar fayis mycht
That thaim ruschyt quhar thai yeid.
Thar men mycht se mony a steid
195 Fleand on stray that lord had nane.
A! Lord! quha then gud tent had tane
Till the gud erle of Murreff
And his that sua gret routis geff
And faucht sa fast in that battaill
200 Tholand sic paynys and travaill
That thai and tharis maid sic debat
That quhar thai come thai maid thaim gat.
Than mycht men her ensenyeis cry
And Scottismen cry hardely,
205 'On thaim, on thaim, on thaim, thai faile.'
With that sa hard thai gan assaile

And slew all that thai mycht ourta,

And the Scottis archeris alsua
Schot amang thaim sa deliverly
210 Engrevand thaim sa gretumly
That quhat for thaim that with thaim faucht
That sua gret routis to thaim raucht
And pressyt thaim full egrely
And quhat for arowis that felly
215 Mony gret woundis gan thaim ma
And slew fast off thar hors alsua,
That thai wandyst a litill wei.
Thai dred sa gretly then to dey
That thar covyn wes wer and wer,
220 For thaim that fechtand with thaim wer
Set hardyment and strenth and will
And hart and corage als thar-till
And all thar mayne and all thar mycht
To put thaim fully to flycht.

[The men guarding supplies in the Park choose a leader and move towareds the
battle, dismaying the English]
225 In this tyme that I tell off her
At that bataill on this maner
Wes strykyn quhar on ather party
Thai war fechtand enforcely,
Yomen and swanys and pitaill
230 That in the Park to yeme vittaill
War left, quhen thai wist but lesing
That thar lordis with fell fechting
On thar fayis assemblyt wer,
Ane off thaimselvyn that war thar
235 Capitane off thaim all thai maid,
And schetis that war sumdele brad
Thai festnyt in steid of baneris
Apon lang treys and speris,
And said that thai wald se the fycht
240 And help thar lordis at thar mycht.
Quhen her-till all assentyt wer
In a rout thai assemblit er
Fyften thousand thai war or ma,
And than in gret hy gan thai ga
245 With thar baneris all in a rout
As thai had men bene styth and stout.
thai come with all that assemble
Rycht quhill thai mycht the bataill se,
Than all at anys thai gave a cry,
250 'Sla! sla! apon thaim hastily!'
And thar-withall cumand war thai,
Bot thai war wele fer yete away.
And Inglismen that ruschyt war
Throuch fors of fycht as I said ar
255 Quhen thai saw cummand with sic a cry
Towart thaim sic a cumpany
That thaim thocht wele als mony war
As that wes fechtand with thaim thar
And thai befor had nocht thaim sene,
260 Than wit ye weill withoutyn wene
Thai war abaysit sa gretumly
That the best and the mast hardy
That war intill thar ost that day
Wald with thar mensk haf bene away.

[The king presses the enemy harder and some flee]
265 The King Robert be thar relyng
Saw thai war ner at discomfiting
And his ensenye gan hely cry,
Than with thaim off his cumpany
His fayis he pressyt sa fast that thai
270 War intill sa gret effray
That thai left place ay mar and mar,
For the Scottismen that thar war
Quhen thai saw thaim eschew the fycht
Dang on thaim with all thar mycht
275 That thai scalyt thaim in troplys ser
And till discomfitur war ner
And sum off thaim fled all planly,
Bot thai that wycht war and hardy
That schame lettyt to ta the flycht
280 At gret myscheiff mantemyt the fycht
And stythly in the stour gan stand.

[King Edward abandons the battle, but Sir Giles d'Argentan fights on and is
killed]

And quhen the king of Ingland

Saw his men fley in syndry place,
And saw his fayis rout that was
285 Worthyn sa wycht and sa hardy
That all his folk war halyly
Sa stonayit that thai had na mycht
To stynt thar fayis in the fycht,
He was abaysyt sa gretumly
290 That he and his cumpany
Fyve hunder armyt all at rycht
Intill a frusch all tok the flycht
And to the castell held thar way,
And yeit haiff Ik hard som men say
295 That off Valence Schir Aymer
Quhen he the feld saw vencusyt ner
Be the reyngye led away the king
Agayne his will fra the fechting.
And quhen Schyr Gylis the Argente
300 Saw the king thus and his menye
Schap thaim to fley sa spedyly,
He come rycht to the king in hy
And said, 'Schyr, sen it is sua
That ye thusgat your gat will ga
305 Havys gud day for agayne will I,
Yeit fled I never sekyrly
And I cheys her to bid and dey
Than for to lyve schamly and fley.'
His bridill but mar abad
310 He turnyt and agayne he rade
And on Edward the Bruys rout
That wes sa sturdy and sa stout
As drede off nakyn thing had he
He prikyt, cryand, 'the Argenté,'
315 And thai with speris sua him met
And sua fele speris on him set
That he and hors war chargyt sua
That bathe till the erd gan ga
And in that place thar slane wes he.
320 Off hys deid wes rycht gret pite,
He wes the thrid best knycht perfay
That men wyst lyvand in his day,
He did mony a fayr journé.
On Saryzynys thre derenyeys faucht he
325 And intill ilk derenye off tha
He vencussyt Saryzynnys twa.
His gret worschip tuk thar ending.

[The English army scatters; many are drowned in Bannockburn or are killed by
Scots]
And fra Schyr Aymer with the king
Was fled wes nane that durst abid
330 Bot fled scalyt on ilka sid,
And thar fayis thaim pressyt fast.
Thai war to say suth sua agast
And fled sa fast rycht effrayitly
That off thaim a full gret party
335 Fled to the water of Forth and thar
The mast part off thaim drownyt war,
And Bannokburne betwix the brays
Off men and hors sua stekyt wais
That apon drownyt hors and men
340 Men mycht pas dry out-our it then.
And laddis swanys and rangaill
Quhen thai saw vencussyt the bataill
Ran amang thaim and sua gan sla
As folk that na defens mycht ma
345 That war pitte for to se.
Ik herd never quhar in na contre
Folk at sa gret myscheiff war stad,
On ane sid thai thar fayis bad
That slew thaim doun foroutyn mercy,
350 And thai had on the tother party
Bannokburne that sua cumbyrsum was
For slyk and depnes for to pas
That thar mycht nane out-our it rid,
Thaim worthit maugre tharis abid
355 Sua that sum slayne sum drownyt war,
Mycht nane eschap that ever come thar
The-quhether mony gat away
That ellisquhair fled as I sall say.

[Edward II goes by Stirling Castle, round the Park to Linlithgow; Douglas
pursues with too small a force]
The king with thaim he with him had
360 In a rout till the castell rad
And wald haiff bene tharin, for thai
Wyst nocht quhat gat to get away,
Bot Philip the Mowbra said him till,
'The castell, Schyr, is at your will,
365 But cum ye in it ye sall se
That ye sall sone assegyt be
And thar sall nane of Ingland
To mak you rescours tak on hand
And but rescours may na castell
370 Be haldyn lang, ye wate this wele.
Tharfor confort you and rely
Your men about you rycht starkly
And haldis about the Park your way
Knyt als sadly as ye may,
375 For I trow that nane sall haff mycht
That chassys with sa fele to fycht.'
And his consaill thai haiff doyne
And beneuth the castell went thai sone
Rycht be the Rond Table away,
380 And syne the Park enveround thai
And towart Lythkow held in hy.
Bot I trow thai sall hastily
Be conveyit with sic folk that thai
I trow mycht suffre wele away,
385 For Schyr James lord of Douglas
Come to the king and askyt the chace
And he gaff him it but abaid,
Bot all to few of hors he haid,
He haid nocht in his rout sexty
390 The-quhether he sped him hastely
The way eftyr the king to ta.
Now lat him on his wayis ga
And eftre this we sall weill tell
Quhat him intill the chace befell.

[Capture of Hereford at Bothwell; escape of Sir Maurice Berkeley; flight of
many to Stirling Castle; King Robert fears an English recovery]
395 Quhen the gret battaill on this wis
Was discumfyt as Ik devys
Quhar thretty thousand wele war ded
Or drownyt in that ilk sted,
And sum war intill handis tane
400 And other sum thar gate war gane.
The erle of Herfurd fra the melle
Departyt with a gret mengne
And straucht to Bothwell tok the wai
That than in the Inglismennys fay
405 Was, and haldyn as place of wer,
Schyr Walter Gilbertson wes ther
Capitane and it had in ward.
The erle of Herfurd thidderward
Held and wes tane in our the wall
410 And fyfty of his men withall,
And set in housis sindryly
Sua that thai had thar na mastry.
The lave went towart Ingland
Bot off that rout I tak on hand
415 The thre partis war slane or tane,
The lave with gret payn hame ar gan.
Schyr Maurice alsua the Berclay
Fra the gret bataill held hys way
With a gret rout off Walis-men,
420 Quharever thai yeid men mycht thaim ken
For thai wele ner all nakyt war
Or lynnyn clathys had but mar.
Thai held thar way in full gret hy
Bot mony off thar cumpany
425 Or thai till Ingland come war tane
And mony als off thaim war slayne.
Thair fled als other wayis ser,
Bot to the castell that wes ner
Off Strevilline fled sic a mengye
430 That it war wonder for to se,
For the craggis all helyt war
About the castell her and thar
Off thaim that for strenth of that sted
Thidderwart to warand fled,
435 And for thai war sa fele that thar
Fled under the castell war
The King Robert that wes wytty
Held his gud men ner him by
For dred that ris agayne suld thai.

[Looting of the enemy; the dead knights; the treachery of the earl of
Atholl]
440 This was the caus forsuth to say
Quharthrouch the king of Ingland
Eschapyt hame intill his land
Quhen that the feld sa clene wes maid
Off Inglismen that nane abaid
445 The Scottismen sone tuk in hand
Off tharis all that ever thai fand,
As silver gold clathis and armyng 447*
With veschall and all other thing 448*
That ever thai mycht lay on thare hand. 449*
450 So gret a riches thair thai fand 450*
That mony man mychty wes maid 447
Off the riches that thai thar haid.
Quhen this wes doyne that her say I
The king send a gret cumpany
455 Up to the crag thaim till assaile 451
That war fled fra the gret battaill,
And thai thaim yauld foroutyn debate,
And in hand has tane thaim fute-hate
Syne to the king thai went thar way.
460 Thai dispendyt haly that day 456
In spulyeing and riches takyng
Fra end was maid off the fechting
And quhen thai nakyt spulyeit war
That war slane in the bataill thar
465 It wes forsuth a gret ferly 461
To se samyn sa fele dede ly.
Twa hundyr payr off spuris reid
War tane of knychtis that war deid,
The erle of Glosyster ded wes thar
470 That men callyt Schyr Gilbert of Clar, 464
And Gylis de Argente alsua
And Payn Typtot and other ma
That thar namys nocht tell can I.
And apon Scottismennys party
475 Thar wes slane worthi knychtis twa, 471
Wilyame the Vepoynt wes ane of tha
And Schyr Walter of Ross ane other
That Schyr Edward the kingis brother
Luffyt and had in sic daynte
480 That as himselff him luffyt he. 476
And quhen he wyst that he wes ded
He wes sa wa and will of reide
That he said makand ivill cher
That him war lever that journay wer
485 Undone than he sua ded had bene. 481
Outakyn him men has nocht sene
Quhar he for ony man maid menyng,
And the caus wes of his luffing
That he his sister paramouris
490 Luffyt, and held all at rebouris 486
His awyne wyff dame Ysabell.
And tharfor sa gret distance fell
Betwix him and the erle Davi
Off Athole, brother to this lady
495 That he apon Saynct Jhonys nycht, 491
Quhen bath the kingis war boun to fycht,
In Cammyskynnell the kingis vittaill
He tuk and sadly gert assaile
Schyr Wilyam off Herth and him slew
500 And with him men ma then ynew. 496
Tharfor syne intil Ingland
He wes bannyst and all his land
Wes sesyt as forfaut to the king
That did tharoff syne his liking.

[The burial of Gloucester; the surrender of Sir Marmaduke Tweng and of
Stirling Castle]
505 Quhen the feld as I tauld you ar 501
Was dispulyeit and left all bar
The king and all his cumpany
Blyth and joyfull glaid and mery
Off the grace that thaim fallin was
510 Towart thar innys thar wayis tays 506
To rest thaim, for thai wery war.
Bot for the erle Gilbert of Clar
That slane wes in the bataill-place
The king sumdele anoyit was
515 For till him wele ner sib wes he, 511
Than till a kirk he gert him be
Brocht and walkyt all that nycht.
But on the morn quhen day wes lycht
The king rais as his willis was.
520 Than ane Inglis knycht throu cas 516
Hapnyt that he yeid waverand
Swa that na man laid on him hand,
In a busk he hyd hys armyng
And waytyt quhill he saw the king
525 In the morne cum furth arly 521
Till him than is he went in hy,
Schyr Marmeduk the Tweingue he hycht.
He raykyt till the king all rycht
And halyst him apon his kne.
530 'Welcum, Schyr Marmeduk,' said he, 526
To quhat man art thou presoner?'
'To nane,' he said, 'bot to you her
I yeld me at your will to be.'
'And I ressave the, schyr,' said he.
535 Than gert he tret him curtasly, 531
He dwelt lang in his cumpany,
And syne till Ingland him send he
Arayit weile but ransoun fre
And geff him gret gyftis tharto.
540 A worthi man that sua wald do 536
Mycht mak him gretly for to prise.
Quhen Marmeduk apon this wis
Was yoldyn, as Ik to you say,
Than come Schyr Philip the Mowbra
545 And to the king yauld the castell, 541
His cunnand has he haldyn well,
And with him tretyt sua the king
That he belevyt of his dwelling
And held him lely his fay
550 Quhill the last end off his lyf-day. 546

[Douglas is joined by Sir Laurence Abernethy; they follow King Edward to
Winchburgh]
Now will we of the lord of Douglas
Tell how that he folowit the chas.
He had to quhone in his cumpany
Bot he sped him in full gret hy,
555 And as he throuch the Torwod fur 551
Sa met he ridand on the mur
Schyr Laurence off Abyrnethy
That with four scor in cumpany
Come for till help the Inglismen
560 For he was Inglisman yet then, 556
Bot quhen he hard how that it wes
He left the Inglis-mennys pes
And to the lord Douglas rycht thar
For to be lele and trew he swar.
565 And than thai bath folowit the chas, 561
And or the king off Ingland was
Passyt Lythkow thai come sa ner
With all the folk that with thaim wer
That weill amang thaim schout thai mycht,
570 Bot thai thocht thaim to few to fycht 566
With the gret rout that thai had thar
For fyve hunder armyt thai war.
Togidder sarraly raid thai
And held thaim apon bridill ay,
575 Thai wat governyt wittily 571
For it semyt ay thai war redy
For to defend thaim at thar mycht
Giff thai assailyt war in fycht.
And the lord Douglas and his men,
580 How that he wald nocht schaip him then 576
For to fecht with thaim all planly,
He convoyit thaim sa narowly
That of the henmaist ay tuk he,
Mycht nane behin his falowis be
585 A pennystane cast na he in hy 581
Was dede, or tane deliverly
That nane rescours wald till him ma
All-thocht he luvyt him never sua.
On this maner convoyit he
590 Quhill that the king and his menye 586
To Wenchburg all cummyn ar.

[Both sides rest at Winchburgh; they ride on till King Edward takes a boat
at Dunbar]
Than lychtyt all that thai war
To bayt thar hors that wer wery,
And Douglas and his cumpany
595 Baytyt alsua besid thaim ner. 591
Thai war sa fele withoutyn wer
And in armys sa clenly dycht
And sua arayit for to fycht,
And he sa quhoyne and but supleyng
600 That he wald nocht in plane fechting 596
Assaile thaim, bot ay raid thaim by
Waytand hys poynt ay ythandly.
A litill quhill thai baytyt thar
And syne lap on and furth thai far
605 And he was alwayis by thaim ner, 601
He leyt thaim nocht haff sic layser
As anys water for to ma,
And giff ony stad war sa
That he behind left ony space
610 Sesyt alsone in hand he was. 606
Thai convoyit thaim on sic a wis
Quhill that the king and his rout is
Cummyn to the castell of Dunbar
Quhar he and sum of his menye war
615 Resavyt rycht weill, for yete than 611
The Erle Patrik was Inglisman,
That gert with mete and drynk alsua
Refresche thaim weill, and syne gert ta
A bate and send the king by se
620 To Baumburgh in his awne contre. 616
Thar hors thar left thai all on stray
Bot sesyt I trow weill sone war thai.
The lave that levyt thar-without
Addressyt thaim intill a rout
625 And till Berwik held straucht thar way 621
In route, bot, and we suth say,
Stad thai war full narowly
Or thai come thar, bot nocht-forthi
Thai come to Berwik weill and thar
630 Into the toune ressavyt war, 626
Ellys at gret myscheff had thai bene.
And quhen the lord off Douglas has sene
That he had losyt all hys payne
Towart the king he went agane.

[Reflections on the kings' failure and success; destruction of Stirling
Castle]
635 The king eschapyt on this wis. 631
Lo! quhat fading in fortoun is
That will apon a man quhill smyle
And prik on him syne a nothyr quhill,
In na tym stable can scho stand.
640 This mychty king off Ingland 636
Scho had set on hyr quheill on hycht
Quham with sa ferlyfull a mycht
Off men off armys and archeris
And off futemen and hobeleris
645 He come ridand out off his land 641
As I befor has borne on hand,
And in a nycht syne and a day
Scho set him in sa hard assay
That he with few men in a bate
650 Wes fayne for till hald hame his gate. 646
Bot off this ilk quhelys turnyng
King Robert suld mak na murnyng
For on his syd the quheyle on hycht
Rais quhen the tother doun gan lycht,
655 For twa contraris yhe may wit wele 651*
Set agane othir on a quhele 652*
Quhen ane is hye the tothir is law, 653*
And gif it fall that fortoune thraw 654*
The quheill about, it that on hicht 655*
660 Was ere it most doune lycht, 656*
And it that undre lawch was ar 651
Mon lepe on loft in the contrar.
Sa fure it off thir kingis twa,
Quhen the King Robert stad was sua
665 That in gret myscheiff wes he 655
The tother was in his majeste,
And quhen the King Edwardis mycht
Wes lawyt King Robert wes on hycht,
And now sic fortoun fell him till
670 That he wes hey and at his will. 660
At Strevillyne wes he yeyt liand,
And the gret lordis that he fand
Dede in the feld he gert bery
In haly place honorabilly,
675 And the lave syne that dede war thar 665
Into gret pyttis erdyt war thar
The castell and the towris syne
Rycht till the ground gert he myn,
And syne to Bothwell send he
680 Schyr Edward with a gret menye 670
For thar wes thine send him word
That the rich erle off Herford
And other mychty als wer ther.

[Surrender of Bothwell Castle; exchange of prisoners; Robert Stewart and the
date of compiling this book]
Sua tretyt he with Schyr Walter
685 That erle and castell and the lave 675
In Schyr Edwardis hand he gave,
And till the king the erle send he
That gert him rycht weill yemyt be
Quhill at the last thai tretyt sua
690 That he till Ingland hame suld ga 680
Foroutyn paying of raunsoune fre,
And that for him suld changyt be
Bischap Robert that blynd was mad
And the queyne that thai takyn had
695 In presoune as befor said I 685
And hyr douchter Dame Marjory.
The erle was changyt for thir thre,
And quhen thai cummyn war hame all fre
The king his douchter that was far
700 And wes als aperand ayr 690
With Walter Stewart gan he wed
And thai wele sone gat of thar bed
A knav child throu our Lordis grace,
That eftre his gud eldfader was
705 Callyt Robert and syne wes king, 695
And had the land in governyng
Eftyr his worthy eyme Davy
That regnyt twa yer and fourty.
And in the tyme of the compiling
710 Off this buk this Robert wes king, 700
And off hys kynrik passit was
Fyve yer, and wes the yer of grace
A thousand thre hunder sevynty
And fyve, and off his eld sexty,
715 And that wes efter that the gud king 705
Robert wes broucht till his ending
Sex and fourty winter but mar.
God grant that thai that cummyn ar
Off his ofspring manteyme the land
720 And hald the folk weill to warand 710
And manteyme rycht and leawté
Als wele as in his tyme did he.

[The king's territorial settlement; an attack on Northumberland]
King Robert now wes wele at hycht
For ilk day than grew his mycht,
725 His men woux rich and his contre 715
Haboundyt weill of corne and fe
And off alkyn other ryches,
Myrth and solace and blythnes
War in the land commonaly
730 For ilk man blyth war and joly. 720
The king eftre the gret journé
Throu rede off his consaill preve
In ser townys gert cry on hycht
That quha-sa clemyt till haf rycht
735 To hald in Scotland land or fe, 725
That in thai twelf moneth suld he
Cum and clam yt and tharfor do
To the king that pertenyt tharto,
And giff thai come nocht in that yer
740 Than suld thai wit withoutyn wer 730
That hard thareftre nane suld be.
The king that wes of gret bounte
And besines, quhen this wes done
Ane ost gert summound eftre sone
745 And went thaim intill Ingland 735
And our-raid all Northummyrland,
And brynt housis and tuk tharpray
And syne went hame agane thar way.
I lat it schortly pas forby
750 For thar wes done na chevalry 740
Provyt that is to spek of her.
The king went oft on this maner
In Ingland for to rich his men
That in riches haboundyt then.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 15

[The Scots win a great battle at Connor]
Quhen thai within has sene sua slayn
Thar men and chassyt hame agayn
Thai war all wa, and in gret hy
'Till armys!' hely gan thai cry.
5 Than armyt thaim all that thai war
And for the bataill maid thaim yar
Thai ischyt out all wele arayit
Into the bataill baner displayit
Bowne on thar best wis till assaile
10 Thar fayis into fell bataill.
And quhen Schyr Philip the Mowbra
Saw thaim ische in sa gud aray
Till Schyr Edward the Bruys went he
And said, 'Schyr, it is gud that we
15 Schap for sum slycht that may availe
To help us into this bataill.
Our men ar quhoyne, bot thai haf will
To do mar than thai may fulfill,
Tharfor I rede our cariage
20 Foroutyn ony man or page
Be thaimselvyn arayit be
And thai sall seyme fer ma than we,
Set we befor thaim our baneris,
Yone folk that cummys out of Coigneris
25 Quhen thai our baneris thar may se
Sall trow traistly that thar ar we
And thidder in gret hy sall thai rid.
Cum we than on thaim at a sid
And we sall be at avantag,
30 For fra thai in our cariag
Be entryt thai sall combryt be,
And than with all our mycht may we
Lay on and do all that we may.'
All as he ordanyt done haf thai,
35 And thai that come out of Coigneris
Addressyt thaim to the baneris
And smate with spuris the hors in hy
And ruschit thaim sudandly.
The barell-ferraris that war thar
40 Cumbryt thaim fast that ridand war,
And than the erle with his bataill
Come on and sadly gan assaill,
And Schyr Edward a litill by
Assemblit sua rycht hardely
45 That mony a fey fell undre fete,
The feld wox sone of blud all wete.
With sa gret felny thar thai faucht
And sic routis till other raucht
With stok with stane and with retrete
50 As ather part gan other bet
That it wes hidwys for to se.
Thai mantemyt that gret melle
Sa knychtlik apon ather sid
Giffand and takand routis rid
55 That pryme wes passyt or men mycht se
Quha mast at thar abov mycht be,
Bot sone eftre that prime wes past
The Scottismen dang on sa fast
And schot on thaim at abandoun
60 As ilk man war a campioun
That all thar fayis tuk the flycht,
Wes nane of thaim that wes sa wicht
That evyr durst abid his fer
Bot ilk man fled thar wayis ser.

[Slaughter in Connor; the prisoners and wounded]
65 To the toun fled the mast party,
And Erle Thomas sa egrely
And his route chassyt with swerdis bar
That amang thame mellyt war
That all togidder come in the toun.
70 Than wes the slauchter sa felloune
That all the ruys ran of blud,
Thaim that thai gat to ded all yhud
Sua that than thar weill ner wer dede
Als fele as in the bataill-stede.
75 The fys Warine wes takyn thar,
Bot sua rad wes Richard of Clar
That he fled to the south countre,
All that moneth I trow that he
Sall haf na gud will for to fycht.
80 Schyr Jhone Stewart a noble knycht
Wes woundyt throu the body thar
With a sper that scharply schar,
Bot to Monpeller went he syne
And lay thar lang intill helyne
85 And at the last helyt wes he.
Schyr Edward than with his menye
Tuk in the toun thar herbery,
That nycht thai blyth war and joly
For the victour that thai had thar.

[Siege of Carrickfergus Castle; a truce is broken by ships from Dublin]
90 And on the morn foroutyn mar
Schyr Edward gert men gang and se
All the vittaill of that cite,
And thai fand sic foysoun tharin
Off corne and flour and wax and wyn
95 That thai had of it gret ferly,
And Schyr Edward gert halily
Intill Cragfergus it caryit be,
Syne thidder went his men and he
And held the sege full stalwartly
100 Quhill Palme Sonday wes passit by.
Than quhill the Twysday in Pays wouk
On ather half thai trewys touk
Sua that thai mycht that haly tid
In pennance and in prayer bid.
105 Bot apon the Pasche evyn rycht
To the castell into the nycht
Fra Devillyne schippis come fyften
Chargyt with armyt men bedene,
Four thousand trow I weill thai war,
110 In the castell thai entryt ar.
The Maundveill auld Schyr Thomas
Capitane of that menye was.
Intill the castell prively
Thai entryt for thai had gert spy
115 That mony of Schyr Edwardis men
War scalyt in the contre then,
Tharfor thai thocht in the mornyng
Till isch but langer delaying
And to suppris thaim suddanly,
120 For thai thocht thai suld traistly
For the trewys that takyn war,
Bot I trow falset evermar
Sall have unfayr and evill ending.

[The new force attacks the besieging Scots; Sir Neil Campbell wounded]
Schyr Edward wist of this nathing
125 For off tresoun had he na thoucht,
Bot for the trew he levyt nocht
To set wachis to the castell,
Ilk nycht he gert men walk it wele
And Nele Flemyng wachit that nycht
130 With sexty men worthi and wycht.
And als sone as the day wes cler
Thai that within the castell wer
Had armyt thaim and maid thaim boun
And sone thar brig avalit down
135 And ischit intill gret plente,
And quhen Nele Flemyng gan thaim se
He send ane to the king in hy
And said to thaim that war him by,
'Now sall men se, Ik undretak,
140 Quha dar dey for his lordis sak.
Now ber you weill, for sekyrly
With all this mengne fecht will I,
Intill bargane thim hald sall we
Quhill that our maister armyt be.'
145 With that word assemblyt thai,
Thai war to few all-out perfay
With sic a gret rout for to fycht,
Bot nocht-forthi with all thar mycht

Thai dang on thaim sa hardely

150 That all thar fayis had gret ferly
That thai war all of swilk manheid
As thai na drede had of thar dede.
Bot thar fayis sa gane assaile
That na worschip thar mycht availe,
155 Than thai war slayne up everilkane
Sa clene that thar eschapyt nane
And the man that went to the king
For to warne him of thar isching
Warnyt him in full gret hy.

[Edward Bruce defeats the men from the castle; Neil Campbell dies]
160 Schyr Edward wes commonaly
Callyt the king of Irland.
And quhen he hard sic thing on hand
In full gret hast he gat his ger,
Twelff wycht men in his chawmer wer
165 That armyt thaim in full gret hy,
Syne with his baner hardily
The myddis of the toun he tays.
Weill ner cummand war his fayis
That had delt all thar men in thre,
170 The Maundvell with a gret menye
Rycht throu the toun the way held doun,
The lave on athyr sid the toun
Held to mete thaim that fleand war,
Thai thoucht that all that thai fand thar
175 Suld dey but ransoune everilkane.
Bot uthyr-wayis the gle is gane,
For Schyr Edward with his baner
And his twelff I tauld you of er
On all that route sua hardely
180 Assemblyt that it wes ferly,
For Gib Harpar befor him yeid
That wes the douchteast in deid
That than wes livand off his state,
And with ane ax maid him sic gat
185 That he the fyrst fellyt to ground,
And off thre in a litill stound
The Maundveill be his armyng
He knew and roucht him sic a swyng
That he till erd yeid hastily.
190 Schyr Edward that wes ner him by
Reversyt him and with a knyff
Rycht in that place him reft the liff.
With that off Ardrossane Fergus
That wes a knycht rycht curageous
195 Assemblyt with sexty and ma,
Thai pressyt than thar fayis sua
That thai that saw thar lord slayne
Tynt hart and wald haf bene again,
And ay as Scottismen mycht be
200 Armyt thai come to the melle
And dang apon thar fayis sua
That thai all the bak gan ta,
And thai thaim chassyt to the yat,
Thar wes hard fycht and gret debat.
205 Thar slew Schyr Edward with his hand
A knycht that of all Irland
Was callit best and of maist bounte,
To surname Maundveill had he,
His awne name I can nocht say,
210 Bot his folk to sa hard assay
War set as thai of the doungeoun
Durst opyn na yhat na brig lat doun.
And Schyr Edwarde, Ik tak on hand,
Soucht thaim that fled thar to warand
215 Sa felly that of all perfay
That ischyt apon him that day
Thar eschapyt never ane
That thai ne war other tane or slayn,
For to the fycht Maknakill then
220 Come with twa hundreth spermen
And thai slew all thai mycht to-wyn.
This ilk Maknakill with a gyn
Wan off thar schippis four or fyve
And haly reft the men thar lif.
225 Quhen end wes maid of this fechting
Yeit then wes lyffand Nele Fleming.
Schyr Edward went him for to se,
About him slayne lay his menye
All in a lump on athyr hand
230 And he redy to dey throwand.
Schyr Edward had of him pite
And him full gretly menyt he
And regratyt his gret manheid
And his worschip and douchty deid,
235 Sic mayn he maid men had gret ferly
For he wes nocht custummabilly
Wont for to meyne men ony thing
Na wald nocht her men mak menyng.
He stud tharby till he wes ded
240 And syne had him till haly sted
And him with worschip gert he be
Erdyt with gret solemnite.

[Surrender of Carrickfergus Castle]
On this wis ischit Maundvill,
Bot sekyrly falset and gyle
245 Sall allwayis haif ane ivill ending
As weill is sene be this isching,
In tyme of trewys ischit thai
And in sic tyme as on Pasche day
Quhen God rais for to sauf mankin
250 Fra wem of auld Adamys syne,
Tharfor sa gret myschaunce thaim fell
That ilkane as ye hard me tell
War slayne up or takyn thar.
And thai that in the castell war
255 War set intill sic fray that hour
For thai couth se quhar na succour
Suld cum to releyff, and thai
Tretyt and till a schort day
The castell till him yauld fre
260 To sauff thaim lyff and lym, and he
Held thaim full weill his cunnand.
The castell tuk he in his hand
And vyttalyt weill and has set
A gud wardane it for to get,
265 And a quhill tharin restyt he.

[King Robert sails to the Isles, is drawn between the Tarberts; submission
of the Islesmen]
Off him no mar now spek will we
Bot to King Robert will we gang
That we haff left unspokyn of lang.
Quhen he had convoyit to the se
270 His brodyr Edward and his menye
With schippes he maid him yar 271*
Intill the Ilis for till fare 272*
Walter Steward with him tuk he 273*
His mawch and with him gret menyhe 274*
275 And other men off gret noblay. 271
To Tarbart thai held thar way
In galayis ordanyt for thar far,
Bot thaim worthyt draw thar schippis thar,
And a myle wes betwix the seys
280 Bot that wes lownyt all with treis. 276
The king his schippis thar gert draw,
And for the wynd couth stoutly blaw
Apon thar bak as thai wald ga
He gert men rapys and mastis ta
285 And set thaim in the schippis hey 281
And sayllis to the toppis tey
And gert men gang tharby drawand,
The wyind thaim helpyt that wes blawand
Sua that in a litill space
290 Thar flote all our-drawin was. 286
And quhen thai that in the Ilis war
Hard how the gud king had thar
Gert his schippis with saillis ga
Out-our betwix the Tarbartis twa
295 Thai war abaysit sa uterly 291
For thai wyst throu auld prophecy
That he that suld ger schippis sua
Betwix thai seis with saillis ga
Suld wyne the Ilis sua till hand
300 That nane with strenth suld him withstand. 296
Tharfor thai come all to the king,
Wes nane withstud his bidding
Outakyn Jhone of Lorne allane,
Bot weill sone eftre wes he tane
305 And present rycht to the king, 301
And thai that war of his leding
That till the king had brokyn fay
War all dede and distroyit away.
This Jhone of Lorne the king has tane
310 And send him furth to Dunbertane 306
A quhill in presoun thar to be,
Syne to Louchlevyn send wes he
Quhar he wes quhill in festnyng,
I trow he maid tharin ending.
315 The king quhen all the Ilis war 311
Brocht till his liking les and mar,
All that sesoun thar dwellyt he
At huntyng gamyn and at gle.

[Edmund de Caillou plunders the Merse]
Quhill the king apon this maner
320 Dauntyt the Ilis as I tell her 316
The gud Schyr James of Douglas
Intill the Forest dwelland was
Defendand worthely the land.
That tyme in Berwik wes dwelland
325 Edmound de Cailow a Gascoun 321
That wes a knycht of gret renoune
And intill Gascoune his contre
Lord off gret senyoury wes he.
He had Berwik in keping
330 And maid a prive gadering 326
And gat him a gret cumpany
Of wycht men armyt jolily,
And the nethyr end of Tevidale
He prayit doun till him all hale
335 And of the Mers a gret party, 331
Syne towart Berwik went in hy.
Schyr Adam of Gordoun that than
Wes becummyn Scottisman
Saw thaim dryf sua away thar fe
340 And wend thai had bene quhone for he 336
Saw bot the fleand scaill perfay 337*
And thaim that sesyt in the pray. 338*
Than till Schyr James of Douglas 339*
Into gret hye the way he tais 340*
345 And tauld how Inglismen thair pray 341*
Had tane and syne went thar way 342*
Toward Berwik with all thar fee, 343*
And said thai quheyn war and gif he 344*
Wald sped him he suld weill lichtly 337
350 Wyn thaim and reskew all the ky. 338

[Douglas pursues, catches and kills Caillou]
Schyr James rycht soyne gaf his assent
Till follow thame and furth is went
Bot with the men that he had thair
And met hym by the gat but mair.
355 Thai followit thame in full gret hy 343
And com weill neir thame hastely
For or thai mycht thame fully se
Thai come weill ner with thair menye,
And than bath the forreouris and the scaill
360 Intill a childrome knyt all haill 348
And wes a rycht fair cumpany.
Befor thame gert thai driff the ky
With knavis and swanys that na mycht
Had for to stand in feld and fycht,
365 The lave behynd thaim maid a stale. 353
The Douglas saw thar lump all hale
And saw thaim of sa gud covyn
And saw thai war sa mony syne
That thai for ane of his war twa.
370 'Lordingis,' he said, 'sen it is sua 358
That we haf chassyt of sic maner
That we now cummyn ar sa ner
That we may nocht eschew the fycht
Bot gif we fouly ta the flycht,
375 Lat ilkane on his lemman mene 363
And how he mony tyme has bene
On gret thrang and weill cummyn away.
Think we to do rycht sua today,
And tak we of this furd her-by
380 Our avantage for in gret hy 368
Thai sall cum on us for to fycht.
Set we than will and strenth and mycht
For to mete thaim rycht hardely.'
And with that word full hastily
385 He displayit his baner 373
For his fayis war cummand ner
That quhen thai saw he wes sa quhoyne
Thocht thai suld with thaim sone haf done
And assemblit full hardely.
390 Thar men mycht se men fecht felly 378
And a rycht cruell melle mak
And mony strakys giff and tak.
The Douglas thar weill hard wes stad,
Bot the gret hardyment that he hade
395 Comfort hys men on sic a wys 383
That na man thocht on cowardys
Bot faucht sa fast with all thar mayn
That thai fele of thar fayis has slayn,
And thoucht thai be weill fer war ma
400 Than thai, yeit ure demanyt thaim sua 388
That Edmound de Cailow wes ded
Rycht in that ilk fechtyn-stede,
And all the lave fra he wes done
War planly discomfyt sone,
405 And thai that chassyt sum has slayn 393
And turnyt the prayis all agayn.
The hardast fycht forsuth this wes
That ever the gud lord off Douglas
Wes in as off sa few mengne,
410 For nocht had bene his gret bounte 398
That slew thar chyftane in that fycht
His men had all to dede bene dycht.
He had intill custoume alway
Quhenever he come till hard assay
415 To preys him the chiftane to sla, 403
And her fell hap that he did sua,
That gert him haff victour fele sys.
Quhen Schyr Edmound apon this wis
Wes dede the gud lord of Douglas
420 To the Forest his wayis tays. 408
His fayis gretly gan him dred,
The word sprang weile fer of his deid
Sua that in Ingland ner tharby
Men spak of it commonaly.

[The challenge of Sir Robert Neville is taken up by Douglas]
425 Schir Robert Nevile that tid 413
Wonnyt at Berwik ner besid
The march quhar the lord Douglas
In the forest repayrand was
And had at him gret invy,
430 For he saw him sa manlyly 418
Mak ay his boundis mar and mar.
He hard the folk that with him war
Spek off the lord Douglas mycht
And how he forsye wes in fycht
435 And how him fell oft fayr fortoun. 423
He wrethyt tharat all-soun
And said, 'Quhat wene ye, is thar nane
That ever is worth bot he allane.
Ye set him as he wer but per,
440 Bot Ik avow befor you her 428
Giff ever he cum intill this land
He sall fynd me ner at his hand,
And gif Ik ever his baner
May se displayit apon wer
445 I sall assembill on him but dout 433
All-thocht yhe hald him never sa stout.'
Of this avow sone bodword was
Brocht to Schyr James of Douglas
That said, 'Gif he will hald his hycht
450 I sall do sa he sall haiff sycht 438
Off me an my cumpany
Yeyt or oucht lang wele ner him by.'
Hys retenew than gaderyt he
That war gud men of gret bounte,
455 And till the march in gud aray 443
Apon a nycht he tuk the way
Sua that into the mornyng arly
He wes with all his cumpany
Befor Berwik and thar he maid
460 Men to display his baner brad, 448
And of his menye sum sent he
For to bryn townys twa or thre,
And bad thaim sone agayne thaim sped
Sua that on hand giff thar come ned
465 Thai mycht be for the fycht redy. 453

[Neville waits then attacks Douglas's force]
The Nevill that wyst witterly
That Douglas cummyn wes sa ner
And saw all braid stand his baner,
Than with the folk that with him war
470 And he had a gret menye thar 458
For all the gud off that countre
Intill that tyme with him had he
Sua that he thar with him had then
Wele may then war the Scottismen,
475 He held his way up till a hill 463
And said, 'Lordingis, it war my will
To mak end off the gret deray
That Douglas mayis us ilk day,
Bot me think it spedfull that we
480 Abid quhill his men scalit be 468
Throu the countre to tak thar pray,
Than fersly schout on thaim we may
And we sall haf thaim at our will.'
Than all thai gaf assent thar-till
485 And on the hill abaid howand. 473
The men fast gaderyt of the land
And drew till him in full gret hy.
The Douglas then that wes worthi
Thoucht it wes foly mar to bid,
490 Towart the hill than gan he rid, 478
And quhen the Nevill saw that thai
Wald nocht pas furth to the forray
Bot pressyt to thaim with thar mycht
He wyst weill than that thai wald fycht
495 And till his mengye gan he say, 483
'Lordingis, now hald we furth our way,
Her is the flour of the countre
And may then thai alsua ar we,
Assembill we then hardely,
500 For Douglas with yone yhumanry 488
Sall haf na mycht till us perfay.'
Then in a frusch assemblyt thai,
Than mycht men her the speris brast
And ilkane ding on other fast,
505 And blude bryst out at woundis wid. 493
Thai faucht fast apon athyr sid
For athyr party gan thaim payn
To put thar fayis on bak agayn.

