The Bruce 7The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 4)
18
Fiction · Historical Fiction
The Bruce 7
The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 4)
BarbourEnglish
[656: C Bot till (S). E gives the. Skeat in his note suggests to = too for till!]
[657: C has That slew four or I slew ane (S). E as in text, and H similarly.]
[661: C begins The (S).]
BOOK VII.
How John of Lorn sought the Good King Robert Bruce with the Sleuth-hound.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce takes to the Water]
The Kyng toward the wod is gane, Wery, for-swat, and will of wayn. In-till the wod soyn enterit he, And held doun toward a vale 4 Quhar throu the wod a wattir ran. Thiddir in gret hy went he than, And begouth to rest hym thair, And said he mycht no forthirmar. 8 His man said; “Schir, that may nocht be: “Abyde yhe heir, yhe sal soyn se “Five hundreth yharnand yhou to sla, “And thai ar fele aganis twa; 12 “And, sen we may nocht deill wyth mycht, “Help us all that we may wyth slycht.” The King said; ‘Sen that thou will swa, ‘Ga furth, and I sall with the ga. 16 ‘Bot I haf herd oftsis say, ‘That quha endlang a wattir ay ‘Wald wayd a bow-draucht, he suld ger ‘Bath the sleuthhund and the ledar, 20 ‘Tyne the sleuth men gert him ta, ‘Pruf we gif it will now do swa. ‘For war yhon devillis hund a-way, ‘I roucht nocht of the layff, perfay.’ 24
Here the Sleuth-hound lost his Scent.
As he devisit thai haf done,
And enterit in the wattir sone,
And held on endlang it thar way,
And syne to the land yheid thai, 28
And held thair way as thai did ere.
And John of Lorn, with gret effere,
Com with his rout richt to the place,
Quhar that his five men slan was. 32
He menyt thame quhen he thaim saw;
And said, eftir a litill thraw,
That he suld wenge in hy thar blude:
Bot othir wayis the gammyn yhude. 36
Thair wald he mak no mair duelling,
Bot furth in hy followit the King,
Richt to the burn thai passit ar;
Bot the sleuth-hund maid stynting thar, 40
And waveryt lang tyme to and fra,
That he na certane gat couth ga;
Till at the last than Johne of Lorn
Persavit the hund the sleuth had lorn, 44
And said; “We haf tynt this travell;
“To pas forthir may nocht avale;
“For the wode is bath braid and wyde,
“And he is weill fer be this tyde. 48
“Tharfor I rede we turn agane,
“And wast no mair travale in vayn.”
With that releyt he his menyhe,
And his way to the host tuk he. 52
Or else he was Slain with an Arrow.
[Sidenote: 1307] The King Escapes]
Thus eschapit the nobill Kyng. Bot sum men sais, this eschaping Apon ane othir maner fell Than throu the wading; for thai tell 56 That the Kyng a gud archer had, And quhen he saw his lord swa stad, That he wes left swa anerly, He ran on fut alwayis him by, 60 Till he in-till the wod wes gane. Then said he till hym-self allane, That he arest rycht thair wald ma, And luk gif he the hund mycht sla. 64 For gif the hund mycht lest on lif, He wist full weill that thai wald drif The Kyngis tras till thai hym ta; Than wist he weill thai wald him sla. 68 And for he wald his lord succour, He put his lif in aventur. And stud in-till a busk lurkand Quhill that the hund com at his hand, 72 And with ane arrow soyn him slew, And throu the wod syne hym withdrew. Bot quhethir his eschaping fell As I tald first, or now I tell, 76 I wat it weill, without lesyng, At that burn eschapit the King.
How the Three Men that bare the Wedder Sheep thought to have slain King Robert Bruce.
The King has furth his wayis tane. And Johne of Lorn agane is gane 80 To Schir Amer, that fra the chas With his men than reparit was, That litill sped in thair chassing; For thow that thai maid following 84 Full egirly, thai wan bot small; Thair fayis neir eschapit all. Men sais, Schir Thomas Randale than, Chassand, the Kyngis baner wan; 88 Quhar-throu in Ingland wyth the Kyng He had rycht gret price and lovyng. Quhen the chaseris releit war, And Johne of Lorn had met thaim thar, 92 He tald Schir Amer all the cas, How that the King eschapit was; And how that he his fif men slew, And syne he to the wod hym drew. 96 Quhen Schir Amer herd this, in hy He sanyt hym for the ferly, And said; “He is gretly to pris; “For I knaw nane that liffand is 100 “That at myscheif can help hym swa. “I trow he suld be hard to sla “And he war bodyn all evynly.” On this wis spak Schir Amery. 104
Here Three Traitours meet the King, with a Wedder.
And the gud Kyng held furth his way,
He and his man, ay quhill that thai
Passit owt throu the forest war;
Syne in a mure thai enterit ar. 108
That wes bath hee and lang and braid;
And or thai half it passit had,
Thai saw on syde thre men cumand,
Lik to licht men and waverand. 112
Swerdis thai had and axis als,
And ane of thame apon his hals
A mekill bundyn weddir bare.
Thai met the Kyng, and halsit him thar: 116
And the Kyng thame thar halsing yhald,
And askit thame quhethir thai wald.
Thai said, Robert the Bruce thai socht,
To meit with hym gif that thai mocht, 120
Thair duelling with hym wald thai ma.
The King said, “Gif that yhe will swa,
“Haldis furth yhour way with me,
“And I sall ger yhow soyn him se.” 124
[Sidenote: 1307] The King goes with the Men]
Thai persavit be his spekyng
And his effer, he wes the Kyng.
Thai changit contenans and late,
And held nocht in the first stat; 128
For thai war fayis to the Kyng;
And thoucht to cum in-to scowkyng,
And duell with hym quhill that thai saw
Thar tym, and bryng hym than of daw. 132
Thai grantit till his spek for-thi,
Bot the Kyng, that wes witty,
Persavit weill be thair havyng
That thai lufit hym in na thing: 136
He said; “Fallowis, yhe man all thre
“Forthir aquynt quhill that we be,
“All be yhour-self forrouth ga,
“And, on the sammyn wis, we twa 140
“Sall fallow yhow behynd weill neir.”
Quod thai; ‘Schir, it is na mysteir
‘To trow in-till us any ill.’
“Nane do I,” said he, “bot I will 144
“That yhe ga forrow us, quhill we
“Bettir with othir knawyn be.”
‘We grant,’ thai said, ‘sen yhe will swa:’
And furth apon thair gat can ga. 148
[126: In E That he wes the selvyn Robert king.]
Thus yheid thai till the nycht wes neir.
And than the formast cumin weir
Till a wast husbandis hous; and thar
Thai slew the weddir at thai bar, 152
And slew fyre for to rost thar met,
And askit the Kyng gif he wald et,
And rest hym till the met war dicht?
The Kyng, that hungry wes I hicht, 156
Assentit to thair speke in hy:
Bot he said, he wald anerly
Betuyx hym and his fallow be
At a fyre, and thai all thre 160
In the end of the hous suld ma
Ane othir fyre; and thai did swa.
Thai drew thame in the hous end,
And half the weddir till him send; 164
And thai rostit in hy thair met,
And fell rycht frakly for till et.
The King weill lang he fastyt had,
And had rycht mekill travale made: 168
Tharfor he ete richt egyrly.
And quhen he etyn had hastely,
He had to slepe sa mekill will,
That he mycht set na let thar-till. 172
For quhen the wanys fillit ar,
The body worthis hevy evirmar;
And to slepe drawis hevynes.
The Kyng, that all for-travalit wes, 176
Saw that hym worthit slep neidwais;
Till his fostir brothir he sais,
“May I trast the me to walk,
“Till I a litill slepyng tak?” 180
‘Yha, Schir,’ he said, ‘till I may dre.’
The Kyng than wynkit a litill we,
And slepit nocht full ynkurly,
Bot gliffnyt up oft suddandly; 184
For he had drede of thai thre men,
That at the tothir fyre war then.
That thai his fais war he wyst;
Tharfor he slepit as foul on twist. 188
[153: H And strake (S). C E as text.]
[174: E Men worthis.]
[181, 182: E drey--wey.]
