The Bruce 8The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 5)
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Fiction · Historical Fiction
The Bruce 8
The placing of the capital letters and the punctuation are, of (part 5)
BarbourEnglish
Bot soyn eftir thai noyis maid, 416
That of thame first persaving had,
So that the cry rais throu the toune;
Bot he, that with his men wes boune
Till assale, to the toune is went, 420
And the mast of his menyhe sent
All scalit throu the toun, bot he
Held with him-self a gret menyhe,
Swa that he mycht be appurvait, 424
To defend, gif he war assayit.
Bot thai, that he send throu the toune,
Put soyn to gret confusioune
Thair fayis, that in beddis war, 428
Or scalit, fleand heir and thair;
That, or the sone rais, thai had tane
Thair fayis, or discumfit ilkane.
The wardanis bath tharin war tane: 432
And Malis of Strathern is gane
Till his fader, the Erll Malis,
And with strinth tuk him and all his;
Syne, for his sake, the nobill King 436
Gaf hym his land in governyng.
The laif, that ran out throu the toune,
Sesit to thame in gret fusioune
Men, armyng and marchandis, 440
And othir gudis on syndri wis;
Quhill thai, that war eir pouer and bare,
Of that gude rych and mychty war.
Bot thair wes few slayne; for the King, 444
Had gevin thame in commandyng,
On gret payn, thai suld slay nane,
That, but gret bargane, mycht be tane;
That thai war kynde to the cuntre 448
He wist, and had of thame pite.
On this maner the toun wes tane. And syne the towris everilkane And wallis gert he tummyll doune: 452 He levit nocht about that toune Tour standand, stane no wall, That he na haly gert distroy all. And presoneris, that thair tuk he, 456 He send quhar thai mycht haldin be, And till his pes tuk all the land; Wes nane that durst him than withstand.
Here All Scots obey the King except Lorn.
Apon north half the Scottis Se 460
Obeysit all till his majeste,
Outane the Lord of Lorn, and thai
Of Argile that wald with him ga.
He held evir agane the King, 464
And hatit hyme atour all thing.
Bot yheit, or all the gammyn ga,
I trow weill that the King sall ta
Vengeans of his gret cruelte, 468
And that him sair repent sall he,
That he the King contraryit ay,
May fall, quhen he no mend it may.
Here Sir Edward Bruce is much commended.
[Sidenote: JUNE 1308] Edward Bruce is in Galloway]
The Kingis brothir, quhen the towne 472
Wes takyn thus and doungyn doune,
Schir Edward, that wes so worthy,
Tuk with him a gret cumpany,
And tuk his gat toward Galloway. 476
For with his men he walde assay
Gif he recover mycht that land,
And wyn fra Inglis mennys hande.
This Schir Edward, forsuth, I hicht, 480
Wes of his handis a nobill knycht,
And in blithnes swet and joly;
Bot he wes outrageous hardy,
And of so hye undirtaking, 484
That he had nevir none abasing
Of multitude of men; for-thi
He discumfit commonly
Mony with quheyn: tharfor had he 488
Outour his peris renowne.
And quha rehers wald all his deid,
Of his hye worschipe and manheid
Men mycht mony romanys mak; 492
And, nocht-for-thi, I think till tak
On hand off hym to say sum thing,
Bot nocht the tend part his travaling.
This gud knycht, that I spek of heir, 496
With all the folk that with hym weir,
Weill soyn to Galloway cummyn is,
All that he fand he maid it his;
And ryotit gretly the lande. 500
Bot than in Galloway war wonnand
Schir Ingerame Umphrevell, that wes
Renownit of so hye prowes,
That he of worschip passit the rout: 504
Tharfor he gert ay ber about
Apon a sper ane red bonat,
In-to the takyn that he wes set
In-to the hicht of chevelry; 508
Of Sanct Johne als Schir Amery.
Thai twa the land had in stering,
And quhen thai herd of the cummyng
Of Schir Edward, that so planly 512
Our-raid the land, than in gret hy
Thai assemblit all thair menyhe.
I trow twelf hundreth thai mycht be.
Here Sir Edward Bruce discomfits the Englishmen at Cree.
Bot he with fewar folk thaim met 516
Besyde Cre, and so hard thame set,
With hard battale in stalwarde ficht,
That he thame all put to the flicht,
And slew twa hundreth wele and ma, 520
And the chiftanis in hy can ta
Thair way to Buttill, for till be
Resavit in-to gude savite.
And Schir Edward thame chasit fast; 524
Bot till the castell at the last
Gat Schir Ingerame and Schir Amery;
Both the best of thair cumpany
Left ded behynd thame in the plas. 528
And quhen Schir Edward saw the chas
Wes falit, he gert seys the pray;
A swa gret cattell had away,
That it war woundir for till se. 532
Of Buttill tour thai saw how he
Gert his men drif with him thar pray,
Bot no let set tharin mycht thai.
[Sidenote: JUNE 1308] Umfraville thinks to surprise Edward]
Throu his chevelrous chevelry 536
Galloway wes stonayit gretumly,
And doutit hym for his bounte.
Sum of the men of the cuntre
Com till his pes, and maid him ath. 540
Both Schir Amery, that had the scath
Of the bargane I tald of er,
Raid till Ingland, and purchast ther
Of armyt men gret cumpany, 544
To venge hym of the velany
That Schir Edwarde, the nobill knycht,
Him did by Cre in-till the ficht.
Of gude men he assemblit thair 548
Weill fyftene hundreth men and mar,
That war of rycht gude renowne.
His way with all that folk tuk he,
And in the land, all prevely, 552
He enterit with that chevelry;
Thinkand Schir Edward to suppris,
Gif that he mycht on ony wis:
For he thoucht he wald him assale, 556
Or that he left, in playn batale.
Now may yhe heir of gret ferly,
And of richt hye chevelry.
For Schir Edward into the land 560
Wes with his menyhe neir at hand;
And in the mornyng richt airly
He herd the cuntre men mak cry,
And had wittering of thair cummyng. 564
Than buskit he him but delaying.
And lap on hors deliverly.
He had than in his rowt fifty,
Apon gude hors armyt richt weill. 568
His small folk gert he ilk deill
With-draw thame till a strate neir by:
And he raid furth with his fifty.
Here he discomfits far more manfully, that is to say, Fifteen Hundred with Fifty.
A knycht, that than wes in his rout, 572
Worthy and wicht, stalward and stout,
Curtas and fair, and of gude fame,
Schir Alane of Catkert be name,
Tald me this taill as I sall tell. 576
Gret myst in-to the mornyng fell,
Swa that men mycht nocht se thaim by,
For myst, ane bow-draucht fullely.
Sa hapnyt that thai fand the trais, 580
Quhar at the rout furth passit was
Of thair fayis, that forouth raid.
Schir Edward, that gret yharnyng had
All tyme for till do chevelry, 584
With all his rout in full gret hy,
Followit the tras quhar gane war thai:
And, before myd-morne of the day
The myst wox cleir all suddanly; 588
Than he and all his cumpany
War nocht ane bow-draucht fra the rout.
Than schot thai on thame with a schout;
For gif thai fled, thai wist that thai 592
Suld nocht weill ferd part get away.
Tharfor in aventure till de
He wald him put or he wald fle.
And quhen the Inglis cumpany 596
Saw on thame cum so suddanly
Sic folk, forouten abasing,
Thai war stonayit for affraying.
And the tothir, but mair abaid, 600
So hardely emang thame raid,
That fele of thame to erde thai bare.
Richt gretly thus stonayit thai ware
Throu the fors of that first assay, 604
That thai war in-to gret affray,
And wend be fer thai had beyn ma,
For that thai war assalyhit swa.
And syne Schir Edwardis cumpany, 608
Quhen thai had thrillit thame hastely,
Set stoutly in the hedis agane,
And at that cours borne doun and slane
War of thair fais a gret party, 612
That than affrait war so gretly,
That thai war scalit gretly then.
And quhen Schir Edward and his men
Saw thame in-to so ill aray, 616
The thrid tyme on thame prikid thai.
And thai that saw thame so stoutly
Cum on thame, dred thame gretumly,
That all thair rout, bath les and mair, 620
Fled, ilkane scalit, heir and thair.