[Douglas fights with and kills Neville; division of the spoils]
The lordis off Nevill and Douglas
510 Quhen at the fechting fellast was 498
Met togidder rycht in the preys,
Betwix thaim than gret bargane wes.
Thai faucht felly with all thar maucht,
Gret routis ather othyr raucht,
515 Bot Douglas starkar wes Ik hycht 503
And mar usyt alsua to fycht,
And he set hart and will alsua
For to deliver him of his fa
Quhill at the last with mekill mayn
520 Off fors the Nevill has he slayn, 508
Then his ensenye hey gan cry
And the lave sa hardely
He ruschyt with his menye
That intill schort tym men mycht se
525 Thar fayis tak thaim to the flycht 513
And thai thaim chassyt with all thar mycht
Schir Rauff Nevill in the chas
And the baron of Hiltoun was
Takyn and other of mekill mycht.
530 Thar wes fele slayne into that fycht 518
That worthi in thar tym had bene.
And quhen the feld wes clengit clen
Sua that thar fayis everilkane
War slayne or chassyt awai or tan
535 Than gert he forray all the land 523
And sesyt all that ever thai fand
And brynt townys in thar way,
Syne hale and fer cummyn ar thai.
The prayis amang his menye
540 Eftre thar meritis delt he 528
And held na thing till his behuff.
Sic dedis aucht to ger men luff
Thar lord, and sua thai did perfay.
He tretyt thaim sa wisly ay
545 And with sa mekill luff alsua 533
And sic avansement wald ma
Off thar deid that the mast cowart
He maid stoutar then a libart,
With cherysing thusgat maid he
550 His men wycht and of gret bounte. 538

[The reputation of Douglas]
Quhen Nevill thus was brocht to ground
And of Cailow auld Schyr Edmound,
The drede of the lord of Douglas
And his renoune sa scalit was
555 Throu-out the marchis of Ingland 543
That all that war tharin wonnand
Dred him as the fell devill of hell,
And yeit haf Ik hard otfsys tell
That he sa gretly dred wes than
560 That quhen wivys wald childer ban 548
Thai wald rycht with ane angry face
Betech thaim to the blak Douglas.
562A For with thair taill he wes mair fell *
562B Than wes ony devill in hell. *
Throu his gret worschip and bounte
Sua with his fayis dred wes he
565 That thaim growyt to her his name. 553
He may at ese now dwell at hame
A quhill for I trow he sall nocht
With fayis all a quhile be socht.
Now lat him in the Forest be,
570 Off him spek now no mar will we, 558
Bot off Schyr Edward the worthi
That with all his chevalry
Wes at Cragfergus yeit liand
To spek mar we will tak on hand.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 16

[King Robert goes to Ireland]
Quhen Schyr Edward, as Ik said ar,
Had discomfyt Richard of Clar
And of Irland all the barnage
Thris throu his worthi vasselag
5 And syne with all his men of mayn
Till Cragfergus wes cummyn agayn,
The gud erle of Murreff Thomas
Tuk leyff in Scotland for to pas,
And he him levyt with a gruching,
10 And syne him chargyt to the king
To pray him specialli that he
Cum intill Irland him to se,
For war thai bath into that land
Thai suld fynd nane suld thaim withstand.
15 The erle furth thane his way has tane
And till his schipping is he gayn
And sayllyt weill out-our the se.
Intill Scotland sone aryvit he,
Syne till the king he went in hy,
20 And he resavyt him glaidsumly
And speryt of his brodyr fayr
And of journayis that thai had thar,
And he him tauld all but lesing.
Quhen the king left had the spering
25 His charge to the gud king tauld he,
And he said he wald blythly se
Hys brother and se the affer
Off that cuntre and off thar wer.
A gret mengye then gaderyt he,
30 And twa lordys of gret bounte
The tane the Stewart Walter was
The tother James of Douglas
Wardanys in his absence maid he
For to maynteyme wele the countre,
35 Syne to the se he tuk the way
And at Lochriane in Galloway
He schippyt with all his menye,
To Cragfergus sone cummyn is he.
Schyr Edward of his come wes blyth
40 And went doun to mete him swyth
And welcummyt him with glaidsome cher,
Sa did he all that with him wer
And specially the erle Thomas
Off Murreff that his nevo was,
45 Syne till the castell went thai yar
And maid thaim mekill fest and far.
Thai sojournyt that dayis thre
And that in myrth and jolyte.

[The Scots march south and an ambush is prepared for them]
King Robert apon this kyn wis
50 Intill Irland aryvit is,
And quhen in Cragfergus had he
With his men sojournyt dayis thre

Thai tuk to consaill that thai wald

With thar folk thar wayis hald
55 Throu all Irland fra end till other.
Schyr Edward than the kingis brother
Befor in the avaward raid,
The king himselff the rerward maid
That had intill his cumpany
60 The erle Thomas that wes worthi.
Thar wayis southwart haff thai tane
And sone ar passyt Inderwillane.
This wes in the moneth of May
Quhen byrdis syngis in ilk spray
65 Melland thar notis with seymly soune
For softnes of the swet sesoun,
And levys off the branchys spredis
And blomys brycht besid tham bredis
And feldis ar strowyt with flouris
70 Well saverand of ser colouris
And all thing worthis blyth and gay,
Quhen that this gud king tuk his way
To rid southwart as I said ar.
The wardane than Richard of Clar
75 Wyst the king wes aryvyt sua
And wyst that he schup him to ta
His way towart the south contre,
And of all Irland assemblit he
Bath burges and chevalry
80 And hobilleris and yhumanry
Quhill he had ner fourty thousand.
Bot he wald nocht yet tak on hand
With all his fayis in feld to fycht
Bot he umbethocht him of ane slycht,
85 That he with all his gret menye
Wald in a wod enbuschit be
All prively besid the way
Quhar that thar fayis suld away,
And lat the avaward pas fer by
90 And syne assembill hardely
On the rerward with all thar men.
Thai did as thai divisyt then,
In ane wod thai enbuschit wer,
The Scottis ost raid by thaim ner
95 Bot thai na schawing of thaim maid.

[The ambush of King Robert's men; the folly of Colin Campbell]
Schyr Edward weill fer forouth rad
With thaim that war of his menye,
To the rerward na tent tuk he,
And Schyr Richard of Clar in hy
100 Quhen Schyr Edward wes passyt by
Send lycht yomen that weill couth schout
To bykkyr the rerward apon fute.
Then twa of thaim that send furth war
At the wod sid thaim bykkerit thar
105 And schot amang the Scottismen.
The king that had thar with him then
Weill fyve thousand wicht and worthi
Saw thai twa sa abandounly
Schut amang thaim and cum sa ner.
110 He wist rycht weill withoutyn wer
That thai rycht ner suppowall had,
Tharfor a bidding has he mad
That na man sall be sa hardy
To prik at thaim, bot sarraly
115 Rid redy ay into bataill
To defend gif men wald assail,
'For we sall sone, Ik undreta,'
He said, 'haf for to do with ma.'
Bot Schyr Colyne Cambell, that ner
120 Was by quhar thai twa yhumen wer
Schoutand amang thaim hardily,
Prykyt on thaim in full gret hy
And sone the tane has our-tane
And with the sper him sone has slane,
125 The tother turnyt and schot agayne
And at the schot his hors has slane.
With that the king come hastily
And intill his malancoly
With a trounsoun intill hys new
130 To Schyr Colyne sic dusche he geve
That he dynnyt on his arsoun,
Than bad he smertly tit him doun.
Bot other lordis that war him by
Ameyssyt the king into party,
135 And he said, 'Breking of bidding
Mycht caus all our discumfiting.
Weyne ye yone ribaldis durst assaill
Us sa ner intill our bataill
Bot giff thai had suppowaill ner.
140 I wate rycht weill withoutyn wer
That we sall haf to do in hy,
Tharfor luk ilk man be redy.'
With that weill neir thretty or ma
Off bowmen come and bykyrit sua
145 That thai hurt off the kingis men.
The king has gert his archeris then
Schoute for to put thai men agayn.
With that thai entryt in a playn
And saw arayit agayn thaim stand
150 In four bataillis fourty thousand.
The king said, 'Now, lordingis, lat se
Quha worthy in this fycht sall be,
On thaim foroutyn mar abaid.'

[The fight and victory of King Robert]
Sa stoutly than on thaim thai raid
155 And assemblyt sa hardely
That off thar fayis a gret party
War laid at erd at thar meting.
Thar wes off speris sic bristing
As ather apon other raid
160 That it a wele gret frusch has maid,
Hors come thar fruschand heid for heid
Sua that fele on the ground felle deid.
Mony a wycht and worthi man
As ather apon other ran
165 War duschyt dede doun to the ground,
The red blud out off mony a wound
Ruschyt in sa gret foysoun than
That off the blud the stremys ran.
And thai that wraith war and angry
170 Dang on other sa hardily
With wapnys that war brycht and bar
That mony a gud man deyit thar,
For thai that hardy war and wycht
And frontlynys with thar fayis gan fycht
175 Pressyt thaim formast for to be.
Thar mycht men cruell bargane se
And hard bataill. Ik tak on hand
In all the wer off Irland
Sa hard a fechting wes nocht sene,
180 The-quhether of gret victours nynteyne
Schyr Edward has withoutyn wer,
And into les than in thre yer,
And in syndry bataillis of tha
Vencussyt thretty thousand and ma
185 With trappyt hors rycht to the fete,
Bot in all tymys he wes yete
Ay ane for fyve quhen lest wes he.
Bot the king into this melle
Had alwayis aucht of his fa-men
190 For ane, bot he sua bar him then
That his gud deid and his bounte
Confortyt sua all his menye
That the mast coward hardy wes,
For quhar he saw the thikkest pres
195 Sa hardely on thaim he raid
That thar about him roume he maid,
And Erle Thomas the worthi
Wes in all tyme ner him by
And faucht as he war in a rage,
200 Sua that for thar gret vasselage
Thar men sic gret hardyment gan tak
That thai na perell wald forsak
Bot thaim abandound sa stoutly
And dang apon thaim sa hardely
205 That all thar fayis affrayit war.
And thai that saw weill be thar far
That thai eschewyt sumdele the fycht
Than dang thai on with all thar mycht
And pressit thame dyngand so fast 209*
210 That thai the bak gaf at the last, 210*
And thai that saw thaim tak the flicht 211*
Pressit thame than with all thare mycht 212*
And in thar fleyng fele gan sla. 209
The kingis men has chassyt sua
215 That thai war scalyt everilkane. 211
Rychard off Clar the way has tane
To Devillyne into full gret hy
With other lordys that fled him by
And warnysyt bath castellis and townys
220 That war in thar possessiounys. 216
Thai war sa felly fleyit thar
That I trow Schyr Richard off Clar
Sall haiff na will to faynd his mycht
In bataill na in fors to fycht
225 Quhill King Robert and his menye 221
Is dwelland in that cuntre.
Thai stuffyt strenthis on this wis,
And the king that wes to pris
Saw in the feld rycht mony slane,
230 And ane of thaim that thar wes tane 226
That wes arayit jolyly
He saw greyt wonder tenderly,
And askyt him quhy he maid sic cher.
He said him, 'Schyr, withoutyn wer
235 It is na wonder thocht I gret. 231
I se fele her lossyt the suet,
The flour of all north Irland
That hardyast war of thar hand
And mast doutyt in hard assay.'
240 The king said, 'Thou dois wrang perfay, 236
Thou has mar caus myrthis to ma
For thou the dede eschapyt sua.'

[Edward Bruce upbraided; the Scots' journey, and the wait for the laundress]
Richard off Clar on this maner
And all his folk discomfyt wer
245 With few folk, as I to you tauld, 241
And quhen Edward the Bruys the bauld
Wyst at the king had fochtyn sua
With sa fele folk, and he tharfra,
Mycht na man se a waer man.
250 Bot the gud king said till him than 246
That it wes his awne foly
For he raid sua unwittely
Sa far befor, and na vaward
Maid to thaim of the rerward,
255 For he said quha on wer wald rid 251
In a vaward he suld na tid
Pas fra his rerward fer of sycht
For gret perell sua fall thar mycht.
Off this fycht will we spek no mar,
260 Bot the king and all that thar war 256
Raid furthwartis in bettyr aray
And nerar togidder than er did thai.
Throu all the land playnly thai raid,
Thai fand nane that thaim obstakill maid.
265 Thai raid evyn forouth Drochindra 261
And forouth Devillyne syne alsua
And to giff battaill nane thai fand,
Syne went thai southwart in the land
And rycht till Lynrike held thar way
270 That is the southmaist toun perfay 266
That in Irland may fundyn be.
Thar lay thai dayis twa or thre
And buskyt syne agayn to far,
And quhen that thai all redy war
275 The king has hard a woman cry, 271
He askyt quhat that wes in hy.
'It is the laynder, schyr,' said ane,
'That hyr child-ill rycht now has tane
And mon leve now behind us her,
280 Tharfor scho makys yone ivill cher.' 276
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.'
285 His ost all thar arestyt he 281
And gert a tent sone stentit be
And gert hyr gang in hastily,
And other wemen to be hyr by.
Quhill scho wes deliver he bad
290 And syne furth on his wayis raid, 286
And how scho furth suld caryit be
Or ever he furth fur ordanyt he.
This wes a full gret curtasy
That swilk a king and sa mychty
295 Gert his men dwell on this maner 291
Bot for a pouer lauender.
Agayne northwart thai tuk thar way
Throu all Irland than perfay,
Throu all Connach rycht to Devillyne,
300 And throu all Myth and Irell syne 296
And Monester and Lenester,
And syne haly throu Ulsister,
To Cragfergus foroutyn bataill,
For thar wes nane durst thaim assaill.

[Edward Bruce and the Irish kings; his failings]
305 The kingis off Irchery 301
Come to Schyr Edward halily
And thar manredyn gan him ma
Bot giff that it war ane or twa.
Till Cragfergus thai come again,
310 In all that way wes nane bargain 306
Bot giff that ony poynye wer
That is nocht for to spek of her.
The Irsche kingis than everilkane
Hame till thar awne repayr ar gane,
315 And undretuk in allkyn thing 311
For till obey to the bidding
Off Schyr Edward that thar king callit thay.
He wes now weill set in gud way
To conquer the land halyly,
320 For he had apon his party 316
The Irschery and Ulsyster,
And he wes sa furth on his wer
That he wes passyt throu Irland
Fra end till uthyr throu strenth of hand.
325 Couth he haf governyt him throu skill 321
And folowyt nocht to fast his will
Bot with mesur haf led his dede
It wes weill lik withoutyn drede
That he mycht haiff conqueryt weill
330 The land of Irland ilkadele, 326
Bot his outrageous sucquedry
And will that wes mar than hardy
Off purpose lettyt him perfay,
As Ik herefter sall you say,

[Douglas at Lintalee; Sir Thomas Richmond proposes to cut down Jedworth
Forest]
335 Now leve we her the noble king 331
All at his ese and his liking,
And spek we of the lord of Douglas
That left to kep the marches was.
He gert set wrychtis that war sleye
340 And in the halche of Lintaile 336
He gert thaim mak a fayr maner,
And quhen the housis biggit wer
He gert purvay him rycht weill thar
For he thoucht to mak ane infar
345 And to mak gud cher till his men. 341
In Rychmound wes wonnand then
Ane erle that men callit Schyr Thomas,
He had invy at the Douglas
And said gif that he his baner
350 Mycht se displayit apon wer 346
That sone assemble on it suld he.
He hard how the Douglas thocht to be
At Lyntailey and fest to ma,
And he had wittering weill alsua
355 That the king and a gret menye 351
War passyt than of the countre
And the erle of Murref Thomas,
Tharfor he thocht the countre was
Febill of men for to withstand
360 Men that thame soucht with stalwart hand, 356
And of the marchis than had he
The governaile and the pouste.
He gaderyt folk about him then
Quhill he wes ner ten thousand men,
365 And wod-axys gert with him tak 361
For he thocht he his men wald mak
To hew Jedwort Forrest sa clene
That na tre suld tharin be sene.
Thai held thaim forthwart on thar way,
370 Bot the gud lord Douglas that ay 366

Had spyis out on ilka sid

Had gud wittering that thai wald rid
And cum apon him suddanly.
Than gaderyt he rycht hastily
375 Thaim that he moucht of his menye, 371
I trow that than with him had he
Fyfty that worthy war and wicht
At all poynt armyt weill and dycht,
And off archeris a gret menye
380 Assemblyt als with him had he. 376
A place thar was thar in the way
Quhar he thocht weill thai suld away
That had wod apon athyr sid,
The entre wes weill large and wid
385 And as a scheild it narowit ay 381
Quhill at intill a place the way
Wes nocht a pennystane cast of breid.
The lord of Douglas thidder yeid
Quhen he wyst thai war ner cummand,
390 And a-lauch on the ta hand 386
All his archeris enbuschit he
And bad thaim hald thaim all preve
Quhill that thai hard him rays the cry,
And than suld schut hardely
395 Amang thar fayis and sow thaim sar 391
Quhill that he throu thaim passyt war,
And syne with him furth hald suld thai.
Than byrkis on athyr sid the way
That young and thik war growand ner
400 He knyt togidder on sic maner 396
That men moucht nocht weill throu thaim rid.

[Douglas defeats and kills Richmond, then drives off his clerk from
Lintalee]
Quhen this wes done he gan abid
Apon the tother half the way,
And Richmound in gud aray
405 Come ridand in the fyrst escheill. 401
The lord Douglas has sene him weill
And gert his men all hald thaim still
Quhill at thar hand thai come thaim till
And entryt in the narow way,
410 Than with a schout on thaim schot thai 406
And criyt on hycht, 'Douglas! Douglas!'
The Richmound than that worthi was
Quhen he has hard sua rais the cry
And Douglas baner saw planly
415 He dressyt thidderwart in hy 411
And thai come on sa hardily
That thai throu thaim maid thaim the way,
All that thai met till erd bar thai.
The Richmound borne doun thar was,
420 On him arestyt the Douglas 416
And him reversyt and with a knyff
Rycht in that place reft him the lyff.
Ane hat apon his helm he bar
And that tuk with him Douglas thar
425 In taknyng, for it furryt was, 421
And syne in hy thar wayis tays
Quhill in the wod thai entryt war.
The archeris weill has borne thaim thar
For weill and hardily schot thai.
430 The Inglis rout in gret affray 426
War set, for Douglas suddanly

With all thaim of his cumpany

Or ever thai wyst wes in thar rout
And thyrlyt thaim weill ner throchout,
435 And had almast all doyn his deid 431
Or thai to help thaim couth tak heid.
And quhen thai saw thar lord slayn
Thai tuk him up and turnyt agayn
To draw thaim fra the schot away,
440 Than in a plane assemblit thai 436
And for thar lord that thar wes dede
Thai schup thaim in that ilk sted
For to tak herbery all that nycht.
And than the Douglas that wes wicht
445 Gat wytteryng ane clerk Elys 441
With weill thre hunder ennymys
All straucht to Lintaile war gayn
And herbery for thar ost had tane.
Than thidder is he went in hy
450 With all thaim of his cumpany 446
And fand clerk Elys at the mete
And his round about him set,
And thai come on thaim stoutly thar
And with swerdis that scharply schar
455 Thai servyt thaim full egrely. 451
Slayn war thai full grevously
That wele ner eschapyt nane,
Thai servyt thaim on sa gret wane
With scherand swerdis and with knyffis
460 That weile ner all left the lyvys. 456
Thai had a felloun efter mes,
That sourchargis to chargand wes.
Thai that eschapyt thar throu cas
Rycht till the ost the wayis tais
465 And tauld how that thar men war slayn 461
Sa clene that ner eschapyt nane.
And quhen thai of thar ost had herd
How that the Douglas with thaim ferd
That had thar herbryouris slane
470 And ruschyt all thaim self agayn 466
And slew thar lord in-myd thar rout,
Thar wes nane of thaim all sa stout
That mar will than had till assaile
The Douglas, tharfor to consaill
475 Thai yeid and to purpose has tane 471
To wend hamwart, and hamwart ar gan
And sped thaim sua apon thar way
That in Ingland sone cummyn ar thai.
The forest left thai standand still,
480 To hew it than thai had na will 476
Specially quhill the Douglas
Sua ner-hand by thar nychtbur was.
And he that saw thaim torne agayn
Persavyt weill thar lord wes slayn
485 And be the hat that he had tane 481
He wist alsua weill, for ane
That takyn wes said him suthly
That Rychmound commounly
Wes wount that furryt hat to wer.
490 Than Douglas blythar wes than er 486
For he wist weill that Rychmound
His felloun fa wes brocht to the ground.

[A comparison of Douglas's exploits]
Schyr James of Douglas on this wis
Throu his worschip and his empris
495 Defendyt worthely the land. 491
This poynt of wer, I tak on hand,
Wes undretane full apertly
And eschevyt rycht hardely,
For he stonayit foroutyn wer
500 That folk that well ten thousand wer 496
With fyfty armyt men but ma.
I can als tell you other twa
Poyntis that wele eschevit wer
With fyfty men, and but wer
505 Thai war done sua rycht hardely 501*
That thai war prisit soveranly 502*
Atour all othir poyntis of wer 503*
That in that tym eschevit wer 504*
This wes the fyrst that sua stoutly 501
510 Wes brocht till end wele with fifty 502
Into Galloway the tother fell
Quhen as ye forouth herd me tell
Schyr Edward the Bruys with fifty
Vencussyt of Sanct Jhon Schyr Amery
515 And fyften hunder men be tale. 507
The thrid fell intill Esdaill
Quhen that Schyr Jhone the Soullis was
The governour of all that place,
That to Schyr Androw Hardclay
520 With fifty men withset the way 512
That had thar in his cumpany
Thre hunder horsyt jolyly.
This Schyr Jhone intill playn melle
Throu soverane hardiment and bounte
525 Vencussyt thaim sturdely ilkan 517
And Schyr Andrew in hand has tane,
I will nocht rehers the maner
For quha-sa likis thai may her
Young wemen quhen thai will play
530 Syng it amang thaim ilk day. 522
Thir war the worthi poyntis thre
That I trow evermar sall be
Prissyt quhile men may on thaim mene.
It is well worth foroutyn wene
535 That thar namys for evermar, 527
That in thar tym sua worthi war
That men till her yeit has daynte,
For thar worschip and thar bounte
Be lestand ay furth in loving,
540 Quhar He that is of hevynnys king 532
Bring thaim he up till hevynnys blis
Quhar allwayis lestand loving is.

[English ships come to Fife; the Scots let them land]
In this tym that the Richmound
Was on this maner brocht to ground
545 Men off the cost off Ingland 537
That dwelt on Humbre or nerhand
Gaderyt thaim a gret mengne
And went in schippes to the se,

And towart Scotland went in hy

550 And in the Fyrth come hastely. 542
Thai wend till haiff all thar liking
For thai wist weile that the king
Wes then fer out of the countre,
With him mony of gret bounte,
555 Tharfor into the Fyrth come thai 547
And endlang it up held thai
Quhill thai besid Ennerkething
On west half towart Dunferlyng
Tuk land and fast begouth to ryve.
560 The erle of Fyff and the schyrreff 552
Saw to thar cost schippis approchand
Thai gaderyt to defend thar land
And a-forgayn the schippis ay
As thai saillyt thai held thar way
565 And thocht to let thaim land to tak. 557
And quhen the schipmen saw thaim mak
Swilk contenance in sic aray
Thai said amang thaim all that thai
Wald nocht let for thaim land to ta,
570 Than to the land thai sped thaim sua 562
That thai come thar in full gret hy
And aryvyt full hardely.
The Scottismen saw thar cummyng
And had of thaim sic abasing
575 That thai all samyn raid thaim fra 567
And the land letles lete thaim ta.
Thai durst nocht fecht with thaim, forthi
Thai withdrew thaim all halily
The-quhethyr thai war fyve hunder ner.

[The bishop of Dunkeld drives the English to their ships]
580 Quhen thai away thus ridand wer 572
And na defens begouth to schape,
Off Dunkeldyn the gud byschap
That men callyt Wilyam the Sanctecler
Come with a rout in gud maner.
585 I trow on hors thai war sexty, 577
Himselff was armyt jolyly
And raid apon a stalwart sted,
A chemer for till hele his wed
Apon his armour had he then
590 And armyt weill als war his men. 582
The erle and the schyrreff met he
Awaywart with thar gret menye,
And askyt thaim weill sone quhat hy
Maid thaim to turne sa hastily.
595 Thai said thar fayis with stalwart hand 587
Had in sic foysoun takyn the land
That thai thocht thaim all out to fele
And thaim to few with thaim to dele.
Quhen the bischap hard it wes sua
600 He said, 'The king aucht weill to ma 592
Off you, that takys sa wele on hand
In his absence to wer his land.
Certis giff he gert serff you weill
The gilt spuris rycht be the hele
605 He suld in hy ger hew you fra, 597
Rycht wald with cowartis men did sua.
Quha luffis his lord or his cuntre
Turne smertly now agayne with me.'
With that he kest of his chemer
610 And hynt in hand a stalwart sper 602
And raid towart his fayis in hy,
All turnyt with him halyly
For he had thaim reprovyt sua
That off thaim all nane fled him fra.
615 He raid befor thaim sturdely 607
And thai him folowyt sarraly
Quhill that thai come ner approchand
To thar fayis that had tane land,
And sum war knyt in gud aray
620 And sum war went to the foray. 612
The gud bischap quhen he thaim saw
He said, 'Lordingis, but drede or aw
Pryk we apon thaim hardely
And we sall haf thaim wele lychtly.
625 Se thai us cum but abaysing 617
Sua that we mak her na stinting
Thai sall weill sone discumfyt be.
Now dois weill, for men sall se
Quha luffis the kingis mensk today.'
630 Than all togidder in gud aray 622
Thai prekyt apon thaim sturdely,
The byschap that wes rycht hardy
And mekill and stark raid forouth ay.
Than in a frusche assemblit thai,
635 And thai that at the fryst meting 627
Feld off the speris sa sar sowing
Wandyst and wald haiff bene away,
Towart thar schippis in hy held thai,
And thai thaim chassyt fellounly
640 And slew thaim sua dispitously 632
That all the feldis strowyt war
Off Inglismen that slane war thar,
And thai yeyt that held unslayne
Pressyt to the se agayne,
645 And Scottismen that chassyt sua 637
Slew all that ever thai mycht ourta.
Bot thai that fled yeit nocht-forthi
Sua to thar schippis gan thaim hy,
And in sum barge sua fele gan ga
650 And thar fayis hastyt thaim sua 642
That thai our-tumblyt and the men
That war tharin war drownyt then.
Thar did ane Inglisman perfay
A weill gret strenth as Ik hard say,
655 For quhen he chassyt wes till his bat 647
A Scottisman that him handlyt hat
He hynt than be the armys twa,
And, war him wele or war him wa,
He evyn apon his bak him slang
660 And with him to the bat gan gang 652
And kest him in all mawgre his,
This wes a wele gret strenth i-wis.
The Inglismen that wan away
To thar schippis in hy went thai
665 And saylyt hame angry and wa 657
That thai had bene rebutyt sua.

[The bishop is praised; the king returns from Ireland]
Quhen that the schipmen on this wis
War discumfyt as I devys
The byschap that sa weill him bar
670 That he all hartyt that thar war 662
Was yeyt into the fechtyn-sted
Quhar that fyve hunder ner war ded
Foroutyn thaim that drownyt war,
And quhen the feld was spulyeit bar
675 Thai went all hame to thar repar. 667
To the byschap is fallyn fayr
That throu his price and his bounte
Wes eschevyt swilk a journé.
The king tharfor ay fra that day
680 Him luffyt and prisyt and honoryt ay 672
And held him in suylk daynte
That his awne bischop him callit he.
Thus thai defendyt the countre
Apon bath halffis the Scottis se
685 Quhill that the king wes out off land 677
That than as Ik haf borne on hand
Throu all Irland his cours had maid
And agane to Cragfergus raid.
And quhen his broder as he war king
690 Had all the Irschery at bidding 682
And haly Ulsistre alsua
He buskyt hame his way to ta.
Off his men that war mast hardy
And prisyt mast of chevalry
695 With his broder gret part left he, 687
And syne is went him to the se.
Quhen thar levys on ather party
Wes tane he went to schip him in hy,
The Erle Thomas with him he had,
700 Thai raissyt sayllis but abaid 692
And in land off Galloway
Forout perell aryvyt thai.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 17

[Only Berwick remains in English hands; a burgess offers to betray it]
The lordis off the land war fayne
Quhen thai wist he wes cummyn agan
And till him went in full gret hy,
And he ressavit thaim hamlyly
5 And maid thaim fest and glaidsum cher,
And thai sa wonderly blyth wer
Off his come that na man mycht say,
Gret fest and fayr till him maid thai.
Quharever he raid all the countre
10 Gaderyt in daynte him to se,
Gret glaidschip than wes in the land.
All than wes wonnyn till his hand,
Fra the Red Swyre to Orknay
Wes nocht off Scotland fra his fay
15 Outakyn Berwik it allane.
That tym tharin wonnyt ane
That capitane wes of the toun,
All Scottismen in suspicioun
He had and tretyt thaim tycht ill.
20 He had ay to thaim hevy will
And held thaim fast at undre ay,
Quhill that it fell apon a day
That a burges Syme of Spalding
Thocht that it wes rycht angry thing
25 Suagate ay to rebutyt be.
Tharfor intill his hart thocht he
That he wald slely mak covyne
With the marchall, quhays cosyne
He had weddyt till him wiff,
30 And as he thocht he did belyff.
Lettrys till him he send in hy
With a traist man all prively,
And set him tym to cum a nycht
With leddrys and with gud men wicht
35 Till the kow yet all prively,
And bad him hald his trist trewly
And he suld mete thaim at the wall,
For his walk thar that nycht suld fall.

[The marischal shows the letter to the king, who seeks to avoid jealousy
between Douglas and Moray]
Quhen the marchell the lettre saw
40 He umbethocht him than a thraw,
For he wist be himselvyn he
Mycht nocht off mycht no power be
For till escheyff sa gret a thing,
And giff he tuk till his helping
45 Ane, other suld wrethit be.
Tharfor rycht to the king yeid he
And schawyt him betwix thaim twa
The letter and the charge alsua.
Quhen that the king hard that this trane
50 Spokyn wes intill certayne
That him thocht tharin na fantis
He said him, 'Certis thou wrocht as wis
That has discoveryt the fryst to me,
For giff thou had discoveryt the
55 To my nevo the Erle Thomas
Thou suld disples the lord Douglas,
And him alsua in the contrer,
Bot I sall wyrk on sic maner
That thou at thine entent sall be
60 And haff of nane of thaim mawgre.
Thou sall tak kep weill to the day,
And with thaim that thou purches may
At evyn thou sall enbuschit be
In Duns Park, bot be preve,
65 And I sall ger the Erle Thomas
And the lord alsua of Douglas
Ather with a soume of men
Be thar to do as thou sall ken.'
The marchell but mar delay
70 Tuk leve and held furth on his way
And held his spek preve and still
Quhill the day that wes set him till.
Than of the bast of Lothiane
He with hym till his tryst has tane
75 For schyrreff tharoff than wes he.

[The Scots take the wall of Berwick, but discipline breaks down]
To Duns Park with his menye
He come at evyn prively,
And syne with a gud cumpany
Sone eftyr come the Erle Thomas
80 That wes met with the lord Douglas.
A rycht fayr cumpany thai war
Quhen thai war met togidder thar,
And quhen the marchell the covyn
To bath the lordis lyne be lyne
85 Had tauld, thai went furth on thar way.
Fer fra the toun thar hors left thai,
To mak it schort sua wrocht thai then
That but seyng off ony men
Outane Sym of Spaldyn allane
90 That gert that deid be undertane
Thai set thar leddrys to the wall,
And but persaving come up all
And held thaim in a nuk preve
Quhill that the nycht suld passit be,
95 And ordanyt that the maist party
Off thar men suld gang sarraly
With thar lordis and hald a stale,
And the remanand suld all hale
Skaill throu the toun and tak or sla
100 The men that thai mycht ourta.
Bot sone this ordynance brak thai,
For alsone as it dawyt day
The twa partis off thar men and ma
All scalyt throu the toun gan ga.
105 Sa gredy war thai to the gud
That thai ran rycht as thai war woud
And sesyt housis and slew men,
And thai that saw thar fayis then
Cum apon thaim sa suddanly
110 Throu-out the toun thai raissyt the cry
And schot togidder her and thar,
As ay as thai assemblyt war
Thai wald abid and mak debate.
Had thai bene warnyt wele I wate
115 Thai suld haiff sauld thar dedis der
For thai war gud men and thai wer
Fer ma than thai were that thaim socht,
Bot thai war scalyt that thai mocht
On na maner assemblyt be.
120 Thar war gret melleys twa or thre,
Bot Scottismen sa weile thaim bar
That thar fayis ay ruschyt war
And contraryit at the last war sua
That thai haly the bak gan ta,
125 Sum gat the castell bot nocht all
And sum ar slydyn our the wall

And sum war intill handis tane

And sum war intill bargane slane.
On this wis thaim contenyt thai
130 Quhill it wes ner none of the day,
Than thai that in the castell war
And other that fled to thaim thar
That war a rycht gret cumpany
Quhen thai the baneris saw simply
135 Standand and stuffyt with a quhone
Thar yattis haff thai opnyt sone
And ischit on thaim hardely.
Than the Erle Thomas that wes worthi

And the gud lord als of Douglas

140 With the few folk that with thaim was
Met thaim stoutly with wapnys ser.
Thar mycht men se that had bene ner
Men abandoune thaim hardely.

[The town of Berwick falls]
The Inglismen faucht cruelly
145 And with all mychtis gan thaim payn
To rusche the Scottis men agayn.
I trow thai had done sua perfay
For thai war fewar fer than thai
Giff it na had bene a new-mad knycht
150 That till his name Schyr Wilyam hycht,
Off Keyth and off Gallistoun
He hycht throu difference of sournoune,
That bar him sa rycht weill that day
And put him till sua hard assay
155 And sic dyntis about him dang
That quhar he saw the thikkest thrang
He pressyt with sa mekill mycht
And sua enforslye gan fycht
That he maid till his mengne way,
160 And thai that ner war by him ay
Dang on thar fayis sua hardely
That thai haff tane the bak in hy
And till the castell held the way,
And at gret myscheiff entryt thai
165 For thai war pressyt thar sa fast
That thai fele lesyt of the last.
Bot thai that entryt nocht-forthi
Sparyt thar yattis hastily

And in hy to the wallis ran

170 For thai war nocht all sekyr than.

[Men flock to Berwick; the castle holds out but eventually surrenders]
The toun wes takyn on this wis
Throu gret worschip and hey empris,
And all the gud that thai thar fand
Wes sesyt smertly intill hand.
175 Vittaill they fand in gret foysoun
And all that fell to stuff off toun
That kepyt thai fra destroying,
And syn has word send to the king,
And he wes off that tything blyth
180 And sped him thidderwart swith
And as he throu the cuntre raid
Men gaderyt till him quhill he haid
A mekill rout of worthi men,
And the folk that war wonnand then
185 Intill the Mers and Tevidaill
And in the Forest als all hale
And the est end off Lothiane
Befor that the king come ar gane
To Berwik with sa stalwart hand
190 That nane that wes that tyme wonnand
On yond half Tweid durst weil apper.
And thai that in the castell wer
Quhen thai thar fayis in sic plente
Saw forouth thaim assemblyt be
195 And had na hop of reskewing
Thai war abaysit in gret thing,
Bot thai the castell nocht-forthi
Held thai fyve dayis sturdely
Syne yauld it on the sext day,
200 And till thar countre syne went thai.

[The king plans to hold Berwick; Walter Stewart given command there; the
garrison and its arms]
Thus wes the castell and the toun
Till Scottis mennys possessioun
Brocht, and sone eftre he king
Come ridand with his gadering
205 To Berwik, and in the castell
He wes herbrid bath fayr and weill
And all his lordis him by,
The remanand commonaly
Till herbry till the toun ar gane.
210 The king has then to consaill tan
That he wald nocht brek doun the wall
Bot castell and the toun witthall
Stuff weill with men and with vittaill
And alkyn other apparaill
215 That mycht availe or ellis myster
To hald castell or toun off wer,
And Walter Stewart of Scotland
That than wes young and avenand
And sone-in-laucht wes to the king
220 Haid sa gret will and sic yarnyng
Ner-hand the marchis for to be
That Berwik to yemsell tuk he,
And resavit of the king the toun
And the castell and the dongeoun.
225 The king gert men of gret noblay
Ryd intill Ingland for to pray
That brocht out gret plente of fe,
And sum contreis trewyt he
For vittaill, that in gret foysoun
230 He gert bring smertly to the toun
Sua that bath castell and toun war
Well stuffyt for a yer and mar.
The gud Stewart off Scotland then
Send for his frendis and his men
235 Quhill he had with him, but archeris
And but burdouris and awblasteris,
Fyve hunder men wycht and worthi
That bar armys of awncestry.
Jhone Crab a Flemyng als had he
240 That wes of sa gret sutelte
Till ordane and mak apparaill
For to defend and till assaill
Castell of wer or than cite
That nane sleyar mycht fundyn be.
245 He gert engynys and cranys ma
And purvayit Grec fyr alsua,
Spryngaldis and schot on ser maneris
That to defend castellis afferis
He purvayit intill full gret wane,
250 Bot gynnys for crakys had he nane
For in Scotland yeit than but wene
The us of thaim had nocht bene sene.
Quhen the toun apon this wis
Was stuffyt as Ik her divis
255 The nobill king his way has tane
And riddyn towart Lowthiane,
And Walter Stewart that wes stout
Be-left at Berwik with his rout
And ordanyt fast for apparaill
260 To defend giff men wald assail.

