plaine harbrie Here followed King Robert in hight The English King with all his might THe King of England and his men That saw their harbreours come then Rebuted on that great maner Annoyed in their hearts they were And thought it was a great folie Into the wood to take harbrie Therefore by Dryburgh in a Plaine They harbried them and syne againe Are went to England but delay And when the King Robert heard say That they were turned home againe And how their harbreours were slaine In hy an Oast assembled he And went foorth ouer the Scots sea Eightie thousand he was and ma And eight battels he made of tha In ilk battell were ten thousand Syne went he foorth to England And in haill rout he followed fast The English King while at the last He came approaching by Byland When at that time there was lyand The King of Englanâ— with his men King Robert that had witting then That he lay there with méekle might Tranoynted so on him one night That on the morne by it was day Commen to the plaine field were they Fra Byland a litle space But betwixt them and it there was A craig bra streiked well lang And a great Path vp for to gang Otherwise might they not haue way To passe to Bylands Abbay Bot gif they passed far about And when the méekle English rout Heard that the King Robert was néere The most part of them that were there Went to the Path to take the bra There thought they their defence to ma Their Baners there they gart display And their battels in brade array And thought well to defend the place When King Robert perceiued hes That they them thought for to defend Efter his counsell hes he send And asked what was best to do The Lord Dowglas answered him to And said Sir I will vnderta That in short time I sall doe sa That I sall win yone place plainely Or then gar all yone company Come downe to you into this Plaine Or ye sall neuer trow me againe The King then said great GOD thée spéed And he on foorth his wayes yeede And of the Oast the most partie Put then into his companie And held their way toward the place The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Left his battell and in great hy But with few men in company Came to the Court of the Lord Dowglas And ere he entred into the place Before them all the place tooke he For he would that men sould him sée And when the good Lord Dowglas Saw that he so commen was He praised him thereof greatly And welcommed him honorably And to the place can togidder ga When Englishmen saw them doe sa They lighted and against them yéed Two Knights that doughtie were indéed Thomas of Struthers heght one to name And the other Sir Ralph of Cowbanâ— Thir two Knights of good degrée Came downe before all their Menyie They were both of full great bountie And met their foes right manfullie There might men sée well other assaile And men defend with stout battaile And arrowes flee in great fusioun And they that aboue were tumbled doun Stones vpon them from the hight But they that set both will and might To wiâ— the Path and preassed sa That Sir Ralph Cowbane can ta The way right to his Oast in hy And left Sir Thomas manfully Defending with great might the place UUhile that he so supprised was That he was tane through hard fighting And therefore syne while his ending He was renouned the best of hand Of one Knight was in all England For this ilk Sir Ralph of Cowbane In all England he had the name For the best Knight of that land And for Sir Thomas dwelt still fightand Where Sir Ralph as before said we Withdrew him abone him prised was he The discomfiting of Englishmen At Bylands Path into the Glen THus were they fighting in the place And when King Robert that was UUise in his deedes and eke worthie Saw his men ay so doughtelie The Peth vpon their foes ta And saw his foes defend them sa Then gart he all the Irishry That were into his company Of Argyle and Iles alswa Spéede them in hy vnto the bra He bade them leaue the Peth haillely And climbe vp on the Craiges thereby And speed them fast the hight to ta And in greit hy they haue done sa And clambe as Gaites vp to the hight And left not for their foes might Magre their foes they bare them sa That they are gotten abone the bra Then faught they wonder fellounlie And rushed their foes right sturdelie There was a right perilous bargaine For a Knight heght Sir Iohn of Britaine That lighted hes abone the bra With his men greit defence can ma But the Scottishmen can so assaille And gaue to them so feill battaile That they were set in sike effray That they that flée might fled away Sir Iohn of Brittaine there was tane And most part of his MenÈie sâ—aine Of France there were tane Knights two The Lord of Sowllie was one of tho The other was the Marshall Britaine That was a right greit Lord at hame The laue some dead were and some slain The remnand fled were euerilkane And when the King of England As yet at Byland was lyand Saw his men discomfist plainlie Hée tooke his way in full greit hy And Southward fled in all his might The Scots men chased him hard I hight And in the chase hes mony slaine But hee quicklie away is gane And the most part of his MenÈie Walter Stewart of greit bountie Set ay vpon hie Cheualrie With fiue hundreth in companie To Yorke Yates a chase can ma And there some of their men can sâ—a And abade while neere the night To see if ony would ish to fight And when hee saw none would ish out Hée turned againe wiâ—h all his rout And to the Host they went in hy That then had tane their harbery Into the Abbay of Byland And Rewes that were neere by lyand They dealâ— among them that was there And gaue the King of Englands geare That hee had left into Byland All gripped they into their hand And made them glad and eke merrie And when the King had tane Harberie They brought to him their prisoners All vnarmed as it affeeres And when hée saw Iohn of Brittaine Hee had at him full greit disdaine For hee of him would speake highly At home and too dispitefullie Hée bade haue him away in hy And looke hee kéeped were straitlie And said were it not that hée were A Captiâ—e as hée then was there His words hee should full deare aby And hée full fast can cry mercy They let him foorth withoutten maire And kéept him well white that they were Commen home to their owne Countrie Long efter syne ransomed was hee For twentie thousand pound to pay As I haue heard among men say WHen that the King this spéech had made The French Knights they taken had Were brought there
right sa Ye are ilkane wight and worthie And called of great Cheualrie And wate right well what honour is Worke ye therefore on sic a wise That your honour be saued ay And one thing will I to you say That he that dies for his Countrie In hight of heauen sall harbred be When this was said they saw cummand Their foes ryding at their hand Arrayed right auisedly Wilfull to do Cheualry The Battell of Methwen and the first Discomfite of King Robert ON either side thus were they there And to assemble readie were And so rudely can raging ryde That Speares all too frushed are And feâ—â—l men dead and wounded saire The blood out of the beirnes brast Of best and of the worthiest That wilfull were to win honour Plunged into that stalwart stour And routes rude about them dang Men might haue seene into that thrang Knights that wight and worthie were Under Horses féete defouled there Some wounded and some all dead The grasse waxt all of blood all red And they that held on Horse in hy Swapped out Swords deliueredly And so fell strokes gaue and tooke That all the rinke about them shooke The Bruces folke full hardely Shawed their great Cheualry And he himselfe attour the laue So hard and heauie dints gaue That where hee came they made him way His men them put to hard assay To stint their foes méekle might Than they so fair had of the fight That they wan place aye mair and mair The Kings small folke néere vanquisht were ANd where the King his folke hes seene Begin to failye for proper teene To his Ensenye can highlie crie And in the stour so hardelie He raged till all the semble shooke He all so hew'd that he ouertooke And dang on them while he might drée And to his folke he cryed hie On them on them they féeble fast This bargane may no longer last And with that word so wilfullie He dang on them so hardelie That who had séene him in that fight Sould hold him for a doughtie Knight 〈◊〉 it though he stout was and hardie And other al 's of his companie There might no worship there auailie For there small folke all haill they failie And fled and skailled here and there But the good that escaped were Baide fighting in that stalwart stour To conquesse them endlesse honour And when Sir Aymer he hath séene The small folke fléeing haill be déene And saw so few abide the fight He drew to him monie a Knight And in the stour so hardelie He rushed with his companie That he rushed his foes ilkane Sir Thomas Randell there was tane That then was a young batcheler And Sir Alexander the Fraser And Sir Dauid the Barclay Inchemertine and Hew de la Hay And Somerwell and other ma And the King himselfe alswa Was set into so hard essay Through good Sir Philip the Mowbray That rade to him full hardelie And hint his renyie and then can cry Helpe helpe I haue thée now made King With that came griding in a ling Christill of Setoun when hée so The King saw seased with his foe To Sir Philip sic routes hée rought That thought hée was of méekle mought Hée gart him stakker desilie And had to eird gane haillelie War not hée held him by the Stéed Out of his hand the bridle yéed And the King his Enseigne can cry Relieu'd his men that stood him by That were so few that they not might Indure the force more of the fight They pricked then out of the preasse And the King that all angrie was For hée his men saw flée him fro Said then Lordings sen it is so That weere runneth againe vs héere Good is wée passe off their danger While God vs send eftsoones some grace And it may fall if they will chace Quite them combate some deill wée shall To that word they assented all And from them walloped vppermere Their foes also they wearie were That of them all they chased nane But with prisoners that they had tane Right to towne they held the way Right glade and joyfull of their Prey That night they lay all in the towne There was none of so greit renowne Nor none so hardie of them all That durst harbrie without the wall So dread they sore the gane comming Of Sir Robert the doughtie King And to the King of England soone They wrote haillie as they had doone And hée was blyth of that tything And for despite bade drawe and hing All the prisoners though they were mo But Sir Aymer did nothing so To some both life and land gaue hée To leaue the Bruce and his fewtie And serue the King of England And of him for to hold their land And warie the Bruce as their foe Thomas Randell was one of tho That for his life became their man And others that were taken then Some they ransomde and some they slew And some hanged and some they drew IN this maner rebuted was The Bruce that greit mourning mais For his men that were slaine and tane And hée was also will of wane For hee trowde in none sikkerlie Except them of his companie That were so few they scarce might bée Fiue hunder men of haill menyie His brother also was him by Sir Edward that was so worthie And with him was a bold Baroun Sir William the Halyburtoun The Erle of Atholl he was there Bot ay sen they discomfite were The Erle of Lennox was away And was put to full hard assay Ere he met with the King againe Bot alwayes as a man of maine He him maintained manfully The King had in his company Iames also Lord of Dowglas That wise wight and worthy was Sir Gilbert de la Hay alswa Sir Neill Campbell and other ma That I their names cannot tell And Outlawes went to daill and fell Dreeing in the mountaines pine And eat flesh and dranke water syne He durst not into plaines ga For all the Commons went him fra That for their liues were full faine To passe to English peace againe So fares it alwayes commonly In Commons may no man affy Bot he that may their warrand be So fare they then with him for he Them fra their foes might not warrand They turned all to the other hand Bot thraldome that men gart them féele Gart them ay yarne that he fure well THus in the hiâ—les liued he Till the most part of his Menye Was reuen and rent and no shoone had Bot as they then of Hydes made Therefore they went to Aberdene Where Neill the Bruce came the Quéen And other Ladies faire and pleasand Ilkone for loue of their husband And for leele loue and loyaltie Partner of their paines would be They choosed rather with them to ta Anger and paines than be them fra Syne loue it is of sik a might That it does all the paines make light And mony times makes tender wight Al 's of sik strength and of sik might That they may meekle paine indure And
and other moe That his partie were holdand Were tane and led into England Were put into felloun prisoun And how good Christall of Setoun Was slaine gréeting shée told the King That was sorrowfull of that tithhing And said when hée had thought a thraw The words that I shall to you shaw Alace hée said for loue of mee And for their méekle léele lawtie They Noble men and they worthie Are destroyed so villanouslie But if I liue in liege poustie Their death right soone shall venged bée Yea whether the King of England Thought that the Kinrike of Scotland Was all too litle for him and mée Therefore I will it mine all bee But of good Christall of Setoun That was so worthie of Renowne That hée should die were greit pitie Where ony worship might préeud bée THe King thus sighing made his mane And the Lady her leaue hes tane And syne went home to her winning And feill syes comfort shee the King Both with siluer and with meate Sik as shee in the land might get And hee oft ryoted the land And made all his that euer he fand And syne he drew him to the hight To stint better his foes might In that time was the Percie With a full simple companie In Turnâ—berise Castle yet lying For the King Robert sore dréeding That hee durst not ish foorth to fare Fra thyne to the Castle of Aire That was then full of Englishmen But lay lurking in a Den While the men of Northumberland Should come armed with strong hand And conduct him to his Countrie For to them send his Poist hath hée And they in hy assembled then Passing attour a thousand men And asked counsell them amang Whether that they should dwell or gang But they were stonisht wonder saire So far in Scotland for to fare For a Knight Sir Gawter de Lile Said it was too greit perill So néere these Souldiers to goe His spéech discomforted them so That they had left all the voyage Were not a Knight of greit courage That Sir Roger of Sainct Iohn hight That them comforted with his might And sic words can to them say That they together held their way To Turnebery where the Percy Lap on and went with them in hy In England his owne Castle till Without distroublance or more ill Now in England is Percy Where I trow he a while shall ly Or that hée shape him for to fare To weirray Carrik ony mare For hee wist that he had no right And al 's hee dred the Kings might That in Carrik was dwelland In the most strengths of that Land ¶ Where Iames of Dowglas on a day Came to the King and can him say Sir with your leaue I would goe sée How that they doe in my Countrie And how my men demained are For it annoyes mee wonder sare That the Cliffurde so peaceably Brookes and holds the Senyeory That should be mine with all kin right But while I liue if I haue might To lead a Yeaman or a swane Hée shall not brooke it but bargaine The King said Certes I cannot see How that yee yet may sikker bee Into that Countrie for to fare While Englishmen so mightie are And thou wat not who is thy friend Hee said Sir needlesse I will wend And take the auenture God will giue Whether it bee to die or liue The King said Sen that thou wilt so And sik a yarning hes to goe Thou shalt passe foorth with my blessing And if thee happens ony thing That annoyous or skaithfull bee I pray thee speed thee soone to mee Take wee together what euer may fall I grant hee said and therewithall He louted and his leaue hes tane And is toward the Countrie gane The first winning of the Castle of Dowglas NOw takes Iames his voyage Toward Dowglas his heritage With two men withoutten ma This was a simple store to ta Castle or land of wéere to win But fast he yarned to begin To bring his purpose to ending And good helpe lies in beginning For good beginning and hardie Gif it be followed wittilie May gar oft syes vnliklie thing Come to right good and fair ending So did he here for he was wise And saw he might not on no wise Wearie his foe with euen might Therefore he thought to worke with slight In Dowglasdaill his owne Countrie Upon an Euening entred he And then a man winned thereby That was of frends right mighty And rich of monie and of Cattell And had bene to his father léell And to himselfe in his Youthhead Had done mony a thankfull déed Thomas Diksoun was his name perfay To him he send and can him pray That he would come allanerlie For to speake with him priuilie And but danger to him he gaes But when he told him what he was He grat for ioy and for pitie And him right to his house had he Where in a chamber priuilie He held him and his companie That none of him had perceiuing And meat and drinke and other thing That might them ease they had plentie So wrought they with their subtiltie That all the leele men of the land That with his Father were dwelland This good man gart come one and one And make him manâ—ent euerilkone And he himselfe first homage made Dowglas in heart great gladnesse had That the good men of his Countrie Would this wise to him bounden be He spéered the conuéene of the land And who the Castle had in hand And they him told all haillelie And syne among them priuilie They ordainde that he still sould be In hiddles and in priuitie Till Palmesunday that was néere hand The third day after followand For then the folke of that Countrie Assembled at the Kirk would be And they that in the Castle were Wold al 's be there their Palmes to beare As folke that had no dréed of ill For they thought all was at their will Then sould he come with his two men Before that folke sould not him ken He sould a mantle haue old and bare And a flaile as he a Taâ—ker were Under the mantle not for thy He sould be armed priuilie And when the men of his Countrie That sould all boun before him be His Ensenyie might heare him crie Then sould they all right enforcedly Right in mids the Kirke assaill The Englishmen with hard battaill So that none might escape them fra For therethrough trowed they to ta The Castle that beside was néere And when this that I tell you here Was deuised and vndertane Ilkone home to his house is gane And held this speake in priuitie Untill the day of their assemblie How Dowglas in Sanct Brydes Kirke With the Englishmen can wirke THE folke vpon the Palmesunday Held to Saint Brydes Kirk their way And they that in the Castle were Ished out both lesse and maire And went their Palmes for to beare Except a Cooke and a Porter Iames of Dowglas of their comming And what they were had good witting And sped him to
share off and the shoulders al 's Hee rushed downe all desily The two that saw so suddenly Their Fellow fell effrayed were And start a litle backermare The King with that blenked him by And saw the two men sturdely Against his men sik mellie ma With that hee left his owne twa And to them that fought with his man A loupe right lightly made hee than And smote the Head quite off the one To his owne two syne is hee gone That came on him right sturdely Hée met the first so egerly That with the sword that sharply share The armes hee from the body bare What strakes they gaue I cannot tell But to the King so sore befell That though hee trauell had and paine Hee of his foes foure hes hee slaine His Foster-brother efter soone The fist hes out of his dayes doome And when the King saw that all fife UUas on this wise brought out of life To his fellow can he say Thou hes helped right well perfay It likes you to say so quod he But ouer great part to you tooke ye Ye slew foure of the fiue alone The King said as the glée is gone Better than thou I might it do For I had more leisure thereto The two fellowes that delt with thée UUhen they me saw assembled with thrée Of me right no kin doubt they had For they weind I was straitly stad And for thy that they dred me nought Noy them more than thou I moght But let vs thanke GOD of his grace That fra our foes vs deliuered hes UUith that the King looked him by And saw of Lorne the company Well néere with their sloothhound cuÌ„mand Then to a UUood that was néere hand He went with his fellow in hy GOD saue them for his great mercy How the King scaped fra his faes And how the sloothhound slaine was THE King toward the Wood is gane Wearie for sweit and will of wane Into the Wood soone entred he And held downe toward a vaillie Wherethrough the Wood a water ran Hidder in great hy went he than And begouth for to rest him there And said he might no further fare His man said Sir that may not be Bide ye ought long ye sall soone sée Fiue hunder yarning you to sla And that is monie against vs twa And sen we may not deale with might We man help that we may with slight The King said sen that thou wilt so Goe foorth and I sall with thée go But I haue heard oft times say That who endlong a Water ay Would wâ—â—de a bowdraught he sould gar Both the â—â—â—thhound and his leidar Tyne thâ— Seâ—t that men gart them ta Prooue 〈◊〉 iâ— it will now doe swa For 〈…〉 deuilish Hound away I rek 〈◊〉 all the â—eâ—ue perfay As he deuised so haue they done And entred in the UUater soone And held downe endland it their way And syne vnto the Land yéede they And held their way as they did aire And Iohn of Lorne with greit efféere Came with his rout right to the place Where that his fiue men slaine was Hée méened them When hee them saw And after said in a litle thraw That hée should soone reuenge their dead But otherwise the gaming yeede There would hée make no more dwelling But foorth in hy followed the King Right to the Burne they passed were But the Slooth-hound made stinting ther And wauered long time to and fro That he no certaine gate could go UUhile at the last that Iohn of Lorne Perceiued the Hound the Sent had forne And said we haue tint this trauaile To passe further may not auaile For the Wood is both long and wide And he is far foorth by this tide Therefore is good we turne againe And wast no more trauell in vaine With that resyed he his Menyie And his way to the Oist tooke he THus escaped the Noble King But some men sayes his escaping Upon another maner fell Then through the waiding as they tell That the King a good Archer had And when he saw his Lord so stad That he was left so anerly He ran on side alwayes him by While he into the Wood was gone Then said he to himselfe allone That he right there a rest would ma To looke if he the Hound might sla For if the Hound might last on liue He wist right well that they might driue The Kings trace while they him ta And he wist well they would him sla And for he would his Lord succour He put his life in auentour And sate into a bush knéeland While that the Hound came to his hand And with an arrow soone him slew And to the Wood syne him withdrew But whether his escaping fell As I told first or I now tell I wate not but without leesing At that Burne escaped the King What maner that the thieues three Made to the King slight lawtie THE King is foorth his wayes tane And Iohn of Lorne againe is gane To Sir Aymer that fra that chase UUith his Menyie repaired was That sped but litle in their chasing And thought that they made following Full egerlie they wan but small Their foes were escaped all Men sayes Sir Thomas Randell than Chasing the Kings banner wan Wherethrough in England with the King He had great prise and hie louing UUhen the chasers relyed were And Iohn of Lorne had met them there He told Sir Aymer all the cace How that the King escaped was And how that he his fiue men slew And to the UUood syne he him drew UUhen Sir Aymer heard tell in hy He sained him for this ferly And said he is greatly to praise I know none liuing in thir dayes That at mischiefe can helpe him sa I trow he sall be hard to ta And he were bodin euenlie On this wise spake Sir Aymerie And the good King held foorth his way Betwixt him and his men while they Passed out through the Forrest were Then in a Moore they entred are That was both hie long and brad And by the halfe they passed had They saw on side thrée men cummand Like to light men and wauerand Swordes they had and axes al 's And one of them about his Hals A meekle bound in Wedder bare They met the King and hailsed him faire The King againe them hailsed yald And asked them whether they wald They said Robert the Bruce they sought To méete with him if that they mought Their Man-rent to him would they ma The King said If that you will swa Hold foorth your wayes now with mée And I shall gar you soone him sée They perceiued by his speaking And his efféeres hee was the King They changed countenance and late And held not in the first estate For they were foes to the King And thought to come into talking And dwell with him while that they saw Their point and bring him out of daw They granted to his Speake for thy But the King that was aye witty Perceiued well by their
