famein forced at last They parle thus and thus their peace is past A yeir to keip the hold he them permits And if within that tyme greate Englands King Releius them noght but cairles them omits Then in his hands they shall the place resing Sir Philip Moubray their in reuling sitts He 's gone to England Succor thence to bring And now that mightie King prouids we heare By Gaine and gold to bring all Europe heir For he by proclamatioun great hath sworne Through eu'rie kingdome cuntrie toune and shire That Scotlands name by him shall be out worne He will distroy that nation in his Ire And all that comes of vther nations borne To keip that day shall haue what they desire And of this Kingdome greate without extorsioun Eche equall to his worth shall haue his portioun Greate multitude of straungers day by day Broght by these means in England doth ariue So that they think ritche England scarslie may Find store ynuch to keip them all alliue Besids those cuntreis greate that him obey In France all Princes his confedrats striue Whoe shall the best and greatest armeis raise 〈◊〉 willing seims all Europe him to please And thus in time your grace wold neids be ware To sue with guifts the angrie King to please Or giue you mind to try the chance of Warr Prouide in time your forces for to raise Wheir with the Kings eies brunt with wraeths teid staâ— Should we his Iyre with guifts quod he appease Why villane what base fear so timerous Ere till this day hath thow espy'd in vs Haue wee till now sustaind such endles pane And storms of Warrs sad tempests hath out worne Oure Kingdome croune and cuntrie to obtane And raisd oure self in spight of Englands scorne For braggs thus for to fold with shame agane When Fortune to oure foot the Ball hath borne No heauins forbid such clouds of fear and shame Sould so obscuir oure mornings rising beame What tho the pride of oure imperâ—ous foe With euer soll destruction doth vs bost Oure forces mene his multituds doth kno Yea tho a world of men augment his host Oure mite incresleth with his talent lo The widous oill when blisd tho leist was most He must be many still and still be glorious And feu we must be still and still victorious Let him bring furth his England Ireland Waills With Britange Gascon and fair Aquitane Poitew and Guian and all cuntreis els With Scotlands better pairt yet all in vane God vs protects gainst whoe 's strong aâ—me preuaillâ— No Earthlie pour in him oure hopes remane Trew Scotts we bring and brings this prais with all Gainst Scotts allone all Europs thought too small Thus spak the King whill all his Lords and peers Reioisd thereat and hoped in heauins reuenger Whill he not onlie fearles bold appeirs But also ware and wyislie weyis the danger He for each captain sends who sone compeirs Consulting all how to bear af the straunger The conquering knight came their whoe 's worthie acteâ— My tird quill mends and my dull Museawaiks How soone the King returned was from Lorne And progres took through eurie regione faire To vieu the land wheirto himself was borne As righteous King iust Prince and onlie heire Douglas that rest and ease did euer scorne Did bak vnto the south agane repair Wheir he the English oft did ouerthrou But Roxbrugh how he wan Iyll onlie shou And thus it was on fastingeuins dark night Thrie scoir he brings in armour pitchie blak All on their hands and feit doth creip out right No noyse no sound no word bewraid their tract The watch them seis but so as in their sight They seimd a heard of bews and this they spak This night good Rodger lets his heard at learg Whereof er long blak Douglas may tak chearg He smils to sie their sight disceaued so But hard below the wall arriv'd at last In goes the watch such thundring tempests blo Ledhous a Ledder made of Touis vp cast Whoe 's clerks of jâ—on soundeth with the thro Yet full of euraige he ascendâ—th fast This ingine he deuisd wherebe to gaine Him self sume glorie and his foe sume paine The Sentinell that hears the sound espyis Ledhous ascend and quiklie to him goes Who doth not only on the walls arise But kills him too then doun the carkas throes When all was mounted Douglas quiklie hyis Doun to the hall for to assaill his foes Who now amid their feastuall Ioyis var caght Sum play to death sum drink their leatest draght With lyf devoring swords the Scotts ariue That Douglas Douglas cryis whoe 's verey name So dreadfull seimd that few for wapins striue But flei to saue their lius not cairing shame Or day thrie hundreth they of life depriue The captane with the rest them selfs reclame In an strong tour but Douglas kept the feild Till famien forcd them all at last to Èeild And then braue Douglas they intreat for peace To whom anon they render vp the hold Them selfis their liwes and all vnto his grace Who was as wise and mild as feirce and bold Them of that bondaige streight he did relace And send them home with all their wealth their gold And then to Edinbruche his cours he bent Wher warlik Bruce for all his Lords hade sent Their Edward their greate Stewarde might he sie Trew Marr wise Lenox Hey and Randolph strong With manie more graue counsalours that be To their braue Prince who satt them all among All silence keipt he muisd with maiestie Whill one his throne he satt att last of wrong Acuisd his brother who with reuerend fear Too this his wise and solid words gaue ear Brother what haist what raschnes did you guide What folie causd you giue so long a day To Englands mightie king for to prouide His forces greate when weill you know he may Bring furth for eucrie one vpon our side A hundreth warlik knights in good aray How could yow think that we culd him gainstand Who yet most parte of Scotland doth command Yea thoght he wold no vther forces raise But onlie Scots for to releiue the hold Eu'ne these can ouermatche vs if he please Much more with Irish English Welshmen bold With Almans Frenshe and Dutchis by all these Whom in subiection he in France doth hold All these shall come and with a world of men Shall we be able to encounter then Surlie you had no foresight heir at all And to oure rising state you wronged much What we haue conquest yet is verie small Nor ar we siure of these the commouns such Inconstant minds do beare and so oure fall Is neir if one the brokin reid but tuche Better had bein we neu'r had soght with paine To clim so hie so soone to fall againe His brother answers heauins forbid that so Should fall what I haue done we can not mend Not neid we much to feare oure mightie foe Thoght he bring armeis from thâ— worlds end
fredome in a bloodie feild Those machles champions throw the forest goâ— At last allight then themselues adrest Til cheirful daies bright goldeÌ„ lamp should within a arbour faier to take their rest shone But as ambitious minds ar neuer alone Til they haue honour glorie Fame possest So they no rest at all cold here attain Such high confusion in their brests remaine At last the Douglas thus began braue Prince And my most gratious Souerainge quod he Long may thou liue in Natures excelence Iou's loue Fates fauour fortunes constancie Thy worth exalted by heauens influence And thy braue selfe long haue I wsht to sie God graunt thy shining sonne with golden Raies Our darkest nights may chaunge to brightest daies Let not my bold presumtion thee offend If I require to know the woefull birth Of sorrows which thy countenance forth send For loe swift Fame did sound thy praise thy worth In Fraunce while carelesse I on court attend Which cleers my clouds of care with lamps of mirth And did my sad vnsetled Thoughts destroy Thy sweit report so fild my Eares with Ioy Then I returnd in hope of blest reliefe Which I foresawe thy worth would soone afford And thou eu'ne thou would ease thy contreis griefe Whose glorie great must be by the restord Senc to Reuenge our blood woe wrake mischiefe By lustest Heauens thou onely art implord Doe then braue Prince what heauen for thee ordains Thy Knight I am in warre peace Ioy or pains The gallant Bruce sat long tyme much amazd Loth to vnfould his straunge misfortunes rare In wrath he star'd he lookt about he gaz'd He sigh'd he grond as One Into Dispair His rolling Eies at last from Earth he Ras'ed And Cleird with heavenlie smylls the clowds of cair Whill as the Douglas long did him behold This sadd and wofull Tragedie he told Sad may if seeme and sorrowfull to Thee Thois wofull news Thou do's Requeir ' to heare but much more cair and greif it breids to Mee Who must not onely heare and lend my eare But must relate euen what my eies did siee Yea what myselfe did act yet I 'le forbeare Those fond complaints and make a true narration What most offends me and afflicts my Nation And to vnfould this tragick storie soe To know the motiue first it doth requier And eu'rie truest circumstance to sho Whereof is much that will delight the eare Than to th'intentall may mor cleerly know The ground of this so firce crwel warr Our various speach let vs devert and view The dreidfull horreid horrors that ensew Thrie Alexanders thrise waere Scotlands King The first for valiaunt deids surnam'd the fierce Was Malcolm Canmoirs sone the second Rings Was after good king Will'iame did deceas Who is braue vndanted Deids made fame to sing The Lion-king as histories Rehers The thrid that did Oure Crown and scepter wear Henre the third of Englands dogther fair In mariage took which haple he devynd Should then conclud A full and finall Peace That both these Antient kingdoms thus Combind Those great and Mightie Nations might Imbrace A Freindlie League and Concordance in mind An happie Time to thair Ensewing race By ending all the warrs the broyls the steir's That had remain'd full thryse five hindreth Èeirs But heavens decreed it should not so Remaine For the appointed Time was not foretolde Mans subtill plots and wits ar all in vaine In vaine their wais in vaine this work they wold In vaine they go about for to obtaine What Ioue as secret to himself did hold In uaine was al these fond deuises thought Since heaujn decred that al shold turne to noght For lo betwixt burnt Illion and Kingorne King Alexander di'd by fall of horse When thirtiefoure yeres of his Raigne was worne He no succesion had and which was wors Blood-thristie-warr by wings of veng'ance borne Did tear Our kingdom's bouwells but Remors Waikining by oft Diminishings at Lenght The vains the Nerv's the sinne vs of oure strenght Six yeares the land gouerned was in Peace By Regents fix at laste some broiles arose Whereby soe straunge gouernament did cease Such bloodie factions did themselues oppose Who from that boundage wold the land release And of annot her King wold make a chose For wel they knew what trains they shold imbark To set this headstrong Nations once awarke A councel then of all they call to choose The neerest of the Roiall bloode for king The Baliol there his right did wel peruse From the first female his descent to spring And from the first borne Male I not refuse My lineall and iust descent to bring Thus plead wee both nor can we once accord No peace our haughtie stomaks cold afford And thus our hate grew greater daie by daie Both thirsting for a Princely Diadem Nor cold the meanest thought of wise delaie Preâ—ons our wo our wrack our countreis shame On 〈◊〉 on wracke on ruine and decaie Ambition can not looke nor thinke nor dreame But for the Croun while wee 're a spyring thus Wee robd of what shold make it Glorious For with vs two two mightie armies rose To winn the Croun or lose our selfe and all Scotlands great Primat did himselfe oppose Betwixt vs then a treat of peace to call Who did so much at last wee made a choise Thus to accord and to agrement fall To iudge our right by Englands mighty King Who shold decerne which of vs both shold reigne Wherefore in haste to Englands King wee send Requesting him to take the cause in hand Who then prepard his conquest to defend In fertill Fraunce with many warlike band And their his large Dominions to extend By force of armes and by his valiant hand Yet for to put our Kingdom to a rest He turnd and bake to Yorke himselfe adrest Of learned men he twentifour there brought Whose graue aduise in this great worke he vs'd But lo my proud competeitor bethought Him thus If I and my iust right were chusd Than were he all vndon and threfore soght By some lewd meane to get mee quite refusd At last resolu'd to buie a Diadem With fowle dishonour and eternall shame Wherfore he dealt in secret with the King If him he wold preferre the Croune to weare By charter Seale by Oth and eu'ry thing He bound himselfe of him the Croune to beare And for the same his homage to resigne To whose base minde at first he gaue noe Eare The most part of the Lawiers parted thence All iudging me iust heire and Righteous Prince But counsell caused this mightie King to err Counsell of these that by dissention liue Still vrging him the Bailiol to prefert That for his guerdon would a Kindom giue But he that knew my right farr worthier Euen from my foes proud offer did deriue His argument and vnto me presentes The Croune if I fullfild the same contents Which offer base I plainely did refuse Wherefore King Edward in his wrathful Ire With Baliol decreits and did
