Buke Feyrd

In September, the humyll moneth suette,
Quhen passyt by the hycht was off the hette,
Wictaill and froyte ar rypyt in aboundance,
As God ordans to mannys gouernance.
Sagittarius with his aspre bow,
Be the ilk syng weryté ye may know
The changing courss quhilk makis gret deference;
And lewyss had lost thair colouris of plesence.
All warldly thing has nocht bot a sesoune;
Both erbe and froyte mon fra hewyn cum doun.
In this ilk tyme a gret consell was sett
In to Glaskow quhar mony maistris mett,
Off Ingliss lordis, to statute this cuntré.
Than chargyt thai all schirreffis thar to be.
Schir Ranald Crawfurd behowide that tyme be thar,
For he throw rycht was born schirreff of Ayr.
His der neuo that tyme with hym he tuk,
Willyham Wallace, as witness beris the buk;
For he na time suld be fra hys sycht,
He luffyt him with hart and all hys mycht.
Thai graith thaim weill with out langar abaid.
Wallace sum part befor the court furth raid,
With him twa men that douchtye war in deid;
Our tuk the child Schyr Ranaldis sowme couth leid.
Softlye thai raid quhill thai the court suld knaw.
So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw
The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was;
The horss was tyryt, and mycht no forthyr pass.
Fyve men was chargit to keipe it weill all tid;
Twa wass on fute, and thre on horss couth ride.
The maistir man at thair serwand can sper;
“Quha aw this sowme? the suth thou to me ler.”
The man ansuerd, with outyn wordis mair;
‘My lordis,’ he said, ‘quhilk schirreff is of Ayr.’
“Sen it is his, this horss sall with ws gang
“To serwe our lord, or ellis me think gret wrang;
“Thocht a subiet in deid wald pass his lord,
“It is nocht lewyt be na rychtwiss racord.”
Thai cutt the brayss and leyt the harness faw.
Wallace was ner; quhen he sic reueré saw,
He spak to thaim with manly contenance.
In fayr afforme, he said, but wariance;
‘Ye do vs wrang, and it in tyme of pess;
‘Off sic rubry war suffisance to cess.’
The Sothron schrew in ire ansuerd him to;
“It sall be wrocht as thow may se ws do.
“Thow gettis no mendis; quhat wald thow wordis mar?”
Sadly awisit Wallace remembrith him thar
On the promyss he maid his eyme befor:
Resoun him rewllyt, as than he did no mor.
The horss thai tuk for awentur mycht befall,
Laid on thar sowme, syne furth the way couth call.
Thar tyryt sowmir so left thai in to playne.
Wallace raturnd towart the court agayne;
In the mursyde sone with his eyme he mett,
And tauld how thai the way for his man sett:
“And war noucht I was bonde in my legiance,
“We partyt noucht thus for all the gold in France.
“The horss thai reft quhilk suld your harness ber.”
Schir Ranald said; ‘That is bot litill der.
‘We may get horss and [vthir] gud in playne;
‘And men be lost, we get neuir agayne.’
Wallace than said; “Als wisly God me sawe,
“Off this gret myss I sall amendis hawe;
“And nothir latt for pess na your plesance.
“With witness her I gif vp my legiance:
“For cowardly ye lik to tyne your rycht;
“Your selff sone syne to dede thai think to dycht.”
In wraith thar with away fra him he went.
Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent;
And said I will byde at the Mernys all nycht:
So Inglissmen may deyme ws no wnrycht,
Gyff ony be deide befor ws vpon cass,
That we in law may bide the rychtwisnass.
His luging tuk; still at the Mernyss baid;
Full gret murnyng he for his neuo maid.
Bot all for nocht; quhat mycht it him awaill?
As in till wer he wrocht nocht his consaill.
Wallace raid furth, with him twa yemen past;
The sowmer man he folowid wondyr fast;
Be est Cathcart he our hyede thaim agayne.
Than knew thai weille that it was he in playne,
Be horss and weide, that argownd thaim befor.
The fyve to thaim retornde with outyn mor.
Wallace to ground fra his courser can glide;
A burnyst brand he bradyt out that tyde.
The maistir man with sa gud will straik he,
Bathe hatt and hede he gert in sondyr fle,
Ane othir fast apon the face he gaiff,
Till dede to ground, but mercy, he him draiff.
The thrid he hyt with gret ire in that steid;
Fey on the feld he has him left for deid.
Wallace slew thre; by that his yemen wicht,
The tothir twa derfly to dede thai dycht.
Syne spoilyeid thai the harnaiss or thai wend,
Off siluer and gold aboundandlye to spend.
Jowellis thai tuk, the best was chosyn thar,
Gud horss and geyr; syne on thair wayis can fayr.
Than Wallace said; “At sum strenth wald I be.”