Wes nane emang thame so hardy
To byde, bot all comonly
Fled to warand; and he can chas, 624
That wilfull till distroy thame was:
For sum he tuk, and sum war slayn,
Bot Schir Amery with mekill payn
Eschapit, and his gat is gane. 628
His men discumfit war ilkane;
Sum tane, sum slayn, sum gat away.
This wes a richt fair point, perfay!
[575: C Carcat: S adopts Catcart.]
Sir Edward Bruce in a Year won Thirteen Castles.
[Sidenote: 1308] Edward Bruce subdues Galloway]
Lo! how hardyment tane suddanly, 632
And drivin syne till end scharply,
May ger oft-sis unlikly thyngis
Cum to richt fair and gud endingis!
Richt as it fell in this case heir; 636
For hardyment, withouten weir,
Wan fyftene hundreth with fifty,
Quhar ay for ane thai war thretty:
And twa men ar a manis her; 640
Bot ure thame led on sic maner,
That thai discumfit war ilkane.
Schir Amery hame his gate is gane,
Richt blith that he so gat away. 644
I trow he sall nocht mony day
Have will to warra that cuntre,
With-thi Schir Edward tharin be!
Ande he duelt furth in-to the land, 648
Thame that rebelland war warrand,
And in a yheir so warrait he,
That he wan quytly that cuntre
Till his brothiris pes, the king; 652
Bot that wes nocht but hard fichting.
For in that time thair him befell
Mony fair poynt, as I herd tell,
The quhilk that ar nocht writin heir. 656
Bot weill I wat that, in that yheir,
Thretten castellis with strynth he wan,
And ourcom mony a mody man.
Quha-sa the suth of hym wald reid; 660
Had he had mesur in his deid,
I trow that worthyar than he
Micht nocht in his tyme fundyn be,
Outakyn his brothir anyrly, 664
To quhom, in-to gude chevelry,
I dar peir nane wes in his day.
For he led hym with mesure ay,
And with gret wit his chevelry 668
He governit ay sa worthely,
That he oft full unlikly thing
Brocht rycht weill to gud ending.
[666: E Lyk wes nane in his day. Neither reading is quite satisfactory. Skeat puts a comma after nane, but what, then, is the subject of wes? Is it not a suppressed relative?--that? Cf. x. 86.]
[671: C omits rycht and inserts full gud. Skeat adopts both, but one is surely superfluous.]
Here Sir James Douglas meets with Sir Alexander Stewart, Lord Bonkill.
In all this tym James of Douglas 672
In the Forest travaland was,
And it throu hardiment and slicht
Occupyit, magre all the mycht
Of his feill fayis, the-quhethir thai 676
Set him full oft in hard assay.
Bot oft throu wit and throu bounte
His purpos to gud end brocht he.
In-till that tym him fell, throu cas, 680
A nycht, as he travaland was,
And thought for till have tan restyne
In a hous on the wattir of Lyne;
And as he com with his menyhe 684
Neirhand the hous, swa lisnyt he,
And herd thair sawis ilke deill,
And be that he persavit weill
At thai war strange men at thair 688
That nycht thar-in herberyit wair.
And as he thoucht it fell, per cas;
For of Bonkill the lord thar was,
Alysander Stewart hat he, 692
With othir ma of gret bounte,
Thomas Randole of gret renown,
And Adame alsua of Gordoun,
That com thair with gret cumpany, 696
And thoucht in the Forest to ly,
And occupy it throu thar gret mycht,
Bath with travale and stallwart ficht,
To chas Douglas of that cuntre; 700
Bot othir wayis than yheid the gle.
[686: E has And herd ane say tharin, “The devill!” H like C.]
[Sidenote: 1308] Randolph is Taken]
For quhen James had witteryng
That strange men had tane herbreyng
In the place quhar he schupe to ly, 704
He till the hous went hastely,
And umbeset it all about.
Quhen thai within herd sic a rout
About the hous, thai rais in hy, 708
And tuk thair geir rycht hastely,
And schot furth, fra thai harnast war.
Thair fayis thaim met with wapnys bar,
And assalyheit richt hardely; 712
And thai defendit douchtely
With all thair mycht, till at the last
Thar fais pressit thame so fast,
That thair folk falyheit thame ilkane. 716
Thomas Randoll thar wes tane;
And Alexander Stewarde alsua
Wes woundit in a place or twa.
Adame of Gordoun fra the ficht, 720
Quhat throu slicht and quhat throu mycht,
Eschapit, and feill of his men;
Bot thai that war arestit then,
War of thair taking woundir wa; 724
Bot nedlyngis thame behufit be swa.
Here Sir James Douglas comes to the King with Sir Alexander Stewart and Thomas Randolph.
That nycht the gud lord of Douglas
Maid to Schir Alysander, that was
His emys son, richt gladsum cheir: 728
Sa did he als, forouten weir,
Till Thomas Randole, for that he
Wes till the King in neir degre
Of blude, for his sister him bare. 732
And on the morn, forouten mare,
Toward the nobill King he raid,
And with him bath thai twa he had.
The King of his cummyng wes blith, 736
And thankit him tharof feill sith.
And till his nevo can he say,
“Thou has a quhill renyit thi fay;
“Bot thou reconsalit now mon be.” 740
Then to the King soyn anseurd he,
And saide, ‘Yhe chasty me, bot yhe
‘Aw bettir chastyit for till be.
‘For sen that yhe warrait the King 744
‘Of Ingland in-to playn fichting
‘Yhe suld pres till derenyhe yhour richt,
‘And nocht with voidre na with slicht.’
The King said; “Yheit may fall it may 748
“Cum, or oucht lang, to sic assay.
“Bot sen thou spekis so ryaly,
“It is gret skill at men chasty
“Thi prowd wourdis till at thou knaw 752
“The richt, and bow it as thou aw.”
The King, for-out mair delaying,
Send hym to be in ferm keping,
Quhar that he all a quhill suld be, 756
Nocht all apon his awn pouste.
BOOK X
Here the King passes against John of Lorn.
[Sidenote: 1308] John of Lorn occupies a Pass]
Qwhen Thomas Randol, on this wis Wes takyn, as I heir devis, And send to duell in gud keping, For the speke he spak to the King; 4 The gud King, that thoucht on the scath, The dispit and felony bath, That John of Lorne had till him done, His host assemblit he than soyn, 8 And toward Lorn he tuk the way, With his men in-to gude aray. Bot Johne of Lorn of his cummyng, Lang or he com, had witteryng; 12 And men on ilk syde gaderit he, I trow twa thousand thai mycht be; And send thame for to stop the way, Quhar the King behufit to ga: 16 And that wes in ane evill place, That so strat and so narrow was, That twa men sammyn mycht nocht ryde In sum place of the hyllis syde. 20 The nethir half wes perelous; For a schoir crag, hye and hyduous, Raucht till the se, doun fra the pas. On the owthir half ane montane was 24 So cumrous and ek so stay, That it wes hard to pas that way. Crechanben hecht that montane. I trow that nocht in all Bretane, 28 Aye hyer hill may fundyn be. Thar Johne of Lorne gert his menyhe Enbuschit be abovyn the way; For, gif the gud King held that way, 32 He thoucht he suld soyn vencust be; And hym-self held hym on the se, Weill neir the pas with his galays. Bot the King, that in all assays 36 Wes fundyn wis and averte, Persavit thair subtilite, And that he neid that gat suld ga. His men departit he in twa; 40 And to the gud lorde of Douglas, Quham in all wit and worschip was, He taucht the archaris evirilkane. And this gud lord has with him tane 44 Schir Alysander Freser the wicht, And Williame Wisman, a gud knycht, And with thame gud Schir Androu Gray: Thir with thair menyhe held thar way, 48 And clam the hill delyverly. And, or thai of the tothir party Persavit thame, thai had ilkane The hicht abovyn thair fayis tane. 52
Here the King meets with John of Lorn’s Company.
[Sidenote: 1308] The Fight for the Bridge]
The King and his men held thar way,
And quhen in-to the pas war thai
Enterit, the folk off Lorne in hy
Apon the King rasit ane cry, 56
And schot, and tumlit on hym stanys,
Richt gret and hevy for the nanys.