His Whelps by his example feids on blood Eune so he cums with scarled cullored bled His conquring creu encurage by his sig ht Before whoe 's terror threatning face they fled Yea eune greate Pembrok yeelds him nou to flight This vprore such a greate confusioun bred The English throws away their armour bright With still sad murmurs Scotts perseu their foes And noght was hard but dying Groans and bloes From Erebus blak darknes taks her flight And spred her wings aboue ou'r half of Ground When th' English aided by the freindlie Night Ow're Hills and Daills dark wais for saiftie found And of their Natiue soill to haue a sight The greater pairt by solempt vous was bund For noght they fand in this oure barren soill But death and wounds in stead of wealth and spoâ—â— After this victorie so raiâ—lie got The choise of Princes with ane humble mind Gaue thanks to God for his successiue lot And holie vous vnto the Lord enshrind Then marching furth in haist he resteth not Till all the western cuntreis were inclind To his meik reull and with aduise more stai'd Kill Cuningham and Carrik him obay'd Whill in the West he regnd as conquerour Sir Odomer was greiud at his succes And thought he had dissolud his strongest pou'r Seing his oune atcheuments fortunles Yet fortun on ane vther wold not lour An vther captaine whoe 's greate worthines Had giuene good proufe in many a bloodie fight A Scotts man he sir Phillip mubray hight Him wold be neids imploy vnto this fate And to his chairge commits a thousand horse With these to vieu Scotlands greate Kings estate And wait aduantage to imploy his forse But mightie Bruce exper'ence had of lait That strenth shall oft of craft receaue the worse And being cairfull vigilant and wise Preuents his craftie foes slie interprise With fortuns knight tuyce tuentie furth he send To vnderstand and knou the foes desings Who haueing searchd and traueld far in end His way him to an narrou Passage brings On eurie hand did mightie crags ascend On eurie side beloue deip marras springs And of this place he fitlie maks a choise For to ganestand or to assalt his foes Long staid he not when all his foes drew neir For by that way they neids must onlie go Stout moubray then his warlik troups did cheir Whill they curagiouslie did chairge their foe And as on Neptuns humid sky so cleir Sterne Borias to the land the walls doth blo Till waue on waue brak on the Baltik shore Whoe 's dying voice ou'r all the land doth rore So eurie Rank on Rank is beaten bak By that braue count and his resistles crew Their ranks in Ordour ordourles they brak They kill the bold and fliers faint persew All gois to death they none to mercie tak And with meir strenth and valor overthrew Their foes at last and forced all with might Nor can their captaine stay their fearfull flight But Moubray stout wise valiaunt featles bold Whoe 's words nor deids le ts not his men to flie Scornd such a flight nor could his foes with hold His Resolution Acted constantlie Forth throu their ranks he doth his wey vnfold Wheir much blood doth his sterne wrath satisfie At last he lost his brand and shund the fight Els had he yeildit captiue to their might His fanting troups fled home the way they came Which when he vieud vpone the vther side Such raige and furie did his breist inflame As he wold neids returne and wold abide Gainst all his fois but that could no way frame For want of wapins forst him turne aside Whill as the count whoe 's deids ar eu'r glorious Triumphing to his Prince returns victorious His Prince that nou was vnder Loudon hill And all that cuntrie to his Peace had broght These Losses all great Pembroks ear 's did fill And sets fierce rage on edge for this he thoght If Scottlands King had fortun thus at will Englands intendit Conquest turns to noght Wherefore this motione has vnto him sent By which their wraith should soone or neu'r be spent He bids him vnder Loudon hill prepair To giue him Battell on the tenth of may And if the Conquest fell to Scottlands shair England sould quite the land that verie day And neu'r returne to clame a conquest their But if the English wan without delay Then yeild he should vnto fair Englands Prince And at his sentence stand for his offence To this the graue wise worthie Bruce agreis And for that day great Preparation maks But with greate foresight wiselie he foreseis How that his mightie foe aduantage taks Of multituds of men and lairge suppleis Whoe 's endles numbers his meane force brake For which thrie walls he raises wondrous hie Eune their wheir as the battell fought should be And in the midst he leaus a Plaine so wide As hundreths fiue might martch feight at ease At euerie ende laie Marrasis beside So at their back they could no forces raise Thus onely here he wold his foes abide Let Fortune froune or fauour whom she please But twise three hundreth march'd with him along Altho his foes were full seauen thousand strong Syr Odomer the bold doth keip the day And marched brauelie vnder Lowdon low He puts his warlick armie in array Whill as the king of men him self doth show With his small pour his passage for to stay His hardie knights the art of warr did know These oft approu'd so oft had tryde their might He neids not to encurage theme to fight Yet Earths great Warriour restles still did raunge Now here now there his restles troups among Kindling their breasts to hole and new reuenge Of olde done Deeds and long receaued wrong The Captains of his troups he need not chaunge For these were matchles hardy wise strong The worthie Douglas and the valiant Haye Edward the firce impatient of delaie Whoe with his troup did first assail the foe For his fierce wrath could brook delay no more How soone this angrie Prince him self did sho Terror and feare went sadlie him before As when strong winds doth caus heighe tyds to flo Whoe 's brackish waus still beat the brokin shore Seas smoth back rold before with gentle breath In briffels set spits forth his foamie wreath Soe after furious Edward all the plaine Was ouer-run with Ranks of spears shields Horse armour weapons ecchos aye againe The dreadful noise that Drumme Trumpet yeilds Strife Terrour Rage follow both Hoasts anon Death softens armour and strong weapons weilds Furie and Strife stalks through the hoasts with fire Of deadly wonds kindled with blood-blown Ire Now both the armeis insteling roodlie met And spears and sheilds gainst spears and shelds opposd Strength answerd strength wound for wound they get Swords targets piks with piks swords targets closd Then Tumult coms to heauin her head she sett And from her throt a thousand sounds she lousd That throu the Air
By schip him self on sea the fight wold view And left two thousand on the land beside That 〈◊〉 montans tope them self withdrew Which did that cuntrie by it self diuide And vnderneth that hill the passage lay So that the arme's forst to pas that way The King that of them had intelligence Sends Douglas furth with him a chosen band Who with much paine but schort continuance Had winn their baks by hid wais which thâ—y fand Now comes the armie to the strait and thence They sie their foes aboue all armed stand On crags and hurld doun mightie stons from hie And thence they lat their clouds of arrous flie Wherefore an vther chosen band intend With valiant Hay to giue the chairge before Of these the stons broght many to their end And some returnd leamd briusd and wonded sore Yet to his foes bold Hay did still ascend Still formest to encurage them the more And tho but feu in spight of all their foes They wan the montains heighest top with bloes But surlie their eche one had losd his life Their foes so hudge encompast them about If Douglas who with labor pane and strife Had not arriued with his resistles rout But then o then bloes wounds and deaths were riâ—e Long faught they long was victorie in dout But Douglas now gan on his men to froune Becaus they were so long vn ouerthroune Then with the strongest ranks it faireth worce His sword their maks a wide and bloodie laine He treds them kild and wounded by his force Who yeeldeth leius all that resists at slaine So kill 's a hound the cur without remorse That bits when he that yeelds his life doth gaine Oure knight still kills the armd with best assistance And scorns t'assaill but wheir he finds resistance Good valiaunt Hay that through the rout furthwent Fand matchles Douglas dealling deaths anew And to his side he step't incontinent A hardie freind bold constant wise and trew These two once mett were all sufficient A greate and mightie Armie to subdew Yea thogh bold Hay had bidden from the fight Douglas allone had put them all to flight At last discomfeit all doth flie away Doune to a tumbling riuer deip and read They past a bridg that our this riuer lay Which they wold cut of danger to be fred But of their work they did them quiklie stay And gaue so fierce a chairge till thence they fled By this one bridg the Armie past the flood And fand from thence that no man them with stood A wondrous strength was their Dunstaffage heght The vanquest rebells mand this fortres strong But with a Seige inuirond hard and straight They forced ar to yeeld it vp or long Argills old Erle a man of wondrous might Got peace whoe 's sone had done such endles wrong Then all submit them selfs the King before Eu'ne all the Lords along the westerne shore All faithfull Scotts reioise of his succes And for to shew their iust conceaud Ire Their craftie foe by craft they wold supres Still when occasioun winkd at their defire Amongst the rest that shew his willingnes A contrey suaine their duelt in Lithgo shire That was both fearles hardie strong and bold He to his natiue Prince some seruice wold A peill or strength by Lithgo lake their stood That held in aw the countrie round about A hundreth English with their captane good Comands the strength wells fortified about This contrey cloune oft for their horses food With prouender and hay came in and out Fiue sones he hade as bold as was their sire Thrie brether borne and bred in Mars his ire And these weill arm'd within a wane he set And cuning lie he couerd them with Hay Then driueth furth his wane straght to the gatâ— Wheir he arâ—â—ed with the morning gray The porter rose and in the wane he let This driuer Binny heght who made no stay But to the porter lept and soone dispatchd him Then furth he lets the rest whill nothing fashd him And soone them selfs they throw the chambres spred Some sleipt some armd and naiked some they fand But all their liues at length they quiklie red None that resists could their rude rage with stand Thret tien were to the captains chalmer fled Who with him thoâ—n armd thes houses mand But tours nor walls could not preuent their smertâ— Mild pitie dualls not in a Curish heart The King returnd from Lorne did weill reward This binnie for so hazardous a deid Then of his nepheu Randolph heth regaird For still his loue his Anger did exceid Morais great Erldome he for him prepaird Of whom hereafter he might stand in neid And sure his worth is worthelie renound A brauer knight neu'r tred vpone the Ground Whoe being to his vncle reconceild Wislâ—d oft within his haughtie heart to sho Some peice of rarest seruice in the feild Whoâ—s fame his former faults might far outgo Fortun eu'ne then did fit occasioun yeild Whereby the King his willing mind should kno Nine prouinces with England yet did stand Besoutâ— the siluer Forth eu'ne all the land Obeid to Englands King but onlie thrie Iedbrughe and Eirik and fair Douglas dail These by the mightie Douglas conquerd be Gainst whose all couquring arme none could preuaill In all these lands braue Randolph weill did sie Many strong holds and castells to assaill Amongst the which was one whoe 's strenth excelâ— The Virgin-tour or Maiden-castell cald Of that heigh crag this beautifies the top Whereon the famous Edinburghe doth stand And that fair touns frie liberteis doth stop So proudlie doth the Garesone command Whoe 's wills to tame their insolence to crop His vncle puts the chairge into his hand Which he obeis and being furneishd out With a strait seige he sets the walls about A Gascon captane cheif was of the hold Whome straight the English tak and putt in bands And of them selfs they chusd a captane bold That valiantlie their enemie with stands Who in continuall labor doth them hold By new assaults with freshe and warlik bands Yet still with lose he 's forcd for to reteir So resolute and bold his foes appeir At last he seiks for to obtane by slight Wheir strenth did faill and wheir no force preuailis For sure it was vnpregnable by might In vaine with warlik force he still assaills Sir Williame Frensh or Fraunces lo he hight Whoe comes one day to him and thus reveills To winn the hold my Lord I know the way Nor all their force my subtle craft can stay My lustie youth I spent within these walls As capteiue whill my father did comand My loue within the toune as oft it falls To whom by night a secreit way I fand Tho dangerous to Bankâ—ts Masks and Balls I went for loue O what can loue with stand I shall you lead vp throu the crag by night Vnto a wall but scant seavne cvbits hight Glade was the erle that he did thus deuise And promeist him
