The Bruce 10The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 7)
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Fiction · Historical Fiction
The Bruce 10
The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 7)
BarbourEnglish
BOOK XIV.
How the Earl of Carrick passed into Ireland to win it, and with him Earl Thomas Randolph and Sir Philip the Mowbray, Sir John Stewart, Sir John Soulis, and Ramsay of Ochterhouse.
The Erll of Carrik, Schir Edward, That stowtar wes than ane libbard, And had no will till be in pes, Thoucht that Scotland to litill wes Till his brothir and him alsua; 5 Tharfor till purpos can he ta, That he of Irland wald be kyng. Tharfor he send and had treting With the Erischry of Irland, That in thar lawte tuk on hand 10 Of Irland for to mak hym king, With-thi that he with hard fechting Micht our-cum the Inglis men, That in the land war wonnand then; And thai suld help with all thair mycht. 15 And he, that hard thame mak sic hicht, In-till his hert had gret liking: And, with the consent of the King, Gaderit hym men of gret bounte, And at Air syne schippit he, 20 In-till the next moneth of Maii; Till Irland held he straucht his way. He had thair in his cumpany The Erll Thomas that wes worthy, And good Schir Philip the Mowbray, 25 That sekir wes in herd assay; Schir Johne the Sowlis, a gude knycht, And Schir Johne Steward that wes wicht; The Ramsay als of Ouchtirhous, That wes richt wicht and chevelrous; 30 And Schir Fergus de Ardrossane, And othir knychtis mony ane.
In Wokingis Fyrth arivit thai
Saufly, but bargane or assay,
And send thair schippis home ilkane. 35
A gret thing have thai undertane,
That with sa quheyne as thai war thar,
That wes sex thousand men but mar,
Schupe for to warray all Irland,
Quhar thai sall se mony thousand 40
Cum armyt on thame for to ficht.
Bot thouch thai quheyne war, thai war wicht,
And, for-outen dreid or effray,
In twa battelis thai tuk the way
Toward Cragfergus it to se. 45
Bot the lordis of that cuntre,
Maundwell, Byset, and Logane,
Thar men assemblit evirilkane;
The Savagis wes alsua thair.
And quhen thai all assemblit war, 50
Thai war weill neir tuenty thousand.
Quhen thai wist that in-till thar land
Sic a menyhe arivit war,
With all the folk that thai had thar
Thai went toward thame in gret hy. 55
And fra Schir Edward wist suthly
That neir till him cumand war thai,
His men he gert richt weill aray.
The vaward had the Erll Thomas,
And in the rerward Schir Edward was. 60
[33: C Wavering Fyrth (S). Wolyngs H.]
[49: C De Savagis (S).]
The first battle that Sir Edward
Won in Ireland, with fighting hard.
[Sidenote: 1315] The Flower of Ulster defeated]
Thar fais approchit to the fichting,
And thai met thame but abaysing.
Thar mycht men se a gret melle
For Erll Thomas and his menyhe
Dang on thair fais sa douchtely, 65
That in schort tym men mycht se ly
Ane hundreth that all bludy war.
For hobynis, that war stekit thar,
Rerit, and flang, and gret rowme maid,
And kest thame that apon thame raid. 70
And Schir Edwardis cumpany
Assemblit syne so hardely
That thai thar fais ruschit all.
Quha hapnyt in that ficht to fall,
It wes perell of his risyng. 75
The Scottis men in that fechting
Swa apertly and weille thame bar,
That thair fayis swa ruschit war,
That thai haly the flicht has tane.
In that battale wes tane or slane 80
All hale the flour of Ullister.
The Erll of Murreff gret pris had ther;
For his richt worthy chevelry
Confortit all his cumpany.
That wes a full fair begynnyng; 85
For, newlyngis at thair arivyng,
In playne ficht thai discomfit thar
Thar fais, that ay fowr for ane war.
Syne to Cragfergus ar thai gane,
And in the toune has innys tane. 90
The castell wele wes stuffit then
Of-new with vittale and with men;
Thar-till thai set ane sege in hy.
Mony ysche full apertly
Wes maid, quhill thar the sege lay, 95
Quhill trewis at the last tuk thai.
The Withletting of the Pass of Endnellan
Quhen that the folk of Ullister
Till his pes haly cummyn wer,
For Schir Edward wald tak on hand
Till ryde forthirmar in the land, 100
Thair come till hym and maide fewte
Sum of the kyngis of that cuntre,
Weill ten or tuelf, as I herd say:
Bot thai held hym schort quhile thar fay.
For twa of thame, ane Makfulchiane, 105
And ane othir hat Makartane,
With-set ane place in-till his way,
Quhar him behufit neyd away,
With twa thousand of men with speris,
And als mony of thair archeris; 110
And all the cattale of the land
War drawin thidder to warrand.
Men callis that place Endwillane:
In all Irland strater is nane.
For Schir Edward that kepit thai; 115
Thai thoucht he suld nocht thar away.
Bot he his viage soyne has tane,
And straucht toward the plas is gane.
The Erll of Murreff, Schir Thomas,
That put hym ay first till assayis, 120
Lichtit on fut, with his menyhe,
And apertly the plas tuk he.
Thir Erische kyngis I spak of ar,
With al the folk that with thame war,
Met him richt sturdely; bot he 125
Assalyheit swa with his menyhe,
That, magre thairis, thai wan the plas:
Slayne of thair fayis fele thar was.
Throu-out the wod thame chasit thai,
And sesit in sic fusione thar pray, 130
That all the folk of thar host war
Refreschit weill ane owk or mair.
[Sidenote: 1315] Edward Bruce marches to Dundalk]
At Kilsaggart Schir Edward lay;
And thar weill soyne he has herd say,
That at Dundawk wes ane assemble 135
Maid of the lordis of that cuntre;
In host thai war assemblit thar.
Thar wes first Schir Richard of Clare,
That in all Irland luf-tenand
Was off the King of Ingland. 140
The Erll of Desmownt als wes thar,
And the Erll alsua of Kyldare;
The Bremayne with the Wardoune;
Thir war lordis of gret renoune.
The Butler alsua thair was, 145
And Schir Moris le Fyss-Thomas.
Thir with thair men ar cummyn thar,
A rycht gret hoost forsuth thai war.
And quhen Schir Edward wist suthly
That thar wes sic ane chevelry, 150
His host in hy he gert aray,
And thiddirwardis he tuk the way;
And neir the toune he tuk herbery.
Bot for he wyst all utirly
That in the toune wes mony men, 155
His battalis he arrayit then,
And stude arayit in battale
To kep thame, gif thai wald assale.
[148: C thair wes (S).]
And quhen that Schir Richard of Clare,
And othir lordis that war thare, 160
Wist at the Scottis men so neir
With thar battellis than cummyne weir,
Thai tuk to consell at that nycht,
For it wes layt, thai wald nocht ficht:
Bot on the morne in the mornyng, 165
Weill soyn eftir the sone-rysing,
Thai suld ysch furth all that war thair;
Therfor that nycht thai did no mair:
Bot herbreyt thame on athir party.
That nycht the Scottis cumpany 170
War wachit rycht weill, all at richt;
And on the morn, quhen day wes licht,
In twa battellis thai thame arayit;
Thai stude with baneris all displayit,
For the battell all reddy boune. 175
And thai that war within the toune,
Quhen sone wes rysyn schynand clere,
Send furth of thame that within were
Fifty, till se the contenyng
Of Scottis men and thar cummyng. 180
And thai raid furth and saw thaim soyne,
Syne come agane forouten hoyne.
And quhen thai sammyn lichtit war,
Thai tald thair lordis that wes thar,
That Scottis men semyt to be 185
Worthye and of full gret bounte,
“Bot thai ar nocht, withouten wer,
“Half-deill ane dyner till us here!”
The lordis had of this tithyng
Gret joy and gret reconforting; 190
And gert men throu the cité cry
That all suld arme thame hastely.
[178: C that with him (S).]
[Sidenote: JUNE 29, 1315] The Scots enter Dundalk]
Quhen thai war armyt and purvayit,
And for to ficht all haill arayit,
Than went thai furth in gude aray; 195
Soyn with thair fayis assemblit thai,
That kepit thame richt hardely.
