Buke Eleuenth

The sayr trawaill, the ernystfull besynes,
The feill labour had in mony place,
To wyn the land at the gud king him gaiff,
In till his ryng he wald no Sotheroun saiff.
In Gyan land Wallace was still at wer;
Off Scotlandis loss it did his hart gret der;
Off trew Scottis in mynd he had peté,
He thocht to help quhen he his tym mycht se.
Off set battaillis fyve he dyscumfyt haill,
But jeperté and mony strang assaill.
Syn thai forsuk, and durst him nocht abid;
The Sotheroun fled fra him on athir sid
To Burdeouss, in gret multiplye;
Than com thai stufft with wictaill be the se.
All Gyan land Wallace brocht till his peess;
To Burdeouss yit he past or he wald cess.
On out byggyngis full gret maister thai maid;
Still saxté dayis at sar sailyie thai baid.
Fortrace, and werk that was with out the toun,
Thai brak, and brynt, and put to confusioun:
Hagis, alais, be laubour that was thar,
Fulyeit and spilt; thai wald no froitis spar.
The Inglissmen maid gret defens agayn
With schot and cast, for thai war mekill off mayn.
Off gownnys thai war, and ganyies, stuffyt weill,
All artailye and wapynnys off fyn steill;
With men and meit within war buskit beyn;
Thair gret capdane was wyss, cruell and keyn.
Off Glosyster that huge lord and her,
This erll had beyn weill vsyt in to wer,
Kepyt his men be wit and hardement;
With out the toun thar durst nane fra him went.
The landis with out wer ner waistyt away,
Wermen so lang in to the contré lay.
In Wallace ost so scantyt the wictaill,
Thai mycht nocht bid [na] langar till assaill.
Than this wiss lord, the duk off Orlyance,
To Wallace said; “Schyr, ye suld knaw this chance.
“It standis our weill with this fals Sotheroun blud;
“For on no wayis we can nocht stop thair fud.
“The hawin thai haiff and schippis at thair will;
“Off Ingland cummys enewch off wittaill thaim till.
“This land is purd off fud that suld ws beild;
“And ye se weill als thai forsaik the feild.
“Thai will nocht fecht, thocht we all yher suld bid;
“Ye may off pess plenyss thir landis wid.
“My consaill is in playn, anent this thing,
“At ye wald pass with worschip to the king.
“Be his assent, ye may at lasar waill
“With prouisioun agayn for till assaill.”
Wallace inclynd, and thankit this wyss lord.
Than thai tranontyt all in a gud concord;
Past wp in France with honour to the king,
And schawit him haill the verité off this thing;
And he tharoff in hart was wondyr glad.
Franch men befor that hundreth yer nocht haid
Off Gyan halff sa mekill in to thair hand.
Wrytting be than was new cumyn off Scotland,
Fra part off lordis and byschop gud Synclar,
Besocht the king in [to] thair termys fair,
Off his gentrice, and off his gudlye grace,
For thair supplé, to consaill gude Wallace
To cum agayne, and bring thaim off bandoun,
And tak to wer the croun off that regioun.
This wrytt as than he wald nocht till him schaw;
Rycht laith he war for frendschip, feik, or aw,
Wallace suld pass sa son fra his presens:
To duelling place he tuk to residens.
In Schynnown still Wallace his duelling maid,
And held about rycht likand landis braid.
A keyn capdane than clemyt in heretage
Office off it, and gret landis in wage;
Tharfor he thocht gud Wallace for to sla.
Wndyr colour sic maistrie for to ma,
Lang tym he socht to get a day and place;
Said he desyrd in seruice to Wallace.
A tryst thai set with sexteyn on the sid;
Fyfty thar by he gert in buschement byd
Off men in armys. Quhen he with Wallace met,
Rycht awfully he bad thaim on him set.
Na armour had Wallace men in to that place,
Bot suerd and knyff thai bur on thaim throw grace.
Parteis beyn met ner a fayr forest sid,
Rycht boustously this capdane said that tyd,
At Wallace held off his landis vnrycht.
Rycht sobyrly he said to that Franch knycht;
“I haiff no land bot quhilk the king gaiff me;
“My lyff tharfor has beyne in jeperté.”
The knycht ansuerd; ‘Thi lyff thow sall forlorn,
‘Or ellis that land, the contrar quha had suorn.’
On bak he lap, and owt his suerd he drew;
The buschement brak, quhen he that takyn schew,
Gud Wallace thocht that mater stud nocht weill.
He gryppyt sone a scherand suerd off steill,
And at a straik the knycht to ded he draiff;
About sexteyn sone lappyt all the layff.
Wallace and his so worthely thai wrocht,
Full feill thai slew that sarest on them socht.
The knychtis brodyr rycht stalwart was and strang;
And thocht he suld be wengyt or thai gang.
Off Wallace men sum part thai woundyt sair.
Mawand thar was in till a medow fair
Nyne stout carllis, all serwandis to that knycht;
Sythis thai hynt, and ran in all thair mycht
To the fechtaris. Or thai com ner that place,
Off thaim persawyt rycht weill was gud Wallace.
Sa awfull thing off sic he neuir saw;
Thaim to rasyst him selff can to thaim draw,
In to the stour left his men fechtand still,
To meit thai carllis that com with egyr will.
The fyrst leit draw at Wallace with his sith;
Deliuer he was, and heich our lappyt swyth,
And awkwart straik that churl apon the hed;
Derffly on ground he has him left for ded.
The tothir he met, our lap his syth so keyn,
On the schuldir als straik him in that teyn;
Throuch all the cost the noble suerd doun schair.
The thrid he met, with a rycht awfull fayr
The groundyn syth at Wallace he leit draw.
This gud chyftan cleynly our lap thaim aw.
With his gud suerd he maid a hidwyss wound,
Left thaim for ded, syne on the ferd can found;
On the wan bayn with gret ire can him ta,
Cleyffyt the cost rycht cruelly in twa.
Thre formast sythis thus gud Wallace our lap,
And four he slew; thai saw sic was his hap;
[For] a man ay he slew at euirilk straik.
The layff fled fast; thus can the power slaik.
Wallace folowed, and sone the fyrst our tais;
Straik him to ded, that na forthyr he gais;
Syn sped him fast till his awn men agayn.
Be than thai had the knychtis brothyr slayn.
Sexté and sex sexteyn to ded has dycht,
Bot saiff sewyn men at fled out off thair sycht;
Fyve malwaris als, that Wallace selff with met.
To Franch men syn na sic trystis he set,
Be causs that thai him brocht to sic a cace.
The king hard tell weill chapyt was Wallace;
Send for him sone, and prayit him for to be
Off his housshald, so leyff in gud saufté.
For weill he saw thai had him at inwye;
Still with him selff he gert him bid forthi.
Twa yeris thus with myrth Wallace abaid
Still in to Frans, and mony gud jornay maid.
The king him plessed in all his gudly mane,
Fra him he thocht he suld nocht part agayn.
Lordys and ladiis honoryd him reuerently,
Wrechys and schrewis ay had him at inwy.

Twa campiowns that tyme duelt with the king,
Had gret despyt at Wallace in all thing.
To giddyr ay yeid thir twa campiowns,
Off felloun fors and frawart attenciouns.
Rycht gret despyt thai spak oft off Scotland;
Quhill on a day it hapnyt apon hand,
Wallace and thai was lewit all thaim allayn,
Be awentur, in till a hous off stayne.
Thai oysyt to ber na wapynnys in that hall,
Thai trowyt thar for a myss thai mycht nocht fall.
Thar commownd thai off Scotland scornfully.
Than Wallace said; “Ye wrang ws owtragely,
“Sen we ar bownd in frendschip to your kyng;
“And he off ws is plessed in all thing.
“Als Scottis men has helpyt this realme off dreid.
“Me think ye suld geyff gud word for gud deid.
“Quhat may ye spek off your enemys bot ill?”
In lychtlynes thai maid ansuer him till;
And him dispysyt in thar langage als;
‘Ye Scottis,’ thai said, ‘has euir yeit beyne fals.’
Wallace tuk ane on the face in his teyn
With his gud hand, quhill ness, mouth, and eyn,
Throuch the braith blaw, all byrstyt owt off blud;
Butless to ground he smat him quhar he stud.
The tothir hynt to Wallace in that sted;
For weill he wend his falow had beyne ded.
And he agayn in greiff him grippyt sayr,
Quhill spretis failyeid ner; he mycht do no mayr.
The fyrst frek raiss, and smat on Wallace fast;
Bathe to the ded he brocht thaim at the last.
Apon a pillar thair harnys owt he dang,
Bot with his handis, syn owt at the dur thaim flang;
And said; “Quhat dewyll mowyt yon churllys at me?
“Lang tyme in France I wald haiff lattyn thaim be.”
Traistis for trewth, thus war thai ded in deid;
Thocht Franchmen [now] likis it nocht to reid.
Als I will cess and put it nocht in rym:
Bettir tharis quha rycht can luk in tym.