Here he slew the three traitors.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce’s Foster-Brother is Slain]
The Kyng slepit bot litill than,
Quhen sic a slepe fell on his man
That he mycht nocht hald up his e,
Bot fell on slepe and routit he. 192
Now is the King in gret perell:
For slepe he swa a litill quhile,
He sall be ded, forouten dred.
For the thre tratouris tuk gud hede, 196
That he on slep wes and his man.
In full gret hy thai rais up than,
And drew thair swerdis hastely,
And went toward the King in hy, 200
Quhen that thai saw he slepit swa,
And slepand thoucht thai wald hym sla.
*Till hym thai yheid a full gret pas,
Bot in that tym, throu Goddis grace, *204
The Kyng blenkit up hastely,
And saw his man slepand him by, 204
And saw cumand the tratouris thre.
Delyverly on fut gat he,
And drew his suerd out and thame met,
And, as he yheid, his fut he set 208
Apon his man weill hevaly.
He walkynt, and rais all desaly:
For the sleip maisterit hym swa,
That, or he gat up, ane of thai, 212
That com for to sla the Kyng,
Gaf hym a strake in his rysyng,
Swa that he mycht help hym no mair.
The Kyng so stratly stad wes thair, 216
That he wes never yheit swa stad;
Na war the armyng that he had,
He had beyn ded foroutyn weyr.
Bot nocht-for-thi on sic maneir 220
He helpit hym swa in that bargane,
That thai thre tratouris he has slane,
Throu Goddis grace and his manheid.
His fostir-brothir thair wes ded. 224
Than wes he wounder will of wayn,
Quhen he saw he wes left allane.
His fostir-brothir menyt he,
And waryit all the tothir thre, 228
And syne his way tuk hym allane,
And richt toward his trist is gane.
[*203, 204: Not in E, but in C and H (S).]
[210: E omits all.]
Here the King goes to his Tryst.
The Kyng went furth wrath and angry, Menand his man full tendirly, 232 And held his way all hym allane, And richt toward the hous is gane, Quhar he set trist to mete his men; It wes weill lat of nycht be then. 236 He come soyn in the hous, and fand The gud wif on the bynk sytand Scho askit hym soyn quhat he wes, And quhyne he com, and quhar he gais. 240 “A travalland man, dame,” said he, “That travalys heir throu the cuntre.” Scho said, ‘All that travaland ere, ‘For saik of ane, ar welcom here.’ 244 The Kyng said, “Gud dame, quhat is he “That garris yhow have sik specialte “Till men that travalis?” ‘Schir, perfay,’ Quod the gud wif, ‘I sal yhow say; 248 ‘Gud Kyng Robert the Bruce is he, ‘That is rycht lord of this cuntre. ‘His fayis him haldis now in thrang; ‘Bot I thynk to se or oucht lang 252 ‘Hym lord and kyng our all the land, ‘That na fayis sall hym withstand.’ “Dame, lufis thou hym sa weill?” said he. ‘Yha Schyr,’ scho said, ‘sa God me se!’ 256 “Dame,” said he, “lo! hym her the by, “For I am he”;--‘Sa yhe suthly?’ “Yha, certis, dame.”--‘And quhar are gane ‘Yhour men, quhen yhe ar thus allane?’ 260 “At this tyme, dame, I have no ma.” Scho said, ‘It may no wis be swa; ‘I have twa sonnys wicht and hardy, ‘Thai sall becum yhour men in hy.’ 264 As scho devisit thai have done, His sworn men becom thai sone. The wif gart soyn him syt and et. Bot he had schort quhil at the met 268 Sittyn, quhen he herd gret stampyng About the hous; than, but lettyng, Thai stert up, the hous to defend; Bot soyn eftir the Kyng has kend 272 James of Douglas: than wes he blith, And bad oppyn the dures swith: And thai com in, all at thai ware. Schir Edward the Bruce wes thare, 276 And James als of Douglas, That wes eschapit fra the chas, And with the Kyngis brothir met. Syne to the trist that thame wes set 280 Thai sped thame with thair cumpany, That war ane hundreth and fyfty.
[236: E inwith nycht.]
Here meets he with his Company.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce Plans a Surprise]
And quhen at thai has seyn the Kyng,
Thai war joyfull of thair metyng: 284
And askit how he eschapit was,
And he thaim tald all haill the cas;
How the five men him presit fast,
And how he throu the wattir past, 288
And how he met the thevis thre,
And how he slepand slayn suld be,
Quhen he walknyt, throu Goddis grace;
And how his fostyr-brothir was 292
Slayne, he tald thame halely.
Than lovyt thai God all comonly,
That thair lord wes eschapit swa.
Than spak thai wordis to and fra, 296
Till at the last the Kyng can say;
“Fortoun has travalit us this day,
“That scalit us sa suddandly.
“Our fayis this nycht sall trastly ly;” 300
For thai trow we so scalit ar *301
*And fled to-waverand her and thar,
*That we sall nocht thir dayis thre
All to-giddir assemblit be *304
*Tharfor this nycht thai sall trastly.
“But wachis, tak thair eis and ly.
“Quharfor, quha knew thair herbery,
“And wald cum on thame suddanly,
“With few menyhe mycht soyn thame scath, 304
“And yhet eschape withouten vath.”
‘Perfay,’ quoth James of Douglas,
‘As I com hiddirward, per-cas
‘I com so neir thair herbery, 308
‘That I can bring yhow quhar thai ly.
‘And wald yhe speid yhow, yheit or day
‘It may sa happyn that yhe may
‘Do thame a gretar scath weill soyn 312
‘Than thai us all the day has done,
‘For thai ly scalit as thame lest.’
Than thocht thai all it wes the best
To speid thame to thaim hastely; 316
And thai did swa in full gret hy,
And com on thame in the dawyng,
Richt as the day begouth to spryng.
[Linenote: *301-305 not in E, running on from the second trastly.]
Here the King and his Company come hastily upon their Enemies, and slay Many.
[Sidenote: 1307] Sir Aymer praises Bruce]
So fell it that a cumpany 320
Had in toune tane thair herbry,
Weill fra the host a myle or mair;
Men said that thai twa thousand war.
Thar assemblit the nobill Kyng. 324
And soyn eftir thair assemblyng,
Thai, that slepand assalyheit war,
Rycht hyduisly can cry and rar;
And othir-sum, that herd the cry, 328
Ran furth rycht swa effraytly,
That sum of thame all nakyt war,
Fleand to-waverand heir and thair;
And sum thair armys with thaim drew: 332
And thai without mercy thame slew;
And swa cruell vengeans can ta,
That the twa part of thame and ma,
War slayn rycht in that ilk sted; 336
Till thar host the remanand fled.
The host, that herd the noyis and cry,
And saw thair men sa wrechidly
Cum nakit, fleand heir and thair, 340
Sum haill, and sum woundit sair,
In-to full gret affray thai rais,
And ilk man to his baner gais:
Swa that the host wes all on steir. 344
The Kyng and thai that with hym weir,
Quhen thai on steir the host saw swa,
Toward thair warrand can thai ga,
And tharin swith cummyn ar thai. 348
And quhen Schir Amery herd say
How that the Kyng thar men had slayn,
And how thai turnit war agane,
He said, “Now may we cleirly se 352
“That nobill hert, quhar-evir it be,
“Is hard till ourcum throu mastry.
“For quhar a hert is rycht worthy
“Agane stoutnes it is ay stout; 356
“And, as I trow, thair may na dowt
“Ger it all out discumfit be,
“Quhill body liffand is and fre;
“As be this melle may be seyn. 360
“We wend Robert the Bruce had beyn
“Swa discumfit that, be gud skill,
“He suld nouthir haff hert no will
“Swilk juperdy till undirta; 364
“For he wes put at undir swa
“That he wes left all hym allane,
“And all his folk war fra hym gane;
“And he wes sa fortravalit, 368
“To put of thame that hym assalit,
“That he suld haf yharnit restyng
“Mair than fechtyng or travalyng.
“Bot his hert fillit is of bownte, 372
“Swa that it vencust may nocht be.”
[323: E hundir.]
[331: E to warrand.]