The stour begouth thair cruelly;
For athir part set all thair mycht
Till rusche thair fayis in the ficht; 200
And with all mycht on other dang.
The stalward stour lestit weill lang,
That men mycht nocht persave, no se,
Quha mast at thar abovin mycht be.
For fra soyn eftir the sone-rysyng, 205
Quhill eftir mydmorne, the fichting
Lestit in-till sic ane dout;
Bot than Schir Edward, that wes stout,
With all thame of his cumpany,
Schot apon thame so sturdely, 210
That thai mycht thole no mar the ficht.
All in a frusche thai tuk the flicht,
And thai followit full egirly:
In-to the toune all comonly
Thai enterit bath intermelle. 215
Thair mycht men felloune slauchtir se;
For the richt nobil Erll Thomas,
That with his rout followit the chas,
Maid sic a slauchtir in the toune,
And swa felloune occisioune, 220
That the rewis all bludy war
Of slayne men that war liand thar.
The lords war gottin all away.
And quhen the toune, as I yhow say,
Wes throu gret fors of fechting tane, 225
And all thair fayis fled or slane,
Thai herbryit thame all in the toune,
Quhar of vittale was sic fusione,
And swa gret aboundans of wyne,
That the gud Erll had gret dowtyne 230
That of thair men suld dronken be,
And mak in drunkynnes sum melle.
Tharfor he maid of wyne lufre
Till ilk man, that he payit suld be;
And thai had all yneuch, perfay. 235
That nycht rycht weill at eis war thai,
And richt blith of the gret honour
That thame befell for thair valour.
The third battle in Ireland
That good Sir Edward took on hand.
Eftir this ficht thai sojornyt thair, In-to Dundawk, thre dayis and mar; 240 Syne tuk thai southwardis thar way. The Erll Thomas wes forrouth ay. And, as thai raid throu the cuntre, Thai mycht apon the hillis se Sa mony men, it wes ferly. 245 And quhen the Erll wald sturdely Dress him to thame with his baner, Thai wald fle all that evir thai wer, Swa that in ficht nocht ane abaid. And thai southwardis thair wais raid, 250 Quhill till a gret forest come thai; Kilros it hat, as I herd say: And thai tuk all thar herbiry thair. In all this tyme Richard of Clare, That wes the Kyngis luf-tenand, 255 Of all of the barnage of Irland A gret hoost he assemblit had. Thai war fyve bataillis, gret and braid, That soucht Schir Edward and his men; Weill neir him war thai cummyn then. 260 He gat soyne wittyng that thai weir Cumand on him, and war so neir. His men addressit he thame agane, And gert thame stoutly tak the plane; And syne the Erll thar come to se, 265 And Schir Philip the Mowbra send he, And Schir Johne Steward went alsua, Furth till discovir thair way thai ta. Thai saw the host cum soyne at hand; Thai war, to ges, fiffty thousand. 270 Haym to Schir Edward raid thai then, And said weill thai war mony men. He said agane, “The ma thai be, “The mair honour allout have we, “Gif that we beir us manfully. 275 “We are set heir in juperdy “Till wyn honour, or for till de. “We ar fra hayme to fer to fley, “Tharfor let ilk man worthy be. “Yhone ar gadering of the cuntre; 280 “And thai sall fle, I trow, lichtly, “And men assail thaim manfully.” All said thai than, thai weill suld do. With that approchand neir thame to, The battellis come, reddy to ficht; 285 And thai met thame with mekill mycht, That war ten thousand worthy men. The Scottis all on fut war then, And thai on stedis trappit weill, Sum helyt all in irne and steill. 290
[Sidenote: 1315] The Scots make merry in the Forest]
Bot Scottis men, at thair metyng,
With speris perssit thar armyng,
And stekit hors, and men doune bar.
Ane felloune fechting wes than thair.
I can nocht tell thair strakis all, 395
Na quha in ficht gert othir fall;
Bot in schort tyme, I undirta,
Thai of Irland war cummyrrit swa
That thai durst nane abyde no mar,
Bot fled scalit, all that thai war, 300
And levit in the battell-stede
Weill mony of thar gud men ded.
Of wapnys, armyng, and ded men
The feld wes haly strewit then.
That gret hoost roydly ruschit wes; 305
Bot Schir Edward leit no man chas;
Bot with presoners, that thai had tane,
Thai till the wod agane ar gane,
Quhar that thair harnes levit wer.
That nycht thai maid thame mery cher, 310
And lovit God fast of his grace.
This gud knycht, that so worthy was,
Till Judas, Machabeus that hicht,
Micht liknyt weill be in that ficht;
Na multitud he forsuk of men, 315
Quhill he hade ane aganis ten.
Thus, as I said, Richard of Clare And his gret hoost rebutit war. Bot he about him nocht-for-thi Wes gaderand men ay ythandly: 320 For he thoucht yheit to covir his cast. It angerit him richt ferly fast, That twis in-to battell wes he Discumfit with ane few menyhe. And Scottis men, that in the forest 325 War ryddin, for till tak thair rest, All thai twa nychtis thair thai lay, And maid thame myrth, solace, and play. Toward Odymsy syne thai rayde, Ane Erische kyng, that ayth had mayd 330 Till Schir Edwarde of fewte. For forrouth that him prayit he To se his land, and na vittale, Na nocht that mycht him help, suld fale. Schir Edward trowit in his hicht, 335 And with his rout raid thiddir richt. A gret revar he gert hym pas; And in a richt fair place, that was Lawch by a brym, he gert thame ta Thair herbry, and said he wald ga 340 To ger men vittale to thame bring. He held his way but mair duelling: For till betrais thame wes his thoucht. In sic ane place he has thame broucht, Quhar of journeis weill twa and mair 345 All the cattell withdrawin war. Swa that thai in that land mycht get No thing that worth war for to et. With hungyr he thoucht thaim to feblis, Syne bring on thame thair enymys. 350
[339: E bourne. H burne.]
[Sidenote: 1315] Thomas of Dun rescues the Scots]
This fals tratour his men had maid,
A litell owth quhar he herbryit hade
Schir Edward and the Scottis men,
The ysche of a louch to den;
And leit it out in-to the nycht. 355
The wattir than, with sic a mycht,
On Schir Edwardis men come doune,
That thai in perell war till droune;
For, or thai wist, on flot war thai;
With mekill payne thai gat away, 360
And held thar livis, as God gaf gras,
Bot of thair harnes tynt ther was.
He maid thame na gud fest, perfay,
And nocht-for-thi yneuch had thai.
For thouch thame failit of the met, 365
I warne yhow weill thai war weill wet.
In gret distres thair war thai stad,
For gret defalt of mete thai had;
For thai betuix thai riveris tway
War set, and mycht pas nane of thai. 370
The Bane, that is ane arme of se,
That with hors may nocht passit be,
Wes betuix thame and Ullister.
Thai had beyn in grett perell ther,
Ne war ane scummar of the se, 375
Thomas of Dun hattyn wes he,
Herd that the host so stratly than
Wes stad, and salyt up the Ban,
Quhill he com weill neir quhar thai lay.
Thai knew him weill, and blith war thai. 380
Than, with four schippes that he had tane,
He set thame our the Ban ilkane.
And quhen thai come in biggit land,
Vittale and mete yneuch thai fand:
And in a wode thame herbryit thai. 385
Nane of the land wist quhar thai lay;
Thai esyt thame and maid gud cher.
[354: H to dem.]
[376: E Downe. H Dun.]
In-till that tyme, besyde thame ner,
With a gret host, Richarde of Clar,
And othir gret of Irlande, war 390
Herbryit in-till a forest syde.
And ilke day thai gert men ryde
To bring vittalis, on ser maneris,
Till thame fra the toune of Coigneris,
That weill ten gret myle wes thaim fra. 395
Ilk day, as thai wald cum and ga,
Thai come the Scottis host so ner,
That bot twa myle betuix thaim wer.
How Sir Thomas of Randell
Won from the Irish their Vittell.
