by crewell English might And comeing neiâ— to Arren they conclude With Douglas onlye for to spend their blood Wheitfore he causd them presentlie to land In haist to get betuixt them and their hold Which straight was doune o happie they that fand So braue a Guide Wise hardie fearles Bold In whoe 's myld look in whoe 's all conqu'ring hand They Victorie alreddie might be hold Now were they to the Castell neir hand by Wheir all in secreit they did cloislie ly By then the Englishe to the shore had brought Their Prisoners but all their wealth and store Within their Schip they left which all for noght From merchands schips they had bereft of yore And now straight to the Castell when thay sought The Douglas gius the signe and steps before His warlick rout and with his sword and sheild He cuts a bloodie way out throgh the feild Thus in a raige furth throgh his foes he dreue Whoe 's virtuâ—s valor thrists for gloreis croune With eurie blow a soull bids earth adew Their new array he breaks their ranks beat doune So many sheilds he cleif't and knights our threw That too much Valor hindred much renoune For lo a wall of bodeis deid he layid Wheirof the rest in neid a Rampere made Transported thus with heat with wraeth and Ire Now heir now their he wofull Slaughter's wroght Astonisht then some did with feare retire Yet some for shame stikx to 't amazde in thoghe Vthers that scornd such wounders to admire Vou's dread reuenge and on him still they soght Yet those that foolls were thoght did wiselie flie And those that wiselie stays like fools they die Whill he not weried thus with killing fights Their Captane stout that Hastings heght to name Furth from the Castell cums with twentie knights Whoe 's freshe supplies with furie most extreame Beats doun their foes and stays eu'ne in their sights Fair Victorie with glorie prais and fame That cround was cum and smyld on them before But now 〈…〉 her bak and threats 〈◊〉 Wich when the noble Douglas had espy'd Viewing their fierce and val'aunt captane bold He leaues his task and furth with thither hyit Whoe 's cheirfull sight his manglid band did hold From present flight whill he so weill applyit His matchles strength that his kene blaid groune cold In their warme blood his heat so oft renew'd That now they first did flie whoe first persew'd Thus rairlie chang'd the fortune of the broyll Hastings with threats manace them still that flie And now in equall ballance stood the toyll Ah heauins yow feble Soldiors said hee Shall yow almost a hundreth haue the foyll Of but few more then half a scoir yow sie Ah shame you euer hence the name to beare Of English so victorious in weare This said hee gaizd and staring round about At last he flees with fierce and angrie look Furth throw the throng against the douglas stout A stiff steill pointed dairt he stronglie schook And as an bow an arrow swift schoots out Singing throghe air such sounding aire it took Whill as the hardie fearles knight opposd His sheild against all daungers on disclosd This straunge and mightie throw peirst douglas scheild And in his armour stayed which queiklie done The warlick douglas doeth the wapin weild And gaue his foe no leasure for to schune Gainst whoe 's strong arme his arms could be no beild Quyte through his right syde past it too too soone For at his heart he aymd yit forcd him fal Which doeth abate the curage of them all Loue sorrow feare threu furth confution fast Yet quicklie they resolue and in their fray Taks vp their wounded Lord and thence they past Yea soorlie this had bein their laitest day But nights dark schaids betwene them slipt at last And forst them both a syd their arms to lay For if heauns cheirful lamphâ—d biddin in The val'a unt douglase force the towre had winn Now they the wofull Prisoners vntye'd Whoe fell with humble reverence on the ground Praising almightie Joue whoe did provide The douglas that their way to saftie found When he the ladeis Beauteis weill espy'd He wondred what wyld sauge wold haue bound Their mingâ—â—d bodies with their daintie hands Fitter for arms imbrace then iron bands For their neat bodies-daintie sweit and rare Was exquiseit and excellent he thoght That eune almost his martiall mynd all care Of Arms forgot and loues delight he soght The youngest beutie did his thoghtes Insnare Her face Eies hair her all by nature wroght Was in the rarest and the finest Mold That heart could wishe hand touch or eie behold But now becaus the Night was waxing dark He did from thence vnto the shore reteir Wheir they at anker fand the English bark Which they of all resistants soone did cleir And lancing from the shore they did remark What store of wins they had what daintie cheir And as ther former task greate Praise obtaind So by the last a woundrous wealth they gaind With dainteis cloi'd at last they go to rest And setts their weatch but lo no rest at all The Douglas finds loue did him so molest Now he 's becom inchanting beauteis thrall Loth was he that his loue should be possest By one to whom he was a debter small And by her changeing passiouns sore it seimde That she of late sum knight had much asteâ—md But that you may the treuth more cleirlie kno Thrie sisters borne were these fair ladeis thrie Their noble syir of children had no mo Great was his wealth his house and linnage hie His reueneus he whollie did bestow On those thrie ladeis yet did thus forsie To giue the yongest whom he most afected The better half whoe 's worth he most respected All thrie to their old Syir suche reuerence boore And eche to vther had suche mutuall loue As still his pleasure was their pleasure sure His will they did with willing minds approue A braue yung knight the yungest wold procure In mareage and still his soote did moue Whom she did nather loue nor hait out right Sir Andrew Murray heght this valiant knight Those ladeis chanc'd one day abroad to go To Neptuns sandie shore for their delight With whom this knight went foorth and tuentie mo No Armour but a sword had eurie knight It chanc'd eune then hard by a crag belo Those English came a shore whoe 's suddant sight Putts those poore ladeis in so greate a fray That they obtaind a ritch yet esie pray Murray long time the ladeis did defend With cheirfull words encuraging the rest But lo their was no saiftie for in end Fiftein their dyit the remander possest As presoners they hold and then extend Their wreth which in that land their walth increst At last they fled with shame and with rebook These folloud thame whom Donglas overtook And onlie by this warlick Erlls brave hand Warre they repaid of all their former wrong Amongst the rest of
