The Bruce 11The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 8)
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Fiction · Historical Fiction
The Bruce 11
The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 8)
BarbourEnglish
Than thiddir is he went in hy, 445
With all thame of his cumpany,
And fand clerk Elis at the met,
And all his rout about him set.
And thai com on thaim stoutly thair,
And with suerdis that scharply schar 450
Thai servit thame full egyrly.
Thai war slayn doune so halely,
That thar weill neir eschapit nane;
Thai servit thame in sa gret wayne
With scherand swerdis and with knyvis, 455
That weill neir all lesyt thar livis.
Thai had ane felloune entremas,
For that surcharge to chargeand was!
Thai that eschapit thair throu cas
Richt till thar host thar wayis tais, 460
And tald how that thar men war slayne
So cleyne that neir eschapit nane.
And quhen thai of the host has herd
How that the Dowglas with thame ferd,
That had thar herbreouris all slayne, 465
And ruschit als thame-self agane,
And slew thar lord in-myd thar rowt,
Ther wes nane of thame all sa stowt,
That mair will had than till assale
The Dowglas; tharfor till consale 470
Thai yheid, and till purpos has tane
Till wend hamward, and haym ar gane;
And sped thame swa apon thair way,
That in Ingland soyne cummyn ar thai.
The forest left thai standand still; 475
Till hew it than thai had no will:
And specialy quhill the Dowglas
So neir hand by thair nychtbour was.
And he, that saw thame turn agane,
Persavit weill thar lord wes slane, 480
And by the hat that he had tane
He wist alsua weill; for ane,
That takyn wes, said him suthly,
That the Richmond commonly
Wes wount that furrit hat to were. 485
Than Dowglas blithar wes than ere;
For he weill wist that the Richmond,
His felloune fa, wes broucht to ground.
[434: C and went (S). H turned.]
[449: C on hym (S). H as E.]
[Sidenote: 1317] Three Feats by Fifty Men]
Schir James of Dowglas, on this wis, Throu his worschip and gret empris, 490 Defendit worthely the land. This poynt of weir, I tak on hand, Wes undirstane so apertly, And eschevit richt hardely. For he stonayit, withouten weir, 495 The folk that weill ten thousand weir, With fifty armyt men but ma. I can als tell yhow othir twa Poyntis, that weill eschevit weir With fifty men; and, but all weir, 500 Thai war done swa richt hardely, *501 *That thai war prisit soveranly, *Atour all othir poyntis of wer That in thar tym eschevit wer. *504 This wes the first, that sa stoutly Wes broucht till end weill with fifty. In Galloway the tothir fell; Quhen, as yhe forrouth herd me tell, Schir Edward the Bruys, with fifty, 505 Vencust of Saint Johne Schir Amery, And fifteene hundreth men be tale. The thrid fell in-to Eske-dale, Quhen that Schir Jhone the Sowlis was The governour of all that plas, 510 That to Schir Androu the Herdclay With fifty men withset the way, That had thar in his cumpany Thre hundreth horsit jolely. This Schir Jhone in-to plane melle, 515 Throu hardyment and soverane bounte Vencust thame sturdely ilkane, And Schir Androu in hand has tane. I will nocht rehers all the maner; For quha sa likis, thai may heir 520 Yhoung women, quhen thai will play, Syng it emang thame ilke day. Thir war the worthy poyntis thre, That, I trow, evirmar sall be Prisit, quhill men may on thaim meyn. 525 It is weill worth, forouten weyn, That thar namys for evirmar, That in thar tyme so worthy war That men till heir yheit has dantee Of thair worschip and gret bounte, 530 Be lestand ay furth in lovyng: Quhare he, that is of hevyn the king, Bring thame hye up till hevynnis blis, Quhar alway lestand loving is!
[*501-*504: Not in E. In C H.]
[505: C Brys (S).]
[507: E fyfty. H fifteene. C xv (S).]
[Sidenote: 1317] An English Fleet in the Forth]
In-till this tyme that the Rychmond 535
Was on this maner broucht to ground,
Men of the cost of Ingland,
That duelt on Hummyr or neirhand,
Gaderit thame a gret menyhe,
And went with schippes to the se, 540
And toward Scotland went in hy,
And in the Firth com hastely.
Thai wend till haf all thar liking:
For thai wist richt weill at the King
Wes than fer out of the cuntre, 545
And with him mony of gret bounte.
Tharfor in-to the Firth com thai
And endlang it up held thai thar way,
Quhill thai, besyde Enverkethyne,
On west half, toward Dunfermlyne, 550
Tuk land, and fast begouth to reif.
The Erll of Fiff and the schirreff
Saw till thar cost schippes approachand:
Thai gaderit till defend thair land,
And ay forgane the schippis ay, 555
As thai salit, thai held thar way,
And thoucht till let thame land to tak,
And quhen the schipmen saw thame mak
Sie contenans in sic aray,
Thai said emang thaim all, that thai 560
Wald nocht let for thame land to ta,
Than to the land thai sped thame swa,
That thai com thair in full gret hy
And arivit full hardely.
The Scottis men saw thair cummyng, 565
And had of thame sic abasyng,
That thai all sammyn raid thame fra,
And the land letles leit thame ta.
Thai durst nocht fecht with thame, for-thi
Thai withdrew thame all halely; 570
The-quhethir thai war fyve hundreth ner.
Quhen thai away thus ridand wer,
And na defens begouth to schop,
Of Dunkelden the gude bischop,
That men callit Willyhame Syncler 575
Com with a rout in gud manere,
I trow on hors thai war sexty.
Hym-self wes armyt jolely,
And raid apon a stalward steid.
A chemeyr, for till heill his weid, 580
Above his armyng had he then;
And als weill armyt wes his men.
The Erll with the schirreff met he,
Awayward with thar gret menyhe:
And askyt thame weill soyn, quhat hy 585
Maid thame till turne so hastely.
Thai said, thair fais with stalward hand
Had in sic fusioune takyne land,
That thai thoucht thame allout to fele,
And thame to few with thame to dele. 590
Quhen the bischop herd it wes sa,
He said; “The King aucht weill to ma
“Of yhow, that takis sa weill on hand
“In his absens till wer the land.
“Certis, gif he gert serve yhow weill, 595
“The gilt spuris, richt by the heill,
“He suld in hy ger hew yhow fra;
“Richt wald with cowardis men did swa.
“Quha lufis his lord and his cuntre,
“Turne smertly now agane with me!” 600
With that he kest of his chemer,
And hynt in hand a stalward sper,
And raid toward his fayis in hy.
All turnyt with hym halely;
For he had thame reprevit swa, 605
That of thame all nane went him fra.
He raid befor thame sturdely,
And thai hym followyt sarraly,
Quhill that thai com neir approchand
To thar fais that had tane land. 610
And sum war knyt in gud aray,
And sum war set to the forray.
[548: C endlang furth held thai thar way. E it up held thai. H _it held up their way_.]
[549: E Enverkething.]
[550: E Dunferling.]
[Sidenote: 1317] The Wonderful Feat of an Englishman]
The gud bischop, quhen he thame saw,
He said; “Lordingis, but dreid or aw,
“Prek we apon thame hardely, 615
“And we sall haf thame weill lichtly,
“Se thai us cum but abaysing,
“Swa that we mak heir na stynting,
“Thai sall weill soyne discumfit be.
“Now dois weill; for men sall se, 620
“Quha lufis the Kyngis mensk to-day.”
Than all to-giddir in gud aray
Thai prekit apon thame sturdely.
The bischop, that wes richt hardy
And mekill and stark, raid forrouth ay. 625
Than in a frusche assemblit thai.
And thai that, at the first metyng
Of speris, feld so sair sowing,
Wayndist and wald haf beyn away;
Toward thar schippis in hy held thai, 630
And thai com chassand felonly,
And slew thame sa dispitfully,
That all the feldis strowit war
Of Inglis men that slayn wes thar.
And thai that yheit held unslayn, 635
Pressit thame to the se agane.
