THE BRUS

JOHN BARBOUR

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  • BOOK 1
  • BOOK 2
  • BOOK 3
  • BOOK 4
  • BOOK 5
  • BOOK 6
  • BOOK 7
  • BOOK 8
  • BOOK 9
  • BOOK 10
  • BOOK 11
  • BOOK 12
  • BOOK 13
  • BOOK 14
  • BOOK 15
  • BOOK 16
  • BOOK 17
  • BOOK 18
  • BOOK 19
  • BOOK 20


  • BOOK 1



    [This book the true story of King Robert and Sir James Douglas]



    Storys to rede ar delatibill
    Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill,
    Than suld storys that suthfast wer
    And thai war said on gud maner
    Have doubill plesance in heryng.
    The first plesance is the carpyng,
    And the tother the suthfastnes
    That schawys the thing rycht as it wes,
    And suth thyngis that ar likand
    Till mannys heryng ar plesand.
    Tharfor I wald fayne set my will
    Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill
    To put in wryt a suthfast story
    That it lest ay furth in memory
    Swa that na tyme of lenth it let
    Na ger it haly be foryet.
    For auld storys that men redys
    Representis to thaim the dedys
    Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar
    Rycht as thai than in presence war.
    And certis thai suld weill have prys
    That in thar tyme war wycht and wys
    And led thar lyff in gret travaill,
    And oft in hard stour off bataill
    Wan gret price off chevalry
    And war voydyt off cowardy,
    As wes King Robert off Scotland
    That hardy wes off hart and hand,
    And gud Schir James off Douglas
    That in his tyme sa worthy was
    That off hys price and hys bounte
    In ser landis renownyt wes he.
    Off thaim I thynk this buk to ma,
    Now God gyff grace that I may swa
    Tret it and bryng till endyng
    That I say nocht bot suthfast thing.

    [Alexander III's death; the dispute over the succession
    submitted to Edward I's arbitration]



    Quhen Alexander the king wes deid
    That Scotland haid to steyr and leid,
    The land sex yer and mayr perfay
    Lay desolat eftyr hys day
    Till that the barnage at the last
    Assemblyt thaim and fayndyt fast
    To cheys a king thar land to ster
    That off auncestry cummyn wer
    Off kingis that aucht that reawte
    And mayst had rycht thair king to be.
    Bot envy that is sa feloune
    Maid amang thaim gret discencioun,
    For sum wald haiff the Balleoll king
    For he wes cummyn off the offspryng
    Off hyr that eldest syster was,
    And other sum nyt all that cas
    And said that he thair king suld be
    That war in als ner degre
    And cummyn war of the neyst male
    And in branch collaterale.
    Thai said successioun of kyngrik
    Was nocht to lawer feys lik,
    For thar mycht succed na female
    Quhill foundyn mycht be ony male
    How that in lyne evyn descendand.
    Thai bar all otherwayis on hand,
    For than the neyst cummyn off the seid
    Man or woman suld succeid.
    Be this resoun that part thocht hale
    That the lord off Anandyrdale
    Robert the Bruys erle off Carryk
    Aucht to succeid to the kynryk.
    The barounys thus war at discord
    That on na maner mycht accord
    Till at the last thai all concordyt
    That thar spek suld be recordyt
    Till Edward off Yngland king
    And he suld swer that but fenyeyng
    He suld that arbytre disclar
    Off thir twa that I tauld off ar
    Quhilk succeid to sic a hycht,
    And lat him ryng that had the rycht.
    This ordynance thaim thocht the best,
    For that tyme wes pes and rest
    Betwyx Scotland and Ingland bath,
    And thai couth nocht persave the skaith
    That towart thaim wes apperand.
    For that at the king off Ingland
    Held swylk freyndschip and cumpany
    To thar king that wes swa worthy,
    Thai trowyt that he as gud nychtbur
    And as freyndsome compositur
    Wald have jugyt in lawte
    But othir-wayis all yheid the gle.

    [Edward I's ambitions]



    A! Blind folk full off all foly,
    Haid ye umbethocht you enkrely
    Quhat perell to you mycht apper
    Ye had nocht wrocht on that maner.
    Haid ye tane keip how at that king
    Alwayis foroutyn sojournyng
    Travayllyt for to wyn senyhory
    And throu his mycht till occupy
    Landis that war till him marcheand
    As Walis was and als Ireland,
    That he put to swylk thrillage
    That thai that war of hey parage
    Suld ryn on fute as rebaldaill
    Quhen he wald our folk assaill.
    Durst nane of Walis in bataill ride
    Na yhet fra evyn fell abyd
    Castell or wallyt toune within
    That he ne suld lyff and lymmys tyne,
    Into swilk thrillage thaim held he
    That he ourcome throu his powste.
    Ye mycht se he suld occupy
    Throu slycht that he ne mycht throu maistri.
    Had ye tane kep quhat was thrillag
    And had consideryt his usage
    That gryppyt ay but gayne-gevyng,
    Ye suld foroutyn his demyng
    Haiff chosyn you a king that mycht
    Have haldyn weyle the land in rycht.
    Walys ensample mycht have bene
    To you had ye it forow sene,
    And wys men sayis he is happy
    That be other will him chasty,
    For unfayr thingis may fall perfay
    Als weill to-morn as yhisterday.
    Bot ye traistyt in lawte
    As sympile folk but mavyte,
    And wyst nocht quhat suld efter tyd.
    For in this warld that is sa wyde
    Is nane determynat that sall
    Knaw thingis that ar to fall,
    But God that is off maist poweste
    Reservyt till his majeste
    For to knaw in his prescience
    Off alkyn tyme the movence.

    [Edward I offers Scotland to Robert Bruce; and to John Balliol]



    On this maner assentyt war
    The barounis as I said you ar,
    And throuch thar aller hale assent
    Messengeris till hym thai sent,
    That was than in the Haly Land
    On Saracenys warrayand.
    And fra he wyst quhat charge thai had
    He buskyt hym but mar abad
    And left purpos that he had tane
    And till Ingland agayne is gane,
    And syne till Scotland word send he
    That thai suld mak ane assemble,
    And he in hy suld cum to do
    In all thing as thai wrayt him to.
    Bot he thocht weile throuch thar debat
    That he suld slely fynd the gate
    How that he all the senyhoury
    Throu his gret mycht suld occupy.
    And to Robert the Bruys said he,
    'Gyff thou will hald in cheyff off me
    For evermar, and thine ofspryng,
    I sall do swa thou sall be king.'
    'Schyr,' said he, 'sa God me save
    The kynryk yharn I nocht to have
    Bot gyff it fall off rycht to me,
    And gyff God will that it sa be
    I sall als frely in all thing
    Hald it as it afferis to king,
    Or as myn eldris forouth me
    Held it in freyast reawte.'
    The tother wreyth him and swar
    That he suld have it never mar
    And turnyt him in wreth away.
    Bot Schyr Jhon the Balleoll perfay
    Assentyt till him in all his will,
    Quharthrouch fell efter mekill ill.
    He was king bot a litill quhile
    And throuch gret sutelte and ghyle
    For litill enchesone or nane
    He was arestyt syne and tane,
    And degradyt syne wes he
    Off honour and off dignite,
    Quhether it wes throuch wrang or rycht
    God wat it that is maist off mycht.

    [The miseries of English occupation]



    Quhen Schyr Edward the mychty king
    Had on this wys done his likyng
    Off Jhone the Balleoll, that swa sone
    Was all defawtyt and undone,
    To Scotland went he than in hy,
    And all the land gan occupy
    Sa hale that bath castell and toune
    War intill his possessioune
    Fra Weik anent Orknay
    To Mullyr Snuk in Gallaway,
    And stuffyt all with Inglismen.
    Schyrreffys and bailyheys maid he then,
    And alkyn other officeris
    That for to govern land afferis
    He maid off Inglis nation,
    That worthyt than sa rycht fellone
    And sa wykkyt and covatous
    And swa hawtane and dispitous
    That Scottismen mycht do na thing
    That ever mycht pleys to thar liking.
    Thar wyffis wald thai oft forly
    And thar dochtrys dispitusly
    And gyff ony of thaim tharat war wrath
    Thai watyt hym wele with gret scaith,
    For thai suld fynd sone enchesone
    To put hym to destruccione.
    And gyff that ony man thaim by
    Had ony thing that wes worthy,
    As hors or hund or other thing
    That war plesand to thar liking,
    With rycht or wrang it have wald thai,
    And gyf ony wald thaim withsay
    Thai suld swa do that thai suld tyne
    Othir land or lyff or leyff in pyne,
    For thai dempt thaim efter thar will,
    Takand na kep to rycht na skill.
    A! Quhat thai dempt thaim felonly,
    For gud knychtis that war worthy
    For litill enchesoune or than nane
    Thai hangyt be the nekbane.
    Alas that folk that ever wes fre,
    And in fredome wount for to be,
    Throu thar gret myschance and foly
    War tretyt than sa wykkytly
    That thar fays thar jugis war,
    Quhat wrechitnes may man have mar.

    [In praise of freedom; on the pains of thralldom]



    A! Fredome is a noble thing
    Fredome mays man to haiff liking.
    Fredome all solace to man giffis,
    He levys at es that frely levys.
    A noble hart may haiff nane es
    Na ellys nocht that may him ples
    Gyff fredome failyhe, for fre liking
    Is yharnyt our all other thing.
    Na he that ay has levyt fre
    May nocht knaw weill the propyrte
    The angyr na the wrechyt dome
    That is couplyt to foule thyrldome,
    Bot gyff he had assayit it.
    Than all perquer he suld it wyt,
    And suld think fredome mar to prys
    Than all the gold in warld that is.
    Thus contrar thingis evermar
    Discoveryngis off the tother ar,
    And he that thryll is has nocht his.
    All that he has enbandounyt is
    Till hys lord quhatever he be.
    Yheyt has he nocht sa mekill fre
    As fre wyll to leyve or do
    That at his hart hym drawis to.
    Than may clerkis questioun
    Quhen thai fall in disputacioun
    That gyff man bad his thryll owcht do,
    And in the samyn tym come him to
    His wyff and askyt him hyr det,
    Quhether he his lordis neid suld let,
    And pay fryst that he awcht, and syne
    Do furth his lordis commandyne,
    Or leve onpayit his wyff and do
    Thai thingis that commaundyt is him to.
    I leve all the solucioun
    Till thaim that ar off mar renoun
    Bot sen thai mak sic comperyng
    Betwix the dettis off wedding
    And lordis bidding till his threll,
    Ye may weile se thoucht nane you tell
    How hard a thing that threldome is.
    For men may weile se that ar wys
    That wedding is the hardest band
    That ony man may tak on hand,
    And thryldome is weill wer than deid,
    For quhill a thryll his lyff may leid
    It merrys him body and banys,
    And dede anoyis him bot anys.
    Schortly to say, is nane can tell
    The halle condicioun off a threll.

    [The fate of Sir William Douglas; his son James goes
    as a boy to Paris]



    Thusgat levyt thai and in sic thrillage
    Bath pur and thai off hey parag,
    For off the lordis sum thai slew
    And sum thai hangyt and sum thai drew,
    And sum thai put in hard presoune
    Foroutyn caus or enchesoun,
    And amang other off Douglas
    Put in presoun Schyr Wilyam was
    That off Douglas was lord and syr,
    Off him thai makyt a martyr.
    Fra thai in presoune him sleuch
    His land that is fayr inewch
    Thai the lord off Clyffurd gave.
    He had a sone, a litill knave,
    That was than bot a litill page,
    Bot syne he wes off gret vaslage.
    Hys fadyr dede he vengyt sua
    That in Ingland I underta
    Wes nane off lyve that hym ne dred,
    For he sa fele off harnys sched
    That nane that lyvys thaim can tell.
    Bot wonderly hard thing fell
    Till him or he till state wes brocht.
    Thair wes nane aventur that mocht
    Stunay hys hart na ger him let
    To do the thing that he wes on set,
    For he thocht ay encrely
    To do his deid avysily.
    He thocht weill he was worth na seyle
    That mycht of nane anoyis feyle,
    And als for till escheve gret thingis
    And hard travalys and barganyngis,
    That suld ger his price doublyt be.
    Quharfor in all hys lyvetyme he
    Wes in gret payn and gret travaill,
    And never wald for myscheiff faill
    Bot dryve the thing rycht to the end
    And tak the ure that God wald send.
    His name wes James of Douglas,
    And quhen he herd his fader was
    Put in presoune so fellounly,
    And at his landis halyly
    War gevyn to the Clyffurd perfay
    He wyst nocht quhat to do na say,
    For he had na thing for to dispend
    Na thar wes nane that ever him kend
    Wald do sa mekill for him that he
    Mycht sufficiantly fundyn be.
    Than wes he wonder will off wane,
    And sodanly in hart has tane
    That he wald travaile our the se
    And a quhile in Parys be,
    And dre myscheiff quhar nane hym kend
    Til God sum succouris till hym send.
    And as he thocht he did rycht sua,
    And sone to Parys can he ga
    And levyt thar full sympylly,
    The-quhether he glaid was and joly,
    And till swylk thowlesnes he yeid
    As the cours askis off youtheid,
    And umquhill into rybbaldaill.
    And that may mony tyme availl,
    For knawlage off mony statis
    May quhile availye full mony gatis
    As to the gud erle off Artayis
    Robert befell in his dayis
    For oft fenyeyng off rybbaldy
    Availyeit himand that gretly.
    And Catone sayis us in his wryt
    That to fenyhe foly quhile is wyt.
    In Parys ner thre yer dwellyt he,
    And then come tythandis our the se
    That his fadyr wes done to ded.
    Then wes he wa and will of red,
    And thocht that he wald hame agayne
    To luk gyff he throu ony payn
    Mycht wyn agayn his heritage
    And his men out off all thryllage.

    [Douglas returns to Scotland, to serve the bishop of St Andrews;
    his appearance]



    To Sanct Androws he come in hy,
    Quhar the byschop full curtasly
    Resavyt him and gert him wer
    His knyvys forouth him to scher,
    And cled him rycht honorabilly
    And gert ordayn quhar he suld ly.
    A weile gret quhile thar dwellyt he.
    All men lufyt him, for his bounte,
    For he wes off full fayr effer
    Wys curtais and deboner.
    Larg and luffand als wes he,
    And our all thing luffyt lawte.
    Leawte to luff is gretumly,
    Throuch leawte liffis men rychtwisly.
    With a vertu and leawte
    A man may yeit sufficyand be,
    And but leawte may nane haiff price
    Quether he be wycht or he be wys,
    For quhar it failyeys na vertu
    May be off price na off valu
    To mak a man sa gud that he
    May symply callyt gud man be.
    He wes in all his dedis lele,
    For him dedeynyeit nocht to dele
    With trechery na with falset.
    His hart on hey honour wes set,
    And hym contenyt on sic maner
    That all him luffyt that war him ner.
    Bot he wes nocht sa fayr that we
    Suld spek gretly off his beaute.
    In vysage wes he sumdeill gray
    And had blak har as Ic hard say,
    Bot off lymmys he wes weill maid
    With banys gret and schuldrys braid,
    His body wes weyll maid and lenye
    As thai that saw hym said to me.
    Quhen he wes blyth he wes lufly
    And meyk and sweyt in cumpany,
    Bot quha in battaill mycht him se
    All othir contenance had he.
    And in spek wlispyt he sumdeill,
    Bot that sat him rycht wonfre weill.
    Till gud Ector of Troy mycht he
    In mony thingis liknyt be.
    Ector had blak har as he had
    And stark lymmys and rycht weill maid,
    And wlispyt alsua as did he,
    And wes fullfillyt of leawte
    And wes curtais and wys and wycht
    Bot off manheid and mekill mycht
    Till Ector dar I nane comper
    Off all that ever in warldys wer.
    The-quhethyr in his tyme sa wrocht he
    That he suld gretly lovyt be.

    [Douglas asks Edward I for his lands]



    He dwellyt thar quhill on a tid
    The King Edward with mekill prid
    Come to Strevillyne with gret mengye
    For till hald thar ane assemble.
    Thidderwart went mony baroune,
    Byschop Wilyame off Lambyrtoun
    Raid thiddyr als and with him was
    This squyer James of Douglas.
    The byschop led him to the king
    And said, 'Schyr, heyr I to you bryng
    This child that clemys your man to be,
    And prays you par cheryte
    That ye resave her his homage
    And grantis him his heritage.'
    'Quhat landis clemys he?' said the king.
    'Schyr, giff that it be your liking
    He clemys the lordschip off Douglas,
    For lord tharoff hys fader was.'
    The king then wrethyt him encrely
    And said, 'Schyr byschop, sekyrly
    Gyff thou wald kep thi fewte
    Thoue maid nane sis speking to me.
    His fadyr ay wes my fay feloune
    And deyt tharfor in my presoun
    And wes agayne my majeste
    Tharfor hys ayr I aucht to be.
    Ga purches land quharever he may
    For tharoff haffys he nane, perfay.
    The Clyffurd sall thaim haiff for he
    Ay lely has servyt to me.'
    The bischop hard him swa answer
    And durst than spek till him na mar,
    Bot fra his presence went in hy
    For he dred sayr his felouny
    Swa that he na mar spak tharto.
    The king did that he com to do
    And went till Ingland syn agayn
    With mony man off mekill mayn.

    [The romance begins; the Scots and the Macabees]



    Lordingis, quha likis for till her,
    The romanys now begynnys her
    Off men that war in gret distres
    And assayit full gret hardynes
    Or thai mycht cum till thar entent.
    Bot syne our Lord sic grace thaim sent
    That thai syne throu thar gret valour
    Come till gret hycht and till honour,
    Magre thar fayis everilkane
    That war sa fele that ay till ane
    Off thaim thai war weill a thousand,
    Bot quhar God helpys quhat may withstand.
    Bot and we say the suthfastnes
    Thai war sum tyme erar may then les,
    Bot God that maist is off all mycht
    Preservyt thaim in his forsycht
    To veng the harme and the contrer
    At that fele folk and pautener
    Dyd till sympill folk and worthy
    That couth nocht help thaim self. For-thi
    Thai war lik to the Machabeys
    That as men in the bibill seys
    Throw thar gret worschip and valour
    Faucht into mony stalwart stour
    For to delyver thar countre
    Fra folk that throu iniquite
    Held thaim and thairis in thrillage.
    Thai wrocht sua throu thar vasselage
    That with few folk thai had victory
    Off mychty kingis as sayis the story,
    And delyveryt thar land all fre,
    Quharfor thar name suld lovyt be.

    [Comyn's proposal to Bruce]



    Thys lord the Bruys I spak of ayr
    Saw all the kynryk swa forfayr,
    And swa troublyt the folk saw he
    That he tharoff had gret pitte.
    Bot quhat pite that ever he had
    Na contenance tharoff he maid,
    Till on a tym Schyr Jhone Cumyn
    As thai come ridand fra Strevillyn
    Said till him,'Schyr, will ye nocht se
    How that governyt is this countre.
    Thai sla our folk but enchesoune
    And haldis this land agayne resoune,
    And ye tharoff suld lord be.
    And gyff that ye will trow to me
    Ye sall ger mak you tharoff king,
    And I sall be in your helping
    With-thi ye giff me all the land
    That ye haiff now intill your hand.
    And gyff that ye will nocht do sua
    Ne swylk a state upon you ta,
    All hale my land sall youris be
    And lat me ta the state on me
    And bring this land out off thyrllage,
    For thar is nother man na page
    In all this land than thai sall be
    Fayn to mak thaim selvyn fre.'
    The lord the Bruis hard his carping
    And wend he spak bot suthfast thing,
    And for it likit till his will
    He gave his assent sone thartill
    And said, 'Sen ye will it be swa
    I will blythly apon me ta
    The state, for I wate that I have rycht,
    And rycht mays oft the feble wycht.'

    [The dangers of treason]



    The barounys thus accordyt ar,
    And that ilk nycht writyn war
    Thair endenturis, and aythis maid
    To hald that thai forspokyn haid.
    Bot of all thing wa worth tresoun,
    For thar is nother duk ne baroun
    Na erle na prynce na king off mycht
    Thocht he be never sa wys na wycht
    For wyt worschip price na renoun,
    That ever may wauch hym with tresoune.
    Was nocht all Troy with tresoune tane
    Quhen ten yeris off the wer wes gane?
    Then slayn wes mony thousand
    Off thaim without throu strenth of hand,
    As Dares in his buke he wrate,
    And Dytis that knew all thar state.
    Thai mycht nocht haiff beyn tane throu mycht,
    Bot tresoun tuk thaim throu hyr slycht.
    And Alexander the conqueroure
    That conqueryt Babilonys tour
    And all this warld off lenth and breid
    In twelf yher throu his douchty deid
    Wes syne destroyit throu pusoune
    In his awyne hous throu gret tresoun,
    Bot or he deit his land delt he;
    To se his dede wes gret pite.
    Julius Cesar als, that wan
    Bretane and Fraunce as douchty man,
    Affryk, Arrabe, Egipt, Surry
    And all Europe halyly,
    And for his worschip and valour
    Off Rome wes fryst made emperour,
    Syne in his capitole wes he
    Throu thaim of his consaill preve
    Slayne with punsoune rycht to the ded,
    And quhen he saw thar wes na rede
    Hys eyn with his hand closit he
    For to dey with mar honeste.
    Als Arthur that throu chevalry
    Maid Bretane maistres and lady
    Off twelf kinrikis that he wan,
    And alsua as a noble man
    He wan throu bataill Fraunce all fre,
    And Lucius Yber vencusyt he
    That then of Rome wes emperour,
    Bot yeit for all his gret valour
    Modreyt his syster son him slew,
    And gud men als ma then inew
    Throu tresoune and throu wikkitnes,
    The Broite beris tharoff wytnes.
    Sa fell of this conand-making,
    For the Cumyn raid to the king
    Off Ingland and tald all this cas
    Bot I trow nocht all as it was
    Bot the endentur till him gaf he
    That soune schawyt the iniquite.
    Quharfor syne he tholyt ded,
    Than he couth set tharfor na rede.

    [Edward I confronts Bruce with the indenture in parliament]



    Quhen the king saw the endentur
    He wes angry out of mesur,
    And swour that he suld vengeance ta
    Off that Bruys that presumyt swa
    Aganys him to brawle or rys
    Or to conspyr on sic a wys.
    And to Schyr Jhon Cumyn said he
    That he suld for his leawte
    Be rewardyt and that hely,
    And he him thankit humyly.
    Than thocht he to have the leding
    Off all Scotland but gane-saying
    Fra at the Bruce to dede war brocht.
    Bot oft failyeis the fulis thocht,
    And wys mennys etling
    Cummys nocht ay to that ending
    That thai think it sall cum to,
    For God wate weill quhat is to do.
    Off hys etlyng rycht swa it fell
    As I sall efterwartis tell.
    He tuk his leve and hame is went,
    And the king a parlyament
    Gert set tharefter hastely
    And thidder somounys he in hy
    The barounys of his reawte,
    And to the lord the Bruce send he
    Bydding to cum to that gadryng.
    And he that had na persavyng
    Off the tresoun na the falset
    Raid to the king but langer let,
    And in Lundon hym herberyd he
    The fyrst day off thar assemble,
    Syne on the morn to court he went.
    The king sat into parleament
    And forouth hys consaile preve
    The lord the Bruce thar callyt he
    And schawyt hym the endentur.
    He wes in full gret aventur
    To tyne his lyff, bot God of mycht
    Preservyt him till hyer hycht,
    That wald nocht that he swa war dede.
    The king betaucht hym in that steid
    The endentur the seile to se,
    And askyt gyff it enselyt he?
    He lukyt the seyle ententily
    And answeryt till him humyly
    And sayd, 'How that I sympill be
    My seyle is nocht all tyme with me.
    Ik have ane other it to ber.
    Tharfor giff that your willis wer
    Ic ask you respyt for to se
    This letter and tharwith avysit be
    Till tomorn that ye be set,
    And then foroutyn langer let
    This letter sall I entyr heyr
    Befor all your consaill planer,
    And thartill into borwch draw I
    Myn herytage all halily.'
    The king thocht he wes traist inewch
    Sen he in bowrch hys landis drewch,
    And let hym with the letter passe
    Till entyr it as forspokin was.


    BOOK 2



    [Bruce escapes to Lochmaben]



    The Bruys went till his innys swyth,
    Bot wyt ye weile he wes full blyth
    That he had gottyn that respyt.
    He callit his marschall till him tyt
    And bad him luk on all maner
    That he ma till his men gud cher,
    For he wald in his chambre be
    A weile gret quhile in prevate,
    With him a clerk foroutyn ma.
    The marschell till the hall gan ga
    And did hys lordys commanding.
    The lord the Bruce but mar letting
    Gert prevely bryng stedys twa,
    He and the clerk foroutyn ma
    Lap on foroutyn persavyng,
    And day and nycht but sojournyng
    Thai raid quhill on the fyften day
    Cummyn till Louchmaben ar thai.
    Hys broder Edward thar thai fand
    That thocht ferly Ic tak on hand
    That thai come hame sa prevely.
    He tauld hys brodyr halyly
    How that he thar soucht was
    And how that he chapyt wes throu cas.

    [The killing of Comyn and his uncle]



    Sa fell it in the samyn tid
    That at Dumfres rycht thar besid
    Schir Jhone the Cumyn sojornyng maid.
    The Brus lap on and thidder raid
    And thocht foroutyn mar letting
    For to quyt hym his discovering.
    Thidder he raid but langer let
    And with Schyr Jhone the Cumyn met
    In the Freris at the hye awter,
    And schawyt him with lauchand cher
    The endentur, syne with a knyff
    Rycht in that sted hym reft the lyff.
    Schyr Edmund Cumyn als wes slayn
    And othir mony off mekill mayn.
    Nocht-for-thi yeit sum men sayis
    At that debat fell other-wayis,
    Bot quhat-sa-evyr maid the debate
    Thar-throuch he deyt weill I wat.
    He mysdyd thar gretly but wer
    That gave na gyrth to the awter,
    Tharfor sa hard myscheiff him fell
    That Ik herd never in romanys tell
    Off man sa hard frayit as wes he
    That efterwart com to sic bounte.

    [Edward hears of Bruce's flight; news of Comyn's death
    reaches the bishop of St Andrews]



    Now agayne to the king ga we
    That on the morn with his barne
    Sat intill his parleament,
    And eftyr the lord the Bruys he sent
    Rycht till his in with knychtis kene.
    Quhen he oft-tyme had callit bene
    And his men efter him askit thai,
    Thai said that he sen yhysterday
    Dwelt in his chambyr ythanly
    With a clerk with him anerly.
    Than knokyt thai at his chamur thar
    And quhen thai hard nane mak answar
    Thai brak the dur, bot thai fand nocht
    The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht.
    Thai tald the king than hale the cas
    And how that he eschapyt was.
    He wes off his eschap sary
    And swour in ire full stalwartly
    That he suld drawyn and hangit be.
    He manansyt as him thocht, bot he
    Thoucht that suld pas ane other way
    And, quhen he as ye herd me say
    Intill the kyrk Schyr Jhone haid slain,
    Till Louchmabane he went agayne
    And gert men with his lettres ryd
    To freyndis apon ilk sid
    That come to hym with thar mengye,
    And his men als assemblit he
    And thocht that he wald mak him king.
    Our all the land the word gan spryng
    That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn,
    And amang other, lettres ar gayn
    To the byschop off Androws towne
    That tauld how slayn wes that baroun.
    The letter tauld hym all the deid,
    And he till his men gert reid
    And sythyn said thaim, 'Sekyrly
    I hop Thomas prophecy
    Off Hersildoune sall veryfyd be
    In him, for swa Our Lord help me
    I haiff gret hop he sall be king
    And haiff this land all in leding.'

    [Douglas leaves St Andrews on the bishop's horse and joins Bruce]



    James off Douglas that ay-quhar
    Allwayis befor the byschop schar
    Had weill hard all the letter red,
    And he tuk alsua full gud hed
    To that the byschop had said.
    And quhen the burdys doun war laid
    Till chamyr went thai then in hy,
    And James off Douglas prevely
    Said to the byschop, 'Schyr, ye se
    How Inglismen throu thar powste
    Dysherysys me off my land,
    And men has gert you understand
    Als that the erle off Carryk
    Clamys to gevern the kynryk,
    And for yon man that he has slayn
    All Inglismen ar him agayn
    And wald disherys hym blythly,
    The-quhether with hym dwell wald I.
    Tharfor, schir, giff it war your will
    I wald tak with him gud and ill.
    Throu hym I trow my land to wyn
    Magre the Cliffurd and his kyn.'
    The byschop hard and had pite
    And said, 'Swet son, sa God help me
    I wald blythly that thou war thar
    Bot at I nocht reprovyt war.
    On this maner weile wyrk thou may.
    Thou sall tak Ferrand my palfray,
    For thar is na hors in this land
    Sa swytht na yeit sa weill at hand.
    Tak him as off thine awyne hewid
    As I had gevyn tharto na reid,
    And gyff his yhemar oucht gruchys
    Luk that thou tak him magre his,
    Swa sall I weill assonyeit be.
    Mychty God for his powste
    Graunt that he that thou pasis to
    And thou in all tyme sa weill to do
    That ye you fra your fayis defend.'
    He taucht him siluer to dispend
    And syne gaiff him gud day
    And bad him pas furth on his way,
    For he ne wald spek till he war gane.
    The Douglas then his way has taine
    Rycht to the hors, as he him bad,
    Bot he that him in yhemsell had
    Than warnyt him dispitously,
    Bot he that wreth him encrely
    Fellyt hym with a swerys dynt,
    And syne foroutyn langer stynt
    The hors he sadylt hastely,
    And lap on hym delyverly
    And passyt furth but leve-taking.
    Der God that is off hevyn king
    Sauff hym and scheld him fra his fayis.
    All him alane the way he tais
    Towart the towne off Louchmabane,
    And a litill fra Aryk stane
    The Bruce with a gret rout he met
    That raid to Scone for to be set
    In kingis stole and to be king.
    And quhen Douglas saw hys cummyng
    He raid and hailsyt hym in hy
    And lowtyt him ffull curtasly,
    And tauld him haly all his state
    And quhat he was, and als how-gat
    The Cliffurd held his heritage,
    And that he come to mak homage
    Till him as till his rychtwis king,
    And at he boune wes in all thing
    To tak with him the gud and ill.
    And quhen the Bruce had herd his will
    He resavyt him in gret daynte
    And men and armys till him gaff he.
    He thocht weile he suld be worthy
    For all his eldris war douchty.
    Thusgat maid thai thar aquentance
    That never syne for nakyn chance
    Departyt quhill thai lyffand war.
    Thair frendschip woux ay mar and mar,
    For he servyt ay lelely,
    And the tother full wilfully
    That was bath worthy wycht and wys
    Rewardyt him weile his service.

    [Bruce becomes king; Edward I sends Aymer de Valence against him;
    King Robert's force at Perth]



    The lord the Bruce to Glaskow raid
    And send about him quhill he haid
    Off his freyndis a gret menyhe,
    And syne to Scone in hy raid he
    And wes maid king but langer let,
    And in the kingis stole wes set
    As in that tyme wes the maner.
    Bot off thar nobleis, gret affer,
    Thar service na thar realte
    Ye sall her na thing now for me,
    Owtane that he off the barnage
    That thidder come tok homage
    And syne went our all the land
    Frendis and frendschip purchesand
    To maynteym that he had begunnyn.
    He wyst or all the land war wonnyn
    He suld fynd full hard barganyng
    With him that wes off Ingland king,
    For thar wes nane off lyff sa fell
    Sa pautener na sa cruell.
    And quhen to King Edward wes tauld
    How at the Bruys that wes sa bauld
    Had brocht the Cumyn till ending,
    And how he syne had maid him king,
    Owt off his wyt he went weill ner,
    And callit till him Schir Amer
    The Vallang that wes wys and wycht
    And off his hand a worthy knycht,
    And bad him men off armys ta
    And in hy till Scotland ga,
    And byrn and slay and rais dragoun,
    And hycht all Fyfe in warysoun
    Till him that mycht other ta or sla
    Robert the Bruce that wes his fa.
    Schir Aymer did as he him bad,
    Gret chevalry with him he had,
    With him wes Philip the Mowbray,
    And Ingram the Umfravill perfay
    That wes bath wys and averty
    And full off gret chevalry,
    And off Scotland the maist party
    Thai had intill thar cumpany,
    For yheit then mekill off the land
    Wes intill Inglismennys hand.
    Till Perth then went thai in a rout,
    That then wes wallyt all about
    With feile towris rycht hey bataillyt
    To defend giff it war assaylit,
    Tharin dwellyt Schyr Amery
    With all his gret chevalry.
    The King Robert wyst he wes thar
    And quhatkyn chyftanys with him war
    And assemblyt all his mengye.
    He had feyle off full gret bounte
    Bot thar fayis war may then thai
    Be fyften hunder as Ik herd say,
    The-quhether he had thar at that ned
    Full feill that war douchty off deid
    And barounys that war bauld as bar.
    Twa erlis alsua with him war,
    Off Levynax and Atholl war thai.
    Edward the Bruce wes thar alsua,
    Thomas Randell and Hew de le Hay
    And Schyr David the Berclay
    Fresale, Somerveile, and Inchmertyn.
    James off Douglas thar wes syne
    That yheyt than wes bot litill off mycht,
    And othir fele folk forsye in fycht
    Als was gude Cristell of Setoun
    And Robert Boyd of greit renoun,
    And uther feill of mekill micht
    Bot I can nocht tell quhat thai hycht.

    [At Perth; Umfraville's advice to Valence]



    Thocht thai war quheyn thai war worthy
    And full off gret chevalry,
    And in bataill in gud aray
    Befor Sanct Jhonystoun com thai
    And bad Schyr Amery isch to fycht,
    And he that in the mekill mycht
    Traistyt off thaim that wes him by
    Bad his men arme thaim hastily.
    Bot Schir Ingram the Umfravill
    Thocht it war all to gret perill
    In playne bataill to thaim to ga
    Or-quhill thai war arayit sa,
    And till Schyr Amer said he,
    'Schir, giff that ye will trow to me,
    Ye sall nocht ische thaim till assaile
    Till thai ar purvayt in bataill,
    For thar ledar is wys and wycht
    And off his hand a noble knycht,
    And he has in his cumpany
    Mony a gud man and worthi
    That sall be hard for till assay
    Till thai ar in sa gud aray,
    For it suld be full mekill mycht
    That now suld put thaim to the flycht,
    For quhen folk ar weill arayit
    And for the bataill weill purvait
    With-thi that thai all gud men be,
    Thai sall fer mar be avise
    And weill mar for to dreid then thai
    War sumdele out off aray.
    Tharfor ye may, schyr, say thaim till
    That thai may this nycht and thai will
    Gang herbery thaim and slep and rest,
    And to-morn but langer lest
    Ye sall isch furth to the bataill,
    And fecht with thaim bot gyf thai faile.
    Sa till thar herbery went sall thai
    And sum sall went to the forray,
    And thai that dwellis at the logyng
    Sen thai cum out off travelling
    Sall in schort tyme unarmyt be.
    Then on our best maner may we
    With all our fayr chevalry
    Ryd towart thaim rycht hardyly.
    And thai that wenys to rest all nycht
    Quhen thai se us arayit to fycht
    Cummand on thaim sa sudanly,
    Thai sall affrayit be gretumly,
    And or thai cummyn in bataill be
    We sall speid us swagat that we
    Sall be all redy till assembill.
    Sum man for erynes will trymbill
    Quhen he assayit is sodanly
    That with avisement is douchty.'

    [The Scots go to Methven to camp; the English advance on them]



    As he avisyt have thai done,
    And till thaim utouth send thai sone
    And bade thaim herbery thaim that nycht
    And on the morn cum to the fycht.
    Quhen thai saw thai mycht no mar
    Towart Meffayn then gan thai far
    And in the woud thaim logyt thai.
    The thrid part went to the forray,
    And the lave sone unarmyt war
    And skalyt to loge thaim her and thar
    Schyr Amer then but mar abaid
    With all the folk he with him haid
    Ischyt inforcely to the fycht,
    And raid intill a randoun rycht
    The straucht way towart Meffen.
    The king that wes unarmyt then
    Saw thaim cum swa inforcely,
    Then till his men gan hely cry,
    'Till armys, swyth, and makis you yar,
    Her at our hand our fayis ar.'
    And thai did swa in full gret hy
    And on thar hors lap hastily.
    The king displayit his baner
    Quhen that his folk assemblyt wer
    And said, 'Lordingis now may ye se
    That yone folk all throu sutelte
    Schapis thaim to do with slycht
    That at thai drede to do with mycht.
    Now I persave he that will trew
    His fa, it sall him sum-tyme rew.
    And nocht-for-thi, thocht thai be fele
    God may rycht weill our werdis dele
    For multitud mais na victory,
    As man has red in mony story
    That few folk has oft vencusyt ma.
    Trow we that we sall do rycht sua.
    Ye ar ilkan wycht and worthy
    And full of gret chevalry,
    And wate rycht weill quhat honour is.
    Wyrk yhe then apon swylk wys
    That your honour be savyt ay.
    And a thing will I to you say,
    That he that deis for his cuntre
    Sall herbryit intill hevyn be.'
    Quhen this wes said thai saw cumand
    Thar fayis ridand ner at the hand
    Arayit rycht avisely
    Willfull to do chevalry.

    [The battle of Methven]



    On athir syd thus war thai yhar
    And till assemble all redy war.
    Thai straucht thar speris on athir syd
    And swa ruydly gan samyn ryd
    That speris al to-fruschyt war
    And feyle men dede and woundyt sar,
    The blud out at thar byrnys brest,
    For the best and the worthiest
    That wilfull war to wyn honour
    Plungyt in the stalwart stour
    And routis ruyd about thaim dang.
    Man mycht haiff seyn into that thrang
    Knychtis that wycht and hardy war
    Under hors feyt defoulyt thar
    Sum woundyt and sum all ded,
    The gres woux off the blud all rede.
    And thai that held on hors in hy
    Swappyt out swerdis sturdyly
    And sa fell strakys gave and tuk
    That all the renk about thaim quouk.
    The Bruysis folk full hardely
    Schawyt thar gret chevalry
    And he him selff atour the lave
    Sa hard and sa hevy dyntis gave
    That quhar he come thai maid him way.
    His folk thaim put in hard assay
    To stynt thar fais mekill mycht
    That then so fayr had off the fycht
    That thai wan feild ay mar and mar.
    The kingis small folk ner vencusyt ar,
    And quhen the king his folk has sene
    Begouth to faile, for propyr tene
    His assenyhe gan he cry
    And in the stour sa hardyly
    He ruschyt that all the semble schuk.
    He all till-hewyt that he ourtuk
    And dang on thaim quhill he mycht drey.
    And till his folk he criyt hey,
    'On thaim, on thaim, thai feble fast,
    This bargane never may langer last.'
    And with that word sa wilfully
    He dang on and sa hardely
    That quha had sene him in that fycht
    Suld hald him for a douchty knycht.
    But thocht he wes stout and hardy
    And othir als off his cumpany,
    Thar mycht na worschip thar availye
    For thar small folk begouth to failye
    And fled all skalyt her and thar.
    Bot the gude at enchaufyt war
    Off ire abade and held the stour
    To conquyr thaim endles honour.
    And quhen Schyr Amer has sene
    The small folk fle all bedene
    And sa few abid to fycht
    He releyt to himm mony a knycht
    And in the stour sa hardyly
    He ruschyt with hys chevalry
    That he ruschyt his fayis ilkane.
    Schyr Thomas Randell thar wes tane
    That then wes a young bacheler
    And Schyr Alexander Fraseyr
    And Schyr David the Breklay
    Inchmertyne and Hew de le Hay
    And Somervell and other ma.
    And the king him selff alsua
    Wes set imtill full hard assay
    Throu Schyr Philip the Mowbray
    That raid till him full hardyly
    And hynt hys rengye and syne gan cry,
    'Help! Help! I have the new-maid king.'
    With that come gyrdand in a lyng
    Crystall off Seytoun quhen he swa
    Saw the king sesyt with his fa,
    And to Philip sic rout he raucht
    That thocht he wes of mekill maucht
    He gert him galay disyly,
    And haid till erd gane fullyly
    Ne war he hynt him by his sted,
    Then off his hand the brydill yhed.
    And the king his enssenye gan cry,
    Releyt his men that war him by
    That war sa few that thai na mycht
    Endur the fors mar off the fycht.
    Thai prikyt then out off the pres,
    And the king that angry wes
    For he his men saw fle him fra
    Said then, 'Lordingis, sen it is swa
    That ure rynnys agane us her,
    Gud is we pas of thar daunger
    Till God us send eft-sonys grace.
    And yeyt may fall giff thai will chace
    Quyt thaim corn-but sumdele we sall.'
    To this word thai assentyt all
    And fra thaim walopyt ovyr-mar.
    Thar fayis alsua wery war
    That off thaim all thar chassyt nane,
    Bot with presoneris that thai had tane
    Rycht to the toune thai held thar way,
    Rycht glaid and joyfull off thar pray.
    That nycht thai lay all in the toun,
    Thar wes nane off sa gret renoun
    Na yeit sa hardy off thaim all
    That durst herbery with-out the wall,
    Sa dred thai sar the gayne-cummyng
    Off Schyr Robert the douchty king.
    And to the king off Ingland sone
    Thai wrate haly as thai haid done,
    And he wes blyth off that tithing
    And for dispyte bad draw and hing
    All the presonneris thocht thai war ma.
    Bot Schyr Amery did nocht sua
    To sum bath land and lyff gaiff he
    To leve the Bruysis fewte
    And serve the king off Ingland
    And off him for to hald the land
    And werray the Brus as thar fa.
    Thomas Randell wes ane off tha
    That for his lyff become thar man.
    Off other that war takyn than
    Sum thai ransounyt, sum thai slew
    And sum thai hangyt and sum thai drew.

    [The king goes to the Mounth as a refugee]



    In this maner rebutyt was
    The Bruys that mekill murnyn mais
    For his men that war slayne and tane,
    And he wes als sa will off wane
    That he trowit in nane sekyrly
    Outane thaim off his cumpany,
    That war sa few that thai mycht be
    Fyve hunder ner off all mengye.
    His broder alwayis wes him by
    Schyr Edward that wes sa hardy,
    And with him wes a bauld baroun
    Schyr Wilyam the Boroundoun.
    The erle off Athole als wes thar,
    Bot ay syn thai discomfyt war
    The erle off the Levenax wes away
    And wes put to full hard assay
    Or he met with the king agayn,
    Bot always as a man off mayn
    He mayntemyt him full manlyly.
    The king had in his cumpany
    James alsua of Douglas
    That wycht wys and averty was,
    Schyr Gilbert de le Hay alsua
    Schir Nele Cambell and other ma
    That I thar namys can nocht say,
    As utelawys went mony day
    Dreand in the Month thar pyne,
    Eyte flesch and drank water syne.
    He durst nocht to the planys ga
    For all the commounys went him fra
    That for thar liffis war full fayn
    To pas to the Inglis pes agayn.
    Sa fayris ay commounly,
    In commounys may nane affy
    Bot he that may thar warand be.
    Sa fur thai then with him, for he
    Thaim fra thar fais mycht nocht warand
    Thai turnyt to the tother hand,
    Bot threldome that men gert thaim fele
    Gert thaim ay yarne that he fur wele.

    [The king goes to Aberdeen; the queen joins him;
    a Theban analogy; they ride to the hills and live rough]



    Thus in the hyllis levyt he
    Till the mast part off his menye
    Wes revyn and rent, na schoyn thai had
    Bot as thai thaim off hydis mad.
    Tharfor thai went till Aberdeyne
    Quhar Nele the Bruys come and the queyn
    And other ladyuis fayr and farand
    Ilkane for luff off thar husband
    That for leyle luff and leawte
    Wald partenerys off thar paynys be.
    Thai chesyt tyttar with thaim to ta
    Angyr and payne na be thaim fra,
    For luff is off sa mekill mycht
    That it all paynys makis lych,
    And mony tyme mais tender wychtis
    Off swilk strenthtis and swilk mychtis
    That thai may mekill paynys endur
    And forsakis nane aventur
    That evyr may fall, with-thi that thai
    Tharthrou succur thair liffys may.
    Men redys, quhen Thebes wes tane
    And Kyng Aristas men war slane
    That assailyt the cite,
    That the wemen off his cuntre
    Come for to fech him hame agayne
    Quhen thai hard all his folk wes slayne,
    Quhar the King Campaneus
    Throu the help off Menesteus
    That come percas ridand tharby
    With thre hunder in cumpany
    That throu the kingis prayer assailyt
    That yeit to tak the toun had failyeit.
    Then war the wiffys thyrland the wall
    With pikkis, quhar the assailyeis all
    Entryt and dystroyit the tour
    And slew the pupill but recour.
    Syn quhen the duk his way wes gayne
    And all the kingis men war slayne
    The wiffis had him till his cuntre
    Quhar wes na man leiffand bot he.
    In wemen mekill comfort lyis
    And gret solace on mony wis,
    Sa fell yt her, for thar cummyng
    Rejosyt rycht gretumly the king.
    The-quhether ilk nycht himselvyn wouk
    And rest apon daiis touk.
    A gud quhile thar he sojournyt then
    And esyt wonder weill his men
    Till that the Inglis-men herd say
    That he thar with his menye lay
    All at ese and sekyrly.
    Assemblit thai thar ost in hy
    And thar him trowit to suppris
    Bot he that in his deid wes wys
    Wyst thai assemblyt war and quhar,
    And wyst that thei sa mony war
    That he mycht nocht agayne thaim fycht.
    His men in hy he gert be dycht
    And buskyt of the toun to ryd,
    The ladyis raid rycht by his syd.
    Then to the hill thai raid thar way,
    Quhar gret defaut off mete had thai.
    Bot worthy James off Douglas
    Ay travailland and besy was
    For to purches the ladyis mete
    And it on mony wis wald get,
    For quhile he venesoun thaim brocht,
    And with his handys quhile he wrocht
    Gynnys to tak geddis and salmonys
    Trowtis elys and als menounys,
    And quhill thai went to the forray,
    And swa thar purchesyng maid thai.
    Ilk man traveillyt for to get
    And purches thaim that thai mycht ete.
    Bot off all that ever thai war
    Thar wes nocht ane amang thaim thar
    That to the ladyis profyt was
    Mar then James of Douglas,
    And the king oft comfort wes
    Throu his wyt and his besynes.
    On this maner thaim governyt thai
    Till thai come to the hed off Tay.



    BOOK 3



    [The lord of Lorn attacks the king's men]



    The lord off Lorne wonnyt thar-by
    That wes capitale ennymy
    To the king for his emys sak
    Jhon Comyn, and thocht for to tak
    Vengeance apon cruell maner.
    Quhen he the king wyst wes sa ner
    He assemblyt his men in hy,
    And had intill his cumpany
    The barounys off Argyle alsua.
    Thai war a thousand weill or ma
    And come for to suppris the king
    That weill wes war of thar cummyng.
    Bot all to few with him he had
    The-quhethir he bauldly thaim abaid,
    And weill ost at thar fryst metyng
    War layd at erd but recoveryng.
    The kingis folk full weill thaim bar
    And slew and fellyt and woundyt sar,
    Bot the folk off the tother party
    Faucht with axys sa fellyly,
    For thai on fute war everilkane,
    That thai feile off thar hors has slayne,
    And till sum gaiff thai woundis wid.
    James off Douglas wes hurt that tyd
    And als Schyr Gilbert de le Hay.
    The king his men saw in affray
    And his ensenye can he cry
    And amang thaim rycht hardyly
    He rad that he thaim ruschyt all
    And fele off thaim thar gert he fall.
    Bot quhen he saw thai war sa feill
    And saw thaim swa gret dyntis deill
    He dred to tyne his folk, forthi
    His men till him he gan rely
    And said, 'Lordyngis, foly it war
    Tyll us for till assembill mar,
    For thai fele off our hors has slayn,
    And giff yhe fecht with thaim agayn
    We sall tyne off our small mengye
    And our selff sall in perill be.
    Tharfor me thynk maist avenand
    To withdraw us us defendand
    Till we cum out off thar daunger,
    For our strenth at our hand is ner.'
    Then thai withdrew thaim halely
    Bot that wes nocht full cowartly
    For samyn intill a sop held thai
    And the king him abandonyt ay
    To defend behind his mengye,
    And throu his worschip sa wrouch he
    That he reskewyt all the flearis
    And styntyt swagat the chassaris
    That nane durst out off batall chas,
    For alwayis at thar hand he was.
    Sa weile defendyt he his men
    That quha-sa-ever had seyne him then
    Prove sa worthely vasselage
    And turn sa oft-sythis the visage
    He suld say he aucht weill to be
    A king off a gret reawte.

    [Comparisons from Celtic and classical legends with the king's
    defence of his men]



    Quhen that the lord off Lorne saw
    His men stand off him ane sik aw
    That thai durst nocht folow the chase
    Rycht angry in his hart he was,
    And for wondyr that he suld swa
    Stot thaim him ane but ma
    He said, 'Me think Marthokys sone
    Rycht as Golmakmorn was wone
    To haiff fra Fyn all his mengne,
    Rycht swa all his fra us has he.'
    He set ensample thus mydlike,
    The-quhethir he mycht mar manerlik
    Lyknyt hym to Gaudifer de Larys
    Quhen that the mychty Duk Betys
    Assailyeit in Gadyrris the forrayours,
    And quhen the king thaim maid rescours
    Duk Betys tuk on him the flycht
    That wald ne mar abid to fycht.
    Bot Gaudifer the worthi
    Abandonyt him so worthyly
    For to reskew all the fleieris
    And for to stonay the chasseris
    That Alysander to erth he bar
    And alsua did he Tholimar
    And gud Coneus alsua
    Danklyne alsua and othir ma,
    Bot at the last thar slayne he wes.
    In that failyeit the liklynes,
    For the king full chevalrusly
    Defendyt all his cumpany
    And wes set in full gret danger
    And yeit eschapyt haile and fer.

    [The king kills the two Mac na Dorsair brothers and their fellow]



    Twa brethir war in that land
    That war the hardiest off hand
    That war intill all that cuntre,
    And thai had sworn iff thai mycht se
    The Bruys quhar thai mycht him our-ta
    That thai suld dey or then hym sla.
    Thar surname wes Makyne Drosser,
    That is al-so mekill to say her
    As the Durwarth sonnys perfay.
    Off thar covyne the thrid had thai
    That wes rycht stout ill and feloune.
    Quhen thai the king off gud renoune
    Saw sua behind his mengne rid
    And saw him torne sa mony tid,
    Thai abaid till that he was
    Entryt in ane narow place
    Betwix a louch-sid and a bra
    That wes sa strait Ik underta
    That he mycht nocht weill turn in his sted.
    Then with a will till him thai yede
    And ane him by the bridill hynt,
    Bot he raucht till him sic a dynt
    That arme and schuldyr flaw him fra.
    With that ane other gan him ta
    Be the lege and his hand gan schute
    Betwix the sterap and his fute,
    And quhen the king feld thar his hand
    In his sterapys stythly gan he stand
    And strak with spuris the stede in hy,
    And he lansyt furth delyverly
    Swa that the tother failyeit fete,
    And nocht-for-thi his hand wes yeit
    Undyr the sterap magre his.
    The thrid with full gret hy with this
    Rycht till the bra-syd he yeid
    And stert behynd hym on his sted.
    The king wes then in full gret pres,
    The-quhether he thocht as he that wes
    In all hys dedys avise
    To do ane outrageous bounte,
    And syne hyme that behynd him was
    All magre his will him gan he ras
    Fra behynd him, thocht he had sworn,
    He laid hym evyn him beforn,
    Syne with the swerd sic dynt hym gave
    That he the heid till the harnys clave.
    He rouschit doun off blud all rede
    As he that stound feld off dede.
    And then the king in full gret hy
    Strak at the tothir vigorusly
    That he efter his sterap drew
    That at the fyrst strak he him slew.
    On this wis him delyverit he
    Off all thai felloun fayis thre.

    [Mac Nachtan praises the king]



    Quhen thai of Lorne has sene the king
    Set in hym selff sa gret helping
    And defendyt him sa manlely,
    Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy
    That durst assailye him mar in fycht,
    Sa dred thai for his mekill mycht.
    Thar wes a baroune Maknauchtan
    That in his hart gret kep has tane
    To the kingis chevalry
    And prisyt him in hert gretly,
    And to the lord off Lorne said he,
    'Sekyrly now may ye se
    Be tane the starkest pundelan
    That evyr your lyfftyme ye saw tane,
    For yone knycht throu his douchti deid
    And thro his outrageous manheid
    Has fellyt intill litill tyd
    Thre men off mekill prid,
    And stonayit all our mengye swa
    That eftyr him dar na man ga,
    And tournys sa mony tyme his stede
    That semys off us he had na dred.'
    Then gane the lord off Lorn say,
    'It semys it likis ye perfay
    That he slayis yongat our mengye.'
    'Schyr,' said he, 'sa Our Lord me se,
    To sauff your presence it is nocht swa,
    Bot quhether-sa he be freynd or fa
    That wynnys prys off chevalry
    Men suld spek tharoff lelyly,
    And sekyrly in all my tyme
    Ik hard never in sang na ryme
    Tell off a man that swa smertly
    Eschevyt swa gret chevalry.'
    Sic speking off the king thai maid,
    And he eftyr his mengye raid
    And intill saufte thaim led
    Quhar he his fayis na-thing dred,
    And thai off Lorne agayn ar gayn
    Menand the scaith that thai haiff tayn.

    [The king comforts his men with the example
    of the recovery of Rome from Hannibal]



    The king that nycht his wachis set
    And gert ordayne that thai mycht et,
    And bad conford to thaim tak
    And at thar mychtis mery mak.
    For disconford, as then said he,
    Is the werst thing that may be,
    For throu mekill disconforting
    Men fallis oft into disparing,
    And fra a man disparyt be
    Then utraly vencusyt is he,
    And fra the hart be discumfyt
    The body is nocht worth a myt.
    'Tharfor,' he said, 'atour all thing
    Kepys you fra disparyng,
    And think thouch we now harmys fele
    That God may yeit releve us weill.
    Men redys off mony men that war
    Fer harder stad then we yhet ar
    And syne Our Lord sic grace thaim lent
    That thai come weill till thar entent.
    For Rome quhilum sa hard wes stad
    Quhen Hanniball thaim vencusyt had
    That off ryngis with rich stane
    That war off knychtis fyngeris tane
    He send thre bollis to Cartage,
    And syne to Rome tuk his viage
    Thar to distroye the cite all.
    And thai within bath gret and small
    Had fled quhen thai saw his cummyng
    Had nocht bene Scipio the king,
    That or thai fled wald thaim haiff slayn,
    And swagat turnyt he thaim agayn.
    Syne for to defend the cite
    Bath servandis and threllis mad he fre,
    And maid thaim knychtis everilkane,
    And syne has off the templis tane
    The armys that thar eldrys bar,
    In name off victory offeryt thar.
    And quhen thai armyt war and dycht
    That stalwart karlis war and wycht
    And saw that thai war fre alsua,
    Thaim thocht that thai had lever ta
    The dede na lat the toun be tane,
    And with commoune assent as ane
    Thai ischit off the toune to fycht
    Quhar Hannyball his mekill mycht
    Aganys thaim arayit was.
    Bot throu mycht off Goddis grace
    It ranyt sa hard and hevyly
    That thar wes nane sa hardy
    That durst into that place abid,
    Bot sped thaim intill hy to rid,
    The ta part to thar pailyounys,
    The tother part went in the toune is.
    The rayne thus lettyt the fechtyn,
    Sa did it twys tharefter syne.
    Quhen Hanibal saw this ferly
    With all his gret chevalry
    He left the toune and held his way,
    And syne wes put to sik assay
    Throu the power off that cite
    That his lyff and his land tynt he.
    Be thir quheyne that sa worthily
    Wane sik a king and sa mychty,
    Ye may weill be ensampill se
    That na man suld disparyt be,
    Na lat his hart be vencusyt all
    For na myscheiff that ever may fall,
    For nane wate in how litill space
    That God umquhile will send grace.
    Had thai fled and thar wayis gane
    Thar fayis swith the toune had tane.
    Tharfor men that werrayand war
    Suld set thar etlyng ever-mar
    To stand agayne thar fayis mycht
    Umquhile with strenth and quhile with slycht,
    And ay thynk to cum to purpos,
    And giff that thaim war set in chos
    To dey or to leyff cowartly,
    Thai suld erar dey chevalrusly.

    [The king cites the example of Caesar]



    Thusgat thaim comfort the king
    And to comfort thaim gan inbryng
    Auld storys off men that wer
    Set intyll hard assayis ser
    And that fortoun contraryit fast,
    And come to purpos at the last.
    Tharfor he said that thai that wald
    Thar hartis undiscumfyt hald
    Suld ay thynk ententily to bryng
    All thar enpres to gud ending,
    As quhile did Cesar the worthy
    That traveillyt ay so besyly
    With all his mycht folowing to mak
    To end the purpos that he wald tak,
    That hym thocht he had doyne rycht nocht
    Ay quhill to do him levyt ocht.
    Forthi gret thingis eschevyt he
    As men may in his story se.
    Men may se be his ythen will,
    And it suld als accord to skill
    That quha tais purpos sekyrly
    And folowis it syne ententily
    Forout fayntice or yheit faynding,
    With-thi it be conabill thing,
    Bot he the mar be unhappy
    He sall eschev it in party,
    And haiff he lyff-dayis weill may fall
    That he sall eschev it all.
    For-thi suld nane haff disparing
    For till eschev a full gret thing,
    For giff it fall he tharoff failye
    The fawt may be in his travailye.

    [Atholl asks to be left; the king sends him,
    Neil Bruce and the ladies to Kildrummy]



    He prechyt thaim on this maner
    And fenyeit to mak better cher
    Then he had mater to be fer,
    For his caus yeid fra ill to wer,
    Thai war ay in sa hard travaill,
    Till the ladyis began to fayle
    That mycht the travaill drey na mar,
    Sa did other als that thar war.
    The Erle Jhone wes ane off tha
    Off Athole that quhen he saw sua
    The king be discumfyt twys,
    And sa feile folk agayne him rys,
    And lyff in sic travaill and dout,
    His hart begane to faile all-out
    And to the king apon a day
    He said, 'Gyff I durst you say,
    We lyff into sa mekill dreid,
    And haffis oftsys off met sic ned,
    And is ay in sic travailling
    With cauld and hunger and waking,
    That I am sad off my selvyn sua
    That I count nocht my liff a stra.
    Thir angrys may I ne mar drey,
    For thoucht me tharfor worthit dey
    I mon sojourne, quharever it be.
    Levys me tharfor par cheryte.'
    The king saw that he sa wes failyt
    And that he ik wes for-travaillyt.
    He said, 'Schyr erle, we sall sone se
    And ordayne how it best may be.
    Quharever ye be, Our Lord you send
    Grace fra your fais you to defend.'
    With that in hy to him callyt he
    Thaim that till him war mast preve.
    Then amang thaim thai thocht it best
    And ordanyt for the liklyest
    That the queyne and the erle alsua
    And the ladyis in hy suld ga
    With Nele the Bruce till Kildromy,
    For thaim thocht thai mycht sekyrly
    Dwell thar quhill thai war vittaillit weile,
    For swa stalwart wes the castell
    That it with strenth war hard to get
    Quhill that tharin war men and mete.
    As thai ordanyt thai did in hy,
    The queyne and all hyr cumpany
    Lap on thar hors and furth thai far.
    Men mycht haiff sene quha had bene thar
    At leve-takyng the ladyis gret
    And mak thar face with teris wet,
    And knychtis for thar luffis sak
    Bath bsich and wep and murnyng mak,
    Thai kyssyt thar luffis at thar partyng.
    The king umbethocht him off a thing,
    That he fra thine on fute wald ga
    And tak on fute bath weill and wa,
    And wald na hors-men with him haiff,
    Tharfor his hors all haile he gaiff
    To the ladyis that myster had.
    The queyn furth on hyr wayis rade
    And sawffly come to the castell
    Quhar hyr folk war ressavyt weill
    And esyt weill with meyt and drynk,
    Bot mycht nane eys let hyr to think
    On the king that wes sa sar stad
    That bot twa hunder with him had,
    The-quhethir thaim weill comfortyt he ay.
    God help him that all mychtis may.



    [The king plans to go to Kintyre; Neil Campbell sent to find ships;
    the king and his men cross Loch Lomond; he reads a romance to them]



    The queyne dwelt thus in Kyldromy,
    And the king and his cumpany
    That war twa hunder and na ma
    Fra thai had send thar hors thaim fra
    Wandryt emang the hey montanys,
    Quhar he and his oft tholyt paynys,
    For it wes to the wynter ner,
    And sa feile fayis about him wer
    That all the countre thaim werrayit.
    Sa hard anoy thaim then assayit
    Off hunger cauld with schowris snell
    That nane that levys can weill it tell.
    The king saw how his folk wes stad
    And quhat anoyis that thai had,
    And saw wynter wes cummand ner,
    And that he mycht on na maner
    Dre in the hillys the cauld lying
    Na the long nychtis waking.
    He thocht he to Kyntyr wald ga
    And swa lang sojournyng thar ma
    Till wynter wedder war away,
    And then he thocht but mar delay
    Into the manland till aryve
    And till the end his werdis dryv.
    And for Kyntyr lyis in the se
    Schyr Nele Cambel befor send he
    For to get him navyn and meite,
    And certane tyme till him he sete
    Quhen he suld meite him at the se.
    Schir Nele Cambell with his mengye
    Went his way but mar letting
    And left his brother with the king,
    And in twelf dayis sua traveillit he
    That he gat schippyne gud plente
    And vittalis in gret aboundance.
    Sa maid he nobill chevisance
    For his sibmen wonnyt tharby
    That helpyt him full wilfully.
    The king efter that he wes gane
    To Louch Lomond the way has tane
    And come on the thrid day,
    Bot tharabout na bait fand thai
    That mycht thaim our the water ber.
    Than war thai wa on gret maner
    For it wes fer about to ga,
    And thai war into dout alsua
    To meyt thar fayis that spred war wyd.
    Tharfor endlang the louchhis syd
    Sa besyly thai socht and fast
    Tyll James of Douglas at the last
    Fand a litill sonkyn bate
    And to the land it drew fut-hate,
    Bot it sa litill wes that it
    Mycht our the watter but a thresum flyt.
    Thai send tharoff word to the king
    That wes joyfull off that fynding
    And fyrst into the bate is gane,
    With him Douglas, the thrid wes ane
    That rowyt thaim our deliverly
    And set thaim on the land all dry,
    And rowyt sa oftsys to and fra
    Fechand ay our twa and twa
    That in a nycht and in a day
    Cummyn out-our the louch ar thai,
    For sum off thaim couth swome full weill
    And on his bak ber a fardele.
    Swa with swymmyng and with rowyng
    Thai brocht thaim our and all thar thing.
    The king the quhilis meryly
    Red to thaim that war him by
    Romanys off worthi Ferambrace
    That worthily our-cummyn was
    Throu the rycht douchty Olyver,
    And how the duk-peris wer
    Assegyt intill Egrymor
    Quhar King Lavyne lay thaim befor
    With may thousandis then I can say,
    And bot ellevyn within war thai
    And a woman, and war sa stad
    That thai na mete thar-within had
    Bot as thai fra thar fayis wan.
    Yheyte sua contenyt thai thaim than
    That thai the tour held manlily
    Till that Rychard off Normandy
    Magre his fayis warnyt the king
    That wes joyfull off this tithing,
    For he wend thai had all beyne slayne.
    Tharfor he turnyt in hy agayne
    And wan Mantrybill and passit Flagot,
    And syne Lavyne and all his flot
    Dispitusly discumfyt he,
    And deliveryt his men all fre
    And wan the naylis and the sper
    And the crowne that Jhesu couth ber,
    And off the croice a gret party
    He wan throu his chevalry.
    The gud king apon this maner
    Comfort thaim that war him ner
    And maid thaim gamyn and solace
    Till that his folk all passyt was.