Prisoners he fand This Murray who had looud this ladie long All this the valiaunt erll did vnderstand Informd by conferrence the rest among And thoght indeid he loued that gallant knight Yet in the ladie was his cheif delight Now on the seas they stray a certane space Till on a night the count that silent lay Vpone his bed did heare one cry allace Will thus my ladie all my hope betray is my long loue rewardit with disgrace Ah greif allace what will the world now say On wings of hope I mount aboue my might And now am forst with Phaeton to light Ah who so feids on wemens double wordes Runs with a straingeling Toue to meit dispare Who kyndnes to their wantoun looks affoords Heaps on them self a hell of endles care Who to her smills applies Loues sweit concords With scorne and shame they shall their thoghts insnare Yea whoe vpone a Womans voues shal dreame Can neu'r be red of woe greif cair and shame But I must loue her I must loue her still And loueing her eune loving I must die Or shall I leiue my freindly foe to kill That thus deprius my hops O no not I I will my verie soule in tears distill In sighs consume my heart with groans Iyll ty On willing death vnto my torterd mynd And with all pains end to one paine shall find Thogh this disdaind disgrat'd and quyte forlorne Yet her poore soule eu'ne her I can not blame But fortune proud that to this knight hath sworne Ou'r all the Earth she will extoll his name And nature that did weip when he was borne For all her wealth hangs at his virteus beame Yea she in him her self excells so fare Compaerd with him all vthers she douth marre Ah thrise vnhappie I that eu'r did yeeld As Prisoner vnto the english foe Thrise happie I if slaine into the feild Then had she piteid if not lou'd I kno But o this knight did with his sword and scheild Frie me from bands and yet he fred me so As giving life and sauing this my Breath He sends to me a farr more cruell death Heir sorow cuts his sad discours at last With manie greuous groans with sighs and tear's Whereat this warlick Lord was much agast When as this wofull song had perst his Ears His ladeis loue all other caer's surpast Her diuine shape graft in his mind he bear's And yet he thinks he wrongs that worthie knight Whoe 's faithful loue long since made knowne his right Wheirfore in time hee wold command these fiets And loues fond flammig passiouns wold remoue But o commanding in his heart she sitts Ruelling the motionis of his soule aboue It wold him kill or neir destraught of witts If he the meanest thoght of lose shuold proue Yet streght he thinks with reasone man's Indeut That by him self his lusts might be subduet Thus tossing thousand Passions in his mynd At last he vouis him self for to command Now Phebus had his golden locks vntwind And them in Thetis cristall glas vpband When cuttinge Neptouns back a fare they find Thrie warlike ships come toward them from land Wheirfore in Arms each one them self addrest And at their Lords deuotion then they rest Now all of them did in his presence stand And furth he cau'sd the ladeis to be broght And thus said hee fair Dames yow vnderstand What I and these most valiant men haue wroght By Ioue his onlie aide we took in hand Your honors saftie your relief we soght Tho Heauins did fauor this our interprise Yow know it was more desperat then wise And thogh all knights indeid should Armour beare For ladeis and in their defence to feght Yet I more shameles then the rest I feare Of you fair Eue for so the yungest heght Wold craue reward which you may weill forbeare Yea I wold haue your oth in all their sight That what I charge you with you will obey Nor what I seik may you offend I pray The modest Baishfull dame in silent mood Her mild swit looks she bent vpon the ground Throgh sone bright beautie shind her crimsone blood Which suddain Tempest past she quiklie found This answer whill the Gallant trembling stood Expecting that which his poore Soule shold wound Curst be the child his Dame ganesay is in Oght Whoe his deir life with her lifes hasard boght Glade was she for to grant what eu'r he wold Whoe wold to him haue geu'ne her self and all Wheirfore againe she made this answer bold Braue knight your will I promesse and I shall Myne honor saiff performe so shall you hold My fate cume life or death or what you call To which my grant I heir the heauns attest Let me be plagd if I refuse the rest A shiuring cold throgh all his Vains forth-went Stopping the Organe of his speache a space To what he wold he should nocht giue consent And what he should he wold noght that imbrace Proud Cupid from her firie looks foorth-sent Loue burning dairts that more and more incres His thoghts at last he thinks his oune he 'll make her Her heart fleis throgh her eies and prays him take her And whill he goes within hes arms to catche her Casting his Ete aside he their espyis Her faithfull knight who all this time did watche her Loue Furie Wrathe Disdain a combat tries In his sad looks and Rage bids still dispatch her But blak Dispair did thus to him deuis More honor is 't thy selt to Saccrefies And tell disloyall her thou loyall dyes So shalt thou end thy els eu'r endles paine And die with honor to her endles shame No take his life quod Jelosie againe Quod reasone why he does not bear her blame Quod Curage shall hee vn-reprou'd obtaine Then thou no man much les a knight by name Quod Reasone if he die she hate thee shall Then quod Despair kill Him her thee and all But reasone says and Pitie taks her parte O will thou kill thy Natiouns lamp of light No rather go to him with all thy hearte And giue him all thy intrest all thy right So shall thou winn great praise and heighe desart Quod Beautie first depriue thine Eies of sight No then quod Loue thy heart first must thou tear Foorth from thy breist for her Idea's their Which is the starr that reulls thy life thow knois Whill he thus reuld with Iaring passions stands Sad pitie mou'd this braue yung erle mak chois Beautie to flie and brak loues mightie bands And thus he said if heau'ne will that wee lose And that those pirats get ws in their hands No torment shall sufficientlie assuage Their cruell will their furie and their rage So gladlie wold they wish reuenge to tak Of fourtie which we last of theirs did kill Wounding their Lord tho we but few did laik But so Eternall Maiestie did will Now theirfoir first I wish you to forsake Our companie let hap ws good or Ill And tak those knights which