reilling Saw them well néere discomfiting Then his Ensenyie he can fast cry And with them of his company His foes he preassed so fast that they Then were into so great affray That they left place ay maire and maire For all the Scottishmen that were there When they saw them eschew the fight Dang on them so with all their might That they skailled in trowples seire And till discomfiting drew neere And some of them fled all plainely But they that wight were and hardy That shame letted to take the flight With great mischief maintained the fight And stoutly in the stoure can stand And when the King of England Saw his men flee in sundrie place And saw his foes rout that was Worthen so wight and so worthie That all his folke were haillelie So astoneyed that they had no might To stint their foes in that fight Hée was abased so gretumlie That hee and in his companie Fifteene hundreth armed men at right Into that frush tooke all the flight And to the Castell tooke their way And I haue heard yet some men say That of Vallance Sir Aymery When hée the field saw vanquisht néere By the renyie led away the King Against his will from the feghting And when Sir Geiles de Argentie Saw the King with his MenÈie Shape then to flée so speedily Hee spéed then to the King in hy And said Sir sen that yée will so That yée thus gaite your way will goe Haue good day for againe will I Yet fled I neuer sikkerlie And I choose rather to bide and die Then for to liue and shamefullie flée His bridle then but more abade Hee turned and againe hée rade As dread of no kin thing had hée And pricked crying Argentie Right on Sir Edward Bruces rout That was so stalwart and so stout And they right sturdely him met And so feill Speares on him set That hée and Horse were charged so And both downe to the eird can goe And in that place there slaine was hée And of his death was greit pitie Hée was the third best Knight perfay That men wist liuing in this day And did full mony faire journey On Saracens three derenyies made hée And into ilke derenyie of tha Hée quickly vanquisht Saracens twa His greit worship tooke their ending And fra Sir Aymer with the King Was fled there durst not one abide But fléeing skailled on ilke side And their foes preased them right fast To say the sooth they were agast And fled so done affrayedlie That of them a greit companie Fled in the Water of Forth and there The most part of them drowned were And Banockburne within the braes Of Men and Horse so charged was That upon drowned Horse and Men Folke might passe dry out ouer it then And Laddes Swaynes they Rangall When they saw vanquisht the battell Ran among them and so can sla Tha folke that no defence might ma That it was pitie for to sée I neuer heard into no Countrie Folkes at so greit mischife were stad On ane side they their foes had That slew them downe without mercy And they had on the other party Banockburne that so cummersome was For slike and déepnesse for to passe That there might none out ouer it ride But there behooued them to abide So that some slaine some drowned were Might none eschape that euer came there But yet full mony gote away That elsewhere fled as I heare say The King with them hée with him had In a rout to the Castell rade And would haue béene therein for they Wist not what gate to get away Sir Philip Mowbray said him till The Castell Sir is at your will But come yée in it yée shall sée That yée shall soone assieged bée And there is none in all England To make rescourse dare take in hand And but rescourse may no Castell Bée holden long this wate yée well Therefore comfort you and relie Your men about you right straitlie And hold about the Parke your way Al 's sadlie knit as euer yee may For I trow that none shall haue might That chooses with so feill to fight And as hée counseld so haue they done And beneth the Castell went they soone Right by the round table their way And the new Parke enuironde they And toward Linlithgow held in hy But I trow they shall hastelie Sée conuoyed with sik folke that they â— trow might suffer well away For Sir Iames Lord of Dowglas Came to the King and asked the cace And gaue to him lieue but abade But all too few of Horse hée had Hée had not in his rout sextie But yet hée sped him hastelie The way efter the King to ta Now let him on his wayes ga And efter this wée shall well tell What to him in the chase befell How the Erle of Hartfurd in Bothwell was Tane ouer the walles fled from the chase WHen the greit battell on this wise Was discomfist as I deuise Where threttie thousand well were dead And drowned and slaine into that stead And some were into hands tane And other some their gaite are gane The Erle of Herfurde for that melle Departed with a greit menyie And straight to Bothwell held their way That then was in Englishmens fay Was holden as a place of wéere Sir Walter Gilbertson was there Capitane and it had in ward The Erle of Herfurd hidder rade And was tane in ouer the wall And fiftie of his men withall And set in Houses sinderlie So that they had there no mastrie The laue went toward England But of that roâ—t I take on hand The thrid part were slaine or tane The laue with great paine hame are gane Sir Morise also the Barclay Fra the great Oast held his way With a great â—out of Wales men Where euer they rade men might them ken For they well néere all naked were Or linnen claithes had but maire They held their way in full great hy But mony of their company Ere they in England came were tane And mony of them al 's were slaine They fled al 's other wayes seite But to the Castell that was néere Of Striuiling fled sik a Menyie That it was wonder for to sée For all the Craigges so heilled were About the Castell here and there Of them that for strength of that sted Hidderward to warrand fled And for they were so feill that there Fled vnder the Castell were The King Robert that was wittie Held ay his good men néere him by For dread that rise againe sould they This was the cause forsooth to say Wherethrough the King of England Escaped home into his land WHen that the field so cleane was made Of Englishmen that none abade The Scottishmen tooke soone in hand So great riches there they fand Siluer and gold clothes and arming And vessell and all other thing That euer they might lay on their hand So great a riches there they fand That mony men were rich made Of the riches that they there had
néere there escaped nane They serued them in full great wane With shéering swords and with kniues That well néere all léesed their liues They had a felloun Intermais For that subcharge too charging was They that escaped there through cace To their great Oast the waies taes And told how that their men were slaine So cléene that there escaped nane And when they of the Oast had heard How that Dowglas with them farde That had their herbryours all slaine And themselues rushed all againe And slew their Lord in mids their rouf There was none of them all so stout That more will had them to assaile Therefore they haue tane to counsaile That time and to purpose hes tane To wend homeward and home are gane And sped them so vpon their way That to England soone commen are they The Forrest left they standing still To hew it then they had no will And specially while the Dowglas So neere hand by their neighbour was And he that saw them turne againe Perceiued well their Lord was slaine And by the hat that he had tane He wist right well also for ane That taken was said him surely That Richemound ay commonly UUas wont that furred Hat to wéere Then Dowglas blyth that was than eir For he wist well that Richemound His felloun so was brought to ground SIr Iames Dowglas on this wise Through his worship and his emprise Defended worthely the land This point of wéere I take on hand UUes vndertane right apertly And enchéeued right hardely For he astoneyed withoutten wéere Tha folke that well ten thousand were With fiftie armed men but ma. I can al 's tell you other twa Points that well encheeued were With fiftie men and but all wéere They were all done so hardelie That they were praised Souerainely Attour all other points of weere That in their time enchéeued were This was the first that with fiftie UUas brought to end and so stoutly In Galloway the other fell When as yee heard mée before tell How Sir Edward the Bruce with fiftie Uanquisht of Sainct Iohn Sir Aymery And fifteene hundreth men by taile The third fell into Eskdaile UUhen that Sir Iohn of Sowles was The gouernour of all that place And to Sir Andro Hardeclay With fiftie men beset the way That had néere in his companie Thrée hundreth Horsed jolelie This Sir Iohn into plaine Melle Through Soueraigne hardement and bountie Uanquisht them sturdelie ilkeane And Sir Andro in hands hes tane I will not rehearse now the maner For who so liketh they may heare Young Women when they will play Sing it among them euerilke day Thir were the worthie points thrée That I trow euermore shall bée Praised while men may on them mene It is well worth withoutten wene That their names for euermaire That in their time so worthie were That men to heare hes yet daintie That their worship and their bountie Bée alway lasting into louing Where hée that is Almightie King Bring them hie vp to Heauens blisse Where alwayes lasting louing is How the Bishop of Dunkelden syne Scomfist the shipmen beside Dumfermling IN this time that the Richemound Was on this maner brought to the ground Men of the coastes of England That dwelt in Homber or neere hand Gaddered them a greit Menyie And went in shippes to the sea And toward Scotland went in hy And to the Firth came hastely They went to haue had all their lyking For they wist well that the King Was then far out of the Countrie And with him mony of greit bountie Therefore into the Firth came they And endland it held vp their way While they beside Innerkething On the West halfe toward Dumfermling Tooke Land and fast begouth to reif The Erle of Fyth and the Shireffe Saw to the Coast shippes approachand They gaddered to defend the Land And they forgane the shippes ay As they sailled they tooke their way And thought to let them land to take And when the shipmen saw them make Sik countenance and sik array They said among them that they Would not for them let land to ta Then to the land they sped them sa That they came there in full greit hy And arriued full hardelie The Scottishmen saw their comming And had thereof sike abasing That they all haill did ride them fro And the land but stop leet them to They durst not feght with them for thy They with drew them all haillely And yet they were fiue hundreth néere When they away thus riding were And no defence begouth to shape Of Dunkeldin the good Bishop That William was called the Sincler Came with a rout on good maner I trow on Horse they were sixtie Himselfe was armed jolelie Hée rade vpon a stalward Stéed A Chimmer for to heill his wéed Abone his armour had hee then And armed also were his men The Erle and the Shireffe met hée Riding away with their MenÈie Hée asked them well soone what hy Made them to turne so hastely They said their foes with stalward hand Into sik fusion had taken land That they thought them all out too feill And they were few with them to deill When the Bishop heard it was sa Hée said the King ought well to ma Of you that takes so well on hand In his absence to wéere his land Certes if hee gart serue you well The gilt spurres right by the heill Hée should in hy gar hew you fro Right would with Cowards men did so Who loues their Lord and his Countrie Turne smertlie now againe with mée With that hée kest off his Chimmeere And hint in hand a stalwart Speare And rade toward his foes in hy All turned with him haillelie For hee had them reprooued so That of them all none went them fro Hee rade before them sturdelie And they followed full manfullie While that they were néere approachand Untto their foes that had tane land And soone were knit in good array Then some were went to the Ferray The good Bishop when hée them saw Hee said Lordings but dréed or aw Pricke wée vpon them hardelie And wée shall haue them well hastelie If they sée vs come but abasing So that wee heaâ—e make no more stinting They shall right soone discomfist bee Now doe yee well for men shall sée Who loues the Kings Menske this dayr Then all togidder in good array They preiked vpon them sturdely The Bishop that was right hardelie And méekle and starke rade forward ay Then in a frush assembled they And they that at their first méeting Felt of their speares so saire sowing Uanisht and would haue béene away Toward their shippes in hy held they And they them chased fellonlis And slew them full despiteouslie That all the fields ouerstrowed were Of Englishmen that slaine were there And they that yet held vnslaine Preassed them to the sea againe And Scottishmen that chased sa Slew all that euer they might ouerta But they that fled yet not for thy So to their shippes can them
their Sow fecried was there Iohn Crab that had his geare all there In the Faggots hes set a fire And ouer the walles syne can it wyre And brunt the Sow in brandes bare With this all fast assailÈeing were The folke without with felloun fight And they within with méekle might Defended manfully that Stéed Into greit auenture of their deed The shipmen with greit apparaile Came with their ships to assaile With Topcasteles garnisht wel And with men armed into stéele Their baits vâ— in midds their Mast Drawne well hie and fastned fast And preassed with their greit auenture Toward the wall but the Ingynour Hit an Aspine with a stone That the men that were therein ilkane Came downe dushing on the land Fra hinefoorth durst none take on hand With shippes to preasse them to the wall Bot the laue were assailyeing all On euerlike side so egerlie That Certes it was great ferlie That tha folke sik defence hes made For the great mischief they then had For their walles so low they were That a man right with a speare Might strike another vp in the face As here before told to you it was And feill of them were wounded saire And the laâ—e so fast trauelling were That none had laiser rest to ta Their aduersaries them assailyied sa They were therein so straitly stad That their Wardane with him had An hundreth men in companie Armed that wight were and hardie And rade about for to sée where That his folke hardest preassed were But he of his haill companie Behooued to leaue a great partie So that by he a course had made About of all his men he hadâ— There was left with him onlie ane For he had them left euerilkane To relieue where he saw mister And the folke that assailyeing were At Mary yait they hewed had The Barres and a fire had made At the Draw-brig and brunt it doun And were thringing in great susioun Right to the yait a fire to ma. And they within gart smertly ga Right to the UUardane for to say How they were set in hard assay And when Sir Walter Stewart heard How that his men so straitly farde He gart come fra the Castell then All that were there of armed men For there that day assailyied nane And with that rout in hy is gane To Mary yait and to the wall Is went and saw the perill all And vmbethought him suddenly But gif great helpe were sent in hy Thereto they sould burne vp the yait UUith the fire that he found thereat Therefore vpon great hardement He suddenlie set his intent And gart all wide set vp the yait And the fire that he found thereat With strength of men he put away He set him in full great assay For they that were assailyeing there Preassed on him with weapons bare And he defended with all his might There men might sée a felloun fight With sticking stopping and straiking There made they sturdy defending Magre their foes while the night Gart them on both halfes leaue the fight THey of the Dast when night can fall Fra the assault withdrew them all Wounded and wearie and forbeft With faintnesse there the Sault they left And to their Innes they went in hy And set their Watches hastely The laue them eased as they might best For they had great mister of rest That night they spake all commonly Of them within and had ferly That they so stout defence had made Against the great assault they had And they within on other party UUhen they their foes so haillely Saw them withdraw they were all blyth And their Watches hes ordainde swyth And syne are to their Innes gane There was but few of them then slaine Bot feill were wounded cruelly The laue out of measure were weary It was an hard assault perfay For certainely I heard men say That no few men more defence had made That so right sharpe assailyeing had And of one thing that there befell I haue ferly that I of tell That is that into all that day UUhen all the most assailyied they And the shot thickest was with all Women with bairnes and children small In armes full gaddered vp and bare To them that on the walles were Arrowes and not ane slaine was there Nor yet wounded and that was maire To a miracle of GOD almightie And to nought els it set can I. On ather side that night they were All still while on the morne but maire There came tythings out of England To the Oast that was mislykand How that at Borrowbrig by Midtoun Their men were slaine doungen down And that the Scotishmen through the land Rade yet burning and slayand And when the King hes heard this tale His counsell he assembled hale To see whidder better were him till Abide about the toun all still And assaile while it winnen were Or then in England for to fare And reskew his land and men His counsell fast discorded then For the South men would that he made Arest there while he winnen had The Toun and the Castell alswa But North men would nothing swa They dred their friends for to tyne And most part of their goods syne Through Scottishmens crueltie They would he léet the Siege be And ride for to reskew the land Of Longcastell I take on hand The Erle Thomas was one of tha That counseld the King home for to ga And for that more enclined he To the folke of the North Countrie Then to the Southeroun mens will He tooke it to so méekle ill That he gart turse his geare in hy And with his battell haillely That of the Oast néere third part was To England home his waies taes But lieue â—ee home hes â—ane his gate Therefore fell efter sik debate Betwext him and the King that ay Lested and Andro Hardeclay That through the King was on him set Tooke him syne and into Pumfret Into the Hill beside the towne Strake off his head but ransoun Therefore syne hauged drowned was he And with him a greit Menyie Men syne said efter that this Thomas That on this wise martyred was Was syne a Sainct mirackles did But enuie then gart them bee hid But whidder hee holie was or nane At Pumfret thus gate was hee slaine And syne the King of England When that hée saw him take on hand To passe his was so openlie Hée thought that vecill it was foly His Harnesse therefore cursed hée And with the laue of his MenÈie To England home can bee fare The Scottishmen that destroying were Throughout England full cruelly Burning and wasting right rigorouslie When t at they haue heard tythings tell Of this greit Siege that was so fell That they all skailed were and gane Unto England home againe So that their folkes relieued were And set now frée from all danger Then did they take Westward the way And by Carlile returned are they With prise and with prisoners And other goods on seir maners The Lords to the
that he venged of him were Sir Ingramâ— made to him answere And said he dealt so courteously With me that on no wise sould I Gaue counsell to his hurting Thou behooues néedwise said the King To this thing say thine auise Sir said hee sen your will it is That I say wit yée sikkerlie For all your greit Cheualrie To deale with them yee haue no might His men so worthie are and wight For long vsage of feghting That haue beene nourished in sik thing That ilke Yeman is so wight Of his that hée is worth a Knight But if yée thinke your wéere to bring To good purpose at your liking Long trewes with him take yee Then shall the most part of his MenÈie That are but simple Yemanrie Bee strenyied all commonlie To win their meat with their trauill And some of them of néed mon call With pleugh and Borrow for to get And other féere Craftes their daylie meat So that their arming shall worth old And bee rousted destroyed and sold And feill that now of wéere are slée Into these long trewes shall die And others in their stead shall rise That shall ken litle of sik maistries And when they thus diffused are Then may yée mooue on them were To this assented they ilkane And efter soone were trewes tane Betwixt the two Kings that were Taken to last for threttéene yéere And on the Marches gart them cry The Scottishmen keeped them leelely But Englishmen vpon the sea Destroyed through greit crueltie Marchant shippes that sailling were From Scotland to Flanders with waire And destroyed the men ilkane And to their vse the goods hes tane The King sent oft to haue redresse But nought thereof redresse there was And hee abade all time askand The trewes on his halfe gart hée stand Upon the Marches stabilly And gart men keepe them léelely Walter Stewart here died hee At Paslay eirded syne was hee IN this time that the trewes were Lesting on Marches as I said aire Walter Stewart that worthie was At Bathcat a greit sicknesse taes His euill woxt ay more and more While men perceiued by his sore That hée of néed must pay the det That no man for to pay may let Shriuen and al 's repenting well When all was done to him ilke deill That Christen men ought for to haue As good Christen the Gaist hée gaue Then might men heare folk wéepe and cry And mony a Knight and faire Lady Murning and making full euill chere So did they all that euer were there All men him méened commonlie For of his eild hée was worthie When long tim they their dule had made The Corps to Paslay haue they had And there with greit solemnitie And with greit dule eirded was hée GOD for his might his soule mot bring Where Ioy aye lasteth but ending The Erle of Murray and Dowglas With their Host commen to Wardel was AFter his death as I said aire The trewes that so taken were For to haue lasted threttéene yéere When two of them were passed néere And an hailfe I trow alswa King Robert saw men would not ma Redresse of shippes that were tane And of the men al 's that were slaine But ay continued their prauitie Where euer they met vpon the sea Hee sent and quit him all plainely And gaue the trewes vp openly And in vengeance of this trespasse The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas And Donald Erle of Mar alswa And Iames of Dowglas with them twa And Iames Stewart that leader was Efter his good brothers decease Of all his brethers men in wéere Hée gart vpon their best maneere With mony men boun them to ga In England for to to burne and sla And they held foorth soone to England They were of good men ten thousand And brunt and slew into their way Their foes fast destroyed they And thusegaite fordward can they fare To Wardall Parke while they commen are That time Edward of Carnauerane The King was dead and laide in Lame And Edward his sonne that was ying In England crowned then was King And surname had of Windsore Hee had in France béene before With his mother Dame Issobell And was wedded as I heard tell To a young Ladie faire of face That the Erles Doughter was Of Henault and of that Countrie Brought with him men of greit bountie That was right wise and wight in wéere Sir Iohn de Henault was leader And in that time the Scots men were At Wardall Parke as I said aire Into Yorke was hée new made King And heard tell of the destroying That Scottishmen made in his Countrie A greit Host to him gaddered hée Hée was well neere fiftie thousand Then held hée Northward in the land In haill battell with that MenÈie Eighteene yéere old that time was hée The Scots men they had all Cokdaill From end to end they haryed haill And Wardall againe they rade Their Discurreours that sight hes hed Of comming of the Englishmen To their Lords they told it then Then the Lord Dowglas in a ling Ride foorth for to sée their comming And saw that seuen battels were they That came riding in good array When he the folke beholden had Toward his Oast againe he rade The Erle spéered gif he had séene The Oast yea Sir he said but wéene What folke are they Sir mony men The Erle his aith hes made euen then We sall fight with them yea though they were Full mo by far then they now are Sir loued be GOD he said againe That we haue sik a Capitane That so great thing dar vnderta Bot by Sanct Bryde it bées not sa Gif my counsell may trowed be For fight on no maner sall we But it be at our auantage For me thinke it were no outrage To fewer folkes against ma A vantage when they may to ta As they were on this wise speaking On an high rig they saw streiking Toward them euen in battel brade Baners anew displayed they had And another comming efter néere And right vpon the same manéere They came while seuen battels brade Out ouer that high Rig passed had The Scottishmen were then lyand On North halfe néere toward Scotland The daile was streiked well I hight On ather side there was an hight And to the water downe somedeill stay The Scottishmen in good array On their best wise busked ilkane Stood in their strength that they had tane And that was far fra the Water of Wéere A quarter of a mile well néere Their stood they battell to abide The Englishmen there on ather side Came ryding downward while they were To Wéeres Water comming néere And on the other halfe their foes were Then haue they made a rest right there And sent out Archers a thousand With Hounds and Bowes in their hand And gart them well drinke of the wyne And bade them gang to bycker syne The Scottish Oast in a randoun And looke gif they might ding them doun For might they gar them breake array To haue them at
in the Mountaines 35 How King Robert was discomfist by Iohn of Lorne 38 Howe King Robert slew the three men that swore his death Fol. 41 How the Queene and the Erle of Athole departed fra the King to Kildromy 48 How the King past to Lochlowmound 50 Of the meeting of the Erle of Lennox with the King 52 How the King past to the sea 55 How the Erle of Lennox was chaist on the sea 56 How the King was receiued of Angus of the Iles and was gentâ—y entreated of him 58 How the Queene and her other Ladies were tane and prisoned and her men slaine 61 Of the siege of Kildromie and how it was betraised to the Englishmen 62 Of the death of King Edward of England 66 The illusion of the Deuill made to the mother of Ferrand Erle of Flanders and of the successe of the battell that followed thereafter 68 How Iames of Dowglas past in Arrane and gart vittall and armour there 71 How the King sent a spy in Carrik to spy wha were his friends there 76 Of the fire the King saw burning 79 Of the Kings hanselling at his first arriuing in Carrik 83 How Iames of Dowglas wan his Castell of Dowglas 97 How a man of Carrik with twa sonnes tooke in hand to slay the King Robert 97 How King Robert slew the three Traitours 101 How King Robert discomfist twa hundreth Galloway-men and slew fifteene of them 105 Howe Tydeus slewe fourtie nine men and their Captaine 108 How Iames of Dowglas slew Thriswall the Captaine of Dowglas 114 Howe sir Aymer and Iohn of Lorne searched the King with a sleuthhound 118 How King Robert slew yeâ— men that followed him 121 Howe the King was sairlie sought by the sleuthhound and how the sleuthhound was slaine 123 How the three Thieues came to the King and fainyied that they would bee his men 126 How the Kings Foster-brother was slaine and himselfe in great danger and how hee slew the three Thieues 128 How the King after his great troubles effrayed the English companie 133 How the King his hounds slew the 3 men in the wood 136 How the King discomfist sir Aymer in Glentroll 140 How sir Iames Dowglas discomfist sir Philip Mowbray with his companie at Ederfurd 143 How the King discomfist sir Aymer and his men vnder Lowdoun hill 147 How sir Iames Dowglas slew sir Iohn Webtoun and wâ— the Castell of Dowglas and syne cast it downe 156 How the King past ouer the Month and fell sick by the way 159 Howe the Kings men defended him during the time of his sicknesse 162 How the King discoÌ„fist the Erle of Buchane at Enrowry 165 Of the heirship of Buchane and howe the Castle of Forfare was tane 168 How the King wan sainct Iohnstoun and cast downe all the Tower thereof 169 Of the French Knight that was with King Robert at the winning of sainct Iohnstoun 171 How sir Edward Bruce discomfist sir Aymer and sir Ingrame Vmfrauile at the Water of Cree 174 How sir Edward Bruce with fiftie in company discomfist sir Aymer with fifteene hundreth 176 Howe sir Iames Dowglas tooke Thomas Randell and Alexander Stewart 180 How the King discomfist Iohn of Lornes meÌ„ at Creâ—labeÌ„ 182 Howe William Binny wanne the Peill of Linlithgowe through the bringing in of hay to it 182 How Thomas Randell was recounselled with the King and was made Erle of Murray 190 How Thomas Randel sieged the Castel of Edinburgh 191 How Sir Iames Dowglas by the conuoy of Sym of Lydhouse wan the Castell of Roxburgh 193 Howe Erle Thomas Randell wanne the Castell of Edinburgh by the conuoying of William Frances 198 Howe sir Edward Bruce wanne the Peill of Ruglyn and syne wanne Dundie 206 Howe sir Edward Bruce sieged Sttiuiling and of the â—rewes tane thereat 207 How King Edward gaddered a puissant armie to relieue Stâ—iuiling 208 Howe King Edward diuided his battels and tooke harbry in Edinburgh 213 How King Robert gaddered his folkes and ordered his battels to resist king Edward 216 Howe king Robert gart make deepe pots in the field ouercouered them with eâ—rd 218 How king Robert disseuered his vitaillers and carriage men fra his campe and set Erle Thomas Randell to keep the gaite beside the Kirke 220 How the Erle of Murray with an hundreth in company discomfist eight hundreth Englishmen 224 How king Robert slew sir Henrie Bowme in the face of â—aith the Oasts 228 Of the comfort giuen by king Robert to his folks 233 Of the battell of Bannocburne 242 How the Scottish vittallers and carriage men made them baners of sâ—eetes and presented theÌ„selues to the field 253 The valiantnes and death of sir Geiles de Argentie 255 How the Erle of Herfurd after the battell was receiued in Bothwell 258 Howe the king gart honourably bury the Erle of Glocester and the Castell of Striuiling was randered and sir Philip Mowbray became the kings man 262 Howe sir Iames Dowglas chased king Edward to Dumâ—ar and his company to Barwike 263 How the Castell of Bothwell the Erle of Herfurd were randred to sir Edward Bruce the Erle interchanged for the Queene and her Daughter that were prisoners 267 How king Robert rade in England and brunt Northumberland 268 Howe sir Edward Bruce with a great companie past in 〈◊〉 269 Of the first three battels sir Edward wan in Ireland 271 How the Irishmen treasonably leet our a Loâ—h on sir Edward and his company 279 Howe Erle Thomas Randell conqueissed the Irishmens vittailes 287 How Erle Thomas chased the Scurreours that came fra Cogneres 284 Of the fourth battell sir Edward wan in Ireland 286 Howe king Robert danted the Iles and tooke Iohn of Lorne 296 Howe sir Iames Dowglas reskewed the Pray tane by Englishmen and slewe sir Edmund Calhow Capitane of Barwike 296 How sir Iames Dowglas slew the Lord Newell 299 Howe king Robert past in Ireland to support his brother 303 How king Robert faught in Ireland against a great number of men and discomfist them 305 How sir Iames Dowglas in absenee of king Robert with a few company slew the Erle of Richmond 313 How sir Iames Dowglas slew Clerke Eleis and his company 317 How sir Iames Dowglas in absence of King Robert defended valiantly the Countrie 318 Howe the Bishop of Dunkeld and the Erle of Fife discomfist the Englishmen beside Dumfermeling 320 Of the returning of king Robert from Ireland 323 How Barwik was win by the moyen of Sim of Spaldin 327 Howe the King receiued the Castell of Barwike and made Walter Stewart Capitane thereof 330 How the King of England assembled his power to siege Barwike 333 Of the siege of Barwike 345 How Erle Thomas Randell and sir Iames Dowglas past and burnt in England to raise the siege from Barwike 340 Of the second assault of Barwike 343 How the siege of Barwike was skailled and the towne relieued 350 Of the death of sir Edward in Ireland and mony noble men with him 356 How King Edward againe inuaded Scotland and how sundrie of his men were slaine by sir Iames Dowglas 363 How Englishmen were discomfist at Byland 366 Of the conspiracie deuised against King Robert 370 Of the Trewes tane betwixt Scotland and England and of the death of walter Stewart 376 How the Erle of Murray and sir Iames Dowglas brunt in England till they came to Wardall Parke and of the death of King Edward of Carnauer and of his sonne Edward of Windesore 377 How Sir Iames Dowglas entred in the English Host and slew mony in their Tents 386 Howe the Scottish Host by the conuoy of Sir Iames Dowglas returned in Scotland without battell 391 How King Robert to relieue his â—olkes assembled his Host and entred into England in three parts 394 Of the peace tane and of the Mariage of Edwards sister with Dauid King Roberts sonne 395 How King Robert tooke sicknesse in Cardrosse sent for his Lords 398 How the Lord Dowglas was chosen to passe to the haly Land with the Bruces Heart and of the death of King Robert and how hee was buried in Dumfermling 401 How the Lord Dowglas past to the haly Land with the Kings heart 403 Of the great prowesse and valliantnesse done by the Lord Dowglas in Spaine 406 How the Lord Dowglas in relieuing Sir William Sinclar were both slaine by â—uge multitude of Saracenes 408 Of the noble vertues of the Lord Dowglas and a comparison betwixt him and the Romane Fabricius 410 Howe Sir William Keith brought the Lord Dowglas banes in Scotland and buried them in the Kirke of Dowglas 412 Of the death of sir Thomas Randell Gouernour of Scotland by poyson Fol eodem FINIS TABVLAE