Mony gret lord was displessyd in Frans,
Bot the gud king, that knew all haill the chans.
Oft gret dispyt off Scotland spokyn had thai.
This passyt our, quhill eftir a nothir day.
Was nayn off thaim that durst it wndirtak
He had done wrang, nor tharfor battaill mak.
This ryoll roy a hie worschip him gaiff;
As conquerour him honowryd our the layff.
A fell lyoun the king has gert be brocht
With in a barrace, for gret harm that he wrocht,
Terlyst in yrn, na mar power him gaiff.
Off wodness he excedyt all the layff;
Bot he was fayr, and rycht felloun in deid.
In that strang strenth the king gert men him feid;
Kepyt him closs fra folk and bestiall.
In the court duelt twa squieris off gret waill,
At cusyngis war on to thir campiounis twa,
The quhilk befor Wallace hapnyt to sla.
A band thai maid in prewa illusioun,
At thair power to wyrk his confusioun,
Be ony meyn, throw frawd or sutelté;
Eftir, tharfor, thai roucht nocht for to de,
To ded or schaym sa that thai mycht him bryng.
Apon a tym thai went on to the king;
“This man,” thai said, “at ye sa welthfull mak,
“He seis nocht her bot he wald wndyrtak,
“Be his gret fors, to put to confusioun.
“Now he desyris to fecht on your lyoun;
“And bad ws ask at yow this battaill strang,
“Ye grant him leyff in that barrace to gang.”
Sadly agayn to thaim ansuerd the king;
‘Sayr me forthinkis at he desiris sic thing;
‘Bot I will nothir for greyff, nor gret plesance,
‘Deny Wallace quhat he desiris off France.’
Than went thai furth, and sone met with Wallace;
A fygourd taill thai tald hym off this cace.
“Wallace,” thai said, “the king desiris that ye
“Doren battaill sa cruell be to se,
“And chargis you to fecht on this lioun.”
Wallace ansuerd in haisty conclusioun,
And said; ‘I sall, quhat be the kingis will,
‘At my power rycht glaidly to fullfill.’
Than passit he on to the king but mair.
A lord off court, quhen he approchyt thar,
Wnwisytly sperd, with outyn prouisioun;
“Wallace, dar ye go fecht on our lioun?”
And he said; ‘Ya, so the king suffyr me;
‘Or on your selff, gyff ye ocht bettyr be.’
Quhat will ye mar? this thing amittyt was,
That Wallace suld on to the lyoun pas.
The king thaim chargyt to bryng him gud harnas:
And he said; “Nay, God scheild me fra sic cass.
“I wald tak weid, suld I fecht with a man;
“Bot [for] a dog, that nocht off armes can,
“I will haiff nayn, bot synglar as I ga.”
A gret manteill about his hand can ta,
And his gud suerd; with him he tuk na mar;
Abandounly in barrace entryt thar.
Gret chenys was wrocht in the yet with a gyn,
And puld it to quhen Wallace was tharin.
The wod lyoun, on Wallace quhar he stud,
Rampand he braid, for he desyryt blud;
With his rude pollis in the mantill rocht sa.
Aukwart the bak than Wallace can him ta,
With his gud suerd, that was off burnyst steill,
His body in twa it thruschyt euirilkdeill.
Syn to the king he raykyt in gret ire,
And said on lowd; “Was this all your desyr,
“To wayr a Scot thus lychtly in to wayn?
“Is thar ma doggis at ye wald yeit haiff slayne?
“Go, bryng thaim furth, sen I mon doggis qwell,
“To do byddyng, quhill that I with yow duell.
“It gaynd full weill I graithit me to Scotland;
“For grettar deidis thair men has apon hand,
“Than with a dog in battaill to escheiff.
“At you in France for euir I tak my leiff.”
The king persawyt Wallace agrewyt was,
So ernystfully he askyt leiff to pass;
Rewid in his mynd at it was hapnyt sa,
Sa lewd a deid to lat him wndyrta.
Knawand the worschip, and the gret nobilnace
Off him, quhilk sprang that tym in mony place,
Hwmblely he said; ‘Ye suld displess you nocht;
‘This ye desyryt, it mowyt neuir in my thocht.
‘And, be the faith I aw the croun off France,
‘I thocht neuyr to charge you with sic chance
‘Bot men off waill, at askyt it for yow.’
Wallace ansuerd; “To God I mak awow,
“I likyt neuir sic battaill to be in;
“Apon a dog na worschip is to wyn.”
The king consawyt how this falsheid was wrocht.
The squiers bath, was till his presens brocht,
Coud nocht deny quhen thai com him befor;
All thair trespas thai tald with outyn mor.
The king commaundyt thai suld be don to ded;
Smat off thair hedys with out ony rameid.
The campiounis, lo, for inwy causlace,
To sodand dede Wallace brocht thaim throu cace;
The squiers als, fra thair falsheid was kend,
Inwy thaim brocht bathe till a sodand end.
Lordis, behald, inwy the wyle dragoun,
In cruell fyr he byrnys this regioun.
For he is nocht, that bonde is in inwy;
To sum myscheiff it bryngis hym haistely.
Forsaik inwy, thow sall the bettir speid.
Heroff as now I will no forthir reid;
Bot in my mater, as I off for began,
I sall conteyn als playnly as I can.

Quhen Wallace saw thai had him at inwy,
Langar to byd he coud than nocht apply.
Bettir him thocht in Scotland for to be,
And awntur tak othir to leiff or de.
Till help his awn he had a mar plesance,
Than thar to byd with all the welth off France.
Thus his haill mynd, manheid, and hye curage.
Was playnly set to wyn out off bondage
Scotland agayn fra payn and felloun sor;
He woude he suld, or ellis de tharfor.
The king has seyn how gud Wallace was set;
The lettir than him gaiff with outyn let,
The quhilk off lait fra Scotland was him send.
Wallace it saw, and weill thair harmys kend;
Be the fyrst wryt tharto accordiall,
Thaim to supplé he thocht he wald nocht faill.
Quhar to suld I her off lang process mak?
Wallace off France a gudly leiff can tak.
The kyng, has seyn it wald nocht ellis be,
To chawmyr went, and mycht nocht on him se;
Gret languor tuk quhen Wallace can ramuff:
That king till him kepit kyndnes and luff.
Jowallis and gold, his worschip for to saiff,
He bad thaim geyff, als mekill as he wald haiff.
Lordys and ladyis wepyt wondyr fast,
Quhen Wallace thar so tuk his leyff, and past.
Na men he tuk bot quhilk he hydder brocht;
Agayn with him gud Longaweill furth socht:
For payn nor blyss that gud knycht left him neuir.
For cace befell, quhill ded maid thaim deseuyr.
Towart the Sluce in gudly fer past he;
A weschell gat, and maid him to the se.
Aucht schipmen feit, and gudly wage thaim gaiff;
To Scotland fur; the Fyrth off Tay thai haiff.
Apon a nycht Wallace the land has tane
At Ernyss mouth, and is till Elchok gane.
He gert the schip in cowert saill away;
So out off sycht thai war or it was day.
At Elchok duelt ane, Wallace cusyng der,
At Craufurd hecht; quhen thai the houss com ner,
On the baksyd Wallace a window fand,
And in he cald. Sone Craufurd com at hand,
Fra tym he wyst that it was gud Wallace.
In till his bern he ordand thaim a place;
A mow off corn he bygit thaim about,
And closyt weill, nane mycht persawe without,
Bot at a place, quhar meit he to thaim brocht,
And bedyn to, als gudly as he mocht.
A dern holl furth, on the north syd, thai had
To the watter, quhar off Wallace was glad.
Four dayis or fyve in rest thai soiornd thar,
Quhill meit was gayn; than Craufurd bownd for mar
Till Sanct Jhonstoun, thar purwyance for to by.
Inglissmen thocht he tuk mar boundandly
Than he was wount at ony tym befor;
Thai haiff him tane, put him in presone sor.
Quhat gestis he had, to tell thai mak raquest.
He said, it was bot till a kyrkyn fest.
Yeit thai preiff sone the cumyng off Wallace;
Knawlage to get thai kest a sutell cace.
Thai latt him pass with thing that he had bocht;
Syn eftir sone, in all the haist thai mocht,
To harnes yeid the power off the toun.
Aucht hundreth men with Butler maid thaim boun,
Folowed on dreich, quhill at this man com hame.
Wallace him saw, and said, he serwit blame.
“In my sleping a fell visioun me tauld,
“Till Inglissmen that thow suld me haiff sauld.”
Craufurd him said, he had bene turment sair
With Inglissmen, that had him in dispair;
‘Tharfor ryss wp, and for sum succour se,
‘I dreid full sair, thai set wachis on me.’
The worthi Scottis thai graithit thaim in gud weid;
Thar wapynnys tuk, syn off that houss furth yeid.
Thus sodandly the fell Sotheroun thai saw;
To few thai war to bid agayn thaim aw,
At keynly com with yong Butler the knycht.