Our Clid that tyme thar was a bryg of tre;
Thiddir thai past in all thair gudlye mycht:
The day was gayne, and cummyn was the nycht.
Thai durst nocht weylle ner Glaskow still abide;
In the Lennox he tuk purposs to ryde.
And so he dyde, syne lugyt thaim that nycht,
As thai best mowcht, quhill that the day was brycht.
Till ane ostrye he went, and soiorned thar
With trew Scottis, quhilk at his freindis war.
The consaill mett rycht glaidly on the morn;
Bot fell tithingis was brocht Persie beforne.
His men war slayne, his tresour als bereft
With fell Scottis, and thaim na jowellis left.
Thai demede about off that derff doutouss cass;
The Sothren said; “Forsuth, it is Wallas.”
The schirreffis court was cumand to the toune,
And he as ane for Scot of most renoune.
Thai gert go seik Schyr Ranald in that rage;
Bot he was than yeit still at herbryage.
Sum wiss men said; “Heroff na thing he kend:
“The men war slayne rycht at the townis end.”
Schyr Ranald come by ten houris of the day.
Befor Persye than seir men brocht war thai:
Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht;
The siyss of this couth say to him rycht nocht.
Thai demede about of that feill sodeyne cass,
Befor the juge thar he denyit Wallas;
And so he mycht, he wist nocht quhar he was.
Fra this consaill my purposs is to pass,
Off Wallace spek, in wyldirnes so wyde;
The eterne God his gouernour be and gyde!

Styll at the place four dayis he soiorned haill,
Quhill tithingis come till hym fra thair consaill.
Than statute thai, in ilk steide of the west,
In thar boundis Wallace suld haiff no rest.
His der wncle gret ayth thai gert him suer,
That he, but leiff, suld no freindschipe him ber:
And mony othir was full woo that day.
Robert the Boide stall of the toune his way;
And Kneland als, befor with him had beyne.
Thai had leuir haif seyne him with thair eyne,
Leyffand in lyff, as thai knew him befor,
Than of cler gold a fyne mylyone and mor.
Boid wepyt sor, said; “Our leidar is gayne,
“Amang our fays he is set him allayne.”
Than Kneland said; ‘Fals fortoun changis fast;
‘Gret God sen we had euir with him past!’
Edward Litill in Annadyrdaill is went,
And wait rycht nocht of this newe jugément.
Adam Wallace baid still in Ricardtoune.
So fell [it] thus with Wallace of renoune;
He with power partyt merwalusly,
Be fortoune chance ourturnys doubilly.
Thar petuouss mene as than couth nocht be bett;
Thai wyst no wyt quhar that thai suld him get.
He left the place, quhair he in lugyng lay;
Till erle Malcome he went vpon a day.
The Lennox haile he had still in his hand;
Till king Eduuard he had nocht than maid band.
That land is strait, and maisterfull to wyn;
Gud men of armyss that tyme was it within.
The lord was traist, the men sekyr and trew;
With waik power thai durst him nocht persew.
Rycht glaid he was of Wallace cumpany,
Welcummyt him fayr with worschipe reuerandlye;
At his awne will desyryt, gyff he walde
To byde thair still maistyr of his houshald;
Off all his men he suld haile chyftayne be.
Wallace ansuerd; “That war yneuch for me.
“I can nocht byde, my mynde is sett in playne
“Wrokyn to be, or ellis de in the payne.
“Our wast contré thar statute is so strang,
“Into the north my purposs is to gang.”
Stewyn of Irland than in the Lennox was
With wicht Wallace; he ordynyt him to pass,
And othir als that borne war off Argill.
Wallace still thair residence maid a quhill,
Quhill men it wist, and semblit sone him till.
He chargyt nayne bot at thair awne gud will;
For thai war strang: yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid,
Bot resawit all in weris thaim to leid.
Sum part off tham was in to Irland borne,
That Makfadyan had exilde furth beforne:
King Eduuardis man he was suorn, of Ingland,
Off rycht law byrth, supposs he tuk on hand.
To Wallace thar come ane that hecht Fawdoun;
Malancoly he was of complexioun,
Hewy of statur, dour in his contenance,
Soroufull, sadde, ay dreidfull but plesance.
Wallace resawit quhat man wald cum him till;
The bodelye ayth thai maid him with gud will
Before the erle, all with a gud accord;
And him resawyt as captane and thair lord.
His speciall men, that cum with him fra hayme,
The tayne hecht Gray, the tothir Kerlé be nayme,
In his seruice come fyrst with all thair mayne,
To Lowdoun hill quhar that Fenweik was slayne.
He thaim comandyt ay next him to persew;
For he thaim kend rycht hardye, wiss and trew.
His leyff he tuk rycht on a fair maner.
The gud erlle than he bad him gyftis ser:
Wallace wald nayne, bot gaiff of his fell syss,
To pour and rych, vpon a gudlye wiss.