THE ACTES and life of the most Victorious Conquerour Robert Bruce King of SCOTLAND WHEREIN also are contained the Martiall deeds of the valiant Princes Edward Bruce Syr Iames Dowglas Erle Thomas Randel Walter Stewart and sundrie others Newly corrected and conferred with the best and most ancient Manuscripts EDINBVRGH Printed by Andro Hart. ANNO 1620. The Printers Preface to the Reader THere is nothing vnto which the minde of maÌ„ doth more aspire thaÌ„ to renown immortality therfore it is that no time hath bene so barbarous no countries so vnciuile but they haue had a care to preserue worthie actions from the iniurie of obliuion and laboured that the names of these that were vertuous while they liued should not perish with their breath And amongst all the strange and diuerse fashions of remembring the dead no record hath bene found to bee compared to that of bookes and amongst all bookes none so lasting as these in verse which how so euer rudely done yet seeme to haue striuen with dayes and euen to compasse time beeing the first remembrances that either Greece or Rome haue and apparantly shall be the last Howe curious our Antecessours in this Isle haue bene to extend their memorie to after ages many olde monuments yet to be seene can beare witnesse but more than any that fame of which many yeers since was amongst forrainers of their ancient Poets the Bardes who wrote in verse the deedes of their most valiant men and song them in the wilde Forrests and mountaines with which though long time after the manie records wee haue of the ancient defenders of our Countrie may bee brought forth and amongst all the rest this storie of the valiant BRVCE is not the least it speaketh the language of that time if it spake ours it would not bee it selfe yet as an antique it is venerable To speake somewhat of the occasion of those warres that the Historie may the better appeare Alexander the third of that name King of SCOTLAND departed this life suddenlie without succession to the crowne except Margaret his Neece daughter to the King of Norway who beeing left the vndoubted heire to the Kingdome King Edward of England desired her in mariage to his sonne Prince Edward whereunto our Scottish Nobilitie easilie condescended but shee beeing dead before the ambassadors arriued they returned with sorrowfull hearts wherevpon arose great tâ—oubles and contention amongst the Nobilitie who should succeed to the Crowne and albeit there were manie contendents yet at leÌ„gth came onely betwixt the Bruce Baliol. The Nobility to auoide further strife conueened themselues to decide who should haue the vndoubted right but because they could not agree both the parties being so great that their power could not make the parties stand to their arbitrement they with one voyce referred the deciding thereof to Edward of EnglaÌ„d supponing that he should deale most sincerely therein considering how willingly they had condescended to the marriage of his sonne with Margaret the Neece of King Alexander who accepting very gladly of the matter hoping to atchieue by craft that which hee and his predecessours could neuer obtaine by force left off his Iourney to the Holie LAND hoping to speede better at home for the enlarging of his Dominions beeing a man greatly inclined that way called the parties before him at Barwike protesting heere withall that hee called them not vpon any presumption that he pretended ouer them but as they had chosen him to be arbiter in the cause so hee called them to the deciding of the matter and to collour his purpose hee had conueened a number of learned Lawyers out of France and other Countries pretending that he would doe nothing without law and reason yet the moste parte of the Doctours there conueened as namely Mr. Siluius Mr. Rainerius Decius Mr. Severius de Florentia mentioned in the Pluscadin Chronicle and in Scotichronicon condescended that Robert Bruce had the best right quòd propinquior in gradu debet succedere and therefore Robert Bruce in respect hee was uno gradu stipiti propinquior and was also the first Male albeit begotten on the younger sister But King Edward had his owne decinct not regarding their arbitrement called first secretly the Bruce vnto him to whome he was well inclined promising to decide in his fauours if he would hold his Kingdome in homage of him But Bruce being a man of Heroik spirit refused absolutely to subject a free Realme to the seruitude of any forraine Prince whomsoeuer The King highly offended turned himselfe frowardly in great anger froÌ„ the Bruce called Iohn Ballioll also secretly promised him the same coÌ„ditions the man being blinded with ardent desire to reigne not regarding what hee did promise so hee might haue Soueraignitie condiscended easily to whatsumeuer Edward required and so by him was nominate King sent home to Scotland where hee was conueyed to Scone and there crowned and all except Bruce swore to him obedience Shortly after there fell out a slaughter of Makdulffe Erle of Fife by the Abirnethies men at that time in great authoritie and wealth and because Makdulffe his brother suspected the King to bee partiall in judging summond him to bee judged before King Edward The Ballioll being there present and sitting beside King Edward in the conuention of Estates and being called thoght to answere by a Procutour was compelled to arise and defend his cause at the Barre wherewith being sorely grieued albeit hee durst not peepe for the time yet returning home in a maruelous chaufe reuoluing in his minde how hee might cast off this yoke and bondage whereunto foolishly hee had subjected himselfe and as hee did meditate vpon this a profitable dissention for his purpose interueened betweene France and England which immediatly brast foorth in warre so that at a Conuention in Scotland both the Kings Ambassadours were present The French to renue their olde league with the new King the English by the recent surrender of the Realme desired assistance in that warre Both the Ambassadours were referred to the Parliament the Nobilitie prone to cast off the late yoke of England decerned the French petition just and the English vnjust for that league with France was made fiue hundreth yeeres agoe by the consent of the whole Realme inviolably obserued to that day but that surrender was but new throwen out of the King against his will which albeit hee had beene willing to doe yet neither was the King nor the Realme bound to bide at it seeing it was done without the consent of the Estates in Parliament without whose consent the King could doe nothing These Newes comming to King Edwards eares hauing taken some Moneths truce with France hee sent his Nauie that was bowne to France into Scotland thinking to ouerthrowe the Scots before they were prouided and to keep Barwike vnvittalled The Scots encountring this Nauie at the Riuer mouth of Tweed wanne eighteene shippes and chased the rest King Edwards wrath was by this
losse more vehemently prouoked to reuenge summond the Ballioll thrise to compeare before him at Newcastle and because he compeared not at all hee sent for Bruce and promised him the Kingdome if hee would write to his friendes either to leaue their King or to flee in battell The King with all diligence past toward Barwike where finding the towne strongly garnished with men and comming small speed in his pursute hee fained a retreat and caused some of the Bruces faction sparse brutes that the Ballioll with a great Oast was euen there at hand whereupon the most notable men of the towne supponing themselues to bee free of the common enemie ran foorth for to receiue their King honourably and so both horse and foote went out of the towne confusedlie But Edward had appointed a number of horsemen to wait vpoÌ„ that turne who cutted them off easilie from their companies beeing vshed so confusedly and out of order and comming to the next Port entred in the towne the King with his foot-hoste following made miserable slaughter vpon all sorts of people increasing in multitude sent a part of his armie to besiege Dumbar himselfe within few dayes receiued the Castell of Barwike which the keepers randred despairing of reliefe then joyning all his forces together at Dumbar encountred with the Scots hoste which came hither with a great battell to raise the siege the victorie enclined to the English side The chiefe men of the Nobilitie fledde to the Castell but the Captaine not hauing Viuers sufficient to sustaine such a multitude randered and all kinde of crueltie execute vppon the captiues But when the Bruce desired the Kingdome in recompense of his trauell and according to promise Edward answered him in French haue we nothing ado but to purchase Kingdomes for you Dumbar and some other Castles vppon the Border beeing randred Edinburgh and Striuiling were deliuered also from Striuiling Edward passed Forth and marched towards Forfare where the Ballioll was when without impediment hee came to Monrosse The Ballioll by perswasion of Iohn Cummine of Strabogie randred himselfe the Kingdome into King Edwards hands whom he shipped sent into England Edward returned to Barwike by sharpe edict summond all the Scottish Nobilitie to come thither such as came were compelled to sweare obedience vnto him William Dowglas a man of Noble blood and valiant refusing to sweare was cast in prison where within few yeeres he died Thus all things succeeding to his wish hee appointed Iohn Warreâ— Erle of Surrey Viceroy Hew Cressingham Thesaurer and leauing them behind him hee returned to London where hee warded Iohn Ballioll when hee had reigned 4. yeeres But hee within a short space at the request of the Bishop of Rome was sent to France leauing his sonne Edward in pledge for him Afterward Edward with a great army tooke shipping to passe in France The Scots in esperance of liberty hee being absent chused twelue Regents and by all their aduises Iohn Cummine Erle of Buchan with a sufficient armie was sent in England The English Garrisons left in Scotland dispersed heere and there durst not stirre so hee without impediment spoyled Cumberland and Northumberland Albeit this voyage somewhat incouraged the Scots yet did it but small help to the whole warre for all strong holds were fortified by the enemies garrisons But while as Noblemen lacked both strength and sufficient courage to enterprise greater matters VVilliam VVallace a man of Noble and ancient Family who did Actes in those Warres not only aboue all mens exspectatioÌ„ but also incredible being a man of great bodily strenght high courage He hardened his body against injuries of Fortune and confirmed his courage by perillous attempts to enterprise higher and greater euen with danger he gathered vnto him some companie of Men and herewith not only slew any Englishmen he met with but often times aâ—so with few foght with great numbers in sundrie places where he met with them slew them In short space his fam filled both the Realms so they that had lik causes as he had not vnlike loue to their Countrey gathering together swarmed to him from all parts and within few moneths he amassed an indifferent Army Noblemen for feare or lashnes lying still Wallace was proclaimed Gouernour and as Lieutenant for Ballioll commanded as lawfull Magistrate Hee tooke not this name of pride or of desire to Empire but only like another Sampson vpon compassion and loue of his Countrey-people After this he essayed with open force tooke many Castells either not sufficiently furnished or not weill guarded or negligently kept and razed them His Men of Warres minds were so confirmed that vnder his conduct they feared no perrill for that his hardiment lacked neuer wisdom nor his wisdome the wished euent So in short space he wan all the Forts that Englishmen possessed beyond Forth King Edward hearing these rumours and hauing all his Army with him in France he wrote to Henrie Pearsie Lord of Northumberland to William Latimer to raise quickly Forces out of the next adjacent Countrey and joyne themselues with Cressinghame to suppres the Scots Wallace in this time besieged the Castle of Cowper in Fyfe to the end his men of warre should not be idle attending the coming of the English army his enimies now cuming neare marched directly to Striuiling The Riuer of Forth hath no foords at Striuiling Yet there was a vvoodden bridge ouer the vvhich Cressinghame past vvith the great part of his aâ—mâ— the rest following so thick the bridge being ouerburthened vvith so hudge a weght brak in pieces The Scots charged these that vvere past before they could be Arayed slew their leader droue backe the rest in the water with so huge a slaughter that almost the whole were either slain by the Scots or drownd in the riuer Wallace after this so followed his fortune that he left not an Englishman in Scotland except prisoners This victory was obtained vpoÌ„ the Ides of Septemb. 1297. Hereafter followed great Famine for not manuring of the ground and Pest followed Hunger wherof greater destruction was feared than of the Warre Wallace to remedy this aswell as he might charged al sensible men to come vnto him at a certain day caried them with him into England vvhere liuing in vvinter in their enemies lands they spared Viuers at home vvhere he remained from the kalends of Nouember vnto the kal. of Febr. and no man durst match him And then hauing inriched theÌ„selfs vvith their enemies spoyls returned with great glory As this journey augmented Wallaces fame and authority among the people so it increased the Noble mens enuy against him vvhereof Edw. being priuy setting things in France in order as time would permit leauing his old souldiers beyond sea amassing a very great army vpon the sudden of nouices he marched toward Scotland but wheÌ„ in the plain of Stanemure both armies stood in order of battel about half a mile from other Edw. viewing Wall hoste
had rashly run forth froÌ„ the host Edw. preast by great promises to mak him his own but in vain his answer was ay to all men that hee had auowed his life to his Countrey Thus things atchieued Edw. adjoyned himself to his son Edward whom he had left at Perth took in sundry Strengths Forts Striuiling after 3 moneths siege the rest rendred for fear Edward held a ParliameÌ„t in Sainct-Andrews vvher he made most part of the Nobility for fear to swear to be his true subjects Wall always excepted who for fear to be betrayed of the nobility withdrue himself to his old lurking places Edw. appointed LieutenaÌ„ts and Magistrats throughout Scotland past home to England and left no Monuments Histories Books Lawes nor learned men vndestroyed or transported with him thinking therby to exterminate the name of that NatioÌ„ He left Odomare Valentine Vice-Roy to extinguish all innouations if any begin to peepe But now Wars arose where he least meaned Among the rest of Scottish Nation with Edward was Robert Bruces son who conteÌ„ded with Ballioll for the Kingdome and Iohn Cummine cousen german to Iohn Ballioll late King of Scots Edw. had spoken often times seuerally long time holden them in the hals vpoÌ„ vain hope of the Kingdom and so used their means in the conquest of the same being both meÌ„ of great power and friendship but the deceitfull mockage at length manifested there was nothing more desired of either of them than occasion to be reueÌ„ged vpon Edw. falset against promise trust to both but emulation whereby the one suspected the other was the stay that neither durst coÌ„municat his counsell to the other Now Cum. perceiued these doings miscoÌ„teÌ„ted Bruce vehemently deplored vnto him the misery of their Countrey beginning from the ground thereof and inueighing greatly against the King of Englands persidie accused first himself then Bruce by whose assistance and trauels their people were brought to this misery proceeding further from this beginning of speach euery of them promising secrecy to other vpon their Faith and honesty They agreed betwixt themselues thus That Bruce should bee King and Cummine should resigne his Right in his fauours Cummine should haue all Lands that Bruce possessed in Scotland he had many faire and fruitfull Lands and Cummine should be second in honour next vnto the King These things sworn writteÌ„ sealed Bruce vvaiting opportunity of change past to the Court of England leauing behind him in Scotland his wife and brethren After his departure Cummine either repenting his former aduise or els he thought by craft to cut away Bruce that therby he might more easily come by the kingdome He bevvrayed these secrets to Edward and to purchase credite herein he sent him the Contract signed by both Bruce was summoÌ„d to a day for treason charged not to depart from Court quiet keepers appointed vnto him commanded to spy both his vvords and deeds The cause why the King protracted time in this so manifest a turne was that his brethren might be apprehended before the brute of his execution should arise Bruce in the meane time was informed of the suddeÌ„ danger by his old freind the Earle of Gomera vvho durst not counsell him by letter to flee but warning by example sent a pair of guilt spurs with som pieces of gold as if he had borrowed them the day preceeding Robert as men in danger are most tenty not ignoraÌ„t what was meant by the propine called for a Smith in the night caused shoo three Horses backward lest the print of the Horse feet in the snow might bewray their flight that same night might be espied accompanied with other two took journey vpon the 7 day thereafter themselues and their horses weary came to a Castle of his own standing beside Lochmabene there finding his brother Dauid Robert Fleming and taking them with him scarcely opening vnto them the cause of his flight chanced vpon a Messenger carying letters from Cummine to Edward bearing That Robert should be executed with diligence for delay brought danger lest a Noble man â—auoured of the people and therewith also wise stout should raise new troubles c. The Cummines treason also by this testimony tried Robert inflamed with rage of ire past directly to Drumfreise wher he vnderstood his enemy was finding Iohn Cummine in the Gray-Friers Kirke produced his letters reproued him bitterly while as he impudently stood to the deniall therof but he impatient in wrath strak him in the belly with his Dagger and left him for dead When he was horsing again Iames Lindesay his cousen and Roger Kirk-Patricke his friend perceiuing his countenaâ—ce chaÌ„ged inquired the cause He told them in a word He belieued Cummine was dead What said LINDESAY Hast thou left so dangerous a deed in doubt therwith he entred into the Kirk not only slew him but also Robert Cummine his kinsman preassing to support him This murther was committed the 4 of the Ides of February 1305. about this time William Wallace was taken and betrayed by Iohn Menteith his familiar companion corrupted by Edwards Mony in the bounds of Glasgow where he lurked for the time sent to London where by Edwards command he was vnhonestly beheaded and quartered his members tâ— terrifie others hung vp in most publicke places in England Scotland This was the end of this most worthy mans life who for high spirit in interprising dangers for fortitude in execution comparable in deed to the most famous Chiftains amongst the Ancients for loue to his natiue Countrey second to noâ—e he onely free the rest slaues could neither bee bâ—ught with benefites nor compelled by force to leaue the publicke cause which he had once profest whose death appeared more to be lamented that being inuincible to his enemie he was betrayed by his Familiar that in no cace should haue done so The Bruce staying only till he had obtained pardon of the Bishop of Rome for the murther committed in holy Church In the next month of Aprile 1306. passing to Scone hee was crowned King First knowing well the great puissance of his enemie hee amasseth all the forces he could from all parts although the whole clan of Cummines the greatest in Scotland that euer was before them or since in puissance withstoode him and his assisting of Edward offended many and the greater part of the Realme beside lay quiet for feare of English force hee notwithstanding of his few number hazarded against Odomar at Meibwen with the losse of a few was put to the worst The like bad successe hee had in passing from Atholl to Argyle where the Cummines beset him and forced him to fight at Dalry his men fleeing to saue themselues in places of greatest suretie From this time with one or two in companie thinking himselfe in that state more sure with few than many Hee wandred in the wildernes like a wilde man and albeit hee would haue assayed Fortoun hee saw
no appearance of force in anie part for the common people vpon the construing of the two former losses caused him bee forsaken of all two onely of his old friends stood constantly by him Micolum Leuin Erle of Lennox and Gilbert Hay Englishmen not saciate sufficiently with his miseries sent and apprehended his kinsemen throughout all the Countrie his wife token by William Erle of Rosse was sent into England his brother Nigell the Castle of Kildrummie betrayed by the Captaine thereof with his wife and children were randred to the enemie Thomas and Alexander his brethren also passing from Galloway to Carrik were taken at Lochrien and sent into England These three in sundrie places were beheaded the remnant of the Bruces faction were sought also and slaine their goods confiscate The King himself most often with one in companie in this time kept the vnhaunted mountaines euery day and houre changing lurking holes and while as hee thought not himselfe sure that way neither from treason of the people nor crueltie of his enemies past to the Iles to an old friend of his called Angus and lurking there certaine moneths he was supposed to bee dead and so the enemie ceased searching This brute as it was not vnprofitable for his securitie so if it had any while coÌ„tinued it appeared to his frends to cut away all hope of recouering the Realme thinking therefore to attempt some what getting a smal company from his friend with whome hee lurked he sailed to Carrik where hee tooke a Castle of his owne inheritance at vnawares kept by a strong garison of Englishmen and slew them all least hee might bee inuironed by force of the enemie and crossing the Firth of Clyde with the like felicitie tooke the Castle of Innernesse far distant from there and so passing from place to place taking in townes Castles and strengths The Countrie-people beeing heauily opprest by the enemy flocking to him from all quarters hee gathered a reasonable armie and albeit hee had not onely the common enemy to withstand but also a number of mightie intestine enemies at home especially the Cummines faction yet from this time forth whatsoeuer hee attempted succeeded prosperously till he had expelled the enemie vtterly out of the Realme and subdued the whole Countrie to his obedience but leauing the History of his further progresse because it will appeare more particularly it selfe I remit the Reader to the perusing thereof This is he of whom it may be said that was said of that Roman Scipio unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Into what bondage found he his Nation To what liberty did he restore it Since the times of the old Heroes none hath more excelled in all vertues Who more couragious in warre Who more temperate in peace Who euer had a fortun more hard Who euer did more hardly lead Fortun captiue and lesse regarded her frownes a constant course of victorie still enabling all his enterprises whose mind would not bin broken much more bowed vnder such heaps of miseries whose eonstancy would not be queld to haue his wife taken captiue his foure brethren slaine his friends with all mischiefes opprest to haue himselfe not only barred of his patrimony and estat but of a Kingdome and all done against faith by a Prince the mightiest of that age Beside all these calamities thralled and brought to the extreamest of waÌ„t he neither doubted of the recouery of his Crown nor was at any tim sene to coÌ„mit any thing vnworthy of a kingly mind Let Rome boast of Camillus and Scipio France of her Charles Epirus of great Scandeberge Scotland shall not forget this Prince for she cannot And if hee be not so renoumed as these it is not for that he is not as worthy but for that he hath not had so braue trumpeters of his fame being born in so vnpolished an age which time the destroyer and restorer of euery thing may perhaps hereafter in these more learned dayes amend There be some who hold the opinion that the publishing of those books is hurtfull as embers of consumed discord but it is not the publishing of the simplicity of our predecessours that can diuide vs or cause any discord but rather our owne too great subtilty ambition and auarice and the turning the pages of Tacitus and of Secretar Machiauell that caÌ„ breed an ague in our state Can the reading of the warres betwixt Longcaster and Yorke separate the red and white Roses I thinke no. But I am perswaded that al men of sound minds will rather abhor discord in reading of these books seeing what miseries and horrible calamities these warres bring foorth and what great occasion we of both Nations haue to magnifie Gods goodnes that in our dayes since the Gospell hath bene in sincerity published amongst vs hath turned all these bloody broyles into a peaceable Calme especially now in the person of our dread Soueraigne So that now as the Prophet sayeth Our swords are brokeÌ„ into mattocks and our speares into siths But if we would consider what meanes haue bene vsed what paines taken and plots laide by the wisest of both Nations to knit vp this vnion and yet could neuer effectate the same vntill it pleased GOD to cut downe this partitioÌ„ wall of long debate in the person of our most gracious SOVERAIGNE GOD giue vs grace to bee thankefull for it AMEN ROBERTVS BRVSSIVS Regni instaurator ac penè novus conditor in omni Fortuna invictus QVIS varios casus quis dura pericula BRVSSI Fatorumque vices commemorare queat Qui victus toties toties qui victor hostis In vacuo fixit Martia signa solo Qui domitis Fatis pugnando restituit rem Civibus patriam jusque suum patriae Cùm tot acerba virum cùm tot cumulata suorum Funera funeribus cerneret ante oculos Mens generosa animi Fortunae excelsior omni Imperio stabili perstitit usque gradu SCOTIA quae statues VICTORI justa trophaea Qui Fati ac hostis Victor ipse Sui est The same in English Who can the hazards hard the chances straÌ„ge Of Bruce report a Mark of Fortunes chaÌ„ge Oft was hee thrall'd his Foes oft from him fled Oft ensignes on the purple Plaines he spred He danted Fates his natiue Soyle ou'rthrowne Her to her own to her brought backe a Crowne By fight he all restor'd and hauing seene So many funerall heapes before his cene His Mind vnquell'd reach't Fortunes wheele aboue And in the Spheare of Courage â—ixt did moue Where hast thou Scotland for his Trophees room Who Fates Foes himselfe for thee o'recome THE ACTES AND LIFE OF the most victorious Conquerour Robert Bruce King of SCOTLAND WHEREIN ALSO ARE contained the Martiall deedes of the valiant Princes Edward Bruce Syr Iames Dowglas Earle Thomas Randell Walter Stewart and sundrie others STories to read are delectable Suppose they nought containe but fable Then sould Stories the soothfast were If they bée spoken in good