    [Lennox joins the king; a reflection on weeping]



    Quhen thai war passit the water brad
    Suppos thai fele off fayis had
    Thai maid thaim mery and war blyth.
    Nocht-for-thi full fele syth
    Thai had full gret defaut of mete,
    And tharfor venesoun to get
    In twa partys ar thai gayne.
    The king himselff wes intill ane
    And Schyr James off Douglas
    Into the tother party was.
    Then to the hycht thai held thar way
    And huntyt lang quhill off the day
    And soucht schawys and setis set
    Bot thai gat litill for till ete.
    Then hapnyt at that tyme percas
    That the erle of the Levenax was
    Amang the hillis ner tharby,
    And quhen he hard sa blaw and cry
    He had wonder quhat it mycht be,
    And on sic maner spyryt he
    That he knew that it wes the king,
    And then foroutyn mar duelling
    With all thaim off his cumpany
    He went rycht till the king in hy,
    Sa blyth and sa joyfull that he
    Mycht on na maner blyther be
    For he the king wend had bene ded,
    And he wes alsua will off red
    That he durst nocht rest into na place,
    Na sen the king discumfyt was
    At Meffan he herd never thing
    That ever wes certane off the king.
    Tharfor into full gret daynte
    The king full humyly haylist he,
    And he him welcummyt rycht blythly
    And askyt him full tenderly,
    And all the lordis that war thar
    Rycht joyfull off thar meting war,
    And kyssyt him in gret daynte.
    It wes gret pite for til se
    How thai for joy and pite gret
    Quhen that thai with thar falow met
    That thai wend had bene dede, forthi
    Thai welcummyt him mar hartfully,
    And he for pite gret agayne
    That never off metyng wes sa fayne.
    Thocht I say that thai gret sothly
    It wes na greting propyrly,
    For I trow traistly that gretyng
    Cummys to men for mysliking,
    And that nane may but angyr gret
    Bot it be wemen, that can wet
    Thair chekys quhenever thaim list with teris,
    The-quhethir weill oft thaim na thing deris,
    But I wate weill but lesyng
    Quhatever men say off sic greting
    That mekill joy or yeit pete
    May ger men sua amovyt be
    That water fra the hart will rys
    And weyt the eyne on sic a wys
    That is lik to be greting,
    Thocht it be nocht sua in all thing,
    For quhen men gretis enkrely
    The hart is sorowful or angry,
    Bot for pite I trow gretyng
    Be na thing bot ane opynnyng
    Off hart that schawis the tendernys
    Off rewth that in it closyt is.
    The barounys apon this maner
    Throu Goddis grace assemblyt wer.
    The erle had mete and that plente
    And with glad hart it thaim gaiff he,
    And thai eyt it with full gud will
    That soucht na nother sals thar-till
    Bot appetyt, that oft men takys,
    For rycht weill scowryt war thar stomakys.
    Thai eit and drank sic as thai had
    And till Our Lord syne lovyng maid,
    And thankit him with full gud cher
    That thai war mete on that maner.
    The king then at thaim speryt yarne
    How thai sen he thaim seyne had farne,
    And thai full petwysly gan tell
    Aventuris that thaim befell
    And gret anoyis and poverte.
    The king tharat had gret pite
    And tauld thaim petwisly agayne
    The noy, the travaill and the payne
    That he had tholyt sen he thaim saw.
    Wes nane amang thaim hey na law
    That he ne had pite and plesaunce
    Quhen that he herd mak remembrance
    Off the perellys that passyt war,
    Bot quhen men oucht at liking ar
    To tell off paynys passyt by
    Plesys to heryng petuisly,
    And to rehers thar auld disese
    Dois thaim oftsys comfort and ese,
    With-thi tharto folow na blame
    Dishonour wikytnes na schame.

    [They row past Bute; Lennox's boat escapes pursuers]



    Efter the mete sone rais the king
    Quhen he had levyt hys speryng,
    And buskyt him with his mengye
    And went in hy towart the se
    Quhar Schyr Nele Cambell thaim mete
    Bath with schippis and with meyte
    Saylys ayris and other thing
    That wes spedfull to thar passyng.
    Then schippyt thai foroutyn mar
    Sum went till ster and sum till ar,
    And rowyt be the ile of But.
    Men mycht se mony frely fute
    About the cost, thar lukand
    As thai on ayris rais rowand,
    And nevys that stalwart war and squar,
    That wont to spayn gret speris war,
    Swa spaynyt aris that men mycht se
    Full oft the hyde leve on the tre.
    For all war doand, knycht and knave,
    Wes nane that ever disport mycht have
    Fra steryng and fra rowyng
    To furthyr thaim off thar fleting.
    Bot in the samyn tyme at thai
    War in schipping, as ye hard me say,
    The erle off the Levenax was,
    I can nocht tell you throu quhat cas
    Levyt behynd with his galay
    Till the king wes fer on his way.
    Quhen that thai off his cuntre
    Wyst that so duelt behynd wes he
    Be se with schippys thai him socht,
    And he that saw that he wes nocht
    Off pith to fecht with thai traytouris
    And that he had na ner socouris
    Then the kingis flote, forthi
    He sped him efter thaim in hy,
    Bot the tratouris hym folowyt sua
    That thai weill ner hym gan ourta
    For all the mycht that he mycht do.
    Ay ner and ner thai come him to,
    And quhen he saw thai war sa ner
    That he mycht weill thar manance her
    And saw thaim ner and ner cum ay,
    Then till his mengye gan he say,
    'Bot giff we fynd sum sutelte
    Ourtane all sone sall we be.
    Tharfor I rede but mar letting
    That outakyn our armyng
    We kast our thing all in the se,
    And fra our schip swa lychtyt be
    We sall row and speid us sua
    That we sall weill eschaip thaim fra,
    With that thai sall mak duelling
    Apon the se to tak our thing
    And we sall row but resting ay
    Till we eschapyt be away.'
    As he divisyt thai have done
    And thar schip thai lychtyt sone
    And rowyt syne with all thar mycht,
    And scho that swa wes maid lycht
    Raykyt slidand throu the se.
    And quhen thar fayis gan thaim se
    Forouth thaim alwayis mar and mar,
    The thingis that thar fletand war
    Thai tuk and turnyt syne agayne,
    And leyt thai lesyt all thar payne.

    [Arrival in Kintyre; Angus of Islay submits at Dunaverty;
    they sail for Rathlin]



    Quhen that the erle on this maner
    And his mengye eschapyt wer,
    Eftyr the king he gan him hy
    That then with all his cumpany
    Into Kyntyr aryvyt was.
    The erle tauld him all his cas,
    How he wes chasyt on the se
    With thaim that suld his awyn be,
    And how he had bene tane but dout
    Na war it that he warpyt out
    All that he had him lycht to ma
    And swa eschapyt thaim fra.
    'Schyr erle,' said the king, 'perfay,
    Syn thou eschapyt is away
    Off the tynsell is na plenyeing.
    Bot I will say the weile a thing,
    That thar will fall the gret foly
    To pas oft fra my cumpany,
    For fele sys quhen thou art away
    Thou art set intill hard assay,
    Tharfor me thynk best to the
    To hald the alwayis ner by me.'
    'Schyr,' said the erle, 'it sall be swa.
    I sall na wys pas fer you fra
    Till God giff grace we be off mycht
    Agayne our fayis to hald our stycht.'
    Angus off Ile that tyme wes syr
    And lord and ledar off Kyntyr,
    The king rycht weill resavyt he
    And undertuk his man to be,
    And him and his on mony wys
    He abandounyt till his service,
    And for mar sekyrnes gaiff him syne
    His castell off Donavardyne
    To duell tharin at his liking.
    Full gretumly thankyt him the king
    And resavyt his service.
    Nocht-forthi on mony wys
    He wes dredand for tresoun ay,
    And tharfor, as Ik hard men say,
    He traistyt in nane sekyrly
    Till that he knew him utraly.
    Boy quhatkin dred that ever he had
    Fayr contenance to thaim he maid,
    And in Donavardyne dayis thre
    Foroutyne mar then duellyt he.
    Syne gert he his mengye mak thaim yar
    Towart Rauchryne be se to far
    That is ane ile in the se,
    And may weill in mydwart be
    Betuix Kyntyr and Irland,
    Quhar als gret stremys ar rynnand
    And als peralous and mar
    Till our-saile thaim into schipfair
    As is the rais of Bretangye
    Or Strait off Marrok into Spanye.

    [The stormy crossing; the panic and the submission of Rathlin]

    Thair schippys to the se thai set,
    And maid redy but langer let
    Ankyrs rapys bath saile and ar
    And all that nedyt to schipfar.
    Quhen thai war boune to saile thai went,
    The wynd wes wele to thar talent.
    Thai raysyt saile and furth thai far,
    And by the Mole thai passyt yar
    And entryt sone into the rase
    Quhar that the stremys sa sturdy was
    That wavys wyd wycht brakand war
    Weltryt as hillys her and thar.
    The schippys our the wavys slayd
    For wynd at poynt blawand thai had,
    Bot nocht-forthi quha had thar bene
    A gret stertling he mycht haiff seyne
    Off schippys, for quhilum sum wald be
    Rycht on the wavys as on a mounte
    And sum wald slyd fra heycht to law
    Rycht as thai doune till hell wald draw,
    Syne on the wav stert sodanly,
    And other schippys that war tharby
    Deliverly drew to the depe.
    It wes gret cunnanes to kep
    Thar takill intill sic a thrang
    And wyth sic wavis, for ay amang
    The wavys reft thar sycht of land
    Quhen thai the land wes rycht ner-hand,
    And quhen schippys war sailand ner
    The se wald rys on sic maner
    That off the wavys the weltrand hycht
    Wald refe thaim oft off thar sycht.
    Bot into Rauchryne nocht-forthi
    Thai aryvyt ilkane sawffly,
    Blyth and glaid that thai war sua
    Eschapyt thai hidwys wavis fra.
    In Rauchryne thai aryvyt ar
    And to the land thai went but mar
    Armyt apon thar best maner.
    Quhen the folk that thar wonnand wer
    Saw men off armys in that cuntre
    Aryve into sic quantite
    Thai fled in hy with thar catell
    Towart a rycht stalwart castell
    That in the land wes tharby.
    Men mycht her wemen hely cry
    And fle with cataill her and thar.
    Bot the kingis folk that war
    Deliver of fute thaim gan our-hy
    And thaim arestyt hastely
    And brocht thaim to the king agayne
    Swa that nane off thaim all wes slayne.
    Then with thaim tretyt swa the king
    That thai to fulfill his yarnyng
    Become his men everilkane,
    And has him trewly undertane
    That thai and tharis loud and still
    Suld be in all thing at his will,
    And quhill him likit thar to leynd
    Everilk day thai suld him send
    Vittalis for thre hunder men,
    And thai as lord suld him ken,
    Bot at thar possessioune suld be
    For all his men thar awyn fre.
    The cunnand on this wys was maid,
    And on the morn but langer baid
    Off all Rauchryne bath man and page
    Knelyt and maid the king homage,
    And tharwith swour him fewte
    To serve him ay in lawte,
    And held him rycht weill cunnand,
    For quhill he duelt into the land
    Thai fand meit till his cumpany
    And servyt him full humely.



    BOOK 4




    [English harshness to prisoners]



    In Rawchryne leve we now the king
    In rest foroutyn barganyng,
    And off his fayis a quhile speke we
    That throu thar mycht and thar powste
    Maid sic a persecucioune
    Sa hard, sa strayt and sa feloune
    On thaim that till hym luffand wer
    Or kyn or freynd on ony maner
    That at till her is gret pite.
    For thai sparyt off na degre
    Thaim that thai trowit his freynd wer
    Nother off the kyrk na seculer,
    For off Glaskow Byschop Robert
    And Marcus off Man thai stythly speryt
    Bath in fetrys and in presoune,
    And worthy Crystoll off Seytoun
    Into Loudoun betresyt was
    Throu a discipill off Judas
    Maknab, a fals tratour that ay
    Wes off his dwelling nycht and day
    Quhom to he maid gud cumpany.
    It wes fer wer than tratoury
    For to betreys sic a persoune
    So nobill and off sic renoune,
    Bot tharoff had he na pite,
    In hell condampnyt mocht he be.
    For quhen he him betrasyt had
    The Inglismen rycht with him rad
    In hy in Ingland to the king,
    That gert draw him and hede and hing
    Foroutyn pete or mercy.
    It wes gret sorow sekyrly
    That so worthy a persoune as he
    Suld on sic maner hangyt be,
    Thusgat endyt his worthynes.
    Off Crauford als Schyr Ranald wes
    And Schyr Bryce als the Blar
    Hangyt intill a berne in Ar.
    The queyn and als Dame Marjory,
    Hyr dochter that syne worthily
    Wes coupillyt into Goddis band
    With Walter Stewart off Scotland,
    That wald on na wys langar ly
    In the castell off Kyldromy
    To byd a sege, ar ridin raith
    With knychtis and squyeris bath
    Throu Ros rycht to the gyrth off Tayne.
    Bot that travaill thai maid in vayne,
    For thai off Ros that wald nocht ber
    For thaim na blayme na yeit danger
    Out off the gyrth thame all has tayne
    And syne has send thaim everilkane
    Rycht intill Ingland to the king,
    That gert draw all the men and hing,
    And put the ladyis in presoune
    Sum intill castell sum in dongeoun.
    It wes gret pite for till her
    The folk be troublyt on this maner.

    [The siege of Kildrummy Castle]



    That tyme wes in Kyldromy
    Wyth men that wycht and hardy
    Schyr Neile the Bruce and I wate weile
    That thar the erle was off Adheill.
    The castell weill vittalyt thai
    And mete and fuell gan purvay
    And enforcyt the castell sua
    That thaim thocht na strenth mycht it ta.
    And quhen it to the king was tauld
    Off Ingland how thai schup till hauld
    That castell, he wes all angry
    And callyt his sone till hym in hy
    The eldest and aperand ayr
    A young bacheler and stark and fayr
    Schyr Edward callyt off Carnauerane,
    That wes the sterkast man of ane
    That men fynd mycht in ony countre
    Prynce of Walys that tyme wes he.
    And he gert als call erlys twa
    Glosyster and Harfurd war tha
    And bad thaim wend into Scotland
    And set a sege with stalwart hand
    To the castell off Kyldromy.
    And all the halderis halyly
    He bad distroy for-owtyn ransoun
    Or bryng thaim till him in presoune.
    Quhen thai the commaundment had tane
    Thai assemblyt ane ost onane
    And to the castell went in hy
    And it assegyt vigorusly
    And mony tyme full hard assaylyt.
    Bot for to tak it yeit thai failyt
    For thai within war rycht worthy
    And thaim defendyt douchtely
    And ruschyt thair fayis oft agayne
    Sum beft sum woundyt sum alslayne
    And mony tymys ische thai wald
    And bargane at the barrais hald
    And wound thar fayis oft and sla.
    Schortly thai thaim contenyt sua
    That thai withoute disparyt war
    And thocht till Ingland for to far
    For thai sa styth saw the castell
    And with that it wes warnyst weill
    And saw the men defend thaim sua
    That thai nane hop had thaim to ta,
    Nane had thai done all that sesoune
    Gyff it ne had bene fals tresoun
    For thar with thaim wes a tratour.
    A fals lourdane a losyngeour
    Hosbarne to name maid the tresoun,
    I wate nocht for quhat enchesoun
    Na quham with he maid that conwyn
    Bot as thai said that war within
    He tuk a culter hate glowand
    That yeit wes in a fyr brynnand
    And went him to the mekill hall
    That then with corn wes fyllyt all
    And heych up in a mow it did,
    Bot it full lang wes nocht thar hid
    For men sayis oft that fyr na prid
    But discovering may na man hid,
    For the pomp oft the prid furth schawis
    Or ellis the gret boist that it blawis,
    Na thar may na man fyr sa covyr
    Than low or rek sall it discovyr.
    Sa fell it her, for fyr all cler
    Son throu the thak-burd gan apper
    Fyrst as a stern syne as a mone
    And weill bradder tharefter sone
    The fyr out syne in bles brast
    And the rek rais rycht wondre fast.
    The fyr our all the castell spred
    That mycht na force of man it red.
    Than thai within drew to the wall
    That at that tyme wes bataillit all
    Within rycht as it wes withoute
    That bataillyne withoutyn dout
    Savit thar lyvis, for it brak
    Bles that thaim wald ourtak.
    And quhen thar fayis the myscheiff saw
    Till armys went thai in a thraw
    And assaylyt the castell fast
    Quhar thai durst come for fyris blast,
    Bot thai within that myster had
    Sa gret defence and worthy mad
    That thai full oft thar fayis rusit
    For thai nakyn perall refusyt,
    Thai travaillyt for to sauff thar lyffis
    Bot werd that till the end ay dryvis
    The warldis thingis sua thaim travaillyt
    That thai on twa halfys war assailyt,
    In with fyr that thaim sua broilyit
    And utouth with folk that thaim sua toilyit
    That thai brynt magre thaim the yat
    That, for the fyre that wes sua hate
    Thai durst nocht entyr sua in hy,
    Tharfor thar folk thai gan rely
    And went to rest for it wes nycht
    Till on the morn that day wes lycht.

    [The surrender of Kildrummy and the death of Edward I]



    At sik myscheiff as ye her say
    War thai within, the-quhethyr ay
    Thai thaim defendyt douchtely
    And contenyt thaim sa manlily
    That or day throu mekill payn
    Thai had muryt up thar yat agayn.
    But on the morn quhen day wes lycht
    And sone wes ryssyn schynand brycht
    Thai without in hale bataill
    Come purvayt redy till assaill,
    Bot thai within that sua war stad
    That thai vitaill na fewell had
    Quhar-with thai mycht the castell hald
    Tretyt fyrst and syne thaim yauld
    To be in-till the kingis will,
    Bot that to Scottis men wes ill
    As sone eftyr weill wes knawin
    For thai war hangyt all and drawyn.
    Quhen this cunnand thus tretyt wes
    And affermyt with sekyrnes
    Thai tuk thaim of the castell sone
    And in-till schort tyme has done
    That all a quarter of Snawdoun
    Rycht till the erd thai tummyllyt doun
    Syne towart Ingland went thar way.
    Bot quhen the king Edward hard say
    How Neill the Bruce held Kildromy
    Agayne his sone sa stalwartly,
    He gadryt gret chevalry
    And towart Scotland went in hy,
    And as in-till Northummyrland
    He wes with his gret rout ridand
    A sekness tuk him in the way
    And put him to sa hard assay
    That he mycht nocht ga na ryd.
    Him worthit magre his abid
    In-till ane hamillet tharby
    A litill toun and unworthy,
    With gret payne thidder thai him brocht.
    He wes sa stad that he ne mocht
    His aynd bot with gret paynys draw
    Na spek bot giff it war weill law
    The-quhether he bad thai suld him say
    Quhat toun wes that that he in lay.
    'Schyr,' thai said, 'Burch-in-the-sand
    Men callis this toun in-till this land.'
    'Call thai it Burch, als,' said he.
    My hop is now fordone to me
    For I wend never to thole the payne
    Of deid till I throu mekill mayn
    The burch of Jerusalem had tane,
    My lyff wend I thar suld be gayne.
    In burch I wyst weill I suld de
    Bot I wes nother wys na sle
    Till other burch kep to ta.
    Now may I na wis forther ga.'
    Thus pleynyeit he off his foly,
    As he had mater sekyrly
    Quhen he covyt certante
    Off that at nane may certan be,
    The-quhether men said enclosit he had
    A spyryt that him answer maid
    Off thingis that he wald inquer.
    Bot he fulyt foroutyn wer
    That gaiff throuth till that creatur,
    For feyndys ar off sic natur
    That thai to mankind has invy
    For thai wate weill and witterly
    That thai that weill ar liffand her
    Sall wyn the sege quharoff thai wer
    Tumblyt throuch thar mekill prid.
    Quharthrou oft-tymys will betid
    That quhen feyndys distrenyeit ar
    For till aper and mak answar
    Throu force of conjuracioun
    That thai sa fals ar and feloun
    That thai mak ay thar answering
    Into doubill understanding
    To dissaiff thaim that will thaim trow.
    Insample will I set her now
    Off a wer as I herd tell
    Betwix Fraunce and the Flemyngis fell.
    The erle Ferandis modyr was
    Nygramansour, and Sathanas
    Scho rasyt and him askyt syne
    Quhat suld worth off the fechtyn
    Betwix the Fraunce king and hyr sone,
    And he, as all tyme he wes wone,
    Into dissayt maid his answer
    And said till hyr thir thre vers her,
    'Rex ruet in bello tumilique carebit honore
    Ferrandus comitissa tuus mea cara Minerva
    Parisius veniet magna comitante caterva.'

    This wes the spek he maid perfay
    And is in Inglis toung to say,
    'The king sall fall in the fechting
    And sall faile honour off erding,
    And thi Ferand Mynerve my der
    Sall rycht to Parys went but wer,
    Folowand him gret cumpany
    Off nobill men and off worthy.'
    This is the sentence off this saw
    That the Latyn gan hyr schaw.
    He callyt hyr his Mynerve
    For Mynerve ay wes wont to serve
    Him, till scho leffyt, at his divis
    And for scho maid the samyn service
    His Mynerve hyr callyt he,
    And als throu his sutelte
    He callyt hyr der hyr till dissaiff
    That scho the tyttar suld consaiff
    Off his spek the undyrstanding
    That mast plesyt till hyr liking.
    This doubill spek sua hyr dissavit
    That throu hyr feill the ded ressavit,
    For scho wes off hyr answer blyth
    And till hyr sone scho tald it swyth,
    And bad him till the batell sped
    For suld victory haiff but dred.
    And he that herd hyr sermonuyng
    Sped him in hy to the fechting
    Quhar he discomfyt wes and schent
    And takin and to Paris sent,
    Bot in the fechting nocht-forthi
    The king, throu his chevalry,
    Wes laid at erd and lawit bath,
    Bot his men helpyt him weill rath.
    And quhen Ferandis moder herd
    How hyr sone in the bataill ferd
    And at he wes sua discomfyt,
    Scho rasyt the ill spyryt als tyt
    And askyt quhy he gabyt had
    Off the answer that he hyr mad,
    And he said he had said suth all.
    'I said ye that the king suld fall
    In the bataill, and say did he,
    And failyeid erding, as men may se.
    And I said that thi sone suld ga
    To Paris, and he did rycht sua,
    Folowand sic a mengye
    That never in his lyff-tyme he
    Had sic a mengye in leding.
    Now seis thou I maid na gabbing.'
    The wyff confusyt wes perfay
    And durst no mar than till him say
    Thusgat throu doubill understanding
    That bargane come till sic ending
    That the ta part dissavyt was.
    Rycht sagat fell yt in this cas.
    At Jerusalem trowit he
    Gravyn in the burch to be,
    The-quhethyr at Burch-into-the-sand
    He swelt rycht in his awn land.
    And quhen he to the ded wes ner
    The folk that at Kildromy wer
    Come with presoneris that thai had tane,
    And syne to the king ar gane
    And for to comfort him thai tald
    How thai the castell to thaim yauld
    And how thai till his will war brocht,
    To do off thame quhatever he thocht,
    And askyt quhat men suld off thaim do.
    Than lukyt he angyrly thaim to
    And said grynnand, 'Hangis and drawys.'
    That wes wonder off sik sawis,
    That he that to the ded wes ner
    Suld answer apon sic maner
    Foroutyn menyng and mercy.
    How mycht he traist on Hym to cry
    That suthfastly demys all thing
    To haiff mercy, for his criying,
    Off him that throu his felony
    Into sic point had na mercy.
    His men his maundment has done
    And he deyt thatefter sone
    And syne wes brocht till berynes.
    His sone syne king efter wes.

    [Douglas and Boyd go from Rathlin to Arran]



    To the King Robert agayne ga we
    That in Rauchryne with his menye
    Lay till wynter ner wes gane
    And off that ile his mete has tane
    James off Douglas wes angry
    That thai langar suld ydill ly
    And to Schyr Robert Boid said he,
    'The pure folk off thys countre
    Ar chargit apon gret maner
    Off us that idill lyis her,
    And ik her say that in Arane
    Intill a styth castell off stane
    Ar Inglis men that with strang hand
    Haldys the lordschip off the land
    Ga we thidder, and weill may fall
    Anoy thaim in sum thing we sall.'
    Schir Robert said, 'I grant thar-till,
    Till her mar ly war litill skill.
    Tharfor till Aran pas will we,
    For I knaw rycht weill the countre
    And the castell rycht sua knaw I
    We sall cum thar sua prevely
    That thai sall haiff na persavyng
    Na yeit witting off our cummyng,
    And we sall ner enbuschyt be
    Quhar we thar outecome may se.
    Sa sall it on na maner fall
    Na scaith thaim on sum wis we sall.'
    With that thai buskyt thaim on-ane
    And at the king thar leiff has tane
    And went thaim furth syne on thar way.
    Into Kyntyr sone cummyn ar thai,
    Syne rowyt alwayis by the land
    Till that the nycht wes ner on hand,
    Than till Arane thai went thar way
    And saufly thar aryvyt thai,
    And in a glen thar galay drewch
    And syne it helyt weill ineuch.
    Thar takyll ayris and thar ster
    Thai hyde all on the samyn maner
    And held thar way rycht in the nycht
    Sua that or day wes dawyn lycht
    Thai war enbuschyt the castell ner
    Armyt apon thair best maner
    And thoucht thai wate war and wery
    And for lang fastyng all hungry
    Thai thocht to hald thaim all preve
    Till that thai weill thar poynt mycht se.

    [Douglas plunders the provisions being brought to Brodick Castle]

    Schir John the Hastingis at that tid
    With knychtis off full mekill prid
    And squyeris and yemanry,
    And that a weill gret cumpany,
    Wes in the castell off Brathwik
    And oftsys quhen it wald him lik
    He went huntyng with his menye
    And sua the land abandounyt he
    That durst nane warne to do his will.
    He wes into the castell still
    The tyme that James off Douglas
    As Ik haiff tald enbuschit was.
    Sa hapnyt that tyme throu chance
    That with vittalis and purvyaunce
    And with clething and with armyng
    The day befor in the evynning
    The undyr-wardane arivyt was
    With thre batis weill ner the place
    Quhar that the folk I spak off ar
    Prevely enbuschyt war.
    Syne fra tha batis saw thai ga
    Off Inglismen thretty and ma
    Chargit all with syndry thingis.
    Sum bar wyne and sum armyngis,
    The remanant all chargit wer
    With thingis off syndry maner,
    And other syndry yeid thaim by
    As thai war maistrys ydilly.
    Thai that enbuschyt war that saw
    All foroutyn dreid or aw
    Thar buschement on thaim thai brak
    And slew all that thai mycht ourtak.
    The cry rais hidwysly and hey
    For thai that dredand war to dey
    Rycht as bestis gan rar and cry.
    Thai slew thaim foroutyn mercy.
    Sua that into the samyne sted
    Weill ner fourty thar war dede.
    Quhen thai that in the castell war
    Hard the folk sa cry and rar
    Thai ischyt furth to the fechting,
    Bot quhen the Douglas saw thar cummyng
    His men till him he gan rely
    And went till meit thaim hastily.
    And quhen thai off the castell saw
    Him cum on thaim foroutyn aw
    Thai fled foroutyne mar debate
    And thai thaim folowit to the yate
    And slew of thaim as thai in past,
    Bot thai thair yate barryt fast
    That thai mycht do at thame na mar.
    Tharfor thai left thaim ilkane thar
    And turnyt to the se agayne
    Quhar that the men war forouth slayn.
    And quhen thai that war in the batis
    Saw thar cummyng and wyst howgatis
    Thai had discumfyt thar menye
    In hy thai put thaim to the se
    And rowyt fast with all thar mayne,
    Bot the wynd wes thaim agayne
    That sua hey gert the land-bryst rys
    That thai moucht weld the se na wis.
    Then thai durst nocht cum to the land,
    Bot held thaim thar sa lang hobland
    That off the thre batis drownyt twa
    And quhen the Douglas saw it wes sua
    He tuk armyng and cleything
    Vittalis wyne and other thing
    That thai fand thar and held thar way
    Rycht glaid and joyfull off thar pray.

    [The king comes to Arran and is joined by Douglas and Boyd]



    Quhen this James off Douglas
    And his menye throu Goddis grace
    War relevyt with armyng
    And with vittaill and clething
    Syne till a strenth thai held thar way
    And thaim full manly governyt ay
    Till on the tend day that the king
    With all that war in his leding
    Aryvyt into that countre
    With thretty small galayis and thre.
    The king aryvyt in Arane
    And syne to the land is gane
    And in a toune tuk his herbery,
    And speryt syne specially
    Gyff ony man couth tell tithand
    Off ony strang man in that land.
    'Yhis,' said a woman, 'Schyr perfay
    Off strang men I kan you say
    That ar cummyn in this countre,
    And schort quhile syne throu thar bounte
    Thai haff discomfyt our wardane
    And mony off his men has slane,
    Intill a stalwart place her-by
    Reparis all thar cumpany.'
    'Dame,' said the king, 'wald thou me wis
    To that place quhar thar repair is
    I sall reward the but lesing,
    For thai ar all off my dwelling
    And I rycht blythly wald thaim se
    And sua trow I that thai wald me.'
    'Yhis,' said scho, 'Schir I will blythly
    Ga with you and your cumpany
    Till that I schaw you thar repair.'
    'That is ineuch my sister fayr,
    Now ga we forth-wart,' said the king.
    Than went thai furth but mar letting
    Folowand hyr as scho thaim led
    Till at the last scho schawyt a sted
    To the king in a wode glen
    And said, 'Schir, her saw I the men
    That yhe sper after mak logyng.
    Her I trow be thar reparyng.'
    The king then blew his horn in hy
    And gert the men that wer him by
    Hald thaim still and all preve
    And syne agayn his horn blew he.
    James off Douglas herd him blaw
    And he the blast alsone gan knaw
    And said, 'Sothly yon is the king,
    I knaw lang quhill syne his blawyng.'
    The thrid tym thar-with-all he blew
    And then Schir Robert Boid it knew
    And said, 'Yone is the king but dreid
    Ga we furth till him better speid.'
    Than went thai till the king in hy
    And hm inclynyt curtasly,
    And blythly welcummyt thaim the kimg
    And wes joyfull of thar meting
    And kissit thaim and speryt syne
    How thai had farne in thar outyne,
    And thai him tauld all but lesing.
    Syne lovyt thai God off thar meting,
    Syne with the king till his herbery
    Went bath joyfull and joly.


    [The king sends a man to Carrick to see if he might land there]



    The king apon the tother day
    Gan till his preve menye say,
    'Ye knaw all weill and ye may se
    How we are out off our cuntre
    Banyst throu Inglismennys mycht
    And that that suld be ouris of rycht
    Throu thar maistrys thai occupy,
    And wald alsua foroutyne mercy
    Giff thai haid mycht destroy us all.
    Bot God forbeid it suld sa fall
    Till us as thai mak manassyng
    For than war thar na recoveryng,
    And mankind biddis us that we
    To procur vengeance besy be.
    For ye may se we haiff thre thingis
    That makis us oft monestingis
    For to be worthi wis and wycht
    And till anoy thaim at our mycht.
    Ane is our lyffis saufte
    That on na wys suld sauft be
    Gyff thai had us at thar liking
    The tother that makys us eggyng
    Is that thai our possessioune
    Haldis strenthly agayn resoun.
    The thrid is the joy that we abid
    Giff that it happyn as weill may tid
    That we wyn victour and maistry,
    Till ourcum thar felony.
    Therfor we suld our hartis rais
    Sua that na myscheyff us abais
    And schaip us alwayis to that ending
    That beris in it mensk and loving.
    And tharfor lordingis gyff ye se
    Amang you giff that it speidfull be
    I will send a man in Carrik
    To spy and sper our kynrik
    How it is led and freynd and fa.
    And giff he seis we land may ta
    On Turnberys snuke he may
    Mak a fyr on a certane day
    And mak takynnyng till us that we
    May thar aryve in saufte.
    And giff he seis we may nocht sua,
    Luk on na wys the fyr he ma.
    Sua may we thar-throu haiff wittring
    Off our passage or our dwelling.'
    To this spek all assentyt ar,
    And than the king withoutyn mar
    Callyt ane that wes till him preve
    And off Carrik his countre,
    And chargyt him in les and mar
    As ye hard me divis it ar
    And set him certane day to mai
    The fyr giff he saw it war sua
    That thai had possibilite
    To maynteyme wer in that cuntre.
    And he that wes rycht weill in will
    His lordis yharnyng to fullfill
    As he that worthy wes and leile
    And couth secreis rycht weill conseil
    Sad he wes boune intill all thing
    For to fulfill his commaunding,
    And said he suld do sa wisely
    That na repruff suld efter ly
    Syne at the king his leiff has tane
    And furth apon his way is gane.

    [Cuthbert the spy discovers that Percy, in Turnberry Castle,
    controls Carrick]



    Now gais the messynger his way
    That hat Cuthbert as I herd say.
    In Carrik sone aryvyt he
    And passyt throu all the countre,
    Bot he fand few tharin perfay
    That gud wald off his maister say,
    For fele off thaim durst nocht for dreid,
    And other sum rycht into deid
    War fayis to the nobill king,
    That rewyt syne thar barganyng.
    Baith hey and law the land wes then
    All occupyit with Inglismen
    That dispytyt atour all thing
    Robert the Bruce the douchty king.
    Carrik wes giffyn then halyly
    To Schir Henry the lord Persy
    That in Turnberyis castell then
    Was with weill ner three hunder men,
    And dauntyt sagat all the land
    That all wes till him obeysand.
    This Cuthbert saw thar felony,
    And saw the folk sa halely
    Be worthyn Inglis baith rich and pur
    That he to nane durst him discur,
    But thocht to leve the fyr unmaid,
    Syne till his maister went but baid
    And all thar convyne till him tell,
    That wes sa angry and sa fell.

    [The king thinks he sees a fire; he prepares to cross to Carrick; his hostess
    predicts his ultimate success, and gives him her two sons]



    The king that intill Arane lay
    Quhen that cummyn wes the day
    That he set till his messinger
    As Ik divisit you lang er
    Eftyr the fyr he lokyt fast
    And als sone as the none wes past
    Him thocht weill he saw a fyr
    Be Turnbery byrnand weill schyr,
    And till his menye it gan schaw.
    Ilk man thocht weill that he it saw,
    Then with blyth hart the folk gan cry,
    'Gud king, speid you deliverly
    Sua that we sone in the evynnyng
    Aryve foroutyn persayving.'
    'I grant,' said he. 'Now mak you yar,
    God furthyr us intill our far.'
    Then in schort time men mycht thaim se
    Schute all thar galayis to the se
    And ber to se baith ayr and ster
    And other thingis that myster wer,
    And as the king apon the sand
    Wes gangand up and doun, bidand
    Till that his menye redy war,
    His ost come rycht till him thar,
    And quhen that scho him halyst had
    A preve spek till him scho made
    And said, 'Takis gud kep till my saw,
    For or ye pas I sall you schaw
    Off your fortoun a gret party,
    Bot our all specially
    A wyttring her I sall you ma
    Quhat end that your purpos sall ta,
    For in this land is nane trewly
    Wate thingis to cum sa weill as I.
    Ye pas now furth on your viage
    To venge the harme and the outrag
    That Inglismen has to you done,
    Bot ye wat nocht quhat-kyne forton
    Ye mon drey in your werraying.
    Bot wyt ye weill withoutyn lesing
    That fra ye now haiff takyn land
    Nane sa mychty na sa strenththi of hand
    Sal ger you pas out off your countre
    Till all to you abandounyt be.
    Within schort tyme ye sall be king
    And haiff the land at your liking
    And ourcum your fayis all,
    Bot fele anoyis thole ye sall
    Or that your purpos end haiff tane,
    Bot ye sall thaim ourdryve ilkane.
    And that ye trowis this sekyrly
    My twa sonnys with you sall I
    Send to tak part of your travaill,
    For I wate weill thai sall nocht faill
    To be rewardyt weill at rycht
    Quhen ye are heyit to your mycht.'

    [A discourse on prophecy]



    The king that herd all hyr carping
    Thankit hyr in mekill thing,
    For scho confort him sumdeill,
    The-quhethir he trowyt nocht full weill
    Hyr spek, for he had gret ferly
    How scho suld wyt it sekyrly,
    As it wes wounderfull perfay
    How ony mannys science may
    Knaw thingis that ar to cum
    Determinabilly, all or sum,
    Bot giff that he inspyrit war
    Off Him that all thing evermar
    Seys in his presciens
    As it war ay in presens,
    As was David and Jeremy
    Samuell, Joell and Ysai,
    That throu His haly grace gan tell
    Fele thingis that efter fell,
    Bot the prophetis sa thyn ar sawyn
    That nane in erd now is knawin.
    Bot fele folk ar sa curyous
    And to wyt thingis covatous
    That thai, throu thar gret clergy
    Or ellys throu thar devilry,
    On thir twa maneris makis fanding
    Off thingis to cum to haiff knawing.
    Ane of thaim is astrologi,
    Quhar-throu clerkys that ar witty
    May knaw conjunctiones of planetis,
    And quhethir that thar cours thaim settis
    In soft segis or in angry,
    And off the hevyn all halyly
    How that the dispositioun
    Suld apon thingis wyrk her doun
    On regiones or on climatis,
    That wyrkys nocht ay-quhar agatis
    Bot sumquhar les and sumquhar mar
    Eftyr as thar bemys strekyt ar
    Othir all evyn or on wry.
    Bot me think it war gud maistri
    Till ony astrolog to say
    'This sall fall her and on this day.'
    For thoucht a man his lyff haly
    Studyit sua in astrology
    That on sternys his hewid he brak,
    The wys man sayis he suld nocht mak
    All his lyff certane dayis thre,
    And yeit suld he ay doute quhill he
    Saw how that it come till ending.
    Than is that na certane demyng.
    Or gyff thai men that will study
    In the craft off astrology
    Knaw all mennys nacioun
    And knew the constellacioun
    That kyndlik maneris gyfis thaim till
    For till inclyne to gud or ill,
    How that thai throu science of clergi
    Or throu slycht off astrology
    Couth tell quhatkyn perell apperis
    To thaim that haldys kyndlik maneris,
    I trow that thai suld faile to say
    The thingis that thaim happyn may.
    For quhethir-sa men inclynyt be
    To vertu or to mavyte,
    He may rychtg weill refreynye his will
    Othir throu nurtur or thru skill
    And to the contrar turne him all.
    And men has mony tyme sene fall
    That men kyndly till ivill gevyn
    Throu thar gret wit away has drevyn
    Thar ill and worthin off gret renoun
    Magre the constellacioun,
    As Arestotill, giff as men redis
    He had folowyt his kyndly dedis,
    He had bene fals and covatous
    Bot his wyt maid him vertuous.
    And sen men may on this kyn wys
    Wyrk agayne that cours that is
    Principaill caus off thar demyng
    Me think thar dome na certane thing.
    Nygromancy the tother is
    That kennys men on syndry wys
    Throu stalwart conjuracionys
    And throu exorcizacionys
    To ger spyritis to thaim apper
    And giff answeris on ser maner,
    As quhilum did the Phitones
    That quhen Saul abaysyt wes
    Off the Felystynys mycht,
    Raysyt throu hyr mekill slycht
    Samuelis spyrite als tite,
    Or in his sted the ivill spyrite
    That gaiff rycht graith answer hyr to,
    Bot off hyr selff rycht nocht wyst scho.
    And man is into dreding ay
    Off thingis that he has herd say,
    Namly off thingis to cum, quhill he
    Knaw off the end the certante.
    And sen thai ar in sic wenyng
    Foroutyne certante off witting,
    Me think quha sayis he knawis thingis
    To cum he makys gret gabingis.
    Bot quhether scho that tauld the king
    How his purpos suld tak ending
    Wenyt or wist it witterly,
    It fell efter halyly
    As scho said, for syne king wes he
    And off full mekill renomme



    BOOK 5



    [The king goes to Carrick; he upbraids Cuthbert]



    Thys wes in ver quhen wynter tid
    With his blastis hidwys to bid
    Was ourdryvyn and byrdis smale
    As turturis and the nychtyngale
    Begouth rycht sariely to syng
    And for to mak in thar singyng
    Swete notis and sounys ser
    And melodys plesand to her
    And the treis begouth to ma
    Burgeans and brycht blomys alsua
    To wyn the helynd of thar hevid
    That wykkyt wynter had thaim revid,
    And all gressys beguth to spryng.
    Into that tyme the nobill king
    With his flote and a few mengye
    Thre hunder I trow thai mycht be,
    Is to the se oute off Arane
    A litill forouth evyn gane.
    Thai rowit fast with all thar mycht
    Till that apon thaim fell the nycht
    That woux myrk apon gret maner
    Sua that thai wyst nocht quhar thai wer
    For thai na nedill had na stane,
    Bot rowyt alwayis intill ane
    Sterand all tyme apon the fyr
    That thai saw brynnand lycht and schyr.
    It wes bot aventur thaim led
    And thai in schort tyme sa thaim sped
    That at the fyr aryvyt thai
    And went to land but mair delay.
    And Cuthbert that has sene the fyr
    Was full of angyr and off ire,
    For he durst nocht do it away
    And wes alsua doutand ay
    That his lord suld pas to se.
    Tharfor thar cummyng waytit he
    And met thaim at thar aryving.
    He wes wele sone brocht to the kimg
    That speryt at him how he had done,
    And he with sar hart tauld him sone
    How that he fand nane weill luffand
    Bot all war fayis that he fand,
    And that the lord the Persy
    With ner thre hunder in cumpany
    Was in the castell thar besid
    Fullfillyt of dispyt and prid
    Bot ma than twa partis off his rowt
    War herberyt in the toune without,
    'And dyspytyt you mar, schyr king,
    Than men may dispyt ony thing.'
    Than said the king in full gret ire,
    'Tratour, quhy maid thou than the fyr?'
    'A schyr,' said he, 'Sa God me se
    The fyr wes nevyr maid for me,
    Na or the nycht I wyst it nocht,
    Bot fra I wyst it weill I thocht
    That ye and haly your menye
    On hy suld put you to the se,
    For-thi I come to mete you her
    To tell perellys that may aper.'

    [The king decides to stay to attack Percy's men in a village by Turnberry]



    The king wes off his spek angry
    And askyt his pryve men in hy
    Quhat at thaim thocht wes best to do.
    Schyr Edward fryst answert tharto
    His brodyr that wes sua hardy,
    And said, 'I say you sekyrly
    Thar sall na perell that may be
    Dryve me eftsonys to the se.
    Myne aventur her tak will I
    Quhethir it be esfull or angry.'
    'Brother,' he said, 'sen thou will sua
    It is gud that we samyn ta
    Dissese or ese or payne or play
    Eftyr as God will us purvay.
    And sen men sayis that the Persy
    Myn heritage will occupy,
    And his menye sa ner us lyis
    That us dispytis mony wys,
    Ga we and venge sum off the dispyte,
    And that may we haiff done als tite
    For thai ly traistly but dreding
    Off us or off our her-cummyng,
    And thocht we slepand slew thaim all
    Repruff tharoff na man sall
    For werrayour na fors suld ma
    Quhether he mycht ourcum his fa
    Throu strenth or throu sutelte,
    Bot that gud faith ay haldyn be.'
    Quhen this wes said thai went thar way,
    And to the toune sone cummyn ar thai
    Sa prevely but noyis making
    That nane persavyt thar cummyng.
    Thai skalyt throu the toun in hy
    And brak up duris sturdely
    And slew all that thai mycht ourtak,
    And thai that na defence mocht mak
    Full petously gan rar and cry,
    And thai slew thaim dispitously
    As thai that war in full gud will
    To venge the angyr and the ill
    That thai and thairis had thaim wrocht.
    Thai with sa feloun will thaim soucht
    That thai slew thaim everilkan
    Owtane Makdowell him allan
    That eschapyt throu gret slycht
    And throu the myrknes off the nycht.
    In the castell the lord the Persy
    Hard weill the noyis and the cry,
    Sa did the men that within wer
    And full effraytly gat thar ger,
    Bot off thaim wes nane sa hardy
    That ever ischyt fourth to the cry.
    In sic effray thai baid that nycht
    Till on the morn that day wes lycht,
    And than cesyt into party
    The noyis the slauchtyr and the cry.
    The king gert be departyt then
    All hale the reff amang the men
    And dwellyt all still thar dayis thre.
    Syk hansell to that fokk gaiff he
    rycht in the fyrst begynnyng
    Newlingis at his aryvyng.

    [A kinswoman gives him news and forty men]



    Quhen that the king and his folk war
    Aryvyt as I tauld you ar,
    Aquhile in Karryk leyndyt he
    To se quha freynde or fa wald be,
    Bot he fand litill tendyrnes,
    And nocht-forthi the puple wes
    Enclynyt till him in party,
    Bot Inglismen sa angrely
    Led thaim with daunger and with aw
    That thai na freyndschip durst him schaw.
    Bot a lady off that cuntre
    That wes till him in ner degre
    Of cosynage wes wonder blyth
    Off his aryvyng and alswyth
    Sped hyr till him in full gret hy
    With fourty men in cumpany
    And betaucht thaim all to the king
    Till help him in his werraying,
    And he resavyt thaim in daynte
    And hyr full gretly thankit he,
    And speryt tythandis off the queyne
    And off his freyndis all bedene
    That he had left in that countre
    Quhen that he put him to the se.
    And scho him tauld sichand full sar
    How that his brothyr takyn war
    In the castell off Kyldromy
    And destroyit sa velanysly
    And the erle off Athall alsua
    And how the queyn and other ma
    That till his party war heldand
    War tane and led in Ingland
    And put in feloun presoune,
    And how that Cristole off Setoun
    Wes slayn, gretand scho tauld the king,
    That sorowful wes off that tithing
    And said quhen he had thocht a thraw
    Thir wordis that I sall you schaw.
    'Allace,' he said, 'For luff off me
    And for thar mekill lawte
    Thai nobill men and thai worthy
    Ar destroyit sa velanysly
    Bot and I leyff in lege-powyste
    Thar deid rycht weill sall vengit be.
    The king the-quhether off Ingland
    Thocht that the kynrik off Scotland
    Was to litill to thaim and me
    Tharfor he will it myn all be.
    Bot off gud Cristole off Setoun
    That wes off sa nobill renoun
    That he suld dey war gret pite
    Bot quhar worschip mycht provyt be.'

    [Percy is rescued from Turnberry castle]



    The king sichand thus maid his mayn
    And the lady hyr leyff has tayn
    And went hyr hame till hyr wonnyng
    And fele sys confort the king
    Bath with silver and with mete
    Sic as scho in the land mycht get.
    And he oft ryot all the land
    And maid all his that ever he fand
    And syne drew him till the hycht
    To stynt better his fayis mycht.
    In all that tym wes the Persy
    With a full sympill cumpany
    In Turnberys castell lyand,
    For the King Robert sua dredand
    That he durst nocht isch furth to fayr
    Fra thine to the castell off Ayr
    That wes then full off Inglismen,
    Bot lay lurkand as in a den
    Tyll the men off Northummyrland
    Suld cum armyt and with strang hand
    Convoy him till his cuntre.
    For his saynd till thaim send he,
    And thai in hy assemblyt then
    Passand I weyne a thousand men
    And askyt avisement thaim amang
    Quhether that thai suld dwell or gang,
    Bot thai war skownrand wonder sar
    Sa fer into Scotland for to far,
    For a knycht, Schyr Gawter the Lile
    Said it wes all to gret perile
    Sua ner thai schavalduris to ga.
    His spek discomfort thaim sua
    That thai had left all thar vyage
    Na war a knycht off gret corage
    That Schyr Roger off Sanct Jhon hycht
    That thaim confort with all his mycht,
    And sic wordis to thaim gan say
    That thai all samyn held thar way
    Till Turnbery, quhar the Persy
    Lap on and went with thaim in hy
    In Ingland his castell till
    Foroutyn distroublyne or ill.

    [Douglas decides to visit his lands]



    Now in Ingland is the Persy
    Quhar I trow he a quhile sall ly
    Or that he schap hym for to fayr
    To werray Carryk ony mar,
    For he wyst he had na rycht
    And als he dreid the kyngys mycht
    That in Carrik wes travailland
    In the maist strenth off the land,
    Quhar Jamys off Douglas on a day
    Come to the king and gan him say,
    'Schyr, with your leyve I wald ga se
    How that thai do in my contre
    And how my men demanyt ar,
    For it anoyis me wonder sar
    That the Clyffurd sa pesabylly
    Brukys and haldys the senyoury
    That suld be myn with alkyn rycht
    Bot quhile I lyff and may haiff mycht
    To lede a yowman or a swayne
    He sall nocht bruk it but bargayne.'
    The king said, 'Certis I can nocht se
    How that thou yeit may sekyr be
    Into that countre for to far
    Quhar Inglismen sa mychty ar
    And thou wate nocht quha is thi freynd.'
    He said, 'Schyr, nedways I will wend
    And tak that aventur will giff
    Quhether-sa it be to dey or lyff.'
    The king said, 'Sen it is sua
    That thou sic yarning has to ga
    Thou sall pas furth with my blyssing,
    And giff the hapnys ony thing
    That anoyis or scaithfull be
    I pray the sped the sone to me
    And tak we samyn quhatever may fall.'
    'I grante,' he said and thar-with-all
    He lowtyt and his leve has tane
    And towart his countre is he gane.

    [Douglas meets Tom Dickson; he acquires a following]



    Now takis James his viage
    Towart Douglas his heritage
    With twa yemen foroutyn ma.
    That wes a symple stuff to ta
    A land or castell to wyn,
    The-quhether he yarnyt to begyn
    Till bring purpos till ending
    For gud help is in gud begynnyng
    For gud begynnyng and hardy
    Gyff it be folowit wittily
    May ger oftsys unlikly thing
    Cum to full conabill ending.
    Sua did it her, bot he wes wys
    And saw he mycht on nakyn wys
    Werray his fa with evyn mycht
    Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht,
    And in Douglasdaile his countre
    Apon ane evynnyng entryt he.
    And than a man wonnyt tharby,
    That wes off freyndis weill mychty
    And ryche off mobleis and off cateill
    And had bene till his fadyr leyll,
    And till himselff in his youthed
    He haid done mony a thankfull deid,
    Thom Dicson wes his name perfay.
    Till him he send and gan him pray
    That he wald cum all anerly
    For to spek with him prevely,
    And he but daunger till him gais.
    Bot fra he tauld him quhat he wais
    He gret for joy and for pite
    And him rycht till his hous had he,
    Quhar in a chambre prevely
    He held him and his cumpany,
    That nane of him had persaving.
    Off mete and drynk and other thing
    That mycht thaim eys thai had plente.
    Sa wrocht he throu sutelte
    That all the lele men off that land
    That with his fadyr war dwelland
    This gud man gert cum ane and ane
    And mak him manrent everilkane,
    And he himselff fyrst homage maid.
    Douglas in hart gret glaidschip haid
    That the gud men off his cuntre
    Wald suagate till him bundyn be.
    He speryt the convyne off the land
    And quha the castell had in hand
    And thai him tauld all halily,
    And syne amang thaim prevely
    Thai ordanyt that he still suld be
    In hiddillis and in prevete
    Till Palme Sonday that wes ner-hand
    The thrid day efter folowand
    For than the folk off that countre
    Assemblyt at the kyrk wald be,
    And thai that in the castell wer
    Wald als be thar thar palmys to ber
    As folk that had na dreid off ill
    For thai thocht that all was at thar will.
    Than suld he cum with his twa men,
    Bot for that men suld nocht him ken
    He suld ane mantill have auld and bar
    And a flaill as he a thresscher war.
    Under the mantill nocht-forthi
    He suld be armyt prevely,
    And quhen the men off his countre
    That suld all boune befor him be
    His ensenye mycht her hym cry,
    Then suld thai full enforcely
    Rycht ymyddys the kirk assaill
    The Inglismen with hard bataill
    Sua that nane mycht eschap thaim fra,
    For thar-throuch trowyt thai to ta
    The castell that besid wes ner.
    And quhen this that I tell you her
    Wes divisyt and undertane
    Ilkane till his hous hame is gane
    And held this spek in prevete
    Till the day off thar assemble.

    [The garrison are attacked and many slain in kirk;
    the castle is taken; the Douglas Lardner; slighting of the castle]



    The folk apon the Sonounday
    Held to Saynct Bridis kyrk thar way,
    And thai that in the castell war
    Ischyt out bath less and mar
    And went thar palmys for to ber,
    Outane a cuk and a portere.
    James off Douglas off thar cummyng
    And quhat thai war had witting,
    And sped him till the kyrk in hy,
    Bot or he come, to hastily
    Ane of his cryit, 'Douglas, Douglas.'
    Thomas Dikson, that nerrest was
    Till thaim that war off the castell
    That war all innouth the chancell,
    Quhen he 'Douglas' sua hey hard cry
    Drew out his swerd and fellely
    Ruschyt amang thame to and fra,
    Bot ane or twa foroutin ma
    Than in hy war left lyand,
    Quhill Douglas come rycht at hand
    And then enforcyt on thaim the cry,
    Bot thai the chansell sturdely
    Held and thaim defendyt wele
    Till off thar men war slayne sumdell.
    Bot the Douglace sa weill him bar
    That all the men that with him war
    Had confort off his wele-doyng,
    And he him sparyt nakyn thing
    Bot provyt sua his force in fycht
    That throu his woschip and his mycht
    His men sa keynly helpyt than
    That thai the chansell on thaim wan.
    Than dang thai on sua hardyly
    That in schort tyme men mycht se ly
    The twa part dede or then deand,
    The lave war sesyt sone in hand
    Sua that off thretty levyt nane
    That thaine war slayne ilkan or tane.
    James off Douglas quhen this wes done
    The presoneris has he tane alsone
    And with thaim off his cumpany
    Towart the castell went in hy
    Or noyis or cry suld rys,
    And for he wald thaim sone suppris
    That levyt in the castell war
    That war bot twa foroutyn mar,
    Fyve men or sex befor send he
    That fand all opyn the entre
    And entryt and the porter tuk
    Rycht at the yate and syne the cuk.
    With that the Douglas come to the yat
    And entryt in foroutyn debate
    And fand the mete all redy graid
    And burdys set and claithis laid
    The yhattis then he gert sper
    And sat and eyt all at layser,
    Syne all the gudis turssyt thai
    That thaim thocht thai mycht haiff away,
    And namly wapnys and armyng
    Silver and tresour and clethyng.
    Vittalis that mycht nocht tursyt be
    On this maner destroyit he,
    Als quheyt and flour and meill and malt
    In the wyne-sellar gert he bring
    And samyn on the flur all flyng
    And the presonaris that he had tane
    Rycht tharin gert he heid ilkane,
    Syne off the tounnys the hedis outstrak.
    A foul melle thar gane he mak,
    For meile and malt and blud and wyne
    Rane all togidder in a mellyne
    That was un semly for to se.
    Tharfor the men off that countre
    For sua fele thar mellyt wer
    Callit it 'the Douglas lardner.'
    Syne tuk he salt as Ic hard tell
    And ded hors and fordid the well,
    And brynt all outakyn stane,
    And is furth with his menye gayne
    Till his resett, for him thocht weill
    Giff he had haldyn the castell
    It had bene assegyt raith
    And that him thocht to mekill waith,
    For he had na hop of reskewyng.
    And it is to peralous thing
    In castell assegyt to be
    Quhar want is off thir thingis thre,
    Vittaill or men with thar armyng
    Or than gud hop off rescuyng,
    And for he dred thir thingis suld faile
    He chesyt furthwart to travaill
    Quhar he mycht at his larges be
    And sua dryve furth his destane.

    [Douglas withdraws; Clifford repairs the castle]



    On this wise wes the castell tan
    And slayne that war tharin ilkan.
    The Douglas syne all his menye
    Gert in ser placis departyt be,
    For men suld les wyt quhar thai war
    That yeid departyt her and thar.
    Thaim that war woundyt gert he ly
    Intill hiddillis all prevely,
    And gert gud lechis till thaim bring
    Quhill that thai war intill heling,
    And himselff with a few menye
    Quhile ane quhile twa and quhilis thre
    And umquhill all him allane
    In hiddillis throu the land is gane.
    Sa dred he Inglismennys mycht
    That he durst nocht wele cum in sycht
    For thai war that tyme all-weldand
    As maist lordis our all the land.
    Bot tithandis that scalis sone
    Off this deid that Douglas has done
    Come to the Cliffurd his ere in hy,
    That for his tynsaill wes sary
    And menyt his men that thai had slane,
    And syne has to his purpos tane
    To big the castell up agayne.
    Tharfor as man off mekill mayne
    He assemblit gret cumpany,
    And till Douglas he went in hy
    And biggyt up the castell swyth
    And maid it rycht stalwart and styth
    And put tharin vittalis and men.
    Ane of the Thyrlwallys then
    He left behind him capitane
    And syne till Ingland went agayne.

    [Umfraville finds a kinsman of the king willing to slay him]



    Into Carrik lyis the king
    With a full symple gadryng,
    He passyt nocht twa hunder men.
    Bot Schyr Edward his broder then
    Wes in Galloway weill ner him by,
    With him ane other cumpany
    That held the strenthis off the land,
    For thai durst nocht yeit tak on hand
    Till our-rid the land planly.
    For off Valence Schyr Amery
    Was intill Edynburgh lyand
    That yeyt was wardane of the land
    Underneyth the Inglis king,
    And quhen he herd off the cummyng
    Off King Robert and his menye
    Into Carryk and how that he
    Had slain off the Persyis men
    His consaile he assemblit then,
    And with assent off his consaill
    He sent till Ar him till assaill
    Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill that wes hardy
    And with him a gret cumpany.
    And quhen Schyr Ingram cummyn wes thar
    Him thocht nocht speidfull for till far
    Till assaile him into the hycht,
    Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht
    And lay still in the castell than
    Till he gat speryng that a man
    Off Carrik, that wes sley and wycht
    And a man als off mekill mycht
    As off the men off that cuntre,
    Wes to the King Robert mast preve
    As he that wes his sibman ner,
    And quhen he wald foroutyn danger
    Mycht to the kingis presence ga,
    The-quhether he and his sonnys twa
    War wonnand still in the cuntre
    For thai wald nocht persayvit be
    That thai war speciall to the king.
    Thai maid him mony tyme warnyng
    Quhen that thai his tynsaill mycht se,
    Forthi in thaim affyit he.
    His name can I nocht tell perfay,
    Bot Ik haiff herd syndry men say
    Forsuth that his ane e wes out
    Bot he sa sturdy wes and stout
    That he wes the maist doutit man
    That in Carrik lyvyt than.
    And quhen Schyr Ingrame gat wittering
    Forsuth this wes na gabbing,
    Efter him in hy he sent
    And he come at his commandment.
    Schyr Ingrame that was sley and wis
    Tretyt with him than on sic wys
    That he maid sekyr undertaking
    In tresoun for to slay the king,
    And he suld haiff for his service
    Gyff he fullfillyt thar divice
    Weill fourty pundis worth off land
    Till him and till his ayris ay lestand.

    [The traitor and his sons seek to kill the king but are killed]



    The tresoun thus is undertane,
    And he hame till his hous is gane
    And wattyt opertunyte
    For to fulfill his mavyte.
    In gret perell than was the king
    That off this tresoun wyst na thing,
    For he that he traistit maist of ane
    His ded falsly has undertane,
    And nane may betreys tyttar than he
    That man in trowis leawte.
    The king in him traistyt, forthi
    He had fullfillyt his felony
    Ne war the king throu Goddis grace
    Gat hale witting of his purchace,
    And how and for how mekill land
    He tuk his slauchter apon hand.
    I wate nocht quha the warnyng maid,
    Bot on all tym sic hap he had
    That quhen men schup thaim to betrais
    He gat witting tharoff allwayis
    And mony tyme as I herd say
    Throu wemen that he wyth wald play
    That wald tell all that thai mycht her,
    And sua myvht happyn that it fell her,
    Bot how that ever it fell perde
    I trow he sall the warrer be.
    Nocht-forthi the tratour ay
    Had in his thocht bath nycht and day
    How he mycht best bring till ending
    His tresonabill undretaking,
    Till he umbethinkand him at the last
    Intill his hart gan umbecast
    That the king had in custome ay
    For to rys arly ilk day
    And pas weill fer fra his menye
    Quhen he wald pas to the preve,
    And sek a covert him allane
    Or at the maist with him ane.
    Thar thocht he with his sonnys twa
    For to supprise the king and sla
    And syne went to the wod thar way,
    Bot yeit off purpos failit thai,
    And nocht-forthi thai come all thre
    In a covert that wes preve
    Quhar the king oft wes wont to ga
    His preve nedys for to ma.
    Thair hid thai thaim till his cumming,
    And the king into the mornyng
    Rais quhen that his liking was
    And rycht towart that covert gais
    Quhar lyand war the tratouris thre
    For to do thar his prevete.
    To tresoun tuk he then na heid
    Bot he wes wont quharever he yeid
    His swerd about his hals to ber
    And that availlyt him gretli ther
    For had nocht God all thing weldand
    Set help intill his awine hand
    He had bene ded withoutyn dreid.
    A chamber page thar with him yeid,
    And sua foroutyn falowis ma
    Towart the covert gan he ga.
    Now bot God help the noble king
    He is ner-hand till his ending,
    For that covert that he yeid till
    Wes on the tother sid a hill
    That nane of his men mycht it se.
    Thiddirwart went this page and he
    And quhen he cummyn wes in the schaw
    He saw thai thre cum all on raw
    Aganys him full sturdely.
    Than till his boy he said in hy,
    'Yon men will slay us and thai may.
    Quhat wapyn has thou?' 'Ha, Schyr, perfay
    Ik haiff bot a bow and a wyr.'
    'Giff thaim me smertly bath.' A, Schyr
    Howgaite will ye that I do?'
    'Stand on fer and behald us to.
    Giff thou seis me abovyn be
    Thou sall haiff wapynnys gret plente,
    And giff I dey, withdraw the sone.'
    With thai wordis foroutyn hone
    He tyte the bow out off his hand,
    For the tratouris war ner cummand.
    The fader had a swerd but mar,
    The tother bath swerd and hand-ax bar,
    The thrid a swerd had and a sper.
    The king persavt be thar affer
    That all wes as men had him tauld.
    'Tratour,' he said, 'thou has me sauld.
    Cum na forthyr bot hald the thar.
    I will thou cum na forthermar.'
    'A, Schyr, umbethinkis you,' said he,
    How ner that I suld to you be.
    Quha suld cum ner you bot I?'
    The king said, 'I will sekirly
    That thou at this tyme cum nocht ner.
    Thou may say quhat thou will on fer.'
    Bot he with fals wordis flechand
    Was with his twa sonnys cummand.
    Quhen the king saw he wald nocht let
    Bot ay come on fenyeand falset
    He taisyt the wyre and leit it fley,
    And hyt the fader in the ey
    Till it rycht in the harnys ran
    And he bakwart fell doun rycht than.
    The brother that the hand-ax bar
    Sua saw his fader liand thar,
    A gyrd rycht to the king he couth maik
    And with the ax hym our-straik,
    Bot he that had his sword on hycht
    Roucht him sic rout in randoun rycht
    That he the hede till the harnys claiff
    And dede downe till the erd him draiff.
    The tother broder that bar the sper
    Saw his brodyr fallin ther
    And with the sper as angry man
    With a rais till the king he ran.
    Bot the king that him dred sumthing
    Waytyt the sper in the cummyng
    And with a wysk the hed off strak,
    And or the tother had toyme to tak
    His swerd the king sic swak him gaiff
    That he the hede till the harnys claiff,
    He ruschyt down off blud all reid.
    And quhen the king saw thai war all ded
    All thre lyand he wipit his brand,
    With that his boy come fast rynnand
    And said, 'Our Lord mot lovyt be
    That grantyt you mycht and powste
    To fell the felny and the prid
    Off thir thre in sua litill tid.'
    The king said, 'Sa our Lord me se
    Thai had bene worthi men all thre
    Had thai nocht bene full off tresoun,
    Bot that maid thar confusioun.'