And quhen Erll Thomas had persaving
Of thair come and thair gaderyng, 400
He gat him a gud cumpany,
Thre hundreth on hors, wycht and hardy.
Thar wes Schir Philip the Mowbray,
And Sir Johne Stewart als, perfay,
With Schir Alane Stewart alsua, 405
Schir Robert Boyde, and other ma.
Thai raid till meit the vittelleris,
That with ther vittale fra Coigneris
Com, haldand to the host the way.
So suddanly on thame schot thai, 410
That thai war sa abaysit all,
That thai leit all thair wapnys fall,
And mercy pitwysly can cry.
And thai tuk thame in thair mercy,
And has thame up so clenly tane, 415
That of thame all eschapit nane.
[406: E H Robert. C Gilbert.]
The Erll of thame gat wittering
That of thair host, in the evynnyng,
Wald cum out at the woddis syde
And aganis thair vittale ryde. 420
He thoucht than on a juperdy,
And gert his menyhe halely
Dicht thame in the presoners aray;
Thair pennownys als with thame tuk thai.
And quhill the nycht wes neir thai baid, 425
And syne toward the host thai raid.
Sum of thair mekill host has seyne
Thair come, and wende weill thai had beyne
Thair vittelouris; tharfor thai raid
Agane thame scalit, for thai hade 430
Na dreid that thai thair fayis wer;
And thame hungerit alsua weill sair;
Tharfor thai come abandonly.
And quhen thai neir war, in gret hy
The Erll, and all that with him war, 435
Ruschit on thame with wapnys bar,
And thair ensenyheis hye can cry;
Than thai, that saw so sudandly
Thair fayis dyng on thame, wes rad,
That thai no hert till help thame had; 440
Bot to thar host the way can ta;
And thai chasit, and feill can sla,
That all the feldis strowit war;
Ma than ane thowsand ded wes thar.
Rycht to thar hoost thai can thame chass, 445
And syne agane thair wayis tais.
[Sidenote: 1315] Irish Spies are captured]
On this wiss wes the vittal tane, And of the Erysche men mony slane. The Erll syne, with his cumpany, Presoners and vittalis halely 450 Has brocht till Schir Edward als swith; And he wes of thair cummyng blith. That nycht thai maid thame merye cher; Richt all than at thair eis thai wer. Thai war all wachit sekyrly, 455 And thair fais, on the tothir party, Quhen thai herd how thar men was slane, And how thar vittal all wes tane, Thai tuk to consell at thai wald Thair wayis towart Coigneris hald, 460 And herbry in the cite ta. And in gret hye thai have done swa; And raid on nycht to the cite. Thai fand thair vittale of gret plente, And maid thame merely gud cher; 465 For all trast in the toune thai wer. Apon the morn thai send to spy Quhar Scottis men had tane herbery. Bot thai war met with all, and tane, And brocht richt till the hoost agane. 470 The Erll of Murreff richt mekly Sperit at ane of thar cumpany, Quhar thar host wes, and quhat thai thoucht Till do; and said him, gif he moucht Fynd that till hym the suth said he, 475 He suld gang hame but ransoune fre. “Forsuth,” he said, “I sall yhow say, “Thai thynk, the morn, quhen it is day, “To seik yhow with all thair menyhe, “Giff thai may get wit quhar yhe be. 480 “Thai haf gert throu the cuntre cry, “On payne of liff, full felounly, “That all the men of this cuntre “This nycht in-to the cite be. “And trewly thai sall be so feill, 485 “That yhe sall no wis with thame deill.” ‘De pardew,’ said he, ‘weill may be!’ To Schir Edward with that yheid he, And tald hym utrely this taill. Than haf thai tane for consell haill, 490 That thai wald ryde to the cite That ilk nycht, swa that thai mycht be Betuix the toune, with all thar rout, And thame that war the toune without.
[478: E to-morn.]
[Sidenote: 1315] A Great Gathering against the Scots]
As thai devisit swa have thai done; 495
Befor the toune thai come alsoyne:
And bot half deill a myle of way
Fra the cite, thar rest tuk thai.
And quhen the day wes dawin licht,
Fifty on hobynis, that war wicht, 500
Com till a litill hill, that was
Bot fra the toune a litill spas,
And saw Schir Edwardis herbery,
And of the sicht had gret ferly,
That sa quheyn durst on ony wis 505
Undertak sa hye empris,
As for till cum sa hardely
Apon all the gret chevelry
Of Irland, for till byde battale.
And swa it wes, forouten fale; 510
For agane thame war gaderit thair,
With the wardane Richard of Clar,
The Butler, with the Erllis twa,
Of Desmund and Kildar war tha,
Bruman, Wardun, and Fiz-Waryn; 515
And Schir Pascalle a Florentyn,
That wes ane knycht of Lumbardy,
And wes full of gret chevelry.
The Maundvilis war thar alsua,
Besatis, Loganys, and othir ma; 520
Savagis als; and yheit wes ane,
Hat Schir Nycholl of Kylkenane.
And with thir lordis so feill wes then,
That, for ane of the Scottis men,
I trow that thai war fiff or ma. 525
Quhen thair discurrowris seyne has swa
The Scottis host, thai went in hy
And tald thair lordis all opynly,
How thai till thaim wer cummand ner;
To seik thame fer wes na myster. 530
And quhen the Erll Thomas had seyne
That thai men at the hill had beyne,
He tuk with him a gude menyhe,
On hors ane hundreth thai mycht be,
And till the hill thai tuk the way. 535
In a slak thame enbuschit thai:
And, in schort tyme, fra the cite
Thai saw cum rydand a menyhe,
For till discovir, to the hill.
Than war thai blith, and held thame still 540
Quhill thai war cummyn to thame ner;
Than in a frusche, all that thar wer,
Thai schot apon thame hardely.
And thai that saw so suddandly
That folk cum on, abaysit war. 545
And nocht-for-thi sum of thame thar
Abaid stoutly to mak debat;
And othir sum ar fled thar gat.
And in-to weill schort tyme war thai,
That maid arest, cumrayit swa, 550
That thai fled halely thair gat;
And thai thame chassit richt to the yhate,
And a gret part of thame has slane,
And syne went till thar host agane.
[501: C that wes (S).]
[515: C Syr Waryn; but cf. xv., 75.]
[522: C Kyllvanane (S); but see note.]
BOOK XV.
The fourth battle in Ireland
That Sir Edward won with strong hand.
Qwhen thai within has seyn swa slane
Thair men, and chassit hame agane,
Thai war all wa, and in gret hy
“Till armys!” hely can thai cry.
Than armyt thame all at thar war, 5
And for the battale maid thame yhar.
Thai yschit out, all weill arayit,
In battale with baneris displayit;
Bowne on thar best wis till assale
Thair fayis in-to fell battale. 10
And quhen Schir Philip the Mowbray
Saw thame ysche in sa gud aray,
Till Schir Edward the Brus went he
And said, “Schir, it is gude that we
“Schape for sum slicht that may availl 15
“Till help us in this gret battaill.
“Our men ar quheyn, bot thai haf will
“Till do mair than thai may fullfill.
“Tharfor I rede, our caryage,
“Forouten ony man or page, 20
“By thame-selvyne arayit be;
“And thai sall seyme fer ma than we.
“Set we before thame our baneris;
“Yhon folk that cummys out of Coigneris,
“Quhen thai our baneris thair may se, 25
“Sall trow trastly that thair ar we,
“And thidder in gret hy sall ryde.
“Cum we than on thame at a syde,
“And we sall be at avantage;
“For, fra thai in our caryage 30
“Be enterit, thai sall cummyrrit be;
“And than with all our mycht may we
“Lay on, and do all that we may.”
All as he ordanit done haf thai.
And thai that com out of Coigneris 35
Adressit thame to the baneris;
And smat with spures the hors in hy,
Ruschand emang thame sodanly.
The barell-ferraris that war thar
Cumrayd thame fast that rydand war. 40
[34: C And (S).]
[Sidenote: SEPT. 1315] Battle of Connor]
And than the Erll, with his battale,
Com on, and sadly can assale.
And Schir Edward, a litill by,
Assemblit swa richt hardely,
That mony fey fell under feit; 45
The felde wox soyne of blud all weit.