tri'd-him This was the one that should him tak or kill And furth before the host he doth aduance Toward the King he bent his course so ful He hops to mak him yeild beneth his lance But quiklie doth the King auoid this Ill And with a more then manlie countenance Gaue with his Brasen-staf so hudge a blo As kild the knight and brak the mass in two In th' English that hath sene their campeon fall Disdane and Wrath with Shame and feir contends Disdane and Wrath for dread Reuenge doth call But shame and fear bewrays their want of freends That they were thus allone now knew they all A spur to haist both shame and fear it lends Thus in amazement long they stand in dout If they should flie reteir or fight it out Yet heighe disdain did fearis faint strok rebatt Now they wold force the Scotts to fight or flie Eache to him self these words doth ruminat Oute number farr exceideth theirs we sie But lo their leader strenght repins their at Softlie reteir and keip your ranks quod he Oure last commissioun is expirâ— of right We had in chairge to martche but not to fight Wheir with the Scots so fircelie doeth persew As they war vrgd a forcd retreatt to take And scattered in disordered flight with drew When wislie Bruce his galland troups drew bake Ill to preuent deceate for to eschew He thinkst to tymlie fortune to awake Haist wanteth witt rashnes shall loose his winning And maks greate lose attend a fair beginning Now wer the Scots reteird and left their wrathe When all the Lords thus to their King doth say What may this natioun look for els but death What may this Kingdome look for but decay In yow consists oure being life and Breath Yow gone we die yow lost we 'r lost for ay Yet yow your self and ws in yow expose To Danger still and hazards all to lose To this was answer dah my Lords quod he I broke the brauest staf that eure was made I must confes O wisdome worth to flie On golden wings of fame for euer laid This answer seimd no answer for to be And yet theirin both wiâ—t and patience stayed He clois'd their mouthes ere half their speach was doâ—n For what he did vnkilld he could not shune Yea he the daunger braulie did awoid And Iust praise merits not vniust reproof He deimd no lose if he hade keipt his rod But all this tyme Randolph without releifâ— Inuirond with his mightie foes abod Which to the worthie Douglas breâ—d such greif That when the King refuisd him leaue to aid him To braek furth throu the camp in raige it made him But as he neirer to the Battell drew He saw the Englishe bands begin to reill O then quod he it wer noe freindschip trew To reaue the glorie thou deserus so weill Then stood he with his band a fare to view The will of Mars and works of cutting steil Mars blisd him oft that wapâ—ns first inuented But Pitie cursd and wishd him oft tormented At last he seis them wholl he put to flight And bak vnto their camp they haist with speed The Scots for to persew them seimd not light So werrie they so fant so much they bleid Many of them were wounded in the fight Tho none but one was kild and for that deid Thrie hundreth foes lay dead into the place Or eu'r their fellous wold the flight embrace Lo onlie heir trew valor might be seine Blew Theetis boundles arms did noght contein More worth in warr more strength more curage kein Then in thoes gallant English did remaine No falt in them no conquerours to haue bein One earth to striue with fortune is but vaine What Mars requeris was theiris without Intutione Only ou'r matcht in constant resolusione These loses throgh the English camp do flie Whill Terror fear and Conscience leads the way Confusioun follous after spedelie Of these when Curage hears he maks no stay Furth from the camp he stelleth secretlie And to the Scotts he came er braek of day But Pride and hâ—ighe Disdane behind abaid That all the world could to distructioun leid Yet heir and their in twoes and threis they go Their leaders conscience laâ—rge accusing thus He wold an antient natioun ouerthro A frie croune reaue O this is dangerus Joue fights for them Gods thundring wrath we kno What heart so bold but heaune maks timerus If heir we fall as we must surlie fall Heigh iustice dealls with vs with them and all Vthers that on Disdaine and Pride still fed Thus say tush Scotts what ar these Scotts to vs Meire dunces grose by simple outlaus led Wild sauage naked poore and barbarous Their Lord a montain climber â—aslie cled More like a cloune then King victorius A hundreth thousand doth adorne our hoast In whoe 's sterne face he darrs not look allmost No sooner we shall in the feilds appeir When they in Caues and Dens them selfs shall hide Gainst flights of Egills darres poore Crous compeir Or sillie sheip the dreadfull Lions bide Dare a poore band of cuntrie swans draw neir Vnto a world of martiall soldeors tride In bloodie fights no no if we but sight them Oure veray drums and trumpets shall affright them Thus brage the English whill two courteous knights Whois chaist ears still abhord vane glorious bosts Replied these Scotts whome your cleir day benights A handfull ay compaird with your greate hosts Poore sauge simple whom your neame afrights These many hundreth yeirs hath keipt these costs And throu the wordle haue wone a famous name Their trophes darkning oft your gloreis beame And sure these Crous do merit double praise That beat the Princelie Egills from their nest These scheip aboue all beasts them selfs doth raise That tear the Lions which disturb their rest If a poore band of fermors nou adais Of conquests wrong great Kings hath dispossest Eune in dispight of such great strenght so neir They merit most whoe 's worth doth most appeir As for the Bruce whome you so much disdaine And rather termis a ruffian then a roy We heir that he but with a simple traine Eune Englands mightie armeis doth distroy And tho the Scotts them selfs be him againe He conquers still a Greek in midst of Troy Ah if he be so worthles as you mak him Why trouble you all Europe thus to tak him In Brabant borne these knights were both that mak Their parte so good whome yet they neuer knew Such indignatioun heighe the English tak Both Sids leap furth to arms and wapins drew But soone commanders wise their furie brak And both wer broght to that greate Monarchs view Who when he hard what they had boldlie said This hauie punishment vpone them laid We chairge you quiklie from oure camp quod he And presentlie vnto the Scotts repare Their hinder what you can oure victorie Both with your counsail valour strenth and â—are And who soeuer too morrou lets vs sie
of grit walue to his Prince The 8 Laerd of loghleuin who bein vpon he King his left-hand at flouden ane vther vpon the right hand was boith sleane with their Prince their being 45 of their enemies fond kild aâ—bout theame The 9 laird of loghleuin His wife aâ— moist virteus wisse beutifull Ladie His fiue doughters so admirable in all the giftes of nature as not onlie theÌ„ selfs but their of spring at the ornameÌ„ts of their seexe â—â— he tent pariâ—â—â— at sea be tempest of vather Williame now Erle of mortune Scâ—tts only wer the ouer throuwers of them selfis deuiditt in thrie factions the brooce the baliol and the cumming both the last took pairt with England against the Bruce Sir Odomer de wallance was crll of Pembrok 〈…〉 To witt the Douglas A mo oâ—ine in the Armie for the Kings diseas which shous their loue to him worthie to be notteth This Frenshman was Thomas of Longouell To wit Edward Cree a water or â—euer in galway This was the generall of the English armmie calid 〈◊〉 ingrem â—mphranell Butteil Castell a strong hoild in galloway This capten â—eght wobâ—ount This wobtoun was inioynd by his miseres to keip thee venterous Castell of Douglas an Èeir befoir she wauld fauour him which in Innâ—k tione was found in a letter gottin on him when he was sleaâ—e The Lord stewart of buhkill risâ—th agenst the douglace A crewell fight Randolph was his sister sone The Lord of lorn was sone to the â—rll of Argill The name of the Gascon was 〈…〉 bald A pitiful fight Queene 〈◊〉 garet that was cannoneidse the chast wryie vpon the wall of the chappell Gordevous 〈◊〉 François with ane maÌ„â—limming vp â—llledder 〈◊〉 â—ne wall which is meint by France that was the caus of the wining of the Castell The captane hight Guilliame â—erms whereby it appeirs he was a 〈◊〉 man The erlls of orknay and caithnes The erlls of sother land and ros The frasers Grants and Glenhatten Erlle of moray Erlle of mar Erlle of Atholl Erle marchel his first forbier at the â—attell of ar broth slew camus Prince of dains for which he gat gryt sandes and was made Marchell of Scotland Lord Ogilluy Lord of brich me Erlle of montrois Erll of Craffoord The discriptione of the carrs of gourie Erlle of arrall his first foibeit aâ—â— us batâ—ell of with his two sones And yoks in their haÌ„ds stayed the Scotts from flight and obtainned the victorie for â—he which they gott the care of gourie was made constabâ—◠〈◊〉 Scotland Erlle of rothes and the Lord lindsay with others Lord setone erlle of wencon Lord liuingston erlle of lithquhow Lord elphingston Lord drummond erlle of perth and Males then erlle of strachern Lord murray of Tullibern erlle of ballâ—uhidder Lord Stewâ—rd then of Bonkâ—ll Lord Marquis of huntle This sir Allexander Gordone sought the feild of keilâ—line agains the Erle of Atholl who took pairt with EnglaÌ„d which Erll the said sir Allexander slea with his oune hand for the which he gatt the lands of Strathbogie George Lord Gordon Erle of enzye The Lord of Lorne was sone to this Erll of Argill A short discription of the Iyrish Scots Ties war the barrons of his neame as the leard of Londy Glenurche Cadel and others The grit steuert of Scotland Waills Cornuell England The mers manie of all the deals borders and much of the Wastland Ireland Charls the 〈◊〉 graâ—e the â—â—lands to his sone Philip King of spane long efter this tyme. The Cnntrie of Gascon Poictue BritangÈie Sanct Molois haâ—â—n a griâ—e streÌ„gth is guearded by Masteus Normandie Boloigne wheir their is and old strong Tour built by Cesar to be sein at this day Pâ—cardie At Amiens two vther riuers discharges their Burdens in the soum Henolt Brabâ—nt Flanders Gent thoght to be the lairgest toun in Europ wheir chaâ—ll the 5 thaâ— famous Emperor was borne Zeland is 〈◊〉 Islands within the sea which the sea sâ—m tym ouerfloued as appeirs by sindrie good arguments Holland My â— Author saies ane hoÌ„deriâ—h but al the cronickles agre on fiue hoÌ„drâ—th The Scotts houâ— boolded in hand warâ— wherein Bruce Portrat and the Scotts Arms was set Sir Giles of argenâ—ine Sir Odomer de vallange rode on eather hand of the King Randolph the Valient Douglas the Erl of erol The Bruce his oratione Multitood maks novieâ—torie The Scots wer all chofin Gentilmen no commons amoÌ„gst theme King edward his â—ratione * King Robert and Eduard his brother King Robert head 2. bretherâ— taken presoâ—ers who ware both slaine This was the Lord Mershall â—eght Robert Keith The Erll of Stratherne and his sone both kild by the King of England These two 〈◊〉 Sir 〈◊〉 of argentine and sir adomer de vallange A gallant fight betuex the Bruce the argentine Hay Erll of 〈◊〉 constabill of Scotland
THE FAMOVS HISTORIE OF the Renouned and Valiant Prince ROBERT surnamed the BRVCE King of SCOTLAND c of Sundrie Other valiant knights both Scots and English Enlarged with an addition of the Scottishe Kinges lineallie discended from him to Charles now Prince together with a note of the beginninges of the most parte of the antieÌ„t and famous Nobilitie of Scotland A Historye both pleasant and profitable set forthe and done in heroik verse by PATRICK GORDON Gentleman At Dort Printed by George Waters 1615. At Adenburgh the twentie thrie day of december 1613. This book seene and alloued and therefore may be published and put to the presse Sanctandrous DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI ✚ SOIT ✚ QVI MAL ✚ Y ✚ PENSE THeit is sindrie Errours askepd both in the Orthographe and want of single letters But inspetiall their is two falts to my knowledge in the vears the first in the 2. cap. the 5. Line of the last vears to witt Reed shours of blood in sindrie pearts had beene The 2. is in the thrid cap the 3. vers and the 2. line to witt VVheir was the wounted Loyaltie now gone This with sindrie vther salts as but whear it is teaine for without and vther Scots words which I haue rather chusd to pas then loise a sound runing line I dout not but the reader will excuse in respect that this book was Printed in ane vther contrey wheir the setters did not vnderstand the Langage To the most Honorable and most Accomplished Erles William Erle of Angus and William Erle of Morton RIght honorable noble Lords presuming on the accustomed myldnes and affabelitie for the which your L. L. haue not beene a litle famous It hath imboldned me to lay the barren feild of my Vnfructfull braine before the powerfull Sune of your Perfections whoe 's beams may Illuminat the dark sheddowes Dispers the gros Vapores and rype the enrypened Ears that so you may receaue the increas of this my second Harvest nether deserveth such a rare excellent Fruer anie les then such a fair and confortable Summer being the glorious actiones of that Illustrus and generus Bruce which haueing bred in so sweet and ferteill a Soyll hath made me ambitiouslie greeddie therwith to inrich my barrén fielde hoping that my insuffitiencie if once supported by the vnremouable pillers of your Vertues shall be able to resiste the stormie Tempests of wind-blasting Sicophants and beat bak the swerms of Poisone sucking Wasps so that the Seed preserued by your means onlie shall yeeld all aeges the tymlie Harvest of your L. L. Eternall glorie I being bound by such admirable worth vndeserued courtessie for euer to Rest. Your L. L. most affectioned and humble servand Patrick Gordon The preface or rather an aduertisment to the Reader before he read this Poem of some spetiail points to be obserued in the whole worke with the vse of some partes seeming Fabolus therein FEaring to be taxt of ambitious arragance for daring to midle with so rare a work I am onlie armd with the natural dewtie which I owe to my countrey the vant of good wil in the more excelleÌ„t Spreits but aboue al the neuer enough praised verteus of that most admirable Prince Robert Bruce ambitiously desiring to immitat him whose vnquensable loue burning zeale towards his Contrey was such as he being a Prince Roialy discended delicately brought vp beloued and honoured of all men of larlge and great reueneues both in England and scotland so that it was thoght he had more contentment of mynd and more blisings-heaped on him by heavens then any liveing in his dayes Yet such was his loue to the libertie of his countrey as forseaking his reveneues leaveing his wyf cheldren abandoning al his royel delicasies plesurs and delights he betook him self to armes wherein when fortune hade crosd him so far as it is sead he lost thertin Battels before he wan one so that heauens seemd to threattin wengence for the wilfull refusall of thees former blisings