    BOOK 6



    [Sir Ingram Umfraville praises the king;
    the men of Galloway pursue him with a tracker dog]



    The king is went till his logyng
    And off this deid sone come tithing
    Till Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill
    That thocht his sutelte and gyle
    Haid al failyeit in that place.
    Tharfor anoyit sua he was
    That he agayne to Lothyane
    Till Schyr Amer his gate has tane
    And till him tauld all hale the cas,
    That tharoff all forwonderyt was
    How ony man sa sodanly
    Mycht do so gret chevalry
    As did the king that him allane
    Vengeance off thre traytouris has tane,
    And said, 'Certis, I may weill se
    That it is all certante
    That ure helpys hardy men
    As be this deid we may ken.
    War he nocht outrageous hardy
    He had nocht unabasytly
    Sa smertly sene his avantage.
    I drede that his gret vassalag
    And his travaill may bring till end
    That at men quhile full litill wend.'
    Sik speking maid he off the king
    That ay foroutyn sojournyng
    Travaillit in Carrik her and thar.
    His men fra him sa scalit war
    To purches thar necessite
    And als the countre for to se
    That thai left nocht with him sexty.
    And quhen the Gallowais wyst suthli
    That he wes with sa few mengye
    Thai maid a preve assemble
    Off wele twa hunder men and ma,
    And slewth-hundis with thaim gan ta,
    For thai thocht him for to suppris
    And giff he fled on ony wys
    To folow him with the hundis sua
    That he suld nocht eschaip thaim fra.
    Thai schup thaim in ane evynnyng
    To suppris sodanly the king
    And tillhim held thai straucht thar way,
    Bot he, that had his wachis ay
    On ilk sid, off thar cummyng
    Lang or thai come had wyttering
    And how fele that thai mycht be,
    Tharfor he thocht with his menye
    To withdraw him out off the place,
    For the nycht weill fallyn was
    And for the nycht he thocht that thai
    Suld nocht haiff sycht to hald the way
    That he war passyt with his menye.
    And as he thocht rycht sua did he
    And went him down till a morras
    Our awatter that rynnand was,
    And in the bog he fand a place
    Weill strait that weill twa bow-draucht was
    Fra the watter thai passit haid.
    He said, 'Her may ye mak abaid
    And rest you all a quhile and ly,
    I will ga wach all prevely.
    Giff Ik her oucht off thar cummyng
    And giff I may her onything
    Isall ger warn you sa that we
    Sall ay at our avantage be.'

    [The king alone defends the ford]



    The king now takys his gate to ga
    And with him tuk he sergandis twa
    And Schyr Gilbert de le Hay left he
    Thar for to rest with his menye.
    To the watter he come in hy
    And lysnyt full ententily
    Giff he herd oucht off thar cummyng
    Bot yeit then mocht he her na thing.
    Endlang the watter then yeid he
    On ather syd a gret quantite
    And saw the brayis hey standand,
    The watter holl throu slik rynnand
    And fand na furd that men mycht pas
    Bot quhar himselvyn passit was,
    And sua strait wes the up-cumming
    That twa men mycht nocht samyn thring
    Na on na maner pres thaim sua
    That thai togidder mycht land ta.
    His twa men bad he than in hy
    Ga to thair feris to rest and ly
    For he wald wach thar com to se.
    'Schyr,' said thai, 'Quha sall with you be?'
    'God,' he said, 'forouten ma
    Pas on, for I will it be sua.'
    Thai did as he thame biddin had
    And he thar all allane abaid,
    And quhen he a lang quhile had bene thar
    He herknyt and herd as it war
    A hundis questyng on fer
    That ay come till him ner and ner.
    He stud still for till herkyn mar
    And ay the langer he wes thar
    He herd it ner and ner cummand,
    Bot he thocht he thar still wald stand
    Tyll that he herd mar takynnyng.
    Than for ane hundis questyng
    He wald nocht wakyn his menye,
    Tharfor he wald abid and se
    Quhat folk thai war and quhethir thai
    Held towart him the rycht way
    Or passyt ane other way fer by.
    The moyne wes schynand clerly,
    [no no.] [Sa lang he stude that he mycht her
    [no no.] The noyis off thaim that cummand wer
    [no no.] Than his twa men in hy send he
    [no no.] To warn and wakyn and walkyn his menye
    [no no.] And thai ar furth thar wayis gane
    [no no.] And he left thar all hym allane]
    And sua stude he herknand
    Till that he saw cum at his hand
    The hale rout intill full gret hy.
    Then he umbethocht him hastily
    Giff he held towart his menye
    That or he mycht reparyt be
    Thai suld be passit the furd ilkan,
    And then behuffyt him ches ane
    Off thir twa, other to fley or dey.
    Bot his hart that wes stout and hey
    Consaillyt hym allane to bid
    And kepe thaim at the furd syde
    And defend weill the upcummyng
    Sen he wes warnyst of armyng
    That thar arowys thurth nocht dreid,
    And gyff he war off gret manheid
    He mycht stunay thaim everilkane
    Sen thai ne mycht cum bot ane and ane,
    And did rycht as hys hart hym bad.
    Strang utrageous curage he had
    Quhen he sa stoutly him allane
    For litill strenth off erd has tane 128
    To fecht with twa hunder and ma.
    Tharwith he to the furd gan ga,
    And thai apon the tother party
    That saw him stand thar anyrly
    Thringand intill the water rad
    For off him litill dout thai had
    And raid till him in full gret hy.
    He smate the fyrst sua vygorusly
    With his sper that rycht scharp schar
    Till he doun till the erd him bar.
    The lave come then intill a randoun,
    Bot his hors that wes born doun
    Combryt thaim the upgang to ta,
    And quhen the king saw it wes sua
    He stekyt the hors and he gan flyng
    And syne fell at the upcummyng.
    The layff with that come with a schout,
    And he that stalwart wes and stout
    Met thaim rycht stoutly at the bra
    And sa gud payment gan thaim ma
    That fyvesum in the furd he slew.
    The lave then sumdell thaim withdrew
    That dred his strakys wondre sar
    For he in na thing thaim forbar.
    Then said ane, 'Certis we ar to blame.
    Quhat sall we say quhen we cum ham
    Quhen a man fechtis agane us all.
    Quha wyst ever men sa foully fall
    As us gyff that we thusgat leve.'
    With that all haile a schoute thai geve
    And cryit, 'On him, he may nocht last.'
    With that thai pressyt him sa fast
    That had he nocht the better bene
    He had bene dede withoutyn wen,
    Bot he sa gret defence gan mak
    That quhar he hyt evyn a strak
    Thar mycht nathing agane-stand.
    In litill space he left liand
    Sa fele that the upcummyng wes then
    Dyttyt with slayn hors and men
    Sua that his fayis for that stopping
    Mycht nocht cum to the upcummyng.
    A! Der God, quha had then bene by
    And sene howe he sa hardyly
    Adressyt hym agane thaim all
    I wate weile that thai suld him call
    The best that levyt in his day,
    And giff I the suth sall say
    I herd never in na tym gane
    Ane stynt sa mony him allane.

    [The story of Tydeus of Thebes]



    Suth is, quhen till Ethiocles
    Fra his brother Polnices
    Wes send Thedeus in message
    To ask haly the heritage
    Off Thebes till hald for a yer,
    For thai twynnys off a byrth wer,
    Thai strave, for ather king wald be.
    Bot the barnage off thar cuntre
    Gert thaim assent on this maner,
    That the tane suld be king a yer,
    And then the tother and his mengye
    Suld nocht be fundyn in the countre
    Quhill the fyrst brother regnand wer,
    Syne suld the tother renge a yer
    And then the fyrst suld leve the land
    Quhill that the tother war regnaND.
    Thus ay a yer suld regne the tane,
    The tother a yer fra that war gane.
    To ask haldyn off this assent
    Wes Thedeus to Thebes sent,
    And sua spake for Polnices
    That off Thebes Ethiocles
    Bad his constabill with him ta
    Men armyt weill and forouth ga
    To mete Thedeus in the way
    And slay him but langer delay.
    The constable his way is gane
    And nyne and fourty with him tane
    Sua that he with thaim maid fyfty.
    Intill the evynnyng prevely
    Thai set enbuschement in the way
    Quhar Thedeus behovyt away
    Betuix ane hey crag and the se,
    And he that off thar mavyte
    Wyst na thing his way has tane
    And towart Grece agane is gane.
    And as he raid into the nycht
    Sa saw he with the monys lycht
    Schynyng off scheldys gret plente,
    And had wondre quhat it mycht be.
    With that all hale thai gaiff a cry
    And he that hard sa suddanly
    Sic noyis sumdele affrayit was,
    Bot in schort time he till him tais
    His spyritis full hardely,
    For his gentill hart and worthy
    Assuryt hym into that nede.
    Then with te spuris he strak the sted
    And ruschyt in amang thaim all.
    The fyrst he met he gert him fall,
    And syne his sword he swapyt out
    And roucht about him mony rout
    And slew sexsum swill sone and ma.
    Then undre him his hors thai sla
    And he fell, bot he smertly ras
    And strykand rowm about him mas
    And slew off thaim a quantite
    Bot woundyt wondre sar wes he.
    With that a litill rod he fand
    Up towart the crag strekand.
    Thidder went he in full gret hy
    Defendand him full douchtely
    Till in the crag he clam sumdell
    And fand a place enclosyt weill
    Quhar nane bot ane mycht him assail,
    Thar stud he and gaiff thaim bataill
    And thai assaylyt everilkane
    And oft fell quhen that he slew ane
    As he doun to the erd wald dryve
    He wald ber doun weill four or fyve.
    Thar stud he and defendyt sua
    Till he had slayne thaim halff and ma.
    A gret stane then by him saw he
    That throu the gret anciente
    Wes lowsyt redy for to fall,
    And quhen he saw thaim cummand all
    He tumblyt doun on thaim the stane,
    And aucht men thar with it has slayn
    And sua stonayit the remanand
    That thai war weile ner recreand.
    Then wald he presone hald no mar
    Bot on thaim ran with swerd all bar
    And hewyt and slew with all his mayn
    Till he has nyne and fourty slayne.
    The constabill syne gan he ta
    And gert him swer that he suld ga
    Till King Ethiocles and tell
    The aventur that thaim befell.
    Thedeus bar him douchtely
    That him allane ourcome fyfty.
    Ye that this redys, cheys yhe
    Quhether that mar suld prysit be
    The king, that with avisement
    Undertuk sic hardyment
    As for to stynt him ane but fer
    The folk that twa hunder wer,
    Or Thedeus, that suddanly
    For thai had raysyt on him the cry
    Throu hardyment that he had tane
    Wane fyfty men allhim allane.
    Thai did thar deid bath on the nycht
    And faucht bath with the mone-lycht,
    Bot the king discomfyt ma
    And Thedeus then ma gan sla.
    Now demys quhether mar loving
    Suld Thedeus haiff or the king?

    [His men find the king]



    On this maner that Ik haiff tauld
    The king that stout wes and bauld
    Wes fechtand on the furd syd
    Giffand and takand rowtis rid
    Till he sic martyrdom thar has maid
    That he the ford all stoppyt haid
    That nane of thaim mycht till him rid.
    Thaim thocht than foly for to byd
    And halely the flycht gan ta
    And went hamewartis quhar thai come fra,
    For the kingis men with the cry
    Walknyt full effrayitly
    And com to sek thar lord the king.
    The Galloway men hard thar cummyng
    And fled and durst abid no mar.
    The kingis men that dredand war
    For thar lord full spedyly
    Come to the furd and sone in hy
    Thai fand the king syttand allane,
    That off his bassynet has tane
    Till avent him for he wes hate.
    Than speryt thai at him off his state
    And he tauld thaim all hale the case
    Howgate that he assailyt was
    And how that God him helpyt sua
    That he eschapyt hale thaim fra.
    Than lukyt thai how fele war ded,
    And thai fand lyand in that sted
    Fourtene that war slayne with his hand.
    Than lovyt thai God fast all-weildand
    That thai thar lord fand hale and fer,
    And said thaim byrd on na maner
    Drede thar fayis sen thar chyftane
    Wes off sic hart and off sic mayn
    That he for thaim had undretan
    With sua fele for to fecht him ane.

    [A comment on valour]



    Syk wordis spak thai of the king,
    And for his hey undretaking
    Farlyit and yarnyt hym for to se
    That with hym ay wes wont to be.
    A! Quhat worschip is prisit thing,
    For it mays men till haiff loving
    Gyff it be folowit ythenly,
    For pryce off worschip nocht-forthi
    Is hard to wyn, for gret travaill
    Offt to defend and oft assaill
    And to be in thar dedis wys
    Gerris men off worschip wyn the price,
    And may na man haiff worthyhed
    Bot he haiff wyt to ster his deid
    And se quhat ys to leve or ta.
    Worschip extremyteys has twa,
    Fule-hardyment the formast is
    And the tother is cowartys,
    And thai ar bath for to forsak.
    Fule-hardyment all will undertak,
    Als weill thingis to leve as ta,
    Bot cowardys dois na thing sua
    But uttrely forsakis all,
    Bot that war derer for to fal
    Na war faute of discretioun.
    Forthi has worschip sic renoun,
    That it is mene betuix tha twa
    And takys that is till underta
    And levys that is to leve, for it
    Has sa gret warnysing of wyt
    That it all perellis weile gan se
    And all avantagis that may be.
    I wald till hardyment heyld haly
    With-thi away war the foly
    For hardyment with foly is vice
    Bot hardyment that mellyt is
    With wyt is worschip ay perde,
    For but wyt worschip may nocht be.
    This nobile king that we off red
    Mellyt all tyme with wit manheid,
    That may men by this melle se.
    His wyt schawyt him the strait entre
    Off the furd and the uschyng alsua
    That as him thocht war hard to ta
    Apon a man that war worthy,
    Tharfor his hardyment hastily
    Thocht it mycht be weill undretan
    Sen at anys mycht assail bot ane.
    Thus hardyment governyt with wyt
    That he all tyme wald samyn knyt
    Gert him off worschip haiff the price
    And oft ourcum his ennymyis.

    [Douglas attacks Thirlwall at Douglas Castle]



    The king in Carrik dwellyt ay still,
    Hys men assemblyt fast him till
    That in the land war travailland
    Quhen thai off this deid herd tithand
    For thai thar ure wald with him ta
    Gyff that he eft war assaylyt sua.
    Bot yeit than James of Douglas
    In Douglas daile travailland was
    Or ellysweill ner-hand tharby
    In hydillys sumdeill prevely,
    For he wald se his governyng
    That had the castell in keping,
    And gert mak mony juperty
    To se quhether he wald ische blythly.
    And quhen he persavyt that he
    Wald blthly ische with his menye,
    He maid a gadring prevely
    Of thaim that war on his party,
    That war sa fele that thai durst fycht
    With Thyrwall and all the mycht
    Of thaim that in the castell war.
    He schupe him in the nycht to far
    To Sandylandis, and ner tharby
    He him enbuschyt prevely
    And send a few a trane to ma,
    That sone in the mornyng gan ta
    Catell that wes the castell by
    And syne withdrew thaim hastily
    Towart thaim that enbuschit war.
    Than Thyrwall foroutyn mar
    Gert arme his men foroutyn baid
    And ischyt with all the men he haid
    And folowyt fast efter the ky.
    He wes armyt at poynt clenly
    Outane his hede wes bar.
    Than with the men that with him war
    The catell folowit he gud speid
    Rycht as a man that had na dreid
    Till that he gat off thaim a sycht.
    Than prekyt thai with all thar mycht
    Folowand thaim out off aray,
    And thai sped thaim fleand quhill thai
    Fer by thar buschement war past,
    And Thyrwall ay chassyt fast.
    And than thai that enbuschyt war
    Ischyt till him bath les and mar
    And rayssyt sudanly the cry,
    And thai that saw sa sudandly
    That folk come egyrly prekand
    Rycht betwix thaim and thar warand,
    Thai war into full gret effray
    And for thai war out off aray
    Sum off thaim fled and sum abad,
    And the Douglas that thar with him had
    A gret mengye full egrely
    Assaylyt and scalyt thaim hastyly
    And in schort tyme ourraid thaim sua
    That weile nane eschapyyt thaim fra.
    Thyrwall that wes thar capitane
    Wes thar in the bargane slane
    And off his men the mast party,
    The lave fled full effraytly.
    Douglas his menye fast gan chas,
    And the flearis thar wayis tays
    Till the castell in full gret hy.
    The formast entryt spedyly
    Bot the chaseris sped thaim sa fast
    That thai ourtuk sum of the last
    And thaim foroutyn mercy gan sla.
    And quhen thai off the castell sua
    Saw thaim sla off thar men thaim by
    Thai sparyt the yattis hastily
    And in hy to the wallis rane.
    James off Douglas his menye than
    Sesyt weile hastily in hand
    That thai about the castell fand
    To thair resett, syne went thar way.
    Thus ischyt Thyrwall that day.

    [The king is pursued by John of Lorn and his tracker-dog;
    he and his foster brother kill five men]



    Quhen Thyrwall on this maner
    Had ischit as I tell you her,
    James off Douglas and his men
    Buskit thaim all samyn then
    And went thar way towart the king
    In gret hy, for thai herd tything
    That off Valence Schyr Amery
    With full gret chevalry
    Bath off Scottis and Inglis men
    With gret felny war rerdy then
    Assemblyt for to sek the king,
    That wes that tyme with his gadring
    In Cumnok quhair it straitast was.
    Thidder went James of Douglas
    And wes rycht welcum to the king
    And quhen he had tauld that tithing,
    How that schyr Amer wes cummand
    For till hunt him out off the land
    With hund and horne rycht as he war
    A woulff, a theyff, or theyffis fer,
    Than said the king, 'It may weill fall
    Thocht he cum and his power all
    We sall abid in this countre,
    And gyff he cummys we sall him se.'
    The king spake apon this maner,
    And of Valence Schyr Amer
    Assemblyt a gret cumpany
    Off noble men and off worthy
    Off Ingland and of Lowthiane,
    And he has alsua with him tane
    Jhone off Lorn and all his mycht
    That had off worthi men and wycht
    With him aucht hunder men and ma
    A sleuth-hund had he thar alsua
    Sa gud that wald chang for na thing,
    And sum men sayis yeit that the king
    As a strecour him noryst had
    And sa mekill off him he maid
    That hys awyn handis wald him feid.
    He folowyt him quharever he yeid
    Sa tthat the hund him lovit sua
    That he wald part na wys him fra.
    Bot how that Jhon of Lorn him had
    Ik herd never mencioun be mad,
    Bot men sayis it wes certane thing
    That he had him in his sesyng
    And throu him thocht the king to ta,
    For he wyst he him luffyt sua
    That fra that he mycht anys fele
    The kingis sent he wyst rycht weill
    That he wald chaung it for na thing.
    This Jhon off Lorne hattyt the king
    For Jhon Cumyn his emys sak,
    Mycht he him other sla or tak
    He wald nocht prys his liff a stra
    Sa that he vengeance of him mycht ta.
    The wardane than Schyr Amery
    With this Jhone in cumpany
    And other off gud renoun alsua,
    Thomas Randell was ane off tha,
    Come intill Cumnok to sek the king
    That wes weill war off that cummyng
    And wes up in the strenthis then
    And with him weill four hunder men.
    His broder that tym with him was
    And alsua James off Douglas.
    Schyr Ameryys rowte he saw
    That held the plane ay and the law
    And in hale battaill alwayis raid.
    The king that na supposyn had
    That thai wer may then he saw thar
    Till thaim and nother ellisquhar
    Had ey and wrocht unwittily,
    For Jhom off Lorn full sutelly
    Behind thocht to supprys the king.
    Tharfor with all his gadring
    About ane hill he held the way
    And held him into covert ay
    Till he sa ner come to the king
    Or he persavyt his cummyng
    That he wes cummyn on him weill ner.
    The tother ost and Schyr Amer
    Pressyt aponthe tother party.
    The king wes in gret juperty
    That wes on ather sid umbeset
    With fayis that to sla him thret,
    And the leyst party off the twa
    Was starkar than he and ma.
    And quhen he saw thaim pres him to
    He thocht in hy quhat was to do
    And said, 'Lordis we haiff na mycht
    As at this tyme to stand and fycht,
    Tharfor departis us in thre,
    All sall nocht sa assailyt be,
    And in thre partis hald our way.'
    Syne till his preve folk gan he say
    Betwix thaim into prevete
    In quhat sted thar repayr suld be.
    With that thar gate all ar thai gane
    And in thre partis thar way has tane.
    Jhone of Lorne come to the place
    Fra quhar the king departyt was
    And in his trace the hund he set
    That then foroutyn langer let
    Held even the way efter the king
    Rycht as he had off him knawing,
    And left the tother partys twa
    As he na kep to thaim wald ta.
    And quhen the king saw his cummyng
    Efter hys route intill a ling
    He thocht thai knew that it wes he,
    Tharfor he bad till his menye
    Yeit then in thre depart thaim sone,
    And thai did sua foroutyn hone
    And held thar way in thre partys.
    The hund did thar sa gret maistrys
    That held ay foroutyn changing
    Eftre the rowt quhar wes the king.
    And quhen the king had sene thaim sua
    All in a rowt efter him ga
    The way and folow nocht his men
    He had a gret persaving then
    That thai knew him, forthi in hy
    He bad his men rycht hastily
    Scaile and ilkan hald his way
    All himselff, and sua did thai.
    Ilk man a syndry gate is gane
    And the king with him has tane
    His foster broder foroutyn ma
    And samyn held thar gate thai twa.
    The hund folowyt alwayis the king
    And changyt for na departing
    Bot ay folowit the kingis trace
    But waveryng as he passyt was
    And quhen Jhon off Lorn saw
    The hund sa hard eftre him draw
    And folow strak after thai twa
    He knew the king wes ane of tha,
    And bad fyve off his cumpany
    That war rycht wycht men and hardy
    And als off fute spediast war
    Off all that in thair rowt war
    Ryn eftre him and him ourta
    And lat him na wys pas thaim fra,
    And fra thai had herd the bydding
    Thai held thar way efter the king
    And folowyt him sa spedely
    That thai him weill sone gan ourhy.
    The king that saw thaim cummand ner
    Wes anoyit on gret maner,
    For he thocht giff thai war worthi
    Thai mycht hi, travaile and tary
    And hald him swagate tariand
    Till the remanand com at hand,
    Bot had he dred bot anerly
    Thai fyve I trow all sekyrly
    He suld have had na mekill dred.
    And till his falow as he yeid
    He said, 'Thir fyve ar fast cummand
    Thai ar weill ner now at our hand,
    Sa is thar ony help at the
    For we sall sone assailyt be.'
    'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'all that I may.'
    'Thou sayis weill,' said the king. 'Perfay
    I see thaim cummand till us ner.
    I will na forthyr bot rycht her
    I will byd quhill Ic am in aynd
    And se quhat force that thai can faynd.'
    The king than stud full sturdely
    And the fyvesum in full gret hy
    Come with gret schor and manassing.
    Then thre off thaim went to the king,
    And till his man the tother twa
    With swerd in hand gan stoutly ga.
    The king met thaim that till him socht
    And to the fyrst sic rowt he roucht
    That er and chek downe in the hals
    He scharnand off the schuldir als,
    He ruschyt down all disyly.
    The twa that saw sa sudanly
    Thar falow fall effrayit war
    And stert a litill ovyrmar.
    The king with that blenkit him by
    And saw the twasome sturdely
    Agane his man gret melle ma.
    With that he left his awin twa
    And till thaim that faucht with his man
    A loup rycht lychtly maid he than
    And smate the hed off the tane,
    To mete his awne syne is he gane.
    Thai come on him full sturdely,
    He met the fyrst sa egrely
    That with the swerd that scharply schar
    The arme fra the body he bar.
    Quhat strakys thai gaiff I can nocht tell,
    Bot to the king sa fayr befell
    That thocht he travaill had and payne
    He off his fa-men four has slayn,
    His foster broder tharefter sone
    The fyft out of dawys has done.
    And quhen the king saw that all fyve
    War on that wys broucht out off lyve
    Till hys falow than gan he say,
    'Thou has helpyt weile perfay'
    'It likys you to say sua,' said he,
    'Bot the gret part to you tuk ye
    That slew four off the fyve you ane.'
    The king said, 'As the glew is gane
    Better than thou I mycht it do
    For Ik had mar layser tharto,
    For the twa falowys that delt with the
    Quhen thai saw me assailyt with thre
    Off me rycht nakyn dout thai had
    For thai wend I sa straytly war stad,
    And forthi that thai dred me noucht
    Noy thaim fer out the mar I moucht.'
    With that the king lokyt him by
    And saw off Lorn the company
    Weill ner with thar sleuth-hund cummand.
    Than till a wod that wes ner-hand
    He went with his falow in hy.
    God sayff thaim for his gret mercy.



    BOOK 7



    [The king escapes from the hound]



    The king towart the wod is gane
    Wery forswayt and will of wane
    Intill the wod sone entryt he
    And held doun towart a vale
    Quhar throu the woid a watter ran.
    Thidder in gret hy wend he than
    And begouth for to rest him thar
    And said he mycht no forthirmar.
    His man said, 'Schyr, it may nocht be.
    Abyd ye her ye sall son se
    Fyve hunder yarnand you to sla,
    And thai ar fele aganys us twa.
    And sen we may nocht dele with mycht
    Help us all that we may with slycht.'
    The king said, 'Sen that thou will sua,
    Ga furth, and I sall with the ga.
    Bot Ik haiff herd oftymys say
    That quha endlang a watter ay
    Wald waid a bow-draucht he suld ger
    Bathe the slouth-hund and his leder
    Tyne the sleuth men gert him ta.
    Prove we giff it will now do sa,
    For war yone devillis hund away
    I roucht nocht off the lave perfay.'
    As he dyvisyt thai haiff doyn
    And entryt in the watter sone
    And held down endlang thar way,
    And syne to the land yeid thai
    And held thar way as thai did er.
    And Jhone off Lorn with gret affer
    Come with hys rout rycht to the place
    Quhar that his fyve men slane was.
    He menyt thaim quhen he thaim saw
    And said eftre a litill thraw
    That he suld veng thar bloude,
    Bot otherwayis the gamyn youde.
    Thar wald he mak na mar dwelling
    Bot furth in hy folowit the king.
    Rycht to the burn thai passyt war,
    Bot the sleuth-hund maid styntyn thar
    And waveryt lang tyme to and fra
    That he na certane gate couth ga,
    Till at the last that Jhon of Lorn
    Persavyt the hund the slouth had lorn
    And said, 'We haiff tynt this travaill.
    To pas forthyr may nocht availe
    For the void is bath braid and wid
    And he is weill fer be this tid,
    Tharfor is gud we turn agayn
    And waist no mar travaill in vayne.'
    With that relyit he his mengye
    And his way to the ost tuk he.

    [An alternative account of the escape]



    Thus eschapyt the nobill king,
    Bot sum men sayis this eschaping
    Apon ane other maner fell
    Than throu the wading, for thai tell
    That the king a gud archer had,
    And quhen he saw his lord sua stad
    That he wes left sa anerly
    He ran on sid alwayis him by
    Till he into the woude wes gane.
    Than said he till him selff allane
    That he arest rycht thar wald ma
    To luk giff he the hund mycht sla,
    For giff the hund mycht lest in lyve
    He wyst rycht weile that thai wald dryve
    The kingis trace till thai him ta,
    Than wyst he weile thai wald him sla.
    And for bhe wald his lord succur
    He put his liff in aventur,
    And stud intill a busk lurkand
    Till that the hund come at his hand
    And with ane arow sone him slew
    And throu the woud syne him withdrew.
    Bot quhether this eschaping fell
    As I tauld fyrst or I now tell,
    I wate weill without lesing
    That at the burn eschapyt the king.

    [Three men with a wethertry to kill the king
    and kill his foster-brother]



    The king has furth his wayis tane,
    And Jhon of Lorn agayne is gane
    To Schyr Aymer that fra the chace
    With his men repayryt was
    That sped lytill in thar chassyng
    Thoucht at thai maid gret folowing
    Full egrely thai wan bot small,
    Thar fayis ner eschapyt all.
    Men sayis Schyr Thomas Randell than
    Chassand the kingis baner wan,
    Quharthrou in Ingland with the king
    He had rycht gret price and loving.
    Quhen the chasseris relyit war
    And Jhon of Lorn had met thaim thar
    He tauld Schyr Aymer all the cas,
    How that the king eschapyt was
    And how that he his fyve men slew
    And syne to the wode him drew.
    Quhen Schyr Aymer herd this, in hy
    He sanyt him for the ferly
    And said, 'He is gretly to prys,
    For I knaw nane that liffand is
    That at myscheyff gan help him sua.
    I trow he suld be hard to sla
    And he war bodyn evynly.'
    On this wis spak Schyr Aymery,
    And the gud king held furth his way
    Betwix him and his man quhill thai
    Passyt out throu the forest war.
    Syne in the more thai entryt ar
    That wes bathe hey and lang and braid,
    And or thai halff it passyt had
    Thai saw on syd the men cummand
    Lik to lycht men and waverand,
    Swerdis thai had and axiys als
    And ane off thaim apon his hals
    A mekill boundyn wether bar.
    Thai met the king and halist him thar,
    And the king tthaim thar hailsing yauld
    And askyt thaim quhether thai wauld.
    Thai said Robert the Bruys thai socht,
    For mete with him giff that thai moucht
    Thar dwelling with him wauld thai ma.
    The king said, 'Giff that ye will sua,
    Haldys furth your way with me
    And I sall ger you sone him se.'
    Thai persavyt be his speking
    That he wes the selvyn Robert king,
    And chaungyt contenance and late
    And held nocht in the fyrst state,
    For thai war fayis to the king
    And thocht to cum into Sculking
    And dwell with him quhill that thai saw
    Thar poynt, and bryng him than off daw.
    Thai grantyt till his spek forthi,
    Bot the king that wes witty
    Persavyt weill be thar having
    that thai luffyt him nathing
    And said, 'Falowis, ye mon all thre,
    Forthir aquent till that we be,
    All be yourselvyn forrouth ga,
    And on the samyn wys we twa
    Sall folow behind weill ner.'
    Quod thai, 'Schyr, it is na myster
    To trow in us ony ill.'
    'Nane do I,' said he, 'bot I will
    That yhe ga forrourth thus quhill we
    Better with othyr knawin be.'
    'We grant,' thai said, 'sen ye will sua.'
    And furth apon thar gate gan ga.
    Thus yeid thai till the nycht wes ner,
    And than the formast cummyn wer
    Till a waist husbandis hous, and thar
    Thai slew the wethir that thai bar
    And slew fyr for to rost thar mete,
    And askyt the king giff he wald ete
    And rest him till the mete war dycht.
    The king that hungry was, Ik hycht,
    Assentyt till thar spek in hy,
    Bot he said he wald anerly
    Betwix him and his fallow be
    At a fyr, and thai all thre
    In the end off the hous suld ma
    Ane other fyr, and thai did sua.
    Thai drew thaim in the hous end
    And halff the wethir till him send.
    And thai rostyt in hy thar mete
    And fell rycht freschly for till ete,
    For the king weill lang fastyt had
    And had rycht mekill travaill mad,
    Tharfor he eyt full egrely
    And quhen he had etyn hastily
    He had to slep sa mekill will
    That he mocht set na let thartill,
    For quhen the vanys fillyt ar
    Men worthys hevy evermar
    And to slepe drawys hevynes.
    The king that all fortravaillyt wes
    Saw that him worthyt slep nedwayis.
    Till his foser-broder he sayis,
    'May I traist in the me to waik
    Till Ik a litill sleping tak.'
    'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'till I may dre.'
    The kingbthen wynkyt a litill wey,
    And slepyt nocht full encrely
    Bot gliffnyt up oft sodanly,
    For he had dreid of thai thre men
    That at the tother fyr war then.
    That thai his fais war he wyst,
    Tharfor he slepyt as foule on twyst.
    The king slepyt bot a litill than
    Quhen sic slep fell on his man
    That he mycht nocht hald up his ey,
    Bot fell in slep and rowtyt hey.
    Now is the king in gret perile
    For slep he sua a litill quhile
    He sall be ded fotoutyn dreid,
    For the thre tratouris tuk gud heid
    that he on slep wes and his man.
    In full gret hy thai rais up than
    And drew thar swerdis hastily
    And went towart the king in hy
    Quhen that thai saw him sleip sua,
    And slepand thocht thai wald him sla.
    Till him thai yeid a full gret pas,
    Bot in that tym throu Goddis grace
    The king up blenkit hastily
    And saw his man slepand him by
    And saw cummand the tother thre.
    Deliverly on fut gat he
    And drew his swerd out and thaim mete,
    And as he yude his fute he set
    Apon his man weill hevily.
    He waknyt and rais disily,
    For the slep maistryt hym sway
    That or he gat up ane off thai
    That com for to sla the king
    Gaiff hym a strak in his rysing
    Sua that he mycht help him no mar.
    The king sa straitly stad wes thar
    That he wes never yeit sa stad,
    Ne war the armyng that he had
    He had bene dede foroutyn wer.
    Bot nocht-forthi on sic maner
    He helpyt him in that bargane
    That thai thre tratouris he has slan
    Throu Goddis grace and his manheid.
    Hys fostyr brother thar wes dede,
    Then wes he wondre will of wayn
    Quhen he saw him left allane.
    His foster broder meny he
    And waryit all the tother thre,
    And syne his way tuk him allane
    And rycht towart his tryst is gane.

    [The king goes to a house, where the goodwife gives him her two sons;
    he meets his companions and they take an enemy force in a
    village by surprise]



    The king went furth way and angri
    Menand his man full tenderly
    And held his way all him allane,
    And rycht towart the hous is gan
    Quhar he set tryst to meit his men.
    It wes weill inwyth nycht be then,
    He come sone in the hous and fand
    The houswyff on the benk sittand
    That askit him quhat he was
    And quhen he come and quethir he gais.
    'A travailland man, dame,' said he,
    'That travaillys throu the contre.'
    Scho said, 'All that travailland er
    For ane his sak ar welcum her.'
    The king said, 'Gud dame, quhat is he
    That gerris you haiff sik specialte
    To men that travaillis?' 'Schyr, perfay,'
    Quod the gud-wyff, 'Isall you say,
    The King Robert the Bruys is he,
    That is rycht lord off this countre.
    His fayis now haldis him in thrang,
    Bot I think to se or ocht lang
    Him lord and king our all the land
    That na fayis sall him withstand.'
    'Dame, luffis thou him sa weil,' said he.
    'Ya, schyr,' said scho, 'sa God me se.'
    'Dame,' said he, 'hym her the by,
    For Ik am he, I say the soithly,
    Yha certis, dame.' 'And quhar ar gane
    Your men quhen ye ar thus allane?'
    'At this tyme, dame, Ik haiff no ma.'
    Scho said, 'It may na wys be swa.
    Ik haiff twa sonnys wycht and hardy,
    Thai sall becum your men in hy.'
    As scho divisyt thai haiff done,
    His sworn men become thai sone.
    The wyff syn gert him syt and ete,
    Bot he has schort quhile at the mete
    Syttyn quhen he hard gret stamping
    About the hous, then but letting
    Thai stert up the hous for to defende,
    Bot sone eftre the king has kend
    James off Douglas. Than wes he blyth
    And bad oppyn the durris swyth
    And thai come in all that thar war.
    Schyr Edward the Bruce wes thar,
    And James alsua off Douglas
    That wes eschapyt fra the chace
    And with the kingis brother met,
    Syn to the tryst that thaim wes set
    Thai sped thaim with thar cumpany
    That wer ane hunder and weile fyfty.
    And quhen that thai haiff sene the king
    Thai war joyfull of thar meting
    And askyt how that he eschapyt was,
    And he thaim tauld all hale the cas.
    How the fyve men him pressyt fast,
    And how he throu the water past,
    And how he met the thevis thre
    And how he slepand slane suld be
    Quhen he waknyt throu Goddis grace
    And how his foster brodyr was
    Slayne he tauld thaim all haly.
    Than lovyt thai God commounly
    That tthar lord wes eschapyt sua,
    Than spak thai wordis to and fra
    Till at the last the king gan say
    'Fortoun us travaillyt fast today
    That scalyt us sa sodanly.
    Our fayis tonycht sall ly traistly
    For thai trow we so scalit ar
    And fled to-waverand her and thar
    That we sall nocht thir dayis thre
    All togiddir assemblit be.
    Tharfor this nycht thai sall trastly
    But wachys tak thar ese and ly.
    Quharfor quha knew thar herbery
    And wald cum on thaim sodanly
    With few mengye mycht thaim scaith
    And eschape foroutyn waith.'
    'Perfay,' quod James of Douglas,
    'As I come hyddyrwart per cas
    I come sa ner thar herbery
    That I can bring you quhar thai ly,
    And wald ye speid you yeit or day
    It may sua happin that we may
    Do thaim a gretar scaith weile sone
    Than thai us all day has done,
    For thai ly scalyt as thaim lest.'
    Than thocht thaim all it wes the best
    To sped thaim to thaim hastily,
    And thai did sua in full gret hy
    And come on thaim in the dawing
    Rycht as the day begouth to spryng.
    Sa fell it that a cumpany
    Had in a toun tane thar herbery
    Weile fra the ost a myle or mar,
    Men said that thai twa hunder war.
    Thar assemblyt the nobill king,
    And sone eftre thar assembling
    Thai that slepand assaylyt war
    Rycht hidwysly gan cry and rar,
    And other sum that herd the cry
    Ras sa rycht effrayitly
    That sum of thaim nakit war
    Fleand to warand her and thar,
    and sum his armys with him drew,
    And thai foroutyn mercy thaim slew
    And sa evyll vengeance can ta
    That the twa partis of thaim and ma
    War slayn rycht in that ilk sted,
    Till thar oist the remanand fled.
    The oyst that hard the noyis and cry
    And saw thar men sua wrechytly
    Sum nakit fleand her and thar,
    Sum all hale, sum woundyt sar,
    Into full gret effray thai rais
    And ilk man till his baner gays
    Sua that tthe oyst wes all on ster.
    The king and thai that with him wer
    Quhen on ster the oyst saw sua
    Towart thar warand gan thai ga,
    And thar in savete com thai
    And quhen Schyr Aymer herd say
    How that the king thar men had slayn
    And how that thai turnyt war agayn
    He said, 'Now may we clerly se
    That nobill hart quharever it be
    It is hard till ourcum throu maystri,
    For quhar ane hart is rycht worthy
    Agayne stoutnes it is ay stoute,
    Na as I trow thar may na doute
    Ger it all-out dis cumfyt be
    Quhill body levand is and fre,
    As be this melle may be sene.
    We wend Robert the Bruce had bene
    Sua discomfyt that be gud skill
    He suld nother haiff haid hart ne will
    Swilk juperty till undreta
    For he put was at undre sua
    That he wes left all him allane
    And all his folk war fra him gayn,
    And he sagat fortravaillyt
    To put thaim off that him assaylit
    That he suld haiff yarnyt resting
    This nycht atour all other thing.
    Bot his hart fillyt is off bounte
    Sua that it vencusyt may nocht be.'

    [The king goes hunting and is attacked by three men beside a wood]



    On this wys spak Schyr Aymery,
    And quhen thai off his cumpany
    Saw how thai travaillit had in vayn
    And how the king thar men had slayn
    And that his wes gane all fre,
    Thaim thocht it wes a nycete
    For to mak thar langer dwelling
    Sen thai mycht nocht anoy the king,
    And said that to Schyr Amery,
    That umbethocht him hastily
    That he to Carlele wald ga
    And a quhill tharin sojourn ma
    And haff his spyis on the king
    To knaw alwayis his contenyng,
    And quhen that he his poynt mycht se
    He thocht that with a gret menye
    He suld schute apon him sudanly.
    Tharfor with all his cumpany
    Till Ingland he the way has tane,
    And ilk man till his hous is gane.
    In hy till Carlele wesnt is he
    And tharin thinkys for till be
    Till he his poynt saw off the king,
    That then with all his gaderring
    Wes in Carryk quhar umbestount
    He wald went with his men til hunt.
    Sa happynyt that on a day
    He went till hunt for till assay
    Quhat gamyn was in that countre,
    And sua hapnyt that day that he
    By a woud-syd to sett is gane
    With his twa hundys him allane,
    Bot his swerd ay with him bar.
    He had bot schort quhile syttyn thar
    Quhen he saw fra the woud cummand
    Thre men with bowys in thar hand
    That towart him come spedely,
    And he that persayvyt in hy
    Be thar affer and thar having
    That thai luffyt him nakyn thing,
    He rais and his leysche till him drew he
    And leyte hys hundis gang all fre.
    God help the king now for his mycht,
    For bot he now be wys and wycht
    He sall be set in mekill pres,
    For thai thre men foroutyn les
    War his fayis all utrely,
    And wachyt him sa bysyly
    To se quhen thai vengeance mycht tak
    Off the king for Jhon Comyn his sak
    That thai thocht than thai layser had.
    And sen he hym allane wes stad
    In hy thai thocht thai suld him sla,
    And gyff that thai mycht chevys sua
    Fra that thai the king had slayn
    THat thai mycht wyn the woud agayn,
    His men thaim thocht thai suld nocht dred.
    In hy towart the king thai yeid
    and bent thar bowys quhen thai war ner,
    And he that dred on gret maner
    thar arowys, for he nakyt was,
    In hy a speking to thaim mais
    And said, 'You aucht to schame perde
    Sen ik am ane and ye ar thre
    For to schute at me apon fer.
    Bot had ye hardyment to cum ner
    And with your swerdis till assay,
    Wyn me apon sic wys giff ye may,
    Ye sall wele oute mar prisyt be.'
    'Perfay,' quod ane than off the thre
    'Sall na man say we dred the sua
    That we with arowys sall the sla.'
    With that thar bowys away thai kest
    And come on fast but langer frest.
    The king thaim met full hardyly
    And smate the fyrst sa vygorusly
    that he fell dede doun on the gren.
    And quhen the kingis hund has sene
    Thai men assailye his maister sua
    He lap till ane and gan him ta
    Rycht be the nek full sturdyly.
    Till top our tale he gert him ly,
    And the king that his swerd out had
    Saw he sa fayr succour him maid.
    Or he that fallyn wes mycht rys
    He him assayllyt on sic wys
    That he the bak strak evyn in twa.
    The thrid that saw his falowis sua
    Foroutyn recoveryng be slayne
    Tok to the wod his way agane,
    Bot the king folowit spedyly,
    And als the hund that wes him by
    Wquhen he the man saw fle him fra
    Schot till him sone and gan him ta
    Rycht be the nek and till him dreuch
    And the king that wes ner yneucht
    In his ryssing sik rowt him gaff
    That stane-dede to the erd he draff.
    The kingis men that wer than ner
    Quhen that thai saw on sic maner
    The king assailyt sa sodanly
    Thai sped towart him in hy
    And askyt how that cas befell,
    And he all haly gan thaim tell
    How thai assaillyt him all thre
    'Perfay,' quod thai, 'we may wele se
    That it is hard till undretak
    Sic melling with you to mak
    That sua smertly has slayn tthir thre
    Foroutyn hurt.' 'Perfay,' said he,
    I slew bot ane forouten ma
    God and my hund has slayn the twa.
    Thar tresoun combryt thaim perfay
    For rycht wycht men all thre war thai.'

    [The king goes to Glen Trool; Valence follows him there]



    Quhen that the king throu Goddis grace
    On this maner eschapyt was
    He blew his horn and then in hy
    His gud men till him gan rely,
    tthen hamwartis buskyt he to far
    For that day wald he hunt no mar.
    In Glentruell all a quhile he lay,
    And went weyle oft to hunt and play
    For to purches thaim venesoun,
    For than der war in sesoun.
    In all that tyme Schyr Aymery
    With nobill men in cumpany
    Lay in Carlele hys poynt to se,
    And quhen he hard the certante
    That in Glentrewle wes the king
    And went till hunt and till playing,
    He thocht with hys chevalry
    To cum apon him sodanly
    And fra Carlele on nychtys ryd
    And in covert on dayis bid,
    And swagate with sic tranonting
    He thocht he suld suppris the king.
    He assemblyt a gret mengne
    Off folk off full gud renomme
    Bath off Scottis and Inglis-men.
    Thar way all samyn held thai then
    And raid on nycht sa prevely
    Till thai come in a wod ner by
    Glentruele, quhar logyt wes the king
    That wyst rycht nocht off thar cummyng.
    Into gret perile now is he,
    For bot God throu his gret powste
    Save him he sall be slayne or tane,
    For thai war sex quhar he wes ane.

    [Valence sends a woman ahead to spy, but she is discovered;
    Valence attacks and is discumfitted; his captains quarrel]



    Quhen Schyr Amery, as Ik haiff tauld
    With his men that war stout and bauld
    Wes cummyn sa ner the king that thai
    War bot a myle fra him away
    He tuk avisement with his menm
    On quhat maner thai suld do then.
    For he said thaim that the king was
    Logyt into sa strayt a place
    That horsmen mycht nocht him assaile
    And giff futemen gaiff him bataile
    He suld be hard to wyn giff he
    Off thar cummyng may wytteryt be.
    'Tharfor I rede all prevely
    We send a woman him to spy
    That pouerly arrayit be.
    Scho may ask mete per cherite
    And se thar convyn halily
    And apon quhat maner thai ly,
    The quhilis we and our menye
    Cumand out-throu the wode may be
    On fute all armyt as we ar.
    May we do sua that we cum thar
    On thaim or thai wyt our cummyng
    We sall fynd in thaim na sturting.'
    This consaill thocht thaim wes to best,
    Then send thai furth but langer frest
    The woman that suld be thar spy,
    And scho hyr way gan hald in hy
    Rycht to the logis quhar the king
    That had na drede of supprising
    Yheid unarmyt mery and blyth.
    The woman has he sene alswyth,
    He saw hyr uncouth and forthi
    He beheld hyr mar encrely,
    And be hyr ccontenance him thocht
    That for gud cummyn was scho nocht.
    Then gert he men in hy hyr ta,
    And scho that dred men suld hyr sla
    Tauld how that Schyr Amery
    With the Cliffurd in cumpany
    With the flour off Northummyrland
    War cummand on thaim at thar hand.
    Quhen that the king herd that tithing
    He armyt him but mar dwelling,
    Sa did thai all that ever wes thar,
    Syne in a sop assemblyt ar,
    I trow thai war thre hunder ner.
    And quhen thai all assemblit wer
    The king his baner gert display
    And set his men in gud aray,
    Bot thai had standyn bot a thraw
    Rycht at thar hand quhen that thai saw
    Thar fayis throu the wod cummand
    Armyt on fute with sper in hand
    That sped thaim full enforcely.
    The noyis begouth sone and the cry,
    For the gud king that formast was
    Stoutly towart his fayis gays,
    And hynt out off a mannys hand
    That ner besyd him wes gangand
    A bow and a braid arow als,
    And hyt the formast in the hals
    Till thropill and wesand yeid in twa
    And doun till the erd gan ga.
    The laiff with that maid a stopping,
    Than but mar bad the nobill king
    Hynt fra his baneour his banar
    And said, 'Apon thaim, for thai ar
    Discumfyt all.' With that word
    He swappyt swiftly out his sword
    And on thaim ran sa hardely
    That all thai off his cumpany
    Tuk hardyment off his gud deid,
    For sum that fryst thar wayis yeid
    Agayne come to the fycht in hy
    And met thair fayis vigorusly
    That all the formast ruschyt war,
    And quhen thai that war hendermar
    Saw that the formast left the sted
    Thai tornyt sone the bak and fled
    And out off the wod thaim withdrew.
    The king a few men off thaim slew
    For thai rycht sone thar gat gan ga.
    It discomfortyt thaim all sua
    That the king with his mengne was
    All armyt to defend that place
    that thai wend throu thar tranonting
    Till haiff wonnyn foroutyn fechtin
    That thai effrayit war sodanly,
    And he thaim soucht sa angyrly
    That thai in full gret hy agane
    Out off the wod rane to the plane
    For thaim faillyt off thar entent.
    Thai war that tyme sa foully schent
    That fyften hunder men and ma
    With a few mengne war reboytyt sua
    That thai withdrew thaim schamfully.
    Tharfor amang thaim sodanly
    Thar rais debate and gret distance,
    Ilkan wytt other off thar myschance.
    Cliffurd and Waus maid a melle
    Quhar Cliffurd raucht him a cole
    And athir syne drew till partys,
    Bot Schyr Aymer that wes wys
    Departyt thaim with mekill payn,
    And went till Ingland hame again.
    He wyst fra stryff ras thaim amang
    He suld thaim nocht hals samyn lang
    Foroutyn debate or melle,
    Tharfor till Ingland turnyt he
    Eith mar schame then he went of ton,
    Quhen sa mony off sic renone
    Saw sa few men bid thaim battaill
    Quhair thai ne war hardy till assaile.



    BOOK 8


    [The king in Kyle]




    The king fra Schyr Aymer wes gane
    Gadryt his menye everilkan
    And left bath woddis and montanys
    And held hys way strak till the planys
    For he wald fayne that end war maid
    Off that that he begunnyn had,
    And he wyst weill he mycht nocht bring
    It to gud end but travalling.
    To Kyle went he fryst and that land
    He maid all till him obeysand,
    The men maist force come till his pes.
    Syne efterwart or he wald ses
    Of Conyngayme the maist party
    He gert held till his senyoury.
    In Bothweill then Schyr Aymer was
    That in hys hart gret angre has
    For thai off Cunyngame and Kile
    That war obeysand till him quhile
    Left Inglismennys fewte.
    Tharoff fayne vengyt wald he be,
    And send Philip the Mowbray
    With a thousand as Ik herd say
    Off men that war in his leding
    To Kile for to werray the king.

    [Douglas defeats Sir Philip Mowbray at Edirford]



    Bot James of Douglas that all tid
    Had spyis out on ilka sid
    Wyst off thar cummyng and that thai
    Wald hald doune Makyrnokis way.
    He tuk with him all prevely
    Thaim that war off his cumpany
    That war fourty withoutyn ma,
    Syne till a strait place gan he ga
    That is in Makyrnokis way,
    The Edirford it hat perfay,
    It lyis betwix marrais twa
    Quhar that na hors on lyve may ga.
    On the south halff quhar James was
    Is ane upgang, a narow pas,
    And on the north halff is the way
    Sa ill as it apperis today.
    Douglas with thaim he with him had
    Enbuschyt him and thaim abaid,
    He mycht weile fer se thar cummyng
    Bot thai mycht se of hym na thing.
    Thai baid in buschement all the nycht,
    And quhen the sone was schynand brycht
    Thai saw in bataillyng cum arayit
    The vaward with baner displayit,
    And syne sone the remanand
    Thai saw weile ner behind cummand.
    Then held thai thaim still and preve
    Till the formast off that mengye
    War entryt in the ford thaim by,
    Then schot thai on thaim with a cry
    And with wapnys that scharply schar
    Sum in the ford thai bakwart bar,
    And sum with arowis barblyt braid
    Sa gret martyrdome on thaim has maid
    That thai gan draw to voyd the place,
    Bot byhynd thaim sa stoppyt was
    The way that thai fast mycht nocht fle,
    And that gert mony off thaim de,
    For thai on na wys mycht away
    Bot as thai come bot giff that thai
    Wald throu thar fayis hald the gat,
    Bot that way thocht thaim all to hat.
    Thar fayis met thaim sa sturdely
    And contenyt the fycht sa hardily
    That thai sa dredand war that thai
    That fyrst mycht fle fyrst fled away,
    And quhen the rerward saw thaim sua
    Discumfyt and thar wayis ga
    Thai fled on fer and held thar way.

    [The flight of Sir Philip Mowbray to Inverkip]



    Bot Schyr Philip the Mowbray
    That with the formast ridand was
    That entryt wes in the place,
    Quhen that he saw how he wes stad
    Throu the gret worschip that he had
    With spuris he strak the steid off pryce
    And magre all his ennymys
    Throu the thikkest off thaim he raid,
    And but challance eschapyt had
    Ne war ane hynt him by the brand,
    Bot he the gud steid that wald nocht stand
    Lansyt furth deliverly.
    Bot the tother sa stalwartly
    Held that the belt braist off the brand
    And swerd and belt left in hys hand,
    And he but swerd his wayis raid
    Weill otouth thaim and thair abaid,
    And beheld how that his menye fled
    And how his fayis clengyt the steid
    That war betwix him and his men.
    Tharfor furth the wayis tuk he then
    To Kylmarnok and Kilwynnyne
    And till Ardrossane eftre syne,
    Syne throu the Largis him allane
    Till Ennirkyp the way has tane
    Rycht to the castell that wes then
    Stuffyt all with Inglismen
    That him resaiffyt in daynte,
    And fra thai wyst howgat that he
    Sa fer had rydin him allane
    Throu thaim that war his fayis ilkan
    Thai prisyt him full gretumly
    And lovyt fast his chevalry.

    [The reactions of Valence and King Robert]



    Schyr Philip thus eschapyt was,
    And Douglas yet wes in the place
    Quhar he sexty has slayne and ma,
    The layff fouly thar gat gan ga
    And fled to Bothwell hame agayne
    Quhar Schyr Aymer wes na thing fayn
    Quhen he herd tell on that maner
    That his mengne discumfyt wer.
    Bot quhen to King Robert wes tauld
    How that the Douglas that wes bauld
    Vencussyt sa fele with fewe menye
    Rycht joyfull in his hart wes he,
    And all his menye confortyt war
    For thaim thocht weille bath les and mar
    That thai suld less thar fayis dreid
    Sen thar purpos sa with thaim yeid.

    [Valence challenges the king to open battle at Loudoun hill]



    The king lay in Galliston
    That is evyn rycht anent Loudoun
    And till his pes tuk the cuntre.
    Quhen Schyr Aymer and his menye
    Hard how he ryotyt the land
    And how that nane durst him withstand
    He wes intill his hart angry,
    And with ane off his cumpany
    He send him word and said giff he
    Durst him into the planys se
    He suld the tend day of May
    Cum under Loudoun hill away,
    And giff that he wald meyt him thar
    He said his worschip suld be mar,
    And mar be turnyt in nobillay,
    To wyn him in the playne away
    With hard dintis in evyn fechtyng
    Then to do fer mar with skulking.
    The king that hard his messynger
    Had dispyt apon gret maner
    That Schyr Aymer spak sa heyly,
    Tharfor he answeryt irusly
    And to the messynger said he,
    'Say to thi lord giff that I be
    In lyfe he sall me se that day
    Weyle ner giff he dar hald the way
    That he has said, for sekyrly
    Be Loudoun hill mete him sall I.'
    The messinger but mare abaid
    Till his maistre the wayis raid
    And his answer him tauld alswith
    Quharof he wes bath glaid and blyth,
    For he thocht throu his mekill mycht
    Gyff the king durst cum to fycht
    That throu the gret chevalry
    That suld be in his cumpany
    He suld sua ourcum the king
    That thar suld be na recovering.

    [The king chooses and prepoares a battle field]



    And the king on the tother party
    That was all wis and averty
    Raid for to se and cheis the place,
    And saw the hey gat liand was
    Apon a fayr feild evyn and dry,
    Bot apon athir sid tharby
    Wes a gret mos mekill and braid
    That fra the way wes quhar men raid
    A bow-draucht weile on ather sid,
    And that place thocht him all to wyd
    Till abyd men that horsyt war.m
    Tharfor thre dykys our-thwort he schar
    Fra baith the mossis to the way
    That war sa fer fra other that thai
    War ytwyn a bow-draucht or mar.
    So holl and hey the dykys war
    That men mycht nocht but mekill pane
    Pas thaim thocht nane war thaim agan,
    Bot sloppys in the way left he
    Sa large and off sic quantite
    That fyve hunder mycht samyn rid
    In at the sloppis sid be sid.
    Thar thocht he bataile for to bid
    And bargane thaim, for he na drede
    Had that thai suld on sid assaile
    Na yeit behind giff thaim battaile,
    And befor thocht him weill that he
    Suld fra thar mycht defendyt be.
    Thre dep dykys he gert thar ma,
    For gyff he mycht nocht weill ourta
    To mete thaim at the fyrst, that he
    Suld havve the tother on his pouste,
    Be than the thrid gyff it war sua
    That thai had passyt the tother twa.
    On this wys him ordanys he,
    And syne assemblit his mengne
    That war sex hunder fechtand men,
    But rangale that wes with him then
    That war als fele as thai or ma.
    With all that mengne gan he ga
    The evyn or that the bataill suld be
    Till litill Loudoun quhar that he
    Wald abid to se thar cummyng,
    Syne with the men of his leding
    He thocht to sped him sua that he
    Suld at the dyk befor thaim be.

    [The armies before the battle of Loudoun]



    Schyr Aymer on the tother party
    Gadryt sua gret chevalry
    That he mycht be thre thousand ner
    Armyt and dycht on gud maner,
    Than as man off gret noblay
    He held towart his trist his way
    Quhen the set day cummyn was.
    He sped him fast towart the place
    That he nemmyt for to fycht,
    The sone wes ryssyn schynand brycht
    thyat schawyt on the scheldis brade
    In twa eschelis ordanyt he had
    The folk that he had in leding.
    The king weile sone in the mornyng
    Saw fyrst cummand thar fyrst eschele
    Arrayit sarraly and weile,
    And at thar bak sumdeill ner-hand
    He saw the tother folowand,
    Thar bassynettis burnyst all brycht
    Agayne the son glemand off lycht,
    Thar speris pennonys and thar scheldis
    Off lycht enlumynyt all the feldis,
    Thar best and browdyn brycht baneris
    And hors hewyt on ser maneris
    And cot-armouris off ser colour
    And hawbrekis that war quhyt as flour
    Maid thaim gleterand as thai war lyk
    Till angelys hey off hevynnys ryk.
    The king said, 'Lordis now ye se
    How yon men throu thar gret poweste
    Wald, and thai mycht fulfill thar will,
    Sla us, and makys sembland thartill,
    And sen we knaw thar felny
    Ga we mete thaim sa hardily
    That the stoutest of thar mengye
    Off our meting abaysit be,
    For gyff the formast egrely
    Be met ye sall se sodanly
    The henmaist sall abaysit be.
    And thoucht that thai be ma than we
    That suld abays us litill thing,
    For quhen we cum to the fechting
    Thar may mete us no ma than we.
    Tharfor lordingis, ilkan suld be
    Off us worthi off gret valour
    For to maynteyme her our honour.
    Thynkis quhat glaidschip us abidis
    Gyff that we may aqs weile betidis
    Haff victour off our fayis her,
    For thar is nane than fer na ner
    In all thys land that us thar doute.'
    Then said thai all that stud about,
    'Schyr gyff God will we sall sa do
    That na reprov sall fall tharto.'
    'Now ga we furth than,' said the king,
    'Quhar He that maid off nocht all thing
    Lede us and saiff us for his mycht
    And help us for till hald our rycht.'
    With that thai held thar way in hy
    Weill sex hunder in cumpany
    Stalwart and stout, worthi and wycht
    Bot thai war all to few Ik hycht
    Agayne sa fele to stand in stour
    Ne war thar utrageous valour.

    [The battle at Loudoun]



    Now gais the nobill king his way
    Rycht stoutly and in gud aray,
    And to the formast dyk is gane
    And in the slop the feld has tane.
    The cariage and the povyrall
    That war nocht worth in the bataill
    Behynd him levyt he all still
    Syttand all samyn on the hyll.
    Schyr Aymer the king has sene
    With his men that war cant and kene
    Come to the playne doune fra the hill
    As him thocht in full gud will
    For to defend or to assaile
    Gyff ony wald him bid bataill.
    Tharfor his men confortit he
    And bad thaim wycht and worthi be,
    For gyff that thai mycht wyne the king
    And haiff victour off his fechting
    Thai suld rycht weile rewardyt be
    And ek gretly thar renomme.
    With that thai war weill ner the king
    And he left his amonesting
    And gert trump to the assemble,
    And the formest off his mengne
    Enbrasyt with the scheldis braid
    And rycht sarraly togydder raid
    With heid stoupand and speris straucht
    Rycht to the king thar wayis raucht,
    That met thaim with sa gret vigour
    That the best and off maist valour
    War laid at erd at thar meting
    Quhar men mycht her sic a breking
    Off speris that to-fruschyt war
    And the woundyt sa cry and rar
    That it anoyus wes to her
    For thai that fyrst assemblyt wer
    Fwyngyt and faucht full sturdely.
    The noyis begouth then and the cry.

    [The victory of King Robert]



    A! mychty God quha thar had bene
    And had the kingis worschip sene
    And his brodyr that waine him by
    That stonayit thaim sa hardely
    That thair gud deid and thair bounte
    Gaiff gret confort to thar mengye,
    And how Douglas sa manlily
    Confortyt thaim that war him by,
    He suld weile say that thai had will
    To wyn honour and cum thar-till.
    The kingis men sa worthi war
    That with speris that scharply schar
    Thai stekit men and stedis baith
    Till rede blud ran off woundis raith.
    The hors that woundyt war gan fling
    And ruschyt thar folk in thar flynging
    Sua that thai that the formast war
    War skalyt in soppys her and thar.
    The king that saw thaim ruschyt sua
    And saw thaim reland to and fra
    Ran apon thaim sa egrely
    And dang on thaim sa hardely
    That fele gart off his fayis fall.
    The feild wes ner coveryt all
    Bath with the slane hors and with men,
    For the gud king thar folowit then
    With fyve hunder that wapnys bar
    That wald thar fayis na thing spar.
    Thai dang on thaim sa hardely
    That in schort tyme men mycht se ly
    At erd ane hunder and wele mar.
    The remanand sa fleyit war
    That thai begouth thaim to withdraw,
    And quhen thai off the rerward saw
    Thar vaward be sa discumfyt
    Thai fled foroutyn mar respyt
    And quhen Schyr Aymer has sene
    His men fleand haly beden
    Wyt ye weile him wes full way
    Bot he moucht nocht ammonys sway
    That ony for him walde torne agane,
    He turnyt his bridill and to-ga,
    For the gud king thaim presit sua
    That sum war dede and sum war tane
    And the laiff thar gat ar gane

    [Valence resigns his keepership and returns to England]



    The folk fled apon this maner
    Forout arest and Schir Aymer
    Agane to Boithweill is gane
    Menand the scaith that he has tane
    Sa schamfull that he vencusit wais
    That till Ingland in hy he gais
    Rycht to the king and schamfully
    He gaff up thar his wardanry,
    Na nevyr syne for nakyn thing
    Bot giff he come rycht with the king
    Come he to werray Scotland,
    Sa hevyly he tuk on hand
    That the king into set battaill
    With a quhone lik to poverall
    Vencusyt him with a gret menye
    That war renonyt off gret bounte.
    Sic anoy had Schyr Amery,
    And King Robert that wes hardy
    Abaid rycht still into the place
    Till that his men had left the chace,
    Syne with presonaris that thai had tane
    Thai ar towart thar innys gane
    Fast lovand God off thar weilfar.
    He mycht haiff sene that had bene thar
    A folk that mery wes and glaid
    For thar victour, and als thai haid
    A lord that sa swete wes and deboner
    Sa curtais and off sa fayr effer
    Sa blyth and als weill bourdand
    And in bataill sa styth to stand
    Sua wys and rycht sua avise
    That thai had gret cause blyth to be.
    Sua war thai blyth withoutyn dout,
    For fele that wynnyt thaim about
    Fra thai the king saw help him sua
    Till him thar homage gan thai ma.

    [The king decides to go north across the Mounth]



    Than woux his power mar and mar,
    And he thoucht weile that he wald far
    Oute-our the Mounth with his menye
    To luk quha that his frend wald be.
    Into Schyr Alexander Fraser
    He traistyt for thai cosyngis wer
    And his broder Symon, thai twa.
    He had mystre weile of ma
    For he had fayis mony ane.
    Schir Jhon Cumyn erle off Bouchquhane
    And Schyr Jhon the Mowbray syne
    And gus Schyr David off Brechyne
    With all the folk off thar leding
    War fayis to the noble king,
    And for he wyst thai war his fayis
    His viage thidderwart he tais,
    For he wald se quhatkyn ending
    Thai wald set on thar manassing.
    The king buskyt and maid him yar
    Northwartis with his folk to far,
    His brodyr gan he with him ta
    And Schyr Gilbert de le Hay alsua,
    The erle off Levenax als wes thar
    That with the king was our-all-quhar,
    Schyr Robert Boyd and other ma.