maner Haue double pleasure in hearing The first is their pleasant carping The other is their soothsastnesse That shewes the thing right as it wee And soothfast things that are likand To mens hearing are pleasand Therefore I would faine set my will If my wit might suffice theretill To put in write a soothfast storie That it may last in memorie Sa that no length of time may let Nor gar it hailly be forÈet For ald Stories that men reides Represents to them their deides Of stalward folk that liued air Right as they then present wair And certes they sould weill haue prise That in thair time were wicht and wise And led thair life in great trauell And oft intill hard stoure of battell Wan richt greit praise of Cheualrie And was voyde of all Cowartrie As was King Robert of Scotland That hardy was of hart and hand And gude Schir Iames of Dowglas That in his time sa worthie was That of his praise and his bountie In sindrie lands honour wan he Of tham I thinke this buke to ma. Now God of grace that I may swa Treit it and bring it to gude ending That I say nocht but suithfast thing QUhen Alexander the King was deid That Scotland had to steir and leid The land sex Èeires and mair perfay Lay desolate efter his day Till all the Barouns at the last Assemblit them and that full fast To cheis a King the land to steir That of the ancestrée cummin weir Of Kings that had that Royaltie And had most richt their King to be But Inuy that is so felloun Maid among them dissensioun For some wold haue the Balliol King For he was cummin of the ofspring Of hir that eldest sister was Uther sum contrary it that cais And said that he there King sould be That was of al 's neir degre And cummin was of the first Male And of Branches Collaterale They said succession of Kinrike Was not till lower state alike For there micht not succeid a Female Quhill foundin micht be ony Male That were in lyne euen descendand They beir all vther wayes in hand For then the nixt cummin of their seid Man or woman sould succeid By this ressoun the Lords thocht haill That the Lord of Annandaill Robert the Bruce Earle of Carrik Aught to succeid to the Kinrik THe Barons thus were in discord And on no maner micht accord Till at the last they all accordit That all their speich sould be recordit To Schir Edward of England King And he sould sweir but fenÈeing He sould as arbiter declair Of the two that I tould of air Quho sould succeid to sit on hicht And let him Regne that had the richt This Ordinance they thocht the best For at that time was peace and rest Betwixt Scotland and England baith That they could not perceiue the skaith That toward them was appearand For why the King of England Held such friendship and companie With their King that was worthie They trow'd that he as good nighbour And as friendfull Compositour Wold haue iudged in leele Lawtie But otherwise yeed all the glie A Folke blinded full of great follie Had ye bethought once earnestlie What perill to you might appeare Ye had not wrought in that maneare Had ye tane keepe how that this King Alwayes withoutten fainyéeing Trauell'd for to win Senyeorie And through his might did occupie Lands that were to him marchand As Wales was and all Ireland That he put into such thirlage That they that were of hie Parage Should run on foot as Ribalds all When he would anie folke assaile Durst none of Wales in battell ride Nor yet fra Euen fell abide Castle nor walled towne within But he should lith and limmes tine Into sik thirlage them led he Whome he ou'rcame with his poustie Ye might sée he should occupie Through slight that he might not through mastrie Had ye tanâ— kéepe what was thirlage And had considred his vsage That gripped ay but gane giuing Ye should withoutten his denying Haue chosen you a King that might Haue holden well your Land at right Wales ensample might haue beene To you had ye it well foreséene And wise men say he is happie That will therein himselfe chastie For vnfaire things may fall perfay The morne as they did yesterday But ye trusted into lawtie As simple folke but subtiltie Anâ— wist not what might after tide For in the world that is so wide As none determinatly that shall Know ony thing that 's for to fall For GOD that is of most Poustis Reseru'd it to his Maiestie For to know in his Prescience Of things to come the contingence IN this maner assented were The Barons as I said you aire And through their owne haill consent Messengers to him they went Then to the holie land boun was he To Saracens to wéere surely And fra he wist what charge they had He busked him but more abade And to England againe is gane And left the purpose that he had tane And syne to Scotland word sent he That they should make an assemblie And he in hie should come to do In all thing as they write him to But he thotht weill throw their debait That he sould slely find sum gait How that he all the SenÈory Throw his greit micht sould occupy And to Robert the Bruce said he Gif thou will hald in cheif of me For euermore and thine ofspring I sall do so thou sall be King Schir he said so God me saif The Kinrik Èarne I nocht to haif But gif it fall of richt to me And gif God will that it so be I sall al 's frely in all thing Hold it as longes to a King Or as myne Elders before me Held it in freast Royaltie The vther wryit him and swair That he sould neuer haue it mair And turnit him in wraith away But Schir Iohn Ballioll perfay Assentit sone till all his will Quherethrow efter fell mekill ill He was King but a litill quhyle Quhen throw greit subtiltie and gyle For litill enchesoun or for nane He was arreistit and syne tane And degradit fine was he Of honour and of dignitie Quhether that it was wrong or richt God wait it that is most of micht QUhen Schir Edward the michty King Had on this wayes done his liking With Iohn the Ballioll that so sone Was all degrad and it vndone To Scotland went he then in hy And all the land can occupy So haill that both Castell and Toun Were all in his possessioun From Weik anent Orknay To Mulesnuke in Galloway And stuffit all with Englishmen Schireffs and Bailleis made he then And all kin vther Officers That to gouerne the land affeires He made of Inglis Natioun Then worthit they so feirs and felloun And so wickit and so greuous So heuy and so couetous That Scottismen micht do nothing That euer micht pleis to their likingâ— Their wyfes wold they oftly by And their doughters despiteously And gif ony thereat
him full wonder well To good Hector of Troy might he In manie things likened be Hector had blacke haire as he had And starke limmes and right well made And lisped also as did he And was fulfill'd of all bountie And was courteous wise and wight But of manhéed and méekle might To Hector dare I none compare Of all that euer in world were For in his time so wrought he That he should greatly loued be HE dwelt there thus till on a tide The King Edward with méekle pride Came to Starling with great menyie For to hold there an assemblie Hitherward went many a Baroun And Bishop William of Lambertoun Who hither al 's and with him was His Esquyre Iames of Dowglas The Bishop led him to the King And said Sir here to you I bring This Child that claimes your man to be And prayeth you for Charitie That ye receiue here his homage And grant to him his heritage Quhat lands claimes he said the King Schir gif that it be your lyking He claimes the Lordship of Dowglas For Lord thereof his father was The King then wrythed him angerly And said Schir Bischop sikkerlie Gif thou wold keepe thy fewtie Thou mak no sic speaking to me His father was ay my felloun And died therefore in my presoun And was agains my Maiestie Therefore I ought his aire to be Go purches lands quhere euer he may For thereof gets he none perfay The Clyffurd shall haue them for he Ay leillely he hes serued me The Bischop heard him so answer And durst then speake to him no mair Bot from his presence went on hy For he dred sore his fellony So that no more he spoke thereto But did that he came for to do The King in England went againe With mony men of mekill maine LOrdings who likes for to heare The Romanes now begins héere Of men that were in greit distres And assayed full greit hardynes Or they micht come to their intent But syne our Lord sic grace them sent That they sensyne through greit valour Came to greit hicht and hie honour Magre their foes euer ilkone That were so fell that ay for ane Of them they were well a thousand Bot where God helps who may wtstand Èœet if we say the suithfastnes They were eir more then they were lesse But God that is of mekill micht Preserued them in his foresicht To venge the harmes and the contrares That they fell folke and oppressares Did to simple folke and worthy That could not saue themselues for thy They were like to the Maccabees That as men in the Bible sées Throw their great worship and valour Faucht in mony a stalwart stour For to delyuer their Countrie Fra folke that throw Iniquitie Held them and theirs into thirlage They wrocht so throw their vassallage That with few folke they had victory Of michty Kings as sayes the Story And delyuered their lands all frée Quherefore their names sould loued be This Lord the Bruce I spoke of air Saw all the Kinrik so forfair And so troubled the folke saw he That he thereof had great pitie Bot quhat pitie that euer he had No countenance thereof he made Quhill on a time Schir Iohn Cuming As they came ryding from Striuiling Said to him Schir will Èe not see How that gouerned is this Countrie They slew our folke but Enchesoun And hes this land against reasoun And ye thereof Lord should be And if that ye will trow to me Ye shall thereof gar make you King And I shall be in your helping With thy ye giue me all the land That ye haue now into your hand And if that ye will not doe swa Nor sik a state vpon you ta All haill my lands shall yours be And let me take the state on me And bring this land out of thirlage For there is neither man nor Page In all this land but they will be With vs to make themselues frée The Lord the Bruce heard his carping And weinde he spake but soothfast thing And for it liked to his will He gaue soone his assent theretill And said sen ye will it be swa I will blythlie vpon me ta The name for I wote I haue right And riâ—ht makes oft the féeble wight THir Barouns thus accorded are And that ilk night written were Their Indentours aithes made To hold that they forespokeÌ„ had But ouer all thing woe worth treasoun For there is neither Earle nor Baroun Nor Duke nor Prince nor King of might Though he be neuer so wise nor wight For wit worship praise nor renoun That euer may kéepe him fra treasoun Was not all Troy with treason tane When ten yéeres of the siege was gane Where there was slaine eight hundred thousand Of them thereout through strength of hand As Dares in his booke did wraite And dyted their battell and their state They might not haue bene tane with might But treasoun tooke them through her slight And Alexander the Conquerour That conquered Babylons Towre And all this world of length and bréede In twelue yéere through his doughtie déede Was syne destroyed by poysoun In his owne house through treasoun But ere he died his land dealt he To sée his death was great pitie Iulius Cesar al 's that wan Britane and France as worthie man Africk Arabie Egypt and Syrie And al 's Europe all haillelie And for his worship and valour Of Rome was first made Emperour Syne in his Capitoll was he Through them of his counsell priuie Slaine with botkins vnto the dead And when he saw there was no read His ene with hand enclosed he For to die with more honestie Al 's Arthur that through Cheualrie Had Britane Maistres and Ladie Of twelue Kinrikes that he wan And also as a Noble man He wan through battell France all frée And Lucius Tyber vanquisht he Then he of Rome was Emperour And yet for all his great valour Modreed his Sister sonne his slew And good men al 's ma than anew Through treason and through wickednesse The Bruce thereof beares witnesse So fell it of this cunning making Of the Cuming to the King Of England and told all the cace But I trow not all as it was The Indentour to him gaue hée And syne shawed the iniquitie And therefore syne hee tholed dead That to it could set no remead WHen the King saw the Indenâ—our Hée was angrie without measure And swore that hee should vengeance ta Of the Bruce that presumed sa Against him for to braull and rise Or to conspire in sic a wise And to Sir Iohn Cumyng said hee That hée should for his lawtie Be rewarded and that highly And hée him thanked humbly And thought well to haue the leading Of all Scotland but gane saying Fra that the Bruce to death was brought But oft failyeis that fooles thought And wise mens etteling Comes not aye to that ending That they thinke that it should come to For GOD wat 's what is ado Of his etling right
and there The ships ouer the waues slade For wind at will blowing they had But not for thy who there had bene A great stertling he might haue séene Of ships For while some would be Right on the waues summitie And some slade fra the hight so law Right as they downe to hell would draw Syne on the waues stert suddenly And other ships that were by Delyuerly drew to the Déepe It was great Cunning for to kéepe Their Takle into sik a thrang And waite sik waues ay amang That reft them oft sight of the land When that they to it were marchand And when ships were sayling néere The sea would rise on sik maner That of the waues the waltering hight Would reaue them oft off their sight Yet into Raughring sikkerly They arriued ilkone safely Right blyth and glade that they were sa Escaped the hiddeous waues fra IN Raughring they arriued are And to the land they went but mare Armed vpon their best maner When the folke that there winning were Saw men of armes in their Countrie Arriue into sik quantitie They fled in hy with their Cattell Right toward a stalward Castell That in the land was néere them by Men might heare women highly cry And flée with Cattell here and there Bot the Kings folke that were Delyuer of foot them can ouer-hy And them arréested haillely And brought them to the King againe So that none of them all was slaine Then with them treated so the King That they to fulfill his yarning Became his men euerilkane And hes him truely vndertane That they and theirs loude and still Sould be in all things at his will And while him liked there to leind Euerilk day they sould him send Uittaile for thrée hunder men And ay for Lord they sould him ken So that their Fortresses might be For all his men their owne frée The Cunnand on this wise was made And on the morne but longer bade Of all Raughring both man and page Kneeled and made the King homage And therewith swore to him fewtie To serue him into léele lawtie And held him therewith léele Cunnand For while he dwelt into that land They gaue meat to his companie And serued him right faithfullie How the Queene and other Ladies were tane and prisoned and her men slaine AT Raughring leaue we now the King In rest withoutten barganing And of his foes a whyle speake we That throgh their might and their poustie Made sik a persecutioun So hard so straite and so felloun On them that to him louing were Or kyn or friend in ony maner That it to heare was great pitie For they spared none of no degrée That they trowed his friends were Nouther of the Kirke nor Seculare For of Glasgow Bishop Robert And Marcus of Maine they stythly spared Both in fetters and in prisoun And al 's good Cristall of Setoun Into Lochdon betrayed was Through a Disciple of Iudas Maknaght a false Traitour that ay Was with him dwelling night and day Whome to he made good company It was far war than traitoury For to betray sik a persoun So Noble and of so good Renoun Bot thereof had he no pitie In Hell condemned mot he be For when he him betrayed had The Englishmen right with him rade In hy in England to the King And gart draw him and head and hing Withoutten pitie or mercie It was great sorrow sikkerlie That so worthie a person as he Sould in sik maner hanged be Thus gate ended the worthines Of Craufurd al 's Sir Reynald we◠And Sir Bryse al 's of the Blaire Were hanged in a barne at Aire The Quéene and Dame Mariory Her Doughter that syne worthely Was coupled into Gods band With Walter Stewart of Scotland That would in no wise longerly In the Castle of Kildromy To bide a Siege Bot ridyng raith With Knights and with Squyars baith To Rosse right to the gyrth of Thane Bot that trauell they made in vaine For they of Rosse they would not beare For them no blame nor no danger Out of the gyrth them al 's hes tane And syne hes send them euerilkane Right into England to the King That gart draw all the men and hing And put the Ladies into prison Some in Castle and some in Dungeoun It was great pitie for to heare Folke troubled on sik maner How Englishmen sieged the Castell of Kildromy THat time was into Kildromy Good men that were wight worthy Sir Neill the Bruce this wate ye well And the Erle also of Atholl The Castle right well vittailde thay And meat and Fuell they can puruay And enforced the Castell so That them thoght no strength might ta it And when it to the King was told Of England how they shoope to hold The Castell hee was all angry And calde his Sonne to him in hy The Eldest and appearand aire A young Batchler starke and faire Sir Edward of Carnauerane That was the starkest man of ane That might bee found in a Countrie Prince of Wales that time was hee And hee gart call Erles two Glochester and Harfoorde were tho And bade them wend into Scotland And set a Siege with stalwart hand To the Castell of Kildromy And the holders 〈◊〉 haillily Hee bade destroy them but ransoun Or bring them to him in prisoun WHē this mandament they had tane They assembled an Host on ane And to the Castell went in hy And it assieged vigorously And mony a time it hard assailyied And yet to take it oft they failyied For they within were right worthie And them defended doughtely And repugned their foes oft againe Some baissed some wounded some slain And mony a time ishe they would And bargaine at the Barras hold And wound their foes oft and sla Surely they them contemned sa That they thereout despaired were And through England againe to fare For so starke saw they the Castell And thought that it was weaponde well And saw the men defend them sa That they none hope had it to ta None had they done all that sessoun Gif it not war right false treasoun For there within was a Traitour A false Lurdane a Losyngeour Osbarne to name made the tressoun I wate not for what enchesoun Nor whome with hee made the conuine But as they said that were within Hee tooke a Coulter hoat glowing That red was in a fire burning And went into the meekle Hall That then with corne was filled all And high vp in the mow it did But it full long was not there hid For men sayes oft that fire nor pride But disconering may no man hide For the pompe of the pride foorthshawes Or else the greit boast as it blawes Nor there may no man fire so couer But it shall low or reeke discouer So it fell heere for fire so cleare Soone through the thicke boord can appeare First as a Sterne syne as a Moone And well braider thereafter soone The fire out soon in bleases brast And the reeke raise so wonder fast
And in hy to the walls ran Iames of Dowglas Menyie than Seazed well hastelie in hand All that they about the Castle fand To their resset syne went their way Thus Thriswaile ished to that essay When Thriswaile vpon this manéere Had ished as I tell you héere Iames of Dowglas and his men Busked them altogidder then And went their way toward the King In great hy for they heard tything That of Wallance Sir Aymery With a full greit Cheualry Both of English and of Scotishmen With greit fellony were ready then Assembled for to séeke the King That was that time with his gaddering In Cummok where it straitest was Hidder went Iames of Dowglas And was right welcome to the King And when hée told had that tithing How that Sir Aymer was command For to hunt him out of the Land With Hounds and Horne right as he were A Wolfe or else a theifes féere Then said the King It may well fall Though hee come and his power all Wée shall abide in this Countrie And if hée comes wée shall him sée The King then spake on this maner And of Wallance then Sir Aymer Assembled a greit company Of Noble men and right worthie Of England and of Louthiane And hée hes also with him tane Iohn of Lorne and all his might That had of worthie men and wight With him aught hunder and ma A Slooth-hound had hée there alswa So good that change would for nothing And some men sayes yet that the King As a traitour him nourisht had And aye so méekle of him made That his owne hands would him féede Hee followed him where euer hée yéede So that the Hound him loued sa Through him he thought the King to ta For he wist that he loued him sa That he would passe no wayes him fra But how that Iohn of Lorne him had I heard neuer no mention made But men said it was certaine thing That he had him in his leading And through him thought the King to ta For he wist that he loued him sa That fra that he might ones féele The Kings Sent he wist right well That he would change it for nothing This Iohn of Lorne hated the King For Sir Cumyng his Emes sake Might he him outher sla or take He would not prise his life a stra But if he vengeance might of him ta How Sir Aymer and Iohn of Loâ—ne Chased the King with Hound and horne THis Wardane then Sir Aymery UUith Iohn of Lorne in company And other of great renoun alswa Sir Thomas Randell was one of tha Came in Cumnok to séeke the King That was well war of their comming And was vp in the strengths then And with him well thrée hundreth men His brother that time with him was And al 's Sir Iames of Dowglas Sir Aymers xout there they saw That held the Plaines and the Law And in haill battell was arrayed The King that no supposing had That they were moe then hee saw there To them and nouther else where Had eye and wrought vnwittily For Iohn of Lorne full craftely Behind thought to supprise the King Therefore with all his gaddering About an Hill hee held his way And held him into Couert aye While he so néere came to the King Ere hee perceiued his comming That hee was at his hand well néere The other Hoste and Syr Aymer Preassed vpon the other party The King was in greit ieopardy That was on either side beset With foes that to sla him thret And the least partie of the two Was starker than the other two And when hee saw them preasse him to Hée thought in hy what was to doe Hee said Lordings wee haue no might At this time for to stand in fight Therefore depart wee vs in thrée So shall wee not all sailyied bée And in three parts hold on your way Syne to his Menyie can hee say Betwixt them into priuitie In what stéede their repaire should bee With that their gate all are they gane And in three partes their way haue tane Iohn of Lorne came to the place Wherefra the King departed was And in his trace the Hound is set That then withoutten longer let Held euen the way efter the King Right as hee had of him knowing And left the other parties twa As hee no Keepe would to them ta And when the King saw his comming Efter his rout into a ling Hée thought hée knew that it was hée Therefore hée said to his Menyie Yee then in thrée depart you soone And they did so withoutten hone And held their wayes in thrée parties The Hound did there so greit Maistresse That hee held aye without changing Efter the rout where was the King ANd when the King hes séene them so All in ane rout efter him goe The way and followed not his men Hee had a greit perceiuing then That they knew him for thy in hy Hee bad his men right hastely Skaill and ilke man holde his way Right by him and so did they By themselfe and sundrie gates are gane And the King hes with him tane A Foster-brother withoutten ma And togedder held their gate they twa The Hound alway followed the King And changed not for no parting But ay followed the Kings trace But wauering as hée passed was And when that Iohn of Lorne saw The Hound so fast efter him draw And followed fast efter them twa Hee knew the King was one of tha And bade fiue of his company That were right wight men and hardy And al 's of foote the spéediest were That they might find among them there Run efter him and him ouerta And let him no wise scape you fra And fra they haue heard his bidding They held their way efter the King And followed him so spéedily That they well soone can him ouerhy How the King slew the fiue men That Iohn of Lorne sent to him then THE King that saw them comming weere Was annoyed in great maner For hée thought if they were hardie They might him trauell and tary And hold him still so tariand While the remnant were at hand But had hée dred but anerly They fiue I trow full sikkerly Hée should not haue full méekle dréed And to his Fellow as hée yéede Hée said thir fiue are fast cummand They are well neere now at our hand Say Is there ony helpe in thée For wée shall soone assailyied bée Yea Sir hee said all that I may Thou sayes well said the King perfay I see them comming to vs néere I will no farther but right héere Abide while I am into aynd And sée what force that they will faynd The King then stood full sturdelie And the fiue men in full greit hy Came with greit shore and manassing And thrée of them went to the King And to his man the other two With Swords in Hand can stoutly goe The King met them that to him sought And to the first sik rout hee rought The Eare and Chéeke downe to the halse Hee