With so gret felony thar thai faucht,
And sic rowtis till othir raucht,
With stok, with stane, and with retrete,
As athir part can othir bet, 50
That it wes hidwys for to se
How thai mantemyt that gret melle
So knychtlik apon athir syde,
Giffand and takand woundis wyde,
That pryme wes passit, or men mycht se 55
Quha mast at thair abovin mycht be.
Bot soyne eftir that pryme wes past,
The Scottis men dang on so fast,
And schot on thame at abandoune,
As ilk man war a campioun, 60
That all thar fayis tuk the flicht.
Wes nane of thame that wes so wicht,
That evir durst abyde his fere;
Bot ilkane fled thair wayis sere.
Till the toune fled the mast party. 65
And Erll Thomas sa ynkirly,
And his rout, chassit with swerdis bar,
That all emang thame mellit war,
And all to-gidder come in the toune.
Than wes the slauchter so felloune, 70
That all the rewis ran of blude.
Thame that thai gat to dede all yhude,
Swa that than thar weill neir wes ded
Als feill as in the battell-sted.
[54: E rowtis roid; cf. Bk. VI., 288.]
The Fizwaryne wes taken thar; 75
Bot so rad wes Richard of Clar,
That he held to the sowth cuntre.
All that moneth I trow that he
Sall haf no gret will for to ficht.
Schir Johne Steward, ane nobill knycht, 80
Wes woundit throu the body thair
With a sper that richt scharply schair.
To the Mont-peleris went he syne,
And lay thair lang in-to helyne,
And at the last helit wes he. 85
Schir Edward than, with his menyhe,
Tuk in the toune thair herbery.
That nycht thai blith war and joly
For the victory that thai had thar.
And on the morn, forouten mar, 90
Schir Edward gert men gang and se
All the vitalis of that cite.
And thai fand sic fusioune thar-in
Of corn and flour and wax and wyne,
That thai had of it gret ferly; 95
And Schir Edward gert halely
To Cragferguss it cartit be.
Syne thidder went his men and he,
And helde the sege full stalwardly,
Quhill Palme Sonday wes passit by. 100
Than, quhill the Tysday in Pask-owk,
On athir half thai trowis tuk;
Swa that thai mycht that haly tyd
In pennance and in prayer byd.
[Sidenote: APRIL 10-11, 1316] Attempt to surprise the Scots]
Bot apon Paske evin all richt 105
To the castell, in-till the nycht,
Fra Devilling come schippis fyftene,
Chargit with armit men bedeyne;
Four thousand, trow I weill, thai war:
In the castell thai enterit thair. 110
The Mawndvell, ald Schir Thomas,
Capitane of that menyhe he was.
In the castell all prevaly
Thai enterit, for that thai gert spy
That mony of Schir Edwardis men 115
War scalit in the cuntre then.
Tharfor thai thoucht in the mornyng
Till ysche, but langer delaying,
And till suppris thame suddanely;
For thai thoucht thai suld traistly ly, 120
For the trewis that taken war.
Bot I trow falsat evirmar
Sall have unfair and evill ending.
Schir Edward wist of this na thing,
For of tresoune had he na thoucht. 125
Bot for the trewis he lefit noucht
Wachis till set to the castele;
Ilk nycht he gert men wach it wele.
And Neyll Flemyng wachit that nycht
With sexty men worthy and wicht. 130
And als soyne as the day wox cleir,
Thai that within the castell weir
Had armyt thame, and maid thame boune,
And syne the bryg avaled doune,
And yschit in-till gret plente. 135
And quhen Neyll Flemyng can thaim se,
He send ane till the Kyng in hy;
And said to thame that war hym by,
“Now sall men se, I undirtak,
“Quha dar de for his lordis sak! 140
“Now beir yhow weill, for sekirly
“With all thir menyhe fecht will I.
“In-till bargane thame hald sall we,
“Quhill that our mastir armyt be.”
And with that worde assemblit thai; 145
Thai war to few all out, perfay,
With sic a gret rout for to ficht.
Fot nocht-for-thi with al thar mycht
Thai dang on thame so hardely,
That all thair fayis had gret ferly, 150
That thai war all of sic manheid,
That thai no dreid had of thar dede.
Bot thar fell fayis sa can assaill,
That thar mycht no worschip availl
That thai ne war slayn evirilkane 155
So cleyn, that thar eschapit nane.
How the King of Ireland called Edward came upon the Scotsmen
And the man that went till the Kyng,
For till warn hym of thair ysching,
Warnit him in-till full gret hy.
Schir Edward wes comonly 160
Callit the Kyng of Irland,
Quhen that he herd sic hy on hand,
In full gret hast he gat his ger.
Tuelf wicht men in his chalmer wer
That armyt thame in full gret hy. 165
Syne with his baneris hardely
The myddis of the toune he tais.
With that neir cummand war his fais,
That had delt all thar men in thre.
The Mawndvell, with a gret menyhe, 170
Richt throu the toune his way held doune;
The layff on athir syde the toune
Held to meit thame that fleand war;
Thai thoucht that all that thai fand thar
Suld de but ransoune evirilkane: 175
Bot othir wayis the gle is gane.
For Schir Edward, with his baner,
And his men that I tald of ere,
On all that rout so hardely
Assemblit, that it wes ferly. 180
For Gib Harpar befor him yheid,
That wes the douchtyest of deid
That than wes liffand of his stat,
And with ane ax maid him sic gat
That he the first fellit to the grounde; 185
And eftir, in a litill stounde,
The Mawndvell be his armyng
He knew, and roucht him sic a swyng
That he till erd yheid hastely.
Schir Edward, that wes neir hym by, 190
Reversit hym, and with a knyff
Richt in that place him reft the liff.
[187: C by his (S).]
[Sidenote: APRIL 11, 1316] The Maundevilles are slain]
With that of Ardrossane Fergus,
That wes ane knycht rycht curageous,
Assemblit with sexty and ma. 195
Thai pressit than thair fayis swa,
That thai, that saw thair lord slayne,
Tynt hert, and wald have beyn agane.
And ay, as Scottis men mycht be
Armyt, thai come to the melle; 200
And dang apon thai fayis swa,
That thai all hale the bak can ta,
And thai thame chassit to the yhat;
Thar wes hard ficht and gret debat.
Thar slew Schir Edward, with his hand 205
A knycht, that of all Irland
Wes callit best, and of mast bounte,
To surname Mawndvell hecht he,
His propir nayme I can nocht say.
Bot his folk till so hard assay 210
War set, that thai of the dungeoune
Durst oppyn no yhat, na bryg let doune.
And Schir Edward, I tak on hand,
Soucht thame that fled thar to warrand,
So felly, that of all, perfay, 215
That yschit apon hym that day,
Eschapit of thaim nevir ane,
That thai ne war outhir tane or slane.
For to the ficht Maknakill then
Come with twa hundreth of gude sper-men, 220
And slew all they mycht to wyn.
This ilk Maknakill, with a gyn,
Wan of thair schippes four or fiff,
And halely reft the men thair liff.
Quhen end wes maid of this fechting, 225
Yheit then wes liffand Neill Fleming.
Schir Edward went him for to se;
About him slayne lay his menyhe
All in a lump, on athyr hand,
And he, redy to dey, throwand. 230
Schir Edward had of him pite,
And him full gretly menyt he,
And regratit his gret manhede,
And his worschyp with douchty dede.
Sic mayn he maid, thai had ferly; 235
For he wes nocht custumabilly
Wount for till meyne ony thing,
Na wald nocht heir men mak menyng.
He stude thar by quhill he wes ded,
And syne had him till haly sted, 240
And him with worschip gert he be
Erdit, with gret solempnite.
[221: C slow (S).]
How King Robert Bruce passed through the Tarbats, and won the Isles.
[Sidenote: 1315] King Robert is drawn Overland]
On this wis yschit the Mawndvele;
Bot sekirly falsat and gyle
Sall evir have ane evill ending, 245
As weill wes seyn be this ysching.