    [Douglas returns to Douglasdale, to trick the
    garrison of Douglas Castle]



    The king gan furth his wayis ta,
    And left James off Douglas
    With all the folk that with him was
    Behind him for to luk giff he
    Mycht recover his countre.
    He left into full gret perill,
    Bot eftre in a litill quhile
    Throu his gret worschip sa he wrocht
    That to the kingis pes he brocht
    The forest of Selcrik all hale,
    And alsua did he Douglasdale
    And Jedworthis forest alsua.
    And quha-sa weile on hand couth ta
    To tell his worschippis ane and ane
    He suld fynd off thaim mony ane,
    For in his tyme as men said me
    Thretten tymys vencusyt wes he
    And had victouris sevin and fyfty.
    Hym semyt nocht lang ydill to ly,
    Be his travaill he had na will,
    Me think men suld him love with skill.
    This James quhen the king wes gane
    All prevely his men has tane
    And went to Douglas daile agane,
    And maid all prevely a trane
    Till thaim that in the castell war.
    A buschement slely maid he thar,
    And off his men fourtene or ma
    He gert as thai war sekkis ta
    Fyllyt with gres, and syne thaim lay
    Apon thar hors and hald thar way
    Rycht as thai wald to Lanark far
    Outouth quhar thai enbuschyt war.

    [The garrison comes out]



    And quhen thai off the castell saw
    Sa fele ladys gang on raw
    Off that sycht thai war wonder fayn
    And tald it to thar capitane
    That hate Schyr Jhone of Webetoun.
    He wes baith yong stoute and felloun
    Joly alsua and valageous,
    And for that he wes amorous
    He wald isch fer the blythlyar.
    He gert his men tak all thar ger
    And isch to get thaim vittaille,
    For thar vittaile gan fast thaim faile.
    Thai ischyt all abandounly
    And prykkyt furth sa wilfully
    To wyn the ladys that thai saw pas
    Quhill that Douglas with his was
    All betwix thaim and the castell.
    The laid-men that persavyt weill,
    Thai kest thar ladys doun in hy,
    And thar gownys deliverly
    That heylyt thaim thai kest away,
    And in gret hy thar hors hint thai
    And stert apon thaim sturdely
    And met thar fayis with a cry
    That had gret wonder quhen thai saw
    Thaim that war er lurkand sa law
    Cum apon thaim sa hardely.
    Thai woux abaysit sodanly
    And at the castell wald haiff bene,
    Quhen thai on other halff has sene
    Douglas brak his enbuschement
    That agayne thaim rycht stoutly went.
    Thai wyst nocht quhat to do na say,
    Thar fayis on athir sid saw thai
    That strak on thaim foroutyn sparing,
    And thai mycht help thaim selvyn na thing
    Bot fled to warrand quhar thai mocht,
    And thai sa angryly thaim socht
    That off thaim all eschapyt nane.

    [The letter of Webiton, the taking of the castle and the freeing of its
    garrison]



    Schyr Jhoun Webetoun thar wes slane,
    And quhen he dede wes as ye her
    Thai fand intill his coffeir
    A lettyr that him send a lady
    That he luffyt per drouery,
    a The letter spak on this maner
    That said quhen he had yemyt a yer
    In wer as a gud bachiller
    a And governit weill in all maner
    The aventuris castell off Douglas
    That to kepe sa peralus was
    Than mycht he weile ask a lady
    Hyr amouris and hyr drouery,
    The lettyr spak on this maner.
    And quhen thai slayne on this wyse wer
    Douglas rycht to the castell raid
    And thar sa gret debate he maid
    That in the castell entryt he,
    I wate nocht all the certante
    Quhethyr it was throu strenth or slycht,
    Bot he wrocht sua with mekill mycht
    That the constabill and all the laiff
    That war tharin, bath man and knav
    He tuk and gaiff thaim dispending
    And sent thaim hamr but mar greving
    To the Cliffurd in thar countre.
    And syne sa besily wrocht he
    That he tumblyt doun all the wall
    And destroyit the housis all,
    Syne till the Forest held his way
    Quhar he had mony ane hard assay
    And mony fayr poynt off wer befell.
    Quha couth thaim all rehers or tell
    He suld say that his name suld be
    Lestand into full gret renoune.

    BOOK 9


    [The king goes to Inverurie and falls ill]



    Now leve we intill the Forest
    Douglas that sall bot litill rest
    Till the countre deliveryt be
    Off Inglis folk and thar powste,
    And turne we till the noble king
    That with the folk off his leding
    Towart the Month has tane his wai
    Rycht stoutly and intill gud array,
    Quhar Alysander Frayser him met
    And als his broder Symonet
    With all the folk thai with thaim had.
    The king gud contenance thaim made
    That wes rycht blyth off thar cummyne.
    Thai tauld the king off the convyne
    Off Jhone Cumyn erle of Bouchane
    That till help him had with him tane
    Schyr Jhon Mowbray and other ma,
    Schyr David off Brechyn alsua,
    With all the folk off thar leding,
    'And yarnys mar na ony thing
    Vengeance off you, schyr king, to tak
    For Schyr Jhone the Cumyn his sak
    That quhylum in Drumfres wes slayn.'
    The king said, 'Sa our Lord me sayn,
    Ik had gret caus him for to sla,
    And sen that thai on hand will ta
    Becaus off him to werray me
    I sall thole a quhile and se
    On quhat wys that thai pruve thar mycht,
    And giff it fall that thai will fycht
    Giff thai assaile we sall defend,
    Syne fall eftre quhat God will send.'
    Eftre this spek the king in hy
    Held straucht his way till Enrowry,
    And thar him tuk sik a seknes
    That put him to full hard distress.
    He forbar bath drynk and mete,
    His men na medicyne couth get
    That ever mycht to the king availe,
    His force gan him halyly faile
    That he mycht nother rid na ga.
    Then wyt ye that his men war wa,
    For nane wes in that cumpany
    That wald haiff bene halff sa sary
    For till haiff sene his broder ded
    Lyand befor him in that steid
    As thai war for his seknes,
    For all thar confort in him wes.
    Bot gud Schyr Edward the worthy
    His broder that wes sa hardy
    And wys and wycht set mekill payn
    To comfort thaim with all his mayn,
    And quhen the lordis that thar war
    Saw that the ill ay mar and mar
    Travaillyt the king, thaim thocht in hy
    It war nocht spedfull thar to ly,
    For thar all playne wes the countre
    And thai war bot a few menye
    To ly but strenth into the playne.
    Forthi till that thar capitane
    War coveryt off his mekill ill
    Thai thocht to wend sum strenthis till.

    [A reflection on leadership; the king goes to Slioch]



    For folk foroutyn capitane
    Bot thai the better be apayn
    Sall nocht be all sa gud in deid
    As thai a lord had thaim to leid
    That dar put him in aventur
    But abaysing to tak the ure
    That God will send, for quhen that he
    Off sic will is and sic bounte
    That he dar put him till assay
    His folk sall tak ensample ay
    Off his gud deid and his bounte,
    And ane off thaim sall be worth thre
    Off thaim that wikkyt chifftane hais,
    His wrechytnes sa in thaim gais
    That thai thar manlynes sall tyn
    throu wrechitnes of his convyn.
    For quhen the lord that thaim suld leid
    May do nocht bot as he that war ded
    Or fra his folk haldis his way
    Fleand, trow ye nocht than that thai
    Sall vencusyt in thar hartis be.
    Yis sall thai, as I trow per de,
    Bot giff thar hartis be sa hey
    That thai na will for thar worschip flei,
    And thaocht sum be of sic bounte
    Quhen thai the lord and his menye
    Seys fley, yeit sall thai fley apayn
    For all men fleis the deid rycht fayne.
    Se quhat he dois that sua foully
    Fleys thus for his cowardy,
    Bath him and his vencusys he
    And gerris his fayis aboune be.
    Bot he that throu his gret noblay
    Till perallis him abandounys ay
    To recomfort his menye
    Gerris thame be off sa gret bounte
    That mony tyme unlikly thing
    Tha bring rycht weill to gud ending.
    Sa did this king that Ik off reid,
    And for his utrageous manheid
    Confortyt his on sic maner
    That nane had radnes quhar he wer.
    Thai wald nocht fecht till that he wes
    Liand intill his seknes,
    Tharfor in litter thai him lay
    And till the Slevauch hald thar way
    And thocht thar in that strenth to ly
    Till passyt war his malady.

    [The skirmishing at Slioch]



    Bot fra the erle of Buchane
    Wyst that thai war thidder gane
    And wyst that sa sek wes the king
    That men doutyt off his covering,
    He sent eftre his men in hy
    And assemblyt a gret cumpany,
    For all his awine men war thar
    And all his frendis with him war,
    That wes Schir Jhonne the Mowbray
    And his brodyr as Ik hard say
    And Schyr David off Brechynge
    With fele folk in thar ledyng.
    And quhen thai all assemblit war
    In hy thai tuk thar way to far
    To the Slevauch with all thar men`
    For till assaile the king that then
    Wes liand intill his seknes.
    This wes eftyr the Martymes
    Quhen snaw had helyt all the land.
    To the Slevauch thai come ner-hand
    Arayit on thar best maner
    And thane the kingis men that wer
    War off thar come thaim apparaylyt
    To defend giff thai thaim assaylyt
    And nocht-forthi thar fayis war
    Ay twa for ane that thai war thar.
    The erlys men ner cummand war
    Trumpand and makand mekill far
    And maid knychtis quhen thai war ner,
    And thai that in the woddis sid wer
    Stud in aray rycht sarraly
    And thocht to byd thar hardyly
    The cummyng off thar ennymys,
    Bot thai wald apon nakyn wys
    Ische till assaile thaim in fechting
    Till coveryt war the nobill king,
    Bot and othir wald thaim assailye
    Thai wald defend vailye que vailye.
    And quhen the erlis cumpany
    Saw that thai wrocht sa wisely
    That thai thar strenth schupe to defend,
    Thar archeris furth to thaim thai send
    To bykkyr thaim and men off mayn,
    And thai send archeris thaim agayne
    That bykkyrryt thaim sa sturdely
    Till thai off the erlis party
    Intill thar bataill dryvyn war.
    Thre dayis on this wys lay thai thar
    And bykkyryt thaim everilk day
    Bot thar bowmen the war had ay.
    And quhen the kingis cumpany
    Saw thar fayis befor thaim ly
    That ilk day wox ma and ma,
    And thai war quhone and stad war sua
    That thai had na thing for till eyt
    Bot giff thai travaillit it to get,
    Tharfor thai tuk consale into hy
    That thar wald thai na langer ly
    Bot hald thar way quhar thai mycht get
    To thaim and tharis vittaillis and mete.

    [The king withdraws from Slioch]



    In a littar the king thai lay
    And redyit thaim and held thar way
    That all thar fayis mycht thaim se,
    Ilk man buskyt him in his degre
    To fycht giff thai assaillyt war.
    In myddis thaim the king thai bar
    And yeid about him sarraly
    And nocht full gretly thaim gan hy.
    The erle and thai that with him war
    Saw that thai buskit thaim to far,
    And saw how with sa litill effray
    Thai held furth with the king thar way
    Redy to fycht quha wald assaile.
    Thar hartis begouth all to faile
    And in pes lete thaim pas thar way
    And till thar housis hame went thai.

    [The king goes to Strathbogie then to Inverurie]



    The erle his way tuk to Bouchane,
    And Schyr Edward the Bruce is gane
    Rycht to Strabolghy with the king
    And sua lang thar maid sojorning
    Till he begouth to covyr and ga,
    And syne thar wayis gan thai ta
    Till Innerroury straucht agane
    For thai wald ly into the plane,
    The wynter sesone, for vittaile
    Intill the plane mycht thaim nocht faile.
    The erle wyst that thai war thar
    And gaderyt a mengne her and thar.
    Brechyne and Mowbray and thar men
    All till the erle assemblyt then
    And war a full gret cumpany
    Off men arayit jolyly.
    Till Auld Meldrum thai yeid the way
    And thar with thar men logit thai
    Befoir Yhule evyn a nycht but mar,
    A thousand trow I weile thai war.
    Thai logyt thaim all thar that nycht
    And on the morn quhen day wes lycht
    The lord off Brechyn Schyr Davy
    Is went towart Innerroury
    To luk gyff he on ony wys
    Mycht do skaith till his ennymys,
    And till the end off Innerroury
    Come ridand sa sodanly
    That off the kingis men he slew
    A part, and other sum thaim withdrew
    And fled thar way towart the king
    That with the maist off his gadryng
    On the yond half Doun wes than lyand.

    [Preparation for battle]



    And quhen men tauld him tithand
    How Schyr Davy had slayn his men
    His hors in hy he askyt then
    And bad his men all mak thaim yar
    Into gret hy, for he wald far
    To bargane with his ennymys.
    With that he buskyt for to rys
    That wes nocht all weill coveryt then.
    Then said sum off his preve men,
    'Quhat think ye thusgat to far
    To fycht and nocht yeit coveryt ar.'
    'Yhis,' said the king, 'withoutyn wer,
    Thar bost has maid me haile and fer,
    For suld na medicyne sa sone
    Haiff coveryt me as thai haiff done.
    Tharfor, sa God himself me se,
    I sall othir haiff thaim or thai me.'
    And quhen his men has hard the king
    Set him sa hale for the fechting,
    Off his coveryng all blyth thai war
    And maid thaim for the battaill yar.

    [The battle of Old Meldrum]



    The nobill king and his mengye
    That mycht weile ner sevin hunder be
    Towart Auld Meldrum tuk the way
    Wuhar the erle and his menye lay.
    The discurrouris saw thaim cummand
    With baneris to the wynd wavand
    And yeid to thar lord in hy
    That gert arme hys men hastely
    And thaim arayit for battaile,
    Behind thaim set thai thar merdale
    And maid gud sembland for to fycht.
    The king come on with mekill mycht
    And thai abaid makand gret fayr
    Till thai ner at assembling wayr,
    Bot quhen thai saw the nobill king
    Cum stoutly on foroutyn fenyeing
    A litill on bridill thai thaim withdrew,
    And the king that rycht weill knew
    That thai war all discumfyt ner
    Pressyt on thaim with his baner
    And thai withdrew mar and mar.
    And quhen the small folk thai had thar
    Saw thar lordis withdraw them sua
    Thai turnyt the bak all and to-ga
    And fled all scalyt her and thar.
    The lordis that yeyt togydder war
    Saw that thar small folk war fleand
    And saw the king stoutly cummand,
    Thai war ilkane abaysit swa
    That thai the bak gave and to-ga,
    A litill stound samyn held thai
    And syne ilk man has tane his way.
    Fell never men sa foule myschance
    Eftre sa sturdy contenance
    For quhen the kingis cumpany
    Saw that thai fled sa foulyly
    Thai chasyt thaim with all thair mayn
    And sum thai tuk and sum has slayn.
    The remanand war fleand ay,
    Quha had gud hors gat best away.
    Till Ingland fled the erle of Bouchquhane
    Shyr Jhon Mowbray is with him gane
    And war resett with the king,
    Bot thai had bath bot schort lesting
    For thai deyt sone eftre syne.
    And Schyr David off Brechyne
    Fled till Brechyne his awine castell
    And warnyst it bath fayr and weill,
    Bot the erle of Atholl, Davy,
    His sone that wes in Kildromy
    Come syne and him assegyt thar,
    And he that wald hald were ne mar
    Na bargane with the nobile king
    Come syne his man with gud treting.

    [The ravaging of Buchan; the taking of Forfar Castle]



    Now ga we to the king agayne
    That off his victory wes rycht fayn,
    And gert his men bryn all Bowchane
    Fra end till end and sparyt nane,
    And heryit thaim on sic maner
    That eftre weile fyfty yer
    Men menyt the herschip off Bouchane.
    The king than till his pes has tane
    The north cuntreys that humbly
    Obeysyt till his senyoury
    Sua that benorth the Month war nane
    Then thai his men war everilkan,
    His lordschip wox ay mar and mar.
    Towart Angus syne gan he far
    And thocht sone to mak all fre
    That wes on the north halff the Scottis se.
    The castell off Forfayr wes then
    Stuffyt all with Inglismen,
    Bot Philip the Forestar of Platane
    Has off his freyndis with him tane
    And with leddrys all prevely
    Till the castell he gan him hy
    And clam up our the wall off stane
    And swagate has the castell tane
    Throu faute off wach with litill pane,
    And syne all that he fand has slayne
    Syne yauld the castell to the king
    That maid him rycht gud rewarding,
    And syne gert brek doun the wall
    And fordyd well and castell all.

    [The king goes to Perth and besieges it]



    Quhen that the castell off Forfar
    And all the towris tumblyt war
    Down till the erd as Ik haiff tauld
    The king that wycht wes wys and bauld
    That thocht that he wald mak all fre
    Apon the northhalff the Scottis se
    Till Perth is went with all his rout
    And umbeset the toun about
    And till it a sege has set.
    Bot quhill it mycht haiff men and met
    It mycht nocht but gret payne be tane
    For all the wall wes then of stane
    And wycht towris and hey-standand,
    And that tyme war tharin dwelland
    Muschet and als Olyfard,
    Thai twa the toun had all in ward
    And off Straitherne als the erle wes thar,
    Bot his sone and off his men war
    Without intill the kingis rowt.
    Thar wes oft bekering styth and stout
    And men slayne apon ilk party,
    Bot the gud king that all wytty
    Wes in his dedis everilkane
    Saw the wallis sa styth off stane
    And saw defens that thai gan ma
    And how the toun wes hard to ta
    With opyn sawt strenth or mycht.
    Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht,
    And in all tyme that he thar lay
    He spyit and slely gert assay
    Quhar at the dyk schaldest was,
    Till at the last he fand a place
    That men mycht till thar schuldris wad.
    And quhen he that place fundyn had
    He gert his men busk ilkane
    Quhen sex woukis off the sege war gane,
    And tursyt thar harnes halyly
    And left the sege all opynly
    And furth with all his folk gan fayr
    As he wald do tharto no mayr.
    And thai tha war within the toun
    Quhen thai to fayr sa saw him boun
    Thai schoutit him and skornyn mad,
    And he furth on his wayis rad
    As he ne had will agayne to turn
    Na besyd thaim mak sojourn.

    [The assault on Perth]



    Bot in aucht dayis nocht-forthi
    He gert mak leddrys prevely
    That mycht suffice till his enent,
    And in a myrk nycht syne is went
    Toward the toun with his menye
    Bath hors and knafis all left he
    Fer fra the toun, and syne has tane
    Thair ledderis and on fut ar gane
    Towart the toun all prevely.
    Thai hard na wachys spek na cry
    For thai war within may-fall
    As men that dred nocht slepand all.
    Thai haid na dreid then off the king
    For thai off him herd na thing
    All thai thre dayis befor or mar,
    Thairfor sekyr and traist thai war.
    And quhen the king thaim hard nocht ster
    He was blyth on gret maner,
    And his ledder in hand gan ta
    Ensample till his men to ma,
    Arayit weill in all his ger
    Schot in the dik and with his sper
    Taistyt till he it our-woud,
    Bot till his throt the watyr stud.
    That tyme wes in his cumpany
    Aknycht off France wycht and hardy,
    And quhen he in the watyr sua
    Saw the king pas and with him ta
    His ledder unabasytly,
    He saynyt him for the ferly
    And said, 'A, lord, quhat sall we say
    Off our lordis off Fraunce that thai
    With gud morsellis fayrcis thar pawnce
    And will bot ete and drink and dawnce
    Quhen sic a knycht and sa worthy
    As this throu his chevalry
    Into sic perell has him set
    To win a wrechyt hamillet.'
    With that word to the dik he ran
    And our efter the king he wan,
    And quhen the kingis menye saw
    Thar lord out-our intill a thraw
    Thai passyt the dik and but mar let
    Thar leddrys to the wall thai set
    And to clymb up fast pressyt thai,
    Bot the gud king as I herd say
    Was the secund man tuk the wall
    And bad thar till his mengye all
    War cummyn up in full gret hy.

    [The king takes Perth; his treatment of the townsfolk]



    Yeit than rais nother noyis na cry,
    Bot sone efter thai noyis maid
    That off thaim fyrst persaving had
    Swa that the cry rais throu the toun,
    Bot he that with his men wes boun
    Till assaill to thte toun is went
    And the maist off his menye sent
    All scalyt throu the toun, bot he
    Held with himselvyn a gret mengne
    Sa that he moucht be ay purvayit
    To defend giff he war assayit.
    Bot thai that he send throu the toun
    Put to sa gret confusioun
    Thar fayis that in beddis war
    Or scalyt fleand her and thar
    That or the sone rais thai had tane
    Thar fayis or discumfyt ilkane.
    The wardanys bath tharin war tane,
    And Malice off Straithern is gane
    Till his fadyr the Erle Malice
    And with strenth tuk him and his,
    Syne for his sak the noble king
    Gave him his in governyng.
    The lave that ran out-throu the toun
    Sesyt to thaim into gret fusoun
    Men and armyng and marchandis
    And other gud on syndry wys,
    Quhill thai that er war pour and bar
    Off that gud rych and mychty war,
    Bot thar wes few slayne for the king,
    That thaim had gevyn in commanding
    On gret payne that thai suld slay nane
    That but gret bargane mycht be tane.
    That thai war kynd to the countre
    He wyst and off thaim had pite.

    [The king controls Scotland north of the Forth]



    On this maner the toun wes tane
    And syne towris everilkane
    And wallis gert he tumble down.
    He levyt nocht about that town
    Towr standand na stane na wall
    That ne haly gert stroy thaim all,
    And presonerys that thar tuk he
    He send quhar thai mycht haldyn be,
    And till his pes tuk all the land.
    Wes nane that durst him than withstand
    Apon northhalff the Scottis se,
    All obeysyt till his majeste
    Outane the lord of Lorn and thai
    Off Arghile that wald with him ga.
    He held him ay agayne the king
    And hatyt him atour all thing,
    Bot yete or all the gamyn ga
    I trow weill that the king sall ta
    Vengeance off his gret cruelte,
    And that him sar repent sall he
    That he the king contraryit ay,
    May-fall quhen he it mend na may.

    [Edward Bruce's reputation; he goes to Galloway]



    The kingis broder, quhen the toun
    Wes takyn thus and dongyn doun,
    Schyr Edward that wes sa worthy
    Tuk with him a gret cumpany
    And tuk his gayt till Galloway,
    For with his men he wald assay
    Giff he mycht recover that land
    And wyn it fra Inglismennys hand.
    This Schyr Edward forsuth Ik hycht
    Wes off his hand a noble knycht
    And in blythnes suete and joly,
    Bot he wes outrageous hardy
    And of sa hey undretaking
    That he haid never yeit abaysyng
    Off multitud off men, forthi
    He discumfyt commounly
    Mony with quhone, tharfor had he
    Out-over his peris renomme.
    And quha wald rehers all the deid
    Off his hey worschip and manheid
    Men mycht a mekill romanys mak,
    And nocht-forthi I think to tak
    On hand Off him to say sum thing
    Bot nocht tende part his travalyn.
    This gud knycht that I spek off her
    With all the folk that with him wer
    Weill sone to Galloway cummyn is,
    All that he fand he makyt his
    And ryotyt gretly the land.
    Bot than in Galloway war wonnand
    Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that wes
    Renommyt off sa hey prowes
    that he off worschippassyt the rowt,
    Tharfor he gert ay ber about
    Apon a sper a rede bonet
    Into takyn that he wes set
    Into the hycht off chevalry,
    And off Saynct Jhone als Schyr Aymry.

    [The battle by the Cree]



    Thir twa the land had in stering,
    And quhen thai hard off the cummyng
    Off Schyr Edward that sa playnly
    Oure-raid the land, thare in gret hy
    Thai assemblyt all thar mengne,
    I trow tuelf hunder thai mycht be.
    Bot he with fewar folk thaim met
    Besyd Cre and sa hard thaim set
    With hard battaill and stalwart fycht
    That he thaim all put to the flycht
    And slew twa hunder wrill and ma,
    And the chyftanys in hy gan ta
    Thar way to Buttill for to be
    Thar resavyt to sawfte,
    And Schyr Edward thaim chasit fast,
    Bot till the castell at the last
    Gat Schyr Ingrahame and Schyr Amery,
    Bot the best off thar cumpany
    Left ded behind thaim in the place.
    And quhen Schyr Edward saw the chace
    Wes falyt he gert seys the pray
    And sua gret cattell had away
    That it war wonder for to se.
    Out of Buttill thai saw how he
    Gert his men dryve with him thar pray
    Bot na let tharin mycht thai.
    Throu his chevalrous chevalry
    Galloway wes stonayit gretumly
    And he dowtyt for his bounte.
    Sum off the men off the countre
    Cum till his pes and maid him aith.
    Bot Schyr Amery that had the skaith
    Off the bargane I tauld off er,
    Raid till Ingland till purches ther
    Off armyt men gret cumpany
    To veng him off the velany
    That Schyr Edward that noble knycht
    Him did by Cre into the fycht.
    Off gud men he assemblit thar
    Weill fyften hunder men and mar
    That war rycht of gud renowne.
    His way with all that folk tuk he,
    And in the land all prevely
    Entryt with tha chevalry
    Thynkand Schyr Edward to suppris
    Giff that he moucht on ony wis
    For he thocht he wald him assaile
    Or that he left in playn bataill.

    [In a second encounter Edward Bruce defeats a much larger force]



    Now may ye her off gret ferly
    And off rycht hey chevalry,
    For Schyr Edward into the land
    Wes with his mengne rycht ner-hand,
    And in the mornyng rycht arly
    Herd the countre men mak cry
    And had wyttryng off thar cummyng.
    Than buskyt he him but delaying
    And lapp on hors deliverly,
    He had than in toute fyfty
    All apon gud hors armyt weill,
    His small folk gert he ilk-deill
    Withdraw thaim till a strait thar-by,
    And he raid furth with his fyfty.
    A knycht that then was in his rowt
    Worthi and wycht stalwart and stout
    Curtais and fayr and off gud fame
    Schyr Alane off Catkert be name
    Tauld me this taile as I sall tell.
    Gret myst into the mornyng fell
    Sa thai mycht nocht se thaim by
    For myst a bow-draucht fullely.
    Sa hapnyt that thai fand the trais
    Quhar at the rowt furth passyt wais
    Off thair fayis that forouth raid.
    Schyr Edward that gret yarnyn had
    All tymys to do chevalry
    With all his rout in full gret hy
    Folowyt the trais quhar gane war thai,
    And befor mydmorne off the day
    The myst wox cler all sodanly
    And than he and his cumpany
    War nocht a bowdraucht fra the rout.
    than schot thai on thaim with a schout,
    For gyff thai fled thai wyst that thai
    Suld nocht weill feyrd part get away,
    Tharfor in aventur to dey
    He wald him put or he wald fle.
    And quhen the Inglis cumpany
    Saw on thaim cum sa sodanly
    Sik folk foroutyn abaysyng
    Thai war stonayt for effrayng,
    And the tother but mar abaid
    Swa hardely amang thaim raid
    That fele off thaim till erd thai bar.
    Stonayit sa gretly than thai war
    Throu the force off that fyrst assay
    That thai war intill gret effray,
    And wend be fer thai had bene ma
    For that thai war assailit sua.
    Quhen thai had thyrlyt thaim hastily
    Than Schyr Edwardis cumpany
    Set stoutly in the heid agayne,
    And at that cours borne doune and slayn
    War off thar fayis a gret party
    That thai effrayit war sa gretly
    That thsi war scalyt gretly then.
    And quhen Schyr Edward and his men
    Saw thaim intill sa evill aray
    The thrid tyme on thaim prekyt thai,
    And thai that saw thaim sa stouly
    Come on dred thaim sa gretumly
    That all thar rowt bath les and mar
    Fled prekand scalyt her and thar.
    Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy
    To bid, bot all comonaly
    Fled to warand, and he gan chas
    That wilfull to distroy thaim was
    And sum he tuk and sum war slayn,
    Bot Schyr Amery with mekill payn
    Eschapyt and his gat in gayn.
    His men discumfyt war ilkane,
    Sum tane, sum slayne, sum gat away,
    It wes a rycht fayr poynt perfay.

    [A comment on Edward Bruce in Galloway]



    Lo! how hardyment tane sa sudandly
    And drevyn to the end scharply
    May ger oftsys unlikly thingis
    Cum to rycht fayr and gud endingis
    As it fell into this cas her.
    For hardyment withoutyn wer
    Wan fyften hunder with fyfty
    Quhar ay for ane thar wes thretty,
    And twa men ar a mannys her,
    Bot ure thaim led on swilk maner
    That thai discumfyt war ilkane.
    Schyr Amery hame his gat is gane
    Rycht blyth that he swa gat away,
    I trow he sall nocht mony day
    Haiff will to werray that countre,
    With-thi Schyr Edward tharin be.
    And he dwelt furth into the land
    Thaim that rebell war werrayand,
    And in a yer sa werrayit he
    That he wane quyt that countre
    Till his broderys pes the king.
    Bot that wes nocht but hard fechting,
    For in that tyme thar him befell
    Mony fayr poynt as Ik herd tell
    The quhilk that ar nocht writyn her,
    Bot I wate weile that in that yer
    Thretten castellis with strenth he wan
    And ourcome mony a mody man.
    Quha-sa off him the south will reid,
    Had he had mesure in his deid
    I trow that worthyar then he
    Mycht nocht in his tym fundyn be
    Outakyn his broder anerly,
    To quham into chevalry
    Lyk wes nane in his day,
    For he led him with mesur ay,
    And with wyt his chevalry
    He governyt sa worthily
    That he oft full unlikly thing
    Broucht rycht weill to gud ending.

    [Douglas in the Forest surrounds and takes enemy Scots in a house]



    In all this tyme James of Douglas
    In the Forest travaland was,
    And it throu hardiment and slycht
    Occupyit all magre the mycht
    Off his fell fayis, the-quhether thai
    Set him full oft in full hard assay,
    Bot oft throu wyt and throu bounte
    His purpos to gud end brocht he.
    Intill that tyme him fell throu cas
    On ane nycht as he travaland was
    And thocht till haiff tane resting
    In ane hous on the watyr off Lyne
    And as he come with his mengne
    Ner-hand the hous sua lysnyt he
    And herd thair sawis ilke deill,
    And be that he persavyt weill
    That thai war strang men that thar
    That nycht tharin herbryd war.
    And as he thocht it fell per cas,
    For off Bonkle the lord thar was
    Alexander Stewart hat he
    With other twa off gret bounte,
    Thomas Randell off gret renowne
    And Adam alsua off Gordoune,
    That thar come with gret cumpany
    And thocht into the Forest to ly
    And occupy it throu thar mycht,
    And with travaill and stalwart fycht
    Chace Douglas out of that countre.
    Bot otherwayis then yeid the gle
    For quhen James had wittering
    That strang men had taken herbryng
    In the place that he schup him to ly
    He to the hous went hastily
    And umbeset it all about.
    Quhen thai within hard swilk a rout
    About the hous thai rais in hy
    And tuk thar ger rycht hastily
    And schot furth fra thai harnasyt war.
    Thar fayis thaim met with wapnys bar
    And assaylit rycht hardely
    And thai defendyt douchtely
    With all thar mycht, till at the last
    Thar fayis pressyt thaim sa fast
    That thar folk failyt thaim ilkane.
    Thomas Randell thar wes tane
    And Alexander Stewart alsua
    Woundyt in a place or twa.
    Adam of Gordoun fra the fycht
    Quhat throu his strenth and his mycht
    Eschapyt and ser off thar men,
    Bot thai that war arestyt then
    War off thar taking wondre wa,
    Bot neidlingis behovit it be sua.

    [Thomas Randolph upbraids the king]



    That nycht the gud lord off Douglas
    Maid to Schyr Alysander that was
    His emys sone rycht glaidsome cher,
    Sua did he als withoutyn wer
    Till Thomas Randell for that he
    Wes to the king in ner degre
    Off blud, for his sistre him bar,
    And on the morne foroutyn mar
    Towart the noble king he raid
    And with him bath thai twa he haid.
    The king off his present wes blyth
    And thankyt him weill fele syth,
    And till his nevo gan he say,
    'Thou has ane quhill renyid thi fay,
    Bot thou reconsalit now mon be.'
    Then till the king answerit he
    And said, 'Ye chasty me, bot ye
    Aucht bettre chastyt for to be,
    For sene ye werrayit the king
    Off Ingland, in playne fechtyng
    Ye suld pres to derenyhe rycht
    And nocht with cowardy na with slycht.'
    The king said, 'Yeit may-fall it may
    Cum or oucht lang to sic assay.
    Bot sen thou spekys sa rudly
    It is gret skyll men chasty
    Thai proud wordis till that thou knaw
    The rycht and bow it as thou aw.'
    The king foroutyn mar delaying
    Send him to be in ferme keping
    Quhar that he allane suld be,
    Nocht all apon his powste fre.

    BOOK 10


    [Preparations for battle against John of Lorn]



    Quhen Thomas Randell on this wis
    Wes takyn as Ik her devys
    And send to dwell in gud keping
    For spek that he spak to the king,
    The gud king that thocht on the scaith
    The dispyt and felny bath
    That Jhone off Lorne had till him doyn
    His ost assemblyt he then sone
    And towart Lorn he tuk the way
    With his men intill gud aray.
    Bot Jhone off Lorn off his cummyng
    Lang or he come had wittering,
    And men on ilk sid gadryt he
    I trow twa thousand thai mycht be
    And send thaim for to stop the way
    Quhar the gud king behovyt away,
    And that wes in an evill plas
    That sa strayt and sa narow was
    That twasum samyn mycht nocht rid
    In sum place off the hillis sid.
    The nethyr halff was peralous
    For schor crag hey and hydwous
    Raucht to the se doun fra the pas,
    On athyr halff the montane was
    Sua combrous hey and stay
    That it was hard to pas that way.
    I trow nocht that in all Bretane
    Ane heyar hill may fundyn be.
    Thar Jhone off Lorne gert his menye
    Enbuschyt be abovyn the way,
    For giff the king held thar away
    He thocht he suld sone vencussyt be,
    And himselff held him apon the se
    Weill ner the pais with his galayis.
    Bot the king that in all assayis
    Wes fundyn wys and avise
    Persavyt rycht weill thar sutelte,
    And that he neid that gait suld ga.
    His men departyt he in twa
    And till the gud lord off Douglas
    Quham in herbryd all worschip was
    He taucht the archerys everilkane
    And this gud lord with him has tane
    Schyr Alysander Fraser the wycht,
    And Wylyam Wysman a gud knycht
    And with thaim syne Schyr Androw Gray.
    Thir with thar mengne held thar way
    And clamb the hill deliverly
    And or thai off the tother party
    Persavyt thaim thai had ilkane
    The hycht abovyne thar fayis tane.

    [The battle beneath Ben Cruachan]



    The king and his men held thar way,
    And quhen intill the pas war thai
    Entryt the folk of Lorne in hy
    Apon the king raysyt the cry
    And schot and tumblit on him stanys
    Rycht gret and hevy for the nanys,
    Bot thai scaith nocht gretly the king
    For he had thar in his leding
    Men that lycht and deliver war
    And lycht armouris had on thaim thar
    Sua that thai stoutly clamb the hill
    And lettyt thar fayis to fulfill
    The maist part of thar felny.
    And als apon the tother party
    Come James of Douglas and his rout
    And schot apon thaim with a schout
    And woundyt thaim with arowis fast,
    And with thar swerdis at the last
    Thai ruschyt amang thaim hardely,
    For thai of Lorn full manlely
    Gret and apert defens gan ma.
    Bot quhen thai saw that thai war sua
    Assaylit apon twa partys
    And saw weill that thar ennemys
    Had all the fayrer off the fycht
    In full gret hy thai tuk the flycht,
    And thai a felloun chas gan ma
    And slew all that thai mycht ourta,
    And thai that mycht eschap but delay
    Rycht till ane water held thar way
    That ran doun be the hillis syd.
    It was sa styth and depe and wid
    That men in na place mycht it pas
    Bot at ane btyg that beneuth thaim was.
    To that brig held thai straucht the way
    And to brek it fast gan assay,
    Bot thai that chassyt quhen thai thaim saw
    Mak arest, but dred or aw
    Thai ruschyt apon thaim hardely
    And discumfyt thaim uterly,
    And held the brig haile quhill the king
    With all the folk off his leding
    Passyt the brig all at thar ese.
    To Jhone off Lorne it suld displese
    I trow, quhen he his men mycht se
    Oute off his schippis fra the se
    Be slayne and chassyt in the hill,
    That he mycht set na help thartill,
    For it angrys als gretumly
    To gud hartis that ar worthi
    To se thar fayis fulfill thhar will
    As to thaim selff to thoke the ill.

    [The taking of Dunstaffnage and the surrender of Alexander of Argyll]



    At sic myscheiff war thai of Lorn,
    `For fele the lyvys thar has lorne
    And other sum war fled thar way.
    The king in hy gert sese the pray
    Off all the land, quhar men mycht se
    Sa gret habundance come of fe
    That it war wonder to behauld.
    The king that stout wes stark and bauld
    Till Dunstaffynch rycht sturdely
    A sege set and besily
    Assaylit the castell it to get,
    And in schort tym he has thaim set
    In swilk thrang that tharin war than
    That magre tharis he it wan,
    And ane gud wardane tharin set
    And betaucht hym bath men and met
    Sua that he lang tyme thar mycht be
    Magre thaim all off that countre.
    Schyr Alerandir off Arghile that saw
    The king dystroy up clene and law
    His land send treyteris to the king
    And cum his man but mar duelling,
    And he resavit him till his pes,
    Bot Jhone off Lorne his sone yeit wes
    Rebell as he wes wont to be
    And fled with schippis on the se,
    Bot thai that left apon the land
    War to the king all obeysand.
    And he thar hostage all has tane
    And towart Perth agayne is gane
    To play him thar into the playne.

    [The plan to take the peel of Linlithgow]



    Yeit Lothyane was him agayne,
    And at Lythkow wes than a pele
    Mekill and stark and stuffyt wele
    With Inglismen, and wes reset
    To thaim that with armuris or met
    Fra Edynburgh wald to Strevelyn ga
    And fra Strevelyng agane alsua,
    And till the countre did gret ill.
    Now may ye her giff that ye will
    Entrmellys and juperdyis
    That men assayit mony wys
    Castellis and peyllis for to ta,
    And this Lithquhow wes ane off tha
    And I sall tell You how it wes tane.
    In the contre thar wonnyt ane
    That husband wes, and with his fe
    Oftsys hay to the peile led he,
    Wilyame Bunnok to name he hicht
    That stalwart man wes into ficht.
    He saw sa hard the contre staid
    That he gret noy and pite had
    Throw the gret force that it was then
    Governyt and led with Inglismen,
    That travalyt men out-our mesure.
    He wes a stout carle and a sture
    And off himselff dour and hardy,
    And had freyndis wonnand him by
    And schawyt ti sum his prevete,
    And apon his convyne gat he
    Men that mycht ane enbuschement ma
    Quhill that he with his wayne suld ga
    To lede thaim hay into the pele
    Bot his wayne suld be stuffyt wele,
    For aucht men in the body
    Off his wayn suld sit prevely
    And with hay helyt be about,
    And himselff that wes dour and stout
    Suld be the wayne gang ydilly,
    And ane yuman wycht and hardy
    Befor suld dryve the wayne and ber
    Ane hachat that war scharp to scher
    Under his belt, and quhen the yat
    War apynnyt and thai war tharat
    And he hard him cry sturdely,
    'Call all, call all,' than hastyly
    He suld stryk with the ax in twa
    the soyme, and than in hy suld tha
    That war within the wayne cum out
    And mak debate quhill that thar rout
    That suld nerby enbushyt be
    Cum for to manteyme the melle.

    [The taking of the peel of Linlithgow]



    This wes intill the hervyst tyd
    Quhen feldis that ar fayr and wid
    Chargyt with corne all fully war,
    For syndry cornys that thai bar
    Wox ryp to wyn to mannys fud,
    And the treys all chargyt stud
    With ser frutis on syndry wys.
    In this swete tyme that I devys
    Thai off the pele had wonnyn hay
    And with this Bunnok spokyn had thai
    To lede thar hay, for he wes ner,
    And he assentyt but daunger
    And said that he in the mornyng
    Weile sone a fothyr he suld bring
    Fayrer and gretar and weile mor
    Than he brocht ony that yer befor,
    And held thaim cunnand sekyrly.
    For that nycht warnyt he prevely
    Thaim that in the wayne suld ga
    And that in the buschement suld be alsua,
    And thai sa graithly sped thaim thar
    That or day thai enbuschyt war
    Weile ner the pele quhar thai mycht her
    The cry als sone as ony wer,
    And held thaim sua still but stering
    That nane off thaim had persaving.
    And this Bunnok fast gan him payne
    To dres his menye in his wayne
    And all a quhile befor the day
    He had thaim helyt weile with ha
    And maid him to yok his fe
    Till men the son schynand mycht se,
    And sum that war within the pele
    War ischyt on thar awne unsele
    To wyn thar hervyst ner tharby.
    Than Bunnok with the cumpany
    That in his wayne closyt he had
    Went on his way but mar abaid
    And callit his wayne towart the pele,
    And the portar that saw him wele
    Cum ner the yet, it opnyt sone,
    And then Bunnok foroutyn hone
    Gert call the wayne deliverly,
    And quhen it wes set evynly
    Betwix the chekis of the yat
    Sua that men mycht it spar na gat
    He cryit hey, 'Call all, call all,'
    And he than lete the gad-wand fall
    And hewyt in twa the soyme in hy.
    Bonnok with that deliverly
    Roucht till the portar sic a rout
    That blud and harnys bath come out,
    And thai that war within the wayne
    Lap out belyff and sone has slayne
    Men off the castell that war by
    Than in ane quhile begouth the cry,
    And thai that ner enbuschyt war
    Lap out and come with swerdis bar
    And tuk the casell all but payn
    And has thaim that war tharin was slayn,
    And thai that war went furth beforn
    Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn
    Thai fled to warand to and fra,
    And sum till Edinburgh gan ga
    And sum till Strevilline ar other gane
    And sum inyill the gat war slayne.

    [A profile of Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray]



    Bonnok on this wis with his wayne
    The pele tuk and the men has slane,
    Syne taucht in till the king in hy
    That him rewardyt worthely
    And gert dryve it doun to the ground,
    And syne our all the land gan found
    Settand in pes all the countre
    That at his obeysance wald be.
    And quhen a litill time wes went
    Eftre Thomas Randell he sent
    And sa weile with him tretit he
    That he his man hecht for to be,
    And the king his ire him forgave
    And for to hey his state him gave
    Murreff and erle tharoff him maid,
    And other syndry landis braid
    He gave him intill heritage.
    He knew his worthi vasselage
    And his gret wyt and his avys
    His traist hart and his lele service,
    Tharfor in him affyit he
    And ryche maid him off land and fe,
    As it wes certis rycht worthi.
    For and men spek off him trewly
    He wes sua curageous ane knycht
    Sa wys, sa worthy and sa wycht
    And off sa soverane gret bounte
    That mekill off him may spokyn be,
    And for I think off him to rede
    And to schaw part off his gud dede
    I will discryve now his fassoun
    And part off his condicioun.
    He wes off mesurabill statur
    And weile porturat at mesur
    With braid vesage plesand and fayr,
    Curtais at poynt and debonayr
    And off rycht sekyr contenyng.
    Lawte he lovyt atour all thing,
    Falset tresoun and felony
    He stude agayne ay encrely,
    He heyit honour ay and larges
    And ay mentemyt rychtwysnes.
    In cumpany solacious
    He was and tharwith amorous,
    And gud knychtis he luffyt ay,
    And giff I the suth sall say
    He wes fulfilly off bounte
    As off vertuys all maid was he.
    I will commend him her no mar
    Bot ye sall her weile forthyrmar
    That he for his dedis worthy
    Suld weile be prisyt soverandly.

    [Moray sets siege toi Edinburgh Castle]



    Quhen the king thus was with him sauch
    And gret lordschyppis had him betaucht
    He wox sa wyse and sa avyse
    That his land fyrst weill stablyst he
    And syne he sped him to the wer
    Till help his eyme in his myster
    And with the consent off the king
    Bot with a symple aparaling
    Till Edinburgh he went in hy
    With gud men intill cumpany,
    And set a sege to the castell
    That than was warnyst wonder weill
    With men and vyttalis at all rycht
    Sua that it dred na mannys mycht.
    Bot this gud erle nocht-forthi
    The sege tuk full apertly
    And pressyt the folk that tharin was
    Sua that nocht ane the yet durst pas.
    Thai may abid tharin and ete
    Thair vittaill quhill thai oucht mai get
    Bot I trow thai sall lettyt be
    To purchas mar in the contre.

    [The situation in Edinburgh; Douglas's activity]



    That tyme Edward off Ingland king
    Had gevyn that castell in keping
    Till Schyr Perys Lombert a Gascoun,
    And quhen thai of his varnysoun
    Saw the sege set thar sa stythly
    Thai mystrowit him off tratoury
    For that he spokyn had with the king,
    And for that ilk mystrowing
    Thai tuk him and put in presoun,
    And off thar awine nacioun
    Thai maid ane constable thaim to lede
    Bath wys and war and wycht off deid,
    And he set wyt and strenth and slycht
    To kep the castell at his mycht.
    Bot now off thaim I will be still,
    And spek a litill quhill I will
    Off the douchty lord off Douglas
    At that tyme in the Forest was
    Quhar he mony a juperty
    And fayr poyntis off chevalry
    Servyt als weill be nycht as day
    Till tthaim that in the castellis lay
    Of Roxburch and Jedwort, bot I
    Will let fele off thaim pas forby
    For I can noucht rehers thaim all,
    And thoucht I couth, weill trow ye sall
    That I mycht nocht suffice tharto,
    Thar suld mekill be ado,
    Bot thai that I wate utterly
    Eftre my wyt rehers will I.

    [Douglas plans to take Roxburgh Castle]



    This tyme that the gud erle Thomas
    Assegyt as the lettre sayis
    Edinburgh, James off Douglas
    Set all his wit for to purchas
    How Roxburch throu sutelte
    Or ony craft mycht wonnyn be,
    Till he gert Syme off the Leidhous
    A crafty man and a curious
    Off hempyn rapis leddris ma
    With treyn steppis bundyn sua
    That brek wald nocht on nakyn wis.
    A cruk thai maid at thair divis
    Off irne that wes styth and squar
    That fra it in a kyrneill war
    And the ledder tharfra straitly
    Strekit, it suld stand sekyrly.
    This gud lord off Douglas alsone
    As this divisit wes and dome
    Gaderyt gud men in prevete
    Thre scor I trow thai mycht be,
    And on the fasteryngis evyn rycht
    In the begynnyng off the nycht
    To the castell thai tuk thar way.
    With blak frogis all helyt thai
    The armouris that thai on thaim had.
    Thai come nerby thar but abad
    And send haly thar hors thaim fra,
    And thai on raunge in ane route gan ga
    On handis and fete quhen thai war ner
    Rycht as thai ky or oxin wer
    That war wont to be bondyn left tharout.
    It wes rycht myrk withoutyn dout,
    The-quhether ane on the wall that lay
    Besid him till his fere gan say,
    'This man thinkis to mak gud cher,'
    And nemmyt ane husband tharby ner,
    'That has left all his oxyn out.'
    The tother said, 'It is na dout
    He sall mak mery tonycht thocht thai
    Be with the Douglas led away.'
    Thai wend the Douglas and his men
    Had bene oxin, for thai yeid then
    On handis and fete ay ane and ane.
    The Douglas rycht gud tent has tane
    Till thar spek, bot all sone thai
    Held carpand inwart thar way.

    [The taking of the enclosure of Roxburgh Castle]



    Douglas men tharoff war blyth
    And to the wall thai sped thaim swith,
    And sone has up thar ledder set
    That maid ane clap quhen the cruchet
    Wes fixit fast in the kyrneill.
    That herd ane off the wachis weill
    And buskyt thidderwart but baid,
    Bot Ledehous that the ledder maid
    Sped him to clymb fyrst to the wall,
    Bot or he wes up gottyn all
    He at that ward had in keping
    Met him rycht at the up-cummyng,
    And for he thocht to ding him doun
    He maid na noys na cry na soun
    Bot schot till him deliverly.
    And he that wes in juperty
    To de a launce he till him maid
    And gat him be the nek but baid
    And stekyt him upwart with a knyff
    Quhill in his hand he left the lyff.
    And quhen he ded sua saw him ly
    Up on tthe wall he went in hy
    And doun the body kest thaim till
    And said, 'All gangis as we will,
    Spede you upwart deliverly.'
    And thai did sua in full gret hy.
    Bot or thai wan up thar come ane
    And saw Ledhous stand him allane
    And knew he wes nocht off thar men.
    In hy he ruschyt till him then
    And him assailit sturdely,
    Bot he slew him deliverly
    For he wes armyt and wes wycht,
    The tother nakyt wes, Ik hicht
    And had nocht for to stynt the strak.
    Sic melle tharup gan he mak
    Quhill Douglas and his mengne all
    War cummyn up apon the wall,
    Than in the tour thai went in hy.

    [The taking of the hall at Roxburgh Castle; the garrison in the tower]



    The folk wes that tyme halily
    Intill the hall at thar daunsing
    Syngyng and other wayis playing,
    And apon Fasteryngis evyn this
    As custume is to mak joy and blys
    Till folk that ar into pouste.
    Sua trowyt thai that tyme to be,
    Bot or thai wyst rycht in the hall
    Douglas and his rout cummyn war all
    And cryit on hycht, 'Douglas! Douglas!'
    And thai that ma war than he was
    Hard 'Douglas!' criyt hidwysly,
    Thai war abaysit for the cry
    And schup rycht na defens to ma,
    And thai but pite gan thaim sla
    Till thay had gottyn the overhand.
    The tother fled to sek warand
    That out off mesure ded gane dreid.
    The wardane saw how that it yeid
    That callyt wes Gilmyn de Fynys,
    In the gret toure he gottyn is
    And other off his cumpany
    And sparryt the entre hastily.
    The lave that levyt war without
    War tane or slayne, this is na dout,
    Bot giff that ony lap the wall.
    The Douglas that nycht held the hall
    Allthocht his fayis tharoff war wa,
    His men was gangand to and fra
    Throu-out the castell all that nycht
    Till on the morn that day wes lycht.

    [Surrender of the tower at Roxburgh Castle; slighting of the castle]



    The wardane that was in the tour
    That wes a man off gret valour
    Gilmyn the Fynys, quhen he saw
    The castell tynt be clene and law
    He set his mycht for to defend
    The tour, bot thai without him send
    Arowys in sa gret quantite
    That anoyit tharoff wes he,
    Bot till the tother day nocht-forthi
    He held the tour full sturdely,
    And than at ane assalt he was
    Woundyt sa felly in the face
    That he wes dredand off his lyff.
    Tharfor he tretit than beliff
    And yauld the tour on sic maner
    That he and all that with him wer
    Suld saufly pas in Ingland.
    Douglas held thaim gud conand
    And convoid thaim to thar countre,
    Bot thar full schort tyme levyt he
    For throu the wound intill tthe face
    He deyt sone and beryit was.
    Douglas the castell sesyt all
    That thane wes closyt with stalwart wall,
    And send this Leidhous till the king
    That maid him full gud rewarding
    And hys brother in full gret hy
    Schyr Edward that wes sa douchty
    He send thidder to tumbill it doun
    Bath tour and castell and doungeoun.
    And he come with gret cumpany
    And gert travaile sa besyly
    That tour and wall rycht to the ground
    War tumblit in a litill stound,
    And dwelt thar quhill all Tevidale
    Come to the kingis pes all haile
    Outane Jedwort and other that ner
    The Inglismennys boundis wer.


    [Moray seeks a means of taking Edinburgh Castle]



    Quhen Roxburgh wonnyn was on this wis
    The Erle Thomas that hey empris
    Set ay on soverane he bounte
    At Edynburgh with his mengne
    Wes lyand at a-sege as I
    Tauld you befor all opynly.
    Bot fra he hard how Roxburgh was
    Tane with a trayne, all his purchas
    And wyt and besines Ik hycht
    He set for to purches sum slycht
    How he mycht halp him throu body
    Mellyt with hey chevalry
    To wyn the wall off the castell
    Throu sumkyn slycht, for he wyst weill
    That na strenth mycht it playnly get
    Quhill thai within had men and met.
    Tharfor prevely speryt he
    Giff ony man mycht fundyn be
    That couth fynd ony juperty
    To clymb the wallis prevely
    And he suld have his warysoun,
    For it wes his entencioun
    To put him till all aventur
    Or that a sege on him mysfur.

    [The plan suggested by William Francis]



    Than wes thar ane Wilyame Francus
    Wycht and apert wys and curyus
    That intill hys youtheid had bene
    In the castell. Quhen he has sene
    The erle sua enkerly him set
    Sum sutelte or wile to get
    Quharthrou the castell have mycht he
    He come till him in prevete
    And said, 'Me think ye wald blythly
    That men fand you sum jeperty
    How ye mycht our the wallis wyn,
    And certis giff ye will begyn
    For till assay on sic a wys
    Ik undertak for my service
    To ken you to clymb to the wall,
    And I sall formast be off all,
    Quhar with a schort ledder may we,
    I trow off tuelf fute it may be,
    Clymb to the wall up all quytly,
    And gyff that ye will wyt how I
    Wate this I sall you blythly say.
    Quhen I wes young this hendre day
    My fader wes kepar of yone hous,
    And I wes sumdeill valegeous
    And lovyt a wench her in the toun,
    And for i but suspicioun
    Mycht repayr till hyr prevely
    Off rapys a leddre to me mad I
    And tharwith our the wall I slaid.
    A strait roid that I sperit had
    Intill the crage syne doun I went
    And oftsys come till myn entent,
    And quhen it ner drew to the day
    Ik held agayne that ilk way
    And ay come in but persaving.
    Ik usyt lang that travaling
    Sua that I kan that roid ga rycht
    Thoucht men se nevyr sa myrk the nycht.
    And giff ye think ye will assay
    To pas up efter me that way
    Up to the wall I sall you bring,
    Giff God us savys fra persaving
    Off thaim that wachys on the wall.
    And giff that us sua fayr may fall
    that we our ledder up may set,
    Giff a man on the wall may get
    He sall defend and it be ned
    Quhill the remanand up thaim sped.'
    The erle wes blyth off his carping
    And hycht him fayr rewarding
    And undretuk that gat to ga
    And bad him sone his ledder ma
    And hald him preve quhill thai mycht
    Set for thar purpos on a nycht.

    [The climbing of Edinburgh Castle rock]



    Sone efter was the ledder made,
    And than the erle but mar abaid
    Purvayt him a nycht prevely
    With thretty men wycht and hardy,
    And in a myrk nycht held thar way
    That put thaim till full hard assay
    And to gret perell sekyrly.
    I trow mycht thai haiff sene clerly
    That gat had nocht bene undretane
    Thoucht thai to let thaim had nocht ane,
    For the crag wes hey and hidwous
    And the clymbing rycht peralous,
    For hapnyt ony to slyd and fall
    He suld sone be to-fruschyt all.
    The nycht wes myrk as Ik hard say,
    And to the fute sone cummyn ar thai
    Off the crag that wes hey and schor,
    Than Wilyame Fransoys thaim befor
    Clamb in crykes forouth ay
    And at the bak him folowyt thai.
    With mekill payne quhile to quhile fra
    Thai clamb into thai crykys sua
    Quhile halff the crag thai clumbyn had
    And thar a place thai fand sa brad
    That thai mycht syt on anerly,
    And thai war ayndles and wery
    And thar abaid thar aynd to ta,
    And rycht as thai war syttand sua
    Rycht aboune thaim up apon the wall
    The chak-wachys assemblyt all.
    Now help thaim God that all thing mai
    For in full gret perell ar thai!
    For mycht thai se thaim thar suld nane
    Eschape out off that place unslane,
    To dede with stanys thai suld thaim ding
    That thai mycht halp thaimselvyn na thing.
    Bot wonder myrk wes the nycht
    Sua that thai off thaim had na sicht,
    And nocht-forthi yete wes thar ane
    Off thaim that swappyt doun a stane
    And said, 'Away, I se you weile,'
    The-quhether he saw thaim nocht a dele.
    Out-our thar hedis flaw the stane
    And thai sat still lurkand ilkane.
    The wachys quhen thai herd nocht ster
    Fra that ward samyn all passit er
    And carpand held fer by thar way.
    The erle Thomas alsone and thai
    That on the crag thar sat him by
    Towart the wall clamb hastily
    And thidder come with mekill mayn
    And nocht but gret perell and payn.
    For fra thine up wes grevouser
    To clymb up ne beneth be fer.

    [The taking of Edinburgh Castle]



    Bot quhhatkyn payne sua ever thai had
    Rycht to the wall thai come but bad
    That had weile ner twelf fute of hycht,
    And forout persaving or sycht
    Thai set thar ledder to the wall,
    And syne Fransoys befor thaim all
    Clamb up and syne Schyr Androw Gray,
    And syne the erle himselff perfay
    Was the thrid that the wall can ta.
    Qhuhen thai thar-doune thar lord sua
    Saw clumbyne up apon the wall
    As woud men thai clamb eftre all,
    Bot or all up clumbene war thai
    Thai that war wachys till assay
    Hard steryng and preve speking
    And alsua fraying off armyng
    And on thaim schot full sturdely,
    And thai met thaim rycht hardely
    And slew off thaim dispitously.
    Than throu the castell rais the cry,
    'Tresoun! Tresoun!' thai cryit fast.
    Than sum of thaim war sua agast
    That thai fled and lap our the wall,
    Bot to sa swyth thai fled nocht all,
    For the constabill that wes hardy
    All armyt schot furth to thte cry
    And with him fele hardy and stout.
    Yeyt wes the erle with his rout
    Fechtand with thaim apon the wall
    Bot sone he discumfit thaim all.
    Be that his men war cummyn ilkan
    Up to the wall and he has tane
    His way doun to the castell sone.
    In gret perell he has him doyn
    For thai war fer ma men tharin
    And thai had bene of gud covyn
    Than he, bot thai effrayit war,
    And nocht-forthi with wapnys bar
    The constabill and his cumpany
    Met him and his rycht hardely.
    Thar mycht men se gret bargane ris,
    For with wapnys of mony wis
    Thai dang on other at thar mycht
    Quhill swerdis that war fayr and brycht
    War till the hiltis all bludy.
    Then hydwysly begouth the cry
    For thai that fellyt or stekyt war
    Hidwysly gan cry and rar.
    The gud erle and his cumpany
    Faucht in that fycht sa sturdely
    That all thar fayis ruschyt war.
    The constable wes slane rycht thar,
    And fra he fell the ramanand
    Fled quhar thai best mycht to warand,
    Thai durst nocht bid to ma debate.
    The erle wes handlyt thar sa hat
    That had it nocht hapnyt throu cas
    That the constable thar slane then was
    He had bene in gret perell thar,
    Bot quhen thai fled thar wes no mar,
    Bot ilk man to sauff his lyff
    Fled furth his dayis for to dryve,
    And sum slaid doune out-our the wall.

    [Comparison with the taking of Tyre by Alexander the Great]



    The erle has tane the castell all
    For then wes nane durst him withstand.
    I hard nevyr quhar in nakin land
    Wes castell tane sa hardely
    Outakyn Tyre all anerly,
    Quhen Alexandir the conquerour
    That conqueryt Babylonys tour
    Lap fra a berfrois on the wall
    Quhar he amang his fayis all
    Defendyt him full douchtely
    Quhill his noble chevalry
    With leddris our the wall yeid
    That nother left for deid no dreid,
    For thai wyst weill that the king
    Wes in the toune thar wes na thing
    Intill that tym that stynt thaim moucht,
    For all the perell thai set at nocht.
    Thai clamb the wall and Ariste
    Come fyrst to the gud king quhar he
    Defendyt him with all his mycht
    That then sa hard wes set Ik hycht
    That he wes fellit on a kne,
    He till his bak had set a tre
    For dred thai suld behind assaile.
    Ariste then to the bataile
    Sped him in all hy sturdely
    And dang on thaim sa douchtely
    That the king weiiile reskewit was,
    For his men into syndri plas
    Clamb our the wall and soucht the king
    And him reskewit with hard fechting
    And wane the toun deliverly.
    Outane this taking anerly
    I herd nevyr in na tym gane
    Quhar castell wes sa stoutly tane.

    [St Margaret's prophecy]



    And off this taking that I mene
    Sanct Margaret the gud haly quene
    Wyst in hyr tyme throu reveling
    Off him that knawis and wate all thing,
    Tharfor in sted of prophecy
    Scho left a taknyng rycht joly,
    That is that intill hyr chapele
    Scho gert weile portray a castell,
    A ledder up to the wall standand
    And a man up thar-apon climband,
    And wrat outht him as auld men sais
    In Frankis, 'Gardys vous de Francais.'
    And for this word scho gert writ sua
    Men wend the Frankis-men suld it ta,
    Bot for Fraunsois hattyn wes he
    That sua clamb up in prevete
    Scho wrat that as in prophecy,
    And it fell efterwart sothly
    Rycht as scho said, for tane it was
    And Fraunsoys led thaimup that pas.

    [Treatment of Piers Lubaud; rewards of the earl of Moray]



    On this wis Edinburgh wes tane
    And thai that war tharin ilkane
    Other tane or slane or lap the wall.
    Thar gudis haiff thai sesyt all
    And souch the hous everilkane.
    Schyr Peris Lubaut that wes tane,
    As I said er, befor thai fand
    In boyis and hard festnyng sittand.
    Thai brocht him till the erle in hy
    And he gert lous him hastily,
    Then he become the kingis man.
    Thai send word to the king rycht than
    And tauld how the castell wes tane,
    And he in hy is thidder gane
    With mony ane in cumpany
    And gert myne doun all halily
    Bath tour and wall rycht to the grond,
    And syne our all the land gan fond
    Sesand the countre till his pes.
    Off this deid that sa worthy wes
    The erle wes prisyt gretumly,
    The king that saw him sa worthi
    Wes blyth and joyfull our the lave
    And to manteyme his stat him gave
    Rentis and landis fayr inewch,
    And he to sa gret worschip dreuch
    That all spak off his gret bounte.
    Hys fayis gretly stonayit he
    For he fled never for force off fycht.
    Quhat sall I mar say off his mycht?
    His gret manheid and his bounte
    Gerris him yeit renownyt be.

    [Places taken by Sir Edward Bruce; his siege of Stirling Castle]



    In this tyme that thir jupertys
    Off thir castellis that I devis
    War eschevyt sa hardely,
    Schyr Edward the Bruce the hardy
    Had all Galloway and Nydysdale
    Wonnyn till his liking all haile
    And doungyn doun the castellis all
    Rycht in the dyk bath tour and wall.
    He hard then say and new it weill
    That into Ruglyne wes a pele,
    Thidder he went with his menye
    And wonnyn it in schort tyme has he,
    Syne to Dunde he tuk the way
    That then wes haldyne as Ic herd say
    Agayne the king, tharfor in hy
    He set a sege tharto stoutly
    And lay thar quhill it yoldyn was.
    To Strevillyne syne the way he tais
    Quhar gud Schyr Philip the Mowbray
    That wes sa douchty at assay
    Wes wardane and had in keping
    That castell of the Inglis king.
    Thartill a sege thai set stythly,
    Thai bykyrrit oftsys sturdely
    Bot gret chevalry done wes nane.
    Schyr Edward fra the sege wes tane
    A weile lang tyme about it lay,
    Fra the Lentryne that is to say
    Quhill forouth the Sanct Jhonys mes.
    The Inglis folk that tharin wes
    Begouth to failye vitaill be than.
    Than Schyr Philip that douchti man
    Tretyt quhill thai consentit war
    That gyff at mydsomer the neyst yer
    To cum it war nocht with bataile
    Reskewyt, then that foroutyn faile
    He suld the castell yauld quytly,
    That connand band thai sickerly.

