heir on you attend Those shall with you home to your counttie wend. And in the light swift sailling Bairge yow may Be out of reache or these oure foes cum neir But this is it I will you to obey Which of your heauins sworne oath sall mak you cleiâ— That presentlie you tak without delay Braue murray for your Knight and husband deit Tho I my self yow to my self could wish If to my taste were tyed no other dish Let him your chest and spotles hart receaue Him self and his trew loue deserus no les And so your sisters hee and you shall leaue Ws to oure fate whill his greate worthines With these your knights shall you from daunger saue God grant in wealth ease honor you incres Wheir with good Murray efter thanks reply'd Not so braue sit I will with you abyd Till this sharp threatning storme be our bloune Orels I surlie were to much to blame Yea and the like goodwill the rest hath shoune But none wold he accept nor none wold name Except braue Boyd in fates of arms weill knowne And with him ten bold fearles full of fame But eue thus gone proud loue must neids obey She deis for greif braue Murray murnes for ay Our gallant Earli the sight abids by sea And verye long in fearfull hazard stands At last he winns and Sinks one of the thrie And mightelie the vther two demands To yeild till both in end at forc'd to flie By the approache furth from the western lands Of one new fleit eu'ne quikle riggid forth By Bruce that famous Prince and full of worth Whoe glad was Douglas thus againe to find Whose lose with wondrous care he oft lamented All what the Prophet had to him divind He told him there whoe therof much contented Praisis almightie Ioue with thankfull mynd Now that their foes might quicklie be preuented The King his armie their wold set on shore Wheir persie reul't and hee was Lord before Two tyms heauns glorious golden Post had past Mesuring the boundles bounds of all the skie When Auster to the shore their fleit had chast With cheirfull shoutes eche one a land did flie With thundring founds of Trumpets interâ—aist They rear aloft the royall standart hy Wheir as the princelie Lion in his Iaus Wold fo's intombe assunder torne with Paus. Their Tents they Pitch doun in a pleasant plaine Whill their glade rumor throgh the land aroise Freshe troups from eche pairt to them fleis amaine All wishd to shak ye yok of their proud foes Braue Eduard hear's his brother's come againe To him he with a gallant troup forth goes This dantles Prince so fearce was and so bold He thretning Fortun by the hair did hold Now oure great King a Nece had neir hand by A Ladie full of wisdome wealth and worth Who marchis to the Camp Maiestiklie To view her Royall Cusing cam she forth And with her broght a gallant companie In Arms dreid Mars the Lord was of their birth Into his Warrs those knights she did conuoy Hee thanks her her he intertains with Ioy She vnto him those sad misfortouns told That by mischance had chanc'd since he departed How his fair Queene to his proud foe was sold His brother Neill and Mares greate Earll had smarted Kindrimme also woon and how that hold By filthie treasone brint was she imparted And how his greatest foe King Eduart dyit Whoe 's sone young Eduard now his place supplyit Throgh all the Camp these rumors sadlie goes Of these misfortouns that eche one abased For all doth ade these new mislucks to thoes That had so much before their fames defaced Their Prince that seis their curage now they lose And for trew worth hade frantik fear embraced Causd bring them all before his royall throne And wiselie thus encorag'd eurie one Braue gallant freinds with mee that haue remaind Against so many fearfull dangers past So many painfull trauells that sustaind Nor from your necks my yock for want wold caft Of hunger thrist and lose you neu'r complaind Nor nothing could your noble mynds agast Thogh fortune thus hath smyld vpon our foes Shall we of feare and not of fame make chois No no the Lord forbid we should refuse This warr so iust wheirto we all ar borne Tho conquest with our foes soe long doth vse And our poore wofull cuntrie seimes forlorne It is not destenie but Sinns abuse Not man but God that hath oure cuntrie torne That wee may euill and sin and pride reiect And with repentance murne for our defecte Yea if wee do with sad repentaunce murne No doubt but his sweit merceis he'el extend His loue and fauor bak he will returne So hard beginings haue an happie end Our foes hee will consume distroy and burne To cruell them hee this rewerd shal send That when wee haue triumphd on their decay Them selfs shall be vnto them selfs a pray Thus endit his Prophetik speach devine Which breathing life in their dead hope they leiue His countenance with lightning seimd to shine From his bright looks did courage them reuiue And humbled all befoir Joues sacred shrine With fasts and Prayr these starrie walls they cleiue Before the Lord them selfs they humblie lay With brokin hearts and weiping soules they pray The King and all his Princes of estate Of Godlines and faith ensampills be With fasting publike prayr and sins regrait The one eternall euerlasting thâ—ie They do beseich to Pardon them ingrait And vieu with mercie this their miserie Thus they inuoek and from the I ord aboue On them discends grace mercie conquest loue Now whill they broght their solemm fast to end And holie vous vnto the lord had made To turnberry their haistie course they bend It wold â—hey first besige and first invade Which toun the warlick Perse did defend Within the castell strong him self abade By warlick bruce inuirond so about That noght but feare getts in and curage out So suddantlie so vnawars They came That they no time had left vnto them so Their towne to victuall or their strenghts to frame Them to defend or to offend their foe No rolling forc no Ingine nor no ram Oure Gallants soght the walls to overthro By force hee enters at the first essay And to his armie giu's it as a prey But still the Persie did the castell hold Built on a rock impregnalbe it stands Thrice feirslie he assaults and thrise the bold Northumbrean beats bak his valiant bands At last the warlik Persie yeild it wold For want of victalls in the Prince his hands Not mou'd forsd feard by Gold by strength nor terror want breeds his faultlesse fault his guilteles error This worthie Prince his armie heir wold rest Wereit with trauell both by sea and land His foes disigns to vieu he thinks it best Which charge he putts unto the Douglas hand For this attempt him self he soone addrest With him twise twelf hid dangers to withstand And furth they went the Contreie for
So follow these their foes vnto the plaine Whoe still securlie marcht nor feard their traine And on them now they sett with curage stout With shouts and cryis they mak a fearfull sound Their first assalt disordred all the rout With lancis stiff they bore them doune to ground Who feard they were an armie great no dout So suddan furie doth the thoghts confound But their braue Lord sir Odomer suspected Their craftie gyll the which he thus detected Ah fear them not quod he I know their trains I know their craft I know their force their might We twentie ar wheir one of them remains Ah villans this is but a sillie slight Come yow shall haue your weill deserued pains In your owne netts your selfs ar taine full right Com we ar for yow come receaue your bloes I sie yow long your wretched lius to lose Nou nou-oure swords shall all those wrongs amend Bold Odomer with visage sterne cryes out And sindrie of his troups with him contend To force them bak but they with curage stout An ansuer sharpe on points of launces send Who broght by this an vther course about Fierce Eduard then with suord and sheild so hollow Cuts doun their ranks whoÌ„ blood death did follow From his sterne looks his fearfull foes withdrew Their eies that winkt which clouds of night bedims Their fanting hearts distills a bloodie dew Deaths thriefold horror through their ears still swims Their feit seme light to flie fant to persew A shevering cold throw all their bodyis clims Yea at his verie sight his foes resemble The Seggs or reids in fens with wind that tremble And now no more their captane they obey His aw seims nothing to their aufull foe Altho them selfs were willing for to stay Their legs hearts hands vnto their will said no All go to flight and heir and their doth stray Their Lord altho vnwilling neids must go He shams to England whill he heasts with speid That he had brok his vow for such a deid Victorious Eduard â—o the Seige retornd Whill omphrauell that hears this ouerthro Knew that proud fortun now her bak had tornd Whoe 's smylls were chaingd to frouns remeidles wâ— Wheirfore he yeilds the strength wheir he soiornd With passage frie in England for to go To this ferce youth now all the land obeys None his commands nor his behests gainseys Whill thus he raignd and rewled ouer all His valiaunt brother that all conquring King The Lord of Lorns old hate he did recall Which all in one his angrie pour's did bring His Heralds gius the camp but leasur small To Lorne to Lorne their proclamatioun sing But all this time the worthie Douglas goes Victorious still amongst his armed foes Douglas strong tour essais he first of all And fiftie load of hay in saiks weill bound He causd to driue hard by the Castell wall The Captane hoping victualls to haue found Isht with his troups whome or he did recall He seis that conquering knight so mouch renound Betuixt him and his strength who now with might Wold force him ather for to flie or fight And thus the Scotts assaill with rageing mood Whom long the English valiauntlie withstands Till like a Lion wet with luke warme blood The Douglas slops their ranks and braks their bands He heauid his sword aboue their heads wheir stood Both life and death that vrgd him with demands But as his furie led him all to kill Fear led them for to shun remeidles Ill. Wobtoun him self dyit by his valiaunt hand Wobtoun that captane was of all the rout The rest from him that fled no mercie fand All dy't yea eune the fearfull with the stout Nor wall nor tour nor Castell let they stand All throune to ground the ditchis fild about Greate Douglas fame now fleis ou'r all the land All yeilds to him ou'r all he doth command All Douglas Daill and Etrik Forrest faire And Jedburch to their natiue Prince then soght But the Lord Steuart Bonkills only heyre A man that valors rairest fructs furth broght Was chairgd by Englands King for to repare Gainst fortuns knight for this great wrongs he wroght Whoe with him broght the valiaunt Randolph furth And bold Sir Adam Gordone much of worth With these and fiftie more he came to view The land and how the people stood affected But worthie Douglas of their cuming knew Their secret drifts to him were all detected Then after them he softlie did persew And folloud them a faâ—â— still vnsuspected Till they at night reteird vnto ane Inn Was â—itchlie bult vpon the banks of Linn Then round about the house his men he set And threatned fire till they came thronging foorth With bloodie fight then both the pairteis met And both did proue the vtmost of their worth Thus Scotts against the Scotts were hardlie set Nor was their anye their of English birth Greate is the heat and furie blouis the fire Wheir freinds against their freinds ar moued with Ire Greats pitie was to view this wofull fight Still was the killer kill'd yet none wold flie The Douglas partie was of greater might Yet still the vthers fight and fighting die At last when death and slaughters at the hight Of fiftie none was left aliue but thrie That with the Stewart came and Douglas lost Of fiftie twiss neir sixte six all most Bonkills bold Lord that could no more defend With Randolph and with Gordone steps aside And soune was horst to she but lo in end The Douglas did so weill for that prouide Their way was stept what course so eu'r they bend Sir Adame Gordone leads and was their guide Who with a disperat hazard braue and bold Braks throu his foes and saiff his way doth hold The vther two did to the Douglas yeild Who intertaind them as his freinds most deir He manie days theirafter keept the feild But sawe no enemie at all appeir Yet neu'r Irkt he armour for to weild Wheirfore vnto his Prince he wold reteir Who now was on his Iournay Lorne to vew Yet to the Camp he came are any knew Eu'ne to the royall Tent swift fame had borne The news of his approache vnto the King Who from his throne rose like the glorious morne And to him says my thoghts were combatting If my loue'd Erlle did leiue or died forlorne And with his arms about his neck did hing Whill as he kneild my gratious Prince said he I leiue if in your grace if noght I die Much more they said at last the knight presents His prisoners vnto his royall Prence Whoe 's loue his Nephew too too soune preuents With speiches proud and spit'full conferrence But wisdome myld and graue with raige conuents And stai'd wrath haisting death for his offence Yet Bonkills Lord and he 's to prison sent Wheir they must stay till Lorns new warre bespent But now the Lord of Lorne that cleirlie knew Of their approach so weill did him prouide