Humyll he was, hardy, wiss and fre,
As off rychess he held na propyrté.
Off honour, worschipe, he was a merour kend;
Als he off gold had boundandlye to spend.
Wpon his fayis he wan it worthely.
Thus Wallace past, and his gud chewalry.
Sexty he had off lykly men at wage;
Throuch the Lennox he led thaim with curage.
Abown Lekkie he lugyt thaim in a waille.
A strenth thar was quhilk thai thocht till assaill.

On Gargownno was byggyt a small peill,
That warnyst was with men and wittaill weill,
Within a dyk, bathe closs, chawmer, and hall;
Capteyne tharoff to nayme he hecht Thrilwall.
Thai led Wallace quhar that this byggynge wass;
He thocht to assaill it, ferby or he wald pass.
Twa spyiss he send to wesy all that land:
Rycht laith he was the thing to tak on hand,
The quhilk, beforce, that suld gang hym agayne;
Leuir had he throw awentur be slayne.
Thir men went furth as it was large mydnycht;
About that houss thai spyit all at rycht.
The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe;
The bryg was doun at that entré suld keipe;
The lauboreris latt rakleslye went in.
Thir men retornede, with outyn noyess or dyn,
To thair maistir; told him as thai had seyne.
Than grathit sone thir men of armyss keyne;
Sadlye on fute on to the houss thai socht,
And entryt in, for lattyn fand thai nocht.
Wicht men assayede, with all thair besy cur,
A loklate bar, was drawyn ourthourth the dur;
Bot thai mycht nocht it brek out of the waw.
Wallace was grewyt quhen he sic tary saw.
Sumpart amowet, wraithly till it he went;
Be forss off handis it raist out of the stent;
Thre yerde off breide alss off the wall puld out.
Than merweld all his men that war about,
How he dide mair than twenty off thaim mycht.
Syne with his fute the yett he straik wp rycht,
Quhill braiss and band to byrst all at anyss.
Ferdely thai raiss, that war in to thai wanyss.
The wachman had a felloune staff of steill,
At Wallace strake, bot he kepyt hym weill.
Rudely fra him he reft it in that thrang,
Dang out his harnyss, syne in the dik him flang.
The remaynand be that was on thair feit;
Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite.
That staff he had, hewy and forgyt new,
With it Wallace wpon the hede him threw,
Quhill bayn and brayn all in to sondyr yeid.
His men entryt, that worthy war in deid,
In handis hynt, and stekit of the layff.
Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff.
Twenty and twa thai stekit in that steid.
Wemen and barnyss, quhen that the men war deide,
He gert be tayn, in closs houss kepyt weill,
So thai wytht out thar off mycht haiff no feill.
The dede bodyes thai put sone out of sycht;
Tuk wp the bryg or that the day was lycht.
In that place baid four dayis or he wald pass;
Wist nane with out how at this mater wass:
Spoilyeide that steid, and tuk thaim ganand ger;
Jowellis and gold away with thaim thai ber.
Quhen him thocht tyme, thai ischede on the nycht;
To the next woode thai went with all thair mycht.
The captenys wiff, wemen, and childer thre,
Pass quhar thai wald, for Wallas leit thaim be.
In that forest he likit nocht to bide:
Thai bownyt thaim atour Forth for to ride.
The moss was strang, to ryde it was no but:
Wallas was wicht and lychtyt on his fute.
Few horss thai had, litill thar off thai roucht:
To sawe thar lywes feill strenthis oft thai socht.
Stewyn of Irland he was thair gyd that nycht
Towart Kyncardyn, syne restit thar at rycht
In a forest, that was bathe lang and wide,
Rycht fra the moss grew to the wattir syde.
Eftre the sone Wallas walkit about
Vpon Tetht side, quhar he saw mony rout
Off wyld bestis wauerand in wode and playne.
Sone at a schot a gret hart hass he slayne;
Slew fyr on flynt, and graithit thaim at rycht;
Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht.
Wictaill thai had, bathe breid, and wyne so cler,
With othir stuff yneuch at thair dyner.
His staff of steill he gaiff Kerly to kepe;
Syn passit [thai] our Tetht wattir so depe.
In to Straithern thai entrit sodeynly;
In couert past, or Sothren suld thaim spy.
Quhen at thai fand of Scotlandis aduersouris,
With out respyt cummyn was thair fatell houris.
Quham euir thai mett, was at the Ingliss fay,
Thai sparyt nane that was off Ingliss blude;
To dede he yeid thocht he war neuir so gude.
Thai sawyt nothir knycht, squier, nor knaiff;
This was the grace that Wallace to thaim gaiff;
Bot wastyt all be worthynes off wer,
Off that party that mycht weild bow or sper.
Sumpart be slycht, sum throw force thai slew;
Bot Wallace thocht thai stroyit nocht half enew.