    BOOK 11



    [Criticism of the compact about Stirling Castle]



    And quhen this connand thus wes mad
    Schir Philip intill Ingland raid
    And tauld the king all haile his tale,
    How he a tuelf moneth all hale
    Had as it writyn wes in thar taile
    To reskew Strevillyne with bataill.
    And quhen he hard Schyr Philip say
    That Scottismen had set a day
    To fecht and that sic space he had
    To purvay him he wes rycht glaid,
    And said it wes gret sukudry
    That set thaim apon sic foly,
    For he thocht to be or that day
    Sa purvayit and in sic aray
    That thar suld nane strenth him withstand,
    And quhen the lordis off Ingland
    Herd that this day wes set planly
    Thai jugyt all to gret foly,
    And thoucht to haiff all thar liking
    Giff men abaid thaim in fechting,
    Bot oft faillys the fulis thocht
    And yeit wys mennys ay cummys nocht
    To sic end as thai wene allwayis.
    A litill stane oft, as men sayis,
    May ger weltyr a mekill wayn,
    Na mannys mycht may stand agayn
    The grace off God that all thing steris,
    He wate quhat till all thing afferis
    And disponys at his liking
    Efter his ordynance all thing.

    [King Robert criticises his brother]



    Quhen Schyr Edward, as I you say,
    Had gevyn sa outrageous a day
    To yeld or reskew Strevillyne,
    Rycht to the king he went him syne
    And tauld quhat tretys he had mad
    And quhat day he thaim gevyn had.
    The king said quhen he hard the day,
    'That wes unwisly doyn, perfay.
    Ik herd never quhar sa lang warnyng
    Wes gevyn to sa mychty a king
    As is the king off Ingland,
    For he has now intill hand
    Ingland, Ireland and Walis alsua
    And Aquitayngne yeit with all tha,
    And off Scotland yeit a party
    Dwellis under his senyoury,
    And off tresour sa stuffyt is he
    That he may wageouris haiff plente,
    And we are quhoyne agayne sa fele.
    God may rycht weill oure werdys dele,
    Bot we ar set in juperty
    To tyne or wyn then hastely.'
    Schyr Edward said, 'Sa God me rede,
    Thocht he and all that he may led
    Cum, wes sall fecht, all war thai ma.'
    Quhen the king hard his broder sua
    Spek to the bataile sa hardyly
    He prisyt him in hys hart gretumly
    And said, 'Broder, sen sua is gane
    That this thing thus is undretane
    Schap we us tharfor manlely,
    And all that luffis us tenderly
    And the fredome off this countre
    Purvay thaim at that time to be
    Boune with all mycht that ever thai may,
    Sua giff that our fayis assay
    To reskew Strevilline throu bataill
    That we off purpos ger thaim faill.'

    [Both sides prepare for an English invasion; King Edward's resources]



    To this thai all assentyt ar
    And bad thar men all mak thaim yar
    For to be boun agayne that day
    On the best wis that ever thai may.
    Than all that worthi war to fycht
    Off Scotland set all hale thar mycht
    To purvay thaim agane that day,
    Wapynnys and armouris purvayit thai
    And all that afferis to fechting.
    And in Ingland the mychty king
    Purvayit him in sa gret aray
    That certis hard I never say
    That Inglismen mar aparaile
    Maid than did than for bataill,
    For quhen the tyme wes cummyn ner
    He assemblit all his power,
    And but his awne chevalry
    That wes sa gret it wes ferly
    He had of mony ser countre
    With him gud men of gret bounte.
    Of Fraunce worthi chevalry
    He had intill his cumpany,
    The erle off Henaud als wes thar
    And with him men that worthi war,
    Off Gascoyne and off Almany
    And off the duche of Bretayngny
    He had wycht men and weill farand
    Armyt clenly bath fute and hand,
    Off Ingland to the chevalry
    He had gaderyt sa clenly
    That nane left that mycht wapynnys weld
    Or mycht war to fecht in feild,
    All Walis als with him had he
    And off Irland a gret mengne,
    Off Pouty Aquitane and Bayoun
    He had mony off gret renoune,
    And off Scotland he had yeit then
    A gret menye of worthy men.

    [The appearance of the English host]



    Quhen all thir sammyn assemblit war
    He had of fechtaris with him thar
    Ane hunder thousand men and ma
    And fourty thousand war of tha
    Armyt on hors bath heid and hand,
    And of thai yeit war thre thousand
    With helyt hors in plate and mailye
    To mak the front off the batailye,
    And fyfty thousand off archeris
    He had foroutyn hobeleris,
    And men of fute and small rangale
    That yemyt harnays and vittaile
    He had sa fele it wes ferly.
    Off cartis als thar yeid thaim by
    Sa fele that, but all thai that bar
    Harnays and als that chargyt war
    With pailyounys and veschall with-all
    And aparaile of chambyr and hall
    And wyne and wax schot and vittaile,
    Aucht scor wes chargyt with pulaile.
    Thai war sa fele quhar that thai raid
    And thar bataillis war sa braid
    And sua gret roume held thar chare
    That men that mekill ost mycht se
    Ourtak the landis largely.
    Men mycht se than that had bene by
    Mony a worthi man and wycht
    And mony ane armur gayly dycht
    And mony a sturdy sterand stede
    Arayit intill ryche wede,
    Mony helmys and haberjounys
    Scheldis and speris and penounys,
    And sa mony a cumbly knycht
    That it semyt that into fycht
    Thai suld vencus the warld all haile.

    [The dispositions of the English host; the march from Berwick]



    Quhy suld I mak to lang my taile?
    To Berwik ar thai cummyn ilkane
    And sum tharin has innys tane
    And sum logyt without the town ys
    In tentis and in pailyounys.
    And quhen the king his ost has sene
    So gret and sa gud men and clene
    He wes rycht joyfull in his thocht
    And weile supposyt that thar wes nocht
    In warld a king mycht him withstand,
    Him thocht all wonnyn till his hand,
    And largly amang his men
    The land of Scotland delt he then,
    Off other mennys thing larg wes he.
    And thai that war off his menye
    Manausyt the Scottismen hely
    With gret wordis, bot nocht-forthi
    Or thai cum all to thar entent
    Howis in haile claith sall be rent.
    The king throu consaile of his men
    His folk delt in bataillis ten,
    In ilkane war weile ten thousand
    That lete thai stalwartly suld stand
    In the bataile and stythly fycht
    And leve nocht for thar fayis mycht.
    He set ledaris till ilk bataile
    That knawin war of gud governaile,
    And till renownyt erlis twa
    Off Glosyster and herfurd war tha
    He gaf the vaward in leding
    With mony men at thar bidding
    Ordanyt into full gud aray.
    Thai war sa chevalrous that thai
    Trowyt giff thai come to fycht
    Thar suld na strenth withstand thar mycht.
    And the king quhen his mengne wer
    Divisit intill bataillis ser
    His awyne bataill ordanyt he
    And quha suld at his bridill be,
    Schyr Gilis Argente he set
    Apon a half his reyngye to get,
    And off Valence Schyr Amery
    On other half that wes worthy,
    For in thar soverane bounte
    Out-our the lave affyit he.
    Quhen the king apon this kyn wys
    Had ordanyt as Ik her divis
    His bataillis and his stering
    He rais arly in a mornyng
    And fra Berwik he tuk the way.
    Bath hillis and valis hely thai
    As the bataillis that war braid
    Departyt our the feldis raid.
    The sone wes brycht and schynand cler
    And armouris that burnysyt wer
    Sua blomyt with the sonnys beme
    That all the land wes in a leme,
    Baneris rycht fayrly flawmand
    And penselys to the wynd wavand
    Sua fele thar wer of ser quentis
    That it war gret slycht for to divise,
    And suld I tell all thar affer
    Thar con tenance and thar maner
    Thoucht I couth I suld combryt be.
    The king with all that gret menye
    Till Edinbyrgh he raid him rycht,
    Thai war all-out to fele to fycht
    With few folk of a symple land,
    Bot quhar God helpys quhat ma withstand.

    [Muster of the Scottish army; its size and commanders]



    The king Robert quhen he hard say
    That Inglismen in sic aray
    And into sua gret quantite
    Come in his land, in hy gert he
    His men be somound generaly,
    And thai come all full wilfully
    To the Torwod quhar that the king
    Had ordanyt to mak thar meting.
    Schir Edward the Bruce the worthi
    Come with a full gret cumpany
    Off gud men armyt weill at rycht
    Hardy and forsy for to fycht,
    Walter Stewart of Scotland syne
    That than wes bot a berdles hyne
    Come with a rout of noble men,
    That men mycht be contynence ken.
    The gud lord of Douglas alsua
    Brocht with him men Ik underta
    That weile war usit in fechting,
    Thai sall the les haiff abaysimg
    Giff thaim betid in thrang to be,
    Avantage thai sall tittar se
    For to stonay thar fayis mycht
    Than men that usis nocht to fycht.
    The erle off Murreff with his men
    Arayit weile come alsua then
    Into gud covyne for to fycht
    And gret will for to manteym thar mycht
    Outakyn other mony barounys
    And knychtis that of gret renowne is
    Come with thar men full stalwartly.
    Quhen thai war assemblyt halely
    Off fechtand men I trow thai war
    Thretty thousand and sumdele mar,
    Foroutyn cariage and pettaill
    That yemyt harnayis and vittaill.
    Our all the ost than yeid the king
    And beheld to thar contenyng
    And saw thaim of full fayr affer.
    Off hardy contenance thai wer,
    Be liklynes the mast cowart
    Semyt full weill to do his part.
    The king has sene all thar having
    That knew him weile into sic thing,
    And saw thaim all commounaly
    Off sic contenance and sa hardy
    Forout effray or abaysing.
    In his hart had he gret liking
    And thoucht that men of sa gret will
    Giff thai wald set thar will thartill
    Suld be full hard to wyn perfay.
    Ay as he met thaim in the way
    He welcummyt thaim with glaidsum far
    Spekand gud wordis her and thar,
    And thai that thar lord sa mekly
    Saw welcum thaim and sa hamly
    Joyfull thai war, and thocht that thai
    Aucht weill to put thaim till assay
    Off hard fechting or stalwart stur
    For to maynteyme hys honur.

    [King Robert proposes the division of his host]



    The worthi king quhen he has sene
    Hys ost assemblit all bedene
    And saw thaim wilfull to fulfill
    His liking with gud hart and will
    And to maynteyme weill thar franchis
    He wes rejosyt mony wys
    And callyt all his consaile preve
    And said thaim, 'Lordis, now ye se
    That Inglismen with mekill mycht
    Has all disponyt thaim for the fycht
    For thai yone castell wald reskew.
    Tharfor is gud we ordane now
    How we may let thaim of thar purpos
    And sua to thaim the wayis clos
    That thai pas nocht but gret letting.
    We haiff her with us at bidding
    Weile thretty thousand men and ma,
    Mak we four bataillis of tha
    And ordane us on sic maner
    And quhen our fayis cummys ner
    We to the New Park hald our way,
    For thar behovys thaim nede away
    Bot giff that thai will beneuth us ga
    And our the merrais pass, and sua
    We sall be at avantage thar.
    And me think that rycht spedfull war
    To gang on fute to this fechting
    Armyt bot in litill armyng,
    For schup we us on hors to fycht
    Sen our fayis ar mar off mycht
    And bettyr horsyt than ar we
    We suld into gret perell be,
    And gyff we fecht on fute perfay
    At a vantage we sall be ay,
    For in the park amang the treys
    The horsmen alwayis cummerit beis,
    And the sykis alssua that ar thar-doun
    Sall put thaim to confusioune.'

    [The four divisions and their commanders]



    All thai consentyt till that saw
    And than intill a litill thraw
    Thar four bataillis ordanyt thai,
    And till the Erle Thomas perfay
    Thai gaiff the vaward in leding
    For in his noble governyng
    And in his hey chevalry
    Thai assoueryt rycht soveranly,
    And for to maynteyme his baner
    Lordis that off gret worschip wer
    Wer assygnyt with thar mengne
    Intill his bataill for to be.
    The toother bataill wes gevyn to led
    Till him that douchty wes of deid
    And prisyt off hey chevalry,
    Thar wes Schyr Edward the worthy,
    I trow he sall maynteyme it sua
    That howsaever the gamyn ga
    His fayis to plenye sall mater haf.
    And syne the thrid bataill thai gaff
    Till Walter Stewart for to leid
    And to Douglas douchty of deid
    Thai war cosyngis in ner degre
    Tharfor till him betaucht wes he
    For he wes young, bot nocht-forthi
    I trow he sall sa manlily
    Do his devour and wirk sa weill
    That him sall nede ne mar yemseill.
    The ferd bataile the noble king
    Tuk till his awne governyng,
    And had intill his cumpany
    The men of Carrik halely
    And off Arghile and of Kentyr
    And off the Ilis quharof wes syr
    Angus of Ile, and but all tha
    He off the plane land had alsua
    Off armyt men a mekill rout,
    His bataill stalwart wes and stout.
    He said the rerward he wald ma
    And evyn forrouth him suld ga
    The vaward, and on ather hand
    The tother bataillis suld be gangand
    Besid on sid a litill space,
    And the king that behind thaim was
    Suld se quhar thar war mast myster
    And releve thar with his baner.

    [The digging of pots by the roadside]



    The king thus that wes wycht and wys
    And rych avise at divis
    Ordanyt his men for the fechting
    In gud aray in alkyn thing.
    And on the morn on Setterday
    The king hard his discourouris say
    That inglismen with mekill mycht
    Had lyin at Edinburgh all nycht.
    Tharfor withoutyn mar delay
    He till the New Park held his way
    With all that in his leding war
    And in the Park thaim herberyt thar,
    And in a plane feld be the way
    Quhar he thoucht ned behovyd away
    The Inglismen, gif that thai wald
    Throu the Park to the castell hald
    He gert men mony pottis ma
    Off a fute-breid round, and al tha
    War dep up till a mannys kne,
    Sa thyk that thai mycht liknyt be
    Till a wax cayme that beis mais.
    All that nycht travailland he wais
    Sua that or day he has maid
    Thai pottis, and thaim helit haid
    With stykkis and with gres all grene
    Sua that thai moucht nocht weil be sen.

    [Sunday; the Scots prepare for combat with mass and by arming themselves]



    On Sonday than in the mornyng
    Weile sone after the sone rising
    Thai hard thar mes commounaly
    And mony thaim schraiff full devotly
    That thocht to dey in that melle
    Or than to mak thar contre fre.
    To God for thar rycht prayit thai,
    Thar dynit nane of thaim that day
    Bot for the vigil off Sanct Jhane
    Thai fastyt water and breid ilkan.
    The king quhen that the mes wes don
    Went furth to se the pottis sone
    And at his liking saw thaim mad,
    On ather sid rycht weill braid
    It wes pittyt as Ik haif tauld.
    Giff that thar fayis on hors wald hald
    Furth in that way I trow thai sall
    Nocht weill eschaip foroutyn fall.
    Throu-out the ost thar gert he cry
    That all suld arme thaim hastily
    And busk thaim on thar best maner,
    And quhen thai assemblyt wer
    He gert aray thaim for the fycht,
    And syne gert cry our-all on hycht
    That quha-sa-ever he war that fand
    Hys hart nocht sekyr for to stand
    To wyn all or dey with honur
    For to maynteyme that stalwart stour
    That he betyme suld hald his way,
    And suld duell with him bot thai
    That wald stand with him to the end
    And tak the ure that God wald send.
    Than all answerd with a cry
    And with a voce said generaly
    That nane for dout off deid suld faile
    Quhill discumfyt war the gret bataile.

    [Disposition of the small folk; preparations for the English advance]



    Quhen the gud king has hard his men
    Sa hardely answer him then
    Sayand that nother dede na dreid
    Till sic discomfort suld thaim leid
    That thai suld eschew the fechting
    In hart he had gret rejosing,
    For him thocht men off sic covyn
    Sa gud and hardy and sa fyne
    Suld weile in bataill hald thar rycht
    Agayne men off full mekill mycht.
    Syne all the smale folk and pitall
    He send with harnays and with vitaill
    Intill the Park weill fer him fra
    And fra the bataillis gert thaim ga
    And als he bad thai went thar way,
    Twenty thousand weile ner war thai.
    Thai held thar way till a vale,
    The king left with a clene mengne
    The-quhethir thai war thretty thousand
    That I trow sall stalwartly stand
    And do thar devour as thai aw.
    Thai stud than rangyt all on a raw
    Redy for to gyff hard bataill
    Giff ony folk wald thaim assaile.
    The king gert thaim all buskit be
    For he wyst in certante
    That his fayis all nycht lay
    At the Fawkyrk, and syne that thai
    Held towart him the way all straucht
    With mony men of mekill maucht.
    Tharfor till his nevo bad he
    The erle off Murreff with his menye
    Besid the kyrk to kepe the way
    That na man pas that gat away
    For to debate the castell,
    And he said himself suld weill
    Kepe the entre with his bataill
    Giff that ony wald assale,
    And syne his broder Schyr Edward
    And young Walter alsua Steward
    And the lord of Douglas alsua
    With thar mengne gud tent suld ta
    Quhilk off thaim had of help myster
    And help with thaim that with him wer.

    [King Robert has the English host surveyed;
    spreads a false account of its strength]



    The king send than James of Douglas
    And Schyr Robert the Keyth that was
    Marschell off the ost of fe
    The Inglismennys come to se,
    And thai lap on and furth thai raid
    Weile horsyt men with thaim thai haid,
    And sone the gret ost haf thai sene
    Quhar scheildis schynand war sa schene
    And bassynetis burnyst brycht
    That gave agayne the sone gret lycht.
    Thai saw sa fele browdyne baneris
    Standaris and pennounys and speris,
    And sa fele knychtis apon stedis
    All flawmand in thar wedis,
    And sa fele bataillis and sa braid
    That tuk sa gret roume as thai rqaid
    That the maist ost and the stoutest
    Off Crystyndome and the grettest
    Suld be abaysit for to se
    Thair fayis into sic quantite
    And sua arayit for to fycht.
    Quhen thar discourrouris has had sycht
    Off thar fayis as I you say
    Towart the king thai tuk thair way,
    And tauld him intill prevete
    The multitud and the beaute
    Off thair fayis that come sa braid
    And off the gret mycht that thai haid.
    Than the king bad thaim thai suld ma
    Na contenance that it war sua
    Bot lat thaim into commoune say
    That thai cum intill evyll aray
    To confort his on that wys,
    For oftsys throu a word may rys
    Discomford and tynsaill with-all,
    And throu a word als weill may fall
    Comford may rys and hardyment
    May ger men do thar entent.
    On the samyn wys it did her,
    Thar comford and thar hardy cher
    Comford thaim sa gretumly
    Off thar ost that the leyst hardy
    Be contenance wald formast be
    For to begyne the gret melle.

    [The English send an advance party to rescue the castle]



    Apon this wis the noble king
    Gaff all his men recomforting
    Throu hardy contenance of cher
    That he maid on sa gud maner.
    Thaim thocht that na myscheiff mycht be
    Sa gret with-thi thai him mycht se
    Befor thaim sua tha thaim suld greve
    That ne his worschip suld thaim releve,
    His worschip confort thaim sua
    And contensnce that he gan ma
    That the mast coward wes hardy.
    On other half full sturdely
    The Inglismen in sic aray
    As ye haf herd me forouth say
    Comed with thar bataillis approchand
    The baneris to the wynd wavand,
    And quhen thai cummyn war sa ner
    That bot twa myle betwix thaim wer
    Thai chesyt a joly cumpany
    Off men that wicht war and hardy
    On fayr courseris armyt at rycht,
    Four banrentis off mekill mycht
    War capitanys of that route,
    The Syr the Clyffurd that wes stout
    Wes off thaim all soverane leidar,
    Aucht hunder armyt I trow thai war.
    Thai war all young men and joly
    Yarnand to do chevalry,
    Off best of all the ost war thai
    Off contenance and off aray.
    Thai war the fayrest cumpany
    That men mycht find of sa mony,
    To the castell thai thocht to far
    For giff that thai weill mycht cum thar
    Thai thocht it suld reskewit be.
    Forth on thar way held this menye
    And towart Strevilline held thar way,
    The New Park all eschewit thai
    For thai wist weill the king wes thar
    And newth the New Park gan thai far
    Weill newth the kyrk intill a rout.

    [The advance party is challenged by Moray; his force is surrounded]



    The Erle Thomas that wes sa stout
    Quhen he saw thaim sa ta the plane
    In gret hy went he thaim agane
    With fyve hunder foroutyn ma
    Anoyit in his hart and wa
    That thai sa fer wer passit by,
    For the king haid said him rudly
    That a rose of his chaplete
    Was fallyn, for quhar he wes set
    To kep the way thai men war passit
    And tharfor he hastyt him sa fast
    That cummyn in schort tyme wes he
    To the plane feld with his menye,
    For he thocht that he suld amend
    That he trespassit had or than end.
    And quhen the Inglismen him saw
    Cum on foroutyn dyn or aw
    And tak sa hardely the plane
    In hy thai sped thaim him agane
    And strak with spuris the stedis stith
    That bar thaim evyn hard and swith.
    And quhen the erle saw that menye
    Cum sa stoutly, till his said he
    'Be nocht abaysit for thar schor,
    Bot settis speris you befor
    And bak to bak set all your rout
    And all the speris poyntis out,
    Suagate us best defend may we
    Enveronyt with thaim gif we be.'
    And as he bad thaim thai haif done,
    And the tother come on alsone.
    Befor thaim all come prikand
    A knycht hardy off hart and hand
    And a wele gret lord at hame
    Schyr Gilyame Danecourt wes his nam
    And prikyt on thaim hardely
    And thai met him sturdely
    That he and hors wes borne doune
    And slayne rycht thar forout ransoun,
    With Inglismen gretly wes he
    Menyt that day and his bounte.
    The lave come on rycht sturdely
    Bot nane off thaim sa hardely
    Ruschyt amang thaim as did he,
    Bot with fer mar maturyte
    Thai assemblyt all in a rout
    And enveround thaim all about
    Assailyeand thaim on ilka sid.

    [The fight between Moray's force and the English]



    And thai with speris woundis wyd
    Gaff till the hors that come thaim ner,
    And thai that ridand on thaim wer
    That doune war borne losyt the lyvis,
    And other speris dartis and knyffis
    And wapynnys on ser maner
    Kast amang thaim that fechtand wer
    That thaim defendyt sa wittily
    That thar fayis had gret ferly,
    For sum wald schout out of thar rout
    And off thaim that assaylyt about
    Stekyt stedis and bar doun men.
    The Inglismen sa rudly then
    Kest amang thaim swerdis and mas
    That ymyd thaim a monteyle was
    Off wapynnys that war warpyt thar.
    The erle and his thus fechtand war
    At gret myscheiff as I you say,
    For quhonnar be full far war thai
    Than thar fayis and all about
    War inveround, quhar mony rout
    War roucht full dispitously.
    Thar fayis demenyt thaim full starkly,
    On ather half thai war sa stad
    For the rycht gret heyt that thai had
    For fechtyn and for sonnys het
    That all thar flesche of swate wes wete,
    And sic a stew rais out off thaim then
    Off aneding bath of hors and men
    And off powdyr that sic myrknes
    Intill the ayr abovyne thaim wes
    That it wes wondre for to se.
    Thai war in gret perplexite
    Bot with gret travaill nocht-forthi
    Thai thaim defendyt manlily
    And set bath will and strenth and mycht
    To rusch thar fayis in that fycht
    That thaim demanyt than angyrly.
    Bot gyff God help thaim hastily
    Thai sall thar fill have of fechting.

    [Douglas proposes to help Moray]



    Bot quhen the noble renownyt king
    With other lordis that war him by
    Saw how the erle abandounly
    Tuk the plane feld, James of Douglas
    Come to the king rycht quhar he was
    And said, 'A! Schyr, Sanct Mary!
    The erle off Murref opynly
    Tays the plane feld with his mengne,
    He is in perell bot he be
    Sone helpyt for his fayis ar ma
    Than he and horsyt weill alsua,
    And with your leve I will me speid
    To help him for he has ned,
    All umbeveround with his fayis is he.'
    The king said, 'Sa our Lord me se,
    A fute till him thou sall nocht ga,
    Giff he weile dois lat him weile ta.
    Quhatever him happyn, to wyn or los,
    I will nocht for him brek purpos.'
    'Certis,' said James, 'I may na wis
    Se that his fayis him suppris
    Quhen that I may set help thartill,
    With your leve sekyrly I will
    Help him or dey into the payn.'
    'Do than and speid the sone agayn,'
    The king said, and he held his way.
    Gyff he may cum in tyme perfay
    I trow he sall him help sa weill
    That off his fayis sall it feill.

    BOOK 12



    [The king prepares his division]



    Now Douglas furth his wayis tais,
    And in that selff tyme fell throw cais
    That the king off Ingland quhen he
    Was cummyn with his gret menye
    Ner to the place, as I said ar,
    Quhar Scottismen arayit war,
    He gert arest all his bataill
    And other alsua to tak consaill
    Quhether thai wald herbry thaim that nycht
    Or than but mar ga to the fycht.
    The vaward that wist na thing
    Off this arest na his dwelling
    Raid to the Park all straucht thar way
    Foroutyn stinting in gud aray,
    And quhen the king wist that thai wer
    In hale bataill cummand sa ner
    His bataill gert he weill aray.
    He raid apon a litill palfray
    Laucht and joly arayand
    His bataill with ane ax in hand,
    And on his bassynet he bar
    Ane hat off quyrbolle ay-quhar,
    And thar-upon into taknyng
    Ane hey croune that he wes king.

    [The king kills Henry de Bohun]



    And quhen Glosyster and Herfurd wer
    With thar bataill approchand ner
    Befor thaim all thar come ridand
    With helm on heid and sper in hand
    Schyr Henry the Boune the worthi,
    That was a wycht knycht and a hardy
    And to the erle off Herfurd cusyne,
    Armyt in armys gud and fyne
    Come on a sted a bow-schote ner
    Befor all other that thar wer,
    And knew the king for that he saw
    Him sua rang his men on raw
    And by the croune that wes set
    Alsua apon his bassynet,
    And towart him he went in hy.
    And quhen the king sua apertly
    Saw him cum forouth all his feris
    In hy till him the hors he steris.
    And quhen Schyr Henry saw the king
    Cum on foroutyn abaysing
    Till him he raid in full gret hy,
    He thocht that he suld weill lychtly
    Wyn him and haf him at his will
    Sen he him horsyt saw sa ill.
    Sprent thai samyn intill a ling,
    Schyr Hanry myssit the noble king
    And he that in his sterapys stud
    With the ax that wes hard and gud
    With sua gret mayne raucht him a dynt
    That nother hat na helm mycht stynt
    The hevy dusche that he him gave
    That ner the heid till the harnys clave.
    The hand-ax schaft fruschit in twa,
    And he doune to the erd gan ga
    All flatlynys for him faillyt mycht.
    This wes the fryst strak off the fycht
    That wes perfornyst douchtely,
    And quhen the kingis men sa stoutly
    Saw him rycht at the fyrst meting
    Foroutyn dout or abaysing
    Have slayne a knycht sua at a strak
    Sic hardyment tharat gan thai tak
    That thai come on rycht hardely.
    Quhen Inglismen saw thaim sa stoutly
    Cum on tthai had gret abaysing
    And specially for that the king
    Sa smartly that gud knycht has slayne
    That thai withdrew thaim everilkane
    And durst nocht ane abid to fycht
    Sa dred thai for the kingis mycht.
    And quhen the kingis men thaim saw
    Sua in hale bataill thaim withdraw
    A gret schout till thaim gan thai mak
    And thai in hy tuk all the bak,
    And thai that folowit thaim has slane
    Sum off thaim that thai haf ourtane
    Bot thai war few forsuth to say
    Thar hors fete had ner all away.
    Bot how-sa quhoyne deyt thar
    Rebutyt foulily thai war
    And raid thar gait with weill mar schame
    Be full fer than thai come fra hame.

    [Douglas admires the struggle of Moray and his men]



    Quhen that the king reparyt was
    That gert his men all leve the chas
    The lordis off his cumpany
    Blamyt him as thai durst gretumly
    That he him put in aventur
    To mete sa styth a knycht and sture
    In sic poynt as he than wes sene,
    For thai said weill it mycht haiff bene
    Cause off thar tynsaill everilkan.
    The king answer has maid thaim nane
    Bot menyt hys handax schaft that sua
    Was with the strak brokyn in twa.
    The Erle Thomas wes yete fechtand
    With fayis apon athyr hand
    And slew off thaim a quantite,
    Bot wery war his men and he
    The-quhether with wapynnys sturdely
    Thai thaim defendyt manlely
    Quhill that the Douglas come ner
    That sped him on gret maner,
    And Inglismen that war fechtand
    Quhen thai the Douglas saw ner-hand
    Thai wandyst and maid ane opynnyng.
    James of Douglas be thar relying
    Knew that thai war discumfyt ner,
    Than bad thaim that with him wer
    Stand still and pres na forthyrmar.
    'For thai that yonder fechtand ar,'
    He said, 'ar off sa gret bounte
    That thar fayis weill sone sall be
    Discumfyt throu thar awne mycht
    Thocht na man help thaim for to fycht,
    And cum we now to the fechting
    Quhen thai ar at discumfiting
    Men suld say we thaim fruschit had,
    And sua suld thai that caus has mad
    With gret travaill and hard fechting
    Los a part of thar loving,
    And it war syn to les thar prys
    That off sa soverane bounte is.
    And he throu plane and hard fechting
    Has her eschevyt unlikly thing
    He sall haff that he wonnyn has.'

    [Moray's victory over Clifford's men]



    The erle with that that fechtand was
    Quhen he hys fayis saw brawland sua
    And hy apon thaim gan he ga,
    And pressyt thame sa wonder fast
    With hard strakys quhill at the last
    Thai fled that dust abid ne mar.
    Bath hors and men slane left thai thar
    And held thar way in full gret hy
    Nocht all togydder bot syndryly
    And thai that war ourtane war slayn,
    The lave went till thar ost agayne
    Off thar tynsall sary and wa.
    The erle that had him helpyn sua
    And his als that wer wery
    Hynt off thar bassynettis in hy
    Till avent thaim for thai war wate,
    Thai war all helyt into swate.
    Thai semyt men forsuth Ik hycht
    That had fandyt thar force in fycht
    And sua did thai full douchtely.
    Thai fand off all thar cumpany
    That thar wes bot a yuman slayne
    And lovyt God and wes full fayne
    And blyth that thai eschapyt sua.
    Towart the king than gan thai ga
    And till him weill sone cummyn ar.
    He wyttyt at thaim of thar far
    And glaidsome cher to thaim mad
    For thai sa weile thaim borne had.
    Than pressyt into gret daynte
    The erle off Murreff for to se,
    For his hey worschip and gret valour
    All yarnyt to do him honour,
    Sa fast thai ran to se him thar
    That ner all samyn assemblit ar.
    And quhen the gud king gan thaim se
    Befor thaim sua assemblit be
    Blyth and glaid that thar fayis wer
    Rabutyt apon sic maner
    A litill quhill he held him still,
    Syne on this wys he said his will.

    [The king asks his men whether they should stay and fight]



    'Lordingis, we aucht to love and luff
    Allmychty God that syttis abuff
    That sendis us sa fayr begynnyng.
    It is a gret discomforting
    Till our fayis that on this wis
    Sa sone has bene rabutyt twis,
    For quhen thai off thar ost sall her
    And knaw suthly on quhat maner
    Thar vaward that wes sa stout,
    And syne yone othyr joly rout
    That I trow off the best men war
    That thay mycht get amang thaim thar,
    War rebutyt sa sodanly,
    I trow and knawis it all clerly
    That mony ane hart sall waverand be
    That semyt er off gret bounte,
    And fra the hart be discumfyt
    The body is nocht worth a myt,
    Tharfor I trow that gud ending
    Sall folow till our begynnyng.
    The-quhether I say nocht this you till
    For that ye suld folow my will
    To fycht, bot in you all sall be,
    For gyff you thinkis spedfull that we
    Fecht we sall, and giff ye will
    We leve, your liking to fulfill.
    I sall consent on alkyn wis
    To do rycht as ye will dyvys,
    tharfor sayis off your will planly.'
    And with a voce than gan thai cry,
    'Gud king, foroutyn mar delay
    Tomorne alsone as ye se day
    Ordane you hale for the bataill,
    For doute off dede we sall nocht faill
    Na na payn sall refusyt be
    Quhill we haiff maid our countre fre.'

    [The king's address to his men: the reasons for the fight]



    Quhen the king had hard sa manlily
    Thai spak to fechting and sa hardely
    In hart gret gladschip can he ta
    And said, 'Lordingis, sen ye will sua
    Schaip we us tharfor in the mornyng
    Sua that we be the sone-rysing
    Haff herd mes and buskyt weill
    Ilk man intill his awn eschell
    Without the palyounys arayit
    In bataillis with baneris displayit,
    And luk ye na wis brek aray.
    And, as ye luf me, I you pray
    That ilk man for his awne honour
    Purvay him a gud baneour,
    And quhen it cummys to the fycht
    Ilk man set hart will and mycht
    To stynt our fayis mekill prid.
    On hors thai will arayit rid
    And cum on you in full gret hy,
    Mete thaim with speris hardely
    And think than on the mekill ill
    That thai and tharis has done us till,
    And ar in will yeit for to do
    Giff thai haf mycht to cum tharto.
    And certis me think weill that ye
    Forout abasing aucht to be
    Worthy and of gret vasselagis
    For we haff thre gret avantagis
    The fyrst is that we haf the rycht
    And for the rycht ay God will fycht.
    The tother is that thai cummyn ar
    For lyppynyng off thar gret powar
    To sek us in our awne land,
    And has brocht her rycht till our hand
    Ryches into sa gret quantite
    That the pourest of you sall be
    Bath rych and mychty tharwithall
    Giff that we wyne, as weill may fall.
    The thrid is that we for our lyvis
    And for our childer and for our wyvis
    And for our fredome and for our land
    Ar strenyeit in bataill for to stand,
    And thai for thar mycht anerly
    And for thai lat of us heychtly
    And for thai wald distroy us all
    Mais thaim to fycht, bot yeit may fall
    That thai sall rew thar barganyng.
    And certis I warne you off a thing
    That happyn thaim, as God forbed,
    Till fynd fantis intill our deid
    That thai wyn us opynly
    Thai sall off us haf na mercy,
    And sen we knaw thar felone will
    Me think it suld accord to skill
    To set stoutnes agayne felony
    And mak sa-gat a juperty.
    Quharfor I you requer and pray
    That with all your mycht that ye may
    That ye pres you at the begynnyng
    But cowardys or abaysing
    To mete thaim at sall fyrst assemble
    Sa stoutly that the henmaist trymble,
    And menys of your gret manheid
    Your worschip and your douchti deid
    And off the joy that we abid
    Giff that us fall, as weill may tid,
    Hap to vencus this gret bataill.
    In your handys without faile
    Ye ber honour price and riches
    Fredome welth and blythnes
    Giff you contene you manlely,
    And the contrar all halily
    Sall fall giff ye lat cowardys
    And wykytnes your hertis suppris.
    Ye mycht have lyvyt into threldome,
    Bot for ye yarnyt till have fredome
    Ye ar assemblyt her with me,
    Tharfor is nedfull that ye be
    Worthy and wycht but abaysing.

    [The king's address to his men: practical advice]



    And I warne you weill off a thing,
    That mar myscheff may fall us nane
    Than in thar handys to be tane,
    For thai suld sla us, I wate weill
    Rycht as thai did my brothyr Nele.
    Bot quhen I mene off your stoutnes
    And off the mony gret prowes
    That ye haff doyne sa worthely
    I traist and trowis sekyrly
    To haff plane victour in this fycht,
    For thoucht our fayis haf mekill mycht
    Thai have the wrang, and succudry
    And covatys of senyoury
    Amovys thaim foroutyn mor.
    Na us thar dreid thaim bot befor
    For strenth off this place as ye se
    Sall let us enveronyt to be.
    And I pray you als specially
    Bath mar and les commonaly
    That nane of you for gredynes
    Haff ey to tak of thar riches
    Ne presonaris for to ta
    Quhill ye se thaim contraryit sa
    That the feld anerly youris be,
    And than at your liking may ye
    Tak all the riches that thar is.
    Giff ye will wyrk apon this wis
    Ye sall haff victour sekyrly.
    I wate nocht quhat mar say sall I
    Bot all wate ye quhat honour is,
    Contene you than on sic a wis
    That your honour ay savyt be.
    And Ik hycht her in leaute
    Gyff ony deys in this bataille
    His ayr but ward releff or taile
    On the fyrst day his land sall weld
    All be he never sa young off eild.
    Now makys you redy for to fycht,
    God help us that is maist of mycht.
    I rede armyt all nycht that we be
    Purvayit in bataill sua that we
    To mete our fayis ay be boune.'
    Than answeryt thai all with a soune,
    'As ye dyvys all sall be done.'
    Than till tha innys went thai sone
    And ordanyt thaim for the fechting
    Syne assemblyt in the evynnyng,
    And suagat all the nycht bad thai
    Till on the morn that it wes day.

    [The English prepare: the night before the battle]



    Quhen the Cliffurd, as I said ar,
    And all his rout rebutyt war
    And thar gret vaward alsua
    War distrenyeit the bak to ta
    And thai had tauld thar rebuting -
    Thai off the vaward how the king
    Slew at a strak sa apertly
    A knycht that wycht wes and hardy,
    And how all haile the kingis bataill
    Schup thaim rycht stoutly till assaill
    And Schyr Edward the Bruce alsua
    Quhen thai all haill the bak gan ta
    And how thai lesyt of thar men,
    And Cliffurd had tauld alsua then
    How Thomas Randell tuk the plane
    With a few folk and how wes slane
    Schyr Gilyame Danecourt the worthi,
    And how the erle faucht manly
    That as ane hyrchoune all his rout
    Gert set out speris all about
    And how that thai war put agayne
    And part off thar gud men slayne -
    The Inglismen sic abasing
    Tuk and sic drede of that tithing
    That in fyve hunder placis and ma
    Men mycht se samyn routand ga
    Sayand, 'Our lordis for thar mycht
    Will allgate fecht agane the rycht,
    Bot quha-sa werrayis wranguysly
    Thai fend God all to gretumly
    And thaim may happyn to mysfall,
    And swa may tid that her we sall.'
    And quhen thar lordys had persaving
    Off discomfort and rownnyng
    That thai held samyn twa and twa,
    Throu-out the ost sone gert thai ga
    Heraldis to mak a crye
    That nane discomfort suld be,
    For in punye is oft hapnyne
    Quhile for to wyn and quhile to tyne,
    And that into the gret bataill
    That apon na maner may faill
    Bot giff the Scottis fley thar way
    Sall all amendyt be perfay.
    Tharfor thai monest thaim to be
    Off gret worschip and off bounte
    And stoutly in the bataill stand
    And tak amendis at thar hand.
    Thai may weill monys as thai will
    And thai may hecht als to fulfill
    With stalwart hart thar bidding all
    Bot nocht-forthi I trow thai sall
    Intill thar hartis dredand be.
    The king with his consaill preve
    Has tane to rede that he wald nocht
    Fecht or the morne bot he war socht,
    Tharfor thai herberyd thaim that nycht
    Doune in the Kers, and gert all dycht
    And maid redy thar aparaill
    Agayne the morne for the bataill,
    And for in the Kers pulis war
    Housis thai brak and thak bar
    To mak briggis quhar thaim mycht pas,
    And sum sayis that yeit the folk that was
    In the castell quhen nycht gan fall
    For that thai knew the myscheiff all
    Thai went full ner all that thai war
    And duris and wyndowys with thaim bar,
    Swa that thai had befor the day
    Briggyt the pulis swa that thai
    War passyt our everilkane,
    And the hard feld on hors has tane
    All reddy for till gif batale
    Arayit intill thar apparaill.

    [The Scottish and English preparations on the morning]



    The Scottismen quhen it wes day
    Thar mes devotly gert thai say
    Syne tuk a sop and maid thaim yar,
    And quhen thai all assemblyt war
    And in thar bataillis all purvayit
    With thar braid baneris all displayit
    Thai maid knychtis, as it afferis
    To men that usys thai mysteris.
    The king maid Walter Stewart knycht
    And James of Douglas that wes wycht,
    And other als of gret bounte
    He maid ilkane in thar degre.
    Quhen this wes doyne that I you say
    Thai went all furth in gud aray
    And tuk the plane full apertly,
    Mony gud man wicht and hardy
    That war fulfillyt of gret bounte
    Intill thai routis men mycht se.
    The Inglismen on other party
    That as angelis schane brychtly
    War nocht arayit on sic maner
    For all thar bataillis samyn wer
    In a schilthrum, but quhether it was
    Throu the gret straitnes of the place
    That thai war in to bid fechting
    Or that it was for abaysing
    I wate nocht, bot in a schiltrum
    It semyt thai war all and sum,
    Outane the avaward anerly
    That rycht with a gret cumpany
    Be thaimselvyn arayit war.
    Quha had bene by mycht have sene thar
    That folk ourtak a mekill feild
    On breid quhar mony a schynand scheld
    And mony a burnyst brycht armur
    And mony man off gret valour
    And mony a brycht baner and schene
    Mycht in that gret schiltrum be sene.

    [Umfraville's advice to Edward II rejected]



    And quhen the king of Ingland
    Swa the Scottis saw tak on hand
    Takand the hard feyld sa opynly
    And apon fute he had ferly
    And said, 'Quhat, will yone Scottis fycht?'
    'Ya sekyrly, schir,' said a knycht,
    Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill hat he,
    And said, 'Forsuth now, schyr, I se
    It is the mast ferlyfull sycht
    That evyre I saw quhen for to fycht
    The Scottismen has tane on hald
    Agayne the mycht of Ingland
    In plane hard feld to giff bataile.
    Bot and ye will trow my consaill
    Ye sall discomfy thaim lychtly.
    Withdrawys you hyne sodandly
    With bataillis and with penounys
    Quhill that we pas our palyounys,
    And ye sall se alsone that thai
    Magre thar lordys sall brek aray
    And scaile thaim our harnays to ta.
    And quhen we se thaim scalit sua
    Prik we than on thaim hardely
    And we sall haf thaim wele lychtly
    For than sall nane be knyt to fycht
    That may withstand your mekill mycht.'
    I will nocht,' said the king, 'perfay
    Do sa, for thar sall na man say
    That I sall eschew the bataill
    Na withdraw me for sic rangaile.'
    Quhen this wes said that er said I
    The Scottismen commounaly
    Knelyt all doune to God to pray
    And a schort prayer thar maid thai
    To God to help thaim in that fycht,
    And quhen the Inglis king had sycht
    Off thaim kneland he said in hy,
    'Yone folk knelis to ask mercy.'
    Schyr Ingrahame said, 'Ye say suth now,
    Thai ask mercy bot nane at you,
    For thar trespas to God thai cry.
    I tell you a thing sekyrly,
    That yone men will all wyn or de,
    For doute of dede thai sall nocht fle.'
    'Now be it sa,' than said the king,
    And than but langer delaying
    Thai gert trump till the assemble.
    On ather sid men mycht than se
    Mony a wycht man and worthi
    Redy to do chevalry.

    [The English attack Edward Bruce's division]



    Thus war thai boune on ather sid,
    And Inglismen with mekill prid
    That war intill thar avaward
    To the bataill that Schyr Edward
    Governyt and led held straucht thar way
    The hors with spuris hardnyt thai
    And prikyt apon thaim sturdely,
    And thai met thaim rycht hardely
    Sua that at thar assemble thar
    Sic a fruschyng of speris war
    That fer away men mycht it her.
    At that meting foroutyn wer
    War stedis stekyt mony ane
    And mony gude man borne doune and slayne,
    And mony ane hardyment douchtely
    Was thar eschevyt, for hardely
    Thai dang on other with wapnys ser.
    Sum of the hors that stekyt wer
    Ruschyt and relyt tycht rudlye,
    Bot the remanand nocht-forthi
    That mycht cum to the assembling
    For that led maid na stinting
    ` Bot assemblyt full hardely,
    And thai met thaim full sturdely
    With speris that wer scharp to scher
    And axys that weile groundyn wer
    Quhar-with was roucht mony a rout.
    The fechting wes thar.sa fell and stout
    That mony a worthi man and wicht
    Throu fors wes fellyt in that fycht
    That had na mycht to rys agane.
    The Scottismen fast gan thaim payn
    Thar fayis mekill mycht to rus,
    I trow thai sall na payn refuse
    Na perell quhill thar fayis be
    Set in weill hard perplexite.

    [Moray's men attack the main English host]



    And quhen the erle of Murref swa
    Thar vaward saw sa stoutly ga
    The way to Schyr Edward all straucht
    That met thaim with full mekill maucht,
    He held hys way with his baner
    To the gret rout quhar samyn wer
    The nyne bataillis that war sa braid,
    That sa fele baneris with thaim haid
    And of men sa gret quantite
    That it war wonder for to se.
    The gud erle thidder tuk the way
    With his battaill in gud aray
    And assemblit sa hardily
    That men mycht her that had bene by
    A gret frusch of the speris that brast,
    For thar fayis assemblyt fast
    That on stedis with mekill prid
    Come prikand as thai wald our-rid
    The erle and all his cumpany,
    Bot thai met thaim sa sturdely
    That mony of thaim till erd thai bar,
    For mony a sted was stekyt thar
    And mony gud man fellyt under fet
    That had na hap to rys up yete.
    Thar mycht men se a hard bataill
    And sum defend and sum assaile
    And mony a reale romble rid
    Be roucht thar apon ather sid
    Quhill throu the byrnys bryst the blud
    That till erd doune stremand yhude.
    The erle of Murreff and his men
    Sa stoutly thaim contenyt then
    That thai wan place ay mar and mar
    On thar fayis the-quhether thai war
    Ay ten far ane or may perfay,
    Sua that it semyt weill that thai
    War tynt amang sa gret menye
    As thai war plungyt in the se.
    And quhen the Inglismen has sene
    The erle and all his men bedene
    Faucht sa stoutly but effraying
    Rycht as thai had nane abasing
    Thaim pressyt thai with all thar mycht
    And thai with speris and swerdis brycht
    And axis that rycht scharply schar
    Ymyddis the vesag met thaim thar.
    Thar mycht men se a stalwart stour
    And mony men of gret valour
    With speris mas and knyffis
    And other wapynnys wyssyll thar lyvis
    Sua that mony fell doune all dede,
    The greys woux with the blud all reid
    The erle that wycht wes and worthi
    And his men faucht sa manlyly
    That quha-sa had sene thaim that day
    I trow forsuth that thai suld say
    That thai suld do thar devor wele
    Swa that thar fayis suld it fele.

    BOOK 13



    [Douglas's division attacks]



    Quhen thir twa fyrst bataillis wer
    Assemblyt as I said you er,
    The Stewart Walter that than was
    And the gud lord als of Douglas
    In a bataill, quhen that thai saw
    The erle foroutyn dred or aw
    Assembill with his cumpany
    On all that folk sa sturdely
    For till help him thai held thar way
    And thar bataill in gud aray,
    And assemblyt sa hardely
    Besid the erle a litill by
    That thar fayis feld thar cummyn wele,
    For with wapynnys stalwart of stele
    Thai dang apon with all thar mycht.
    Thar fayis resavyt weile Ik hycht
    With swerdis speris and with mase,
    The bataill thar sa feloune was
    And sua rycht gret spilling of blud
    That on the erd the flousis stud.
    The Scottismen sa weill thaim bar
    And sua gret slauchter maid thai thar
    And fra sa fele the lyvis revyt
    That all the feld bludy wes levyt.
    That tyme thar thre bataillis wer
    All syd be sid fechtand weill ner,
    Thar mycht men her mony dynt
    And wapynnys apon armuris stynt,
    And se tumble knychtis and stedis
    And mony rich and reale wedis
    Defoullyt foully under fete,
    Sum held on loft sum tynt the suet.
    A lang quhill thus fechtand thai war
    That men na noyis mycht her thar,
    Men hard nocht bot granys and dintis
    That slew fyr as men slayis on flyntis,
    Thai faucht ilk ane sa egerly
    That thai maid nother moyis na cry
    Bot dang on other at thar mycht
    With wapnys that war burnyst brycht.
    The arowys als sua thyk thar flaw
    That thai mycht say wele that thaim saw
    That thai a hidwys schour gan ma,
    For quhar thai fell Ik undreta
    Thai left efter thaim taknyng
    That sall ned as I trow leching.

    [Sir Robert Keith's cavalry disperses the English archers]



    The Inglis archeris schot sa fast
    That mycht thar schot haff ony last
    It had bene hard to Scottismen
    Bot King Robert that wele gan ken
    That thar archeris war peralous
    And thar schot rycht hard and grevous
    Ordanyt forouth the assemble
    Hys marschell with a gret menye,
    Fyve hunder armyt into stele
    That on lycht hors war horsyt welle,
    For to pryk amang the archeris
    And sua assaile thaim with thar speris
    That thai na layser haiff to schut.
    This marschell that Ik off mute
    That Schyr Robert of Keyth was cauld
    As Ik befor her has you tauld
    Quhen he saw the bataillis sua
    Assembill and togidder ga
    And saw the archeris schoyt stoutly,
    With all thaim off his cumpany
    In hy apon thaim gan he rid
    And ourtuk thaim at a sid,
    And ruschyt amang thaim sa rudly
    Stekand thaim sa dispitously
    And in sic fusoun berand doun
    And slayand thaim foroutyn ransoun
    That thai thaim scalyt everilkane,
    And fra that tyme furth thar wes nane
    That assemblyt schot to ma.
    Quhen Scottis archeris saw that thai sua
    War rebutyt thai woux hardy
    And with all thar mycht schot egrely
    Amang the horsmen that thar raid
    And woundis wid to thaim thai maid
    And slew of thaim a full gret dele.
    Thai bar thaim hardely and wele
    For, fra thar fayis archeris war
    Scalyt as I said till you ar
    That ma na thai war be gret thing
    Sua that thai dred nocht thar schoting
    Thai woux sa hardy that thaim thocht
    Thai suld set all thar fayis at nocht.

    [The king addresses his division and commits it to the battle]



    The merschell and his cumpany
    Wes yeit, as till you er said I,
    Amang the archeris quhar thai maid
    With speris roume quhar that thai raid
    And slew all that thai mycht ourta,
    And thai wele lychtly mycht do sua
    For thai had nocht a strak to stynt
    Na for to hald agayne a dynt,
    And agayne armyt men to fycht
    May nakyt men have litill mycht.
    Thai scalyt thaim on sic maner
    That sum to thar gret bataill wer
    Withdrawyn thaim in full gret hy
    And sum war fled all utrely,
    Bot the folk that behind thaim was,
    That for thar awne folk had na space
    Yheyt to cum to the assembling
    In agayn smertly gan thai ding
    The archeris that thai met fleand
    That then war maid sa recreand
    That thar hartis war tyny clenly,
    I trow thai sall nocht scaith gretly
    The Scottismen with schot that day.
    And the gud King Robert that ay
    Wes fillyt off full gret bounte
    Saw how that his bataillis thre
    Sa hardely assemblyt thar
    And sa weill in the fycht thaim bar
    And sua fast on thair fayis gan ding
    That him thocht nane had abaysing
    And how the archeris war scalyt then,
    He was all blyth and till his men
    He said, 'Lordingis, now luk that ye
    Worthy and off gud covyn be
    At thys assemble and hardy,
    And assembill sa sturdely
    That na thing may befor you stand.
    Our men ar sa freschly fechtand
    That thai thar fayis has contrayit sua
    That be thai pressyt, Ik underta,
    A litill fastyr, ye sall se
    That thai discumfyt sone sall be.'
    Quhen this wes said thai held thar way
    And on ane feld assemblyt thai
    Sa stoutly that at thar cummyng
    Thar fayis war ruschyt a gret thing.

    [A further description of the fighting]



    Thar mycht men se men felly fycht
    And men that worthi war and wycht
    Do mony worthi vasselage,
    Thai faucht as thai war in a rage,
    For quhen the Scottis ynkirly
    Saw thar fayis sa sturdely
    Stand into bataill thaim agayn
    With all thar mycht and all thar mayn
    Thai layid on as men out of wit
    And quhar thai with full strak mycht hyt
    Thar mycht na armur stynt thar strak.
    Thai to-fruschyt that thai mycht ourtak
    And with axis sic duschys gave
    That thai helmys and hedis clave,
    And thar fayis rycht hardely
    Met thaim and dang on thaim douchtely
    With wapmys that war styth of stele.
    Thar wes the bataill strikyn wele.
    Sa gret dyn tthar wes of dyntis
    As wapnys apon armur styntis,
    And off speris sa gret bresting
    And sic thrang and sic thrysting,
    Sic gyrnyng granyng and sa gret
    A noyis as thai gan other beit
    And ensenyeys on ilka sid
    Gevand and takand woundis wid,
    That it wes hydwys for to her.
    All four thar bataillis with that wer
    Fechtand in a frount halyly.
    A! mycht God! how douchtely
    Schyr Edward the Bruce and his men
    Amang thar fayis contenyt thaim then
    Fechtand in sa gud covyn
    Sa hardy worthy and sa fyne
    That thar vaward ruschyt was
    And maugre tharis left the place,
    And till thar gret rout to warand
    Thai went that tane had apon hand
    Sa gret anoy that thai war effrayit
    For Scottis that thaim hard assayit
    That than war in a schiltrum all.
    Quha hapnyt into that fycht to fall
    I trow agane he suld nocht rys.
    Thar mycht men se on mony wys
    Hardimentis eschevyt douchtely,
    And mony that wycht war and hardy
    Sone liand undre fete all dede
    Quhar all the feld off blud wes red,
    Armys and quyntys that thai bar
    With blud war sa defoulyt thar
    That thai mycht nocht descroyit be.
    A! mychty God! quha than mycht se
    That Stewart Walter and his rout
    And the gud Douglas that wes sa stout
    Fechtand into that stalwart stour,
    He suld say that till all honour
    Thai war worthi that in that fycht
    Sa fast pressyt thar fayis mycht
    That thaim ruschyt quhar thai yeid.
    Thar men mycht se mony a steid
    Fleand on stray that lord had nane.
    A! Lord! quha then gud tent had tane
    Till the gud erle of Murreff
    And his that sua gret routis geff
    And faucht sa fast in that battaill
    Tholand sic paynys and travaill
    That thai and tharis maid sic debat
    That quhar thai come thai maid thaim gat.
    Than mycht men her ensenyeis cry
    And Scottismen cry hardely,
    'On thaim, on thaim, on thaim, thai faile.'
    With that sa hard thai gan assaile
    And slew all that thai mycht ourta,
    And the Scottis archeris alsua
    Schot amang thaim sa deliverly
    Engrevand thaim sa gretumly
    That quhat for thaim that with thaim faucht
    That sua gret routis to thaim raucht
    And pressyt thaim full egrely
    And quhat for arowis that felly
    Mony gret woundis gan thaim ma
    And slew fast off thar hors alsua,
    That thai wandyst a litill wei.
    Thai dred sa gretly then to dey
    That thar covyn wes wer and wer,
    For thaim that fechtand with thaim wer
    Set hardyment and strenth and will
    And hart and corage als thar-till
    And all thar mayne and all thar mycht
    To put thaim fully to flycht.

    [The men guarding supplies in the Park choose a leader
    and move towareds the battle, dismaying the English]



    In this tyme that I tell off her
    At that bataill on this maner
    Wes strykyn quhar on ather party
    Thai war fechtand enforcely,
    Yomen and swanys and pitaill
    That in the Park to yeme vittaill
    War left, quhen thai wist but lesing
    That thar lordis with fell fechting
    On thar fayis assemblyt wer,
    Ane off thaimselvyn that war thar
    Capitane off thaim all thai maid,
    And schetis that war sumdele brad
    Thai festnyt in steid of baneris
    Apon lang treys and speris,
    And said that thai wald se the fycht
    And help thar lordis at thar mycht.
    Quhen her-till all assentyt wer
    In a rout thai assemblit er
    Fyften thousand thai war or ma,
    And than in gret hy gan thai ga
    With thar baneris all in a rout
    As thai had men bene styth and stout.
    thai come with all that assemble
    Rycht quhill thai mycht the bataill se,
    Than all at anys thai gave a cry,
    'Sla! sla! apon thaim hastily!'
    And thar-withall cumand war thai,
    Bot thai war wele fer yete away.
    And Inglismen that ruschyt war
    Throuch fors of fycht as I said ar
    Quhen thai saw cummand with sic a cry
    Towart thaim sic a cumpany
    That thaim thocht wele als mony war
    As that wes fechtand with thaim thar
    And thai befor had nocht thaim sene,
    Than wit ye weill withoutyn wene
    Thai war abaysit sa gretumly
    That the best and the mast hardy
    That war intill thar ost that day
    Wald with thar mensk haf bene away.

    [The king presses the enemy harder and some flee]



    The King Robert be thar relyng
    Saw thai war ner at discomfiting
    And his ensenye gan hely cry,
    Than with thaim off his cumpany
    His fayis he pressyt sa fast that thai
    War intill sa gret effray
    That thai left place ay mar and mar,
    For the Scottismen that thar war
    Quhen thai saw thaim eschew the fycht
    Dang on thaim with all thar mycht
    That thai scalyt thaim in troplys ser
    And till discomfitur war ner
    And sum off thaim fled all planly,
    Bot thai that wycht war and hardy
    That schame lettyt to ta the flycht
    At gret myscheiff mantemyt the fycht
    And stythly in the stour gan stand.

    [King Edward abandons the battle, but Sir Giles d'Argentan
    fights on and is killed]



    And quhen the king of Ingland
    Saw his men fley in syndry place,
    And saw his fayis rout that was
    Worthyn sa wycht and sa hardy
    That all his folk war halyly
    Sa stonayit that thai had na mycht
    To stynt thar fayis in the fycht,
    He was abaysyt sa gretumly
    That he and his cumpany
    Fyve hunder armyt all at rycht
    Intill a frusch all tok the flycht
    And to the castell held thar way,
    And yeit haiff Ik hard som men say
    That off Valence Schir Aymer
    Quhen he the feld saw vencusyt ner
    Be the reyngye led away the king
    Agayne his will fra the fechting.
    And quhen Schyr Gylis the Argente
    Saw the king thus and his menye
    Schap thaim to fley sa spedyly,
    He come rycht to the king in hy
    And said, 'Schyr, sen it is sua
    That ye thusgat your gat will ga
    Havys gud day for agayne will I,
    Yeit fled I never sekyrly
    And I cheys her to bid and dey
    Than for to lyve schamly and fley.'
    His bridill but mar abad
    He turnyt and agayne he rade
    And on Edward the Bruys rout
    That wes sa sturdy and sa stout
    As drede off nakyn thing had he
    He prikyt, cryand, 'the Argente,'
    And thai with speris sua him met
    And sua fele speris on him set
    That he and hors war chargyt sua
    That bathe till the erd gan ga
    And in that place thar slane wes he.
    Off hys deid wes rycht gret pite,
    He wes the thrid best knycht perfay
    That men wyst lyvand in his day,
    He did mony a fayr journe.
    On Saryzynys thre derenyeys faucht he
    And intill ilk derenye off tha
    He vencussyt Saryzynnys twa.
    His gret worschip tuk thar ending.

    [The English army scatters; many are drowned in Bannockburn
    or are killed by Scots]



    And fra Schyr Aymer with the king
    Was fled wes nane that durst abid
    Bot fled scalyt on ilka sid,
    And thar fayis thaim pressyt fast.
    Thai war to say suth sua agast
    And fled sa fast rycht effrayitly
    That off thaim a full gret party
    Fled to the water of Forth and thar
    The mast part off thaim drownyt war,
    And Bannokburne betwix the brays
    Off men and hors sua stekyt wais
    That apon drownyt hors and men
    Men mycht pas dry out-our it then.
    And laddis swanys and rangaill
    Quhen thai saw vencussyt the bataill
    Ran amang thaim and sua gan sla
    As folk that na defens mycht ma
    That war pitte for to se.
    Ik herd never quhar in na contre
    Folk at sa gret myscheiff war stad,
    On ane sid thai thar fayis bad
    That slew thaim doun foroutyn mercy,
    And thai had on the tother party
    Bannokburne that sua cumbyrsum was
    For slyk and depnes for to pas
    That thar mycht nane out-our it rid,
    Thaim worthit maugre tharis abid
    Sua that sum slayne sum drownyt war,
    Mycht nane eschap that ever come thar
    The-quhether mony gat away
    That ellisquhair fled as I sall say.

    [Edward II goes by Stirling Castle, round the Park to Linlithgow;
    Douglas pursues with too small a force]



    The king with thaim he with him had
    In a rout till the castell rad
    And wald haiff bene tharin, for thai
    Wyst nocht quhat gat to get away,
    Bot Philip the Mowbra said him till,
    'The castell, Schyr, is at your will,
    But cum ye in it ye sall se
    That ye sall sone assegyt be
    And thar sall nane of Ingland
    To mak you rescours tak on hand
    And but rescours may na castell
    Be haldyn lang, ye wate this wele.
    Tharfor confort you and rely
    Your men about you rycht starkly
    And haldis about the Park your way
    Knyt als sadly as ye may,
    For I trow that nane sall haff mycht
    That chassys with sa fele to fycht.'
    And his consaill thai haiff doyne
    And beneuth the castell went thai sone
    Rycht be the Rond Table away,
    And syne the Park enveround thai
    And towart Lythkow held in hy.
    Bot I trow thai sall hastily
    Be conveyit with sic folk that thai
    I trow mycht suffre wele away,
    For Schyr James lord of Douglas
    Come to the king and askyt the chace
    And he gaff him it but abaid,
    Bot all to few of hors he haid,
    He haid nocht in his rout sexty
    The-quhether he sped him hastely
    The way eftyr the king to ta.
    Now lat him on his wayis ga
    And eftre this we sall weill tell
    Quhat him intill the chace befell.

    [Capture of Hereford at Bothwell; escape of Sir Maurice Berkeley;
    flight of many to Stirling Castle; King Robert fears an English recovery]



    Quhen the gret battaill on this wis
    Was discumfyt as Ik devys
    Quhar thretty thousand wele war ded
    Or drownyt in that ilk sted,
    And sum war intill handis tane
    And other sum thar gate war gane.
    The erle of Herfurd fra the melle
    Departyt with a gret mengne
    And straucht to Bothwell tok the wai
    That than in the Inglismennys fay
    Was, and haldyn as place of wer,
    Schyr Walter Gilbertson wes ther
    Capitane and it had in ward.
    The erle of Herfurd thidderward
    Held and wes tane in our the wall
    And fyfty of his men withall,
    And set in housis sindryly
    Sua that thai had thar na mastry.
    The lave went towart Ingland
    Bot off that rout I tak on hand
    The thre partis war slane or tane,
    The lave with gret payn hame ar gan.
    Schyr Maurice alsua the Berclay
    Fra the gret bataill held hys way
    With a gret rout off Walis-men,
    Quharever thai yeid men mycht thaim ken
    For thai wele ner all nakyt war
    Or lynnyn clathys had but mar.
    Thai held thar way in full gret hy
    Bot mony off thar cumpany
    Or thai till Ingland come war tane
    And mony als off thaim war slayne.
    Thair fled als other wayis ser,
    Bot to the castell that wes ner
    Off Strevilline fled sic a mengye
    That it war wonder for to se,
    For the craggis all helyt war
    About the castell her and thar
    Off thaim that for strenth of that sted
    Thidderwart to warand fled,
    And for thai war sa fele that thar
    Fled under the castell war
    The King Robert that wes wytty
    Held his gud men ner him by
    For dred that ris agayne suld thai.