Bot thai scathit nocht gretly the King;
For he had thar, in his leding, 60
Men that licht and delyver war,
And licht arming had on thaim thar,
Swa that thai stoutly clam the hill,
And lettit thair fayis to fullfill 64
The mast part off thar felony.
And als, apon the tothir party,
Com James of Douglas and his rout,
And schot apon thame with a schout, 68
And woundit thame with arrowis fast.
Syne with thair swerdis, at the last,
Thai ruschit emang thame hardely.
For thai of Lorn, full manlely, 72
Grete and apert defens can ma.
Bet quhen thai saw at thai war swa
Assalyheit apon twa parteis,
And saw weill that thair enymyis 76
Had all the farer off the ficht,
In full gret hy thai tuk the flicht.
And thai a felloun chas can ma,
And slew all at thai mycht ourta. 80
And thai that mycht eschap, perfay,
Richt till ane wattir held thair way,
That ran doun by the hillis syde,
And wes rycht styth, bath deip and wyde, 84
That men in na place mycht it pas
Bot at ane brig beneth thaim was.
To that brig held thai fast thair way,
And till brek it can fast assay. 88
Bot thai that chassit, quhen thai thaim saw,
Mak thair arest, but dreid or aw
Thai ruschit apon thame hardely,
And discumfit thame utrely, 92
And held the brig haill, quhill the King,
With all the folk of his leding,
Passit the bryg all at thair ese.
Till Johne of Lorne it suld displese, 96
I trow, quhen he his men mycht se,
Out of his schippis fra the se,
Be slayn and chassit fra the hill,
And he mycht set no help thar-till. 100
For it angeris als gretumly,
To gud hertis that ar worthy,
Till se thair fais fulfill thair will,
As to thame-self to thole the ill. 104
[72: C manfully (S), which is not a rhyme.]
[81: E but delay.]
Here the King besieges and wins Dunstaffnage Castle.
At sic myscheiff war thai of Lorne; For feill the lyffis thair has lorne, And othir sum thai flede away. The Kyng in hy gert ses the pray 108 Of all the land; quhar men mycht se So gret aboundans cum off fe, That it war woundir till behald. The King, that stout wes, stark and bald, 112 Till Dunstaffynch richt suddanely He past, and segit it sturdely And assalyheit, the castell to get. And in schort tyme he has thame set 116 In sic thrang, that tharin war than, That, magre tharis, he it wan, And a gud wardane thair-in set, And betaucht hym bath men and met, 120 Swa that he thair lang tym mycht be, Magre thaim all of that cuntre. Schir Alexander of Argill that saw The King distroy up, cleyn and law, 124 His land, send tretis to the King, And com his man but tarying; And he resavit him till his pes. But Johne of Lorn his son yheit wes 128 Rebell, as he wes wont to be, And fled with schippes to the see.
[113-115: E has--
_sturdely
A sege set; and besyly
Assaylit_, etc.]
[118: C is wan (S), which is certainly wrong.]
[126: E mar duelling.]
[Sidenote: 1313] William Bunnock’s Stratagem]
Bot thai that left apon the land
War to the King all obeysand; 132
And he thar homage all has tane;
Syne toward Perth is passit agane,
To play hym thair in-to the playn:
Yheit Lowdyan wes him agayn. 136
And at Lythkow wes than a peill,
Mekill and stark, and stuffit weill
With Inglis men, that wes reset
Till thaim that with armouris or met 140
Fra Edinburgh wald to Strevilling ga,
And fra Strevilling again alsua;
And till the cuntre did gret ill.
Now may yhe heir, gif that yhe will, 144
Interludys and juperdys,
That men assayit on mony wis,
Castellis and pelis for till ta.
And this Lithkow wes ane of thai; 148
And I sall tell how it wes tane.
In the cuntre thar wonnyt ane
That husband wes, and with his fee
Oftsis hay to the peill led he. 152
Wilyhame Bunnok to nayme he hicht,
*That stalward man wes in-to ficht.
He saw sa hard the cuntre stad,
*That he gret noy and pite had
Throu fortrassis that war then
Governit and led with Inglis men, 156
Thai travalit men outour mesur.
He wes a stout carle and a sture,
And of him-self dour and hardy,
And had frendis wonnand hym by, 160
And schew till sum his prevate;
That apon his covyn gat he
Men that mycht ane enbuschement ma,
Quhill that he with his wayn suld ga 164
Till lede thaim hay in-to the peill.
Bot his wayn suld be stuffit weill:
For aucht men armyt in the body
Of his wayn suld syt prevaly, 168
And with hay helyt be about.
And hym-self, that wes dour and stout,
Suld by the wayn gang ydilly;
And ane yheman, wicht and hardy, 172
Befor suld dryf the wayn, and ber
Ane hachit, that war scharp to scher,
Undir his belt; and quhen the yhet
Wes opnyt, and thai war thar-at, 176
Quhen he herd hym cry sturdely,
“Call all! Call all!” than hastyly
He suld stryk with the ax in twa
The hede-soyme; than in hy suld thai, 180
That war within the wayn, cum out,
And mak debat, quhill at thar rout,
That suld neir by enbuscht be,
Cum for to manteyme the melle. 184
[*154, *156: E omits. In C and H.]
This wes in-till the harvist tyde,
Quhen feldis, that war fair and wyde,
Chargit with corne assoverit war;
For syndri cornys that thai bair 188
Woxe rype to wyn to mannys fude;
And the treis all sammyn stude
Chargit with froytis on syndri wis.
That sammyn tym, as I devis, 192
Thai of the peill had wonnyn hay,
And with this Bunnok spokin had thai
To leid thair hay, for he wes neir;
And he consentit but dangeir, 196
And said that in-to the mornyng
Weill soyn ane fudyr he suld bring,
Farer and greter, and weill mor
Than eny he broucht that yher befor: 200
And held thaim cunnand sekirly.
For that nycht warnyt he prevaly
Thaim that in the wayn suld ga,
And bad the buschement be alsua. 204
And thai so grathly sped thaim thar,
That or day thai enbuschit war
Weill neir the peill, quhar thai mycht heir
The cry alsoyne as ony weir, 208
And held thame swa still but stering,
That nane of thame had persavyng.
[192: E and H have In this swete tyme.]
[Sidenote: 1313] Linlithgow Castle is Taken]
And this Bunnok fast can him payn
Till dres his menyhe in his wayn; 212
And all a quhile befor the day,
He had thaim helit with the hay;
Than maid he him to yhok his fee,
Till men the sone schynande mycht se. 216
And sum that war within the peill
War yschit, on thair awn unseill,
To wyn thair harvist neir thar-by.
Than Bunnok, with the cumpany 220
That in his wayn closit he had,
Went on his way but mair abaid,
And callit his wayn toward the peill.
And the portar, that saw hym weill 224
Cum neir the yhat, it opnyt soyn:
And than Bunnok, forouten hoyn,
Gert call the wayn deliverly.
And quhen it wes set evinly 228
Betuix the chekys of the yhet,
Swa that men mycht it spar na gat,
He cryit, “Theif! Call all! Call all!”
And he than leyt the gadwand fall, 232
And hewit in twa the soym in hy.
Bunnok with that deliverly
Raucht till the portar sic ane rout
That blude and harnys bath com out. 236
And thai that war within the wayn
Lap out belif, and soyn has slayn
Men of the castell that war by.
Than in a quhill begouth the cry: 240
And thai that neir enbuschit war
Lap out, and com with swerdis bar,
And tuk the castell all but payn,
And thame that tharin wes has slayn. 244
And thai that war went furth beforn,
Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn,
Thai fled to warrand to and fra;
And sum till Edinburgh can ga, 248
And till Strevilling ar othir gane,
And sum in-to the way war slayn.
[230: C has And he that wald no longer let.]
How Earl Thomas Randolph became Man to the Good King Robert the Bruce.
Bunnok on this wis, wyth his wayn, The peill tuk, and the men has slayn; 252 Syne taucht it to the Kyng in hy, That hym rewardit worthely; And gert doun driff it to the ground; And syne our all the land can found, 256 Settand in pes all the cuntre, That till hym obeisand wald be.
