The Bruce 12The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 9)
18
Fiction · Historical Fiction
The Bruce 12
The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 9)
BarbourEnglish
Twa knychtis, that douchty war of deid,
Thomas Ouchtre ane hat to name,
The tothir Schir Rauf of Cobhame, 410
Com doune befor all thair menyhe.
Thai war bath of full gret bounte,
And met thair fais richt manly;
Bot thai war pressit gretumly.
Thair mycht men se men weill assale, 415
And men defend with stout battale,
And arrowes fle in gret foysoune,
And thai that owth war tummyl doune
Stanis apon thame fra the hicht.
Bot thai that set bath will and mycht 420
To wyn the peth, thame pressit swa,
That Schir Raulf of Cobhame can ta
The way richt till his host in hy,
And left Schir Thomas manfully
Defendand with gret mycht the plas, 425
Quhill that he swa supprisit was,
That he wes tane throu herd fechting.
And tharfor syne, quhill his ending,
He wes renownyt for best of hand
Of a knycht wes in all Ingland. 430
For this ilk Schyr Raulf of Cobhame,
In all Ingland he had the name
For the best knycht of all the land;
And for Schir Thomas duelt fechtand
Quhar Schir Raulf, as befor saide we, 435
With-drew him, prisit our hym wes he.
[Linenote: 377, 393, 398, etc., E the pass.]
[391: E mast hardy.]
[396: E four. H few.]
[404: E hamlyly.]
[409: C Arthyn (S), but see note.]
[399, 405, 425: E the pass. H as C.]
[410, 422: C Coubane: H Cowbane.]
The discomfiting of Englishmen
At Bylands Path into the glen.
Thus war thai fechtande in the plas; And quhen the King Robert, that was Wis in his deid and averty, Saw his men ay swa douchtely 440 The peth apon thair fayis ta; And saw his fais defend thame swa, Than gert he all the Erischry That war in-till his cumpany, Of Argyle and the Ilis alsua, 445 Spede tham in hy on-to the bra: He bad thame leiff the peth haly And clym up in the craggis by, And speid thame fast the hicht to ta. And thai in gret hy has done swa, 450 And clymb allgait up to the hycht, And leve nocht for thair fayis mycht. Magre thair fayis, thai bar thaim swa, That thai ar gottyn aboun the bra. Than mycht men se thame ficht felly, 455 And rusche thair fais sturdely. And thai that till the pass war gane, Magre thair fais, the hycht has tane. Than layd thai on with all thar mycht: Thair mycht men se men felly ficht. 460 Ther wes ane perelus bargane: For a knycht, hat Schir Johne Bretane, That lichtit wes abovyn the bra, With his men gret defens can ma. And Scottis men sa can assaill, 465 That gaf thame so felloune battale, That thai war set in sic affray That thai, that fle mycht, fled away. Schir Johne of Bretane thar wes tane, And richt feill of his folk war slane. 470 Of Frans thar tane wes knychtis twa; The lord of Souly wes ane of tha, The tothir wes the marschall Bretane, That wes a weill gret lord at hame. The laiff sum deid and sum war tane, 475 The remanand thai fled ilkane.
[439: C ek verty (S).]
[450: E Than mycht men see thaim stoutly ga. H like C.]
[451-454: not in C but in E H.]
[451: H clamb (S).]
[452: H left (S).]
[Sidenote: OCT. 21, 1322] The King of England flies]
And quhen the King of Ingland,
That yheit at Biland wes liand,
Saw his men discumfyt planly,
He tuk his way in full gret hy, 480
And southwardis fled with all his mycht.
The Scottis men chast hym herd, I hycht,
And in the chas has mony tane.
The king quytly away is gane,
And the mast part of his menyhe. 485
Walter Stewart, that gret bounte
Set ay on hye chevelry,
With fyve hundreth in cumpany,
Till Yorkis yhettis chas can ma,
And thair sum of thair men can sla, 490
And abaid thair quhill neir the nycht,
To se gif ony wald ysche to ficht.
And quhen he saw nane wald cum out,
He turnyt agane with all his rout,
And till the host is went in hy, 495
That than tane had thair herbery
In-till the abbay of Biland
And Riveus that wes by neir hand.
Thai delt emang thame that war ther
The King of Inglandis ger, 500
That he had levit in-to Biland;
All gert thai lepe out our thar hand,
And maid thame all glaid and ek mery.
And quhen the King had tane herbery,
That broucht till him the presoneris 505
All unarmyt, as it efferis;
And quhen he saw Johne of Bretane
He had at hym richt gret disdeyne;
For he wount wes to spek hely
At hayme, and our dispitfully; 510
And bad haf him away in hy,
And luk he kepit war stratly,
And said, “War it nocht that he war
“Sic a catiff, he sulde by sair
“His wourdis that war sa angry;” 515
And mekly he hym cryit mercy.
Thai led him furth, forouten mair,
And kepit hym weill ay quhill thai war
Cummyn hame to their awne cuntre.
Lang eftir syne ransonyt wes he 520
For tuenty thousand pund to pay,
As I haf herd mony men say.
[498: E Ryfuowis.]
[Sidenote: OCT., 1322] The Scots return with much Plunder]
Qwhen that the King this spek had maid, The Franche knychtis, that tane men had, Wes broucht richt thar byfor the King; 525 And he maid thame fair welcummyng, And said; “I wat richt weill that yhe, “For yhour gret worschip and bounte “Com for till se the fichting heir. “For sen yhe in the cuntre war, 530 “Yhour strinth, yhour worschip, and yhour mycht “Wald nocht thoill yhow escheve the ficht. “And sen that caus yhow led thar-till, “And nouthir wreth na evil will, “As frendis yhe sall resavit be, 535 “Quhar welcum heir all tym be yhe.” Thai knelit, and thankit him gretly, And he gert tret thame curtasly; And lang quhill with him thaim had he, And did thaim honour and bounte. 540 And quhen thai yharnyt to thair land, To the King of Fraunce in presand He sent thaim quit, but ransoun fre, And gret gyftis to thaim gaff he. His frendis thusgat curtasly 545 He couth ressave, and hamely, And his fais stoutly to-stonay. At Biland all that nycht he lay. For thair victor all blith thai war. And on the morn, forouten mair, 550 Thai haff furthwarde tane thair way. So fer at that tyme travalit thai, Byrnand, slayand, and distroyand, Thair fayis with thair mycht noyand, Quhill to the Wald cummyn war thai. 555 Syne northwarde tuk thai hame thar way; And distroyit, in thair repair, The vale haly of Beauvare. And syne with presoners and catele, Riches, and mony fair jowele, 560 Till Scotland tuk thai hame thar way, Blith and glad, joyfull and gay. And ilk-man went to thair repair, And lovit God thame fell so fair, That thai the King of Ingland, 565 Throu worschip and throu strinth of hand, And throu thair lordis gret bounte, Discumfit in his awne cuntre.
[536: C yhe be (S). Buss considers E better here (Anglia ix. 511).]
[537: For next line C has--Of the grace he thame did suthly (S). But this gives a triple rhyme, which is not Barbour-like; and C, in any case, is defective here, giving but one line between 538 and 547 for the eight found in E and H.]
BOOK XIX.
How the Lord Soulis thought through Treason with his Accomplices to have put down Good King Robert the Bruce, and how he was warned by a Lady.