And Scottis men, that chassit swa,
Slew all that thai mycht our-ta.
Bot thai that fled yheit, nocht-for-thi,
Swa till thar schippis can thame hy, 640
And in sum bargis sa feill can ga,
And thair fais thame chasit swa,
That thai ourtummyllit, and the men
That war thar-in all drownit then.
Thar did ane Inglis man, perfay, 645
A weill gret strynth, as I herd say.
For quhen he chassit wes to the bat,
A Scottis man, that him handlyt hat,
He hynt than by the armys twa;
And, war him weill or war him wa, 650
He evin apon his bak hym flang,
And with hym till the bat can gang,
And kest him in, all magre his.
This wes ane weill gret strynth, i-wis.
The Inglis men, that wan away, 655
Till thair schippes in hy went thai.
And salit hayme, angry and wa
That thai had beyn reboytit swa.
How Good King Robert the Bruce came Home again from
Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1318] King Robert returns from Ireland]
Qwhen that the schipmen on this wis War discumfit, as I devis, 660 The bischop, that so weill hym bare That he all hertit that was thar, Wes yheit in-to the fechting-sted, Quhar that fyve hundreth neir wes ded, Forouten thame that drownyt war. 665 And quhen the feld wes spulyheit bare, Thai went all hayme to thar repare. To the bischop is fallen faire, That, throu his pris and his bounte, Has eschevit sa gret journee; 670 The Kyng tharfor, ay fra that day, Hym lufit, honorit and prisit ay, And held hym in-to sic daynte That “his awne bischop” him callit he. Thus thai defendit the cuntre 675 Apon bath halfis the Scottis Se, Quhill that the King wes out of land, That than, as I have borne on hand, Throu all Irland his cours had maid, And agane to Cragfergus raid. 680 And quhen his brothir, as he war King, Had all Erischry at his bidding, And halely Ulcister alsua, He buskit hame his way to ta. Of his men that war mast hardy 685 And prisit of all chevelry, With his brothir gret part left he, And syne he went on-to the se. Quhen thair levis on athir party Wes tane, he went to schip in hy. 690 The Erll Thomas with him he had; Thai rasit salys but abaid, And in the land of Gallowa, Forouten perell, arivit thai.
BOOK XVII.
The Winning of the Town of Berwick by the Scots Men, through the Means of Sim of Spalding.
The lordis of the land wes fayne
Quhen thai wist he wes cummyn agane,
And till him went in full gret hy,
And he resavit thame richt gladly,
And maid a fest and gladsum cher. 5
And thai so wondirly blith wer
Of his come, that na toung mycht say;
Gret fest and fair till him maid thai.
Quhar-evir he raid, all the cuntre
Gaderit in daynte him to se. 10
Gret gladschip than wes in the land;
All than wes wonnyne till his hand;
Fra Redis Swyr till Orkynnay
Wes nocht of Scotland fra his fay,
Outaken Berwik it allane. 15
That tyme thar-in wonnyt ane,
That capitane wes of the toune.
All Scottis men in suspicioune
He held, and tretit thame richt ill;
He had ay at thame hevy will, 20
And had thame fast at undir ay.
Quhill that it fell, apon a day,
That a burges, Sym of Spaldyng,
Thoucht it wes richt ane angry thing
Ay swagat till reboytit be; 25
Tharfor in-till his hert thoucht he,
That he wald slely mak covyne
With the marschall, quhais cosyne
He had weddit on-till his wiff;
And as he thoucht he did beliff. 30
Letteris till him he send in hy
With a trast man all prevaly;
And set hym tym to cum a nycht
With ledderis and gud men and wicht,
Till the Kow-yhet all prevely; 35
And bad him hald his trast treuly,
And he suld meit thame at the wall;
For his wach thar that nycht suld fall.
Quhen the marschall the letteris saw,
He umbethoucht him than a thraw; 40
For he wist, be him-selvin he
Micht nocht of mycht na power be
For till escheve so gret a thing:
And gif he tuk till his helping,
Ane or othir suld wrethit be. 45
Tharfor richt till the King yheid he,
And schawit him betuix thai twa
The lettir and the charge alsua.
Quhen that the King herd that this trane
Wes spokin in-to sic certane, 50
That him thoucht thar-in na fantys,
He said him; “Certis, thou wroucht has wis,
“That thou discoverit first till me;
“For gif thou had discoverit thee
“Till my nevo, the Erll Thomas, 55
“Thou suld disples the lord Douglas;
“And him alsua in the contrer.
“Bot I sall wirk on sic maner,
“That thou at thine entent sall be,
“And have of nane of thame magre. 60
“Thou sall tak kep weill to thi day,
“And with thame that thou purches may
“At evin thou sall enbuschit be
“In Duns park; bot be preve.
“And I sall ger the Erll Thomas, 65
“And the lord alsua of Dowglas,
“Athir with ane quheyne of men,
“Be thair till do as thou sall ken.”
[33: C at (S). H ane. E a.]
[Sidenote: APRIL, 1318] The Scots enter Berwick secretly]
The marschall than but mair delay
Tuk lief, and held on furth his way; 70
And held the spek preve and still,
Quhill the day that wes set him till.
Than of the best of Lowdyane
He with him till his trist has tane;
For schirreff thar-off than wes he. 75
Till Duns park with his menyhe
He come at evyn all prevely.
And syne, with a gude cumpany,
Soyne eftir come the Erll Thomas,
That wes met with the lord Douglas. 80
A richt fair cumpany thai war,
Quhen thai war met to-giddir thar.
And quhen the marschall the covyne
Till bath the lordis, lyne be lyne,
Had tald, thai went on furth thar way; 85
Fer fra the toune thar hors left thai.
Till mak it schort, swa thai wroucht than
That, but seying of ony man,
Outane Sym of Spaldyne allane,
That gert the deid be undirtane, 90
Thai set thair ledderis to the wall,
And, but persaving, com up all;
And held thame in ane nuke preve,
Quhill at the nycht suld passit be.
And ordanit that the mast party 95
Of thair men suld gang sarraly
With thar lordis, and hald a staill,
And the remanand suld all haill
Scaill throu the toun, and tak and sla
The men that thai mycht our-ta. 100
[Sidenote: APRIL, 1318] The Bravery of Sir William Keith]
Bot soyn thar ordinans brak thai;
For, als soyn as it dawit day,
The twa part of thair men and ma,
All scalit, throu the toun to-ga;
Sa gredy war thai till the gude, 105
That thai ran richt as thai war woude,
And sesit housis and slew men.
And thai that saw thair fais then
Cum apon thame suddanly,
Throu-out the toun thai rasit the cry, 110
And schot to-gidder heir and thair:
And ay, as thai assemblit war,
Thai wald abyde and mak debat.
Had thai beyn warnyt, weill I wat,
Thai suld haf sald thair dedis der; 115
For thai war gud men, and thai wer
Fer ma than thai war at thame soucht;
Bot thai war scalit sa at thai moucht
On na maner assemblit be.
Thar wes gret melleis twa or thre; 120
Bot Scottis men so weill thame bar
That thair fais ay ruschit war;
And cumrayit at the last war swa
That thai haly the bak can ta.
Sum gat the castell, bot nocht all; 125
And sum ar slyddin our the wall,
And sum war in-to handis tane,
And sum war in the bargane slane.
On this wis thame contenit thai,
Quhill it wes neir noyne of the day; 130
Than thai that in the castell war,
And othir that fled to thame thar,
That war a richt gret cumpany,
Quhan thai the baner saw sympilly
Swa standand, stuffit with sa quhoyn, 135
Thar yhettis haf thai opnyt soyn,
And yschit on thame hardely.
Than Erll Thomas, that wes worthy
And als the gude lord of Douglas,
With the few folk that with thame was, 140
Met thame stoutly with wapnys seir;
Thar men mycht se, that had beyn neir,
Men abaundoune thame hardely.
The Inglis men faucht cruelly,
And with all mychtis can thame payne 145
Till rusche the Scottis men agane.