and first was he crosd with mis-fortun in warr the lose of his brotheren his wife and daughter being taken presoners at which tyme his brotheren was cruallie execute his freinds become al his enameis and being persueit both of scots and English was forsd in great miserie and powertie the speace of thrie yeare to keip the montains wher herbs was his dentiest meaits and watter his strongest wyne not withstanding that he might still haue bene restored to al his former digniteis and much more if he could haue suffered to behold his countreyes miserie as they saw his but such was his meachles loue to them althogh they hatted him that still he lamented their caus more then his owin in his manie soroufull discourses wold alwayes repeat these wersses following Ni me Scotorum Libertas prisca moveret Non mala tot paterer orbis ob Imperium Robertus Brusius THeis verses written and subscribed with his owin hand in his Manuall book which he alwayes careed about with him was extent within thes feew years but to sett downe all his workes and fortitude of mynd ware to redious seing you shal find manie of them in the historie following and altho the old printid book besyds the owtworne barborous speiches was so euill composd that I culd bring it to no good method till my loveing freind Donald farchersone a worthie gentil man whoe 's name I am not asham'd to expres for that he was a restles suter to me to taik this work in hand broght me a book of virgine parchement which he hade found amongst the rest of his books is was old torne almost inlegeable in manie places vanting leaves yet hade it the beginning and hade bein sett doune by a monk in the abey of melros called Piter fenton in the year of god one thousand thâ—ie hundreth sixtie nyne which was a year before the death of King Dauid Bruce it was in old ryme like to Chaucer but vanting in manie parts and in special from the field of Bannochburne fourth It wanted all the rest almost so that it could not be gotten to the pres yet such as I could reid thereof hade manie remarkable taillis worthie to be noted and al so probable agreing with the trewth of the historie as I haue foloued it alsweil as the other theris onlie two partes seeming sabolous the first is the Baliols Visioune which as it is of small consequence doth no euil so doth it chek and forbid a base mind to aspire showing that a mightie generous sperit onlie ought to be ambitious the secound is the historie of the Kingis which after I hade fullie accomplisd with the rest of the book fearing it should be too tedius for the reader I haue taken it out in the place therof insert thoes princes discended of the Bruce nether would I be offenceive for the adding of theis fragments for I know that sume curious
Shine Hee suddanlie with Sacred furie glows His Soule cleiv's throw the ten fold orbs in fine And from sole Maiesteis bright Glorie drow's Her all celestial Sacred food divine A Sun like brightnes on his forehead grow's A schining luster from his eies furth sent A firie glance of goldlyke Blandishment First thow said hee the Rampand Lion tyis Wha wandering from his Den goes farre a stray Intrap'd in snaires and foraigne subtilteis Whoe erst subdew'd all prays becums a pray To craftie subtill Foes yet doth arise With glorious Triumph to their greate decay And hee whoe scornd a strainger sould command Now yeelds his Neck to thy victorious hand Heir saillis the Schip wheirin thy young Sone sitts Slyceing the vaus of Azur trembling plains And wafts into a forren land that fitts For greennish youth wheir all delight Remains Whill heir sterne warrs remorsles furie fretts And tears oure Bowells a shunder strip's oure vaint Yet this blist bark oure Jason brings from Greece And of sweit Peace brings home the Golden Fleece But lo heir cums the loftie coach-man doune That after him draw's furth suche lamps of light Such Jems such Pearels and Jewells for the crune Such Ornaments such onlie rare delight That Sun like schyns with evir blest renowne And all from Po to Gangis feiris their might Yea and him self his chairge so weil discharges Earths sole Impire Joue for his Seed enlarges Then cums â—hat holie Prince Graue wise and old That for his children murning still laments Whoe 's spotles life heirby the Swans foretold His thoghts and looks the Eagill still presents For lo his Eies bent vpwards still behold Fixt on his Phebus the one trine Essence Hee for his children plains to Ioue abowe Whoe shall regaird his looks his life his love Heir cums that Prince of wrongfull Boundage frie Who that myld Virgin iustice did releace From that wild Monster raiging Tirannie And sett her frie to all his happie race Hee rewels the land with laues and equitie In Whoe 's blist regue flous knawlege welth and Grace Of Iustice in his hand hee holds the heid Whois splender striks all malefactors deid Heir monted doth that valiant Prince advance Whoe 's heavin-wrocht lance his enemies ov'rthrouis In whome shal schine pure virtues radiance Rais'd vp on hie by Ioue gainst all his foes The ravening wolf hee foilles with Temperance And the trew Path to treew Religion shois Moueing his subiects hearts their minds and all Greate Ioue to feare and on his name to call Now in thy time quod he shall heir arriue A worthie knight that from his natiue land Shall flie becaus he brauelie shall deprive In glorius fight a knight that shall with stand Thy Praises deu whill he doth thee descriue Yea ewin this knight shall with victorious hand Come heir whoe 's name his Seid shill eternize And still they virteus line shall sympathize From this great man shall one far greater spring Whom fortune fair and fate shall stil attend Bellona fearce and Venus myld shall bring Laurells from Mars but to greate loue shill send A Garland ritche sprung from this worrthie King Whose royall Stem vnto the endles end Of his greate line their Tempels sall adorne With neuer setting ever rysing morne For lo the Daughter of this worthie * Prince Sall wed this knight thts Lord of heigh renowne Whose hight whose greatnes and whose excellence Whose Schulders seims ane Atlas to the crowne Of him shall come that mightie Lord whoe thence Shall go and proud rebellious Danes beat doun He to obey his Princes great commaud Shall tak this bold and wightie chairge in hand An Armie and a Nauie he shall bring ou're thetis glassie montans groundles Deip Vnder his wings that disin throned King Shall go whose crowne rebellious Danes still keip Ou're all these northern worlds his name sall ring Terror in Eurie Ear whill he doeth steip His sword in their most valiant Princes blood Whose might his all-commanding will gane stood And to his wounted height that King shall raise And Inthroneize him in dispight of foes With fame With glorie and with endles praise He shall returne vnto his land but lose When he hath spent in honors height his dayes Fauord by heau'ne fred from vntimlie Woes Of him discending shal a Greater ryise And lift his Glorie farr aboue the Skyis He shall this land Gouerne Protect defend â—rom forangne force from home-bred Ciuill broille And the Emperiall swey shall swet lie bend Whill the right heyre is Yung in these great toille Eune the most christian king sall seu in end For his greate freindschip and his favor whills To Dignitie aloft he shall him rear Thus sall his greatnes schyn both heir and their Nor yet this Prince allone shall be the last That shall surmount his Predicessors farr But this great famelie shall spred so fast As England shall in'uy that such a Starr Schot from their sphere hath their cleir lichts surpast And like a comet blazing blood and warr Streams furth their beams that eche wheir purge from error And warmis their freinds but burns their foes with terrâ—â— This famous line shall floorish more and more Greate Columns faire rare Pillars of the crowne Ritche ornaments that shall the land decore Sune-glistring-lights with euer blisd renowne Heaune blazing lamps whoe 's flame from virtues storâ— Brings oill wheirin they hell-bred Hydras drowne But leave we them and of thy royall race Show heavins-rare blessings greatnes hightâ— grace Then comes that Serpent berar furth in view In base borne venamous blood to much delighted Our all the land their poysoned goir they spew And all his weill borne subjects much affrighted Wheirof greate harme greate vengance doth ensew For those foull Beasts of eche so much dispighted Shall be the caus of this greate Princes fall Their Poison so infects heart minde and all And Archer like the nixt doth martche on foot Amidst his armie rashlie to persew His craftie fo'es whill his brave minde to stout Shall scorne the Counsal of his subjects trew Their shall vnwars this war-like Prince no dout Be lost whoe 's want thow Scotland long shall rew For lo too soone his sone of glorie Bright Is chok'd with mists of feats vntimelie Night And heir behold that Magnanimious King Most iust in peace most valorus in warr his royall Scepter bravelie managing Whoe 's glorious fame shall pears all Europs ear From him fair Beuteis faerest floure shill spring Whom heir you sie sett in a royall chear And their her dangling golden locks intreyld Much these have blist her but much more her child The Argument The south and North crownes ioynd by that great King Who of all Kinges hea'uns blissinges most embrace His works his witt heauens care him saâ—f to bring To happie and his two rair impes of grace In whom hess bles'd more then in anye thing By warr the youngest
he threats threatning deis The captains Brother thristing for reuenge Thrusts throu the throng and to the Prince he hyis Wrath from his eies foorth sparkled lightning straunge And with an Angrie voice he sternlie cryis Ah villans you your credet thus infreinge Ah soldiers you no soldiers thus that seis Your captane slane ah now returne yow neuer You Fasards wretches Outcasts curst for euer Waik feble faint for horse for sword or spear More fit for iron toolls then Armour bright Your heads Breists baks should hauie burdens bear No helms nor sheilds should you adorne with light In curage place is entred shame and fear No hope is left but in your feit and flight In darkest night your cheifest strenth abyds Darknes your shame your feare and faintnes hyds And full of raige for eu'rie word a stroak He gius oure Prince whoe 's sword bears eurieble And whill he yet enraig'd wold more haue spok He cuts his words and with them cuts in two His Iaws on him death spreads his mistie cloak He on his brother falls whoe leiuing lo Him doth imbrace both kish both soules remoue O! Pitie great O! Blesd O! wandrous love Now foreward rushd this single Campioun stout And maks such hauock alway wheir he goes As Boreas when he has blasted out His storms of Herbs Treis Beists and Foulls the foes Or as the raiging Floods that rore and rout Gainst Rooks or Thunders that heigh Tours doun throes As Earthquaks threat to burst the eairh a sunder His force so shaks thois bands O Strenth O wonder Whill thus he kills and driu's them bak by force And all their bloes vn-harm'd vn-hurt sustaind Horse bruisd their Maisters whill he treds the horse In and beyond the stream they all remaind Forst doun with might the passage quite they lose When lo the armie cums and quiklie raind A storme of swords whill trumpets roaring blast Warr's thundring tempests foorth with lightning cast Death horror murther feare Greif sorrou Paine Came fare before and with thier tallons wide Sease on their hearts and chilid in eurie vaine Their vitall Breath that fleis it self to hide Nou ar they so benoum d that scarce remiane Strenth for to flie Or force for to abide Some flee some fall some droun dispaird allone Eche vther hurts for haist for to be Gone The Prince by this of al his foes was cleird And setts him doune vpone a stone to rest Sueat on his face Blood on his arms appeird His breath was short faint heat his hairt opprest Wearie his arms his hands so stiflie steird He could not weild his sword which he possest And lo the sword did seeme no sword at all So blunted was the Edge and hack't so small By this his Troups were come vnto the place And for him calls and for him loudlie cryis But when they fand him when they kneu his face In heaps they run to feid their longing eies And doun they fall his feitt for to imbrace With thanks and praise to God they rend the skeis That hee allone overcums a thousand foes They doubt who wonders most or most reiocs They find the captaine and his Brother slane And fiftein more ly wallowing in their blood Some English were some Scotts who felt the pane They gane who gainst their king and cuntrie stood In Gallowoy these Troups did all remane Holding that cuntrie in great feruitude They took King Edwards pay their captane bold Broght them in hope of gane praise Glorie gold But the Lord hay and vthers graue and wise Against his rashnes bitterlie did chide Quod they what proue you in this interprise No Generall nor no captane Prince nor Guide In whoe 's deir lose en'ne all oure losse nou lyis Nor ours allone but all this all beside Ah should you not to mind oure natioun call That but for yow no natioun were at all Allace do you of Glorie so at count That It to gane ane Empire you wold lose Nor can you not to endles glorie mount But to all dangers you yourself expose In vaine poore valor doth for Glorie hount If noght for Goode of wisdome he maks choise Be wise deare Lord since of our croun and camp You ar the head the heart the life the lamp He litle answere to these speeches made But said he forcd was ether fight or flee Now to the camp triumphand waies they ryid Whil day shuttes furth his siluer hornes on hie Fame flees oure all on Warr's winges sanguine reid And stroues the seid of this great victorie Which back vnto the camp brought manie skore Who crost with fortunes bad hade fled before