[Sidenote: AUG., 1320] The Conspiracy against King Robert]
Than wes the land a quhile in pes; Bot covatis, that can nocht ces Till set men apon felony, Till ger thame cum till senyhory, Gert lordis of full gret renoune 5 Mak a fell conjuracioune Agane Robert, the douchty King; Thai thoucht till bring him till ending, And for till bruke, eftir his dede, The kynrik, and ryng in his sted. 10 The lord of Sowlis, Schir Wilyhame, Of that purchas had mast defame; For principall tharoff wes he, Bath of assent and cruelte. He had gert be with him syndri: 15 Gilbert Male-herbe, Johne of Logy, Thir war the knychtis I tell of heir, And Richard Broune als, a squyeir; And gud Schir David the Brechyne Wes of this deid arettit syne, 20 As I sall tell yhow forthirmair. Bot thai ilkane discoverit war Throu ane lady, as I herd say, Or till thair purpos cum mycht thai. For scho tald haly to the King 25 Thair purpos and thair ordanyng, And how that he suld haf beyn ded, And Sowlis ryng in-till his sted; And tald him werray takynnyng That this purches wes suthfast thing. 30 And quhen the King wist it wes swa, Sa sutell purchas can he ma, That he gert tak thame evirilkane. And quhar the lord Sowlis wes tane, Thre hundreth and sexte had he 35 Of squyeris, cled in his liverye, At that tyme in his cumpany, Outane knychtis that war joly. In-to Berwik than takyn wes he; Than mycht men all his menyhe se 40 Sary and wa; for, suth to say, The king leit thame all pass thar way; And held thame that he takyn had. The lord Sowlis syne eftir maid Playn granting of all that purchas. 45 A parliament tharfor set thar was, And thiddir broucht thir menyhe war. The lord Sowlis has grantit thar The deid in-to plane parliament. Thar soyn eftir he wes sent 50 Till his penans till Dumbertane, And deit in that tour of stane.
[1: C Thus (S).]
[16: C Mayle-Erle (S), but see note.]
[Sidenote: 1320] Umfraville returns to England]
Schir Gilbert Maleherbe, and Logy,
And Richard Broune, thir thre planly
War with ane assis than ourtane. 55
Tharfor thai drawin war ilkane,
And hyngit and hedit als thar-to,
As men had demyt thame till do.
And gud Schir David the Brechyne
Thai gert challans richt stratly syne; 60
And he grantit that of that thing
Wes maid till hym discoveryng,
Bot he thar-till gaf na consent.
And for he helit thair entent
And discoverit it nocht to the King, 65
That he held of all his halding,
And had maid till him his fewte,
Jugit to hang and draw wes he.
And as thai drew him for to hyng,
The pepill ferly fast gan thring, 70
Him and his myscheiff for to se,
That to behald wes gret pite.
Schir Ingerame Umphravell, that than
Wes with the King as Scottis man,
Quhen he that gret mischeif can se, 75
“Lordis,” he said, “quhar-to press yhe?
“To se at myscheiff sic a knycht,
“That wes so worthy and so wicht,
“That I haf seyn ma pres to se
“Him for his richt soverane bounte, 80
“Than now dois for till se him heir!”
And quhen thir wordis spoken weir,
With sary cher he held him still
Quhill men had done of him thar will.
Syne, with the leiff of the King, 85
He broucht him menskfully till erding.
And syne to the King thus said he;
“A thing, pray I yhow, grant to me;
“That is, that yhe of all my land,
“That in-to Scotland is lyand, 90
“Wald gif me leiff till do my will.”
The King than soyne has said him till,
‘I will weill graunt that it swa be;
‘Bot tell me quhat anoyis the?’
He said agane, “Grant me mercy, 95
“And I sall tell yhow it planly.
“Myne hert giffis me no mor to be
“With yhow duelland in this cuntre.
“Tharfor, bot at it nocht yhow greiff,
“I pray yhow hertly of yhour leiff. 100
“For quhar sa richt worthy a knycht,
“And sa chevelrus and sa wicht,
“And sa renownit of worschip syne
“As gud Schir David the Brechyne,
“And sa fulfillit of all manheid, 105
“Wes put to sa felloune a ded,
“My hert forsuth may nocht gif me
“Till duell, for na thing that may be.”
The King syne said; ‘Sen thou will swa,
‘Quhen-evir thou likis thou may ga, 110
‘And thou sall haiff gud leiff thar-to
‘Thi liking of thi land till do.’
And he him thankit gretumly,
And of his land, in full gret hy,
As him thoucht best, disponit he. 115
Syne at the King of gret bounte,
Befor all thai that with him war,
He tuk his leyff for evirmair;
And went in Ingland to the King,
That maid him richt fair welcummyng, 120
And askit him of the north tithing.
And he him tald all, but lesing,
How thai knychtis distroyit war.
And all as I tald till yhow air;
And of the Kyngis curtasye, 125
That levit him debonarly
Till do of his land his liking.
In that tyme war send fra the King
Of Scotland messingeris to tret
Of pes, gif that thai mycht it get, 130
As thai oftsis befor war send,
Quhar that thai couth nocht bring till end.
For the gud King had in entent,
Sen God sa fair grace till him sent,
That he had wonnyn all his land 135
Throu strinth of armys till his hand,
That he pes in his land wald ma,
And all the landis stabill swa,
That his air eftir hym suld be
In peis, gif men held thair laute. 140
[106: E velanys. H villanous.]
[110: E the likys.]
[134: E Had him lent.]
[Sidenote: MAY-JUNE, 1323] A Thirteen Years’ Truce]
In this tyme now that Umphrevele, As I bair yhow on hand eir-quhil, Com till the King of Ingland, The Scottis messingeres thar he fand Of pes and rest to haf tretis. 145 The King wist Schir Ingerame wes wis, And askit his consell thair-to, Quhat he wald rede him for till do. For him, said he, thoucht herd to ma Pes wyth King Robert Bruce his fa, 150 Quhill that he of him vengit war. Schir Ingerame till hym maid ansuar And said, “He delt sa curtasly “With me, that on na wis suld I “Giff consell till his merring.” 155 ‘The behufis neid-way,’ said the King, ‘To this thing heir say thine avis.’ “Schir,” said he, “sen yhour willis is “That I say, wyt yhe sekirly, “For all yhour gret chevelry, 160 “Till deill with hym yhe haf no mycht. “His men ar worthyn all sa wicht “For lang usage of gret fechting, “That has beyne norist in sic thing, “That ilk yheman is sa wicht 165 “Of his, that he is worth a knycht. “Bot and yhe think yhour weir to bring “Till your purpos and gud liking, “Lang trewis with hym tak sall yhe. “Than sall the mast of his menyhe, 170 “That ar bot sympill yhemanry, “Be distrenyheit all comonly “To wyn thair met with thair travale. “And sum of thame neid mon thame call “With plewch and harrow for to get, 175 “And othir ser craftis, thair met; “Swa that thair armyng sall worth ald, “And sall be rottyn, distroyit, or sald; “And feill, that now of weir ar sle, “In-till a lang trewis sall de, 180 “And othir in thair sted sall ris “That sall cun litill of sic mastris. “And quhen thai thus disusyt ar, “Than may yhe move on thame yhour wer, “And sall richt weill, as I suppos, *185 “Bring yhour entent to gud purpos.” *186 Till this assentit thai ilkane. 185 And eftir syne war trewis tane, Betuix the twa Kyngis, that wer Talit to lest for thretten yheir: And on the marchis gert thame cry. The Scottis men kepit thame lely, 190 Bot Inglis men apon the se Distroyit, throu gret iniquite, Marchand-schippis, that saland war Fra Scotland to Flandris with war, And distroyit the men ilkane, 195 And till thar oys thar gude has tane. The King send oft till ask redres, Bot nocht thar-of redres ther wes; And he abaid all tyme askand. The trewis on his half gert he stand 200 Apon the marchis stabilly, And gert men kep thame lelely.
[177: C thai armyng (S).]
[*185, *186: Omitted in Pinkerton’s edition.]
[188: E viii. (for xiii.). H threttene.]
The Death of Good Sir Walter Steward.
In this tyme that the trewis war Lestand on marchis, as I said ar, Walter Steward, that worthy was, 205 At Bathket a gret seknes tais. His evill it wox ay mair and mair, Quhill men persavit by his fair, That hym worthit neyd to pay the det That na man for till pay may let. 210 Schrevyn, and als repentand wele, Quhen all wes done him ilke deill That nedit Cristin man till haf, As gud Crystyn the gast he gaf. Than mycht men heir folk gret and cry, 215 And mony a knycht and ek lady Mak in apert richt evill cher; Sa did thai all that evir thair wer: All men hym menyt comonly, For of his elde he wes worthy. 220 Quhen thai lang tyme thar dule had maid, The cors to Paslay haf thai had, And thar with gret solempnite, And with gret dule, erdyt wes he. God, for his mycht, his saull he bring 225 Quhar joy ay lestis but endyng!