Than Wallace said; “A playn feild is nocht rycht;
“Bot Elchok park is ner hand her besid,
“The fyrst sailyie we think thar to abid.”
Nynetene thai war, and Craufurd, with gud will,
The twentyd man, the nowmer to fullfill.
The park thai tuk; Wallace a place has seyn
Off gret holyns, that grew bathe heych and greyn.
With thuortour treis a maner strenth maid he;
Or that war wone, thai trowit to gar feill de.
The wod was thyk, bot litill off breid or lenth;
Had thai had meit, thai thocht to hald that strenth.
The Inglissmen passyt to Craufurdys place,
Fand in the bern the lugeyng off Wallace;
Than Crawfurdis wyff in handys haiff thai tayne,
And ast at hyr quhat way the Scottis war gayne.
“Rycht weill thai trowyt at Wallace suld thar be;
“Off France in Tay he was cumyn be the se.”
Scho wald nocht tell, for bost, nor yeit reward.
Than Butler said; ‘Our lang thow has beyn spard?’
Thar with he grew in matelent and ire,
And gert thaim byg a bailfull braid brym fyr.
The Sotheroun suor tharin scho suld brynt be.
Than Wallace said; “Scho sall nocht end for me;
“Gret syn it war yon saikless wicht to sla.
“Or scho suld end, in faith thar sall de ma.”
He left the strenth, and the playn feild can ta;
On lowd he cryt, and said; “Lo, her I ga.
“Thinkis thow no schaym for to turment a wyff?
“Cum fyrst to me, and mak end off our stryff.”
Fra Butler had apon gud Wallace seyn,
Throuch auld malice he wox ner wod for teyn;
Apon the Scottis schup thaim all with gret mayn:
Bot Wallace son the strenth he tuk agayn.
A fell bykkyr the Inglissmen began,
Assailyeid sayr with mony cruell man:
Bot thai with in, war nobill at defens,
Maid gret debait be force and wiolens.
At the entra fyftene thai brocht to ded;
Than all the lawe, ramowit fra that sted,
Yeid till aray agayn to sailye new.
Wallace beheld, quhilk weill in weir him knew:
“Falowis,” he said, “agayn all at this place
“Thai will nocht saill: but thus standis the cace;
“Yon knycht thinkis for to dewid his men
“In seir partis, the suth ye sall weill ken,
“Agayn on ws to preiff how it may be.
“Ws worthis now sum wayis for thaim to se,
“Contrar thair mycht a gud defens to mak.
“Now, Longaweill, thow sall sex with the tak,
“Wilyam my eym, als mony sall with yow ga,
“And fyve with me; as now we haiff no ma.”
Knycht Butler than partyt his men in thre.
Wallace wesyd quhar Butler schup to be;
Thidder he past that entré for to wer:
On ilka syd thai sailye with gret fer.
Wallace leit part in the entré begyn;
Bot nane yeid out that on the Scottis com in.
Sewyn formast was, quhilk in the forest yeid,
Wallace fyve men, quhilk douchty was in deid,
Ilkane slew ane, and Wallace gert twa de.
Butler was next, and said; ‘This will nocht be.’
On bak he drew, and leit his curage slaik:
The worthi Scottis prewyt weill for Scotlandis saik.
Gud Longaweill his cowntyr maid sa sar,
And Craufurd als, thai sailyeid than no mar.
Rycht ner be than approchyt to the nycht;
And sternys wp peyr began in to thair sycht.
Sotheroun set wach, and to thair souper went.
The Butler was sayr grewyt in his entent;
Yeit fur thai weill off stuff, wyn, aill, and breid.
Wallace and his thai wyst off no rameid
Bot cauld watter, that ran throu owt a strand;
In that lugeyng nane othir fud thai fand.
Than Wallace said; “Gud falowis, think nocht lang;
“Will God, we sall be sone out off this thrang.
“Supposs we fast a day our, and a nycht,
“Tak all in thank this payn for Scotlandis rycht.”
The erll off York, was in Sanct Jhonstoun still,
To Butler send, and bad him byd at will;
Till him full sone thar suld cum new power,
And als him selff; thus tald the messynger.
Butler wald fayn Wallace had yoldyn beyn
Or the erll com: for thir causis was seyn;
His grant schyr bathe and his fadyr he slew.
This knycht thar with towart the park him drew;
Quhat cher thai maid, apon the Scottis cald;
Than Wallace said; “Fer bettyr than thow wald.”
The Butler said; ‘I wald fayn spek with the.’
Wallace ansuerd; “Thow may for litill fe.”
‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘thow has done me gret scaith;
‘My rycht fadyr and grant schyr thow slew baith.’
Than Wallace said; “For stait at thow art in,
“It war my det for till wndo thi kyn.
“I think als, sa God off hewin me saiff!
“At my twa handis sall graith the to thi graiff.”
The Butler said; ‘That is nocht likly now:
‘In my credence and thow will fermly trow,
‘Off this I ask and thow will mak me grant,
‘Quhat I the hecht, that thing thow sall nocht want.’
“Sa furth,” quoth he, “be thi desyr resonable,
“I sall it grant with outyn ony fable.”
The Butler said; ‘Wallace thow knawis rycht,
‘Thow may nocht chaip for power nor for slycht.
‘And sen thou seis it may no bettir be;
‘For thi gentrice, thow will yeild the to me.’
Than Wallace said; “Thi will wnskillfull is;
“Thow wald I did quhilk is our hie a myss.
“Yoldin I am to bettir, I can pruff;
“To mychty God, that Makar is, abuff.
“For euir ilk day, sen I had wit off man,
“Befor my werk, to yeild me I began;
“And als at ewyn, quhen that I failyeid lycht,
“I me be tuk to the Makar off mycht.”
The Butler said; ‘Me think thow has done weill,
‘Yeit off a thing, I pray the, lat me feill.
‘For thi manheid this forthwart to me fest
‘Quhen that thow seis thow may no langer lest
‘On this ilk place, quhilk I haiff tane to wer,
‘At thow cum furth, and all othir forber.’
Than Wallace leuch at his cruell desyr;
And said; “I sall, thocht thow war wod as fyr,
“And all Ingland contrar tharoff had suorn,
“I sall cum out at that ilk place to morn,
“Or ellys to nycht; traist weill quhat I the say;
“I byd nocht her quhill nyne houris off the day.”
Butler send furth the chak wache on ilka syd;
In that ilk place bauldly he bownyt to bid.
Thus still thai baid quhill day began to peyr;
A thyk myst fell, the planet was nocht cleyr.
Wallace assayd at all placis about,
Leit as he wald at ony place brek out;
Quhill Butleris men sum part fra him can ga
To helpe the lawe, quhen thai saw it was sa.
Wallace and his fast sped thaim to that sted
Quhar Butler baid; feill men thai draiff to ded.
The worthy Scottis sone past throucht that mellé:
Craufurd, thar oyst, was sayr hurt on the kne,
At erd he was; gud Wallace turnd agayn,
And at a straik he has the Butler slayn;
Hynt wp that man wndyr his arm sa strang,
Defendand him out off that felloun thrang,
Gud rowm he maid amang thaim quhar he gais,
With his rycht hand he slew fyve off thair fais;
Bur furth Crawfurd, be force off his persoun,
Nyne akyrbreid, or euir he set him doun.
The Sotheroun fand at thair capdane was ded,
All him about; bot than was no rameid.
Thretty with him off the wychtast thai brocht,
Ded at that place quhar at the Scottis furth socht.
Wallace and his be than was off thair sycht;
Sotheroun baid still for sor loss off that knycht.
The myst wes myrk; that Wallace likit weill;
Him selff was gyd, and said to Longaweill;
“At Meffan wood is my desyr to be,
“On bestiall thar, for meit, that we may se.”
Be than thai war weill cumyn to the hicht,
The myst scalyt, the son schawyt fayr and brycht.
Son war thai war, a litill space thaim by,
Four and twenty was in a cumpany.
Than Wallace said; “Be yon men freynd or fa,
“We will to thaim, sen at thai ar na ma.”
Quhen thai com ner, a nobill knycht it was,
The quhilk to name hecht Elyss off Dundass;
And Schyr Jhon Scot ek, a worthi knycht,
In to Straithern a man off mekill mycht:
For thar he had gret part of heretage;
Dundass syster he had in mariage.
Passand thai war, and mycht no langar lest,
Till Inglissmen, thair fewté for to fest.
Lord off Breichyn sic connand had thaim maid,
Off Eduuard thai suld hald thair landys braid;
Bot fra thai saw that it was wicht Wallace,
Heyffyt wp thar handis, and thankit God off grace,
Off his gret help quhilk he had sende thaim thair.
To Meffen wod with ane assent thai far,
Sone gat thaim meit off bestiall at thai fand;
Restyt that day; quhen nycht was cumyn on hand,
To Byrnane wode, but restyng, ar thai gayne,
Quhar thai found the squier gud Ruwayn.