the West When both did seem of Conquest to dlspait And yet the Knight vnknowne wes lustiest His Curage and his strength did still repair For as a loytring Slaue in Lasie rest Has spent the day that for his Task should care And tho to lait at last to work doth stand Repenting that he took so much in hand Ev'ne so the straunger Knight did ferslie flie Against his Foe with Vn-resisted Might And thogh indeed he some what Stronger be His Breath induring Longer yet in fight The Douglas did that want with art supplie For holding forth his Suord and Sheild outright He geuards him self and bears the others Blo's Now Out now in now heir now thair he goes Both breathles now both forc'd a while to staie Botth leane upon their swords a while to rest The vnknow'ne knight thus to himselfe did saie Ah foolish man with madnes thus possest Thy labor 's great great pains great workes to daie With sorrows new new woes new cares increast Heated by heavin by faits Long Coorst ere borne Proud Fortune holds Thy heighe attempts in skorne Thy foile thy shame and thy disgrace receau'd Not onely thou but all the world doth know Fond man of non but of thy selfe deceu'd What vallor canst thou boast what strength can show O thou eu'ne thou who once a kingdom crau'd Ah folly great â—h great presumtion lo Ah shame thate're thou shold'st be sien or knowne Vanquish'd by one ou'rcom and overthrowne But so the Fates and so the heavin prouids That thou thy strength and weaknes might perceave To Errors gross Thy foolishe Mind Thee guids Which to abait what doth Remaine to Crave Lost is thy Crowne lost be thy frends besids Chaisd from thy kingdome hunted like a Slave And savadge-like thou liu'st on herbs and Root 's In Deserts wild those of thy panis at fruits Then fertill Scotland fair Adew for Ay Good was my will and great was my Desire On thy blacks Hemispheare to bring the day And to Restore Thy Friedome Crowne Impire But to my fond Attempts the heavins said nay Whill Thou' rt counsumd by Jov's wraith hot as feire Now wo is Mee for my owne wois I say not Bot O Thee fain I wold remeid and may not The Douglas also was perplexed so For still him self Condem's him self of folie Art thou returnd from France quod he to sho Thou vow'd thy Syrs revenge A vow most holie This mighâ—ie Task when thou should vndergo Thy first Attemp Thy shâ—me returneth sollie Why then fond man if thou be oueâ—rthrowne Yeild not but Die and keip thy vow on-knowne And if the heavins decree Thy Ouerthrow And that thy vow must still be vnperfected Yeat who the Victor is faine would I know If but a priuate man then I dispit it But if his praise Fame eu'rie where doth blow Then on my graue these lines shal be ind tit Though chaunce and fortune made him loose the fild He merits praise whose courage scorns to yealde Where are my Predecessors deeds of old Which like a walâ— impregnable did stand And did like Pillers firme strong vphold The wâ—ale the peace saftie of the land Though non of those I boast yet am I bold The worthie name of Scot for â—o demaund Whereof so manie Worthies still proceeds As makes their Contrey famous by their deeds Yea and this present Age augments our Fame With warrlik knights that al the world admires As machles Wallace and the ualiant Grhame The worthie Bruce most glorious that appears If one of those it were lesse were my shame My credit more and more my fortune cleers Therefore to cleere this doubt he thought it beâ—t His speech shold thus be to the knight addrest Stout hardie valliant man at armes quod he Before our combar end I pray thee show Whom I ou'rcom or who ou'rcommeth me Since non of vs the quarrel yet doth know No quod the other Sir that may not bee For that you made the challenge first and so As challenger your cause must first be know'n The Douglas answer'd that shall soone be showne Vnles I err you are an English knight I ame a Scot and in defence will stand Of Scots free libertie and auntient Right So long as I can bear a sword in hand It may be so quod he but in my sight You are too weake alone for to withstand So great a taske craues more then one I feare Against great Edward if you mind to warre Quod Douglas tho I be alone yousie I were enough for to Revenge Oure harms If I had Edwarde heir as I have Thee Al tho the Matchles Bruce with Conquering Arms Has thousands Mo whoe 's valors worth shall flie For dreed Revenge with Trumpets Loude alar'ms Throgh all the Regions of the English soill And havok mak with Rewin blood and spoill Yet know an other Querrell for Oure fight And my iust Caus which lust revenge requiers My Syre that somtime Erel of Douglas hight In Edwards prisson spent his Aged yeers And their he deid by wrong without all Right Whoe 's guietles blood Blood-guiltie Edward beers For whoe 's sad Death eu'ne Th'ou thy life must lois And with these words he thunders on the Blo's Hold hold quod he stay thy revenge for schame I am thy frend no foe nor English I I am that Lukles Bruce whose haples Name Thou dus so much Exalt and magnifie Whose froward Fortun fate and far-knowne fame Is turn'd disgrace to all eternitie At these sad words the Douglas stood and gazed Blushing astonisht speichles and amazed At last he falls before the warlik Prince And says my gratious Soveragne thou may Pardon my hastie fault my Rude offence Or my Death-worthie Crime with death Repay That Durst offend Thy worth thy excellence Ah cursed Tyme Ah blacke and dismall Day No no sweit freind quod he Thy peace enioy Long may Thou liue in spight of fates anoy And thus when he had R aisd him from the Ground He in his Arms him Lovinglie imbrac'd Whoe 's Love and Favour alway did abound And alway did Indure whill life did left Now both their horse agane at last they found And both theme selfe at last from thence addrest Both vows their Cuntries wo's for to Revenge Both to Indur cahe others fortuns strange Together then they ridâ— a plate throughout Til in a forrest faier themselues they fand While night with sable curtens Round about Breaths darknes out or'shaddowing all the land Vppon her lowring brows sate feare and dobt And round about in horror trembling stand The duskie clouds that threts a second flood Such Seas there swelling clusters doth includ Cap. 2. The Argument THe Douglass courteslye Requirs the King For to vnfold the caus of al his Greif Wherby he taks Occassions for to bring To outward vew the ground of this mischief He schews the worthles Bate'â—ls haples Reigne That heapt new woes on woes without releif Braue barwick Lost Scots fall at ods and yeeld Losing Their
Shine Hee suddanlie with Sacred furie glows His Soule cleiv's throw the ten fold orbs in fine And from sole Maiesteis bright Glorie drow's Her all celestial Sacred food divine A Sun like brightnes on his forehead grow's A schining luster from his eies furth sent A firie glance of goldlyke Blandishment First thow said hee the Rampand Lion tyis Wha wandering from his Den goes farre a stray Intrap'd in snaires and foraigne subtilteis Whoe erst subdew'd all prays becums a pray To craftie subtill Foes yet doth arise With glorious Triumph to their greate decay And hee whoe scornd a strainger sould command Now yeelds his Neck to thy victorious hand Heir saillis the Schip wheirin thy young Sone sitts Slyceing the vaus of Azur trembling plains And wafts into a forren land that fitts For greennish youth wheir all delight Remains Whill heir sterne warrs remorsles furie fretts And tears oure Bowells a shunder strip's oure vaint Yet this blist bark oure Jason brings from Greece And of sweit Peace brings home the Golden Fleece But lo heir cums the loftie coach-man doune That after him draw's furth suche lamps of light Such Jems such Pearels and Jewells for the crune Such Ornaments such onlie rare delight That Sun like schyns with evir blest renowne And all from Po to Gangis feiris their might Yea and him self his chairge so weil discharges Earths sole Impire Joue for his Seed enlarges Then cums â—hat holie Prince Graue wise and old That for his children murning still laments Whoe 's spotles life heirby the Swans foretold His thoghts and looks the Eagill still presents For lo his Eies bent vpwards still behold Fixt on his Phebus the one trine Essence Hee for his children plains to Ioue abowe Whoe shall regaird his looks his life his love Heir cums that Prince of wrongfull Boundage frie Who that myld Virgin iustice did releace From that wild Monster raiging Tirannie And sett her frie to all his happie race Hee rewels the land with laues and equitie In Whoe 's blist regue flous knawlege welth and Grace Of Iustice in his hand hee holds the heid Whois splender striks all malefactors deid Heir monted doth that valiant Prince advance Whoe 's heavin-wrocht lance his enemies ov'rthrouis In whome shal schine pure virtues radiance Rais'd vp on hie by Ioue gainst all his foes The ravening wolf hee foilles with Temperance And the trew Path to treew Religion shois Moueing his subiects hearts their minds and all Greate Ioue to feare and on his name to call Now in thy time quod he shall heir arriue A worthie knight that from his natiue land Shall flie becaus he brauelie shall deprive In glorius fight a knight that shall with stand Thy Praises deu whill he doth thee descriue Yea ewin this knight shall with victorious hand Come heir whoe 's name his Seid shill eternize And still they virteus line shall sympathize From this great man shall one far greater spring Whom fortune fair and fate shall stil attend Bellona fearce and Venus myld shall bring Laurells from Mars but to greate loue shill send A Garland ritche sprung from this worrthie King Whose royall Stem vnto the endles end Of his greate line their Tempels sall adorne With neuer setting ever rysing morne For lo the Daughter of this worthie * Prince Sall wed this knight thts Lord of heigh renowne Whose hight whose greatnes and whose excellence Whose Schulders seims ane Atlas to the crowne Of him shall come that mightie Lord whoe thence Shall go and proud rebellious Danes beat doun He to obey his Princes great commaud Shall tak this bold and wightie chairge in hand An Armie and a Nauie he shall bring ou're thetis glassie montans groundles Deip Vnder his wings that disin throned King Shall go whose crowne rebellious Danes still keip Ou're all these northern worlds his name sall ring Terror in Eurie Ear whill he doeth steip His sword in their most valiant Princes blood Whose might his all-commanding will gane stood And to his wounted height that King shall raise And Inthroneize him in dispight of foes With fame With glorie and with endles praise He shall returne vnto his land but lose When he hath spent in honors height his dayes Fauord by heau'ne fred from vntimlie Woes Of him discending shal a Greater ryise And lift his Glorie farr aboue the Skyis He shall this land Gouerne Protect defend â—rom forangne force from home-bred Ciuill broille And the Emperiall swey shall swet lie bend Whill the right heyre is Yung in these great toille Eune the most christian king sall seu in end For his greate freindschip and his favor whills To Dignitie aloft he shall him rear Thus sall his greatnes schyn both heir and their Nor yet this Prince allone shall be the last That shall surmount his Predicessors farr But this great famelie shall spred so fast As England shall in'uy that such a Starr Schot from their sphere hath their cleir lichts surpast And like a comet blazing blood and warr Streams furth their beams that eche wheir purge from error And warmis their freinds but burns their foes with terrâ—â— This famous line shall floorish more and more Greate Columns faire rare Pillars of the crowne Ritche ornaments that shall the land decore Sune-glistring-lights with euer blisd renowne Heaune blazing lamps whoe 's flame from virtues storâ— Brings oill wheirin they hell-bred Hydras drowne But leave we them and of thy royall race Show heavins-rare blessings greatnes hightâ— grace Then comes that Serpent berar furth in view In base borne venamous blood to much delighted Our all the land their poysoned goir they spew And all his weill borne subjects much affrighted Wheirof greate harme greate vengance doth ensew For those foull Beasts of eche so much dispighted Shall be the caus of this greate Princes fall Their Poison so infects heart minde and all And Archer like the nixt doth martche on foot Amidst his armie rashlie to persew His craftie fo'es whill his brave minde to stout Shall scorne the Counsal of his subjects trew Their shall vnwars this war-like Prince no dout Be lost whoe 's want thow Scotland long shall rew For lo too soone his sone of glorie Bright Is chok'd with mists of feats vntimelie Night And heir behold that Magnanimious King Most iust in peace most valorus in warr his royall Scepter bravelie managing Whoe 's glorious fame shall pears all Europs ear From him fair Beuteis faerest floure shill spring Whom heir you sie sett in a royall chear And their her dangling golden locks intreyld Much these have blist her but much more her child The Argument The south and North crownes ioynd by that great King Who of all Kinges hea'uns blissinges most embrace His works his witt heauens care him saâ—f to bring To happie and his two rair impes of grace In whom hess bles'd more then in anye thing By warr the youngest