[206: E Bathgat.]
[224: C entyrit (S). H eirded.]
Eftir his ded, as I said air, The trewis that swa takyn war, For till haf lestit thretten yheir, Quhen twa yheir of thame passit weir, 230 And ane half, as I trow, alsua, Kyng Robert saw men wald nocht ma Redres of schippes that war tane, And of the men als that war slane; Bot continuit thair mavite 235 Quhen evir thai met thame on the se. He send and acquyt hym all planly, And gaf the trewis up oppinly. And, in vengeans of this trespas, The gud Erll of Murreff, Thomas, 240 And Donald Erll of Mar alsua, And James of Douglas with thaim twa, And James Steward, that ledar wes, Eftir his gud brother disses, Of all his brothir men in weir, 245 He gert apon thar best maner With mony men bown thaim to ga In Ingland, for to burne and sla. And thai held furth soyn till Ingland-- Thai war of gud men ten thousand-- 250 Thai brynt and slew in-to thair way; Thair fais fast distroyit thai. And swagat furthward can thai fair, Till Wardill quhill thai cummyn war. That tyme Edward of Carnavarane, 255 The King, wes ded, and laid in stane; And Edward, his sone, that wes yhyng, In Ingland crownyt wes for Kyng, And surname had of Wyndissoyr. He had in France beyn of befor 260 With his moder dame Isabell; And wes weddid, as I herd tell, Till a yhoung lady fair of face That the Erllis douchter was Of Hennaut; and of that cuntre 265 Broucht with him men of gret bounte. Schir Johne of Hennaut wes thar leder, That was richt wis and wicht in wer.
[253: E southwart.]
[Sidenote: JUNE, 1327] The Scots in Weardale]
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] Attack by the English Archers]
And that tym that Scottis men war
At Wardale, as I said yhow ar, 270
In-to York wes the new maid King,
And herd tell of the distroying
That Scottis men maid in his cuntre.
A gret host till him gaderit he:
He wes weill neir fifty thousand. 275
Than held he northwarde in the land
In haill battale with that menyhe.
Auchtene yheir ald that tyme wes he.
The Scottis men all Cokdaill.
Fra end till end thai heryit haill, 280
And till Wardaill agane thai raid.
Thar discurriouris that sicht has had
Of cummyng of the Inglis men,
To thair lordis thai tald it then.
Than the lord Douglas, in a lyng, 285
Raid furth for till se thair cummyng;
And saw that sevyn battellis war thai,
That com rydand in gud aray.
Quhen he that folk behaldin had,
Toward his host agane he raid. 290
The Erll sperit giff he had seyne
The Inglis host; “Yha, Schir, but weyne.”
‘Quhat folk ar thai?’ “Schir, mony men.”
The Erll his ayth has suorn him then,
‘We sall ficht with thame, thouch thai war 295
‘Yheit ma eftsonis than thai ar.’
‘Schir, lovit be God,’ he said agane,
‘That we have sic ane capitane,
‘That swa gret thyng dar undirta.
‘Bot, be Saint Bryde, it beis nocht swa, 300
‘Giff my consaill may trowit be.
‘For fecht on na maner sall we
‘Bot be it at our avantage.
‘For me think it war nane outrage
‘Till fewar folk aganys ma 305
‘Avantage, quhen thai ma, to ta.’
As thai war on this wis spekand,
Our ane hye rig thai saw rydand,
Toward thame evyn, a battell braid;
Baneris displayit enew thai had. 310
And ane othir come eftir neir:
And rycht apon the sammyn maner
Thai com, quhill seven battellis braid
Out-our that high ryg passit had.
The Scottis men war thar liand 315
On north half Wer, toward Scotland.
The daill wes strekit weill, I hicht;
On athir syde thar wes ane hicht
Till the wattir doune, sum-deill stay.
The Scottis men in gud aray, 320
On thair best wis buskit ilkane,
Stude in the strynth that thai had tane;
And that wes fra the wattir of Wer
A quartir of ane myle weill ner:
Thai stude thar battell till abyd. 325
And Inglis men on athyr syd
Com ridand dounward, quhill thai wer
To Weris wattir cummyn ner,
And on othir half thair fais war.
Than haf thai maid a-rest richt thar: 330
And send out archeris a thousand
With hudis of, and bowis in hand,
And gert thaim weill drink of the wyne,
And bad thaim gang to bykkyr syne
The Scottis host in abandoune 335
And luk if thai mycht dyng thaim doun:
For mycht thai ger thame brek aray,
Till have thaim at thar will thoucht thai.
Armyt men doune with thame thai send,
Thame at the watter till defend. 340
[282: C had had (S). H hes.]
[304: C me to think (S).]
[336: E Thai ger thaim cum apon thaim doun: which does not make sense.]
The lord Dowglas has seyn thair fair,
And men, that richt weill horsit war
And armyt, a gret cumpany,
Behynd the battell prevely
He gert hufe, to byd thair cummyng: 345
And quhen he maid to thame taknyng,
Thai suld com prikand fast, and sla
With speris that thai mycht our-ta.
Donald of Mar thar chiftane was,
And Archbald with hym of Dowglas. 350
The lord Dowglas toward thaim raid;
A gown on his armyng he had,
And traversit alwayis up agane
Thame neir his battell for till trayne.
And thai, that drunkyn had of the wyne, 355
Com ay up endlang in a lyne,
Quhill thai the battell com so neir
That arrowis fell emang thaim seir.
Robert of Ogill, a gud squyer,
Com prekand than on a courser, 360
And on the archeris cryit agane,
“Yhe wat nocht quha mais yhow that traine!
“It is the lord Dowglas, that will
“Sum of his playis ken yhow till.”
And quhen thai herd spek of Dowglas, 365
The hardyest affrayit was,
And agane returnit halely.
His takyn maid he than in hy;
And the folk that enbuschit war
So stoutly prekit on thame thar, 370
That weill thre hundreth haf thai slayne,
And till the wattir hame agayne
The remanand all can thai chas.
Schir Williame of Erskyn that was
Newlingis makyn knycht that day, *375
Weill horsit intill gud aray, *376
Chassit with othir that war thar 375
Sa fer-furth, that his hors him bar
Emang the lump of Inglis men,
That with strang hand he tane wes then.
Bot of hym weill soyn chaynge wes maid
For othir that men takyn had. 380
Fra thir Inglis archeris wer slayne,
Thai folk raid till thar host agane.
And richt swa did the lord Douglas;
And quhen that he reparit was,
Thai mycht emang thair fayis se 385
Thair palyheownys soyne stentit be.
Than thai persavit soyne in hy
That thai that nycht wald tak herbery,
And schap till do no mar that day.
Tharfor alsua thame herbreit thai, 390
And stentit palyheownys soyn in hy;
Tentis and luggis als thair-by
Thai gert mak, and set all on raw.
Twa novelreis that day thai saw,
That forrouth in Scotland had beyn nane: 395
Tymbrys for helmys wes the tane,
That thame thoucht than of gret bewte,
And alsua wounder for to se;
The tothir crakkis war of wer,
That thai befor herd nevir eir. 400
Of thir twa thyngis thai had ferly.
That nycht thai wachit stalwardly:
The mast part of thame armyt lay,
Quhill on the morne that it wes day.
[341: C that fair. Has E.]
[368: C he thaim (S). H then. E seems to give the more probable reading.]
[*375, *376: In C H. E omits.]
[394: E noveltyis.]