Siluer thai tuk, and als gold at thai fand,
Othir gud ger full lychtly yeid be hand;
Cuttyt throttis, and in to cuwyss thaim kest,
Put out of sycht, for that him thocht was best.
At the Blakfurd, as at thai suld pass our,
A squier come, and with him bernyss four,
Till Doun suld ryde; and wend at thai had beyne
All Inglissmen, at he befor had seyne.
Tithingis to sper he howid thaim amang.
Wallace thar with swyth out a [gude] suerd swang;
Vpon the hede he straik with so gret ire,
Throu bayne and brayn in sondyr schar the swyr.
The tothir four in handis sone war hynt,
Derfly to dede stekit or thai wald stynt.
Thar horss thai tuk, and quhat thaim likit best;
Spoilyeid thaim bar, syne in the brook thaim kest.
Off this mater no mor tary thai maid,
Bot furth thar way passit with outyn baid.
Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent,
Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went:
In Meffan woode thair lugyng tuk that nycht.
Vpon the morn, quhen it was dayis lycht,
Wallace raiss wp, went to the forest side,
Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide,
Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye.
Than Wallace said; “This contré likis me.
“Wermen may do with fud at thai suld haiff;
“Bot want thai meit, thai rak nocht of the laiff.”
Off dyet fayr Wallace tuk neuir kepe;
Bot as it come, welcum was meit and sleip.
Sum quhill he had gret sufficience within;
Now want, now has; now losis, now can win;
Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill;
In haist, now hurt; now sorroufull, now haill;
Nowe weildand weyle; now calde weddyr, now hett;
Nowe moist, now drowth; now wauerand wynd, now weit.
So ferd with hym for Scotlandis rycht full ewyn,
In feyle debait six yeris and monethis sewyn.
Quhen he wan peess, and left Scotland in playne,
The Inglissmen maid new conquest agayne.

In frustyr termys I will nocht tary lang.
Wallace agayne wnto his men can gang,
And said; “Her is a land of gret boundance,
“Thankit be God of his hye perwyans.
“Sewyn of yow feris graith sone, and ga with me;
“Rycht sor I long Sanct Jhonstoun for to se.
“Stewyn of Irland als, God of hewyn the saiff,
“Maister leiddar I mak the of the laiff.
“Kepe weill my men, latt nane out [of] thi sycht,
“Quhill I agayn sall cum with all my mycht.
“Byde me sewyn dayis in this forest strang:
“Yhe may get fude, supposs I duell so lang.
“Sumpart yhe haif, and God will send ws mair.”
Thus turnyt he, and to the toune couth fair.
The mar, kepyt the port of that willage,
Wallace knew weill, and send him his message.
The mar was brocht, saw him a gudlye man;
Rycht reuerandlye he has resawyt thaim than.
At him he speryt, all Scottis gyff thai be.
Wallace said; “Ya, and it is peess trow we.”
‘I grant,’ he said, ‘that likis ws wondyr weill:
‘Trew men of peess may ay sum frendschipe feill.
‘Quhat is your nayme? I pray yow tell me it.’
“Will Malcomsone,” he said, “sen ye wald witt.
“In Atryk forest has my wonnyng beyne:
“Thar I was born amang the schawis scheyne.
“Now I desyr this north land for to se,
“Quhar I mycht find bettyr duellyng for me.”
The mar said; ‘Schyr, I sper nocht for nane ille;
‘Bot feill tithingis oft syiss is brocht ws till
‘Off ane Wallace, was born in to the west.
‘Our kingis men he haldis at gret wnrest,
‘Martyris thaim doun, gret peté is to se:
‘Out of the trewis, forsuth, we trow he be.’
Wallace than said; “I her spek of that man;
“Tithingis off him to you nane tell I can.”
For him he gert ane innys graithit be,
Quhar nane suld cum bot his awne men and he.
Hys stwart Kerlye brocht thaim in fusioun
Gude thing eneuch quhat was in to the toun.
Alss Inglissmen to drynkyn wald him call,
And commownly he delt nocht thar withall.
In thar presence he spendyt resonably,
Yheit for him self he payit ay boundandlye.
On Scottis men he spendyt mekill gud,
Bot nocht his thankis wpon the Sothren blud.
Son he consawyt in his witt prewalye,
In to that land quha wass of maist party.
Schir Jamys Butler, ane agit cruell knycht,
Kepyt Kynclewyn, a castell wondyr wycht.
His sone Schyr Jhon than duelt in to the toune,
Vndyr capteyn to Schyr Garrard Heroune.
The wemen alss he wysyt at the last;
And so on ane hys eyne he can to cast,
In the south gait, of fassoun fresche and fayr.
Wallace to hir maid preualye repair.
So fell it thus, of the toun or he past,
At ane accorde thai hapnyt at the last.
