of cha◠〈◊〉 ConstellaioÌ„ A Serpent in ether hand of Serpentatius alloding to Iames the 3. Reuld by 〈◊〉 the dasie who 〈◊〉 â—erpents poisoned the land with vice the caus of his fall Constellatione Indue ane archer marching to fight on fut Iames the 〈◊〉 who flighting on fut was sleane in flouden â—eild Constellatione Bootes is a maÌ„ stroÌ„g and pouerful Iames the 5. Constellatione Cassiopea is a quein setting in a chyâ—e quein marie douager of FraÌ„ce Berinicis crinis or celâ—â—es-cald the gaâ—land of hear Constâ—â—latione the north and south crownes on either syde of Polopâ— iâ—ax before him an alter Allading to Iames the 6. who ioyud the North and south crounes of Britans The north and south crouâ—s Corona Borealis Gorona australiâ— Godes wonderfull loue showin to him in his so many and notabile delyveries froÌ„ treson Sol monarch of ye north and Prince of Poets His eloqueÌ„ce sompaird to 1 Queene His Book to the Prince His wark cald the Battall of lepaâ—to His book against Magik His ansuâ—â— no that book sett furth in the nam of Bellasmin The discription of Stirling the birth place of Prince Henrie ConstellatioÌ„ Antinous a must â—â—â—ar beutifull Èouth a looding to Prince Hendre constellatioÌ„ Or on Merching in arms 〈◊〉 a river and a heir vnder his foot a alouding to charlis Prince of waills acording to the propheseis Hee as gennerall 〈◊〉 his father The vâ—arâ—â— following ar translated out oâ— the Propheseis 〈…〉 with the Propheseis Hiedra alluding to the greate Turk Corona australis Corona Borealis Cruâ— Hercules â—welf laboris A digression discriuing the Riuer â—o Propheceis Glaide 〈◊〉 He deit on performd this vow what for he send his heart to the holie groue This 〈◊〉 Thomas Rymour ane old Prophet who died abunt Sir months 〈…〉 King Robert hade a base soone that was erll of Ros of whoÌ„ is discrended the tuo famous families of clak mannan and erthe both surnemid 〈◊〉 Theis war his frâ—nds Theis englishmen whom they folowit was keipers of the castell of breithwick in arran A stryffe betuix the passions of the mynd and resson◠〈…〉 â—o it fell furth sone after A pitifull â—eild told the dougâ—â—e by a gentlâ—maâ— of dou glaifdail cald kenedie This captane his name was 〈◊〉 * This ould gentilman was callit dictione and is now cald simintone of yat ilk and duelleth as yit kard by the castell of douglas and hes his liuing of that hous for the same They war one a place cald the bred libank ouer against the church from the which they come ioind with the English as they come out of the Church It was euer efter called the douglas Ladner This capten heght thirsuall wha kipt the castell of douglas The race of ye douglas is from Sir Iemis to yis our tym Sir Iamis Douglas lord Douglas He triumphd seauintie seu'n tymes ouer his ennemies He buir his Princes heart to the holie graine He was thirteene tyms victor ouer the saracens He died in Spaine follouing the victorie too rashlie being inclosed be his enemies Anno 2330. The pâ—â—sies â—ls of Northumberland WilliaÌ„ Lord of lidsdail sone too Sir Iames of whom is discended the hous of 〈◊〉 Archibald brother to fiâ— Iames Lord of Douglas was regent of Scotland he faught halidone hil and being too fordward was slaine Anno 1333. Iohn Lord of dakeit of whom the hous of Mortoun is discended Whoe 's mother was one English ladie called Feres With first Erle of Douglas His breâ—â—â— was Archibald Lord of gallavay his son was Lord of midsdeall he mariet the Kings dochter whome the King of France sewed for in mariage of him is disceÌ„ded the hous of drumlenreik Iames erlle of Douglas sone to william first erle he dismonted the persie befotr neu castell and wan Otterburne being thrice strokin throu the bodie wheir he deâ—ld Anno. 1388. His brother was Called archibald grim he van Cintone Battell the Persie and the erlle of march Anno 1403. his sone was called archibald Tynman Was valiant but most onfortunat who was slaine at the battell of wernell in France Anno 1422. he was dâ—ck of Turin Lord of longuell and martiall of France his one Archibald erâ—e of wigtoune duck of Turyn and Lord of longuvyll his sone will duck of Turijn Lord of longuvyll he was behaded in the castell of edinburgh 1445 to him succeided his vncle grose Iames erle of abercorne Williame duck of turyn Lord of longuvyle he maid his tua brother erlls of morray and ermound and the thrid Lord of balvene anno 1452. Iames secound sone to thros Iames with his thrie brother of murray of mond and Bonenie a roise a gains the King and was pacified with tyt deficultie George first erlle of angous was sleane at shrosburrie ending the persie ageans the King of England Anno 1403. George secound eâ—lle of angous of his base sone called George the hous of boundward is cum Archi bald erlle of angus his sones and freinds var al sleane at flouden he vent hom him self being reprehended for god counsell Sir williame his secound sone leard of glenberuie his â— sone leard of kilspindie williame his bas sone Lord of Torthorall Archi bald sone to George mester of angus he marâ—ed the quine of Scottland sister to King Hendrie the 8 of England and begat margaret countas of Lenox