[Edward II comes to besiege Berwick with land and sea forces]
Quhen to the king of Ingland
Was tauld how that with stalwart hand
Berwik wes tane and stuffyt syn
With men and vittaill and armyn
265 He wes anoyit gretumly
And gert assermbill all halely
His consaill, and has tane to reid
That he hys ost will thidder leid
And with all mycht that he mycht get
270 To the toune ane assege set,
And gert dyk thaim sa stalwartly
That quhill thaim likyt thar to ly
Thai suld fer out the traister be.
And gif the men of the contre
275 With strenth of men wald thaim assaill
At thar dykis into bataill
Thai suld avantage have gretly,
Thocht all Scottis for gret foly
War till assaill into fechting
280 At hys dykis sa stark a thing.
Quhen this consaill on this maner
Wes tane he gert bath fer and ner
Hys ost haly assemblyt be,
Ane gret folk than with him had he.
285 Off Longcastell the Erle Thomas
That syne wes sanct as men sayis
In his cumpany wes thar
And all the erllys that als war
In Ingland worthi for to fycht,
290 And baronys als of mekill mycht
With him to that assege had he,
And gert his schippis by the se
Bring schot and other apparaill
And gret warnysone of vittaill.
295 To Berwik with all his menye
With his bataillis arayit come he,
And till gret lordis ilkane sindry
Ordanyt a feld for thar herbry.
Than men mycht sone se pailyounys
300 Be stentyt of syndry fassounys
That thai a toune all sone maid thar
Mar than bath toun and castell war.
On other half syne on the se
The schippis come in sic plente
305 With vittaill armyng and with men
That all the havyn wes stoppyt then.
And quhen thai that war in the toun
Saw thar fayis in sic foysoun
Be land and se cum sturdely,
310 Thai as wycht men and rycht worthi
Schup thaim to defend thar steid
That thai in aventur of deid
Suld put thaim or than rusch agane
Thar fayis, for thar capitane
315 Tretyt thaim sa luflely,
And thar-with-all the mast party
Off thaim that armyt with him wer
War of his blud and sib him ner,
Or ellis war his elye.
320 Off sic confort men mycht thaim se
And of sa rycht far contenyng
As nane of thaim had abaysing.
On dayis armyt weill war thai
And on the nycht wele walkyt ay,
325 Weill sex dayis sua thai abaid
That na full gret bargane haid.

[The English assault the town by land]
Intill this tyme that I tell her
That thai withoutyn bargayne wer
The Inglismen sa clossyt had
330 Thar ost with dykis that thai maid
That thai war strenthit gretumly.
Syne with all handis besely
Thai schup thaim with thair apparaill
Thaim of the toun for till assaill,
335 And of our ladys evyn Mary
That bar the byrth that all gan by
That men callis hyr nativite
Sone in the mornyng men mycht se
The Inglis ost arme thaim in hy
340 And display baneris sturdely,
And assembill to thar baneris
With instrumentis of ser maneris
As scaffoldis leddris and covering
Pikkys, howis and with staff-slyng.
345 Till ilk lord and his bataill
Wes ordanyt quhar he suld assaill.
And thai within, quhen that thai saw
That mengne raung thaim sua on raw
Till thar wardis thai went in hy
350 That war stuffyt rycht stalwartly
With stanys and schot and other thing
That nedyt to thar defending,
And into sic maner abaid
Thair fayis that till assail thaim maid.
355 Quhen thai without war all redy
Thai trumpyt till asalt in hy,
And ilk man with his apparaill
Quhar he suld be went till assaill,
Till ilk kyrnell that war thar
360 Archeris to schut assignyt war,
And quhen on this wys thai war boun
Thai went in hy towart the toun
And fillyt the dykis hastily,
Syne to the wall rycht hardely
365 Thai went with leddris that thai haid.
Bot thai sa gret defend has maid
That war abovyne apon the wall
That oft leddris and men with-all
Thai gert fall flatlingis to the ground,
370 That men mycht se in a litill stound
Men assailand hardely
Dressand up leddris douchtely
And sum on leddris pressand war.
Bot thai that on the wall war thar
375 Till all perellis gan abandoun
Thaim till thar fayis war dongyn doun.
At gret myscheff defendyt thai
Thar toun, for, giff we suth sall say,
The wallis of the toun than wer
380 Sa law that a man with a sper
Mycht stryk ane other up in the face,
And the schot alsa thik thar was
That it war wondre for to se.
Walter Stewart with a menye
385 Raid ay about for to se quhar
That for to help mast myster war,
And quhar men presit mast he maid
Succour till his that myster haid.
The mekill folk that wes without
390 Haid enveronyt the toun about
Sua that na part of it wes fre.
Thar mycht men the assailiaris se
Abandoun thaim rycht hardely,
And the defendouris douchtely
395 With all thar mychtis gan thaim payn
To put thar fayis with force agayn.

[The assault by sea; it fails, and an engineer is taken prisoner]
On this wis thaim contenyt thai
Quhill none wes passit off the day,
Than thai that in the schippis wer
400 Ordanyt a schip with full gret fer
To cum with all hyr apparaill
Rycht to the wall for till assaill.
Till myd-mast up thar bat thai drew
With armyt men tharin inew,
405 A brig thai had for to lat fall
Rycht fra the bat apon the wall,
With bargis by hir gan thai row
And pressyt thaim rycht fast to tow
Hyr by the brighous to the wall,
410 On that entent thai set thaim all.
Thai brocht hyr quhill scho come well ner,
Than mycht men se on seir maner
Sum men defend and sum assaill
Full besyly with gret travaill.
415 Within sa stoutly thai thaim bar
That the schipmen sa handlyt war
That thai the schip on na maner
Mycht ger to cum the wall sa ner
That thar fall-brig mycht neych thartill
420 For oucht thai mycht gud or ill,
Quhill that scho ebbyt on the grund,
Than mycht men in a litill stound
Se thaim be fer of wer covyn
Than thai war er that war hyr in.
425 And quhen the se wes ebbyt sua
That men all dry mycht till hyr ga,
Out off the toun ischit in hy
Till hyr a weill gret cumpany
And fyr till hyr has keyndlyt son.
430 Into schort tyme sua haif thai done
That thai in fyr has gert hyr bryn
And sum war slayn that war hyr in
And sum fled and away ar gane.
Ane engynour thar haif thai tane
435 That wes sleast of that myster
That men wist ony fer or ner,
Intill the toun syne entryt thai.
It fell thaim happily perfay
That thai gat in sa hastily
440 For thar come a gret cumpany
In full gret hy up by the se
Quhen thai the schip saw brynnand be,
Bot or thai come, the tother war past
The yat and barryt it rycht fast.
445 That folk assaylyt fast that day,
And thai within defendyt ay
On sic a wis that thai that war
With gret enforce assailland thar
Mycht do thar will on na maner.
450 And quhen that evynsang tym wes ner
The folk without that war wery
And sum woundyt full cruelly
Saw thaim within defend thaim sua,
And saw it wes nocht eyth to ta
455 The toun quhill sic defens wes mad,
And thai that intill stering had
The ost saw that thar schip war brynt
And of thaim that tharin wes tynt,
And thar folk woundyt and wery,
460 Thai gert blaw the retreit in hy.
Fra the schipmen rebotyt war
Thai lete the tother assaill no mar,
For throu the schip thai wend ilkan
That thai the toun wele suld haf tane.
465 Men sayis that ma schippis than sua
Pressyt that tym the toun to ta,
Bot for that thar wes brynt bot ane
And the engynour tharin wes tane
Her-befor mencioun maid I
470 Bot off a schip allanerly.

[The English withdraw from the walls; King Robert invades England, ravaging]
Quhen that thai blawyn had the retret
Thar folk that tholyt had paynys gret
Withdrew thaim haly fra the wall,
The assalt have thai left all.
475 And thai within that wery war
And mony of thaim woundyt sar
War blyth and glaid quhen that thai saw
Thar fayis on that wis thaim withdraw,
And fra thai wyst suthly that thai
480 Held to thar pailyounys thar way
Set gud wachys to thar wall,
Syne till thar innys went thai all
And essyt thaim that wery war,
And other that had woundis sar
485 Had gud lechys forsuth Ik hycht
That helpyt thaim as thai best mycht.
On athyr sid wery war thai,
That nycht thai did no mar perfay.
Fyve dayis eftyr thai war still
490 That nane till other did mekill ill.
Now leve we thir folk her lyand
All still as Ik have borne on hand
And turne the cours of our carping
To Schyr Robert the douchty king,
495 That assemblyt bath fer and ner
Ane ost quhen that he wist but wer
That the king sua of Ingland
Had assegyt with stalwart hand
Berwik quhar Walter Stewart was.
500 To purpose with his men he tais
That he wald nocht sua sone assaile
The king of Ingland with bataill
And at his dykis specially,
For that moucht weill turne to foly.
505 Tharfor he ordanyt lordis twa,
The erle of Murreff wes ane of tha
The tother wes the lord of Douglas
With fyften thousand men to pas
In Ingland for to bryn and sla
510 And sua gret ryote thar to ma
That thai that lay segeand the toun
Quhen thai hard the destructioun
That thai suld intill Ingland ma,
Suld be sua dredand and sua wa
515 For thar childer and for thar wiffis
That thai suld drede to lese the lyvis,
And thar gudis alsua that thai
Suld dreid than suld be had away,
Thai suld leve thar sege in hy
520 And wend to reskew hastily
Thar gud thar frendis and thar land.
Tharfor, as Ik haf born on hand,
Thir lordis send he furth in hy
And thai thar way tuk hastily
525 And in Ingland gert bryn and sla,
And wrocht tharin sa mekill wa
As thai forrayit the countre
That it wes pite for to se
Till thaim that wald it ony gud,
530 For thai destroyit all as thai yhud.

[The battle at Myton-on-Swale]
Sua lang thai raid destroyand sua
As thai traversyt to and fra
That thai ar cummyn to Repoun
And destroyit haly that toun,
535 At Borowbrig syne thar herbry
Thai tuk and at Mytoun tharby.
And quhen the men of that countre
Saw thar land sua destroyit be
Thai gaderyt into full gret hy
540 Archeris burges and yhumanry
Preystis clerkys monkis and freris
Husbandis and men of all maneris
Quhill that thai samyn assemblit war
Wele twenty thousand men and mar,
545 Rycht gud armys inew thai had.
The archebyschop ofYork thai mad
Thar capitane, and to consaill
Has tane that thai in plane bataill
Wald assaill the Scottismen
550 That fewar than thai war then.
Than he displayit his baner
And other byschappis that thar wer
Gert display thar baneris alsua,
All in a rout furth gan thai ga
555 Towart Mytoun the redy way.
And quhen the Scottismen hard say
Thai war to thaim cummand ner
Thai buskyt thaim on thar best maner
And delyt thaim in bataillis twa,
560 Douglas the avaward gan ma,
The rerward maid Erle Thomas
For chyftane of the ost he was
And sua ordanyt in gud aray
Towart thar fayis thai held thar way.
565 Quhen athyr had on other sycht
Thai pressyt on bath half to the fycht.
The Inglismen come rycht sadly
With gud contenance and hardy
Rycht in a frusch with thar baner
570 Quhill thar fayis come sa ner
That thai thar visag mycht se,
Thre sper lenth I trow weill mycht be
Betwix thaim, quhen sic abasing
Tuk thaim that but mar in a swyng
575 Thai gaff the bak all and to-ga.
Quhen the Scottismen had sene thaim sua
Effrayitly fle all thar way
In gret hy apon thaim schot thai
And slew and tuk a gret party,
580 The laiff fled full effrayitly
As thai best moucht to sek warand.
Thai chassyt sa ner at hand
That ner a thousand deyt thar.
Off thaim yet thre hunder war
585 Preystis that deyt in that chas,
Tharfor that bargane callit was
The chaptur of Mytone for thar
Slayn sa mony prestis war.

[The men in Berwick prepare engines, the English a sow; a second English
assault]
Quhen this folk thus discomfyt was
590 And Scottismen had left the chas
Thai went thaim forthward in the land
Slayand sua and destroyand,
And thai that at the sege lay
Or it wes passyt the fyft day
595 Had maid thaim syndry apparal
To gang eftsonys till assaill.
Off gret gestis a sow thai maid
That stalwart heildyne aboun it had
With armyt men inew tharin
600 And instrumentis for to myne,
Syndry scaffaldis thai maid withall
That war weill heyar than the wall,
And ordanyt als that be the se
The toun suld weill assaillyt be.
605 Thai within that saw thaim sua
Sua gret apparaill schap to ma
Throu Crabys consaill that wes sley
A crane thai haiff gert dres up hey
Rynnand on quheillis that thai mycht bring
610 It quhar that nede war of helping,
And pyk and ter als haiff thai tane
And lynt and herdis and brynstane
And dry treyis that weill wald brin
And mellyt ather other in,
615 And gret fagaldis tharoff thai maid
Gyrdyt with irne bandis braid,
The fagaldis weill mycht mesuryt be
Till a gret townys quantite.
Thai fagaldis brynnand in a baill
620 With thar cran thocht thai till availl,
And gyff the sow come to the wall
To let it brynnand on hyr fall
And with stark chenyeis hald it thar
Quhill all war brynt up that thar war.
625 Engynys alsua for to cast
Thai ordanyt and maid redy fast
And set ilk man syne till his ward,
And Schyr Walter the gud Steward
With armyt men suld rid about
630 And se quhar that thar war mast dout
And succour thar with his menye.
And quhen thai in sic degre
Had maid thaim for defending,
On the Rud Evyn in the dawing
635 The Inglis ost blew till assaill.
Than mycht men with ser apparaill
Se that gret ost cum sturdely,
The toun enveround thai in hy
And assaillyt with sua gret will
640 For all thar mycht thai set thartill
That thaim pressyt fast on the toun.
Bot thai that gan thaim abandoun
To dede or than to w oundis sar
Sa weill has thaim defendit thar
645 That leddrys to the ground thai slang,
And with stanys sa fast thai dang
Thar fayis that fele thar left liand
Sum dede sum hurt and sum swonand.
Bot thai that held on feyt in hy
650 Drew thaim away deliverly
And scounryt nocht for that thing
Bot went stoutly till assailling,
And thai aboun defendyt ay
And set thaim to sa hard assay
655 Quhill that fele of thaim woundyt war,
And thai sa gret defens maid thar
That thai styntit thar fayis mycht.
Apon sic maner gan thai fycht
Quhill it wes ner none of the day,
660 Than thai without on gret aray
Pressyt thar sowe towart the wall.

[[The Scots force the engineer to destroy the sow]
And thai within sone gert call
The engynour that takyn was,
And gret mannance till him mais
665 And swour that he suld dey bot he
Provyt on the sow sic sutelte
That he to-fruschyt hir ilk-dele,
And he that has persavyt wele
That the dede wes weill ner him till
670 Bot giff he mycht fulfill thar will
Thocht that he at his mycht wald do.
Bendyt in gret hy than wes scho
That till the sow wes evyn set,
In hy he gert draw the cleket
675 And smertly swappyt out a stane.
Evyn our the sow the stane is gane
And behind it a litill wey
It fell, and than thai criyt hey
That war in hyr, 'Furth to the wall,
680 For dredles it is ouris all.'
The gynour than deliverly
Gert bend the gyn in full gret hy
And the stane smertly swappyt out,
It flaw out quhetherand with a rout
685 And fell rycht evyn befor the sow.
Thar hartis than begouth to grow,
Bot yeyt than with thar mychtis all
Thai pressyt the sow towart the wall
And has hyr set tharto juntly.
690 The gynour than gert bend in hy
The gyne and wappyt out the stane
That evyn towart the lyft is gane
And with gret wecht syne duschit down
Rycht be the wall in a randoun,
695 And hyt the sow in sic maner
That it that wes the mast summer
And starkest for to stynt a strak
In sunder with that dusche it brak.
The men ran out in full gret hy,
700 And on the wallis thai gan cry
That thar sow wes feryt thar.
Jhone Crab that had his ger all yar
In his fagaldis has set the fyr
And our the wall syne gan thaim wyr
705 And brynt the sow till brundis bar.
With all thys fast assailyeand war
The folk without with felloun fycht,
And thai within with mekill mycht
Defendyt manlily thar steid
710 Into gret aventur off deid.

[An attack by a ship is repulsed]
The schipmen with gret apparaill
Come with thar schippis till assail
With top-castell warnyst weill
Off wicht men armyt into steill,
715 Thar batis up apon thar mast
Drawyn weill hey and festnyt fast,
And pressyt with that gret atour
Towart the wall, bot the gynour
Hyt in the aspyne with a stane,
720 That the men that tharin war gane
Sum ded sum dosnyt come doun wynland.
Fra thyne furth durst nane tak on hand
With schippis to preys thaim to the wall,
Bot the lave war assailyeand all
725 On ilk sid sa egrely
That certis it wes gret ferly
That that folk sic defens has maid
With the gret myscheiff that thai had,
For thar wallis sa law than wer
730 That a man rycht weill with a sper
Mycht stryk ane other up in the face
As her-befor said to you was,
And fele of thaim war woundit sar,
And the laiff sa fast travaillyt war
735 That nane had tyme rest for to ma,
Thar adversouys assaillyt sua.

[The Steward's defence of the Mary gate]
Thai war within sa straitly stad
That thar wardane, that with him had
Ane hunder men in cumpany
740 Armyt that wicht war and hardy
And raid about for to se quhar
That his folk hardest presyt war
To releve thaim that had myster,
Come sindry tymys in placis ser
745 Quhar sum of the defendouris war
All dede and other woundyt sar,
Sua that he of his cumpany
Behuffyt for to leve thar party,
Sua that be he a cours had maid
750 About, of all the men he haid
Thar wes levyt with him bot ane
That he ne had left thaim everilkan
To releve quhar he saw myster.
And the folk that assailland wer
755 At Mary yat tohewyn haid
The barrais and a fyr had maid
At the drawbrig and brynt it doun,
And war thringand in gret foysoun
Rycht to the yat a fyr to ma.
760 Than thai within gert smertly ga
Ane to the wardane far to say
How thai war set in hard assay,
And quhen Schyr Walter Stewart herd
How men sa straitly with thaim ferd
765 He gert cum of the castell then
All that thar war off armyt men,
For thar that day assaillyt nane,
And with that rout in hy is gane
To Mary yate and to the wall
770 He send and saw the myscheff all,
And umbethocht him suddanly
Bot giff gret help war set in hy
Tharto, thai suld bryn up the yet
That fra the wall thai suld nocht let.
775 Tharfor apon gret hardyment
He suddanly set his entent,
And gert all wyd set up the yat
And the fyr that he fand tharat
With strenth of men he put away.
780 He set him to full hard assay,
For thai that war assailyeand thar
Pressyt on him with wapnys bar
And he defendyt with his mycht.
Thar mycht men se a felloun sycht
785 Off stabing, stocking and striking,
Thair maid thai sturdy defending
For with gret strenth of men the yat
Thai defendyt and stud tharat
Mawgre thar fayis, quhill the nycht
790 Gert thaim on bath half leve the fycht.

[The assault ends, but the garrison prepares for another]
Thai off the ost quhen nycht gan fall
Fra the assalt withdrew thaim all.
Woundyt and wery and forbeft
With mad cher the assalt thai left
795 And till thar innys went in hy
And set thar wachis hastily,
The lave thaim esyt as thai mycht best
For thai had gret myster of rest.
That nycht thai spak commonaly
800 Off thaim within and had ferly
That thai sua stout defens had maid
Agayne the gret assalt thai haid.
And thai within on other party
Quhen thai thar fayis sa hastily
805 Saw withdraw thaim thai war all blyth,
And has ordanyt thar wachis swith
And syne ar till thar innys gane.
Thar wes bot full few of thaim slane
Bot fele war woundyt utterly,
810 The lave our mesur war wery.
It was ane hard assault perfay,
And certis I herd never say
Quhar quheyn mar defence had maid
That sua rycht hard assailling haid,
815 And off a thing that thar befell
Ik haff ferly that I sall tell,
That is that intill all that day
Quhen all thar mast assailyeit thai
And the schot thikkerst wes withall
820 Women with child and childer small
In armfullis gaderyt up and bar
Till thaim that on the wallis war
Arrowes, and nocht ane slayne wes thar
Na yeit woundyt, and that wes mar
825 The myrakill of God almichty
And to noucht ellis it set can I.

[The English debate whether to continue, but withdraw; the fate of Thomas
earl of Lancaster; the return of King Robert]
On athyr syd that nycht thai war
All still, and on the morn but mar
Thar come tythandis out off Ingland
830 To thaim of the ost, that bar on hand
How that by Borowbrig at Mytoun
Thar men war slayn and dongyn doun,
And at the Scottismen throu the land
Raid yeit brynnand and destroyand.
835 And quhen the king had hard this tale
His consaile he assemblyt haile
To se quhether fayr war him till
To ly about the toun all still
And assailye quhill it wonnyn war,
840 Or than in Ingland for to fayr
And reskew his land and his men.
His consaill fast discordyt then,
For sotheroun men wald that he mad
Arest thar quhill he wonnyn haid
845 The toun and the castell alsua,
Bot northyn men wald na thing sua
That dred thar frendis for to tyn
And mast part of thar gudis syne
Throu Scottismennys cruelte,
850 Thai wald he lete the sege be
And raid for to reskew his land.
Off Longcastell I tak on hand
The Erle Thomas wes ane of tha
That consaillyt the king hame to ga,
855 And for that mar inclynyt he
To the folk of the south countre
Na to the northyn mennys will,
He tuk it to sa mekill ill
That he gert turs his ger in hy
860 And with his bataill halily
That off the ost ner thrid part was
Till Ingland hame his way he tais.
But leve he hame has tane his gat,
Tharfor fell efter sic debat
865 Betwix him and the king that ay
Lastyt quhill Androw Hardclay
That throu the king wes on him set
Tuk him rycht in Pomfret,
And on ane hill beside the toun
870 Strak off his hede but ransoun,
Tharfor syne hyngyt and drawyn wes he
And with him a weill gret menye.
Men said syne efter this Thomas
That on this wis maid marter was
875 Was saynct and myrakillis did,
Bot envy syne gert thaim be hid,
Bot quhether he haly wes or nane
At Pomfret thus was he slane.
And syne the king of Ingland
880 Quhen that he saw him tak on hand
To pas his way sa opynly,
Him thocht it wes perell to ly
Thar with the lave of his menye
Hys harnays tharfor tursit he
885 And intill Ingland hame gan he far.
The Scottismen that destroyand war
In Ingland sone hard tell tithing
Off this gret sege departing,
Tharfor thai tuk westwart the way
890 And till Carlele hame went ar thai
With prayis and with presoneris
And other gudis on ser maneris.
The lordis to the king ar gain,
And the lave has thar wayis tain
895 Ilk man till his repayr agayne.
The king i-wys was wondre fayn
That thay war cummyn hale and fer,
And that thai sped on sic maner
That thai thar fayis discomfyt hade
900 And but tynsaill of men has maid
Rescours to thaim that in Berwik
War assegyt rycht till thar dyk.
And quhen the king had speryt tithand
How thai had farne in Ingland
905 And thai had tauld him all hale thar far
How Inglismen discumfyt war,
Rycht blyth intill his hart wes he
And maid them fest with gamyn and gle.

[Praise of Walter Stewart; help is to be sent to Edward Bruce]
Berwik wes on this maner
910 Reskewyt and thai that tharin wer
Throu manheid and throu sutelte.
He wes worthi a prynce to be
That couth with wit sa hey a thing
But gret tynsaill bring till ending.
915 Till Berwik syne the way he tays
And quhen he hard thar how it ways
Defendyt rycht sua apertly,
He lovyt thaim that war thar gretly.
Walter Stewart his gret bounte
920 Out-our the laiff commendyt he
For the rycht gret defens he maid
At the yat quhar men brynt had
The brig as ye herd me dyvis,
And certis he wes weill to pris
925 That sa stoutly with plane fechting
At opyn yate maid defending.
Mycht he haff levyt quhill he had bene
Off perfyt eild, withoutyn wene
His renoun suld have strekyt fer,
930 Bot dede that walkis ay to mer
With all hyr mycht waik and worthy
Had at his worschip sic invi
That in the flour of his youtheid
So endyt all his douchti deid,
935 As I sall tell you forthermar.
Quhen the king had a quhill bene thar
He send for maysonys fer and ner
That sleast war off that myster
And gert weill ten fute hey the wall
940 About Berwykis toune our-all,
And syne towart Louthyane
With his menye his gat is gane.
And syne he gert ordane in hy
Bath armyt men and yhumenry
945 Intill Irland in hy to fayr
To help his brother that wes thar.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 18

[Edward Bruce marches toward Dundalk; he debates whether to fight]
Bot he that rest anoyit ay
And wald in travaill be alway,
A day forouth thar aryving
That war send till him fra the king,
5 He tuk his way southwart to far
Magre thaim all that with him war,
For he had nocht than in that land
Of all men I trow twa thousand,
Outane the kingis off Irchery
10 That in gret routis raid him by.
Towart Dundalk he tuk the way,
And quhen Richard of Clar hard say
That he come with sa few menye
All that he mycht assemblit he
15 Off all Irland off armyt men,
Sua that he had thar with him then
Off trappyt hors twenty thousand
But thai that war on fute gangand,
And held furth northward on his way.
20 And quhen Schyr Edward has hard say
That cummyn ner till him wes he
He send discouriouris him to se,
The Soullis and the Stewart war thai
And Schyr Philip the Mowbray,
25 And quhen thai sene had thar cummyng
Thai went agayne to tell tithing,

And said weill thai war mony men.

In hy Schyr Edward answerd then
And said that he suld fecht that day
30 Thoucht tribill and quatribill war thai.
Schyr Jhone Stewart said, 'Sekyrly
I reid nocht ye fecht on sic hy,
Men sayis my brother is cummand
With fyften thousand men ner-hand,
35 And war thai knyt with you ye mycht
The traistlyer abid to fycht.'
Schyr Edward lukyt all angrely
And till the Soullis said in hy,
'Quhat sayis thou?' 'Schyr,' he said, 'Perfay
40 As my falow has said I say.'
And than to Schyr Philip said he.
'Schyr,' said he, 'sa our Lord me se
Me think na foly for to bid
Your men that spedis thaim to rid,
45 For we ar few, our fayis ar fele,
God may rycht weill our werdis dele,
Bot it war wondre that our mycht
Suld our-cum sa fele in fycht.'
Than with gret ire 'Allace,' said he,
50 I wend never till her that of the.
Now help quha will for sekyrly
This day but mar baid fecht will I,
Sall na man say quhill I may drey
That strenth of men sall ger me fley.
55 God scheld that ony suld us blam
Gif we defend our noble nam.'
'Now be it swagat than,' quod thai,
'We sall tak that God will purvai.'

[The Irish kings promise to remain and watch the fight]
And quhen the kingis of Irchery
60 Herd say and wyst sekyrly
That thar king with sa quhone wald fycht
Agane folk of sa mekill mycht
Thai come till him in full gret hy
And consaillyt him full tenderly
65 For till abid his men, and thai
Suld hald thar fayis all that day
Doand, and on the morn alsua
With thar ronnyngis that thai suld ma.
Bot thar mycht na consail availe,
70 He wald algat hav bataile.
And quhen thai saw he wes sa thra
To fycht, thai said, 'Ye ma well ga
To fycht with yone gret cumpany,
Bot we acquyt us uterly
75 That nane of us will stand to fycht.
Assuris nocht tharfor in our mycht,
For our maner is of this land
To folow and fecht fleand
And nocht to stand in plane melle
80 Quhill the ta part discomfyt be.'
He said, 'Sen that your custum is
Ik ask at you no mar bot this,
That is that ye and your menye
Wald all togidder arayit be
85 And stand on fer but departing
And se our fycht and the ending.'
Thai said weill that thai suld do sua,
And syne towart thar men gan thai ga
That war weill twenty thousand ner.

[The defeat and death of Edward Bruce; Philip Mowbray's fate]
90 Edward with thaim that with him wer
That war nocht fully twa thousand
Arayit thaim stalwartly to stand
Agayne fourty thousand and ma.
Schyr Edward that day wald nocht ta
95 His cot-armour, bot Gib Harper
That men held as withoutyn per
Off his estate, had on that day
All hale Schyr Edwardis aray.
The fycht abad thai on this wis,
100 And in gret hy thar ennymys
Come till assemble all redy
And thai met thaim hardely.
Bot thai sa few war, south to say,
That ruschyt with thar fayis war thai,
105 And thai that pressyt mast to stand
War slane doun, and the remanand
Fled till the Irche to succour.
Schyr Edward that had sic valour
Wes dede and Jhone Stewart alsua
110 And Jhone the Soullis als with tha
And other als off thar cumpany.
Thai war vancussyt sa suddanly
That few intill the place war slane,
For the lave has thar wayis tane
115 Till the Irsche kingis that war thar
And in hale bataill howand wer.
Jhone Thomas-sone that wes leder
Off thaim of Carrik that thar wer
Quhen he saw the discumfiting
120 Withdrew him till ane Irsch king
That off his aquentance had he,
And he resavit him in leawte.
And quhen Jhone cummyn wes to that king
He saw be led fra the fechting
125 Schyr Philyp the Mowbray the wicht
That had bene dosnyt into the fycht,
And with armys led wes he
With twa men apon a causé
That wes betwix thaim and the toun
130 And strekyt lang in a randown.
Towart the toun thai held thar way,
And quhen in myd-cause war thai
Schyr Philip of his desynes
Ourcome, and persavit he wes
135 Tane and led suagat with twa.
The tane he swappyt sone him fra
And syne the tother in gret hy,
And drew the swerd deliverly
And till the fycht his wayis tays
140 Endlang the cause that than was
Fillyt intill gret foysoun
Off men that than went till the toun,
And he that met thaim agayn gan ma
Sic payment quhar he gan ga
145 That weile a hundre men gert he
Leve maugre tharis the cause.
As Jhone Thomas-sone said suthly
That saw his deid all halily
Towart the bataill evyn he yeid.

[The body of Edward Bruce]
150 Jhone Thomas-sone that tuk gud heid
That thai war vencussyt all planly
Cryit on him in full gret hy
And said, 'Cum her for thar is nane
On lyve for thai ar dede ilkane.'
155 Than stud he still a quhill and saw
That thai war all doune of daw,
Syne went towart him saraly.
This Jhone wrocht syne sa wittely
That all that thidder fled than wer
160 Thocht that thai lossyt of thar ger
Come till Cragfergus hale and fer.
And thai that at the fechting wer
Socht Schyr Edward to get his heid
Amang the folk that thar wes dede
165 And fand Gib Harper in his ger,
And for sa gud hys armys wer
Thai strak hys hed of and syn it
Thai have gert salt intill a kyt
And send it intill Ingland
170 Till the King Edward in presand.
Thai wend Schyr Edwardis it had bene,
Bot for the armyng that wes schene
Thai of the heid dissavyt wer
All thocht Schyr Edward deyt ther.

[A verdict on Edward Bruce; the belated reinforcements]
175 On this wis war thai noble men
For wilfulnes all lesyt then,
And that wes syne and gret pite
For had thar outrageous bounte
Bene led with wyt and with mesur,
180 Bot gif the mar mysaventur
Be fallyn thaim, it suld rycht hard thing
Be to lede thaim till outraying,
Bot gret outrageous surquedry
Gert thaim all deir thar worschip by.
185 And thai that fled fra the melle
Sped thaim in hy towart the se
And to Cragfergus cummyn ar thai,
And thai that war into the way
To Schyr Edward send fra the king
190 Quhen thai hard the discumfiting
To Cragfergus thai went agayne.
And that wes nocht foroutyn payn,
For thai war mony tyme that day
Assailyeit with Irschery, bot thai
195 Ay held togidder sarraly
And defendyt sa wittely
That thai eschapyt oft throu mycht
And mony tyme alsua throu slycht,
For oft of tharis to thaim gaff thai
200 To lat thaim scaithles pas thar way,
And till Cragfergus come thai sua
That batis and schyppis gan thai ta
And saylyt till Scotland in hy
And thar aryvyt all saufly.
205 Quhen thai of Scotland had wittering
Off Schyr Edwardis vencussing
Thai menyt him full tenderly
Our all the land commounaly,
And thai that with him slayn war thar
210 Full tenderly als menyt war.

[Edward Bruce's head; Edward II plans to invade Scotland]
Edward the Bruys as I said her
Wes discumfyt on this maner
And quhen the feld wes clengit clene
Sua that na resistens wes sene
215 The wardane than Schyr Richard of Clar
And all the folk that with him war
Towart Dundalk has tane the way
Sua that rycht na debat maid thai
At that tym with the Irschery,
220 Bot to the toun thai held in hy,
And syne had send furth to the king
That had Ingland in governyng
Gib Harperis heid in a kyt.
Jhone Maupas till the king had it
225 And he ressavyt it in daynte,
Rycht blyth off that present wes he
For he wes glaid that he wes sua
Deliveryt off a felloun fa.
In hart tharoff he tuk sic prid
230 That he tuk purpos for to rid
With a gret ost in Scotland
For to veng him with stalwart hand
Off tray of travaill and of tene
That done tharin till him had bene,
235 And a rycht gret ost gaderit he
And gert his schippis be the se
Cum with gret foysoun of vittaill,
For at that tyme he wald him taile
To dystroy up sa clene the land
240 That nane suld leve tharin levand,
And with his folk in gret aray
Towart Scotland he tuk the way.

[King Robert withdraws; the English starve at Edinburgh]
And quhen King Robert wist that he
Come on him with sic a mengne
245 He gaderyt his men bath fer and ner
Quhill sa fele till him cummyn wer,
And war als for to cum him to,
That him thocht he rycht weill suld do.
He gert withdraw all the catell
250 Off Lowthiane everilkdeill,
And till strenthis gert thaim be send
And ordanyt men thaim to defend,
And with his ost all still he lay
At Culros, for he wald assay
255 To gert hys fayis throu fasting
Be feblyst and throu lang walking,
And fra he feblist had thar mycht
Assembill than with thaim to fycht.
He thocht to wyrk apon this wis,
260 And Inglismen with gret maistrys
Come with thar ost in Lowthian
And sone till Edynburgh ar gan,
And thar abaid thai dayis thre.
Thar schippys that war on the se
265 Had the wynd contrar to thaim ay
Sua that apon na maner thai
Had power to the Fyrth to bring
Thar vittailis to releve the king,
And thai of the ost that faillyt met
270 Quhen thai saw that thai mycht nocht get
Thar vittaillis till thaim be the se
Thai send furth rycht a gret menye
For to forray all Lowthiane,
Bot cataill haf thai fundyn nane
275 Outakyn a bule that wes haltand
That in Tranentis corne thai fand.
That brocht thai till thar ost agayne,
And quhen the erle of Warayne
Saw that bule anerly cum swa
280 He askyt giff thai gat na ma,
And thai haff said all till him nay.
Than said he, 'Certis I dar say
This is the derrest best that I
Saw ever yeit, for sekyrly
285 It cost a thousand pound and mar.'
And quhen the king and thai that war
Off his consaill saw thai mycht get
Na cattell till thar ost till ete
That than of fasting had gret payn
290 Till Ingland turnyt thai agayn.

[The retreating English advance party attacked by Douglas at Melrose]
At Melros schup thai for to ly
And send befor a cumpany
Thre hunder ner of armyt men.
Bot the lord Douglas that wes then
295 Besyd intill the Forest ner
Wyst of thar come and quhat thai wer,
And with thaim of his cumpany
Into Melros all prevely
He howyt in a buschement,
300 And a rycht sturdy frer he sent
Without the yate thar come to se,
And bad him hald him all preve
Quhill that he saw thaim cummand all
Rycht to the coynye thar of the wall,
305 And than cry hey, 'Douglas! Douglas!'
The frer than furth his wayis tais
That wes all stout derff and hardy,
Hys mekill hud helyt haly
The armur that he on him had,
310 Apon a stalwart hors he rad
And in his hand he had a sper,
And abaid apon that maner
Quhill that he saw thaim cummand ner,
And quhen the formest passyt wer
315 The coynye he criyt 'Douglas! Douglas!'
Than till thaim all a cours he mas
And bar ane doun deliverly,

And Douglas and his cumpany

Ischyt apon thaim with a schout,
320 And quhen thai saw sa gret a rout

Cum apon thaim sa suddanly

Thai war abaysyt gretumly
And gaf the bak but mar abaid.
The Scottis men amang thaim raid
325 And slew all that thai mycht our-ta,
A gret martyrdome thar gan thai ma,
And thai that eschapyt unslayne
Ar till thar gret ost went agayne
And tauld thaim quhatkyn welcummyng
330 Douglas thaim maid at thar meting
That convoyit thaim agayn rudly
And warnyt planly herbery.

[King Robert invades England; the English army awaits him at Byland]
The king of Ingland and his men
That saw thar herbriouris then
335 Cum rebutyt on that maner
Anoyit in thar hart thai wer,
And thocht that it war gret foly
Intill the wod to tak herbery,
Tharfor by Dryburgh in the playn
340 Thai herbryit thaim and syne again
Ar went till Ingland thar way.
And quhen the King Robert hard say
That thai war turnyt hame agayn
And how thar herbriouris war slayn,
345 In hy his ost assemblit he
And went south our the Scottis se
And till Ingland his wayis tais.
Quhen his ost assemblyt ways
Auchty thousand he wes and ma
350 And aucht batallis he maid of tha,
In ilk bataill war ten thousand,
Syne went he furth till Ingland
And intill hale rout folowit sa fast
The Inglis king, quhill at the last
355 He come approchand to Biland
Quhar at that tyme thar wes lyand
The king of Ingland with his men.
King Robert that had witteryng then
That he lay thar with mekill mycht
360 Tranountyt sua on him a nycht
That be the morn that it wes day
Cummyn in a plane feld war thai
Fra Biland bot a litill space,
Bot betwix thaim and it thar was
365 A craggy bra strekyt weill lang
And a gret peth up for to gang,
Other wayis mycht thai nocht away
To pas to Bilandis abbay
Bot gif thai passyt fer about.
370 And quhen the mekill Inglis rout
Hard that the King Robert wes sa ner,
The mast part of thaim that thar wer
Went to the peth and tuk the bra,
Thai thocht thar defens to ma,
375 Thar baneris thar thai gert display
And thar bataillis on braid aray,
And thocht weill to defend the pas.
Quhen the King Robert persavit was
That thai thocht thar thaim to defend
380 Efter his consaill has he send
And askyt quhat wes best to do.
The lord Douglas answeryt thar-to
And said, 'Schyr, I will underta
That in schort tyme I sall do sa
385 That I sall wyn yon pas planly,
Or than ger all yon cumpany
Cum doun to you her to this plane.'
The king said than till him agayn,
'Do than, quhar mychty God the speid.'