Wallace with hyr in secré maid him glaid.
Sotheren wist nocht that he sic plesance haid.
Offt on the nycht he wald say to him sell;
“This is fer war than ony payn of hell,
“At thus, with wrang, thir dewillis suld bruk our land,
“And we with force may nocht agayne thaim stand.
“To tak this toune my pouer is to small,
“Gret perell als on my self may fall.
“Set we it in fyr, it will wndo my sell,
“Or loss my men; thar is no mor to tell.
“Yhettis ar closs, the dykis depe with all.
“Thocht I wald swyme, forsuth so can nocht all.
“This matir now herfor I will ourslyde;
“Bot in this toun I may no langar byde.”
Alss men tald him quhen the captayne wald pass
Hayme to Kynclewyn, quharoff glaid he wass.

His leiff he tuk at heris of the toune;
To Meffane wode rycht glaidly maid him boune.
Hiss horn he hynt, and bauldly loud can blaw,
Hiss men him hard, and tharto sone couth draw.
Rycht blyth he wass, for thai war all in feyr;
Mony tithingis at him thai wald nocht speyr.
He thaim commaunde to mak thaim redy fast.
In gud array out of the woode thai past;
Towart Kynclewyn thai bownyt thaim that tid.
Syn in a waill that ner was thar besid,
Fast on to Tay his buschement can he draw.
In a dern woode thai stellit thaim full law;
Set skouriouris furth the contré to aspye.
Be ane our nowne thre for rydaris went bye.
The wach turned in to witt quhat was his will;
He thaim commaund in couert to bide still:
“And we call, Feyr! the houss knawlege will haiff;
“And that may sone be warnyng to the laiff.
“All forss in wer do nocht but gouernance.”
Wallace was few; bot happy ordinance
Maid him fell syiss his aduersouris to wyn.
Be that the court of Inglissmen com in,
Four scoyr and ten weill graithit in thar ger,
Harnest on horss, all likly men of wer.
Wallace saw weill his nowmir was na ma;
He thankit God, and syne the feild couth ta.
The Inglissmen merweild quhat thai suld be;
But fra thai saw thai maid [thaim] for mellé,
In fewtir thai kest scharpe speris at that tide;
In ire thai thoucht atour the Scottis to ryd.
Wallace and his went cruelly thaim agayne.
At the fyrst rusche feill Inglissmen war slayne.
Wallace straik ane, with hiss gud sper of steill,
Throw out the cost; the shafft to brak ilk deyll.
A burnyst brand in haist he hyntis out;
Thryss apon fute he thrang throuch all the rout.
Stern horss thai steik, suld men of armyss ber;
Sone wndir feit fulyeid was men of wer.
Butler lychtyt him self for to defend,
Witht men of armyss quhilk war full worthi kend.
On athyr syde feill frekis war fectand fast.
The captayne baid, thocht he war sor agast.
Part of the Scottis be worthines thai slew:
Wallace was wa, and towart him he drew.
His men dred for the Butler bauld and keyn.
On him he socht in ire and propyr teyn;
Vpon the hed him straik in matelent:
The burnyst blaid throu his basnett went.
Bathe bayne and brayn he byrst throw all the weid;
Thus Wallace hand deliuerit thaim off dreid.
Yeitt feill on fold was fechtand cruelly:
Stewyn of Irland, and all the cheualry,
In to the stour did cruelly and weill;
And Kerlé alss with his gud staff of steill.
The Inglissmen, fra thar cheftayne was slayne,
Thai left the feild and fled in all thair mayn.
Thre scoyr war slayne or thai wald leif that steid.
The fleande folk, that wist of no rameid,
Bot to the houss thai fled in all thair mycht;
The Scottis folowit, that worthi war and wycht.
Few men of fenss was left that place to kepe,
Wemen and preistis wpon the wall can wepe:
For weill thai wend the flearis was thar lord;
To tak him in thai maid thaim redy ford,
Leit doun the bryg, kest wp the yettis wide.
The frayit folk entrit, and durst nocht byde:
Gud Wallace euir he folowit thaim so fast,
Quhill in the houss he entryt at the last;
The yett he wor, quhill cumin was all the rout
Of Ingliss and Scottis; he held na man tharout.
The Inglissmen, that won war in that steid,
With outyn grace thai bertnyt thaim to deid.
The capteynis wiff, wemen, and preistis twa,
And yong childer, forsuth thai sawyt no ma;
Held thaim in closs eftir this sodeyn cass,
Or Sothron men suld sege him in that place;
Tuk wp the bryg, and closyt yettis fast.
The dede bodyes out of sicht he gart cast,
Baith in the houss, and with out at war dede;
Fyve of hys awne to beryniss he gart leid.

In that castell thar sewyn dayis baide he;
On ilka nycht thai spoilyeid besylé.