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] The English try an Ambush]
The Inglis men thame umbethoucht, 405 Apon quhat maner that they moucht Ger Scottis leve thair avantage; For thame thoucht foly and outrage To gang up to thame till assale Thame at thar strynthis in playn battale. 410 Tharfor of gud men ane thousand, Armyt on hors bath fut and hand, Thai send, behynd thair fayis to be Enbuschit in-till a vale: And schup thair battellis, as thai wald 415 Apon thame till the fechting hald. For thame thoucht Scottis men sic will Had, that thai mycht nocht hald thaim still: For thai knew thame of sic corage, That thai trowit strenth and avantage 420 That suld leyff, and meit thame planly; Than suld thar buschement hastely Behynd prek on thame at the bak; Sa thoucht thai weill thai suld thaim mak For till repent thame of thair play. 425 Thair enbuschement furth send haf thai, That thame enbuschit prevaly. And on the morn, sum-deill airly, In-till the host syne trumpit thai, And gert thair battell braid aray; 430 And, all arayit for to ficht, Thai held toward the wattir richt. Scottis men, that saw thame do swa, Bown on thair best wis can thaim ma; And in battell planly arayit, 435 With baneris to the wynd displayit, Thai left thair strynth, and all planly Com doune to meit thame hardely, In als gud maner as thai mowcht, Richt as thair fayis befor had thoucht. 440 Bot the lord Dowglas, that ay-quhar Set out wachis heir and thar, Gat wit of thair enbuschement. Than in gret hy soyn is he went Befor the battellis, and stoutly 445 He bad ilk man turn hym in hy, Richt as he stud, and turnit swa Up till thair strynth he bad thaim ga, Swa that na let thar-in be maid. And thai did as he biddin had, 450 Quhill to thair strynth thai com agayn. Than turnyt thai thame with mekill mayn, And stude reddy to giff battale, Giff thair fayis wald thame assale. Quhen Inglis men has seyn thaim swa 455 Toward thar strynth agane up ga, Thai cryit hey, “Thai fley thar way!” Schir Johne de Hennaut said: “Perfay, “Yhone fleying is richt degyse. “Thair armyt men behynd I se, 460 “And thair baneris, swa that thai thar “Bot turne thame as thai standand war, “And be arayit for the ficht, “Gif ony pressis thame with mycht. “Thai haf seyne our enbuschement, 465 “And agane to thar strinth ar went. “Yhone folk ar governyt wittely; “And he that ledis thame war worthy “For a-vis, worschip, and wisdome, “To governe the empyre of Rome.” 470 Thus spak that worthy knycht that day; And the enbuschement, fra that thai Saw that thai swa discoverit war, Toward thar host agane thai far. And the battell of Inglis men, 475 Quhen thai saw thai had falit then Of thar purpos, to thair herbery Thai went, and lugit thame in hy. On othir half richt swa did thai, Thai maid no mar debat that day. 480
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] The Scots shift to a New Position]
Qwhen thai that day ourdrivyn had, Fyres in gret foysoune thai maid, Als soyne as the nycht fallen was. Than the gud lord of Dowglas, That spyit had a plas thar-by, 485 Twa myle fra thine, quhar mar trastly The Scottis host mycht herbery ta, And defend thame bettir alsua Than ellis in ony place thar-by; It wes a park, that halely 490 Wes enveronyt about with wall; It wes neir full of treis all, Bot a gret plain in-till it was; Thiddir thoucht the lord Dowglas Be nychtyrtale thair host to bryng. 495 Tharfor, forouten mair duelling, Thai bet thair fyres and maid thame mair, And syne all sammyn furth thai fair, And till the park, without tynsele, Thai come, and herbryit thaim richt wele 500 Upon the wattir, and als neir Till it as thai be forrouth weir. And on the morn, quhen it wes day, The Inglis host myssit away The Scottis men, and had ferly, 505 And gert discurriouris hastely Prek to se quhar thai war away. And, by thair fyres, persavit thai That thai in the park of Wardale Had gert herbery thar host all hail. 510
[502: that inserted by S for metre. C forrouth (S). Cf. 515.]
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] A Night Attack on the English]
Tharfor thair host but mair abaid
Buskit, and evin anent thaim raid,
And on othir half the watter of Wer
Gert stent thair palyheownys, als neir
As that befor stentit war thai. 515
Aucht dayis on bath halffis swa thai lay,
That Inglis men durst nocht assale
The Scottys men with playne battale,
For strinth of erd that thai had ther.
Thar wes ilk day justyng of wer, 520
And scrymmyng maid full apertly,
And men tane on ather party.
And thai that tane war on a day
On ane othir changit war thai.
Bot othir dedis nane war done, 525
That gretly is apone till mone;
Quhill it fell, on the nynt day,
The lord Dowglas had spyit a way,
How that he mycht about thame ryd,
And cum apon the ferrest syd. 530
And at evyn him purvayit he,
And tuk with him a gude menyhe,
Fyve hundreth on hors, wicht and hardy;
And in the nycht, all prevely,
For-out noyis so fer he raid, 535
Quhill that he neir enveremyt had
Thar host, and on the ferrer syd
Toward thame slely can he ryd,
And half the men that with hym war
He gert in hand have suerdis bar; 540
And bad thaim hew rapys in twa,
That thai the pailyhownys mycht ma
To fall on thaim that in thaim war.
Than suld the laiff, that forouth ar,
Stab doune with speres sturdely. 545
And, quhen thai herd his horne, in hy
To the wattir hald doun the way.
Quhen this wes said that I here say,
Toward thair fais fast thai raid,
That on that syd no wachis had. 550
And as thai neir war approchand,
Ane Inglis man, that lay bekand
Hym by a fyre, said to his feir,
“I wat nocht quhat may tyd us heir,
“Bot a richt gret growyng me tais; 555
“I dred me sair for the blak Dowglas.”
And he, that herd him, said, ‘Perfay,
‘Thou sall haf caus, gif that I may!’
[527: E sevynd. H nynth.]
[533: C wes richt hardy (S). H as E.]
[544: E folowit thar.]
With that, with all his cumpany,
He ruschit on thame hardely, 560
And prowd palyheownys doune he bare,
And with speris that scharply schar
Thai stekit men dispituisly.
The noyis weill soyn rais, and the cry;
Thai stabbit, stekit, and thai slew; 565
And mony palyheownys doun thai drew.
A felloun slauchtir maid thai thair,
That thai, that liand nakit war,
Hed na power defens to ma;
And thai but pite can thame sla. 570
Thai gert thame wit that gret foly
Wes, neir thair fayis for to ly,
Bot gif thai trastly wachit war.
The Scottis men war slaand thar
Thair fayis on this wis, quhill the cry 575
Rais throu the gret host comonly,
That lord and othir war on steir.
And quhen the Dowglas wist thai weir
Armand thame all comonly,
He blew his horne for till rely 580
His men, and bad thame hald thar way
Toward the wattir, and swa did thai;
And he abaid henmast, to se
That nane of his suld lefit be.
And, as he swa abaid hufand, 585
Swa come ane with a club in hand,
And swa gret rowtis till him raucht,
That, had nocht beyn his mekill maucht
And his richt soverane gret manhede,
In-till that plas he had beyne ded. 590
Bot he, that na tyme was affrayit,
Thouch he weill oft wes herd assayit,
Thou mekill strynth and gret manheid,
Has brocht the tothir on-to ded,
His men, that to the wattir doune 595
War rydyn in-till a randoune,
Myssit thar lord quhen thai com thar.
Than war thai dredand for him sar;
Ilkane at othir sperit tithing,
Bot yheit of hym thai herd no thing. 600
Than can thai consale sammyn ta,
That thai to sek hym up wald ga.
And, as thai war in sic affray,
A tutlyng of his horne herd thai.
And thai, that has it knawin swith, 605
War of his cummyng woundir blith,
And sperit at him of his abaid;
And he tald how a carll him maid
With his club richt ane felloune pay,
That met him stoutly in the way, 610
That, had nocht ure helpit the mair
He had beyn in great perell thair.
Thusgatis spekand thai held thar way,
Quhill till thar host cummyn ar thai,
That on fut, armyt, thame abaid, 615
For till help, gif thai myster had.
And, als soyne as the lord Dowglas
Met with the Erll of Murreff was,
The Erll sperit at hym tithing
How he had farn in his outyng. 620
“Schir,” said he, “we haf drawyn blude.”