craft by strength by witt or forsights care Wee shall haue hence all hurt that doth mischiefe you Let not fond shame gainst health and faiftie striue Flie willing death whill hope is yet on liue So ernestlie in woe these words furth brak As he at last to tell me seimd content And haveing pausd a little thus he spakâ— Deare frend it fear 's me much you shall repent When yee haue knowne what doth my sorrous makâ— And to my death you will giue soone consent For in my death much pleasur does belong you In life I can not leiue except I wrong you No then said I I feare not let me know It Come weill come woe come death come life com either Weill then said hevn willing I shall show It Your wife her beautie nay my folie Rather From both of these or either loue doth droue it Or shall I say more treulie fate and nather Which secretlie I smotherd haue so long And rather chuisd to die then do you wrong To chaiss this framâ—â— passion from my mind I you desired to moue her Sister Ann For to her beautie had I bein inclind I haplie had left off wheir I began But since remeid at all I can not find Except of all the earth the onlie man Whom I lou'd best I should so fare injure Death first vnto my loue shall end procure These speiches pearst my heart in throgh mine eare Nor tongue nor hand nor fute could sturr or moue Greate was the loue Ito my wife did beare Him both I lou'd and pitied as did proue Who rather chuisd to die without all feare Then me to wrong this all the rest aboue This this I say eu'ne this allone dâ—d kill me This one respect his life to saif did will me Wheirfore at last I said first shall I lose Both her my self and all my Ioys beside Then such a worthie frend should mak a choise Of death if I can for his life prouide And to be short at length we did dispose The matter so that kind too kind I tride For in my place I did him so connoy Her thoughts vn-stain'd he did her self enioy But I my self such greife did soone conceaue A thousand deaths vnto my self I wish'd ' For Jelosie did in my soule engraue Such endles pains that I no torment mis'd ' Such eating corrasius my witts bereaue That my too wofull heart was like to burst Ah woful acte which doth my soule afraie My self consents my self for to betray But he all reasone did exceid so farr And with Ingratitude so muche was staind That of my ioy he did me quite debar For when he had his filthie lust obtaind He then bewrayt him self which all did marr And whiche was more of mee hee also faignd That I contriued the Plot that I did sende him Her I disdaind her I did gladlie lend him Wheiratshe did conceaue such endles greife That presentlie she doth resolue to die Whill hee eu'ne he that wroght this greate mischeif Departs in hast and to his strength doth flie I all this Time of cares found noe reliefe Wondring that to his bedd retornd not he Wherefore I in the morning straight arose And to the Chambre where she laie forth-goes But there I found her ah I found her there As she was then would God that I had been A purple streame with milke mixt white faire Ran her more white and snowie brests between With child she was the milke cold wel declare Ah too vntimely fate ah death I meane Thus past helpe forth from the bed I drew her And in my arms ah woful sight did view her Eu'en as the Lillie cliere fresh faire white Widdred with drught grows wrinkled pale blak So her saire face faire bewties choice delight Did swartish seeme that life bloode moisture lack In her dimm Eies death did my Crime indite Once lookd shee vp and once these words she spake Aeh let my guilty blood wash forth the staine That cruell you to my chast-bed did gaine Ah let my Soule mount to heighe Iustice throne And their sound foorth a sad still sad reuenge Heauins onlie viewed my Chaste Chaste thoghts allone Heauins onlie may forgiue this murther straunge Heauins onlie oues my chaste vous eurie one Heauins onlie wrongd since I my voues infring Heauins onlie then your wrath fierce wrath surceas you And let my blood thus sacrafiz'd apeas you These words Apeasd you seal'd vp deâ—ths sad birth And her last breath deir breath deir life deir all Ah cursed death bereft earths rarest worth Ay me for shame whill hee on shame did call Shame closd his lips the sound went warklie forth Shameing to shaw what after did befall His moueing speiche his sight and all was lost Doun fals his head and hee yeelds vp the Ghost Him self had kild him self they surlie scand But when they wey these his first speiches right Ah shall the conquerd conquerours with stand When euin them selfs against them selfs do fight They think some freind of hers that their him fanâ— Had doone the deid or els some English knight Aâ—det by Scotts had kild him for the same Surmiseing that him self had kild his dame But why or housoeur he shed his blood They all lament this wofull tragedie Whill their braue Lord auou'd to taist no food Till he had tane reuenge most rigoruslie Of that same English Lords Ingratitood Wheirto occasion fitlie did applie A present meane wheir by he might forthfill His weell made vow and wirk his warlick-will By this the light gaue place to schaddous broune And sable clouds had maskit all the skie When from the hills and forrests they come doune And man valley fare they might espie Ane staitlie pallace far from anie toune To which this warlick creu did haist in hie Wheir they a reuerent aged knight did find That gius them Entertainment to their mind To a Chambre richlie heung the Erle was broght And their disarmed by a ladie fair The rest was all vnarm'd and with a thoght Thay to a staitlie hall did then repair Whâ—â—s Tables ritchlie spred their soone was broght All kynd of meats all kynd of dainteis rair Thus were they serud to supper in such sort As might become a king for Princelie port The supper done the worthie count began To questioun with his hoasts both graue and wise His linage house and name requird he tkâ—n And who doth reule that Prouence when he lyis Braue sir quod he I 'le till you treulie when Fair Schotlands glorie mounted to the sky'is When in sueit calms of peace her natiue borne Dekt her fair front whoe 's wealth did thame adorne Eu'ne then I seru'd a too too noble Lord Heir silent long scarce could the rest essay Greif kindnes loue and pitie weill deploird His greuous lose tears did his woes beuray This quandarie once past and speiche restoird He thus begane agane eu'ne him I say Whom english Edward did by wrong surmeis In
