his skil and order of battell albeit he had a greater number of people yet durst he not hazard returning his standerds softly retired but Wallace for feare of ambushment durst not follow This victory obtained without blood against a most potent King The enemies of Wall more sharply assaulted him raising brutes through the countrey that he openly shot at the Kingdom So they conclude by all means to subuert Wall authority These deuises not vnknown to King Edw. he raised a great army of English Scots vvho had remained constaÌ„t in their promise made to him the next SoÌ„mer came vnto Faw-kirk vvhich village is builded vpon the very ruins of Seuerus Wall distant from Striuiling 6 myles The Scottish host abade not far from thence strong enough indeed for they were 30 thousand if the Rulers had agreed amongst themselues The Rulers were Iohn Cumming Iohn Stewart Will. Wallace the former two in blood puissance the last in Marshall glory most flourishing of al Scotland While as the 3 battels stood in redines to fight a new contention was added to the former enuy Who should lead the Vanguard neither of them giuing place to the other the Englishmen ended the strife vvho in order of battell vvith displayed Banners came vpon them with expedition Cummine with his company fled vvithout stroke Steward enuironed both behind and before vvas slaine with his hoste Wallace being sore set vpon in front and Bruce comming about a Knowle to charge him on the backe contained his men together in such order as in such state he best could and returned backe ouer CARROVN Water vvhere he defended himself hauing gathered together those that were fled and Bruce desiring to speak with him he refused not wheÌ„ these two alone stood right ouer against other at a deep narrow part of the Riuer Bruce first said he wondred at him that being caried with the facile fauour of the people would hazard himself in so many perils againe a King most puissant of that age assisted also with great support of Scots that without any hope of recompence of his pains For albeit he vanquisht Edward the Scots would neuer allow of him to be King and if he were ouerthrowne he had no refuge but in the mercy of his enemy To whom Wallace answered I said he neuer tooke these paines to purchase to my self a Kingdom for that is vnagreeable with my condition and my mind couets it not but seeing my Countrey-men through your cowardice to whom the Realme rightly appertains destitute of Rulers hereby casten into their most cruel enemies hands not only in bondage and slauery but euen to the shambles I pittied their case haue enterprised the defence of their cause forsaken by you whose liberty I shall not forsake befâ—â—e my life forsake me And so the confereÌ„ce ended either of both returning to their owne After this vnhappy Battell Wallace returned to Perth and there skailed his army giuing place to the enuy born against him and after that day enterprised nothing for the Realm and renounced the name of Magistrat albeit he left not off the inuading of the English Nation wheresoeuer he could be their master Edward after this wasted by all warlike calamities the Lands beyond Forth euen to Perth subduing those that in respect of the present misery durst not stir so retired with his army into England The Scots that were carefull for the liberty of their Realme a little refreshed after the enemies departure made Iohn Cumming younger Regent who by the aduise of the Counsell sent Ambassadours to Philip Valloys King of France to trauell with him that by Mediation of his Sister who was then affianced to Edward they might at least obtaine Truce By her trauels they obtained Truce for seuen Moneths but not obserued bona fide for Englishmen tooke the Ambassadours that were directed to Bonifacius the eight and imprisoned them The Scots in the meane time who could not abide the tyranny of Englishmen nor culd by no punishment satiat Edwards cruell mind neither yet obtaine peace vpon just conditions prepared themselues with obstinat minds to fight it out without all hope of pardon First they droue all Edwards Captains foorth of all Towns and Fortresses and vexed the Scots of the English factioÌ„ vvith all the force they might vvhile as the stat of matters thus coÌ„tinued almost two years Edward sent Rodolph Confrey with a puissant Army to suppresse this rebellion of the Scots and to put an end to those Warres This Army without impediment wasted all to Rosling a place in Louthian foure miles distant from Edinburgh to destroy farther within the Countrey diuided their Army in three Iohn Cummine and Iohn Fraser the most wealthy men in Tweed-dale gathering to the number of 8000 men marched towards the enemy of purpose either to keep in the enemy that he should not run at randon to spoyl the Country or if they found better occasion to follow Fortun. Better occasion was offered then they looked for For Englishmen fearing nothing lesse than the comming of their enemies so often ouerthrowne behauing themselues more losely than was expedient in their enemies ground by sudden comming of the Scots vpoÌ„ the first of their