To Schortwode schaw leide wittaill and wyn wicht,
And houshald ger, baithe gold and siluer brycht.
Women, and thai that he had grantyt grace,
Quhen him thoucht tyme, thai put out of that place.
Quhen thai had tayne quhat he likit to haiff,
Straik doun the yettis and set in fyr the laiff;
Out off wyndowis stanssouris all thai drew;
Full gret irne wark in to the wattir threw;
Burdyn duris and lokis, in thair ire,
All werk of tre, thai brynt wp in a fyr:
Spylt at thai mycht, brak brig and bulwark doune.
To Schortwode schawe in haist thai maid thaim boune;
Chesyt a strenth, quhar thai thar lugyng maid,
In gud affer a quhill thar still be baid;
Yit in the toune no wit of this had thai.
The contré folk, quhen it was lycht of day,
Gret reik saw ryss, and to Kynclewyn thai socht:
Bot wallis and stane, mar gud thar fand thai nocht.
The captennis wiff to Sanct Jhonstoun scho yeid,
And to Schyr Garrate scho tauld this felloune deid;
Alss till hyr son quhat hapnyt was be cass.
Than demyt thai all that it wass wicht Wallas;
Off for tyme thar he spyit had the toune.
Than chargyt thai all, thai suld be redy boune.
Harnest on horss in to thair armour cler,
To seik Wallace thai went all furth in feyr,
A thousand men weill garnest for the wer,
Towart the woode rycht awfull in affer,
To Schortwode schaw, and set it all about,
Wytht fyve staillis that stalwart was and stout;
The sext thai maid a fellon range to leid,
Quhar Wallace was full worthi ay in deid.
The strenth he tuk, and bade thaim hald it still,
On ilka syde, assailye quha sa will.
Schyr Jhon Butler in to the forrest went
With twa hundreth, sor mowit in his entent;
His fadris dede to wenge him giff he mocht,
To Wallace sone with men of armyss socht.
A cleuch thar was, quharoff a strenth thai maid
With thuortour treis, [and] bauldly thar abaid.
Fra the ta side thai mycht ische till a playne,
Syn throuch the wode to the strenth pass agayn.
Twenty he had that nobill archaris war,
Agayne sewyn scoyr of Ingliss bowmen sar.
Four scoyr of speris ner hand thaim baid at rycht,
Giff Scottis ischit to help thaim at thair mycht.
On Wallace sett a bykkyr bauld and keyn;
A bow he bair was byg and weyll beseyn,
And arrouss als, bath lang and scharpe with aw;
No man was thar that Wallace bow mycht draw.
Rycht stark he was, and in to souir ger,
Bauldly [he] schott amang thai men of wer.
Ane angell hede to the hukis he drew,
And at a schoyt the formast sone he sleu.
Yngliss archaris, that hardy war and wicht,
Amang the Scottis bykkerit with all thair mycht;
Thar awfull schoyt was felloun for to byd,
Off Wallace men thai woundyt sor that tid.
Few off thaim was sekyr of archary;
Bettyr thai war, and thai gat ewyn party,
In feild to byde, othir with suerd or speyr.
Wallace persauit his men tuk mekill deyr:
He gart thaim change, and stand nocht in to steid;
He kest all wayis to saiff thaim fra the dede.
Full gret trauaill vpon him self tuk he;
Off Sothron men feill archaris he gert de,
Off Longcaschyr bowmen was in that place.
A sar archar ay waytit on Wallace,
At ane opyn, quhar he vsyt to repair:
At him he drew a sekir schot and sar,
Undyr the chyn, throuch a coler of steill,
On the left side, and hurt his halss sumdeill.
Astonaide he was, bot nocht gretlye agast;
Out fra his men on him he folowit fast;
In the turnyng, with gud will hass him tayne
Vpon the crag, in sondyr straik the bayne.
Feill of thaim ma na freyndschip with him fand;
Fyfteyn that day he schot to dede of hys hand.
Be that his arrous waistyt war and gayne;
The Ingliss archaris forsuth thai wantyt nayne:
With out thai war thar power to ranew,
On ilka side to thaim thai couth persew.
Wylyham Loran com with a boustouss staill,
Out of Gowry, on Wallace to assaill;
Neuo he was, as it was knawin in playn,
To the Butler befor that thai had slayn;
To wenge his eyme he come with all his mycht.
Thre hundreth he led of men in armyss brycht;
To leide the range on fute he maid him ford.
Wallace to God his conscience fyrst remord,
Syne comfort thaim with manly contenance;
“Yhe se,” he said, “gud schiris, thar ordinance;
“Her is no choss, bot owdir do or de.
“We haiff the rycht, the happyar may it be,
“That we sall chaipe with grace out of this land.”
The Loran, by that, was redy at his hand.
Be that it was eftir nown of the day,
Feill men of witt to consaill sone yeid thai.