    [Looting of the enemy; the dead knights; the treachery of the earl of Atholl]



    This was the caus forsuth to say
    Quharthrouch the king of Ingland
    Eschapyt hame intill his land
    Quhen that the feld sa clene wes maid
    Off Inglismen that nane abaid
    The Scottismen sone tuk in hand
    Off tharis all that ever thai fand,
    As silver gold clathis and armyng
    With veschall and all other thing
    That ever thai mycht lay on thare hand.
    So gret a riches thair thai fand
    That mony man mychty wes maid
    Off the riches that thai thar haid.
    Quhen this wes doyne that her say I
    The king send a gret cumpany
    Up to the crag thaim till assaile
    That war fled fra the gret battaill,
    And thai thaim yauld foroutyn debate,
    And in hand has tane thaim fute-hate
    Syne to the king thai went thar way.
    Thai dispendyt haly that day
    In spulyeing and riches takyng
    Fra end was maid off the fechting
    And quhen thai nakyt spulyeit war
    That war slane in the bataill thar
    It wes forsuth a gret ferly
    To se samyn sa fele dede ly.
    Twa hundyr payr off spuris reid
    War tane of knychtis that war deid,
    The erle of Glosyster ded wes thar
    That men callyt Schyr Gilbert of Clar,
    And Gylis de Argente alsua
    And Payn Typtot and other ma
    That thar namys nocht tell can I.
    And apon Scottismennys party
    Thar wes slane worthi knychtis twa,
    Wilyame the Vepoynt wes ane of tha
    And Schyr Walter of Ross ane other
    That Schyr Edward the kingis brother
    Luffyt and had in sic daynte
    That as himselff him luffyt he.
    And quhen he wyst that he wes ded
    He wes sa wa and will of reide
    That he said makand ivill cher
    That him war lever that journay wer
    Undone than he sua ded had bene.
    Outakyn him men has nocht sene
    Quhar he for ony man maid menyng,
    And the caus wes of his luffing
    That he his sister paramouris
    Luffyt, and held all at rebouris
    His awyne wyff dame Ysabell.
    And tharfor sa gret distance fell
    Betwix him and the erle Davi
    Off Athole, brother to this lady
    That he apon Saynct Jhonys nycht,
    Quhen bath the kingis war boun to fycht,
    In Cammyskynnell the kingis vittaill
    He tuk and sadly gert assaile
    Schyr Wilyam off Herth and him slew
    And with him men ma then ynew.
    Tharfor syne intil Ingland
    He wes bannyst and all his land
    Wes sesyt as forfaut to the king
    That did tharoff syne his liking.

    [The burial of Gloucester; the surrender of Sir Marmaduke Tweng
    and of Stirling Castle]



    Quhen the feld as I tauld you ar
    Was dispulyeit and left all bar
    The king and all his cumpany
    Blyth and joyfull glaid and mery
    Off the grace that thaim fallin was
    Towart thar innys thar wayis tays
    To rest thaim, for thai wery war.
    Bot for the erle Gilbert of Clar
    That slane wes in the bataill-place
    The king sumdele anoyit was
    For till him wele ner sib wes he,
    Than till a kirk he gert him be
    Brocht and walkyt all that nycht.
    But on the morn quhen day wes lycht
    The king rais as his willis was.
    Than ane Inglis knycht throu cas
    Hapnyt that he yeid waverand
    Swa that na man laid on him hand,
    In a busk he hyd hys armyng
    And waytyt quhill he saw the king
    In the morne cum furth arly
    Till him than is he went in hy,
    Schyr Marmeduk the Tweingue he hycht.
    He raykyt till the king all rycht
    And halyst him apon his kne.
    'Welcum, Schyr Marmeduk,' said he,
    To quhat man art thou presoner?'
    'To nane,' he said, 'bot to you her
    I yeld me at your will to be.'
    'And I ressave the, schyr,' said he.
    Than gert he tret him curtasly,
    He dwelt lang in his cumpany,
    And syne till Ingland him send he
    Arayit weile but ransoun fre
    And geff him gret gyftis tharto.
    A worthi man that sua wald do
    Mycht mak him gretly for to prise.
    Quhen Marmeduk apon this wis
    Was yoldyn, as Ik to you say,
    Than come Schyr Philip the Mowbra
    And to the king yauld the castell,
    His cunnand has he haldyn well,
    And with him tretyt sua the king
    That he belevyt of his dwelling
    And held him lely his fay
    Quhill the last end off his lyf-day.

    [Douglas is joined by Sir Laurence Abernethy;
    they follow King Edward to Winchburgh]



    Now will we of the lord of Douglas
    Tell how that he folowit the chas.
    He had to quhone in his cumpany
    Bot he sped him in full gret hy,
    And as he throuch the Torwod fur
    Sa met he ridand on the mur
    Schyr Laurence off Abyrnethy
    That with four scor in cumpany
    Come for till help the Inglismen
    For he was Inglisman yet then,
    Bot quhen he hard how that it wes
    He left the Inglis-mennys pes
    And to the lord Douglas rycht thar
    For to be lele and trew he swar.
    And than thai bath folowit the chas,
    And or the king off Ingland was
    Passyt Lythkow thai come sa ner
    With all the folk that with thaim wer
    That weill amang thaim schout thai mycht,
    Bot thai thocht thaim to few to fycht
    With the gret rout that thai had thar
    For fyve hunder armyt thai war.
    Togidder sarraly raid thai
    And held thaim apon bridill ay,
    Thai wat governyt wittily
    For it semyt ay thai war redy
    For to defend thaim at thar mycht
    Giff thai assailyt war in fycht.
    And the lord Douglas and his men,
    How that he wald nocht schaip him then
    For to fecht with thaim all planly,
    He convoyit thaim sa narowly
    That of the henmaist ay tuk he,
    Mycht nane behin his falowis be
    A pennystane cast na he in hy
    Was dede, or tane deliverly
    That nane rescours wald till him ma
    All-thocht he luvyt him never sua.
    On this maner convoyit he
    Quhill that the king and his menye
    To Wenchburg all cummyn ar.

    [Both sides rest at Winchburgh; they ride on till King Edward
    takes a boat at Dunbar]



    Than lychtyt all that thai war
    To bayt thar hors that wer wery,
    And Douglas and his cumpany
    Baytyt alsua besid thaim ner.
    Thai war sa fele withoutyn wer
    And in armys sa clenly dycht
    And sua arayit for to fycht,
    And he sa quhoyne and but supleyng
    That he wald nocht in plane fechting
    Assaile thaim, bot ay raid thaim by
    Waytand hys poynt ay ythandly.
    A litill quhill thai baytyt thar
    And syne lap on and furth thai far
    And he was alwayis by thaim ner,
    He leyt thaim nocht haff sic layser
    As anys water for to ma,
    And giff ony stad war sa
    That he behind left ony space
    Sesyt alsone in hand he was.
    Thai convoyit thaim on sic a wis
    Quhill that the king and his rout is
    Cummyn to the castell of Dunbar
    Quhar he and sum of his menye war
    Resavyt rycht weill, for yete than
    The Erle Patrik was Inglisman,
    That gert with mete and drynk alsua
    Refresche thaim weill, and syne gert ta
    A bate and send the king by se
    To Baumburgh in his awne contre.
    Thar hors thar left thai all on stray
    Bot sesyt I trow weill sone war thai.
    The lave that levyt thar-without
    Addressyt thaim intill a rout
    And till Berwik held straucht thar way
    In route, bot, and we suth say,
    Stad thai war full narowly
    Or thai come thar, bot nocht-forthi
    Thai come to Berwik weill and thar
    Into the toune ressavyt war,
    Ellys at gret myscheff had thai bene.
    And quhen the lord off Douglas has sene
    That he had losyt all hys payne
    Towart the king he went agane.

    [Reflections on the kings' failure and success;
    destruction of Stirling Castle]



    The king eschapyt on this wis.
    Lo! quhat fading in fortoun is
    That will apon a man quhill smyle
    And prik on him syne a nothyr quhill,
    In na tym stable can scho stand.
    This mychty king off Ingland
    Scho had set on hyr quheill on hycht
    Quham with sa ferlyfull a mycht
    Off men off armys and archeris
    And off futemen and hobeleris
    He come ridand out off his land
    As I befor has borne on hand,
    And in a nycht syne and a day
    Scho set him in sa hard assay
    That he with few men in a bate
    Wes fayne for till hald hame his gate.
    Bot off this ilk quhelys turnyng
    King Robert suld mak na murnyng
    For on his syd the quheyle on hycht
    Rais quhen the tother doun gan lycht,
    For twa contraris yhe may wit wele
    Set agane othir on a quhele
    Quhen ane is hye the tothir is law,
    And gif it fall that fortoune thraw
    The quheill about, it that on hicht
    Was ere it most doune lycht,
    And it that undre lawch was ar
    Mon lepe on loft in the contrar.
    Sa fure it off thir kingis twa,
    Quhen the King Robert stad was sua
    That in gret myscheiff wes he
    The tother was in his majeste,
    And quhen the King Edwardis mycht
    Wes lawyt King Robert wes on hycht,
    And now sic fortoun fell him till
    That he wes hey and at his will.
    At Strevillyne wes he yeyt liand,
    And the gret lordis that he fand
    Dede in the feld he gert bery
    In haly place honorabilly,
    And the lave syne that dede war thar
    Into gret pyttis erdyt war thar
    The castell and the towris syne
    Rycht till the ground gert he myn,
    And syne to Bothwell send he
    Schyr Edward with a gret menye
    For thar wes thine send him word
    That the rich erle off Herford
    And other mychty als wer ther.

    [Surrender of Bothwell Castle; exchange of prisoners; Robert Stewart
    and the date of compiling this book]



    Sua tretyt he with Schyr Walter
    That erle and castell and the lave
    In Schyr Edwardis hand he gave,
    And till the king the erle send he
    That gert him rycht weill yemyt be
    Quhill at the last thai tretyt sua
    That he till Ingland hame suld ga
    Foroutyn paying of raunsoune fre,
    And that for him suld changyt be
    Bischap Robert that blynd was mad
    And the queyne that thai takyn had
    In presoune as befor said I
    And hyr douchter Dame Marjory.
    The erle was changyt for thir thre,
    And quhen thai cummyn war hame all fre
    The king his douchter that was far
    And wes als aperand ayr
    With Walter Stewart gan he wed
    And thai wele sone gat of thar bed
    A knav child throu our Lordis grace,
    That eftre his gud eldfader was
    Callyt Robert and syne wes king,
    And had the land in governyng
    Eftyr his worthy eyme Davy
    That regnyt twa yer and fourty.
    And in the tyme of the compiling
    Off this buk this Robert wes king,
    And off hys kynrik passit was
    Fyve yer, and wes the yer of grace
    A thousand thre hunder sevynty
    And fyve, and off his eld sexty,
    And that wes efter that the gud king
    Robert wes broucht till his ending
    Sex and fourty winter but mar.
    God grant that thai that cummyn ar
    Off his ofspring manteyme the land
    And hald the folk weill to warand
    And manteyme rycht and leawte
    Als wele as in his tyme did he.

    [The king's territorial settlement; an attack on
    Northumberland]



    King Robert now wes wele at hycht
    For ilk day than grew his mycht,
    His men woux rich and his contre
    Haboundyt weill of corne and fe
    And off alkyn other ryches,
    Myrth and solace and blythnes
    War in the land commonaly
    For ilk man blyth war and joly.
    The king eftre the gret journe
    Throu rede off his consaill preve
    In ser townys gert cry on hycht
    That quha-sa clemyt till haf rycht
    To hald in Scotland land or fe,
    That in thai twelf moneth suld he
    Cum and clam yt and tharfor do
    To the king that pertenyt tharto,
    And giff thai come nocht in that yer
    Than suld thai wit withoutyn wer
    That hard thareftre nane suld be.
    The king that wes of gret bounte
    And besines, quhen this wes done
    Ane ost gert summound eftre sone
    And went thaim intill Ingland
    And our-raid all Northummyrland,
    And brynt housis and tuk tharpray
    And syne went hame agane thar way.
    I lat it schortly pas forby
    For thar wes done na chevalry
    Provyt that is to spek of her.
    The king went oft on this maner
    In Ingland for to rich his men
    That in riches haboundyt then.

    BOOK 14



    [Edward Bruce goes to Ireland]



    The erle off Carrik Schyr Edward,
    That stoutar wes than a libard
    And had na will to be in pes,
    Thocht that Scotland to litill wes
    Till his brother and him alsua,
    Tharfor to purpos gan he ta
    That he off Irland wald be king.
    Tharfor he send and had tretyng
    With the Irschery off Irland,
    That in thar leawte tuk on hand
    Off all Irland to mak him king
    With-thi that he with hard fechting
    Mycht ourcum the Inglismen
    That in the land war wonnand then,
    And thai suld help with all thar mycht.
    And he that hard thaim mak sic hycht
    Intill his hart had gret liking
    And with the consent of the king
    Gadryt him men off gret bounte
    And at Ayr syne schippyt he
    Intill the neyst moneth of Mai,
    Till Irland held he straucht his wai.
    He had thar in his cumpany
    The Erle Thomas that wes worthi
    And gud Schyr Philip the Mowbray
    That sekyr wes in hard assay,
    Schyr Jhone the soullis ane gud knycht
    And Schyr Jhone Stewart that wes wycht
    The Ramsay als of Ouchterhous
    That wes wycht and chevalrous
    And Schyr Fergus off Ardrossane
    And other knychtis mony ane.
    In Wolringis Fyrth aryvyt thai
    Sauffly but bargan or assay
    And send thar schippis hame ilkan.
    A gret thing have thai undretane
    That with sa quhoyne as thai war thar
    That war sex thousand men but mar
    Schup to werray all Irland,
    Quhar thai sall se mony thousand
    Cum armyt on thaim for to fycht,
    But thocht thai quhone war thai war wicht,
    And forout drede or effray
    In twa bataillis tuk thar way
    Towart Cragfergus it to se.

    [The Scots defeat the lords of Ulster]



    Bot the lordis of that countre
    Mandveill, Besat and Logane
    Thar men assemblyt everilkane,
    The Savagis wes alsua thar,
    And quhen thai assemblit war
    That war wele ner twenty thousand.
    Quhen thai wyst that intill thar land
    Sic a menye aryvyt war
    With all the folk that thai had thar
    Thai went towart thaim in gret hi,
    And fra Schyr Edward wist suthly
    That ner till him cummand war thai
    His men he gert thaim wele aray,
    The avaward had the Erle Thomas
    And the rerward Schyr Edward was.
    Thar fayis approchyt to the fechting
    And thai met thaim but abaysing.
    Thar mycht men se a gret melle,
    For Erle Thomas and his menye
    Dang on thar fayis sa douchtely
    That in schort tym men mycht se ly
    Ane hunder that all blody war,
    For hobynys that war stekyt thar
    Relyt and flang and gret rowme mad
    And kest thaim that apon thaim rad,
    And Schyr Edwardis cumpany
    Assemblyt syne sa hardely
    That thai thar fayis ruschyt all.
    Quha hapnyt in that fycht to fall
    It wes perell off his rysing.
    The Scottismen in that fechting
    Sua apertly and wele thaim bar
    That thar fayis sua ruschyt war
    That thai haly the flycht has tane.
    In that bataill wes tane or slane
    All hale the flur off Ulsyster.
    The Erle off Murreff gret price had ther,
    For his worthi chevalry
    Comfort all his cumpany.
    This wes a full fayr begynnyng,
    For newlingis at thar aryving
    In plane bataill thai discomfyt thar
    Thar fayis that four ay for ane war,
    Syne to Cragfergus ar thai gane
    And in the toune has innys tane.
    The castell weill wes stuffyt then
    Off new with vittaill and with men,
    Thartill thai set a sege in hy.
    Mony eschewe full apertly
    Wes maid quhill thar the sege lay
    Quhill trewys at the last tuk thai,
    Quhen that the folk off Hulsyster
    Till his pes haly cummyn wer,
    For Schyr Edward wald tak on hand
    To rid furth forthyr in the land.

    [Defeat of two Irish kings; the Lieutenant assembles an army at Dundalk]



    Off the kingis off that countre
    Thar come till him and maide fewte
    Weill ten or twelf as Ik hard say,
    Bot thai held him schort quhile thar fay,
    For twa off thaim, ane Makgullane
    And ane other hat Makartane,
    Withset a pase intill his way
    Quhar him behovyt ned away
    With twa thousand off men with speris
    And als mony of thar archeris,
    And all the catell of the land
    War drawyn thidder to warand.
    Men callys that plase Innermallane,
    In all Irland straytar is nane.
    For Schyr Edward that kepyt thai,
    Thai thoucht he suld nocht thar away,
    Bot he his viage sone has tane
    And straught towart the pas is gane.
    The erle off Murreff Schyr Thomas
    That put him fyrst ay till assayis
    Lychtyt on fute with his menye
    And apertly the pase tuk he.
    Thir Ersch kingis that I spak off ar
    With all the folk that with thame war
    Met him rycht sturdely, bot he
    Assaylyt sua with his menye
    That maugre tharis thai wan the pas.
    Slayne off thar fayis fele thar was,
    Throu-out the wod thaim chasyt thai
    And sesyt in sic fusoune the pray
    That all the folk off thar ost war
    Refreschyt weill ane wouk or mar.
    At Kilsagart Schyr Edward lay,
    And wele sone he has hard say
    That at Dundalk wes assemble
    Made off the lordis off that countre.
    In ost thai war assemblyt thar,
    Thar wes fyrst Schyr Richard of Clar
    That in all Irland lufftenande
    Was off the king off Ingland
    The erle of Desmond wes thar
    And the erle alsua of Kildar,
    The Breman and the Wardoune
    That war lordis of gret renoune,
    The Butler alsua thar was
    And Schyr Morys le fys Thomas,
    Thai with thar men ar cummyn thar,
    A rycht gret ost forsuth thai war.

    [The two sides prepare for battle]



    And quhen Schyr Edward wyst suthly
    That thar wes swilk chevalry
    His ost in hy he gert aray
    And thidderwartis tuk the way
    And ner the toune tuk his herbery,
    Bot for he wyst all witterly
    That in the toune war mony men
    His bataillis he arayit then,
    And stud arayt in bataill
    To kep thaim gif thai wald assaile,
    And quhen that Schyr Rychard of Clar
    And other lordis that thar war
    Wyst that the Scottis men sa ner
    With thar bataillis cummyn wer,
    Thai tuk to consaile that that nycht
    For it wes layt thai wald nocht fycht
    Bot on the morne in the mornyng
    Weile sone aftre the sone-rysing
    Thai suld isch furth all that thar war,
    Tharfor that nycht thai did no mar
    Bot herbryit thaim on athyr party.
    That nycht the Scottis cumpany
    War wachyt rycht weill all at rycht,
    And on the morn quhen day wes lycht
    In twa bataillis thai thaim arayit,
    Thai stud with baneris all displayit
    For the bataill all redy boun.
    And thai that war within the toun
    Quhen sone wes rysyn schenand cler
    Send furth of thaim that within wer
    Fyfty to se the contenyng
    Off Scottismen and thar cummyng,
    And thai raid furth and saw thaim sone,
    Syne come agayne withoutyn hone.
    And quhen thai samyn lychtyt war
    thai tauld thar lordis that wer thar
    That Scottismen semyt to be
    Worthi and off gret bounte,
    'Bot thai ar nocht withoutyn wer
    Half-dell a dyner till us her.'
    The lordys had off this tithing
    Gret joy and gret reconforting
    And gert men throu the cite cry
    That all suld arm thaim hastily.

    [The Scots are victorious and take Dundalk; drunkenness in the army]



    Quhen thai war armyt and purvayit
    And for the fycht all hale arayit
    Thai went thaim furth in gud aray,
    Sone with thar fayis assemblyt thai
    That kepyt thaim rycht hardely.
    The stour begouth thar cruelly
    For athyr part set all thar mycht
    To rusche thar fayis in the fycht
    And with all mycht on other dang.
    The stalwart stour lestyt wele lang
    That men mycht nocht persave na se
    Qyha maist at thar above suld be,
    For fra sone eftre the sone-rissing
    Quhill eftre mydmorne the fechting
    Lestyt intill swilk a dout.
    Bot than Schyr Edward that wes stout
    With all thaim of his cumpany
    Schot apon thaim sa sturdely
    That thai mycht thole no mar the fycht,
    All in a frusche thai tuk the flycht
    And thai folowyt full egrely,
    Into the toun all commonaly
    Thai entryt bath intermelle.
    Thar men mycht felloune slauchter se,
    For the rycht noble erle Thomas
    That with his rout folowyt the chas
    Maid swilk a slauchter in the toun
    And sua felloune occisioun
    That the rewys all bludy war
    Off slayne men that war lyand thar,
    The lordis war gottyn all away.
    And quhen the toun as I you say
    Wes throu gret force of fechting tane
    And all thar fayis fled or slayne
    Thai herbryit thaim all in the toun
    Quhar off vitaill wes sic fusoun
    And sua gret haboundance of wyne
    That the gud erle had doutyne
    That off thar men suld drunkyn be
    And mak in drunkynnes sum melle.
    Tharfor he maid of wyne levere
    Till ilk man that he payit suld be,
    And thai had all yneuch perfay.
    That nycht rycht weill at ese war thai
    And rycht blyth of the gret honour
    That thaim befell for thar valour.
    Eftyr this fycht thai sojornyt thar
    Into Dundalk thre dayis but mar,
    Syne tuk thai southwartis thar way.
    The Erle Thomas wes forouth ay
    And as thai raid throu the countre
    Thai mycht apon the hillis se
    Sua mony men it wes ferly,
    And quhen the erle wald sturdely
    Dres him to thaim with his baner
    Thai wald fle all that evir thai wer
    Sua that in fycht nocht ane abad.
    And thai southwart thar wayis raid
    Quhill till a gret forest come thai,
    Kylrose it hat as Ik hard say,
    And thai tuk all thar herbery thar.

    [The Lieutenant is defeated in another battle]



    In all this tyme Rychard of Clar
    That wes the kingis luftenand
    Off the barnagis of Irland
    A gret ost he assemblyt had,
    Thai war fyve bataillis gret and braid
    That soucht Schir Edward and his men,
    Weill ner him war thai cummyn then.
    He gat sone wittring that thai wer
    Cummand on him and war sa ner.
    His men he dressyt thaim agayn
    And gert thaim stoutly ta the playn
    And syne the erle thar come to se
    And Schyr Philip the Mowbray send he,
    And Schyr Jhone Stewart went alsua.
    Furth to discover thar way thai ta,
    Thai saw the ost sone cum at hand
    Thai war to ges fyfty thousand,
    Hame till Schyr Edward raid thai then
    And said weill thai war mony men.
    He said agayne, 'The ma thai be
    The mar honour all-out haff we
    Giff that we ber us manlyly.
    We ar set her in juperty
    To wyn honour or for to dey,
    We ar to fer fra hame to fley
    Tharfor lat ilk man worthi be.
    Yone ar gadryngis of this countre
    And thai sall fley I trow lychly
    And men assaile thaim manlyly.'
    All said than that thai weile suld do,
    With that approchand ner thaim to
    The bataillis come redy to fycht,
    And thai met thaim with mekill mycht
    That war ten thousand worthi men.
    The Scottismen all on fute war then,
    And thai on stedys trappyt weile
    Sum helyt all in irne and stele,
    Bot Scottismen at thar meting
    With speris persyt thar armyng
    And stekyt hors and men doun bar.
    A feloun fechting wes than thar,
    I can nocht tell thar strakys all
    Na quha in fycht gert other fall
    Bot in schort tyme Ik underta
    Thai of Irland war contraryit sua
    That thai durst than abyd no mar
    Bot fled scalyt all that thai war,
    And levyt in the bataill sted
    Weill mony off thar gud men dede,
    Off wapnys, armyng and of ded men
    The feld was haly strowyt then.
    That gret ost rudly ruschyt was
    Bot Schyr Edward let na man chas
    Bot with presonaris that thai had tane
    Thai till the woud agayne ar gane
    Quhar that thar harnys levyt war.
    That nycht thai maid thar men gud cher
    And lovyt God fast off his grace.
    This gud knycht that sa worthi was
    Till Judas Machabeus mycht
    Be lyknyt weill that into fycht
    Forsuk na multitud off men
    Quhill he had ane aganys ten.

    [The Scots go to O'Dempsy, who gives them quarters;
    he seeks to starve and drown them]



    Thus as I said Rychard of Clar
    And his gret ost rebutyt war,
    Bot he about him nocht-forthi
    Wes gaderand men ay ythenly
    For he thocht yete to covyr his cast.
    It angyrryt him rycht ferly fast
    That twys intill batell wes he
    Discomfyt with a few mengne.
    And Scottismen that to the forest
    War ridyn for to mak thar rest
    All thai twa nychtis thar thai lay
    And maid thaim myrth solace and play.
    Towart Ydymsy syne thai raid,
    Ane Yrsche king that aith had maid
    To Schyr Edward of fewte,
    For forouth that him prayit he
    To se his land and na vittaill
    Na nocht that mycht thaim help suld faile.
    Schyr Edward trowit in his hycht
    And with his rout raid thidder rycht
    A gret ryver he gert him pas
    And in a rycht fayr place that was
    Lauch by a bourne he gert thaim ta
    Thar herbery, and said he wald ga
    To ger men vittaill to thaim bring,
    He held hys way but mar dwelling.
    For he betrais thaim wes his thocht,
    In sic a place he has them broucht
    Quharof twa journais wele and mar
    All the cattell withdrawyn war,
    Swa that thai in that land mycht get
    Na thing that worth war for til ete,
    With hungyr he thocht thaim to feblis
    Syne bring on thaim thar ennemys.
    This fals traytouris men had maid
    A litill outh quhar he herbryit had
    Schyr Edward and the Scottismen
    The ischow off a louch to den
    And leyt it out into the nycht.
    The water than with a swilk a mycht
    On Schyr Edwardis men com doun
    That thai in perell war to droun
    For or thai wist on flot war thai.
    With mekill payn thai gat away
    And held thar lyff as God gaff grace,
    Bot off thar harnayis tynt thar was.
    He maid thaim na gud fest perfay
    And nocht-forthi yneuch had thai,
    For thoucht thaim faillyt of the mete
    I warn you wele thai war wele wet.

    [The Scots are rescued; they camp near an enemy army,
    seize its foragers and make a surprise attack]



    In gret distres thar war thai stad
    For gret defaut off mete thai hade,
    And thai betwix reveris twa
    War set and mycht pas nane off tha,
    The Bane that is ane arme of the se
    That with hors may nocht passyt be
    Wes betwix thaim and Hulsyster.
    Thai had bene in gret perell ther
    Ne war a scowmar of the se,
    Thomas of Downe hattyn wes he,
    Hard that the ost sa straytly than
    Wes stad, and salyt up the Ban
    Quhill he come wele ner quhar thai lay,
    Thai knew him weil and blyth war thai,
    Than with four schippys that he had tane
    He set our the Ban ilkane.
    And quhen thai come in biggit land
    Vittaill and mete yneuch thai fand
    And in a wod thaim herberyt thai,
    Nane of the land wist quhar thai lay,
    Thai esyt thaim and maid gud cher.
    Intill that tym besid thaim ner
    With a gret ost Schyr Richard of Clar
    And othyr gret of Irland war
    Herberyt in a forest syde,
    And ilk day thai gert men rid
    To bring vittaill on ser manerys
    To thaim fra the toun off Coigneris
    That wele ten gret myle wes thaim fra.
    Ilk day as thai wald cum and ga
    Thai come the Scottis ost sa ner
    That bot twa myle betwix thaim wer,
    And quhen the Erle Thomas persaving
    Had off thar cummyng and thar ganging
    He gat him a gud cumpany,
    Thre hunder on hors wycht and hardy,
    Thar wes Schyr Philip the Mowbray
    And Schyr Jhone Stewart als perfay
    And Schyr Alan Stewart alsua
    Schyr Robert Boid and other ma.
    Thai raid to mete the vittaleris
    That with thar vittaill fra Coigneris
    Come haldand to thar ost the way.
    Sua sudanly on thaim schot thai
    That thai war sua abaysyt all
    That thai leyt all thar wapnys fall
    And mercy petously gan cry,
    And thai tuk thaim in thar mercy
    And has thaim up sa clenly tane
    That off thaim all eschapyt nane.
    The erle of thaim gat wittering
    That off thar ost in the evynnyng
    Wald cum out at the woddis sid
    And agaynys thar vittail rid.
    He thocht than on ane juperty,
    And gert his menye halily
    Dycht thaim in the presoneris aray,
    Thair pennounys als with thaim tuk thai,
    And quhill the nycht wes ner thai bad
    And syne towart the ost thai raid.
    Sum of thar mekill ost has sene
    Thar come and wend thai had bene
    Thar vittalouris, tharfor thai raid
    Agaynys thaim scalyt, for thai haid
    Na dred that thai thar fayis war
    And thaim hungryt alsua weill sar,
    Tharfor thai come abandounly.
    And quhen thai ner war in gret hi
    The erle and all that with him war
    Ruschyt on thaim with wapnys bar
    And thar ensenyeis hey gan cry.
    Than thai that saw sua sodanly
    Thar fayis dyng on thaim war sa rad
    That thai na hart to help thaim had
    Bot to the ost thar way gan ta,
    And thai chassyt and sua fele gan sla
    That all the feldys strowyt war,
    Ma than a thousand ded war thar.
    Rycht till thar ost thai gan thaim chas
    And syne agane thar wayis tais.

    [The Lieutenant and his army occupy Connor and plan to attack the Scots]



    On this wis wes that vittaill tane
    And of the Irche-men mony slane.
    The erle syne with his cumpany
    Presoneris and vittalis halily
    Thai broucht till Schyr Edward alswith
    And he wes of thar cummyn blyth.
    That nycht thai maid thaim mery cher
    For rycht all at thar eys thai wer,
    Thai war ay walkyt sekyrly.
    And thar fayis on the tother party
    Quhen thai hard how thar men war slane
    And how thar vittalis als wes tane
    Thai tuk to consaill that thai wald
    Thair wayis towart Coigneris hald
    And herbery in the cite ta,
    And than in gret hy thai haf don sua
    And raid be nycht to the cite,
    Thai fand thar of vittalis gret plente
    And maid thaim rycht mery cher
    For all traist in the toun thai wer.
    Apon the morne thai send to spy
    Quhar Scottismen had tane herbery,
    Bot thai war withall als tane
    And brocht rycht till the ost ilkane.
    The erle of Murreff rycht mekly
    Speryt at ane of thar cumpany
    Quhar thar ost wes and quhat thai thocht
    To do, and said him gif he moucht
    Fynd that till him the suth said he
    He suld gang hame but ransoun fre.
    He said, 'Forsuth I sall you say,
    Thai think to-morn, quhen it is day,
    To sek you with all thar menye
    Giff thai may get wit quhar ye be.
    Thai haff gert throu the countre cry
    Off payne of lyve full felounly
    That all the men of this countre
    Tonycht into the cyte be,
    And trewly thai sall be sa fele
    That ye sall na wis with thaim dele.'
    'De pardew,' said he, 'weill may be.'
    To Schyr Edward with that yeid he
    And tauld him utrely this tale.

    [The Scots move camp; the enemy scouts survey them,
    and decide to attack; Moray ambushes the enemy]



    Than haf thai tane for consale hale
    That thai wald rid to the cite
    That ilk nycht sua that thai mycht be
    Betwix the toune with all thar rout
    And thaim that war to cum with-out.
    Als thai devisyt thai haf done,
    Befor the toune thai come alsone
    And bot halfindall a myle of way
    Fra the cite arest tuk thai.
    And quhen the day wes dawyn lycht
    Fyfty on hobynys that war wycht
    Come till a litill hill that was
    Bot fra the toun a litill space
    And saw Schyr Edwardis herbery,
    And off the sycht had gret ferly
    That sua quhone durst on ony wis
    Undretak sa hey enprys
    As for to cum sa hardely
    Apon all the chevalry
    Off Irland for to bid battaill.
    And sua it wes withoutyn faill,
    For agane thaim war gadryt thar
    With the wardane Richard of Clar
    The Butler and erlis twa,
    Off Desmound and Kildar war tha,
    Bryman, Werdoune and fis Waryne
    And Schyr Paschall the Florentine
    That wes a knycht of Lumbardy
    And wes full of chevalry.
    The Maundveillis war thar alsua
    Besatis Loganys and other ma
    Savages als, and yeit wes ane
    Hat Schyr Nycholl of Kylkenane,
    And with thir lordis sa fele wes then
    That for ane of the Scottismen
    I trow that thai war fyve or ma.
    Quhen thir discourouris seyne had sua
    The Scottis ost thai went in hy
    And tauld thair lordis opynly
    How thai to thaim war cummyn ner
    To sek thaim fer wes na myster.
    And quhen the erle Thomas had sene
    That thai men at the hill had bene
    He tuk with him a gud menye
    On hors, ane hunder thai mycht be,
    And till the hill thai tuk thar way.
    In a slak thaim enbuschyt thai
    And in schort tyme fra the cite
    Thai saw cum ridand a mengne
    For to discur to the hill.
    Then war thai blyth and held thaim still
    Quhill thai war cummyn to thaim ner,
    Than in a frusche all that thai wer
    Thai schot apon thaim hardely,
    And thai that saw sa sudandly
    That folk cum on abaysit war.
    And nocht-forthi sum of thaim thar
    Abad stoutly to ma debate,
    And other sum ar fled thar gate,
    And into wele schort tym war thai
    That maid arest contraryit sua
    That thai fled halyly thar gat,
    And thai thaim chassyt rycht to the yat
    And a gret part off thaim has slayn,
    And syne went till thar ost agayn.


    BOOK 15



    [The Scots win a great battle at Connor]



    Quhen thai within has sene sua slayn
    Thar men and chassyt hame agayn
    Thai war all wa, and in gret hy
    'Till armys!' hely gan thai cry.
    Than armyt thaim all that thai war
    And for the bataill maid thaim yar
    Thai ischyt out all wele arayit
    Into the bataill baner displayit
    Bowne on thar best wis till assaile
    Thar fayis into fell bataill.
    And quhen Schyr Philip the Mowbra
    Saw thaim ische in sa gud aray
    Till Schyr Edward the Bruys went he
    And said, 'Schyr, it is gud that we
    Schap for sum slycht that may availe
    To help us into this bataill.
    Our men ar quhoyne, bot thai haf will
    To do mar than thai may fulfill,
    Tharfor I rede our cariage
    Foroutyn ony man or page
    Be thaimselvyn arayit be
    And thai sall seyme fer ma than we,
    Set we befor thaim our baneris,
    Yone folk that cummys out of Coigneris
    Quhen thai our baneris thar may se
    Sall trow traistly that thar ar we
    And thidder in gret hy sall thai rid.
    Cum we than on thaim at a sid
    And we sall be at avantag,
    For fra thai in our cariag
    Be entryt thai sall combryt be,
    And than with all our mycht may we
    Lay on and do all that we may.'
    All as he ordanyt done haf thai,
    And thai that come out of Coigneris
    Addressyt thaim to the baneris
    And smate with spuris the hors in hy
    And ruschit thaim sudandly.
    The barell-ferraris that war thar
    Cumbryt thaim fast that ridand war,
    And than the erle with his bataill
    Come on and sadly gan assaill,
    And Schyr Edward a litill by
    Assemblit sua rycht hardely
    That mony a fey fell undre fete,
    The feld wox sone of blud all wete.
    With sa gret felny thar thai faucht
    And sic routis till other raucht
    With stok with stane and with retrete
    As ather part gan other bet
    That it wes hidwys for to se.
    Thai mantemyt that gret melle
    Sa knychtlik apon ather sid
    Giffand and takand routis rid
    That pryme wes passyt or men mycht se
    Quha mast at thar abov mycht be,
    Bot sone eftre that prime wes past
    The Scottismen dang on sa fast
    And schot on thaim at abandoun
    As ilk man war a campioun
    That all thar fayis tuk the flycht,
    Wes nane of thaim that wes sa wicht
    That evyr durst abid his fer
    Bot ilk man fled thar wayis ser.

    [Slaughter in Connor; the prisoners and wounded]



    To the toun fled the mast party,
    And Erle Thomas sa egrely
    And his route chassyt with swerdis bar
    That amang thame mellyt war
    That all togidder come in the toun.
    Than wes the slauchter sa felloune
    That all the ruys ran of blud,
    Thaim that thai gat to ded all yhud
    Sua that than thar weill ner wer dede
    Als fele as in the bataill-stede.
    The fys Warine wes takyn thar,
    Bot sua rad wes Richard of Clar
    That he fled to the south countre,
    All that moneth I trow that he
    Sall haf na gud will for to fycht.
    Schyr Jhone Stewart a noble knycht
    Wes woundyt throu the body thar
    With a sper that scharply schar,
    Bot to Monpeller went he syne
    And lay thar lang intill helyne
    And at the last helyt wes he.
    Schyr Edward than with his menye
    Tuk in the toun thar herbery,
    That nycht thai blyth war and joly
    For the victour that thai had thar.

    [Siege of Carrickfergus Castle; a truce is broken by ships from Dublin]



    And on the morn foroutyn mar
    Schyr Edward gert men gang and se
    All the vittaill of that cite,
    And thai fand sic foysoun tharin
    Off corne and flour and wax and wyn
    That thai had of it gret ferly,
    And Schyr Edward gert halily
    Intill Cragfergus it caryit be,
    Syne thidder went his men and he
    And held the sege full stalwartly
    Quhill Palme Sonday wes passit by.
    Than quhill the Twysday in Pays wouk
    On ather half thai trewys touk
    Sua that thai mycht that haly tid
    In pennance and in prayer bid.
    Bot apon the Pasche evyn rycht
    To the castell into the nycht
    Fra Devillyne schippis come fyften
    Chargyt with armyt men bedene,
    Four thousand trow I weill thai war,
    In the castell thai entryt ar.
    The Maundveill auld Schyr Thomas
    Capitane of that menye was.
    Intill the castell prively
    Thai entryt for thai had gert spy
    That mony of Schyr Edwardis men
    War scalyt in the contre then,
    Tharfor thai thocht in the mornyng
    Till isch but langer delaying
    And to suppris thaim suddanly,
    For thai thocht thai suld traistly
    For the trewys that takyn war,
    Bot I trow falset evermar
    Sall have unfayr and evill ending.

    [The new force attacks the besieging Scots; Sir Neil Campbell wounded]



    Schyr Edward wist of this nathing
    For off tresoun had he na thoucht,
    Bot for the trew he levyt nocht
    To set wachis to the castell,
    Ilk nycht he gert men walk it wele
    And Nele Flemyng wachit that nycht
    With sexty men worthi and wycht.
    And als sone as the day wes cler
    Thai that within the castell wer
    Had armyt thaim and maid thaim boun
    And sone thar brig avalit down
    And ischit intill gret plente,
    And quhen Nele Flemyng gan thaim se
    He send ane to the king in hy
    And said to thaim that war him by,
    'Now sall men se, Ik undretak,
    Quha dar dey for his lordis sak.
    Now ber you weill, for sekyrly
    With all this mengne fecht will I,
    Intill bargane thim hald sall we
    Quhill that our maister armyt be.'
    With that word assemblyt thai,
    Thai war to few all-out perfay
    With sic a gret rout for to fycht,
    Bot nocht-forthi with all thar mycht
    Thai dang on thaim sa hardely
    That all thar fayis had gret ferly
    That thai war all of swilk manheid
    As thai na drede had of thar dede.
    Bot thar fayis sa gane assaile
    That na worschip thar mycht availe,
    Than thai war slayne up everilkane
    Sa clene that thar eschapyt nane
    And the man that went to the king
    For to warne him of thar isching
    Warnyt him in full gret hy.

    [Edward Bruce defeats the men from the castle; Neil Campbell dies]



    Schyr Edward wes commonaly
    Callyt the king of Irland.
    And quhen he hard sic thing on hand
    In full gret hast he gat his ger,
    Twelff wycht men in his chawmer wer
    That armyt thaim in full gret hy,
    Syne with his baner hardily
    The myddis of the toun he tays.
    Weill ner cummand war his fayis
    That had delt all thar men in thre,
    The Maundvell with a gret menye
    Rycht throu the toun the way held doun,
    The lave on athyr sid the toun
    Held to mete thaim that fleand war,
    Thai thoucht that all that thai fand thar
    Suld dey but ransoune everilkane.
    Bot uthyr-wayis the gle is gane,
    For Schyr Edward with his baner
    And his twelff I tauld you of er
    On all that route sua hardely
    Assemblyt that it wes ferly,
    For Gib Harpar befor him yeid
    That wes the douchteast in deid
    That than wes livand off his state,
    And with ane ax maid him sic gat
    That he the fyrst fellyt to ground,
    And off thre in a litill stound
    The Maundveill be his armyng
    He knew and roucht him sic a swyng
    That he till erd yeid hastily.
    Schyr Edward that wes ner him by
    Reversyt him and with a knyff
    Rycht in that place him reft the liff.
    With that off Ardrossane Fergus
    That wes a knycht rycht curageous
    Assemblyt with sexty and ma,
    Thai pressyt than thar fayis sua
    That thai that saw thar lord slayne
    Tynt hart and wald haf bene again,
    And ay as Scottismen mycht be
    Armyt thai come to the melle
    And dang apon thar fayis sua
    That thai all the bak gan ta,
    And thai thaim chassyt to the yat,
    Thar wes hard fycht and gret debat.
    Thar slew Schyr Edward with his hand
    A knycht that of all Irland
    Was callit best and of maist bounte,
    To surname Maundveill had he,
    His awne name I can nocht say,
    Bot his folk to sa hard assay
    War set as thai of the doungeoun
    Durst opyn na yhat na brig lat doun.
    And Schyr Edwarde, Ik tak on hand,
    Soucht thaim that fled thar to warand
    Sa felly that of all perfay
    That ischyt apon him that day
    Thar eschapyt never ane
    That thai ne war other tane or slayn,
    For to the fycht Maknakill then
    Come with twa hundreth spermen
    And thai slew all thai mycht to-wyn.
    This ilk Maknakill with a gyn
    Wan off thar schippis four or fyve
    And haly reft the men thar lif.
    Quhen end wes maid of this fechting
    Yeit then wes lyffand Nele Fleming.
    Schyr Edward went him for to se,
    About him slayne lay his menye
    All in a lump on athyr hand
    And he redy to dey throwand.
    Schyr Edward had of him pite
    And him full gretly menyt he
    And regratyt his gret manheid
    And his worschip and douchty deid,
    Sic mayn he maid men had gret ferly
    For he wes nocht custummabilly
    Wont for to meyne men ony thing
    Na wald nocht her men mak menyng.
    He stud tharby till he wes ded
    And syne had him till haly sted
    And him with worschip gert he be
    Erdyt with gret solemnite.

    [Surrender of Carrickfergus Castle]



    On this wis ischit Maundvill,
    Bot sekyrly falset and gyle
    Sall allwayis haif ane ivill ending
    As weill is sene be this isching,
    In tyme of trewys ischit thai
    And in sic tyme as on Pasche day
    Quhen God rais for to sauf mankin
    Fra wem of auld Adamys syne,
    Tharfor sa gret myschaunce thaim fell
    That ilkane as ye hard me tell
    War slayne up or takyn thar.
    And thai that in the castell war
    War set intill sic fray that hour
    For thai couth se quhar na succour
    Suld cum to releyff, and thai
    Tretyt and till a schort day
    The castell till him yauld fre
    To sauff thaim lyff and lym, and he
    Held thaim full weill his cunnand.
    The castell tuk he in his hand
    And vyttalyt weill and has set
    A gud wardane it for to get,
    And a quhill tharin restyt he.

    [King Robert sails to the Isles, is drawn between the Tarberts;
    submission of the Islesmen]



    Off him no mar now spek will we
    Bot to King Robert will we gang
    That we haff left unspokyn of lang.
    Quhen he had convoyit to the se
    His brodyr Edward and his menye
    With schippes he maid him yar
    Intill the Ilis for till fare
    Walter Steward with him tuk he
    His mawch and with him gret menyhe
    And other men off gret noblay.
    To Tarbart thai held thar way
    In galayis ordanyt for thar far,
    Bot thaim worthyt draw thar schippis thar,
    And a myle wes betwix the seys
    Bot that wes lownyt all with treis.
    The king his schippis thar gert draw,
    And for the wynd couth stoutly blaw
    Apon thar bak as thai wald ga
    He gert men rapys and mastis ta
    And set thaim in the schippis hey
    And sayllis to the toppis tey
    And gert men gang tharby drawand,
    The wyind thaim helpyt that wes blawand
    Sua that in a litill space
    Thar flote all our-drawin was.
    And quhen thai that in the Ilis war
    Hard how the gud king had thar
    Gert his schippis with saillis ga
    Out-our betwix the Tarbartis twa
    Thai war abaysit sa uterly
    For thai wyst throu auld prophecy
    That he that suld ger schippis sua
    Betwix thai seis with saillis ga
    Suld wyne the Ilis sua till hand
    That nane with strenth suld him withstand.
    Tharfor thai come all to the king,
    Wes nane withstud his bidding
    Outakyn Jhone of Lorne allane,
    Bot weill sone eftre wes he tane
    And present rycht to the king,
    And thai that war of his leding
    That till the king had brokyn fay
    War all dede and distroyit away.
    This Jhone of Lorne the king has tane
    And send him furth to Dunbertane
    A quhill in presoun thar to be,
    Syne to Louchlevyn send wes he
    Quhar he wes quhill in festnyng,
    I trow he maid tharin ending.
    The king quhen all the Ilis war
    Brocht till his liking les and mar,
    All that sesoun thar dwellyt he
    At huntyng gamyn and at gle.

    [Edmund de Caillou plunders the Merse]



    Quhill the king apon this maner
    Dauntyt the Ilis as I tell her
    The gud Schyr James of Douglas
    Intill the Forest dwelland was
    Defendand worthely the land.
    That tyme in Berwik wes dwelland
    Edmound de Cailow a Gascoun
    That wes a knycht of gret renoune
    And intill Gascoune his contre
    Lord off gret senyoury wes he.
    He had Berwik in keping
    And maid a prive gadering
    And gat him a gret cumpany
    Of wycht men armyt jolily,
    And the nethyr end of Tevidale
    He prayit doun till him all hale
    And of the Mers a gret party,
    Syne towart Berwik went in hy.
    Schyr Adam of Gordoun that than
    Wes becummyn Scottisman
    Saw thaim dryf sua away thar fe
    And wend thai had bene quhone for he
    Saw bot the fleand scaill perfay
    And thaim that sesyt in the pray.
    Than till Schyr James of Douglas
    Into gret hye the way he tais
    And tauld how Inglismen thair pray
    Had tane and syne went thar way
    Toward Berwik with all thar fee,
    And said thai quheyn war and gif he
    Wald sped him he suld weill lichtly
    Wyn thaim and reskew all the ky.

    [Douglas pursues, catches and kills Caillou]



    Schyr James rycht soyne gaf his assent
    Till follow thame and furth is went
    Bot with the men that he had thair
    And met hym by the gat but mair.
    Thai followit thame in full gret hy
    And com weill neir thame hastely
    For or thai mycht thame fully se
    Thai come weill ner with thair menye,
    And than bath the forreouris and the scaill
    Intill a childrome knyt all haill
    And wes a rycht fair cumpany.
    Befor thame gert thai driff the ky
    With knavis and swanys that na mycht
    Had for to stand in feld and fycht,
    The lave behynd thaim maid a stale.
    The Douglas saw thar lump all hale
    And saw thaim of sa gud covyn
    And saw thai war sa mony syne
    That thai for ane of his war twa.
    'Lordingis,' he said, 'sen it is sua
    That we haf chassyt of sic maner
    That we now cummyn ar sa ner
    That we may nocht eschew the fycht
    Bot gif we fouly ta the flycht,
    Lat ilkane on his lemman mene
    And how he mony tyme has bene
    On gret thrang and weill cummyn away.
    Think we to do rycht sua today,
    And tak we of this furd her-by
    Our avantage for in gret hy
    Thai sall cum on us for to fycht.
    Set we than will and strenth and mycht
    For to mete thaim rycht hardely.'
    And with that word full hastily
    He displayit his baner
    For his fayis war cummand ner
    That quhen thai saw he wes sa quhoyne
    Thocht thai suld with thaim sone haf done
    And assemblit full hardely.
    Thar men mycht se men fecht felly
    And a rycht cruell melle mak
    And mony strakys giff and tak.
    The Douglas thar weill hard wes stad,
    Bot the gret hardyment that he hade
    Comfort hys men on sic a wys
    That na man thocht on cowardys
    Bot faucht sa fast with all thar mayn
    That thai fele of thar fayis has slayn,
    And thoucht thai be weill fer war ma
    Than thai, yeit ure demanyt thaim sua
    That Edmound de Cailow wes ded
    Rycht in that ilk fechtyn-stede,
    And all the lave fra he wes done
    War planly discomfyt sone,
    And thai that chassyt sum has slayn
    And turnyt the prayis all agayn.
    The hardast fycht forsuth this wes
    That ever the gud lord off Douglas
    Wes in as off sa few mengne,
    For nocht had bene his gret bounte
    That slew thar chyftane in that fycht
    His men had all to dede bene dycht.
    He had intill custoume alway
    Quhenever he come till hard assay
    To preys him the chiftane to sla,
    And her fell hap that he did sua,
    That gert him haff victour fele sys.
    Quhen Schyr Edmound apon this wis
    Wes dede the gud lord of Douglas
    To the Forest his wayis tays.
    His fayis gretly gan him dred,
    The word sprang weile fer of his deid
    Sua that in Ingland ner tharby
    Men spak of it commonaly.

    [The challenge of Sir Robert Neville is taken up by Douglas]



    Schir Robert Nevile that tid
    Wonnyt at Berwik ner besid
    The march quhar the lord Douglas
    In the forest repayrand was
    And had at him gret invy,
    For he saw him sa manlyly
    Mak ay his boundis mar and mar.
    He hard the folk that with him war
    Spek off the lord Douglas mycht
    And how he forsye wes in fycht
    And how him fell oft fayr fortoun.
    He wrethyt tharat all-soun
    And said, 'Quhat wene ye, is thar nane
    That ever is worth bot he allane.
    Ye set him as he wer but per,
    Bot Ik avow befor you her
    Giff ever he cum intill this land
    He sall fynd me ner at his hand,
    And gif Ik ever his baner
    May se displayit apon wer
    I sall assembill on him but dout
    All-thocht yhe hald him never sa stout.'
    Of this avow sone bodword was
    Brocht to Schyr James of Douglas
    That said, 'Gif he will hald his hycht
    I sall do sa he sall haiff sycht
    Off me an my cumpany
    Yeyt or oucht lang wele ner him by.'
    Hys retenew than gaderyt he
    That war gud men of gret bounte,
    And till the march in gud aray
    Apon a nycht he tuk the way
    Sua that into the mornyng arly
    He wes with all his cumpany
    Befor Berwik and thar he maid
    Men to display his baner brad,
    And of his menye sum sent he
    For to bryn townys twa or thre,
    And bad thaim sone agayne thaim sped
    Sua that on hand giff thar come ned
    Thai mycht be for the fycht redy.

    [Neville waits then attacks Douglas's force]



    The Nevill that wyst witterly
    That Douglas cummyn wes sa ner
    And saw all braid stand his baner,
    Than with the folk that with him war
    And he had a gret menye thar
    For all the gud off that countre
    Intill that tyme with him had he
    Sua that he thar with him had then
    Wele may then war the Scottismen,
    He held his way up till a hill
    And said, 'Lordingis, it war my will
    To mak end off the gret deray
    That Douglas mayis us ilk day,
    Bot me think it spedfull that we
    Abid quhill his men scalit be
    Throu the countre to tak thar pray,
    Than fersly schout on thaim we may
    And we sall haf thaim at our will.'
    Than all thai gaf assent thar-till
    And on the hill abaid howand.
    The men fast gaderyt of the land
    And drew till him in full gret hy.
    The Douglas then that wes worthi
    Thoucht it wes foly mar to bid,
    Towart the hill than gan he rid,
    And quhen the Nevill saw that thai
    Wald nocht pas furth to the forray
    Bot pressyt to thaim with thar mycht
    He wyst weill than that thai wald fycht
    And till his mengye gan he say,
    'Lordingis, now hald we furth our way,
    Her is the flour of the countre
    And may then thai alsua ar we,
    Assembill we then hardely,
    For Douglas with yone yhumanry
    Sall haf na mycht till us perfay.'
    Then in a frusch assemblyt thai,
    Than mycht men her the speris brast
    And ilkane ding on other fast,
    And blude bryst out at woundis wid.
    Thai faucht fast apon athyr sid
    For athyr party gan thaim payn
    To put thar fayis on bak agayn.

    [Douglas fights with and kills Neville; division of the spoils]



    The lordis off Nevill and Douglas
    Quhen at the fechting fellast was
    Met togidder rycht in the preys,
    Betwix thaim than gret bargane wes.
    Thai faucht felly with all thar maucht,
    Gret routis ather othyr raucht,
    Bot Douglas starkar wes Ik hycht
    And mar usyt alsua to fycht,
    And he set hart and will alsua
    For to deliver him of his fa
    Quhill at the last with mekill mayn
    Off fors the Nevill has he slayn,
    Then his ensenye hey gan cry
    And the lave sa hardely
    He ruschyt with his menye
    That intill schort tym men mycht se
    Thar fayis tak thaim to the flycht
    And thai thaim chassyt with all thar mycht
    Schir Rauff Nevill in the chas
    And the baron of Hiltoun was
    Takyn and other of mekill mycht.
    Thar wes fele slayne into that fycht
    That worthi in thar tym had bene.
    And quhen the feld wes clengit clen
    Sua that thar fayis everilkane
    War slayne or chassyt awai or tan
    Than gert he forray all the land
    And sesyt all that ever thai fand
    And brynt townys in thar way,
    Syne hale and fer cummyn ar thai.
    The prayis amang his menye
    Eftre thar meritis delt he
    And held na thing till his behuff.
    Sic dedis aucht to ger men luff
    Thar lord, and sua thai did perfay.
    He tretyt thaim sa wisly ay
    And with sa mekill luff alsua
    And sic avansement wald ma
    Off thar deid that the mast cowart
    He maid stoutar then a libart,
    With cherysing thusgat maid he
    His men wycht and of gret bounte.

    [The reputation of Douglas]



    Quhen Nevill thus was brocht to ground
    And of Cailow auld Schyr Edmound,
    The drede of the lord of Douglas
    And his renoune sa scalit was
    Throu-out the marchis of Ingland
    That all that war tharin wonnand
    Dred him as the fell devill of hell,
    And yeit haf Ik hard otfsys tell
    That he sa gretly dred wes than
    That quhen wivys wald childer ban
    Thai wald rycht with ane angry face
    Betech thaim to the blak Douglas.
    A For with thair taill he wes mair fell
    B Than wes ony devill in hell.
    Throu his gret worschip and bounte
    Sua with his fayis dred wes he
    That thaim growyt to her his name.
    He may at ese now dwell at hame
    A quhill for I trow he sall nocht
    With fayis all a quhile be socht.
    Now lat him in the Forest be,
    Off him spek now no mar will we,
    Bot off Schyr Edward the worthi
    That with all his chevalry
    Wes at Cragfergus yeit liand
    To spek mar we will tak on hand.

    BOOK 16



    [King Robert goes to Ireland]



    Quhen Schyr Edward, as Ik said ar,
    Had discomfyt Richard of Clar
    And of Irland all the barnage
    Thris throu his worthi vasselag
    And syne with all his men of mayn
    Till Cragfergus wes cummyn agayn,
    The gud erle of Murreff Thomas
    Tuk leyff in Scotland for to pas,
    And he him levyt with a gruching,
    And syne him chargyt to the king
    To pray him specialli that he
    Cum intill Irland him to se,
    For war thai bath into that land
    Thai suld fynd nane suld thaim withstand.
    The erle furth thane his way has tane
    And till his schipping is he gayn
    And sayllyt weill out-our the se.
    Intill Scotland sone aryvit he,
    Syne till the king he went in hy,
    And he resavyt him glaidsumly
    And speryt of his brodyr fayr
    And of journayis that thai had thar,
    And he him tauld all but lesing.
    Quhen the king left had the spering
    His charge to the gud king tauld he,
    And he said he wald blythly se
    Hys brother and se the affer
    Off that cuntre and off thar wer.
    A gret mengye then gaderyt he,
    And twa lordys of gret bounte
    The tane the Stewart Walter was
    The tother James of Douglas
    Wardanys in his absence maid he
    For to maynteyme wele the countre,
    Syne to the se he tuk the way
    And at Lochriane in Galloway
    He schippyt with all his menye,
    To Cragfergus sone cummyn is he.
    Schyr Edward of his come wes blyth
    And went doun to mete him swyth
    And welcummyt him with glaidsome cher,
    Sa did he all that with him wer
    And specially the erle Thomas
    Off Murreff that his nevo was,
    Syne till the castell went thai yar
    And maid thaim mekill fest and far.
    Thai sojournyt that dayis thre
    And that in myrth and jolyte.

    [The Scots march south and an ambush is prepared for them]



    King Robert apon this kyn wis
    Intill Irland aryvit is,
    And quhen in Cragfergus had he
    With his men sojournyt dayis thre
    Thai tuk to consaill that thai wald
    With thar folk thar wayis hald
    Throu all Irland fra end till other.
    Schyr Edward than the kingis brother
    Befor in the avaward raid,
    The king himselff the rerward maid
    That had intill his cumpany
    The erle Thomas that wes worthi.
    Thar wayis southwart haff thai tane
    And sone ar passyt Inderwillane.
    This wes in the moneth of May
    Quhen byrdis syngis in ilk spray
    Melland thar notis with seymly soune
    For softnes of the swet sesoun,
    And levys off the branchys spredis
    And blomys brycht besid tham bredis
    And feldis ar strowyt with flouris
    Well saverand of ser colouris
    And all thing worthis blyth and gay,
    Quhen that this gud king tuk his way
    To rid southwart as I said ar.
    The wardane than Richard of Clar
    Wyst the king wes aryvyt sua
    And wyst that he schup him to ta
    His way towart the south contre,
    And of all Irland assemblit he
    Bath burges and chevalry
    And hobilleris and yhumanry
    Quhill he had ner fourty thousand.
    Bot he wald nocht yet tak on hand
    With all his fayis in feld to fycht
    Bot he umbethocht him of ane slycht,
    That he with all his gret menye
    Wald in a wod enbuschit be
    All prively besid the way
    Quhar that thar fayis suld away,
    And lat the avaward pas fer by
    And syne assembill hardely
    On the rerward with all thar men.
    Thai did as thai divisyt then,
    In ane wod thai enbuschit wer,
    The Scottis ost raid by thaim ner
    Bot thai na schawing of thaim maid.

    [The ambush of King Robert's men; the folly of Colin Campbell]



    Schyr Edward weill fer forouth rad
    With thaim that war of his menye,
    To the rerward na tent tuk he,
    And Schyr Richard of Clar in hy
    Quhen Schyr Edward wes passyt by
    Send lycht yomen that weill couth schout
    To bykkyr the rerward apon fute.
    Then twa of thaim that send furth war
    At the wod sid thaim bykkerit thar
    And schot amang the Scottismen.
    The king that had thar with him then
    Weill fyve thousand wicht and worthi
    Saw thai twa sa abandounly
    Schut amang thaim and cum sa ner.
    He wist rycht weill withoutyn wer
    That thai rycht ner suppowall had,
    Tharfor a bidding has he mad
    That na man sall be sa hardy
    To prik at thaim, bot sarraly
    Rid redy ay into bataill
    To defend gif men wald assail,
    'For we sall sone, Ik undreta,'
    He said, 'haf for to do with ma.'
    Bot Schyr Colyne Cambell, that ner
    Was by quhar thai twa yhumen wer
    Schoutand amang thaim hardily,
    Prykyt on thaim in full gret hy
    And sone the tane has our-tane
    And with the sper him sone has slane,
    The tother turnyt and schot agayne
    And at the schot his hors has slane.
    With that the king come hastily
    And intill his malancoly
    With a trounsoun intill hys new
    To Schyr Colyne sic dusche he geve
    That he dynnyt on his arsoun,
    Than bad he smertly tit him doun.
    Bot other lordis that war him by
    Ameyssyt the king into party,
    And he said, 'Breking of bidding
    Mycht caus all our discumfiting.
    Weyne ye yone ribaldis durst assaill
    Us sa ner intill our bataill
    Bot giff thai had suppowaill ner.
    I wate rycht weill withoutyn wer
    That we sall haf to do in hy,
    Tharfor luk ilk man be redy.'
    With that weill neir thretty or ma
    Off bowmen come and bykyrit sua
    That thai hurt off the kingis men.
    The king has gert his archeris then
    Schoute for to put thai men agayn.
    With that thai entryt in a playn
    And saw arayit agayn thaim stand
    In four bataillis fourty thousand.
    The king said, 'Now, lordingis, lat se
    Quha worthy in this fycht sall be,
    On thaim foroutyn mar abaid.'

    [The fight and victory of King Robert]



    Sa stoutly than on thaim thai raid
    And assemblyt sa hardely
    That off thar fayis a gret party
    War laid at erd at thar meting.
    Thar wes off speris sic bristing
    As ather apon other raid
    That it a wele gret frusch has maid,
    Hors come thar fruschand heid for heid
    Sua that fele on the ground felle deid.
    Mony a wycht and worthi man
    As ather apon other ran
    War duschyt dede doun to the ground,
    The red blud out off mony a wound
    Ruschyt in sa gret foysoun than
    That off the blud the stremys ran.
    And thai that wraith war and angry
    Dang on other sa hardily
    With wapnys that war brycht and bar
    That mony a gud man deyit thar,
    For thai that hardy war and wycht
    And frontlynys with thar fayis gan fycht
    Pressyt thaim formast for to be.
    Thar mycht men cruell bargane se
    And hard bataill. Ik tak on hand
    In all the wer off Irland
    Sa hard a fechting wes nocht sene,
    The-quhether of gret victours nynteyne
    Schyr Edward has withoutyn wer,
    And into les than in thre yer,
    And in syndry bataillis of tha
    Vencussyt thretty thousand and ma
    With trappyt hors rycht to the fete,
    Bot in all tymys he wes yete
    Ay ane for fyve quhen lest wes he.
    Bot the king into this melle
    Had alwayis aucht of his fa-men
    For ane, bot he sua bar him then
    That his gud deid and his bounte
    Confortyt sua all his menye
    That the mast coward hardy wes,
    For quhar he saw the thikkest pres
    Sa hardely on thaim he raid
    That thar about him roume he maid,
    And Erle Thomas the worthi
    Wes in all tyme ner him by
    And faucht as he war in a rage,
    Sua that for thar gret vasselage
    Thar men sic gret hardyment gan tak
    That thai na perell wald forsak
    Bot thaim abandound sa stoutly
    And dang apon thaim sa hardely
    That all thar fayis affrayit war.
    And thai that saw weill be thar far
    That thai eschewyt sumdele the fycht
    Than dang thai on with all thar mycht
    And pressit thame dyngand so fast
    That thai the bak gaf at the last,
    And thai that saw thaim tak the flicht
    Pressit thame than with all thare mycht
    And in thar fleyng fele gan sla.
    The kingis men has chassyt sua
    That thai war scalyt everilkane.
    Rychard off Clar the way has tane
    To Devillyne into full gret hy
    With other lordys that fled him by
    And warnysyt bath castellis and townys
    That war in thar possessiounys.
    Thai war sa felly fleyit thar
    That I trow Schyr Richard off Clar
    Sall haiff na will to faynd his mycht
    In bataill na in fors to fycht
    Quhill King Robert and his menye
    Is dwelland in that cuntre.
    Thai stuffyt strenthis on this wis,
    And the king that wes to pris
    Saw in the feld rycht mony slane,
    And ane of thaim that thar wes tane
    That wes arayit jolyly
    He saw greyt wonder tenderly,
    And askyt him quhy he maid sic cher.
    He said him, 'Schyr, withoutyn wer
    It is na wonder thocht I gret.
    I se fele her lossyt the suet,
    The flour of all north Irland
    That hardyast war of thar hand
    And mast doutyt in hard assay.'
    The king said, 'Thou dois wrang perfay,
    Thou has mar caus myrthis to ma
    For thou the dede eschapyt sua.'