[Douglas and Moray attack uphill at Byland; defence by two English knights]
390 Than he furth on his wayis yeid,
And of the ost the mast hardy
Put thaim intill his cumpany
And held thar way towart the pas.

The gud erle of Murreff Thomas

395 Left his bataill and in gret hy
Bot with four men of his cumpany
Come till the lordis rout of Douglas
And or he entryt in the pas
Befor thaim all the pas tuk he
400 For he wald that men suld him se.
And quhen Schyr James off Douglas
Saw that he suagat cummyn was
He prisyt him tharoff gretly
And welcummyt him hamlyly,
405 And syne the pas thai samyn ta.
Quhen Inglis men saw thaim do sua
Thai lychtyt and agayn thaim yeid
Twa knychtis rycht douchty of deid,
Thomas Ouchtre ane had to name
410 The tother Schyr Rauf of Cobhame,
Come doun befor all thar menye,
Thai war bath full of gret bounte
And met thar fayis manlely,
Bot thai war pressyt rycht gretumly.
415 Thar mycht men se rycht weill assaile
And men defend with stout bataill
And arowes fley in gret foysoun
And thai that owe war tumbill doun
Stanys apon thaim fra the hycht,
420 Bot thai that set bath will and mycht
To wyn the peth thaim pressyt sua
That Schyr Rauff of Cobhame gan ta
The way up till hys hors in hy,
And left Schyr Thomas manlily
425 Defendand with gret mycht the pas
Quhill that he sua supprisit was
That he wes tane throu hard fechting.
And tharfor syne in his ending
He wes renownyt for best of hand
430 Off a knycht off all Ingland,
For this ilk Schyr Rauf of Cobhame
Intill all Ingland he had name
For the best knycht of all that land,
And for Schyr Thomas dwelt fechtand
435 Quhar Schyr Rauff as befor said we
Withdrew him, prisit our him was he.

[The king's men take the heights, take prisoners and defeat the English]
Thus war thai fechtand in the pas,
And quhen the King Robert that was
Wys in his deid and averty
440 Saw his men sa rycht douchtely
The peth apon thar fayis ta
And saw his fayis defend thaim sa,
Than gert he all the Irschery
That war intill his cumpany
445 Off Arghile and the Ilis alsua
Speid thaim in gret hy to the bra,
And bad thaim leif the peth haly
And clym up in the craggis hy
And speid thaim fast the hycht to ta.
450 Than mycht men se thaim stoutly ga
And clymb all-gait up to the hycht
And leve nocht for thar fayios mycht,
Magre thar fayis thai bar thaim sua
That thai ar gottyn aboun the bra.
455 Than mycht men se thaim fecht felly
And rusch thar fayis sturdely,
And thai that till the pas war gane
Magre thar fayis the hycht has tane.
Than laid thai on with all thar mycht,
460 Thar mycht men se men felly fycht.
Thar wes a peralous bargane,
For a knycht Schyr Jhone the Bretane
That lychtyt wes aboune the bra
And his men gret defens gan ma,
465 And Scottismen sua gan assaill
And gave thaim sa felloun bataill
That thai war set in sic affray
That thai that mycht fley fled away,
Schyr Jhone the Bretane thar wes tane
470 And rycht fele off his folk war slane.
Off Fraunce thar tane wes knychtis twa,
The lord the Sule wes ane of tha,
The tother wes the merschell Bretayn
That wes a wele gret lord at hame,
475 The lave sum ded war and sum tane
And the remanand fled ilkane.

And quhen the king of Ingland

That yeit at Biland wes liand
Saw his men discumfyt planely
480 He tuk his way in full gret hy
And furthwart fled with all his mycht,
Scottismen chassyt fast, Ik hycht,
And in the chas has mony tane,
The king quitly away is gane
485 And the mast part of his menye.

[Walter Stewart attacks up to York; John of Brittany a prisoner]
Stewart Walter that gret bounte
Set ay on hey chevalry
With fyve hunder in cumpany
Till Yorkis yettis the chas gan ma
490 And thar sum of thar men gan sla
And abade thar quhill ner the nycht
To se giff ony wald ische to fycht,
And quhen he saw nane wald cum out
He turnyt agane with all his rout
495 And till his ost he went in hy
That tane had than thar herbery
Intill the abbay off Biland
And Ryfuowis that was by ner-hand.
Thai delt amang thaim that war ther
500 The king off Inglandis ger
That he had levyt in Biland,
All gert thai lep out our thar hand,
And maid thaim all glaid and mery.
And quhen the king had tane herbery
505 Thai brocht till him the prisoneris
All unarmyt as it afferis,
And quhen he saw Jhone of Bretangne
He had at him rycht gret engaigne,
For he wes wont to spek hychtly
510 At hame and our dispitusly,
And bad have him away in hy
And luk he kepyt war straitly,
And said war it nocht that he war
Sic a catyve he suld by sar
515 Hys wordys that war sua angry,
And he humbly criyt him mercy.
Thai led him furth foroutyn mar
And kepyt him wele quhill thai war
Cummyn hame till thar awne countre,
520 Lang eftre syne ransonyt wes he
For twenty thousand pund to pay
As Ik haff hard syndry men say.

[French knights released without ransom; the expedition returns to Scotland
Quhen that the king this spek had maid
The Frankys knychtis men takyn had
525 War brocht rycht thar befor the king,
And he maid thaim fayr welcummyng
And said, 'I wate rycht weill that ye
For your gret worschip and bounte
Come for to se the fechting her.
530 For sen ye in the countre wer
Your strenth your worschyp and your mycht
Wald nocht lat you eschew the fycht,
And sen that caus you led thartill
And nother wreyth na ivill will
535 As frendis ye sall resavyt be,
Quhar all tyme welcum her be ye.'
Thai knelyt and thankyt him gretly,
And he gert tret thaim curtasly
And lang quhill with thaim had he
540 And did thaim honour and bounte,
And quhen thai yarnyt to thar land
To the king of Fraunce in presand
He send thaim quit but ransoun fre
And gret gyftis to thaim gaff he.
545 His frendis thusgat curtasly
He couth ressave and hamely,
And his fayis stoutly stonay.
At Biland all that nycht he lay,
For thar victour all blyth thai war,
550 And on the morn foroutyn mar
Thai haff forthwart tane thar way.
Sa fer at that tyme travaillyt thai
Brynnand slayand and destroyand
Thar fayis with all thar mycht noyand
555 Quhill till the Wald cummyn war thai,
Syne northwart tuk hame thar way
And destroyit in thar repayr
The vale all planly off Beauewar.
And syne with presoneris and catell
560 Riches and mony fayr jowell
To Scotland tuk thai hame thar way
Bath blyth and glaid joyfull and gay,
And ilk man went to thar repayr
And lovyt God thaim fell sa fayr
565 That thai the king off Ingland
Throu worschip and throu strenth of hand
And throu thar lordis gret bounte
Discumfyt in his awne countre.

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 19

[The conspiracy against King Robert; its discovery]
Than wes the land a quhile in pes,
Bot covatys, that can nocht ces
To set men apon felony
To ger thaim cum to senyoury,
5 Gert lordis off full gret renoune
Mak a fell conjuracioun
Agayn Robert the douchty king,
Thai thocht till bring him till ending
And to bruk eftre his dede
10 The kynrik and to ryng in hys steid.
The lord the Soullis, Schyr Wilyam,
Off that purches had mast defame,
For principale tharoff was he
Off assent of that cruelte.
15 He had gottyn with him sindry,
Gilbert Maleherbe, Jhone of Logy
Thir war knychtis that I tell her
And Richard Broun als a squyer,
And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn
20 Wes off this deid arettyt syne

As I sall tell you forthermar.

Bot thai ilkane discoveryt war
Throu a lady as I hard say
Or till thar purpos cum mycht thai,
25 For scho tauld all to the king
Thar purpose and thar ordanyng,
And how that he suld haf bene ded
And Soullis ryng intill his steid,
And tauld him werray taknyng
30 This purches wes suthfast thing.
And quhen the king wist it wes sua
Sa sutell purches gan he ma
That he gert tak thaim everilkan,
And quhar the lord Soullis was tane
35 Thre hunder and sexty had he
Off squyeris cled in his lyvere
At that tyme in his cumpany
Outane knychtis that war joly.
Into Berwik takyn wes he
40 That mycht all his mengne se
Sary and wa, bot suth to say
The king lete thaim all pas thar way
And held thaim at he takyn had.

[The trial in parliament; the fate of the conspirators]
The lord Soullis sone eftre maid
45 Plane granting of all that purchas.
A parlement set tharfor thar was
And brocht thidder this mengne war.
The lord the Soullis has grantyt thar
The deid into plane parleament,
50 Tharfor sone eftre he wes sent
Till his pennance to Dunbertane
And deit thar in a tour off stane.
Schyr Gilbert Maleherbe and Logy
And Richard Broune thir thre planly
55 War with a sys thar ourtane,
Tharfor thai drawyn war ilkane
And hangyt and hedyt tharto
As men had dempt thaim for to do.
And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn
60 Thai gert chalance rycht straitly syne,
And he grauntyt that off that thing
Was wele maid till him discovering
Bot he thartill gaf na consent,
And for he helyt thar entent
65 And discoveryt it nocht to the king
That he held of all his halding
And maid till him his fewte
Jugyt till hang and draw wes he.
And as thai drew him for to hing
70 The pepill ferly fast gan thring
Him and his myscheyff for to se
That to behald wes gret pite.

[Sir Ingram Umfraville's reaction and decision to leave Scotland]
Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that than
Wes with the king as Scottisman,
75 Quhen he that gret myscheiff gan se
He said, 'Lordingis, quharto pres ye
To se at myscheiff sic a knycht
That wes sa worthi and sa wicht
That Ik haff sene ma pres to se
80 Him him for his rycht soverane bounte
Than now doys for to se him her.'
And quhen thir wordis spokyn wer
With sary cher he held him still
Quhill men had done of him thar will,
85 And syne with the leve of the king
He brocht him menskly till erding.
And syne to the king said he,
'A thing I pray you graunt me,
That is that ye off all my land
90 That is intill Scotland liand
Wald giff me leve to do my will.'
The king that sone has said him till,
'I will wele graunt that it sua be,
Bot tell me quhat amovis the.'
95 He said agane, 'Schyr, graunt mercy
And I sall tell you planely,
Myne hart giffis me na mar to be
With you dwelland in this countre,
Tharfor bot that it nocht you greve
100 I pray you hartly of your leve.
For quhar sua rycht worthi a knycht
An sa chevalrous and sa wicht
And sa renownyt off worschip syne
As gud Schyr David off Brechyn
105 And sa fullfyllyt off all manheid
Was put to sa velanys a ded,
Myn hart forsuth may nocht gif me
To dwell for na thing that may be.'

The king said, 'Sen that thou will sua

110 Quhenever the likys thou may ga,
And thou sall haiff gud leve tharto
Thi liking off thi land to do.'
And he thankyt him gretumly
And off his land in full gret hy
115 As hym thocht best disponyt he,
Syne at the king of gret bounte
Befor all thaim that with him war
He tuk his leve for evermar,
And went in Ingland to the king
120 That maid him rycht fayr welcummyng
And askyt him of the north tithing.

And he him tauld all but lesing

How thai knychtis destroyit war
And as I tauld till you ar,
125 And off the kingis curtassy
That levyt him debonarly
To do off his land his liking.
In that tyme wes send fra the king
Off Scotland messyngeris to trete
130 Off pes giff that thai mycht it get,
As thai befor oft-sys war send
How that thai coutht nocht bring till end.
For the gud king had in entent,
Sen God sa fayr grace had him lent
135 That he had wonnyn all his land
Throu strenth off armys till his hand,
That he pes in his tyme wald ma
And all landis stabill sua
That his ayr eftre him suld be
140 In pes, gif men held lawte.

[Sir Ingram Umfraville advises a long truce, which is made]
Intill this tyme that Umfravill
As I bar you on hand er quhill
Come till the king of Ingland
The Scottis messingeris thar he fand
145 Of pes and rest to haiff tretis.
The king wist Schyr Ingrahame wes wis
And askyt consaile tharto
Quhat he wald rede him for to do,
For he said him thocht hard to ma
150 Pes with the King Robert his fa
Quhill that he off him vengit war.
Schyr Ingrahame maid till him answar
And said, 'He delt sa curtasly
With me that on na wis suld I
155 Giff consaill till his nethring.'
'The behovis nedwayis,' said the king,
'To this thing her say thine avis.'
'Schyr,' said he, 'sen your willis is
That I say, wit ye sekyrly
160 For all your gret chevalry
To dele with him yhe haf na mycht.
His men all worthyn ar sa wicht
For lang usage of fechting
That has bene nuryst in swilk thing
165 That ilk yowman is sa wicht
Off his that he is worth a knycht.
Bot, and ye think your wer to bring
To your purpos and your liking,
Lang trewys with him tak ye.
170 Than sall the mast off his menye
That ar bot simple yumanry
Be dystrenyit commonaly
To wyn thar mete with thar travaill,
And sum of thaim nedis but faill
175 With pluch and harow for to get
And other ser crafftis thar mete,
Sua that thar armyng sall worth auld
And sall be rottyn stroyit and sauld,
And fele that now of wer ar sley
180 Intill the lang trew sall dey
And other in thar sted sall rys
That sall conn litill of that mastrys.
And quhen thai disusyt er
Than may ye move on thaim your wer
185 And sall rycht well as I suppos 185*
Bring your entent to gud purpos.' 186*
Till this assentyt thai ilkane, 185
And eftre sone war trewis tane
Betwix the twa kingis that wer
190 Tailyeit to lest for thretten yer 188
And on the marchis gert thaim cry.
The Scottismenn kepyt thaim lelely,
Bot the Inglismen apon the se
Distroyit throu gret inyquyte
195 Marchand schippis that sailand war 193
Fra Scotland till Flaundris with war,
And destroyit everilkane
And to thar oys the gud has tane.
The king send oft till ask redres,
200 Bot nocht off it redressyt wes 198
And he abaid all tyme askand,
The trew on his half gert he stand
Apon the marchis stabilly
And gert men kep thaim lelely.

[The death of Walter the Steward]
205 In this tyme that trewis war 203
Lestend on marchis as I said ar
Schyr Walter Stewart that worthi was
At Bathgat a gret seknes tas.
His ivill ay woux mar and mar
210 Quhill men persavit be his far 208
That him worthit nede to pay the det
That na man to pay may let,
Schryvyn and als repentit weill
Quhen all wes doyn him ilkdeill
215 That Crystyn man nedyt till have 213
As gud Crystyn the gast he gave.
Then men mycht her men gret and cry
And mony a knycht and mony a lady
Mak in apert rycht evill cher,
220 Sa did thai all that ever thai war, 218
All men him menyt commounly
For off his eild he wes worthy.
Quhen thai lang quhill thar dule had maid
The cors to Paslay haiff thai haid,
225 And thar with gret solempnyte 223
And with gret dule erdyt wes he,
God for his mycht his saule bring
Quhar joy ay lestis but ending.

[The truce is given up; Moray and Douglas harry Weardale]
Efftre his dede as I said ar
230 The trewys that sua takyn war 228
For till haff lestyt thretten yer,
Quhen twa yer of thaim passyt wer
And ane halff as I trow allsua
The King Robert saw men wald nocht ma
235 Redres of schippys that war tane 233
And off the men als that war slane,
Bot contynowyt thar mavtye
Quhenever thai met thaim on the se.
He sent and acquit him planly
240 And gave the trewis up opynly, 238
And in the vengeance of this trespas

The gud erle of Murreff Thomas

And Donald erle of Mar alsua
And James of Douglas with thai twa,
245 And James Stewart that ledar wes 243
Efter his gud brotheris disceis
Off all his bruderys men in wer,
He gert apon thar best maner
With mony men bowne thaim to ga
250 In Ingland for to bryn and sla, 248
And thai held furth till Ingland.
Thai war of gud men ten thousand,
Thai brynt and slew intill thar way,
Thar fayis fast destroyit thai
255 And suagat southwart gan thai far 253
To Wardaill quhill thai cummyn war.
That tyme Edward off Carnaverane
The king wes ded and laid in stane,
And Edward his sone that wes ying
260 In Ingland crownyt wes to king 258
And surname off Wyndyssor.
He had in France bene thar-befor
With his moder Dame Ysabell,
And wes weddyt as Ik herd tell
265 With a young lady fayr of face 263
That the erlis douchter was
Off Hennaud, and off that cuntre
Brocht with him men of gret bounte,
Schyr Jhone the Hennaud wes thar leder
270 That was wys and wycht in wer. 268
And that tyme that Scottismen wer
At Wardaile, as I said you er,
Intill York wes the new-maid king,
And herd tell of the destroying
275 That Scottismen maid in his countre. 273
A gret ost till him gaderyt he,
He wes wele ner fyfty thousand,
Than held he northwart in the land
In haill battaill with that mengne,
280 Auchtene yer auld that tyme wes he. 278
The Scottismen a day Cokdaile
Fra end till end had heryit haile
And till Wardaile again thai raid.

[Edward III's army approaches; Douglas prepares an ambush; the skirmish by
the Wear]
Thar discourriouris that sycht has haid
285 Off cummyn of the Inglismen 283
To thar lordis thai tauld it then.
Than the lord Douglas in a ling
Raid furth to se thar cummyng
And saw that sevyn bataillis war thai
290 That cum ridand in gud aray, 288
Quhen he that folk behaldyn had
Towart his ost agayn he rad.
The erle speryt gif he had sene
That ost. 'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'but wene.'
295 'Quhat folk ar thai?' 'Schyr, mony men.' 293
The erle his ayth has sworn then,
'We sall fecht with thaim thocht thai war
Yeit ma eftsonys than thai ar.'
'Schyr, lovyt be God,' he said agayn,
300 'That we haiff sic a capitayn 298
That sua gret thing dar undreta,
Bot, be saynct Bryd, it beis nocht sua
Giff my consaill may trowyt be,
For fecht on na maner sall we
305 Bot it be at our avantage, 303
For methink it war na outrage
To fewar folk aganys ma
Avantage quhen thai ma to ta.'
As thai war on this wis spekand
310 Our ane hey rig thai saw ridand 308
Towart thaim evyn a battaill braid,
Baneris displayit inew thai haid,
And a nothyr come eftre ner
And rycht apon the samyn maner
315 Thai come quhill sevin bataillis braid 313
Out-our that hay rig passyt haid.
The Scottismen war than liand
On north halff Wer towart Scotland.
The dale wes strekyt weill Ik hycht,
320 On athyr sid thar wes ane hycht 318
And till the water doune sumdeill stay.
The Scottismen in gud aray
On thar best wis buskyt ilkane
Stud in a strenth that thai had tane,
325 And that wes fra the water of Wer 323
A quartar of a myle weill ner,
Thar stud thai battaill till abid,
And Inglismen on athyr sid
Come ridand dounwart quhill thai wer
330 To Weris water cummyn als ner 328
As on other halff thar fayis war.
Than haf thai maid a rest rycht thar
And send out archerys a thousand
With hudis off and bowys in hand
335 And gert thaim drink weill of the wyn, 333
And bad thaim gang to bykker syne
The Scottis ost in abandoun
And ger thaim cum apon thaim doun,
For mycht thai ger thaim brek aray
340 To haiff thaim at thar will thocht thai. 338
Armyt men doune with thaim thai send
Thaim at the water to defend.
The lord Douglas has sene thar fer,
And men that rycht weill horsyt wer
345 And armyt a gret cumpany 343
Behind the bataillis prevely
He gert howe to bid thar cummyng,
And quhen he maid to thaim taknyng
Thai suld cum prekand fast and sla
350 With sperys that thai mycht ourta, 348
Donald off Mar thar chiftane was
And Archebald with hym of Douglas.

[Douglas drives back the English; the two sides encamp; novelties seen]
The lord Douglas towart thaim raid,
A gowne on his armur he haid,
355 And traversyt all wayis up agayn 353
Thaim ner his bataillis for to trayn,
And thai that drunkyn had off the wyne
Come ay up lingand in a lyne
Quhill thai the battaill come sa ner
360 That arowis fell amang thaim ser. 358
Robert off Ogill a gud squyer
Come prikand than on a courser
And on the archeris criyt agane,
'Ye wate nocht quha mays you that trayn,
365 That is the lord Douglas that will 363
Off his playis ken sum you till,'
And quhen thai herd spek of Douglas
The hardyest effrayit was
And agayn turnyt halely.
370 His takyn maid he than in hy, 368
And the folk that enbuschit war
Sa stoutly prekyt on thaim thar
That weile thre hunder haiff thai slane
And till the water hame agane
375 All the remanand gan thai chas. 373
Schyr Wilyam off Erskyn that was
Newlyngis makyn knycht that day 375*
Weill horsit intill gud aray 376*
Chasyt with other that thar war 375
380 Sa fer furth that hys hors him bar 376
Amang the lump of Inglismen,
And with strang hand wes takyn then,
Bot off him wele sone chang wes maid
For other that men takyn haid.
385 Fra thir Inglis archeris wes slane 381
Thar folk raid till thar ost agane,
And rycht sua did the lord off Douglas.
And quhen that he reparyt was
Thai mycht amang thar fayis se
390 Thar pailyounys sone stentyt be, 386
And thai persavyt sone in hy
That thai that nycht wald tak herbery
And schup to do no mar that day,
Tharfor thaim alsua herbryit thay
395 And stent pailyounys in hy, 391
Tentis and lugis als tharby
Thai gert mak and set all on raw.
Twa novelryis that day thai saw
That forouth in Scotland had bene nene,
400 Tymmeris for helmys war the tane 396
That thaim thoucht thane off gret bewte
And alsua wondyr for to se,
The tother crakys war off wer
That thai befor herd never er,
405 Off thir twa thingis thai had ferly. 401
That nycht thai walkyt stalwartly,
The mast part off thaim armyt lay
Quhill on the morn that it wes day.

[Douglas foils an English ambush]
The Inglismen thaim umbethocht
410 Apon quhat mener that thai moucht 406
Ger Scottis leve thar avantage,
For thaim thocht foly and outrage
To gang up till thaim till assaill
Thaim at thar strenth in plane battaill,
415 Tharfor of gud men a thousand 411
Armyt on hors bath fute and hand
Thai send behind thar fayis to be
Enbuschit intill a vale,
And schup thar bataillis as thai wald
420 Apon thaim till the fechtyn hald, 416
For thai thocht Scottismen sic will
Had that thai mycht nocht hald thaim still,
For thai knew thaim off sic curage
That tharthrouch strenth and avantage
425 Thai suld leve and mete them planly. 421
Than suld thar buschement halily
Behind brek on thaim at the bak,
Sa thocht thai wele thai suld thaim mak
For to repent thaim off thar play.
430 Thar enbuschment furth send haiff thai 426
That thaim enbuschit prevely,
And on the morn sum-dele arly
Intill this ost hey trumpyt thai
And gert thar braid bataillis aray,
435 And all arayit for to fycht 431
Thai held towart the water rycht.
Scottismen that saw thaim do swa
Boune on thar best wis gan thaim ma
And in bataill planly arayit
440 With baneris till the wynd displayit 436
Thai left thar strenth, and all planly
Come doune to mete thaim hardely
In als gud maner as thai moucht
Rycht as thar fayis befor had thocht.
445 Bot the lord Douglas that ay was war 441
And set out wachis her and thar
Gat wyt off thar enbuschement,
Than intill gret hy is he went
Befor the bataillis and stoutly
450 He bad ilk man turn him in hy 446
Rycht as he stud, and turnyt sua
Up till thar strenth he bad thaim ga
Sua that na let thar thai maid,
And thai did as he biddyn haid
455 Quhill till thar strenth thai come agayne, 451
Than turnyt thai thaim with mekill mayn
And stud redy to giff battaill
Giff thar fayis wald thaim assaill.
Quhen Inglismen had sene thaim sua
460 Towart thar strenth agayne up ga 456
Thai criyt hey, 'Thai fley thar way.'
Schyr Jhone Hennaud said, 'Perfay
Yone fleyng is rycht degysé,
Thar armyt men behind I se
465 And thar baneris, sua that thaim thar 461
Bot turne thaim as thai standand ar
And be arayit for to fycht
Giff ony presyt thaim with mycht.
Thai haiff sene our enbuschement
470 And agane till thar strenth ar went. 466
Yone folk ar governyt wittily,
And he that ledis is worthi
For avisé worschip and wysdome
To governe the empyr off Rome.'
475 Thus spak that worthi knycht that day, 471
And the enbuschement fra that thai
Saw that thai sua discoveryt war
Towart thar ost agane thai fair,
And the bataillis off Inglismen
480 Quhen thai saw thai had faillyt then 476
Off thar purpos to thar herbery
Thai went and logit thaim in hy.
On other halff rycht sua did thai,
Thai maid na mar debat that day.

[The Scots camp in a walled park; the English follow]
485 Quhen thai that day ourdrevyn had 481
Fyris in gret foysoun thai maid
Alsone as the nycht fallyn was.
And than the gud lord off Douglas,
That had spyit a place tharby
490 Twa myile thin that quhar mar traistly 486
The Scottis ost mycht herbery ta
And defend thaim better alsua
Than ellys in ony place tharby,
It wes a park all halily
495 Wes envyround about with wall, 491
It wes ner full of treys all
Bot a gret plane intill it was,
Thidder thocht the lord of Douglas
Be nychtyrtale thar ost to bring.
500 Tharfor foroutyn mar dwelling 496
Thai bet thar fyris and maid thaim mar,
And syne all samyn furtht thai far
And till the park foroutyn tynseill
Thai come and herbryit thaim weill
505 Upon the water and als ner 501
Till it as thai beforouth wer.
And on the morn quhen it wes day
The Inglis ost myssyt away
The Scottismen and had ferly,
510 And gert discourriouris hastily 506
Pryk to se quhar thai war away,
And be thar fyris persavyt thai
That thai in the park of Werdale
Had gert herbry thar ost all hale.
515 Tharfor thar ost but mar abaid 511
Buskyt, and evyn anent thaim raid
And on athyr halff the water of Wer
Gert stent thar palyounys als ner
As thar befor stentyt war thai.
520 Aucht dayis on baith halff sua thai lay 516
That Inglismen durst nocht assaill
The Scottismen with plane battaill
For strenth of erd that thai had thar.
Thar wes ilk day justyn of wer
525 And scrymyn maid full apertly 521
And men tane on athyr party,
And thai that war tane on a day
On ane other changyt war thai,
Bot other dedis nane war done
530 That gretly is apon to mone, 526
Till it fell on the sevynd day
The lord Douglas had spyit a way
How that he mycht about thaim rid
And com on the ferrer sid.

[Douglas rides round the English camp and surprises it on the far side]
535 And at evyn purvayit him he 531
And tuk with him a gud mengne
Fyve hunder on hors wicht and hardy,
And in the nycht all prevely
Forout noyis sa fer he raid
540 Quhill that he ner enveronyt had 536
Thar ost and on the ferrar sid
Towart thaim slely gan he rid.
And the men that with him war
He gert in hand have swerdis bar
545 And bad thaim hew rapis in twa 541
That thai the palyounys mycht ma
To fall on thaim that in thaim war,
Than suld the lave that folowit thar
Stab doune with speris sturdely,
550 And quhen thai hard his horne in hy 546
To the water hald doune thar way.
Quhen this wes said that Ik her say
Towart thar fayis fast thai raid
That on that sid na wachis haid.
555 And as thai ner war approchand 551
Ane Inglisman that lay bekand
Him be a fyr said till his fer,
'I wat nocht quhat may tyd us her
Bot rycht a gret growyng me tais,
560 For I dred sar for the blak Douglas,' 556
And he that hard him said, 'Perfay
Thou sall haiff caus gif that I may.'
With that with all him cumpany
He ruschyt in on thaim hardely
565 And pailyounys doune he bar, 561
With sperys that scharply schar
Thai stekyt men dispitously.
The noys weill sone rais and cry,
And thai stabbyt stekyt and slew
570 And pailyounys doun yarne thai drew. 566
A felloune slauchter maid thai thar
For thai that liand nakit war
Had na power defens to ma
And thai but pite gan thaim sla.
575 Thai gert thaim weill wyt that foly 571
Wes ner thar fayis for to ly
Bot giff thai traistly wachit war.
The Scottismen war slayand thar
Thar fayis on this wis quhill the cry
580 Ras throu the ost commonaly 576
That lord and other war on ster,
And quhen the Douglas wyst thai wer
Armand thaim all commonaly
He blew his horn for to rely
585 His men and bad thaim hald thar way 581
Towart the water and sua did thai,
And he abaid henmast to se
That nane of hys suld levyt be.
And as he bade sua howand
590 Sua come thane ane with a club in hand 586
And sua gret a rout till him raucht
That had nocht bene his mekill maucht
And his rycht soverane manheid
Intill that place he had bene dede,
595 Bot he that na tyme wes effrayit 591
Thocht he weill oft wes hard assayit
Throu mekill strenth and gret manheid
Has brocht the tother to the ded.
His men that till the water doun
600 War ridyne intill a raundoun 596
Myssyt thar lord quhen thai come thar,
Than war thai dredand for him sar,
Ilkan at other speryt tithing
Bot yeit off him thai hard na thing.
605 Than gan thai consaill samyn ta 601
That thai to sek him up wald ga,
And as thai war in sic effray
A tutilling off his horne hard thai
And thai that has it knawyn swith
610 War of his cummyn wonder blyth 606
And speryt at him of his abaid.
And he tauld how a carle him maid
With a club sic felloun pay
That met him stoutly in the way
615 That had nocht fortoun helpit the mar 611
He had bene in gret perell thar.

[Douglas and Moray debate; the fable of the fox and the fisherman]
Thusgat spekand thai held thar way
Quhill till thar ost cummyn ar thai
That on fute armyt thaim abaid
620 For till help giff thai myster haid, 616
And alsone as the lord Douglas
Met with the erle off Murreff was
The erle speryt at thaim tithing
How thai had farne in thar outing.
625 'Schyr,' said he, 'we haf drawyn blud.' 621
The erle that wes of mekill mude
Said, 'And we all had thidder gayne
We haid discumfyt thaim ilkan.'
'That mycht haff fallyn weill,' said he,
630 'Bot sekyrly ynew war we 626
To put us in yone aventur,
For had thai maid discumfitur
On us that yonder passyt wer
It suld all stonay that ar her.'
635 The erle said, 'Sen that it sua is 631
That we may nocht with jupertys
Our feloune fayis fors assaill
We sall do it in plane battaill.'
The lord Douglas said, 'Be saynct Brid
640 It war gret foly at this tid 636
Till us with swilk ane ost to fycht
That growys ilk day off mycht
And has vittaill tharwith plente,
And in thar countre her ar we
645 Quhar thar may cum us na succourys, 641
Hard is to mak us her rescours
Na we ne may ferrar mete to get,
Swilk as we haiff her we mon et.
Do we with our fayis tharfor
650 That ar her liand us befor 646
As Ik herd tell this othyr yer
That a fox did with a fyscher.'
'How did the fox?' the erle gan say.
He said, 'A fyscher quhilum lay
655 Besid a ryver for to get 651
Hys nettis that he had thar set.
A litill loge tharby he maid,
And thar-within a bed he haid
And a litill fyr alsua,
660 A dure thar wes foroutyn ma. 656
A nycht, his nettis for to se
He rase and thar wele lang dwelt he,
And quhen he had doyne his deid
Towart his loge agayn he yeid,
665 And with licht of the litill fyr 661
That in the loge wes brynnand schyr
Intill his luge a fox he saw
That fast on ane salmound gan gnaw.
Than till the dur he went in hy
670 And drew his swerd deliverly 666
And said, 'Reiffar thou mon her out.'
The fox that wes in full gret dout
Lukyt about sum hole to se,
Bot nane eschew persave couth he
675 Bot quhar the man stud sturdely. 671
A lauchtane mantell than him by
Liand apon the bed he saw,
And with his teth he gan it draw
Out-our the fyr, and quhen the man
680 Saw his mantill ly brinnand than 676
To red it ran he hastily.
The fox gat out than in gret hy
And held his way his warand till.
The man leyt him begilyt ill
685 That he his gud salmound had tynt 681
And alsua his mantill brynt,
And the fox scaithles gat away.

[Douglas proposes a method of withdrawal]
This ensample weill I may say
Be yone ost and us that ar her,
690 We ar the fox and thai the fyscher 686
That stekis forouth us the way.
Thai wene we may na-gat away
Bot rycht quhar thai ly, bot perdé
All as thai think it sall nocht be,
695 For I haff gert se us a gait 691
Suppos that it be sumdele wate,
A page off ouris we sall nocht tyne.
Our fayis for this small tranountyn
Wenys weill we sall prid us sua
700 That we planely on hand sall ta 696
To giff thaim opynly battaill.
Bot at this tyme thar thocht sall faill,
For we to-morne her all the day
Sall mak als mery as we may,
705 And mak us boune agayn the nycht, 701
And than ger mak our fyris lycht
And blaw our hornys and mak far
As all the warld our awne war
Quhill that the nycht weill fallin be.
710 And than with all our harnays we 706
Sall tak our way hamwart in hy,
And we sall gyit be graithly
Quhill we be out off thar daunger
That lyis now enclossyt her.
715 Than sall we all be at our will 711
And thai sall lete thaim trumpyt ill
Fra thai wyt weill we be away.'
To this haly assentyt thai,
And maid thaim gud cher all that nycht
720 Quhill on the morn that day wes lycht. 716

[The Scots withdraw secretly by night, leaving fires burning; the English
give up the chase]
Apon the morn all prevely
Thai tursit harnays and maid redy
Sua that or evyn all boun war thai,
And thar fayis that agane thaim lay
725 Gert haiff thar men that thar war ded 721
In cartis till ane haly sted.
All that day cariand thai war
With cartis men that slayn war thar,
That thai war fele mycht men well se
730 That in carying sa lang suld be. 726
The ostis baith all that day wer
In pes, and quhen the nycht wes ner
The Scottis folk that liand war
Intill the park maid fest and far
735 And blew hornys and fyris maid 731
And gert thaim mak brycht and braid,
Sua at that nycht thar fyris war mar
Than ony tym befor thai war.
And quhen the nycht wes fallin weill
740 With all the harnayis ilka-dele 736
All prevely thai raid thar way.
Sone in a mos entryt ar thai
That had wele twa myle lang of breid,
Out-our that mos on fute thai yeid
745 And in thar hand thar hors leid thai. 741
It wes rycht a noyus way
Bot flaikkis in the wod thai maid no no.
Of wandis and thame with thame had no no.
And sykis thairwith briggit thay, no no.
750 And sua had weill thair hors away no no.
On sic wyse that all that thair weir 743
Come weill out-our it hale and fer,
And tynt bot litill off thar ger
Bot giff it war ony summer
755 That in the mos wes left liand. 747
Quhen all as Ik haff born on hand
Out-our that mos that wes sa braid
War cummyn a gret glaidschip thai haid
And raid furth hamwart on thar way.
760 And on the morn quhen it wes day 752
The Inglismen saw the herbery
Quhar Scottismen war wont to ly
All void. Thai wondryt gretly then
And send furth syndry off thar men
765 To spy quhar thai war gayn away 757
Quhill at the last thar trais fand thai
That till the mekill mos thaim haid
That wes sua hidwous for to waid
That awntyr thaim tharto durst nane,
770 Bot till thar ost agayne ar gayn 762
And tauld how that thai passyt war
Quhar never man passit ar.
Quhen Inglismen hard it wes sua
In hy to consaill gan thai ta
775 That thai wald folow thaim no mar, 767
Thar ost rycht than thai scalit thar
And ilk man till his awn raid.

[King Robert sends a relief force;the two Scottish forces meet; the king
rejoices]
And King Robert that wittering haid
At his men in the park sua lay
780 And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai, 772
Ane ost assemblyt he in hy
And ten thousand men wicht and hardy
He has send furth with erllis twa
Off the Marche and Angus war tha
785 The ost in Werdale to releve, 777
And giff thai mycht sa weill escheve
That samyn mycht be thai and thai
Thai thocht thar fayis till assay.
Sua fell that on the samyn day
790 That the mos, as ye hard me say, 782
Wes passyt, the discourrouris that thar
Ridand befor the ost war
Off athyr ost has gottyn sycht,
And thai that worthy war and wicht
795 At thar metyng justyt of wer, 787
Ensenyeys hey thai criyt ther.
And be thar cry persavyt thai
That thai war frendys and at a fay,
Than mycht men se thaim glaid and blyth
800 And tauld it to thar lordis swith. 792
The ostis bath met samyn syne,
Thar wes rycht hamly welcummyn
Maid amand thai gret lordis thar,
Off thar metyng joyfull thai war.
805 The erle Patrik and his menye 797
Had vittaillis with thaim gret plente
And tharwith weill relevyt thai
Thar frendis, for the suth to say
Quhill thai in Wardale liand war
810 Thai had gret defaut off mete, bot thar 802
Thai war relevyt with gret plente.
Towart Scotland with gamyn and gle
Thai went and hame wele cummyn ar thai
And scalyt syne ilk man thar way.
815 The lordis ar went to the king 807
That has maid thaim fair welcumyng,
For off thar come rycht glaid wes he,
And that thai sic perplexite
Forout tynsaill eschapyt haid
820 All war thai blyth and mery maid. 812

[Nick Durie]

BOOK 20

[King Robert in Northumberland]
Sone eftre that the erle Thomas
Fra Wardaill thus reparyt was
The king assemblyt all his mycht
And left nane that wes worth to fycht,
5 A gret ost than assemblit he
And delt his ost in partis thre.
A part to Norame went but let
And a stark assege has set
And held thaim in rycht at thar dyk,
10 The tother part till Anwyk
Is went and thar a sege set thai,
And quhill that thir assegis lay
At thir castellis I spak off ar,
Apert eschewys oft maid thar war
15 And mony fayr chevalry
Eschevyt war full douchtely.
The king at thai castellis liand
Left his folk, as I bar on hand
And with the thrid ost held hys way
20 Fra park to park hym for to play
Huntand as all hys awn war,
And till thaim that war with him thar
The landis off Northummyrland
That neyst to Scotland war liand
25 In fe and heritage gave he,
And thai payit for the selys fe.