The Sothron kest scharply at ilka side,
And saw the wood was nothir lang no wide.
Lychtly thai thought he suld hald it so lang:
Fywe hundreth maid throu it on fute to gang,
Sad men off armess that war off eggyr will;
Schyr Garratis self with out the woode baid still.
Schyr Jhon Butler the ta sid chesyt he,
The tothyr Loran with a fell menyhe.
Than gud Wallace, that of help had gret neid,
Was fyfty men in all that felloun dreid.
Ane awfull salt the Sothren son began,
About the Scottis socht mony likly man,
With bow, and sper, and swerdis stiff of steill:
On athir side no frendschip was to feill.
Wallace in ire a burly brand can draw,
Quhar feill Sothron war semblit vpon raw,
To fende his men with his deyr worthi hand:
The folk was fey that he befor him fand.
Throw the thikkest of the gret preiss he past,
Vpon his enemyss hewand wondyr fast.
Agayne his dynt na weidis mycht awaill;
Quham so he hyt was dede with outyn faill.
Off the fersest full braithly bair he doun,
Befor the Scottis that war of gret renoun.
To hald the strenth thai preist, with all thair mycht,
The Inglissmen, that worthi war and wicht.
Schir Jhon Butler relewit in agayne,
Swndryt the Scottis and did thaim mekill payn;
The Loran alss that cruell was and keyn.
A sar assay forsuth thar mycht be seyn.
Than at the strenth thai mycht no langer bide,
The range so strang come wpon athir syde.
In the thikkest woode thar maid thai felle defens,
Agayn thair fayis so full of wiolens:
Yit felle Sothron left the lyff to wed.

Till a new strenth Wallace and his men fled;
On aduersouris thai maid full gret debait,
Bot help thaim self, no socour ellis thai wait.
The Sothron als war sundryt than in twyn;
Bot thai agayne to gidder sone can wyn:
Full sutellye thar ordinance thai maid,
The rang agayne bownyt but mar abaid.
The Scottis war hurt, and part of thaim war slayn;
So fair assay thai couth nocht mak agayn.
Be this the host approchand was full ner;
Thus wrandly thai held thaim wpon ster.
Quhen Wallace saw the Sothroune was at hand,
Him thocht no tym langar for to stand.
Rycht manfully he graithit has his ger;
Sadly he went agayne the men of wer.
Throw out the stour full fast fechtand he socht,
With Goddis grace to wenge him gif he mocht.
Vpon the Butler awfully straik he;
Saiffgarde he gat wndir a bowand tre;
The bowcht in twa he straik, aboune his hede,
Alss to the ground, and feld him in that stede.
The haill pouer wpon him com so fast,
At thai beforce reskewit him at the last.
Loran was wa, and thidder fast can draw.
Wallas retornd, sa sodeynly him saw:
Out at a syde full fast till him he yeid;
He gat no gyrth for all his burnyst weid:
With ire him straik on his gorgeat off steill,
The trensand blaid to persyt euirydeill
Throu plaitt and stuff, mycht nocht agayn it stand;
Derffly to dede he left him on the land.
Hym haif thai lost, thocht Sotheren had it suorn;
For his crag bayne was all in sondyr schorn.
The worthi Scottis did nobilly that day
About Wallace, till he was woun away.
He tuk the strenth magre thar fayis will;
Abandonly in bargan baid thar still.
The scry sone raiss, the bald Loran was dede:
Schyr Garrat Heroun tranontit that stede,
And all the host assemblit him about.
At the north side than Wallace ischet owt,
With him his men, and bownyt him to ga,
Thankand gret God at thai war partyt sa.
To Cargyll wood thai went that samyn nycht.
Sewyn of his men that day to dede was dycht:
In feld was left of the Sothren sex scoyr;
And Loran als, thair murnyng was the mor.
The rang in haist thai rayit sone agayne:
Bot quhen thai saw thair trauaill was in wayne,
And he was past, full mekill mayne thai maid
To rype the wood, bath wala, slonk, and slaid,
For Butleris gold Wallace tuk off befor;
Bot thai fand nocht, wald thai seke euirmor.
Hys horss thai gat, and nocht ellis of thair ger.
With dulfull mayn retorned thir men of wer
To Sanct Jhounston, in sorou and gret cayr.
Off Wallace furth me likis to spek mair.

The secunde nycht the Scottis couth thaim draw
Rycht priwaly agayne to Schortwod schaw;
Tuk wp thair gud, quhilk was put owt of sycht,
Cleithing and stuff, bathe gold and siluer brycht.
Vpon thar fute, for horsis was thaim fra;
Or the son raiss, to Meffen wood can ga.
Thar twa dayis our thar lugyng still thai maid;
On the thrid nycht thai mowit but mar abaid.
Till Elkok park full sodeynly thai went:
Thar in that strentht to bide was his entent.