Edward the bold in Lennox nou remiand And with thrie hundreth did that land subdeu Who hearing what his brother late hade gaind Returnes vnto the campe with all his creu The Douglas with his traine that late obtaind His oune cheef strenth which last he ou'r threu Heares that the Clifford had with wondrous care Reedified the bulding much more faire And left a warr-like man a valiaunt knight To keep the hold with him three hundreth strong And he who thus commanded Thirswall hight A man who hade in warre experience long Yet wold the Douglas needs essay his might And to the world make knowne his right their wrong To sixtie now his traine augmented werre With those he wold essay the chance of warre The Argument An English visard with great arte foreshowes The Douglas of spring great to these our daies And how that happie famelie aroise To fortunes height where at the world may gaize The secound time he doeth himself apoise Against his foe and their with endles praise Oure throwes the captain of his cheifest streinth Then back to ead his Prince returnes at leinth Caput 9. NOw with this English captaine did abyde His Vncle old graue learned wise and trew Whoe 's iudgement deep was rairlie deified Highe misteries and secreitts hidd he kneu One day by chance the Douglas he espyde Who thus vnto the Captane quicklie drew From this infused spiriet and flowing minde This Historie by hea'une long since deuinde The righteous heire of that most famous line That shall the Scots ferce natione still adorne To whome and not without right doeth incline These Lordshipes great which Clifford holdes in scorne Who once hath wunn this strength without ingine Whoe 's virtue be no time can be outworne Shall winne the land againe and it posses In vaine wold mightie England him oppres O're him to triumphe ne're shall England bost But victor he shall ouermore remaine He shall not feare to meet their mightie host With his small troupe the gatland still to gaine Whill fortune his attempts hath neuer crost He cloi'd with conquest heir shall croce the maine His Princes vnperformed vow to beare Where infidells his worth shall knou and feare Nought without cause the west shall feare him still Their cheefest nationes force his sword shall tame And all the
found In the greate North and sie that you defyle With blood and warr great Europs greatest Iile Mak Englands King to forge some causes new To keip the right which he by wrong hes got Tell him that heau'ne ordains him to renew Sinns iust reward vpon the sinfull Scot Mak English all with deadlie hait persew The Scots their onlie antient foes by lot The onlie blok that euer bears them doune From all their greatnes Glorie and renoune Thus edge them on It were greate lose great shame If they vnto their wonted greatnes rise Your strength allone was neuer so extreame To mak them once to shrink nor could deuise By slight or might to droune their famous name Till now that loe them selfs them felfs defyis And what you swords before could neuer doo Their swords haue doune and winn them selfs to yow So that yow sie heau'ne fauors your intent With these and vther your intendit slight Arme them with pride hate Anger discontent And moue the Scotts still gainst them selfs to fight For lo I sie Joue doth his wrathe relent And minds to raise the Scotts to greater might For in that famous Bruce and in his lyne They must be blisd and ou'r all Europe shyne Though what great Joue decrees we can not mend Yet may we oft delay th'intendit blise Which he ordains vpon fraill man to send Since sluggish man by Nature cairles is And wee may moue him thankles to offend And oft to disobey his law I wish For man is fleshlie geu'ne to foull delight And God is alway pure cleir holie right Since wee of all the damned heyres as cheiff And has no longer tyme from Torments frie Then till the cup be full of Gods hote greiff And that greate day of his fierce wrathe wee sie Then with the soules which now without releif We still torment shall wee tormented be And which is worse oure pains shall neu'r be spent Whill we oure selfs must still oure selfs torment Then heauins decree to stay oure strength is small Yet heaueing tyme we may not tyre of Ill Since what we wold that can we not at all Do what we may we may not what we will At these his words Invy and malice swell With murdring hate their breists with venom fill And vp they flie to view days glorious light Bringing Mischeif Greif horror warr dispight Arriuing heir they fill eche Godles heart With anger raige Mischeif pride hate inuie Then to the camp they hie to vse their airt But their vane Slight the nobler sort descrie Whill grace loue wisdome with their worths desert Did dreiue them thence in endles infamie Yet in the basser sort great pou'r they winne Throu whoe 's faint hearts dispair feir danger rune Greate bands of these by their deceat they dreu Who stelling from the camp by night doth flie And still these feinds to their fant minds doth shou For hoped Conquest shamefull Infamie Ther former lose remembrance lets them knou Which oft repeated maks their hopes to die These words they murmur still them selfs among On shamefull death shall we attend so long Allace what strength what might what pour'r haue we Ritch England warlick Schotland to ganestand May not oure Lord behold his infamie And in the glas of former works haue scand That gainst his will heaunis bend their iust decrie Earth scorns to build a Trophee for his hand Fate to his fall his frouning fortun brings Heauen earth fate fortun all crose his desings Heauins neuer yet did feuour his intent Earth neu'r lookt for conquest at his hand Fate neuer fraimd his will to find content And fortun neuer lik't of his demand Fair victorie her cheifest wealth has spent On his proud foe whoe conquering doth command Vs all if got like robbers hangd to bee Thus we 'r but outlawes to his maiestie With Greif and sorrou pane and trauel sore We hunger-sterud Amidst the montansly Oure frends still aid oure foes and which is more Eu'ne oure oune natioun vs with scorne defie Thousands that rose in oure defence before Now with oure foes gainst vs ther forces trie Whill wee that noght but shame and want doth gane Attend on hope and still attend in vane Why stay we then to immitat their flight Whoe with our foes abide in wealth and ease No let vs render vp this camp but fight And giue our Lorde to vse him as they please Or if noght this then let vs flie by night And yeildinge to our foes their wrathe appease This laste opinioun eache approueth so That eu'rie night in troups away they Goe Thus wroght blak Plutos messingers their will And now to worke the rest of their mischeife Braue Pembroks ear with these glad neus they fill And fills his warrlik mind with raige and greif To mak an end of warr they show him still That now he may at ease without releif His waikned foe of forder hopes depriue Quite ouerthroune or kild or tane aliue Then fed with hope he doth an armie raise Of Scotts and English neir ten thousand strong Whoe 's minds with hate and with desire of praise They do inflame nor stay they those among But heir and their throgh all the land they gaise Subiects to find whereby to work more wrong At last of lorne that cruell Lord they find And vnto new reuenge they stirre his mind To nev reuenge of his deir cusings blood Greate Cummernald whom Bruce before had slane He to this warr brings foorth fiue thousand good And to greate Englands generall ioins amane Thus foreward prikt with hope and hatfull mood They brauelie martch ou'r hil ou'r daill ou'r plane Whereof our Gallant noght at all did kno So spedelie and secretlie they go Now of fiue hundreth thrise with him remaind Thrie hundreth scant the rest war fled and gone Whereof he oft and secretlie complaind Yet wise lie in him self conceall'd his mone But nou his scouts by trauell that obtaind A sight of their Proud foe return anone And to him bring those wofull neus at last Whoe 's sound from eare to eare right sadlie past The relicts small of his forsaeken host Wheir all about him standing in a round Whill as bold Edward thus did him accost My Lord and brother let not this confound Your noble thoghts tho numbers quite be lost In this small band must all your hops be cround Tho fortun beare your iust desings aurie She can not let vs brauelie for to die Will is it knowne since first we Armour tooke When in oure cuntreis cause we swore to stand That euer since wee suffred haue rebooke Nor fortun once wold fauour oute demand With shame and lose oure Frends vs all forsooke Oure soldiers seing noght but lose at hand Haue left vs Cowards worthie not to breath That we may look for nothing now but death Yet sall it neu'r be said nor sein nor knowne That in oure latest hour we shrink or flie No let oure hearts oure hands and al
drunk too much And some with cards and some with dice wer led Some lasie lubbards quafd carrousis deip Till eurie drink began an endles sleep Whill thus they ly thois warreours enter in Too strik Iustitiars for to pairt the fray The wine and blood both foorth togidder rin From bak from brest or side eu'ne as they lay Half words confoosd their hollow throts within Made billowing nois their blood their breath did stay Someâ—ise to strik some op's their mouth to chide Those fall and these with blood chokt gasing diede Thus whill eche sword dislodg'd a hundreth liues Braue Bruce made knowne his rancour wrath and ire Squadrons he killâ— cuts cords and tents he riu's And for reuenge enflam'd with hote desire To ouerthrou them all alone he strius To kill the men and set the camp on fire And foreward still allone he Murthring goes giuing more deaths then wounds more wounds then bloeâ— But as a hungrie Lion for his foode Kills thousand beasts mo then he can deuore So thou stout Edward doth their liues seclude Whom thy braue Brothers haist had past before And tredding proudlie on the multitude Thou seemest sad becaus thou findst no more Whereon to exerceis thy valor so Wishing eche trunk could raise a stronger foe Now at an vther Parte doth enter in The conquering knight that dreidful slaughter makâ— So from the west the drying winds begin To cleir heauins cloudie front and stronglie braks The spoungie bann exhal'd vp by the Sunne Furth of the Germane laik which Aâ—oll taks Vpone his wings and mousters sorth in hosts Wheir with he threats to droun the northern costs Eu'ne so this campioun dâ—iueth bak by force The multitude of armed Squadrons strong His warlik wepon kill 's without remorse His eies such firie splendor dairts along As burns their hearts but fear concealls their lose All turning baks forget to venge their wrong And cairles of their shame their fame their fall They lose their liues their honor hope and all And he that to gainestand will proue so bold As not to flie but brauelie beare it out Soone lyis he breathles tumbling on the mold Which in the rest conferms their fear and doubt Thus foreward none his furie can with hold Till with his Lord he meits wheir all the rout Assembled were and weareid nou with killing The souldiers disperst the tents were pilling But Scots greate king who saw them cairles care More for their gaine then conquest to prolong Causd sound retreat least some neu force repare And bring the conquest backe with shame and wrong By this the English Generall did prepare Of armed knights aboue fiue thousand strong But this braue Lord in time reteird his crew Whill as they had no lust for to persew The worthie Bruce thus haueing payd his foe Of that disgrace which he had lait receau'd He was both lou'd and fear'd and hatit so As the iust worth of his greate deids had crau'd Yea Englands warlick Generall thoght in woe Extold him much when he his worth perceau'd Swearing by Joue that heauins decred to raise him And in the midst of hate was forcd to praise him Wheirfore he breaketh vp his camp that night Letting his Soldiers to their home reteire The mightie Scot to Carrick marcheth right And soiorns their the deade time of the yeare Wheir noght befell him worthie to reciet Saif once he went a hunting of the Deare For their hee thoght no foes could harme afford Since all that land obeyd him as their Lord. Now being much delighted with that sport His warlik knights were neir about him still One day vnto an forrest they resort The hart and hind with Grewhounds for to kill And he allone stai'd in a priuat sort With two swift hounds aboue them on a hill Till all the rest were scattred farr and niere Rousing the woods to bring him in the deere While here he staied three men he did espie Come from the wood with awfull countenance Each bends a bowe and thus doth him defie To venge the Cumings blood is our pretence Braue Sirs quod he then first I praie you trie Me with your swords if I can make defence Thrie one to kill so farre were endles shame So Cowards fight the ualiant hates such game At these his words their bows awaie they threw And with their swoords they sharply him assaile His hounds he loos'd his sword he quickly drew And many bloes on either hand they deale The hounds that sie such foes their Lord persue One by the gorge vnto the ground they haile One of the other two by this he kil'd Then kills him whom the hounds at ground still hild The third who fears such guerdon for to trie Staied not but soon betakes himselfe to flight Whom when these Heauen-ordained hounds espie They follow both with kien and aufull might And in a Trace they force him by and by Most furiouslie vpon the ground to light Their Lord at last from them did him reswme And striklie giv's him his deserved doome When all his knights returnd they wondring view How heavens their Prince from danger had preserv'd To God they gaue greate thanks and Praises dew Reioysing that so braue a Lord they serv'd This did his fame throu all the land renew All wish'd him now what his great worth deserv'd Who skap'd so many Dangers they conclude Must be reserved for a greater goode The Argument FIrst at Gâ—entrâ—ll doth Scotts renowned Prince Get victorie aboue the English foe Douglas at Ederfoord with valiaunce By fourtie doth a thousand overthro Then Pembrok Sews for Battell with pretence To frie the land from longer warr and so 〈◊〉 Lowdon-hill he brings an armie fare But vanquist Fleis the land in greate Dispare Caput 12. WHen in his goolden carroish Sol returns From Zenith bake into the northern starr The Ram growne proud with am'rous heat so burne That with his horns he seimis too make him warr Hils turns in tearis their milk whit Robs and murns To se them selfs so strip'd by Sol afarr Who too redresse that wrong is quicklie seen For ermins poore to cloith them all in green The Gardens pranckt with rosie buds still spring Whill Flora dalleis in her flowire bed Whom Zepheir Cowrts and swit to her doth sing Wiping away the Tears Aurora sched Whoe 's shril sweit notts throu all the sorreâ—â—s ring When Meids with grase and woods with Leavs ar cled So that the spring thus following Phebus treace Made ewre thing to look with cheirfull face When Bruce Scotts hope their confort and their Ioy With all his knights doth too the feilds repeare Stout hardie Eduard feirles of Annoy And fortuns knight braue Douglas al 's wes there Whom victorie did sewintie tyms convoy Crownd with the Garlands of her golden hare And many mo all knights of highe renowne Pillars of State and Pearles vnto the Crowne Thrice nyntie knights their number were at most All marcheing furth with cheirfnll Countenance Whoe 's