[The peace with England]
On this wys raid he destroyand
Quhill that the king of Ingland
Throu consaill of the Mortymar
30 And his moder that that tym war
Ledaris of him that than young wes
To King Robert to tret off pes
Send messyngeris, and sua sped thai
That thai assentyt on this way
35 Than a perpetuale pes to tak,
And thai a mariage suld mak
Off the King Robertis sone Davy
That than bot fyve yer had scarsly
And off Dame Jhone als off the Tour
40 That syne wes of full gret valour,
Systre scho wes to the ying king
That had Ingland in governyng,
That than of eild had sevyn yer.
And monymentis and lettrys ser
45 That thai of Ingland that tyme had
That oucht agayn Scotland maid
Intill that tretys up thai gaff,
And all the clame that thai mycht haff
Intill Scotland on ony maner,
50 And King Robert for scaithis ser
That he to thaim off Ingland
Had done off wer with stalwart hand
Full twenty thousand pund suld pay
Off silver into gud monay.
55 Quhen men thir thingis forspokyn had
And with selis and athis maid
Festnyng off frendschip and of pes
That never for na chaunc suld ces,
The mariage syne ordanyt thai
60 To be at Berwik and the day
Thai haff set quhen that this suld be,
Syne went ilk man till his countre.
Thus maid wes pes quhar wer wais ar
And thus the segis raissyt war.

[The marriage of the king's son, David]
65 The King Robert ordanyt to pay
The silver, and agane the day
He gert wele for the mangery
Ordane quhen that his sone Davy
Suld weddyt be, and Erle Thomas
70 And the gud lord of Douglas
Intill his steid ordanyt he
Devisouris of that fest to be,
For a malice him tuk sa sar
That he on na wis mycht be thar.
75 His malice off enfundeying
Begouth, for throuch his cald lying
Quhen in his gret myscheiff wes he
Him fell that hard perplexite.
At Cardros all that tyme he lay,
80 And quhen ner cummyn wes the day
That ordanyt for the weddyn was
The erle and the lord of Douglas
Come to Berwik with mekill far
And brocht young Davy with thaim thar,
85 And the queyn and the Mortymer
On other part cummyn wer
With gret affer and reawte,
The young lady of gret bewte
Thidder thai brocht with rich affer.
90 The weddyn haf thai makyt thar
With gret fest and solempnyte,
Thar mycht men myrth and glaidschip se
For rycht gret fest thai maid thar
And Inglismen and Scottis war
95 Togidder in joy and solace,
Na fellouné betwix thaim was.
The fest a wele lang tym held thai,
And quhen thai buskyt to far away
The queyn has left hyr douchter thar
100 With gret riches and reale far,
I trow that lang quhile na lady
Wes gevyn till hous sa richely,
And the erle and the lord Douglas
Hyr in daynte ressavyt has
105 As it war worthi sekyrly
For scho wes syne the best lady
And the fayrest that men thurft se.
Eftre this gret solemnyte
Quhen of bath half levys war tane
110 The queyn till Ingland hame is gane
And had with hyr Mortymar.
The erle and thai that levyt war
Quhen thai a quhill hyr convoyit had
Towart Berwik again thai raid,
115 And syne with all thar cumpany
Towart the king thai went in hy,
And had with thaim the young Davy
And Dame Jhone als that young lady.

[Coronation of David, settlement of the succession]
The king maid thaim fair welcumyng
120 And efter but langer delaying
He has gert set a parleament
And thidder witth mony men is went,
For he thocht he wald in his lyff
Croun his young sone and his wyff
125 And at that parleament sua did he.
With gret fayr and solemnyte
The King Davy wes crownyt thar,
And all the lordis that thar war 127*
And als off the comynyte 128*
130 Maid him manredyn and fewte. 129*
And forouth that thai crownyt war 130*
The King Robert gert ordane thar, 128
Giff it fell that his sone Davy
Deyit but ayr male off his body
135 Gottyn, Robert Stewart suld be 131
Kyng and bruk all the realte
That hys douchter bar Marjory,
And at this tailye suld lelely
Be haldyn all the lordis swar
140 And it with selys affermyt thar. 136
And gyff it hapnyt Robert the king
To pas to God quhill thai war ying,
The gud erle of Murreff, Thomas,
And the lord alsua off Douglas
145 Suld haiff thaim into governyng 141
Quhill thai had wyt to ster thar thing,
And than the lordschip suld thai ta.
Her-till thar athys gan thai ma
And all the lordis that thar war
150 To thir twa wardanys athis swar 146
Till obey thaim in lawte
Giff thaim hapnyt wardanys to be.

[The king's illness and last will]
Quhen all this thing thus tretit wes
And affermyt with sekyrnes
155 The king to Cardros went in hy, 151
And thar him tuk sa fellely
The seknes and him travailit sua
That he wyst him behovyt to ma
Off all this liff the commoun end
160 That is the dede quhen God will send, 156
Tharfor his lettrys sone send he
For the lordis off his countre
And thai come as thai biddyng had.
His testament than has he maid
165 Befor bath lordis and prelatis, 161
And to religioun of ser statis
For hele of his saule gaf he
Silver in gret quantite.
He ordanyt for his saule weill,
170 And quhen this done wes ilkadele 166
He said, 'Lordingis, sua is it gayn
With me that thar is nocht bot ane,
That is the dede withoutyn drede
That ilk man mon thole off nede.
175 And I thank God that has me sent 171
Space in this lyve me to repent,
For throuch me and my werraying
Off blud has bene rycht gret spilling
Quhar mony sakles men war slayn,
180 Tharfor this seknes and this payn 176
I tak in thank for my trespas.
And myn hart fichyt sekyrly was
Quhen I wes in prosperite
Off my synnys to sauffyt be
185 To travaill apon Goddis fayis, 181
And sen he now me till him tayis
Sua that the body may na wys
Fullfill that the hart gan devis
I wald the hart war thidder sent
190 Quharin consavyt wes that entent. 186
Tharfor I pray you everilkan
That ye amang you ches me ane
That be honest wis and wicht
And off his hand a noble knycht
195 On Goddis fayis my hart to ber 191
Quhen saule and cors disseveryt er,
For I wald it war worthily
Brocht thar, sen God will nocht that I
Haiff power thidderwart to ga.'

[Douglas is chosen to take the king's heart against God's enemies]
200 Than war thar hartis all sa wa 196
That nane mycht hald him fra greting.
He bad thaim leve thar sorowing
For it he said mycht not releve
And mycht thaim rycht gretly engreve,
205 And prayit thaim in hy to do 201
The thing that thai war chargit to.
Than went thai furth with drery mode,
Amang thaim thai thocht it gode
That the worthi lord of Douglas
210 Quham in bath wit and worschip was 206*
Suld tak this travaill apon hand, 207*
Heir-till thai war all accordand, 208*
Syne till the king thai went in hy 209*
And tald hym at thai thocht trewly 210*
215 That the douchty lord Douglas 211*
Best schapyn for that travaill was. 206
And quhen the king hard that thai sua
Had ordanyt him his hart to ta
That he mast yarnyt suld it haff
220 He said, 'Sa God himself me saiff 210
Ik hald me rycht weill payit that yhe
Haff chosyn him, for his bounte
And his worschip set in my yarnyng
Ay sen I thocht to do this thing
225 That he it with him thar suld ber, 215
And sen ye all assentit er
It is the mar likand to me.
Lat se now quhat thar-till sayis he.'
And quhen the gud lord of Douglas
230 Wist that thing thus spokyn was 220
He come and knelit to the king
And on this wis maid him thanking.
'I thank you gretly lord,' said he,
'Off the mony larges and gret bounte
235 That yhe haff done me fel-sys 225
Sen fyrst I come to your service,
Bot our all thing I mak thanking
That ye sa dyng and worthy thing
As your hart that enlumynyt wes
240 Off all bounte and all prowes 230
Will that I in my yemsall tak.
For you, schyr, I will blythly mak
This travaill, gif God will me gif
Layser and space sua lang to lyff.'
245 The king him thankyt tendrely, 235
Than wes nane in that cumpany
That thai na wepyt for pite,
Thar cher anoyis wes to se.

[The death of King Robert; his burial at Dunfermline]
Quhen the lord Douglas on this wis
250 Had undretane sa hey empris 240
As the guid kyngis hart to ber
On Goddis fayis apon wer
Prissyt for his empris wes he.
And the kingis infirmyte
255 Woux mar and mar quhill at the last 245
The dulfull dede approchit fast,
And quhen he had gert till him do
All that gud Crystyn man fell to
With verray repentance he gaf
260 The gast, that God till hevyn haiff 250
Amang his chossyn folk to be
In joy solace and angell gle.
And fra his folk wist he wes ded
The sorow rais fra steid to steid,
265 Thar mycht men se men ryve thar har 255
And commounly knychtis gret full sar
And thar newffys oft samyn dryve
And as woud men thar clathis ryve,
Regratand his worthi bounte
270 His wyt his strenth his honeste 260
And our-all the gret cumpany
That he maid thaim oft curtasly.
'All our defens,' thai said, 'allace
And he that all our comford was
275 Our wit and all our governyng 265
Allace is brocht her till ending.
His worschip and his mekill mycht
Maid all that war with him sa wycht
That thai mycht never abaysit be
280 Quhill forouth thaim thai mycht him se. 270
Allace! what sall we do or say,
For on lyff quhill he lestyt ay
With all our nychtbouris dred war we,
And intill mony ser countre
285 Off our worschip sprang the renoun 275
And that wes all for his persoune.'
With swilk wordis thai maid thar mayn
And sekyrly wounder wes nane,
For better governour than he
290 Mycht in na countre fundyn be. 280
I hop that nane that is on lyve
The lamentacioun suld discryve
That that folk for thar lard maid.
And quhen thai lang thus sorowit had,
295 And he debowaillyt wes clenly 285
And bawmyt syne richly,
And the worthi lord of Douglas
His hart as it forspokyn was
Has ressavyt in gret daynte
300 With gret fayr and solemnyte, 290
Thai haiff had hym to Dunferlyne
And him solemply erdyt syne
In a fayr tumb intill the quer.
Byschappys and prelatis that thar wer
305 Assoilyeit him quhen the service 295
Was done as thai couth best devis
And syne on the tother day
Sary and wa ar went thar way.

[Douglas goes to Seville with the king's heart]
Quhen that the gud king beryit was
310 The erle of Mureff, Schyr Thomas, 300
Tuk all the land in governyng,
All obeyit till his bidding,
And the gud lord of Douglas syne
Gert mak a cas of silver fyne
315 Ennamylyt throu sutelte, 305
Tharin the kingis hart did he
And ay about his hals it bar
And fast him bownyt for to far.
His testament divisyt he
320 And ordanyt how his land suld be 310
Governyt quhill his gayn-cummyng
Off frendis, and all other thing
That till him pertenyt ony wis
With sik forsych and sa wys
325 Or his furth-passing ordanyt he 315
That na thing mycht amendyt be.
And quhen that he his leve had tane
To schip to Berwik is he gane,
And with a noble cumpany
330 Off knychtis and off squyery 320
He put him thar to the se.
A lang way furthwart saylit he,
For betwix Cornwaill and Bretaynne
He sayllyt, and left the Grunye of Spainye
335 On northalff him, and held thar way 325
Quhill to Sabill the Graunt com thai,
Bot gretly war his men and he
Travaillyt with tempestis of the se,
Bot thocht thai gretly travaillit war
340 Hale and fer ar thai cummyn thar. 330
Thai aryvyt at Gret Sabill
And eftre in a litill quhill
Thar hors to land thai drew ilkane
And in the toun has herbry tane,
345 He hym contenyt rychly 335
For he had a fayr cumpany
And gold ynewch for to dispend.
The King Alfons him eftre send
And hym rycht weill ressavyt he
350 And perofferyt him in gret plente 340
Gold and tresour hors and armyng,
Bot he wald tak tharoff na thing
For he said he tuk that vaiage
To pas intill pilgramage
355 On Goddis fayis, that his travaill 345
Mycht till his saule hele availl,
And sen he wyst that he had wer
With Saryzynys he wald dwell thar
And serve him at hys mycht lely.
360 The king him thankyt curtasly 350
And betaucht him gud men that war
Weill knawyn of that landis wer
And the maner tharoff alsua,
Syne till his innys gan he ga
365 Quhen that the king him levit had. 355

[The repute of Douglas in Spain]
A weill gret sojourne thar he mad,
Knychtis that come of fer countre
Come in gret hy him for to se
And honouryt him full gretumly,
370 And out-our all men fer soveranly 360
The Inglis knychtis that war thar
Honour and company him bar.
Amang thai strangeris was a knycht
That wes haldyn sa worthi and wicht
375 That for ane of the gud wes he 365
Prissyt off the Cristiante,
Sa fast till-hewyn was his face
That it our-all ner wemmyt was.
Or he the lord Douglas had sene
380 He wend his face had wemmyt bene 370
Bot never a hurt tharin had he.
Quhen he unwemmyt gan it se
He said that he had gret ferly
That swilk a knycht and sa worthi
385 And prissyt of sa gret bounte 375
Mycht in the face unemmyt be,
And he answerd tharto makly
And said, 'Love God, all tym had I
Handis my hed for to wer.'
390 Quha wald tak kep to this answer 380
Suld se in it understanding
That, and he that maid that asking
Had handis to wer, hys face
That for faute of defence sa was
395 To-fruschyt intill placis ser 385
Suld have may-fall left hale and fer.
The gud knychtis that than war by
Pryssyt hys answer gretumly,
For it wes maid with mek speking
400 And had rycht hey understanding. 390

[Douglas does battle with the Saracens]
Apon this maner still thai lay
Quhill throu the countre thai hard say
That the hey king of Balmeryne
With mony a mody Saryzine
405 Was entryt intill the land off Spanye 395
All hale the countre to manye.
The king off Spaynye on other party
Gaderyt his ost deliverly
And delt hym intill bataillis thre,
410 And to the lord Douglas gaff he 400
The avaward to led and ster,
All hale the strangeris with him wer,
And the gret maister off Saynct Jak
The tother bataill gert he tak,
415 The rerward maid himselvyn thar. 405
Thusgat divisyt furth thai far
To mete thar fayis that in bataill
Arayit redy till assaill
Come agayn thaim full sturdely.
420 The Douglas that wes sa worthi 410
Quhen he to thaim of his leding
Had maid a fayr monesting
To do weill and na deid to dred,
For hevynnys blys suld be thar mede
425 Gyff that thai deyt in Goddis service 415
Than as gud werrayouris and wis,
With thaim stoutly assemblit he.
Thar mycht men felloun fechtyn se,
For thai war all wicht and worthi
430 That war on the Cristyn party 420
And faucht sa fast with all thar mayne
That Saryzynys war mony slayne,
The-quhether with mony fele fachoun
Mony a Cristyn dang thai doun,
435 Bot at the last the lord Douglas 425
And the gret rout that with him was
Pressyt the Saryzynys sua

That thai haly the bak gan ta,

And thai chassyt with all thar mayn
440 And mony in the chas has slayn. 430
Sa fer chassyt the lord of Douglas
With few, that he passyt was
All the folk that war chassand then,
He had nocht with him our ten
445 Off all men that war with him thar. 435
Quhen he saw all reparyt war
Towart hys ost than turnyt he,
And quhen the Saryzynys gan se
That the chasseris turnyt agayn
450 Thai relyit with mekill mayn. 440

[Douglas seeks to rescue another knight and is killed]
And as the gud lord of Douglas
As I said er, reparand was
Sa saw he rycht besid thaim ner
Quhar that Schyr Wilyam the Sanctecler
455 With a gret rout enveround was. 445
He was anoyit and said, 'Allace!
Yone worthy knycht will sone be ded
Bot he haff help, and our manheid
Biddys us help him in gret hy
460 Sen that we ar sa ner him by, 450
And God wate weill our entent is
To lyve or de in hys service,
Hys will in all thing do sall we.
Sall na perell eschewyt be
465 Quhill he be put out of yone payn 455
Or than we all be with him slayn.'
With that with spuris spedely
Thai strak the hors and in gret hy
Amang the Saryzynys thai raid
470 And roume about thaim haf thai maid, 460
Thai dang on fast with all thar mycht
And fele off thaim to ded has dycht.
Grettar defens maid never sa quhone
Agayne sa fele as thai haf done,
475 Quhill thai mycht last thai gaf battaill 465
Bot mycht na worschip thar availl
That thai ilkan war slayn doun thar,
For Saryzynys sa mony war
That thai war twenty ner for ane.
480 The gud lord Douglas thar was slane 470
And Schyr Wilyam the Sanct Cler alsua
And other worthy knychtis twa,
Schyr Robert Logane hat the tane
And the tother Schyr Walter Logane,
485 Quhar our Lord for his mekill mycht 475
Thar saulis haff till his hevynnys hycht.
The gud lord Douglas thus wes ded,
And Sarazynys in that sted
Abaid no mar bot held thar way,
490 Thai knychtis dede thar levyt thai. 480
Sum off the lord Douglas men
That thar lord ded has fundyn then
Yeid weill ner woud for dule and wa,
Lang quhill our him thai sorowit sua
495 And syne with gret dule hame him bar. 485
The kingis hart haiff thai fundyn thar
And that hame with thaim haf thai tane,
And ar towart thar innys gane
With gretyng and with ivill cher,
500 Thar sorow wes angry for till her. 490

[Sorrow at Douglas's death; his love of loyalty, compared to that of
Fabricius]
And quhen of Keth gud Schyr Wilyam
That all that day had bene at hame,
For at sua gret malice wes he
That he come nocht to the journé
505 For his arme brokyn wes in twa, 495
Quhen he that folk sic dule saw ma
He askyt quhat it wes in hy
And thai him tauld all opynly
How that thar douchty lord wes slayn
510 With Sarazynys that releyt agayn, 500
And quhen he wyst that it was sua
Out-our all othyr him was wa
And maid sa wondyr yvill cher
That all wondryt that by him wer.
515 Bot to tell off thar sorowing 505
It noyis and helpis litill thing,
Men may weill wyt thoucht nane thaim tell
How angry for sorow and how fell
Is to tyne sic a lord as he
520 To thaim that war off his mengne, 510
For he wes swete and debonar
And weill couth trete hys frendis far,
And his fayis rycht fellounly
Stonay throu his chevalry
525 The-quhether off litill affer wes he. 515
Our all thing luffit he lawte,
At tresoun growyt he sa gretly
That na traytour mycht be him by
That he mycht wyt that he ne suld be
530 Weill punyst off his cruelte. 520
I trow the lele Fabricius
That fra Rome to werray Pyrrus
Wes send with a gret mengne
Luffyt tresoun na les than he,
535 The-quhether quhen Pirrus had 525
On him and on his mengne maid
Ane outrageous discumfitour
Quhar he eschapyt throu aventour
And mony off his men war slayne,
540 And he had gadryt ost agayne, 530
A gret maistre off medicyne
That had Pyrrus in governyne
Perofferyt to Fabricius
In tresoun to sla Pyrrus,
545 For intill his neyst potioun 535
He suld giff him dedly pusoun.
Fabricius that wonder had
Off that peroffre that he him maid
Said, 'Certis, Rome is welle off mycht
550 Throu strenth off armys into fycht 540
To vencus thar fayis, thocht thai
Consent to treusoun be na way,
And for thou wald do sic trewsoun
Thou sall to et a warysoun
555 Ga to Pyrrus and lat him do 545
Quhatever him lyis on hart tharto.'
Than till Pyrrus he send in hy
This maistre and gert opynly
Fra end till end tell him this tale.
560 Quhen Pyrrus had it hard all hale 550
He said, 'Wes ever man that sua
For leawte bar him till his fa
As her Fabricius dois to me.
It is als ill to ger him be
565 Turnyt fra way of rychtwisnes 555
Or ellis consent to wikkitnes
As at midday to turne agayn
The sone that rynnys his cours playn.'
Thus said he off Fabricius,
570 That syne vencussyt this ilk Pyrrus 560
In plane bataill throu hard fechting.
His honest leawte gert me bring
In this ensample her, for he
Had soverane price off leawte,
575 And sua had the lord of Douglas 565
That honest lele and worthy was
That wes ded as befor said we,
All menyt him strang and preve.

[The body of Douglas brought home and buried]
Quhen his men lang had mad murnyn,
580 Thai debowalyt him and syne 570
Gert seth him sua that mycht be tane
The flesch all haly fra the bane
And the carioune thar in haly place
Erdyt with rycht gret worschip was.
585 The banys have tha with thaim tane 575
And syne ar to thar schippis gane
Quhen thai war levit off the king
That had dule for thar sorowing.
To se thai went, gud wind thai had,
590 Thar cours till Ingland haiff thai maid 580
And thar sauffly aryvyt thai,
Syne towart Scotland held thar way
And thar ar cummyn in full gret hy,
And the banys honorabilly
595 Intill the kyrk off Douglas war 585
Erdyt with dule and mekill car.
Schyr Archebald his sone gert syn
Off alabast bath fair and fyne
Ordane a tumbe sa richly
600 As it behovyt to sua worthy. 590

[The death of Moray]
Quhen that on this wis Schyr Wilyam
Off Keth had brocht his banys hame
And the gud kingis hart alsua,
And men had richly gert ma
605 With fayr effer his sepultur, 595
The erle off Murreff that had the cur
That tyme off Scotland halely
With gret worschyp has gert bery
The kingis hart at the abbay
610 Off Melros, quhar men prayis ay 600
That he and his have paradys.
Quhen this wes done that I devys
The gud erle governyt the land
And held the power weill to warand,
615 The lawe sa weill mantemyt he 605
And held in pes sua the countre
That it wes never or his day
Sa weill, as Ik hard auld men say.
Bot syne, allace! pusonyt wes he,
620 To se his dede wes gret pite. 610
Thir lordis deyt apon this wis.
He that hey Lord off all thing is
Up till his mekill blis thaim bring
And graunt his grace that thar ofspring
625 Leid weill the land, and ententyve 615
Be to folow in all thar lyve
Thar nobill eldrys gret bounte.
Quhar afauld God in trinyte
Bring us hey till his mekill blis
630 Quhar alwayis lestand liking is. 620

[Liz McLean]

"Nick Durie" <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote in message
news:391ca...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net...

> Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG as it is
> bloody hard to find!

Well it is a mess you brat :-) When I open my newsreader it looks like this
Scots
Scots
Scots
Scots
Scots
etc. all the way down the page, additionally, anyone who has their
newsreader configured to show messages in descending order shows your last
message first. Why didn't you make a thread? ie post your first message,
then post the second one as reply to the first, after snipping all of the
content on the first message and so on. Maybe next time eh? I'm sure there
will be a next time with you. Anyway, I guess I should thank you for all
the effort you obviously put in.

[Nick Durie]

Liz McLean <lizmcle...@home.com.REMOVE> wrote in message
news:yZhT4.35182$55.7...@news2.rdc1.on.home.com...

> "Nick Durie" <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote in message
> news:391ca...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net...
>
> > Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG as it
is
> > bloody hard to find!
>
> Well it is a mess you brat :-)

GRRRR!

When I open my newsreader it looks like this
> Scots
> Scots
> Scots
> Scots
> Scots
> etc. all the way down the page,

On mine it is just one topic - obviously your ISP is strange.

additionally, anyone who has their
> newsreader configured to show messages in descending order shows your last
> message first. Why didn't you make a thread?

On my computer it is a thread.

ie post your first message,
> then post the second one as reply to the first, after snipping all of the
> content on the first message and so on. Maybe next time eh? I'm sure
there
> will be a next time with you. Anyway, I guess I should thank you for all
> the effort you obviously put in.
>

Indeed you should!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ian.s...@ukgateway.net]

On Sat, 13 May 2000 00:12:27 GMT, I read these words from "Nick Durie"
<Nick_...@bun.com> :

>Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG
>as it is bloody hard to find!

So because something is hard to find, you eat up bandwidth by posting
twenty seperate messages with a total of 13,423 lines of text !!!

You found it, ergo there is a URL.

NEXT TIME, POST THE URL.

Tosser !

-- Ian Stewart
-- http://www.ian.stewart.ukgateway.net/

[Nick Durie]

<ian.s...@ukgateway.net> wrote in message
news:dkpqhssj5kat7rgn6...@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 13 May 2000 00:12:27 GMT, I read these words from "Nick Durie"
> <Nick_...@bun.com> :
>
> >Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG
> >as it is bloody hard to find!
>
> So because something is hard to find, you eat up bandwidth by posting
> twenty seperate messages with a total of 13,423 lines of text !!!
>
> You found it, ergo there is a URL.
>
> NEXT TIME, POST THE URL.
>
> Tosser !
>

OOH! Now I'm really offended.

[Bill Potter]

Nick Durie wrote:
>
> Liz McLean <lizmcle...@home.com.REMOVE> wrote in message
> news:yZhT4.35182$55.7...@news2.rdc1.on.home.com...
> > "Nick Durie" <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote in message
> > news:391ca...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net...
> >

> > > Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG as it
> is
> > > bloody hard to find!
> >

> > Well it is a mess you brat :-)
>
> GRRRR!
>
> When I open my newsreader it looks like this
> > Scots
> > Scots
> > Scots
> > Scots
> > Scots
> > etc. all the way down the page,
>
> On mine it is just one topic - obviously your ISP is strange.

I too have a "strange" ISP have you have just been kill-filed.
>

--
William Potter - bpo...@mediaone.net

[Craig Cockburn]

Ann an sgriobhainn, <391dc...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, sgriobh
Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com>

>
>Liz McLean <lizmcle...@home.com.REMOVE> wrote in message
>news:yZhT4.35182$55.7...@news2.rdc1.on.home.com...
>> "Nick Durie" <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote in message
>> news:391ca...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net...
>>
>> > Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG as it
>is
>> > bloody hard to find!
>>
>> Well it is a mess you brat :-)
>
>GRRRR!
>
>When I open my newsreader it looks like this
>> Scots
>> Scots
>> Scots
>> Scots
>> Scots
>> etc. all the way down the page,
>
>On mine it is just one topic - obviously your ISP is strange.
>

It's nothing to do with your ISP, it's to do with your newsreader. If
the newsreader detects an article number in the references: line then it
should present the article as belonging to the same thread as the
previous one. Some newsreaders only go by subject though which means
they have to allow for reply prefixes such as RE:
--
Craig Cockburn ("coburn"). E-commerce consultant
Webmaster of http://www.siliconglen.com/ - Scotland's name on the internet
Scottish culture, internet, business, jokes, weddings, search tools, and more!

[ian.s...@ukgateway.net]

On Sat, 13 May 2000 22:26:45 GMT, I read these words from "Nick Durie"
<Nick_...@bun.com> :

>
><ian.s...@ukgateway.net> wrote in message
>news:dkpqhssj5kat7rgn6...@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 13 May 2000 00:12:27 GMT, I read these words from "Nick Durie"
>> <Nick_...@bun.com> :
>>

>> >Sorry about the mess but I fellt that had to be sent onto this NG
>> >as it is bloody hard to find!
>>

>> So because something is hard to find, you eat up bandwidth by posting
>> twenty seperate messages with a total of 13,423 lines of text !!!
>>
>> You found it, ergo there is a URL.
>>
>> NEXT TIME, POST THE URL.
>>
>> Tosser !
>>
>
>OOH! Now I'm really offended.

Obviously you fail to comprehend the normal usage of the word "tosser".

It is not intended to cause *offence*. Usage indicates that the party of
the first part (that's me) regards further conversation with the party
of the second part (that's you) as a total waste of breath or, in this
instance, of bandwidth. It is a term of dismissal similar to "choob" !

-- The Despicable Stewart
-- Perfidious Alban
-- http://www.scs.informer.ukgateway.net/

[hoagie3746]

c`mon now ian,nick probably kens that tosser=wanker which makes it
offensive to some degree,offends some more than others.

* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!

[ian-s...@blueyonder.co.uk]

On Thu, 18 May 2000 12:35:53 -0700, I read these words from hoagie3746
<achachor...@hotmail.com.invalid> :

>c`mon now ian,nick probably kens that tosser=wanker which makes it
>offensive to some degree,offends some more than others.

Where I come from, Glasgow, when the word is used, on its own,
as a throwaway parting comment, it is a term of dismissal.

Hence my saying (the bit you snipped)

Usage indicates that the party of the first part (that's me)
regards further conversation with the party of the second part
(that's you) as a total waste of breath or, in this instance,
of bandwidth. It is a term of dismissal similar to "choob" !

I have since noted from another post made by Nick that he is
still at school. May there therefore be a high probability
that your definition may also apply ??

[Nick Durie]

Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote in message

news:39272...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net...
>
> <ian-s...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:ipr8iscrin613hltr...@4ax.com...

> > On Thu, 18 May 2000 12:35:53 -0700, I read these words from hoagie3746
> > <achachor...@hotmail.com.invalid> :
> >
> > >c`mon now ian,nick probably kens that tosser=wanker which makes it
> > >offensive to some degree,offends some more than others.
> > Where I come from, Glasgow, when the word is used, on its own,
> > as a throwaway parting comment, it is a term of dismissal.
> >
> > Hence my saying (the bit you snipped)
> >
> > Usage indicates that the party of the first part (that's me)
> > regards further conversation with the party of the second part
> > (that's you) as a total waste of breath or, in this instance,
> > of bandwidth. It is a term of dismissal similar to "choob" !
> >
> > I have since noted from another post made by Nick that he is
> > still at school. May there therefore be a high probability
> > that your definition may also apply ??
> >
>

> As high a probability that the other definition also applies to the
majority
> of humanity - including your good self.

>
> > -- The Despicable Stewart
> > -- Perfidious Alban
> > -- http://www.scs.informer.ukgateway.net/
> >
>
>

The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, & ornate
scottis meter, be M. Robert Henrisone, scolmaister of Dunfermling. Newlie
corectit, and vendicat, fra mony errouris, quhilkis war ouer sene in the
last prenting, quhair baith Lynes, and haill versis war left owt. Inprinted
att Edinburgh be me Thomas Bassandyne, dwelland at the nether bow (anno.)
1571

Page 3

1: Thocht feinzeit fabils of ald poetre,
2: Be not al grunded vpon truth zit than,
3: Thair polite termes of sweit rhetore
4: Richt plesand ar vnto the eir of man,
5: And als the caus quhy thay first began,
6: Wes to repreif the of thi misleuing,
7: O man be figure of ane vther thing.

8: In lyke maner as throw a bustious eird,
9: Swa it be laubourit with grit diligence
10: Springis the flouris, and the corne abreird,
11: Hailsum and gude to mannis sustenence.
12: Sa springis thair ane morall sweit sentence,
13: Oute of the subtell dyte of poetry:
14: To gude purpois quha culd it weill apply.

15: The nuttis schell thocht it be hard, and teuch,
16: Haldis the kirnell, sueit and delectabill.
17: Sa lyis thair ane doctrine wyse aneuch,
18: And full of frute, vnder ane fenzeit fabill.
19: And clerkis sayis, it is richt profitabill,
20: Amangis ernist to ming ane merie sport,
21: To blyth the spreit, and gar the tyme be schort.

Page 5

22: For as we se ane bow that is ay bent,
23: Worthis vnsmart, and dullis on the string,
24: Sa dois the mynd that is ay diligent,
25: In ernistfull thochtis, and in studying,
26: With sad materis sum merines to ming.
27: Accordis weill thus esope said i wis,
28: Dulcius arrident seria picta iocis.

29: Of this poete my maisteris with zour leif,
30: Submitting me to zour correctioun:
31: In mother toung of latyng i wald preif,
32: To mak ane maner of translatioun.
33: Nocht of my self, for vane presumptioun,
34: Bot be requeist, and precept of ane lord,
35: Of quhome the name it neidis not record.

36: In hamelie language and in termes rude,
37: Me neidis wryte: for quhy of eloquence.
38: Nor rethorike, i neuer vnderstude.
39: Thairfoir meiklie i pray zour reuerence,
40: Gif ze find ocht that throw my negligence
41: Be deminute, or zit superfluous,
42: Correct it at zour willis gratious.

43: My author in his fabillis tellis how,
44: That brutal beistis spak, and vnderstude,
45: And to gude purpois dispute, and argow.
46: Ane sillogisme propone, and eik conclude.
47: Putting exempill, and similitude,
48: How mony men in operatioun,
49: Ar like to beistis in conditioun.

Page 7

50: Na meruell is, ane man be lyke ane beist,
51: Quhilk lufis ay carnall and foull delyte:
52: That schame can not him renze, nor arreisst,
53: Bot takis all the lust and appetyte,
54: Quhilk throw custum, and the daylie ryte.
55: Syne in the mynd sa fast is radicate,
56: That he in brutal beist is transformate,

57: This nobill clerk, esope, as i haif tauld,
58: In gay metir, and in facound purpurate
59: Be figure wrait his buke: for he nocht wald.
60: Tak the disdane off hie, nor low estate.
61: And to begin, first of ane cok he wrate,
62: Seikand his meit,quhilk fand ane iolie stone,
63: Of quhome the fabill ze sall heir anone.
The taill of the cok, and the iasp

64: Ane cok sum tyme with feddram fresch and gay
65: Richt cant and crous albeit he was bot pure,
66: Fleu furth vpon ane dunghill sone be day,
67: To get his dennar set was al his cure.
68: Scraipand amang the as be auenture,
69: He fand ane iolie iasp, richt precious,
70: Wes castin furth in sweping of the hous.

71: As damisellis wantoun, and insolent,
72: That fane wald play, and on the streit be sene,
73: To swoping of the hous thay tak na tent.
74: Quhat be thairin swa that the flure be clene
75: Iowellis ar tint, as oftymis hes bene sene,
76: Vpon the flure, and swopit furth anone.
77: Peraduenture, sa wes the samin stone.

Page 9

78: Sa meruelland vpon the stane, quod he
79: O gentill iasp: o riche and nobill thing:
80: thocht i the find, thow ganis not for me,
81: Thow art ane iouell for ane lord or king.
82: It wer pietie thow suld in this mydding,
83: Be buryit thus amang this muke and mold,
84: And thow so fair, and worth sa mekill gold,

85: It is pietie i suld the find, for quhy,
86: Thy grit vertew, nor zit thy cullour cleir,
87: I may nouther extoll, nor magnify:
88: And thow to me may mak bot lyttill cheir,
89: To grit lordis thocht thow be leif, and deir,
90: I lufe fer better thing of les auaill,
91: As draf, or corne, to fill my tume intraill.

92: I had leuer ga skraip heir with my naillis,
93: Amangis this mow, and luke my lifys fude
94: As draf, or corne, small wormis, or snaillis,
95: Or ony meit wald do my stomok gude:
96: Than of iaspis ane mekill multitude.
97: And thow agane, vpon the samin wyis,
98: May me as now for thyne auaill dispyis.

99: Thow hes na corne: and thairof i had neid
100: Thy cullour dois bot confort to the sicht.
101: And that is not aneuch my wame to feid.
102: For wyfis sayis, that lukand werk is licht.
103: I wald sum meit haue, get it geue i micht.
104: For houngrie men may not weill leue on lukis:
105: Had i dry breid, i compt not for na cukis.

Page 11

106: Quhar suld thow mak thy habitatioun?
107: Quhar suld thow duell, bot in ane royall tour?
108: Quhar suld thow sit, bot on ane kingis croun,
109: Exalt in worschip and in grit honour?
110: Rise gentill iasp, of all stanis the flour,
111: Out of this fen and pas quhar thow suld be,
112: Thow ganis not for me, nor i for the.

113: Leuand this iowell law vpon the ground,
114: To seik his meit this cok his wayis went.
115: Bot quhen, or how, or quhome be it wes found,
116: As now i set to hald na argument.
117: Bot of the inward sentence, and intent:
118: Of this fabill as myne author dois write
119: I sall reheirs in rude and hamelie dite.

120: This iolie iasp hes properteis seuin:
121: The first, of cullour it is meruelous:
122: Part lyke the fyre, and part lyke to the heuin.
123: It makis ane man stark and victorious
124: Preseruis als fra cacis perrillous.
125: Quha hes this stane, sall haue gude hap to speid
126: Of fyre, nor fallis him neidis not to dreid.

Moralitas

127: This gentill iasp, richt different of hew
128: Betakinnis perfite prudence and cunning.
129: Ornate with mony deidiss of vertew,
130: Mair excellent, than ony eirthly thing.
131: Quhilk makis men in honour ay to ring,
132: Happie, and stark to half the victorie,
133: Of all vicis, and spirituall enemie.

Page 13

134: Quha may be hardie, riche and gratious?
135: Quha can eschew perrell and auenture?
136: Quha can gouerne ane realme cietie or hous,
137: Without science, no man i zow assure?
138: It is riches that euer sall indure,
139: Quhilk maith, nor moist, nor vther rust can freit,
140: To mannis saull it is eternall meit.

141: This cok desyrand mair the sempill corne,
142: Than ony iasp, may till ane fule be peeir.
143: Quhilk at science makis bot ane moik and scorne,
144: And na gude can: als lytill will he leir.
145: His hart wammillis wyse argumentis to heir.
146: As dois ane sow, to quhome men for the nanis,
147: In hir draf troich wald saw the precious stanis.

148: Quha is enemie to science and cunning,
149: Bot ignorants, that vnderstandis nocht?
150: Quhilk is sa nobill, sa precious, and sa ding,
151: That it may with na eirdlie thing be bocht.
152: Weill wer that man ouer all vther that mocht,
153: All his lyfe dayis in perfite studie wair,
154: To get science: for him neidit na mair.

155: Bot now allace this iasp, is tynt and hid:
156: We seik it nocht, nor preis it for to find.
157: Haif we richis, na better lyfe we bid,
158: Of science thocht the saull be bair and blind.
159: Of this mater to speik, it wer bot wind.
160: thairfore i ceis, and will na forther say.
161: Ga seik the iasp, quha will, for thair it lay.

The taill of the vponlandis mous, and the burges mous

162: Esope myne authour makis mentioun,
163: Of twa myis and thay wer sisteris deir,
164: Of quham the eldest duelt in ane borous toun:
165: The vther wynnit vponland weill neir:
166: Richt soliter, quhyle vnder busk, and breir:
167: Quhilis in the corne, in vther mennis skaith,
168: As owtlawis dois and leuit on hir waith.

169: This rurall mous in to the wynter tyde,
170: Had hunger, cauld, and tholit grit distres,
171: The vther mous that in the burgh can byde,
172: Was gild brother and made ane fre burges.
173: Toll-fre als but custum mair or les,
174: And fredome had to ga quhair euer scho list,
175: Amang the cheis and meill in ark and kist.