I trow thai had swa done, perfay,
For thai war fewar far than thai,
Gif it ne had beyn ane new maid knycht,
That till his name Schyr Wilyhame hicht 150
Of Keth, and of the Gawlistoune
He hecht, throu difference of sur-noune,
That bair him sa rycht weill that day,
And put him till sa hard assay,
And sic dyntis about him dang, 155
That, quhar he saw the thikast thrang,
He prikit with sa mekill mycht,
And sua enforsaly can ficht,
That he maid till his menyhe way:
And thai that neir war by him ay 160
Dang on thair fayis sa hardely,
That thai haf tane the bak haly
And till the castell held thair way.
And at gret myscheiff enterit thai,
For thai war pressit thair so fast, 165
That thai feill lesit of the last;
Bot thai that enterit, nocht-for-thi,
Sparit thair yhettis hastely;
And in hy to the wallis ran,
For thai war nocht all sekir than. 170
The toune wes takyn on this wis Throu gret worschip and hye empris; And all the gud that thai thar fand Wes sesit smertly in-till hand. Vittaill thai fand in gret fusionne, 175 And all that fell till stuff of toune; That kepit that fra distroying, And syne has word send to the King. And he wes of that tithing blith, And sped him thiddirward full swith. 180 And as he throu the cuntre raid Men gaderit till him, quhill he had A mekill rout of worthy men. And the folk that war wonand then In-till the Mers and Tevidaill, 185 And in the Forest als all haill, And the est end of Lowdiane, Befor that the King com, ar gane To Berwik with a stalward hand, That nane that wes that tyme wonand 190 On yhond half Tweid durst weill apeir. And thai that in the castell weir, Quhen thai thair fais in sic plente Saw forrouth thame assemblit be, And had na hope of reskewyng, 195 Thai war abasit in gret thing. Bot thai the castell, nocht-for-thi, Held thai fiff dayis sturdely, Syne yhald it on the sext day, And till thair cuntre syne went thai. 200
[172: C With gret. H Through.]
Here Walter Stewart took of the King
Both town and castle in keeping.
Thus wes the castell and the toune
Till Scottis mennys possessioun
Broucht: and soyn eftir the King
Com ridand with his gadering
Till Berwik; and in the casteill 205
He herbryit is, bath fair and weill
And all his gret lordis hym by.
The remanand all comonly
Till herbry in the toun ar gane.
The King has than till consell tane, 210
That he wald nocht brek doune the wall,
Bot castell, and the toune with-all,
Stuff weill with men and with vittaill
And alkynd othir apparaill
That mycht availl, or yheit mysteir 215
Till hald castell or toune of wer.
And Walter, Steward of Scotland, That than wes yhoung and avenand, And sone-in-law wes to the King, Had sa gret will and sic yharnyng, 220 Neirhand the marchis for till be, At Berwik to yhemsall tuk he; And resavit of the Kyng the toune, Bath the castell and the dungeoune.
[202: C Scottis men (S).]
[Sidenote: 1318] Berwick prepared for Siege]
The king gert men of gret nobillay 225 Ryde in-till Ingland for till pray, That broucht out gret plente of fee; And sum cuntreis trewit he For vittale, that in gret foysoune He gert bring smertly to the toune, 230 Swa that bath toune and castell war Weill stuffit for ane yheir and mair. The gude Steward of Scotland then Send for his frendis and his men, Quhill he had with him, but archeris, 235 But burges and botoblesteris, Fiff hundreth men wicht and worthy, That armys bar of ancistry. Johne Crab, a Flemyne, als had he, That wes of gret subtilite, 240 Till ordane till mak aparale For till defend and till assale Castell of wer or than cite, That nane slear mycht fundin be. He gert engynis and trammys ma, 245 And purvait grec fyre alsua; Spryngaldis and schotis on seir maneris That till defend castell afferis, He purvait in-till full gret wane. Bot gynis for crakkis had he nane; 250 For in Scotland yheit than, but wene, The oys of thame had nocht beyn sene And quhen the toune apon this wis Wes stuffit, as I heir devis, The nobill King his way has tane 255 And ryddin toward Lowiane. And Walter Steward, that wes stout, He left in Berwik with his rout, And ordanit fast for apparaill Till defend gif men wald assaill. 260
[245: C trammys or crammys. E cranys or tranys. H trames. Owing to the similarity of ‘t’ and ‘c’ in MSS. the reading is uncertain.]
[246: For the reason explained above it is doubtful whether we should here read gret or grec--i.e., Greek--probably the latter.]
[Sidenote: AUG.-SEPT., 1319] Berwick beset by Land and Sea]
Qwhen till the King of Ingland Wes tald how that, with stalward hand, Berwik wes tane, and stuffit syne With men and vittale and armyne, He wes anoyit gretumly; 265 And gert assembill hastely His consale, and has tane to rede That he his host wald thiddir leid, And, with all mycht that he mycht get, To the toune ane assege set, 270 And gert dik thame so stalwardly, That, quhill thame likit thair to ly, Thai suld fer out the traster be. And gif the men of the cuntre With strynth of men wald thame assale, 275 At thair dykis in-to battale, Thai suld avantage have gretly, And thouch all suth, for gret foly War till assaill in-to fechting At his dikis so stark a thing. 280 Quhen his consell on this maneir Wes tane, he gert bath fer and neir His host haly assemblit be: A gret folk than with him had he. Of Lancister the Erll Thomas, 285 That syne wes sanctit, as men sais, In-till his cumpany wes thar, And all the erllis als that war In Ingland worthy for to ficht, And baronis als of mekill mycht, 290 With him to that assege had he: And gert the schippes by the se Bring schot and othir apparale, With gret warnysing of vittale. To Berwik with all this menyhe, 295 With his bataillis arayit, come he; And till gret lordis, ilkane syndri, Ordanit ane felde for thar herbry. That men mycht se soyne palyheonis Be stentit on syndry fassownys, 300 So feill that thai a toune maid thair Mair than bath toune and castell war. On othir half syne, on the se, The schippis com in sic plente, With vittale, armyng, and with men, 305 That all the havyn wes stoppit then.
[271: C E gert. H gart. Skeat says these are “all wrong,” and that the proper reading is ger.]
[285: E H Longcastill.]
[296: C vittalis (S). H battels as in E.]
And quhen thai that war in the toune
Saw thair fais in sic foysoune
By land and se cum sturdely,
Thai, as wicht men and richt worthy 310
Schupe thame for till defend thar stede,
That thai in aventur of dede
Suld put thame, or than rusche agane
Thar fais; for thair capitane
Tretit thame sa lusumly, 315
And thar-with-all the mast party
Of thame that armyt with hym wer,
War of his blude and sib him ner,
Or ellis thai war his allye.
Of sic confort men mycht thaim se, 320
And of sa richt fair contenyng,
As nane of thame had abasing.
On dayis arayit weill war thai,
And on the nycht weill wachit ay.
Weill sex dais thai swa abaid, 325
That thai na full gret bargane maid.
[318: C sib men (S).]
How Walter Stewart was assailed in Berwick by the King of England.
In-till this tym that I tell here, That thai withouten bargane wer, The Inglis-men sa closit had Thar host with dikis at thai maid, 330 That thai war strynthit gretumly. Syne with all handis besaly Thai schupe thame with thar apparale Thame of the toune for till assale. And of our Ladeis evin Mary, 335 That bare the byrth that all can by, That men callis hir Nativite, Soyn in the mornyng men mycht se The Inglis host arme thame in hy, And display baneris sturdely; 340 And assemmyll till thar baneris With instrumentis on seir maneris, As scaffaldis, ledderis, and coveryngis, Pykis, howis, and ek staff-slyngis; Till ilk lord and his battale 345 Wes ordanit quhar he suld assale. And thai within, quhen that thai saw That menyhe raynge thame swa on raw, Till thar wardis thai went in hy, That war stuffit rycht stalwardly 350 With stanys, schot, and othir thing That nedit till thair defending: And in-to sic maner abaid Thair fais that till assayl thame maid.