The Erll, that wes of mekill mude,
Said, ‘And we had all thiddir gane,
‘We had discumfit thame ilkane.’
“It mycht haf fallyn weill,” said he, 625
“Bot sekerly enew war we
“To put us in yhon aventur.
“For, had thai maid discumfitur
“On us, that yhondir passit wer,
“It suld all stonay that ar heir.” 630
[612: C I had (S). H as E.]
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] Douglas restrains Murray]
The Erle said, ‘Sen that it swa is,
‘That we may nocht with juperdis
‘Our felloune fais fors assale,
‘We sal it do in playn battale.’
Lord Douglas said then; “Be Saint Bryd, 635
“It war gret foly, at this tyd,
“Till us with sic ane host till ficht,
“That ilk day growis of mycht,
“And vittale has thar-with plente.
“And in thar cuntre heir ar we, 640
“Quhar thar may cum us na succours;
“Herd is to mak us heir rescours;
“Na we may forra for to get met,
“Sic as we haf heir mon we et.
“Do we with our fayis tharfor 645
“That ar heir liand us befor,
“As I herd tell this othir yher
“How that a fox did with a fischer.”
How the Fox played with the Fisher.
‘How did the fox?’ the Erll can say.
He said; “A fischar quhilome lay 650
“Besyde a ryver for till get
“His nettis that he had thar set.
“A litill luge thar had he maid;
“And thar-within a bed he had,
“And ek a litill fyre alsua; 655
“A dure ther wes, withouten ma.
“A nycht, his nettis for till se
“He rais, and thair weill lang duelt he.
“And quhen that he has done his ded,
“Toward his luge agane he yhed, 660
“And with licht of the litill fyre,
“That in the luge was byrnand schyre,
“In-till his luge a fox he saw,
“That fast can on a salmond gnaw.
“Than till the dure he went in hy, 665
“And drew ane swerd deliverly
“And said, ‘Reiffar, thou mon heir out.’
“The fox, that wes in full gret dout,
“Lukit about sum hoill to se;
“Bot nane ysche thar couth he se, 670
“Bot quhar the man stude sturdely.
“A lawchtane mantill than hym by,
“Lyand apon the bed, he saw;
“And with his teyth he can it draw
“Atour the fyre; and, quhen the man 675
“Saw his mantill ly byrnand than,
“Till red it ran he hastely.
“The fox gat out than in gret hy,
“And held his way his warand till.
“The man leit hym begilit ill, 680
“That he his salmond swa had tynt,
“And alsua had his mantill brynt,
“And the fox scathles gat his way.
“This ensampill I may weill say
“By yhon folk and us that ar heir; 685
“We ar the fox, and thai the fischer,
“That stekis forouth us the way.
“Thai weyne we may nocht get away,
“Bot richt quhar that thai ly; perde,
“All as thai think it sall nocht be. 690
“For I haf gert spy us a gat,
“Suppos that it be sum-deill wat,
“A page of ouris we sall nocht tyne.
“Our fayis, for this small tranontyne,
“Wenys we sall weill pryd us swa, 695
“That we planly on hand sall ta
“To gif thame oppynly battale;
“Bot at this tyme thair thoucht sall fale.
“For we to-morne heir, all the day,
“Sall mak als mery as we may, 700
“And mak us boune agane the nycht;
“And than ger mak our fyres bricht,
“And blaw our hornys, and mak fair
“As all the warld our awne it war,
“Quhill that the nycht weill fallyn be. 705
“And than, with all our harnas, we
“Sall tak our way hamward in hy.
“And we sall gyit be richt graithly
“Quhill we be out of thair danger,
“That lyis now enclosit her. 710
“Than sall we all be at our will,
“And thai sall let thame trumpit ill,
“Fra thai wit weill we be away.”
To this haly assentit thai;
And maid thame gud cher all that nycht 715
Quhill on the morn that day was licht.
[667: C Tratour (S).]
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] The Scots prepare to depart]
[Sidenote: AUG., 1327] King Robert sends a Relief]
Apon the morne, all prevaly, Thai turst harnas and maid reddy; Swa that, or evyn, all boun war thai. Thair fayis, that agane thame lay, 720 Gert haf thair men that thar wes ded In cartis till ane haly sted. All that day caryand thai war With cartis, men that slayne war thar. That thai war feill men mycht weill se, 725 That in carying so lang sud be. The hostis bath all that day wer In pes; and quhen the nycht wes ner, The Scottis folk, that lyand war In-till the park, maid fest and far; 730 And blew hornys and fyres maid, And gert thame bryn bath bricht and braid, Swa that thair fyres that nycht war mair Than ony tyme befor thai war. And quhen the nycht wes fallyn wele, 735 With all thair harnas ilke deill All prevaly thai raid thair way. Soyn in a mos enterit ar thai, That had weill a lang myle on breid; Out-our that moss on fut thai yheid, 740 And in thair hand thair hors led thai. It wes richt ane noyus way; And nocht-for-thi all that thar wer Com weill outour it, haill and fer, And tynt bot litill of thar ger, 745 Bot gif it war ony summer That in the mos wes left liand. Quhen all, as I haf born on hand, Out-our the mos, that wes so braid, War cummyn, a gret gladschip thai had, 750 And raid furth hamwarde on thar way. And on the morn, quhen it wes day, The Inglis men saw the herbery, Quhar Scottis men war wount to ly, All voyd; thai wonderit gretly then, 755 And send furth syndry of thar men To spy quhar thai war gane away, Quhill at the last thair tras fand thai, That till the mekill mos thame had, That wes so hidwis for till waid, 760 That aventur thame thar-to durst nane; Bot till thar host agane ar gane, And tald how that thai passit war, Quhar nevir man wes passit ar. Quhen Inglis men hard it wes swa, 765 In hy till consale can thai ta, That thai wald follow thaim no mar. Thair host richt than thai scalit thar, And ilk man till his awn he raid. Kyng Robert than that witteryng had 770 That his men in the park swa lay, And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai, Ana host assemblit he in hy. And ten thousand men, wicht and hardy, He send furth has with Erllis twa, 775 Of Marche and Angous war thai, The host in Wardale till releiff; And, gif thai mycht so weill escheiff That sammyn nycht be thai and thai, Tha thoucht thair fayis till assay. 780
[739: E twa myle of. So, too, in H.]
[742-744: After line 742 H inserts:
_But flaikes in the wood they made
Of wands, and them with them had:
And sykes therewith brigged they:
And sa had well their horse away,
On sik wise, that all that there were,
Came through the mosse baith haill and feire._
]
[774: C Of twenty thousand richt hardy (S). H like E.]
[776: E the Merse.]
So fell it that, on the sammyn day
That the mos, as yhe herd me say,
Wes passit, the discurrouris that thar
Rydand befor the hostis war,
Of athir host has gottin sicht. 785
And thai, that worthy war and wicht,
At tha metyng justit of wer.
Ensenyheis hye thai cryit ther;
And be thair cry persavit thai,
That thai war frendis, and at a fay. 790
Than mycht men se thame glad and blith;
And tald it to thair lordis swith.
The hostis bath met sammyn syne;
Thar wes richt hamly welcummyne
Maid emang gret lordis thar; 795
Of thair metyng joyfull thai war.
The Erll Patrik and his menyhe
Had vittale with thame gret plente,
And thar-with weill relevit thai
Thar frendis; for, the suth to say, 800
Quhill thai in Wardall liand war,
Thai had defalt of met, bot thar
Thai war relevit with gret plente.
Toward Scotland, with gammyn and gle,
Thai went, and hame weill cummyn ar thai; 805
And scalit syne ilk man thar way.
The lordis ar went on-to the King,
That maid thame richt fair welcummyng.
For of thar come richt glad wes he;
And that thai sic perplexite. 810
For-out tynsale eschapit had.
Thai war blith all and mery made.
BOOK XX.
How Good King Robert the Bruce crowned his Young Son
David and Dame Johann, his Spouse.