Than Wallace said, he wald go to the toun;
Arayit him weill in till a preistlik goun.
In Sanct Jhonstoun disgysyt can he fair,
Till this woman the quhilk I spak of ayr.
Off his presence scho rycht reiosit was;
And sor adred how he away suld pass.
He soiornyt thar fra nowne was of the day
Quhill ner the nycht, or that he went away.
He trystyt hyr quhen he wald cum agayne,
On the thrid day; than was scho wondyr fayne.
Yeitt he was seyn with enemyss as he yeid;
To Schyr Garraid thai tald off all his deid,
And to Butler, that wald haiff wrokyn beyne.
Than thai gart tak that woman brycht and scheyne,
Accusyt hir sar of resset in that cass:
Feyll syiss scho suour, that scho knew nocht Wallass.
Than Butler said; “We wait weyle it was he;
“And bot thou tell, in bayle fyre sall thou de.
“Giff thou will help to bryng yon rebell doune,
“We sall the mak a lady off renoun.”
Thai gaiff till hyr baith gold and siluer brycht;
And said, scho suld be weddyt with ane knycht,
Quham scho desirit, that was but mariage.
Thus tempt thai hir, throu consaill and gret wage,
That scho thaim tald quhat tyme he wald be thar.
Than war thai glad; for thai desirit no mar
Off all Scotland, bot Wallace at thair will.
Thus ordaynyt thai this poyntment to fullfill.
Feyle men off armes thai graithit hastelye
To kepe the yettis, wicht Wallas till aspye.
At the set trist he entrit in the toune,
Wittand no thing of all this falss tresoune.
Till hir chawmer he went but mair abaid.
Scho welcummyt him, and full gret plesance maid.
Quhat at thai wrocht, I can nocht graithly say;
Rycht wnperfyt I am of Venus play:
Bot hastelye he graithit him to gang.
Than scho him tuk, and speryt giff he thocht lang;
Scho askit him that nycht with hir to bid.
Sone he said; “Nay, for chance that may betide;
“My men ar left all at mysrewill for me.
“I may nocht sleipe this nycht quhill I thaim se.”
Than wepyt scho, and said full oft; ‘Allace
‘That I was maide, wa worthe the courssit cass!
‘Now haiff I lost the best man leiffand is;
‘O feble mynd, to do so foull a myss!
‘O waryit witt, wykkyt and wariance,
‘That me hass brocht in to this myschefull chance!
‘Allace,’ scho said, ‘in warld that I was wrocht!
‘Giff all this payne on my self mycht be brocht!
‘I haiff seruit to be brynt in a gleid.’
Quhen Wallace saw scho ner of witt couth weid,
In his armess he caucht hir sobrely,
And said; “Der hart, quha hass mysdoyne ocht, I?”
‘Nay, I,’ quoth scho, ‘hass falslye wrocht this trayn,
‘I haiff you sald; rycht now yhe will be slayn.’
Scho tauld [to] him hir tresoun till ane end,
As I haiff said; quhat nedis mair legend?
At hir he speryt, giff scho forthocht it sar.
“Wa, ya,” scho said, “and sall do euirmar.
“My waryed werd in warld I mon fullfill;
“To mend this myss I wald byrne on a hill.”
He comfort hir, and baide hir haiff no dreide.
‘I will,’ he said, ‘haiff sumpart off thi weid.’
Hir gowne he tuk on hym, and courchess alss.
‘Will God, I sall eschape this tresoune falss.
‘I the forgyff.’ With outyn wordis mair
He kissyt hyr, syne tuk his leiff to fayr.
Hys burly brand, that helpyt him offt in neid,
Rycht priwalye he hid it wndyr that weid.
To the south yett, the gaynest way, he drew;
Quhar that he fand off armyt men enew.
To thaim he tald, dissemblyt [in] contenance;
“To the chawmer, quhar he was vpon chance,
“Speid fast,” he said, “Wallace is lokit in.”
Fra him thai socht with outyn noyiss or dyn,
To that sammyn houss; about thai can thaim cast.
Out at the yett [than] Wallas gat full fast,
Rycht glaid in hart; quhen that he was with out,
Rycht fast he yeide, a stour paiss and a stout.
Twa him beheld, and said; “We will go se;
“A stalwart queyne, forsuth, yon semyss to be.”
Him thai folowit throwe the South Ynche thai twa.
Quhen Wallace saw with thaim thar come na ma,
Agayne he turnede, and has the formast slayn.
The tothir fled; than Wallas, with gret mayn,
Vpon the hede, with his suerd, has him tayne;
Left thaim bathe dede, syne to the strenth is gayne.
His men he gat, rycht glaid quhen thai him saw;
Till thair defens in haist he gart thaim draw;
Deuoydyde him sone of the womannys weid:
Thus chapyt he out of that felloun dreid.