yow and all the world beside In these and suche like speaches past these two The longsome night till Morpheus provide For drowsie flight who ou'r the Earth soone past And lights on them with lazie wings at last When nights swift cours with silence was outworns She givs a kinde fairweill vnto the day The wing'd Musitians which awake the morne With hollow throts and horned bills did play The Nightingale whose Musik Match dooth scorne The Maues that throw Forrest Echois ay The lark that warns the craftsmen of their pains And laborers that daylie toyll for gaine Eu'n as a Man in sleip that seems to heare Of Instruments and song a hevn'lie sound To them in sleepe such sounds did now appeare Their Soulls transported were when Ioys abound They hard the Aengells heav'nlie Musick cleir In Paradise it seemd them selfs they found Cloy'd whill they walk throw groves of all delight Sweit to the smell and plesant to the sight And in this pleasant Slumber whill they lay This fetherd Crue with their enchanting sound Above them on the tender twists do play Wheir Musicks weilset descant did abound When in the east arois the glorious day His crisped loks in siluer Cisterns drownd Waueing his golden vaill bright poure and cleir Wheir throw the clouds like crimsone flams apeir The Argument The Bruce dispersed host their Lord doeth know Who to Kintyre reteirs and their doeth sie An aged Syre that vnto him doeth show The heauen lie const ullations curtouseie And his blesd race and princelie stemm doeth draâ— From these rair purtrates in the heauens that be He showes eche Prince and doeth the lyne aduance To that fair matchles Douager of France Caput 4. SOft now my Muse and do not sore to hye Waed not in curious questiones too deep Let thy pure ground be trueth and veritie And learne the cheefest pointe's heads to keep Altho thou somtyme wantonize awry To recreat thy self yet softlie creep So neir the treuth as none may heare nor se To taint the chastest care nor sharpest eye The chyld doeth learne his lessone euerie day Yet play doeth oftin recreat his Sprite play sharpes thingyne makes pregnant witt's they say After long studie honest mirth is meet The purest trueth doeth harshslie rune away But sau'ed with Parnass streames it sounds more sweet The strengthes stomak waek and wanting power With sugar sweet accepts a portion sover Whill Bruce and Douglas sleepes and dreames of toyes That in their moystned braine impression makes Evne as the Day comes in they heare a noyes A noyes that suddanelye them both awakes Yet makes them both therafter to reioyse And greif's sad vale from their sharp eyes it shaekes For heaune blissd Bruce was so with patience cround Adversitie his mynd could neuer wound Altho he gravelie did vnfold his ill Vnto the valiant Count his woes bewaeling Yet with a constant minde he actes them still His cheerfull lookes and words so muche prevailling As in their heattes all thought of feare did kill And winnes their love their curage still appealling Who were his followers in eche wofull fight And could no danger feare if in his sight Which made them all way vp and doun to rainge Throw desarts Montains plains and Ferrests hore Bewailling their hard lots and fortuns strainge Their want of food but want of him much more They did lament and in this wofull chainge They sweare to venge his death or die theirfore For sure they thoght he by mishap did stray Amongst his foes when night did parte the fray Now were they come neir to the grove wheir he And Douglas slumberd soundlie in a dreme Who both awaekt rush'd furt he and streight they sie An armed man the King knew weill his name whome when he cald the rest did quicklie flie furth through the groves some feares and some thinkes shame Yet loue and ioie recald them all at last Before his feit them selfes they humblie cast So haue I fiene a moore-hen in the spring Missing her tender Brood throw desearts straying She in her throat some chirping nots doth sing Which when they heare with naturall loue repaying Her kyndlie cair in haist them selfs they bring And floks about her all her will obeying She seims right glad to sie her yung ones so Scap'd from the Daunger of their rawning foe When he vnlac'd his burnishd helme of gold His milde Sueit manlie countenance they knew Vertue and Grace diuyne they might behold Like Phebus beams from his fair looks t'ensew As Phebus draw's the dew vp from the mold His eies their hearts so from their bosoms drew Before him still vpone their kneis they fall To gratious hea'uens they render thankes for all He thankes them for their saith their trueth their love And to eche man did seuerall favores sho Soone after they from thence did all remove And westward to Dumberton glaedlie go From thence great Neptunes freindship wold they prove And th' Oceans watrie force they neids wold kno Shipd for Kyntire fleing the wind before Ere morrow nixt they saiflie came to shore The king his men in throgh the cuntrie sent With them the Errl of lennox for their Lord An vther way he with the Douglas went To sie what fauour fortuon wold affoord They trawelling allong with this Intent At last their way them to a wod restord Wheir half a myill at most they had not riddin When both to ryd one way were thus forbiddin Two vglie monstruous wolfs they might espy Had kild a harte and on the same was feiding Eche choosd a wolf his hors swist Paise to try For Boare-spears serud their launce in this proceeding Eche wolf his follower leads a sundrie way Their eger chase and ther persuit deriding What fortun hevins for Douglas had apointed We 'll after show now to the Lords anointed I mean the Bruce that brave and valiant Prince Who with an egger mind perseu'd the chace The wolf had left the wood and for defence Vnto a mighte Rock he rins a pace Breathles he seimd so slowlie running thence As made the Prince hope weill to winne the race He cuyts his horse rins vp the Rock in haiste But soone he loste the sight of whome he chaist His trevell lost he wold returne o're night Yet anye where to ryid he doeth not knoe The Rock he seis of such a wondrous hight As all the countrey round about would show Vp then he goes to view so fair a sight Whill he ascends the sone discendet low But e're he could vnto the top attaine Night spreds her painted vaile o're all the plaine In heavns heighe court the lampes all lighted shynes Which him constraind to searche some place of rest The montaines top was deckt with oakes and pynes Where nature hade a garden rairlie drest With fontanes walkes and groves without ingynes Of arte yet seemd of artes best skill poseest But sad it seemd to Nightes sad shad inclyning Showne to the Prince by Phaebes feble shyning