[359: C has all fre (S).]
[371: E This nycht atcur all othir thing. H as in C.]
Here Sir Aymer passes to Carlisle.
On this wis spak Schir Amery. And quhen thai of his cumpany Saw how thai travalit had in vane, 376 And how the Kyng thar men had slane, That at his larges wes all free, Thame thoucht it wes a nyste For to mak thair langer duellyng, 380 Sen thai mycht nocht anoy the Kyng; And said that to Schir Amery, That umbethoucht hym hastely That he to Carleill than wald ga, 384 And a quhill thar-in sojorn ma; And haf his spyis on the Kyng, To knaw alwais his contenyng. For quhen that he his poynt mycht se, 388 He thoucht that with a gret menyhe He suld schute on hym sodanly. Tharfor, with all his cumpany, Till Ingland he the way has tane, 392 And ilk man till his hous is gane. In hy till Carleill went is he. And thar-in thynkis for to be Till he his poynt saw of the Kyng, 396 That than with all his gaderyng Wes in Carrik, quhar umbestount He wald went with his men till hount.
[378: E And that his wes gane al fre.]
Here the King meets three Traitors.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce taunts the Bowmen]
Swa hapnyt it that on a day 400
He went till hunt, for till assay
Quhat gammyn wes in that cuntre.
And swa hapynt that day that he
By a wode-syde to sett is gane, 404
With his twa hundis, hym allane;
Bot he his swerd ay with hym bare.
He had bot schort quhill syttyn thare,
Quhen he saw fra the wode cumand 408
Thre men with bowis in thar hand,
That toward hym com spedely;
And he persavit that in hy,
Be thair effeir and thair havyng, 412
That thai lufit hym na kyn thyng.
He rais and his leysche till him drew he,
And leit his houndis gang all fre.
God help the Kyng now for his mycht! 416
For bot he now be wis and wicht,
He sall be set in mekill pres.
For thai thre men, withouten les,
War his fayis all utrely: 420
And had wachit so besaly,
To se quhen thai vengeans mycht tak
Of the Kyng for Jhone Cumynys sak,
That thai thoucht than thai laser had; 424
And, sen he hym allane wes stad,
In hy thai thoucht thai suld him sla:
And gif that thai mycht chevis swa,
Fra that thai the Kyng had slayn, 428
That thai mycht wyn the wode agayn,
His men, thai thoucht, thai suld nocht dreid.
In hy towart the Kyng thai yheid,
And bend thair bowis quhen thai war neir; 432
And he, that dred in gret maneir
Thar arowis, for he nakit was,
In hy ane spekyng to thame mais,
And said; “Yhe aucht to shame, perde, 436
“Syn I am ane and yhe ar thre,
“For to schut at me on fer.
“Bot haf yhe hardyment, cum ner
“With yhour swerdis me till assay; 440
“Wyn me on sic wis gif yhe may;
“Yhe sall weill mair all prisit be.”
‘Perfay,’ quod ane than of the thre,
‘Sall no man say we drede the swa, 444
‘That we with arrowis sall the sla.’
With that thair bowis away thai kest,
And com on fast, but langar frest.
The Kyng thame met full hardely, 448
And smat the first so rigorusly,
That he fell ded doun on the greyn.
And quhen the Kyngis hounde has seyn
Thai men assale his mastir swa, 452
He lap till ane and can hym ta
Richt be the nek full felonly,
Till top our taill he gert hym ly.
And the Kyng, that his swerd up had, 456
Saw he so fair succour hym maid,
Or he that fallyn wes mycht rys,
He hym assalyheit on sic wis,
That he the bak strak evyn in twa. 460
The thrid, that saw his fallowis swa
Forouten recoveryng, be slayne,
Tuk till the wod his way agane.
Bot the Kyng followit spedely; 464
And als the hound that wes hym by,
Quhen he the man saw gang hym fra,
Schot till hym soyn, and can him ta
Richt be the nek, and till hym dreuch; 468
And the Kyng, that wes neir eneuch,
In his risyng sik rowt hym gaf,
That stane-ded till the erd he draf.
[459: C Had hym.]
The Kyngis menyhe that war neir, 472
Quhen at thai saw on sic maneir
The Kyng assalit sa suddandly,
Thai sped thame toward hym in hy,
And askit how that cas befell? 476
And he all haly can thaim tell,
How thai assalyheit hym all thre.
“Perfay,” quod thai, “we may weill se
“That it is hard till undirtak 480
“Sic mellyng with yhow for to mak,
“That so smertly has slayn thir thre
“Forouten hurt.” ‘Perfay,’ said he,
‘I slew bot ane forouten ma, 484
‘God and my hund has slane the twa;
‘Thair tresoune cumrit thame, perfay,
‘For richt wicht men all thre war thai.’
[484: Not in E, which has after 485 The thrid eschapyt nocht alsua. H as in C.]
Here Sir Aymer sets the King in Great Jeopardy.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce is in Glentrool]
Qwhen that the Kyng, throu Goddis grace 488
On this maner eschapit was,
He blew his home, and than in hy
His gud men till hym can rely;
Than hamwardis buskit he to fair, 492
For that day wald he hunt no mair.
In Glentruell a quhile he lay,
And went weill oft to hunt and play,
For to purchase thame venysoun, 496
For than the deir war in sesoun.
In all that tyme Schir Amery,
With nobill men in cumpany,
In Carleill lay, his poynt to se; 500
And quhen he herd the certante
That in Glentruell wes the King,
And went to hunt and to playing,
He thoucht than with his chevelry, 504
To cum apon hym suddanly;
Fra Carleill all on nychtis ryde,
And in covert on dayis byde.
And swagat, with sic tranonting, 508
He thoucht he suld suppris the Kyng.
Than he assemblit a gret menyhe
Of folk of full gret renowne.
Bath of Scottis and Inglis men. 512
Thair way all sammyn held thai then,
And raid on nychtis so prevaly,
Till thai com to the wode neir by
Glentruell, quhar lugit wes the Kyng, 516
That wist richt nocht of thair cummyng.
In-to gret perell now is he,
For, bot God throu his gret powste,
Saif hym, he sall be tane or slane; 520
For thai war sex quhar he wes ane.
[494: C has all a quhile (S), where all seems a duplication of the preceding syllable.]
How Sir Aymer Valence sent the Woman to spy King Robert in Glentrool.
Qwhen Schir Amer, as I herd tald,
With his men that wes stout and bald,
Wes cum so neir the Kyng that thai 524
War bot a myle fra hym away,
He tuk avisment with his men,
On quhat maner thai suld do then.
For he said thame, that the King wes 528
Lugit in-to so strate a place,
That hors-men mycht hym nocht assale;
And gif fut-men gaf hym battale,
He suld be hard to wyn, gif he 532
Of thair cummyng ma warnit be:
“Tharfor I rede, all prevaly
“We send a woman hym to spy,
“That pouerly arayit be. 536
“Scho may ask met per cherite,
“And se thair covyne halely,
“And on quhat maner at thai ly,
“The quhilis we and our menyhe, 540
“Cumand throu-out the wod may be
“On fut, all arayit as we ar.
“May we do swa, that we cum thar
“On thaim or thai wit our cummyng 544
“We sall fynd in thame no styntyng.”
[Sidenote: 1307] The Woman Discloses the Plot]
This consall thoucht thaim wes the best,
Than send thai furth, but langar frest,
The woman that suld be thar spy, 548
And scho hir way can hald in hy
Richt to the logis, quhar the King,
That had no dreid of supprising,
Yheid unarmyt, mery and blith. 552
The woman has he seyn alswith,
He saw hir uncouth, and for-thi
He beheld hir mayr ynkirly,
And by hir countenans hym thoucht 556
That for gud cummyn wes scho nocht.
Than gert he men in hy hir ta;
And scho, that dred men suld hir sla,
Tald thame how that Schir Amery, 560
With the Cliffurd in cumpany,
And the flour of Northumbirland,
War cummand on thame at thar hand.
[556: C has And by (S).]
Quhen at the King herd that tithing, 564
He armyt hym but mair duelling;
Sa did thai all that evir thar war,
Syne in a sop assemblit ar:
I trow they war thre hundreth ner. 568
And quhen thai all assemblit wer,
The King his baner gert display,
And set his men in gude aray.