[Sidenote: 1327-28] A Treaty of Peace]
Soyne eftir that the Erll Thomas Fra Wardale thus reparit was, The King assemblit all his mycht, And left nane that wes worth to ficht. A gret host than assemblit he, 5 And delt his host in parties thre. A part to Norhame went but let, And thair ane strat assege was set, And held thame in, richt at thar dik. The tothir part on to Awnwyk 10 Is went, and thar ane sege set thai; And quhill at thir assegis lay At the castellis, I spak of ar, Apert assaltis maid thai thar: And mony fair gud chevelry 15 Eschevyt wes full douchtely. The king at thai castellis liand Left his folk, as I bare on hand, And with the thrid ost held his way Fra park to park, hym for to play, 20 Huntand as all his awn it war. And till thame that war with him thar The landis of Northumbirland, That next Scotland thar wes liand, In fe and heritage gaf he, 25 And thai payit for the selys fee. On this wis raid he distroyand, Quhill that the Kyng of Ingland, Throu consell of the Mortymer And his moder, at that tym wer 30 Ledaris of hym, that than yhoung wes, To Kyng Robert, till tret of pes Send messyngers, and swa sped thai That thai assentit on this way, Than a perpetuall pes to tak, 35 And thai a mariage suld mak Of King Robertis sone, Davy, That than bot fiff yheir had scarsly, And of dame Johane als of the Tour, That syne wes of full gret valour. 40 Sistir scho was to the yhoung King That Ingland had in governyng, That than of eild had sevin yher. And monymentis and lettrys ser, That thai off Ingland that time had, 45 That oucht agayn Scotland maid, In till that tretys up thai gaff; And all the clame that thai mycht haff In-till Scotland on ony maner. And King Robert, for scathes ser, 50 That he till thame of Ingland Had done of weir, with stalward hand, Full twenty thousand pund suld pay Of sylvir in-to gude monay. Quhen men thir thyngis forspokin had, 55 And, with selys and athis, maid Fesnyng of frendschip and of pes, That nevir for na chans suld ces; The maryage syne ordanit thai Till be at Berwyk, and the day 60 Thai have set quhen that it suld be; Syne went ilk man till his cuntre.
[16: E war. H was. C omits line. S reads wes as more usual form.]
[41: E yhing.]
[44-49: In E only. C H omit.]
Thus maid wes pes quhar wer wes air,
And syne the assegis rasit wair.
The Kyng Robert ordanit till pay 65
The silvir, and, agane the day,
He gert weill for the mangery
Ordane, quhen that his sone Davy
Suld weddit be; and Erll Thomas,
And the gud lord als of Douglas, 70
In-till his stede ordanit he
Devysouris of that fest till be;
For ane male-es tuk hym so sare,
That he on na wis mycht be thar.
His mail-eis of ane fundyng 75
Begouth; for, throu his cald lying,
Quhen in his gret myschef wes he,
Him fell that herd perplexite.
At Cardros all that tym he lay;
And quhen neir cummyne wes the day 80
That ordanit for the wedding wes,
The Erll and the lord Dowglas
To Berwik come with mekill fair,
And broucht yhoung Davy with thame thair.
And the Queyne and Mortymer, 85
On othir party cummyn wer
With gret affeir and rialte,
The yhoung lady, of gret bewte,
Thidder thai broucht with rich affeir.
The wedding have thai maid richt ther 90
With gret fest and solempnite,
Thair mycht men myrth and gladschip se:
For full gret fest thai maid richt thar,
And Inglis men and Scottis war
To-gidder in joy and in solas: 95
Na felloune spek betuix thame was.
[Sidenote: JULY 12, 1328] The Marriage of Prince David]
The fest a weill lang tyme held thai;
And quhen thai buskit till fair away,
The queyn hes left hir douchter thar
With gret riches and ryall far. 100
I trow that lang quhill no lady
To hous wes gevin so richly.
The Erll and the Lord Dowglas,
Hir in dante resavit has,
As it wes worthy, sekyrly; 105
For scho wes syne the best lady
And the farest, that men mycht se.
Eftir this gret solempnite,
Quhen on bath halfis levis wes tane,
The queyne till Ingland hame is gane, 110
And had with hir the Mortymer.
The Erll and thai that levit wer,
Quhen thai a quhile hir convoyit had,
Toward Berwik agane thai raid,
And syne, with all thar cumpany, 115
Toward the King thai went in hy,
And had with thame the yhoung Davy,
And als dame Johane the yhoung lady.
The Kyng maid thame fair welcummyng,
And eftir, but lang delaying, 120
He has gert set ane parliament,
And thiddir with mony men is went.
For he thoucht he wald, in his liff,
Croune his yhoung sone and his wif
At that parliament, and swa did he; 125
With gret fair and solempnite,
The kyng Davy wes crownyt thar,
And all the lordis at thar war, *127
*And als of the comminite,
*Maid hym manrent and fewte.
And forouth that thai crownit war, *130
The King Robert gert ordane thar,
Gif it fell that his sone Davy
Deit, but air male of his body 130
Gottyn, Robert Stewart suld be
Kyng, and bruk all the rialte
That his douchter bar, Marjory.
And at this tailyhe suld lelely
Be haldin, all the lordis swar, 135
And it with selys affermyt thar.
And gif it hapnyt Robert the Kyng
To pass till God, quhill thai war yhyng,
The gud Erle of Murref, Thomas,
With the lord alsua of Dowglas, 140
Suld have thame in-to governyng,
Quhill thai had wit to steir thar thing;
And than the lordschip suld thai ta.
Heir-till thar athis can thai ma.
And all the lordis that wes thar 145
To thir twa wardanys athes swar
Till obeis thame in-to lawte,
Gif thame hapnyt wardanys to be.
[*127-*130: Found in C, E, H, but omitted by Pinkerton.]
[131: C Robert Stiward (S).]
[134: C tale (S). H tailyie.]
[Sidenote: MAY-JUNE, 1329] The Mission of the King’s Heart]
Quhen all this thing thus tretit wes, And affermyt with sekirnes, 150 The king till Cardross went in hy; And thar hym tuk sa felonly The seknes, and him travalyt swa, That he wist him behufit ma Of all this liff the commoune end, 155 That is the ded, quhen God will send. Tharfor his lettres soyne send he For the lordis of his cuntre, And thai com as he biddyn had. His testament than has he maid, 160 Befor bath lordis and prelatis; And till religioune of seir statis, For heill of his saull, gaf he Silvir in-to gret quantite. He ordanit for his saull richt weill. 165 And quhen at this wes done ilk deill, “Lordingis,” he said, “swa is it gane “With me, that thar is nocht bot ane “That is, the ded, withouten dreid, “That ilk man mon thole on neid. 170 “And I thank God that has me sent “Spas in this liff me till repent. “For throu me and my warraying “Of blud thar has beyne gret spilling, “Quhar mony sakles men wes slayne; 175 “Tharfor this seknes and this payne “I tak in thank for my trespas. “And my hert fyschit fermly was, “Quhen I wes in prosperite, “Of my synnys till savit be 180 “To travell apon Goddis fayis. “And sen he now me till hym tais, “That the body may on na wis “Fulfill that the hert can devis, “I wald the hert war thiddir sent, 185 “Quhar-in consavit wes that entent. “Tharfor I pray yhow evir-ilkane, “That yhe emang yhow cheis me ane “That be honest, wis, and wicht, “And of his hand ane nobill knycht, 190 “On Goddis fayis myne hert to bere “Quhen saull and cors disseverit er. “For I wald it war worthely “Broucht thar, sen God will nocht that I “Have power thiddirward till ga.” 195 Than war thair hertis all so wa, That nayne mycht hald hym fra greting. He bad thame leiff thair sorowyng; For it, he said, mycht nocht releif, And mycht thaimself gretly engreif. 200 And prayit thame in hy till do The thyng that thai war chargit to. Than went thai furth with drery mude. And emang thame thai thoucht it gude That the worthy lord Dowglas 205 Quham in bath wit and worschip was *206 *Suld tak this travaill apon hand; *Heir-till thai war an accordand. *Syne till the Kyng that went in hy *And tald hym at thai thoucht trewly, That the douchty lord Dowglas *211 Best schapen for that travell was. And quhen the King hard at thai swa Had ordanit hym his hert till ta, That he mast yharnit suld it haf, He said, “Sa God him-self me saff! 210 “I hald me richt weill payit that yhe “Has chosyn hym; for his bounte, “And his worschip set my yharnyng, “Ay sen I thoucht till do this thyng, “That he it with hym thar suld ber. 215 “And sen yhe all assentit er, “It is the mar likand till me. “Lat se now quhat thar-till sayis he.” And quhen the gud lord of Dowglas Wist at the Kyng thus spokyn has, 220 He com and knelit to the Kyng, And on this wis maid him thanking. ‘I thank yhow gretly, lorde,’ said he, ‘Of mony large and gret bounte, ‘That yhe haf done till me feill sis 225 ‘Sen fyrst I come to yhour servis. ‘Bot our all thing I mak thanking, ‘That yhe so digne and worthy thing ‘As yhour hert, that illumynyt wes ‘Of all bounte and worthynes, 230 ‘Will that I in my yheemsell tak. ‘For yhow, Schir, will I blithly mak ‘This travell, gif God will me gif ‘Laser and space so lange till liff.’ The Kyng him thankit tendirly. 235 Than wes nane in that cumpany That thai ne wepit for pite; Thair cher anoyus wes to se.