[343: C scaffatis (S). H scaffolds.]
[Sidenote: SEPT. 7, 1319] A Fierce Attack and Defence]
Quhen thai without war all redy, 355
Thai trumpit till ane sawt in hy;
And ilk man with his apparale,
Quhar he suld be, went till assaile.
Till ilk kyrneill that wes thair
Archeris till schute assignit war. 360
And quhen on this wis thai war boune,
Thai went in hy toward the toune,
And fillit dykis richt hastely,
Syne to the wallis hardely
Thai went with ledderis that thai haid; 365
Bot thai so gret defens has maid,
That war abovin apon the wall,
That oft ledderis, and men with-all,
Thai gert fall flatlynges to the grounde.
Than men mycht se in litill stound 370
Men assalyheand richt hardely,
Dressand up ledderis douchtely,
And sum on ledderis pressand war;
Bot thai that on the wall wes thar
Till all perellis can abandoune 375
Thame, till thair fais war doungyn doune.
At gret myschef defendit thai
Thair toune; for, gif we suth sall say,
The wallis of the toune than wer
Sa law, that a man with a sper 380
Micht strike ane othir up in the face.
And the schot als so thik thar was
That it wes wonder for till se.
Walter Steward, with a menyhe,
Raid ay about, for to se quhar 385
That for till help mast myster war:
And quhar men pressit mast, he maid
Succoure till his that myster had.
The mekill folk that wes without
Haid enveronyt the toune about, 390
Swa that na part of it wes fre.
Thar mycht men the assailyheouris se
Abandoune thame richt hardely;
And the defendouris douchtely
With all thar mychtis can thame payne 395
Till put thair fais fors agane.
[Sidenote: SEPT. 7, 1319] The Assault is abandoned]
On this wis thame contenit thai
Quhill noyne wes passit of the day.
Than thai that in the schippes war
Ordanit a schip with full gret far 400
Till cum with all hir apparale
Richt to the wall, for till assale.
Till myd-mast up thair bat thai drew,
With armyt men tharin inew:
A brig thai had for till lat fall 405
Richt fra the bat apon the wall.
With bargis by hir can thai row,
And pressit thame full fast to tow
Hir by the brighous to the wall:
On that entent thai set thame all. 410
Thai broucht hir quhill scho com weill neir:
Than mycht men se on seir maner
Sum men defend, and sum assale
Full besaly with gret travale.
Thai of the toune so weill thame bare, 415
That the schipmen sa handillit war,
That thai the schip on na maner
Mycht ger cum till the wall so neir,
That thar fall-brig mycht reik thar-till,
So lang abaid thai fechtand still 420
Quhill that scho ebbit on the ground;
Than mycht men, in a litill stound,
Se thame be fer of war covyne
Than thai war eir, that war hir in.
And quhen the se wes ebbit sa, 425
That men all dry till hir mycht ga,
Out of the toune yschit in hy
Till hir a weill gret cumpany,
And fyre till hir has kendlyt soyne:
In-till schort tyme swa haf thai done, 430
That thai in fyre has gert hir bryn.
And sum war slayn that war hir in,
And sum fled and away are gane.
Ane engynour thair haf thai tane,
That sleast wes of that mister 435
That men wist outhir fer or ner;
In-to the toun syne enterit thai.
It fell thame happely, perfay,
That thai gat in so hastely;
For thar come a gret cumpany 440
In full gret hy up by the se,
Quhen thai the schip saw byrnand be.
Bot or thai com, the tothir war past,
The yhet thai barrit and closit fast.
That folk assalyheit fast that day, 445
And thai within defendit ay
On sic a wis, that thai that war
With gret enfors assalyheand thar
Mycht do thar will on na maner.
And quhen that evynsang-tym wes neir, 450
The folk without, that wer wery,
And sum woundit full cruelly,
Saw thame within defend thaim swa;
And saw it wes nocht eyth till ta
The toune, with sic defens wes maid 455
By thaim, that it in stering had.
The host saw that thar schip wes brynt,
And of thame that thar-in war tynt,
And thar folk woundit and wery;
Thai gert blaw the retret in hy. 460
Fra the schipmen reboytit war,
Thai let the tothir assale no mar;
For throu the schip thai wend ilkane
That thai the toune weill suld haf tane.
Men sais that ma schippis than swa 465
Pressit that tyme the toune till ta;
Bot for that thar wes brynt bot ane,
And the gynour tharin wes tane.
Now heir tharfor mencione maid I
Bot off a schip all anerly. 470
[420: From C H. E For oucht thai mycht, gud or ill.]
[455: E quhill sik. H while.]
Qwhen thai had blawen the ratret, Thai folk, that tholit had panys gret, Withdrew thame haly fra the wall; The assalt haf thai levit all. And thai within, that wery war, 475 And mony of thame woundit sar, War blith and glad quhen at thai saw Thair fais swagat thame withdraw. And, fra thai wist suthly that thai Held to thair palyheonys thair way, 480 Thai set gud wachis to thar wall; Syne to thar innys went thai all, And esyt thame that wery war. And othir, that war woundit sar, Had lechis gude forsuth, I hicht, 485 That helpit thame as thai best mycht. On athir syde wery war thai; That nycht thai did no mair perfay. Fiff dayis thar-eftir thai war still, That nane till othir did mekill ill. 490
[Sidenote: 1319] The Scots raid England]
Now leiff we thir folk heir liand
All still, as I haf borne on hand,
And turn the cours of our carpyng
Till Schir Robert the douchty King,
That assemblit bath fer and neir, 495
Ane host, quhen that he wist, but weir,
That the king swa of Ingland
Had assegit with stalward hand
Berwik, quhar Walter Steward was.
Till purpos with his men he tais, 500
That he wald nocht sa soyne assale
The King of Ingland with battale,
And at his dykis specially,
For it mycht weill turn to foly.
Tharfor he ordanit lordis twa, 505
The Erll of Murreff wes ane of tha,
The tothir wes the Lord Dowglas,
With fyftene thousand men to pas
In Ingland, for till burn and sla,
And swa gret ryot thar till ma, 510
That thai that lay segande the toune,
Quhen thai herd the distructione,
That thai suld in-till Ingland ma,
Suld be sa dredand, and sa wa
For thair childir and for thair wiffis, 515
That thai suld dreid suld leis thar liffis,
And thar gudis alsua, that thai
Suld dreid than suld be had away,
That thai suld leif the sege in hy,
And wend to reskew hastely 520
Thair gude, thair frendis, and thair land.
Tharfor, as I haf borne on hand,
Thir lordis send he furth in hy;
And thai thair way tuk hastely,
And in Ingland gert byrn and sla, 525
And wroucht tharin so mekill wa
As thai forrayit the cuntre,
That it wes pite for to se
Till thame that wald it ony gude,
For thai distroyit all as thai yhude. 530
So lang thai raid distroyande swa,
As thai traversit to and fra,
That thai ar cummyne till Repoune,
And distroyit haly that toune.
At Burrow-brig syne thar herbry 535
Thai tuk, and at Mytoun thar-by.
[496: C that, quhen (S), but there is no predicate for that.]
And quhen the men of that cuntre
Saw thar land sa distroyit be,
Thai gaderit, in-till full gret hy,
Archeris, burges, with yhemenry, 540
Prestis, clerkis, monkis, and freris,
Husbandis, and men of all mysteris,
Quhill at thai sammyn assemmyllit war
Weill tuenty thousand men and mair.
Richt gud armyng eneuch thai had. 545
The archbischop of York thai maid
Thair capitane; and to consale
Has tane, that thai in playn battale
Wald assale the Scottis men,
That fer fewar than thai war then. 550
Than he displayit his baneir,
And othir bischoppes, that thar wer,
Gert display baneris alsua.
All in a rout furth can thai ga
Toward Mytoune the reddy way; 555
And quhen that Scottis men herd say
That thai war till thame cumand neir,
Thai buskit thame on thar best maneir,
And delit thame in-till battellis twa.