And quhen a litill tym wes went,
Eftir Thomas Randale he sent, 260
And with hym so weill tretit he,
That he his man hecht for till be.
And the king him soyn forgaf:
Ande, for till hye his stat, hym gaf 264
Murref, and tharof Erll hym maid
And othir syndri landis braid
He gaf him in-till heritage.
He knew his worthy vassalage, 268
And his gret wit and his avis,
His trast hart and his leill servis.
Tharfor in hym affyit he,
And maid him rych of land and fee, 272
As it wes certis richt worthy.
*For, and men spek of him trewly,
*He was so curageous a knycht,
*So wis, so worthy, and so wycht,
And of so soverane gret bounte,
That mekill of him may spokin be.
Therfor I think of hym to reid, 276
And till schaw part of his gud deid,
And till discryve yhow his fassoun
With part of his condicioun.
He wes of mesurabill stature, 280
And portrait weill at all mesure,
With braid visage, plesand and fair,
Curtas at poynt, and debonar;
And of richt sekir contenyng. 284
Laute he lufit atour all thing;
Falsade, tresoune, and felony,
He stude agayne ay ythandly.
He hyet honour and larges, 288
And ay mantemyt richtwisnes.
In cumpany solacious
He wes, and thar-with amorus.
And gud knychtis he lufit ay. 292
For gif that I the suth sall say,
He wes fullfillit of all bunte,
And off all vertuis maid wes he.
I will commend him heir no mar, 296
Bot yhe sall weill heir forthirmar
That he, for his dedis worthy,
Suld weill be prisit soveranly.
Qwhen the King wes thus with him saucht, 300 And gret lordschippis had him betaucht, He wex so wis and avise, That his land first weill stablist he; And syne he sped him to the were, 304 Till help his eym and his effere. With the consent of the gud Kyng, Bot with a sympill apparalyng, Till Edinburgh he went in hy, 308 With gud men in-till cumpany, And set a sege to the castele, That than wes warnyst wondir wele With men and vittale at all richt, 312 So that it dred no mannis mycht. Bot this gud Erll nocht-for-thi The sege tuk full apertly: And presyt the folk that thar-in was 316 Swa that nocht ane the yhet durst pas. Thai may abyde thar-in and et Thair victaill, quhill thai oucht mai get: Bot I trow thai sall lettit be 320 To purchas mair in the cuntre.
[305: E in his myster.]
[316: C wes (S).]
[319: C mycht get (S).]
That tym Edward, of Ingland Kyng, Had gevin the castell in keping Till Schir Peris Lumbard a Gascoun. 324 And quhen thai of his warnysoun Saw the sege set thair stithly, Thai mystrowit hym of tratory, For that he spokin had with the King. 328 And, for that ilk mystrowing Thai tuk him and put in presoun; And off thair awne nacioun Thai maid a constabill thaim to leid, 332 Richt war and wis and wicht of deid. And he set wit and strinth and slicht To kepe the castell at his mycht.
But now of thame I will be still, 336
And spek a litill quhill I will
Of the douchty lord Dowglas,
At that tym in the Forest was.
Quhar he full mony a juperdye, 340
And fair poyntis off chevelry,
Previt, als weill be nycht as day,
Till thame that in the castellis lay,
Off Roxburgh and Jedworth; bot I 344
Will let fele of thame pas forby.
For I can nocht rehers thame all,
And thouch I couth, trow weill yhe sall,
That I might nocht suffice thar-to, 348
Sa mekill suld be thair ado.
Bot thai that I wat wittirly,
Eftir my wit rehers sall I.
The winning of the Castle of Roxburgh by the Douglas through the Sleight of John Ledhouse.
[Sidenote: FEB. 27, 1314] The Scots are taken for Oxen]
This tym that the gud Erll Thomas 352 Assegit, as the lettir sais, Edinburgh, James of Douglas Set all his wit for till purchas How Roxburgh throu subtilite 356 Or ony craft, mycht wonnyn be; Till he gert Sym of the Ledows, A crafty man and a curious, Of hempyn rapis ledderis ma, 360 With treyn steppis bundin swa, That wald brek apon nakyn wis. A cruk thai maid, at thair devis, Of irn, that wes styth and square; 364 That, fra it in ane kyrnaill ware, And the leddir thar-fra stratly Strekit, it suld stand sekirly. This lord of Douglas than, alsoyn 368 As this devisit wes and done, Gaderit gud men in prevate; Thre score I trow at thai mycht be. And on the Fasteryn evyn rycht, 372 In the begynnyng of the nycht, Till the castell thai tuk the way. With blak froggis all helit thai The armouris at thai on thame had. 376 Thai com ner by thar but abaid, And send haly thair hors thame fra, And on range in ane rod can ga On handis and feit, quhen thai war neir, 380 Richt as thai ky and oxin weir, That war unbondyn left therout. It wes richt merk forouten dout: The-quhethir ane, on the wall that lay, 384 Besyde him till his feir can say, “This man thinkis to mak gude chere,” (And nemmyt ane husband thar-by neir) “That has left all his oxyne out.” 388 The tothir said, ‘It is na dout ‘He sall mak merye this nycht, thouch thai ‘Be with the Douglas led away.’ Thai wende the Douglas and his men 392 Had beyn oxyne, for thai yheid then On handis and feit, ay ane and ane. The Dowglas rycht gud tent has tane Till all thar speke, bot als-soyn thai 396 Held carpand inward on thar way.
[359: C has That wes a man rycht craftyus. Text from E and H (S).]
The Douglas men thar-of wes blith.
And till the wall thai sped thame swith,
And soyn has up thair ledderis set, 400
That maid a clap, quhen the cleket
Wes festnyt fast in the kyrnell.
That herd ane of the wachis wele,
And buskit thiddirward but baid; 404
Bot Ledous, that the leddyr maid,
Sped hym to clym first to the wall:
Bot, or he wes up gottin all,
He at that ward had in keping, 408
Met him rycht at the up-cummyng;
And for he thoucht to dyng hym doune,
He maid na noyis na cry na sowne,
Bot schot till him deliverly. 412
And he that wes in juperdy
Till de, a lans till him he maid,
And gat him be the nek but baid,
And stekit him upward with ane knyff, 416
Quhill in his hand he left the liff.
And quhen he ded sa saw him ly,
Upon the wall he went in hy,
And doune the body kest thame till, 420
And said, “All gangis as we will.
“Speid yhow upward deliverly.”
And thai did swa in full gret hy.
Bot, or thai wan up, thar com ane, 424
And saw Ledows stand him allane,
And knew he wes nocht of thar men.
In hy he ruschit till hym then,
And hym assalyheit sturdely; 428
Bot he hym slew deliverly,
For he wes armyt and wes wycht,
The tothir nakyt wes, I hicht,
And had nocht for till stynt no strak. 432
Sic melle tharup can he mak,
Quhill Douglas, and his menyhe all
War wonnyn up apon the wall.
[Sidenote: FEB. 27, 1314] Douglas holds the Hall]
Than in the tour thai went in hy. 436
The folk that tym wes halely
In-to the hall at thair dansyng,
Synging, and othir wayis playing:
As apon Fastryn evyn is 440
The custom to mak joy and blis,
To folk that ar in-to savite;
Swa trowit thai that tym to be.
Bot, or thai wist, rycht in the hall 444
Douglas and his men cummyn war all.
And cryit on hicht, “Douglas! Douglas!”
And thai, that ma war than he was,
Herd “Dowglas!” cryit richt hidwisly, 448
Thai war abasit for the cry,
And schupe richt na defens to ma.
And thai but pite can thame sla,
Till thai had gottyn the ovir hand. 452
The tothir fled to seyk warrand,
That out-our mesure dede can dreid.
The wardane saw how that it yheid,
That callit wes Gylmyne de Fenis, 456
In the gret toure he gotten is,
And othir of his cumpany,
And sparit the entre hastily.
The layff, that levit war without, 460
War tane or slane, forouten dout,
Bot giff that ony lap the wall.