So follow these their foes vnto the plaine Whoe still securlie marcht nor feard their traine And on them now they sett with curage stout With shouts and cryis they mak a fearfull sound Their first assalt disordred all the rout With lancis stiff they bore them doune to ground Who feard they were an armie great no dout So suddan furie doth the thoghts confound But their braue Lord sir Odomer suspected Their craftie gyll the which he thus detected Ah fear them not quod he I know their trains I know their craft I know their force their might We twentie ar wheir one of them remains Ah villans this is but a sillie slight Come yow shall haue your weill deserued pains In your owne netts your selfs ar taine full right Com we ar for yow come receaue your bloes I sie yow long your wretched lius to lose Nou nou-oure swords shall all those wrongs amend Bold Odomer with visage sterne cryes out And sindrie of his troups with him contend To force them bak but they with curage stout An ansuer sharpe on points of launces send Who broght by this an vther course about Fierce Eduard then with suord and sheild so hollow Cuts doun their ranks whoÌ„ blood death did follow From his sterne looks his fearfull foes withdrew Their eies that winkt which clouds of night bedims Their fanting hearts distills a bloodie dew Deaths thriefold horror through their ears still swims Their feit seme light to flie fant to persew A shevering cold throw all their bodyis clims Yea at his verie sight his foes resemble The Seggs or reids in fens with wind that tremble And now no more their captane they obey His aw seims nothing to their aufull foe Altho them selfs were willing for to stay Their legs hearts hands vnto their will said no All go to flight and heir and their doth stray Their Lord altho vnwilling neids must go He shams to England whill he heasts with speid That he had brok his vow for such a deid Victorious Eduard â—o the Seige retornd Whill omphrauell that hears this ouerthro Knew that proud fortun now her bak had tornd Whoe 's smylls were chaingd to frouns remeidles wâ— Wheirfore he yeilds the strength wheir he soiornd With passage frie in England for to go To this ferce youth now all the land obeys None his commands nor his behests gainseys Whill thus he raignd and rewled ouer all His valiaunt brother that all conquring King The Lord of Lorns old hate he did recall Which all in one his angrie pour's did bring His Heralds gius the camp but leasur small To Lorne to Lorne their proclamatioun sing But all this time the worthie Douglas goes Victorious still amongst his armed foes Douglas strong tour essais he first of all And fiftie load of hay in saiks weill bound He causd to driue hard by the Castell wall The Captane hoping victualls to haue found Isht with his troups whome or he did recall He seis that conquering knight so mouch renound Betuixt him and his strength who now with might Wold force him ather for to flie or fight And thus the Scotts assaill with rageing mood Whom long the English valiauntlie withstands Till like a Lion wet with luke warme blood The Douglas slops their ranks and braks their bands He heauid his sword aboue their heads wheir stood Both life and death that vrgd him with demands But as his furie led him all to kill Fear led them for to shun remeidles Ill. Wobtoun him self dyit by his valiaunt hand Wobtoun that captane was of all the rout The rest from him that fled no mercie fand All dy't yea eune the fearfull with the stout Nor wall nor tour nor Castell let they stand All throune to ground the ditchis fild about Greate Douglas fame now fleis ou'r all the land All yeilds to him ou'r all he doth command All Douglas Daill and Etrik Forrest faire And Jedburch to their natiue Prince then soght But the Lord Steuart Bonkills only heyre A man that valors rairest fructs furth broght Was chairgd by Englands King for to repare Gainst fortuns knight for this great wrongs he wroght Whoe with him broght the valiaunt Randolph furth And bold Sir Adam Gordone much of worth With these and fiftie more he came to view The land and how the people stood affected But worthie Douglas of their cuming knew Their secret drifts to him were all detected Then after them he softlie did persew And folloud them a faâ—â— still vnsuspected Till they at night reteird vnto ane Inn Was â—itchlie bult vpon the banks of Linn Then round about the house his men he set And threatned fire till they came thronging foorth With bloodie fight then both the pairteis met And both did proue the vtmost of their worth Thus Scotts against the Scotts were hardlie set Nor was their anye their of English birth Greate is the heat and furie blouis the fire Wheir freinds against their freinds ar moued with Ire Greats pitie was to view this wofull fight Still was the killer kill'd yet none wold flie The Douglas partie was of greater might Yet still the vthers fight and fighting die At last when death and slaughters at the hight Of fiftie none was left aliue but thrie That with the Stewart came and Douglas lost Of fiftie twiss neir sixte six all most Bonkills bold Lord that could no more defend With Randolph and with Gordone steps aside And soune was horst to she but lo in end The Douglas did so weill for that prouide Their way was stept what course so eu'r they bend Sir Adame Gordone leads and was their guide Who with a disperat hazard braue and bold Braks throu his foes and saiff his way doth hold The vther two did to the Douglas yeild Who intertaind them as his freinds most deir He manie days theirafter keept the feild But sawe no enemie at all appeir Yet neu'r Irkt he armour for to weild Wheirfore vnto his Prince he wold reteir Who now was on his Iournay Lorne to vew Yet to the Camp he came are any knew Eu'ne to the royall Tent swift fame had borne The news of his approache vnto the King Who from his throne rose like the glorious morne And to him says my thoghts were combatting If my loue'd Erlle did leiue or died forlorne And with his arms about his neck did hing Whill as he kneild my gratious Prince said he I leiue if in your grace if noght I die Much more they said at last the knight presents His prisoners vnto his royall Prence Whoe 's loue his Nephew too too soune preuents With speiches proud and spit'full conferrence But wisdome myld and graue with raige conuents And stai'd wrath haisting death for his offence Yet Bonkills Lord and he 's to prison sent Wheir they must stay till Lorns new warre bespent But now the Lord of Lorne that cleirlie knew Of their approach so weill did him prouide
greate Englands harms But lo Argill coms with their Erll whoe 's sone Yet to repent his wrongs hade not begone Scotlands greate Iustice is that aged knight And oure the Irish-Scotts greate reul he beir These men ar active nimble quik and light Light is their raiment armour none they weir At all tims reddie for to flie or fight Weill made weill fauord cleinlie smooth and fair Their som what rude yet mild if mildlie vsd Most cruell in reuenge if once abusd Of these two thousand Archers broght he furth And with tuo handit-suords and schirts of maill A thousand more of much redouted worth Fiue hundreth horsmen bold for to assaill Barrons and knights all sprong of noble birth Guards him gainst whom his foes could not preuail These Gallants braue were much to be commended All of his name and of his line discended And from the west came furth a valiant band Which did consist of twise fiue hundreth horse Quik agill reddie for to chairge at hand With sword or lance all of approued force From Lennox and Dumbretons plesant land Whoe 's flourie Mairg still seimeth Amorous Of tumbling Clid whoe 's Billous striue in vaine To wond the bossome of the western Maine These to obey their gallant Lord was glade Lennox good Erle that neu'r serud in vane The last braue troup was also brauelie led A thousand horsmen they did weill contane By Glasco Iruing and Ranfrew wer bred These men in Boots strong Ile did some remane Scotlands greate Stewart was their Lord and heght Walter by name wise valiaunt bold in fight These ar the troups and bands that heir wer broght And all were bred so neir the artik Starr That cold keips in the heat whoe 's pours hath wroght Strength in the heart and their vnited ar Which maks them fierce curagious bold for oght Marcheld for bloodie Mars and meit for warr But yet seaune Erles and threttein Lords did sho Them selfs in Arms to aide the English foe Yea manie Lords and Erlls haue I forgot That to the mightie Bruce assembled heir Whoe 's geatnes vntill now no pen did not Englands good fortun did so weill appeir Whill Joue him self did fauour still their lot Wherfore they wiselie did them selfs reteir As cannons fird gois bak that earthe may wonder When they aduance their all distroying thonder So these inflamd with fire of hot disdaine Reteird with greif with hate with lose with ire That with the greater force they might againe Aduance their lightning wraths-consuming fire And then a thundring tempests wold they raine Crushd from the suelling clouds of their desire Which to the King and all should weill declair That barren treis could now both bude and bare Now passed was eche troup eche squadron strong When to the camp their Prince his course furth bent And all his Princes go with him along To hold a counsall in the royall Tent Meane while the Douglas all his foes among Walkt for to kno their number pour intent At Beruick fair he had arriu'd vn-sein For their this mightie host did all conuein The Argument The English armie furth before their King To mâ—â—ster comes and all their foraeigne aid Doug as returnd recounteth eurie thing Ditchis t'intrap his foes greate Bruce hath made Randolphs rare fight fair conquest first doth bring Bruce Beumont kills the English dooth vpbraid The Scots with tants two Brabanders defend theme For which the King vnto the Scots doth send theme Caput 16. STrong Beruiks toun on Scotlands fronteir stands Their wheir with siluer streams the Riuer Tueid Diuyds oure kingdome from the English lands And wasts his waust ' enritch the Ocean flood Heir broght the Monarch all his warlick bands At whoe 's great name all Europe trembling stood And eurie Lord and eurte Prince and King Some gold sume gifts and all greate aid did bring This mightie Prince his poure assembling sought To kill the Scots or send them all in rout O're whome he streachd his Empyre with a thought Nor for to work the thing had anie dout Douglas his way eu'ne at that hour him broght When this hudge armie Bervicks walls about Incamped lay and when to sie eche crue The regall throne reard on the walls they view Him self in glorie sat vpon the throne A diadeleime vpon his head he wore A paill aboue of glistring gold cloth shone He trod on carpets ritche in pratious store Poudred with stones the robs which he had on And streight in ranks repeared him before His armed guard thus set each troup he knoes Whilst on the plaine there Martiall glorie floes Their Squadrons first the cheirfull English shoes In thrie Battallions eche a seu'rall guide By Seuerns streams from waills and Cornvaill rose Some threttie thousand stronge that did prouide Armd with their piks swords targets to oppose Their thretning force against their foe defide By Monmouths hardie erlle this host was led He raignd he reulled in his Princes sted And fiftie thousand horsmen soldiors good From Trent that pairteth England Iust in two To Thams and thence vnto he British flood These rose in glistring arms a warlick sho Like Mars him self eche breathed warr and blood Whoe 's sight wold vanquhish eune the boldest foe Led by two Princes of heighe fameleis Greate Arrandell old Oxfoord graue and wise To Humbers tumbling waus from siluer Trent And thence to pleasant Tueids cleir christall streams Came fiftie thousand Arches with Intent To die or win in midst of most extreams All these were of approued hâ—rdiment These Englands most triumphant conquests cleams As theirs and this greate host commanded be By Glocester the bold and Hartfoord slie From threttein regions fertill fair and good Of Scotlands Kingdome which did yet obey To Englands King and held in seruitude By his all conquering force vntill that day Came fiue and tuentie thousand warriors tude All Horsmen braue and bold for eche essay Sir Ingrhame Omphrauell led these along A subtill warriour craftie wise and strong Nixt vnto them came fiftie thousand more Grose men of shaip weill limd both strong and tall They croc'd the seas from Irelands craggie shore But slightlie armd sum weirs no arms at all Their cheifest strengths ar woods and montans hore The English deput was their generall And vnder him Fits geralds cheif kil-deir With greate Oneill and Desmont reull did beir Then came his subiects and confed'rats greate Whoe 's limits stretche along the Baltik cost And these ritche cuntreis Charls the fift did quite To his deir sone but soone that reull was lost By Spanish tirrany which heigh dispite All Europe since her deirrest blood hath cost And warr that els wheir doth distroy and waist Their both cluilitie and wealth hath plaic'd Allong the foote of Piriane montans faire A ritche and fertill region doth remaine Famous by that greate Bartell lost of aire Against the Infidells by Charle maine His famous Nephew Rolland lost