In vtlaw oyss he had lang lewyt thair
On bestiall, quhill he mycht get no mair.
Thai taryit nocht, bot in till Adell yeid,
Quhar mete was scant; than Wallace had gret dreid,
Past in till Lorn, and rycht litill fand thair:
Off wyld and taym that contré was maid bair.
Bot in strenthis, thar fud was lewyt nayn;
The worthi Scottis than maid a petouss mayn.
Schir Jhon Scot said, he had fer leuir de
In till gud naym, and leyff his ayris fre,
Than for till byd as bond in subiectioun.
Quhen Wallace saw thir gud men off renoun
With hungyr stad, almast mycht leiff no mar,
Wyt ye, for thaim he sichit wondyr sar.
“Gud men,” he said, “I am the causs off this;
“At your desyr I sall amend this myss,
“Or leyff you fre sum chewysans for to ma.”
All him allayn he bownyt fra thaim to ga;
Prayit thaim to byd quhill he mycht cum agayn.
Atour a hill he passit till a playn.

Out off thair sycht, in till a forest syd,
He sat him doun wndyr ane ayk to bid;
His bow and suerd he lenyt till a tre,
In angwyss greiff, on grouff so turned he.
His petows mynd was for his men so wrocht,
That off him selff litill as than he roucht.
“O wrech!” he said, “that neuir couth be content
“Off our gret mycht that the gret God the lent;
“Bot thi fers mynd, wylfull and wariable,
“With gret lordschip thow coud nocht so byd stable;
“And wyllfull witt, for to mak Scotland fre;
“God likis nocht that I haiff tane on me.
“Fer worthyar off byrth than I was born,
“Throuch my desyr wyth hungyr ar forlorn.
“I ask at God thaim to restor agayn;
“I am the causs, I suld haiff all the payn.”
Quhill studeand thus, quhill flitand with him sell,
Quhill at the last apon slepyng he fell.
Thre dayis befor thar had him folowed fyve,
The quhilk was bound, or ellis to loss thair lyff:
The erll off York bad thaim so gret gardoun,
At thai be thyft hecht to put Wallace doun.
Thre off thaim was all born men off Ingland,
And twa was Scottis, that tuk this deid on hand;
And sum men said, thar thrid brothir betraissed
Kyldromé eft, quhar gret sorow was raissed.
A child thai had, quhilk helpyt to ber mett
In wildernes amang thai montans grett.
Thai had all seyn disseuyryng off Wallace
Fra his gud men, and quhar he baid on cace;
Amang thyk wod in cowert held thaim law,
Quhill thai persawyt he couth on sleping faw.
And than thir fyve approchit Wallace neir;
Quhat best to do, at othir can thai speir.
A man said thus; ‘It war a hie renoun,
‘And we mycht qwyk leid him to Sanct Jhonstoun.
‘Lo, how he lyis; we may our grippis waill;
‘Off his wapynnys he sall get nane awaill.
‘We sall him bynd in contrar off hys will;
‘And leid him thus on baksyd off yon hill,
‘So that his men sall nothing off him knaw.’
The tothir thre assentyt till his saw;
And than thir fyve thus maid thaim to Wallace,
And thocht throw force to bynd him in that place.
Quhat, trowit thir fyve for to hald Wallace doun?
The manlyast man, the starkast off persoun,
Leyffand he was; and als stud in sic rycht,
We traist weill, God his dedis had in sycht.
Thai grippyt him, than out off slepe he braid;
“Quhat menys this?” rycht sodandly he said.
About he turnyt, and wp his armys thrang;
On thai traytouris with knychtlik fer he dang.
The starkast man in till his armys hynt he,
And all his harnys he dang out on a tre.
A sword he gat son eftyr at he rayss,
Campiounlik amang the four he gais;
Euyr a man he gert de at a dynt.
Quhen twa was ded, the tothir wald nocht stynt,
Maid thaim to fle; bot than it was na but,
Was nane leyffand mycht pass fra him on fut.
He folowed fast, and sone to ded thaim brocht;
Than to the chyld sadly agayn he socht.
“Quhat did thow her?” The child, with [ane] paill face,
On kneis he fell, and askyt Wallace grace.
‘With thaim I was, and knew no thing thair thocht;
‘In to seruice, as thai me bad, I wrocht.’
“Quhat berys thow her?” ‘Bot meit, the child can say.’
“Do, turss it wp, and pass with me away.
“Meit in this tym is fer bettyr than gold.”
Wallace and he furth foundyt our the fold.
Quha brocht Wallace fra his enemyss bauld?
Quha, bot gret God, that has the warld in wauld?
He was his help in mony felloun thrang.
With glaid cheyr thus on till his men can gang.
Bathe rostyt flesche thar was, als breid, and cheis,
To succour thaim that was in poynt to leiss.
Than he it delt to four men and fyfté,
Quhilk had befor fastyt our dayis thre;
Syn tuk his part, he had fastyt als lang.
Quhar herd ye euir ony in sic a thrang,
In hungyr so slepand, and wapynlass,
So weill recouer as Wallace did this cass;
Playnly befors vencust his enemyss fyve?
Yhe men off wit, this questioun dyscryve:
Wythoutyn gloiss I will tell furth my taill.
‘How com this meit?’ the falowschip askyt haill.
To thar desyr Wallace nane ansuer yald;
Quhar fyve was ded he led thaim furth, syn tauld.
Gretly displessyd was all that chewalry:
Till a chyftane, thai held it fantasy
To walk allayn. Wallace, with sobyr mud,
Said; “As her off is no thing cummyn bot gud.”
To the law land full fast agayn thai socht;
Sperd at this child, gyff he couth wyss thaim ocht,
Quhar thai mycht best off purviance for to wyn.
Off nane he said was that cuntré within;
‘Nor all about, als fer as I can knaw,
‘Quhill that ye cum down to the Ranoucht hawe.
‘That lord has stuff, breid, aill, and gud warnage:
‘Off king Eduuard he takis full mekill wage.’
Than Wallace said; “My selff sall be your gyd;
“I knaw that sted about on athir syd.”
Throuch the wyld land he gydyt thaim full rycht;
To Ranouch hall thai com apon the nycht.
A wach was owt, and that full sone thai ta;
For he was Scottis, that man thai wald nocht sla,
Bot gert him tell the maner off that place.
Thus entryt thai with in a litill space.
The yett thai wan, for castell was thar nayn,
Bot mudwall werk withoutyn lym or stayn.
Wallace in haist straik wp the chawmir dur
Bot with his fut, that stalwart was and stur.
Than thai within sa walknyt sodeynly;
The lord gat wp, and mercy can him cry.
Fra tym he wyst that gud Wallace was thar,
He thankyt God, syn said thir wordis mar;
‘Trow man I was, and woun agayn my will
‘With Inglissmen, supposs I likit ill.
‘All Scottis we ar that in this place is now;
‘At your commaund all playnly we sall bow.’
Off our natioun gud Wallace had peté;
Tuk aythis off thaim, [and] syne meit askyt he.
Gud cheyr thai maid quhill lycht day on the morne.
This trew man than sone semblit him beforne
Thre sonnys he had, that stalwart was and bauld,
And twenty men off his kyn in houshauld.
Wallace was blyth thai maid him sic supplé,
Said; “I thank God, that we thus multiplé.”
All that day our in gud liking thai rest;
Wachys thai waill to kep thaim, at coud best.
Apon the morn, the lycht day quhen thai saw,
Than Wallace said; “Our power for to knaw,
“We will tak feild, and wp our baner raiss
“Off rycht Scotland, in contrar off our fais.
“We will no mar now ws in couert hid;
“Power till ws will sembill on ilk syd.”
Horsis thai gat, the best men at was thar;
Towart Dunkell the gaynest way thai far.
The byschope fled, and gat till Sanct Jhonstoun
The Scottis slew all was thar off that nacioun,
Baith pur and rych, and serwandis at thai fand;
Left nane on lyff that born was off Ingland.
The place thai tuk, and maid thaim weill to fayr,
Off purwiance that byschop had brocht thair.
Jowellis thai gat, bathe gold and syluer brycht;
With gud cheyr thar fyve dayis thai soiornd rycht.
On the sext day Wallace to consaill went,
Gert call the best, and schew thaim his entent:
“Na men we haiff to sailye Sanct Jhonstoun;
“In to the north tharfor lat mak ws boun.
“In Ross, ye knaw, gud men a strenth has maid;
“Her thai off ws, thai cum with outyn baid.
“Alss in to But the byschope gud Synclar,
“[Fra he get wit, he cummis with outyn mar.]
“Gud westland men off Aran and Rauchlé,
“Fra thai be warnd, thai will all cum to me.”
This purpos tuk, and in the north thai rid;
Nan Inglissman durst in thair way abid.
Quham Wallace tuk, thai knew the ald ransoun;
Fra he com haym, to fle thai mak thaim boun.
And Scottis men semblyt to Wallace fast;
In awfull feyr throuch owt the land thai past;
Strenthis was left, witt ye, all desolate;
Agayn thir folk thai durst mak no debate.