Restorde that land which long before lay bound Beneth a Tirrants seruill Èoak with paine But this estate they long remand not In Such was the wrath of angrie heauins for sinne The Argument Scotlands great King from treasone ill contriued By heauens and his oune valour is relieued Inspight of twyce two hundreth he repriued The victorie which he alone at chiued He resteth their till all his knightes aryud The wittie Hay is with his hast agrieud Ferce Eduard ayd vnto his brother lendes Douglas to winn his strength agane in tendes Caput 8. WHill fame with brasen breath did souud o're all What she had heard in Scota's faerest land Of Bruce returne whoe 's arme imperiall Now our the westerne regions did command Greate Eduards Viceroy did a consail call Wherin with graue aduise he chuisd a band Of warlik Soldiers and ther Captane bold Sir Iugrham Bell Achampion wise and old Now these for to gane stand his poure he sends And for to keip him still Into the wast For he him self with greater poure intends To pull the wyde vp be the root at last That squadron then their Warlick poure extends And marcheing to the toune of air they past Wheiras their warie captane minds be slight To work his valiaunt foe a foull dispight Within this land an antient kinght did dwell Whoe of oure prince had secret frendscip got He liebail heght whome th' Englishe did compell Of his sad death for to contriue the plot Two valiant sons he had nay sons of hell Who stainis thair fame with filthie treassons blot Nor this their treassone wold at all reveale But waits to tak occatioun by the heale Neir to king Roberts camp a Groue their lay Low by a riuers side and out of sight Wheir aiged oaks their branshed arms display And maks dimm shaids with dark and glomie light Heir oft oure prince in secret vst to pray Heir lay the murtherers till on a nicht Doune to this groue the Prince allone descended On who is returne a paige without attended No sooner mong these thickets did he go When he beheld wheir thay had cloislie lyen By what intelligence I do not know Or rather reuelatioun most diwyne He calls his paige and from his hand does throw A crosbow and a bolt both sharp and fyne The auntient knight he killeth with the same As he vnwar's too rashlie fordward came All armed the vaher tuo in wraith and rage Began him cruellie for to assaill But his good sword did both their wraiths assuage And did so much against them both preuaill Eu'ne then expird the daits of both their aige They in their death dispaering curse and raill Against their fate and fortuns bad decree Of God who cairles leues shall cairles die Thus to the camp the Prince returns agane Loud honord feard admird and praisd of all When night of day the victorie did gane The Scoutts returnd befoir his feit thay fall Whill in his Regall Tent he did remane Presenting their a prisoner with all Whoe to this worthie Prince in secret shoes That he should be assailed by his foes And how they wold aproche that veray night Vnder thik darknes blak and cloudie vaile And wold assault his Camp with suddain fight Nor wold strong Trenches noght at all preuaill With fire throune futth their Tents shold burne so bright Yet could not this his wonted curage quaill But with a glaide and cheirfull countenance He doth inquir what way they wold aduance Beyond this riuer ar they yet said he And by a secreit foord they pas vnknoune Then quod the Prince heauins oure Protector be As is oure caus such be oure fortons shoune Now he commands his captans for to sie That his small armie from the Camp be drowne And rank't in Battell furth vpone the plane Wheir they in arms must all that night remane To Guarde the Camp he sxtie maks to stay And brings four hundreth foorth with speir and sheild With this small armie he wold neids essay To force his subrill foe to flie or yield And that braue Lord that bears the name of hay He doth creat as Gen'rall of the feild Him self with onlie two wold go and view The foord wheir they sould pas that wold persew Now doun the Riuer side his course he bent From whoe 's steip banks heig he crags and rocks arise And still he seis the farther that he went Heigher the Shoir louer the streame still lyis At last wheir as the rocks in two was rent Their nature did a narrow path devviss So to the Riuer doun or vp might go But one in rank or at the most but two When this braue Prince this strength did well behold Quicklie these two that with him thither went He bak derects and prays in haist they wold Drow vp the rest his foes for to preuent For heir quod he oure foes to wsar sold To die what death we list for to inuent Craft without crafe we should with stand in vane Heir will I stay till you returne agane When they were gone he softlie nerer drew Whill as he hears a noise and ratling sound Which still the longer heard the greater grew At last horse Braying mens shrill voice confound Yet these he vous his flight shall neu'r persew Nor oght but death sall mak him lose his ground When lo paill Phebe shynd so bright and cleit That he discryis four hundreth horse well neir These crossing ou'r the Riuer did ascend The passage wheir with sword heighe borne he stands And with an bloâ—thâ— first bright Crest doth rend Nor head nor breist the mortall blaid with stands Doun falls the knight his reilling horse doth bend And fordward leaps but lo in both his hands The Prince his sword sheirs throu his hoarie syds And for his Lord a bloodie Tomb prouyds Now with a shout the rest of this proud crue Throngs vp the path and stronglie him Inuaid Part climing vp the crags vpon him flew And at his feitt they fall Leam'd Bruisd dismayd Troad by their frâ—nds they die the rest furth drew Their swords each other hurts hast Loue betraied Strait waie darke night firce raige doth blind them so Each hurts his frend for haste to harme his foe But as a Roke a Craig or Cap of lande That fire air watter raiging wold diuide Doth stedfast still and vnremoued stand Gainst thunder lightning tempests storme or tide Eu'ne so the Prince ganstands this warlick band And all their raige their wrath their strength doth bide Still as they came in troups confoosd to find him He marcheing leau 's them slaine in heaps behind him Their Leader formest now to speak began Ah shame quod he now neuer leiue we more So mâ—nie hundreth beat by one poore man Should die a thousand deaths death cloisd the dore An organe of his speache he staggring ran And relling twice he fall's the Prince before Whoe 's sword had perst his hart he lifts his eies With half groned words
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
greate Englands harms But lo Argill coms with their Erll whoe 's sone Yet to repent his wrongs hade not begone Scotlands greate Iustice is that aged knight And oure the Irish-Scotts greate reul he beir These men ar active nimble quik and light Light is their raiment armour none they weir At all tims reddie for to flie or fight Weill made weill fauord cleinlie smooth and fair Their som what rude yet mild if mildlie vsd Most cruell in reuenge if once abusd Of these two thousand Archers broght he furth And with tuo handit-suords and schirts of maill A thousand more of much redouted worth Fiue hundreth horsmen bold for to assaill Barrons and knights all sprong of noble birth Guards him gainst whom his foes could not preuail These Gallants braue were much to be commended All of his name and of his line discended And from the west came furth a valiant band Which did consist of twise fiue hundreth horse Quik agill reddie for to chairge at hand With sword or lance all of approued force From Lennox and Dumbretons plesant land Whoe 's flourie Mairg still seimeth Amorous Of tumbling Clid whoe 's Billous striue in vaine To wond the bossome of the western Maine These to obey their gallant Lord was glade Lennox good Erle that neu'r serud in vane The last braue troup was also brauelie led A thousand horsmen they did weill contane By Glasco Iruing and Ranfrew wer bred These men in Boots strong Ile did some remane Scotlands greate Stewart was their Lord and heght Walter by name wise valiaunt bold in fight These ar the troups and bands that heir wer broght And all were bred so neir the artik Starr That cold keips in the heat whoe 's pours hath wroght Strength in the heart and their vnited ar Which maks them fierce curagious bold for oght Marcheld for bloodie Mars and meit for warr But yet seaune Erles and threttein Lords did sho Them selfs in Arms to aide the English foe Yea manie Lords and Erlls haue I forgot That to the mightie Bruce assembled heir Whoe 's geatnes vntill now no pen did not Englands good fortun did so weill appeir Whill Joue him self did fauour still their lot Wherfore they wiselie did them selfs reteir As cannons fird gois bak that earthe may wonder When they aduance their all distroying thonder So these inflamd with fire of hot disdaine Reteird with greif with hate with lose with ire That with the greater force they might againe Aduance their lightning wraths-consuming fire And then a thundring tempests wold they raine Crushd from the suelling clouds of their desire Which to the King and all should weill declair That barren treis could now both bude and bare Now passed was eche troup eche squadron strong When to the camp their Prince his course furth bent And all his Princes go with him along To hold a counsall in the royall Tent Meane while the Douglas all his foes among Walkt for to kno their number pour intent At Beruick fair he had arriu'd vn-sein For their this mightie host did all conuein The Argument The English armie furth before their King To mâ—â—ster comes and all their foraeigne aid Doug as returnd recounteth eurie thing Ditchis t'intrap his foes greate Bruce hath made Randolphs rare fight fair conquest first doth bring Bruce Beumont kills the English dooth vpbraid The Scots with tants two Brabanders defend theme For which the King vnto the Scots doth send theme Caput 16. STrong Beruiks toun on Scotlands fronteir stands Their wheir with siluer streams the Riuer Tueid Diuyds oure kingdome from the English lands And wasts his waust ' enritch the Ocean flood Heir broght the Monarch all his warlick bands At whoe 's great name all Europe trembling stood And eurie Lord and eurte Prince and King Some gold sume gifts and all greate aid did bring This mightie Prince his poure assembling sought To kill the Scots or send them all in rout O're whome he streachd his Empyre with a thought Nor for to work the thing had anie dout Douglas his way eu'ne at that hour him broght When this hudge armie Bervicks walls about Incamped lay and when to sie eche crue The regall throne reard on the walls they view Him self in glorie sat vpon the throne A diadeleime vpon his head he wore A paill aboue of glistring gold cloth shone He trod on carpets ritche in pratious store Poudred with stones the robs which he had on And streight in ranks repeared him before His armed guard thus set each troup he knoes Whilst on the plaine there Martiall glorie floes Their Squadrons first the cheirfull English shoes In thrie Battallions eche a seu'rall guide By Seuerns streams from waills and Cornvaill rose Some threttie thousand stronge that did prouide Armd with their piks swords targets to oppose Their thretning force against their foe defide By Monmouths hardie erlle this host was led He raignd he reulled in his Princes sted And fiftie thousand horsmen soldiors good From Trent that pairteth England Iust in two To Thams and thence vnto he British flood These rose in glistring arms a warlick sho Like Mars him self eche breathed warr and blood Whoe 's sight wold vanquhish eune the boldest foe Led by two Princes of heighe fameleis Greate Arrandell old Oxfoord graue and wise To Humbers tumbling waus from siluer Trent And thence to pleasant Tueids cleir christall streams Came fiftie thousand Arches with Intent To die or win in midst of most extreams All these were of approued hâ—rdiment These Englands most triumphant conquests cleams As theirs and this greate host commanded be By Glocester the bold and Hartfoord slie From threttein regions fertill fair and good Of Scotlands Kingdome which did yet obey To Englands King and held in seruitude By his all conquering force vntill that day Came fiue and tuentie thousand warriors tude All Horsmen braue and bold for eche essay Sir Ingrhame Omphrauell led these along A subtill warriour craftie wise and strong Nixt vnto them came fiftie thousand more Grose men of shaip weill limd both strong and tall They croc'd the seas from Irelands craggie shore But slightlie armd sum weirs no arms at all Their cheifest strengths ar woods and montans hore The English deput was their generall And vnder him Fits geralds cheif kil-deir With greate Oneill and Desmont reull did beir Then came his subiects and confed'rats greate Whoe 's limits stretche along the Baltik cost And these ritche cuntreis Charls the fift did quite To his deir sone but soone that reull was lost By Spanish tirrany which heigh dispite All Europe since her deirrest blood hath cost And warr that els wheir doth distroy and waist Their both cluilitie and wealth hath plaic'd Allong the foote of Piriane montans faire A ritche and fertill region doth remaine Famous by that greate Bartell lost of aire Against the Infidells by Charle maine His famous Nephew Rolland lost