And with sterne warrs wold Sarasens Persew Then said he to that graue and antient Syre Wise holie father let me once be bold Thy blisd and happie name for to require Of whom my verie soules content I hold Great Prince quod he I yeeld to your desire Rimour I hight your slave and seruand old My loue and my last dueue to discharge I hither came as you shall know at large For the appointed time is drawing neir Whâ—n my poore soule must leaue this ruind toure Know then an Angell did to me appeir And of these reuel ationes gaue me power Onlie for thee becaus the Lord doeth heare The wofull plaintes and groninges eurie houre Of thy still torterd land which hea'uns surmonted And mercie begd where mercie neuer wanted That onlie thou selected for reliefe By the one-trine eternall maiestie Crost with misfortune sorow paine and greif For that vilde slaughter sacrale grouslie In Joues sole sacred house but that mischeif Hath thy vnfaind repentance freed from thee Should heir by me heau'ns endles bountie know For to remoue thy cares and confort show Persist thou still then in thy iust desire For mightie Joue stands Arm'd against thy foe'â— Now all thy Bad misfortuns shall retire Hence shalt thou euer winn and neuer lose Thou frielie shalt Posses a frie Empire And such renoune such fame and glorie goes Of thy greate name that thou shalt haue more praise Then euer had a Prince before thy dayes Now quod the Prince old father I wald know If theis great kings shal beutifie my name No no quod he but from thy loynis shall grow One trie whois fruict shall flurishe still with fame And one the bankis of siluer forth shall show Tuo branches faire for to adorne that stream Who turnis and bous his crooked schoris about To keip such heaune blest treasur eon got out And so fairweill this said throu schaples air Hee went away a light cleir bright and schining Enlightned all the Place so cleir and fair As Phebus seimd but Phebe thence refining His paill old Beautie spent with aige and cair The Prince his kneis and dasled eies inclining Downe fals he straight lyfe seemd to leaue his statione Stroke blind with light and dumb with admitatione When hee recouerd of this brain-sicke trance He look't about but could no wheir behold The cause of such a golden rediance Nor anie wheir sie that graue Prophet old Which chang't and altred much his countenance Tâ—â—xt dout and fear yet neids from thence hee wold Finding a beaten Path doun to the plane That leids him wheir his horse doth yet remane Hee taks him straight and doth from thence depart Revoluing oft into his Princelie mynd If by Illusioun visioun dreame or airt Or if he reft in Spreit such things dewynd But weying weil eche things with ioyfull heart He nothing think vnpossible to find By mighte Ioue altho mans shallow witt Can hardlie be induc'd to credet it Thus whill he thinks thus whill he musing ride Six knights all arm'd weill monted he espyis Cum towards him he for defence provyds Yeild yeild thy self or die the formest cryis He noght replyid but boldie them abyds Drauing his noble brand them all defyis And in schorttyme so quaild them with rebook That thrie he kild two chas'd and one he took Then foreward on his Iournay doth he hold And of his prisoner desirs to know Who reul'd that land hee thus vnto him told To day this cuntrie did me homage ow But I too rasche my fond attempts to bold Hearing of straungers landet heir below Wold with these few my cuntries-wrong prevent But yow allone hath marr'd my fond Intent And If yow to King Eduard doth pertaine Or to oure Prince I pray yow schow to me Or with theas lait cum troups if yow remane Whom I but forsight thus wold go to sie I hold of Eduard said the Prince agane Theirof I 'm sorie said the knight pardie Great pitie war't in such vnlaughfnll warre So excellent a Knight should armour beare Thus Iest they thus they talk till they haue gone Farr on the way at last they might discry A warlick troup in glistring armour schone Whom by their arms the Prince knew presentlie They knowing him with heigh applause eche one Made know'ne how weill they lyk't his companie He to his prisoner him self revield Whoe pardon begd and thanks to heaune did Èeild Whill days great Lord ou'r heauns giult roof farr past Beholding Thetis beautie where she lyis Redarting bak his amors til at last Her loue fird smills seimd to Inflame the skyis He hurlls his golden Quhells doun in the wast Breathles for haist he blusht yet doun he hyis Wher on the trembling siluer waues she stood Than diue they both doune throgh the christell flood Eune then the Knight the King and all his trane Intreats that night beneth his rooff to rest Wheir too the King doth yeild thus bak agane Right to his Pallace they them selfe addrest But this braue Prince not long did heire remane For why a Ioyfull hope his heart possest Wheirfore he schipt in haist and took the Sea Hoping on his proud foe reuengd to be The Argument By Fortune Valor and aduentrous chance The Douglas doth releiue three Scottish Dames In Arrans Ile and doth from thence aduance Whill hee is brunt with loues Insulting flames Yet shoues he that on Mars not Cupides launce Glorie prouids to hing triumphand Palmes He finds his Lord to Scotland whoe returns And Turnberrie he sacks distroys and burns Caput 6. NOw may you think that I haue lost the sight Of Douglas and forgot his warlick deids Whoe still persues his chaise till Sable nighte To saiue her frend end his game futth speids Then from his weill spurd hors he doth alight To rest till heauns smyld on Apollos steids But long he rests not when he hears a noyse Confus'dlie Iarring with a weiping voyce He taks his hors and their in haist doth ride Wheir as him thoght he hard the wofull sound By Pheboes sight at last he hes espi'de On horse some fiftie knights whoe led fast bound Fiue knights thrie Ladeis all behind them tyed Vpon their horse the knights from many a wound Dyit the grein grase in reid that seemd to call For dread reuenge shewing the way with all Hee follous still but lo they ride so fast That they by this had gottin to the shore And in a Tall schip soone from thence thay past He seis Sextein in arms their him before That them persew'd with those he gois at last Vnto a Bairge oft wissing to restore To libertie those poore distressed wights The wofull Ladeis and the woundit knights Now these were led he met vpon the shore By one Sir Robert Boyd a val ' aunt knight They from the Armie stray'd not long before When on thrie Gentlemen thay hap't to light Whoe them be soght to aid them to restore Thrie Ladeis rane