Dowglas the vaward he can ma; 560
The reirward maid the Erll Thomas,
For chiftane of the host he was.
And, sua ordanit in gude aray,
Toward thair fais thai held their way.
Quhen athir had of othir sicht, 565
Thai pressit on bath halfis to ficht.
The Inglis men com on sadly
With gud contenans and hardy,
Rycht in a frount with a baner,
Quhill thai thair fayis com so neir, 570
That thai thar visage weill mycht se.
Thre sper-lynth, I trow weill, mycht be
Betuix thame, quhen sic abasing
Tuk thame, but mar, in-to a swyng,
Thai gaf the bak all, and to-ga. 575
Quhen Scottis men has seyn thame swa
Affrayitly fle all thar way,
In gret hy apon thame schot thai,
And slew and tuk a gret party.
The laiff fled full effrayitly 580
As thai best mycht, to seik warrand.
Thai war chassit so neir at hand,
That weill ane thousand deit thar;
And of thaim yheit thre hundreth war
Prestis, that deit in-to that chas. 585
Tharfor that bargane callit was
“The Chaptour of Mytoune;” for thare
Slayn sa mony prestis ware.
[Sidenote: 1319] The ‘Sow’ and the ‘Crane’]
Qwhen thir folk thus discumfit was, And Scottis men had left the chas, 590 Thai went thame furthwarde in the land Slayand, distroyand, and byrnand, And thai that at the sege lay, Or it wes passit the fift day, Had made thame syndry apparale 595 To gang eftsonis till assale. Of gret gestis ane Sow thai maid, That stalward heling owth it had, With armyt men enew thar-in, And instrumentis als for to myne. 600 Syndry scaffaldis thai maid with-all, That war weill hyar than the wall, And ordanit als that by the se The toune suld weill assalyheit be. And thai within, that saw thame swa 605 So gret apparale schap till ma, Throu Crabbis consale, that wes sle, Ane cren thai haif gert dres up hey Rynand on quhelis, that thai mycht bring It quhar neid war of mast helping. 610 And pik and ter als haf thai tane, And lynt and hardis with brynstane, And dry treis that weill wald brin; And mellit syne athir othir in: And gret flaggatis tharof thai maid, 615 Gyrdit with irne bandis braid. Of thai flaggatis mycht mesurit be Till a gret tunnys quantite. Thai flaggatis byrnand in a baill With thair cren thoucht thai till availl. 620 And gif the Sow come to the wall, Till lat thame byrnand on hir fall, And with ane stark cheyne hald thame thar Quhill all war brint up that thar war. Engynys alsua for till cast 625 Thai ordanit, and maid redy fast, And set ilk man syne till his ward. And Schir Walter, the gude Steward, With armyt men suld ryde about, And se quhar at thar war mast dout; 630 And succur thar with his menyhe. And quhen thai in-to sic degre Had maid thame for thair asaling, On the Rude-evyn, in the dawing, The Inglis host blew till assale. 635 Than mycht men with ser apparale Se that gret host cum sturdely; The toune enveremyt thai in hy, And assalit with sa gud will, For all thair mycht thai set thar-till, 640 That thai thame pressit fast of the toune. Bot thai, that can thame abandoune Till ded, or than till woundis sare, Sa weill has thame defendit thare, That ledderis to the ground thai flang, 645 And with stanys so fast thai dang Thair fais, that feill thai left lyand, Sum ded, sum hurt, and sum swonand.
[601: C scaffatis (S).]
[Sidenote: SEPT. 13, 1319] The ‘Sow’ is smashed]
Bot thai that held on fut in hy
Drew thame away deliverly, 650
And skunnyrrit tharfor na-kyn thing,
Bot went stoutly till assalyng.
And thai abovin defendit ay,
And set thame till so harde assay,
Quhill that feill of thame woundit war: 655
And thai so gret defens maid thar,
That thai styntit thair fais mycht.
Apon sic maner can thai ficht,
Quhill it wes neir noyne of the day;
Than thai without, in gret aray, 660
Pressit thair Sow toward the wall;
And thai within weill soyne gert call
The engynour that takyne was,
And gret manans till him mais;
And swoir that he suld de, bot he 665
Provit on the Sow sic sutelte,
That he to-fruschyt hir ilke deill.
And he, that has persavit weill
That the dede wes weill neir hym till,
Bot gif he mycht fulfill thar will, 670
Thoucht that he all his mycht wald do;
Bendit in gret hy than wes scho,
And till the Sow wes evin set.
In hye he gert draw the cleket,
And smertly swappit out the stane 675
That evyn out-our the Sow is gane,
And behynd hir a litill we
It fell, and than thai cryit hey
That war in hir, “Furth to the wall.
“For dreidles it is ouris all!” 680
The engynour that deliverly
Gert bend the gyne in full gret hy,
And the stane smertly swappit out:
It flaw out, quhedirand, with a rout,
And fell richt evin befor the Sow. 685
Thair hertis than begouth till grow;
Bot yheit than, with thair mychtis all,
Thai pressit the Sow toward the wall,
And has hir set thar-to juntly.
The gynour than gert bend in hy 690
The gyne, and wappyt out the stane,
That evin toward the lift is gane,
And with gret wecht syne duschit doune
Richt by the wall, in a randoune,
And hyt the Sow in sic maner, 695
That it, that wes the mast summer
And starkast for till stynt a strak,
In-sundir with that dusche he brak.
The men ran out in full gret hy,
And on the wallis thai can cry, 700
That thair Sow ferryit wes thair.
Johne Crab, that had his geir all yhar,
In his fagattis has set the fyre,
And our the wall syne can thame vyre,
And brynt the Sow till brandis bair. 705
With all this, fast assalyheand war
The folk without with felloune ficht,
And thai within with mekill mycht
Defendit manfully thar stede,
In-till gret aventur of dede. 710
[689: C juntly (S), but suggesting justly ( = exactly) as right reading. H cunningly. E gentilly.]
[691: C swappit (S).]
The schipmen, with gret apparale,
Com with thair schippes till assale,
With top-castellis warnist weill,
And wicht men armyt in-till steill.
Thair batis up apon thair mastis 715
Drawyn weill hye and festnyt fast is,
And pressit with that gret atour
Toward the wall, bot the gynour
Hit in ane espyne with a stayne,
And the men that war thar-in gane, 720
Sum dede, sum dosnyt, come doun wyndland.
Fra thine-furth durst nane tak on hand
With schippes pres thame to the wall.
Bot the laiff war assalyheand all
On ilka syde sa egyrly, 725
That certis it wes gret ferly,
That thai folk sic defens has maid,
For the gret myscheif that they had.
For thair wallis so law than weir,
That a man richt weill with a sper 730
Micht strik ane othir up in the face,
As eir befor tald till yhow was.
And feill of thame war woundit sare,
And the layf so fast travaland war,
That nane had tume rest for till ta, 735
Thair adversouris assailyheit swa.
[735: E tyme.]
[Sidenote: SEPT. 13, 1319] The Drawbridge is burnt down]
Thai war within sa stratly stad
That thar wardane, that with him had
Ane hundreth men in cumpany
Armyt, that wicht war and hardy, 740
And raid about for till se quhar
That his folk hardest pressit war,
To relief thame that had mister,
Com syndry tymes in placis ser
Quhar sum of the defensouris war 745
All dede, and othir woundit sare;
Swa that he of his cumpany
Behufit to leiff thair party:
Swa that, be he a cours had maid
About, of all the men he had 750
Thar wes levit with him bot ane,
That he ne had thame left ilkane
To releve quhar he saw mister.
And the folk, that assalyheand wer
At Mary-yhet, to-hewyn had 755
The barras, and a fyre had maid
At the draw-brig, and brynt it doune;
And war thringand in gret foysoune
Rycht to the yhet ane fyre till ma.
Than thai within gert smertly ga 760
Ane to the wardane, for till say
How thai war set in hard assay.