Their Sotish heads cut from their trunks I sweaâ— Gainst eurie head a hundreth punds to set And think the dead good seruice to oure state Then wheir the Scotts encamped were they go A guard of horsmen did them their conuoy When greate and worthie Bruce their cause did knâ— He did receaue them with exceiding Ioy And when the battell endit was did sho Suche bountie high as ritche without annoy To Antuerp they returnd and bulded theiâ— In honor of the Scoots a Mansion fair Each Armie now for battel sterne prouids Each on their Lord and maker loudlie call Long time the Scotts in zealous pray'r abids Before the Lord in humble wise they fall That Faâ—th that Trueth that Right and Justice gidâ— In whicâ— they pray him to protect them all Whill heauins gold spangled Cannobe was spred And silent Morpheus broght them to their bed The Argument Both Armeis Ioyne in long and doubtfull fight And threttie thousand in the ditches die King Edwards deids encurage eurie knight And Scotts for to preuent their victorie Is forâ—d to Ioyne with them in Singill fight When th' Argentine greate Bruce hath kiâ—d they flie Their King abids and wold the flight restore But seis new aid and fless his foes before Caput 17. WHen bright Hiperionâ—s goldine carr arose Both armes soone were cled in glistring armes Whoe 's golden splendor gainst the Sune furth shoes Earthes lightning hote the Aers cold region warmes First eche braue Scot to diuine seruice goes No trumpets blast was heard nor drumes allarmes The sacrament they take to heaune vpfleis Eche humbled hearts best pleasing sacrafice The English squadrons marchd vnto the plaines And all the land with arms doth ouerflo A iust half moone their battells forme containes Sharp to eche point brod to the mids they gro In battells fiue their mightie Host remaines Two on the right and on the left hand two Of their greate King that in his battel large A hunderth thousand horsmen led to charge Greate Arrandell nixt him on his right hand The chairge ouâ—r fiftie thousand Archers bore Those English wer all come from English-land No brauer warriors could the earth restore Nixt vnto him did valiant Hairtfoord stand On horse and futt that led as many more From Scotland England France and Ireland broght With Sheilds with Launces Piks Swords they foght Nixt on the left hand valiaunt Oxfoord stood That fiftie thousand footmen broght to fight All these did seim approued Souldiors good With dairts sword Piks and vther Ingins wight And Glochester nixt him that thrists for blood Had in his battell many warlick knight Like to the vther wing his wing was pleac'd With arms and curage both alik ar greac'd In the greate battel with the King abod Henolts greate Erle and many Princes mo On his right hand that warlick campioun rode Whoe 's fame so much our all the world did go Of Argentine sir Giles that gaind abrod So many conquests our the pagane foe Greate Pembrokâ— Erle on his left band did stay His saiftie onlie in their valors lay And then greate Bruce came to the plane at last And this new moone thus for to perse essayis First brod behind his battells forme was cast Then stretched furth to a point Pirameid wayis Seuin thousand warriours in the vantgard past With the feirce knight in warr more bold then wvisâ— Whome Scotlands Stewart seconds in command His feirce and firie nature to withstand Manie braue knights vnto this battell drew Bold warlick ferce and men of worthie fame And then the second battell did ensew Morais stout Erle them led whoe 's famous name Shall neuer die and many weâ—lick crew With him whoe 's hearts did fleit in valors streame Their number like the first and these did be are Spears Piks and Suords and all Ingins of warr The conquering knight the third Batallione broght Seauin thousand also did this host containe Scoâ—lands greate Constabill vnto him soght Braue Hay and these that did with him remaine The Boid and vther Lords still worthie thoght But last of all did marche vnto the plaine The greatest battell which the King commands Wheir fourtein thousand armed warreors stands Many of all the noble men ware their And all these hosts on fut did march to fight To eurie battell did the King repair Whoe 's quik cleir eies send furth a cheirfull light His vâ—sard vp he mildlie doth declair The price of conquest punishment of flight And with a countenance which wold haue made Euen cowardis hardie thus into them said My friends quod he behold this glorious day Wheirin the heauins to croune ouâ—e Ioys hath sworne Let none of yow their multituds effray Gainst God and querrells Iust force seims forlorne In Scotland fiftie thousand yet doth stay Meit for the warre whome we haue all forborne And yow we chuisd whoe 's hearts could neuer fail-yow Nor could base fear of death at all assaill yow The worst of yow his Gentreis will declair And of his reputatioun still will bost A Gentleman may with a Lord compair But what is he if honor once be lost And heir on honor waiteth ritches fair These two that all the world so much do cost Which if yow wish do now but cair for fame He neuer deis that winns a famous name What is that armie whiâ—h yow now behold But eune a new raisd Babell of confusioun The Soldeors mistak their captans bold To colonels reull the captans mak intrusioun Thus eurie one by vther is controld And Iarring foundeth forth a ghostlie vifioun All kind of beasts wold in one heard confound Their reullers witt with their confused sound Besids they came oure natioun to distroy And from the earth to roote and rais oure name Look not by flight your life for to enioy But rather thousand torments most extreame Your Maids and Wyfs to death they shall convoy When in your sight they raueishd ar with shame Yee all must die and they inioy as theirs What yow haue buld or planted for your heyrs Then if yow wold preuent their crueltie And endles praise and endles wealth obtaine Let eurie one of yow mak one to die So one triumphand conquest shall we gaine As for ten thousand which among yow be We know such valor doth in them remaine Eche shall kill two and whoe of yow be is lost We sweare his Airs their wairds shall nothing cost Yea what I seik yow may performe at will For what at they a Chaos heap confuisde Naâ—ked or slightlie armd and wanting skill To till the ground and keip their flocks more vsd How can their King preuent their following Ill When feare and Ignorance hath teull abusde In danger who wants skill hath curage lost One coward disconforts a mightie host The English King his armie in array Thus by him self and by his Trinshmen spak If I were not so weill assuirde too day Of victorie and of these Dastards wrak An
fredome in a bloodie feild Those machles champions throw the forest goâ— At last allight then themselues adrest Til cheirful daies bright goldeÌ„ lamp should within a arbour faier to take their rest shone But as ambitious minds ar neuer alone Til they haue honour glorie Fame possest So they no rest at all cold here attain Such high confusion in their brests remaine At last the Douglas thus began braue Prince And my most gratious Souerainge quod he Long may thou liue in Natures excelence Iou's loue Fates fauour fortunes constancie Thy worth exalted by heauens influence And thy braue selfe long haue I wsht to sie God graunt thy shining sonne with golden Raies Our darkest nights may chaunge to brightest daies Let not my bold presumtion thee offend If I require to know the woefull birth Of sorrows which thy countenance forth send For loe swift Fame did sound thy praise thy worth In Fraunce while carelesse I on court attend Which cleers my clouds of care with lamps of mirth And did my sad vnsetled Thoughts destroy Thy sweit report so fild my Eares with Ioy Then I returnd in hope of blest reliefe Which I foresawe thy worth would soone afford And thou eu'ne thou would ease thy contreis griefe Whose glorie great must be by the restord Senc to Reuenge our blood woe wrake mischiefe By lustest Heauens thou onely art implord Doe then braue Prince what heauen for thee ordains Thy Knight I am in warre peace Ioy or pains The gallant Bruce sat long tyme much amazd Loth to vnfould his straunge misfortunes rare In wrath he star'd he lookt about he gaz'd He sigh'd he grond as One Into Dispair His rolling Eies at last from Earth he Ras'ed And Cleird with heavenlie smylls the clowds of cair Whill as the Douglas long did him behold This sadd and wofull Tragedie he told Sad may if seeme and sorrowfull to Thee Thois wofull news Thou do's Requeir ' to heare but much more cair and greif it breids to Mee Who must not onely heare and lend my eare But must relate euen what my eies did siee Yea what myselfe did act yet I 'le forbeare Those fond complaints and make a true narration What most offends me and afflicts my Nation And to vnfould this tragick storie soe To know the motiue first it doth requier And eu'rie truest circumstance to sho Whereof is much that will delight the eare Than to th'intentall may mor cleerly know The ground of this so firce crwel warr Our various speach let vs devert and view The dreidfull horreid horrors that ensew Thrie Alexanders thrise waere Scotlands King The first for valiaunt deids surnam'd the fierce Was Malcolm Canmoirs sone the second Rings Was after good king Will'iame did deceas Who is braue vndanted Deids made fame to sing The Lion-king as histories Rehers The thrid that did Oure Crown and scepter wear Henre the third of Englands dogther fair In mariage took which haple he devynd Should then conclud A full and finall Peace That both these Antient kingdoms thus Combind Those great and Mightie Nations might Imbrace A Freindlie League and Concordance in mind An happie Time to thair Ensewing race By ending all the warrs the broyls the steir's That had remain'd full thryse five hindreth Èeirs But heavens decreed it should not so Remaine For the appointed Time was not foretolde Mans subtill plots and wits ar all in vaine In vaine their wais in vaine this work they wold In vaine they go about for to obtaine What Ioue as secret to himself did hold In uaine was al these fond deuises thought Since heaujn decred that al shold turne to noght For lo betwixt burnt Illion and Kingorne King Alexander di'd by fall of horse When thirtiefoure yeres of his Raigne was worne He no succesion had and which was wors Blood-thristie-warr by wings of veng'ance borne Did tear Our kingdom's bouwells but Remors Waikining by oft Diminishings at Lenght The vains the Nerv's the sinne vs of oure strenght Six yeares the land gouerned was in Peace By Regents fix at laste some broiles arose Whereby soe straunge gouernament did cease Such bloodie factions did themselues oppose Who from that boundage wold the land release And of annot her King wold make a chose For wel they knew what trains they shold imbark To set this headstrong Nations once awarke A councel then of all they call to choose The neerest of the Roiall bloode for king The Baliol there his right did wel peruse From the first female his descent to spring And from the first borne Male I not refuse My lineall and iust descent to bring Thus plead wee both nor can we once accord No peace our haughtie stomaks cold afford And thus our hate grew greater daie by daie Both thirsting for a Princely Diadem Nor cold the meanest thought of wise delaie Preâ—ons our wo our wrack our countreis shame On 〈◊〉 on wracke on ruine and decaie Ambition can not looke nor thinke nor dreame But for the Croun while wee 're a spyring thus Wee robd of what shold make it Glorious For with vs two two mightie armies rose To winn the Croun or lose our selfe and all Scotlands great Primat did himselfe oppose Betwixt vs then a treat of peace to call Who did so much at last wee made a choise Thus to accord and to agrement fall To iudge our right by Englands mighty King Who shold decerne which of vs both shold reigne Wherefore in haste to Englands King wee send Requesting him to take the cause in hand Who then prepard his conquest to defend In fertill Fraunce with many warlike band And their his large Dominions to extend By force of armes and by his valiant hand Yet for to put our Kingdom to a rest He turnd and bake to Yorke himselfe adrest Of learned men he twentifour there brought Whose graue aduise in this great worke he vs'd But lo my proud competeitor bethought Him thus If I and my iust right were chusd Than were he all vndon and threfore soght By some lewd meane to get mee quite refusd At last resolu'd to buie a Diadem With fowle dishonour and eternall shame Wherfore he dealt in secret with the King If him he wold preferre the Croune to weare By charter Seale by Oth and eu'ry thing He bound himselfe of him the Croune to beare And for the same his homage to resigne To whose base minde at first he gaue noe Eare The most part of the Lawiers parted thence All iudging me iust heire and Righteous Prince But counsell caused this mightie King to err Counsell of these that by dissention liue Still vrging him the Bailiol to prefert That for his guerdon would a Kindom giue But he that knew my right farr worthier Euen from my foes proud offer did deriue His argument and vnto me presentes The Croune if I fullfild the same contents Which offer base I plainely did refuse Wherefore King Edward in his wrathful Ire With Baliol decreits and did