In raid battaill thai raid till Abyrdeyn,
The haill nowmyr, sewyn thousand than was seyn.
Bot Inglissmen had left that toun all waist;
On ilka syd away thai can thaim haist;
In all that land left nothir mar nor less.
Lord Bewmond tuk the sey at Bowchan ness.
Throu Scotland than was manifest in playn,
The lordis that past in hart was wondyr fayn.
The knycht Climés off Ross com sodeynly
In Murray land with thair gud chewalry.
The houss off Narn that gud knycht weill has tayne,
Slew the capdane and strang men mony ane;
Out off Murray in Bowchane land com thai
To sek Bewmound, be he was past away;
Than thir gud men to Wallace passyt rycht.
Quhen Wallace saw Schyr Jhon Ramsay the knycht,
And othir gud at had bene fra him lang,
Gret curag than was rasyt thaim amang.
The land he reullyt as at him likit best;
To Sanct Jhonstoun syn raid or thai wald rest.

At euirilk part a stalwart wach he maid;
Fermyt a sege, and stedfastly abaid.
Byschop Synclar in till all haist him dycht,
Com out off Bute with symly men to sycht;
Owt off the ilys off Rauchlé and Aran,
Lyndsay and Boid, with gud men mony ane.
Adam Wallace, barroun off Ricardtoun,
Full sadly socht till Wallace off renoun,
At Sanct Jhonstoun baid at the sailye still.
For Sotheroun men thai mycht weill pass at will:
For in thar way thar durst na enemys be,
Bot fled away be land, and als be se.
About that toun thus semblyt thai but mor;
For thai had beyn with gud Wallace befor.
Cetoun, Lauder, and Richard off Lundé,
In a gud barge thai past about be se;
Thair ankyr in Sanct Jhonstoun hawyn set.
Twa Inglyss schippys thai tuk with outyn let;
The tane thai brynt, syn stuffyt the tothir weill
With artailye, and stalwart men in steyll,
To kep the port, thar suld com na wictaill
In to that toun, nor men at mycht thaim waill.
Fra south and north mony off Scotland fled,
Left castellys waist, feill left thar lyff to wed.
The South byschop, befor that left Dunkell,
Till London past, and tald Eduuard him sell,
In Scotland thar had fallyn a gret myschance.
Than send he son for Amar the Wallance,
And askyt him quhat than war best to do.
He hecht to pass, and tak gret gold tharto,
In to Scotland sum menys for to mak
Agane Wallace; on hand this can he tak.
Thai said, he wald wndo king Eduuardis croun,
Bot gyff thai mycht throu tresoun put him doun.
King Eduuard hecht, quhat thing at Wallang band,
He suld it kep, war it bathe gold and land.
Wallange tuk leyff, and is in Scotland went;
To Bothwell com; syn kest in his entent,
Quhat man thar was mycht best Wallace begyll:
And sone he fand, with in a litill quhill,
Schyr Jhon Menteth Wallace his gossop was.
A messynger Schyr Amar has gert pass
On to Schyr Jhon, and sone a tryst has set;
At Ruglyn kyrk thir twa to gydder met.
Than Wallang said; “Schyr Jhon, thow knawis this thing,
“Wallace agayn ryssis contrar the king;
“And thow may haiff quhat lordschip thow will waill,
“And thou wald wyrk as I can gyff consaill.
“Yon tyrand haldys the rewmys at troubill bathe,
“Till thryfty men it dois full mekill scaith.
“He traistis the, rycht weyll thow may him tak;
“Off this mater ane end I think to mak.
“War he away, we mycht at liking ryng
“As lordys all, and leiff wndyr a king.”
Than Menteth said; ‘He is our gouernour;
‘For ws he baid in mony felloun stour,
‘Nocht for him selff, bot for our heretage:
‘To sell him thus it war a foull owtrage.’
Than Wallang said; “And thow weill wndyrstud,
“Gret neid it war, he spillis so mekill blud
“Off Crystin men, puttis saullis in peraill;
“I bynd me als, he sall be haldyn haill
“As for his lyff, and kepyt in presoune;
“King Eduuard wald haiff him in subiectioun.”
Than Menteth thocht, sa [thai] wald kepe connand,
He wald full fayn [haiff] had him off Scotland.
Wallange saw him intill a study be,
Thre thowsand pundys off fyn gold leit him se;
And hecht he suld the Lewyn-houss haiff at will.
Thus tresonably Menteth grantyt thartill;
Obligacioun with his awn hand he maid;
Syn tuk the gold, and Eduuardis seill so braid,
And gaiff thaim his, quhen he his tym mycht se
To tak Wallace our Sulway, giff him fre
Till Inglissmen; be this tresonabill concord
Schyr Jhon suld be off all the Lennox lord.
Thus Wallace suld in Ingland kepyt be,
So Eduuard mycht mak Scotland till him fre.
Thar cowatyss was our gret maystir seyn;
Nane sampill takis, how ane othir has beyn
For cowatice put in gret paynys fell;
For cowatice, the serpent is off hell.
Throuch cowatice, gud Ector tuk the ded;
For cowatice thar can be no ramed.
Throuch cowatice gud Alexander was lost;
And Julius als, for all his reiff and bost.
Throuch cowatice deit Arthour off Bretane.
For cowatice thar has deit mony ane.
For cowatyce, the traytour Ganyelon
The flour off France he put till confusion.
For cowatice thai poysound gud Godfra
In Antioche, as the autor will sa.
For cowatice, Menteth, apon falss wyss,
Betraysyt Wallace, that was his gossop twyss.

Wallang in haist, with blyth will and glaid hart,
Till London past, and schawit till king Eduuart.
Off this contrak he had a mar plesance,
Than of fyn gold had geyffyn, in ballance,
A grettar wecht na his ransoun mycht be.
Off Wallace furth sum thing spek will we,
At Sanct Jhonstoun was at the segeyng still.
In a mornyng Sotheroun, with egyr will,
Fyve hundreth men in harnas rycht juntly,
Thai wschet furth to mak a jeperty;
At the south port, apon Scot and Dundass,
Quhilk in that tym rycht wyss and worthy was.
Agayn thair fayis rycht scharply focht and sayr.
In that cowntyr sewyn scor to ded thai bayr.
Yeit Inglissmen, at cruell war and keyn,
Full ferely faucht, quhar douchty deid was seyn.
Fra the west yett drew all the Scottis haill
To the fechtaris; quhen Sotheroun saw na waill,
Bot in agayn full fast thai can thaim sped;
The knycht Dundass prewyt so douchty deid.
Our neyr the yett full bandounly he baid,
Wyth a gud suerd full gret maister he maid;
Nocht wittandly his falowis was him fra.
In at the yett the Sotheroun can him ta,
On to the erll thai led him haistelé.
Quhen he him saw, he said he suld nocht de;
“To slay this ane it may ws litill rameid.”
He send him furth to Wallace in that steid.
On the north syd his bestials had he wrocht;
Quhill he him saw, off this he wyst rycht nocht;
Send to the erll, and thankit him largelé;
Hecht for to quyt quhen he sic cace mycht se.
Bot all her for souerance he wald nocht grant,
Thocht thai yoldin wald cum as recreant;
For gold na gud, he wald no trewbut tak.
A full strang salt than he begouth to mak.
The erll of Fyf duelt wndyr trewage lang
Off king Eduuard; and than him thocht it wrang,
At Wallace sa was segeand Sanct Jhonstoun,
Bot gyff he com in rycht help off the croun.
Till Inglissmen he wald nocht kep that band,
Than he come sone with gud men off the land.
And Jhon Wallang, was than schyreff off Fyff,
Till Wallace past, starkyt him in that stryff.
That erll was cummyn off trew haill nobill blud,
Fra the ald thane, quhilk in his tym was gud.
Than all about to Sanct Jhonstoun thai gang,
With felloun salt, was hydwyss scharp and strang.
Full feill fagaldys in to the dyk thai cast,
Hadyr and hay bond apon flakys fast;
Wyth treis and erd a gret passage thai maid;
Atour the wallis thai yeid with battaill braid.
The Sotheroun men maid gret defens agayn,
Quhill on the wallys thar was a thousand slayn.
Wallace yeid in, and his rayit battaill rycht;
All Sotheroun men derffly to ded thai dycht.
To sayff the erll Wallace the harrald send,
Gud Jop him selff, the quhilk befor him kend.
For Dundass saik thai said he suld nocht de;
Wallace him selff this ordand for to be.
A small haknay he gert till him be tak,
Siluer and gold his costis for to mak;
Set on his clok a takyn for to se,
The lyoun in wax that suld his condet be;
Conwoyit him furth, and na man him withall.
Wemen and barnys Wallace gert freith thaim all:
And syn gert cry trew Scottis men to thair awn;
Plenyst the land quhilk lang had been ourthrawn.
Than Wallace past the southland for to se.