In tyme of trewis yschit thai,
And in sic tyme as on Paske day,
Quhen God rais for to sauf mankyne
Fra wem of ald Adammis syne. 250
Tharfor sic gret myschans thame fell,
That ilkane, as yhe herd me tell,
War slane up, or than takyn thar.
And thai that in the castell war
War set in-till sic fray that hour, 255
For thai couth se quhar na succour
Suld come to releif thame, that thai
Shortly swa tretit, and on a day
The castell till him yhald thai fre,
Till sauf thame thair liffis; and he 260
Held thame full well all his cunnand.
The castell tuk he in his hand,
And vittalit it weill, and has set
A gud wardane it for to get;
And a quhile thair than restit he. 265
Of him no mair now spek will we,
Bot till King Robert will we gang,
That we haf left unspokyn of lang.
Quhen he convoyit had to the se
His brothir Edward, and his menyhe, 270
With his shippes he maid him yhar *271
*In-till the Ilis for till fare.
*Walter Steward with hym tuk he,
His mawch, and with him gret menyhe; *274
And othir men of gret nobillay.
Till the Tarbard thai held thar way
In galayis ordanit for thair fair.
Bot thame worthit draw thar schippes thar:
And a myle wes betuix the seis, 275
Bot that wes lownyt all with treis.
The Kyng his schippis thar gert draw,
And for the wynd can stoutly blaw
Apon thair bak, as thai wald ga,
He gert men rapis and mastis ta, 280
And set thame in the schippis hye,
And salys to the toppis te,
And gert men gang thar-by drawand.
The wynd thame helpit, that wes blawand;
Swa that, in-till a litill spas, 285
Thar flot all weill our-drawyn was.
[246: C by (S).]
[*271-*274: From C H. Not in E.]
[276: E lompnyt.]
And quhen thai that in the Ilis war,
Herd tell how the gud Kyng had thar
Gert schippis with the salys ga
Out-our betuix the Tarbartis twa, 290
Thai war abasit all utrely.
For thai wist throu ald prophesy
That he that suld ger schippis swa
Betuix the seis with salis ga,
Suld wyn the Ilis swa till hand, 295
That nane with strynth suld him withstand.
Tharfor thai come all to the Kyng;
Wes nane that withstude his biddyng,
Outaken Johne of Lorne alane.
Bot Weill soyne eftir he wes tane, 300
And presentit wes to the Kyng.
And thai that war of his leding,
That to the King had brokyn fay,
War all ded, and distroyit away.
The Kyng this Johne of Lorne has tane, 305
And send soyne him till Dumbertane,
A quhile in presone thair till be,
And to Louchlevin syne send wes he,
Quhar he wes lang tyme in festnyng:
Thair-in, I trow, he maid endyng. 310
The King, quhen all the Iles war
Brocht till his liking, les and mar,
Still all that sesoune thar duelt he
At huntyng, and gammyne, and gle.
The Battle betwixt the Lord Douglas and the Lord Nevill of England.
[Sidenote: FEB. 14, 1316] Douglas attacks the Forayers]
Qwhen the King on this maner 315
Dantit the Iles, as I tell her,
The gud Schir James of Dowglas
In-till the Forest duelland was,
Defendand worthely the land.
That tyme in Berwik wes wonnand 320
Edmound de Cailow, a Gascoune,
That wes a knycht of gret renoune;
And in-till Gascone, his cuntre,
Lord of gret senyheroy wes he.
He had than Berwik in keping, 325
And maid ane preve gaddering,
And gat him a gret cumpany
Of wicht men armit jolely.
And the nethir end of Tevydaill
He prayit doune till him all haill, 330
And of the Mers ane gret party;
Syne toward Berwik went in hy.
Schir Adam of Gordoune, that than
Wes becummyne a Scottis man,
Saw thame swa drif away thar fe, 335
And wend thai had beyn quheyn, for he
Saw bot the fleand scaill, perfay, *337
*And thame that sesyt on the pray.
*Than till Schir James of Douglas
In-to gret hye the way he tais; *340
*And tald how Inglis men thair pray
*Had tane; and syne went thar way
*Toward Berwik with all thar fee,
*And said they quheyn war; and gif he
Wald speid him, he suld weill lichtly
Wyn thame, and reskew all the ky.
Schir James richt soyne gaf his assent *345
*Till follow thame, and furth is went,
*Bot with the men that he had thair,
*And met hym by the gat but mair.
*Thai followit thame in full gret hy,
And com weill neir thame hastely; *350
*For, or thay mycht thame fully se,
*Thai come weill neir with thair menyhe.
*And than bath the forreouris and the scaill
*In-till a childrome knyt all haill,
*And wes a richt fair cumpany.
Befor thame gert thai driff the ky *356
With knavis and swanys, that na mycht
Had for till stand in feild to ficht. 340
The laiff behynd thame maid a staill.
The Dowglass saw thair purpos haill,
And saw thame of sa gud covyne,
And at thai war sa mony syne,
That thai for ane of his war twa. 345
“Lordingis,” he said, “sen it is swa
“That we haff chassit on sic maner,
“That we now cummyn ar so ner
“That we may nocht eschewe the ficht
“Bot gif we fowly tak the flicht, 350
“Lat ilk man on his luf than meyne,
“And how he mony tyme has beyne
“In grat thrang, and come weill away.
“Think we till do richt swa this day;
“And tak we of this furde heir-by 355
“Our avantage, for in gret hy
“Thai sall come on us for to ficht.
“Set we than will, and strynth, and mycht
“For till meyt thame richt hardely.”
And, with that word, full hastely, 360
He hes displayit his baner;
For his fayis war cumand neir,
That, quhen thai saw he wes so quhoyne,
Thai thoucht with thame soyne till haf done,
And assemblit full hardely. 365
Thar men mycht se men fecht felly,
And richt ane cruell melle mak,
And mony strakis giff and tak.
[321: C Ewmound (S). H Edmound. C Calion (S). H Calhow. (See note.)]
[*337-*344 and *345-*356: From C H; not in E.]
[Linenote: *347-*348 in C only.]
[338: C in the (S); but Skeat suggests that ‘perhaps it should be on.’]
[341: C scaill (S); but S in note seems to prefer staill.]
[351: E his lemman (love).]
[366: C Thair mycht men se ficht fellely (S).]
[Sidenote: 1316] Neville is jealous of Douglas]
The Douglass thair weill hard wes stad,
Bot the gret hardyment that he had 370
Comfort his men apon sic wis,
That no man thoucht on cowardis;
Bot faucht so fast with all thar mayne,
That thai feill of thair fayis has slayne.
And thouch thai wer be fer full ma 375
Than thai, yheit ure demanyt thaim swa,
That Edmound de Cailow wes ded
Richt in that ilk fechting-sted.
And all the lave, fra he wes done,
War planly thair discumfit sone; 380
And thai that chassit sum has slayne,
And turnyt the prayis haill agane.
The hardest fechting forsuth this wes
That evir the gud lord of Dowglas
Wes in, as of sa few menyhe. 385
For, had nocht beyne his gret bounte
That slew thair chiftane in the ficht,
His men till ded had all beyne dicht.
He had in-till custum all-way,
Quhen evir he com till hard assay, 390
To press hym the chiftane to sla;
And hap him fell that he did swa,
That gert him victor have feill sis.
Quhen Schir Edmound apon this wis
Wes ded, the gud lord of Douglas 395
Till the Forest his way he tais.
His fayis gretly can hym dreid;
The word weill fer sprang of this deid,
Swa that in Ingland neir thar-by
Men spak of it weill comonly. 400
Schir Robert de Nevell in that tyde
Wonnyt at Berwyk, neir besyde
The marchis, quhar the lord Dowglas
In the Forest reparande was,
And had at him full gret invy, 405
For he him saw so manfully
Mak his boundis ay mar and mar.
He herd the folk that with him war
Spek of the lorde Dowglasis mycht,
And how forsy he wes in fycht, 410
And how hym oft fell fayr fortoune.
He wrethit him thar-at all soyne,
And said, “Quhat weyn yhe, is thar nane
“That evir is worth bot hym alane?
“Yhe set hym as he war but peir: 415
“But I avow, befor yhow heir,
“Gif evir he cum in-till this land,
“He sall fynd me neir at his hand.