abuse My right enstalling him whose blind desire Led him for honor Infamie to choose And for a crovne to slave a free Empire For loe in him two contraries agree Base Avarice and Prodigalitie Thus he returnd with pomp and Majesty Whom all the Lords and Princes of Estate Conuaied to Skoene with royall dignity Where stood the Auncient Marble cheir of late There was he cround with Kingly Roialty In Robs whose worth were longsum to repeat Imbroadred al with stons with pearle with gold Gorgious to weare and glorious to behold But litle knew the Princes of the Land That he to Englands King shold homage paie The croune that sixtien hundreth yeers did stand Gainst endles warr and cruel Armes Essay Nor Romans Danes nor Saxons cold command Vnconquer'd still nor conquer'd wold obaie Was now betraied by him whose haples name Became his countreis skorne and Kingdoms shame But when report had showne the haples losse The commons gan to murmur here ther Against the Nobles vowing that their choise Shold be with armes their freedom to repaiere And all the Princes of Estate by those Were schandalizd with shame reproch feare Thus ciuill descord broght a fearful fall On King on countrey Kingdom croune and all For now the king in heigh contempt was brought With all the Lords and Princes of Estate The Lords in hait and great disgrace were thought With all the commoun Multitude of Late When al with wit and valor should have wrought Thus Raise a fearfull straunge and new debaite That hardest A damantine hearts wold move But for Their sin so heavens decree'd aboue Of these ensewing sorrows now the King For seis forthinks and Meditats and Moins A Thousand greifs did in his bosome spring Assailing all his wofull heart at ons One day he wold be secret furth to bring The wofull birth of tears of sighs and grons Throune on his bed with Rageing Discontents At laâ—t he thus burst furth in heighe complaints Ah haples wretch Curst be the Fatall hour Wherein I did Obtaine a Diadem By false conceat by strong entysing Pow'r Not cairing for Disgrace for loss for shame While auarice and ambition did deuour Treuth Knowledge witt discretion praise and fame Ah Auarice inchaunter of the wise The blind devouror of faire honours prize O bloodie starres why did you thus agree To make a bad conjunction at my birth Why did you al power doune mischiefe from hie To make vyle me the abject of the earth What shall al times and ages saie of me To buie a croune that sold a Kingdoms woorth The reuenews I sold to buie the Name Exchaunging honour for eternall shame What woe or griefe but time can make it old Yet Infamie time neuer can svppresse The meaner sort their faults will pas vntold But faults of Kings by Fame doe stil increase Such spotts are in my leaprous sowle enrold As still accuse me of my guiltines And while my wronged people me doe vewe Me thinks their eies to death doe me persue In midst of this his sorowful complaint His eies grew heauie dround with floods of tears His tongue his throt no more their found forth-sent Thus slummerd he full fraght with greifes fears At last this fearfull vision did present A dreadful founding noice that pearst his eares Hee thought he saw before him all at once Were nintie Kings and two on golden Throns Each bore a close rich couerd glorious Croune In forme like an Emperiall Diadem With ribs of gold o'rthwart aboue doune All round about each bowing like a beame In the fore front were made of Iacinths broune Faire letters shewing eurie Prince his Name Beneath their feet an iron throne was made Whereon of lead au Open croune was laid He thought they set him on the iron Throne And cround him with that leaden croune in scorne Whereon was written this Inscription This non but bastard Baliol hath borne Then saied the firste and grauest all alone Whose aged haires had many yeares outworne Thou wreched catiue most accurst of all Thy place is great but greater farre thy fall This Diadem Pointing his Ow'ne by Me Erected was with honor strength and Might And from my Aged loyns discendit be By Iust discent thes Nyntye two in sight Eche bure this Crowne with Royall dignitie Adding as much by Conquiest to ther Right Defending It gainst Romains saxons Dains For witnes famous victories Remains But vn-compeld vn sought or on requierd By words by warr by Conquest or by gane Thou Randert vp what we aloft had Reard And what we keipt with travell cair and Pane The thretning trompet that all Nati'ons feard Which worlds of Armeis newer could obtaine Yet this thou could not do without consent Of all the Thrie Estates of Parl'ament But for thy fault thy shame thy losse thy wrong This iust and heauie Iudgment shall correct thee The Kingdom shal be reft from thee e're long And thy owne subjects shamefully rejecte thee In blinded darknes woes shal be thy song For want of daie yet no man shall affect thee And to all ages thy Infamous name Shal be a prouerbe of eternal shame For lo Thou shall be cal'd in littill space Thy countreis ruine and thy Nations wo Much harmles Blood shall pay for thy disgrace Theas yet onborne thy Doome shall feill and kno A mightie Nation shall thy land Deface Beneth whois havie yok She grons but lo She Viper-like brings furth vn nat'rall Brood That most shall waist her wond her drink her Blood At last her tears her Cry's her sad Complaint Shal Pearce the heavins and Iove to Mercie move Who pitis sinners when they first repent And looking Meeklie dounward from above Shall Raise Them vp that shall her wrak prevent Whose manlie Valors shall her woes Remoue And bring to end the warr Thou wroght with shame But neu'r an end to Thy Infamous Name Therfor this leaden croune base worthles poore Thou hast as one vnworthy to put on The croune which I the famous Fergus boore And al these warrlike Princes One by one And while this mightie Nation shal indure Hauing a Prince to sitt vpon my Throne Thou of a Princes name shalt be refus'd Because my croune vn-conqu'erd thou abu'sd At these last woords he wak'd with sodain fear But nothing saw while in his braine was tost These woful warnings buzing in his eare That threatn'd was by great King Fergus ghost Which burthen great his soule could skarsly beare Till moueing fieling speach and all was lost His vitall powers hernd in with thousand cares At last burst forth in these or like dispaires O Sad and wearied Soull quod he depairt And leaue the lothed Lodge thou doest posse Stop vp my breath within my lothed heart My life make les if shame may not be les Hev'ne from aboue thy vengence at me Daiert Heel from below thy Torment still Incres Devouring Earth my damned bodie smoother Heav'ne Earth and hell destroy mee altogither Thus
swallow'd vp of mankind most abhord If any should Inquire for worthles Mee Say that some Rav'ning monster me Devoir'd And let my Name O? fame forgotten be Let al my day's t'obliu'on be Restoir'd Lest thou O tyme theirwith dishonor thee Thus Rol'd in clouds of smook let it be said That such a One was neu'r fram'd nor made Thus while he lay half dead for greif and wo A herauld came from Englands mightie king And straitle charg'd him haistelie to go To york and all his princes their to bring And homage dew for Scotlands kingdome sho Which brought the Nobill's secret murmuring To light at last and thus they work with all To mak him sie his Error shame and fall Saltons great Lord that Abirnethie hicht he had vniustle wrong'd A huinows thing Wherfore from him in all his Princes sight He did Apeall vnto the English king This heigh disgrace he took in great dispight For in Contempt with all it did him bring At last he casts about to right the wrongs That to his Endles Infamie belong's A message to the English King he send For to discharge that base infamous Band Since he without consent could not pretend Thus for to Slave a frie-vn-conquerd land But too too late Repentance Coms in End Thus shallow with deip Iudgment doth with stand So children vse for to repent their Error When nocht Remains but Punishment and Terror The mighty English rise in dreadfull arms Still threatning Blood wrake ruin vengeance sorrow Performing still their vow 's with griefs harms That from their firie wraths new woes did borrow Faire Fortune towks their Droms with lowd allarm 's And waits on bloodie Mars from day to morrow Whose dreadfull Trumpet blow's a deadly blast And rowls our daie in doulful night at last First Barwick tane was by a subtil traine Wherein seau'n thousand men of Arms were lost Woemen and children pitiles were slaine None left aliue of Scotish blood cold boast Now at Dunbar foure Princes did remaine That had conueind of Scots a mightie hoste But hâ—te of Baliol such dissention brings In his dispight they loue their foes design 's Which caus'd a straunge vn-lookt-for long decay For English Edward Marcheing ther in haist Encountred them Impatient of Delay Amongst them selfs in wofull factions plast Now Edward Causd mee in his camp to stay For to my loue were most of them addrest So when the armys ioyning did abyd Twelf thowsand turnd vpon the English syd This was full sore against my will God knows Nor was I euer privie to this treasson My Deids on Edwards side was but in shows Nor could I disobey him in that Season On no les paine then huntington to lose But ah these foolish Scots had no such Reason Whoe by their new discord struk blind with wrath Wold mak mee cloake vnto their brokin faith For they vnworthie of the Scottish name Against their Cuntreis friedome Rudlie stand Onworthie also of their Elders fame That gainst them selfs dars lift thair conquering hand When foraigne force could not their stomaks tame Them selfs against them selfs opposd they fand The Sone the father father kills the sone Eache kills his frend and help 's his foe to winne Such thinges were wrought by heaunes feirce destanye Becaus the land with sinne did overflow Evne as a statelie ship with sails on hie If iustlie poysd with ballance feares no blow Of windes but if o're chargd with weight she be Her speed is staiy'd impaird her glorious show Then angrie Neptunes foemeing surges beat-her And with decay the thundring tempests threat her Ev'ne so whill as in Scotland did remaine The sword of iustice feare of god aboue The loue of vertue hate of vice profane And whill the sptituall state the treuth did loue We saild in seas of peace and did obtaine Wealth honor all which landes most blisd do prove But once borne downe with pride lust blindnes error Our calmes of peace heavnes tempests shook with terror For mightie God that sittes vpon the throne Of iustice grace and mercie from that hight Did vew our sinnes in burning rage anone His countenance with fyrie flammes grew bright That heavnes did quaek for feare and Angells mone For men poore men at that astonieing sight Dayes glorious lamp nightes Queene heavens tapers stay'd Wrapt vp in clowdes at his dread lookes affray'd Within his wattrie pallace Neptun quaekes The roating streames were quyet whist and still His azurd crowne from crisped lookes he taekes His monsters all the lower Regions fill His forked scepter then for fear he breakes And to obey his lord and makers wil He myldlie fals before his mercies throne Whoe 's glorie made the heavnes with lightnings shone The solid earth did quak with trembling feare And downward seemd to change her wonted rowme Such grevous weyght and burdene did she beare Of hynous sinne whose punishement to come She did forsee as when throw subtel aer Dame Thetis foull with Alabastre Downe Fleis downe with wofull plaintes and mutufull cryes Before a dreadfull tempest doeth aryse The hellishe feindes that scatterd were abroad Through all the earth and for mischeif still soght Reann headlonges downe vnto their greislie god And was through these infernall kingdomes brought Where Proserpin with Pluto grimme abode Whoe 's rustie scepters were of yron wrought On thrones they sate bout which ferce feinds did rore Two heavie crownes of burning brase they bore Prodigious signes and wounders then were seene Which did presage what after might befall From the cold North did in our climat shyne A bright and blazing Comet and with all Reid showres of blood in sundrie had beene The last the latest warning of our fall Yet dreadfull signes and fearfull wonders sent Sinne made not lesse but iudgement did augment The Argument GReif haueing som what interrupt the Prince He showes at last his caus of discontent And followes furth with eurie tragick chance Wheir with proud Fortun erst did him present The wittie Count conforteth him and thence Desires him goe where Fergus ghost him sent Wheron they both conclude and with a dreame Sleep drownes discours at last in silence streame Cap. 3. O Subiect sad o sad vnsolid Muse In Cypres wreathd in murning blak attyre Blott confort out and in your layes refuse All mirth yea in your wofull task desyre Sad tragick tuns the which while you peruse In Nightes dark Inn's her dreadfull cave retite Tears serve for ink and if you ayme at mirth O sighes let all be smotherd in their brith But wailing Muse Ay mee why do you sho To outward view the onlie staine of Time Why in rememb'raunce of such horredwo Do you not weip to wash your wofull Rime O thry's Infamous Tims Inglorious O That this their shame had ended with their Cryme But hev'n and Time fate Fortun chance and all Had with Them selfs decreed them selfs to fall Where was the Conquering Arm 's the valiaunt heart's Where was wonted Loyltie now gone When for their faith their