Camps were ouerthrown with a great slaughter they that escaped raised great tumult in the secoÌ„d camp where th' alarm was fearfully raised euery man exhorting his Mate to support their own they prepared theÌ„selues for reuenge The conflict was terrible as betwixt these that were fiers throgh victory these that were enraged by thirst of reuenge in end th' Englishmen discomfist chased victory albeit not vnbloody yeelded to the Scots the third host which had bin furder off affraid the Scots for many being wounded most part wearied with trauels in 2 late battels foresaw manifest danger to ensue by fighting assured destruction by flight at length the Heads commanded to slay al captiues left while they were occupied with th' enemy they shuld come vpon their backs they armed their seruants vvith slain mens armor so made shew of a greater army to their enemies the battel begun vvas keenly foghten on both sides the fight being doutfull for a while the scots by exhortatioÌ„ of their leaders calling to mind their late doble victory renewing their streÌ„gth ran so fiercely vpoÌ„ their enemies that their aray broken they gaue backs It was foghten at Rosline the 6 of the kal. of March 1320. The more notable that this victory was 3 hosts in one day ouerthrown by one the more sharply Edw. set his mind to deface this ignominy and once to put an end to their longsome Warre He amasseth a greater army than euer he did before persued Scotland both by land sea to the vtter most borders of Ros. No man in warfare durst hazard him self against so puissant an army except Wallace with his few folks somtimes behind somtims before somtims vpon their wings chopped at such as
losse more vehemently prouoked to reuenge summond the Ballioll thrise to compeare before him at Newcastle and because he compeared not at all hee sent for Bruce and promised him the Kingdome if hee would write to his friendes either to leaue their King or to flee in battell The King with all diligence past toward Barwike where finding the towne strongly garnished with men and comming small speed in his pursute hee fained a retreat and caused some of the Bruces faction sparse brutes that the Ballioll with a great Oast was euen there at hand whereupon the most notable men of the towne supponing themselues to bee free of the common enemie ran foorth for to receiue their King honourably and so both horse and foote went out of the towne confusedlie But Edward had appointed a number of horsemen to wait vpoÌ„ that turne who cutted them off easilie from their companies beeing vshed so confusedly and out of order and comming to the next Port entred in the towne the King with his foot-hoste following made miserable slaughter vpon all sorts of people increasing in multitude sent a part of his armie to besiege Dumbar himselfe within few dayes receiued the Castell of Barwike which the keepers randred despairing of reliefe then joyning all his forces together at Dumbar encountred with the Scots hoste which came hither with a great battell to raise the siege the victorie enclined to the English side The chiefe men of the Nobilitie fledde to the Castell but the Captaine not hauing Viuers sufficient to sustaine such a multitude randered and all kinde of crueltie execute vppon the captiues But when the Bruce desired the Kingdome in recompense of his trauell and according to promise Edward answered him in French haue we nothing ado but to purchase Kingdomes for you Dumbar and some other Castles vppon the Border beeing randred Edinburgh and Striuiling were deliuered also from Striuiling Edward passed Forth and marched towards Forfare where the Ballioll was when without impediment hee came to Monrosse The Ballioll by perswasion of Iohn Cummine of Strabogie randred himselfe the Kingdome into King Edwards hands whom he shipped sent into England Edward returned to Barwike by sharpe edict summond all the Scottish Nobilitie to come thither such as came were compelled to sweare obedience vnto him William Dowglas a man of Noble blood and valiant refusing to sweare was cast in prison where within few yeeres he died Thus all things succeeding to his wish hee appointed Iohn Warreâ— Erle of Surrey Viceroy Hew Cressingham Thesaurer and leauing them behind him hee returned to London where hee warded Iohn Ballioll when hee had reigned 4. yeeres But hee within a short space at the request of the Bishop of Rome was sent to France leauing his sonne Edward in pledge for him Afterward Edward with a great army tooke shipping to passe in France The Scots in esperance of liberty hee being absent chused twelue Regents and by all their aduises Iohn Cummine Erle of Buchan with a sufficient armie was sent in England The English Garrisons left in Scotland dispersed heere and there durst not stirre so hee without impediment spoyled Cumberland and Northumberland Albeit this voyage somewhat incouraged the Scots yet did it but small help to the whole warre for all strong holds were fortified by the enemies garrisons But while as Noblemen lacked both strength and sufficient courage to enterprise greater matters VVilliam VVallace