176: Ane tyme quhen scho wes full and vnfute-sair,
177: Scho tuke in mynd hir sister vpon land,
178: And langit for to heir of hir weilfair,
179: To se quhat lyfe scho led vnder the wand.
180: Bairfute allone with pykestaf in hir hand,
181: As pure pylgryme scho passit owt off town,
182: To seik hir sister baith oure daill and down.

183: Furth mony wilsum wayis can scho walk,
184: Throw mosse and mure throw bankis busk and breir,
185: Fra fur to fur cryand fra balk to balk
186: Cum furth to me my awin sueit sister deir,
187: Cry peip anis, with that the mous culd heir,
188: And knew hir voce as kinnisman will do,
189: Be verray kynd, and furth scho come hir to.

Page 17

190: The hartlie cheir lord god geue ze had sene,
191: Beis kithit quhen thir sisteris twa war met,
192: Quhilk that oft syis wes schawin thame betuene,
193: For quhylis thay leuch, and quhylis for ioy thay gret,
194: Quhyle kissit sweit, quhylis in armis plet,
195: And thus thay fure quhill soberit wes thair mude,
196: Syne fute for fute vnto the chalmer zude.

197: As i hard say it was ane semple wane,
198: Off fog and farne full misterlyk wes maid,
199: Ane sillie scheill vnder ane erdfast stane,
200: Off quhilk the entres wes not hie nor braid.
201: And in the samin thay went but mair abaid,
202: Withoutin fyre or candill birnand bricht,
203: For comonly sic pykeris luffis not lycht.

204: Quhen thay wer lugit thus thir sely myse,
205: The zoungest sister into hir butterie hyid,
206: And brocht furth nuttis, and peis in steid off spyce,
207: Giff thair wes weilfair i do it on thame besyde.
208: This burges mous prunzit forth in pryde.
209: And said sister is this zour dayly fude?
210: Quhy not quod scho think ze this meit nocht gude?

211: Na be my saull i think it bot ane scorne.
212: Madame quod scho ze be the mair to blame,
213: My mother sayd efter that we wer borne,
214: That i and ze lay baith within ane wame,
215: I keip the ryte and custome off my dame,
216: And off my syre levand in pouertie,
217: For landis haue we nane in propertie.

Page 19

218: My fair sister quod scho haue me excusit.
219: This rude dyat and i can not accord.
220: To tender meit my stomok is ay vsit,
221: For quhy i fair alsweill as ony lord.
222: Thir wydderit peis, and nuttis, or thay be bord,
223: Wil brek my teith, and mak my wame ful sklender
224: Quhilk vsit wes before to meitis tender.

225: Weil, weil, sister quod the rurall mous,
226: Geue it zow pleis sic thing as ze se heir,
227: Baith meit and dreink, harberie and hous,
228: Salbe zour awin, will ze remane al zeir.
229: Ze sall it haue wyth blyith and hartlie cheir,
230: And that suld mak the maissis that ar rude,
231: Amang freindis richt tender sueit and gude,

232: Quhat plesans is in feistis delicate,
233: The quhilkis ar geuin with ane glowmand brow?
234: Ane gentill hart is better recreate,
235: With blyith visage than seith to him ane kow.
236: Ane modicum is mair for till allow,
237: Swa that gude will be keruer at the dais,
238: Than thrawin vult and mony spycit mais.

239: For all this mery exhortatioun
240: This burges mous had littill will to sing.
241: Bot heuilie scho kest hir browis doun,
242: For all the daynteis thatt scho culd hir bring.
243: Zit at the last scho said halff in hething,
244: Sister this victuall and zour royall feist,
245: May weill suffice for sic ane rurall beist.

Page 21

246: Lat be this hole and cum vnto my place,
247: I sall zow schaw be trewe experience,
248: My gude friday is better nor zour pace,
249: My dische likingis is worth zour haill expence,
250: I haue housis anew off grit defence,
251: Off cat, na fall na trap, i haue na dreid.
252: I grant quod scho and on togidder thay zeid

253: In skugry ay throw rankest gers and corne:
254: Vnder cowert full preuelie couth thay creip,
255: The eldest wes the gyde and went beforne,
256: The zounger to hir wayis tuke gude keip.
257: On nicht thay ran, and on the day can sleip,
258: Quhill in the morning or the lauerok sang,
259: Thay fand the town, and in blythlie couth gang.

260: Not fer fra thyne vnto ane vorthie vane,
261: This burges brocht thame sone quhare thay suld be.
262: Withowt god speid thair herberie wes tane,
263: In to ane spence with vittell grit plentie,
264: Baith cheis, and butter vpon skelfis hie,
265: Flesche and fische aneuch baith fresche and salt,
266: And sekkis full off grotis meill and malt.

267: Efter quhen thay disposit wer to dyne,
268: Withowtin grace thay wesche and went to meit.
269: With all coursis that cukis culd deuyne,
270: Muttoun and beif, strikin in tailzeis greit
271: Ane lordis fair thus couth thay counterfeit,
272: Except ane thing thay drank the watter cleir,
273: In steid off wyne bot zit thay maid gude cheir.

Page 23

274: With blyith vpcast and merie countenance,
275: The eldest sister sperit at hir gest
276: Giff that scho thocht be ressone difference,
277: Betuix that chalmer and hir sarie nest,
278: Ze dame quod scho bot how lang will this lest?
279: For euermair i wait and langer to.
280: Gif it be swa ze ar at eis quod scho

281: Till eik thair cheir ane subcharge furth scho brocht,
282: Ane plait off grottis, and ane disch full off meill,
283: Thraf caikkis als i trow scho spairit nocht,
284: Aboundantlie about hir for to deill.
285: And mane full fyne scho brocht in steid off geill,
286: And ane quhyte candill owt off ane coffer stall,
287: In steid off spyce to gust thair mouth withall.

288: This maid thay merie quhill thay micht na mair
289: And haill zule haill cryit vpon hiee,
290: Zit efter ioy oftymes cummis cair,
291: And troubill efter grit prosperitie,
292: Thus as thay sat in all thair iolitie,
293: The spenser come with keyis in his hand,
294: Oppinnit the dure and thame at denner fand.

295: Thay taryit not to wesche as i suppose,
296: Bot on to ga quha micht formest win.
297: The burges had ane hole, and in scho gois,
298: Hir sister had na hole to hyde hir in,
299: To se that selie mous it wes grit sin.
300: So desolate and will off ane gude reid,
301: For verray dreid scho fell in swoun neir deid.

Page 25

302: Bot as god wald it fell ane happie cace,
303: The spenser had na laser for to byde,
304: Nowther to seik, nor serche, to char nor chace,
305: Bot on he went, and left the dure vp wyde.
306: The bald burges his passage weill hes spyde,
307: Out off hir hole scho come, and cryit on hie.
308: How fair ze sister cry peip quhair euer ze be.

309: This rurall mous, lay flatling on the ground
310: And for the deith scho wes full sair dredand.
311: For till hir hart straik mony wofull stound,
312: As in ane feuer trimbillit fute and hand.
313: And quhan hir sister in sic ply hir fand,
314: For verray pietie scho began to greit,
315: Syne confort hir with wordis hunny sweit.

316: Quhy ly ze thus ryse vp my sister deir?
317: Cum to zour meit, this perrell is ouerpast.
318: The vther answerit with a heuie cheir,
319: I may not eit sa sair i am agast.
320: I had leuer thir fourty dayis fast,
321: With watter caill, and to gnaw benis or peis,
322: Than all zour feist in this dreid and diseis.

323: With fair tretie zit scho gart hir vpryse,
324: And to the burde thay went and togidder sat,
325: And scantlie had thay drunkin anis or twyse,
326: Quhen in come gib hunter our iolie cat,
327: And bad god speid, the burges vp with that,
328: And till hir hole scho fled as fyre of flint,
329: Bawdronis the vther be the bak hes hint.

Page 27

330: Fra fute to fute he kest hir to and fra,
331: Quhylis vp, quhylis doun, als tait as ony kid,
332: Quhylis wald he lat hir rin vnder the stra,
333: Quhylis wald he wink, and play with hir buk heid.
334: Thus to the selie mous grit pane he did.
335: Quhill at the last throw fair fortune and hap,
336: Betwix the dosor and the wall scho crap.

337: Syne vp in haist behind the parraling,
338: So hie scho clam that gilbert micht not get hir,
339: And be the clukis craftelie can hing,
340: Till he wes gane hir cheir wes all the better.
341: Syne doun scho lap quhen thair wes nane to let hir.
342: Apon the burges mous loud can scho cry,
343: Fairweill sister thy feist heir i defy.

344: Thy mangerie is mingit all with cair,
345: Thy guse is gude thy gansell sour as gall.
346: The subcharge off thy seruice is bot sair,
347: Sa sall thow find heir-efterwart may fall,
348: I thank zone courtyne and zone perpall wall.
349: Off my defence now fra zone crewell beist.
350: Almichtie god keip me fra sic ane feist.

351: Wer i into the kith that i come fra,
352: For weill nor wo, i suld neuer cum agane.
353: With that scho tuke hir leif and furth can ga,
354: Quhylis throw the corne, and quhylis throw the plane,
355: Quhen scho wes furth and fre scho wes full fane.
356: And merilie markit vnto the mure.
357: I can not tell how efterwart scho fure.

Page 29

358: Bot i hard say scho passit to hir den,
359: Als warme as woll suppose it wes not greit,
360: Full beinly stuffit, baith but and ben,
361: Off peiis and nuttis, beiinis, ry, and quheit.
362: Quhen euer scho list scho had aneuch to eit,
363: In quyet and eis withoutin ony dreid,
364: Bot to hir sisteris feist na mair scho zeid.

Moralitas

365: Freindis heir may ze find will ze tak heid,
366: In this fabill ane gude moralitie.
367: As fitchis myngit ar with nobill seid,
368: Swa intermellit is aduersitie,
369: With eirdlie ioy, swa that na estate is frie
370: Without trubill or sum vexatioun,
371: And namelie thay quhilk clymmis vp maist hie,
372: And not content with small possessioun.

373: Blissed be sempill lyfe withoutin dreid.
374: Blissed be sober feist in quietie.
375: Quha hes aneuch of na mair hes he neid,
376: Thocht it be littill into quantatie,
377: Grit aboundance and blind prosperitie,
378: Oftymes makis ane euill conclusioun:
379: The sweitest lyfe thairfoir in this cuntrie,
380: Is sickernes with small possession

381: O wantoun man that vsis for to feid,
382: Thy wambe and makis it a god to be.
383: Luke to thy self i warne the weill on deid,
384: The cat, cummis and to the mous, hes ee.
385: Quhat is avale thy feist and royaltie,
386: With dreidfull hart, and tribulatioun.
387: Thairfoir best thing in eird, i say for me,
388: Is merry hart, with small possessioun.

Page 31

389: Thy awin fyre, my freind, sa it be bot ane gleid
390: It warmis weill, and is worth gold to the.
391: And solomon sayis gif that thow will reid,
392: Vnder the heuin i can not better se,
393: Than ay be blyith and leif in honestie.
394: Quhairfoir i may conclude be this ressoun,
395: Of eirthly ioy it beiris maist degre.
396: Blyithnes in hart with small possessioun.

The taill of schir chantecleir and the foxe

397: Thocht brutall beistis be irrationall,
398: That is to say wantand discretioun.
399: Zyt ilk ane in thair kyndis naturall.
400: Hes mony diuers inclinatioun.
401: The bair busteous, the volff, the wylde lyoun:
402: The fox fenzeit craftie and cawtelows:
403: The dog to bark on nicht and keip the hows.

404: Sa different thay ar in properteis,
405: Vnknawin unto man, and infinite,
406: In kynd hauand sa fell diuersiteis.
407: My cunning i excedis for to dyte.
408: For thy as now i purpose for to wryte.
409: Ane cais i fand quhilk fell this ather zeir,
410: Betwix ane foxe, and gentill chantecleir,

Page 33

411: Ane vedow dwelt, in till ane drop thay dayis,
412: Quhilk wan hir fude off spinning on hir rok.
413: And na mair had forsuth as the fabill sayis,
414: Except off hennis scho had ane lyttill flok,
415: And thame to keip scho had ane iolie cok:
416: Richt curageous, that to this wedow ay
417: Deuydit nicht and crew befoir the day.

418: Ane lyttill fra this foirsaid vedowis hows,
419: Ane thornie schaw thair wes off grit defence.
420: Quhairin ane foxe craftie, and cautelous,
421: Maid his repair, and daylie residence.
422: Quhilk to this wedow did grit violence,
423: In pyking off pultrie baith day and nicht,
424: And na way be reuengit on him scho micht.

425: This wylie tod quhen that the lark couth sing,
426: Full sair hungrie vnto the toun him drest,
427: Quhair chantecleir in to the gray dawing,
428: Werie for nicht wes flowen fra his nest.
429: Lowrence this saw, and in his mynd he kest,
430: The ieperdies, the wayis, and the wyle,
431: Be quhat menis he micht this cok begyle.

432: Dissimuland in to countenance and cheir,
433: On kneis fell, and simuland thus he said.
434: Gude morne my maister gentill chantecleir.
435: With that the cok start bakwart in ane braid.
436: Schir be my saull, ze neid not be effraid,
437: Nor zit for me to start nor fle abak,
438: I come bot heir seruice to zow to mak.

Page 35

439: Wald i not serve to zow it wer bot blame,
440: As i haue done to zowr progenitouris.
441: Zour father oft fulfillit hes my wame.
442: And send me meit fra midding to the muris.
443: And at his end i did my besie curis,
444: To hald his heid, and gif him drinkis warme.
445: Syne at the last the sweit swelt in my arme.

446: Knew ze my father quod the cok and leuch,
447: Zea, my fair sone, forsuth i held his heid,
448: Quhen that he deit vnder ane birkin beuch.
449: Syne said the dirigie quhen that he wes deid,
450: Betuix vs twa how suld thair be ane feid?
451: Quhame suld ze traist bot me zour seruitour,
452: That to zour father did sa grit honour.

453: Q hen i behald zour fedderis fair and gent,
454: Zour beik, zour breist, zour hekill, and zour kame.
455: Schir be my saull, and the blissit sacrament,
456: My hart warmys me think i am at hame,
457: Zow for to serve i wald creip on my wame,
458: In froist and snaw, in wedder wan and weit,
459: And lay my lyart loikkis vnder zour feit.

460: This fenzeit fox fals and dissimulate,
461: Maid to this cok ane cauillatioun.
462: Ze ar me think changit and degenerate,
463: Fra zour father off his conditioun
464: Off craftie crawing he micht beir the croun,
465: For he wald on his tais stand and craw.
466: This is na le, i stude beside and saw.

Page 37

467: With that the cok vpon his tais hie,
468: Kest vp his beik, and sang with all his micht.
469: Quod schir lowrence weill said sa mot i the.
470: Ze ar zour fatheris sone and air vpricht.
471: Bot off his cunning zit ze want ane slicht.
472: Quhat quod the cok he wald and haif na dout,
473: Baith wink, and craw, and turne him thryis about.

474: The cok inflate with wind and fals vane gloir,
475: That mony puttis vnto confusioun.
476: Traisting to win ane grit worschip thairfoir,
477: Vnwarlie winkand walkit vp and doun,
478: And syne to chant and craw he maid him boun.
479: And suddandlie be he had crawin ane note,
480: The foxe wes war and hint him be the throte.

481: Syne to the woid but tarie with him hyit,
482: Off countermaund haifand bot lytill dout.
483: With that pertok, sprutok, and coppok cryit.
484: The wedow hard, and with ane cry come out.
485: Seand the cace scho sichit and gaif ane schout.
486: How murther reylok with ane hiddeous beir,
487: Allace now lost is gentill chantecleir.

488: As scho wer woid, with mony zell and cry,
489: Ryuand hir hair vpon hir breist can beit,
490: Syne, paill off hew, half in ane extasy
491: Fell doun for cair in swoning, and in sweit.
492: With that the selie hennis left thair meit.
493: And quhill this wyfe wes lyand thus in swoun,
494: Fell in that cace in disputatioun

Page 39

495: Allace quod pertok makand sair murning,
496: With teiris grit attour hir cheikis fell.
497: Zone wes our drowrie, and our dayis darling,
498: Our nichtingall, and als our orlege bell.
499: Our walkryfe watche vs for to warne and tell
500: Quhen that aurora with hir curcheis gray,
501: Put vp hir heid betuix the nicht and day.

502: Quha sall our lemman be? quha sall vs leid?
503: Quhen we ar sad quha sall vnto vs sing?
504: With his sweit bill he wald brek vs the breid,
505: In all this warld wes thair ane kynder thing.
506: In paramouris he wald do vs plesing,
507: At his power as nature list him geif.
508: Now efter him allace how sall we leif?

509: Quod sprutok than, ceis sister off zour sorrow
510: Ze be to mad for him sic murning mais.
511: We sall fair weill, i find sanct iohne to borrow,
512: The prouerb sayis, als gude lufe cummis as gais.
513: I will put on my haly dayis clais,
514: And mak me fresch agane this iolie may,
515: Syne chant this sang wes neuer wedow sa gay.

516: He wes angry and held vs ay in aw,
517: And woundit with the speir off ielowsy.
518: Off chalmerglew pertok, full weill ze knaw,
519: Waistit he wes, off nature cauld and dry.
520: Sen he is gone thairfoir sister say i,
521: Be blyith in baill, for that is best remeid.
522: Let quik to quik, and deid ga to the deid.

Page 41

523: Than pertok spak, that feinzeit faith befoir,
524: In lust but lufe that set all hir delyte.
525: Sister ze wait off sic as him ane scoir,
526: Wald not suffice to slaik our appetyte,
527: I hecht zow be my hand sen ze ar quyte,
528: Within ane oulk for schame, and i durst speik,
529: To get ane berne suld better claw oure breik.

530: Than coppok lyke ane curate spak full crous,
531: Zone wes ane verray vengeance from the heuin.
532: He wes sa lous, and sa lecherous.
533: Seis coud he nocht with kittokis ma than seuin.
534: Bot rychteous god haldand the balandis euin,
535: Smytis rycht sair thocht he be patient,
536: Adulteraris, that list thame not repent.

537: Prydefull he wes, and ioyit off his sin,
538: And comptit not for goddis fauour nor feid.
539: Bot traistit ay to rax, and sa to rin,
540: Quhill at the last his sinnis can him leid,
541: Tto schamefull end, and to zone suddand deid.
542: Thairfoir it is the verray hand off god,
543: That causit him be werryit with the tod.

544: Quhen this wes said, this wedow fra hir swoun,
545: Start vp on fute, and on hir kennettis cryde.
546: How birkye berrie, bell bawsie, broun,
547: Rype schaw, rin weil, curtes, nuttieclyde,
548: Togidder all but grunching furth ze glyde,
549: Reskew my nobill cok or he be slane,
550: Or ellis to me se ze cum neuer agane

Page 43

551: With that but baid thay braidet ouer the bent,
552: As fyre off flint thay ouer the feildis flaw,
553: Full wichtlie thay throw wood and wateris went,
554: And ceissit not schir lourence quhill thay saw.
555: Bot quhen he saw the raches cum on raw,
556: Vnto the cok in mynd he said god sen,
557: That i and thow wer fairlie in my den.

558: Then spak the cok with sum gude spirit inspyrit,
559: Do my counsall and i sall warrand the.
560: Hungrie thow art, and for grit trauell tyrit,
561: Richt faint off force, and may not ferther fle.
562: Swyith turne agane, and say, that i and ze,
563: Freindis ar maid, and fellowis for ane zeir.
564: Than will thay stint, i stand for it and not steir.

565: This tod thocht he wes fals and friuolus,
566: And had frawdis his querrell to defend.
567: Desauit wes be menis richt meruelous.
568: For falset failzeis ay at the latter end.
569: He start about, and cryit as he wes kend.
570: With that the cok he braid vnto a bewch.
571: Now iuge ze all quhairat schir lowrence lewch.

572: Begylit thus the tod vnder the tre,
573: On kneis fell, and said gude chantecleir.
574: Cum doun agane, and i but meit or fe,
575: Salbe zour man and seruand for ane zeir.
576: Na murther theif, and reuar, stand on reir.
577: My bludy hekill, and my nek sa bla,
578: Hes partit lowe for euer betwene vs twa.

Page 45

579: I wes vnwyse that winkit at thy will,
580: Quhairthrow almaist i loissit had my heid.
581: I wes mair fule quod he coud nocht be still,
582: Bot spake to put my pray in to pleid.
583: Fair on fals theif, god keip me fra thy feid.
584: With that the cok ouer the feildis tuke his flicht,
585: And in at the wedowis lewer couth he licht.

Moralitas

586: Now worthie folk suppose this be ane fabill.
587: And ouerheillit wyth typis figurall.
588: Zit may ze find ane sentence richt agreabill,
589: Vnder thir fenzeit termis textuall.
590: To our purpose this cok weill may we call,
591: Nyse proud men, woid, and vaneglorious,
592: Of kin and blude quhilk is presumpteous.

Fy puft vp pryde. thow is full poysonabill.
Quha fauoris the on force man haif ane fall.
Thy strenth is nocht, thy stule standis vnstabill,
Tak witnes of the feyndis infernall,
Quhilk houndit doun wes fra that heuinlie hall.
To hellis hole, and to that hiddeous hous.
Because in pryde thay wer presumpteous.

593: This fenzeit foxe may weill be figurate,
594: To flatteraris with plesand wordis quhyte.
595: With fals mening and mynd maist toxicate.
596: To loif and le, that settis thair haill delyte.
597: All worthie folk at sic suld haif despyte.
598: For quhair is thair mair perrellous pestilence,
599: Nor gif to learis haistelie credence.

Page 47

600: The wickit mynd and adullatioun,
601: Of sucker sweit haifand similitude,
602: Bitter as gall, and full of fell poysoun,
603: To taist it is quha cleirlie vnderstude.
604: For thy as now schortlie to conclude,
605: Thir twa sinnis, flatterie, and vaneglore,
606: Ar vennomous gude ffoolk fle thame thairfoir.

The taill how this foirsaid tod maid his confessioun to freir volf
Vaitskaith

607: Leif we this vedow glaid i zow assure,
608: Off chantecleir, mair blyith than i can tell.
609: And speik we off the fatal auenture.
610: And destenie that to this foxe befell,
611: Quhilk durst na mair with miching intermell,
612: Als lang as leme or licht wes off the day,
613: Bot bydand nicht full styll lurkand he lay.
614: Quhill that thetes the goddes off the flude,

615: Phebus had callit to the harbery.

616: And hesperous put of his cluddie hude,
617: Schawand his lustie visage in the sky.
618: Than lourence luikit vp, quhair he couth ly,
619: And kest his hand vpon his ee on hicht,
620: Merie and glade that cummit wes the nicht.

Page 49

621: Out off the wod vnto ane hill he went,
622: Quhair he micht se the tuinkling sternis cleir.
623: And all the planetis off the firmament,
624: Thair cours, and eik thair mouing in thair spheir.
625: Sum retrograde, and sum stationeir.
626: And off the zodiak in quhat degre,
627: Thay wer ilk ane, as lowrence leirnit me.

628: Than saturne auld wes enterit in capricorne,
629: And iuppiter mouit in sagittarie.
630: And mars vp in the rammis heid wes borne.
631: And phebus in the lyoun furth can carie.
632: Venus the crab, the mone wes in aquarie,
633: Mercurius the god off eloquence,
634: Into the virgyn maid his residence.

635: But astrolab, quadrant, or almanak,
636: Teichit off nature be instructioun,
637: The mouing off the heuin this tod can tak,
638: Quhat influence and constellatioun,
639: Wes lyke to fall vpon the eirth adoun.
640: And to him self he said withoutin mair,
641: Weill worth the father, that send me to the lair.

642: My destenie, and eik my weird i watt,
643: My auenture is cleirlie to me kend.
644: With mischeif myngit is my mortall fait,
645: My misleuing the soner bot i mend.
646: Deid is reward off sin and schamefull end.
647: Thairfoir i will ga seik sum confessour,
648: And schryiff me clene off all sinnis to this hour.

Page 51

649: Allace quod he richt waryit ar we theuis.
650: Our lyif is set ilk nicht in auenture.
651: Our cursit craft full mony man mischeuis,
652: For euer we steill, and euer alyk ar pure.
653: In dreid and schame our dayis we indure.
654: Syne widdinek, and crakraip callit als,
655: And till our hyre ar hangit be the hals.

656: Accusand thus his cankerit conscience,
657: In to ane craig he kest about his ee.
658: So saw he cummand ane lyttill than frome thence,
659: Ane worthie doctour of diuinitie,
660: Freir volff waitskaith, in science wonder sle.
661: To preiche and pray wes new cum fra the closter
662: With beidis in hand sayand his pater noster.

663: Seand this volff this wylie tratour too,
664: On kneis fell, with hude in to his nek.
665: Welcome my gostlie father vnder god,
666: Quod he with mony binge and mony bek.
667: Ha quod the volff schir tod for quhat effek
668: Mak ze sic feir, ryse vp put on zour hude?
669: Father quod he i haif grit cause to dude.

670: Ze ar the lanterne, and the sicker way,
671: Suld gyde sic sempill folk as me to grace.
672: Zour bair feit, and zour russet coull off gray,
673: Zour lene cheik, zour paill and pietious face,
674: Schawis to me zour perfite halines.
675: For weill wer him that anis in his lyue,
676: Had hap to zow his sinnis for to schryue.

Page 53

677: A selie lowrence quod the volf and leuch,
678: It plesis me that ze ar penitent.
679: Off reif and stouth, schir, i can tell aneuch,
680: That causis me full sair for to repent.
681: Bot father byde still heir vpon the bent,
682: I zow beseik, and heir me to declair,
683: My conscience, that prikkis me sa sair.

684: Weill quod the volff sit doun vpon thy kne
685: And he doun bair-heid sat full humilly.
686: And syne began with benedicitie.
687: Quhen i this saw, i drew ane lytill by.
688: For it effeiris nouther to heir, nor spy,
689: Nor to reueill thing said vnder that seill,
690: Bot to the tod this gait the volf couth mele.

691: Art thow contrite, and sorie in thy spreit,
692: For thy trespas? na schir, i can not duid,
693: Me think that hennis ar sa honie sweit,
694: And lambes flesche that new ar lettin bluid,
695: For to repent my mynd can not concluid,
696: Bot off this thing, that i haif slane sa few.
697: Weill quod the volf in faith thow art ane schrew

698: Sen thow can not forthink thy wickitnes,
699: Will thow forbeir in tyme to cum and mend.
700: And i forbeir, how sall i leif allace,
701: Haifand nane vther craft me to defend.
702: Neid causis me to steill quhair euer i wend.
703: I eschame to thig, i can not wirk ze wait.
704: Zit wald i fane pretend to gentill stait.

Page 55

705: Weill quod the volf thow wantis pointis twa,
706: Belangand to perfyte confessioun.
707: To the thrid part off pennance let vs ga,
708: Vill thow tak pane for thy transgressioun?
709: A schir considder my complexioun,
710: Seikly and waik, and off my nature tender,
711: Lo, will ze se, i am baith lene and sklender.

712: Zit neuertheles i wald swa it wer licht,
713: Schort and not greuand to my tendernes,
714: Tak part off pane, fulfill it gif i micht,
715: To set my selie saull in way off grace.
716: Thow sall quod he forbeir flesch vntill pasche,
717: To tame this corps that cursit carioun.
718: And heir i reik the full remissioun.

719: I grant thairto, swa ze will giff me leif,
720: To eit puddingis, or laip ane lyttill blude,
721: Or heid, or feit, or paynchis let me preif.
722: In cace i falt of flesch in to my fude.
723: For grit mister i gif the leif to dude,
724: Twyse in the oulk, for neid may haif na law.
725: God zeild zow schir, for that text weill i knaw.

726: Quhen this wes said, the volf his wayis went,
727: The foxe on fute he fure vnto the flude.
728: To fang him fisch haillelie wes his intent.
729: Bot quhen he saw the walterand wallis woude,
730: All stonist still in to ane stair he stude.
731: And said, better that i had biddin at hame,
732: Nor bene ane fischar in the deuillis name.

Page 57

733: Now man i scraip my meit out off the sand,
734: For i haif nouther boittis net nor bait.
735: As he wes thus for falt off meit murnand,
736: Lukand about his leuing for to lait.
737: Vnder ane tre he saw ane trip off gait.
738: Than wes he blyith, and in ane hewch him hid,
739: And fra the gait he stall ane lytill kid.

740: Syne ouer the heuch vnto the see he hyis,
741: And tuke the kid be the hornis twane,
742: And in the watter outher twyis or thryis,
743: He dowkit him, and till him can he sayne.
744: Ga doun schir kid, cum vp schir salmond agane.
745: Quhill he wes deid syne to the land him drewch,
746: And off that new maid salmond eit anewch.

747: Thus fynelie fillit with zoung tender meit,
748: Vnto ane derne for dreid he him addrest,
749: Vnder ane busk, quhair that the sone can beit,
750: To beik his breist and bellie he thocht best.
751: And rekleslie he said quhair he did rest,
752: Straikand his wame aganis the sonis heit,
753: Vpon this wame set wer ane bolt full meit.

754: Quhen this wes said the keipar off the gait,
755: Cairfull in hart his kid wes stollen away,
756: On euerilk syde full warlie couth he wait,
757: Quhill at the last, he saw quhair lowrence lay.
758: Ane bow he bent, ane flane with fedderis gray.
759: He haillit to the heid, and or he steird,
760: The foxe he prikkit fast vnto the eird.

Page 59

761: Now quod the foxe allace and wellaway.
762: Gorrit i am, and may na forther gane.
763: Me think na man may speik ane word in play,
764: Bot now on dayis, in ernist it is tane.
765: The hird him hynt and out he drew his flane.
766: And for his kid, and vther violence,
767: He tuke his skyn, and maid ane recompence.

Moralitas

768: This suddand deith, and vnprouysit end,
769: Of this fals tod, without contritioun,
770: Exempill is exhortand folk to mend.
771: For dreid of sic ane lyke conclusioun,
772: For mony gois now to confessioun,
773: Can not repent, nor for thair sinnis greit,
774: Because thay think thair lustie lyfe sa sweit.

775: Sum bene also throw consuetude and ryte,
776: Vincust with carnall sensualitie.
777: Suppose thay be as for the tyme contryte,
778: Can not forbeir, nor fra thair sinnis fle.
779: Vse drawis nature swa in propertie,
780: Of beist and man, that neidlingis thay man do,
781: As thay of lang tyme hes bene hantit to.

782: Be war gude folke, and feir this suddane schoit,
783: Quhilk smytis sair withoutin resistence.
784: Attend wyislie, and in zour hartis noit.
785: Aganis deith may na man mak defence,
786: Ceis of zour sin, remord zour conscience,
787: Do wilfull pennance here and ze sall wend,
788: Efter zour deith, to blis withouttin end.

Page 61

The taill of the sone & air of the forsaid foxe, callit father wer: Alswa
the parliament of fourfuttit beistis, haldin be the lyoun

789: This forsaid foxe, that deit for his misdeid,
790: Had not ane barne wes gottin richteouslie,
791: That to his airschip micht of law succeid,
792: Except ane sone, the quhilk in lemanrye,
793: He gottin had in purches priuelie.
794: And till his name wes callit father-war,
795: That luifit weill with pultrie to tig and tar.

796: It followis weill be ressoun naturall,
797: And gre be gre, off richt comparisoun:
798: Off euill cummis war: off war cummis werst of all.
799: Off wrangus get cummis wrang successioun.
800: This foxe bastard of generatioun,
801: Off verray kynde behuifit to be fals.
802: Swa wes his father, and his grandschir als.

803: As nature will seikand his meit be sent,
804: Off cace he fand his fatheris carioun,
805: Nakit, new slane, and till him hes he went,
806: Tuke vp his heid, and on his kne fell doun,
807: Thankand grit god off that conclusioun.
808: And said, now sall i bruke sen i am air,
809: The boundis quhair thow wes wont for to repair.

Page 63

810: Fy couetice vnkynd, and venemous.
811: The sone wes fane he fand his father deid,
812: Be suddand schot, for deidis odious,
813: That he micht ringe, and raxe in till his steid.
814: Dreidand na thing the samin lyfe to leid,
815: In thift, and reif, as did his father befoir.
816: Bot to the end attent he tuke no moir.

817: Zit neuertheles throw naturall pietie,
818: The carioun vpon his bak he tais.
819: Now find i weill this prouerb trew quod he
820: Ay rinnis the foxe, als lang as he fute hais.
821: Syne with the corps vnto ane peitpoit gais,
822: Off watter full, and kest him in the deip.
823: And to the deuill he gaif his banis to keip.

824: O fulische man plungit in wardlynes,
825: To conqueis wrangwis guidis, gold, and rent.
826: To put thy saull in pane, or heuines,
827: To riche thy air quhilk efter thow art went,
828: Haue he thy gude, he takis bot small tent.
829: To sing or say for thy saluatioun
830: Fra thow be dede done is thy deuotioun

831: This tod to rest him, carit to ane craig,
832: And thair he hard ane buisteous bugill blaw.
833: Quhilk as him thocht, maid all the warld to waig.
834: Than start he vp, quhen he this hard and saw.
835: Ane vnicorne come lansand ouer ane law.
836: With horne in hand, ane buste in breist he bure.
837: Ane pursephant semelie i zow assure.

Page 65

838: Vnto ane bank quhair he micht se about,
839: On euerilk syde in haist he culd him hy.
840: Schot out his voce, full schyll, and gaif ane schout.
841: And oyas oyas twyse, or thryse did cry.
842: With that the beistis in the feild thairby,
843: All meruelland, quhat sic ane thing suld mene,
844: Govand agast thay gaderit on ane grene.

845: Out off his buste ane bill sone can he braid,
846: And red the text withoutin tarying.
847: Commandand silence, sadlie thus he said.
848: We nobill lyoun, off all beistis the king,
849: Greting to god ay lestand but ending.
850: To brutall beistis, and irrationall,
851: I send, as to my subiectis grit and small.

852: My celsitude and hie magnificence,
853: Lattis zow to wit, that euin incontinent,
854: Thinkis the morne with royall deligence,
855: Vpon this hill to hald ane parliament.
856: Straitlie thairfoir i gif commandement,
857: For to compeir befoir my tribunall,
858: Vnder all pane, and perrell that may fall.

859: The morrow come, and phebus with his bemis,
860: Consumit had the mistie cluddis gray.
861: The ground wes grene, and as the gold it glemis,
862: With gresis growand gudelie, grit and gay.
863: The spyce thay spred to spring on euerilk spray.
864: The lark, the maueis, and the merll, full hie.
865: Sweitlie can sing trippand fra tre to tre.

Page 67

866: Thre leopardis come a croun off massie gold
867: Beirand thay brocht vnto that hillis hicht,
868: With iaspis ionit, and royall rubeis rold,
869: And mony diueris dyamontis dicht,
870: With pollis proud ane palzeoun doun thay picht.
871: And in that throne, thair sat ane wild lyoun,
872: In rob royall, with sceptour, swerd, and croun.

873: Efter the tennour off the cry befoir,
874: That gais on fut all beistis in the eird,
875: As thay commandit wer withoutin moir,
876: Befoir thair lord the lyoun thay appeird.
877: And quhat thay wer to me as lowrence leird.
878: I sall reheirs ane part off euerilk kynd,
879: Als fer as now occurris to my mynd.

880: The minotaur, ane monster meruelous,
881: Bellerophont that beist of bastardrie.
882: The warwolff, and the pegase perillous,
883: Transformit be assent of sorcerie.
884: The linx the tiger full off tiranie:
885: The elephant: and eik the dromedarie:
886: The cameill with his cran-nek furth can carie.

887: The leopard, as i haif tauld beforne,
888: The anteloip: the sparth furth couth speid:
889: The peyntit pantheir: and the vnicorne:
890: The rayndeir ran throw reueir, rone, and reid.
891: The iolie ionet, and the gentill steid:
892: The asse: the mule: the hors of euerilk kynd,
893: The da: the ra: the hornit hart: the hynd.

Page 69

894: The bull: the beir: the bugill: and the bair:
895: The wodwys: vildcat: and the wild wolfyne:
896: The hardbakkit hurcheoun: and the hirpland hair:
897: Baith otter and aip: and pennit porcupyne.
898: The gukit gait: the selie scheip the swyne:
899: The bauer bakon and the balterand brok:
900: The fowmart, with the fyber furth can flok.

901: The gay grewhound, the slewthound furth can slyde,
902: With doggis all diuers and different.
903: The rattoun ran, the glebard furth can glyde.
904: The quhrynand quhitret, with the quhasill went,
905: The feitho that hes furrit mony fent.
906: The mertrik: with the cunning: and the con:
907: The bowranbane: and eik the lerion.

908: The marmisset: the mowdewart couth leid,
909: Because that nature denyit had hir sicht.
910: Thus dressit thay all furth, for dreid off deid,
911: The musk, the lytill mous with all hir micht,
912: In haist haikit vnto that hillis hicht,
913: And mony kynd off beistis i couth not knaw,
914: Befoir thair lord the lyoun thay loutit law.

915: Seing thir beistis all at his bidding boun,
916: He gaif ane braid, and blenkit him about.
917: Than flatlingis to his feit thay fell all doun,
918: For dreid off deith, thay droupit all in dout.
919: The lyoun he lukit quhen he saw thame lout,
920: And bad thame with ane countenance full sweit,
921: Be not efferit, bot stand vp on zour feit.

Page 71

922: I lat zow wit, my micht is merciabill,
923: And steiris nane that ar to me prostrait.
924: Angrie, austerne, and als vnamyabill,
925: To all that standfray ar to myne estait.
926: I rug, i reif, all beistys that makis debait.
927: Aganis the micht off my magnyficence,
928: Se nane pretend to pryde in my presence.

929: My celsitude, and my hie maiestie.
930: With micht, and mercie myngit sall be ay.
931: The lawest heir i can full sone vp hie,
932: And mak him maister ouer zow all i may.
933: The dromedarie giff he will mak deray,
934: The grit camell, thocht he wer neuer sa crous.
935: I can him law als lytill as ane mous.

936: Se neir be twentie mylis quhair i am,
937: The kid ga saiflie be the gaittis syde.
938: The tod lowrie luke not to the lam.
939: Na reuand beistis nouther ryn, nor ryde.
940: Thay couchit all efter that this wes cryde.
941: The iustice bad the court for to gar fence,
942: The sutis call, and foirfalt all absence.