Thai had nocht standyn bot a thraw, 572
Richt at thair hand quhen at thai saw
Thair fayis throu the wod cumand,
Armyt on fut, with sper in hand,
That sped thame full enforsaly. 576
The noyis begouth soyne and the cry;
For the gud King, that formast was,
Stoutly towart his fayis gais,
And hint out of a manis hand, 580
That neir besyde him wes gangand,
A bow and a braid arrow als,
And hyt the formast in the hals,
Till throppill and wassand yheid in twa, 584
And he doune to the erd can ga.
Here were Fifteen Hundred discomfited with Few Scots.
The laiff with that maid a stopping;
Than, but mair baid, the nobill King
Hynt fra his baneour the banar, 588
And said, “Apon thame! for thai ar
“Discomfit all!” and with that word
He swappit swiftly out his sword,
And on thame ran so hardely, 592
That all thai of his cumpany
Tuk hardyment of his gud dede.
For sum, that first thar wayis yhede,
Again com to the ficht in hy, 596
And met thair fayis so rigorusly,
That all the formast ruschit war.
And quhen thai that war hendirmar
Saw that the formast left the stede, 600
Thai turnit soyn the bak and fled,
And of the wod thai thaim with-drew.
The King a few men of thame slew,
For thai rycht soyn thair gat can ga; 604
It discomfortyt thame all swa,
That the King with his menyhe was
All armyt to defend that plas,
That thai wend throu thar tranonting 608
Till have wonnyn for-out fichting,
That thai effrayit war suddanly.
And he thame soucht so angyrly,
That thai in full gret hy agane 612
Out of the woud ran to the plane.
For thai falyheit of thair entent,
Thai war that tym sa fowly schent,
That fiften hundreth men and ma 616
Wyth fewar war rebutit swa,
That thai with-drew thaim schamfully.
Tharfor emang thame sudanly
Thair rais debate and gret distans 620
Ilkane with othir of thar myschans;
Clyffurd and Vaus maid a melle,
Quhar Cliffurd raucht him a cole;
And athir syne drew to partis. 624
Bot Schir Amer, that wes wis,
Departit thame with mekill pane,
And went till Ingland hame agane.
He wist, fra stryff rais thame amang, 628
He suld thame nocht hald sammyn lang
For-outen debat or melle;
Tharfor till Ingland turnit he
With mar schaym than he com of toune; 632
Quhen sa mony of sic renoun
Saw sa few men bid thaim battale,
Quhar thai ne war hardy to assale.
[605: C discumfit (S), which is metrically short, and does not suit the context or the sense.]
[623: E roucht nocht him to lee. H raught him routes three, which so far supports the reading of the text.]
BOOK VIII
How James of Douglas discomfited then
At Ederford Philip Mowbray with many men.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce leaves the Mountains]
The King, fra Schir Amer was gane,
Gadert his menyhe evirilkane;
And left bath woddis and montanis,
And held his way straucht to the planys. 4
For he wald fayn that end war maid
Of that at he begonnyn had,
And he wist weill he mycht nocht bring
It to gud end but travalyng. 8
To Kyle first went he, and that land
He maid till him all obeysand:
The men mast fors com till his pes.
Syne eftirward, or he wald ces, 12
Of Cunyngame the mast party
He gert helde till his senyhory.
In Bothwell than Schir Amer was,
That in his hert gret angyr has; 16
For thai of Cunyngame and Kyle,
That war obeysand till hym quhile,
Left the Inglis menis fewte:
Tharof fayn vengit wald he be; 20
And send Schir Philip the Mowbray,
With a thousand, as I herd say,
Of men that war in his leding,
To Kyle to warray the nobill Kyng. 24
Bot James of Douglas, that all tyde,
Had spyis out on ilka syde,
Wist of thar cummyng, and that thai
Wald hald doune Makyrnokis way. 28
He tuk with hym all prevely
Thame that war of his cumpany,
That war sexty withouten ma.
Syne till a strate place can he ga, 32
That is in Makyrnokis way,
The Edry-furd it hat perfay;
It lyis betuix marras twa,
Quhar that na hors on lif ma ga. 36
On the south half, quhar James was,
Is ane upgang, ane narrow plas,
And on the north half is the way
Sa ill, as it apperis to day. 40
[28: C Machyrn-noxis.]
[31: E fourty. H sixtie.]
[34: E Nether-foord, and so in H, differing from his own rubric.]
[Sidenote: 1307] Mowbray escapes with Difficulty]
Douglas, with thame he with hym had,
Enbuschit hym, and thame abaid.
He mycht weill fer se thair cummyng,
Bot thai mycht se of hym na thing. 44
Thai maid enbuschement all the nycht,
And quhen the sone wes schynand brycht,
Thai saw in battale cum arayit
The vaward with baner displayit, 48
And syne soyn the remanand
Thai saw weill neir behynd cumand.
Than held thai thaim still and preve,
Till the formast of thair menyhe 52
War enterit in the furde thame by;
Than schot thai on thame wyth a cry;
And with wapnys that scharply schare
Sum in the furde thai bakward bare, 56
And sum, with arrowes barblyt braid,
Sa gret martirdome on thame maid,
That thai gan draw to voyd the place;
Bot behinde thame so stoppit was 60
The way, that thai fast mycht nocht fle,
And that gert of thaim mony de.
For thai on na syde mycht away
Bot as thai com, bot gif at thai 64
Wald throu thair fayis hald thar gat;
Bot that way thoucht thame all to hat.
Thair fayis met thame so sturdely,
And continit the ficht so hardely, 68
That thai so dredand war at thai
Quha first mycht fle, first fled away.
And quhen the reirward saw thaim swa
Discumfit, and thair wayis ga, 72
Thai fled on fer, and held thair way.
Bot Schir Philip the Mowbray,
That with the formast rydand was,
That enterit war in-to the plas, 76
Quhen that he saw how he wes stad,
Throu the gret worschip that he had,
With spurys he strak the steid of pris,
And, magre all his enymys, 80
Throu the thikkest of thame he raid,
And but challans eschapit had,
Ne war ane hynt hym by the brand;
Bot the guid steid, that wald nocht stand, 84
He lansit furth deliverly;
Bot the tothir sa stalwardly
Held, that the belt brist of the brand,
That swerd and belt left in his hand. 88
And he but swerd his wayis raid,
Weill otow thame, and thair abaid,
Behaldand how his menyhe fled,
And how his fais clengit the sted 92
That war betuix him and his men;
Tharfor the wayis tuk he then
To Kylmernok and Killwynnyn,
And till Ardrossan eftir syne. 96
Syne throu the Largys, him allane,
Till Ennirkyp the way has tane,
Richt till the castell that wes then
Stuffit all with Inglis men, 100
That him resavit in gret dante.
And fra thai wist how-gat that he
Sa fer had ryddyn, hym allane,
Throu thame that war his fais ilkane, 104
Thai prisit him so gretumly,
And alsua lovit his chevelry.
[59: From E (S). Thoucht throu the wode to pass (C).]
[75: C wes (S).]
Schir Philip thus eschapit was, And Douglas, that wes in the plas, 108 Quhar he sexty has slane and ma; The laiff fouly thar gat can ga, And fled to Bothwell hame agane; Quhen Schir Amer wes na thing fane, 112 Quhen he herd tell on quhat maner That his menyhe discumfit wer. Bot quhen to King Robert wes tald, How the gud Douglas, that wes bald, 116 Vencust sa feyll with few menyhe, Richt joyfull in his hert wes he. And all his men confortit war: For thame thoucht weill, bath les and mair 120 That thai suld les thar fayis drede, Sen thair purpos sa wyth thaim yheide.
Here Sir Aymer urges a Fight on the Plain.
[Sidenote: 1307] Bruce accepts the Challenge]
The Kyng lay in-to Gawlistoun,
That is rycht evyn anent Lowdoun; 124
And till his pes tuk the cuntre.