And quhen Schir Walter Steward herd
How men sa stratly with thame ferd,
He gert cum of the castell then 765
All that war thar of armyt men,
For thar that day assalyheit nane,
And with that rout in hy is gane
To Mary-yhet, and till the wall
Is went, and saw the myscheif all: 770
And umbethoucht him suddandly
Bot gif gret help war set in hy
Thar-to, thai suld burne up the yhet
That fra the wall thai suld nocht let.
Tharfor apon gret hardyment 775
He suddanly set his entent;
And gert all wyde set up the yhet,
And the fyre that he fand thar-at
With strinth of men he put away.
He set him in full hard assay; 780
For thai that war assalyheand thar
Pressit on hym with wapnys bair,
And he defendit with all his mycht.
Thar mycht men se a felloune sicht,
With staffing, stoking, and striking. 785
Thar maid thai sturdy defending;
For with gret strynth of men the yhet
Thai defendit, and stude thar-at,
Magre thair fais, quhill the nycht
Gert thame on bath halfis leif the ficht. 790
[774: C and H (S). With the fire that he fand thar-at. Seems an anticipation of 778. Text from E.]
[785: E Off stabing.]
Thai of the host, quhen nycht can fall, Fra the assalt with-drew thame all, Woundit, and wery, and forbeft. With mate cher the assalt thai left, And till thar innys went in hy 795 And set thar wachis hastely. The laif thame esit as thai mycht best; For thai had gret myster of rest. That nycht thai spak al comonly Of thame within, and had ferly 800 That thai sa stout defens has maid Agane the gret assalt thai had. And thai within, on othir party, Quhen thai thair fayis so halely Saw thame withdraw, thai war all blith, 805 And wachis has ordanit swith; And syne ar till thar innys gane. Thar wes bot few of thame wes slaine, Bot feill war woundit wikidly, The laiff our mesur war wery. 810 It wes ane hard assalt, perfay, And certis, I hard nevir say Quhar quheyn men mair defens had maid, That swa richt hard assalyheing had. And of a thing that thair befell 815 I haf ferly, that I of tell; That is, that in-till all that day, Quhen all thair mast assalyheit thai, And the schot thikkest wes with-all, Women with child and childir small 820 In arme-fullis gaderit up, and bair Till thame that on the wallis war Arowes, and nocht ane slayne wes thar, Na yheit woundit; and that wes mar The myrakill of God Almychty, 825 And to nocht ellis it set can I.
[809: E woundyt uttrely.]
[812: C certanly, but E is admittedly better.]
[Sidenote: SEPT. 14, 1319] A Division in the English Council]
[Sidenote: SEPT., 1319] The Return of the Scots]
On athir syde that nycht thai war
All still, and on the morne, but mar,
Thar come tithandis out of Ingland,
Till thame of the host, that bare on hand 830
How that by Borrow-brig and Mytoune
Thair men war slayne and dungin doune;
And at Scottis-men throu-out the land
Raid yheit byrnand and distroyand.
And quhen the King has herd this taill, 835
His consell he assemblit haill,
Till se quhethir farar war him till
Till ly about the toune all still,
And assaill quhill it wonnyne war,
Or than in Ingland for till fare 840
And reskew his land and men.
His consell fast discordit then;
For Southren men wald that he maid
Arest thar, quhill he wonnyn had
The toune and the castell alsua. 845
Bot Northir men wald no-thing swa,
That dred thar friendis for till tyne,
And mast part of thar gudis syne
Throu Scottis mennys cruelte;
Thai wald he leit the sege be 850
And raid for till reskew the land.
Of Longcastell, I tak on hand,
The Erll Thomas wes ane of thai
That consalit the King hame to ga.
And, for that mair enclynit he 855
Till the folk of the south cuntre
Than till the northir mennys will,
He tuk it to sa mekill ill
That he gert turs his geir in hy,
And with his batall halely, 860
That of the host neir thrid part was,
Till Ingland hame his way he tais.
But leiff he hame has tane his gat:
Tharfor fell eftir sic debat
Betuix him and the King, that ay 865
Lestit quhill Androu Herdclay,
That throu the King wes on him set,
Tuk hym syne in-to Pomfret,
And on the hill besyde the toune
Strake of his hede but ransoune; 870
Tharfor syne drawin and hangit wes he,
And with him weill a fair menyhe.
Men said syne eftir, this Thomas,
That on this wis maid martir was,
Was sanctit and myraclis did, 875
Bot envy syne gert thame be hid.
Bot quhethir he haly wes or nane,
At Pomfret thusgat was he slane.
And syne the King of Ingland,
Quhen that he saw hym tak on hand 880
Till pass his way sa oppinly,
Hym thoucht it wes perell to ly
Thar with the laiff of his menyhe;
And his harnas tursit has he
And in-till Ingland hame can far. 885
The Scottis men, that distroyand war
In Ingland, herd soyne tell tithyng
Of this gret sege the departing.
Tharfor thai tuk westward the way,
And by Carlele hame went ar thai 890
With prayis and with presoneris,
And othir gudis on seir maneris.
The lordis till the King ar gane,
And the laiff has thar wayis tane;
Ilk man till his repair is gane. 895
The King, iwis, was woundir fayne
That thai war cummyn haile and feir,
And at thai sped on sic maner,
That thai thair fais discumfit had,
And, but tynsale of men, had maid 900
Reskowris to thame that in Berwik
War assegit richt till thar dik.
And quhen the Kyng had sperit tithand
How thai had faryne in-till Ingland,
And thai haf tald hym all thar fair, 905
How Inglis men discumfit war,
Richt blith in-till his hert wes he,
And maid thame fest with gammyn and gle.
[887, 888: H expands these two lines into eight.
_Throughout England full cruelly,
Burning and wasting right rigorously,
When that they have heard tythings tell
Of this great Siege that was sa fell:
That they all skailed were and gane,
Unto England hame againe:
Sa that their folks relieved were
And set now free from all danger._
Skeat relegates this expansion of two lines to a footnote, and rightly.]
[*903:
_That into full gret danger wes, *903
Through strength of them that sieged hes. *904
And of their journey what progresse, *905
That thai have had, and with successe._ *906
These, too, are from H only. Skeat brackets them in the text, but they are surely spurious.]
Berwik wes on this maner Reskewit, and thai that thar-in wer. 910 He wes worthy ane prince till be, Throu manheid and subtilite, That couth throu wit sa hye a thyng, But tynsale, bryng till gude ending. Till Berwik syne the way he tais: 915 And quhen he herd thar how it was Defendit swa richt apertly, He lovit thame that war thar gretly. Walter Stewardis gret bounte Atour the laif commendit he, 920 For the richt gret defens he maid At the yhet, quhar men brynt had The brig, as yhe herd me devis. And certis he wes weill till pris, That sa stoutly with playne fecthing 925 At oppyn yhet maid defending. Mycht he haf lifit quhill he had beyne Of perfit elde, withouten weyne, His renoune suld haf strekit fer. Bot dede, that wachis ay to mar 930 With all hyr mycht waik and worthy, Had at his worschip gret invy; That in the flour of his yhoutheid Scho endit all his douchty deid, As I sall tell yhow forthirmar. 935 Quhen the King had a quhill beyne thar He send for masonis fer and neir, That sleast wes of that misteir, And gert weill ten fute hye the wall About Berwikis toune our all. 940 And syne soyne toward Lowdyane With his menyhe his gat has gane; And syne he gert ordane in hy Bath armyt men and yhemanry In-till Irland in hy till fair 945 Till help his brothir that wes thair.
[922: C quhar that. E H omit that.]
[940: C Berwyk his (see note).]
BOOK XVIII.
How Sir Edward the Bruce was slain in Ireland.
[Sidenote: OCT. 14, 1318] Edward Bruce is bent on Fighting]
Bot he, that rest anoyit ay,
And wald in travaill be all-way,
A day forrouth thair arivyng
That war send till hym fra the King,
He tuk his way south-wart to fare 5
Magre them all that with hym war.