Eduuard the Bruce, in his tym rycht worthé.
That yer befor he had in Irland ben,
And purchest thar off cruell men and keyn.
Fyfty in feyr, was off his modrys kyn,
At Kirkwbré on Galloway entryt in.
With thai fyfté he had vencust nyne scor,
And syn he past, withoutyn tary mor,
Till Wygtoun sone, and that castell has tayne;
Sotheroun was fled, and left [it] all allayne.
Wallace him met with trew men reuerently;
To Lowmabane went all that chewalry.
Thai maid Eduuard bath lord and ledar thar.
This conditioun Wallace him hecht but mar,
Bot a schort tym to bid Robert the king;
Gyff he come nocht in this regioun to ryng,
At Eduuard suld resaiff the croun but faill.
Thus hecht Wallace, and all the barnage haill.
In Louchmabane prynce Eduuard lewyt still;
And Wallace past in Cumno with blith will.
At the Blak Rok, quhar he was wont to be,
Apon that sted a ryall hous held he.
Ingliss wardans till London past but mar,
And tauld the king off all thair gret mysfar;
How Wallace coud Scotland fra thaim reduce,
And how he had resawyt Eduuard the Bruce.
The commouns suor thai suld cum neuir mar
Apon Scotland, and Wallace leiffand war.
Than Eduuard wrayt till Menteth prewalie,
Prayit him till haist; the tym was passit by
Off the promess the quhilk at he was bund.
Schyr Jhon Menteth in till his wit has fund,
How he suld best his purpos to fullfill.
His syster son in haist he cald him till,
And ordand him in duellyng with Wallace.
Ane ayth agayn he gert him mak on cace,
Quhat tym he wyst Wallace in quiet draw,
He suld him warne, for awentur mycht befaw.
This man grantyt at sic thing suld be done;
With Wallace thus he was in seruice sone.
As off tresoun Wallace had litill thocht;
His laubourous mynd on othir materis wrocht.
Thus Wallace thryss has maid all Scotland fre;
Than he desyryt in lestand peess to be.
For as off wer he was in sumpart yrk,
He purpost than to serue God and the kyrk,
And for to leyff wndyr hys rychtwyss king;
That he desyryt atour all erdly thing.

The harrold Jop in Ingland sone he send,
And wrayt to Bruce rycht hartlie this commend,
Besekand him to cum and tak his croun;
Nane suld gaynstand, clerk, burges, na barroun.
The harrald past; quhen Bruce saw his credans,
Tharoff he tuk a perfyt gret plesans;
With hys awn hand agayn wrayt to Wallace,
And thankyt him off lauta and kyndnas,
Besekand him this mater to conseill;
For he behuffyd owt off Ingland to steill;
For lang befor was kepyt the ragment,
Quhilk Cwmyn had, to byd the gret parlement
In to London; and gyff thai him accuss,
To cum fra thaim he suld mak sum excuss.
He prayit Wallace in Glaskow mur to walk
The fyrst nycht off Julii for his salk;
And bad he suld bot in to quiet be,
For he with him mycht bryng few chewalré.
Wallace was blyth quhen he this wrytyng saw;
His houshald sone he gert to Glaskow draw.
That moneth thar he ordand thaim to byd;
Kerlé he tuk ilk nycht with him to ryd;
And this yong man that Menteth till him send;
Wyst nane bot thir quhat way at Wallace wend;
The quhilk gart warn his eym the auchtand nycht.
Sexté full sone Schyr Jhone [Menteth] gert dycht
Off hys awn kyn, and off alya born;
To this tresoun he gert thaim all be suorn.
Fra Dunbertane he sped thaim haistely,
Ner Glaskow kyrk thai bownyt thaim priwaly.
Wallace past furth quhar at the tryst was set,
A spy thai maid, and folowed him but let
Till Robrastoun, was ner be the way syd,
And bot a howss quhar Wallace oysyt to byd.
He wouk on fut quhill passyt was myd nycht;
Kerlé and he than for a sleip thaim dycht.
Thai bad this cuk, that he suld wach hys part,
And walkyn Wallace, com men fra ony art.
Quhen thai slepyt, this traytour tuk graith heid,
He met his eym, and bad him haiff no dreid:
“On sleip he is, and with him bot a man,
“Ye may him haiff, for ony craft he can;
“With owt the houss thair wapynnys laid thaim fra.”
For weill thai wyst, gat Wallace one off tha,
And on his feyt, hys ransoun suld be sauld.
Thus semblyt thai about that febill hauld.
This traytour wach fra Wallace than he stall
Bathe knyff and suerd, his bow and arowis all.
Eftyr mydnycht in handis thai haiff him tane,
Dyschowyll on sleipe, with him na man bot ane.
Kerlé thai tuk, and led him off that place,
Dyd him to ded with outyn langar space.
Thai thocht to bynd Wallace throu strenthis strang;
On fute he gat the feill traytouris amang,
Grippyt about, bot no wapyn he fand.
Apon a syll he saw besyd him stand,
The bak off ane he byrstyt in that thrang;
And off ane othir the harness out he dang.
Than alss mony as handis mycht on him lay,
Beforce hym hynt for till haiff him away.
Bot that power mycht nocht a fute him leid
Owt off that houss, quhill thai or he war deid.
Schir Jhon saw weill beforce it coud nocht be;
Or he war tayne he thocht erar to de.
Menteth bad cess, and thus spak to Wallace;
Syn schawyt him furth a rycht sutell fals cace.
“Yhe haiff so lang her oysyt yow allane,
“Quhill witt tharoff is in till Ingland gane.
“Tharfor her me, and sobyr your curage.
“The Inglissmen, with a full gret barnage,
“Are semblyt her, and set this hous about,
“That ye, be force, on na wayis may wyn out.
“Supposs ye had the strenth off gud Ectour,
“Amang this ost ye may nocht lang endour.
“And thai you tak, in haist your ded is dycht.
“I haiff spokyn with lord Clyffurd that knycht,
“Wyth thair chyftanys weill menyt for your lyff.
“Thai ask no mar bot be quyt off your stryff.
“To Dunbertane ye sall furth pass with me;
“At your awn houss ye may in saifté be.”
Sotheroun sic oyss with Menteth lang had thai,
That Wallace trowyt sum part at he wald say.
Menteth said; “Schyr, lo, wappynnys nane we haiff;
“We com in trayst, your lyff gyff we mycht saiff.”
Wallace trowyt weill, and he his gossep twyss,
That he wald nocht, be no maner off wyss,
Him to betrayss for all Scotland so wyd.
Ane ayth off him he askit in that tid.
Thar wantit wit; quhat suld his aythis mor?
Forsuorn till him he was lang tym befor.
The ayth he maid; Wallace com in his will;
Rycht frawdfully all thus schawyt him till.
“Gossep,” he said, “as presoner thai mon yow se,
“Or thai throu force wyll ellis tak yow fra me.”
A courch with slycht apon his handys thai laid,
And wndyr syn with seuir cordys thai braid,
Bath scharp and tewch, and fast to gyddyr drew.
Allace, the Bruce mycht sayr that byndyng rew,
Quhilk maid Scotland sone brokyn apon cace,
For Cumeinis ded, and loss off gud Wallace!
Thai led him furth in feyr amang thaim aw.
Kerlé he myst, off na Sotheroun he saw:
Than wyst he weyll that he betraysyt was,
Towart the south with him quhen thai can pass.
Yeit thai him said, in trewth he suld nocht de;
King Eduuard wald kep him in gud saufté,
For hie honour in wer at he had wrocht.
The sayr bandys so strowblyt all his thocht,
Credence tharto forsuth he coud nocht geyff;
He wyst full weyll thai wald nocht lat him leiff.
A falss foull causs, thai Menteth for, him tauld,
Quhen on this wyss gud Wallace he had sauld.
Sum off thaim said, it was to saiff thair lord;
Thai leid all out that maid that fals racord.
At the Fawkyrk the gud Stewart was slayn,
Our corniclis reherss that in [to] playn,
On Madelan day, that auchtand yer befor;
Comynis ded tharoff it wytness mor.
At Robrastoun Wallas was tresonabilly
Thus falsly stowyn fra his gud chewalry.
In Glaskow lay, and wyst nocht off this thing;
Thus he was lost in byding off his king.
South thai him led, ay haldand the west land,
Delyuerit him in haist our Sullway sand.
The lord Clyffurd and Wallang tuk him thar;
To Carleyll toun full fast with him thai fayr;
In presoun him stad, that was a gret dolour;
That houss efter was callyt “Wallace tour.”
Sum men sen syn said, that knew nocht weill the cass,
In Berweik thai to ded put gud Wallace.
Contrar is knawin, fyrst be this opinioun;
For Scottis men than had haly Berweik toun,
And Scotland fre, quhill that Soullis it gaiff
For lord Cumyn till Ingland with the laiff.
Ane othir poynt is, the traytouris durst nocht pass,
At sauld him sa, quhar Scottis men maistris was.