found In the greate North and sie that you defyle With blood and warr great Europs greatest Iile Mak Englands King to forge some causes new To keip the right which he by wrong hes got Tell him that heau'ne ordains him to renew Sinns iust reward vpon the sinfull Scot Mak English all with deadlie hait persew The Scots their onlie antient foes by lot The onlie blok that euer bears them doune From all their greatnes Glorie and renoune Thus edge them on It were greate lose great shame If they vnto their wonted greatnes rise Your strength allone was neuer so extreame To mak them once to shrink nor could deuise By slight or might to droune their famous name Till now that loe them selfs them felfs defyis And what you swords before could neuer doo Their swords haue doune and winn them selfs to yow So that yow sie heau'ne fauors your intent With these and vther your intendit slight Arme them with pride hate Anger discontent And moue the Scotts still gainst them selfs to fight For lo I sie Joue doth his wrathe relent And minds to raise the Scotts to greater might For in that famous Bruce and in his lyne They must be blisd and ou'r all Europe shyne Though what great Joue decrees we can not mend Yet may we oft delay th'intendit blise Which he ordains vpon fraill man to send Since sluggish man by Nature cairles is And wee may moue him thankles to offend And oft to disobey his law I wish For man is fleshlie geu'ne to foull delight And God is alway pure cleir holie right Since wee of all the damned heyres as cheiff And has no longer tyme from Torments frie Then till the cup be full of Gods hote greiff And that greate day of his fierce wrathe wee sie Then with the soules which now without releif We still torment shall wee tormented be And which is worse oure pains shall neu'r be spent Whill we oure selfs must still oure selfs torment Then heauins decree to stay oure strength is small Yet heaueing tyme we may not tyre of Ill Since what we wold that can we not at all Do what we may we may not what we will At these his words Invy and malice swell With murdring hate their breists with venom fill And vp they flie to view days glorious light Bringing Mischeif Greif horror warr dispight Arriuing heir they fill eche Godles heart With anger raige Mischeif pride hate inuie Then to the camp they hie to vse their airt But their vane Slight the nobler sort descrie Whill grace loue wisdome with their worths desert Did dreiue them thence in endles infamie Yet in the basser sort great pou'r they winne Throu whoe 's faint hearts dispair feir danger rune Greate bands of these by their deceat they dreu Who stelling from the camp by night doth flie And still these feinds to their fant minds doth shou For hoped Conquest shamefull Infamie Ther former lose remembrance lets them knou Which oft repeated maks their hopes to die These words they murmur still them selfs among On shamefull death shall we attend so long Allace what strength what might what pour'r haue we Ritch England warlick Schotland to ganestand May not oure Lord behold his infamie And in the glas of former works haue scand That gainst his will heaunis bend their iust decrie Earth scorns to build a Trophee for his hand Fate to his fall his frouning fortun brings Heauen earth fate fortun all crose his desings Heauins neuer yet did feuour his intent Earth neu'r lookt for conquest at his hand Fate neuer fraimd his will to find content And fortun neuer lik't of his demand Fair victorie her cheifest wealth has spent On his proud foe whoe conquering doth command Vs all if got like robbers hangd to bee Thus we 'r but outlawes to his maiestie With Greif and sorrou pane and trauel sore We hunger-sterud Amidst the montansly Oure frends still aid oure foes and which is more Eu'ne oure oune natioun vs with scorne defie Thousands that rose in oure defence before Now with oure foes gainst vs ther forces trie Whill wee that noght but shame and want doth gane Attend on hope and still attend in vane Why stay we then to immitat their flight Whoe with our foes abide in wealth and ease No let vs render vp this camp but fight And giue our Lorde to vse him as they please Or if noght this then let vs flie by night And yeildinge to our foes their wrathe appease This laste opinioun eache approueth so That eu'rie night in troups away they Goe Thus wroght blak Plutos messingers their will And now to worke the rest of their mischeife Braue Pembroks ear with these glad neus they fill And fills his warrlik mind with raige and greif To mak an end of warr they show him still That now he may at ease without releif His waikned foe of forder hopes depriue Quite ouerthroune or kild or tane aliue Then fed with hope he doth an armie raise Of Scotts and English neir ten thousand strong Whoe 's minds with hate and with desire of praise They do inflame nor stay they those among But heir and their throgh all the land they gaise Subiects to find whereby to work more wrong At last of lorne that cruell Lord they find And vnto new reuenge they stirre his mind To nev reuenge of his deir cusings blood Greate Cummernald whom Bruce before had slane He to this warr brings foorth fiue thousand good And to greate Englands generall ioins amane Thus foreward prikt with hope and hatfull mood They brauelie martch ou'r hil ou'r daill ou'r plane Whereof our Gallant noght at all did kno So spedelie and secretlie they go Now of fiue hundreth thrise with him remaind Thrie hundreth scant the rest war fled and gone Whereof he oft and secretlie complaind Yet wise lie in him self conceall'd his mone But nou his scouts by trauell that obtaind A sight of their Proud foe return anone And to him bring those wofull neus at last Whoe 's sound from eare to eare right sadlie past The relicts small of his forsaeken host Wheir all about him standing in a round Whill as bold Edward thus did him accost My Lord and brother let not this confound Your noble thoghts tho numbers quite be lost In this small band must all your hops be cround Tho fortun beare your iust desings aurie She can not let vs brauelie for to die Will is it knowne since first we Armour tooke When in oure cuntreis cause we swore to stand That euer since wee suffred haue rebooke Nor fortun once wold fauour oute demand With shame and lose oure Frends vs all forsooke Oure soldiers seing noght but lose at hand Haue left vs Cowards worthie not to breath That we may look for nothing now but death Yet sall it neu'r be said nor sein nor knowne That in oure latest hour we shrink or flie No let oure hearts oure hands and al