[*206-*211: E omits, apparently on account of double termination Douglas. In C H.]
Death of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland.
[Sidenote: JUNE, 1329] The Sorrow for the King’s Death]
Quhen the Lord Dowglas, on this wis, Had undirtane so hye empris, 240 As the gud Kyngis hert till ber On Goddis fayis apon wer, Prisit for his enpris wes he. And the Kingis infermite Woxe mair and mair, quhill at the last 245 The dulfull dede approchit fast. And quhen he had gert till hym do All that gud Cristin man fell to, With werray repentans he gaf The gast, that God till hevin couth haf, 250 Emang his chosyn folk till be In joy, solace, and angell gle. And fra his folk wist he wes ded, The sorow rais fra sted to sted. Thair mycht men se men rif thar hare, 255 And cumly knychtis gret full sar, And thar nevis oft sammyn driff, And as wode men thair clathes rif, Regratand his worthy bounte, His wit, strynth, and his honeste; 260 And, our all, the gret cumpany That he oft maid thame curtesly. “All our defens,” thai said, “allas! “And he that all our confort was, “Our wit, and all our governyng, 265 “Is brought, allas! heir till ending. “His worschip and his mekill mycht “Maid all that war with him so wicht, “That thai mycht nevir abaysit be, “Quhill forouth thame thai mycht him se. 270 “Allas! quhat sall we do or say? “For in liff quhill he lestit ay, “With all our fais dred war we: “And in-till mony fer cuntre “Of our worschip ran the renoune: 275 “And that wes all for his persoune.” With sic wordis thai maid thair mayne; And sekirly wonder wes nane: For better governour than he Mycht in na cuntre fundyn be. 280 I hop that nane that is on lif The lamentacioune suld discrif That thai folk for thair lord maid. And quhen thai lang thus sorowit had, And he debowalit wes clenly, 285 And bawlmyt eyne full richly, And the worthy lord Dowglas His hert, as it forspokyn was, Has resavit in gret dantee, With gret fair and solempnite 290 Thai have him had till Dunfermlyne, And hym solempnly erdit syne, And in a fair towne in the queyr. Bischoppes and prelatis that thar weir Assolyheit hym, quhen the servis 295 Wes done as thai couth best devis; And syne, apon the toder day, Sary and wa ar went thar way.
[273: E our nychtbowris. H faes.]
[285-298: The arrangement here is from C H. E sets differently and illogically. The numbers in brackets follow Pinkerton.]
[Sidenote: JULY-AUG., 1330] Douglas reaches Spain]
Quhen at the gud King beriit was, The Erll of Murreff, Schir Thomas, 300 Tuk all the lande in governyng; All obeysit till his bidding. And the gud lord of Dowglas syne Gert mak ane cas of silvir fyne Anamalyt throu subtilite: 305 Thar-in the Kyngis hert did he, And ay about his hals it bare, And fast him bownyt for his fare. His testament devisit he, And ordanit how his land suld be 310 Governit, quhill his agane-cummyng, Of frendis; and all othir thing, That till him partenit ony wis, With sa gude forsicht and sa wis, Or his furth-passyng, ordanit he, 315 That na thing mycht amendit be. And quhen that he his leif has tane, To schip till Berwik is he gane; And with ane nobill cumpany Of knychtis and of squyary, 320 He put him thar in-to the se. A lang way furthwarde salyt he; Betuyx Cornwale and Bretanyhe He salit, and left the Grunye of Spanyhe On north half hym; and held thar way 325 Quhill till Savill the Graunt com thai. Bot gretly war his men and he Travaled with tempest on the se; Bot, thouch thai gretly travalit war, Haill and feir thai cummyn ar. 330 Thai arivit at gret Savill; And eftir, in a litill quhill, Thar hors to land thai drew ilkane, And in the toune has herbery tane.
[324: C grund (S).]
[326: C Sebell (S).]
[331: C at Graunt Sebell. H the great Sebell.]
He hym contenyt richt richly; 335
For he had a fayr cumpany,
And gold eneuch for till despend.
The Kyng all soyne eftir hym send,
And him richt weill resavit he,
And profferit hym in gret plente 340
Gold and tresour, hors and armyng;
Bot he wald tak thar-of na thyng;
For, he said, he tuk that viage
To pass in-till his pilgrimage
On Goddis fais, that his travale 345
Micht eftir till his saull avale.
And sen he wist that he had were
With Sarazenis, he wald dwell ther,
And help him at his mycht lely.
The King him thankit curtesly, 350
And betaucht him gud men that were
Weill knawin of that landis wer,
And the maner thar-of alsua.
Syne till his innys can he ga.
Quhen that the King him levit had, 355
A weill gret sojourne thar he mad.
Knychtis that com of fer cuntre
Com in gret rowtis hym to se,
And honorit him full gretumly.
And our all men mast soveranly, 360
The Inglis knychtis that war thar
Honour and cumpany him bar.
[356: C sudiorne (S).]
Emang thame wes ane strange knycht,
That wes haldyn so woundir wicht,
That for ane of the gude wes he 365
Prisit of all the Cristianite.
Sa fast till-hewyn wes all his face
That it our all neir wemmyt was.
Or he the lord Dowglas had seyne,
He wend his face had wemmyt beyne, 370
Bot nevir ane hurt in it had he.
Quhen he unwemmyt can it se,
He said that he had gret ferly
That sic a knycht and sa worthy,
And prisit of sa gret bounte, 375
Mycht in the face unwemmyt be.
And he ansuerd thar-till mekly,
And said, “Love God, all tym had I
“Handis myne hede for till were.”
Quha wald tak tent to this ansuer 380
Suld se in it undirstanding,
That, and he that maid askyng,
Had had handis to wer, his face,
That, for defalt of fens so was
To-fruschit into placis ser, 385
Suld haf, may fall, left haill and fer.
The gud knychtis, that than war by,
Prisit this ansuer gretumly;
For it wes maid with meke speking,
And had richt hye undirstanding. 390
[378-386: For these lines H gives:
_And said, “God lent me hands to beare,
Wherewith I might my head weere.”
Thus maid he courteous answering,
With a right hie understanding:
That for default of fence it was,
That sa evill hewen was his fall._
]
[380: E tak kep.]