day It might well happen that we may Doe them a greater skaith well soone Than they vs all this day hes doone For they lie skailled as them list Then thought they all it was the best To spéed them to them hastelie And they did so in full great hie And came on them in the dawing Right as the day begouth to spring So fell it that a companie Into a toun had tane harbrie UUell fra the Oist a mile or maire Men said that they two hunder were There assembled the Noble King And soone efter their assembling They that sléeping assailyied were Right hideouslie can cry and reare And other some that heard the cry Ran foorth so right effrayedlie That some of them all naked were Fleeing to warrand here and there And some their Harnesse to them drew And they withoutten mercie them slew And so cruell vengeance can ta That the two part of them and ma Were slaine into that samine stead And to their Host the remnand fled THe Oist then heard the noyse and cry And saw their men so wretchedlie Come naked fléeing here and there Some all haill some wounded sare Into full greit effray they rose And ilke man to his Baner goes So that the Oist was all on stéere The King and they that with him were When they on stéere the Oist saw so Toward their warrand can they goe And there in sauitie came they And when Sir Aymer heard say Now that the King their men had slaine And how they were turned againe Hee said Now may yee clearelie sée That Noble heart where euer it bee Is hard to ouer come with Mastrie For where an heart is right worthie Against Stoutnesse it is ay stout And as I trow there may no doubt Gar it all out discomfite bee While body liuing is in poustie As by this melle may bee seene Wee weind Robert the Bruce had béene So discomfite that by good skill Hée should haue neither heart nor will Sik jeopardie to vnder â—a For hee was put at vnder sa That hee was left all him alone And all his men were from him gon And hee was so sore trauelled To put them off that hee assailyied That hee should haue yarned resting More than feghting and trauelling But his heart full is of bountie So that it vanquisht may not bee IN this wise spake Sir Aymery And when they of his company Saw that they trauelde had in vaine And how the King their men had slain That at his larges was then all frée Them thought it was but Nicitie For to make there longer dwelling Sen they might not annoy the King And then said Sir Aymery That vnbethought him hastely That hee to Carlile then would ga And there a while so journey ma And leaue his spyes on the King To know alwayes his contening And when that hée his time might sée Hée thought that with a greit Menyie Hee should set on them suddenlie Therefore with all his companie To England hée his way hes tane And ilk man to his House is gane A while to Carlyle went is hée And therein thinked for to bée While hee his time saw of the King That then with all his gaddering Was in Carrik as hée was wount And would wend with his men to hunt How the King and his Hounds twa Three men in the Wood can sla SO hapned it vpon a day Hée went to Hunt for to assay What gaming was in that Countrie So happned it that day when hee By a Wood side to a seate is gane With his two Hounds him allane But hee his sword ay with him bare Hee had but short while sitten there When hée faw from the Wood command Thrée men with bowes in their hand That toward him came spéedily And hée perceiued them in hy By their effeere and their hasting That they him loued no kind thing Hee raise vp and his Léech drew hée And leet his Hounds gang all frée GOD helpe the King now for his might For bot he baith bee wise and wight Hee shall bee set in meekle preasse For tha three men withoutten lies They were his foes all verely And waited him ay busilie To see when they might vengeance take Of him for Sir Iohn Cumyngs sake And they thought then they leasure had And sen he him alone was stad They thought in hy they should him sla And if that they might cheuish sa That they might win the Wood againe Fra that thâ—y had the good King slaine His men they thought they should not dread In yre toward the King they yéed And bent their bowes when they were neere And that he dred on greit manéere Their arrowes for hée naked was In hy a speech to them hee mais And said you aught to shame pardie Sen I am one and yée are three For to shoot at mee vpon feere But had you hardiment to come neere And with your swords to essay Win mee on sik wise if yee may Yée shall all out maire praised bee Perfay quoth one then of the thrée Shall no man say wee doubt of thee sa That wée with arrowes shall thee sla With that their bowes away they kest And came on fast but longer frist The King them met full hardelie And smote the first so rigorouslie That hée fell dead downe on the greene And when the Kings Houndes had séene Two men assailyie their Master sa They lap to one and could him ta Right by the necke full sturdely While top ouer taile they gart him ly And the King that his sword out had Saw the Hounds sik succours made Ere hee that fallen had might vp rise Hée him assailyied on sik a wise That hée the backe strake euen in two The third that saw his fellow so Without recouering to be slaine Tooke to the Wood his gate againe But the King followed speedily And al 's the Hounds that were him by When they the man saw flee him fra Ran to him soone and can him ta Right by the necke while hée him dreugh And the King that was neere aneugh In his rising a straike him gaue That starke dead to the eird him draue The Kings Menyie that were néere When that they saw on sik maneer The King assailyied so suddenly They sped them toward him in hy And asked how that cace befell And hée all haill it can them tell How they assailyied him all thrée Perfay say they wee may well see That it is hard to vndertake Sik mellie with you for to make That so smerâ—lie hes slaine three Withoutten hurt Perfay said hée I slew but one withoutten ma. GOD and mine Hounds hes slaine twa Their treason cumbred them perfay For right wight men all three were they WHen that the King through Gods grace On this maner escaped was Hee blew his Horne and then in hy His good men can to him rely Then homeward buskde he him to fare For that day would he hunt no maire In Glentrolle a while he lay And went
might fulfill their will Sla vs and make sembland theretill And sen we know their fellonie Go we and meete them hardelie That the stoutest of their Menyie Of our méeting abased be For gif the formest egerlie Be met ye sall sée suddenlie The hindmest full abased be And though they be far mo than we That should abase vs litle thing For when wee come to the feghting There may méete vs no moe than wée Therefore Lordings ilkane should be Of worship and of greit valour For to maintaine héere our honour Thinke what worship vs abides If that wee may as well betides Haue victorie of our foes here For there is no man far nor néere In all this Land that wée them doubt Then said they all that stood about Sir if GOD will wee shall so doe That no reproofe shall ly vs to Now goe wée foorth then said the King And hee that made of nought all thing Leade vs and saue vs for his might And helpe vs for to hold our right With that they held their way in hy Well sex hundreth in company Stalward and stout worthy and wight But they were all too few I hight Against so feill to stand in stour Were not their outragious valour ¶ Now goes the Noble King his way Right stoutly into good array And to the formest dykes is gane And in the slop the field hes tane The Carage men and the pouerall That were no worth into battaile Behind him leaued hee all still Sitting together vpon an Hill Sir Aymer the King hes séene With his men that were cant and kéene Came to the Plaine downe from the Hill As him thought into full good will For to defend or then assailyie If ony man would come into battailÈie Therefore his men comforted hée And bade them wight and worthie bée For if that they might win the King And haue victorie of that feghting They should greitly rewarded bée And eke greitlie their Renounie With that they were right néere the King And heard well oft his manassing And gart trumpe vp to the assembly With the formest of his Menyie They embraced to them shields brade And right syne together rade With heads stouping and spears straught Right to the King their way they raught That met them with so greit vigour That of the best and most valour Were laid at eird at their méeting Where men might heare sicke a breaking Of speares that too frushed were And the wounded so cry and raire That it annoyous was to heare For they that first assembled were Fonyeed and faught full sturdely The noyse begouth then and the cry O mightie GOD who had there béene And had the Kings worship seene And his brother that was him by That them contained so manfully That their good deed and their bountie Gaue greit comfort to their Menyie And how the Dowglas so manfully Comforted them that was him by Hee should well say they had good will To win honour and come theretill The Kings men so worthie were That with their speares that sharply share They stiked men and Stéeds baith While red blood ran of wounds raith The Horse that stikked were can fling And rushed the folke in their flinging So that they that formost were Were stikked in sloppes here and there The King that saw them rushed so And saw them reilling to and fro Ran vpon them so egerly And dang on them so hardely Hee feill gart of his foes fall The field well neere was couered all Both with slaine Horse and with men For the good King that followed then With fiue hundreth with weapons bare That would nothing their foes spare They dang on them so hardely That in short time men might sée ly At eird an hundreth well and maire The remnant well the weaker were Then they begouth them to withdraw And when they of the Réeregard saw Their Uangard be so discomfite They fled withoutten more respite And when Sir Aymer hes seene His men flying all bedéene Wit yée well hee was full woe But hee could not admonish so That ony for him would turne againe And when hée saw hée tint his paine Hee turned his bridle and to goe For the good King them preassed so For some were dead and some were tane And all the laue thair gate were gane THe folke fled on this maner Withoutten rest and Sir Aymer Againe to Bothwell is hée gane Méenand the skaith that hee hes tane So Shamefullie that hee vanquisht was Then to England in hy hée gaes Right to the King and shamefullie Hée gaue vp all his Wardanerie Nor neuer syne for no kin thing But if hee come right with the King Come hée to wéere into Scotland So heauie tooke hee that in hand That the King into set battell With few folke like a Pouerall Uanquisht him with a greit Menyie That were renouned of greit bountis Sik anger had Sir Aymery And King Robert that was worthie Abade all still into the place While that his men had left the chace Syne with prisoners they had tane They are toward their Innes gane Fast louing GOD of their welfare Hee might haue séene that had béene there Folke that right merrie were and glad For their victorie and al 's they had A King so swéete and debonaire So wise and of so faire affeere So blyth and al 's so well bourdand And in battell so stout to stand So wise and also so worthie That they had great cause blyth to be So were they blyth withoutten doubt For feill that winned thereabout Fra they saw the King vse them sa To him their homage can they ma. Then waxt his power more and waire And he thought well that he would fare Out ouer the Mount with his Menyie To looke who there his friend would be Into Sir Alexander Fraser He traisted for they Cousings were And his brother Simon alswa He had great mister of mony ma For he had foes mony ane Sir Iohn Cumyng Erle of Buchane And Sir Iohn the Mowbray syne And Sir Dauid of Brechine With all the folke of their leading UUere foes to the Noble King And for he wist they were his faes His voyage hitherward he taes For he would sée what kin ending They would make of their menassing THe King busked and made him yare Northward with his men to fare His brother can he with him ta And Sir Gilbert de la Hay alswa The Erle of Lennox al 's was there That with the King was ouer all where Sir Robert Boyde and other mo The King can foorth his wayes go He left Iames of Dowglas UUith all the folke that with him was Behind him for to looke if he Might recouer his owne Countrie He put himselfe in full great perill But eiter in a litle while UUith his great Worship so he wrought That to the Kings peace he brought The Forrest of Eâ—tâ—ik all haill And euen so did he Dowglasdaill And Iedburgh Forrest alswa And who so well on hand would ta To
But hée through his greit Nobilay To perill him abandounes ay For to recomfort his Menyie Garres them bee of sik greit bountie That mony time a vnlikelie thing They bring right well to good ending So did this good King as I of read That through his couragious manhead Comforted his men on sik maner That none had radnesse where hée were They would not feght while that hée was Lying in sik greit sicknesse Therefore in Litter they him lay And to the Slenath held their way And thought into that Strength to ly While passed was his Malady How the Kings men with feghting Defended the King in his lying BOt fra the Erle of Buchane Wist that they were hidder gane And knew that so sick was the King That men doubted of this recouering Hee sent efter his men in hy And assembled a great company For all his owne men were there And al 's his friends with him were There was Sir Iohn the Mowbray And his brother as I heard say And al 's Sir Dauid of Breching With feill folke of his leading And when they all assembled were In hy they tooke their way to fare To the Slenath with all their men For to assailyie the King that then UUas lying into his sicknesse This was after the Martimesse UUhen snow ouerhailed all the land To the Slenath they came néere hand Arrayed on their best maner And then the Kings men that wer Ware of their comming them apparelled To defend gif they were assailyied And not for thy their foes were Ay two for one or els maire The Erles men neere comming were Trumping and making méekle fare And made Knights when they were néere And they that in the UUoodside were Stood in array right sturdelie And thought to bide there hardelie The comming of their enemies But they would vpon no kin wise Ishe to assailyie them in feghting While recouered were the Noble King And gif other would them assailyie They would defend vailyie quoth vailyie And when the Erles companie Saw that they wrought so wiselie That they their strength shupe to defend Their Archere foorth to them hes send To bikker them as men of mane And they sent Archers them againe That bikkered them so sturdelie That they of the Erles partie Right to their battell driuen were Foure daies on this wise laie they there Bikkering them euerilke day But the Bowmen the war had ay And when the Kings companie Saw their foes before them lie That ilk day waxt ma and ma And they were wheene and stad were sa That they had nothing for to eat But gif they trauelled it to get Therefore they tooke counsell in hie That there they would no longer lie But hold their way where they might get To them and theirs vittaile and meat In a Litter the King they lay And graithed them vpon their way That all their foes might it sée Ilke man busked in their degrée To fight if they assailyied were In mids of them the King they bare And yéed about him right worthelie And not full greatlie can them hie The Erle and they that with him were Saw that they busked them to fare And how with so litle affray They held foorth with the King their way Readie to fight who would assailyie Their hearts then begouth to failyie And in peace léete them passe away And to their houses home went they How the King discomfist at Enrowry The Erle of Buchane shamefully THe Erle his way tooke to Buchane And Sir Edward the Bruce is gane Right to Strabogie with the King And so long made their Soiourning UUhile he begouth to recouer and ga And syne their wayes can they ta To Enrowrie straught againe For they would lie into the Plaine The UUinter season for vittaile Into the Plaine they might not faile The Erle wist that they were there And gaddered Menyie here and there Brechine Mowbray and their men All to the Erle assembled then They were a full great companie Of men arrayed iolelie To old Meldrome they held their way And there with their men lodged they Before Yule-Euen one night but maire A thousand trow I well they were They lodged them there all the night While on the morne that day was light The Lord of Brechine Sir Dauy Is went toward Enrowry To looke gif he in any wise Might doe skaith to his enemies And to the end of Enrowry â—e came riding so suddenlie That of the Kings men he slew One part and other men withdrew That fled their way toward the King That with most part of his gaddering On yond halfe of the towne were lying And when men told him the tything How Sir Dauid had slaine his men His horse in hie he asked then And bade his men all make them yare In full great hie for he would fare To bargane with his enemies UUith that he busked him to rise That was not well recouered then Then said some of his priuie men What thinke ye Sir thus gate to fare To feght and ye not recouexed are Yes said the King withoutten wéere Their boast hes made me haill and féere There sould no Medicine so soone Haue cured me as they haue done Therefore so GOD himselfe me sée I sall haue them or then they me And when his men hes heard the King Set him so well for the feghting Of his recouering all blyth they were And made them for the battell yare THe Noble King and his Menyie That might wel néere seuen hunder be Toward old Meldrome held the way UUhere the Erle and his Menyie lay The discurreours saw them cummand UUith Baners to the wind waiuand And told it to their Lord in hie That gart arme his men hastelie And them arrayed for the battell Behind them set they their poueraill And made good semblance for to fight The King came on with méekle might And they abade making greit feare While that they néere assembled were But when they saw the Noble King Come stoutly on without stinting A litle on bridle them with drew And the King that right well knew That they were all discomfist néere Preassed on them with his Banéere And they withdrew them maire and maire And when the small folke they had there Saw their Lords withdraw them so They turnde their backe and haill to goe And fled and skailed héere and there The Lords that yet togidder were Saw that their small folke were fléeing And saw the King stoutly comming They were ilkeane abased so That they the backe gaue and to go A litle stound togidder held they And syne ilke man tooke â—undrie way Fell neuer man sik foule mischance Efter so sturdie countenance And when the Kings companie Saw that they fled so foullelie They chased them with all their mane And some they tooke and some hes slaine The remanand were fléeing ay Who had best Horse gote best away To England fled the Erle of Buchane Sir Iohn Mowbray is with him gane And were resset
befell Mony sore point as I heard tell The whilk are not all written here But I wote well that in that yéere Threttéene Castels with strength he wan And ouercame mony a moody man And who of him the sooth would read Had he had measure in his déede I trow that worthier than he In his time might not founden be Except his brother alanerly To whome into good Cheualry I dare compare none was in his day For he led him with measure ay And with wit all his Cheualry He gouerned ay so worthely That he full oft vnlikly thing Brought right well to a good ending How Iames Dowglas tooke Thomas Randell And Alexander Stewart as I heard tell IN all that time Iames of Dowglas Into the Forrest ay trauelling was And it through hardement and slight Occupied all magre the might Of his feill foes the whilk thay Set him oft syes in hard assay But oft through wit and through bountie His purpose to good end brought he Into that time himselfe through cace One night as he trauelling was And thought to haue had his resting In a house by the Water of Lynâ— And as he came with his Menyie Neere hand the house so listned he And heard their Sawes euerilke deill And he by that perceiued well That they were strange men that there That night in that house harbred were And as he thought so fell through cace For of Bonkill the Lord there was Alexander Stewaâ—t heght he With other two of great bountie Thomas Randell of great Renoun And also Adam of Gordoun That came there with great companie And thought in the Forrest to lie And occupie it with all their might And with trauell and stalward fight To chase Dowglas from that Countrie But otherwise all yéed the glée When Iames of Dowglas had witting And al 's to him there came tyding That strange men had tane harberie Into the place where he shupe to lie He to that place past hastelie Both he and all his companie And vmbeset the house about When they within heard sik a rouf About the house they raise in hy And tooke their geare right hastely And came foorth fra the haruest were Their foes them met with weapons bare And them assailyied right hardelie And they defended doughtelie With all their might while at the last Their foes preassed them so fast That their folke failed them ilkane Thomas Randell there was tane And Alexander Stewart alswa Wounded into one place or twa Adame of Gordoun fra the fight What through strength and what through slight Escaped and al 's seire of their men But they that were arreisted then Were of their taking wonder wa But néedlings them behooude be sa That night good Iames of Dowglas Made to Sir Alexander that was His Emes sonne right gladsome chéere So did he al 's withoutten wéere To Thomas Randell for that he Was to the King in néere degrée Of blood for his sister him bare And on the morne withoutten maire Toward the noble King he rade And with him both the two he had The King of that present was blyth And thanked him thereof feill syth And to his Neuoy can he say Thou hes a whyle renounâ—d thy fay But now recounsailde thou mon be Then to the King answered he And said ye chastie me but ye Ought better for to chastyed be For sen ye weirrayed the King Of England into plaine feghting Ye sould preasse to direnye you right With might and not yet with slight The King said yet fall it may Ere it be long to sik assay But sen thou speakes so rudely It is great reason that men chasty Thy proud words while that thou knaw The right and duerie that thou aw The King without more delaying Sent him to be in firme keeping UUhere that he a whyle sall be Nought all vpon his owne poustie How the King at Gleclabâ—n Discomfist Iohn of Lornes men WHen Thomas Randel on this wise Was taken as I here deuise And sent to dwell in firme kéeping For his speech he spake to the King The King that thought vpon the skaith The despite and the velanie baith That Iohn of Lorne had to him doone His â—ist assembled hée alsoone And toward Lorne hée tooke the way With all his men in good array But Iohn of Lorne of his comming Long ere hée came had good witting And men on ilke side gathered hée I trow two thousand they might bée And sent them for to stop the way Where the good King behooued to ga Clochmabanie heght that mountaine I trow that into all Britaine A higher Hill may not founden bée There Iohn of Lorne gart his menyie Enbushed bee aboue the way If the King held that gait perfay Hée thought hée should soone vanquisht be And himselfe held him on the sea Well neere the place with his Gaillayes But the King that at all assayes Was founden wise and right wittie Perceiued well their subtiltie And him houed that gaite to goe His men departed hée in two And that to the good Lord of Dowglas In whom all vertue winning was Hée taught his Archers euerilkane And the good Lord hes with him tane Sir Alexander the Phraser wight And William Wiseman a good Knight And with them then Sir Andro Gray That with their Menyie held their way And clambe the Hill deliuerly And ere they of the other party Perceiued them they had ilkane The hight abone their foes tane The King and his men held their way And when into the place were they Entred the folke of Lorne in hy Upon the King raised the cry And shot and tumbled on them stanes Both greit and heauie for the nanes But they skaithed not greitly the King For hee had there in his leading Men that light and deliuered were And light armour vpon them bare So that they stoutly clambe the Hill And stopped their foes to fulfill The most part of their fellony And al 's vpon the other party Came Iames of Dowglas and his rouâ— And shot vpon them with a shout And wounded themwith arrows fast And with their Swords at the last They rushed among them hardely But they of Lorne full manfully Greit and a peart defence can ma. But when they saw that they were sa Assailyied vpon two parties And saw well that their enemies Had all the fairer of the fight In full greit hy they tooke the flight And they a felloun chase can ma And slew all that they might ouerta And they that might escape perfay Right to a Water held their way That ran downe by the Hilles side That was so straite so déepe and wide That men on no wise might it passe But at a Brig that narrow was To that Brig held they fast their way And to breake it can fast assay â—ut they them chased when they them saw Make their a rest but dread or aw They rushed vpon them hastelie And discomfist them vtterlie And held the Brig haile while the King With all
They judged it all to greit foly And thought to haue them at their lyking If men abade them in feghting But oft failÈies that fooles thought And yet wise men comes nought To that end that they weine alwayes A litle stone oft as men sayes May gar walter a méekle Wane Na mans might may stand againe The grace of God that all things stéeres Hée wates whereto all thinges afféeres And dispones at his liking Efter his ordinance all thing WHen Sir Edward as I you say Had giuen so outragious a day To yéelde or to rescue Striuiling Right to the King then went hee syne And told what treaty hée had made And what day hée them giuen had The King said when hee heard the day That was vnwisely done perfay I neuer yet heard so long warning Was giuen to so mighty a King As is the King of England For hée hes now into his hand England Ireland and Wales alswa And Aquitayne yet with all tha Dwells vnder his Senyeory And of Scotland a greit party And of treasure so stuffed is hée That hee may wageours haue plentie And wee are few against so feill GOD may right well our weirdes deill But wée are set in jeopardie To tyne or win then hastelie Sir Edward said So God mée réede Though hée and all that hee may â—éede Come wée shall feght all though they were moe When the King heard his brother so Speake to the Battell so hardelie Hée praised him in his heart greatly And said Brother sen so is gane That this thing thus is vndertane Shape wée vs therefore manly And all that loues vs tenderly And the fréedome of this Countrie Puruay them at that time to bée Boun on their best wise that they may So if our foes will assay To rescue Striuiling with battaile That wée of purpose gar them faile The sembling of the English Host That with great power cam and boast ON this wise all assented were And bade their men all make them yare For to bee boun against that day Weapons and armours puruayed they And all that afféered to feghting And of England the mightie King Puruayed him in so greit array That Certes I heard neuer say That Englishmen more apparell Made than they did for that battell For when the time was commen néere The King assembled his powéere And beside his owne Cheualrie That was so greit it was ferlie Hée had of mony a farre Countrie With him good men of greit bountie Of France and other Cheualry Hée had into his companie The Erle of Henault al 's was there And with him met that worthie were Of Gasconyie and of Almanyie And of the worthiest of Brittainyie Hée had wight men and well farrand Armed cleanelie both head and hand Of England al 's the Cheualrie Hée had there gaddered so cleanelie That none were left might weapons wéeld Or worthie were to feght in field Of Wales al 's with him had hée And of Ireland a greit Menyie Of Poytow Aquitayne and Bayoun Hee had mony of greit renowne Of Scotland hée had yet then A greit Menyie of worthie men When altogedder assembled were Hee had of feghters with him there An hundreth thousand men and ma And fourtie thousand were of tha Armed on Horse both head and hand And of tha yet were three thousand With barded Horse in plait and mailyie To make the front of the battailyie And fiftie thousand of Archers Hée had withoutten Hobillers And men on foot and small rangall That kéeped Harnesse and Uittaill Hee had so feil it were ferly Of Cartes al 's that yéed him by So feill that by them that charged were With Pauilliouns and that vessell bare And apparell for Chamber and Hall Fourescore were charged with Fewall They were so feill where that they rade And their battells were so brad And so greit rout held they there That men that méekle Host might sée there Ouertooke the Lands largelie Men might sée there who had béene by Mony a worthie man and wight And mony an armour gaylie dight And mony a sturdie stéering Stéede Arrayed aye into rich wéede Mony Helmes and Haberiones Shields Speares and eke Pennouns And so mony a comelie Knight That it séemed into that sight They should vanquish the world all haill Why should I make too long my tale To Baruike are they come ilkane And some therein hes Innes tane And some lodged without the towne In tents and in Pauillioun How Englishmen manassed at will The Scots and delt their lands till ANd when the King his Oast hes séene So great so good men and so cleane He was right ioyfull in his thought And well supposed that there were nought A King in World might him withstand Him thought all winnen to his hand And largely among his men The lands of Scotland dealt he then Of other mens lands large was he And they that were of his Menyie Manassed the Scottishmen haillely With great words and not for thy Or that they come to their intent Hollâ—s in haill claith sall be rent In ton battels the Englishmen Were delt taught to Chiftanes then THe King through counsell of his men His folke delt into battels ten In ilk battell were ten thousand That thought they stalwardly sould stand In battell and sould hold their right And let not for their foes might He set Leaders to ilk battall That knowen were of good gouernall And to renouned Erles twa Of Glocester and Herfurd were tha He gaue the Uangard in leading With mony men at their bidding Ordained with full great array They were so Cheualrous that thay Trowed gif they came to the fight There sould no strength withstand their might And the King when his Menyie were Diuided into battells sear His owne battell ordained he And who sould at his brydle be Sir Geiles the Argentine he set Upon the one side his renyie to get And of Wallance Sir Aymery On other halfe that was worthy For into their soueraine bountie Ouer all the laue affyed he How all the Noble Cheualry At Edinburgh tooke harbery WHen the King vpon this wise Had ordained as I here deuise His battels and his renowning He raise earely in the morning And fra Barwicke they tooke their way Both hilles and valleyes couered thay And the battels there was so brade Departed ouer the hilles rade The Sunne was bright and shined cleare And armours that bright byrneist were So blenked with the Sunnes beame That all the land séemed in a leame Banners right freshly flambisighand And Pensalls to the wind waiuand So feill they were of seir Countreyes That it was wonder to deuise And I sould tell all their afféere Their countenance and their manéere Though I couth I sould cumbred be The King with all his great Menyie To Edinburgh are they commen right They were all out too feill to fight With few folke of a simple land But where God helpes who may withstand How in this time assembled then To King Robert hes certaine