The Douglas held that nycht the hall,
All-thouch his fais thar-of wes wa. 464
His men war gangand to and fra
Throu-out the castell all that nycht,
Till on the morn that day wes lycht.
The wardane that wes in the tour, 468
That wes a man of gret valour,
Gylmyne the Fynis, quhen he saw
The castell tynt, bath hye and law,
He set his mycht for till defende 472
The tour; but thai without him send
Arrowes in so gret quantite,
That anoyit tharof wes he.
Bot to the tothir day nocht-for-thi 476
He held the tour full sturdely,
And than at ane assalt he was
Woundit so felly in the face,
That he wes dredand of his lif: 480
Tharfor he tretit thame belif,
And yhald the tour on sic maner,
That he and all that with hym weir
Suld saufly pas in-to Ingland. 484
Douglas held thame gud cunnand,
And convoyit thame to thair cuntre.
Bot thar full schort tym liffit he;
For throu the wound in-till the face 488
He deit soyn, and beryit was.
Douglas the castell sesit all,
At than wes closit with stalward wall,
And send this Leydous till the Kyng, 492
That maid hym full gret rewarding.
And his brothir in full gret hy,
Schir Edward, that wes sa douchty,
He send thiddir to tummyll it doune 496
Bath tour, castell, and dungeoune.
And he com with gret cumpany,
And gert travale so besaly,
That tour and wall rycht to the ground 500
War tumlyt in ane litill stound:
And duelt still thar, quhill Tevydaie
Com to the Kyngis pes all haill,
Outane Jedworth and othir that neir, 504
The Inglis mennis bowndis weir.
[471: E has be clene; cf. line 124.]
Here Sir Thomas Randolph besieges Edinburgh.
Qwhen Roxborgh won wes on this wis, The Erll Thomas, that hye enpris Set ay apon soverane bounte, 508 At Edinburgh with his menyhe Was lyand at the sege, as I Tald yhow befor all oppynly. Bot fra he herd how Roxburgh was 512 Tane with a trane, all his purchas, With wit and besynes, I hicht, He set to purches him sum slicht, How he mycht help hym throu body 516 Mellit with full hye chevelry, To wyn the wall of the castell Throu sumkyn slicht; for he wist weill That no strinth mycht it planly get, 520 Quhill thai within had men and met. Tharfor prevely sperit he Gif ony man mycht fundin be, That couth ony gude jupardye 524 To clym the wallis prevelye; And he suld haf his warisoune. For it wes his entencioune Till put him in-to aventure, 528 Or at that sege on him forfure.
[516: C has throu vietory, from which S adopts voidry = “cunning” as “a shrewd guess.” Text from E.]
[Sidenote: MARCH, 1314] William Francis offers to Guide]
Than wes thair ane William Francas,
Wicht and apert, wis and curtas,
That in-till his yhouthede had beyn 532
In the castell; quhen he has seyn
The Erll sa ynkirly hym set
Sum sutelte or wile to get,
Quhar-throu the castell haf mycht he, 536
He com till hym in prevate,
And said; “Me think yhe wald blithly
“That men fand yhow sum juperdy,
“How yhe mycht our the wallis wyn: 540
“And certis gif yhe will begyn
“For till assay on sic a wis,
“I undirtak, for my service,
“For to ken yhow to clym the wall, 544
“And I sall formast be off all;
“Quhar with a schort leddir may we,
“I trow of tuelf fut it may be,
“Clym to the wall up all quytly. 548
“And gif that yhe will wit how I
“Wat this, I sall yhow lichtly say.
“Quhen I wes yhoung this hendir day,
“My fader wes kepar of yhon hous, 552
“And I wes sumdele volageous,
“And lufit ane wench her in the toune;
“And for I, but suspicioun,
“Micht repair till hir prevely, 556
“Of rapis ane leddir to me maid I,
“And tharwith our the wall I slaid.
“Ane strat rod, that I spyit had
“In-till the crag, syne doune I went; 560
“And oftsis com to myne entent;
“And quhen it neir drew to the day,
“I held agane that ilke way,
“And ay com in but persaving. 564
“I oysit lang that travailing,
“So that I can that rod ga richt,
“Thouch men se nevir so myrk the nycht.
“And gif yhow thinkis yhe will assay 568
“To pass up eftir me that way,
“Up to the wall I sall yhow bring,
“Gif God us kepis fra persaving
“Of thame that wachis on the wall. 572
“And gif that us so fair may fall,
“That we our leddir up may set,
“Giff a man on the wall may get,
“He sall defend, gif it beis neid, 576
“Quhill the remanand up thaim speid.”
The Erll wes blith of his carping,
And hicht him full fair rewardyng;
And undirtuk that gat to ga, 580
And bad him soyn his leddir ma,
And hald him preve quhill thai mycht
Set for thair purpos on ane nycht.
[529: E H mysfure.]
[531: In C pert, E curyus (S).]
[568: E yhe think.]
The winning of the Castle of Edinburgh by Good Earl Thomas Randolph.
[Sidenote: MARCH 14, 1314] A Dangerous Climb]
Soyne eftir wes the leddir maid; 584
And than the Erll, but mair abaid,
Purvait hym on a nycht prevaly,
With thritty men, wicht and hardy;
And in ane myrk nycht held thar way. 588
Thai put thame in full hard assay,
And to gret perell sekyrly.
I trow, mycht thai haf seyne cleirly,
That gat had nocht beyn undirtane, 592
Thouch thai to let thame had nocht ane.
For the crag wes hye and hidwous,
And the clymbyng rycht perelus:
For hapnyt ony to slyde or fall, 596
He suld be soyne to-fruschit all.
The nycht wes myrk, as I herd say,
And till the fut soyn cummyn ar thai
Of the crag, that wes hye and schore, 600
Than Williame Francous thame befor
Clam in the crykis forouth thaim ay,
And at the bak him followit thai,
With mekill payne, quhill to, quhill fra; 604
Thai clam in-to the crykis swa,
Quhill half the craggis thai clummyn had,
And thair ane place thai fand so braid,
That thai mycht syt on anerly. 608
And thai war ayndles and wery,
And thair abaid thair aynd to ta.
And richt as thai war syttand swa,
Abovyn thame, apon the wall, 612
The chak-wachis assemblit all.
Now help thame God that all thing may!
For in full gret perell ar thai.
For, mycht thai se thame, thair suld nane 616
Eschap out of that place unslane;
Till ded with stanys thai suld thaim dyng,
That thai mycht help thame-self no thing.
Bot wondir myrk wes all the nycht, 620
Swa that thai had of thame na sycht.
And nocht-for-thi yheit wes thar ane
Of thame that swappit doun a stane,
And said, “Away! I se yhow weill.” 624
The-quhethir he saw thame nocht a deill.
Out-our thair hedis flaw the stane,
And thai sat still, lurkande ilkane.
The wachis, quhen thai herd nocht stere, 628
Fra that ward passit all sammyn were,
And carpand held fer by thair way.
Erll Thomas than alsoyne, and thai
That on the crag thar satt hym by, 632
Toward the wall clam hastely,
And thiddir com with mekill mayne,
And nocht but gret perell and payne.
For fra-thine up wes grevousar 636
To clym up, na be-neth be fer.
Bot quhatkyn payn at evir thai had,
Richt to the wall thai com but baid,
That had weill neir tuelf fut on hicht. 640
And, for-owt persaving or sicht,
Thai set their ledder to the wall,
And syne Francous, befor thame all,
Clam up, and syne Schir Androu Gray, 644
And syne the Erll him-self, perfay,
Wes the thrid man the wall can ta.
Quhen thai thair doun thair lord swa
Saw clymen up apon the wall, 648
As wood men thai clame eftir all.
Bot or up cummyn all wer thai,
Thai that war wachis till assay
Herd bath stering and ek speking, 652
And alswa fraying of armyng,
And on thame schot full sturdely:
And thai met thame richt hardely;
And slaw off thame dispitwisly. 656
Than throu the castell ras the cry,
“Tresoune! Tresoune!” thai cryit fast.