    [Edward Bruce upbraided; the Scots' journey, and the wait for the laundress]



    Richard off Clar on this maner
    And all his folk discomfyt wer
    With few folk, as I to you tauld,
    And quhen Edward the Bruys the bauld
    Wyst at the king had fochtyn sua
    With sa fele folk, and he tharfra,
    Mycht na man se a waer man.
    Bot the gud king said till him than
    That it wes his awne foly
    For he raid sua unwittely
    Sa far befor, and na vaward
    Maid to thaim of the rerward,
    For he said quha on wer wald rid
    In a vaward he suld na tid
    Pas fra his rerward fer of sycht
    For gret perell sua fall thar mycht.
    Off this fycht will we spek no mar,
    Bot the king and all that thar war
    Raid furthwartis in bettyr aray
    And nerar togidder than er did thai.
    Throu all the land playnly thai raid,
    Thai fand nane that thaim obstakill maid.
    Thai raid evyn forouth Drochindra
    And forouth Devillyne syne alsua
    And to giff battaill nane thai fand,
    Syne went thai southwart in the land
    And rycht till Lynrike held thar way
    That is the southmaist toun perfay
    That in Irland may fundyn be.
    Thar lay thai dayis twa or thre
    And buskyt syne agayn to far,
    And quhen that thai all redy war
    The king has hard a woman cry,
    He askyt quhat that wes in hy.
    'It is the laynder, schyr,' said ane,
    'That hyr child-ill rycht now has tane
    And mon leve now behind us her,
    Tharfor scho makys yone ivill cher.'
    The king said, 'Certis, it war pite
    That scho in that poynt left suld be,
    For certis I trow thar is no man
    That he ne will rew a woman than.'
    His ost all thar arestyt he
    And gert a tent sone stentit be
    And gert hyr gang in hastily,
    And other wemen to be hyr by.
    Quhill scho wes deliver he bad
    And syne furth on his wayis raid,
    And how scho furth suld caryit be
    Or ever he furth fur ordanyt he.
    This wes a full gret curtasy
    That swilk a king and sa mychty
    Gert his men dwell on this maner
    Bot for a pouer lauender.
    Agayne northwart thai tuk thar way
    Throu all Irland than perfay,
    Throu all Connach rycht to Devillyne,
    And throu all Myth and Irell syne
    And Monester and Lenester,
    And syne haly throu Ulsister,
    To Cragfergus foroutyn bataill,
    For thar wes nane durst thaim assaill.

    [Edward Bruce and the Irish kings; his failings]



    The kingis off Irchery
    Come to Schyr Edward halily
    And thar manredyn gan him ma
    Bot giff that it war ane or twa.
    Till Cragfergus thai come again,
    In all that way wes nane bargain
    Bot giff that ony poynye wer
    That is nocht for to spek of her.
    The Irsche kingis than everilkane
    Hame till thar awne repayr ar gane,
    And undretuk in allkyn thing
    For till obey to the bidding
    Off Schyr Edward that thar king callit thay.
    He wes now weill set in gud way
    To conquer the land halyly,
    For he had apon his party
    The Irschery and Ulsyster,
    And he wes sa furth on his wer
    That he wes passyt throu Irland
    Fra end till uthyr throu strenth of hand.
    Couth he haf governyt him throu skill
    And folowyt nocht to fast his will
    Bot with mesur haf led his dede
    It wes weill lik withoutyn drede
    That he mycht haiff conqueryt weill
    The land of Irland ilkadele,
    Bot his outrageous sucquedry
    And will that wes mar than hardy
    Off purpose lettyt him perfay,
    As Ik herefter sall you say,

    [Douglas at Lintalee; Sir Thomas Richmond proposes
    to cut down Jedworth Forest]



    Now leve we her the noble king
    All at his ese and his liking,
    And spek we of the lord of Douglas
    That left to kep the marches was.
    He gert set wrychtis that war sleye
    And in the halche of Lintaile
    He gert thaim mak a fayr maner,
    And quhen the housis biggit wer
    He gert purvay him rycht weill thar
    For he thoucht to mak ane infar
    And to mak gud cher till his men.
    In Rychmound wes wonnand then
    Ane erle that men callit Schyr Thomas,
    He had invy at the Douglas
    And said gif that he his baner
    Mycht se displayit apon wer
    That sone assemble on it suld he.
    He hard how the Douglas thocht to be
    At Lyntailey and fest to ma,
    And he had wittering weill alsua
    That the king and a gret menye
    War passyt than of the countre
    And the erle of Murref Thomas,
    Tharfor he thocht the countre was
    Febill of men for to withstand
    Men that thame soucht with stalwart hand,
    And of the marchis than had he
    The governaile and the pouste.
    He gaderyt folk about him then
    Quhill he wes ner ten thousand men,
    And wod-axys gert with him tak
    For he thocht he his men wald mak
    To hew Jedwort Forrest sa clene
    That na tre suld tharin be sene.
    Thai held thaim forthwart on thar way,
    Bot the gud lord Douglas that ay
    Had spyis out on ilka sid
    Had gud wittering that thai wald rid
    And cum apon him suddanly.
    Than gaderyt he rycht hastily
    Thaim that he moucht of his menye,
    I trow that than with him had he
    Fyfty that worthy war and wicht
    At all poynt armyt weill and dycht,
    And off archeris a gret menye
    Assemblyt als with him had he.
    A place thar was thar in the way
    Quhar he thocht weill thai suld away
    That had wod apon athyr sid,
    The entre wes weill large and wid
    And as a scheild it narowit ay
    Quhill at intill a place the way
    Wes nocht a pennystane cast of breid.
    The lord of Douglas thidder yeid
    Quhen he wyst thai war ner cummand,
    And a-lauch on the ta hand
    All his archeris enbuschit he
    And bad thaim hald thaim all preve
    Quhill that thai hard him rays the cry,
    And than suld schut hardely
    Amang thar fayis and sow thaim sar
    Quhill that he throu thaim passyt war,
    And syne with him furth hald suld thai.
    Than byrkis on athyr sid the way
    That young and thik war growand ner
    He knyt togidder on sic maner
    That men moucht nocht weill throu thaim rid.

    [Douglas defeats and kills Richmond, then drives off his clerk from Lintalee]



    Quhen this wes done he gan abid
    Apon the tother half the way,
    And Richmound in gud aray
    Come ridand in the fyrst escheill.
    The lord Douglas has sene him weill
    And gert his men all hald thaim still
    Quhill at thar hand thai come thaim till
    And entryt in the narow way,
    Than with a schout on thaim schot thai
    And criyt on hycht, 'Douglas! Douglas!'
    The Richmound than that worthi was
    Quhen he has hard sua rais the cry
    And Douglas baner saw planly
    He dressyt thidderwart in hy
    And thai come on sa hardily
    That thai throu thaim maid thaim the way,
    All that thai met till erd bar thai.
    The Richmound borne doun thar was,
    On him arestyt the Douglas
    And him reversyt and with a knyff
    Rycht in that place reft him the lyff.
    Ane hat apon his helm he bar
    And that tuk with him Douglas thar
    In taknyng, for it furryt was,
    And syne in hy thar wayis tays
    Quhill in the wod thai entryt war.
    The archeris weill has borne thaim thar
    For weill and hardily schot thai.
    The Inglis rout in gret affray
    War set, for Douglas suddanly
    With all thaim of his cumpany
    Or ever thai wyst wes in thar rout
    And thyrlyt thaim weill ner throchout,
    And had almast all doyn his deid
    Or thai to help thaim couth tak heid.
    And quhen thai saw thar lord slayn
    Thai tuk him up and turnyt agayn
    To draw thaim fra the schot away,
    Than in a plane assemblit thai
    And for thar lord that thar wes dede
    Thai schup thaim in that ilk sted
    For to tak herbery all that nycht.
    And than the Douglas that wes wicht
    Gat wytteryng ane clerk Elys
    With weill thre hunder ennymys
    All straucht to Lintaile war gayn
    And herbery for thar ost had tane.
    Than thidder is he went in hy
    With all thaim of his cumpany
    And fand clerk Elys at the mete
    And his round about him set,
    And thai come on thaim stoutly thar
    And with swerdis that scharply schar
    Thai servyt thaim full egrely.
    Slayn war thai full grevously
    That wele ner eschapyt nane,
    Thai servyt thaim on sa gret wane
    With scherand swerdis and with knyffis
    That weile ner all left the lyvys.
    Thai had a felloun efter mes,
    That sourchargis to chargand wes.
    Thai that eschapyt thar throu cas
    Rycht till the ost the wayis tais
    And tauld how that thar men war slayn
    Sa clene that ner eschapyt nane.
    And quhen thai of thar ost had herd
    How that the Douglas with thaim ferd
    That had thar herbryouris slane
    And ruschyt all thaim self agayn
    And slew thar lord in-myd thar rout,
    Thar wes nane of thaim all sa stout
    That mar will than had till assaile
    The Douglas, tharfor to consaill
    Thai yeid and to purpose has tane
    To wend hamwart, and hamwart ar gan
    And sped thaim sua apon thar way
    That in Ingland sone cummyn ar thai.
    The forest left thai standand still,
    To hew it than thai had na will
    Specially quhill the Douglas
    Sua ner-hand by thar nychtbur was.
    And he that saw thaim torne agayn
    Persavyt weill thar lord wes slayn
    And be the hat that he had tane
    He wist alsua weill, for ane
    That takyn wes said him suthly
    That Rychmound commounly
    Wes wount that furryt hat to wer.
    Than Douglas blythar wes than er
    For he wist weill that Rychmound
    His felloun fa wes brocht to the ground.

    [A comparison of Douglas's exploits]



    Schyr James of Douglas on this wis
    Throu his worschip and his empris
    Defendyt worthely the land.
    This poynt of wer, I tak on hand,
    Wes undretane full apertly
    And eschevyt rycht hardely,
    For he stonayit foroutyn wer
    That folk that well ten thousand wer
    With fyfty armyt men but ma.
    I can als tell you other twa
    Poyntis that wele eschevit wer
    With fyfty men, and but wer
    Thai war done sua rycht hardely
    That thai war prisit soveranly
    Atour all othir poyntis of wer
    That in that tym eschevit wer
    This wes the fyrst that sua stoutly
    Wes brocht till end wele with fifty
    Into Galloway the tother fell
    Quhen as ye forouth herd me tell
    Schyr Edward the Bruys with fifty
    Vencussyt of Sanct Jhon Schyr Amery
    And fyften hunder men be tale.
    The thrid fell intill Esdaill
    Quhen that Schyr Jhone the Soullis was
    The governour of all that place,
    That to Schyr Androw Hardclay
    With fifty men withset the way
    That had thar in his cumpany
    Thre hunder horsyt jolyly.
    This Schyr Jhone intill playn melle
    Throu soverane hardiment and bounte
    Vencussyt thaim sturdely ilkan
    And Schyr Andrew in hand has tane,
    I will nocht rehers the maner
    For quha-sa likis thai may her
    Young wemen quhen thai will play
    Syng it amang thaim ilk day.
    Thir war the worthi poyntis thre
    That I trow evermar sall be
    Prissyt quhile men may on thaim mene.
    It is well worth foroutyn wene
    That thar namys for evermar,
    That in thar tym sua worthi war
    That men till her yeit has daynte,
    For thar worschip and thar bounte
    Be lestand ay furth in loving,
    Quhar He that is of hevynnys king
    Bring thaim he up till hevynnys blis
    Quhar allwayis lestand loving is.

    [English ships come to Fife; the Scots let them land]



    In this tym that the Richmound
    Was on this maner brocht to ground
    Men off the cost off Ingland
    That dwelt on Humbre or nerhand
    Gaderyt thaim a gret mengne
    And went in schippes to the se,
    And towart Scotland went in hy
    And in the Fyrth come hastely.
    Thai wend till haiff all thar liking
    For thai wist weile that the king
    Wes then fer out of the countre,
    With him mony of gret bounte,
    Tharfor into the Fyrth come thai
    And endlang it up held thai
    Quhill thai besid Ennerkething
    On west half towart Dunferlyng
    Tuk land and fast begouth to ryve.
    The erle of Fyff and the schyrreff
    Saw to thar cost schippis approchand
    Thai gaderyt to defend thar land
    And a-forgayn the schippis ay
    As thai saillyt thai held thar way
    And thocht to let thaim land to tak.
    And quhen the schipmen saw thaim mak
    Swilk contenance in sic aray
    Thai said amang thaim all that thai
    Wald nocht let for thaim land to ta,
    Than to the land thai sped thaim sua
    That thai come thar in full gret hy
    And aryvyt full hardely.
    The Scottismen saw thar cummyng
    And had of thaim sic abasing
    That thai all samyn raid thaim fra
    And the land letles lete thaim ta.
    Thai durst nocht fecht with thaim, forthi
    Thai withdrew thaim all halily
    The-quhethyr thai war fyve hunder ner.

    [The bishop of Dunkeld drives the English to their ships]



    Quhen thai away thus ridand wer
    And na defens begouth to schape,
    Off Dunkeldyn the gud byschap
    That men callyt Wilyam the Sanctecler
    Come with a rout in gud maner.
    I trow on hors thai war sexty,
    Himselff was armyt jolyly
    And raid apon a stalwart sted,
    A chemer for till hele his wed
    Apon his armour had he then
    And armyt weill als war his men.
    The erle and the schyrreff met he
    Awaywart with thar gret menye,
    And askyt thaim weill sone quhat hy
    Maid thaim to turne sa hastily.
    Thai said thar fayis with stalwart hand
    Had in sic foysoun takyn the land
    That thai thocht thaim all out to fele
    And thaim to few with thaim to dele.
    Quhen the bischap hard it wes sua
    He said, 'The king aucht weill to ma
    Off you, that takys sa wele on hand
    In his absence to wer his land.
    Certis giff he gert serff you weill
    The gilt spuris rycht be the hele
    He suld in hy ger hew you fra,
    Rycht wald with cowartis men did sua.
    Quha luffis his lord or his cuntre
    Turne smertly now agayne with me.'
    With that he kest of his chemer
    And hynt in hand a stalwart sper
    And raid towart his fayis in hy,
    All turnyt with him halyly
    For he had thaim reprovyt sua
    That off thaim all nane fled him fra.
    He raid befor thaim sturdely
    And thai him folowyt sarraly
    Quhill that thai come ner approchand
    To thar fayis that had tane land,
    And sum war knyt in gud aray
    And sum war went to the foray.
    The gud bischap quhen he thaim saw
    He said, 'Lordingis, but drede or aw
    Pryk we apon thaim hardely
    And we sall haf thaim wele lychtly.
    Se thai us cum but abaysing
    Sua that we mak her na stinting
    Thai sall weill sone discumfyt be.
    Now dois weill, for men sall se
    Quha luffis the kingis mensk today.'
    Than all togidder in gud aray
    Thai prekyt apon thaim sturdely,
    The byschap that wes rycht hardy
    And mekill and stark raid forouth ay.
    Than in a frusche assemblit thai,
    And thai that at the fryst meting
    Feld off the speris sa sar sowing
    Wandyst and wald haiff bene away,
    Towart thar schippis in hy held thai,
    And thai thaim chassyt fellounly
    And slew thaim sua dispitously
    That all the feldis strowyt war
    Off Inglismen that slane war thar,
    And thai yeyt that held unslayne
    Pressyt to the se agayne,
    And Scottismen that chassyt sua
    Slew all that ever thai mycht ourta.
    Bot thai that fled yeit nocht-forthi
    Sua to thar schippis gan thaim hy,
    And in sum barge sua fele gan ga
    And thar fayis hastyt thaim sua
    That thai our-tumblyt and the men
    That war tharin war drownyt then.
    Thar did ane Inglisman perfay
    A weill gret strenth as Ik hard say,
    For quhen he chassyt wes till his bat
    A Scottisman that him handlyt hat
    He hynt than be the armys twa,
    And, war him wele or war him wa,
    He evyn apon his bak him slang
    And with him to the bat gan gang
    And kest him in all mawgre his,
    This wes a wele gret strenth i-wis.
    The Inglismen that wan away
    To thar schippis in hy went thai
    And saylyt hame angry and wa
    That thai had bene rebutyt sua.

    [The bishop is praised; the king returns from Ireland]



    Quhen that the schipmen on this wis
    War discumfyt as I devys
    The byschap that sa weill him bar
    That he all hartyt that thar war
    Was yeyt into the fechtyn-sted
    Quhar that fyve hunder ner war ded
    Foroutyn thaim that drownyt war,
    And quhen the feld was spulyeit bar
    Thai went all hame to thar repar.
    To the byschap is fallyn fayr
    That throu his price and his bounte
    Wes eschevyt swilk a journe.
    The king tharfor ay fra that day
    Him luffyt and prisyt and honoryt ay
    And held him in suylk daynte
    That his awne bischop him callit he.
    Thus thai defendyt the countre
    Apon bath halffis the Scottis se
    Quhill that the king wes out off land
    That than as Ik haf borne on hand
    Throu all Irland his cours had maid
    And agane to Cragfergus raid.
    And quhen his broder as he war king
    Had all the Irschery at bidding
    And haly Ulsistre alsua
    He buskyt hame his way to ta.
    Off his men that war mast hardy
    And prisyt mast of chevalry
    With his broder gret part left he,
    And syne is went him to the se.
    Quhen thar levys on ather party
    Wes tane he went to schip him in hy,
    The Erle Thomas with him he had,
    Thai raissyt sayllis but abaid
    And in land off Galloway
    Forout perell aryvyt thai.

    BOOK 17



    [Only Berwick remains in English hands; a burgess offers to betray it]



    The lordis off the land war fayne
    Quhen thai wist he wes cummyn agan
    And till him went in full gret hy,
    And he ressavit thaim hamlyly
    And maid thaim fest and glaidsum cher,
    And thai sa wonderly blyth wer
    Off his come that na man mycht say,
    Gret fest and fayr till him maid thai.
    Quharever he raid all the countre
    Gaderyt in daynte him to se,
    Gret glaidschip than wes in the land.
    All than wes wonnyn till his hand,
    Fra the Red Swyre to Orknay
    Wes nocht off Scotland fra his fay
    Outakyn Berwik it allane.
    That tym tharin wonnyt ane
    That capitane wes of the toun,
    All Scottismen in suspicioun
    He had and tretyt thaim tycht ill.
    He had ay to thaim hevy will
    And held thaim fast at undre ay,
    Quhill that it fell apon a day
    That a burges Syme of Spalding
    Thocht that it wes rycht angry thing
    Suagate ay to rebutyt be.
    Tharfor intill his hart thocht he
    That he wald slely mak covyne
    With the marchall, quhays cosyne
    He had weddyt till him wiff,
    And as he thocht he did belyff.
    Lettrys till him he send in hy
    With a traist man all prively,
    And set him tym to cum a nycht
    With leddrys and with gud men wicht
    Till the kow yet all prively,
    And bad him hald his trist trewly
    And he suld mete thaim at the wall,
    For his walk thar that nycht suld fall.

    [The marischal shows the letter to the king,
    who seeks to avoid jealousy between Douglas and Moray]



    Quhen the marchell the lettre saw
    He umbethocht him than a thraw,
    For he wist be himselvyn he
    Mycht nocht off mycht no power be
    For till escheyff sa gret a thing,
    And giff he tuk till his helping
    Ane, other suld wrethit be.
    Tharfor rycht to the king yeid he
    And schawyt him betwix thaim twa
    The letter and the charge alsua.
    Quhen that the king hard that this trane
    Spokyn wes intill certayne
    That him thocht tharin na fantis
    He said him, 'Certis thou wrocht as wis
    That has discoveryt the fryst to me,
    For giff thou had discoveryt the
    To my nevo the Erle Thomas
    Thou suld disples the lord Douglas,
    And him alsua in the contrer,
    Bot I sall wyrk on sic maner
    That thou at thine entent sall be
    And haff of nane of thaim mawgre.
    Thou sall tak kep weill to the day,
    And with thaim that thou purches may
    At evyn thou sall enbuschit be
    In Duns Park, bot be preve,
    And I sall ger the Erle Thomas
    And the lord alsua of Douglas
    Ather with a soume of men
    Be thar to do as thou sall ken.'
    The marchell but mar delay
    Tuk leve and held furth on his way
    And held his spek preve and still
    Quhill the day that wes set him till.
    Than of the bast of Lothiane
    He with hym till his tryst has tane
    For schyrreff tharoff than wes he.

    [The Scots take the wall of Berwick, but discipline breaks down]



    To Duns Park with his menye
    He come at evyn prively,
    And syne with a gud cumpany
    Sone eftyr come the Erle Thomas
    That wes met with the lord Douglas.
    A rycht fayr cumpany thai war
    Quhen thai war met togidder thar,
    And quhen the marchell the covyn
    To bath the lordis lyne be lyne
    Had tauld, thai went furth on thar way.
    Fer fra the toun thar hors left thai,
    To mak it schort sua wrocht thai then
    That but seyng off ony men
    Outane Sym of Spaldyn allane
    That gert that deid be undertane
    Thai set thar leddrys to the wall,
    And but persaving come up all
    And held thaim in a nuk preve
    Quhill that the nycht suld passit be,
    And ordanyt that the maist party
    Off thar men suld gang sarraly
    With thar lordis and hald a stale,
    And the remanand suld all hale
    Skaill throu the toun and tak or sla
    The men that thai mycht ourta.
    Bot sone this ordynance brak thai,
    For alsone as it dawyt day
    The twa partis off thar men and ma
    All scalyt throu the toun gan ga.
    Sa gredy war thai to the gud
    That thai ran rycht as thai war woud
    And sesyt housis and slew men,
    And thai that saw thar fayis then
    Cum apon thaim sa suddanly
    Throu-out the toun thai raissyt the cry
    And schot togidder her and thar,
    As ay as thai assemblyt war
    Thai wald abid and mak debate.
    Had thai bene warnyt wele I wate
    Thai suld haiff sauld thar dedis der
    For thai war gud men and thai wer
    Fer ma than thai were that thaim socht,
    Bot thai war scalyt that thai mocht
    On na maner assemblyt be.
    Thar war gret melleys twa or thre,
    Bot Scottismen sa weile thaim bar
    That thar fayis ay ruschyt war
    And contraryit at the last war sua
    That thai haly the bak gan ta,
    Sum gat the castell bot nocht all
    And sum ar slydyn our the wall
    And sum war intill handis tane
    And sum war intill bargane slane.
    On this wis thaim contenyt thai
    Quhill it wes ner none of the day,
    Than thai that in the castell war
    And other that fled to thaim thar
    That war a rycht gret cumpany
    Quhen thai the baneris saw simply
    Standand and stuffyt with a quhone
    Thar yattis haff thai opnyt sone
    And ischit on thaim hardely.
    Than the Erle Thomas that wes worthi
    And the gud lord als of Douglas
    With the few folk that with thaim was
    Met thaim stoutly with wapnys ser.
    Thar mycht men se that had bene ner
    Men abandoune thaim hardely.

    [The town of Berwick falls]



    The Inglismen faucht cruelly
    And with all mychtis gan thaim payn
    To rusche the Scottis men agayn.
    I trow thai had done sua perfay
    For thai war fewar fer than thai
    Giff it na had bene a new-mad knycht
    That till his name Schyr Wilyam hycht,
    Off Keyth and off Gallistoun
    He hycht throu difference of sournoune,
    That bar him sa rycht weill that day
    And put him till sua hard assay
    And sic dyntis about him dang
    That quhar he saw the thikkest thrang
    He pressyt with sa mekill mycht
    And sua enforslye gan fycht
    That he maid till his mengne way,
    And thai that ner war by him ay
    Dang on thar fayis sua hardely
    That thai haff tane the bak in hy
    And till the castell held the way,
    And at gret myscheiff entryt thai
    For thai war pressyt thar sa fast
    That thai fele lesyt of the last.
    Bot thai that entryt nocht-forthi
    Sparyt thar yattis hastily
    And in hy to the wallis ran
    For thai war nocht all sekyr than.

    [Men flock to Berwick; the castle holds out but eventually surrenders]



    The toun wes takyn on this wis
    Throu gret worschip and hey empris,
    And all the gud that thai thar fand
    Wes sesyt smertly intill hand.
    Vittaill they fand in gret foysoun
    And all that fell to stuff off toun
    That kepyt thai fra destroying,
    And syn has word send to the king,
    And he wes off that tything blyth
    And sped him thidderwart swith
    And as he throu the cuntre raid
    Men gaderyt till him quhill he haid
    A mekill rout of worthi men,
    And the folk that war wonnand then
    Intill the Mers and Tevidaill
    And in the Forest als all hale
    And the est end off Lothiane
    Befor that the king come ar gane
    To Berwik with sa stalwart hand
    That nane that wes that tyme wonnand
    On yond half Tweid durst weil apper.
    And thai that in the castell wer
    Quhen thai thar fayis in sic plente
    Saw forouth thaim assemblyt be
    And had na hop of reskewing
    Thai war abaysit in gret thing,
    Bot thai the castell nocht-forthi
    Held thai fyve dayis sturdely
    Syne yauld it on the sext day,
    And till thar countre syne went thai.

    [The king plans to hold Berwick; Walter Stewart given command there;
    the garrison and its arms]



    Thus wes the castell and the toun
    Till Scottis mennys possessioun
    Brocht, and sone eftre he king
    Come ridand with his gadering
    To Berwik, and in the castell
    He wes herbrid bath fayr and weill
    And all his lordis him by,
    The remanand commonaly
    Till herbry till the toun ar gane.
    The king has then to consaill tan
    That he wald nocht brek doun the wall
    Bot castell and the toun witthall
    Stuff weill with men and with vittaill
    And alkyn other apparaill
    That mycht availe or ellis myster
    To hald castell or toun off wer,
    And Walter Stewart of Scotland
    That than wes young and avenand
    And sone-in-laucht wes to the king
    Haid sa gret will and sic yarnyng
    Ner-hand the marchis for to be
    That Berwik to yemsell tuk he,
    And resavit of the king the toun
    And the castell and the dongeoun.
    The king gert men of gret noblay
    Ryd intill Ingland for to pray
    That brocht out gret plente of fe,
    And sum contreis trewyt he
    For vittaill, that in gret foysoun
    He gert bring smertly to the toun
    Sua that bath castell and toun war
    Well stuffyt for a yer and mar.
    The gud Stewart off Scotland then
    Send for his frendis and his men
    Quhill he had with him, but archeris
    And but burdouris and awblasteris,
    Fyve hunder men wycht and worthi
    That bar armys of awncestry.
    Jhone Crab a Flemyng als had he
    That wes of sa gret sutelte
    Till ordane and mak apparaill
    For to defend and till assaill
    Castell of wer or than cite
    That nane sleyar mycht fundyn be.
    He gert engynys and cranys ma
    And purvayit Grec fyr alsua,
    Spryngaldis and schot on ser maneris
    That to defend castellis afferis
    He purvayit intill full gret wane,
    Bot gynnys for crakys had he nane
    For in Scotland yeit than but wene
    The us of thaim had nocht bene sene.
    Quhen the toun apon this wis
    Was stuffyt as Ik her divis
    The nobill king his way has tane
    And riddyn towart Lowthiane,
    And Walter Stewart that wes stout
    Be-left at Berwik with his rout
    And ordanyt fast for apparaill
    To defend giff men wald assail.

    [Edward II comes to besiege Berwick with land and sea forces]



    Quhen to the king of Ingland
    Was tauld how that with stalwart hand
    Berwik wes tane and stuffyt syn
    With men and vittaill and armyn
    He wes anoyit gretumly
    And gert assermbill all halely
    His consaill, and has tane to reid
    That he hys ost will thidder leid
    And with all mycht that he mycht get
    To the toune ane assege set,
    And gert dyk thaim sa stalwartly
    That quhill thaim likyt thar to ly
    Thai suld fer out the traister be.
    And gif the men of the contre
    With strenth of men wald thaim assaill
    At thar dykis into bataill
    Thai suld avantage have gretly,
    Thocht all Scottis for gret foly
    War till assaill into fechting
    At hys dykis sa stark a thing.
    Quhen this consaill on this maner
    Wes tane he gert bath fer and ner
    Hys ost haly assemblyt be,
    Ane gret folk than with him had he.
    Off Longcastell the Erle Thomas
    That syne wes sanct as men sayis
    In his cumpany wes thar
    And all the erllys that als war
    In Ingland worthi for to fycht,
    And baronys als of mekill mycht
    With him to that assege had he,
    And gert his schippis by the se
    Bring schot and other apparaill
    And gret warnysone of vittaill.
    To Berwik with all his menye
    With his bataillis arayit come he,
    And till gret lordis ilkane sindry
    Ordanyt a feld for thar herbry.
    Than men mycht sone se pailyounys
    Be stentyt of syndry fassounys
    That thai a toune all sone maid thar
    Mar than bath toun and castell war.
    On other half syne on the se
    The schippis come in sic plente
    With vittaill armyng and with men
    That all the havyn wes stoppyt then.
    And quhen thai that war in the toun
    Saw thar fayis in sic foysoun
    Be land and se cum sturdely,
    Thai as wycht men and rycht worthi
    Schup thaim to defend thar steid
    That thai in aventur of deid
    Suld put thaim or than rusch agane
    Thar fayis, for thar capitane
    Tretyt thaim sa luflely,
    And thar-with-all the mast party
    Off thaim that armyt with him wer
    War of his blud and sib him ner,
    Or ellis war his elye.
    Off sic confort men mycht thaim se
    And of sa rycht far contenyng
    As nane of thaim had abaysing.
    On dayis armyt weill war thai
    And on the nycht wele walkyt ay,
    Weill sex dayis sua thai abaid
    That na full gret bargane haid.

    [The English assault the town by land]



    Intill this tyme that I tell her
    That thai withoutyn bargayne wer
    The Inglismen sa clossyt had
    Thar ost with dykis that thai maid
    That thai war strenthit gretumly.
    Syne with all handis besely
    Thai schup thaim with thair apparaill
    Thaim of the toun for till assaill,
    And of our ladys evyn Mary
    That bar the byrth that all gan by
    That men callis hyr nativite
    Sone in the mornyng men mycht se
    The Inglis ost arme thaim in hy
    And display baneris sturdely,
    And assembill to thar baneris
    With instrumentis of ser maneris
    As scaffoldis leddris and covering
    Pikkys, howis and with staff-slyng.
    Till ilk lord and his bataill
    Wes ordanyt quhar he suld assaill.
    And thai within, quhen that thai saw
    That mengne raung thaim sua on raw
    Till thar wardis thai went in hy
    That war stuffyt rycht stalwartly
    With stanys and schot and other thing
    That nedyt to thar defending,
    And into sic maner abaid
    Thair fayis that till assail thaim maid.
    Quhen thai without war all redy
    Thai trumpyt till asalt in hy,
    And ilk man with his apparaill
    Quhar he suld be went till assaill,
    Till ilk kyrnell that war thar
    Archeris to schut assignyt war,
    And quhen on this wys thai war boun
    Thai went in hy towart the toun
    And fillyt the dykis hastily,
    Syne to the wall rycht hardely
    Thai went with leddris that thai haid.
    Bot thai sa gret defend has maid
    That war abovyne apon the wall
    That oft leddris and men with-all
    Thai gert fall flatlingis to the ground,
    That men mycht se in a litill stound
    Men assailand hardely
    Dressand up leddris douchtely
    And sum on leddris pressand war.
    Bot thai that on the wall war thar
    Till all perellis gan abandoun
    Thaim till thar fayis war dongyn doun.
    At gret myscheff defendyt thai
    Thar toun, for, giff we suth sall say,
    The wallis of the toun than wer
    Sa law that a man with a sper
    Mycht stryk ane other up in the face,
    And the schot alsa thik thar was
    That it war wondre for to se.
    Walter Stewart with a menye
    Raid ay about for to se quhar
    That for to help mast myster war,
    And quhar men presit mast he maid
    Succour till his that myster haid.
    The mekill folk that wes without
    Haid enveronyt the toun about
    Sua that na part of it wes fre.
    Thar mycht men the assailiaris se
    Abandoun thaim rycht hardely,
    And the defendouris douchtely
    With all thar mychtis gan thaim payn
    To put thar fayis with force agayn.

    [The assault by sea; it fails, and an engineer is taken prisoner]



    On this wis thaim contenyt thai
    Quhill none wes passit off the day,
    Than thai that in the schippis wer
    Ordanyt a schip with full gret fer
    To cum with all hyr apparaill
    Rycht to the wall for till assaill.
    Till myd-mast up thar bat thai drew
    With armyt men tharin inew,
    A brig thai had for to lat fall
    Rycht fra the bat apon the wall,
    With bargis by hir gan thai row
    And pressyt thaim rycht fast to tow
    Hyr by the brighous to the wall,
    On that entent thai set thaim all.
    Thai brocht hyr quhill scho come well ner,
    Than mycht men se on seir maner
    Sum men defend and sum assaill
    Full besyly with gret travaill.
    Within sa stoutly thai thaim bar
    That the schipmen sa handlyt war
    That thai the schip on na maner
    Mycht ger to cum the wall sa ner
    That thar fall-brig mycht neych thartill
    For oucht thai mycht gud or ill,
    Quhill that scho ebbyt on the grund,
    Than mycht men in a litill stound
    Se thaim be fer of wer covyn
    Than thai war er that war hyr in.
    And quhen the se wes ebbyt sua
    That men all dry mycht till hyr ga,
    Out off the toun ischit in hy
    Till hyr a weill gret cumpany
    And fyr till hyr has keyndlyt son.
    Into schort tyme sua haif thai done
    That thai in fyr has gert hyr bryn
    And sum war slayn that war hyr in
    And sum fled and away ar gane.
    Ane engynour thar haif thai tane
    That wes sleast of that myster
    That men wist ony fer or ner,
    Intill the toun syne entryt thai.
    It fell thaim happily perfay
    That thai gat in sa hastily
    For thar come a gret cumpany
    In full gret hy up by the se
    Quhen thai the schip saw brynnand be,
    Bot or thai come, the tother war past
    The yat and barryt it rycht fast.
    That folk assaylyt fast that day,
    And thai within defendyt ay
    On sic a wis that thai that war
    With gret enforce assailland thar
    Mycht do thar will on na maner.
    And quhen that evynsang tym wes ner
    The folk without that war wery
    And sum woundyt full cruelly
    Saw thaim within defend thaim sua,
    And saw it wes nocht eyth to ta
    The toun quhill sic defens wes mad,
    And thai that intill stering had
    The ost saw that thar schip war brynt
    And of thaim that tharin wes tynt,
    And thar folk woundyt and wery,
    Thai gert blaw the retreit in hy.
    Fra the schipmen rebotyt war
    Thai lete the tother assaill no mar,
    For throu the schip thai wend ilkan
    That thai the toun wele suld haf tane.
    Men sayis that ma schippis than sua
    Pressyt that tym the toun to ta,
    Bot for that thar wes brynt bot ane
    And the engynour tharin wes tane
    Her-befor mencioun maid I
    Bot off a schip allanerly.

    [The English withdraw from the walls; King Robert invades England, ravaging]



    Quhen that thai blawyn had the retret
    Thar folk that tholyt had paynys gret
    Withdrew thaim haly fra the wall,
    The assalt have thai left all.
    And thai within that wery war
    And mony of thaim woundyt sar
    War blyth and glaid quhen that thai saw
    Thar fayis on that wis thaim withdraw,
    And fra thai wyst suthly that thai
    Held to thar pailyounys thar way
    Set gud wachys to thar wall,
    Syne till thar innys went thai all
    And essyt thaim that wery war,
    And other that had woundis sar
    Had gud lechys forsuth Ik hycht
    That helpyt thaim as thai best mycht.
    On athyr sid wery war thai,
    That nycht thai did no mar perfay.
    Fyve dayis eftyr thai war still
    That nane till other did mekill ill.
    Now leve we thir folk her lyand
    All still as Ik have borne on hand
    And turne the cours of our carping
    To Schyr Robert the douchty king,
    That assemblyt bath fer and ner
    Ane ost quhen that he wist but wer
    That the king sua of Ingland
    Had assegyt with stalwart hand
    Berwik quhar Walter Stewart was.
    To purpose with his men he tais
    That he wald nocht sua sone assaile
    The king of Ingland with bataill
    And at his dykis specially,
    For that moucht weill turne to foly.
    Tharfor he ordanyt lordis twa,
    The erle of Murreff wes ane of tha
    The tother wes the lord of Douglas
    With fyften thousand men to pas
    In Ingland for to bryn and sla
    And sua gret ryote thar to ma
    That thai that lay segeand the toun
    Quhen thai hard the destructioun
    That thai suld intill Ingland ma,
    Suld be sua dredand and sua wa
    For thar childer and for thar wiffis
    That thai suld drede to lese the lyvis,
    And thar gudis alsua that thai
    Suld dreid than suld be had away,
    Thai suld leve thar sege in hy
    And wend to reskew hastily
    Thar gud thar frendis and thar land.
    Tharfor, as Ik haf born on hand,
    Thir lordis send he furth in hy
    And thai thar way tuk hastily
    And in Ingland gert bryn and sla,
    And wrocht tharin sa mekill wa
    As thai forrayit the countre
    That it wes pite for to se
    Till thaim that wald it ony gud,
    For thai destroyit all as thai yhud.

    [The battle at Myton-on-Swale]



    Sua lang thai raid destroyand sua
    As thai traversyt to and fra
    That thai ar cummyn to Repoun
    And destroyit haly that toun,
    At Borowbrig syne thar herbry
    Thai tuk and at Mytoun tharby.
    And quhen the men of that countre
    Saw thar land sua destroyit be
    Thai gaderyt into full gret hy
    Archeris burges and yhumanry
    Preystis clerkys monkis and freris
    Husbandis and men of all maneris
    Quhill that thai samyn assemblit war
    Wele twenty thousand men and mar,
    Rycht gud armys inew thai had.
    The archebyschop ofYork thai mad
    Thar capitane, and to consaill
    Has tane that thai in plane bataill
    Wald assaill the Scottismen
    That fewar than thai war then.
    Than he displayit his baner
    And other byschappis that thar wer
    Gert display thar baneris alsua,
    All in a rout furth gan thai ga
    Towart Mytoun the redy way.
    And quhen the Scottismen hard say
    Thai war to thaim cummand ner
    Thai buskyt thaim on thar best maner
    And delyt thaim in bataillis twa,
    Douglas the avaward gan ma,
    The rerward maid Erle Thomas
    For chyftane of the ost he was
    And sua ordanyt in gud aray
    Towart thar fayis thai held thar way.
    Quhen athyr had on other sycht
    Thai pressyt on bath half to the fycht.
    The Inglismen come rycht sadly
    With gud contenance and hardy
    Rycht in a frusch with thar baner
    Quhill thar fayis come sa ner
    That thai thar visag mycht se,
    Thre sper lenth I trow weill mycht be
    Betwix thaim, quhen sic abasing
    Tuk thaim that but mar in a swyng
    Thai gaff the bak all and to-ga.
    Quhen the Scottismen had sene thaim sua
    Effrayitly fle all thar way
    In gret hy apon thaim schot thai
    And slew and tuk a gret party,
    The laiff fled full effrayitly
    As thai best moucht to sek warand.
    Thai chassyt sa ner at hand
    That ner a thousand deyt thar.
    Off thaim yet thre hunder war
    Preystis that deyt in that chas,
    Tharfor that bargane callit was
    The chaptur of Mytone for thar
    Slayn sa mony prestis war.

    [The men in Berwick prepare engines, the English a sow;
    a second English assault]



    Quhen this folk thus discomfyt was
    And Scottismen had left the chas
    Thai went thaim forthward in the land
    Slayand sua and destroyand,
    And thai that at the sege lay
    Or it wes passyt the fyft day
    Had maid thaim syndry apparal
    To gang eftsonys till assaill.
    Off gret gestis a sow thai maid
    That stalwart heildyne aboun it had
    With armyt men inew tharin
    And instrumentis for to myne,
    Syndry scaffaldis thai maid withall
    That war weill heyar than the wall,
    And ordanyt als that be the se
    The toun suld weill assaillyt be.
    Thai within that saw thaim sua
    Sua gret apparaill schap to ma
    Throu Crabys consaill that wes sley
    A crane thai haiff gert dres up hey
    Rynnand on quheillis that thai mycht bring
    It quhar that nede war of helping,
    And pyk and ter als haiff thai tane
    And lynt and herdis and brynstane
    And dry treyis that weill wald brin
    And mellyt ather other in,
    And gret fagaldis tharoff thai maid
    Gyrdyt with irne bandis braid,
    The fagaldis weill mycht mesuryt be
    Till a gret townys quantite.
    Thai fagaldis brynnand in a baill
    With thar cran thocht thai till availl,
    And gyff the sow come to the wall
    To let it brynnand on hyr fall
    And with stark chenyeis hald it thar
    Quhill all war brynt up that thar war.
    Engynys alsua for to cast
    Thai ordanyt and maid redy fast
    And set ilk man syne till his ward,
    And Schyr Walter the gud Steward
    With armyt men suld rid about
    And se quhar that thar war mast dout
    And succour thar with his menye.
    And quhen thai in sic degre
    Had maid thaim for defending,
    On the Rud Evyn in the dawing
    The Inglis ost blew till assaill.
    Than mycht men with ser apparaill
    Se that gret ost cum sturdely,
    The toun enveround thai in hy
    And assaillyt with sua gret will
    For all thar mycht thai set thartill
    That thaim pressyt fast on the toun.
    Bot thai that gan thaim abandoun
    To dede or than to w oundis sar
    Sa weill has thaim defendit thar
    That leddrys to the ground thai slang,
    And with stanys sa fast thai dang
    Thar fayis that fele thar left liand
    Sum dede sum hurt and sum swonand.
    Bot thai that held on feyt in hy
    Drew thaim away deliverly
    And scounryt nocht for that thing
    Bot went stoutly till assailling,
    And thai aboun defendyt ay
    And set thaim to sa hard assay
    Quhill that fele of thaim woundyt war,
    And thai sa gret defens maid thar
    That thai styntit thar fayis mycht.
    Apon sic maner gan thai fycht
    Quhill it wes ner none of the day,
    Than thai without on gret aray
    Pressyt thar sowe towart the wall.

    [The Scots force the engineer to destroy the sow]



    And thai within sone gert call
    The engynour that takyn was,
    And gret mannance till him mais
    And swour that he suld dey bot he
    Provyt on the sow sic sutelte
    That he to-fruschyt hir ilk-dele,
    And he that has persavyt wele
    That the dede wes weill ner him till
    Bot giff he mycht fulfill thar will
    Thocht that he at his mycht wald do.
    Bendyt in gret hy than wes scho
    That till the sow wes evyn set,
    In hy he gert draw the cleket
    And smertly swappyt out a stane.
    Evyn our the sow the stane is gane
    And behind it a litill wey
    It fell, and than thai criyt hey
    That war in hyr, 'Furth to the wall,
    For dredles it is ouris all.'
    The gynour than deliverly
    Gert bend the gyn in full gret hy
    And the stane smertly swappyt out,
    It flaw out quhetherand with a rout
    And fell rycht evyn befor the sow.
    Thar hartis than begouth to grow,
    Bot yeyt than with thar mychtis all
    Thai pressyt the sow towart the wall
    And has hyr set tharto juntly.
    The gynour than gert bend in hy
    The gyne and wappyt out the stane
    That evyn towart the lyft is gane
    And with gret wecht syne duschit down
    Rycht be the wall in a randoun,
    And hyt the sow in sic maner
    That it that wes the mast summer
    And starkest for to stynt a strak
    In sunder with that dusche it brak.
    The men ran out in full gret hy,
    And on the wallis thai gan cry
    That thar sow wes feryt thar.
    Jhone Crab that had his ger all yar
    In his fagaldis has set the fyr
    And our the wall syne gan thaim wyr
    And brynt the sow till brundis bar.
    With all thys fast assailyeand war
    The folk without with felloun fycht,
    And thai within with mekill mycht
    Defendyt manlily thar steid
    Into gret aventur off deid.

    [An attack by a ship is repulsed]



    The schipmen with gret apparaill
    Come with thar schippis till assail
    With top-castell warnyst weill
    Off wicht men armyt into steill,
    Thar batis up apon thar mast
    Drawyn weill hey and festnyt fast,
    And pressyt with that gret atour
    Towart the wall, bot the gynour
    Hyt in the aspyne with a stane,
    That the men that tharin war gane
    Sum ded sum dosnyt come doun wynland.
    Fra thyne furth durst nane tak on hand
    With schippis to preys thaim to the wall,
    Bot the lave war assailyeand all
    On ilk sid sa egrely
    That certis it wes gret ferly
    That that folk sic defens has maid
    With the gret myscheiff that thai had,
    For thar wallis sa law than wer
    That a man rycht weill with a sper
    Mycht stryk ane other up in the face
    As her-befor said to you was,
    And fele of thaim war woundit sar,
    And the laiff sa fast travaillyt war
    That nane had tyme rest for to ma,
    Thar adversouys assaillyt sua.

    [The Steward's defence of the Mary gate]



    Thai war within sa straitly stad
    That thar wardane, that with him had
    Ane hunder men in cumpany
    Armyt that wicht war and hardy
    And raid about for to se quhar
    That his folk hardest presyt war
    To releve thaim that had myster,
    Come sindry tymys in placis ser
    Quhar sum of the defendouris war
    All dede and other woundyt sar,
    Sua that he of his cumpany
    Behuffyt for to leve thar party,
    Sua that be he a cours had maid
    About, of all the men he haid
    Thar wes levyt with him bot ane
    That he ne had left thaim everilkan
    To releve quhar he saw myster.
    And the folk that assailland wer
    At Mary yat tohewyn haid
    The barrais and a fyr had maid
    At the drawbrig and brynt it doun,
    And war thringand in gret foysoun
    Rycht to the yat a fyr to ma.
    Than thai within gert smertly ga
    Ane to the wardane far to say
    How thai war set in hard assay,
    And quhen Schyr Walter Stewart herd
    How men sa straitly with thaim ferd
    He gert cum of the castell then
    All that thar war off armyt men,
    For thar that day assaillyt nane,
    And with that rout in hy is gane
    To Mary yate and to the wall
    He send and saw the myscheff all,
    And umbethocht him suddanly
    Bot giff gret help war set in hy
    Tharto, thai suld bryn up the yet
    That fra the wall thai suld nocht let.
    Tharfor apon gret hardyment
    He suddanly set his entent,
    And gert all wyd set up the yat
    And the fyr that he fand tharat
    With strenth of men he put away.
    He set him to full hard assay,
    For thai that war assailyeand thar
    Pressyt on him with wapnys bar
    And he defendyt with his mycht.
    Thar mycht men se a felloun sycht
    Off stabing, stocking and striking,
    Thair maid thai sturdy defending
    For with gret strenth of men the yat
    Thai defendyt and stud tharat
    Mawgre thar fayis, quhill the nycht
    Gert thaim on bath half leve the fycht.

    [The assault ends, but the garrison prepares for another]



    Thai off the ost quhen nycht gan fall
    Fra the assalt withdrew thaim all.
    Woundyt and wery and forbeft
    With mad cher the assalt thai left
    And till thar innys went in hy
    And set thar wachis hastily,
    The lave thaim esyt as thai mycht best
    For thai had gret myster of rest.
    That nycht thai spak commonaly
    Off thaim within and had ferly
    That thai sua stout defens had maid
    Agayne the gret assalt thai haid.
    And thai within on other party
    Quhen thai thar fayis sa hastily
    Saw withdraw thaim thai war all blyth,
    And has ordanyt thar wachis swith
    And syne ar till thar innys gane.
    Thar wes bot full few of thaim slane
    Bot fele war woundyt utterly,
    The lave our mesur war wery.
    It was ane hard assault perfay,
    And certis I herd never say
    Quhar quheyn mar defence had maid
    That sua rycht hard assailling haid,
    And off a thing that thar befell
    Ik haff ferly that I sall tell,
    That is that intill all that day
    Quhen all thar mast assailyeit thai
    And the schot thikkerst wes withall
    Women with child and childer small
    In armfullis gaderyt up and bar
    Till thaim that on the wallis war
    Arrowes, and nocht ane slayne wes thar
    Na yeit woundyt, and that wes mar
    The myrakill of God almichty
    And to noucht ellis it set can I.

    [The English debate whether to continue, but withdraw;
    the fate of Thomas earl of Lancaster; the return of King Robert]



    On athyr syd that nycht thai war
    All still, and on the morn but mar
    Thar come tythandis out off Ingland
    To thaim of the ost, that bar on hand
    How that by Borowbrig at Mytoun
    Thar men war slayn and dongyn doun,
    And at the Scottismen throu the land
    Raid yeit brynnand and destroyand.
    And quhen the king had hard this tale
    His consaile he assemblyt haile
    To se quhether fayr war him till
    To ly about the toun all still
    And assailye quhill it wonnyn war,
    Or than in Ingland for to fayr
    And reskew his land and his men.
    His consaill fast discordyt then,
    For sotheroun men wald that he mad
    Arest thar quhill he wonnyn haid
    The toun and the castell alsua,
    Bot northyn men wald na thing sua
    That dred thar frendis for to tyn
    And mast part of thar gudis syne
    Throu Scottismennys cruelte,
    Thai wald he lete the sege be
    And raid for to reskew his land.
    Off Longcastell I tak on hand
    The Erle Thomas wes ane of tha
    That consaillyt the king hame to ga,
    And for that mar inclynyt he
    To the folk of the south countre
    Na to the northyn mennys will,
    He tuk it to sa mekill ill
    That he gert turs his ger in hy
    And with his bataill halily
    That off the ost ner thrid part was
    Till Ingland hame his way he tais.
    But leve he hame has tane his gat,
    Tharfor fell efter sic debat
    Betwix him and the king that ay
    Lastyt quhill Androw Hardclay
    That throu the king wes on him set
    Tuk him rycht in Pomfret,
    And on ane hill beside the toun
    Strak off his hede but ransoun,
    Tharfor syne hyngyt and drawyn wes he
    And with him a weill gret menye.
    Men said syne efter this Thomas
    That on this wis maid marter was
    Was saynct and myrakillis did,
    Bot envy syne gert thaim be hid,
    Bot quhether he haly wes or nane
    At Pomfret thus was he slane.
    And syne the king of Ingland
    Quhen that he saw him tak on hand
    To pas his way sa opynly,
    Him thocht it wes perell to ly
    Thar with the lave of his menye
    Hys harnays tharfor tursit he
    And intill Ingland hame gan he far.
    The Scottismen that destroyand war
    In Ingland sone hard tell tithing
    Off this gret sege departing,
    Tharfor thai tuk westwart the way
    And till Carlele hame went ar thai
    With prayis and with presoneris
    And other gudis on ser maneris.
    The lordis to the king ar gain,
    And the lave has thar wayis tain
    Ilk man till his repayr agayne.
    The king i-wys was wondre fayn
    That thay war cummyn hale and fer,
    And that thai sped on sic maner
    That thai thar fayis discomfyt hade
    And but tynsaill of men has maid
    Rescours to thaim that in Berwik
    War assegyt rycht till thar dyk.
    And quhen the king had speryt tithand
    How thai had farne in Ingland
    And thai had tauld him all hale thar far
    How Inglismen discumfyt war,
    Rycht blyth intill his hart wes he
    And maid them fest with gamyn and gle.

    [Praise of Walter Stewart; help is to be sent to Edward Bruce]



    Berwik wes on this maner
    Reskewyt and thai that tharin wer
    Throu manheid and throu sutelte.
    He wes worthi a prynce to be
    That couth with wit sa hey a thing
    But gret tynsaill bring till ending.
    Till Berwik syne the way he tays
    And quhen he hard thar how it ways
    Defendyt rycht sua apertly,
    He lovyt thaim that war thar gretly.
    Walter Stewart his gret bounte
    Out-our the laiff commendyt he
    For the rycht gret defens he maid
    At the yat quhar men brynt had
    The brig as ye herd me dyvis,
    And certis he wes weill to pris
    That sa stoutly with plane fechting
    At opyn yate maid defending.
    Mycht he haff levyt quhill he had bene
    Off perfyt eild, withoutyn wene
    His renoun suld have strekyt fer,
    Bot dede that walkis ay to mer
    With all hyr mycht waik and worthy
    Had at his worschip sic invi
    That in the flour of his youtheid
    So endyt all his douchti deid,
    As I sall tell you forthermar.
    Quhen the king had a quhill bene thar
    He send for maysonys fer and ner
    That sleast war off that myster
    And gert weill ten fute hey the wall
    About Berwykis toune our-all,
    And syne towart Louthyane
    With his menye his gat is gane.
    And syne he gert ordane in hy
    Bath armyt men and yhumenry
    Intill Irland in hy to fayr
    To help his brother that wes thar.

    BOOK 18



    [Edward Bruce marches toward Dundalk; he debates whether to fight]



    Bot he that rest anoyit ay
    And wald in travaill be alway,
    A day forouth thar aryving
    That war send till him fra the king,
    He tuk his way southwart to far
    Magre thaim all that with him war,
    For he had nocht than in that land
    Of all men I trow twa thousand,
    Outane the kingis off Irchery
    That in gret routis raid him by.
    Towart Dundalk he tuk the way,
    And quhen Richard of Clar hard say
    That he come with sa few menye
    All that he mycht assemblit he
    Off all Irland off armyt men,
    Sua that he had thar with him then
    Off trappyt hors twenty thousand
    But thai that war on fute gangand,
    And held furth northward on his way.
    And quhen Schyr Edward has hard say
    That cummyn ner till him wes he
    He send discouriouris him to se,
    The Soullis and the Stewart war thai
    And Schyr Philip the Mowbray,
    And quhen thai sene had thar cummyng
    Thai went agayne to tell tithing,
    And said weill thai war mony men.
    In hy Schyr Edward answerd then
    And said that he suld fecht that day
    Thoucht tribill and quatribill war thai.
    Schyr Jhone Stewart said, 'Sekyrly
    I reid nocht ye fecht on sic hy,
    Men sayis my brother is cummand
    With fyften thousand men ner-hand,
    And war thai knyt with you ye mycht
    The traistlyer abid to fycht.'
    Schyr Edward lukyt all angrely
    And till the Soullis said in hy,
    'Quhat sayis thou?' 'Schyr,' he said, 'Perfay
    As my falow has said I say.'
    And than to Schyr Philip said he.
    'Schyr,' said he, 'sa our Lord me se
    Me think na foly for to bid
    Your men that spedis thaim to rid,
    For we ar few, our fayis ar fele,
    God may rycht weill our werdis dele,
    Bot it war wondre that our mycht
    Suld our-cum sa fele in fycht.'
    Than with gret ire 'Allace,' said he,
    I wend never till her that of the.
    Now help quha will for sekyrly
    This day but mar baid fecht will I,
    Sall na man say quhill I may drey
    That strenth of men sall ger me fley.
    God scheld that ony suld us blam
    Gif we defend our noble nam.'
    'Now be it swagat than,' quod thai,
    'We sall tak that God will purvai.'

    [The Irish kings promise to remain and watch the fight]



    And quhen the kingis of Irchery
    Herd say and wyst sekyrly
    That thar king with sa quhone wald fycht
    Agane folk of sa mekill mycht
    Thai come till him in full gret hy
    And consaillyt him full tenderly
    For till abid his men, and thai
    Suld hald thar fayis all that day
    Doand, and on the morn alsua
    With thar ronnyngis that thai suld ma.
    Bot thar mycht na consail availe,
    He wald algat hav bataile.
    And quhen thai saw he wes sa thra
    To fycht, thai said, 'Ye ma well ga
    To fycht with yone gret cumpany,
    Bot we acquyt us uterly
    That nane of us will stand to fycht.
    Assuris nocht tharfor in our mycht,
    For our maner is of this land
    To folow and fecht fleand
    And nocht to stand in plane melle
    Quhill the ta part discomfyt be.'
    He said, 'Sen that your custum is
    Ik ask at you no mar bot this,
    That is that ye and your menye
    Wald all togidder arayit be
    And stand on fer but departing
    And se our fycht and the ending.'
    Thai said weill that thai suld do sua,
    And syne towart thar men gan thai ga
    That war weill twenty thousand ner.

    [The defeat and death of Edward Bruce; Philip Mowbray's fate]



    Edward with thaim that with him wer
    That war nocht fully twa thousand
    Arayit thaim stalwartly to stand
    Agayne fourty thousand and ma.
    Schyr Edward that day wald nocht ta
    His cot-armour, bot Gib Harper
    That men held as withoutyn per
    Off his estate, had on that day
    All hale Schyr Edwardis aray.
    The fycht abad thai on this wis,
    And in gret hy thar ennymys
    Come till assemble all redy
    And thai met thaim hardely.
    Bot thai sa few war, south to say,
    That ruschyt with thar fayis war thai,
    And thai that pressyt mast to stand
    War slane doun, and the remanand
    Fled till the Irche to succour.
    Schyr Edward that had sic valour
    Wes dede and Jhone Stewart alsua
    And Jhone the Soullis als with tha
    And other als off thar cumpany.
    Thai war vancussyt sa suddanly
    That few intill the place war slane,
    For the lave has thar wayis tane
    Till the Irsche kingis that war thar
    And in hale bataill howand wer.
    Jhone Thomas-sone that wes leder
    Off thaim of Carrik that thar wer
    Quhen he saw the discumfiting
    Withdrew him till ane Irsch king
    That off his aquentance had he,
    And he resavit him in leawte.
    And quhen Jhone cummyn wes to that king
    He saw be led fra the fechting
    Schyr Philyp the Mowbray the wicht
    That had bene dosnyt into the fycht,
    And with armys led wes he
    With twa men apon a cause
    That wes betwix thaim and the toun
    And strekyt lang in a randown.
    Towart the toun thai held thar way,
    And quhen in myd-cause war thai
    Schyr Philip of his desynes
    Ourcome, and persavit he wes
    Tane and led suagat with twa.
    The tane he swappyt sone him fra
    And syne the tother in gret hy,
    And drew the swerd deliverly
    And till the fycht his wayis tays
    Endlang the cause that than was
    Fillyt intill gret foysoun
    Off men that than went till the toun,
    And he that met thaim agayn gan ma
    Sic payment quhar he gan ga
    That weile a hundre men gert he
    Leve maugre tharis the cause.
    As Jhone Thomas-sone said suthly
    That saw his deid all halily
    Towart the bataill evyn he yeid.

    [The body of Edward Bruce]



    Jhone Thomas-sone that tuk gud heid
    That thai war vencussyt all planly
    Cryit on him in full gret hy
    And said, 'Cum her for thar is nane
    On lyve for thai ar dede ilkane.'
    Than stud he still a quhill and saw
    That thai war all doune of daw,
    Syne went towart him saraly.
    This Jhone wrocht syne sa wittely
    That all that thidder fled than wer
    Thocht that thai lossyt of thar ger
    Come till Cragfergus hale and fer.
    And thai that at the fechting wer
    Socht Schyr Edward to get his heid
    Amang the folk that thar wes dede
    And fand Gib Harper in his ger,
    And for sa gud hys armys wer
    Thai strak hys hed of and syn it
    Thai have gert salt intill a kyt
    And send it intill Ingland
    Till the King Edward in presand.
    Thai wend Schyr Edwardis it had bene,
    Bot for the armyng that wes schene
    Thai of the heid dissavyt wer
    All thocht Schyr Edward deyt ther.

    [A verdict on Edward Bruce; the belated reinforcements]



    On this wis war thai noble men
    For wilfulnes all lesyt then,
    And that wes syne and gret pite
    For had thar outrageous bounte
    Bene led with wyt and with mesur,
    Bot gif the mar mysaventur
    Be fallyn thaim, it suld rycht hard thing
    Be to lede thaim till outraying,
    Bot gret outrageous surquedry
    Gert thaim all deir thar worschip by.
    And thai that fled fra the melle
    Sped thaim in hy towart the se
    And to Cragfergus cummyn ar thai,
    And thai that war into the way
    To Schyr Edward send fra the king
    Quhen thai hard the discumfiting
    To Cragfergus thai went agayne.
    And that wes nocht foroutyn payn,
    For thai war mony tyme that day
    Assailyeit with Irschery, bot thai
    Ay held togidder sarraly
    And defendyt sa wittely
    That thai eschapyt oft throu mycht
    And mony tyme alsua throu slycht,
    For oft of tharis to thaim gaff thai
    To lat thaim scaithles pas thar way,
    And till Cragfergus come thai sua
    That batis and schyppis gan thai ta
    And saylyt till Scotland in hy
    And thar aryvyt all saufly.
    Quhen thai of Scotland had wittering
    Off Schyr Edwardis vencussing
    Thai menyt him full tenderly
    Our all the land commounaly,
    And thai that with him slayn war thar
    Full tenderly als menyt war.

    [Edward Bruce's head; Edward II plans to invade Scotland]



    Edward the Bruys as I said her
    Wes discumfyt on this maner
    And quhen the feld wes clengit clene
    Sua that na resistens wes sene
    The wardane than Schyr Richard of Clar
    And all the folk that with him war
    Towart Dundalk has tane the way
    Sua that rycht na debat maid thai
    At that tym with the Irschery,
    Bot to the toun thai held in hy,
    And syne had send furth to the king
    That had Ingland in governyng
    Gib Harperis heid in a kyt.
    Jhone Maupas till the king had it
    And he ressavyt it in daynte,
    Rycht blyth off that present wes he
    For he wes glaid that he wes sua
    Deliveryt off a felloun fa.
    In hart tharoff he tuk sic prid
    That he tuk purpos for to rid
    With a gret ost in Scotland
    For to veng him with stalwart hand
    Off tray of travaill and of tene
    That done tharin till him had bene,
    And a rycht gret ost gaderit he
    And gert his schippis be the se
    Cum with gret foysoun of vittaill,
    For at that tyme he wald him taile
    To dystroy up sa clene the land
    That nane suld leve tharin levand,
    And with his folk in gret aray
    Towart Scotland he tuk the way.

    [King Robert withdraws; the English starve at Edinburgh]



    And quhen King Robert wist that he
    Come on him with sic a mengne
    He gaderyt his men bath fer and ner
    Quhill sa fele till him cummyn wer,
    And war als for to cum him to,
    That him thocht he rycht weill suld do.
    He gert withdraw all the catell
    Off Lowthiane everilkdeill,
    And till strenthis gert thaim be send
    And ordanyt men thaim to defend,
    And with his ost all still he lay
    At Culros, for he wald assay
    To gert hys fayis throu fasting
    Be feblyst and throu lang walking,
    And fra he feblist had thar mycht
    Assembill than with thaim to fycht.
    He thocht to wyrk apon this wis,
    And Inglismen with gret maistrys
    Come with thar ost in Lowthian
    And sone till Edynburgh ar gan,
    And thar abaid thai dayis thre.
    Thar schippys that war on the se
    Had the wynd contrar to thaim ay
    Sua that apon na maner thai
    Had power to the Fyrth to bring
    Thar vittailis to releve the king,
    And thai of the ost that faillyt met
    Quhen thai saw that thai mycht nocht get
    Thar vittaillis till thaim be the se
    Thai send furth rycht a gret menye
    For to forray all Lowthiane,
    Bot cataill haf thai fundyn nane
    Outakyn a bule that wes haltand
    That in Tranentis corne thai fand.
    That brocht thai till thar ost agayne,
    And quhen the erle of Warayne
    Saw that bule anerly cum swa
    He askyt giff thai gat na ma,
    And thai haff said all till him nay.
    Than said he, 'Certis I dar say
    This is the derrest best that I
    Saw ever yeit, for sekyrly
    It cost a thousand pound and mar.'
    And quhen the king and thai that war
    Off his consaill saw thai mycht get
    Na cattell till thar ost till ete
    That than of fasting had gret payn
    Till Ingland turnyt thai agayn.

    [The retreating English advance party attacked by Douglas at Melrose]



    At Melros schup thai for to ly
    And send befor a cumpany
    Thre hunder ner of armyt men.
    Bot the lord Douglas that wes then
    Besyd intill the Forest ner
    Wyst of thar come and quhat thai wer,
    And with thaim of his cumpany
    Into Melros all prevely
    He howyt in a buschement,
    And a rycht sturdy frer he sent
    Without the yate thar come to se,
    And bad him hald him all preve
    Quhill that he saw thaim cummand all
    Rycht to the coynye thar of the wall,
    And than cry hey, 'Douglas! Douglas!'
    The frer than furth his wayis tais
    That wes all stout derff and hardy,
    Hys mekill hud helyt haly
    The armur that he on him had,
    Apon a stalwart hors he rad
    And in his hand he had a sper,
    And abaid apon that maner
    Quhill that he saw thaim cummand ner,
    And quhen the formest passyt wer
    The coynye he criyt 'Douglas! Douglas!'
    Than till thaim all a cours he mas
    And bar ane doun deliverly,
    And Douglas and his cumpany
    Ischyt apon thaim with a schout,
    And quhen thai saw sa gret a rout
    Cum apon thaim sa suddanly
    Thai war abaysyt gretumly
    And gaf the bak but mar abaid.
    The Scottis men amang thaim raid
    And slew all that thai mycht our-ta,
    A gret martyrdome thar gan thai ma,
    And thai that eschapyt unslayne
    Ar till thar gret ost went agayne
    And tauld thaim quhatkyn welcummyng
    Douglas thaim maid at thar meting
    That convoyit thaim agayn rudly
    And warnyt planly herbery.