The thrid poynt is, the commouns off Ingland,
Quhat thai desyr, thai will nocht wndirstand
That thing be done, for wytness at may be,
Na credence geyff, forthyr than thai may se.
To se him de Eduuard had mar desyr,
Than to be lord off all the gret empyr.
For thir caussis thai kepyt him sa lang,
Quhill the commouns mycht on to London gang.

Allace, Scotland, to quhom sall thow compleyn!
Allace, fra payn quha sall the now restreyn!
Allace, thi help is fasslie brocht to ground,
Thi [best] chyftane in braith bandis is bound!
Allace, thow has now lost thi gyd off lycht!
Allace, quha sall defend the in thi rycht?
Allace, thi payn approchis wondyr ner,
With sorow sone thow mon bene set in feyr!
Thi graciouss gyd, thi grettast gouernour,
Allace, our neir is cumyn his fatell hour!
Allace, quha sall the beit now off thi baill?
Allace, quhen sall off harmys thow be haill?
Quha sall the defend? quha sall the now mak fre?
Allace, in wer quha sall thi helpar be?
Quha sall the help? quha sall the now radem?
Allace, quha sall the Saxons fra the flem?
I can no mar, bot besek God off grace
The to restor in haist to rychtwysnace;
Sen gud Wallace may succour the no mar.
The loss off him encressit mekill cair.
Now off his men in Glaskow still at lay,
Quhat sorow raiss, quhen thai him myst away?
The cruell payn, the wofull complenyng,
Tharoff to tell it war our hewy thing,
I will lat be, and spek off it no mar;
Litill riherss is our mekill off cair:
And principaly quhar redempcioun is nayn,
It helpys nocht to tell thar petous mayn;
The deid tharoff is yeit in remembrance,
I will lat slaik off sorow the ballance.
Bot Longawell to Louchmabane couth pass,
And thar he hecht, quhar gud prince Eduuard was,
Out off Scotland he suld pas neuirmor;
Loss off Wallace socht till his hart so sor.
The rewlm off France he wowit he suld neuir se,
Bot weng Wallace, or ellis tharfor to de.
Thar he remaynd, quhill cummyn off the king;
With Bruce in wer this gud knycht furth can ryng.
Remembrance syn was in the Brucys buk;
Secound he was quhen thai Saynct Jhonstoun tuk;
Folowed the king at wynnyng off the toun;
The Bruce tharfor gaiff him full gret gardoun.
All Charterys land the gud king till him gaiff;
Charterys sen syn off his kyn is the laiff.
Quhar to suld I [fer] in that story wend?
Bot off my buk to mak a fynaill end:
Robert the Bruce com hame on the ferd day
In Scotland, eft Wallace was had away,
Till Louchmabane, quhar that he fand Eduuart,
Quharoff he was gretlie reiossyt in hart:
Bot fra he wyst Wallace away was led,
So mekill baill with in his breyst thar bred,
Ner out off wytt he worthit for to weyd.
Eduuard full sone than till hys brothir yeid.
A sodane chance this was in wo fra weill.
Gud Eduuard said; “This helpys nocht adell:
“Lat murnyng be, it may mak na remeid;
“Ye haiff him tynt, ye suld rawenge his deid.
“Bot for your causs he tuk the wer on hand,
“In your defens; and thryss has fred Scotland,
“The quhilk was tynt fra ws and all our kyn:
“War nocht Wallace, we had neuir entryt in.
“Merour he was off lauta and manheid:
“In wer the best that euir sall power leid.
“Had he likyt for till haiff tane your croun,
“Wald nane him let that was in this regioun.
“Had nocht beyne he, ye suld had na entress
“In to this rewlm, for tresoun and falsnes.
“That sall ye se; the traytour that him sauld,
“Fra yow he thinkys Dunbertane for till hauld;
“Sum confort tak, and lat slaik off this sorou.”
The king chargyt Eduuard, apon the morou,
Radress to tak off wrang that wrocht him was.
Till Dallswyntoun he ordand him to pas,
And men off armys; gyff thai fand Cumyn thar,
Put him to ded; for na deid thai suld spar.
Thai fand him nocht. The king him selff him slew
In till Drumfress, quhar witnes was inew.
That hapnys wrang our gret haist in a king,
Till wyrk by law it may scaith mekill thing.
Me nedis heroff na forthyr for till schaw;
How that was done it was knawin to yow aw.
Bot yong Douglace fyrst to the king can pas,
In all hys wer bath wicht and worthi was.
Nor how the king has tane on him the croun;
Off all that her I mak bot schort mencioun:
Nor how lord Soullis gaiff Berweik toun away;
How eftyr syn sone tynt was Galloway;
How Jhon off Lorn agayn his rycht king raiss;
On athir sid how Bruce had mony fais;
How bauld Breichin contrar his king coud ryd,
Rycht few was than in wer with him to byd:
Nor how the north was gyffyn fra the gud king,
Quhilk maid him lang in paynfull wer to ryng.
Ay trew till him was Jamys the gud Douglace,
For Brucis rycht baid weill in mony place;
Wndyr the king he was the best chyftayn.
Bot Wallace raiss as chyftane him allayn;
Tharfor till him is no comparisoun,
As off a man, sauff reuerence off the croun.
Bot sa mony as off Douglace has beyn
Gud off a kyn, was neuir in Scotland seyn:
Comparisounys that can I nocht weill declar.
Off Brucis buk as now I spek no mar.
Master Barbour, quhilk was a worthi clerk,
He said the Bruce amang his othir werk.
In this mater prolixit I am almaist;
To my purpos breiffly I will me haist,
How gud Wallace was set amang his fayis.
To London with him Clyfford and Wallang gais;
Quhar king Eduuard was rycht fayn off that fang.
Thai [haiff] him stad in till a presone strang.
Off Wallace end my selff wald leiff, for dredis
To say the werst; bot rychtwysnes me ledis.
We fynd his lyff all swa werray trew,
His fatell hour I will nocht fenye new.
Menteth was fals, and that our weill was knawin:
Feill off that kyn, in Scotland than was sawyn,
Chargyt to byd wndyr the gret jugement,
At king Robert ackyt in his parlement.
Tharoff I mak no langar contenuans.
Bot Wallace end in warld was displesans;
Tharfor I cess, and puttis it nocht in rym.
Scotland may thank the blyssyt happy tym
At he was born, be prynsuall poyntis two.
This is the fyrst, or that we forthyr go;
Scotland he fred, and brocht it off thrillage,
And now in hewin he has his heretage;
As it prewyt be gud experians.
Wyss clerkyss yeit it kepis in remembrans,
How that a monk off Bery abbay than,
In to that tym a rycht religiouss man;
A yong monk als with him in ordour stud,
Quhilk knew his lyff was clene, perfyt, and gud.
This fadyr monk was wesyd with seknace,
Out off the warld as he suld pass on cace.
His brothyr saw the spret lykly to pass;
A band off him rycht ernystly he coud ass,
To cum agayn, and schaw him oft the meid,
At he suld haiff at God for his gud deid.
He grantyt him, at his prayer to preiff
To cum agayn, gyff God wald geiff him leiff.
The spreyt, changyt out off this warldly payn,
In that sammyn hour cum to the monk agayn.
Sic thing has beyn, and is be woice and sycht.
Quhar he apperyt, thar schawyt sa mekill lycht,
Lyk till lawntryns it illumynyt so cler,
At warldly lycht tharto mycht be no peyr.
A woice said thus; “God has me grantyt grace
“That I sall kep my promess in this place.”
The monk was blyth off this cler fygur fayr;
Bot a fyr brand in his forheid he bayr,
And than him thocht it myslikyt all the lawe.
‘Quhar art thow, spreyt? ansuer, sa God the sawe.’
“In purgatory.” ‘How lang sall thow be thair?’
“Bot halff ane hour to com, and litill mair.
“Purgatory is, I do the weill to wit,
“In ony place quhar God will it admyt.
“Ane hour of space I was demed thar to be;
“And that passis, supposs I spek with the.”
‘Quhy has thow that, and all the layff so haill?’
“For off science I thocht me maist awaill.
“Quha pridys tharin, that laubour is in waist,
“For science cummys bot off the haly Gaist.”
‘Eftir thi hour, quhar is thi passage ewyn?’
“Quhen tym cummys,” he said, “to lestand hewin.”
‘Quhat tym is that? I pray the now declar.’
“Twa ar on lyff mon be befor me thar.”
‘Quhilk twa ar thai?’ “The verité thow may ken.
“The fyrst has bene a gret slaar off men.
“Now thai him kep to martyr in London toun
“On Wednyssday, befor king and commoun.
“Is nayn on lyff at has sa mony slayn.”
‘Brodyr,’ he said, ‘that taill is bot in wayn;
‘For slauchtyr is to God abhominabill.’
Than said the spreyt; “Forsuth, this is no fabill.
“He is Wallace, defendour off Scotland,
“For rychtwyss wer that he tuk apon hand.