of them so hardelie Rushed among them as did hée But with far more maturitie They assembled all in a rout And enuironde them all about And to the enemies in that tyde Rane with Speares wounds wide To their Horse that came them néere And they that riding on them were That were borne downe lossed their liues And al 's Speares darts and Kniues And weapons vpon seir maner Kest among them that feghting were They defended them so worthelie That their foes had greit ferlie For some would shoot out of their rout And of them that assailyied about Sticked Stéedes and bare downe men The Englishmen so rudelie then Kest among them Swords and Speares That in with them a mountyand was Of weapons that there warped were The Erle and his men thus faught there At greit mischiefe as I heard say For fewer by full far were they For their foes them all about Were enuironde where mony rout Were raught them full despiteouslie Their foes demained them straitly On either side they were so stad For the greit bargane that they had For feghting and for Sunnes heate That all their flesh with sweat was weat And sik a stew rose ouer them then Of breathing both of Horse and Men And of powder that sike mirknes Into the aire aboue them wes That it was wonder for to sée They were in greit perplexitie But with great trauell not for thy They them defended manfully And set both will strength and might To rush their foes into that fight That them demained angerly But gif GOD helpe them hastely They sall haue their fill of feghting But when the Noble renouned King With other Lords that were him by Saw the Erle so abandountly Tooke plaine field Iames of Dowglas Came to the King where that he was And said Sir ah Sancta Mary The Erle of Murray openly Takes the plaine field with his Menyie He is in perill but he be Soone helped for his foes are ma Than he and horsed well alswa And with your leaue I will me spéed To help him for he hes great néed All enuironde with his foes is he The King said so our Lord me sée One foot to him salt thou not ga Gif he well does let him well ta Whether it happen to win or lose I will not for him breake purpose â—ertes said he I may no wise See that his foes him supprise When that I may set helpe theretill With your lieue sikkerly I will Helpe him or die into the Paine Doe then and spéed thée soone againe The King said and he held his way Gifhe mae come in time perfay I trow that he sall help so well That all his foes sall it féele How the King slew Sir Henrie Bowm With his handaxe strake him down NOw Dowglas foorth his way tane hes And in that same time fell through cace That the King of England when he Was commen with his great Menyie Néere to the place where I said aire Where Scots men assembled were He gart arrest all his battell And also for to take counsell Whether they wald harbrie theÌ„ that night Or then but more go to the fight The Uangard then that wist nothing Of his arrest nor his dwelling Rade to the Parke all straight their way But stinting into good array And when the King wist that they were In haill battell comming so néere His battell gart he well array Himselfe rade on a gray Palfray Proper and ioly arrayand His battell with an axe in hand And on his Basnet heght he bare An hatte with Carbuncle ay where And thereupon into takinning An hie Crowne that he was King And when Glocester and Harefurd were In haill battell comming so néere Before them all there came rydand With helme on head and speare in hand Sir Henrie the Bowme that was worthy That was a Knight and hardy And to the Erle of Harefurde Cousine Armed in armours good and fine Came on a Stéede a bowshot néere Before all other that there were And knew the King for that he saw Him so arraying his men on raw And by the Crowne also was set Abone his head on the Basnet And toward him he went in hy And when the King so apeirtly Saw him come foorth before his Féeres In hy to him the Stéed he stéeres And when Sir Henrie saw the King Come on withoutten abasing To him he rade in full great hy And thought that he sould well lightly Win him and haue him at his will Sen he him saw horsed so ill They sprent togidder in a ling. Sir Henrie missed the Noble King And he that in his stirrops stood With axe that was both hard and good With so great mane raught him a dynt That neither hat nor helme might stynt The heauie dynt that he him gaue The head right to the harnes claue The hand axe shaft frushed in twa And he downe to the eird can ga All flatlings for him failed might This was the first strake of the fight That was performed doughtely And when the Kings men so stoutly Saw him euen at the first méeting Withoutten dout or abasing Haue slaine a Knight euen at a strake Sik hardement thereat they take That they come on right hardelie And when the Englishmen stoutlie Them saw come on had sik abasing Specially for that the King So stoutly that good Knight had slaine Then they withdrew them euerilkane They durst not then abide the fight So dred they for the Kings might And when the Kings men them saw So in haill battell them withdraw A great shout to them can they make And they in hy gaue all the backe And they that followed then hes slaine Some of them that they haue ouertane But they were few the sooth to say Their horse féete had them all away Except some part that died there Rebuted filthily they were They rade their way with well more shame By far then when they came fra hame WHen that the King repaired was And gart his men leaue all the chase The Lords of his company Blamed him as they durst greatly That he put him in auenture To méete so starke a Knight and sture In sik point as he then was seene For they said it might haue bene Cause of their tynsall euerilkane The King answere hes made right nane But méened his hand-axe-shafte that so Was broken with that strake in two THe Erle Thomas was yet feghtand With his foes on either hand And slew of them a quantitie But wearie was his men and hée The whilke with weapons sturdelie Themselues defended manfullie While the Lord Dowglas came néere That sped him on greâ—t manéere And Englishmen that were feghting When they the Dowglas saw comming Euanishing made an opening Sir Iames Dowglas by their réeling Knew that they were discomfist néere Then bade hee them that with him were Stand still and preasse no farthermare For they that yonder feghting are Hee said that they are of so greit bountie That their foes all soone shall
and lesse commonly That none of you for gréedinesse Haue eye to take of their riches Nor yet Prisoners to ta While ye sée them arrayed sa And that the field ours plainely be Then at our lyking so may we Take all the riches that there is Gif ye will worke vpon this wise Ye sall haue victorie sikkerly I wate not what more say sall I But ye wate all what honour is Contéene you that on sik a wise That your honour ay saued be And I heght here in my laytie Gif ony dies in the battailyie His land fréely but Taxe or Tailyie On the first day his aires sall weild Though he be neuer so young of eild Now make you ready for the sight GOD help vs that is most of might I réede armed all night we be Puruayed in battell so that we To méete our foes all be boun Then answered they all with one soun As ye deuise all sall be done Then to their Innes went they soone And ordainde them for the feghting Syne assembled in the Euening And that gaite all the night they lay While on the morne that it was day WHen the Clyffurde as I heard aire And all his rout rebuted were And the great Uangard alswa Were distrenyied the backe to ta And they had told their rebuting They of the Uangard how the King Slew at one stroke so apertly A Knight that wight was and hardy And how the Kings haill battaile Shupe them so stoutly to assaile And Sir Edward the Bruce alswa When they all haill the backe can ta And how they left had of their men And Clyffurd al 's had told him then How Thomas Randell tooke the Plaine With a few folke how he hes slaine Sir William Haward the worthy And how the Erle faught manfully That as a Hurcheon all his rout Gart set out speares them about And how that they were put againe And one part of their good men slaine The Englishmen sik abasing Tooke and sik dread of that tything That in fiue hundreth places and ma Together would they rowning ga And said our Lords for their might With all gaites feght against the right But who makes wéeres wrongouslie They offend GOD all too greatlie And they that happen to misfaile And so may happen here wee shall And when their Lords had perceiuing Of that discomfort and that rowning That they yeed togidder two and two Throughout the Host then can they go To gar Heraulds soone make cry That none discomforted should bée For in jeopardies is off happennyne Whiles to wine and whiles to tyne And that into the greit battailyie That vpon no manner may failyie But if the Scots flée their way Shall all amended bée perfay Therefore they monisht them to bée Of greit worship and greit bountie And stoutlie in the battell stand And take amends at their owne hand They may well monish as they will And they may heght al 's to fulfill With stalward heart their bidding all But not for thy I trow they shall Into their hearts dréeding bée The King with his counsell priuie Hes tane to read that hee would nought Feght while the morne but he were sought Therefore they harbred them that night Downe in the Kersse and gart all dight And make ready all their apparell Against the morne for the battell For in the Kersse Puilles were Houses and thacke they brake and bare To make brigges where they might passe And some men sayes the folke that was In the Castell when night can fall When that they knew their mischiefe all They went foorth all that euer there were And doores and windowes with them bare So that they had before the day Brigged the Pooles so that they Were passed ouer them euerilkane And the hard field on Horse hes tane All readie for to giue battell Arrayed into their apparell THe Scottish men when that it was day Their Masse deuoutly heard haue they Syne tooke a sâ—p and made them yare And when that they assembled were And in their battells all puruayed And their brad Baners all displayed They made Knights as it afféeres To men that vses tha mystéeres The King made Walter Stewart Knight And Iames Dowglas that was wight And others al 's of greit bountie Hée made ilkane in their degrée When this was done as I you say Then went they foorth in good array And tooke the plaine field apartly Mony wight men good and hardy They were fulfilled of greit bountie Men might into that rout there sée The Englishmen on other partie That right as Angels shine brightlie Were not arrayed on sik maner For all their battells togidder were In a shilltrum but whidder it was Through greit straitnesse of the place That they were in to byde feghting Or then it was for abasing I wat not but in a shilltrum It séemed they were all and some Except the Uangard allanerlie That with a right greit companie By them selues arrayed were Who had béene by might haue séene there Tha folke ouertooke a méekle field On breadth where mony a shining shield And mony a birnisht bright armour And mony man of greit valour And mony a Baner bright and shéene Might in that greit shiltrum bee séene And when the King of England Saw Scottishmen take on hand To take the plaine Field sa openlie Upon foote hee thought ferlie And said What will you Scottishmen fight Yea sikkerlie Sir said a Knight Sir Ingrame the Vmfrauile heght hée And said Forsooth Sir now I see But dread the most marueilous fight That euer I saw whéene for to fight The Scottishmen so few hes tane on hand Against the haill might of England On plaine hard field to giue battell But if yée will trow my counsell Yée shall discomfite them lightly Yée shall with draw you hyne suddenly With Battells Baners and Pennons While that wee passe our Pauillions And yee shall sée assoone that they Magre their Lord shall breake array And skaill then our Harnesse to ta And when wée skailled sée them sa Pricke wée on them then hardely And wée shall haue them well lightlie For then shall none bée knit to fight That may withstand our méekle might I will not said the King perfay Doe so for there shall no man say That I should eschew the battell Nor withdraw mée for sik Rangall The meeting of the great battailyie Where Scots defend and English failyie WHen this was said that heare say I The Scottishmen right reuerentlie Knéeled all downe to GOD to pray And a short prayer then made they To GOD to helpe them in their fight And when the English King had sight Of them knéeling hée said in hy Yone folke knéeles to aske mercie Sir Ingrame said Yée say sooth now They aske mercie but not at you For their tresspasse to GOD they cry I tell you ane thing sikkerlie That yone men will win all or die For dout of déede they will not flée Now be it so then said the King And then bot
When this was done that here say I The King sent a great companie Up to the Craigges them to assaile That were fled from the great battaile And they them yald without debate And them in hand they tooke full haite Syne to the King all brought were they And they dispended hailly that day In riches and in spraith taking Fra end was made of the feghting And when they naked spoyled were That were slaine in the battell there It was forsooth a great ferly To sée so mony there dead to ly Two hundreth paire of spurres red Were tane of Knights that were dead The Erle of Glocester dead was there That men called Sir Gilbert of Clare And Geiles de Argentie alswa And Payn Typont and other ma That there names not tell can I. And vpon Scottishmens partie There was slaine worthie Knights twa William Wepont was one of tha And Sir Walter of Rosse another That Sir Edward the Kings brother Loued and held in sik daintie That as himselfe him loued he And when he wist that he was dead He was so wa and will of read That he said making full euill cheare That him had rather the iourney were Undone ere he so dead had bene Outtaken him men hes not séene UUhen he for ony man made méening And the cause was of his louing That he his sister in Paramours Loued and held at great retoures His owne wife Dame Issabell And therefore so great distance fell Betwixt him and the Erle Dauy Of Atholl brother to this Lady That the Erle on Sanct Iohns night When both the Kings were boun to fight In Cambuskynneth the Kings vittaile Tooke and hardlie can assaile Sir William of Airth and him slew And with him men mo than enew Therefore syne into England He was banisht and all his land Was seazed as forfeite to the King That did thereof all his liking ANd when the field as I told aire Was dispoyled and made all bare The King and all his companie Glade and ioyfull was and merie Of the grace that them fallen was Toward their Innes the wayes taes To rest them for they wearie were But for the Erle Gilbert of Clare That slaine was in the battell place The King somedeill annoyed was For to him néere sibbe was he Then to a Kirk he gart him be Brought and walked all that night And on the morne when day was light The King raise as his vse was And to an English Knight through cace Hapned that he yéede wauerand So that no man laid on him hand And in a buske he hid his arming And waited while he saw the King In the morning come foorth earlie Then is he went to him in hie Sir Marmaduk the Twemane he hight He raiked to the King full right And hailsed him vpon his knée Welcome Sir Marmaduk said hée To what man art thou prisoner To none he said but to you here I yéelde me at your will to be And I receiue thée Sir said he Then gart he treat him courteouslie He dwelt long in his companie And syne in England him sent he Arrayed well but ransome frée And gaue him great gifts thereto A worthie man that so could do Might make him greatly for to prise When Marmaduk vpon this wise UUas yolden as I to you say Then came Sir Philip the Mowbray And to the King yald the Castell His cunnand hes he holden well Then with him treated so the King That he beleft of his dwelling And held him léelely his fay To the last end of his life day How Iames of Dowglas conuoyed the King Of England home but Sojourning NOw speake we of the Lord Dowglas And tell how hée followed the chase And had whéene in his companie But hee sped him in full greit hy And as hée through the Torwood foore Hée saw come riding ouer the Moore Sir Lawrence of Abernethie That with sextie in companie Came for to helpe the Englishmen For hée was Englishman yet then And when hée heard how that it was Hée left the Englishmens peace And to the Lord Dowglas there For to bée léele and trew hée sware And then they both followed the chase And ere the King of England was Passed Linlithgow they came so néere With all the folke that with them were That well among them shoot they might But they thought them too few to fight For five hundreth armed they were In the greit rout that they had there Togidder full surelie rade they And held them vpon bridle aye They were gouerned full wittelie For it séemed they were aye ready For to defend them at their might If they assailÈied were in fight And the Lord Dowglas and his men Thought it was not good purpose then To feght with them all openlie Hee conuoyed them so narrowlie That of the hindmest aye tooke hee Might none behind his Fellowes bée A pennie-stone-cast but hee in hy Was tane or slaine deliueredlie They no rescourse would to him ma Although hée followed neuer sa IN this maneâ— conuoyed them hée While that the King and his Menyie To Wincheburgh all commen are Then lighted they all that there were To baite their Horse that were wearie And Dowglas and his companie Bated also beside them néere They were so feill withoutten wéere And in armes so cleanelie dight And so arayed for to fight And hâ—e so wéene and but gaddering That hee would not in plaine feghting Assaillyie them but rade them by Waiting his time so eithandly A litle while they baited there And syne lap on and foorth can fare And hee was alwayes by them néere And leete them not haue sik leiser As anes waâ—er for to ma. And if that ony stad were sa And behind left was 〈◊〉 space Seezed in hand al 's soone hee was They conuoyed them vpon this wiseâ— While that the King and rout is Comde to the Castell of Dumbar Where hée and of his men so were Receiued right well for yet than The Erle Patricke was Englishman That gart with meat and drinke alswa Refresh them well and syne can ta A baite and send the King by sey To Bamburgh in his owne Countrie Their Horse there left they all on stray But léesed al 's soone in hand were they The laue that liued were without Addressed them into a rout And held to Berwicke straight their way In a rout and the sooth shall say They leaued of there men partly Ere they came there but not for thy They came to Barwicke soone and there Into the towne receiued were Else at greit mischiefe had they béene And when the Lord Dowglas hes seene That hee had léesed there his paine Toward the King hée went againe THe King escaped on this wise Loe what falding to Fortune lyes That whiles vpon a man will smile And pricke him syne another while In no time stable can shee stand This mightie King of England Shee had set on her whéele at hight When with so ferlifull a might Of men of armes and archers And
of foot men and Hobillers Hée came riding out of his Land As I before haue borne on hand And in a night syne and a day Shee set him into so hard assay That hée with few men in a baite Faine was for to hold home his gaite But of this ilke whéele turning King Robert should make no mourning For his side of the whéele on hight Rose when the other downe can light For two contrares yée may wit well Set against other in a whéele When one is hie another is law And if it fall that Fortoun thraw The whéele about it that on hight Was eir on force it mon downe light And it that laigh was vnder aire Mon leape on hight in the contraire So foore it of thir Kings two For when King Robert stad was so That in his greit mischiefe was hée The other was in his Majestie And when the King Edwards might Woxt lesse then Roberts raise on hight And now sik Fortoun came him till That hée was hied and had his will AT Striuiling was hée yet lyand And the greit Lords that hée fand Dead in the field hée gart burie In holie places honourablie And the laue syne that dead were there Into greit Pittes buried were The Castell and the towres syne Euen to the ground downe gart hée myne And syne to Bothwell sent hée Sir Edward with a greit Menyie For they therein send to him word That the rich Erle of Herfurd And other mightie al 's were there So treated he with Sir Walter That Erle and Castell and all the laue Into Sir Edwards hand he gaue Then to the King the Erle sent he That gart him right well kéeped be While at the last they treated sa That he to England home sould ga Without paying of ransome frée And that for him sould changed be Bishop Robert that blinde was made And the Quéene that they taken had In prison as before said I And her Doughter Dame Mariory The Erle was changed for thir thrée And when they commen were home al frée The Kings doughter that was faire And was al 's his appearand aire With Walter Stewart can her wed And they well soone got of their bed A man-childe through Gods grace That efter his good old father was Called Robert and syne was King And had the land in gouerning Efter his worthie sonne Dauy That reigned nine yéeres and threttie And in the time of the compyling Of this booke this last Robert was King And of his Kinrik passed was Five yéeres and was the yéere of grace A thousand thrée hundreth and seuentie And fiue and of his eild sextie And that was efter the good King Robert was brought to his ending Sex and fourtie UUinter but maire GOD grant that they that commen are Of his ofspring maintaine the land And hold the folke well to warrand And maintaine right and eke lawtie Al 's well as in his time did he How King Robert rade in England And brunt vp all Northumberland KIng Robert now was well at hight And ilk day theÌ„ grew more his might His men wort rich and his Countrie Abounded well of corne and fée And of all kinde of other riches And mirth solace and all vlythnes UUas in the haill land commonlie For ilk man blyth was and ioly The King after this great iourney Through réede and counsell of his priuie In sundrie townes gart cry on hight That who so clamed to haue right To hold in Scotland land and fée That within twelue moneths sould he Come and claime it and then to do To the king as pertained thereto And gif they come not in that yéere Then sould they wit withoutten wéere That hard thereafter none sould be The King that was of great bountie Had busiâ—es when this was done One â—ast gact summond after soone And went then into England And ouer rade all Northumberland And brunt townes and tooke their pray And syne went home vpon their way I let it shortly passe far by For there was no great Cheualry Prooued that is to speake of here The King went oft in this manere In England for to rich his men That in riches abounded then How Sir Edward tooke on hand For to make weere into Ireland THe Erle of Carrik Sir Edward That stouter was than a Leopard And had no will to liue at peace Thought that Scotland too litle wes To his brother and him alswa Therefore to purpose can he ta That he of Ireland would be King Therefore he sent and had treating UUith the Irshry of Ireland That in their lawtie tooke on hand Of all Ireland to make him King UUith thy that he with hard feghting Might ouercome the Englishmen That in that land were winning then And they sould helpe with all their might And he that heard them make sik heght Into his heart he had great liking And with the consent of the King Gathered him men of great bountie And syne at Air shipped he Into the neist moneth of May To Ireland held he straight his way And had there in his companie The Erle Thomas that was worthie And good Sir Philip the Mowbray That sikker was in hard assay Sir Iohn Sowles that was wight And Sir Iohn Stewart a good Knight The Ramsay al 's of Oughterhous That was right wise and Cheualrous And Sir Fergus of Ardrossane And other Knights mony ane In Wolyngs Firth arriued they Saiflie but bargane or assay And sent their shippes home againe A great thing haue they vndertane That with so whéene as they were That was seuen thousand men but maire Shupe for to weirray all Ireland Where they fall sée mony thousand Come armed on them for to fight But though they whéene were they were wight And without dread or affray In two battells they tooke their way Toward Craigfergus it to sée But the Lords of that Countrie Maundewile Bisset and Logane Their men they sembled euerilkane The Sauages al 's was with them there And when they all assembled were They were well néere twentie thousand When that they wist that in their land Sik a Menyie arriued were With all the folke that they had there They went toward them in hy And when Sir Edward wist surely That to him néere comming were they His men right well hee gart array The Uangard had the Erle Thomas In the Réeregard Sir Edward was The first battell that Sir Edward Wan in Ireland with feghting hard THeir foes approached to the fighting And they met them but abasing There men might see a full greit melle The Erle Thomas and his Menyie Dang on their foes so doughtely That in short time men might sée ly An hundreth that all bloodie were For hobynes that were sticked there Reilled and flang and greit rowme made And kest them that vpon them rade Sir Edward and his companie Assembled then so hardelie That they their foes their rushed all Who happened in that feght to fall It was greit perill of his rising The