valor their deserts Oure Elders mounted vp to honors Throne When Rudelie They Opposd their Arm 's and Arts In Belgia fair against this foe alone Such prais they wan beneth those temp'red Clim's As maks them famous to Eternall Tim's Indeed such praise and Glorie great they wan As these whoe 's grevous wrong's they cam to right Ingratelie and Vnnat'rallie began T'Invy thair greatnes and to feare their might How soone their Suord freed them of fo's eu'ne then Of them they make a Massacre by night And as a sad Remembr'aunce of this Acti'on Scots onlie gwards their king for satisfaction O had you foght your contreies honor still As those for honor from theier contrey came Your golden praise had gilt my rusty quill And with perfumes had fir'd my sacred flames But now my wofull song kinde Eies may fiil With teates and harts with sorrow for the same For had the Scots trew to themselues rem aind Long-shanks had not soe great a glory gain'd But O why am I thus with passion led For pardon curteous Reader must I sue Earths brauest Prince wee left within a shade Who hauing made a period did renew His woefull historie and thus he saied Now doth our endles tragedie ensue The Scots wee left still fighting at Dunbarr Them-selues against themselues O curel warr The rest of wofull Scoots that did remaine Perceauing this new losse and sodaine chaunge They fainted yet they fought for to obtaine That honour which their fellows did infringe Each one thus by his second selfe was slaine While as the English smils at such reuenge And thus whem nought but death to Scots ensue They yeald to Fortune not to Valor trew Now onlie English Edward was Renownd all yeelds to him and to his fortuns Rare He with our Auntient Diadem was Crown'd To him the Princes of the land Repaire Whill Baleoll in seas of sorrows Drownd By english Scots was broght in blak dispair Before great Edward when he did deny All title Right and soveraguitie Thus Edward made a conquest of oure crowne And homage did Requyre of all the lande Which sundrie Lords and Princes of Renowne Refus'd nor wold they yeeld to his demand And while the wrathfull heavins lookt mildlie dous They for a space wold flie his vengfull hand Wheirfore two hundreth yeowths he with him leâ— These were the first borne son'â— of those that fled Th'Imperiale Treassour hence he did convoy With all the Iewells of oure Diadem Oure antient monuement's he did distroy And from all time to blot the Scottish name He burnt with fyit what ere we did enjoy Wreits Books and works and to augment our shame The marbill chear oure oldest Monument He reft away wheiron these lyns were pent Ni fallat fatum Scoti quacunque Locatum Invenient lapidem Regnare tenentur Ibidem If fatall desâ—eines be trew the scots shall find this stone And wheirsoew'r They find the same their they shall Regne allow King Edward thus of all our welth possest And all wheir to we did good Right pretend To curâ—e toun a garesone addrest And to each Strength his captains did he send And english lords did in the land invest Of those that to his Scepter wold not bend Thus long we leu'd in care in wo and sorrow that alway did augment from day to morrow In this tyme lew'd a worthie valiant knight Most fortun at who Wallas heght to name Wallas by wit by valor fate and might Who Scotland thrise from Bondage did Recleame His coadherent in that cause of right Was that braue Mare of men the val'aunt grhamâ— Both fortunat and famous both wheirby Tho dead They Liue to all Eternitye Scotland the fourth tyme was in thraldome broght After good Wallas had relev'd it thrice When him betrayde by that accursed thought Of fals Monteith the English did surprise Eu'ne curst manteith by heauin's for vengence wroght By fortun fate and cruell Desteneis His Nations shame lyns blot and Cuntreis scorn By furies broght from hell or he was borne Whoe 's lawles act whoeis leud and haetfull name Polluts my virgin vn-polluted ryms Yet theese so calld As faultles I reclaime Thoght I vnfold his neu'r concealed cryms Let them not greive at me nor at his shame If they leiue spotles to Eternall tims I blame the Man but not the lyne discendit The deide but not the name is reprehendit Poore Scotland thus in all calametie While Bondage like ane Earth-quaik Rents the state Assunder quyte and still oure Infamie Incressing by the Means of priuat hate Oure selfs amongst oure selfs divided be Which maks this vncouth straunge and new debait Comfussion thus cast doun from heavins above Doth still Increase and can not yet remove Much I lamented this my cuntries wo And oft desird to remedie the same Till fortun heau'ns and fate at last did sho A meane to blaze abroad my secret flame To mak the variows wondring world to kno My great desire my Countreis will to frame Yet fortuns frowns on mydesigne sattendid And hevi'ne was with my rash attempts offendâ—â— The cumin euer Infamous for that crime Of mee a secret Parle did require And thus he said now fortun fits the Time whâ—irin thy right may to the crowne aspyr The variws myn lâ— beneth this variws clime Do now more stedfastlie them selfs Retire Wissing their curst allegaince now were broke Yet groane they still beneth the English yoke What glorie great the warrlike Scots haue woon From age to age all time can witnesse beare Scots onely keeps a free vnconquer'd croune Scots onely gaue the mighty Romans warre At whom beg'd peace the Romans of renoune Was 't not the valiant Corbred they did feare Who but the Scots the valiant Pichts subdu'd And warrlike Danes whose force seau'n times reneud But we eu'ne wee degenerat and bare Doe challenge yet from them our blood our being Tho prostitute to infamie and care Our selues eu'ne with our selues still disagreeing For courage feare for worth wit dispaire To vice inclining still from vertue flying Thus haue wee made our selues a woful praie Vnto our Foe ne're siene before this day Where is becom our Elders vallerous harts Their deeds their virtue and their conquering sword Their dignities their office place parts Their victories with Monuments decoird Their auntient Armes woone by their braue deserts Can these noe good noe strength noe wit afford No no I sie wee faint wee feare wee fall From honour Greatnes Libertie and all Yet that we may at their desertes but aime As those who shold inherit them by right Rise thou in Armes thy right for to reclaime My selfe my power my strength and all my might Shall follow thee my race and all my name Shall with Victorious Armes maintane the fight Giue me thy lande but when the Crown is thine Or for thy right therof Receaue thou mine Soone to these sugred words I did accord And then betuixt vs two a band was made That when I to the Crowne
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
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
to vew What they by valor wroght doth nixt enseu The Argument The warlick Douglase on his iournay goas Wheir his most loued Lord did him command He finds a deing knight that sadlie shoes A tale most Pitifull to vnderstand Which dooth a wofull Iniurie disclose Wheir of he vous reuenge and in that land He knou's a knight who is counsall doth obtane Douglase cheif strength the English bands ar slaue Caput 7. FAir fortuns knight that erst had tane in had The cuntrie al about to vieu and sie And all the fois designs to vnderstand whē titanes spous with purple wings forth flie The golden barrs heaunis siluer gates vpbà d She straight vndois when with dreid majestie On silver pauid heauins her Lord of light Rolls forth his golden whils and chareot bright The weestern lands in clouds of night enrold From shaddow is dark of death he doth releas When as the earle so strong so stout so bold Brings foorth his troup weill armd and thence a pais He marcht ou'r daells hills vaills and forrests old And paissaige frie he finds in eue rie place For being oft encountred by his foes Fair victoorie still foreward with him gois This conquering Lord thrie dayis surth Iournay't right When in a wod hard by a riuer side They sadlie hearea wofull groning knight Forth throu the grous to him in haist thy ride Who deidlie woundit lay a wofull sight His gorie blood the flourie verdir dyit The erle with pitie sadlie him desoght What murtherers that cruell act had wroght He weaklie leans his head vpone his hand Wan was his face paile death haith dim'd his sight An holow sound his deing voice yet fand These words he braethed faintlie as he might Ah shall the conquerd conquerours with stand When eu'ne them selfs against them selfs still fight Ah heauins thy wrath procur'd doth nou discend Ah Scotts your name fame glorie nou must end In Douglas duelt I kennedie I hight My wife a ladie was allace too fair To fair allace my sorrous doth indight Her too chaste mind was frought with virtues rai◠In her was all my ioy all my delight With her remaind my heart my thought my cair Yea she me also lou'd as much and more She me esteimd all earthlie ioys before A hundreth soldiers and a captane bold In Douglas strongest castell doth remane These hath the land in all mischeiff inrold Which nou by wrong to clifford doth pertane By wrong vsurping Edwards gift and gold whill the right heyre deferrs his right to gane And all the land obeys this captains will Ether in right or wrong in good or Iil One day hee chancd my ladie for to vew Whill she one diuine seruice did attend Whill as enamord straight of her he greu Whom not enioy't death wold affectioun end Freindship hevrg't on me thus did enseu Tuixt mee and him greate loue but still he faign'd For all his freindship was for to desceaue me And of my cheifest ioy for to bereaue me Such freindlie loue he seim'd to me to bear Confermd with words with vous with oaths not feu That my too trustie mind could noway fear From such fair sugrad words decept t'inseu But lo he whisperd in my ladeis ear That I to her did bear a mind vntrew By this one Slight to winn his soot he tryit When by all vther means he was denyit No head to this fond taill at first she took At last he vrg'd so far he taks on hand She should it sie her eie theiron should look Prouiding that she wold but cloisllie stand And nothing wold beuray to his rebook Wheit to she yeilds at last which erst I fand Then foorth into a Groue he did her bring Our which a mightie clisted rock did hing Neir to my house this quiet walk dothly By which a cleir swist runing riuer glyds A Sister hath my ladie neir hand by That with her sire a graue old knight abide For her the captane seimd in loue to dy When Pensiue oftentims allone he rids He hants my house and yet no Ill I deim'd His virteus worth I still so much esteim'd Whill oft he pensiue seimd and sad with greif I much desird the caus thereof to kno Oft wishd I to his woi's to find releif When after greate and much Intreatie lo He so disgueis'd his thoghts that to be breif He made me to beleiue his ceasles wo Proceids from ladie Anns fair beauteis beame For so my ladeis sister heght to name I pitied him and glad of this his loue Promeisd his sute should cunninglie be wrought For which in sacreit I her mind wold proue This he allous for this was all he soght But praied I to my wife sould nothing moue Nor she nor any els shuld know his thoght But trist her to that secret Groue I should And their allone to moue her if I could When night driu's day doun from the westerne lands Eu ' ne then he brings my ladie foorth to vieu Wheir I and her fair sister cloislie stands Within a Groue of bussis thik that greu My Aarms Imbrac't I gript and wrong her hands And of these words I softlie did reneu Thow then most worthie fear not lou's annoy Be secreit still and thou shall all enioy This hard my ladie like to burst for greif Tortred with burning love and cold disdane Whilst I poore Soule knew noght of this mischeif Whiche to aquite my paines he doth ordane Yet to his loue this finds him no releif Her spotles name for this she wold not staine But closlie heapes her pane her greif her woe In her poore heart till it sould burst in two As dooth a neu fresse strong and mighte wyne Perse throw and burst his vessell ould a shunder So wold her sorrous split her heart in twyne So oft she wishd to fall her Burden vnder But hee that could not worke with this Ingine His lust to furie turn'd almost ô wonder Yet loth by force to work this cruell fate Lest hee were thoght of all the most ingrate Not that he cair'd for creder faith or fame But that he fear'd some fatall punishment Whill as his passion birneth so extreame As if it lested death wold all preuent For seiknes doth him quite from health reclame His vitall pour's a burning ague spent Wheirwith he seimd tormented so indeid As his disease all humane panes exceid Such greif for his diseas I did conceaue And such the loue was I to him did beare Of food of rest of sleip did me bereaue Nor can I half expres my louing feare One day I hapt of his diseas to craue The ground or caus wich long I could not heare Ah if your health were in my pou'r said I Or that my life with death your life might by Doe then to mee your Sorrous all declare That if I can both wold and should reliue you Hope helith woe wisdome our cums dispare And counsall can remeid all paines that greiue you By