[Sidenote: AUG. 25, 1330] A Battle with the Saracens]
Apon this maner still thai lay, Quhill throu the cuntre thai herd say That the hey King of Balmeryne, With mony a mudy Sarasyne, Wes enterit in the land off Spanyhe 395 All haill the cuntre till demanyhe. The Kyng of Spanyhe, on othir party, Gaderit his host delyverly, And delt thame in-to battellis thre. And to the lord Dowglas gaf he 400 The vaward for to leid and steir; All haill the strangeris with him weir, And the gret mastir of Saint Jak The tothir battell gert he tak. The reirward maid him-selvyn thar. 405 Thusgat devisit, furth thai war To mete thair fayis, that in battale Arayit, reddy to assale, Com agane thame full sturdely. The Dowglas than, that wes worthy, 410 Quhen he to thame of his ledyng Had maid ane fair amonestyng Till do weill and na dede to dreid, For hevynnis blis suld be thair meid, Gif that thai deit in Goddis servis; 415 Than, as gud werriours and wis, With thame stoutly assemblit he. Thar mycht men felloune fechting se; For thai war all wicht and hardy That war on the Cristyn party; 420 So fast thai faucht, with all thar mayne, That of Sarasenys war mony slayne; The-quhethir, with mony fell fachoune, Mony Cristyn thai dang thar doune.
[393: Hey from E. C H omit.]
[*421:
_But ere they joyned in battell, *421
What Dowglas did, I sall you tell.
The Bruce’s Heart, that on his brest
Was hinging, in the field he kest,
Upon a stane-cast and well more: *425
And said, “Now passe thou foorth before,
As thou wast wont in field to be,
And I sall follow, or els die.”
And sa he did withoutten ho,
He faught even while he came it to, *430
And tooke it up in great daintie;
And ever in field this used he._ *432
*421-*432. In H only; not in C E. See Appendix D.
]
[Sidenote: AUG. 25, 1330] The Death of Douglas]
Bot at the last the lord Douglas, 425
And the gret rout that with hym was,
Pressit fast the Sarasenys swa
That thai haly the bak can ta.
And thai chassit with all thar mayn,
And mony in the chas has slayn. 430
So fer chassit the lord Dowglas,
With few folk, that he passit wes
All the folk that wes chassand then.
He had nocht with him atour ten
Of all men that war with him thar. 435
Quhen he saw all reparit war
Toward his host than turnit he.
And quhen the Saryzynys gan se
That the chasseris turnyt agane,
Thai relyit with mekill mayne. 440
And as the gud lorde Dowglas,
As I said air, reparand was,
So saw he, richt besyd him ner,
Quhar that Schir Willyhame de Sancler
With a gret rout enveremyt was. 445
He wes anoyit, and said; “Allas!
“Yhone worthy knycht will soyn be ded,
“Bot he haf help throu our manhed.
“God biddis us help him in gret hy,
“Sen that we ar so neir him by. 450
“And God wat weill our entent is
“Till lif and de in his servis;
“His will in all thing do sall we,
“Sall na perell eschevit be
“Quhill he be put out of yhone payne, 455
“Or than we all be with hym slayn.”
With that with spurris spedely
Thai strak the hors, and in gret hy
Amang the Saracenys soyne thai raid,
And rowme about thame haf thai maid. 460
Thai dang on fast with all thair mycht,
And feill of thame to ded has dicht.
Gretar defens maid nevir sa quhoyne
Agane so feill, as thai have doyne.
Quhill thai mycht lest to gif battale. 465
Bot mycht no worschip thar avale
That tym, for ilkan war slayn thar;
For Sarasynys sa mony war
That thai war tuenty neir for ane.
The gud lord Douglas thar wes slane, 470
And Wilyhame Sancler syne alsua;
And other worthy knychtis twa,
Schir Robert Logan hat the tane,
And the tothir Walter Logane;
Quhar our Lord, for his mekill mycht, 475
Thar saulys have to hevynnis hycht!
[438: C H And as he turnit, he can weill se (S). Text from E.]
[440: C And thai (S).]
[476: C licht (S). H as E.]
The gud lord Douglas thus wes ded; And the Sarasenys in that sted Abaid no mair, bot held thar way; Thai knychtis ded thar levit thai. 480 Sum of the lord Douglassis men, That thar lord ded had fundyn then, Yheid weill neir wood for dule and wa. Lang quhile our hym thai sorowit swa, And with gret dule syne hame him bar. 485 The Kyngis hert have thai fundyn thar, And that haym with thame have thai tane, And ar toward thair innys gane With greting and with evill cher; Thair sorow angyr wes to her. 490 And quhen of Keth gud Schir Wilyhame, That all that day had beyn at hame-- For at sa gret myschef wes he, That he come nocht to the journee, For his arme wes brokyne in twa-- 495 Quhen he that folk sic dule saw ma, He askyt quhat it wes in hy. And thai him tauld all opynly, How that thair douchty lord wes slayn With Sarazynys that releyt agayn. 500 And quhen he wyst that it was sua, Atour all other he wes mast wa, And maid so woundir evill cher That all wounderit that by him wer. Bot till tell of thair sorowyng 505 Anoyis, and helpis litill thing. Men may weill wit, thouch nane thaim tell, How angry, sorowfull, and how fell Is till tyne sic ane lord as he Till thame that war of his menyhe. 510 For he wes swete, and debonar, And weill couth tret his frendis far, And his fais richt felonly Stonay, throu his gret chevelry. The-quhethir of litill effer wes he, 515 Bot our all thing he lufit lawte; At tresoune growyt he so gretly, That na tratour mycht be hym by, That he mycht wit, na he suld be Weill punyst of his cruelte. 520
[496-501: From E H. Not in C, owing to cher twice.]
[Sidenote: 1330] How Fabricius punished a Traitor]
I trow, the leill Fabricius,
That fra Rome to warray Pirrus
Wes send with a gret menyhe,
Hatit tresoune na les than he.
The-quhethir quhen the Pirrus had 525
On him and on his menyhe, mayd
Ane outrageous discumfitour,
Quhar he eschapit throu aventour,
And mony of his men war slane,
And he gaderit ane host againe, 530
A gret mastir of medicyne,
That Pirrus had in governyne,
Profferit to this Fabricius
In tresoune for to slay Pirrus;
For, in his first potacioune, 535
He suld him gif dedly poysoune.
Fabricius than, that wondir had
That he sic proffer till hym maid
Said; “Certis, Rome is wele of mycht
“Throu strynth of armys in-to ficht, 540
“Till vencus weill thar fais, thouch thai
“Consent to tresoune be na way.
“And for thou wald do sic tresoune,
“Thou sall, to get thi warisoune,
“Ga to Pirrus, and lat hym do 545
“Quhat evir in hert hym lyis the to.”
Than till Pirrus he sende in hy
This mastir, and gert him oppenly
Fra end till end tell all this tale.
Quhen Pirrus had it herd all hale, 550
He said; ‘Wes nevir man that swa
‘For laute bar hym till his fa,
‘As heir Fabricius dois till me;
‘It is als ill to ger hym be
‘Turnyt fra way of richtwisnes, 555
‘Or to consent till wikidnes,
‘As at mydday to turne agane
‘The sone that rynnis his cours all playn.’
Thus said he of Fabricius,
That syne vencust this ilk Pirrus 560
In playne battell throu hard fechting.
His honest lawte gert me bryng
In this ensampell her, for he
Had soverane pris of his lawte.
And richt sua had the lord Douglas, 565
That honest, leill, and worthy was;
That ded wes, as befor said we;
All menyt hym, strange and preve.
Quhen his men lang had maid murnyng,
The debowellit hyme, and syne 570
Gert seth him, swa that mycht be tane
The flesche all haly fra the bane.
The carioune thair in haly plas
Erdit with richt gret worschip was.
The banys have thai with thame tane, 575
And syne ar till thair schippes gane.
Quhen thai war levit of the Kyng,
That dule had of thar sorowyng.
Till se thai went, gud wynd thai had,
Thair cours till Ingland haf thai maid, 580
And thair saufly arivit thai;
Syne toward Scotland held thar way,
And thar ar cummyne in full gret hy.
And the banys richt honorabilly
In-till the kirk of Dowglas war 585
Erdit, with dule and mekill car.
Schir Archibald his sone gert syne
Of alabast bath fair and fyne
Ordane a towme full richly,
As it behufit till swa worthy. 590