Quhen Schir Amer and his menyhe,
Herd how he rewlit all the land,
And how that nane durst him withstand, 128
He wes in-till his hert angry;
And with ane of his cumpany
He send him word ande said, gif he
Durst hym in-to the planys se, 132
He suld the tend day of May
Cum undir Lowdoun hill away:
And gif that he wald met him thair,
He said, his worschip sulde be mair, 136
And mair be turnit to nobillay,
To wyn him in the playn away,
With hard dyntis in evyn fichting,
Than till do fer mair in scowking. 140
The King, that herd his messinger,
Had despit apon gret maner,
That Schir Amer spak sa hely,
Tharfor he ansuerd irusly, 144
And till the messynger said he;
“Sa to thi lord that, gif I be
“In lif, he sall me se that day
“Weill neir, gif he dar hald the way 148
“That he has said; for sekirly
“By Lowdoun hill mete hym sall I.”
[144: C has ernystfully (S). H angerly, agrees with E.]
Here King Robert provides for Advantage in the Place where they should Fight.
The messinger, but mair abade,
Till his mastir his wais raide, 152
And his ansuer him tald alswith;
Than wes na neid to mak him blithe.
For he thoucht, throu his mekill mycht,
Gif the King durst apeir to ficht, 156
That, throu the gret chevelry
That suld be in his cumpany,
He suld swa ourcum the Kyng,
That thar suld be na recoveryng. 160
And the Kyng, on the tothir party,
That wes ay wis and a-verty,
Raid for to se and ches the plas,
And saw the hye-gat lyand was 164
Apon a fair feild, evin and dry;
Bot apon athir syde thar-by
Wes a gret mos, mekill and braid,
That fra the way wes, quhar men raid, 168
A bowdraucht neir on athir syde:
And that place thocht hym all to wyde
Till abyde men that horsit war.
Tharfor thre dykis ourthwort he schar, 172
Fra bath the mosis to the way:
That war sa fer fra othir, that thai
War in-twyn a bow-draucht and mar.
Sa holl and hye the dykis war, 176
That men mycht nocht, but mekill pane,
Pas thaim, thouch nane war thaim agane.
Bot sloppis in the way left he,
So large, and of sic quantite, 180
That fyffe hundir mycht sammyn ryde
In at the sloppis, syde for syde.
Thar thoucht he battale for to beid,
And bargane thaim; for he na drede 184
Had at thai suld on syde assale,
Na yheit behynd gif him battale.
And befor hym thocht weill that he
Suld fra thar mycht defendit be. 188
Thre deip dykis he gert thar ma;
For gif he mycht nocht weill our-ta
To met thame at the first, that he
Suld haf the tothir at his pouste; 192
Or than the thrid, gif it war swa
At thai had passit the tothir twa.
On this wis him ordanit he,
And syne assemblit his menyhe, 196
That war sex hundreth fechtand men,
But rangald, that wes with him then,
That war als feill as thai, or ma.
With all that menyhe can he ga, 200
The evyn befor the battale suld be,
To litill Lowdoun, quhar that he
Wald abide to se thair cummyng;
Syne with the men of his leding 204
He thoucht to speid hym, swa that he
Suld at the dik befor thaim be.
[154: E Quharof he was bath glaid and blyth. H agrees with C.]
Here Sir Aymer comes with his Host in Sight.
[Sidenote: 1307] The Splendid Array of the English]
Schir Amer, on the tothir party,
Gaderit so great chevelry, 208
That he mycht be thre thousand neir,
Armyt and dicht in gud maner;
And than, as man of gret noblay,
He held toward the trist his way. 212
And quhen the set day cumin was,
He sped him fast toward the place
That he had nemmyt for to ficht.
The sone wes rysyn schynand bricht, 216
That blenknyt on the scheldis braid.
In twa eschelis ordanit he had
The folk that he had in leding.
The Kyng, weill soyn in the mornyng, 220
Saw first cumand thair first eschele,
Arrait sarraly and weill,
And at thair bak, sum-deill neirhand,
He saw the tothir followand: 224
Thair basnetis burnyst war all brycht,
Agane the sone glemand of licht;
Thair speris, thair pennownys, and thar scheldis
Of licht illumynit all the feldis. 228
Thair best and browdyn bricht baneris,
And hors hewit on seir maneris,
And cot-armouris off seir colour,
And hawbrekis, that war quhit as flour, 232
Maid thame glitterand, as thai war lik
Till angellis he of hevinis rik.
Here King Robert meets him with Few.
The King said; “Lordingis, now yhe se “How yhon men, throu thar gret pouste, 236 “Wald, and thai mycht fulfill thar will, “Slay us, and mak sembland thar-till. “And sen we knaw thair felony, “Ga we and meit thame hardely, 240 “That the stoutest of thair menyhe, “Of our metyng abaysit be. “For gif the formast egirly “Be met, yhe sall se suddanly 244 “The henmast sall abasit be; “And thouch that thai be ma than we, “That suld abais us litill thing; “For quhen we cum to the fichting, 248 “Thar may met us no ma than we. “Tharfor, lordingis, ilkane suld be “Of worschip and of gret valour, “For till maynteme heir our honour. 252 “Thinkis quhat gladschip us abydis, “Gif that we may, as us betydis, “Haf victour of our fayis heir! “For thar is nane her, fer no neir, 256 “In all this land that us thar dout.” Than said thai all that stude about, ‘Schir, gif God will, we sall sa do, ‘That no repruf sall ly thar-to.’ 260 “Than ga we furth now,” said the King, “And he, that maid of nocht all thing, “Leyd us, and sauf us for his mycht, “And help us for till hald our richt!” 264 With that thai held thar way in hy, Weill sex hundreth in cumpany, Stalward and stout, worthy and wicht: Bot thai war all to few, I hicht, 268 Agane so feill to stand in stour, Ne war thair outrageous valour.
[Sidenote: MAY 10, 1307] The Battle of Loudoun Hill]
Now gais the nobill Kyng his way, Richt stoutly and in gude aray, 272 And to the formast dyk is gane, And in the slop the feld has tane. The cariage-men and the pouerale, That wes nocht worth in the batale, 276 Behynd him levit he al still, Standand all sammyn on the hill. Schir Amery the King has seyn, With his men that war cant and keyn, 280 Cum to the playn doune fra the hill, As him thoucht in-to full gud will For to defend or till assaill, Gif ony wald hym byde battale. 284 Tharfor his men confortit he, And bad thame wicht and worthy be; For gif at thai mycht wyn the Kyng, And victor haf of the fechting, 288 Thai suld richt weill rewardit be, And gretly ek thair renownee. With that thai war weill neir the Kyng, And he left his amonystyng, 292 And gert trumpe to the assemble; And the formast of his menyhe Enbrasit with that thar scheldis braid, And rycht sarray to-gidder raid, 296 With hedis stowpand and speris straucht Richt to the Kyng thar way thai raucht; That met thame with sa gret vigour, That the best and of mast valour 300 War laid at erd at thair metyng; Quhar men mycht her sic a brekyng Of speris that to-fruschyt war, And the woundit so cry and rar, 304 That it anoyus wes till her. For thai, that first assemblit wer, Funyheit and fawcht full sturdely; The noyis begouth than and the cry. 308
Here King Robert wins in Plain Battle.
A! mychty God! quha thair had beyn,
And had the Kyngis worschip seyn,
And his brothir that wes hym by,
That contenit thame so hardely, 312
That thair gud deid and thar bounte,
Gaiff gret confort to thair menyhe;
And how Dowglas so manfully
Confortit thame that war hym by; 316
He suld weill say that thai had will
To wyn honor and cum thair-till.
The Kingis men, that worthy war,
With thair speris that scharply schar, 320
Stekit men and stedis bath,
Till red blud ran of woundis rath.
The hors that woundyt war can fling,
And ruschit the folk in thair flynging, 324
Swa that thai that than formast war
War skalyt in soppis heir and thar.
The King that saw thame ruschit swa,
And saw thame reland to and fra, 328
Ran apon thaim so egirly,
And dang on thame sa hardely,
He gert feill of his fayis fall.