he their Still famous made by Ariostos vene Furth of this land vpon their oune expence Ten thousand cam to aid the english prence That land that west from Tours doth stretche along To wasche his feit within the Ocean Sea Whoe 's Induellers take much delight among The Moorish fens to sie ther falcons flie And in their montans woods and forrests strong The Prince lie Game of hunting vsed be That pleasant land that Poictue hecht to name Send to this wart fiue thousand men of fame That land which Loir from Poictou doth divide From whence the Britons erst the Gaulls displac'd And changd the name from Armorick beside To Britangnie and all their laus defac'd Wheirin thrie sundrie languages abide And Masteius for sanct Molois Guard is plac'd From thence to aid their great auncestors old Come fifteen thousand warlick soldiors bold From that most frutfull orchard fair of france Which Rollo great and his Noruegians stout Of simple Charls got for Inheritance Of them it still yet bears the name about From thence a galland did him self aduance And conquerd England with a warrlike rout Of thousands ten heigh heauns such wonders wroght Like number now to Englands aid was broght From that ritche land whoe 's chalkie swan like schoirs Fair kent beholds best when the Sune goes doune Whoe 's cheif toun vieus fair Douers cleif and gloir's To sie the tours that her fair front doth croune And thence wheir Cesars monument restoir's His neuer deing memoreis renoune Came thrice ten hundreth soldiors to this warr Bold strong and braue that neuer dreamd of fear From that fair land wheir smoothlie slyding soam Waters the medous and the pleasant plains And from that citie wheir two floods do come T'vnload their waus from euer springing vains Seu'ne thousand warlik soldeors came and some From that old famous toun that yet retains Pairt of the Guseane famelie and thence Sprong that greate houses glorious excellence From Henolt came fiue thousand men of fame Led by their erlle in whoe 's greate might they gloird From their cheif toune eune Mons that hecht to name Four hundreth came with shining arms decorde All these were youths not moud with fear or shame That gaird the persone of their mighâ—ie Lord And came to spoyll the Garland of the Maine But few ot none at all returne agane That land which hath within his borders plac'd The holie empiâ—s Marquesad of old By Skeld cutt of from Flaunder in the west Whâ—iron stands Antwerp glorious to behold This land the Maiss so louinglie hath grac'd She in her bossome doth the same enfold From whence the hope of gaine and praise did bring Ten thousand Soldeors to the englishe King This warr on Europs fairest Erldome calls Wheir stands vpon the banks of Skeld and ley That toun so hudge in cu cuit of hir walls Famous for that but famous more for why Thâ—t euer famous monarch which apalls Ronoune Fame Glorie Praise and Victorie As his Iust dew was their both borne and bred Thence to his warr was fourtene thousand led From these strong Illands made so strong by arte Gainst Neptun who still proous their greatest foe Becaus his floods ouerfloud the greatest parte Of all these lands as some thinks long ago But when els wheir his swelling streams conuert The lands to seas these lands the sea did sho Six thousand thence vnto this warr was send Vpone the Eâ—glish Monarch that depend Their lyis a land along the Germane flood Throu which the Mais and Rhine their course doth hold Vnto their Lord whoe 's rage is still with stood By sandie douns els all shold be enrold In waues thus sand that els wheir eats for food The fatest soill heir serus for bulwarks bold Of cuntrie-men and wageitt soldeors thence Come fiftine thousand to the English Prince When these greate regiments all were past and gone Doun from his throne the monarch did discend Inuirond round with Lords and knights anone Vnto a royall tent his course he bend That stood in midst of all the camp allone Without the walls and did him their attend And their him self first by him self was plac'd Then all his Princes at a royall feast All that was past the Douglas weill espyis Now thtou the camp from tent to tent he goes Hearing straunge tongs but straunger harmonyis Of drums and Trumpets which to heaune arose He hears their brags their braues and their defyis The Scotts were now their slaws and not their foes And oft he hears him self condemd to die A crwell death in shamefull Infamie He smild and to the royall tent agane He turnd assembleis greate greate neus affoords The feast was done and to the counsail then Set was the King with Princes duks and Lords He could haue wishd to heir them but in vaine No cuning slight could mak him heare their words For round about the tent the gaurd did stand And none from thence Approcheth nearer hand Wherfore for oght that he could find at all By conferrence with English Frensh or Dutche He seis to trains nor slight they wold not fall So proud they were of strength their force was such This Kingdome lairge by lots too greate and small Was geuen nor would of Scotts be left so much As one that monarchs wraithe was so extrame From of the werie earth too raise their name The counsail rais and furth the heraulds went Chairging that spatious hoist in arms to be Raising to morrow with a full intent To march derectlie to their enemie The Douglas heirs and vould their haist preuent From thence that night departing secretlie Vntoo his Lord he haistelie with drew Longing too shou all that he learnd or knew Thus furth he tyds through silence of the night Fair Cinthea seimd to fauour his intent Wrapping her self and all her beautie bright In duskie clouds which oft in two she rent Where throu she pri'd to sie iff he were right Oft wishing him vp in the firmament Beside the whirlling Pole their stellefyid His bright aspect might gilt her swartish side When golden haird Apollo first did light Earths better half then could he weill discry The Scottsh camp which enterd once he might Perceaue the soldeors giue a ioyfull cry Heir drums and trumpets their ror's furth on highâ— His ioyfull wâ—lcum thundert throu the skie All to the royall tent did him conuoy Whom his good Lord receaud with woundrous ioy Vp was the King that night no rest he got Such sad confused thoghts his brains did fill Of greate effairs and many mightie plot Of Douglas he hade dreamd and fearing still His Lords and Princes round about did not His 〈◊〉 him and Ioy'd in his goodwill The knight kneld doune and kist his Princes hand Who reasd him vp and thus did him demand Where haue you bein why haue you staied so long What haue you veiud hou faires fair Englands Prince
Their Sotish heads cut from their trunks I sweaâ— Gainst eurie head a hundreth punds to set And think the dead good seruice to oure state Then wheir the Scotts encamped were they go A guard of horsmen did them their conuoy When greate and worthie Bruce their cause did knâ— He did receaue them with exceiding Ioy And when the battell endit was did sho Suche bountie high as ritche without annoy To Antuerp they returnd and bulded theiâ— In honor of the Scoots a Mansion fair Each Armie now for battel sterne prouids Each on their Lord and maker loudlie call Long time the Scotts in zealous pray'r abids Before the Lord in humble wise they fall That Faâ—th that Trueth that Right and Justice gidâ— In whicâ— they pray him to protect them all Whill heauins gold spangled Cannobe was spred And silent Morpheus broght them to their bed The Argument Both Armeis Ioyne in long and doubtfull fight And threttie thousand in the ditches die King Edwards deids encurage eurie knight And Scotts for to preuent their victorie Is forâ—d to Ioyne with them in Singill fight When th' Argentine greate Bruce hath kiâ—d they flie Their King abids and wold the flight restore But seis new aid and fless his foes before Caput 17. WHen bright Hiperionâ—s goldine carr arose Both armes soone were cled in glistring armes Whoe 's golden splendor gainst the Sune furth shoes Earthes lightning hote the Aers cold region warmes First eche braue Scot to diuine seruice goes No trumpets blast was heard nor drumes allarmes The sacrament they take to heaune vpfleis Eche humbled hearts best pleasing sacrafice The English squadrons marchd vnto the plaines And all the land with arms doth ouerflo A iust half moone their battells forme containes Sharp to eche point brod to the mids they gro In battells fiue their mightie Host remaines Two on the right and on the left hand two Of their greate King that in his battel large A hunderth thousand horsmen led to charge Greate Arrandell nixt him on his right hand The chairge ouâ—r fiftie thousand Archers bore Those English wer all come from English-land No brauer warriors could the earth restore Nixt vnto him did valiant Hairtfoord stand On horse and futt that led as many more From Scotland England France and Ireland broght With Sheilds with Launces Piks Swords they foght Nixt on the left hand valiaunt Oxfoord stood That fiftie thousand footmen broght to fight All these did seim approued Souldiors good With dairts sword Piks and vther Ingins wight And Glochester nixt him that thrists for blood Had in his battell many warlick knight Like to the vther wing his wing was pleac'd With arms and curage both alik ar greac'd In the greate battel with the King abod Henolts greate Erle and many Princes mo On his right hand that warlick campioun rode Whoe 's fame so much our all the world did go Of Argentine sir Giles that gaind abrod So many conquests our the pagane foe Greate Pembrokâ— Erle on his left band did stay His saiftie onlie in their valors lay And then greate Bruce came to the plane at last And this new moone thus for to perse essayis First brod behind his battells forme was cast Then stretched furth to a point Pirameid wayis Seuin thousand warriours in the vantgard past With the feirce knight in warr more bold then wvisâ— Whome Scotlands Stewart seconds in command His feirce and firie nature to withstand Manie braue knights vnto this battell drew Bold warlick ferce and men of worthie fame And then the second battell did ensew Morais stout Erle them led whoe 's famous name Shall neuer die and many weâ—lick crew With him whoe 's hearts did fleit in valors streame Their number like the first and these did be are Spears Piks and Suords and all Ingins of warr The conquering knight the third Batallione broght Seauin thousand also did this host containe Scoâ—lands greate Constabill vnto him soght Braue Hay and these that did with him remaine The Boid and vther Lords still worthie thoght But last of all did marche vnto the plaine The greatest battell which the King commands Wheir fourtein thousand armed warreors stands Many of all the noble men ware their And all these hosts on fut did march to fight To eurie battell did the King repair Whoe 's quik cleir eies send furth a cheirfull light His vâ—sard vp he mildlie doth declair The price of conquest punishment of flight And with a countenance which wold haue made Euen cowardis hardie thus into them said My friends quod he behold this glorious day Wheirin the heauins to croune ouâ—e Ioys hath sworne Let none of yow their multituds effray Gainst God and querrells Iust force seims forlorne In Scotland fiftie thousand yet doth stay Meit for the warre whome we haue all forborne And yow we chuisd whoe 's hearts could neuer fail-yow Nor could base fear of death at all assaill yow The worst of yow his Gentreis will declair And of his reputatioun still will bost A Gentleman may with a Lord compair But what is he if honor once be lost And heir on honor waiteth ritches fair These two that all the world so much do cost Which if yow wish do now but cair for fame He neuer deis that winns a famous name What is that armie whiâ—h yow now behold But eune a new raisd Babell of confusioun The Soldeors mistak their captans bold To colonels reull the captans mak intrusioun Thus eurie one by vther is controld And Iarring foundeth forth a ghostlie vifioun All kind of beasts wold in one heard confound Their reullers witt with their confused sound Besids they came oure natioun to distroy And from the earth to roote and rais oure name Look not by flight your life for to enioy But rather thousand torments most extreame Your Maids and Wyfs to death they shall convoy When in your sight they raueishd ar with shame Yee all must die and they inioy as theirs What yow haue buld or planted for your heyrs Then if yow wold preuent their crueltie And endles praise and endles wealth obtaine Let eurie one of yow mak one to die So one triumphand conquest shall we gaine As for ten thousand which among yow be We know such valor doth in them remaine Eche shall kill two and whoe of yow be is lost We sweare his Airs their wairds shall nothing cost Yea what I seik yow may performe at will For what at they a Chaos heap confuisde Naâ—ked or slightlie armd and wanting skill To till the ground and keip their flocks more vsd How can their King preuent their following Ill When feare and Ignorance hath teull abusde In danger who wants skill hath curage lost One coward disconforts a mightie host The English King his armie in array Thus by him self and by his Trinshmen spak If I were not so weill assuirde too day Of victorie and of these Dastards wrak An