Scottishmen in that feghting So apertlie and well them bare That all their foes rushed were And they haillie the flight hes tane In the battell were taken and slaine All haill the floure of Wollistar The Erle of Murray greit prise had there For his right worthie Cheualrie Comforted all his companie This was a well faire beginning For newlings at their arriuing In plaine feght they discomfist there These folke that aye foure for ane were Syne to Craigfergus are they gane And in the towne hes Innes tane The Castell new was stuffed then Right well with vittaill and with men Thereto they set a Siege in hy And mony ishe full apertlie Made was while the Siege there lay While truce at the last tooke they When that the folke of Wollister To his peace hailly commen were Then Sir Edward would take on hand To ride farthermore in the land The withletting of the passe of Endnellane ANd of the Kings of that Countrie There came to him and made fewtie Well ten or twelue as I heard say But they hold him short while perfay For two of them one Makgoulchane And another heght Macarthane Umbeset him into his way Where him behooued of néed to ga With two thousand men with Speares And al 's mony of their archers And all the Cattell of the land Were driuen hidder to warrand Men called that place Endnellane In all Ireland straitter is nane For thy Sir Edward there kept they And thought he should not passe that way But hée his voyage straight hes tane And euen toward the place is gane The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas That first put him to all assayes Hee lighted on foote with his MenÈie And apertlie the place tooke hee The Irish King I spake of aire That in the place embushed were Met him sull stoutlie But hée Assailed so with his MenÈie That magre theirs hée wan the place Slaine of their foes full mony was Throughout the Wood then chased they And seezed in sik aboundance the Prey That all the folke of their Host were Refreshed well an wéeke or mair At Kylsagart Sir Edward lay And there well soone hée hes heard say That at Dondalke was an assemblie Made of the Lords of that Countrie In Host they were assembled there There was first Richard of Clare That in all Ireland Lieuetenand Was to the King of England The Erle of Desmound al 's was there And the Erle also of Kildar The Bryane eke and the Wardane That were Lords of greit Renoun The Butler also there was And when Sir Morise le fitz Thomas That with their men were commen there A right greit Host forsooth they were And when Sir Edward wist surelie That there was sik a Cheualrie In hy his Host hée gart array And hidderward hée tooke his way And néere the towne tooke his Harbrie But for hee wist right perfitelie That in the towne were mony men His battells hee arrayed then And stood arrayed in battaile To keepe them if they would assaile The battell of Dondalk in Ireland That Sir Edward tooke with his hand ANd when that Sir Richard of Clare And other Lords that were there With that the Scottishmen so were neere With their battells comming were They tooke to counsell that at night For it was late they would not fight But on the morne in the morning Well soone efter the Sun-rising They should ishe foorth all that there were Therefore that night they did no maire But Harbred them on another partie That night the Scots companie Were watched right well at al their might And on the morne when day was light In two battells they them arrayed And stood with Baners in hand displayed For the Battell all readie bowne And they that were within the towne When the Sun was risen shinning cleare Send foorth of them that with them were Fiftie to see the conteening Of Scottishmen and their comming And they rade foorth and saw them soone Syne come againe withoutten hone And when that they all lighted were Then told they to their Lords there That Scottishmen seemed to be Worthie and of right great bountie But they are not withoutten weere Halfe deill a Denner to vs are here The Lords had of that tiding Great ioy and great recomforting And gart men through the Citie cry That all sould arme them hastelie When they were armed and puruayed And for the fight all haill arrayed Then went they foorth in good array Syne with their foes assembled they That keeped them right hardelie The stour began then cruellie For at her partie set all their might To rush their foes into that fight And with all paine on other dang That stalward stour lasted well lang That men might not perceiue nor sée Who most there at abone sould be For fra soone efter the Sun rising Till efter mid-noone the feghting Lasted into sik a dout But then Sir Edward that was stout With all them of his companie Shot vpon them so sturdelie That they might thole no more the fight All in a frush they tooke the flight And they followed full egerlie Into the toun all commonlie They entred both Intermelle There men might felloun slaughter sée For the right Noble Erle Thomas That with his rout followed the chase Made sik slaughter into the toun And so felloun Decisioun That all the Rewes bloodie were Of slaine men that were lying there The Lords were gotten all away And when the toun as I heard say Was through great force of feghting tane And all their foes fled or slaine They harbred them within the toun Where of vittaile was sik fusioun And so great aboundance of wine That the good Erle had dout therein That of their men sould drunken be And make in drunkennesse some melle Therefore he made of wine Lewerie To ilk man that he payed sould be And they had all inough perfay That night right well at ease were thay And right blyth of the great honour That them befell for their valour The third battell in Ireland That good Sir Edward tooke on hand EFter this fight they soiournde there Into Dondalk thrée daies or maire Then tooke they Southerward their way Erle Thomas rade before them ay And as they rade through the Countrie They might vpon the hilles see So mony men it was ferly And when the Erle would sturdelie Dresse him to them with his Baner They would flee all that euer they were So that in fight not one would byde And they foorth on their wayes did ryde While to a great Forrest came they Kylros it heght as I heard say And they tooke all their harbrie there In all this time Richard of Clare That was the Kings Lieuetenand Of all the barnage of Ireland An great Oast there assembled had That was fiue battells great and brade And Sir Edward and his men Well néere him were they commen then He gote soone witting that they were In haill battell comming néere His men addressed he them againe And gart them stoutlie
made him yare Into the Iles for to fare Walter Stewart with him tooke he His Maich and with him great Menyie And other men of great Noblay To the Tarbarts they tooke their way In Gaillayes ordainde for their fare But them worthed their ships draw there And a mile was betwixt the seas And that is loned all with trees The King his shippes there gart draw And for the wind can stoutlie blaw Upon their backe as they can ga He gart men Masts and rapes ma And set them in the shippes hie And Sailes to the toppes tie And gart men gang there by drawing The wind them helped that was blawing So that into a litle space Their flote all there ouer drawne was And when they that in the Iles were Heard tell how that the good King there Gart his shippes with Sailes gee Out ouer betwixt the Tabarts two They were abased alluterlie For they wist through old Prophecy That hée that should gar shippes so Betwixt the seas with Sailes goe Should win the Iles so to hand That none with strength should him withstand Therefore they came all to the King Durst none gainstand his bidding Ouertooke â—ohn of Lorne allane But well soone efter hée was tane And presented right to the King And they that were of his leading That to the King haue broken fay Were all destroyed and dead away This Iohn of Lorne the King hes tane And sent him foorth to Dumbartane A while in prison for to bée Syne to Lochleuen sent was hee Where hée was long time in fasting I trow hée made therein ending The King when all the Iles were Brought to his liking lesse and maire All that season there dwelt hée At Hunting and at game and glée Lord Dowglas with battell plaine Reskewed the Prey and brought againe WHen the King vpon this maner Hee daunted the Iles as I tell here The good Sir Iames Dowglas Into the Forrest dwelling was Defending doughtelie the Land That time in Bâ—rwicke was winnand Edmound of Calhow a Gascoun Hée was a Knight of greit Renoun And into Gasconyie his Countrie Lord of greit Senyeorie was hée And had then Berwick in kéeping Hée made a priuie gaddering And gote him a greit companie Of wight men armed jolelie All the nether end of Teuidall Hée preyed into him all haill And of the Mers a greit partie Syne toward Barwicke went in hy Sir Adam of Gordoun that then Was becommen Scottishman Saw them driue so away his fee And weind they whéene were for that hée Saw but the fléeing skaill perfey And them that seezed on the Prey That to Sir Iames of Dowglas In full greit hy the way he â—aes And told how Englishmen their Prey Had tane and syne were went away Toward Berwicke with all their fée And said they wheene were and if hee Would speed him hee should well lightly Win them and rescue all the Ky Sir Iames soone gaue his assent To follow them and foorth is went And followed them in full greit hy And came well neâ—re them hastelie For ere they might fullie see They came well neere with their Menyie But then both forray and the staill UUere knit into a sop all haill Bot knaues swaines that had no might For to stand into field to fight Before them gart they driue the Ky They were a right faire companie And all togidder in a staill The Dowglas saw their lump all haill And saw them of so good conuyne And that they were so mony syne That they for one of his were two Lordings hee said sen it is so That wée haue chaist on sik manéere That wée are now commen so neere That wée may not eschew the fight But if wée fullie take the flight Let ilke man of his life then méene And how wee mony times haue béene In greit thrang and commen well away Thinke wée to doe right so this day And take wée of this Foord héere by Our auantage for in greit hy They shall come on vs for to fight Get we then will and strength and might For to méete them right hardelie And with that word full hastelie Hée hes displayed his Banéere For his foes were comming neere And when they saw they were so wheene They thought all was their owne bedeene And assembled full hardelie Their men might see them feght fellie And a right cruell melle make And mony strakes gaue and take The Dowglas there right hard was stad But the greit hardement that hee had Comforted them on sik a wise That no man thought on Cowardise But faught so fast with all their maine That they feill of their foes haue slaine And though they were full mony moe Then they yet them they demained so That Edmund de Callok was dead Through Dowglas right in that ilke stead And all the laue fra this was doone Were all haill discomfist soone And they that chased some hes slaine And turned the Preyes haill againe The hardest feghting this was That euer the good Lord Dowglas Was in and of so few Menyie For had not beene his greit bountie That slew their Chiftaine in the fight His men to dead had beene all dight But hée had into custome ay When euer hee came to hard assay Hée preassed the Chiftane for to sla And heerefore hope I that hée did sa That gart him haue victorie full syse When Sir Edmund vpon this wise Was dead the good Lord Dowglas To the Forrest his way he tayes His foes greatly can him dread The word sprang far of his manhead So that in England néere there by Men spake of it right commonly How Iames of Dowglas slew Newel That vowed to meete him in battell SIr Robert Newell at that tide Winned in Barwike there beside The Marches where the Lord Dowglas In the Forrest repairing was And had him in full great enuy And for â—he saw him so manfully Make his bounds ay more and maire He heard the folke that with him were Speake of the Lord Dowglas might And how he forcie was in fight And how him oft fell faire Fortoun He wraithed him thereat full soone And said what wéene ye is there nane That euer is woorth but he allane Ye set him as he were but Péere But I avow before you héere Gif euer he come into this land He sall find me néere at his hand And gif I euer his Banéere May sée displayed vpon wéere I sall assemble it but dout Although ye hold him neuer so stout Of this avow soone Bodword was Brought to Sir Iames of Dowglas That said gif he will hold his heght I sall doe so he sall haue feght Of me and of my company Yet or oght long well néere him by His retinue then gaddered he That were good men of great bountie And to the March in good array Upon a night he tooke the way So that in the morning earely He was with all his companie Before Barwike and there he made Men to display his Baner brade And
other that fled were to them there That were a right greit companie When they the Baners so simpillie Saw stand and stuffed with so whéene Their yaits haue they opened soone And ished on them hardelie The Erle Thomas that was worthie And the good Lord al 's of Dowglas With all the folke that with them was Met them stoutlie with weapons seir Then men might see who had beene néere Men abandoun them hardely And Englishmen faught cruelly And with all mights can them paine To rush the Scottishmen againe I trow they had done so perfay For they were fewer far then they Had it not béene a new made Knight That to his name Sir William hight Of Keith and of the Gallistoun Hée heght through difference of Surnoun That bare him right well that day And put him to so hard assay That hée sik dints about him dang That where hee saw the thickest thrang Hee preassed with so meekle might And so enforcedlie can fight That hée made to their Menyie way And they that néere were to him ay Dang on their foes so hardely That they haue tane the backe in hy And to the Castell held their way With greit mischiefe there entred they For they were pressed there so fast That they left mony of the last But they that entred not for thy Closed the yates right hastelie And in hy to the walles ran For they were not all sikker then Here sent they word to the King That come to the Castell yeelding THe towne was tane vpon this wise Through greit worship and greit emprise And all the good that they there fand Was seesed haillie in their hand Uittaile they fand in greit fusioun And all that serued to stuffe a towne That kéeped they from destroying And syne hes sent word to the King And hée was of that tything blyth And sped him hidderward full swyth And as hee through the Countrie rade Men gaddered to him while hée had A meekle rout of worthie men And the folke that were winning then In the Mers and Teuidaile And in the Forrest al 's all haill And the East end of Lowthiane Before that the King came are gane To Barwike with a stalwart hand That nane that was that time winnand On yond side Tweede durst well appeare And they that in the Castell were When that their foes in sike plentie Saw before them assembled bée And had none hope of reskewing They were abased in greit thing But they the Castell not for thy Held fius daies right sturdely And yaild it on the sext day Syne to their Countrie home went they Here Walter Stewart took of the King Baith Towne and Castell in keeping THus was the Castell and the Toun To Scottishmens possessioun Brought and soone efter the King Came ryding with all his gaddering To Barwike and in the Castell He was harbred both fair and well And his great Lords all him by The remnand all commonly To harbrie in the toun are gane The King hes then to counsell tane That he would not breake down the wall But Castell and the toun withall Stuffed well with men and with vittaile And all kin other apparaile That might auaile or yet mister To hold Castel or toun of weere And Walter Stewart of Scotland That then was young and vailyeand And sonne in law to the good King Had ay sik will and sik yarning Néere hand the Marches for to be That Barwike in kéeping then tooke he And receiued of the King the toun And the Castell and Dungeoun The King gart men of great Nobilley Ride in England for to take Pray And brought out great plentie of fée And with some Countries trewes tooke he For vittaile that in great fusioun He gart bring smertly to the toun So that both Toun and Castell were Stuffed well for one yéere or maire ¶ The good Stewart of Scotland then Sent for his freinds and his men Till he had with him but Archers And but Burgesses and Aulisters Fiue hundreth men wight and hardy That bare armes of Ancestry Iohn Crab a Fleming al 's had he That was of so great subteltie To ordaine and to make apparaile For to defend and to assaile Castell of wéere or then Citie That no sleear might founden be He gart Ingines and Traines ma And puruayed great fires alswa Fire-galdes and shot on seir maners That to defend Castell efféeres He puruayed into full great wane Bot gunnes for crackes had they nane For yet in Scotland then but wéene The vse of them had not bene seene And when the towne vpon this wise UUas stuffed as I here deuise The Noble King his way hes tane And ridden toward Louthiane And Walter Stewart that was stout He left in Barwike with a rout And ordained fast for apparaile To defend gif men would assaile The King of England his power Gaddered to siege Barwike but weere WHen to the King of England Was told how that with stalwart hand Barwike was tane and stuffed syne With men and armour and vittaile fyne He was annoyed gretumly And gart be summond hastely His counsell and hes tane to réed That he his Oast would hidder lead And with all might that he might get Unto the toun a Siege set And gart dyke them so stalwartly That while they liked there to ly They sould far out the surer be And gif the men of the Countrie With strength of folke would them assaile At their dykes in plaine battaile They sould auantage haue greatly Although forsooth it great foly UUere for to assailyie into feghting At their dykes so starke a King UUhen his counsell on this maner Was tane he gart men far and ner His men hailly assembled be A great Oast with him then had he Of Longcastell the Erle Thomas That syne was Sanct as some men sayes Into his companie was there And all the Erles al 's that were In England worthy for to fight And Barouns al 's of méekle might With him to that assiege had he And gart the shippes by the sea Bring shot and other apparell And great Garnisoun al 's of vittell To Barwik◠then with his Menyie And with his battels arriued came he And to the Lords ilkane sundry Ordainde a field for their harbry Then men might see their Pauilliouns Be stented on sindrie fassiouns So feill that they a Toun made there More then both Toun and Castell were On ather halse syne on the sea Their shippes came in sik plentie With vittaile arming and with men That all the hauen was stopped then And when they that were in the toun Saw their foes in sik fusioun By sea and land come sturdely Then they as wight men and hardy Shupe them soone to defend their Stéed That they in auentour of their dead Sould put them or then rush againe Their foes for their Capitaine Treated them so louingly And therewith al 's the maist party Of them that armed with him were Were of his blood or Sib-men néere Or els they
were of his ally Of sik comfort men might them sée And al 's so fair in their conteening That none of them had abasing Upon the day well armed were they And in the nights well watched ay Well sex dayes they so abade That they no full greit bargane had How Englishmen dyked them about And syne went to the Siege but dout INto this time as I tell here That they withoutten bargane were The Englishmen so closed had Their Host with dykes that they made That they were strengthned gretumlie Syne with all hands busilie They shup them with their apparell Them of the towne for to assaile And on our Ladies Euen Mary That bure the birth that all can by That men calls her Natiuitie Soone in the morning men might sée The English Host armed them in hy And display Baners sturdelie And assemble to their Baners With Instruments on seir maners As Scaffolds Ladders and Couerings Pikkes Howes and eke staffe slings To ilke Lord and his battell Was ordained where they should assaile And they within when that they saw These men so raying them on a raw Ttheir wairdes they went in hy That were stuffed so stalwardly With stones and shot and other thing That néeded to their defending And into sik maner abade Their foes that to them sailyie made When they without were all readie They trumped to the assault in hy And ilke man with his apparaile Where hée should bee went to assaile To ilke Kyrnell that there were Archers to shoot assigned are And when on this wise they were bowne Then went in hy toward the towne And filled the Oykes right hastelie Syne to the walles right hardelie They went with Ladders that they had But they so greit defence hes made That were aboue vpon the Wall That both Ladders and men withall They gart fall flatlings to the ground Then men might see in litle stound Men assailing right hardelie Preasing vp Ladders doughtelie And them aboue defending well Tumbling them downe to their vnseill With greit annoy defended they Their towne for if wée the sooth shall say The walles of the towne they were So law that a man with a Speare Might stryke another vpon the face And the shot al 's so thicke it was That it were wonder for to sée And Walter Stewart with a MenÈie Kade aye about for to see where That for to helpe most mister were And where men preassed most hee made Succours to them that mister had The mony â—olke that were without Had inuironed the towne about So that no part of it was frée Their men might the assailyeares sée Abandoun them right hardelie And the defenders doughtelie With all their mights can them painâ— To put their foes force againe On this wise them contéened they While Noone was passed of the day Then they that in the shippes were Ordained a ship with full greit fare To come with all their apparaile Right to the wall for to assaile To the mid Mast their baite they drew With armed men therein anew A brig they had for to let fall Right from the baite vpon the wall With Barges by they can her tow They preassed her right fast to row Beside the Brighouse to the Wall On that intent they set them all They brought her white she came well neâ— Then men might see on seir maner Some men defended and some assaile Full busilie with hard battell They of the towne so well them bare That the shipmen so handled were That they the shippe on no maner Might gar come to the wall so nere That their Fall-brig might réeke theretill â—o long abade they feghting still While that shée ebbed to the ground Their men might in a litle stound â—ée them by farre of war conuine Then they were euer that was therein And when the Sea was â—bbed so That men all dry might to her goe Out of the towne ished in hâ— To her a well greit companie And fire in her hes kindled soone Into short time so haue they done That into fire they gart her birne And mony slaine that was therein And some were fled and away gane An Ingynour there haue they rane That was sléest of that misteere That men wist outher far or néere Into the towne syne entred they It fell them happilie that day That they got in so hastely For there came a greâ—t company In full greit hy vp by the sea When they the shippe saw burning hie But ere they came the other was past The yait they barred and closed fast The folke assailyied fast that day And they within defended a On sik a wise that they that were With sik a force assailyeing there Might doe their will on no manéere And when the Euâ—nsong time was néere The folke without that were wearie And some wounded full cruellie Sawe them within defend them sa And saw it was not eith to ta The towne while sik defence were made By them that within the stéering had The Host saw that their ship was brynt And of their men some in hy were tynt And their folke wounded and weary They gart blew the retreat in hy Fra the shipmen rebuted were They leet the other assaile no maire For through the shipmen they weind ilkane That they the toun sould well haue tane And men sayes that moâ—ships then sa Preassed that time the toun to ta But for that there was burnt but ane And the Ingynour therein was tane Here therefore mention made I But of one ship alanerlie WHen they blowen had the retreat Tha folk that tholed paines great Withdrew them haillie â—ta the wall The assault haue they left withall And they within that wearie were And monie of them wounded saire Were blyth and glad when they them saw So in haill battell them withdraw And fra they wist surelie that they Held to their Pauillions the way They set good Watches to their wall â—yne to their Innes went they all â—nd eased them that wearie were And al 's them that were wounded saire â—ad good léeches forsooth I hight That helped them with all their might â—n ather side wearie were they That night they did no more perfay â—iue daies efter they were still That none to other did great ill Here sent King Robert in England Dowglas Murray with stalward hand NOw leaue we thir folke here lyand All still as I haue borne on hand And turne the course of our carping To Sir Kobert the doughtie King That assembled both far and néere An Dast and when he wist but wéere That the King so of England Had assieged with stalward hand Barwike where Walter Stewart was To purpose with his men he taes That he would not sa soone assaile The King of England with battaile And at his dykes especially For it might well turne to foly Therefore he ordainde Lords twa The Erle of Murray was one of tha The other was the Lord Dowglas And fiftéene hundreth men to passe In England for to burne
King are gane The King I wish was wonder fane That they returned haill and féere And that they sped on that maneere That they their foes discomfist had And but tynsell of men had made Recourse to them that in Barwike Were assieged right faire and thicke That into full greit danger wes Through strength of them that sieged hes And when the King had spéered tithand How they had farne into England And of their journey what progresse That they haue had and what successe And they haue told him all their fare How Englishmen discomfist were Right blith into his heart was hée And made them Feast with game and glée Barwike was on this maner Reskewed and they that therein were Hée was worthie a Prince to bée Through manhéede and subtilitie That could with wit so hie a thing But tynsell bring to good ending To Barwicke syne the King goes And when hee heard syne how it was Defended so doone manfullie Hée loued them that were there greitlie Walter Stewarts greit bountie Attour the laue commended hée For the right greit defence hée made At the Èet where men brunt had The brig as yée heard mée deuise And Certes hee was meekle to praise That so stoutlie with plaine feghting At open Yate made sik defending Might hee had liued while hee had beene Of persite eild withoutten wene His Renowne should haue streiked fer But death that watches euer ner Into the flour of his Youthheed Made end of all his doughtie déede As â— shall tell furthermare When the King had a while beene there Hee sent for Masouns far and néere That sleest were of that mistéere And gart well tenfoote hie the wall About Barwike the towne ouer all And syne toward Louthiane With his MenÈie his gate hes tane And syne hée gart ordaine in hy Both armed men and Yemanrie Into Ireland in hy to fare To helpe his brother that was there But hée that rest annoyed ay And would in trauell bee alway Ane day before the arriuing Of them were sent him from the King Hée tooke his way Southward to fare Magre them all that with him were For hee had not then in that land Of all men I trow two thousand Except the Kings of the â—rishrie That in greit routes rade him by Toward Dondalk hee tooke his way And when Richard of Clare heard say That hée came with a few MenÈie All that hee might assembled hée Of all Ireland of armed men So that hée had there with him then Of trapped Horses twentie thousand By them that were on foot gangand And held foorth Northward on his way And when Sir Edward heard men say That commen néere to him was hée Hée sent Discurreours him to see The Sowles and the Stewart were they And al 's Sir Philip the Mowbray And when they séene had their comming They went againe to tell tithing And said they were well mony men In hy Sir Edward answered then And said that hee should feght that day Though fiue or sixe times moe were they Sir Iohn Stewart said sickerlie I reede yee feght not in sike hy Men sayes your brother is cummand With fifteene hundreth men at hand And were they knit with you yee might Abide stalwartlie the fight Sir Edward looked right angerlie And to the Sowles said in hy What sayest thou Sir hee said perfay As my Fellow said Sir I say Then to Sir Philip the Mowbray said he Sir said hee so our Lord mee see Mee thought it folie for to byde Yone men that speedes them to ride For wee are few our foes are feill God may right well our Weirds deill But it were wonder that our might Sould ouercome so feill in fight Then with great ire alace said he I weind neuer to haue heard that of thée Now help who will for sickerly This day but more bade fight will I. Sall no man say while that I die That strength of men sall gar me flée GOD shield that ony sould vs blame That we deale our Noble fame Now be it swagait then said they We sall take that GOD will puruay And when the Kings of Irishry Heard say and wist it sickerly That their King with so whéene wald fight Against so mony of méekle might They came to him in full great hy And counselde him full tenderly For to abide his men and they Sould hold their foes all that day Doing and on the morne alswa UUith their assaults that they sould ma. But there might no counsell auaile He would all gaites to the battell And when they saw he was so thra To fight they said ye may well ga But we will quite vs vtterlie To fight with yone great companie For none of vs will stand to fight Trust not therefore into our might For our maner is in this land To follow and to fight flée and And not to stand in plaine Melle UUhile the one part discomfist be He said sen that your custome is I aske no more of you but this That is that ye and your Menyie UUould all togidder arrayed be And stand on farre but departing And see our feght and our ending They said well that they sould doe sa And syne toward their foes can ga They were well threttie thousand néere Edward and they that with him were They were not fully two thousand Arrayed then stalwardly to stand Against threttie thousand and ma. Sir Edward that day would not â—a His Coat-armour bot Gib Harper That men held as withoutten peere Of his estate had on that day All haill Sir Edwards array The feght abade they on this wise And in great hy their enemies Came to assemble all ready And they met them right hardely They were so few the sooth to say That rushed with their foes were they And they that most preassed to stand Were slaine downe and the remanand Fled to the Irishry for succour Sir Edward that had sik valour Was dead and Sir Iohn Stewart alswa And Sir Iohn Sowles al 's with tha And other of their company They vanquisht were so suddenly That few into the Plaine were slaine For the laue hes their wayes tane To the Irish Kings that were there That in haill battell howing were Iohn Thomson that was leader Of them of Carrike that were there When he saw the discomfiting Withdrew him to an Irish King That of his acquaintance had he And he receiued him in daintie And when Iohn commen was to the King He saw men lead fra the feghting Sir Philip Mowbray the wight That had bene discomfist in the fight And by the armes led was he With two men vpon the Caussey That was betwixt them and the toun That streiked long in a randoun Toward the toun they held their way And when in mids the Caussey were theâ— Sir Philip of his businesse Ouercome and perceiued he was Tane and swagaites led with twa The one he swakked soone him fra And syne the other in great hy He drew his sword deliuerly And to