The feld wes weill neir coverit all 332
Bath with slayn hors and with men;
For the gud King thame followit then,
With weill fif hundreth that wapnys bar,
That wald thair fayis no thing spar. 336
Thai dang on thame so hardely,
That in schort tyme men mycht se ly
At erd ane hundreth and wele mar;
The remanand the waykar war, 340
Than thai begouth thame to withdraw;
And quhen thai of the reirward saw
Thair vawarde be sa discomfit,
Thai flede withouten mair respit. 344
And quhen Schir Amer hes seyn
His men fleand haly bedeyn,
Wit yhe weill he wes full way;
Bot he mycht nocht amonist swa 348
That ony for him wald turne agane.
And quhen he saw he tynt his pane,
He turnit his bridill, and to-ga:
For the gud King thame presit swa 352
That sum war dede, and sum war tane;
The remanand thar gat ar gane.
[326: C stekit (S) for skalyt.]
[339: C weill and (S).]
Here Sir Aymer passes to England.
[Sidenote: MAY, 1307] The Rejoicing of the Scots]
The folk fled apon this maner For-outen arest, and Schir Amer 356 Agane to Bothwell is he gane, Menand the scath that he had tane; Sa schamfull that he vencust wes, That till Inglande in hy he gais 360 Richt till the King, and schamfully He gaf up thar his wardanry. Na never syne, for na kyne thing, Bot gif he com richt with the King, 364 Com he to warra Scotland. Sa hevely he tuk on hand, That the King, in set battalyhe, With a quheyn lik poueralyhe, 368 Vencust him with a gret menyhe, That wes renownit of gret bounte. Sic anoy had Schir Amery: And King Robert, that wes hardy, 372 Abaid all still in-to the plas, Till that his men left all the chas; Syne with presoners that thai had tane, Thai ar towart thair innys gane, 376 Fast lovand God of thair weillfair. Men mycht haf seyn, quha had beyn thair, A folk that mery war and glad For thair victour; and als thai haid 380 A lord so swet and deboner, So curtas, and of sa fair effer, So blith als, and so weill bowrdand, And in battale so stith to stand, 384 So wis, and richt sua avise, That thai had gret caus blith to be. So war thai blith forouten dout; For feill, that wonnyt thaim about, 388 Fra thai the King saw help him swa, Till him thar homage can thai ma. Than wox his power mair and mair, And he thoucht weill that he wald fair 392 Outour the Month with his menyhe, To luk quha that his frend wald be. In-to Schir Alexandir the Freser He trastit, for thai cosyngis wer, 396 And his brothir Symon, thai twa. He had myster weill of ma, For he hade fais mony ane; Schir Johne Cumyne Erll of Bouchane, 400 And Schir Johne the Mowbray syne, And gud Schir David of Brechyne, With all the folk in thair leding, War fayis to the nobill King. 404 And, for he wist thai war his fayis, His viage northwardis he tais; For he wald se quhat-kyn ending Thai walde mak of thair manasing. 408
[375: C he had (S).]
[381: C debonar (S).]
How the Good King Robert the Bruce passed North beyond the Mounth.
The king buskit and maid him yhar, Northwardis with his men to fair. His brothir can he with hym ta, And Schir Gilbert de le Hay alsua; 412 The Erll of Lennax als wes thar, That with the King was our all quhar; Schir Robert Boyd and othir ma. The King can furth his wais ta, 416 And left James of Douglas, With all the folk that with him was, Behynd hym, for till luk gif he Micht recover his cuntre. 420 He left him in-to gret perill; Bot eftir, in ane litill quhill, Throu his gret worschip sa he wrocht, That to the Kingis pes he brocht 424 The forest of Selcryk all hale, And alsua did he Douglasdale, And Gedword forest alsua. And quha sa weill on hand couth ta 428 To tell his worschippis ane and ane, He suld fynd of thaim mony ane. For in his tym, as men said me, Threttene tymes vencust wes he, 432 And victory wan sevin and fifty. He semyt nocht lang ydill to ly, Be his travale he had na will; Me think men suld him luf of skill. 436
[427: E Jedworthis.]
Here Sir James wins Many Men, and makes First a Train on the Castle.
[Sidenote: 1307] The Activity of Douglas]
This James, quhen the King wes gane,
All prevely his men has tane,
And went to Douglasdaill agane,
And maid all prevely a trane 440
Till thaim that in the castell war.
A buschement slely maid he thair;
And of his men fourteyn and ma
He gert, as thai war, sekkis ta 444
Fillit with gyrs, and syne thame lay
Apon thair hors, and hald thair way
Richt as thai wald to Lanrik fair,
Otow quhar the enbuschement war. 448
And quhen thai of the castell saw
So feill ladis gang on raw,
Of that sight war thai wondir fayn,
And tald it to thair capitane, 452
That hicht Schir Johne off Webitoune.
He wes bath yhoung, stout, and felloun,
Richt joly als, and volageous;
And for that he was amourous, 456
He wald ysche fer the blithlyer.
He gert his men all tak thar ger,
And yschit to get that vittale,
For thar vittale all fast couth fale. 460
Thai yschit all abaundanly,
And prikit furth sa wilfully
To win the ladis at thai saw pas,
Quhill that Douglas with his men was 464
All betuix thame and the castell.
The layd-men that persavit weill
Thai kest thair ladis doun in hy,
And thair gownys deliverly, 468
That helit thame, thai kest away,
And in gret hy thair hors hint thai,
And stert upon thame sturdely,
And met thair fayis with a cry; 472
That had gret woundir, quhen thai saw
Thaim that war ere lurkand full law,
Cum apon thame so hardely,
Thai wox abasyd suddandly, 476
And at the castell wald haf beyn.
Quhen thai, on the othir haf, has seyn
Douglas brek his enbuschement,
That agane thame rycht stoutly went, 480
Thai wist nocht quhat till do no say.
Thar fayis at thair hand saw thai,
That strak on thame forout sparing,
And thai mycht help thaim-self no thing, 484
Bot fled to warrand quhar thai mocht;
And thai so angirly on thame socht,
That of thame all eschapit nane.
Schir Jhone of Webitoun thar wes slaine; 488
And quhen he ded wes, as yhe her,
Thai fand in-till his awmener
A letter, that him send ane lady
That he lufit per drowry; 492
The letter spak on this maner *493
That said, quhen he had yhemyt a yher
In wer, as ane gud bachiller,
And governit weill, in all maner, *495
The aventurus castell off Douglas,
That to kepe so perelous was, 496
Than mycht he weill ask ane lady
Hir amouris and hir drowry.
[482: E has on othir sid.]
[491: E his coffer.]
[*493, *495: From C (S); not in E or H. The first is probably misplaced to begin with, and the second inserted to complete the couplet (see note).]
[Sidenote: 1307] Douglas destroys his Castle]
The letter spak on this maner.
And quhen thai slayn on this wis wer, 500
Douglas richt to the castell raid,
And thair so gret debate he maid,
That in the castell enterit he.
I wat nocht all the certante, 504
Quhethir it wes throu strinth or slicht,
Bot he wrocht swa, throu his gret mycht,
That the constabill and all the lafe
That war thar-in, bath man and knaf, 508
He tuk, and gaf thame dispending,
And send thame hame, but mair greving,
Till the Cliffurde in thair cuntre.
Ande syne so besely wrocht he, 512
That he all tumlit doune the wall,
And distroit the hous all:
Syne till the Forest held his way,
Quhar he had mony harde assay, 516
And mony fair poynt of wer befell;
Quha couth thame all rehers and tell,
He suld say that his name suld be
Lestande in full gret renoune. 520
[506: E with mekill mycht.]
[520: C ranowne (S). H renounie.]
BOOK IX
How Good King Robert lay Sick in Inverury.