“And giff I evir his baneir
“May see displayit apon wer, 420
“I sall assembill on hym but dout,
“All thouch yhe hald him nevir sa stout.”
[371: C confortit (S).]
[377: C Ewmound de Caleone (S).]
Of this avow soyne bodword was Brocht till Schir James of Douglas, That said, “Giff he will hald his hicht, 425 “I sall do swa he sall haf sicht “Of me and of my cumpany, “Yheit or oucht lang, weill neir hym by.” His reten new than gaderit he, That war gud men of gret bounte, 430 And to the marchis in gud aray Apon ane nycht he tuk the way; Swa that, in the mornyng airly, He wes, with all his cumpany, Before Berwyk; and thair he maid 435 Men to display his baner braid. And of his menyhe sum send he For till burne townys twa or thre, And bad thame soyn agane thame speid; Swa that on hand, gif thar com neyd, 440 Thai mycht be for the ficht redy. The Nevell that wist verraly. That Dowglas cummyn wes so neir, And saw all braid stand his baneir, Than with the folk that with hym wer, 445 (And he had a gret menyhe thar; For all the gud of that cuntre In-till that tyme with hym had he; Swa that he with hym thar had then Weill may then wes the Scottis men) 450 He held his way up till ane hill, And said; “Lordyngis, it war my will “Till mak end of the gret deray “That Dowglass makis us ilk day. “Bot me think it speidful that we 455 “Abyde, quhill his men scalit be “Throu the cuntre to tak the pray: “Than fersly schute on hym we may, “And we sall have thame at our will.” Thus all thai gaiff consent thar-till, 460 And on the hill abaid huvande. The men fast gadderit of the land, And drew till hym in full gret hy. The Douglas than, that wes worthy, Thoucht it wes foly mair till byde. 465 Toward the hill than can he ryde; And quhen the Nevell saw at thai Wald nocht pass furth to the forray, Bot pressit till thame with thar mycht, He wist weill than that thai wald ficht, 470 And till his menyhe can he say; “Lordingis, now hald we furth our way. “Heir is the flour of this cuntre, “And ma than thai alsua ar we. “Assemmyll we than hardely: 475 “For Douglas with yhon yhemanry, “Sall haf no mycht till us, perfay.” Than in a frusche assemblit thai. Than mycht men heir the speris brast, And men dyng apon othir fast, 480 And blude brist out at woundis wyde. Thai faucht fast apon athir syde; For athir party can thame payne Till put thair fais on-bak agane.
[Sidenote: 1316] The Fight between Douglas and Neville]
The lordis of Nevell and Douglas, 485
Quhen that the fichting fellest was,
Met to-giddir richt in the pres.
Betuix thame than gret bargane wes;
Thai faucht felly with all thair maucht,
Gret rowtis athir till othir raucht. 490
Bot Douglas sterkar wes, I hicht,
And mair usit alsua to ficht,
And he set hert, and will alsua,
For till delyver him of his fa;
Quhill at the last, with mekill mayne, 495
Throu fors the Nevell has he slayne.
Than his ensenyhe he can hye cry,
And on the laiff so hardely
He ruschit, with all his menyhe,
That in-till schort tym men mycht se 500
Thair fayis tak on thame the flicht.
And thai thame chassit with all thar mycht.
Schir Ralf the Nevell, in the chas,
And the Baroun of Hiltoun was
Takin, and othyr of mekill mycht. 505
Thar wes fele slayne in-to that fycht,
That worthy in thar tyme had beyn.
And quhen the feld wes clengit cleyn,
Swa that thair fayis evirilkane
War slayn, or chassit away or tane, 510
Than gert he forray all the land,
And sessit all that evir he fand,
And brynt the townys in thar way;
Syne haill and feir haym cummyn ar thai.
The pray soyne emang his menyhe, 515
Eftir thar meritis, delit he,
And held no thing till his behuf.
Sic dedis aucht till ger men luf
Thair lorde, and swa thai did, perfay.
He tretit thame so wisly ay, 520
And with so mekill luf alsua,
And sic a countenans wald ma
Of thair deid, that the mast coward
Stoutar he maid than a libard;
With cherising thusgat maid he 525
His men wicht, and of gret bounte.
[506: C That wes slayn thair in-to the ficht (S), which does not seem to explain the context.]
[Sidenote: 1316] The English dread of Douglas]
Qwhen Nevell thus wes broucht to ground,
And of Cailow Schir Edmound,
The dreid of the lorde Dowglas,
And his renoun, swa scalit was 530
Throu-out the marchis of Ingland,
That all that war thar-in duelland
Thai dred him as the devill of hell.
And yheit haf I herd oftsis tell,
That he so gretly dred wes than 535
That quhen wiffis wald thar childir ban,
Thai wald with rycht ane angry face,
Beteche thaim “to the blak Dowglas.”
*For, with thair taill, he wes mair fell
*Than wes ony devill in hell.
Throu his gret worschip and bounte,
Swa with his fayis dred wes he 540
That thaim growyt till heir his name.
He may at eis now duell at hame
A quhile, for I trow he sall nocht
With fais all a quhile be socht.
Now let him in the Forest be: 545
Of him no mair spek will we.
Bot of Schir Edward the worthy,
That with all his gude chevelry,
Wes at Cragfergus yheit liand,
To spek mair will we tak on hand. 550
[528: C Calyheoun (S). H Calhow. C Ewmond. H Edmound.
Names in text from E.]
[*539, *540: In C only. These lines seem to be a repeat of 533, 534.]
[541: C grevit (S). H groowed. E H give the more effective term--shuddered.]
BOOK XVI.
Here passed in Ireland the noble King
To his brother with great gathering.
Quhen Schir Edward, as I tald air,
Had discumfit Richard of Clair,
And of Irland all the barnage
Thris, throu his worthy vassalage,
And syne with all his men of mayne 5
Till Cragfergus wes cummyn agayn,
The gud Erll of Murreff, Thomas,
Tuk leiff in Scotland for till pas.
And he hym levit with a gruching,
And syne him chargit to the King, 10
Till pray him specialy that he
Suld cum in Irland him to se.
For, war thai bath in-to that land,
Thai suld fynd nane suld thaim withstand.
The Erll furth than his way has tane, 15
And till his schippes is he gane,
And salit out weill our the se,
In Scotland soyne arivit he.
Syne to the king he went in hy:
And he resavit hym gladsumly; 20
And sperit of his brotheris fair,
And of journeis that he had thair;
And he him tald all but lesyng.
Quhen the King had left spering,
His charge to the gud king tald he. 25
And he said, he wald blithly se
His brothir, and als all the effeire
Of that cuntre and of thar were.
A gret menyhe than gaderit he:
And twa lordis of gret bounte, 30
The tane the Steward Walter was,
The tothir, James of Dowglas,
Wardanis in his absens maid he,
For till manteym weill the cuntre.
Syne to the se he tuk his way; 35
And at Lowchryan in Galloway
He schippit, with all his menyhe;
Till Cragfergus soyne cummyn is he.
Schir Edward of his com wes blith,
And went down for to meit him swith, 40
And welcummyt him with gladsum cher:
Sa did he all that with him wer;
And specialy the Erll Thomas
Of Murreff, that his nevo was.
Syne to the castell went thai thar, 45
And maid thame mekill fest and far.
Thai sojournyt thair dayis thre
In gret myrth and in rialte.
[16: E shipping.]
[46: C He maid (S). E H And maid.]
[47, 52: C sudjornyt (S).]
[48: E And that in myrth and jolyte. H royaltie.]
How King Robert the Bruce passed in Ireland with his brother Edward.