Than sum of tham war sa agast,
That thai fled and lap our the wall. 660
Bot to say suth, thai fled nocht all;
For the constabill, that wes hardy,
All armyt schot furth to the cry,
And with him feill hardy and stout. 664
Yheit wes the Erll with his rout,
Fechtand with thame apon the wall;
Bot soyn he thame discomfit all.
Be that his men war cummyn ilkane 668
Up at the wall, and he has tane
His way doune to the castell soyne.
In gret perell he has hym done;
For thair wes fer ma men tharin, 672
And thai had beyn of gude covyn,
Than he; bot thai effrayit war.
And nocht-for-thi with wapnys bar,
The constabill and his cumpany 676
Met hym and his richt hardely,
[650: E clumbene.]
[Sidenote: MARCH 14, 1314] The Fight for the Castle]
Thar men micht se gret bargane rys,
For with wapnys, on mony wis,
Thai dang on othir at thar mycht, 680
Quhill swerdis, that war fayr and brycht,
War till the hyltis all bludy.
Then hidwisly begouth the cry;
For thai that fellit or stekit war 684
With gret noyis can cry and rar.
The gud Erll and his cumpany
Faucht in that ficht so sturdely,
That all thair fayis ruschit war. 688
The constabill wes slayn richt thar:
And fra he fell, the remanand
Fled quhar thai best mycht to warrand:
Thai durst nocht byde na mak debat. 692
The Erll wes handlyt thair sa hat,
That had it nocht hapnyt throw cas,
That the constabill thair slayn was,
He had beyn in gret perell thar; 696
Bot than thai fled, thar was no mar,
Ilke man for to sauf his lif,
And furth his dayis for to drif;
And sum slaid doune out our the wall. 700
The Erll has tane the castell all,
For than wes nane durst him withstand.
I hard nevir quhar in ane land,
Wes castell tane so hardely, 704
Outakyn Tyre all anerly,
Quhen Alexander the Conquerour,
That conquerit Babilonys tour,
Lap fra a berfrois on the wall; 708
Quhar he emang his fayis al
Defendit him full douchtely,
Quhill that his noble chevelry
With ledderis our the wallis yheid, 712
That nouthir left for ded no dreid;
For fra thai wist weill at the king
Wes in the toune, ther wes no thing
In-till that tyme that stint thame mocht, 716
For all perell thai set at nocht.
Thai clam the wallis, quhar Arestee
Com first to the gude king, quhar he
Defendit him with all his mycht, 720
That than wes set so hard, I hicht,
That he wes fellit on a kne:
He till his bak had set ane tre,
For dreid thai suld behynd assalyhe. 724
Arestee then to the battalyhe
Sped him in all hye sturdely,
And dang on thame so douchtely,
That the king weill reskewit was. 728
For his men, in-to syndry plas,
Clam our the wall and soucht the kyng,
And him reskewit with hard fichting;
And wan the toune deliverly. 732
Outakyn this takyng all anerly,
I herd nevir in na tyme gane
Quhar castell wes sa stoutly tane.
[Sidenote: 1314] The Prophecy of Queen Margaret]
And of this takyng that I meyne, 736
Sanct Mergaret, the gud haly queyne,
Wist in hir tyme, throw reveling
Of him that knawis and wat all thing.
Tharfor, in stede of prophesye, 740
Scho left ane takyne richt joly,
That is that scho in hir chapell
Gert weill be portrait ane castell,
A leddir up to the wall standand 744
And a man thar-on clymande,
And wrat owth him, as old men sayis,
In Franch, Gardis vous de Francois.
And for this word scho gert writ swa, 748
Men wend the Franch-men suld it ta.
Bot for Francois hattyn wes he,
That swa clam up in prevate,
Scho wrat that as in prophesy: 752
And it fell eftirward suthly
Richt as scho said; for tane it was,
And Francois led thame up that place.
[742: E That is yheit in-till; but cf. line 746.]
On this wis Edinburgh wes tane; 756 And thai that war tharin ilkane War tane, or slane, or lap the wall; Thair gudis haff thai sessit all, And soucht the housis evirilkane. 760 Schir Peris Lumbard that wes tane, As I said ere befor, thai fand In presoune, fetterit with boyis, sittand. Thai broucht hym to the Erll in hy, 764 And he gert lows hym hastely; Than he becom the Kingis man. Thai send word to the King rycht than, And tald how the castell wes tane; 768 And he in hy is thiddir gane, With mony men in cumpany, And gert myne doune all halely Bath tour and wall richt to the ground: 772 And syne our all the land can found, Sesand the cuntre till his pes. Of this deid, that so worthy wes, The Erll wes prisit gretumly. 776 The King, that saw him sa worthy, Wes blith and joyfull our the laif, And to manteym his stat, him gaff Rentis and landis fair eneuch. 780 And he to sa gret worschip dreuch, That all spak of his gret bounte. His fayis gretly stonayit he, For he fled nevir throu fors of ficht. 784 Quhat sall I mair say of his mycht? His gret manheid, and his bountee Gerris him yheit oft renownyt be.
How Sir Edward won Ru’glen peel
And Dundee, then Stirling, besieged well.
In this tyme that thir juperdyis 788 On thir castellis, that I devis, War eschevit swa hardely, Schir Edward the Brois, the worthy, Had all Galloway and Nyddis-daill 792 Wonnyn till his liking all haill; And doungyn doune the castellis all Richt in the dik, bath tour and wall. He herd than say, and knew it weill, 796 That in Ruglyne wes ane peill. Thiddir he went with his menyhe, And wonnyn it in schort tym has he. Syne till Dunde he tuk the way, 800 That than wes haldin, as I herd say, Agane the King; tharfor in hy He set ane sege thar-to stoutly, And lay thar quhill it yholdyn was. 804 Till Strevilling syne the way he tais, Quhar gud Schir Philip the Mowbra, That wes full douchty at assay, Wes wardane, and had in keping 808 That castell of the Inglis Kyng. Thar-till ane sege he set stythly; Thai bykkirrit oftsis sturdely; Bot gret chevelry done wes nane. 812 Schir Edward, fra the sege wes tane, A weill lang tyme about it lay, Fra the Lenteryne, that is to say, Quhill forrouth the Saint Johnnis mes. 816 The Inglis folk, that tha-rin wes, Begouth to fale the vittale than. Than Schir Philip, the douchty man, Tretit, quhill thai consentit weir, 820 That gif at Mydsummer tyme ane yheir To cum, it war nocht with bataill Reskewit, that than, withouten faill, He suld the castell yheld quytly. 824 That cunnand band thai sekirly.
BOOK XI
[Sidenote: 1313] The Compact about Stirling]
And quhen this cunnand thus wes maid,
Schir Philip in-to Ingland raid,
And tald the King all haill this tale,
How he a tuelf moneth all hale
Had, as it writtin wes in thair tale, 5
Till reskew Strevilling with battale.
And quhen he herd Schir Philip say
That Scottis men had set ane day
To fecht, and at sic space he had
Till purvay hym, he wes rycht glad; 10
And said, it wes gret succuddry
That set thame apon sic folye;
For he thocht to be, or that day,
So purvait, and in sic aray,
That thair suld na strinth him with-stand. 15
And quhen the lordis of Ingland
Herd at this day wes set planly,
Thai jugit it to gret foly,
And thoucht till haff all thair liking,
Giff men abaid thame in fechting. 20
Bot oft falyheis the fulys thoucht:
And wis mennis etling cumis nocht
Till sic end as thai weyn alwayis.
A litill stane oft, as men sayis,
May ger weltir a mekill wane. 25
Na manis mycht may stand agane
The grace of God, that all thing steris;
He wat quhat-to all thing efferis,
And disponis at his liking,
Eftir his ordinans, all thyng. 30
The winning of Stirling by Sir Edward the Bruce, though the Battle was set over a Year and a Day, betwixt him and Sir Philip the Mowbray.