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
famein forced at last They parle thus and thus their peace is past A yeir to keip the hold he them permits And if within that tyme greate Englands King Releius them noght but cairles them omits Then in his hands they shall the place resing Sir Philip Moubray their in reuling sitts He 's gone to England Succor thence to bring And now that mightie King prouids we heare By Gaine and gold to bring all Europe heir For he by proclamatioun great hath sworne Through eu'rie kingdome cuntrie toune and shire That Scotlands name by him shall be out worne He will distroy that nation in his Ire And all that comes of vther nations borne To keip that day shall haue what they desire And of this Kingdome greate without extorsioun Eche equall to his worth shall haue his portioun Greate multitude of straungers day by day Broght by these means in England doth ariue So that they think ritche England scarslie may Find store ynuch to keip them all alliue Besids those cuntreis greate that him obey In France all Princes his confedrats striue Whoe shall the best and greatest armeis raise 〈◊〉 willing seims all Europe him to please And thus in time your grace wold neids be ware To sue with guifts the angrie King to please Or giue you mind to try the chance of Warr Prouide in time your forces for to raise Wheir with the Kings eies brunt with wraeths teid staâ— Should we his Iyre with guifts quod he appease Why villane what base fear so timerous Ere till this day hath thow espy'd in vs Haue wee till now sustaind such endles pane And storms of Warrs sad tempests hath out worne Oure Kingdome croune and cuntrie to obtane And raisd oure self in spight of Englands scorne For braggs thus for to fold with shame agane When Fortune to oure foot the Ball hath borne No heauins forbid such clouds of fear and shame Sould so obscuir oure mornings rising beame What tho the pride of oure imperâ—ous foe With euer soll destruction doth vs bost Oure forces mene his multituds doth kno Yea tho a world of men augment his host Oure mite incresleth with his talent lo The widous oill when blisd tho leist was most He must be many still and still be glorious And feu we must be still and still victorious Let him bring furth his England Ireland Waills With Britange Gascon and fair Aquitane Poitew and Guian and all cuntreis els With Scotlands better pairt yet all in vane God vs protects gainst whoe 's strong aâ—me preuaillâ— No Earthlie pour in him oure hopes remane Trew Scotts we bring and brings this prais with all Gainst Scotts allone all Europs thought too small Thus spak the King whill all his Lords and peers Reioisd thereat and hoped in heauins reuenger Whill he not onlie fearles bold appeirs But also ware and wyislie weyis the danger He for each captain sends who sone compeirs Consulting all how to bear af the straunger The conquering knight came their whoe 's worthie acteâ— My tird quill mends and my dull Museawaiks How soone the King returned was from Lorne And progres took through eurie regione faire To vieu the land wheirto himself was borne As righteous King iust Prince and onlie heire Douglas that rest and ease did euer scorne Did bak vnto the south agane repair Wheir he the English oft did ouerthrou But Roxbrugh how he wan Iyll onlie shou And thus it was on fastingeuins dark night Thrie scoir he brings in armour pitchie blak All on their hands and feit doth creip out right No noyse no sound no word bewraid their tract The watch them seis but so as in their sight They seimd a heard of bews and this they spak This night good Rodger lets his heard at learg Whereof er long blak Douglas may tak chearg He smils to sie their sight disceaued so But hard below the wall arriv'd at last In goes the watch such thundring tempests blo Ledhous a Ledder made of Touis vp cast Whoe 's clerks of jâ—on soundeth with the thro Yet full of euraige he ascendâ—th fast This ingine he deuisd wherebe to gaine Him self sume glorie and his foe sume paine The Sentinell that hears the sound espyis Ledhous ascend and quiklie to him goes Who doth not only on the walls arise But kills him too then doun the carkas throes When all was mounted Douglas quiklie hyis Doun to the hall for to assaill his foes Who now amid their feastuall Ioyis var caght Sum play to death sum drink their leatest draght With lyf devoring swords the Scotts ariue That Douglas Douglas cryis whoe 's verey name So dreadfull seimd that few for wapins striue But flei to saue their lius not cairing shame Or day thrie hundreth they of life depriue The captane with the rest them selfs reclame In an strong tour but Douglas kept the feild Till famien forcd them all at last to Èeild And then braue Douglas they intreat for peace To whom anon they render vp the hold Them selfis their liwes and all vnto his grace Who was as wise and mild as feirce and bold Them of that bondaige streight he did relace And send them home with all their wealth their gold And then to Edinbruche his cours he bent Wher warlik Bruce for all his Lords hade sent Their Edward their greate Stewarde might he sie Trew Marr wise Lenox Hey and Randolph strong With manie more graue counsalours that be To their braue Prince who satt them all among All silence keipt he muisd with maiestie Whill one his throne he satt att last of wrong Acuisd his brother who with reuerend fear Too this his wise and solid words gaue ear Brother what haist what raschnes did you guide What folie causd you giue so long a day To Englands mightie king for to prouide His forces greate when weill you know he may Bring furth for eucrie one vpon our side A hundreth warlik knights in good aray How could yow think that we culd him gainstand Who yet most parte of Scotland doth command Yea thoght he wold no vther forces raise But onlie Scots for to releiue the hold Eu'ne these can ouermatche vs if he please Much more with Irish English Welshmen bold With Almans Frenshe and Dutchis by all these Whom in subiection he in France doth hold All these shall come and with a world of men Shall we be able to encounter then Surlie you had no foresight heir at all And to oure rising state you wronged much What we haue conquest yet is verie small Nor ar we siure of these the commouns such Inconstant minds do beare and so oure fall Is neir if one the brokin reid but tuche Better had bein we neu'r had soght with paine To clim so hie so soone to fall againe His brother answers heauins forbid that so Should fall what I haue done we can not mend Not neid we much to feare oure mightie foe Thoght he bring armeis from thâ— worlds end
he their Still famous made by Ariostos vene Furth of this land vpon their oune expence Ten thousand cam to aid the english prence That land that west from Tours doth stretche along To wasche his feit within the Ocean Sea Whoe 's Induellers take much delight among The Moorish fens to sie ther falcons flie And in their montans woods and forrests strong The Prince lie Game of hunting vsed be That pleasant land that Poictue hecht to name Send to this wart fiue thousand men of fame That land which Loir from Poictou doth divide From whence the Britons erst the Gaulls displac'd And changd the name from Armorick beside To Britangnie and all their laus defac'd Wheirin thrie sundrie languages abide And Masteius for sanct Molois Guard is plac'd From thence to aid their great auncestors old Come fifteen thousand warlick soldiors bold From that most frutfull orchard fair of france Which Rollo great and his Noruegians stout Of simple Charls got for Inheritance Of them it still yet bears the name about From thence a galland did him self aduance And conquerd England with a warrlike rout Of thousands ten heigh heauns such wonders wroght Like number now to Englands aid was broght From that ritche land whoe 's chalkie swan like schoirs Fair kent beholds best when the Sune goes doune Whoe 's cheif toun vieus fair Douers cleif and gloir's To sie the tours that her fair front doth croune And thence wheir Cesars monument restoir's His neuer deing memoreis renoune Came thrice ten hundreth soldiors to this warr Bold strong and braue that neuer dreamd of fear From that fair land wheir smoothlie slyding soam Waters the medous and the pleasant plains And from that citie wheir two floods do come T'vnload their waus from euer springing vains Seu'ne thousand warlik soldeors came and some From that old famous toun that yet retains Pairt of the Guseane famelie and thence Sprong that greate houses glorious excellence From Henolt came fiue thousand men of fame Led by their erlle in whoe 's greate might they gloird From their cheif toune eune Mons that hecht to name Four hundreth came with shining arms decorde All these were youths not moud with fear or shame That gaird the persone of their mighâ—ie Lord And came to spoyll the Garland of the Maine But few ot none at all returne agane That land which hath within his borders plac'd The holie empiâ—s Marquesad of old By Skeld cutt of from Flaunder in the west Whâ—iron stands Antwerp glorious to behold This land the Maiss so louinglie hath grac'd She in her bossome doth the same enfold From whence the hope of gaine and praise did bring Ten thousand Soldeors to the englishe King This warr on Europs fairest Erldome calls Wheir stands vpon the banks of Skeld and ley That toun so hudge in cu cuit of hir walls Famous for that but famous more for why Thâ—t euer famous monarch which apalls Ronoune Fame Glorie Praise and Victorie As his Iust dew was their both borne and bred Thence to his warr was fourtene thousand led From these strong Illands made so strong by arte Gainst Neptun who still proous their greatest foe Becaus his floods ouerfloud the greatest parte Of all these lands as some thinks long ago But when els wheir his swelling streams conuert The lands to seas these lands the sea did sho Six thousand thence vnto this warr was send Vpone the Eâ—glish Monarch that depend Their lyis a land along the Germane flood Throu which the Mais and Rhine their course doth hold Vnto their Lord whoe 's rage is still with stood By sandie douns els all shold be enrold In waues thus sand that els wheir eats for food The fatest soill heir serus for bulwarks bold Of cuntrie-men and wageitt soldeors thence Come fiftine thousand to the English Prince When these greate regiments all were past and gone Doun from his throne the monarch did discend Inuirond round with Lords and knights anone Vnto a royall tent his course he bend That stood in midst of all the camp allone Without the walls and did him their attend And their him self first by him self was plac'd Then all his Princes at a royall feast All that was past the Douglas weill espyis Now thtou the camp from tent to tent he goes Hearing straunge tongs but straunger harmonyis Of drums and Trumpets which to heaune arose He hears their brags their braues and their defyis The Scotts were now their slaws and not their foes And oft he hears him self condemd to die A crwell death in shamefull Infamie He smild and to the royall tent agane He turnd assembleis greate greate neus affoords The feast was done and to the counsail then Set was the King with Princes duks and Lords He could haue wishd to heir them but in vaine No cuning slight could mak him heare their words For round about the tent the gaurd did stand And none from thence Approcheth nearer hand Wherfore for oght that he could find at all By conferrence with English Frensh or Dutche He seis to trains nor slight they wold not fall So proud they were of strength their force was such This Kingdome lairge by lots too greate and small Was geuen nor would of Scotts be left so much As one that monarchs wraithe was so extrame From of the werie earth too raise their name The counsail rais and furth the heraulds went Chairging that spatious hoist in arms to be Raising to morrow with a full intent To march derectlie to their enemie The Douglas heirs and vould their haist preuent From thence that night departing secretlie Vntoo his Lord he haistelie with drew Longing too shou all that he learnd or knew Thus furth he tyds through silence of the night Fair Cinthea seimd to fauour his intent Wrapping her self and all her beautie bright In duskie clouds which oft in two she rent Where throu she pri'd to sie iff he were right Oft wishing him vp in the firmament Beside the whirlling Pole their stellefyid His bright aspect might gilt her swartish side When golden haird Apollo first did light Earths better half then could he weill discry The Scottsh camp which enterd once he might Perceaue the soldeors giue a ioyfull cry Heir drums and trumpets their ror's furth on highâ— His ioyfull wâ—lcum thundert throu the skie All to the royall tent did him conuoy Whom his good Lord receaud with woundrous ioy Vp was the King that night no rest he got Such sad confused thoghts his brains did fill Of greate effairs and many mightie plot Of Douglas he hade dreamd and fearing still His Lords and Princes round about did not His 〈◊〉 him and Ioy'd in his goodwill The knight kneld doune and kist his Princes hand Who reasd him vp and thus did him demand Where haue you bein why haue you staied so long What haue you veiud hou faires fair Englands Prince