    [King Robert invades England; the English army awaits him at Byland]



    The king of Ingland and his men
    That saw thar herbriouris then
    Cum rebutyt on that maner
    Anoyit in thar hart thai wer,
    And thocht that it war gret foly
    Intill the wod to tak herbery,
    Tharfor by Dryburgh in the playn
    Thai herbryit thaim and syne again
    Ar went till Ingland thar way.
    And quhen the King Robert hard say
    That thai war turnyt hame agayn
    And how thar herbriouris war slayn,
    In hy his ost assemblit he
    And went south our the Scottis se
    And till Ingland his wayis tais.
    Quhen his ost assemblyt ways
    Auchty thousand he wes and ma
    And aucht batallis he maid of tha,
    In ilk bataill war ten thousand,
    Syne went he furth till Ingland
    And intill hale rout folowit sa fast
    The Inglis king, quhill at the last
    He come approchand to Biland
    Quhar at that tyme thar wes lyand
    The king of Ingland with his men.
    King Robert that had witteryng then
    That he lay thar with mekill mycht
    Tranountyt sua on him a nycht
    That be the morn that it wes day
    Cummyn in a plane feld war thai
    Fra Biland bot a litill space,
    Bot betwix thaim and it thar was
    A craggy bra strekyt weill lang
    And a gret peth up for to gang,
    Other wayis mycht thai nocht away
    To pas to Bilandis abbay
    Bot gif thai passyt fer about.
    And quhen the mekill Inglis rout
    Hard that the King Robert wes sa ner,
    The mast part of thaim that thar wer
    Went to the peth and tuk the bra,
    Thai thocht thar defens to ma,
    Thar baneris thar thai gert display
    And thar bataillis on braid aray,
    And thocht weill to defend the pas.
    Quhen the King Robert persavit was
    That thai thocht thar thaim to defend
    Efter his consaill has he send
    And askyt quhat wes best to do.
    The lord Douglas answeryt thar-to
    And said, 'Schyr, I will underta
    That in schort tyme I sall do sa
    That I sall wyn yon pas planly,
    Or than ger all yon cumpany
    Cum doun to you her to this plane.'
    The king said than till him agayn,
    'Do than, quhar mychty God the speid.'

    [Douglas and Moray attack uphill at Byland; defence by two English knights]



    Than he furth on his wayis yeid,
    And of the ost the mast hardy
    Put thaim intill his cumpany
    And held thar way towart the pas.
    The gud erle of Murreff Thomas
    Left his bataill and in gret hy
    Bot with four men of his cumpany
    Come till the lordis rout of Douglas
    And or he entryt in the pas
    Befor thaim all the pas tuk he
    For he wald that men suld him se.
    And quhen Schyr James off Douglas
    Saw that he suagat cummyn was
    He prisyt him tharoff gretly
    And welcummyt him hamlyly,
    And syne the pas thai samyn ta.
    Quhen Inglis men saw thaim do sua
    Thai lychtyt and agayn thaim yeid
    Twa knychtis rycht douchty of deid,
    Thomas Ouchtre ane had to name
    The tother Schyr Rauf of Cobhame,
    Come doun befor all thar menye,
    Thai war bath full of gret bounte
    And met thar fayis manlely,
    Bot thai war pressyt rycht gretumly.
    Thar mycht men se rycht weill assaile
    And men defend with stout bataill
    And arowes fley in gret foysoun
    And thai that owe war tumbill doun
    Stanys apon thaim fra the hycht,
    Bot thai that set bath will and mycht
    To wyn the peth thaim pressyt sua
    That Schyr Rauff of Cobhame gan ta
    The way up till hys hors in hy,
    And left Schyr Thomas manlily
    Defendand with gret mycht the pas
    Quhill that he sua supprisit was
    That he wes tane throu hard fechting.
    And tharfor syne in his ending
    He wes renownyt for best of hand
    Off a knycht off all Ingland,
    For this ilk Schyr Rauf of Cobhame
    Intill all Ingland he had name
    For the best knycht of all that land,
    And for Schyr Thomas dwelt fechtand
    Quhar Schyr Rauff as befor said we
    Withdrew him, prisit our him was he.

    [The king's men take the heights, take prisoners and defeat the English]



    Thus war thai fechtand in the pas,
    And quhen the King Robert that was
    Wys in his deid and averty
    Saw his men sa rycht douchtely
    The peth apon thar fayis ta
    And saw his fayis defend thaim sa,
    Than gert he all the Irschery
    That war intill his cumpany
    Off Arghile and the Ilis alsua
    Speid thaim in gret hy to the bra,
    And bad thaim leif the peth haly
    And clym up in the craggis hy
    And speid thaim fast the hycht to ta.
    Than mycht men se thaim stoutly ga
    And clymb all-gait up to the hycht
    And leve nocht for thar fayios mycht,
    Magre thar fayis thai bar thaim sua
    That thai ar gottyn aboun the bra.
    Than mycht men se thaim fecht felly
    And rusch thar fayis sturdely,
    And thai that till the pas war gane
    Magre thar fayis the hycht has tane.
    Than laid thai on with all thar mycht,
    Thar mycht men se men felly fycht.
    Thar wes a peralous bargane,
    For a knycht Schyr Jhone the Bretane
    That lychtyt wes aboune the bra
    And his men gret defens gan ma,
    And Scottismen sua gan assaill
    And gave thaim sa felloun bataill
    That thai war set in sic affray
    That thai that mycht fley fled away,
    Schyr Jhone the Bretane thar wes tane
    And rycht fele off his folk war slane.
    Off Fraunce thar tane wes knychtis twa,
    The lord the Sule wes ane of tha,
    The tother wes the merschell Bretayn
    That wes a wele gret lord at hame,
    The lave sum ded war and sum tane
    And the remanand fled ilkane.
    And quhen the king of Ingland
    That yeit at Biland wes liand
    Saw his men discumfyt planely
    He tuk his way in full gret hy
    And furthwart fled with all his mycht,
    Scottismen chassyt fast, Ik hycht,
    And in the chas has mony tane,
    The king quitly away is gane
    And the mast part of his menye.

    [Walter Stewart attacks up to York; John of Brittany a prisoner]



    Stewart Walter that gret bounte
    Set ay on hey chevalry
    With fyve hunder in cumpany
    Till Yorkis yettis the chas gan ma
    And thar sum of thar men gan sla
    And abade thar quhill ner the nycht
    To se giff ony wald ische to fycht,
    And quhen he saw nane wald cum out
    He turnyt agane with all his rout
    And till his ost he went in hy
    That tane had than thar herbery
    Intill the abbay off Biland
    And Ryfuowis that was by ner-hand.
    Thai delt amang thaim that war ther
    The king off Inglandis ger
    That he had levyt in Biland,
    All gert thai lep out our thar hand,
    And maid thaim all glaid and mery.
    And quhen the king had tane herbery
    Thai brocht till him the prisoneris
    All unarmyt as it afferis,
    And quhen he saw Jhone of Bretangne
    He had at him rycht gret engaigne,
    For he wes wont to spek hychtly
    At hame and our dispitusly,
    And bad have him away in hy
    And luk he kepyt war straitly,
    And said war it nocht that he war
    Sic a catyve he suld by sar
    Hys wordys that war sua angry,
    And he humbly criyt him mercy.
    Thai led him furth foroutyn mar
    And kepyt him wele quhill thai war
    Cummyn hame till thar awne countre,
    Lang eftre syne ransonyt wes he
    For twenty thousand pund to pay
    As Ik haff hard syndry men say.

    [French knights released without ransom;
    the expedition returns to Scotland]



    Quhen that the king this spek had maid
    The Frankys knychtis men takyn had
    War brocht rycht thar befor the king,
    And he maid thaim fayr welcummyng
    And said, 'I wate rycht weill that ye
    For your gret worschip and bounte
    Come for to se the fechting her.
    For sen ye in the countre wer
    Your strenth your worschyp and your mycht
    Wald nocht lat you eschew the fycht,
    And sen that caus you led thartill
    And nother wreyth na ivill will
    As frendis ye sall resavyt be,
    Quhar all tyme welcum her be ye.'
    Thai knelyt and thankyt him gretly,
    And he gert tret thaim curtasly
    And lang quhill with thaim had he
    And did thaim honour and bounte,
    And quhen thai yarnyt to thar land
    To the king of Fraunce in presand
    He send thaim quit but ransoun fre
    And gret gyftis to thaim gaff he.
    His frendis thusgat curtasly
    He couth ressave and hamely,
    And his fayis stoutly stonay.
    At Biland all that nycht he lay,
    For thar victour all blyth thai war,
    And on the morn foroutyn mar
    Thai haff forthwart tane thar way.
    Sa fer at that tyme travaillyt thai
    Brynnand slayand and destroyand
    Thar fayis with all thar mycht noyand
    Quhill till the Wald cummyn war thai,
    Syne northwart tuk hame thar way
    And destroyit in thar repayr
    The vale all planly off Beauewar.
    And syne with presoneris and catell
    Riches and mony fayr jowell
    To Scotland tuk thai hame thar way
    Bath blyth and glaid joyfull and gay,
    And ilk man went to thar repayr
    And lovyt God thaim fell sa fayr
    That thai the king off Ingland
    Throu worschip and throu strenth of hand
    And throu thar lordis gret bounte
    Discumfyt in his awne countre.

    BOOK 19



    [The conspiracy against King Robert; its discovery]



    Than wes the land a quhile in pes,
    Bot covatys, that can nocht ces
    To set men apon felony
    To ger thaim cum to senyoury,
    Gert lordis off full gret renoune
    Mak a fell conjuracioun
    Agayn Robert the douchty king,
    Thai thocht till bring him till ending
    And to bruk eftre his dede
    The kynrik and to ryng in hys steid.
    The lord the Soullis, Schyr Wilyam,
    Off that purches had mast defame,
    For principale tharoff was he
    Off assent of that cruelte.
    He had gottyn with him sindry,
    Gilbert Maleherbe, Jhone of Logy
    Thir war knychtis that I tell her
    And Richard Broun als a squyer,
    And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn
    Wes off this deid arettyt syne
    As I sall tell you forthermar.
    Bot thai ilkane discoveryt war
    Throu a lady as I hard say
    Or till thar purpos cum mycht thai,
    For scho tauld all to the king
    Thar purpose and thar ordanyng,
    And how that he suld haf bene ded
    And Soullis ryng intill his steid,
    And tauld him werray taknyng
    This purches wes suthfast thing.
    And quhen the king wist it wes sua
    Sa sutell purches gan he ma
    That he gert tak thaim everilkan,
    And quhar the lord Soullis was tane
    Thre hunder and sexty had he
    Off squyeris cled in his lyvere
    At that tyme in his cumpany
    Outane knychtis that war joly.
    Into Berwik takyn wes he
    That mycht all his mengne se
    Sary and wa, bot suth to say
    The king lete thaim all pas thar way
    And held thaim at he takyn had.

    [The trial in parliament; the fate of the conspirators]



    The lord Soullis sone eftre maid
    Plane granting of all that purchas.
    A parlement set tharfor thar was
    And brocht thidder this mengne war.
    The lord the Soullis has grantyt thar
    The deid into plane parleament,
    Tharfor sone eftre he wes sent
    Till his pennance to Dunbertane
    And deit thar in a tour off stane.
    Schyr Gilbert Maleherbe and Logy
    And Richard Broune thir thre planly
    War with a sys thar ourtane,
    Tharfor thai drawyn war ilkane
    And hangyt and hedyt tharto
    As men had dempt thaim for to do.
    And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn
    Thai gert chalance rycht straitly syne,
    And he grauntyt that off that thing
    Was wele maid till him discovering
    Bot he thartill gaf na consent,
    And for he helyt thar entent
    And discoveryt it nocht to the king
    That he held of all his halding
    And maid till him his fewte
    Jugyt till hang and draw wes he.
    And as thai drew him for to hing
    The pepill ferly fast gan thring
    Him and his myscheyff for to se
    That to behald wes gret pite.

    [Sir Ingram Umfraville's reaction and decision to leave Scotland]



    Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that than
    Wes with the king as Scottisman,
    Quhen he that gret myscheiff gan se
    He said, 'Lordingis, quharto pres ye
    To se at myscheiff sic a knycht
    That wes sa worthi and sa wicht
    That Ik haff sene ma pres to se
    Him him for his rycht soverane bounte
    Than now doys for to se him her.'
    And quhen thir wordis spokyn wer
    With sary cher he held him still
    Quhill men had done of him thar will,
    And syne with the leve of the king
    He brocht him menskly till erding.
    And syne to the king said he,
    'A thing I pray you graunt me,
    That is that ye off all my land
    That is intill Scotland liand
    Wald giff me leve to do my will.'
    The king that sone has said him till,
    'I will wele graunt that it sua be,
    Bot tell me quhat amovis the.'
    He said agane, 'Schyr, graunt mercy
    And I sall tell you planely,
    Myne hart giffis me na mar to be
    With you dwelland in this countre,
    Tharfor bot that it nocht you greve
    I pray you hartly of your leve.
    For quhar sua rycht worthi a knycht
    An sa chevalrous and sa wicht
    And sa renownyt off worschip syne
    As gud Schyr David off Brechyn
    And sa fullfyllyt off all manheid
    Was put to sa velanys a ded,
    Myn hart forsuth may nocht gif me
    To dwell for na thing that may be.'
    The king said, 'Sen that thou will sua
    Quhenever the likys thou may ga,
    And thou sall haiff gud leve tharto
    Thi liking off thi land to do.'
    And he thankyt him gretumly
    And off his land in full gret hy
    As hym thocht best disponyt he,
    Syne at the king of gret bounte
    Befor all thaim that with him war
    He tuk his leve for evermar,
    And went in Ingland to the king
    That maid him rycht fayr welcummyng
    And askyt him of the north tithing.
    And he him tauld all but lesing
    How thai knychtis destroyit war
    And as I tauld till you ar,
    And off the kingis curtassy
    That levyt him debonarly
    To do off his land his liking.
    In that tyme wes send fra the king
    Off Scotland messyngeris to trete
    Off pes giff that thai mycht it get,
    As thai befor oft-sys war send
    How that thai coutht nocht bring till end.
    For the gud king had in entent,
    Sen God sa fayr grace had him lent
    That he had wonnyn all his land
    Throu strenth off armys till his hand,
    That he pes in his tyme wald ma
    And all landis stabill sua
    That his ayr eftre him suld be
    In pes, gif men held lawte.

    [Sir Ingram Umfraville advises a long truce, which is made]



    Intill this tyme that Umfravill
    As I bar you on hand er quhill
    Come till the king of Ingland
    The Scottis messingeris thar he fand
    Of pes and rest to haiff tretis.
    The king wist Schyr Ingrahame wes wis
    And askyt consaile tharto
    Quhat he wald rede him for to do,
    For he said him thocht hard to ma
    Pes with the King Robert his fa
    Quhill that he off him vengit war.
    Schyr Ingrahame maid till him answar
    And said, 'He delt sa curtasly
    With me that on na wis suld I
    Giff consaill till his nethring.'
    'The behovis nedwayis,' said the king,
    'To this thing her say thine avis.'
    'Schyr,' said he, 'sen your willis is
    That I say, wit ye sekyrly
    For all your gret chevalry
    To dele with him yhe haf na mycht.
    His men all worthyn ar sa wicht
    For lang usage of fechting
    That has bene nuryst in swilk thing
    That ilk yowman is sa wicht
    Off his that he is worth a knycht.
    Bot, and ye think your wer to bring
    To your purpos and your liking,
    Lang trewys with him tak ye.
    Than sall the mast off his menye
    That ar bot simple yumanry
    Be dystrenyit commonaly
    To wyn thar mete with thar travaill,
    And sum of thaim nedis but faill
    With pluch and harow for to get
    And other ser crafftis thar mete,
    Sua that thar armyng sall worth auld
    And sall be rottyn stroyit and sauld,
    And fele that now of wer ar sley
    Intill the lang trew sall dey
    And other in thar sted sall rys
    That sall conn litill of that mastrys.
    And quhen thai disusyt er
    Than may ye move on thaim your wer
    And sall rycht well as I suppos
    Bring your entent to gud purpos.'
    Till this assentyt thai ilkane,
    And eftre sone war trewis tane
    Betwix the twa kingis that wer
    Tailyeit to lest for thretten yer
    And on the marchis gert thaim cry.
    The Scottismenn kepyt thaim lelely,
    Bot the Inglismen apon the se
    Distroyit throu gret inyquyte
    Marchand schippis that sailand war
    Fra Scotland till Flaundris with war,
    And destroyit everilkane
    And to thar oys the gud has tane.
    The king send oft till ask redres,
    Bot nocht off it redressyt wes
    And he abaid all tyme askand,
    The trew on his half gert he stand
    Apon the marchis stabilly
    And gert men kep thaim lelely.

    [The death of Walter the Steward]



    In this tyme that trewis war
    Lestend on marchis as I said ar
    Schyr Walter Stewart that worthi was
    At Bathgat a gret seknes tas.
    His ivill ay woux mar and mar
    Quhill men persavit be his far
    That him worthit nede to pay the det
    That na man to pay may let,
    Schryvyn and als repentit weill
    Quhen all wes doyn him ilkdeill
    That Crystyn man nedyt till have
    As gud Crystyn the gast he gave.
    Then men mycht her men gret and cry
    And mony a knycht and mony a lady
    Mak in apert rycht evill cher,
    Sa did thai all that ever thai war,
    All men him menyt commounly
    For off his eild he wes worthy.
    Quhen thai lang quhill thar dule had maid
    The cors to Paslay haiff thai haid,
    And thar with gret solempnyte
    And with gret dule erdyt wes he,
    God for his mycht his saule bring
    Quhar joy ay lestis but ending.

    [The truce is given up; Moray and Douglas harry Weardale]



    Efftre his dede as I said ar
    The trewys that sua takyn war
    For till haff lestyt thretten yer,
    Quhen twa yer of thaim passyt wer
    And ane halff as I trow allsua
    The King Robert saw men wald nocht ma
    Redres of schippys that war tane
    And off the men als that war slane,
    Bot contynowyt thar mavtye
    Quhenever thai met thaim on the se.
    He sent and acquit him planly
    And gave the trewis up opynly,
    And in the vengeance of this trespas
    The gud erle of Murreff Thomas
    And Donald erle of Mar alsua
    And James of Douglas with thai twa,
    And James Stewart that ledar wes
    Efter his gud brotheris disceis
    Off all his bruderys men in wer,
    He gert apon thar best maner
    With mony men bowne thaim to ga
    In Ingland for to bryn and sla,
    And thai held furth till Ingland.
    Thai war of gud men ten thousand,
    Thai brynt and slew intill thar way,
    Thar fayis fast destroyit thai
    And suagat southwart gan thai far
    To Wardaill quhill thai cummyn war.
    That tyme Edward off Carnaverane
    The king wes ded and laid in stane,
    And Edward his sone that wes ying
    In Ingland crownyt wes to king
    And surname off Wyndyssor.
    He had in France bene thar-befor
    With his moder Dame Ysabell,
    And wes weddyt as Ik herd tell
    With a young lady fayr of face
    That the erlis douchter was
    Off Hennaud, and off that cuntre
    Brocht with him men of gret bounte,
    Schyr Jhone the Hennaud wes thar leder
    That was wys and wycht in wer.
    And that tyme that Scottismen wer
    At Wardaile, as I said you er,
    Intill York wes the new-maid king,
    And herd tell of the destroying
    That Scottismen maid in his countre.
    A gret ost till him gaderyt he,
    He wes wele ner fyfty thousand,
    Than held he northwart in the land
    In haill battaill with that mengne,
    Auchtene yer auld that tyme wes he.
    The Scottismen a day Cokdaile
    Fra end till end had heryit haile
    And till Wardaile again thai raid.

    [Edward III's army approaches; Douglas prepares an ambush;
    the skirmish by the Wear]



    Thar discourriouris that sycht has haid
    Off cummyn of the Inglismen
    To thar lordis thai tauld it then.
    Than the lord Douglas in a ling
    Raid furth to se thar cummyng
    And saw that sevyn bataillis war thai
    That cum ridand in gud aray,
    Quhen he that folk behaldyn had
    Towart his ost agayn he rad.
    The erle speryt gif he had sene
    That ost. 'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'but wene.'
    'Quhat folk ar thai?' 'Schyr, mony men.'
    The erle his ayth has sworn then,
    'We sall fecht with thaim thocht thai war
    Yeit ma eftsonys than thai ar.'
    'Schyr, lovyt be God,' he said agayn,
    'That we haiff sic a capitayn
    That sua gret thing dar undreta,
    Bot, be saynct Bryd, it beis nocht sua
    Giff my consaill may trowyt be,
    For fecht on na maner sall we
    Bot it be at our avantage,
    For methink it war na outrage
    To fewar folk aganys ma
    Avantage quhen thai ma to ta.'
    As thai war on this wis spekand
    Our ane hey rig thai saw ridand
    Towart thaim evyn a battaill braid,
    Baneris displayit inew thai haid,
    And a nothyr come eftre ner
    And rycht apon the samyn maner
    Thai come quhill sevin bataillis braid
    Out-our that hay rig passyt haid.
    The Scottismen war than liand
    On north halff Wer towart Scotland.
    The dale wes strekyt weill Ik hycht,
    On athyr sid thar wes ane hycht
    And till the water doune sumdeill stay.
    The Scottismen in gud aray
    On thar best wis buskyt ilkane
    Stud in a strenth that thai had tane,
    And that wes fra the water of Wer
    A quartar of a myle weill ner,
    Thar stud thai battaill till abid,
    And Inglismen on athyr sid
    Come ridand dounwart quhill thai wer
    To Weris water cummyn als ner
    As on other halff thar fayis war.
    Than haf thai maid a rest rycht thar
    And send out archerys a thousand
    With hudis off and bowys in hand
    And gert thaim drink weill of the wyn,
    And bad thaim gang to bykker syne
    The Scottis ost in abandoun
    And ger thaim cum apon thaim doun,
    For mycht thai ger thaim brek aray
    To haiff thaim at thar will thocht thai.
    Armyt men doune with thaim thai send
    Thaim at the water to defend.
    The lord Douglas has sene thar fer,
    And men that rycht weill horsyt wer
    And armyt a gret cumpany
    Behind the bataillis prevely
    He gert howe to bid thar cummyng,
    And quhen he maid to thaim taknyng
    Thai suld cum prekand fast and sla
    With sperys that thai mycht ourta,
    Donald off Mar thar chiftane was
    And Archebald with hym of Douglas.

    [Douglas drives back the English; the two sides encamp; novelties seen]



    The lord Douglas towart thaim raid,
    A gowne on his armur he haid,
    And traversyt all wayis up agayn
    Thaim ner his bataillis for to trayn,
    And thai that drunkyn had off the wyne
    Come ay up lingand in a lyne
    Quhill thai the battaill come sa ner
    That arowis fell amang thaim ser.
    Robert off Ogill a gud squyer
    Come prikand than on a courser
    And on the archeris criyt agane,
    'Ye wate nocht quha mays you that trayn,
    That is the lord Douglas that will
    Off his playis ken sum you till,'
    And quhen thai herd spek of Douglas
    The hardyest effrayit was
    And agayn turnyt halely.
    His takyn maid he than in hy,
    And the folk that enbuschit war
    Sa stoutly prekyt on thaim thar
    That weile thre hunder haiff thai slane
    And till the water hame agane
    All the remanand gan thai chas.
    Schyr Wilyam off Erskyn that was
    Newlyngis makyn knycht that day
    Weill horsit intill gud aray
    Chasyt with other that thar war
    Sa fer furth that hys hors him bar
    Amang the lump of Inglismen,
    And with strang hand wes takyn then,
    Bot off him wele sone chang wes maid
    For other that men takyn haid.
    Fra thir Inglis archeris wes slane
    Thar folk raid till thar ost agane,
    And rycht sua did the lord off Douglas.
    And quhen that he reparyt was
    Thai mycht amang thar fayis se
    Thar pailyounys sone stentyt be,
    And thai persavyt sone in hy
    That thai that nycht wald tak herbery
    And schup to do no mar that day,
    Tharfor thaim alsua herbryit thay
    And stent pailyounys in hy,
    Tentis and lugis als tharby
    Thai gert mak and set all on raw.
    Twa novelryis that day thai saw
    That forouth in Scotland had bene nene,
    Tymmeris for helmys war the tane
    That thaim thoucht thane off gret bewte
    And alsua wondyr for to se,
    The tother crakys war off wer
    That thai befor herd never er,
    Off thir twa thingis thai had ferly.
    That nycht thai walkyt stalwartly,
    The mast part off thaim armyt lay
    Quhill on the morn that it wes day.

    [Douglas foils an English ambush]



    The Inglismen thaim umbethocht
    Apon quhat mener that thai moucht
    Ger Scottis leve thar avantage,
    For thaim thocht foly and outrage
    To gang up till thaim till assaill
    Thaim at thar strenth in plane battaill,
    Tharfor of gud men a thousand
    Armyt on hors bath fute and hand
    Thai send behind thar fayis to be
    Enbuschit intill a vale,
    And schup thar bataillis as thai wald
    Apon thaim till the fechtyn hald,
    For thai thocht Scottismen sic will
    Had that thai mycht nocht hald thaim still,
    For thai knew thaim off sic curage
    That tharthrouch strenth and avantage
    Thai suld leve and mete them planly.
    Than suld thar buschement halily
    Behind brek on thaim at the bak,
    Sa thocht thai wele thai suld thaim mak
    For to repent thaim off thar play.
    Thar enbuschment furth send haiff thai
    That thaim enbuschit prevely,
    And on the morn sum-dele arly
    Intill this ost hey trumpyt thai
    And gert thar braid bataillis aray,
    And all arayit for to fycht
    Thai held towart the water rycht.
    Scottismen that saw thaim do swa
    Boune on thar best wis gan thaim ma
    And in bataill planly arayit
    With baneris till the wynd displayit
    Thai left thar strenth, and all planly
    Come doune to mete thaim hardely
    In als gud maner as thai moucht
    Rycht as thar fayis befor had thocht.
    Bot the lord Douglas that ay was war
    And set out wachis her and thar
    Gat wyt off thar enbuschement,
    Than intill gret hy is he went
    Befor the bataillis and stoutly
    He bad ilk man turn him in hy
    Rycht as he stud, and turnyt sua
    Up till thar strenth he bad thaim ga
    Sua that na let thar thai maid,
    And thai did as he biddyn haid
    Quhill till thar strenth thai come agayne,
    Than turnyt thai thaim with mekill mayn
    And stud redy to giff battaill
    Giff thar fayis wald thaim assaill.
    Quhen Inglismen had sene thaim sua
    Towart thar strenth agayne up ga
    Thai criyt hey, 'Thai fley thar way.'
    Schyr Jhone Hennaud said, 'Perfay
    Yone fleyng is rycht degyse,
    Thar armyt men behind I se
    And thar baneris, sua that thaim thar
    Bot turne thaim as thai standand ar
    And be arayit for to fycht
    Giff ony presyt thaim with mycht.
    Thai haiff sene our enbuschement
    And agane till thar strenth ar went.
    Yone folk ar governyt wittily,
    And he that ledis is worthi
    For avise worschip and wysdome
    To governe the empyr off Rome.'
    Thus spak that worthi knycht that day,
    And the enbuschement fra that thai
    Saw that thai sua discoveryt war
    Towart thar ost agane thai fair,
    And the bataillis off Inglismen
    Quhen thai saw thai had faillyt then
    Off thar purpos to thar herbery
    Thai went and logit thaim in hy.
    On other halff rycht sua did thai,
    Thai maid na mar debat that day.

    [The Scots camp in a walled park; the English follow]



    Quhen thai that day ourdrevyn had
    Fyris in gret foysoun thai maid
    Alsone as the nycht fallyn was.
    And than the gud lord off Douglas,
    That had spyit a place tharby
    Twa myile thin that quhar mar traistly
    The Scottis ost mycht herbery ta
    And defend thaim better alsua
    Than ellys in ony place tharby,
    It wes a park all halily
    Wes envyround about with wall,
    It wes ner full of treys all
    Bot a gret plane intill it was,
    Thidder thocht the lord of Douglas
    Be nychtyrtale thar ost to bring.
    Tharfor foroutyn mar dwelling
    Thai bet thar fyris and maid thaim mar,
    And syne all samyn furtht thai far
    And till the park foroutyn tynseill
    Thai come and herbryit thaim weill
    Upon the water and als ner
    Till it as thai beforouth wer.
    And on the morn quhen it wes day
    The Inglis ost myssyt away
    The Scottismen and had ferly,
    And gert discourriouris hastily
    Pryk to se quhar thai war away,
    And be thar fyris persavyt thai
    That thai in the park of Werdale
    Had gert herbry thar ost all hale.
    Tharfor thar ost but mar abaid
    Buskyt, and evyn anent thaim raid
    And on athyr halff the water of Wer
    Gert stent thar palyounys als ner
    As thar befor stentyt war thai.
    Aucht dayis on baith halff sua thai lay
    That Inglismen durst nocht assaill
    The Scottismen with plane battaill
    For strenth of erd that thai had thar.
    Thar wes ilk day justyn of wer
    And scrymyn maid full apertly
    And men tane on athyr party,
    And thai that war tane on a day
    On ane other changyt war thai,
    Bot other dedis nane war done
    That gretly is apon to mone,
    Till it fell on the sevynd day
    The lord Douglas had spyit a way
    How that he mycht about thaim rid
    And com on the ferrer sid.

    [Douglas rides round the English camp and surprises it on the far side]



    And at evyn purvayit him he
    And tuk with him a gud mengne
    Fyve hunder on hors wicht and hardy,
    And in the nycht all prevely
    Forout noyis sa fer he raid
    Quhill that he ner enveronyt had
    Thar ost and on the ferrar sid
    Towart thaim slely gan he rid.
    And the men that with him war
    He gert in hand have swerdis bar
    And bad thaim hew rapis in twa
    That thai the palyounys mycht ma
    To fall on thaim that in thaim war,
    Than suld the lave that folowit thar
    Stab doune with speris sturdely,
    And quhen thai hard his horne in hy
    To the water hald doune thar way.
    Quhen this wes said that Ik her say
    Towart thar fayis fast thai raid
    That on that sid na wachis haid.
    And as thai ner war approchand
    Ane Inglisman that lay bekand
    Him be a fyr said till his fer,
    'I wat nocht quhat may tyd us her
    Bot rycht a gret growyng me tais,
    For I dred sar for the blak Douglas,'
    And he that hard him said, 'Perfay
    Thou sall haiff caus gif that I may.'
    With that with all him cumpany
    He ruschyt in on thaim hardely
    And pailyounys doune he bar,
    With sperys that scharply schar
    Thai stekyt men dispitously.
    The noys weill sone rais and cry,
    And thai stabbyt stekyt and slew
    And pailyounys doun yarne thai drew.
    A felloune slauchter maid thai thar
    For thai that liand nakit war
    Had na power defens to ma
    And thai but pite gan thaim sla.
    Thai gert thaim weill wyt that foly
    Wes ner thar fayis for to ly
    Bot giff thai traistly wachit war.
    The Scottismen war slayand thar
    Thar fayis on this wis quhill the cry
    Ras throu the ost commonaly
    That lord and other war on ster,
    And quhen the Douglas wyst thai wer
    Armand thaim all commonaly
    He blew his horn for to rely
    His men and bad thaim hald thar way
    Towart the water and sua did thai,
    And he abaid henmast to se
    That nane of hys suld levyt be.
    And as he bade sua howand
    Sua come thane ane with a club in hand
    And sua gret a rout till him raucht
    That had nocht bene his mekill maucht
    And his rycht soverane manheid
    Intill that place he had bene dede,
    Bot he that na tyme wes effrayit
    Thocht he weill oft wes hard assayit
    Throu mekill strenth and gret manheid
    Has brocht the tother to the ded.
    His men that till the water doun
    War ridyne intill a raundoun
    Myssyt thar lord quhen thai come thar,
    Than war thai dredand for him sar,
    Ilkan at other speryt tithing
    Bot yeit off him thai hard na thing.
    Than gan thai consaill samyn ta
    That thai to sek him up wald ga,
    And as thai war in sic effray
    A tutilling off his horne hard thai
    And thai that has it knawyn swith
    War of his cummyn wonder blyth
    And speryt at him of his abaid.
    And he tauld how a carle him maid
    With a club sic felloun pay
    That met him stoutly in the way
    That had nocht fortoun helpit the mar
    He had bene in gret perell thar.

    [Douglas and Moray debate; the fable of the fox and the fisherman]



    Thusgat spekand thai held thar way
    Quhill till thar ost cummyn ar thai
    That on fute armyt thaim abaid
    For till help giff thai myster haid,
    And alsone as the lord Douglas
    Met with the erle off Murreff was
    The erle speryt at thaim tithing
    How thai had farne in thar outing.
    'Schyr,' said he, 'we haf drawyn blud.'
    The erle that wes of mekill mude
    Said, 'And we all had thidder gayne
    We haid discumfyt thaim ilkan.'
    'That mycht haff fallyn weill,' said he,
    'Bot sekyrly ynew war we
    To put us in yone aventur,
    For had thai maid discumfitur
    On us that yonder passyt wer
    It suld all stonay that ar her.'
    The erle said, 'Sen that it sua is
    That we may nocht with jupertys
    Our feloune fayis fors assaill
    We sall do it in plane battaill.'
    The lord Douglas said, 'Be saynct Brid
    It war gret foly at this tid
    Till us with swilk ane ost to fycht
    That growys ilk day off mycht
    And has vittaill tharwith plente,
    And in thar countre her ar we
    Quhar thar may cum us na succourys,
    Hard is to mak us her rescours
    Na we ne may ferrar mete to get,
    Swilk as we haiff her we mon et.
    Do we with our fayis tharfor
    That ar her liand us befor
    As Ik herd tell this othyr yer
    That a fox did with a fyscher.'
    'How did the fox?' the erle gan say.
    He said, 'A fyscher quhilum lay
    Besid a ryver for to get
    Hys nettis that he had thar set.
    A litill loge tharby he maid,
    And thar-within a bed he haid
    And a litill fyr alsua,
    A dure thar wes foroutyn ma.
    A nycht, his nettis for to se
    He rase and thar wele lang dwelt he,
    And quhen he had doyne his deid
    Towart his loge agayn he yeid,
    And with licht of the litill fyr
    That in the loge wes brynnand schyr
    Intill his luge a fox he saw
    That fast on ane salmound gan gnaw.
    Than till the dur he went in hy
    And drew his swerd deliverly
    And said, 'Reiffar thou mon her out.'
    The fox that wes in full gret dout
    Lukyt about sum hole to se,
    Bot nane eschew persave couth he
    Bot quhar the man stud sturdely.
    A lauchtane mantell than him by
    Liand apon the bed he saw,
    And with his teth he gan it draw
    Out-our the fyr, and quhen the man
    Saw his mantill ly brinnand than
    To red it ran he hastily.
    The fox gat out than in gret hy
    And held his way his warand till.
    The man leyt him begilyt ill
    That he his gud salmound had tynt
    And alsua his mantill brynt,
    And the fox scaithles gat away.

    [Douglas proposes a method of withdrawal]



    This ensample weill I may say
    Be yone ost and us that ar her,
    We ar the fox and thai the fyscher
    That stekis forouth us the way.
    Thai wene we may na-gat away
    Bot rycht quhar thai ly, bot perde
    All as thai think it sall nocht be,
    For I haff gert se us a gait
    Suppos that it be sumdele wate,
    A page off ouris we sall nocht tyne.
    Our fayis for this small tranountyn
    Wenys weill we sall prid us sua
    That we planely on hand sall ta
    To giff thaim opynly battaill.
    Bot at this tyme thar thocht sall faill,
    For we to-morne her all the day
    Sall mak als mery as we may,
    And mak us boune agayn the nycht,
    And than ger mak our fyris lycht
    And blaw our hornys and mak far
    As all the warld our awne war
    Quhill that the nycht weill fallin be.
    And than with all our harnays we
    Sall tak our way hamwart in hy,
    And we sall gyit be graithly
    Quhill we be out off thar daunger
    That lyis now enclossyt her.
    Than sall we all be at our will
    And thai sall lete thaim trumpyt ill
    Fra thai wyt weill we be away.'
    To this haly assentyt thai,
    And maid thaim gud cher all that nycht
    Quhill on the morn that day wes lycht.

    [The Scots withdraw secretly by night, leaving fires burning;
    the English give up the chase]



    Apon the morn all prevely
    Thai tursit harnays and maid redy
    Sua that or evyn all boun war thai,
    And thar fayis that agane thaim lay
    Gert haiff thar men that thar war ded
    In cartis till ane haly sted.
    All that day cariand thai war
    With cartis men that slayn war thar,
    That thai war fele mycht men well se
    That in carying sa lang suld be.
    The ostis baith all that day wer
    In pes, and quhen the nycht wes ner
    The Scottis folk that liand war
    Intill the park maid fest and far
    And blew hornys and fyris maid
    And gert thaim mak brycht and braid,
    Sua at that nycht thar fyris war mar
    Than ony tym befor thai war.
    And quhen the nycht wes fallin weill
    With all the harnayis ilka-dele
    All prevely thai raid thar way.
    Sone in a mos entryt ar thai
    That had wele twa myle lang of breid,
    Out-our that mos on fute thai yeid
    And in thar hand thar hors leid thai.
    It wes rycht a noyus way
    Bot flaikkis in the wod thai maid no no.
    Of wandis and thame with thame had no no.
    And sykis thairwith briggit thay, no no.
    And sua had weill thair hors away no no.
    On sic wyse that all that thair weir
    Come weill out-our it hale and fer,
    And tynt bot litill off thar ger
    Bot giff it war ony summer
    That in the mos wes left liand.
    Quhen all as Ik haff born on hand
    Out-our that mos that wes sa braid
    War cummyn a gret glaidschip thai haid
    And raid furth hamwart on thar way.
    And on the morn quhen it wes day
    The Inglismen saw the herbery
    Quhar Scottismen war wont to ly
    All void. Thai wondryt gretly then
    And send furth syndry off thar men
    To spy quhar thai war gayn away
    Quhill at the last thar trais fand thai
    That till the mekill mos thaim haid
    That wes sua hidwous for to waid
    That awntyr thaim tharto durst nane,
    Bot till thar ost agayne ar gayn
    And tauld how that thai passyt war
    Quhar never man passit ar.
    Quhen Inglismen hard it wes sua
    In hy to consaill gan thai ta
    That thai wald folow thaim no mar,
    Thar ost rycht than thai scalit thar
    And ilk man till his awn raid.

    [King Robert sends a relief force;the two Scottish forces meet;
    the king rejoices]



    And King Robert that wittering haid
    At his men in the park sua lay
    And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai,
    Ane ost assemblyt he in hy
    And ten thousand men wicht and hardy
    He has send furth with erllis twa
    Off the Marche and Angus war tha
    The ost in Werdale to releve,
    And giff thai mycht sa weill escheve
    That samyn mycht be thai and thai
    Thai thocht thar fayis till assay.
    Sua fell that on the samyn day
    That the mos, as ye hard me say,
    Wes passyt, the discourrouris that thar
    Ridand befor the ost war
    Off athyr ost has gottyn sycht,
    And thai that worthy war and wicht
    At thar metyng justyt of wer,
    Ensenyeys hey thai criyt ther.
    And be thar cry persavyt thai
    That thai war frendys and at a fay,
    Than mycht men se thaim glaid and blyth
    And tauld it to thar lordis swith.
    The ostis bath met samyn syne,
    Thar wes rycht hamly welcummyn
    Maid amand thai gret lordis thar,
    Off thar metyng joyfull thai war.
    The erle Patrik and his menye
    Had vittaillis with thaim gret plente
    And tharwith weill relevyt thai
    Thar frendis, for the suth to say
    Quhill thai in Wardale liand war
    Thai had gret defaut off mete, bot thar
    Thai war relevyt with gret plente.
    Towart Scotland with gamyn and gle
    Thai went and hame wele cummyn ar thai
    And scalyt syne ilk man thar way.
    The lordis ar went to the king
    That has maid thaim fair welcumyng,
    For off thar come rycht glaid wes he,
    And that thai sic perplexite
    Forout tynsaill eschapyt haid
    All war thai blyth and mery maid.

    BOOK 20



    [King Robert in Northumberland]



    Sone eftre that the erle Thomas
    Fra Wardaill thus reparyt was
    The king assemblyt all his mycht
    And left nane that wes worth to fycht,
    A gret ost than assemblit he
    And delt his ost in partis thre.
    A part to Norame went but let
    And a stark assege has set
    And held thaim in rycht at thar dyk,
    The tother part till Anwyk
    Is went and thar a sege set thai,
    And quhill that thir assegis lay
    At thir castellis I spak off ar,
    Apert eschewys oft maid thar war
    And mony fayr chevalry
    Eschevyt war full douchtely.
    The king at thai castellis liand
    Left his folk, as I bar on hand
    And with the thrid ost held hys way
    Fra park to park hym for to play
    Huntand as all hys awn war,
    And till thaim that war with him thar
    The landis off Northummyrland
    That neyst to Scotland war liand
    In fe and heritage gave he,
    And thai payit for the selys fe.

    [The peace with England]



    On this wys raid he destroyand
    Quhill that the king of Ingland
    Throu consaill of the Mortymar
    And his moder that that tym war
    Ledaris of him that than young wes
    To King Robert to tret off pes
    Send messyngeris, and sua sped thai
    That thai assentyt on this way
    Than a perpetuale pes to tak,
    And thai a mariage suld mak
    Off the King Robertis sone Davy
    That than bot fyve yer had scarsly
    And off Dame Jhone als off the Tour
    That syne wes of full gret valour,
    Systre scho wes to the ying king
    That had Ingland in governyng,
    That than of eild had sevyn yer.
    And monymentis and lettrys ser
    That thai of Ingland that tyme had
    That oucht agayn Scotland maid
    Intill that tretys up thai gaff,
    And all the clame that thai mycht haff
    Intill Scotland on ony maner,
    And King Robert for scaithis ser
    That he to thaim off Ingland
    Had done off wer with stalwart hand
    Full twenty thousand pund suld pay
    Off silver into gud monay.
    Quhen men thir thingis forspokyn had
    And with selis and athis maid
    Festnyng off frendschip and of pes
    That never for na chaunc suld ces,
    The mariage syne ordanyt thai
    To be at Berwik and the day
    Thai haff set quhen that this suld be,
    Syne went ilk man till his countre.
    Thus maid wes pes quhar wer wais ar
    And thus the segis raissyt war.

    [The marriage of the king's son, David]



    The King Robert ordanyt to pay
    The silver, and agane the day
    He gert wele for the mangery
    Ordane quhen that his sone Davy
    Suld weddyt be, and Erle Thomas
    And the gud lord of Douglas
    Intill his steid ordanyt he
    Devisouris of that fest to be,
    For a malice him tuk sa sar
    That he on na wis mycht be thar.
    His malice off enfundeying
    Begouth, for throuch his cald lying
    Quhen in his gret myscheiff wes he
    Him fell that hard perplexite.
    At Cardros all that tyme he lay,
    And quhen ner cummyn wes the day
    That ordanyt for the weddyn was
    The erle and the lord of Douglas
    Come to Berwik with mekill far
    And brocht young Davy with thaim thar,
    And the queyn and the Mortymer
    On other part cummyn wer
    With gret affer and reawte,
    The young lady of gret bewte
    Thidder thai brocht with rich affer.
    The weddyn haf thai makyt thar
    With gret fest and solempnyte,
    Thar mycht men myrth and glaidschip se
    For rycht gret fest thai maid thar
    And Inglismen and Scottis war
    Togidder in joy and solace,
    Na felloune betwix thaim was.
    The fest a wele lang tym held thai,
    And quhen thai buskyt to far away
    The queyn has left hyr douchter thar
    With gret riches and reale far,
    I trow that lang quhile na lady
    Wes gevyn till hous sa richely,
    And the erle and the lord Douglas
    Hyr in daynte ressavyt has
    As it war worthi sekyrly
    For scho wes syne the best lady
    And the fayrest that men thurft se.
    Eftre this gret solemnyte
    Quhen of bath half levys war tane
    The queyn till Ingland hame is gane
    And had with hyr Mortymar.
    The erle and thai that levyt war
    Quhen thai a quhill hyr convoyit had
    Towart Berwik again thai raid,
    And syne with all thar cumpany
    Towart the king thai went in hy,
    And had with thaim the young Davy
    And Dame Jhone als that young lady.

    [Coronation of David, settlement of the succession]



    The king maid thaim fair welcumyng
    And efter but langer delaying
    He has gert set a parleament
    And thidder witth mony men is went,
    For he thocht he wald in his lyff
    Croun his young sone and his wyff
    And at that parleament sua did he.
    With gret fayr and solemnyte
    The King Davy wes crownyt thar,
    And all the lordis that thar war
    And als off the comynyte
    Maid him manredyn and fewte.
    And forouth that thai crownyt war
    The King Robert gert ordane thar,
    Giff it fell that his sone Davy
    Deyit but ayr male off his body
    Gottyn, Robert Stewart suld be
    Kyng and bruk all the realte
    That hys douchter bar Marjory,
    And at this tailye suld lelely
    Be haldyn all the lordis swar
    And it with selys affermyt thar.
    And gyff it hapnyt Robert the king
    To pas to God quhill thai war ying,
    The gud erle of Murreff, Thomas,
    And the lord alsua off Douglas
    Suld haiff thaim into governyng
    Quhill thai had wyt to ster thar thing,
    And than the lordschip suld thai ta.
    Her-till thar athys gan thai ma
    And all the lordis that thar war
    To thir twa wardanys athis swar
    Till obey thaim in lawte
    Giff thaim hapnyt wardanys to be.

    [The king's illness and last will]



    Quhen all this thing thus tretit wes
    And affermyt with sekyrnes
    The king to Cardros went in hy,
    And thar him tuk sa fellely
    The seknes and him travailit sua
    That he wyst him behovyt to ma
    Off all this liff the commoun end
    That is the dede quhen God will send,
    Tharfor his lettrys sone send he
    For the lordis off his countre
    And thai come as thai biddyng had.
    His testament than has he maid
    Befor bath lordis and prelatis,
    And to religioun of ser statis
    For hele of his saule gaf he
    Silver in gret quantite.
    He ordanyt for his saule weill,
    And quhen this done wes ilkadele
    He said, 'Lordingis, sua is it gayn
    With me that thar is nocht bot ane,
    That is the dede withoutyn drede
    That ilk man mon thole off nede.
    And I thank God that has me sent
    Space in this lyve me to repent,
    For throuch me and my werraying
    Off blud has bene rycht gret spilling
    Quhar mony sakles men war slayn,
    Tharfor this seknes and this payn
    I tak in thank for my trespas.
    And myn hart fichyt sekyrly was
    Quhen I wes in prosperite
    Off my synnys to sauffyt be
    To travaill apon Goddis fayis,
    And sen he now me till him tayis
    Sua that the body may na wys
    Fullfill that the hart gan devis
    I wald the hart war thidder sent
    Quharin consavyt wes that entent.
    Tharfor I pray you everilkan
    That ye amang you ches me ane
    That be honest wis and wicht
    And off his hand a noble knycht
    On Goddis fayis my hart to ber
    Quhen saule and cors disseveryt er,
    For I wald it war worthily
    Brocht thar, sen God will nocht that I
    Haiff power thidderwart to ga.'

    [Douglas is chosen to take the king's heart against God's enemies]



    Than war thar hartis all sa wa
    That nane mycht hald him fra greting.
    He bad thaim leve thar sorowing
    For it he said mycht not releve
    And mycht thaim rycht gretly engreve,
    And prayit thaim in hy to do
    The thing that thai war chargit to.
    Than went thai furth with drery mode,
    Amang thaim thai thocht it gode
    That the worthi lord of Douglas
    Quham in bath wit and worschip was
    Suld tak this travaill apon hand,
    Heir-till thai war all accordand,
    Syne till the king thai went in hy
    And tald hym at thai thocht trewly
    That the douchty lord Douglas
    Best schapyn for that travaill was.
    And quhen the king hard that thai sua
    Had ordanyt him his hart to ta
    That he mast yarnyt suld it haff
    He said, 'Sa God himself me saiff
    Ik hald me rycht weill payit that yhe
    Haff chosyn him, for his bounte
    And his worschip set in my yarnyng
    Ay sen I thocht to do this thing
    That he it with him thar suld ber,
    And sen ye all assentit er
    It is the mar likand to me.
    Lat se now quhat thar-till sayis he.'
    And quhen the gud lord of Douglas
    Wist that thing thus spokyn was
    He come and knelit to the king
    And on this wis maid him thanking.
    'I thank you gretly lord,' said he,
    'Off the mony larges and gret bounte
    That yhe haff done me fel-sys
    Sen fyrst I come to your service,
    Bot our all thing I mak thanking
    That ye sa dyng and worthy thing
    As your hart that enlumynyt wes
    Off all bounte and all prowes
    Will that I in my yemsall tak.
    For you, schyr, I will blythly mak
    This travaill, gif God will me gif
    Layser and space sua lang to lyff.'
    The king him thankyt tendrely,
    Than wes nane in that cumpany
    That thai na wepyt for pite,
    Thar cher anoyis wes to se.

    [The death of King Robert; his burial at Dunfermline]



    Quhen the lord Douglas on this wis
    Had undretane sa hey empris
    As the guid kyngis hart to ber
    On Goddis fayis apon wer
    Prissyt for his empris wes he.
    And the kingis infirmyte
    Woux mar and mar quhill at the last
    The dulfull dede approchit fast,
    And quhen he had gert till him do
    All that gud Crystyn man fell to
    With verray repentance he gaf
    The gast, that God till hevyn haiff
    Amang his chossyn folk to be
    In joy solace and angell gle.
    And fra his folk wist he wes ded
    The sorow rais fra steid to steid,
    Thar mycht men se men ryve thar har
    And commounly knychtis gret full sar
    And thar newffys oft samyn dryve
    And as woud men thar clathis ryve,
    Regratand his worthi bounte
    His wyt his strenth his honeste
    And our-all the gret cumpany
    That he maid thaim oft curtasly.
    'All our defens,' thai said, 'allace
    And he that all our comford was
    Our wit and all our governyng
    Allace is brocht her till ending.
    His worschip and his mekill mycht
    Maid all that war with him sa wycht
    That thai mycht never abaysit be
    Quhill forouth thaim thai mycht him se.
    Allace! what sall we do or say,
    For on lyff quhill he lestyt ay
    With all our nychtbouris dred war we,
    And intill mony ser countre
    Off our worschip sprang the renoun
    And that wes all for his persoune.'
    With swilk wordis thai maid thar mayn
    And sekyrly wounder wes nane,
    For better governour than he
    Mycht in na countre fundyn be.
    I hop that nane that is on lyve
    The lamentacioun suld discryve
    That that folk for thar lard maid.
    And quhen thai lang thus sorowit had,
    And he debowaillyt wes clenly
    And bawmyt syne richly,
    And the worthi lord of Douglas
    His hart as it forspokyn was
    Has ressavyt in gret daynte
    With gret fayr and solemnyte,
    Thai haiff had hym to Dunferlyne
    And him solemply erdyt syne
    In a fayr tumb intill the quer.
    Byschappys and prelatis that thar wer
    Assoilyeit him quhen the service
    Was done as thai couth best devis
    And syne on the tother day
    Sary and wa ar went thar way.

    [Douglas goes to Seville with the king's heart]



    Quhen that the gud king beryit was
    The erle of Mureff, Schyr Thomas,
    Tuk all the land in governyng,
    All obeyit till his bidding,
    And the gud lord of Douglas syne
    Gert mak a cas of silver fyne
    Ennamylyt throu sutelte,
    Tharin the kingis hart did he
    And ay about his hals it bar
    And fast him bownyt for to far.
    His testament divisyt he
    And ordanyt how his land suld be
    Governyt quhill his gayn-cummyng
    Off frendis, and all other thing
    That till him pertenyt ony wis
    With sik forsych and sa wys
    Or his furth-passing ordanyt he
    That na thing mycht amendyt be.
    And quhen that he his leve had tane
    To schip to Berwik is he gane,
    And with a noble cumpany
    Off knychtis and off squyery
    He put him thar to the se.
    A lang way furthwart saylit he,
    For betwix Cornwaill and Bretaynne
    He sayllyt, and left the Grunye of Spainye
    On northalff him, and held thar way
    Quhill to Sabill the Graunt com thai,
    Bot gretly war his men and he
    Travaillyt with tempestis of the se,
    Bot thocht thai gretly travaillit war
    Hale and fer ar thai cummyn thar.
    Thai aryvyt at Gret Sabill
    And eftre in a litill quhill
    Thar hors to land thai drew ilkane
    And in the toun has herbry tane,
    He hym contenyt rychly
    For he had a fayr cumpany
    And gold ynewch for to dispend.
    The King Alfons him eftre send
    And hym rycht weill ressavyt he
    And perofferyt him in gret plente
    Gold and tresour hors and armyng,
    Bot he wald tak tharoff na thing
    For he said he tuk that vaiage
    To pas intill pilgramage
    On Goddis fayis, that his travaill
    Mycht till his saule hele availl,
    And sen he wyst that he had wer
    With Saryzynys he wald dwell thar
    And serve him at hys mycht lely.
    The king him thankyt curtasly
    And betaucht him gud men that war
    Weill knawyn of that landis wer
    And the maner tharoff alsua,
    Syne till his innys gan he ga
    Quhen that the king him levit had.

    [The repute of Douglas in Spain]



    A weill gret sojourne thar he mad,
    Knychtis that come of fer countre
    Come in gret hy him for to se
    And honouryt him full gretumly,
    And out-our all men fer soveranly
    The Inglis knychtis that war thar
    Honour and company him bar.
    Amang thai strangeris was a knycht
    That wes haldyn sa worthi and wicht
    That for ane of the gud wes he
    Prissyt off the Cristiante,
    Sa fast till-hewyn was his face
    That it our-all ner wemmyt was.
    Or he the lord Douglas had sene
    He wend his face had wemmyt bene
    Bot never a hurt tharin had he.
    Quhen he unwemmyt gan it se
    He said that he had gret ferly
    That swilk a knycht and sa worthi
    And prissyt of sa gret bounte
    Mycht in the face unemmyt be,
    And he answerd tharto makly
    And said, 'Love God, all tym had I
    Handis my hed for to wer.'
    Quha wald tak kep to this answer
    Suld se in it understanding
    That, and he that maid that asking
    Had handis to wer, hys face
    That for faute of defence sa was
    To-fruschyt intill placis ser
    Suld have may-fall left hale and fer.
    The gud knychtis that than war by
    Pryssyt hys answer gretumly,
    For it wes maid with mek speking
    And had rycht hey understanding.

    [Douglas does battle with the Saracens]



    Apon this maner still thai lay
    Quhill throu the countre thai hard say
    That the hey king of Balmeryne
    With mony a mody Saryzine
    Was entryt intill the land off Spanye
    All hale the countre to manye.
    The king off Spaynye on other party
    Gaderyt his ost deliverly
    And delt hym intill bataillis thre,
    And to the lord Douglas gaff he
    The avaward to led and ster,
    All hale the strangeris with him wer,
    And the gret maister off Saynct Jak
    The tother bataill gert he tak,
    The rerward maid himselvyn thar.
    Thusgat divisyt furth thai far
    To mete thar fayis that in bataill
    Arayit redy till assaill
    Come agayn thaim full sturdely.
    The Douglas that wes sa worthi
    Quhen he to thaim of his leding
    Had maid a fayr monesting
    To do weill and na deid to dred,
    For hevynnys blys suld be thar mede
    Gyff that thai deyt in Goddis service
    Than as gud werrayouris and wis,
    With thaim stoutly assemblit he.
    Thar mycht men felloun fechtyn se,
    For thai war all wicht and worthi
    That war on the Cristyn party
    And faucht sa fast with all thar mayne
    That Saryzynys war mony slayne,
    The-quhether with mony fele fachoun
    Mony a Cristyn dang thai doun,
    Bot at the last the lord Douglas
    And the gret rout that with him was
    Pressyt the Saryzynys sua
    That thai haly the bak gan ta,
    And thai chassyt with all thar mayn
    And mony in the chas has slayn.
    Sa fer chassyt the lord of Douglas
    With few, that he passyt was
    All the folk that war chassand then,
    He had nocht with him our ten
    Off all men that war with him thar.
    Quhen he saw all reparyt war
    Towart hys ost than turnyt he,
    And quhen the Saryzynys gan se
    That the chasseris turnyt agayn
    Thai relyit with mekill mayn.

    [Douglas seeks to rescue another knight and is killed]



    And as the gud lord of Douglas
    As I said er, reparand was
    Sa saw he rycht besid thaim ner
    Quhar that Schyr Wilyam the Sanctecler
    With a gret rout enveround was.
    He was anoyit and said, 'Allace!
    Yone worthy knycht will sone be ded
    Bot he haff help, and our manheid
    Biddys us help him in gret hy
    Sen that we ar sa ner him by,
    And God wate weill our entent is
    To lyve or de in hys service,
    Hys will in all thing do sall we.
    Sall na perell eschewyt be
    Quhill he be put out of yone payn
    Or than we all be with him slayn.'
    With that with spuris spedely
    Thai strak the hors and in gret hy
    Amang the Saryzynys thai raid
    And roume about thaim haf thai maid,
    Thai dang on fast with all thar mycht
    And fele off thaim to ded has dycht.
    Grettar defens maid never sa quhone
    Agayne sa fele as thai haf done,
    Quhill thai mycht last thai gaf battaill
    Bot mycht na worschip thar availl
    That thai ilkan war slayn doun thar,
    For Saryzynys sa mony war
    That thai war twenty ner for ane.
    The gud lord Douglas thar was slane
    And Schyr Wilyam the Sanct Cler alsua
    And other worthy knychtis twa,
    Schyr Robert Logane hat the tane
    And the tother Schyr Walter Logane,
    Quhar our Lord for his mekill mycht
    Thar saulis haff till his hevynnys hycht.
    The gud lord Douglas thus wes ded,
    And Sarazynys in that sted
    Abaid no mar bot held thar way,
    Thai knychtis dede thar levyt thai.
    Sum off the lord Douglas men
    That thar lord ded has fundyn then
    Yeid weill ner woud for dule and wa,
    Lang quhill our him thai sorowit sua
    And syne with gret dule hame him bar.
    The kingis hart haiff thai fundyn thar
    And that hame with thaim haf thai tane,
    And ar towart thar innys gane
    With gretyng and with ivill cher,
    Thar sorow wes angry for till her.

    [Sorrow at Douglas's death; his love of loyalty,
    compared to that of Fabricius]



    And quhen of Keth gud Schyr Wilyam
    That all that day had bene at hame,
    For at sua gret malice wes he
    That he come nocht to the journe
    For his arme brokyn wes in twa,
    Quhen he that folk sic dule saw ma
    He askyt quhat it wes in hy
    And thai him tauld all opynly
    How that thar douchty lord wes slayn
    With Sarazynys that releyt agayn,
    And quhen he wyst that it was sua
    Out-our all othyr him was wa
    And maid sa wondyr yvill cher
    That all wondryt that by him wer.
    Bot to tell off thar sorowing
    It noyis and helpis litill thing,
    Men may weill wyt thoucht nane thaim tell
    How angry for sorow and how fell
    Is to tyne sic a lord as he
    To thaim that war off his mengne,
    For he wes swete and debonar
    And weill couth trete hys frendis far,
    And his fayis rycht fellounly
    Stonay throu his chevalry
    The-quhether off litill affer wes he.
    Our all thing luffit he lawte,
    At tresoun growyt he sa gretly
    That na traytour mycht be him by
    That he mycht wyt that he ne suld be
    Weill punyst off his cruelte.
    I trow the lele Fabricius
    That fra Rome to werray Pyrrus
    Wes send with a gret mengne
    Luffyt tresoun na les than he,
    The-quhether quhen Pirrus had
    On him and on his mengne maid
    Ane outrageous discumfitour
    Quhar he eschapyt throu aventour
    And mony off his men war slayne,
    And he had gadryt ost agayne,
    A gret maistre off medicyne
    That had Pyrrus in governyne
    Perofferyt to Fabricius
    In tresoun to sla Pyrrus,
    For intill his neyst potioun
    He suld giff him dedly pusoun.
    Fabricius that wonder had
    Off that peroffre that he him maid
    Said, 'Certis, Rome is welle off mycht
    Throu strenth off armys into fycht
    To vencus thar fayis, thocht thai
    Consent to treusoun be na way,
    And for thou wald do sic trewsoun
    Thou sall to et a warysoun
    Ga to Pyrrus and lat him do
    Quhatever him lyis on hart tharto.'
    Than till Pyrrus he send in hy
    This maistre and gert opynly
    Fra end till end tell him this tale.
    Quhen Pyrrus had it hard all hale
    He said, 'Wes ever man that sua
    For leawte bar him till his fa
    As her Fabricius dois to me.
    It is als ill to ger him be
    Turnyt fra way of rychtwisnes
    Or ellis consent to wikkitnes
    As at midday to turne agayn
    The sone that rynnys his cours playn.'
    Thus said he off Fabricius,
    That syne vencussyt this ilk Pyrrus
    In plane bataill throu hard fechting.
    His honest leawte gert me bring
    In this ensample her, for he
    Had soverane price off leawte,
    And sua had the lord of Douglas
    That honest lele and worthy was
    That wes ded as befor said we,
    All menyt him strang and preve.

    [The body of Douglas brought home and buried]



    Quhen his men lang had mad murnyn,
    Thai debowalyt him and syne
    Gert seth him sua that mycht be tane
    The flesch all haly fra the bane
    And the carioune thar in haly place
    Erdyt with rycht gret worschip was.
    The banys have tha with thaim tane
    And syne ar to thar schippis gane
    Quhen thai war levit off the king
    That had dule for thar sorowing.
    To se thai went, gud wind thai had,
    Thar cours till Ingland haiff thai maid
    And thar sauffly aryvyt thai,
    Syne towart Scotland held thar way
    And thar ar cummyn in full gret hy,
    And the banys honorabilly
    Intill the kyrk off Douglas war
    Erdyt with dule and mekill car.
    Schyr Archebald his sone gert syn
    Off alabast bath fair and fyne
    Ordane a tumbe sa richly
    As it behovyt to sua worthy.

    [The death of Moray]



    Quhen that on this wis Schyr Wilyam
    Off Keth had brocht his banys hame
    And the gud kingis hart alsua,
    And men had richly gert ma
    With fayr effer his sepultur,
    The erle off Murreff that had the cur
    That tyme off Scotland halely
    With gret worschyp has gert bery
    The kingis hart at the abbay
    Off Melros, quhar men prayis ay
    That he and his have paradys.
    Quhen this wes done that I devys
    The gud erle governyt the land
    And held the power weill to warand,
    The lawe sa weill mantemyt he
    And held in pes sua the countre
    That it wes never or his day
    Sa weill, as Ik hard auld men say.
    Bot syne, allace! pusonyt wes he,
    To se his dede wes gret pite.
    Thir lordis deyt apon this wis.
    He that hey Lord off all thing is
    Up till his mekill blis thaim bring
    And graunt his grace that thar ofspring
    Leid weill the land, and ententyve
    Be to folow in all thar lyve
    Thar nobill eldrys gret bounte.
    Quhar afauld God in trinyte
    Bring us hey till his mekill blis
    Quhar alwayis lestand liking is.