a man of Noble and ancient Family who did Actes in those Warres not only aboue all mens exspectatioÌ„ but also incredible being a man of great bodily strenght high courage He hardened his body against injuries of Fortune and confirmed his courage by perillous attempts to enterprise higher and greater euen with danger he gathered vnto him some companie of Men and herewith not only slew any Englishmen he met with but often times aâ—so with few foght with great numbers in sundrie places where he met with them slew them In short space his fam filled both the Realms so they that had lik causes as he had not vnlike loue to their Countrey gathering together swarmed to him from all parts and within few moneths he amassed an indifferent Army Noblemen for feare or lashnes lying still Wallace was proclaimed Gouernour and as Lieutenant for Ballioll commanded as lawfull Magistrate Hee tooke not this name of pride or of desire to Empire but only like another Sampson vpon compassion and loue of his Countrey-people After this he essayed with open force tooke many Castells either not sufficiently furnished or not weill guarded or negligently kept and razed them His Men of Warres minds were so confirmed that vnder his conduct they feared no perrill for that his hardiment lacked neuer wisdom nor his wisdome the wished euent So in short space he wan all the Forts that Englishmen possessed beyond Forth King Edward hearing these rumours and hauing all his Army with him in France he wrote to Henrie Pearsie Lord of Northumberland to William Latimer to raise quickly Forces out of the next adjacent Countrey and joyne themselues with Cressinghame to suppres the Scots Wallace in this time besieged the Castle of Cowper in Fyfe to the end his men of warre should not be idle attending the coming of the English army his enimies now cuming neare marched directly to Striuiling The Riuer of Forth hath no foords at Striuiling Yet there was a vvoodden bridge ouer the vvhich Cressinghame past vvith the great part of his aâ—mâ— the rest following so thick the bridge being ouerburthened vvith so hudge a weght brak in pieces The Scots charged these that vvere past before they could be Arayed slew their leader droue backe the rest in the water with so huge a slaughter that almost the whole were either slain by the Scots or drownd in the riuer Wallace after this so followed his fortune that he left not an Englishman in Scotland except prisoners This victory was obtained vpoÌ„ the Ides of Septemb. 1297. Hereafter followed great Famine for not manuring of the ground and Pest followed Hunger wherof greater destruction was feared than of the Warre Wallace to remedy this aswell as he might charged al sensible men to come vnto him at a certain day caried them with him into England vvhere liuing in vvinter in their enemies lands they spared Viuers at home vvhere he remained from the kalends of Nouember vnto the kal. of Febr. and no man durst match him And then hauing inriched theÌ„selfs vvith their enemies spoyls returned with great glory As this journey augmented Wallaces fame and authority among the people so it increased the Noble mens enuy against him vvhereof Edw. being priuy setting things in France in order as time would permit leauing his old souldiers beyond sea amassing a very great army vpon the sudden of nouices he marched toward Scotland but wheÌ„ in the plain of Stanemure both armies stood in order of battel about half a mile from other Edw. viewing Wall hoste
no appearance of force in anie part for the common people vpon the construing of the two former losses caused him bee forsaken of all two onely of his old friends stood constantly by him Micolum Leuin Erle of Lennox and Gilbert Hay Englishmen not saciate sufficiently with his miseries sent and apprehended his kinsemen throughout all the Countrie his wife token by William Erle of Rosse was sent into England his brother Nigell the Castle of Kildrummie betrayed by the Captaine thereof with his wife and children were randred to the enemie Thomas and Alexander his brethren also passing from Galloway to Carrik were taken at Lochrien and sent into England These three in sundrie places were beheaded the remnant of the Bruces faction were sought also and slaine their goods confiscate The King himself most often with one in companie in this time kept the vnhaunted mountaines euery day and houre changing lurking holes and while as hee thought not himselfe sure that way neither from treason of the people nor crueltie of his enemies past to the Iles to an old friend of his called Angus and lurking there certaine moneths he was supposed to bee dead and so the enemie ceased searching This brute as it was not vnprofitable for his securitie so if it had any while coÌ„tinued it appeared to his frends to cut away all hope of recouering the Realme thinking therefore to attempt some what getting a smal company from his friend with whome hee lurked he sailed to Carrik where hee tooke a Castle of his owne inheritance at vnawares kept by a strong garison of Englishmen and slew them all least hee might bee inuironed by