For he had nocht than in that land
Of all men, I trow, twa thousand,
Outane the kyngis off Erischry
That in gret rowtis raid hym by. 10
Toward Dundawk he tuk the way:
And quhen Richard of Clare herd say
That he com with ane few menyhe,
All that he mycht assemblit he,
Of all Irland, of armyt men: 15
Swa that he had thar with him then
Of trappit hors tuenty thousand,
But thaim that war on fut gangand;
And held furth northwarde on his way.
And quhen Schir Edward has herd say 20
That cummyn neir till hym wes he,
He send discurrouris hym till se:
The Sowlis and the Steward war thai,
And als Schir Philip the Mowbray.
And quhen thai seyn had thar cummying, 25
Thai went agane to tell the King,
And said weill thai war mony men.
In hie Schir Edward ansuered then,
And said that he suld fecht that day
Thouch tryplit or quadruplit war thai. 30
Schir Johne Steward said, “Sekirly,
“I red ye nocht ficht in sic hy.
“Men sais my brothir is cumand
“With fyftene hundreth men neir hand;
“And war thai knyt with yhow, yhe mycht 35
“The trastlyar abyde to ficht.”
Schir Edward lukit richt angrely,
And till the Sowlis said in hy,
‘Quhat sais thou?’ “Schir,” he said, “perfay,
“As my fallow has said, I say.” 40
And than till Schir Philippe than said he,
“Schir,” said he, “sa our Lord me se!
“Me think it na foly to byde
“Yhour men, that spedis thame to ryde.
“For we ar few, our fais ar feill; 45
“God may rycht weill our weirdis deill;
“Bot it war woundir that our mycht
“Suld ourcum so feill in ficht.”
Than, with gret ire, ‘Allas,’ said he,
‘I wend nevir till here that of the! 50
‘Now help quha will, for sekirly
‘This day, but mair baid, fecht will I.
‘Sa na man say, quhill I may dre,
‘That strynth of men sall ger me fle!
‘God scheld that ony suld us blame, 55
‘That we defoull our noble name.’
“Now be it swagat than,” quod thai,
“We sall tak that God will purvay.”
[5: C furthwarde (S). H southward.]
[30: E tribill and quatribill.]
[34: E thowsand. H as in C.]
[Sidenote: OCT. 14, 1318] Edward Bruce is slain]
And quhen the kyngis of Erischry
Herd say, and wist all sekirly, 60
That that King, with sa quheyn, wald ficht
Agane folk of sa mekill mycht,
Thai come till him in full gret hy,
And consalit hym full tendirly
For till abid his men; and thai 65
Suld hald thar fais all that day
Doand, and on the morne alsua,
With thar saltis that thai suld ma.
Bot thair mycht na consel availl,
He wald all-gat haff the battaill. 70
And quhen thai saw he wes so thra
To fecht, thai said; “Yhe may weill ga
“To ficht with yhon gret cumpany;
“Bot we acquyt us utirly,
“That nane of us will stand to ficht, 75
“Assuris nocht tharfor in our mycht.
“For our maner is of this land
“To follow and ficht, and ficht fleand,
“And nocht till stand in plane melle
“Quhill the ta part discumfit be.” 80
He said; ‘Sen that your custum is,
‘Ik ask no mair at yhow bot this,
‘That is, that yhe and yhour menyhe
‘Wald all to-giddir arayit be,
‘And stand on fer, but departing, 85
‘And se our ficht and our endyng.’
Thai said weill at thai suld do swa,
And syne toward thair men can ga,
That war weill forty thousand neir.
Edward, with thame that with him weir, 90
That war nocht fully twa thousand,
Arayit thame stalwardly till stand
Agane fourty thousand and ma.
Schir Edward that day wald nocht ta
His cot-armour; bot Gib Harper, 95
That men held als withouten peir
Of his estat, had on that day
All haill Schir Edwardis aray.
The ficht abaid thai on this wis;
And in gret hy thair enymys 100
Com, till assemmyll all reddy,
And thai met thame richt hardely.
Thai war sa few, forsuth to say,
That ruschit with thair fais war thai;
And thai that pressit mast to stand 105
War slane doune, and the remanand
Fled till Erischry for succour.
Schyr Edward, that had sic valour,
Wes ded, and Johne Steward alsua;
And Johne de Sowlis als with thai, 110
And othir als of thair cumpany.
Thai vencust war sa suddanly
That few in-till the place war slayne;
For the laif has thair wayis tane
Till the Erische kyngis that wes thar, 115
And in haill battale howand war.
[89: E twenty. H twettie (!).]
Johne Tomassun, that wes leder
Of thame of Carrik that thair wer,
Quhen he saw the discumfiting,
With-drew him till ane Erische king 120
That of his acquyntans had he;
And he resavit him in lawte.
And quhen Johne cummyn wes to that king,
He saw be led fra the fechting
Schir Philipe the Mowbray, the wicht, 125
That had beyne doysnyt in the ficht.
And be the armys led was he
With twa men, apon the cawse
That wes betuix thame and the toune,
That strekit lang in a randoune. 130
Toward the toune thai held thair way,
And quhen in myd cawse war thai,
Schir Philip of his desynais
Ourcome, and persavit he wes
Tane, and swagat led with twa: 135
The tane he swappit soyne him fra,
And syne the tothir in gret hy;
Syne drew his suerde deliverly,
And till the fecht the way he tais
Endlang the cawse, that than was 140
Fillit in-to sa gret foysoune
Of men that than went to the toune.
And he, that met thame, can thame ma
Sic payment, quhar he can ga,
That weill ane hundreth men gert he 145
Leiff, magre thairis, the cawsee;
As Johne Tomassun said suthly,
That saw his deid all halely.
Toward the battall evyn he yheid.
Johne Tomassun, that tuk gud heid 150
That thai war vencust all planly,
Cryit on hym in full gret hy,
And said, “Cum heir, for thar is nane
“On liff, for thai ar dede ilkane.”
Than stude he still a quhile, and saw 155
That thai war all done out of daw;
Syne went toward him sarraly.
This Johne wroucht syne sa wittely
That all that thidder fled than wer,
Thouch that thai lesit of thair ger, 160
Com till Cragfergus haill and feir.
And thai, that at the fechting weir
Soucht Schir Edward, to get his hede,
Emange the folk that thar wes ded;
And fand Gib Harper in his ger: 165
And, for sa gude his armys wer,
Thai strak his hed of; and syne it
Thai haf gert saltit in-till a kyt,
And send it syne in-till Ingland,
To Edward King in-till presand. 170
Thai wend Schir Edwardis it had beyne;
Bot, for the armyng that wes scheyne,
Thai of the hed dissavit war,
All-thouch Schir Edward deit thar.
[117: E Thomas sone. H Thomson.]
[Sidenote: OCT., 1318] The Skilful Retreat of the Scots]
On this wis war thai nobill men 175
Throu wilfulnes all losit then;
And that wes syn and gret pite.
For had thair outrageous bounte
Beyne led with wit and with mesure,
Bot gif the mair misadventure 180
Befell thame, it suld richt hard thing
Be till leid thame till outrayng.
Bot gret outrageous succudry
Gert thame all deir thair worschip by.
And thai, that fled fra the melle, 185
Sped thame in hy toward the se,
And to Cragfergus cummyn ar thai.
And thai that war in-to the way,
To Schir Edward send fra the King,
Quhen thai herd the discumfiting, 190
Till Cragfergus thai went agane:
And that wes nocht forouten pane.
For thai war mony tymes that day
Assalit with Erischry, bot thai
Ay held to-gidder sarraly, 195
Defendand thame so wittely
That thai eschapit oft throu mycht,
And mony tymes als throu slycht;
For oft of thairis till thame gaf thai
Till let thame scathles pass thar way, 200
And to Cragfergus com thai swa.
Than batis and schippes can thai ta,
And salit till Scotland in hy,
And thar arivit all saufly.
Quhen thai of Scotland had wittering 205
Of Schir Edwardis discomfiting,
Thai menyt hym full tendrely
Our all the land comonly;
And thai that with him slane war thar
Full tendrely als menyt war. 210
[184: E all her.]