Qwhen Schir Edward, as I yhow say, Had gevyn sa outrageous a day To yheld or reskew Strevilling, Richt soyne he went on-to the King. And tald quhat tretis he had maid, 35 And quhat day he thame gevyn had. The King said, quhen he herd the day, “That wes unwisly done, perfay; “I herd nevir quhar so lang warnyng “Wes gevin to so mychty ane Kyng 40 “As is the Kyng of England. “For he has now in-till his hand “Ingland, Irland, and Walys alsua, “And Akatane yhet, with all tha “That duellis undir his senyhory, 45 “And of Scotland a gret party. “And off tresour so stuffit is he, “That he may wageowris haf plente. “And we ar qwheyn agane so fele; “God may richt weill our werdis deill, 50 “Bot we ar set in juperdy “To tyne or wyn than hastely.” Schir Edward said; ‘Sa God me reid! ‘Thouch he and all that he may leid ‘Cum, we sall fecht, all war thai ma.’ 55 Quhen the King herd his brothir swa Spek to the battale so hardely, He prysit hym in his hert gretly, And said; “Brothir, sen swa is gane “At this thing thus is undirtane, 60 “Schap we us tharfor manfully; “And all that lufis us tendirly “And the fredome of this cuntre, “Purvay thaim at that time to be “Bowne with all mycht that evir thai may; 65 “Swa that gif our fayis assay “To reskew Strevillyng throu battale, “That we of purpos ger thame faill.”
The assembling of the English host,
That with great power came and boast.
[Sidenote: 1314] The Preparations in both Countries]
[Sidenote: JUNE, 1314] The English Host at Berwick]
Till this all thai assentit ar,
And bad thair men all mak thaim yhare 70
For to be boune agane that day
On the best wis that evir thai may.
Than all, that worthi war to ficht
Of Scotland, set all haill thair mycht
Till purvay thame agane that day; 75
Wapnys and armowris purvayit thai,
And all that efferis to fichting.
And of Ingland the mychty Kyng
Purvait hym on so gret aray,
That certis nevir I herd yheit say 80
That Inglis men mair aparaile
Maid, than thai did than for battale.
And quhen the tym wes cummyn ner,
He assemblit all his power.
And, but his awne chevelry, 85
That wes so gret it wes ferly,
He had of mony a fer cuntre
With hym gud men of gret bounte.
Of Frans ane worthy chevelry
He had in-till his cumpany; 90
The Erll of Hennaut als wes thar,
And wyth him men that worthy war;
Of Gascon and of Almanyhe;
Of Duche als and of Bretanyhe
He had wicht men and weill farrand, 95
Armyt clenly at fut and hand.
Of Ingland hale the chevelry *97
He had thair gaderit so clenly, *98
That he left nane mycht wapnys welde,
Or worthy war to ficht in felde.
Of Walis als wyth hym had he,
And of Irlande ane gret menyhe; 100
Of Pouty, Aquytane, and Bayon
He had full mony of gret renoun.
And of Scotland he had yheit then *103
*A gret menyhe of worthy men.
*Quhen all thir sammyn assemblit war,
He had of fechtaris with hym thar. *106
Ane hundreth thousand men and ma:
And fourty thousand war of tha
Armyt on hors, bath hede and hand. 105
And yheit of thai war thre thousand
Wyth helit hors in plate and mailyhe,
Till mak the front of the batailyhe
And fifty thousand of archerys
He had, forouten hoblerys; 110
With men on fut and small rangale,
That yhemyt harnas and vittale
He had so fele it wes ferly.
Of cartis als that yheid thame by
So feill that, but all thai that bar 115
Harnas, and als that chargit war
Of palyheonys and veschall with-all,
And apparall of chalmyr and hall,
And wyne and wax, schot and vittale,
Four scor wes chargit with fewale. 120
Thai war so fele quhar at thai raid,
And thar batalis war ek so braid,
And so gret rowme held thar charre,
That men that mekill host mycht se
Our-tak the landis so largely. 125
Men mycht se than, that had beyn by,
Mony ane worthy man and wycht,
And mony ane gayly armyt knycht,
And mony ane sturdy sterand steid
Arayit in-till so ryche weid; 130
And mony helmys, and hawbyrschownys,
*Scheldis and speris, and pennownys,
And so mony a cumly knycht,
At semyt weill that in-to ficht
Thai suld vencus the warld all hale.
Quhy suld I mak to lang my tale? 135
Till Berwik ar thai cummyn ilkane,
And sum thar-in thar innys has tane,
And sum lugit without the townys,
In tentis and in palyheownis.
[93: E has And off the worthyast of Bretangny.]
[*97, *98: omitted by P.]
[*103, *106: Not in E. In C. H.]
[109: C in-till playn male ... battale (S). H as in E.]
[120: E viii.: pulaile. H as in C.]
How Englishmen menaced at will
The Scots and dealt their lands till.
And quhen the Kyng his host has seyne 140 So gret, so gud men, and so cleyne, He wes richt joyfull in his thoucht, And weil presumyt thar wes nocht In warld a Kyng mycht him withstand. Hym thoucht all wonnyn till his hand, 145 And largely emang his men The landis of Scotland delt he then. Of othir mennis landis large wes he. And thai, that war of his menyhe, Mannausit the Scottis men halely 150 With gret wordis; but, nocht-for-thi, Or thai cum all to thair entent, Howis in haill clath sall be rent!
In ten battles the English men
Were dealt and taught to chieftains then.
The Kyng, throu consall of his men,
His folk he delt in battalis ten. 155
In ilkane war weill ten thousand,
That thoucht thai stalwardly suld stand
In the battale and stoutly ficht,
And leif nocht for thair fayis mycht.
He set ledaris till ilk battale, 160
Knawyn war of gud governale.
And till renownyt erllis twa,
Of Glowcister and Herfurd war thai,
He gaf the vangard in ledyng,
With mony men at thar bydding, 165
Ordanit in-till full gret aray.
Thai war so chevelrus, that thai
Trowit, gif thai com to the ficht,
Thair suld no strynth with-stand thar mycht.
And the Kyng, quhen his menyhe wer 170
Devisit in-to battalis ser,
His awne battale ordanit he,
And quha suld at his bridill be.
Schir Gylys de Argente he set
Upon ane half, hys renyhe to get; 175
And of Vallanch Schir Amery
On othir half, that wes worthy;
For in thair soverane gret bownte
Atour the layff affyit he.
[161: E That knawin.]
How all the noble chivalry
At Edinburgh took harbery.
[Sidenote: JUNE 18, 1314] The Splendour of the English March]
And quhen the Kyng, apon this wis, 180 Had ordanit, as I heir devis, His battalis and his stering, Arly he rais in ane mornyng, And fra Berwik he tuk the way. Bath hyllis and valayis helit thai, 185 And the battalis that war so braid Departit, our the feldis raid. The sonne wes brycht and schynand cler, And armys, that new burnyst wer, So blenknyt with the sonnys beyme, 190 That all the land wes in ane leyme With baneris richt freschly flawmand, And pensalis to the wynd waffand, So fele thai war of ser quyntis, That it war gret slicht to devis. 195 For suld I tell all thar effer, Thair countynans and thar maner, Thouch I couth, I suld cummerryt be. The King, with all that gret menyhe, Till Edinburgh he raid on rycht. 200 Thai war all out to fele to ficht With few folk of ane sympill land; Bot quhar God helpis quhat may withstand?
[191: C felde (S). E H land.]
How in this time assembled then,
To King Robert have certain men.
The Kyng Robert, quhen he herd say That Inglis men in sic aray 205 And in-to sa gret quantite, Com in his land, in hy gert he His men be summond generaly; And thai come all full willfully To the Torwod, quhar at the Kyng 210 Had ordanit to mak thar meting. Schir Edward the Bruce, that wes worthy, Com with a full gret cumpany Of gud men, armyt weill and dicht, Hardy and forsy for the ficht. 215 Waltir, Steward of Scotland, syne, That than wes bot ane berdlas hyne, Com with a rout of nobill men, That all be contynans mycht ken. And the gud lord Dowglas alswa 220 Brocht with him men, I undir-ta, That weill war oysit in fichting; Thai sall the les haf abaysing, Giff men betyd in thrang to be; And avantage sall tytar se 225 For till stonay thar fayis mycht, Than men that oysis nocht to ficht. The Erll of Murreff, with his men Arrayit weill, com alsua then In-to gud covyne for to ficht, 230 In gret will to maynteyme thar rycht; With othir mony gud baroune, And knychtis of full gret renoune, Com with thair men full stalwardly. Quhen thai assemblit halely, 235 Of fechtand men I trow thai ware Thretty thousand and sum deill mare, Foroutyn cariage and pouerale, That yhemyt harnas and vittale.