[Sidenote: 1316] The Month of May]
King Robert, apon thiskyn wis, In-till Irland arivit is: 50 And quhen in Cragfergus had he With his men sojournyt dais thre, Thai tuk to consell that thai wald, With all thar folk, thar wayis hald Throu all Irland, fra end to othir. 55 Schir Edward than, the Kingis brothir, Befor in the avaward raid; The Kyng him-self the reirward maid, That had in-till his cumpany The Erll Thomas, that wes worthy. 60 Thair wayis furthwarde haf thai tane, And soyne are passit Inderwillane. This wes in the moneth of May, Quhen byrdis syngis on the spray; Melland thair notys with sydry sowne, 65 For softnes of that sweit sesoune; And levis on the branchis spredis, And blomys bricht besyd thame bredis And feldis florist ar with flowris Well savourit, of seir colowris; 70 And all thing worthis blith and gay; Quhen that this gud king tuk his way To ryd furthward, as I said are. The wardane than, Richard of Clare, Wist the Kyng wes arivit swa, 75 And wist that he schupe for till ta His way toward the south cuntre. Of all Irland assemblit he Bath burges and chevalry And hobilleris and yhumanry; 80 Quhill he had neir fourty thousand. Both he wald nocht yheit tak on hand With all his fayis in field to ficht, But umbethoucht him of a slicht; That he with all that gret menyhe 85 Wald in a wode enbuschit be, And prevely besyde the way, Quhar at thar fayis suld pas away, And let the vaward pas fer by, And syne assemmyll hardely 90 On the reirward, with all thar men. Thai did as thai devisit then. In a wode thai enbuschit wer: The Scottis hoost raid by thame nere; For thai na schawing of thame maid. 95 Schir Edward weill fer forrouth raid With thame that war of his menyhe; To the reirward na tent tuk he.
[61: E southwart. H fordward.]
[64: E in ilk spray. H on ilk.]
[65: E H seymly.]
[69: E ar strowyt. H strowed ar.]
[70: E saverand. H savouring.]
[73: E southwart. H southward.]
[79, 80: C gives--
_Till him a full gret chevelry
Of squyaris, burges and yhemanry_ (S).
But burgesses and yeomanry would not be chevelry, and H agrees with E.]
And Schir Richard of Clare in hy,
Quhen Schir Edward wes passit by, 100
Send wicht yhomen, that weill couth schut,
To bikkir the reirward apon fut.
Than twa of thame that send furth war
At the wode-syde thame bykkirrit thar,
And schot emang the Scottis men. 105
The King, that had thar with him then
Five thousand wicht and ek hardy,
Saw thai twa sa abaundonly
Schut emang thaim, and cum so neir;
He wist richt weill, withouten weir, 110
That thai weill neir suppowal had.
Tharfor a bydding has he mad,
That no man suld be so hardy
Till prik till thame, but sarraly
Ryde reddy ay in-till battale, 115
Till defend gif men wald assale.
“For we sall soyne, I undirta,”
He said, “haf for till do with ma.”
[Sidenote: 1317] Bruce strikes Sir Colin Campbell]
Bot Schir Colyne Cammell, that ner
Wes by quhar thai twa yhomen wer, 120
Schutand emang thame hardely,
Prikit on thame in full gret hy,
And soyne the tane he has our-tane,
And with his sper him soyne has slayne.
The tothir turnyt and schot agayne, 125
And at a schot his hors has slayne.
With that the King come hastely,
And, in his gret malancoly,
With ane trunsione in-till his nave
To Schir Colyne sic dusche he gave, 130
That he dynnyt on his arsoune.
The King bad smertly tyt hym doune,
Bot othir lordis, that war him by,
Ameyssyt the King in sum party.
He said, “The breking of bydding 135
“Micht caus be of discomfiting.
“Weyn yhe yhon rebaldis durst assale
“Us so neir, in-till our battale,
“Bot gif thai had suppowale neir?
“I wat richt weill, forouten weir, 140
“That we sall have till do in hy;
“Tharfor luk ilk man be reddy.”
With that weill neir thretty and ma
Of bowmen com, and bykkyrrit swa
That thai hurt of the Kyngis men. 145
The King has gert his archeris then
Schute for till put thaim than agayne.
With that thai enterit in ane playne,
And saw arayit agane thame stand,
In four battellis, fourty thousand. 150
[134: C Avisit (S). H Hes meased.]
[Sidenote: 1317] Success of the Scots]
The king said, “Now, lordingis, lat se
“Quha worthy in this ficht sall be.
“On thame forouten mair abaid!”
So stoutly than on thame thai raid,
And assemblit so hardely 155
That of thair fayis a gret party
War laid at erd at thar meting.
Thar wes of speris sic bristing,
As athir apon othir raid,
That it a weill gret frusche has maid. 160
Hors com thair fruschand, hed for hed,
Swa that feill on the grund fell ded.
Mony a wycht and worthy man,
As athir apon othir ran,
War duschit ded doune to the ground; 165
The rede blude out of mony a wound
Ruschit in sa gret fusioune than,
That of the blude the stremes ran.
And thai, that wrath war and angry,
Dang on othir so hardely, 170
With wapnys that war bricht and bar,
That mony a wicht man ded wes thar.
For thai that hardy war and wicht,
And frontly with thar fayis can ficht,
Pressit thame formast for till be. 175
Thair mycht men cruell bargane se,
And hard battall, I tak on hand.
In all the weir of Irland
So hard ane fichting wes nocht seyne:
The-quhethir of gret victoris nynteyne 180
Schir Edward had, withouten wer,
In-till les than in-to thre yheir;
And in syndry battelis off thai
He vencust twenty thousand and ma,
With trappit hors richt to the feit. 185
Bot in all tymis he wes yheit
Ay ane for fyve, quhen lest wes he,
Bot the Kyng, in-to this melle,
Had allwayis aucht of his famen
For ane, bot he swa bar him then, 190
That his gud deid and his bounte
Confortit swa all his menyhe,
That the mast coward hardy wes.
For, quhar he saw the thykkest pres,
So hardely on thame he raid, 195
That ay about hym rowme he maid.
And Erll Thomas, the worthy,
Wes in all tymis neir hym by,
And faucht as he war in a rage;
Swa that, throu thar gret vassalage, 200
Thar men sic hardyment can tak,
That thai no perell wald forsak;
Bot thame abaundonyt so stoutly,
And dang on thame so hardely,
That all thair fayis afrayit war. 205
And thai, that saw weill, be thair fair,
That thai eschewit sumdeill the ficht,
Thai dang on thame with all thar mycht,
And pressit thame dyngand so fast, *209
*That thai the bak gaf at the last,
*And thai, that saw thaim tak the flicht,
Pressit thame than with all thar mycht, *212
And in thair fleying feill can sla.
The Kingis men has chasit swa, 210
That thai war scalit evirilkane.
Richard of Clare the way has tane
To Devillyng, in full gret hy,
With othir lordis that fled him by,
And warnyst bath castell and townys 215
That war in thair possessiownis.
[177: C I undirstand (S). E H tak on hand.]
[178: C In-til (S). S also inserts all, which C omits here, but inserts before Irland, which it gives as Ingland. C is clearly defective.]
[*197, *198:
_That he slew all he might ourtak
And rudely rushed them abak._--In H only.]
[184: E xxx. H twentie.]
[206: C by thair (S).]
[*209-*212: In C H, not in E; owing to occurrence of two mychts.]
Thai war so felly fleyit thar,
That, as I trow, Richard of Clar
Sall haf no will to faynd hys mycht
In battell, na in fors of fycht, 220
Quhill King Robert and his menyhe
Is duelland in-to that cuntre.
Thai stuffit strynthis on this wis;
And the King, that wes sa till pris,
Saw in the feild richt mony slayn. 225
And ane of thame that thar wes tane,
That wes arayit jolely,
He saw greit wondir tendirly,
And askit him quhy he maid sic cher:
He said him, “Schir, forouten wer, 230
“It is no wonder thouch I grete,
“I se feill heir fellit to fete,
“The flour of all north Irland,
“That hardyest wes of hert and hand,
“And mast doutit in hard assay.” 235
The King said, ‘Thou has wrang, perfay;
‘Thou has mair caus myrthis till ma,
‘For thou the ded eschapit swa.’
[229: C He askit (S).]
[232: E lossyt the suet. H slain at my feete.]