How King Edward came again to Scotland with his Power, to Edinburgh, after the Death of Good Sir Edward the Bruce in Ireland.
[Sidenote: AUG., 1322] The English invade Scotland]
Edward the Bruce, as I said air, Wes discumfit on this manare. And quhen the feld wes clengit cleyne, Sa that na resisteris wes seyne, The wardane than, Richard of Clare, 215 And all the folk that with him war, Toward Dundawk has tane the way; Swa that richt na debat maid thai At that tyme with the Erischrye, Bot to the toune thai held in hy. 220 And syne has send furth to the King, That Ingland had in governyng, Gib Harperis hed in-till ane kyt. Johne Mawpas till the King had it. Quhilk he resavit in gret dayntee; 225 Richt blith of that present wes he; For he was swa glad that he wes swa Deliverit of sic felloune a fa. In hert tharof he tuk sic pryde, That he tuk purpos for to ryde 230 With a gret host in-till Scotland, Till revenge hym, with stalward hand, Of the tray, travaill, and of teyne That done till hym thar-in had beyne. And a richt gret hoost gaderit he, 235 And gert his schippes by the se Cum with gret foysoune of vittale; For at that tyme he thoucht all hale For till distroy so cleyn Scotland That nane suld be thar-in liffand; 240 And with his folk, in gret aray, Toward Scotland he tuk the way. And quhen King Robert wist that he Com on hym with sic ane menyhe, He gaderit men, bath fer and neir, 245 Quhill sa feill till him cummyn weir, And war als for till cum hym to, That him weill thoucht he suld weill do. He gert with-draw all the catele Of Lowdiane, evirilk deill, 250 And till strynthis gert thame be send, And ordanit men thame to defend. And with his hoost all still he lay At Culros, for he walde assay Till ger his fais throu fasting 255 Be feblist, and throu lang walking; And fra he feblist had thair mycht Assemmyll he wald with thame till ficht.
[225: E And he it (see note).]
[239: E To dystroy up sa clene the land. H as C.]
[Sidenote: AUG.-SEPT., 1322] The Skirmish at Melrose]
He thoucht till wirk apon this wis;
And Inglis men with gret mastris 260
Com with thar hoost in Lowdiane,
And soyne till Edinburgh ar gane,
And thair abaid thai dayis thre.
Thair schippes that war on the se
Had the wynd contrar till thame ay, 265
Swa that apon no maner thai
Had power till the Fyrth till bring
Thair vittale, till releiff the King.
And thai of the host that falit met,
Quhen thai saw that thai mycht nocht get 270
Thair vittalis to thame by the se,
Than send thai furth a gret menyhe
For till forray all Lowdiane;
Bot cattell haf thai fundyn nane,
Outane a kow that wes haltand, 275
That in Tranentis corne thai fand;
Thai broucht hir till thair hoost agane.
And quhen the Erll of Warane
That cow saw anerly cum swa,
He askit gif thai gat no ma. 280
And thai haf said all till him, “Nay.”
“Than, certis,” said he, “I dar say
“This is the derrest beiff that I
“Saw evir yheit; for sekirly
“It cost ane thousand pund and mar!” 285
And quhen the King and thai that war
Of his consell saw thai mycht get
Na catell till thar host till et,
That than of fasting had gret payne,
Till Ingland turnyt thai hame agayne. 290
At Melros schupe thai for till ly,
And send befor ane cumpany,
Thre hundreth neir of armyt men.
Bot the lord Dowglas, that wes then
Besyde in-till the Forest neir, 295
Wist of thar com and quhat thai weir;
And with thame of his cumpany
In-till Melros all prevely
He hufit in-till ane enbuschement.
And a richt sturdy frer he sent 300
Without the yhet, thar com till se,
And bad him hald him all preve,
Quhill that he saw thame cumand all
Richt till the cunyhe of the wall,
And than crye hye, “Dowglas! Dowglas!” 305
The frer furth than his way he tais,
That wes derff, stout, and ek hardy;
His mekill hude helit haly
The armyng that he on hym had;
Apon a stalward hors he raid, 310
And in his hand he had a spere,
Abydand apon that maner
Quhill that he saw thame cumand neir.
And quhen the formast passit weir
The cunyhe, he cryit, “Dowglas! Dowglas!” 315
Than till thame all ane cours he mais,
And bare ane doune deliverly;
And Dowglas, with his cumpany,
Yschit apon thame with a schout.
And quhen thai saw sa gret a rout 320
Cum apon thame sa suddanly,
Thai war abaysit richt gretumly,
And gaf the bak but mar abaid.
The Scottis men emang thaim raid,
And slew all thaim thai mycht ourta; 325
Ane gret martirdome thair can thai ma.
And thai that eschapit unslayne
Ar till thar gret host went agane,
And tald thame quhat kyn welcummyng
Dowglas thaim maid at thair metyng, 330
Convoyand thame agane roydly,
And warnyt thame the playn herbery.
[275: E a bule. H as C.]
[283: E best. H beast.]
How the Good King Robert the Bruce followed King Edward of England South into his own Land.
[Sidenote: OCT. 21, 1322] The Fight at Byland]
The King of Ingland and his men,
That saw thair herbreouris then
Cum reboytit on that maneir 335
Anoyit gretly in hert thai wer,
And thoucht that it war gret foly
In-to the wode till tak herbery.
Tharfor by Driburgh, in the playne,
Thai herbryit thame; and syne agane 340
Ar went till Ingland haym thar way.
And quhen the King Robert herd say
That thai war turnyt hame agane,
And how thair herbreouris war slane,
In hy his host assemblit he, 345
And went south our the Scottis Se,
And till Ingland his way he tais.
Quhen his host all assemblit was,
Auchty thowsand he wes and ma,
And aucht battellis he maid of tha: 350
In ilk battell wes ten thousand.
Syne went he furth on to Ingland,
And in hale rout followit sa fast
The Inglis King, quhill at the last
He com approchand to Byland, 355
Quhar, at that tyme, thar wes liand
The King of Ingland with his men.
Kyng Robert, that had wittering then
That he lay thair with mekill mycht,
Tranontit swa on hym ane nycht, 360
That, be the morne that it wes day,
Cummyn in-till playn feld war thai,
Fra Biland bot ane litill space.
Bot betuix thaim and it thar was
Ane craggy bra, strekit weill lang, 365
And a gret peth up for to gang.
Othirwayis mycht thai nocht away
Till pass till Bilandis abbay,
Bot gif thai passit fer about.
And quhen the mekill Inglis rout 370
Herd at King Robert wes so neir,
The mast part of thame that thar weir
Went to the path and tuk the bra,
Thair thoucht thai thair defens to ma.
Thair baneris thair thai gert display 375
And thair battellis on breid aray,
And thoucht weill to defend the place.
Quhen King Robert persavit has
That thai thame thoucht thair to defend,
Eftir his consell has he send, 380
And askit quhat wes best till do.
The lord Dowglas ansuerd thar-to,
And said, “Schir, I will undir-ta
“That in schort tyme I sall do swa,
“That I sall wyn yhon place planly, 385
“Or than ger all yhon cumpany
“Cum doun till yhow heir in this plane.”
The King than said till him agane,
‘Do than,’ he said, ‘and God the speid!’
Than he furth on his wayis yheid, 390
And of the host the mast party
Put thame in-till his cumpany,
And held thar way toward the plas.
The gud Erll of Murreff, Thomas,
Left his battell, and in gret hy 395
Bot with thre men of his cumpany,
Com till the lordis rout of Dowglas;
And, or he enterit in the plas,
Befor thame all the place tuk he;
For he wald that men suld him se. 400
And quhen Schir James of Dowglas
Saw that he swagat cummyn was,
He prisit him thar-of gretly,
And welcummyt hym full humylly,
And syne the place can sammyn ta. 405
Quhen Inglis men saw thaim do swa,
Thai lichtit and agane thame yheid.