By schip him self on sea the fight wold view And left two thousand on the land beside That 〈◊〉 montans tope them self withdrew Which did that cuntrie by it self diuide And vnderneth that hill the passage lay So that the arme's forst to pas that way The King that of them had intelligence Sends Douglas furth with him a chosen band Who with much paine but schort continuance Had winn their baks by hid wais which thâ—y fand Now comes the armie to the strait and thence They sie their foes aboue all armed stand On crags and hurld doun mightie stons from hie And thence they lat their clouds of arrous flie Wherefore an vther chosen band intend With valiant Hay to giue the chairge before Of these the stons broght many to their end And some returnd leamd briusd and wonded sore Yet to his foes bold Hay did still ascend Still formest to encurage them the more And tho but feu in spight of all their foes They wan the montains heighest top with bloes But surlie their eche one had losd his life Their foes so hudge encompast them about If Douglas who with labor pane and strife Had not arriued with his resistles rout But then o then bloes wounds and deaths were riâ—e Long faught they long was victorie in dout But Douglas now gan on his men to froune Becaus they were so long vn ouerthroune Then with the strongest ranks it faireth worce His sword their maks a wide and bloodie laine He treds them kild and wounded by his force Who yeeldeth leius all that resists at slaine So kill 's a hound the cur without remorse That bits when he that yeelds his life doth gaine Oure knight still kills the armd with best assistance And scorns t'assaill but wheir he finds resistance Good valiaunt Hay that through the rout furthwent Fand matchles Douglas dealling deaths anew And to his side he step't incontinent A hardie freind bold constant wise and trew These two once mett were all sufficient A greate and mightie Armie to subdew Yea thogh bold Hay had bidden from the fight Douglas allone had put them all to flight At last discomfeit all doth flie away Doune to a tumbling riuer deip and read They past a bridg that our this riuer lay Which they wold cut of danger to be fred But of their work they did them quiklie stay And gaue so fierce a chairge till thence they fled By this one bridg the Armie past the flood And fand from thence that no man them with stood A wondrous strength was their Dunstaffage heght The vanquest rebells mand this fortres strong But with a Seige inuirond hard and straight They forced ar to yeeld it vp or long Argills old Erle a man of wondrous might Got peace whoe 's sone had done such endles wrong Then all submit them selfs the King before Eu'ne all the Lords along the westerne shore All faithfull Scotts reioise of his succes And for to shew their iust conceaud Ire Their craftie foe by craft they wold supres Still when occasioun winkd at their defire Amongst the rest that shew his willingnes A contrey suaine their duelt in Lithgo shire That was both fearles hardie strong and bold He to his natiue Prince some seruice wold A peill or strength by Lithgo lake their stood That held in aw the countrie round about A hundreth English with their captane good Comands the strength wells fortified about This contrey cloune oft for their horses food With prouender and hay came in and out Fiue sones he hade as bold as was their sire Thrie brether borne and bred in Mars his ire And these weill arm'd within a wane he set And cuning lie he couerd them with Hay Then driueth furth his wane straght to the gatâ— Wheir he arâ—â—ed with the morning gray The porter rose and in the wane he let This driuer Binny heght who made no stay But to the porter lept and soone dispatchd him Then furth he lets the rest whill nothing fashd him And soone them selfs they throw the chambres spred Some sleipt some armd and naiked some they fand But all their liues at length they quiklie red None that resists could their rude rage with stand Thret tien were to the captains chalmer fled Who with him thoâ—n armd thes houses mand But tours nor walls could not preuent their smertâ— Mild pitie dualls not in a Curish heart The King returnd from Lorne did weill reward This binnie for so hazardous a deid Then of his nepheu Randolph heth regaird For still his loue his Anger did exceid Morais great Erldome he for him prepaird Of whom hereafter he might stand in neid And sure his worth is worthelie renound A brauer knight neu'r tred vpone the Ground Whoe being to his vncle reconceild Wislâ—d oft within his haughtie heart to sho Some peice of rarest seruice in the feild Whoâ—s fame his former faults might far outgo Fortun eu'ne then did fit occasioun yeild Whereby the King his willing mind should kno Nine prouinces with England yet did stand Besoutâ— the siluer Forth eu'ne all the land Obeid to Englands King but onlie thrie Iedbrughe and Eirik and fair Douglas dail These by the mightie Douglas conquerd be Gainst whose all couquring arme none could preuaill In all these lands braue Randolph weill did sie Many strong holds and castells to assaill Amongst the which was one whoe 's strenth excelâ— The Virgin-tour or Maiden-castell cald Of that heigh crag this beautifies the top Whereon the famous Edinburghe doth stand And that fair touns frie liberteis doth stop So proudlie doth the Garesone command Whoe 's wills to tame their insolence to crop His vncle puts the chairge into his hand Which he obeis and being furneishd out With a strait seige he sets the walls about A Gascon captane cheif was of the hold Whome straight the English tak and putt in bands And of them selfs they chusd a captane bold That valiantlie their enemie with stands Who in continuall labor doth them hold By new assaults with freshe and warlik bands Yet still with lose he 's forcd for to reteir So resolute and bold his foes appeir At last he seiks for to obtane by slight Wheir strenth did faill and wheir no force preuailis For sure it was vnpregnable by might In vaine with warlik force he still assaills Sir Williame Frensh or Fraunces lo he hight Whoe comes one day to him and thus reveills To winn the hold my Lord I know the way Nor all their force my subtle craft can stay My lustie youth I spent within these walls As capteiue whill my father did comand My loue within the toune as oft it falls To whom by night a secreit way I fand Tho dangerous to Bankâ—ts Masks and Balls I went for loue O what can loue with stand I shall you lead vp throu the crag by night Vnto a wall but scant seavne cvbits hight Glade was the erle that he did thus deuise And promeist him