My royall Lord quod he atâ— Berwike strong I stayde til Englands armie came from thence I veiud and walkt their squadrons all among I saue that monarchs greatt magnificence Whoe 's Royall pomp and mightie pouer in watt Surmonts all European Princes farr The number greate of that so mightie host Passeth thrie hundreth thousand as I think They couer all the land from cost to cost They spoylâ— the contreis dry the floods they drink Thither all Europe gatherd is almost And if proud vaunts be deads they scorne to shrink But in a word suck their confussioun is Joue be our aid they shall the Garland miâ— For of the greatest part of all their bands Both horse and fute their disciplein is small They kâ—ip no ranks their captains stil with stands They knou no drum noâ— trumpets sound at all Naiked vn armd their wapins fâ—w commands Onlie the English archers bold and tall All valiant men so weill traind vp in warrs Or pace should raigne from heauin they 'il tear the 〈◊〉 And their is twentie thousand horsmen more That alway on the King him self auait's Earth can no brauer men then these restore The rest of English knoes no war lik feates Nor were they euer vsd to warre before But hope of Lordships rents and heigh estaits Hath broght them furth for all this Kingdome great Is geu'ne and Scotts by thoght distroyed quit And that your grace should not eschaip their hands Two knights vnto that mightie King hath sworne Dead or aliue to bring yow bound in bands T'abid what Death he list impose inscorne Of your new croune which each of them demands In meir disdaine their trophes to adorne Greate Glocester is one as doth apeir Sir Henrie Boem the vther hight I heir They to your brother and my self applyis Greate torments too for out so bloodie mind This said furth from the Princes angrie eics Flea sparks of wrath flams from his face furth shind Praise be to god quod he our enemies He blinded hath and that Kings hautie kind He hardnes still with Pharaos so his shame And fall I wish may glorefie his name Now stronglie were the Scotts encamped their Where Banoghes burne mongst shaddie bankes doeth plaiâ— The Torwood neir within a valley fair And for the battell their they neids wold stay Whill as this worthie Generall did prepair To stoppe their foes least they should find away Them to encompas round which threatning storms Their multitude might easilie performe Wherfore eune their where their great host should stand With ditches deep the plaine he overclâ—d Wherein sharp Staiks were pitâ—d at his command Then cuninglie againe al couered The enemie by this was hard at hand Whoe 's squadrons lairge ouer al the land was spred When their for-front was at the valeis end Their last Battaillon did thrie leâ—gues extend Wherefore the King his matcheles Nepheu sent With him fiue hundreth Martiall men of warr Doune to a way that throu the valey went To sterling castell and would neids debarr That hold of aid yee he would still preuent His foes great slight or strength thus broght from faâ—â— But this his forsight did the sootherne know That would ou'r shoot him self in his oune bow Cliffords braue Lord a bold and warlik knight They sent before the hoist a mille and more With twice four hundreth horsmen swift and light That choos'd from all the armie martchd before Ane other way to Sterling go they right Bruce seis and sends Randolph this chek full sore Thy Garlands cheifest flour is lost this day If those haue past the way wheir thou doest stay They craftilie escheud wher he did ly Nor feard they him nor anie erthly foe But they another secret way wold try And by him were they past er he could kno Yet he his vncles bitter tant doth wey Which stung full deip but he concealls his wo His silence shoes he bears a generous mind That of a Iust reprooff best fruct will find For with his band he follous hastelie And ouerraichst them like a storme of wind They scorne from fewer them themselfs to flie And for to giue them battell turns around One knight ambitious of some victorie That for his valour had bein much renound Before the rest him felf did fare aduance And challengd Randolph for to brek a launce Glaidlie the erlle accepts and furth he goes A strong stiff launce into his hand he bore Swiftlie their steids bore furth these noblle foes Yet their desirs farr swifter came before As Boâ—eas brok from erthin prison bloes Eune from the Toples heights and craggie shore Of Coucasus the clifted rocks a sunder Such furie bring they Earth-resounding vnder Sir Williame Hauecourt hight the English knight Whoe 's speir too weake to harme so strong a foe Beaks on his breist but his stif launce doth light Beneth his curas sklenting vp ward so As from his head of heuines it got a sight His helme then lights vpon the earth belo Furth at his croune the spears point lookt and thence Bears him to earth then breks with violence This deed prouocks the Scotts aduancing light And doth inflame the English all with Ire A shout the Scotts encurage to the fight Of English wrath still silence blous the fire Braue Randolph cairs not fears not all their mightâ— Nor for his men wold stay nor once retire But through the rout he breaks with wondrous forâ— And stronglie bears to earth both men and horse Rudlie both Syds togidder rushith in And blow on blow they giue and wound on wound Death Horror Blood from rank to rank doth rinn Yet nather side wold shrink or lose their ground Whill Scotts thus striue to keip what they had winn And English to repair their lose new found The valiant Bruce was sodainlie assaild With in his camp yet his awin worth preuaild And thus it was the wantgaird of his foe Still marcht two leagues before that mightie host Straight touards him they cume or he culd kno Who sheam'd within his trenchis to be forst But in the plaine him self did quiklie sho Drew foorth his bands in haist no cyme he loft Nor could his foes refrean from fight at all Still as they marcht for battell still they call Yet did the rest of this great armie stay Two leagues from thence encamped one a plaine The King comandit so so they obay The day neir spent to fight war all in waine The wantgard knew not of this new delay Nor with such strength dâ—rs leasie dout remaine One hors and foote they fiftie thousand wer Led by that mightie erlle of Glocester The Scotts broght furth by their braue worthie Prence His cheirful looks did conquests hope restore Encuraging each one to mak defence From band to band he rode the ranks before The English knew him by his countenance A Mass or Brasen staf in hand he bore Whill thus he rode Sir Henrie Beome espi'd-him And to performe his promeis past he
prison close and their ah their he deis Douglas great Erldome did this Lord enioy A sone he had both young strong fair and wise The fruct that keipt his yeers from age annoy The Caskat ritche wheir all his tressour lyis Sent vnto fraunce whill he is yet a boy And to returne it seems he still denyis Whill heir the Clifford holds his reueneus Whoe tirranizing all the land subdeus Ah were hee heir aige from my wrinkled brou Wold sone depairt and youth wold once transport Those siluer hair 's with strength and vigor neu That wold my limms and weakned arms support This arme should mak him way for to reneu His iust reuenge in such a woundrous sort That Englands King shold quake for feare and shame When in his ears fame thunderd foorth his name Why said the Erle and if him self were heit Hou could he be reuengd vpone his foes Whoe 's strenth nor his mutch greater doth apeir Which maks our Prince eu'ne Bruce so oft to lose No no said he God shall his wraith reteir And mak braue Bruce shine like the morning rose Whose beauteous braches eche wheir spreds springs Whose odours sueit the sences confort Brings The count for Ioy cutting his speiches short In quir's his name who told he Dikson heght And then he call's to mynd his fathers court Wheir he hade sein him many a ioyfull night So that Embraceing him he doth report His name and hou he was his Lord by right Whereat hee humblie Kneills and doth Imbrace His feitt for Ioy whill tears bedeu's his face Nou eche of vthers sight did much reioise And after they had talk'd and argu'd long The erlle inquirs what way he might oppose Him self against his foes inflicting wrong Braue Lord said hee too Morrou all oure foes Will muster foorth their glorious forces strong Vnder the conduct of a valiaunt knight Whoe heir reulls all beneth the Cliffords might This man within your cheifest strength doth byde His proud commanding Garesone with all Palme Sonday is to morrou All prouide Their Palms to bear at that cheif festuall They all to Church in sumptuous maner ryde Vow by the way may caus them catche a fall My self shall lead the way vnto your trane And if I can the formest Bront sustane Glaid was the erie so fitt a mein to find Wheir on they both concloud then goes to rest And on Olimpus or proud Titan shind The antient knight in arms him self addrest He raisd the Douglas whoe 's still restless mind Had baneift sleip and for reuenge was prest Nou with this knight he and his train departs Reuengfull fire still burning in their haerts And neir into the Church when they were got They hapt to meit an horie aiged sire Whose wofull looks his wofull lose did note At whome the Erle did ernestlie inquire What did he laike Sir knight quod he my lot Is for to laike what most is my desire Which is allace my long desired Graue Aige lose greif sorrou doth all ioys bereaue An daughter had I which was all my ioy In whom I more then in oght els delighted But her from me an English did conuoy An English that my natioun ay dispighted I to the captane Plaind of this annoy The captane that my wrongs should all haue righted But greater wrongs then these him self hath doone Wherfore to right all wrongs he still doth shune And thus my Doughter with my foe doth stay Her wrging to his pleasure for to yeild Whill me thus scornd and mock'd with long delay Eu'ne nou the captane with proud words reuild As he with all his troups from churche to day With Palms in hand was marching throu the feild They all reiosing whill my Greifs reneu And nou they come my life for to perseu The aintient knight looks vp that diksone hight And seis a hundreth Armed men drau neir And saeis braue Lord lo heare the long wishd sight You of your vous and me of mine shall cleir Then with these words he doth begin the fight Whill as this Lord the rest with conforts cheir Whoe 's countenance their curage all appeill'd Their Eis hearts hands and all their foes assaild Then burnt with hate of Glorie praise reuenge This all subdweing Erle rushd throu the rout Bright schind his looks of sun-like beams a reange About his head did flame his curage stout did his mild looks to sparkling furie change That shoots forth noble anger round about On eu'n they fight and yet with valiaunt hand Their noble Lord made way to his small band Who hemd about in midst of all his foes His valiaunt heart and curage weill made knowne His name and fame his deids did weill disclose And eurie one to vther has him schoune All runs to him his life to mak him lose Which fondlie whill they seik they lose their oune For on his sword accusing eche of error Sat dreidfull death all armd with feir and terror Long foght he thus imbreud with goir and blood Till he at last their captane did espie Whoe 's knightlie valor long he vieuing stood By whoe 's strong hand four knights did breathlesly Wheirfore he steps to him with angrie mood And him to mortall Battel did defy Which long in equall Ballance did abide Whill eche his strenth and vtmost valor tride The angrie count at last with wrathfull heart Did in his stirrops raise him self on hie His foe with force wold set the blou apart But nou no force his force could beir away On his left shoulder to his greif and smart The crimsone collord Brand did light whereby His warlike arme was from his bodie shorne Him self with force and pane to earth was borne Nou he who late did captanlike comand Was as a captiue forst for to obey Whill as this noble Erle with conquiring hand No longer with his prisoner wold stay But where the rest in Battell stronglie stand He thither haists his sword sheirs fourth the way And shortlie victor was of all the feild Forsing them all to die to flie or yield The victorie by heaunis decree obtaind They thence depart the castell to supprise Wherin no souldiour at all remaind Nor anie to gainstand them did arise This fortres since he had so brauelie gaind Heir wold he rest and heir wold he deuise To mak his Captiues by ane vucouth death To knou his you and iustlie kindled wraith Low in a vault the captaine first he band And all the vther captiues him beside The grane and flour the Beir and wine he fand Which they before could neu'r yneuch prouide With this he fild the house wherin they stand Thus chokt with meit and dround with drink they died Whoe 's gredie gorgis neu'r suffisd with Ill Now in their death might gurmandize their fill Then all the tours he raisd vnto the ground And leueld all the ditches with the plane Poisond the springs and fontans which he found And to the wonted libertie againe