[Sidenote: 1317] The King and the Laundress]
Rychard of Clare on this maner, And all his folk, discumfit wer, 240 With few folk, as I to yhow tald. And quhen Edward the Bruce so bald, Wist at the King had fouchten swa, With sa feill folk, and he thar-fra, Micht no man se ane wrathar man. 245 Bot the gude King said till hym than, That it wes in his awn foly, For he raid sa unwittandly So fer befor, and no avaward Maid to thame of the reirward, 250 For, he said, quha on were wald ryde In the vaward, he suld na tyde Press fra his rerward fer of sycht; For gret perell so fall thair mycht. Of this ficht will we spek no mair. 255 The King, and all that with him war, Raid furthwarde in-to bettir aray, And neir to-giddir than ere did thai. Throu all the land planly thai raid; Thai fand nane that thame warnyng maid. 260 Thai raid evin forrouth Drouchyndra, And forrouth Devilling syne alsua: Bot to gif battale nane thai fand. Syne thai went forthwarde in the land, And sowth till Lynrike held their way, 265 That is the southmast toune, perfay, That in Irland may fundyn be. Thair lay thai dayis twa or thre, And buskit syne agane to fare. And quhen that thai all reddy war, 270 The King has herd ane woman cry, He askit quhat that wes in hy. “It is ane landar, schir,” said ane, “That hir childyne richt now has tane; “And mon leve now behynd us her, 275 “Tharfor scho makis yhon evill cher.” The King said; ‘Certis, it war pite ‘That scho in that poynt left suld be; ‘For certis, I trow, thar is no man ‘That he ne will rew a woman than.’ 280 His host all than arestit he, And gert ane tent soyne stentit be, And gert her gang in hastely, And othir women till be hir by, Quhill scho delyver wes, he bad; 285 And syne furth on his wayis raid; And how scho furth suld caryit be, Or evir he fure, than ordanit he. This wes a full gret curtasy, That sic a Kyng and swa mychty, 290 Gert his men duell on this maner Bot for a full pouir laynder. Northward agane thai tuk the way, Throu all Irland thus passit thai, Throw Conage richt to Devilling, 295 And throu all Myth, and Irell syne, And Monester, and Lenester, And syne haly throu Ullister, To Cragfergus, forout battell; For thar wes nane durst thame assale. 300 The kingis than of the Eryschrye Come to Schir Edwarde halely; And thair manrent till him ma, Bot gif that it war ane or twa. Till Cragfergus thai come agane; 305 In all that way wes no bargane, Bot gif that ony punyhe wer, That is nocht for till spek of her. The Erische kyngis than evirilkane Hayme till thar awne repar ar gane, 310 And undirtuk in all-kyn thyng For till obeys till the biddyng Of Schir Edward, that thar king call thai. He wes weill set now in gud way To conquest the land all halely; 315 For he had apon his party The Eryschry and Ullister, And he wes swa furth of his wer That he was passit throu all Irland, Fra end till end throu strynth of hand. 320 Couth he haf governit hym throu skill, And fallowit nocht to fast his will, Bot with mesour haf led his deid, It wes weill lik, withouten dreid, That he mycht haff conquerit weill 325 The land of Irland everilk deill. Bot his outrageous succudry And will, that mar wes than hardy, Of purpos letit hym, perfay, As I heir-eftir sall yhow say. 330
[260: E obstakill maid.]
[264: E southwart.]
[265: E rycht till.]
[265: C Lunyk (S). E Kynrike. H Lynrike. In Anderson’s edition we find Lymrik.]
[280: C up-on woman (S). H like E.]
[293: E H lavender.]
[295: E Connach. H Connoch.]
[296: E Methy. H Mich. E Iereby. H Irrelle.]
How the Good Douglas slew the Earl Richmond of England.
[Sidenote: APRIL 1317] Douglas at Lintalee]
Now leiff we heir the nobill King All at his eis, and his liking, And spek we of the lord Douglas, That left to kep the marchis was. He gert get wrichtis that wes sle, 335 And in the hawch of Lyntoun-le He gert thame mak a fair maner. And quhen the housis biggit wer, He gert purvay him richt weill thar; For he thoucht for till make infair, 340 And till mak gud cher till his men. In Rychmond wes thar wonnand then Ane Erll men callit Schir Thomas. He had invy at the Dowglas, And said, gif that he his baner 345 Micht se displayit apon wer, That soyn assemble on it suld he. He herd how Dowglas thoucht to be At Lyntoun-le ane fest till ma. And he had wittyng weill alsua, 350 That the King and a gret menyhe, War passit than of the cuntre, And the Erll of Murref, Thomas. Tharfor he thoucht the cuntre was Febill of men for till withstand 355 Men that thame soucht with stalward hand: And of the marchis than had he The governale, and the pouste. He gaderit folk about hym then, Quhill he wes neir ten thousand men, 360 And wode-axis gert with hym tak; For he thoucht he his men wald mak Till hew doune Jedward forest cleyne, That na tre suld tharin be seyne.
[336: E Lyntaile. H Lyntalle.]
[Sidenote: APRIL, 1317] Douglas slays Richmond]
Thai held thaim furthward on thar way; 365
Bot the gud lord of Dowglas ay
Had spyis out on ilka syde,
And had gud witting that thai wald ryde,
And cum apon hym suddanly.
Than gaderit he richt hastely 370
Thame that he mycht of his menyhe.
I trow that than with hym had he
Fifty, that worthy war and wicht,
At all poynt armyt weill and dicht;
And of archeris a gret menyhe 375
Assemblit als with hym had he.
A place thar was thar in the way,
Quhar he wist weill thai wald away,
That had wode apon athir syde;
The entre wes weill large and wyde; 380
And as ane schelde it narrowit ay
Quhill that, in-till ane place, the way
Wes nocht a penny-stane cast of breid.
The lord of Douglas thidder yheid,
Quhen he wist thai war neir cumand, 385
And in a clewch on the ta hand,
All his archeris enbuschit he,
And bad thame hald thame all preve
Quhill that thai herd him rais the cry,
And than suld thai schute hardely 390
Emang thar fayis, and hald thame thar
Quhill that he throu thame passit war;
And syne with him furth hald suld thai.
Than byrkis on athir syde the way,
That yhoung and thik wes growand ner, 395
He knyt to-giddir on sic maner,
That men mycht nocht weill throu thame ryde.
Quhen this wes done, he can abyde
Apon the tothir half the way:
And Richmond in-till gude aray 400
Com rydand in the first escheill.
The lorde Dowglas has seyn him weill,
And gert his men all hald thame still,
Quhill richt at hand thai com thame till
And enterit in the narrow way. 405
Than with a schout on thame schot thai,
Cryand on hicht, “Douglas! Douglas!”
Than Richmonde, that rycht worthy was,
Quhen he has herd sa ris the cry,
And Dowglas baner saw planly, 410
He dressit him thiddir-ward in hy.
And thai come on sa hardely,
That thai throu thame maid thame gud way;
All at thai met till erd bar thai.
The Richmond borne doune thar was; 415
On hym arestit the Dowglas,
And him reversit, syne with a knyff
Richt in that place hym reft the liff.
Ane hat apon his helm he bare,
And that tuk Douglas with him thar 420
In taknyng, for it furrit was.
And syne in hy his way he tais,
Quhill in the wode thai enterit war.
The archeris weill has borne thame thar;
For weill and hardely schot thai. 425
The Inglis rout in gret effray
War set, for Douglas suddandly,
With all thame of his cumpany,
Or evir thai wist, war in thar rout,
And thrillit thame weill neir throuout; 430
And had almast all done his deid,
Or thai till help thame couth take hede.
[391: E and sow thaim sair. H saile them saire.]
[401: C battale (S). H eshell.]
[402: C seyn weill all (S). H as E.]
[408: Rycht is from H alone (S).]
And quhen thai saw thar lord wes slayne,
Thai tuk him up, and turnyt agayne
Till draw thame fra the schot away. 435
Than in ane playne assemblit thai;
And, for thar lord that thar wes ded,
Thai schupe thame in that ilke sted
For till take herbery all that nycht.
And than the Douglas, that wes wicht, 440
Gat wittering that ane clerk, Elys,
With weill thre hundreth enymys,
All straucht till Lyntoun-le war gane,
And herbery for thair host had tane.