His Sunne is at his Sommerr Sâ—lsteice lo And neids he must returne for to discend Fortun must Froune when she too long hath smilâ— Who surest hopeth oft is oft begâ—ld Yea tho he hed a hundreth Kingdoms more And could a hundâ—eth Englands bring to warr By heaune he shall haue Battell once before He come to Stirling if to come he dare This spak bold Edward whoe 's bold words restore The shining light of Gloreis darkned Starr In many hearts which to greate loue doth raise him His Brother in his heart doth greatlie praise him But grauelie thus agane the King began My Lords my captains and my chiftains all I gladlie wold we were assured when Oure foes should come and when oure troups recall For oure meane force must be made stronger then To catche occasioun and giue vantage small Then Douglas sai's my Lord let one be sent That warlie can perceaue whaat's their inten And surlie I my self the man must be â—yll slilie walk through all their squadrons braue A Frensh man of a Scot they all shall sie With Almans Frensh and Dutch I can disceaue I Knou their Lords and Princes of degrie Through all their camp the secrets I will haue Iyll raise my beard and bazane mak my face Iyll change my voice my gesture and my Grace Loth was the King that he should vndergo This fearfull task he for him self prouids But neids he wold be gone at last and so Disguised like a Frensh man forth he rids His face straik with ane oile no pairt did sho Of his first Grace his countenance it hids The accenâ—s hard of Frensh he sounds so right That eune the Frensh them selfs mistak their sight The worthie Bruce his tyme not idlie spent But forth to muster calls his men of warr Furth to the flourie banks of forth they went Vnto a pleasant Medou lairge and squair Deir Muse tho time hath in obliuion pent These wortheis names that heir did armour beit And made their of springs nams to differ fare Thou knows bothe what they were what they are But what they were were longsome to repeat Onlie as they ar now to vs vnfold That tho their names be some what changd of lait Yet we may know them for the of spring bold That yet remains stand not on points of stait But lat eche land eche prouince be enrold With their Lords name and these such Tinkior lend As mightie time nor age may efter spend Vnto the camp their worthie King forth goes Their King their Captane and their Gen'rall great Whill all the commoun soldeors arose With Ioyfull shouts and signs of Loue perfyit Pleasd with their salutatiouns sweit he shoes A cheirfull smyle their loue for to requyit Then gius command against the following morne Their glorious standarts should the plaine adorne No sooner Titan Butneist Neotuns vawe And spred his beams ou'r Earths enameld brest When forth the wortheis warlick bold and braue Came all in shining Steill their glistring crest Adorn'd with plums their armed horse whoe 's show With statlie prausing seemd with pryde possest Before their Lord he from a rocks proude height One eurie troup doune bent his curious sight Now Eduards Douglas Randolphs troups remaind About the King nor marchd they to the plaine And all on Douglas absence much complaind But most of all his owne men thoght in vaine A sight he of the English camp obtaind Nor feaâ—d he oght nor wold he turne againe Whome to his fortun leaue we now to sho These troups that martchd vnto the plaine belo From Skieland orknay Caittnes faire and wyde Furth stretcht to the great north theis cuntries lyes Came furth two thousand led in martiall pryde By two bold erlls of Antient families That long these cuntries lairge did wishe gyde And tho farr of they ly yet they aryiss To help their noblle prince ther minds so hautie Showing therby their faith loue zeall ther deutie Ross Sutherland Stranauer nixt to them As many men as braue as stout as strong Led by two worthie erlls of auntient fame Greate Sutherland and Ros right famous long Of Irish Scotts in clanns that keipt the name Fiue hundreth thrice their chieftans broght along From all these montane cuntreis north that ly And plesaunt shoirs that coasts the Irish sey Randolph broght forth all Morrays shire almost These wait on him he waits vpon the King The men of Buchane thogh their Lord was lost To shew their loue and duette forth did bring A thousand bold broght from that pleasant cost That still beholds the German Ocean spring For Graine a fertill land for pastor good The men a people of Bellonas brood From Marr two thousand came of warlik fame Led by that euer famous erlle of Marr Whoe 's faithfull heart whoe 's much redoubted name Yet neuer left his Prince in Peace nor Warr Whoe 's Starr of Glorie euer casts a beame Which still Illuminats both neir and farr The men of at holl then their Ensigne spred A thousand by their gallant erlle forth-led From Merns their came of Squiers and of knights A thousand warlick hardie fearles bold Led by their Erlle traind vp in marti'all fights Their erlle whoe 's worth my Muse can not vnfold Whoe 's great ancestors shind still glorious lights And whoe 's first father did the land vp hold From bondage wild for which they still command As onlie greate Lord Merschalls of the land But Angous heght the Region nixt that lyes A famous fertill fair and plesant land From which two thousand did in arms aryse Led by greate Lords that by them selfs command As Ogiluy and Brechin bold and wyse Montrois greate erlle that led a valiant band But he that led the most pairt of that host Was Crausurds mightie erlle who reuled most Nixt Goureis Carss a pleasant euntrie lyes Vpone the northerne banks of famous Tey And to the North the Eist and West aryse Pleasant grem hills vp to the cloudie sky That like a wall impregnable defyes The boasting foe or foragne enemie Streaching their ragid arms aloft ascending The pleasant plains from tempests still defending Wheir Barlie Wheat and all the sorts of Graine That pleasant cuntrie plentefullie yeilds In all the valeys meids and eurie plaine The frutfull Treis at strou'd through all the feilds The Regions round about that doth remane At still suppleid from thence wheir plentie weilds By heau'ne and nature greac'd with all things els That eu'ne the famous Normandie excel's The port or entres to this pleasant land Is strong Dundie weill cituat and fair Betuixt it and the German laek that stand Wheir as Tays mightie floud with murm'ring cair Like Tagus rolling our the golden sand Doth cast him self away as in dispair From this fair land came foorth a thousand good That in their cuntreis caus wold spend their blood By mightie Erroll wer these troups forth led