the feght the way he taes Endlang the Caussey that there was Filled into so great fusioun Of men that went then to the toun And he that met them can them ma Sik payment where he can them ta That well an hundreth men gart he Leaue magre theirs the Caussey And Iohn Thomson said surelie That saw his déedes all haillelie That toward the battell euen he yéede Iohn Thomson thereto tooke good héed And cried to him in full great hy That they were vanquisht all plainely And said come here for there is nane On life for they are dead ilkane Then stood he still a whyle and saw That they were all done out of daw Syne went he toward him sikkerlie This Iohn wrought syne so wittelie That all that hidder fled they were Comde to Craigfergus haile and féere Although they left some of their geare And they that at the fighting were Sought Sir Edward to get his head Among the folke that there was dead And found Gib Harper in his geare And for so good his armings were They strake his head off and syne it They haue gart salt into a Kit And in a Present but hething In England sent it to the King They weind Sir Edward it had béene But for the arming that was shéene They of the head deceiued were Although Sir Edward died there On this wise were the Noble men Through wilfulnesse all lossed then And that was sin and great pitie For had their outragious bountie Bene led with wit and with measure But gif the more misauenture Befell them it sould bene hard thing Sould lead them to discomforting But greit outragious succudrie Gart them all deare their worship buy And they that fled from the Melle Sped them in hy toward the Sea And to Craigfergus commen are they And they that were into the way To Sir Edward sent from the King When they heard the discomfiting To Craigfergus they went againe And that was not withoutten paine For they were mony times that day Assailyied with Irishrie but they Held them togidder sikkerlie Defending them so worthelie That they escaped oft through might And mony times oft by slight For oft there to themselues gaue they To let them skaithlesse passe away And to Craigfergus came they sa Then baits and shipmen they ta And sailled to Scotland into hy And arriued all their safelie When they of Scotland had witting Of Sir Edwards discomfiting They méened him full tenderlie Ouer all the land full commonly And they that with him slaine were there Full tender al 's méened they were SIr Edward Bruce as is said aire Was discomfist on this maner And when the fielde was cleanged cleene So that no resistance there was séene The Wardane then Richard of Clare With all the folkes that hee had there Toward Dondalke hes tane the way So that no debate made they At that time with the Irishry But to the towne they held in hy And syne hes sent to the King That England had in gouerning Gib harpers head into a Kit Iohn Mowppas to the King had it Whilke hée receiued in greit daintie Right blith of that Present was hee For hée was glad that hée was so Deliuered of sike a felloun foe In heart thereof hée tooke sike pride That in all haste hee would ride With a greit Host into Scotland To reuenge him with stalward hand Of the tray trauell and the teene That done to him therein had béene Then a right greit Host gaddered hée And gart his shippes by the sea Come with greit fusioun of vittaile For at that time hee thought all haill For to destroy so cleane Scotland That none should bée therein liuand And with his Host in greit array Toward Scotland hee tooke the way And when King Robert wist that hée Came on him with sik a MenÈie Hee gaddered men both far and néere While so feill commen to him were And was al 's for to come him to That him thought hée should well doe Hee gart with draw all the Cattell Of Lowthiane euerilk deill And into strengths gart them bee led And ordainde men to defend that stead And with his Host all still hee lay At Coâ—ros for hee would assay To gar his foes through fasting Bee feeble and through long waking And fra hee feeblished had heir might Assemble with them hee would to fight Hee thought to worke vpon this wise And Englishmen through greit Maistries Came with their Host to â—outhiane And then to Edinburgh are they gane And there abade dayes thrée Their ships that were vpon the sea Tad the wind contrare to them ay So that vpon no maner of way Power they had to the Firth to bring Their vittaile to relieue their King And they of the Host that failyied meat When they saw that they might not get Their vittailes to them by the sea They sent then foorth a greit Menyie For to forray all Louthiane But Cattell haue they founden nane Except a Kow that was haltand That in Tranent towne they â—and And when the Erle of Warrane Saw their Forrayours come againe And a Kow anerly come sa Hee asked if they found no ma And they haue said all to him Nay Then Certes said hee I dare say This is the dearest beast that I Saw euer yet for sikkerly It cost a thousand pound and maire And when the King and they that were Of his counsell saw they might get No Cattell to their Host to eat Then they of fasting had greit paine To England turned they home againe At Melros shupe they for to ly And sent before a company Thrée hundreth néere of armed men But the Lord Dowglas that was then Beside into a Forrest neere Wist of their comming and what they were And with them of his companie Into Melros all haillelie Hée howered into a bushment And a right sturdie Fréere hes sent Without the Yate their comming to see And bade him hold him all priuie While that hée saw them commen all Right to the cunyie of the Wall And cried on hie Dowglas Dowglas The Fréere then foorth his wayes taes That was right darfe stout and hardy His méekle hoode couered haillely The arming that hée on him had Upon a stalwart Horse hée rade And in his hand hée had a Speare And abade vpon that manéere While that hée saw them commenner And when the formest passed were The cunyie he cried Dowglas Dowglas Then to them all a course hée maes And bare one downe deliueredlie Then Dowglas with his companie Ished vpon them with a shoute And when they saw so great a rout Come vpon them so suddenlie They were abased gretumlie And gaue the backe but more abade The Scottishmen among them rade And slew all them they might ouerta And great martyrdome there can ma And they that scaped were vnslaine And to their Oast went home againe And told them what good welcomming Dowglas then made at their comming Conuoying them againe rudelie And warned them the
before the King And hee made them faire welcomming And said I wate right well that yée For your greit worship and bountie Came for to sée this feghting héere For sen yee in the Countrie were Your strength your worship your might Would not thole you eschew the fight And sen that cause led you theretill And nouther wrath nor yet ill will As friends yée shall receiued bee And welcome bée all time to mée They kneeled and thanked him greitly And hee gart treat them courteously A long while with him them held hée And did them honour and bountie And when they yarned to their land Unto the King of France in Presand Hée sent them quite but ransome free And gifts greit to them gaue hee His friends thusgaite courteously Hee could receiue and right humbly And his foes stoutlie astoney At Byland all that night hee lay For their victorie all blyth they were And on the morne withoutten maire They haue Southwards tane their way So far at that time trauelde they Burning slaying and destroying Their foes with all their might noying While to the wall commen were they Syne North againe they tooke the way And syne homeward in their repare They destroyed haill the wall of Bewar And syne with prisoners and Cattell Riches and mony faire Iewell To Scotland tooke they home their way Blith and joyfull of their Prey And ilke man went to his repaire Thanking greâ—t God of their wellfare That they the King of England Through worship and through strength of hand And through their Kings greit bountie Discomfist had in his owne Countrie THus was the Land a while at peace But Couetise that cannot cease To set men vpon fellony To gar men come to Senyeorie Greit Lords of full greit Renowne Made a feill Conjuration Against Robert the doughtie King They thought to bring him to ending And for to brooke efter his dead The Kâ—nrike and Reigne in his stead Of the great Treasoun the ordaining To Robert the Bruce the noble King THe Lord Sowles Sir Williame Of this dead had most defame For principall thereof was hee Both of assent and crueltie And had gotten with him sundrie Gilbert Malyerd and Iohn of Logie They were Knights I tell of here And Richard Browne al 's a Squyer And good Sir Dauid the Brechyne UUas of this déed arested syne And I sall tell you furthermare But they ilkane discouered were Through a Ladie as I heard say Ere to their purpose come might they For she told hailly to the King Their purpose and their ordaining And when that he sould haue bene dead And Sowles King into his stead And told him very takinning That this purpose was soothfast thing And when the King wist that it was sa So subtle purpose can he ta That he gart take them euerilkane And where the Lord Sowles was tane Thrée hundreth and sextie had he Of Squyers cled in his Leuerie At that time in his companie Outtane Knights that were iolie Into Barwike taken was he Then might men all his Menyie sée Sorie and wo the sooth to say The King léet them all passe away And held them that he taken had The Lord Sowles then efter made â—laine granting of that haill purpose A Parliament therefore set was And hidder brought that Menyie were The Lord Sowles hes granted there The déede into plaine Parliament Therefore soone efter he was sent To his paines in Dumbartane And died in that toun of stane Sir Gilbert Malyerd and Logie And Richard Browne thir three plainelie Was with assise there ouertane Therefore they were drawne ilkane And hanged and headed al 's thereto As men them damned had to do And good Sir Dauid the Brechine They gart challenge thereafter syne And he granted that of that thing Was made to him discouering But thereto gaue he no consent But for he heilled their intent And discouered it not to the King Whome of he held all his holding And had made to him fewtie Iudged to hing and drawne be He was and as they drew him to hing The people farly fast can thring Him and his mischiefe for to sée That to behold was great pitie Sir Ingrame Vmfrauile that then Was with the King a Scottishman When he that great mischiefe did sée He said Lordings whereto preasse yée To sée the mischiefe of this Knight That was so worthie and so wight For I haue séene ma preasse to sée Him for his Soueraigne bountie Than now does for to sée him here And when thir words spoken were With sorie cheare he held him still While men had done on him their will And syne with lieue of the King He brought him menskfully to eirding And syne to the King said he One thing I pray you Sir grant to me That is that ye of all my land That is into Scotland lyand Would giue me leaue to doe my will The King soone hes said him till I will well grant that it so be But tell me what annoyes thée He said againe grant me mercy And I sall tell you it plainely Mine heart giues me no more to be With you dwelling in this Countrie Therefore that it not you grieue I pray you hartly of your lieue For where so Noble and worthy a Knight And so Cheualrous and so wighâ— And so renouned of worship syne As Sir Dauid the good Brechyne And so fulfilled of all manhéede UUas put to so villanous a dead Mine heart forsooth may not giue me To dwell for nothing that may be The King said sen that ye will sa When euer ye will ye may ga And you sall haue good leaue thereto Thy liking of thy land to do And he him thanked gretumly And of his land in full great hy As him thought best disponed he Syne at the King of great bountie Before them all that with him were His lieue he tooke for euermaire And went in England to the King And he him told all but leesing How that the Knights destroyed were And all as I told you aire And of the Kings Courtesie That leaued him debonerlie To doe with his land his liking In that time were sent fra the King Of Scotland Messingers to treat For peace gif that they might it get As there oftsyse before was send Suppose they could not bring it to end For the good King in his intent Sen GOD sik grace to him had sent That he had winnen all his land Through strength of armes to his hand That he peace in his land would ma And all the land establisht sa That his aire efter him sould be In peace gif men held their lawtie IN this time that the Vmfrauile As I bare on hand aire whyle Came to the King of England The Scots Messengers there he fand Of peace and rest to haue tretise The King wist Sir Ingrame was wise And asked his counsell thereto What he would réede him for to do For he said he was laith to ma Peace with King Robert Bruce his fa While
The Hosts both all that day were In peace till that the night was néere The Scots Host that lying were Into the Parke made Feast and Fare And blew Hornes and fires made And gart them burne both bright brade So that their fires that night was maire Than ony time before there were And when the night was fallen well With all their Harnesse euerilke deille All priuilie they rade their way Syne in a Mosse soone entred they That was well two mile of bread Out ouer the Mosse on foote they yéede And in their hand their Horse led they It was a full greit noysome way But Flaikes in the Wood they made Of wands and them with them had And sykes therewith brigged they And so had well their horse away On sik wise that all that there were Come through the Mosse both haill féere And tint but litle of their geare But if it were any olde Sowméere That in the Mosse was left lyand When all as I haue borne on hand Out ouer the Mosse that was so brade Were commen greit gladnesse they had And rade foorth homeward on their way And on the morne when it was day Ahe Englishmen saw the Harbrie Where Scottishmen before can ly All voide and wondred greitlie then And sent foorth sundrie of their men While at the last their trace fand they And syne when they were goneaway That to a méekle Mosse them had That was so hiddeous for to waid That auenture of them durst none But to their Host againe is gone And told how that they passed were Where neuer man had passed aire When Englishmen heard it was sa In hy to counsell can they ta That they would follow them no maire Their Host right then they skailed there And ilke man to his owne they rade King Robert then that witting had That his men so in the Parke lay And what mischiefe then at were they An Host assembled hee in hâ—â— Ten thousand men wight and hardy And sent them foorth with Erles two Of Stratherne and Angus were they The Host in Wardaile to relieue And if they might so well enchéeue That samine night that meete might they They thought their foes to assay So fell it on that samine day That the Mosse as yee heard mee say Was past the Discurreours that there Ryding before the Hosts were On ather Host hes gotten a sight And they that worthie were and wight At their méeting justeâ— of wéere EnsenÈies hie they cried their And by their cry perceiued they That they were friends and no fay Then might men sée them glad and blyth And told it to their Lords swyth The Hosts met both togidder syne There was right homelie welcomming Made among greit Lords there Of their méeting joyfull they were The Erle Patricke and his MenÈie Had vittaile with greit plentie And gaue it to them with glad cheare Thus went they hameward all in feare Destroying the Countrie in their way In Scotland well commen are they The Lords went then all to the King That made them right faire welcoming For of their comming right glad was hée And that they â—ith sik propertie Withoutten tinsall escaped had They were blith merie and glad How King Robert assembled there Three Hosts in England for to fare SOone efter that the Erle Thomas From Wardall thus repaired was The King assembled all his might And left none that was worthie to fight A greit Host there assembled hee And dealt his Host in parts thrée Ane part of Norame went but let And there a stalward Siege they set And held them right in at their dyke Another part vnto Anuike Is went and there a Siege set they And while that there the Siege lay At the Castell as I said aire Part of assaults made they there And mony fairè Cheualrie Enchéeued was full doughtely The King at the Castell lyand Left his folke as I boore on hand And with the third Oast held his way Fra Parke to Parke him for to play Hoouing as all his owne it were And to them that were with him there The lands of Northumberland That next to Scotland was lyand In fée and heritage gaue hée And they payed for the Seales fée On this wise rade he destroyand While that the King of England Through counsell of the Mortymer And his Mother that at that time were Leaders to him that then young was To King Robert to treat of peace Sent Messengers and so sped they That he assented on this way Then a perpetuall peace to take And they a marriage sould make With King Roberts sonne Dauy That fiue yéeres old was then surely And of Dame Iane al 's of the towre That syne was of great valour Sister she was to the young King That England had in gouerning That had in eild then seuen yéere And King Robert for skaithes feare That he did to them of England Had done in weere through stalward hand Twentie thousand pound sall pay Of siluer and gold and good money When men thir things spoken had And with Seales and othes made Séesing of friendship and of peace For ony cause it sould neuer cease The Marriage then gart ordaine they To be in Barwike and the day They haue set when that it sould be Syne went ilk man to his Countrie Thus made was peace where wéere was aire And syne the Sieges raised were The King ordained for to pay The Siluer and against the day He gart well for the Maugery Ordaine when his sonne Dauy Sould wedded be and the Erle Thomas And al 's the good Lord of Dowglas Into his stead syne ordainde he Deuisers of the Feast to be For his sicknesse tooke him so saire That on no wise might he be there His sicknesse came of a fundying He had tane through his cold lying When in his great mischiefe was he He felt that hard perplexitie At Cardrosse all that time he lay And when néere commen was the day That ordainde for the wedding was The Erle and the Lord Dowglas To Barwikâ— came with méekle fare And brought young Dauid with them there The Quéene and with her the Mortimer On the other partie commen were With great efféere and Royaltie The young Ladie of great beautie Hidder came with rich afféere The wedding haue they made right there With great feast and solemnitie There might men myrth and gladnesse sée For full great Feast made they there And Scottishmen and English were Togidder in ioy and solace No felloun speech betwixt them was The Feast a well long time held they And when they busked to fare away The Queene hes her Doughter left there With great riches and Royall fare I trow that long time no Lady To house was giuen so richly The Erle and the Lord Dowglas Her in great daintie receiued hes As it was worthy sickerly For she was syne the best Ladie And the fairest that men might sée Efter this great solemnitie When on both sides the lieue was tane The
Sir Robert Logane heght the ane And the other Walter Logane Wherefore our Lord with méekle might Their soules haue to the Heauens hight THe good Lord Dowglas thus was dead And the Saracenes on that stead Abade no more but held their way Their Knights dead there soone liue they Some of the good Lord Dowglas men That their Lord dead had founden then Yéed néere all wood for dule and woe Long for him they sorrowed so And syne with greit dule home him bare And the Kings Heart haue they found there And that home with them haue they tane And are toward their Innes gane With gréeting and with euill cheare That sorrow and griefe it was to heare And of Keith good Sir Williame That all that day had beene at hame For at so greit disease was hée That hee came not to that Iournie For his arme was broken in twa When hée tha folkes sik dule saw ma Hee asked what it was in hy And they told him all openly How that their doughtie Lord was slaine With Saracenes that had turned againe And when hée wist that it was so Attour all other hée was most woe And made a wonder euill cheare That all wondred that by him were But to tell of their sorrowing Annoyes and helpes but litle thing Men might well wit thogh none them told What dule and sorrow men make wold For to tine sike a Lord as hée Was vnto them of his MenÈie For hée was swéete and debonaire And well could treat his friendes faire And his foes right fellounlie Astonish through his greit Cheualrie For of full litle feare was hée But ouer all thing hee loued Lawtie At treasoun groowed so greitly That no traitour might bee him by But hée should wit that hée should bee Well punisht for his traitourie I trow the Lord Fabricius That from Rome to wéerray Pirrhus Was sent with a greit Menyie Hated treasoun no lesse than hée The whilke when that Pirrhus had On him and on his MenÈie made An outragious discomfiture When hée escaped through auenture And mony of his men were slaine And hée had gaddered his Host againe A greit master of Medicine That Pirrhus had in gouerning Profered vnto Fabritius In treasoun for to slay Pirrhus For in his first potatioun Hée should giue him deadly poysoun Fabricius that wonder had That hée sik proffer to him made Said Certes Rome is méekle of might Through strength of armes for to fight To vanquish well their foes though they Consent to Treasoun by no way And for thou would doe that Treasoun Thou salt go fetch the warisoun Euen at Pirrhus and let him do UUhat euer him lies in heart thereto Then to Pirrhus he sent in hy This Maister and gart him openly From end to end tell all his tale UUhen Pirrhus had it heard all haill He said was neuer man that sa For Lawtie bure him to his fa As here Fabricius beares to me It is al 's ill to gar him be Turned fra way of righteousnesse Or to consent to wickednesse As at midday to turne againe The sunne that rinnes his course all plaine Thus said he of Fabricius That syne vanquisht this same Pirrhus In plaine battell through hard fighting His honest lawtie gart me bring In this Example now for he Had Soueraigne praise of true Lawtie And right so had the Lord Dowglas That honest léele and worthy was That was dead as before said we Men méened him in ilk Countrie When his men had made mourning They bowelled him but delaying And gart séeth him that might be tane The flesh all quite euen fra the bane The Corps there in a holy place Eirded with great worship was The bones haue they with them tane And syne are to their shipps gane When they were leaued of the King That dule had of their seuering To Sea they went good wind they had Their course to England haue they made And there safely arriued they Syne toward Scotland held their way And there they are commen in great hy And the bones right honourably Into the Kirk of Dowglas there Eirded with dule and méekle care Sir Archibald his sonne gart syne Of Allabast both faire and fine Ordaine a Tombe full richly As it efféered to so worthy The Erle of Murray died here Through Poysoun giuen by a false Frere WHen that on this wise Sir Williame Of Keith had brought the bones hame And the good Kings Heart alswa And had gart men richly ma With saire afféere a Sepulture The Erle of Murray that the cure That time of Scotland had haâ—lly With great worship hes gart bury The Kings Heart in the Abbay Of Melros where men do pray ay That he and his haue Paradise UUhen this was done as I deuise The good Erle gouerned all the land And held the poore well to warrand The Lawes so well maintained he And held in peace so the Countrie That it was neuer led ere his day So well as I heard old men say Bot syne alas poysoned was ho By a false Monk full traiterously Thir Lords died vpon this wise He that Lord of all thing is Up to his ioyfull blisse them bring And grant vs grace that their ofspring Lead well the land and intentife Be for to follow in all their life Their Noble Elders great bountie The onefald GOD in Trinitie May bring vs vp to Heauens blisse Where alway ioy and resting is AMEN Here endes the Booke of the Noble King That euer in Scotland yet did ring Called King Robert the Bruce That was maist worthie of all ruce And of the Noble and good Lord Dowglas And mony ma that with him was A TABLE OF the Contention that araise after the death of King Alexander who should succede to the Crowne Fol. 2 How by the consent of all the Estates King Edward of England was elected as a friendly Compositour of this contention 3 How King Edward after the attempting the mindes of the Bruce the Ballioll declared the Ballioll King 6 Of the pleasures and commodities of Libertie and the heauinesse and hurtes of seruitude of strangers 8 How sir William Dowglas was put in prison and his lands giuen to the Clifford and of his sonne Iames Dowglas 9 How the said Iames past in France and returning againe in Scotland after his fathers death dwelt with the Bishop of Sainctandros 12 Of the commoning and band made betwixt the Bruce and Cumming and how the cumming shew the Indentour to King Edward 16 How Bruce was examined before the Parliament and howe hee escaped and slewe the cumming in the Kirke of Dumfreis 18 Of the meeting of sir Iames Dowglas with Robert Bruce and of his coronation 23 How King Robert came to Pearth and sought battell of sir Aymer Wallance 26 The Iudging of King Robert in the Parke of Methwen 29 Of the battell of Methwen and discomfiture of King Robert where mony Noble men were tane 31 Of the distresse that King Robert and his folks tholled