Now leif we in-to the Forest Douglas, that sall haf litil rest, Till the cuntre deliverit be Of Inglis men and thair pouste: 4 And turne we to the nobill Kyng; That, with the folk of his leding, Toward the Month has tane the way Richt stoutly, in-to gud aray; 8 Quhar Alysandir Freser him met, And als his brothir, Symon het, With all the folk thai with thaim hade. The Kyng gud counternans thaim maid, 12 That wes richt blith of thair cummyng. Thai tald the King all the covyng Of Jhone Cumyne the Erll of Bouchane, That till help him had with him tane 16 Schir John Mowbra and othir ma, Schir David the Brechyne alsua, With all the folk of thair leding, “And yharnis mair than ony thing 20 “Vengeans on yhow, Schir Kyng, to tak, “For Schir John the Cumynis sak, “That quhilom in Drumfreis wes slayn.” The King said, ‘Sa our lord me sayn, 24 ‘I had gret caus hym for to slay. ‘And syn that thai on hand will ta, ‘Becaus of hym, to warra me, ‘I sall thoill all a quhile, and se 28 ‘On quhat wis that thai preif thar mycht. ‘And gif it fall at thai will ficht, ‘Giff thai assalyhe we mon defend; ‘Syne fall quhatevir that God will send.’ 32
Eftir this spek the Kyng in hy
Held straucht the way till Enverrowry:
And thair him tuk sic ane seiknes,
That put him till full hard distres, 36
That he forbare bath drink and met.
His men no medicine couth get
That evir mycht to the King availyhe.
His strinth so haly can him falyhe, 40
That he mycht nouthir ryde no ga.
Than, wit yhe weill his, men wes wa!
For nane wes in that cumpany,
That wald haf beyn half so sary 44
For till half seyn his brothir ded
Lyand befor hym in that sted,
As thai war all for his sekness;
For all thair confort in him wes. 48
But gud Schir Edward the worthy,
His brothir that wes so hardy,
And wis and wicht, set mekill payn
To confort thame with all his mayn. 52
And quhen the lordis that war thair
Saw that the evill ay mair and mair
Travalit the King, thai thoucht in hy
It war nocht speidfull thair to ly: 56
For thair all playn wes the cuntre,
And thai war bot ane few menyhe
To ly, but strinth, in-to the playn.
For-thi, till that thair capitane 60
War coverit of his mekill ill,
Thai thoucht to wend sum strinth soyn til.
[Sidenote: 1307] The Importance of a Captain]
For folk for-outen capitane,
Bot thai the bettir be a-pane, 64
Sall nocht be all so gud in deid,
As thai ane lord had thame to leid,
That dar put him in aventure,
But abasing, to tak the ure 68
That God will send: for quhen that he
Is of sic will and sic bounte,
That he dar put him till assay,
His folk sall tak ensampill ay 72
Of his gud deid and his bounte,
That ane of thame sall be worth thre
Of thame that wikkid chiftane has;
His wrechidnes so in thame gais, 76
That thai thair manlynes sall tyne
Throu wrechidnes of his covyne.
For quhen the lord at thame suld leid,
May do nocht bot as he war ded, 80
Or fra his folk haldis his way
Fleand, trow yhe nocht than that thai
Sall vencust in thair hertis be?
Yhus, sall thai, as I trow, per de, 84
Bot gif thair hertis be so hye
Thai will nocht for thair worschip fle.
And thouch sum be of sic bounte,
Quhen thai the lord and his menyhe 88
Seis fle, yhit sall thai fle a-payn;
For all men fleis the ded richt fayn.
Se quhat he dois, that swa fowly
Fleis thus for his cowardy! 92
Bath him and his, vencust is he,
And gerris his fayis abovin be.
Bot he that, throu his gret nobillay,
To perellis him abawndonys ay 96
For to reconfort his menyhe,
Gerris thame be of so gret bounte,
That mony tym unlikly thing
Thai bring richt weill to gud ending. 100
So did this King that I of reid,
And, for his outrageous manheid,
Confortit his men on sic maneir,
That nane had radnes quhar he wer. 104
*Thai wald nocht ficht quhill that he wes
Liand in-till sic seiknes;
Tharfor in littar thai him lay,
And till the Slevach held their way,
And thoucht thair in that strinth to ly, 108
Till passit war his malady.
Here the Earl of Buchan gathers against the King.
[Sidenote: NOV.-DEC. 1307] Skirmishing at Slevach]
Bot fra the Erll of Bouchane Wist that thai war thiddir gane, And wist that swa seik wes the King 112 That men doutit of his coveryng, He send eftir his men in hy, And assemblit gret cumpany. For all his awne men war thar, 116 And als frendis with him war; That wes Schir Johne the Mowbray, And his brothir, as I herd say, And als Schir David of Brechyne, 120 With fele folk in thair leding. And quhan thai all assemblit war, In hy thai tuk thair way till fair To the Slevach, with all thar men, 124 For till assaill the King, that then Wes liand in-till his seiknes. This was eftir the Martymes, Quhen snaw had helit all the land. 128 To the Slevach thai com neirhand, Arayit on thair best maneir. And than the Kingis men, that wer War of thair com, thame apparalit 132 Till defend, gif thai thame assalit. And nocht-for-thi thair fayis war Ay twa for ane that thai war thair. The Erlis men neir cumande war, 136 Trumpand and makand mekill fair, And maid knychtis quhen thai war neir. And thai, that in the wodsyde weir, Stude in aray richt sarraly, 140 And thoucht to byde thair hardely The cummyng of thair enymys. Bot thai wald apon nakyn wis Ysche till assale thame in fichting, 144 Till coverit war the nobill Kyng. Bot gif othir wald thame assalyhe, Thai wald defend, avalyhe que valyhe.
[147: E vailyhe quod vailyhe.]
And quhen the Erlis cumpany 148
Saw that thai wroucht so besaly,
That thai that strinth schup to defend,
Thair archaris furth to thame thai send
To bykkir thame, as men of mayn. 152
And thai send archaris thame agayn,
That bykkirrit thame so sturdely,
Till thai of the Erlis party
In-to thair battale withdrawin war. 156
Thre dayis on this wis lay thai thar,
And bikkirrit thame evirilke day:
Bot thar bowmen the wer had ay.
And quhen the Kingis cumpany 160
Saw thair fayis befor thame ly,
That ilka day wox ma and ma,
And thai war quhoyn, and stad war swa
That thai had no-thing for to et, 164
Bot gif thai travalit it to get,
Tharfor thai tuk consale in hy
That thai wald thar no langer ly,
Bot hald thair way quhar thai mycht get, 168
Till thaim and thairis vittale and met.
In a littar the Kyng thai lay,
And redyit thame and held thar way,
That all thair fayis mycht thame se; 172
Ilk man buskit in his degre,
To ficht gif thai assalyheit war.
In myddis thame the King thai bair,
And yheid about hym sarraly, 176
And nocht full gretly can thame hy.
The Erll, and thai that with him war,
Saw that thai buskit thame to fair;
And saw how with so litill affray 180
Thai held furth with the King thar way,
Reddy to ficht quha walde assale,
Thair hertis all begouth to fale,
And in pes let thame pas thar way, 184
And till thair hous hame went thai.
How the King discomfited at Inverury
The Earl of Buchan shamefully.
[Sidenote: DEC. 23, 1307] Brechin attacks at Inverury]
The Erll his way tuk to Bouchane; And Schir Edward the Broys is gane Richt to Strabogy, with the Kyng; 188 And swa lang thair maid sojornyng, Till he begouth to cover and ga, And syne thair wayis can thai ta Till Enverrowry straucht agane; 192 For thai wald ly in-till the plane, The wyntir sesoune; for vittale In-to the playn mycht nocht thame fale. The Erll wist that thai war thar, 196 And gaderit his menyhe heir and thar, Brechyne, Mowbra, and thair men, All to the Erll assemblit then, And war a full gret cumpany 200 Of men arayit jolely. Till Ald Meldrom thai held the way, And thar with thair men lugit thai, Before Yhoill-evyn ane nycht bot mair; 204 And thousand, trow I weill, thai war. Thai lugit thame all thair that nycht; And on the morn, quhen day wes licht, The lord of Brechine, Schir Davy, 208 Is went towart Inverrowry, To luk gyff he on ony wys Mycht do skaith till his ennemys. In-to the end of Enverrowry 212 He com ridand so suddandly, That of the Kingis men he slew A part, and othir-sum thaim withdrew, And fled thair way toward the King, 216 That, with the mast of his gaderyng, On yhond half doun wes than lyand. And quhen men tald him the tithand, How Schir David had slayn his men, 220 His hors in hy he askit then, And bad his men all mak thame yhare In-to gret hy, for he wald fare To bargane with his enymys. 224 With that he buskit for to ris, That wes nocht all weill coverit then. Then said sum of his preve men; “Quhat think yhe, Schir, thusgat to fair 228 “To ficht, and yheit nocht coverit ar?” ‘Yhis,’ said the Kyng, ‘forouten wer; ‘Thair bost has maid me haill and fer. ‘For suld no medicine so soyne 232 ‘Haff coverit me, as thai haf done. ‘Tharfor, sa God him-self me se! ‘I sall outhir haf thaim, or thai me.’ And quhen his men has herd the King 236 Set him so haill for the fechting, Of his covering all blith thai war, And maid thame for the battale yhar.