943: The panther with his payntit coit armour
944: Fensit the court, as off the law effeird.
945: Than tod lowrie luikit quhair he couth lour,
946: And start on fute, all stonist and all steird,
947: Ryifand his hair, he cryit with ane reird,
948: Quaikand for dreid, and sichand couth he say,
949: Allace this hour, allace this dulefull day.

Page 73

950: I wait this suddand semblie that i se
951: Haifand the pointis off ane parliament,
952: Is maid to mar sic misdoars as me.
953: Thairfoir geue i me schaw i will be schent,
954: I will be socht, and i be red absent.
955: To byde,, or fle, it makis no remeid,
956: All is alyke, thair followis not bot deid.

957: Perplexit thus in his hart can he mene,
958: Throw falset how he micht him self defend
959: His hude he drew far doun attoure his ene,
960: And winkand with the ane eye furth he wend.
961: Clinscheand he come, that he micht not be kend,
962: And for dreddour that he suld thoill arreist,
963: He playit bukhude behind, fra beist to beist.

964: O fylit spreit, and cankerit conscience,
965: Befoir ane roy renzeit with richteousnes,
966: Blakinnit cheikis, and schamefull countenance,
967: Fairweill thy fame now gone is all thy grace,
968: The phisnomie, the fauour off thy face,
969: For thy defence is foull and disfigurate,
970: Brocht to the licht basit, blunt, and blait.

971: Be thow atteichit with thift, or with tressoun,
972: For thy misdeid wrangous, and wickit fay,
973: Thy cheir changis lowrence, thow man luke doun,
974: Thy worschip of this warld is went away.
975: Luke to this tod how he wes in effray,
976: And fle the filth of falset i the reid,
977: Quhairthrow thair fallowis syn, and schamefull deid.

Page 75

978: Compeirand thus befoir thair lord and king.
979: In ordour set as to thair stait effeird.
980: Of euerilk kynd he gart ane part furth bring,
981: And awfullie he spak, and at thame speird,
982: Geue there wes ony beist in to this eird,
983: Absent, and thairto gart thame deiplie sweir,
984: And thay said nane, except ane gray stude meir.

985: Ga make ane message sone vnto that stude,
986: The court than cryit my lord quha sall it be,
987: Cum furth lowrie lurkand vnder thy hude,
988: Aa schir. mercie, lo i haue bot ane ee,
989: Hurt in the hoche, and cruikit as ze may se.
990: The volff is better in ambassatry,
991: And mair cunning in clergie fer than i.

992: Rampand he said, ga furth ze brybouris baith,
993: And thay to ga withowtin tarying,
994: Ouer ron and rute thay ran togidder raith,
995: And fand the meir at hir meit in the morning.
996: Now quod the tod madame cum to the king,
997: The court is callit, and ze ar contumax
998: Let be lowrence quod scho zour cowrtlie knax.

999: Maistres quod he cum to the court ze mon,
1000: The lyoun hes commandit so in deid.
1001: Schir tod tak ze the flyrdome, and the fon,
1002: I haue respite ane zeir, and ze will reid.
1003: I can not spell quod he sa god me speid,
1004: Heir is the volff, ane nobill clerk at all,
1005: And of this message is maid principall.

Page 77

1006: He is autentik, and ane man of age,
1007: And hes grit practik of the chanceliary.
1008: Let him ga luke, and reid zour priuilage,
1009: And i sall stand, and beir witnes zow by.
1010: Quhair is thy respite quod the volff in hy?
1011: Schir it is heir vnder my hufe weill hid.
1012: Hald vp thy heill quod he and so scho did.

1013: Thocht he wes blindit with pryde, zit he presumis,
1014: To luke doun law, quhair that hir letter lay.
1015: With that the meir gird him vpon the gumis,
1016: And straik the hattrell off his heid away
1017: Halff out off lyif thair lenand doun he lay,
1018: Allace quod lowrence lupus, thow art loist.
1019: His cunning quod the meir wes worth sum coist.

1020: Lowrence quod scho will thow luke on my letter,
1021: Sen that the volff na thing thairoff can wyn?
1022: Na be sanct bryde quod he me think it better,
1023: To sleip in haill, nor in ane hurt skyn.
1024: Ane skrow i fand, and this wes writtin in,
1025: For fyue schillingis i wald not anis forfaut him,
1026: Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum

1027: With brokin skap, and bludie cheikis reid,
1028: This volff weipand on his wayis went,
1029: Off his menze markand to get remeid,
1030: To tell the king the cace wes his intent.
1031: Schir quod the tod byde still vpon this bent,
1032: And fra zour browis wesche away the blude.
1033: And tak ane drink, for it will do zow gude.

Page 79

1034: To fetche watter this fraudfull foxe furth fure,
1035: Sydelingis a bank he socht vnto ane syke.
1036: On cace he meittis cummand fra the mure,
1037: Ane trip off lambis dansand on ane dyke.
1038: This tratour tod, this tirrant, and this tyke,
1039: The fattest off this flock, he fellit hais.
1040: And eit his fill, syne to the volff he gais.

1041: Thay drank togidder, and syne thair iourney takis
1042: Befoir the king, syne kneillit on thair kne.
1043: Quhair is zone meir, schir tod, wes contumax?
1044: Than lowrence said, my lord, speir not at me.
1045: This new-maid doctour off diuinitie,
1046: With his reid cap can tell zow weill aneuch.
1047: With that the lyoun, and all the laif thay leuch.

1048: Tell on the cais, now lowrence let vs heir,
1049: This wittie volff quod he this clerk off age,
1050: On zour behalff he bad the meir compeir.
1051: And scho allegit to ane priuilage
1052: Cum neir, and se, and ze sall haiff zour wage.
1053: Because he red hir rispite plane and weill,
1054: Zone reid bonat scho raucht him with hir heill.

1055: The lyoun said, be zone reid cap i ken,
1056: This taill is trew, quha tent vnto it takis.
1057: The greitest clerkis ar not the wysest men.
1058: The hurt off ane happie the vther makis.
1059: As thay wer carpand in this cais, with knakis,
1060: And all the court in garray and in gam.
1061: Swa come the zow, the mother off the lam.

Page 81

1062: Befoir the iustice on hir kneis fell,
1063: Put out hir playnt on this wyis wofully.
1064: This harlet huresone, and this hound off hell.
1065: He werryit hes my lamb full doggitly,
1066: Within ane myle, in contrair to zour cry.
1067: For goddis lufe, my lord, gif me the law,
1068: Off this lurker, with that lowrence let draw.

1069: Byde quod the lyoun lymmer let vs se,
1070: Giff it be suthe the selie zow hes said.
1071: Aa souerane lord, saif zour mercie quod he
1072: My purpois wes with him for to haif plaid.
1073: Causles he fled as he had bene effraid,
1074: For dreid off deith, he duschit ouer ane dyke,
1075: And brak his nek. thow leis quod scho fals tyke.

1076: His deith be practik may be preuit eith,
1077: Thy gorrie gumis, and thy bludie snout.
1078: The woll, the flesche zit stikkis on thy teith,
1079: And that is euidence aneuch but dout.
1080: The iustice bad ga cheis ane sis about.
1081: And so thay did, and fand that he wes fals,
1082: Off murther, thift, and party tressoun als.

1083: Thay band him fast, the iustice bad belyif,
1084: To gif the dome, and tak off all his clais.
1085: The volff that new-maid doctour couth him schrif
1086: Syne furth him led and to the gallous gais,
1087: And at the ledder fute his leif he tais.
1088: The aip wes basare and bad him sone ascend.
1089: And hangit him, and thus he maid his end.

Page 83

Moralitas

1090: Richt as the mynour in his minorall,
1091: Fair gold with fyre may fra the leid weill wyn.
1092: Richt so vnder ane fabill figurall,
1093: Sad sentence men may seik: and efter fyne,
1094: As daylie dois the doctouris of deuyne,
1095: That to our leuing full weill can apply,
1096: And paynt thair mater furth be poetry.

1097: The lyoun is the warld be liklynace,
1098: To quhome loutis baith empriour, and king,
1099: And thinkis of this warld to get mare grace,
1100: And gapis daylie to get mair leuing.
1101: Sum for to reull: and sum to raxe and ring.
1102: Sum gadderis geir: sum gold: sum vther gude,
1103: To wyn this warld, sum wirkis as thay wer wod.

1104: The meir is men of contemplatioun.
1105: Off pennance walkand in this wildernes,
1106: As monkis and othir men of religioun.
1107: That presis god to pleis in euerilk place,
1108: Abstractit from this warldis wretchitnes,
1109: In wilfull pouertee fra pomp and pryde,
1110: And fra this warld in mynd ar mortyfyde.

1111: This volf i likkin to sensualitie,
1112: As quhen lyke brutall beistis we accord,
1113: Our mynd all to this warldis vanitie,
1114: Lyking to tak, and loif him as our lord,
1115: Fle fast thairfra, gif thow will richt remord,
1116: Than sall ressoun ryse, rax and ring,
1117: And for thy saull thair is na better thing.

Page 85

1118: Hir hufe i likkin to the thocht of deid.
1119: Will thow remember, man, that thow man de,
1120: Thow may brek sensualiteis heid,
1121: And fleschlie lust away fra the sall fle,
1122: Fra thow begin thy mynd to mortifie.
1123: Salomonis saying thow may persaif heirin,
1124: Think on thy end, thow sall not glaidlie sin.

1125: This tod i likkin to temptationis,
1126: Beirand to mynd mony thochtis vane,
1127: That daylie sagis men of religiounis
1128: Cryand to thame cum to the warld agane
1129: Zit gif thay se sensualitie neir slane,
1130: And suddand deith with ithand panis sore,
1131: Thay go abak, and temptis thame no moir.

1132: O mary myld mediatour of mercy meik
1133: Sitt doun before thy sone celestiall.
1134: For ws synnaris his celsitude beseik,
1135: Vs to defend fra pane and perrellis all.
1136: And help vs vp vnto that heuinlie hall,
1137: In gloir, quhair we may se the face of god.
1138: And thus endis the talking of the tod.

Page 87

The taill of the scheip and the doig

1139: Esope ane taill puttis in memorie,
1140: How that ane doig, because that he wes pure,
1141: Callit ane scheip vnto the consistorie,
1142: Ane certane breid fra him for to recure.
1143: Ane fraudfull volff wes iuge that tyme, and bure,
1144: Authoritie, and iurisdictioun.
1145: And on the scheip send furth ane strait summoun.

1146: For by the vse, and cours, and commoun style,
1147: On this maner maid his citatioun.
1148: I maister volff partles off fraud and gyle,
1149: Vnder the panis off hie suspensioun,
1150: Off grit cursing and interdictioun,
1151: Schir scheip, i charge the, straitly to compeir,
1152: And answer to ane doig befoir me heir.

1153: Schir corbie rauin wes maid apparitour,
1154: Quha pykit had full mony scheipis ee.
1155: The charge hes tane, and on the letteris bure,
1156: Summonit the scheip befoir the volff, that he,
1157: Peremptourlie within the dayis thre,
1158: Compeir vnder the panis in this bill,
1159: To heir quhat perrie doig will say the till.

1160: This summondis maid befoir witnes anew,
1161: The rauin as to his office weill effeird,
1162: Indorsat hes the write, and on he flew.
1163: The selie scheip durst lay na mouth on eird,
1164: Till he befoir the awfull iuge appeird.
1165: The oure off cause, quhilk that the iuge vsit than
1166: Quhen hesperus to schaw his face began.

Page 89

1167: The foxe wes clerk, and noter in the cause.
1168: The gled, the graip vp at the bar couth stand,
1169: As aduocatis expert in to the lawis,
1170: The doggis pley togidder tuke on hand,
1171: Quhilk wer confidderit straitlie in ane band,
1172: Aganis the scheip to procure the sentence.
1173: Thocht it wes fals thay had na conscience

1174: The clerk callit the scheip, and he wes thair.
1175: The aduocatis on this wyse couth propone.
1176: Ane certane breid, worth fyue schilling or mair,
1177: Thow aw the doig, off quhilk the terme is gone.
1178: Off his awin heid but aduocate allone,
1179: Auysitlie gaif answer in the cace.
1180: Heir i declyne the iuge, the tyme, the place.

1181: This is my cause, in motiue and effect.
1182: The law sayis, it is richt perrillous,
1183: Till enter pley befoir ane iuge suspect.
1184: And ze schir volff, hes bene richt odious
1185: To me, for with zour tuskis rauenous.
1186: Hes slane full mony kinnismen off myne.
1187: Thairfoir as iuge, suspect, i zow declyne.

1188: And schortlie, of this court ze memberis all,
1189: Baith assessouris, clerk, and aduocate,
1190: To me, and myne, ar ennemies mortall,
1191: And ay hes bene, as mony scheipheird wate.
1192: The place is fer, the tyme is feriate.
1193: Quhairfoir na iuge suld sit in consistory,
1194: Sa lait at euin, i zow accuse for thy.

Page 91

1195: Quhen that the iuge in this wyse wes accusit,
1196: He bad the parteis cheis with ane assent,
1197: Twa arbeteris, as in the law is vsit,
1198: For to declair, and gif arbitriment,
1199: Quhidder the scheip suld answer in iugement,
1200: Befoir the volff: and so thay did but weir,
1201: Off quhome the namis efter ze sall heir.

1202: The beir, the brok, the mater tuke on hand
1203: For to discyde gif this exceptioun,
1204: Wes off na strenth, or lauchfully mycht stand.
1205: And thairupon as iugis thay sat doun,
1206: And held ane lang quhyle disputatioun,
1207: Seikand full mony decreitis off the law,
1208: And glosis als, the veritie to knaw.

1209: Of ciuile mony volum thay reuolue
1210: The codeis, and digestis new and ald.
1211: Contra et pro strait argumentis thay resolue.
1212: Sum a doctryne and sum a nothir hald.
1213: For prayer, nor price, trow ze thay wald fald
1214: Bot held the glose, and text of the decreis,
1215: As trew iugis. i schrew thame ay that leis.

1216: Schortlie to mak ane end off this debait,
1217: The arbiteris than summar and plane.
1218: The sentence gaue, and proces fulminait,
1219: The scheip suld pas befoir the volff agane,
1220: And end his pley. than wes he nathing fane,
1221: For fra thair sentence couth he not appeill.
1222: On clerkis i do it, gif this sentence wes leill.

Page 93

1223: The scheip agane befoir the volff derenzeit,
1224: But aduocate abasitlie couth stand.
1225: Vp rais the doig, and on the scheip thus plenzeit,
1226: Ane soume i payit haue befoir the hand,
1227: For certane breid thairto ane borrow he fand,
1228: That wrangouslie the scheip did hald the breid.
1229: Quhilk he denyit: and thair began the pleid,

1230: And quhen the scheip this stryif had contestait,
1231: The iustice in the cause furth can proceid.
1232: Lowrence the actis, and the proces wrait,
1233: And thus the pley vnto the end thay speid.
1234: This cursit court corruptit all for meid,
1235: Aganis gude faith, gude law, and conscience,
1236: For this fals doig pronuncit the sentence.

1237: And it till put to executioun
1238: The volff chargit the scheip without delay,
1239: Vnder the panis off interdictioun,
1240: The soume off siluer, or the breid to pay.
1241: Off this sentence allace quhat sall i say?
1242: Quhilk dampnit hes the selie innocent,
1243: And iustifyit the wrangous iugement.

1244: The scheip dreidand mair persecutioun,
1245: Obeyit to the sentence, and couth tak.
1246: His way vnto ane merchand off the toun,
1247: And sauld the woll, that he bure on his bak.
1248: Syne bocht the breid, and to the doig couth mak,
1249: Reddie payment, as he foiriugeit was.
1250: Naikit and bair syne to the feild couth pas.

Page 95

Moralitas

1251: This selie scheip may present the figure,
1252: Of pure commounis that daylie ar opprest,
1253: Be tirrane men, quhilkis settis all thair cure,
1254: Be fals meinis, to mak ane wrang conquest,
1255: In hope, this present lyfe suld euer lest.
1256: Bot all begylit, thay will in schort tyme end,
1257: And efter deith to lestand panis wend.

1258: This volf, i likkin to ane schiref stout,
1259: Quhilk byis ane forfalt at the kingis hand.
1260: And hes with him ane cursit assyis about,
1261: And dytis all the pure men vp on land.
1262: Fra the crownar haif laid on him his wand,
1263: Suppois he be als trew as wes sanct iohne,
1264: Slane sall he be, or with the iuge compone.

1265: This rauin, i likkin to ane fals crownair,
1266: Quhilk hes ane porteous of the inditement,
1267: And passis furth befoir the iustice air,
1268: All misdoaris to bring to iugement.
1269: Bot luke gif he be of ane trew intent,
1270: To scraip out iohne, and wryte in will, or wat,
1271: And swa ane bud at boith the parteis skat.

1272: Of this fals tod of quhilk i spak befoir,
1273: And of this gled, quhat thay micht signify.
1274: Of thair nature, as now i speik no moir.
1275: Bot of this scheip, and of his cairfull cry,
1276: I sall reheirs, for as i passit by,
1277: Quhair that he lay on cais i lukit doun,
1278: And hard him mak sair lamentatioun.

Page 97

1279: Allace quod he this cursit consistorie,
1280: In middis of the winter now is maid,
1281: Quhen boreas with blastis bitterlie,
1282: And frawart froistes, thir flouris doun can faid,
1283: On bankis bair now may i mak na baid.
1284: And with that word in to ane coif he crap,
1285: Fra hair wedder, and froistis him to hap.

1286: Quaikand for cauld, sair murnand ay amang,
1287: Kest vp his ee vnto the heuinnis hicht.
1288: And said, o lord , quhy sleipis thow sa lang:
1289: Walk, and discerne my cause groundit on richt.
1290: Se how i am be fraud, maistrie, and slicht,
1291: Peillit full bair, and so is mony one.
1292: Now in this warld, richt wonder wo begone.

1293: Se how this cursit syn of couetice,
1294: Exylit hes baith lufe lawtie, and law.
1295: Now few, or nane will execute iustice,
1296: In falt of quhome, the pure man is ouerthraw.
1297: The veritie suppois the iugis knaw,
1298: Thay ar so blindit with affectioun,
1299: But dreid for meid thay thoill the richt go doun.

1300: Seis thow not lord this warld ouerturnit is,
1301: As quha wald change gude gold in leid or tyn,
1302: The pure is peillit, the lord may do na mis.
1303: And simonie is haldin for na syn.
1304: Now is he blyith with okker maist may wyn.
1305: Gentrice is slane, and pietie is ago.
1306: Allace gude lord quhy tholis thow it so?

Page 99

1307: Thow tholis this euin for our grit offence,
1308: Thow sendis vs troubill, and plaigis soir.
1309: As hunger, derth, grit weir, or pestilence.
1310: Bot few amendis now thair lyfe thairfoir.
1311: We pure pepill as now may do no moir,
1312: Bot pray to the, sen that we ar opprest
1313: In to this eirth, grant vs in heuin gude rest.

The taill of the lyoun & the mous
Prologue

1314: In middis of iune, that ioly sweit seasoun,
1315: Quhen that fair phebus with his bemis bricht,
1316: Had dryit vp the dew fra daill and doun,
1317: And all the land maid with his lemis licht.
1318: In ane mornyng betuix mid day and nicht,
1319: I rais and put all sleuth, and sleip asyde.
1320: And to ane wod i went allone but gyde

1321: Sweit wes the smell off flouris quhyte and reid.
1322: The noyes off birdis richt delitious
1323: The bewis braid blomit abone my heid,
1324: The ground growand with gresis gratious.
1325: Off all plesance, that place wes plenteous,
1326: With sweit odouris, and birdis harmony,
1327: The morning myld, my mirth wes mair for thy.

Page 101

1328: The rosis reid arrayit rone and ryce,
1329: The prymeros, and the purpour viola.
1330: To heir it wes ane poynt off paradice,
1331: Sic mirth the mauis, and the merle couth ma.
1332: The blossummis blythe brak vp on bank and bra,
1333: The smell off herbis and the fowlis cry,
1334: Contending quha suld haue the victory.

1335: Me to conserue than fra the sonis heit,
1336: Vnder the schaddow off ane hawthorne grene,
1337: I lenit doun amang the flouris sweit,
1338: Syne maid a cors and closit baith my ene.
1339: On sleip i fell amang thir bewis bene.
1340: And in my dreme, me thocht come throw the schaw,
1341: The fairest man that euer befoir i saw.

1342: His gowne wes off ane claith, als quhyte as milk.
1343: His chymmeris wes off chambelate purpour broun.
1344: His hude off scarlet, bordowrit weill with silk,
1345: On hekillit wyis vntill his girdill doun.
1346: His bonat round, and off the auld fassoun.
1347: His heid wes quhyte, his ene wes grit and gray,
1348: With lokker hair, quhilk ouer his schulderis lay.

1349: Ane roll off paper in his hand he bair.
1350: Ane swannis pen stikand vnder his eir.
1351: Ane inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt pennair,
1352: Ane bag off silk, all at his belt he weir
1353: Thus wes he gudelie grathit in his geir,
1354: Off stature large, and with ane feirfull face.
1355: Euin quhair i lay he come ane sturdie pace.

Page 103

1356: And said, god speid my sone: and i wes fane
1357: Off that couth word, and off his cumpany.
1358: With reuerence i salusit him agane,
1359: Welcome father: and he sat doun me by.
1360: Displeis zow not my gude maister, thocht i.
1361: Demand zour birth, zour facultye, and name,
1362: Quhy ze come heir, or quhair ze dwell at hame?

1363: My sone said he i am off gentill blude.
1364: My natall land is rome withoutin nay.
1365: And in that towne first to the sculis i zude,
1366: In ciuile law studyit full mony ane day.
1367: And now my winning is in heuin for ay.
1368: Esope i hecht, my writing and my werk,
1369: Is couth and kend to mony cunning clerk.

1370: O maister esope poet lawriate,
1371: God wait ze ar full deir welcum to me.
1372: Ar ze not he that all thir fabillis wrate,
1373: Quhilk in effect suppois thay fenzeit be,
1374: Ar full off prudence and moralitie?
1375: Fair sone said he i am the samin man.
1376: God wait gif that my hert wes merie than.

1377: I said, esope my maister venerabill,
1378: I zow beseik hartlie for cheritie,
1379: Ze wald dedene to tell ane prettie fabill,
1380: Concludand with ane gude moralitie.
1381: Schaikand his heid, he said, my sone lat be,
1382: For quhat is it worth to tell ane fenzeit taill,
1383: Quhen haly preiching may na thing auaill?

Page 105

1384: Now in this warld me think richt few or nane,
1385: To goddis word that hes deuotioun.
1386: The eir is deif, the hart is hard as stane.
1387: Now oppin sin without correctioun.
1388: The e inclynand to the eirth ay doun.
1389: Sa roustit is the warld with canker blak,
1390: That now my taillis may lytill succour mak.

1391: Zit gentill schir said i for my requeist,
1392: Not to displeis zour fatherheid, i pray,
1393: Vnder the figure off ane brutall beist,
1394: Ane morall fabill ze wald denze to say.
1395: Quha wait, nor i may leir and beir away
1396: Sum thing thairby heirefter may auaill?
1397: I grant quod he and thus begouth ane taill.

Fable

1398: Ane lyoun at his pray wery foirrun,
1399: To recreat his limmis and to rest,
1400: Beikand his breist, and belly at the sun,
1401: Vnder ane tre lay in the fair forest.
1402: Swa come ane trip off myis out off thair nest,
1403: Richt tait and trig, all dansand in ane gyis,
1404: And ouer the lyoun lansit twyis, or thryis.

1405: He lay so still, the myis wes not effeird,
1406: Bot to and fro out ouer him tuke thair trace.
1407: Sum tirlit at the campis off his beird,
1408: Sum spairit not to claw him on the face,
1409: Merie and glaid, thus dansit thay ane space,
1410: Till at the last, the nobill lyoun woke,
1411: And with his pow, the maister mous he tuke.

Page 107

1412: Scho gaue ane cry, and all the laif agast,
1413: Thair dansing left, and hid thame sone alquhair
1414: Scho that wes tane, cryit and weipit fast.
1415: And said allace oftymes that scho come thair.
1416: Now am i tane ane wofull presonair
1417: And for my gilt traistis incontinent,
1418: Off lyfe and deith, to thoill the iugement.

1419: Than spak the lyoun to that cairfull mous.
1420: Thow catiue wretche, and vile vnworthie thing,
1421: Ouer malapart, and eik presumpteous
1422: Thow wes, to mak out ouer me thy tripping.
1423: Knew thow not weill, i wes baith lord and king.
1424: Off beistis all. zes quod the mous i knaw.
1425: Bot i misknew, because ze lay so law.

1426: Lord, i beseik thy kinglie royaltie,
1427: Heir quhat i say, and tak in patience.
1428: Considder first my simple pouertie,
1429: And syne thy mychtie hie magnyfycence.
1430: Se als how thingis done off neglygence,
1431: Nouther off malice, nor of prodissioun,
1432: Erer suld haue grace and remissioun.

1433: We wer repleit, and had grit aboundance,
1434: Off alkin thingis, sic as to vs effeird.
1435: The sweit sesoun prouokit vs to dance,
1436: And mak sic mirth as nature to vs leird.
1437: Ze lay so still, and law vpon the eird,
1438: That be my sawll, we weind ze had bene deid.
1439: Elles wald we not haue dancit ouer zour heid.

Page 109

1440: Thy fals excuse, the lyoun said agane,
1441: Sall not auaill ane myte i vnderta.
1442: I put the cace, i had bene deid, or slane,
1443: And syne my skyn bene stoppit full off stra.
1444: Thocht thow had found my figure lyand swa,
1445: Because it bare the prent off my persoun,
1446: Thow suld for feir on kneis haue fallin doun.

1447: For thy trespas thow can mak na defence,
1448: My nobill persoun thus to vilipend.
1449: Off thy feiris, nor thy awin negligence,
1450: For to excuse thow can na cause pretend.
1451: Thairfoir thow suffer sall ane schamefull end,
1452: And deith, sic as to tressoun is decreit,
1453: Onto the gallous harlit be the feit.

1454: A mercie lord, at thy gentrice i ase,
1455: As thow art king off beistis coronate,
1456: Sober thy wraith, and let thi yre ouerpas,
1457: And mak thy mynd to mercy inclynate.
1458: I grant offence is done to thyne estate,
1459: Quhairfoir i worthie am to suffer deid,
1460: Bot gif thy kinglie mercie reik remeid.

1461: In euerie iuge mercy and reuth suld be,
1462: As assessouris, and collaterall.
1463: Without mercie iustice is crueltie,
1464: As said is in the lawis spirituall.
1465: Quhen rigour sittis in the tribunall,
1466: The equitie off law quha may sustene?
1467: Richt few or nane but mercie gang betwene.

Page 111

1468: Alswa ze knaw the honour triumphall,
1469: Off all victour, vpon the strenth dependis
1470: Off his compair, quhilk manlie in battell,
1471: Throw ieopardie of weir lang defendis.
1472: Quhat pryce or louing quhen the battell endis,
1473: Is said off him, that ouercummis ane man,
1474: Him to defend quhilk nouther may, nor can

1475: Ane thowsand myis to kill, and eik deuoir,
1476: Is lytill manheid to ane strang lyoun.
1477: Full lytill worschip haue ze wyn thairfoir,
1478: To qwhais strenth is na comparisoun:
1479: It will degraid sum part off zour renoun,
1480: To sla ane mous, quhilk may mak na defence,
1481: Bot askand mercie at zour excellence.

1482: Also it semis not zour celsitude,
1483: Quhilk vsis daylie meittis delitious,
1484: To fyle zour teith, or lippis with my blude,
1485: Quhilk to zour stomok is contagious.
1486: Vnhailsum meit is of ane sarie mous,
1487: And that namelie vntill ane strang lyoun,
1488: Vont till be fed with gentill vennesoun.

1489: My lyfe is lytill worth, my deith is les.
1490: Yit and i leif, i may peradventure
1491: Supple zour hienes beand in distres,
1492: For oft is sene, ane man off small stature,
1493: Reskewit hes ane lord off hie honour,
1494: Keipit that wes in poynt to be ouerthrawin.
1495: Throw misfortoun sic cace may be zour awin.

Page 113

1496: Quhen this wes said, the lyoun his language
1497: Paissit, and thocht according to ressoun.
1498: And gart mercie his cruell ire asswage,
1499: And to the mous grantit remissioun.
1500: Oppinnit his pow, and scho on kneis fell doun,
1501: And baith hir handis vnto the heuin vpheild,
1502: Cryand, almichty god mot zow forzeild.

1503: Quhen scho wes gone, the lyoun held to hunt,
1504: For he had nocht, bot leuit on his pray
1505: And slew baith tayme and wyld, as he wes wont,
1506: And in the cuntrie maid ane grit deray.
1507: Till at the last, the pepill fand the way,
1508: This cruell lyoun how that thay mycht tak.
1509: Off hempyn cordis strang nettis couth thay mak.

1510: And in ane rod, quhair he wes wont to ryn,
1511: With raipis rude fra tre to tre it band.
1512: Syne kest ane range on raw the wod within,
1513: With hornis blast, and kennettis fast calland.
1514: The lyoun fled, and throw the ron rynnand,
1515: Fell in the net, and hankit fute and heid,
1516: For all his strenth he couth mak na remeid.

1517: Welterand about with hiddeous rummissing,
1518: Quhyle to, quhyle fra, quhill he mycht succour get.
1519: Bot all in vane, it vailzeit him na thing.
1520: The mair he flang, the faster wes he knet,
1521: The raipis rude wes sa about him plet,
1522: On euerilk syde, that succour saw he nane,
1523: Bot styll lyand, thus murnand maid his mane.

Page 115

1524: O lamit lyoun liggand heir sa law,
1525: Quhair is the mycht off thy magnyfycence?
1526: Off quhome all brutall beist in eird stude aw,
1527: And dred to luke vpon thy excellence.
1528: But hoip, or help, but succour, or defence,
1529: In bandis strang heir man i ly allace
1530: Till i be slane, i se nane vther grace.

1531: Thair is na wy that will my harmis wreik,
1532: Nor creature do confort to my croun.
1533: Quha sall me bute? quha sall my bandis breik?
1534: Quha sall me put fra pane off this presoun?
1535: Be he had maid this lamentatioun,
1536: Throw auenture, the lytill mous come neir,

1537: And off the lyoun hard the pietuous beir.
1538: And suddanlie it come in till hir mynd,
1539: That it suld be the lyoun did hir grace,
1540: And said, now wer i fals, and richt vnkynd,
1541: Bot gif i quit sumpart thy gentilnes,
1542: Thow did to me: and on with that scho gais,
1543: To hir fellowis and on thame fast can cry.
1544: Cum help, cum help, and thay come all in hy.

1545: Lo quod the mous this is the samin lyoun,
1546: That grantit grace to me, quhen i wes tane.
1547: And now is fast heir bundin in presoun,
1548: Brekand his hart, with sair murning and mane.
1549: Bot we him help off souccour wait he nane.
1550: Cum help to quyte ane gude turne for ane vther.
1551: Go lous him sone, and thay said ze gude brother.

Page 117

1552: Thay tuke na knyfe, thair teith wes scharpe anewch:
1553: To se that sicht, forsuith it wes grit wounder,
1554: How that thay ran amang the rapis tewch,
1555: Befoir, behind, sum zeid abone, sum vnder.
1556: And schuir the raipis off the mastis in schunder.
1557: Syne bad him ryse, and he start vp anone,
1558: And thankit thame, syne on his way is gone.

1559: Now is the lyoun fre off all danger,
1560: Lows and delyuerit to his libertie,
1561: Be lytill beistis off ane small power.
1562: As ze haue hard, because he had pietie.
1563: Quod i maister is thair ane moralitie
1564: In this fabill? zea sone he said richt gude.
1565: I pray zow schir quod i ze wald conclude.

Moralitas

1566: As i suppois, this mychtie gay lyoun,
1567: May signifie ane prince, or empriour.
1568: Ane potestate, or zit ane king with croun,
1569: Quhilk suld be walkrife gyde, and gouernour,
1570: Of his pepill and takis na labour
1571: To reule, and steir, the land, and iustice keip,
1572: Bot lyis still in lustis, sleuth, and sleip.

1573: The fair forest with leuis lowne and le,
1574: With foulis sang, and flouris ferlie sweit,
1575: Is bot the warld, and his prosperitie,
1576: As fals plesance myngit with cair repleit.
1577: Richt as the rois, with froist, and wynter weit
1578: Faidis, swa dois the warld, and thame desauis,
1579: Quhilk in thair lustis maist confidence hauis.

Page 119

1580: Thir lytill myis, ar bot the commountie,
1581: Wantoun, vnwyse, without correctioun.
1582: Thair lordis, and princis quhen that thay se,
1583: Of iustice mak nane executioun,
1584: Thay dreid na thing to mak rebellioun,
1585: And disobey: for quhy thay stand nane aw,
1586: That garris thame thair soueranis to misknaw.

1587: Be this fabill, ze lordis of prudence,
1588: May considder the vertew of pietie.
1589: And to remit sumtyme ane grit offence,
1590: And mitigate with mercy crueltie.
1591: Oftymis is sene ane man of small degre,
1592: Hes quit ane commoun baith for gude and ill.
1593: As lord hes done rigour, or grace him till.

1594: Quha wait how sone ane lord of grit renoun,
1595: Rolland in wardlie lust, and vane plesance,
1596: May be ouerthrawin, destroyit, and put doun,
1597: Throw fals fortoun? quhilk of all variance
1598: Is haill maistres, and leidar of the dance
1599: Till iniust men, and blindis thame so soir.
1600: That thay na perrell can prouyde befoir.

1601: Thir rurall men, that stentit hes the net,
1602: In quhilk the lyoun suddandlie wes tane:
1603: Waittit alway amendis for to get.
1604: For hurt men wrytis in the marbill stane
1605: Mair till expound, as now i lett allane.
1606: Bot king and lord may weill wit quhat i mene:
1607: Figure heirof oftymis hes bene sene.

Page 121

1608: Quhen this wes said quod esope my fair child,
1609: Perswaid the kirkmen ythandly to pray,
1610: That tressoun of this cuntrie be exyld,
1611: And iustice regne, and lordis keip thair fay
1612: Vnto thair souerane lord baith nycht and day.
1613: And with that word he vanist, and i woke.
1614: Syne throw the schaw my iourney hamewart tuke.

The preiching of the swallow

1615: The hie prudence, and wirking meruelous,
1616: The profound wit off god omnipotent,
1617: Is sa perfyte and sa ingenious
1618: Excellent far all mannis iugement.
1619: For quhy to him all thing is ay present,
1620: Rycht as it is, or ony tyme sall be,
1621: Befoir the sicht off his diuinitie.

1622: Thairfoir our saull with sensualitie,
1623: So fetterit is in presoun corporall,
1624: We may not cleirlie vnderstand, nor se
1625: God, as he is, nor thingis celestiall,
1626: Our mirk and deidlie corps naturall,
1627: Blindis the spirituall operatioun,
1628: Lyke as ane man wer bundin in presoun.

Page 123

1629: In metaphisik aristotell sayis,
1630: That mannis saull is lyke ane bakkis ee,
1631: Quhilk lurkis still, als lang as licht off day is,
1632: And in the gloming cummis furth to fle.
1633: Hir ene ar waik, the sone scho may not se.
1634: Sa is our saull with fantasie opprest,
1635: To knaw the thingis in nature manifest.

1636: For god is in his power infinite:
1637: And mannis saull is febill, and ouer small,
1638: Off vnderstanding waik, and vnperfite
1639: To comprehend him that contenis all.
1640: Nane suld presume be ressoun naturall
1641: To seirche the secreitis off the trinitie,
1642: Bot trow fermelie, and lat all ressoun be.

1643: Zyt neuertheles we may haif knawlegeing
1644: Off god almychtie, be his creatouris.
1645: That he is gude, fair, wyis and bening,
1646: Exempill takis be thir iolie flouris,
1647: Rycht sweit off smell, and plesant off colouris.
1648: Sum grene, sum blew, sum purpour, quhyte, and reid,
1649: Thus distribute be gift off his godheid.

1650: The firmament payntit with sternis cleir,
1651: From eist to west rolland in cirkill round.
1652: And euerilk planet in his proper spheir,
1653: In mouing makand harmonie and sound.
1654: The fyre, the air, the watter, and the ground.
1655: Till vnderstand it is aneuch, i wis,
1656: That god in all his werkis wittie is.

Page 125

1657: Luke weill the fische that swimmis in the se.
1658: Luke weill in eirth all kynd off bestyall.
1659: The foulis fair sa forcelie thay fle.
1660: Scheddand the air with pennis grit and small.
1661: Syne luke to man, that he maid last off all,
1662: Lyke to his image, and his similitude,
1663: Be thir we knaw, that god is fair and gude.

1664: All creature he maid for the behufe
1665: Off man, and to his supportatioun,
1666: In to this eirth, baith vnder and abufe,
1667: In number, wecht, and dew proportioun.
1668: The difference off tyme, and ilk seasoun,
1669: Concorddand till our opurtunitie.
1670: As daylie be experience we may se.

1671: The somer with his iolie mantill grene,
1672: With flouris fair furrit on euerilk fent.
1673: Quhilk flora goddes off the flouris quene,
1674: Hes to that lord as for his seasoun lent.
1675: And phebus with his goldin bemis gent,
1676: Hes purfellit and payntit plesandly.
1677: With heit and moysture stilland from the sky

1678: Syne haruest hait, quhen ceres that goddes
1679: Hir barnis benit hes with abundance.
1680: And bachus god off wyne renewit hes
1681: Hir tume pyipis, in italie, and france,
1682: With wynis wicht, and liquour off plesance.
1683: And copia temporis to fill hir horne,
1684: That neuer wes full off quheit, nor vther corne

Page 127

1685: Syne wynter wan, quhen austerne eolus,
1686: God off the wynd with blastis boreall,
1687: The grene garment off somer glorious,
1688: Hes all to rent, and reuin in pecis small.
1689: Than flouris fair faidit with froist, man fall.
1690: And birdis blyith changeis thair noitis sweit,
1691: In styll murning, neir slane with snaw, and sleit.

1692: Thir dalis deip with dubbis drounit is.
1693: Baith hill and holt heillit with frostis hair.
1694: And bewis bene ar bethit bair off blis,
1695: Be wickit windis off the winter wair.
1696: All wyld beistis than from the bentis bair
1697: Drawis for dreid vnto thair dennis deip,
1698: Coucheand for cauld in coifis thame to keip.

1699: Syne cummis ver, quhen winter is away,
1700: The secretar off somer with his sell.
1701: Quhen columbie vp keikis throw the clay,
1702: Quhilk fleit wes befoir with froistes fell.
1703: The mauis, and the merle, beginnis to mell:
1704: The lark on loft, with vther birdis smale,
1705: Than drawis furth fra derne, ouer doun and daill.