[235: C has assemblit worthely (S). H hailly, as in E.]
Our all the host than yheid the Kyng, 240
And beheld to thair contenyng,
And saw thame of full fair effer;
Of hardy contynans thai wer,
Be liklynes the mast cowart
Semyt till do richt weill his part. 245
The King has seyn all thair having,
That knew hym weill in-to sic thing,
And saw thame all comonly
Of sekyr contynans and hardy,
Forouten effray or abaysyng. 250
In his hert had he gret liking.
And thoucht that men of sa gret will,
Gif thai wald set thair mycht thair-till,
Suld be full hard till wyn, perfay.
Ay as he met thame in the way, 255
He welcummyt thame with gladsum fair,
Spekand gud wordis heir and thair.
And thai, that thar lord so mekly
Saw welcum thame and so hamly,
Joyfull thai war, and thoucht at thai 260
Micht weill put thame in-till assay
Of hard fechting in stalwart stour,
For till maynteym weill his honour.
[259: E hamly. H hamely. C myldly (S).]
The parting of the Scots men,
That in four battles dealt were then.
[Sidenote: JUNE, 1314] Bruce explains his Plan]
The worthy Kyng, quhen he has seyn His host assemblit all bedeyn, 265 And saw thame wilfull to fulfill His liking, with gud hert and will; And to maynteym weill thair franchis, He wes rejosit on mony wis; And callit all his consell preve, 270 And said thame; “Lordingis, now yhe se “That Inglis men with mekill mycht “Has all disponit thame for the ficht; “For thai yhon castell wald reskew. “Tharfor is gud we ordane now 275 “How we may let thame of purpos, “And swa to thame the wayis clos “That thai pas nocht but gret lettyng. “We haf heir with us at byddyng “Weill thretty thousand men and ma. 280 “Mak we four battalis of all thai; “And ordane us on sic maner, “That, quhen our fayis cummys neir, “We till the New Park hald our way; “For thair behufis thaim pas, perfay, 285 “Bot gif that thai beneth us ga “And our the marras pas, and swa “We sall be at avantage thair. “For me think that richt speidfull war “To gang on fut to this fechting, 290 “Armyt bot in-to licht armyng; “For schupe we us on hors to ficht, “Syn our fayis ar mar of mycht, “And bettir horsit than ar we, “We suld in-to gret perell be. 295 “And gif we fecht on fut, perfay, “At avantage we sall be ay; “For in the park emang the treis, “The hors men alwais cummerit beis. “And the sykis alswa thair doune, 300 “Sall put thame to confusioune.”
[285: E nede away. C neidwais gay. Reading from H (S).]
[287: E passand. There is a difficulty in either reading.]
All thai consentit to that saw,
And than, in-till ane litill thraw,
Thair four battalis ordanit thai.
And to the Erll Thomas, perfay, 305
He gaf the vaward in leding;
For in his nobill governyng
And in his hye chevelry
Thai assoueryt rycht soveranly.
And, for to maynteym his baner, 310
Lordis, that of gret worschip wer,
War assignit with thair menyhe,
In-till his battale for till be.
The tothir battale wes gevin to lede
Till hym that douchty wes of dede, 315
And prisit of gret chevelry,
That wes Schir Edward the worthy;
I trow he sall manteyme him swa
That, how sa evir the gammyn ga,
His fayis to plenyhe sall mater haf. 320
And syne the thrid battale he gaf
To Waltir Stewart for to leid,
And till Dowglas douchty of deid.
Thai war cosyngis in neir degre,
Tharfor till hym betaucht wes he, 325
For he wes yhoung; but nocht-for-thi
I trow he sall sa manfully
Do his devour, and wirk so weill,
That hym sall neyd no mar yheymseill.
The ferd battalle the nobill Kyng 330
Tuk till hym-self in governyng,
And had in-till his cumpany
The men of Carryk all halely,
And of Argile and of Kentyre,
And of the Ilis, quhar-off wes syre 335
Angus of Ile, and But, all tha.
He of the playne-land had alsua
Of armyt men ane mekill rout;
His battale stalward wes and stout.
He said the rerward he wald ma, 340
And evyn forrouth hym suld ga
The vaward, and on athir hand
The tothir battalis suld be gangand
Behynd, on syde a litell space:
And the Kyng, that behynd thaim was, 345
Suld se quhar thair war mast mystir,
And relief thaim with his baneir.
[309: C Thai had assouerans, trast trewly! (S). H _Thai had affiance soverainely._]
[326: C and nocht (S).]
[336: C of Ilis (S). He was “of Islay.”]
How King Robert gart pots make
And cover them well, I undertake.
[Sidenote: JUNE 21, 1314] The Scots march to the New Park]
The King thus, that wes wicht and wis, And richt worthy at all devis, And hardy als atour all thing, 350 Ordanit his men for the fechting. And on the morn, on Settirday, The King herd his discurrouris say That Inglis men with mekill mycht Had lyin at Edinburgh that nycht. 355 Tharfor, forouten mair delay, He to the New Park held his way With all that in his leding war, And in the Park thame herbryit thar. And in ane playne feld, by the way, 360 Quhar he thoucht neid behufit away The Inglis men, gif that thai wald Throw the Park to the castell hald, He gert men mony pottis ma, Of a fut breid round, and all tha 365 War deip up till ane manis kne, Swa thik, that thai mycht liknyt be Till ane wax-cayme that beis mais. All that nycht travaland he was; Swa that, or day wes, he had maid 370 Thai pottis, and thame helit had With stikis and with gyrs al greyne, Swa that thai mycht nocht weill be seyne.
[350: E omits. In C and H. E gives after line 351 _In gud aray in alkin thing_.]
On Sonday than in the mornyng,
Weill soyn eftir the sonne-rising, 375
Thai herd the mes full reverently.
And mony shraf thame devotly,
That thoucht till de in that melle,
Or than to mak thar cuntre fre.
To God for thair richt prayit thai. 380
Thair dynit nane of thame that day,
Bot, for the vigill of Sanct Johne,
Thai fastit bred and wattir ilkone.
The King, quhen that the mes wes done,
Went for to se the pottys soyne; 385
And at his liking saw thaim maid.
On athir syde the way weill braid
It wes pottit, as I haf tald.
Gif that thair fais on hors will hald
Furth in that way, I trow thai sall 390
Nocht weill eschew foroutyn fall.
Throu-out the host syne gert he cry
That all suld arme thame hastely,
And busk thame on thar best maner.
And quhen thai all essemblit wer, 395
He gert aray thame for the ficht,
And syne our all gert cry on hicht,
That quhat sa evir he war that fand
His hert nocht sekir for till stand
To wyn all or de with honour, 400
For to maynteyme that stalward stour,
That he be tyme suld tak his way;
And nane suld duell with him bot thai
That wald stand with him to the end,
And tak the ure that God wald send. 405
Then all ansuerd with a cry,
And with a voce said generaly;
That nane for dout of dede suld fale,
Quhill discumfit war the battale.
[376: E thair mess commounaly.]
[Sidenote: JUNE 23, 1314] The Camp-followers in a Valley]
Qwhen the gud King had herd his men 410 Sa hardely him ansuer then, Sayand that nouthir ded no dreid Till sic discomfort suld thame leid, That thai suld eschew the fechting, In hert he had gret rejosyng. 415 For him thoucht men of sic covyne, So gud so hardy and so fyne, Suld weill in battall hald thair rycht Agane men of full mekill mycht. Syne all the small folk and pouerale 420 He send with harnase and vittale In-till the Park, weill fer him fra, And fra the battall gert thame ga; And as he bad, thai went thair way; Twenty thousand weill neir war thai. 425 Thair way thai held till ane vale, The King left with ane clene menyhe; The-quhethir thai war thretty thowsand. I trow they stalwardly sall stand, And do thair devour as thai aw. 430 Thai stude than rangit all on raw, Reddy for till byde battale, Gif ony folk wald thame assale.