[210, 211: C omits; in E and H.]
Here the Earl of Buchan flies, and Sir David Brechin yields himself to the King.
The nobill King ande his menyhe, 240 That mycht weill neir sevin hundreth be, Toward Ald Meldrome tuk the way, Quhar the Erll and his menyhe lay. The discurrouris saw thame comande 244 With baneris to the wynd wafand; And tald it to thar lord in hy, That gert arm his men hastely, And thame arayit for battale. 248 Behynd thame set thai thar merdale, And maid gude sembland for the ficht. The King com on with mekill mycht; And thai abaid, makand gret fair, 252 Till thai neir at assemble war. Bot quhen thai saw the nobill King Cum stoutly on without stinting, A litill on bridill thai thaim with-drew; 256 And the King, that rycht weill knew That thai war all discumfit neir, Pressit on thame with his baneir; And thai with-drew thaim mair and mair. 260 And quhen the small folk thai had thar, Saw thair lordis with-draw thame swa, Thai turnit thar bak all, and to-ga; And fled all scalit heir and thair. 264 The lordis, that yheit to-giddir war, Saw that thair small folk war fleand, And saw the Kyng stoutly cumand, Thai war ilkane abasit swa, 268 That thai the bakkis gaf, and to-ga. A litill stound sammyn held thai, And syne ilk man has tane his way.
[257: E gives rycht (S). C has thame.]
[Sidenote: DEC. 23, 1307] Buchan is Defeated]
Fell nevir men so foull myschans 272
Eftir so sturdy cuntyrnans.
For quhen the Kyngis cumpany
Saw at thai fled so fowlely,
Thai chasyt thame with all thar mayn, 276
And sum thai tuk, and sum war slayn.
The remanand war fleand ay;
Quha had gud hors gat best away!
Till Ingland fled the Erll of Bouchane, 280
Schir Johne Mowbray is with him gane,
And war resettit with the King.
Bot thai had bath bot schort lesting,
For thai deit soyn eftir syne. 284
And Schir David of Brechyne
Fled to Brechine, his awn castele,
And warnyst it bath fair and wele.
Bot the Erll of Adell Davy, 288
His sone that wes in Kyldromy,
Com syne, and him assegit thar.
And he, that wald hald weyr no mair,
Nor bargane with the nobill Kyng, 292
Com syne his man with gud treting.
Here the King burns all Buchan, and gets the Castle of Forfar and destroys it.
Now ga we to the King agane, That of his victor wes richt fane, And gert his men burn all Bouchane 296 Fra end till end, and sparit nane; And heryit thame on sic maneir, That eftir that, weile fifty yheir, Men menyt “the heirschip of Bouchane.” 300 The King than till his pes has tane The north cuntre, that humylly Obeysit till his senyhory. Swa that be north the Month war nane 304 That thai ne war his men ilkane. His lordschip wox ay mair and mair. Toward Angus than couth he fair, And thoucht soyn to mak all fre 308 Apon north half the Scottis Se. The castell of Forfer wes then Stuffit all with Inglis men. Bot Philip the Forster of Platan 312 Has of his frendis with him tane, And with ledderis all prevely To the castell he can hym hy, And clam out-our the wall of stane, 316 And swagat has the castell tan, Throu falt of wach, with litill payn. And syn all that he fand has slayn: Syne yhald the castell to the King, 320 That maid hym richt gud rewarding, And syne gert brek doune the wall, And fordid well and castell all.
[299: C neir fifty (S). E weile.]
[309: Skeat reads Apon from All on in C; cf. lines 329, 460. E has That wes on the: H similarly.]
How Good King Robert the Bruce besieged the Town of Perth.
[Sidenote: JAN. 1313] Perth is too Strong for Assault]
Qwhen that the castell of Forfar, 324 And all the towris tumlit war Doun to the erd, as I haf tald, The wis king, that wes wicht and bauld, That thoucht that he wald mak all fre 328 Apon north half the Scottis Se, Till Perth is went with all his rout, And umbeset the toune about, And till it has ane sege soyn set. 332 Bot quhill it mycht haf men and met, It mycht nocht, but gret payn, be tane For the wallis war all of stane, With thik towris and hye standand. 336 And that tym war thar-in duelland Moffat, and als Olyfard; Thai twa the toun had all in ward. Of Strathern als the Erll wes thar; 340 Bot his sone and of his men war Without, in-to the Kingis rout. Thar wes oft bikkyrring stith and stout, And men slayn apon ilk party. 344 Bot the gud King, that all vitty We in his dedis evirilkane, Saw the wall so stith of stane, And saw defens at thai can ma, 348 And how the toun wes hard to ta With oppyn assale, be strinth or mycht, Tharfor he thoucht to wirk with slicht. And all the tym that he thair lay 352 He spyit, and slely gert assay Quhar of the dik the schawdest was; Till at the last he fand a place That men mycht to thair schulderis waid. 356 And quhen he that place fundyn had, He gert his menyhe busk ilkane, Quhen sex woukis of the sege wes gane. Thai tursit thair harnas halely, 360 And left the sege all oppinly, And furth with all his folk can fair, As he wald do thar-to no mair.
[338: C has Olifert (S), but Olifard on record as in E.]
[359: C gives owkis (S).]
Here he gets it with Jeopardy.
And thai that war within the toune, 364
Quhen thai to fair so saw him boune,
Thai schowtit hym and scornyng maid;
And he furth on his wayis raid,
As he na will had agane to turne, 368
Na besyde thame to mak sojorne.
Bot in aucht dais nocht-for-thi,
He gert mak ledderis prevely,
That mycht suffice till his entent, 372
And in a myrk nycht syne is went
*Toward the toun with his menyhe.
*Bot hors and knafis all left he
Fer fra the toun, and syne has tane *376
*Thair ledderis, and on fut are gane
Toward the toune all prevely.
Thai herd no wachis spek no cry:
For thai that war within, ma fall, 376
As men that drede nocht, slepit all.
Thai had no dreid than of the King,
For thai of hym herd no tithing
All thai thre dais befor and mair; 380
Tharfor sekir and trast thai war.
And quhen the King herd thame nocht steir,
He wes blith apon gret maneir;
And his leddir in hand can ta, 384
Ensampill till his men till ma,
Arayit weill in all his geir,
Schot in the dik, and with his speir
Tastit, quhill he weill our woude, 388
Bot till his throt the wattir stude.
[*374-*377: Four lines from C and H. E omits for usual reason.]
[Sidenote: JAN. 1313] Perth is captured]
That tym wes in his cumpany
A knycht of France, wicht and hardy;
And quhen he in the wattir swa 392
Saw the King pas, and with him ta
His leddir unabasitly,
Ha sanyt him for the ferly,
And said; “A Lord! quhat sall we say 396
“Of our lordis of France, that ay
“With gud morsellis farsis thair panch,
“And will bot et and drynk and dance,
“Quhen sic a knycht, sa richt worthy 400
“As this is throu his chevelry,
“In-to sic perill has hym set,
“To wyn ane wrechit hamlet?”
With that word to the dik he ran, 404
And our eftir the Kyng he wan.
And quhen the Kyngis menyhe saw
Thar lord pas our, in-till a thraw
Thai passit the dik, and, but mar let, 408
Thair ledderis to the wall thai set;
And to clym up fast pressit thai;
Bot the gud Kyng, as I herd say,
Was the tothir man that tuk the wall, 412
And baid thair, till his menyhe all
War cummyn our in full gret hy;
Yheit rais thar nouthir nois nor cry.