force of the enemie and crossing the Firth of Clyde with the like felicitie tooke the Castle of Innernesse far distant from there and so passing from place to place taking in townes Castles and strengths The Countrie-people beeing heauily opprest by the enemy flocking to him from all quarters hee gathered a reasonable armie and albeit hee had not onely the common enemy to withstand but also a number of mightie intestine enemies at home especially the Cummines faction yet from this time forth whatsoeuer hee attempted succeeded prosperously till he had expelled the enemie vtterly out of the Realme and subdued the whole Countrie to his obedience but leauing the History of his further progresse because it will appeare more particularly it selfe I remit the Reader to the perusing thereof This is he of whom it may be said that was said of that Roman Scipio unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Into what bondage found he his Nation To what liberty did he restore it Since the times of the old Heroes none hath more excelled in all vertues Who more couragious in warre Who more temperate in peace Who euer had a fortun more hard Who euer did more hardly lead Fortun captiue and lesse regarded her frownes a constant course of victorie still enabling all his enterprises whose mind would not bin broken much more bowed vnder such heaps of miseries whose eonstancy would not be queld to haue his wife taken captiue his foure brethren slaine his friends with all mischiefes opprest to haue himselfe not only barred of his patrimony and estat but of a Kingdome and all done against faith by a Prince the mightiest of that age Beside all these calamities thralled and brought to the extreamest of waÌ„t he neither doubted of the recouery of his Crown nor was at any tim sene to coÌ„mit any thing vnworthy of a kingly mind Let Rome boast of Camillus and Scipio France of her Charles Epirus of great Scandeberge Scotland shall not forget this Prince for she cannot And if hee be not so renoumed as these it is not for that he is not as worthy but for that he hath not had so braue trumpeters of his fame being born in so vnpolished an age which time the destroyer and restorer of euery thing may perhaps hereafter in these more learned dayes amend There be some who hold the opinion that the publishing of those books is hurtfull as embers of consumed discord but it is not the publishing of the simplicity of our predecessours that can diuide vs or cause any discord but rather our owne too great subtilty ambition and auarice and the turning the pages of Tacitus and of Secretar Machiauell that caÌ„ breed an ague in our state Can the reading of the warres betwixt Longcaster and Yorke separate the red and white Roses I thinke no. But I am perswaded that al men of sound minds will rather abhor discord in reading of these books seeing what miseries and horrible calamities these warres bring foorth and what great occasion we of both Nations haue to magnifie Gods goodnes that in our dayes since the Gospell hath bene in sincerity published amongst vs hath turned all these bloody broyles into a peaceable Calme especially now in the person of our dread Soueraigne So that now as the Prophet sayeth Our swords are brokeÌ„ into mattocks and our speares into siths But if we would consider what meanes haue bene vsed what paines taken and plots laide by the wisest of both Nations to knit vp this vnion and yet could neuer effectate the same vntill it pleased GOD to cut downe this partitioÌ„ wall of long debate in the person of our most gracious SOVERAIGNE GOD giue vs grace to bee thankefull for it AMEN ROBERTVS BRVSSIVS Regni instaurator ac penè novus conditor in omni Fortuna invictus QVIS varios casus quis dura pericula BRVSSI Fatorumque vices commemorare queat Qui victus toties toties qui victor hostis In vacuo fixit Martia signa solo Qui domitis Fatis pugnando restituit rem Civibus patriam jusque suum patriae Cùm tot acerba virum cùm tot cumulata suorum Funera funeribus cerneret ante oculos Mens generosa animi Fortunae excelsior omni Imperio stabili perstitit usque gradu SCOTIA quae statues VICTORI justa trophaea Qui Fati ac hostis Victor ipse Sui est The same in English Who can the hazards hard the chances straÌ„ge Of Bruce report a Mark of Fortunes chaÌ„ge Oft was hee thrall'd his Foes oft from him fled Oft ensignes on the purple Plaines he spred He danted Fates his natiue Soyle ou'rthrowne Her to her own to her brought backe a Crowne By fight he all restor'd and hauing seene So many funerall heapes before his cene His Mind vnquell'd reach't Fortunes wheele aboue And in the Spheare of Courage â—ixt did moue Where hast thou Scotland for his Trophees room Who Fates Foes himselfe for thee o'recome THE ACTES AND LIFE OF the most victorious Conquerour Robert Bruce King of SCOTLAND WHEREIN ALSO ARE contained the Martiall deedes of the valiant Princes Edward Bruce Syr Iames Dowglas Earle Thomas Randell Walter Stewart and sundrie others STories to read are delectable Suppose they nought containe but fable Then sould Stories the soothfast were If they bée spoken in good