sorrow prickd with furie hote Did ferslie him assaill but all in vaine Death made him soone forget his fathers paine Now I almost forgot the wondrous deids Oâ— these bold campions set on ather hand Of this greate King who after him furth speids When first he left his battel guarde and stand And still on death on blood and murder feids Marching from troup to troup from band to band Yea these thrie campions fearles bold and strong Cut furth thrie bloodie lains their foes among So doth thrie mightie Cannons shot at once A front an armie standing all in gro The heaune with lightning earth with thunder grons Eche sirie bullet cuts the ranks in two Heir lyis the head and their the helmet shons A furlong thence the Bodie fells a foe Scheilds Arms and Legs heir monts and their doth mank And mak wid windoes deip in eurie rank And now the greate Battallion which they led Wheir yet remand thrice twentie thousand horse By their example all encuraged Rushd foreward on their foes with wondrous forse And in a moment all the plaine vas cled With corps whereon they tred without remorse Proud fortun seimd to froune vpone the Scot And victorie to croune the English loâ— Now seimd the Scotts too waik against their foe Squadrons of barded horse still beats them doun And these thrie campiouns that before them goe Thrie Wonder-wirkers conquering a croun Greate Bruce espyis this Dangerwrak and woe With noble wrath Ielous of their renoune Wold with the strongest cop by fatall chance And to the Argentine doth furth aduance O who had sene that fight so bold and strong Their was the Scooâ—â— that taughâ— the arte of warr These Masters were and had bâ—ine Loureat Long Nor Mars nor Pallas could the sight forbear Wondring on earth the mortalls all among To find such two as eune them selfs woldfear And think if these two onlie took in hand To conquer earth none could their force gainstand These matchles Lords those warriors bold did weild Two heauie masts rather then lances strong Two horse of Spaine furth bear them trough the feild With force alike they meit amid the throng O sacred Muse some golden phraises Èeild T'enritch my verse and guild my lais along Make of those lines a heaune reard throne renound Where lett this famous fight for aie be cround The fureous stroke made all the earth to quaik And Woods and montains echod bak the sound Yet could it not these valiant champions shak Nor beare them from their seat nor force a wound In fleinders flie â—heir spears their horses brak Their neks and both the riders lay on ground Yet vp they they flie with swords they soone addres By death warrs dreadfull sound for to suppres Both swordâ—â— weill couch'd eche at his waâ—d doth ly Their eies their handes their feit they wiselie guide Then ceasles stroakes thrustes foines and bloues they try They wardetrauerse reteir marchd leape a side Both giues and both receaues both falsefie Both shunes and both lyife garding wardes prouide Both oppin stand for death like despirat louers Which craft in th' one the others art discouers The Prince on futt was readie suift and light And could with stand the Argentins bold sute Who was on hors more skilfull in the fight But he more stong mote quik to execute Sir Gilles hade more art and cunning slight The King more painfull kein and resolute More fearce he was his foe more could and slie And yet in arte both seemd a like to bee The Prince vpone the Argentine would enter Shuning his doun-right blow his strength to teame Then at his heart the Argentine doth ventre Which whill the Prince strikes by he doth reclame And paintes his brest too cuning was the painter For show of blood floues furth a bloodie streame Which so inflammed the King with curage fire Arte now reteird shame bringes reuenge and yre This knew the knight but would not seeme to know Whill as greate Bruce his brest to daunger laid Whereat the Argentine soone reacht a blow But left his syid quite naeked to inuade The worthe King first shunes his furious throw And then a wound both large and deip he made This his reuenge the prouerb old belied Heir cunning Arte and furious Raige agreid Whill thus they striue and double wound on wound Bold Edward matcht with Pembrocks Erle in fight Of whome fames sweit shâ—ill trumpet shall resound From Jude to Oâ—kades their praise their might Deseruing weill with Glorie to be cround And in all age to shine with glorious light Their woundrous strength their Curage ech did shâ— But nather side aduantage yet doth kno Now Englands King not one darres match at all Whome blood and death attends throu all the feild But woorthie Hay his curage did appaill No daunger maks him shrink or fear or yeild Alcides club with more strength did not fall Vpone that mightie Tirrant Brouseirs sheild Then on the helmett of this dreadfull King The Erle his feirce and furious bloes doth bring Eune their wheir goold and perll and pratious stone Vpon the Prince his curious helm was wroght He lightis and cleft the cask which brightlie shone And to his horses crest his head doune brought For paine th' inraged King sendes furth a grone Trembling for 〈◊〉 whill dreid reuenge he soght And on his helme he gius a blo so rood That from his noise and mouth Isht crimsone blood But to repay him when the warr-lik knight Hade lift his sword gone was the Prince in rage Still wheâ— his furie ledd him through the fight No generall ought a combat for to waige But all this while in equall ballence right Both armeis stand conquest departes the staige But in the left winge with the Douglas bold Great Glocester a bloodie fight did hold This was the man that swear to Englands King To bring the Bruce capteiw in chaines and cordes The Douglas fand him aiming at the thing A band of knights with him thairto accords But furth to combat Douglas did him bring In spight of all these Sold'ors knights and Lords A squadron strong at his command had foght With them and both almost were broght to noght These campions strong thus fought a Battell bold Troy neuer vieud the like in all her wrack Their Skill their Strength their valor to vnfold My slender Mâ—ise darrs noght in hand to tak But sure I know the worthie Douglas wold Noght leaue the fight till his proud foe he mak To yeild his nek beneth his conquring bled And for his fault his guiltie blood he shed This done he marcheth throw the host at last Working new wonders still wheir euer he goes Close ranks he breaks and oppins as he past Before his face still fleis his fearfull foes He seis braue Randolph haisting conquest fast And craftie Omphrauell beat by his bloes Steward the great with Hartefurd striuing standes Whoe first should gett a kisse of
Whoe 's greate begining gloriouslie was wrought When as the bloodie Danes their ensigns spred Heir to distroy oure natioun whill they soght As endles swarms in thousands Bie-hyus bred Such endles swarms these rude Barbariens broght Of armed sauageis tho still with stood And fild the land with Famine Warr and blood But when their Moone was full their Tyde at hight Oure Eb so low that hope and all was lost Thy first forbe'r stout Hey came to the fight Who with two sones allone their fortune crost Whoe 's valours onlie put them all to flight O wonder thrie our cums a mightie host But so Joue wild that from so fair a spring Scotlands greate Constabill his stream should bring Then fertill Fife nixt musterd foorth hir brood A land by Nature fair and ritche by arte From Tay's great streame to Forths cleir christall flood She gathers furth her bands in eurie parte Erlles Lords and knights they all ar horsmen good Thâ—â—â— thousand chosen men of heighe desarte Rothes greate erlle and many erlls beside Amid these troups spred furth their Ensigns wide Thrie thousand more came furth of Louthean fair All Princes Lords and knights and men of fame Wheir Setons Lord eume Weintons erlle did bear Not meanest reull with vthers of greate name Angous greate erlle aâ—d Morton bothe was their Tho other cuntries fair might them reclame Wheir they bore reull with many barrons more As Gems doe ringis whose worths that land decore Then Lithgoes schire and Stirlings pleasant land Seauin tims five hundreth men of armes forth send Their Liuingston our Lithquhow did comand Lord Elphingstoun his aid did likewaies lend Monteiths old erlle broght furth a chosen band A gallant rout on Erskins Lord depend From Câ—yde that cam all thes and many mo As floods to th' ocean to their soueraing flow Perth and Sâ—ratherne two regions fair and bred Send furthe two thousand hardie knights on horse Stratbern and Drumond erlle of perth furth led The greatest pairt of all this martiall force And hâ—it the Morrayis turth ther ensigne spred Who from Morauia bring ther ancestors A doughtie race of people bold and sterne Led by that valiant Lord of Tulliberne And Bunkills Lord their cam that Stewart hight Whom Douglas with braue Randolph took of yore When Huntles mightie Lord by honord flight Eschaipt from Jedward as you hard before He broght a gallant troup and wroght so right That to his Princes peace he did restore This Adam Gordone huntlies noble Lord With virtue and with valour much decorde He is the Mers a mightie reull did bear Eune he of whom heauns maker had decred Such Branches still should Spring as should vp rear That house to such a height as now his seid Ring 's in the North nor can tims aig out weare Their greatnes worth and vell deseruing meid Nor can it be amise for to repeat From South to North what causd them cheange their seat This Lords braue sone in Mars his bloodie feild In spight of thou sands of his armed foes With conquering suord made Atholls er'll to yeild That in dispight of Scotlands King arose And to the English foe became a sheild Till they the secound time procuild new woes For which braue deid his Prince did him declaire Lord of Strathbogis fertill region faire His race ay since oft mixt with Princelie blood In the greate North doth worthelie comand From Bogyis stream too Speyis greart famous flood And famous made their name in manie a land And to their Prince hath done suche seruice good As in the hight of Glorie still they stand So litill springs of fair cleir christall fontains Become greate floods and sueill ore toples montains From thence greate Lords arose whoe 's virteus rate Might well by fames eternall beayes be cround Of whom our cuntreis vriters at so speare That in obliuions floods their deads ar dround Whoe 's worth greate woloms cold not all declare Deseruing well for ay to be renound Yet vriters bleamles ar eas may be seine For of renoune all Scottâ—s hath carles beine Which maks them yet vnto the wordle obscure So thâ—t most parte of Europe doeth not know them Altho their woorthie actions might procure Our all the Earth in glorie for to shou them What Homers paines can make their name indure Prais them aliue lett death quite ouerthrow them They scorne their wealth should â—herish learning treâ— And after death to look for paiment deu But soft my Muise faint not for all they paine This famelie doth for the worlde prepare A youth who seiks too waish away that staine From this greate hous with Magnanimious care Whoe 's Martiall heart heauen neuer framd in vaine Like to his valiant Syres that might compare With fortuns knight for happie succes still So fortune shall his braue desings furth fill O this is he that most one day propine Me with the flowing subiect of my song Vpon whoe 's brou such glorie greate shall shine O Muise my zeall inflame with furie strong His cheracter to paint with tinktor fine Transparent neate and cleir my laies among All mistereis thou know is beneath the skies Then lead me in whear his rare fortunes lies What is he then O bodlie may thou say In his ritch Soull all faculties inshrind Whoe 's sweitt complexion beares a mutuall suay Of all the elements in peace conioind With such a loue and fraudles sâ—â—pathie As all commands yet all obeis the mind His temper fine doeth moddell furth aparte The rare ingine of nature heaune and arte Time shall not cheange his purpose soleid ground His course no course shall let or bear awry Fortune in chains his fortitude hath bound Nor Iudgements sharpest cleir and subtill eie Can pry wher danger once his heart shall wound His matchles mind is Eleuat so hie Yea Nature of her Treasure Wealth and Store Giues him the key and lets him opp the dore But o how am I thus with pleasure led Amide the wildernes of his perfection Where hauing thousand sondrie waies to tred My self may lose my self without derection From such a laborinth I most be fred To hold my wandering wits in some subiâ—ction Their wher thow left deir Muse retourne in haist When Gordons Prince him in the North had plac'd He did not leue by south his seatt so beare But of a younger brother is discended From that same Stook a race whoe 's virteus rare Hath worthie still bein iudg'd to be comended But pardon me that stands for to declare The race of which I not so much intended Yet if I bring more from obliuions brink What reasone i st they should in Lethe sink This Huntlâ—es Lord greate Gordone with him broght A thousand horsmen clade in glistring arms All these cast of the English yock and soght After the dreadfull sound of warrs allarms From Huntlie and long Gordone some all thoght The Mers obeid and feard