“Thar rychtwysnes is lowyt our the lawe;
“Tharfor in hewyn he sall that honour hawe.
“Syn, a pure preyst, is mekill to commend;
“He tuk in thank quhat thing that God him send.
“For dayly mess, and heryng off confessioun,
“Hewin he sall haiff to lestand warysoun.
“I am the thrid, grantyt throw Goddis grace.”
‘Brothir,’ he said, ‘tell I this in our place,
‘Thai wyll bot deym, I othir dreym or rawe.’
Than said the spreyt; “This wytness thow sall hawe.
“Your bellys sall ryng, for ocht at ye do may,
“Quhen thai hym sla, halff an hour off that day.”
And so thai did, the monk wyst quhat thaim alyt;
Throuch braid Bretane the woice tharoff was scalyt.
The spreyt tuk leyff at Goddis will to be.
Off Wallace end to her it is peté:
And I wald nocht put men in gret dolour,
Bot lychtly pass atour his fatell hour.

On Wednysday the fals Sotheroun furth brocht,
Till martyr him as thai befor had wrocht.
Rycht suth it is, a martyr was Wallace,
Als Osauold, Edmunt, Eduuard, and Thomas.
Off men in armes led him a full gret rout.
With a bauld spreit gud Wallace blent about:
A preyst he askyt, for God at deit on tre.
King Eduuard than cummandyt his clergé,
And said; “I charge, apayn off loss off lywe,
“Nane be sa bauld yon tyrand for to schrywe.
“He has rong lang in contrar my hienace.”
A blyst byschop sone, present in that place,
Off Canterbery he than was rychtwyss lord,
Agayn the king he maid this rycht record;
And [said]; ‘My selff sall her his confessioun,
‘Gyff I haiff mycht, in contrar off thi croun.
‘And thou throu force will stop me off this thing,
‘I wow to God, quhilk is my rychtwyss king,
‘That all Ingland I sall her enterdyt,
‘And mak it knawin thou art ane herretyk.
‘The sacrement off kyrk I sall him geiff;
‘Syn tak thi chos, to sterwe or lat him leiff.
‘It war mar waill, in worschip off thi croun,
‘To kepe sic ane in lyff in thi bandoun,
‘Than all the land and gud at thow has refyd.
‘Bot cowatice the ay fra honour drefyd.
‘Thow has [thi] lyff rongyn in wrangwis deid;
‘That sall be seyn on the, or on thi seid.’
The king gert charge thai suld the byschop ta;
Bot sad lordys consellyt to lat him ga.
All Inglissmen said, at his desyr was rycht;
To Wallace than he rakyt in thar sicht.
And sadly hard his confessioun till ane end.
Hvmbly to God his spreyt he thar comend;
Lawly him serwyt with hartlye deuocioun
Apon his kneis, and said ane orysoun.
His leyff he tuk, and to West monastyr raid.
The lokmen than thai bur Wallace but baid
On till a place, his martyrdom to tak;
For till his ded he wald na forthyr mak.
Fra the fyrst nycht he was tane in Scotland,
Thai kepyt him in to that sammyn band.
Na thing he had at suld haiff doyn him gud;
Bot Inglissmen him seruit off carnaill fud.
Hys warldly lyff desyrd the sustenance,
Thocht he it gat in contrar off plesance.
Thai thretty dayis his band thai durst nocht slaik,
Quhill he was bundyn on a skamyll off ayk,
With irn chenyeis that was bath stark and keyn.
A clerk thai set to her quhat he wald meyn.
“Thow Scot,” he said, “that gret wrangis has don,
“Thi fatell hour, thow seis, approchis son.
“Thow suld in mynd remembyr thi mysdeid,
“At clerkis may, quhen thai thair psalmis reid
“For Crystyn saullis, that makis thaim to pray,
“In thair nowmyr thow may be ane off thai;
“For now thow seis on fors thou mon decess.”
Than Wallace said; ‘For all thi roid rahress,
‘Thow has na charge, supposs at I did myss;
‘Yon blyst byschop has hecht I sall haiff blis;
‘And trew [I] weill, that God sall it admyt:
‘Thi febyll wordis sall nocht my conscience smyt.
‘Conford I haiff off way that I suld gang,
‘Maist payn I feill at I bid her our lang.’
Than said this clerk; “Our king oft send the till;
“Thow mycht haiff had all Scotland at thi will,
“To hald off him, and cessyt off thi stryff;
“So as a lord rongyn furth all thi lyff.”
Than Wallace said; ‘Thou spekis off mychty thing.
‘Had I lestyt, and gottyn my rychtwyss king,
‘Fra worthi Bruce had rasauit his croun,
‘I thocht haiff maid Ingland at his bandoun.
‘So wttraly it suld beyn at his will,
‘Quhat plessyt him, to sauff thi king or spill.’
“Weill,” said this clerk, “than thow repentis nocht:
“Off wykkydness thow has a felloun thocht.
“Is nayn in warld at has sa mony slane;
“Tharfor till ask, me think thow suld be bane,
“Grace off our king, and syn at his barnage.”
Than Wallace smyld [a] litill at his langage.
‘I grant,’ he said, ‘part Inglissmen I slew
‘In my quarrel, me thocht nocht halff enew.
‘I mowyt na wer bot for to win our awin;
‘To God and man the rycht full weill is knawin.
‘Thi frustyr wordis dois nocht bot taris me,
‘I the commaund, on Goddis halff, lat me be.’
A schyrray gart this clerk sone fra him pass;
Rycht as thai durst, thai grant quhat he wald ass.
A Psaltyr buk Wallace had on him euir;
Fra his childeid fra it wald nocht deseuir.
Bettyr he trowit in wiage for to speid.
Bot than he was dispalyeid off his weid.
This grace he ast at lord Clyffurd that knycht,
To lat him haiff his Psaltyr buk in sycht.
He gert a preyst it oppyn befor him hauld,
Quhill thai till him had done all at thai wauld.
Stedfast he red, for ocht thai did him thar:
Feyll Sotheroun said, at Wallace feld na sayr.
Gud deuocioun sa was his begynnyng,
Conteynd tharwith, and fair was his endyng;
Quhill spech and spreyt at anys all can fayr
To lestand blyss, we trow, for euirmayr.
I will nocht tell how he dewydyt was
In fyve partis, and ordand for to pass;
Bot thus his spreit be liklynes was weill.
Off Wallace lyff quha has a forthar feill,
May schaw furth mair with wit and eloquence;
For I to this haiff don my diligence,
Eftyr the pruff geyffyn fra the Latyn buk,
Quhilk Maister Blayr in his tym wndyrtuk,
In fayr Latyn compild it till ane end;
With thir witnes the mar is to commend.
Byschop Synclar than lord was off Dunkell,
He gat this buk, and confermd it him sell
For werray trew; thar off he had no dreid,
Himselff had seyn gret part off Wallace deid.
His purpos was till haue send it to Rom,
Our fadyr off kyrk tharon to gyff his dom.
Bot Maistir Blayr, and als Schir Thomas Gray,
Eftir Wallace thai lestit mony day,
Thir twa knew best off gud Schir Wilyhamys deid,
Fra sexteyn yer quhill nyne and twenty yeid.
Fourty and fyve off age Wallace was cauld,
That tym that he was to [the] Southeroun sauld.
Thocht this mater be nocht till all plesance,
His suthfast deid was worthi till awance.
All worthi men at redys this rurall dyt,
Blaym nocht the buk, set I be wnperfyt.
I suld hawe thank, sen I nocht trawaill spard;
For my laubour na man hecht me reward;
Na charge I had off king nor othir lord;
Gret harm I thocht his gud deid suld be smord.
I haiff said her ner as the process gais;
And fenyeid nocht for frendschip nor for fais.
Costis herfor was no man bond to me;
In this sentence I had na will to be,
Bot in als mekill as I rahersit nocht
Sa worthely as nobill Wallace wrocht.
Bot in a poynt, I grant, I said amyss,
Thir twa knychtis suld blamyt be for this,
The knycht Wallas, off Craggé rychtwyss lord,
And Liddaill als, gert me mak [wrang] record.
On Allyrtoun mur the croun he tuk a day,
To get battaill, as myn autour will say.
Thir twa gert me say that ane othir wyss;
Till Maister Blayr we did sumpart off dispyss.

Go nobill buk, fulfillyt off gud sentens,
Supposs thow be baran off eloquens.
Go worthi buk, fullfillit off suthfast deid;
Bot in langage off help thow has gret neid.
Quhen gud makaris rang weill in to Scotland,
Gret harm was it that nane off thaim ye fand.
Yeit thar is part that can the weill awance;
Now byd thi tym, and be a remembrance.
I yow besek, off your beneuolence,
Quha will nocht low, lak nocht my eloquence;
(It is weill knawin I am a bural man,)
For her is said as gudly as I can:
My spreyt felis na termys asperans.
Now besek God, that gyffar is off grace,
Maide hell and erd, and set the hewyn abuff,
That he ws grant off his der lestand luff.