1706: That samin seasoun, in to ane soft morning,
1707: Rycht blyth that bitter blastis wer ago,
1708: Vnto the wod to se the flouris spring,
1709: And heir the mauis sing, and birdis mo
1710: I passit furth, syne lukit to and fro
1711: To se the soill, that wes richt sessonabill,
1712: Sappie, and to resaue all seidis abill.

Page 129

1713: Mouing thusgait grit myrth i tuke in mynd
1714: Off lauboraris to se the besines.
1715: Sum makand dyke, and sum the pleuch can wynd,
1716: Sum sawand seidis fast frome place to place.
1717: The harrowis hoppand in the saweris trace.
1718: It wes grit ioy to him that luifit corne,
1719: To se thame laubour, baith at euin and morne.

1720: And as i baid vnder ane bank full bene,
1721: In hart gritlie reiosit off that sicht.
1722: Vnto ane hedge, vnder ane hawthorne grene
1723: Off small birdis thair come ane ferlie flicht.
1724: And doun belyif can on the leifis licht,
1725: On euerilk syde about me quhair i stude,
1726: Rycht meruellous ane mekill multitude.

1727: Amang the quhilks, ane swallow loud couth cry,
1728: On that hawthorne hie in the croip sittand.
1729: O ze birdis on bewis, heir me by,
1730: Ze sall weill knaw, and wyislie vnderstand,
1731: Quhair danger is, or perrell appeirand,
1732: It is grit wisedome to prouyde befoir,
1733: It to deuoyd, for dreid it hurt zow moir.

1734: Schir swallow quod the lark agane and leuch,
1735: Quhat haue ze sene, that causis zow to dreid?
1736: Se ze zone churll quod scho bezond zone pleuch.
1737: Fast sawand hemp, lo se and linget seid
1738: Zone lint will grow in lytill tyme in deid,
1739: And thairoff will zone churll his nettis mak,
1740: Vnder the quhilk he thinkis vs to tak.

Page 131

1741: Thairfoir i reid we pas quhen he is gone,
1742: At euin, and with our naillis scharp and small,
1743: Out off the eirth scraip we zone seid anone,
1744: And eit it vp, for giff it growis, we sall
1745: Haue cause to weip heirefter ane and all.
1746: Se we remeid thairfoir furth with instante,
1747: Nam leuius laedit quicquid praevidimus ante

1748: For clerkis sayis, it is nocht sufficient,
1749: To considder that is befoir thyne ee.
1750: Bot prudence is ane inwart argument,
1751: That garris ane man prouyde befoir and se,
1752: Quhat gude, quhat euill is liklie for to be,
1753: Off euerilk thingis at the fynall end.
1754: And swa fra perrell ethar him defend.

1755: The lark lauchand the swallow thus couth scorne
1756: And said scho fischit lang befoir the net.
1757: The barne is eith to busk that is vnborne.
1758: All growis nocht, that in the ground is set.
1759: The nek to stoup quhen it the straik sall get,
1760: Is sone aneuch: deith on the fayest fall.
1761: Thus scornit thay the swallow ane and all.

1762: Despysing thus hir helthsum document
1763: The foulis ferlie tuke thair flicht anone,
1764: Sum with ane bir thay braidit ouer the bent:
1765: And sum agane ar to the grene wod gone.
1766: Vpon the land quhair i wes left allone,
1767: I tuke my club, and hamewart couth i carie
1768: Swa ferliand, as i had sene ane farie.

Page 133

1769: Thus passit furth quhill iune that iolie tyde,
1770: And seidis that wer sawin off beforne,
1771: Wer growin hie, that hairis mycht thame hyde:
1772: And als the quailze craikand in the corne.
1773: I mouit furth betuix midday and morne,
1774: Vnto the hedge vnder the hawthorne grene,
1775: Quhair i befoir the said birdis had sene.

1776: And as i stude be auenture and cace,
1777: The samin birdis as i haif said zow air,
1778: I hoip, because it wes thair hanting place,
1779: Mair off succour, or zit mair solitair,
1780: Thay lychtit doun: and quhen thay lychtit wair,
1781: The swallow swyth put furth ane pietuous pyme,
1782: Said, wo is him can not bewar in tyme.

1783: O blind birdis, and full off negligence,
1784: Vnmyndfull off zour awin prosperitie.
1785: Lift vp zour sicht, and tak gude aduertence,
1786: Luke to the lint, that growis on zone le.
1787: Zone is the thing i bad forsuith, that we
1788: Quhill it wes seid suld rute furth off the eird.
1789: Now is it lint: now is it hie on breird.

1790: Go zit, quhill it is tender zoung and small,
1791: And pull it vp, let it na mair incres.
1792: My flesche growis, my bodie quaikis all,
1793: Thinkand on it i may not sleip in peis.
1794: Thay cryit all, and bad the swallow ceis.
1795: And said, zone lint heirefter will do gude,
1796: For linget is to lytill birdis fude,

Page 135

1797: We think quhen that zone lint bollis ar ryip,
1798: To mak vs feist, and fill vs off the seid,
1799: Magre zone churll, and on it sing and pyip.
1800: Weill quod the swallow freindes hardilie beid.
1801: Do as ze will, bot certane sair i dreid,
1802: Heirefter ze sall find als sour, as sweit,
1803: Quhen ze ar speldit on zone carlis speit.

1804: The awner off zone lint, ane fouler is,
1805: Richt cautelous, and full off subteltie.
1806: His pray full sendill tymis will he mis,
1807: Bot giff we birdis all the warrer be.
1808: Full mony off our kin he hes gart de
1809: And thocht it bot ane sport to spill thair blude.
1810: God keip me fra him, and the halie rude.

1811: Thir small birdis haueand bot lytill thocht
1812: Off perrell that mycht fall be auenture,
1813: The counsell off the swallow set at nocht,
1814: Bot tuke thair flicht, and furth togidder fure.
1815: Sum to the wode sum markit to the mure.
1816: I tuke my staff, quhen this wes said and done,
1817: And walkit hame, for it drew neir the none.

1818: The lynt ryipit, the carll pullit the lyne:
1819: Rippillit the bollis, and in beitis set.
1820: It steipit in the burne, and dryit syne:
1821: And with ane bittill knokkit it, and bet.
1822: Syne swingillit it weill, and hekkillit in the flet.
1823: His wyfe it span, and twynit it in to threid.
1824: Off quhilk the fowlar nettis maid in deid.

Page 137

1825: The wynter come, the wickit wind can blaw:
1826: The woddis grene wer wallowit with the weit.
1827: Baith firth and fell with froistys wer maid faw,
1828: Slonkis and slaik maid slidderie with the sleit.
1829: The foulis fair for falt thay fell off feit.
1830: On bewis bair it wes na bute to byde,
1831: Bot hyit vnto housis thame to hyde.

1832: Sum in the barn, sum in the stak off corne,
1833: Thair lugeing tuke, and maid thair residence.
1834: The fowlar saw, and grit aithis hes sworne,
1835: Thay suld be tane trewlie for thair expence.
1836: His nettis hes he set with diligence,
1837: And in the snaw he schulit hes ane plane,
1838: And heillit it all ouer with calf agane.

1839: Thir small birdis seand the calff wes glaid.
1840: Trowand it had bene corne thay lychtit doun.
1841: Bot of the nettis na presume thay had,
1842: Nor of the fowlaris fals intentioun.
1843: To scraip, and seik thair meit thay maid thame boun,
1844: The swallow on ane lytill branche neir by,
1845: Dreiddand for gyle, thus loud on thame couth cry.

1846: Into that calf scraip quhill zour naillis bleid,
1847: Thair is na corne, ze laubour all in vane.
1848: Trow ze zone churll for pietie will zow feid.
1849: Na, na, he hes it heir layit for ane trane.
1850: Remoue i reid, or ellis ze will be slane.
1851: His nettis he hes set full priuely.
1852: Reddie to draw: in tyme be war for thy.

Page 139

1853: Grit fule is he that puttis in dangeir
1854: His lyfe, his honour, for ane thing off nocht.
1855: Grit fule is he, that will not glaidlie heir
1856: Counsall in tyme, quhill it auaill him mocht.
1857: Grit fule is he, that hes na thing in thocht,
1858: Bot thing present: and efter quhat may fall,
1859: Nor off the end hes na memoriall.

1860: Thir small birdis for hunger famischit neir,
1861: Full besie scraipand for to seik thair fude.
1862: The counsall off the swallow wald not heir.
1863: Suppois thair laubour dyd thame lytill gude.
1864: Quhen scho thair fulische hartis vnderstude
1865: Sa indurate, vp in ane tre scho flew.
1866: With that this churll ouer thame his nettis drew,

1867: Allace it wes grit hart sair for to se
1868: That bludie bowcheour beit thay birdis doun.
1869: And for till heir, quhen thay wist weill to de,
1870: Thair cairfull sang and lamentatioun.
1871: Sum with ane staf he straik to eirth on swoun:
1872: Off sum the heid: off sum he brak the crag:
1873: Sum half on lyfe, he stoppit in his bag.

1874: And quhen the swallow saw that thay wer deid.
1875: Lo quod scho thus it happinnis mony syis,
1876: On thame that will not tak counsall nor reid
1877: Off prudent men, or clerkis that ar wyis.
1878: This grit perrell i tauld thame mair than thryis.
1879: Now ar thay deid, and wo is me thairfoir.
1880: Scho tuke hir flicht, bot i hir saw no moir.

Page 141

Moralitas

1881: Lo worthie folk esope that nobill clerk,
1882: Ane poet worthie to be lawreate.
1883: Quhen that he waikit from mair autentik werk,
1884: With vther ma, this foirsaid fabill wrate.
1885: Quhilk at this tyme may weill be applicate,
1886: To gude morall edificatioun,
1887: Haifand ane sentence, according to ressoun.

1888: This carll, and bond of gentrice spoliate,
1889: Sawand this calf, thir small birdis to sla.
1890: It is the feind, quhilk fra the angelike state,
1891: Exylit is, as fals apostata.
1892: Quhilk day and nycht weryis not for to ga,
1893: Sawand poysoun and mony wickit thocht,
1894: In mannis saull, quhilk christ full deir hes bocht.

1895: And quhen the saull, as seid in to the eird,
1896: Geuis consent vnto delectatioun,
1897: The wickit thocht beginnis for to breird,
1898: In deidlie sin, quhilk is dampnatioun.
1899: Ressoun is blindit with affectioun.
1900: And carnall lust grouis full grene and gay,
1901: Throw consuetude hantit from day to day.

1902: Proceding furth be vse and consuetude,
1903: The sin ryipis, and schame is set on syde.
1904: The feynd plettis his nettis scharp and rude,
1905: And vnder plesance preuilie dois hyde.
1906: Syne on the feild he sawis calf full wyde,
1907: Quhilk is bot tume and verray vanitie,
1908: Of fleschlie lust, and vaine prosperitie.

Page 143

1909: Thir hungrie birdis, wretchis we may call,
1910: Ay scraipand in this warldis vane plesance.
1911: Greddie to gadder gudis temporall,
1912: Quhilk as the calf, ar tume without substance.
1913: Lytill of vaill, and full of variance.
1914: Lyke to the mow, befoir the face of wind
1915: Quhiskis away, and makis wretchis blind.

1916: This swallow quhilk eschaipit is the snair.
1917: The halie preichour weill may signifie.
1918: Exhortand folk to walk, and ay be wair
1919: Fra nettis of our wickit enemie.
1920: Quha sleipis not, bot euer is reddie,
1921: Quhen wretchis in this warldis calf dois scraip,
1922: To draw his net, that thay may not eschaip.

1923: Allace quhat cair, quhat weiping is and wo,
1924: Quhen saull and bodie partit ar in twane?
1925: The bodie to the wormis keitching go:
1926: The saull to fyre to euerlestand pane.
1927: Quhat help is than this calf, thir gudis vane?
1928: Quhen thow art put in luceferis bag,
1929: And brocht to hell, and hangit be the crag.

1930: Thir hid nettis for to persaue and se,
1931: This sarie calf wyislie to vnderstand:
1932: Best is bewar, in maist prosperitie,
1933: For in this warld thair is na thing lestand.
1934: Is na man wait how lang his stait will stand,
1935: His lyfe will lest, nor how that he sall end:
1936: Efter his deith nor quhidder he sall wend.

Page 145

1937: Pray we thairfoir quhill we ar in this lyfe,,
1938: For four thingis: the first, fra sin remufe.
1939: The secund is, to seis all weir and stryfe,
1940: The thrid is, perfite cheritie and lufe.
1941: The feird thing is, and maist for our behufe,
1942: That is in blis with angellis to be fallow.
1943: And thus endis the preiching of the swallow.

The taill of the wolf, that gat the nekhering, throw the wrinkis of the
foxe, that begylit the cadgear

1944: Qwhylum thair wynnit in ane wildernes,
1945: As myne authour expreslie can declair
1946: Ane reuand volff, that leuit vpon purches,
1947: On bestiall, and maid him weill to fair.
1948: Wes nane sa big about him he wald spair,
1949: And he war hungrie, outher for fauour, or feid,
1950: Bot in his breith he weryit thame to deid.

1951: Swa happinnit him in waithing as he went,
1952: To meit ane foxe in middis off the way.
1953: He him foirsaw, and fenzeit to be schent,
1954: And with ane bek, he bad the volff gude day,
1955: Welcum to me quod he thow russell gray.
1956: Syne loutit doun, and tuke him be the hand.
1957: Ryse vp lowrence, i leif the for to stand.

Page 147

1958: Quhair hes thow bene this sesoun fra my sicht?
1959: Thow sall beir office, and my stewart be.
1960: For thow can knap doun caponis on the nicht,
1961: And lourand law thow can gar hennis de.
1962: Schir said the foxe that ganis not for me.
1963: And i am rad, gif thay me se on far,
1964: That at my figure, beist and bird will skar.

1965: Na quod the volff thow can in couert creip
1966: Vpon thy wame, and hint thame be the heid.
1967: And mak ane suddand schow vpon ane scheip,
1968: Syne with thy wappinnis wirrie him to deid.
1969: Schir said the foxe ze knaw my roib is reid.
1970: And thairfoir thair will na beist abyde me,
1971: Thocht i wald be sa fals as for to hyde me.

1972: Zis quod the volff throw buskis and throw brais
1973: Law can thow lour, to come to thy intent.
1974: Schir said the foxe ze wait weill how it gais,
1975: Ane lang space fra thame thay will feill my sent.
1976: Than will thay schaip, suppois thay suld be schent.
1977: And i am schamefull for to cum behind thame,
1978: In to the feild thocht i suld sleipand find thame.

1979: Na quod the volff thow can cum on the wind,
1980: For euerie wrink forsuith thow hes ane wyle.
1981: Schir said the foxe that beist ze mycht call blind
1982: That micht not eschaip than fra me ane myle.
1983: How micht i ane off thame that wyis begyle?
1984: My tippit twa eiris, and my twa gray ene,
1985: Garris me be kend, quhair i wes neuer sene.

Page 149

1986: Than said the volff lowrence, i heir the le,
1987: And castys for perrellis thy ginnes to defend.
1988: Bot all thy sonzeis sall not auaill the,
1989: About the busk with wayis thocht thow wend.
1990: Falset will failze ay at the latter end:
1991: To bow at bidding, and byde not quhill thow brest,
1992: Thairfoir i giff the counsall for the best.

1993: Schir said the foxe it is lentring ze se,
1994: I can nocht fische, for weiting off my feit,
1995: To tak ane banestikill, thocht we baith suld de.
1996: I haue nane vther craft to win my meit.
1997: Bot wer it pasche, that men suld pultrie eit
1998: As kiddis, lambis, or caponis in to ply.
1999: To beir zour office than wald i not set by.

2000: Than said the volff in wraith wenis thou with wylis,
2001: And with thy mony mowis me to mat.
2002: It is ane auld dog, doutles that thow begylis:
2003: Thow wenis to drau the stra befoir the cat.
2004: Schir said the foxe god wait, i mene not that,
2005: For and i did, it wer weill worth that ze,
2006: In ane rude raip had tyit me till ane tre.

2007: Bot nou i se, he is ane fule perfay,
2008: That with his maister fallis in ressoning.
2009: I did bot till assay quhat ze wald say,
2010: God wait my mynd wes on ane vther thing.
2011: I sall fulfill in all thing zour bidding,
2012: Quhat euer ze charge on nichtis or on dayis.
2013: Weill quod the volff i heir weill quhat thou sayis.

Page 151

2014: Bot zit i will, thow mak to me ane aith,
2015: For to be leill attour all leuand leid.
2016: Schir said the foxe that ane word maks me wraith
2017: For nou i se, ze haue me at ane dreid.
2018: Zit sall i sweir, suppois it be nocht neid.
2019: Be iuppiter, and on pane off my heid,
2020: I sall be treu to zou, quhill i be deid.

2021: With that ane cadgear, with capill, and with creillis
2022: Come carpand furth: than lawrence culd him spy?
2023: The foxe the flewer off the fresche hering feillis,
2024: And to the volff he roundis priuely.
2025: Schir, zone ar hering the cadgear caryis by.
2026: Thairfoir i reid, that we se for sum wayis,
2027: To get sum fische aganis thir fasting dayis.

2028: Sen i am stewart, i wald we had sum stuff,
2029: And ze ar siluer seik, i wait richt weill.
2030: Thocht we wald thig, zone verray churlische chuff,
2031: He will not giff vs ane hering off his creill,
2032: Befoir zone churle on kneis thocht we wald kneill.
2033: Bot zit i trou alsone that ze sall se,
2034: Giff i can craft, to bleir zone carlis ee.

2035: Schir, ane thing is, and we get off zone pelff
2036: Ze man tak trauell, and mak vs sum supple.
2037: For he that will not laubour, and help him selff,
2038: In to thir dayis he is not worth ane fle.
2039: I think to work als besie as ane be.
2040: And ze sall follou ane lytill efterwart,
2041: And gadder hering, for that sall be zour part.

Page 153

2042: With that he kest ane cumpas far about,
2043: And straucht him doun in middis off the way,
2044: As he wer deid, he fenzeit him but dout.
2045: And than vpon lenth vnliklie lay,
2046: The quhyte he turnit vp, off his ene tuay.
2047: His toung out hang ane handbreid off his heid.
2048: And still he lay, als straucht as he wer deid.

2049: The cadgear fand the foxe, and he wes fane,
2050: And till him self, thus softlie can he say.
2051: At the nixt bait in faith ze sall be flane,
2052: And off zour skyn i sall mak mittenis tway.
2053: He lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay,
2054: And all the trace he trippit on his tais,
2055: As he had hard ane pyper play he gais.

2056: Heir lyis the deuyll quod he deid in ane dyke.
2057: Sic ane selcouth sau i not this seuin zeir.
2058: I trou ze haue bene tussillit with sum tyke,
2059: That garris zou ly sa still withoutin steir.
2060: Schir foxe, in faith ze ar deir welcum heir.
2061: It is sum wyfis malisone, i trow,
2062: For pultrie pyking that lychtit hes on zow.

2063: Thair sall na pedder, for purs, nor zit for glufis,
2064: Nor zit for poyntis pyke zour pellet fra me.
2065: I sall off it mak mittenis to my lufis,
2066: Till hald my handis hait quhair euer i be.
2067: Till flanderis sall it neuer saill the se.
2068: With that in hy, he hint him be the heillis,
2069: And with ane swak he swang him on the creillis.

Page 155

2070: Syne be the heid the hors in hy hes hint.
2071: The fraudfull foxe thairto gude tent hes tane.
2072: And with his teith the stoppell or he stint,
2073: Pullit out, and syne the hering ane, and ane,
2074: Out off the creillis he swakkit doun gude wane.
2075: The volff wes war, and gadderit spedilie.
2076: The cadgear sang, huntis vp, vp vpon hie.

2077: Zit at ane burne the cadgear lukit about.
2078: With that the foxe lap quyte the creillis fray.
2079: The cadgear wald haue raucht the foxe ane rout.
2080: Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day.
2081: Than with ane schout, thus can the cadgear say.
2082: Abyde and thou ane nekhering sall haif,
2083: Is worth my capill, creillis, and all the laif.

2084: Now quod the foxe i schreu me, and we meit.
2085: I hard quhat thou hecht to do with my skyn.
2086: Thy handis sall neuer in thay mittinnis tak heit,
2087: And thou wer hangit carll, and all thy kyn.
2088: Do furth thy mercat, at me thou sall nocht wyn,
2089: And sell thy hering thou hes thair, till hie price
2090: Ellis thow sall wyn nocht on thy merchandice.

2091: The cadgear trimmillit for teyne quhair that he stude.
2092: It is weill worthie quod he i want zone tyke,
2093: That had nocht in my hand sa mekill gude,
2094: As staff, or sting, zone truker for to stryke.
2095: With that lychtlie he lap out ouer ane dyke.
2096: And snakkit doun ane staff, for he wes tene.
2097: That heuie wes, and off the holyne grene.

Page 157

2098: With that the foxe vnto the volff could wend.
2099: And fand him be the hering, quhair he lyis.
2100: Schir said he than maid i not fair defend.
2101: Ane wicht man wantit neuer, and he wer wyis.
2102: Ane hardie hart is hard for to suppryis.
2103: Than said the volff thow art ane berne full bald.
2104: And wyse at will, in gude tyme be it tald.

2105: Bot quhat wes zone the carll cryit on hie,
2106: And schuke his hand, quod he hes thou no feill?
2107: Schir said the foxe that i can tell trewlie.
2108: He said, the nekhering wes in till the creill.
2109: Kennis thou that hering: ze schir, i ken it weill.
2110: And at the creill mouth i had it thryis but dout.
2111: The wecht off it neir tit my tuskis out.

2112: Now suithlie schir, micht we that hering fang,
2113: It wald be fische to vs thir fourtie dayis.
2114: Than said the volff nou god nor that i hang,
2115: Bot to be thair, i wald gif all my clays.
2116: To se gif that my wappinnis mycht it rais.
2117: Schir said the foxe god wait, i wischit zou oft,
2118: Quhen that my pith micht not beir it on loft.

2119: It is ane syde off salmond, as it wair,
2120: And callour, pypand lyke ane pertrik ee.
2121: It is worth all the hering ze haue thair.
2122: Ze and we had it swa, is it worth sic thre.
2123: Than said the volff quhat counsell geuis thou me?
2124: Schir said the foxe wirk efter my deuyis,
2125: And ze sall haue it, and tak zou na suppryis.

Page 159

2126: First, ze man cast ane cumpas far about.
2127: Syne straucht zou doun in middis off the way.
2128: Baith heid, and feit, and taill ze man streik out.
2129: Hing furth zour toung, and clois weill zour ene tway.
2130: Syne se zour heid on ane hard place ze lay.
2131: And dout not for na perrell may appeir,
2132: Bot hald zou clois, quhen that the carll cummis neir.

2133: And thocht ze se ane staf, haue ze na dout.
2134: Bot hald zou wonder still in to that steid.
2135: And luke zour ene be clois, as thay wer out.
2136: And se that ze schrink nouther fute, nor heid,
2137: Than will the cadgear carll trou ze be deid,
2138: And in till haist will hint zou be the heillis,
2139: As he did me, and swak zou on his creillis.

2140: Now quod the volff i sweir the be my thrift,
2141: I trou zone cadgear carll dow not me beir.
2142: Schir said the foxe on loft he will zou lift,
2143: Vpon his creillis and do him lytill deir.
2144: Bot ane thing dar i suithlie to zou sweir,
2145: Get ze that hering sicker in sum place,
2146: Ze sall not fair in fisching mair quhill pasche.

2147: I sall say in principio vpon zow,
2148: And crose zour corps, from the top, to tay.
2149: Wend quhen ze will, i dar be warrand now,
2150: That ze sall de na suddand deith this day.
2151: With that the volff gird vp sone, and to gay,
2152: And caist ane cumpas about the cadgear far,
2153: Syne raucht him in the gait, or he come nar.

Page 161

2154: He laid his halfheid sicker, hard, and sad.
2155: Syne straucht his four feit fra him, and his heid.
2156: And hang his toung furth as the foxe him bad.
2157: Als styll he lay, as he wer verray deid.
2158: Rakkand na thing off the carlis fauour nor feid.
2159: Bot euer vpon the nekhering he thinkis,
2160: And quyte forzettis the foxe, and all his wrinkis.

2161: With that the cadgear als wraith as ony wind,
2162: Come rydand on the laid, for it wes licht.
2163: Thinkand ay on the foxe that wes behind,
2164: Vpon quhat wyse, reuenge him best he micht.
2165: And at the last, of the volff gat ane sicht,
2166: Quhair he in lenth lay streikit in the gait.
2167: Bot giff he lichtit doun, or nocht, god wait.

2168: Softlie he said, i wes begylit anis,
2169: Be i begylit twyis, i schrew vs baith.
2170: That euill bat it sall licht vpon thy banis,
2171: He suld haue had, that hes done me the skaith.
2172: On hicht he houit the staf for he wes wraith.
2173: And hit him with sic will vpon the heid,
2174: Quhill neir he swonit, and swelt in to that steid.

2175: Thre battis he bure, or he his feit micht find.
2176: Bot zit the volff wes wicht, and wan away.
2177: He mycht not se, he wes sa verray blind.
2178: Nor wit reddilie quhether it wes nicht or day.
2179: The foxe beheld that seruice quhair he lay,
2180: And leuch on loft, quhen he the volff sa seis,
2181: Baith deif, and dosinnit, fall swonand on his kneis.

Page 163

2182: He that of ressoun can not be content,
2183: Bot couetis all, is abill all to tyne.
2184: The foxe, quhen that he saw the volff wes schent,
2185: Said to him self, thir hering sall be myne.
2186: I le, or ellis he wes efterwart fyne,
2187: That fand sic wayis his maister for to greif,
2188: With all the fische thus lowrence tuke his leif.

2189: The volff wes neir weill dungin to the deid,
2190: That vneith with his lyfe away he wan.
2191: For with the bastoun weill brokin wes his heid.
2192: The foxe in to his den sone drew him than,
2193: That had betraisit his maister, and the man.
2194: The ane, wantit the hering off his creillis.
2195: The vtheris blude wes rynnand ouer his heillis.

Moralitas

2196: This taill is myngit with moralitie,
2197: As i sall schaw sumquhat, or that i ceis.
2198: The foxe, vnto the warld may likkinnit be.
2199: The reuand wolf, vnto ane man but leis.
2200: The cadgear deith, quhome vnder all man preis,
2201: That euer tuke lyfe, throw cours of kynd man dee.
2202: As man, and beist, and fische in to the see.

2203: The warld ze wait, is stewart to the man.
2204: Quhilk makis man to haif na mynd of deid.
2205: Bot settis for winning all the craftis thay can.
2206: The hering, i likkin vnto the gold sa reid,
2207: Quhilk gart the wolf, in perrell put his heid.
2208: Richt swa the gold garris landis and cieteis,
2209: With weir, be waistit daylie as men seis.

Page 165

2210: And as the foxe, with dissimulance and gyle,
2211: Gart the wolf wene to haif worschip for euer.
2212: Richt swa, this warld with vane glore for ane quhyle,
2213: Flatteris with folk, as thay suld failze neuer.
2214: Zit suddandlie men seis it oft disseuer
2215: With thame, that trowis oft to fill the sek.
2216: Deith cummis behind, and nippis thame be the nek,

2217: The micht of gold makis mony men sa blind
2218: That settis on auarice thair felicitie.
2219: That thay forzet the cadgear cummis behind,
2220: To stryke thame of, quhat stait sa euer thay be.
2221: Quhat is mair dirk, than blind prosperitie?
2222: Quhairfoir, i counsell mychtie men to haif mynd,
2223: Of the nekhering interpreit in this kynd.

[Helen Ramsay]

Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote

> The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, & ornate

Blah! blah! blah!

If the point of this 112KB post was to annoy, at least in my case, you
succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.

The simple courtesy of posting the URL for this piece obviously
escaped you.

*PLONK*

[scs-in...@blueyonder.co.uk]

On Fri, 26 May 2000 15:05:55 GMT, I read these words from "Nick Durie"
<Nick_...@bun.com> :

>
>Helen Ramsay <hel...@western.wave.ca> wrote in message
>news:jjuX4.66042$nB3.2...@news1.rdc2.on.home.com...
>> Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote

>>
>> > The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, &
>ornate
>>

>> Blah! blah! blah!
>>
>> If the point of this 112KB post was to annoy, at least in my case,
>> you succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.
>>
>> The simple courtesy of posting the URL for this piece obviously
>> escaped you.
>>
>> *PLONK*
>

>Och come on it was just a wee poem -
>besides I posted it in one piece this time.
>
Nick, it was still 3,200+ lines !!!

You have confirmed that my earlier assessment was
probably correct. If you let me know when you are
prepared to act in a more mature manner, I'll
remove you from the kill file.

Remember this ?

"......the party of the first part (that's me) regards further

conversation with the party of the second part (that's you)
as a total waste of breath or, in this instance, of bandwidth.

*Plonk*

[Ann Getty]

In article <392ea...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, "Nick Durie"
<Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:

>
>Helen Ramsay <hel...@western.wave.ca> wrote in message
>news:jjuX4.66042$nB3.2...@news1.rdc2.on.home.com...
>> Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote
>>

>> > The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, &
>ornate
>>

>> Blah! blah! blah!
>>
>> If the point of this 112KB post was to annoy, at least in my case, you
>> succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.
>>
>> The simple courtesy of posting the URL for this piece obviously
>> escaped you.
>>
>> *PLONK*
>>
>>
>>
>
>Och come on it was just a wee poem - besides I posted it in one piece this
>time.
>

A WEE POEM?!? Even I thought it was far too long. Look, if you're
going to hang around and play with the grown-ups, you have to abide by
their rules. Posting excessively long articles when a URL would
suffice is inconsiderate, in the same way that posting follow-ups to
long articles without snipping the original is inconsiderate.

You had your chance, but until you learn some manners, it's into the
killfile with you. You can keep Akins & his Elk company.

Ann

[Nick Durie]

<scs-in...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:m66tis830611bgs88...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 26 May 2000 15:05:55 GMT, I read these words from "Nick Durie"
> <Nick_...@bun.com> :

>
> >
> >Helen Ramsay <hel...@western.wave.ca> wrote in message
> >news:jjuX4.66042$nB3.2...@news1.rdc2.on.home.com...
> >> Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote
> >>

> >> > The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, &
> >ornate
> >>

> >> Blah! blah! blah!
> >>
> >> If the point of this 112KB post was to annoy, at least in my case,
> >> you succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.
> >>
> >> The simple courtesy of posting the URL for this piece obviously
> >> escaped you.
> >>
> >> *PLONK*
> >
> >Och come on it was just a wee poem -
> >besides I posted it in one piece this time.
> >

> Nick, it was still 3,200+ lines !!!
>
> You have confirmed that my earlier assessment was
> probably correct. If you let me know when you are
> prepared to act in a more mature manner, I'll
> remove you from the kill file.
>

Hmm?

> Remember this ?
>
> "......the party of the first part (that's me) regards further

> conversation with the party of the second part (that's you)
> as a total waste of breath or, in this instance, of bandwidth.
>

> *Plonk*
>

What's this bandwidth thing you keep going on about, and why does posting a
long article affect it then?

[Nick Durie]

Ann Getty <ann...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ogCX4.3933$pL.1...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...

> In article <392ea...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, "Nick Durie"
> <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:
>
> >

> >Helen Ramsay <hel...@western.wave.ca> wrote in message
> >news:jjuX4.66042$nB3.2...@news1.rdc2.on.home.com...
> >> Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote
> >>

> >> > The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, &
> >ornate
> >>

> >> Blah! blah! blah!
> >>
> >> If the point of this 112KB post was to annoy, at least in my case,
you
> >> succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.
> >>
> >> The simple courtesy of posting the URL for this piece obviously
> >> escaped you.
> >>
> >> *PLONK*
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Och come on it was just a wee poem - besides I posted it in one piece
this
> >time.
> >
>

> A WEE POEM?!? Even I thought it was far too long. Look, if you're
> going to hang around and play with the grown-ups, you have to abide by
> their rules. Posting excessively long articles when a URL would
> suffice is inconsiderate, in the same way that posting follow-ups to
> long articles without snipping the original is inconsiderate.
>
> You had your chance, but until you learn some manners, it's into the
> killfile with you. You can keep Akins & his Elk company.
>
> Ann

Killfile this, killfile that - what is the point in ignoring my posts?

Besides if I posted the URL who would visit it?

But if I copy the poem out then everyone gets access to it - whether they
like it or not, personally I don't regard that as rude.

[Ann Getty]

In article <392f0...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, "Nick Durie"
<Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:

>
>Killfile this, killfile that - what is the point in ignoring my posts?

It makes my life easier. Putting you in the killfile means I can avoid
your posts completely (I had stopped reading them anyway), and it
takes much less time to download ng messages.

>
>Besides if I posted the URL who would visit it?
>
>But if I copy the poem out then everyone gets access to it - whether they
>like it or not, personally I don't regard that as rude.

What makes you so sure everyone wants access to it?? What makes you so
sure anyone at all is going to bother to read it??? You may not regard
this as rude, but many other people do, and the more you do to annoy
the rest of us, the less your presence will be appreciated or
tolerated. Do yourself a favor and learn some Usenet etiquette. Read
this to start with--

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/0963702513p39.html

Ann

[David A. Allan]

"Ann Getty" <ann...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:g4RX4.2025$VO2....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...

> In article <392f0...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, "Nick Durie"
> <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:

<snip>

> >But if I copy the poem out then everyone gets access to it - whether they
> >like it or not, personally I don't regard that as rude.
>
> What makes you so sure everyone wants access to it?? What makes you so
> sure anyone at all is going to bother to read it??? You may not regard
> this as rude, but many other people do, and the more you do to annoy
> the rest of us, the less your presence will be appreciated or
> tolerated. Do yourself a favor and learn some Usenet etiquette. Read
> this to start with--
>
> http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/0963702513p39.html

Thanks for that, Ann.
Nick - the webpage above is the 'netiquette' I was referring to in my
e-mail. (And it's a sad fact of life that not everyone out there wants to
read everything you - or anyone else, for that matter - posts on SCS. Deal
with it.)

David

[Liz McLean]

"David A. Allan" <daa...@pd.jaring.my> wrote in message
news:8gorma$6sv$1...@news4.jaring.my...

> "Ann Getty" <ann...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> > "Nick Durie" <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:

<snip>
> > >But if I copy the poem out then everyone gets access to it - whether
they
> > >like it or not, personally I don't regard that as rude.
> >
> > What makes you so sure everyone wants access to it?? What makes you so
> > sure anyone at all is going to bother to read it??? You may not regard
> > this as rude, but many other people do, and the more you do to annoy
> > the rest of us, the less your presence will be appreciated or
> > tolerated. Do yourself a favor and learn some Usenet etiquette. Read
> > this to start with--
> >
> > http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/0963702513p39.html
>
> Thanks for that, Ann.
> Nick - the webpage above is the 'netiquette' I was referring to in my
> e-mail. (And it's a sad fact of life that not everyone out there wants to
> read everything you - or anyone else, for that matter - posts on SCS.
Deal
> with it.)

I must admit I feel kinda bad for Nick, when I think of the incredible
amount of time he must put into some of those posts, presumably for our
edification. I'm sure he means to be helpful, and is probably baffled that
people are not grateful.

[Liz McLean]

"Helen Ramsay" <hel...@western.wave.ca> wrote in message
news:jjuX4.66042$nB3.2...@news1.rdc2.on.home.com...
> Nick Durie <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote
>

> > The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian, compylit in eloquent, &
ornate
>

> Blah! blah! blah!
>
> If the point of this 112KB post was to annoy, at least in my case, you
> succeeded beyond your wildest dreams.
>
> The simple courtesy of posting the URL for this piece obviously
> escaped you.
>
> *PLONK*

Nick, you really must admit that you've gone too far when you've angered
Helen of all people!

[Nick Durie]

http://www2.arts.gla.ac.uk/www/english/comet/level2.htm - Starn, a whein
leitratur an a puckle airtins till ither steids quhar a bodie micht coud
fynd a wee gem!

[Larry@home]

FUCK OFF YOU AMERICUNT TROLL!
Stay in your own backyard.
If wankland is so fucking great?
How come we in the rest of the werld have to put up with your sanctimonious
crap.
Folks at home just as sick of it as the rest of us?

Ann Getty <ann...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:g4RX4.2025$VO2....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> In article <392f0...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, "Nick Durie"
> <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:
>
> >

> >Killfile this, killfile that - what is the point in ignoring my posts?
>
> It makes my life easier. Putting you in the killfile means I can avoid
> your posts completely (I had stopped reading them anyway), and it
> takes much less time to download ng messages.
>
> >
> >Besides if I posted the URL who would visit it?
> >

> >But if I copy the poem out then everyone gets access to it - whether they
> >like it or not, personally I don't regard that as rude.
>
> What makes you so sure everyone wants access to it?? What makes you so
> sure anyone at all is going to bother to read it??? You may not regard
> this as rude, but many other people do, and the more you do to annoy
> the rest of us, the less your presence will be appreciated or
> tolerated. Do yourself a favor and learn some Usenet etiquette. Read
> this to start with--
>
> http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/0963702513p39.html
>

> Ann

[Larry@home]

You FUCKING deal with it you bag of Shite.
Since when did any NG belong to you and your sanctimonious twat friends?

Get back into the shadows where you belong.

David A. Allan <daa...@pd.jaring.my> wrote in message
news:8gorma$6sv$1...@news4.jaring.my...
>

> "Ann Getty" <ann...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:g4RX4.2025$VO2....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> > In article <392f0...@news2.cluster1.telinco.net>, "Nick Durie"
> > <Nick_...@bun.com> wrote:

> <snip>

> > >But if I copy the poem out then everyone gets access to it - whether
they
> > >like it or not, personally I don't regard that as rude.
> >
> > What makes you so sure everyone wants access to it?? What makes you so
> > sure anyone at all is going to bother to read it??? You may not regard
> > this as rude, but many other people do, and the more you do to annoy
> > the rest of us, the less your presence will be appreciated or
> > tolerated. Do yourself a favor and learn some Usenet etiquette. Read
> > this to start with--
> >
> > http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/0963702513p39.html
>

> Thanks for that, Ann.
> Nick - the webpage above is the 'netiquette' I was referring to in my
> e-mail. (And it's a sad fact of life that not everyone out there wants to
> read everything you - or anyone else, for that matter - posts on SCS.
Deal
> with it.)
>

> David
>
>