mother to Hendrie dooke of Albanie father to King Ieames the 6. The foresaid archibald that Mareed the â—â—ine he wâ—◠〈◊〉 he died in Tamtallon Anno 1557. His secound brother Leaâ—d of pittindreich his 3. brother piâ—ot of condinghame Dauid sone to the Leard of Pittindrich succeided his uncle archibald erle of of angus 1558. Archibald soue to Dauid Erle angus died with out is hue 158. Williame the 3 from Sir Williame first Leard of gleÌ„beruie succeided Erle of angus he died Anno 1591. Williame his sone erle of angus died in pareis Annâ— 1611. He hes writtin then cronicklie of that name to which I haue refered most pairte of their actiouns Williame now Erle of angus The dissent of Erleâ— of mortoune Iohn Lord of dakeith Sir Iames Douglas his yongest brother he had tna sones the ouldest was Lord of dakeith the second leard of Iochleâ—in The discent of the lairdes of loghleuin The first laird of logh levin He was with arichbald grim at intoune battel Wheer heauing vin the enemies standard from the hand of Sir Thomas Kolbuth was the cheif of the victorie The second laird of logh levin who going with the Erle of buchan to france defended the passage of a brig there with thrie handreth agains the dooke of clâ—â—ens his armie whom he maid reteir inperseung forceie was kild The thriâ— leard of loghleuin The foeth leard of loghleuin The fift laird of loghleuin The saixt laird of loghleuin 〈◊〉 The seuinth leard who was alwaies with King Iames the 3 against the hums the habrons his good seruice was often times
peace and wrakfull foes restraine who did so much by valor witt and Grace Jedbrughe and Etrik Foerests fertill plaine With ceasles warr he forst to timlie peace And Douglas tour which Clifford had againe Boolded mand his conquest did incres The Garesone and captane both he slew The Tours vnto the ground he ouerthrew Strife Discord Warr now in the north did wyve A bloodie Wob with hate Reuenge and fear Most mightie mindit Bruce wold neids depriue His foes of strenth eu'ne wheir they reull did beare To his most royall camp their did arriue A gallant troup of youths addrest for warre The bold Lord Fraser led this gallant crew His cowsing deir and to him alwaies trew But whither change of soyle or change of air Or climats cold or rat her heauins decree Has bene the caus but earths best campioun their Feseik into an feitfull Lithergie For which the soldeors made such dooful care That raige with sorrow throu the camp did flie All rose in factiouns non regeardith reasone Ech vther wrongfullie accusd of treasone Some Lennox Erle some Edward did accuse Some Fraser vthers Boyd and vthers Hay Sum say that his Phisitioun did infuse Poison in drogs nor wold they thus delay But headlongs led with furious loue wold vse A strange reuenge All wold they kill and slay This tumult rose to such a fearfull hight That noght but drums trumpets hear yow might Thus whill they stand them selfs for to distroy With blood to glut reuenge suspected wrong Buchans bold Erle and Brechens Lord conuoy Eu'ne in their sight an Aarmie great and strong Who haueing knowledge of their strife did ioy To sie the time which they expected long Yea this one day had made a wofull end Of all but Joue from heaune some help did send Not vnto health but vnto speich the King Was at that instant wondrouslie restorde His Lords praise God and furth they did him bring Whoe 's eies bent vpuard first heauins aid implorde A purpell Rob about him wreth'd doth hing A croun not him but he a croune decord His sceptered hand proud maiestie doth threat Borne by four Lords vp in a Royall seat His couquering hand his scepter shakes allone Thus he to all the armie shouis his face Wheir maiesties cleir lamp of Glorie shone Then with I know not what a heunelie grace A Mars like voice ane Angells shaip put one First softlie to him self he groand allace He lookt his looks mou'd all with staitlie feare Silence fleu fuith and seis'd on euerie eare What words be these we hear what threats quod be What noise of Arms who dares these tumults raise Wheir ar we honord wheir your fear we sie Not your obedience shall oure rewll this cease Of oure diseas is this your memorie By wrong surmeisd offences vs to please Whoe darres of treasone think against their King No no you can not thus excuse the thing Mak not so side a cloik of publâ—ct wrong To priuat grudge if grudge we may it call If loue to vs tak head your selfs among For in your lius your weills your saifteis all Consists our health nixt heau'ne who will er long Restore oure health and wounted strenth recall O can the head a pleasant heelth enioy Whoe 's members still eche vther doth distroy Ah sie yow not oure proud Imperious foe That seiks oure fall oure ruin oure Decay No Treasone to oure persone heir we kno None in oure Armie that wold vs betray But these ar rebells to oure croune and lo These wold put violent hands in vs to day Brethren in arms go then your King defend Let not oure want vnto oure foe be kend Hereafter we will think on this your loue When heaune to wonted health shall vs restore Whill thus he spak the lightning beams did moue Of maiestic his sparkling eies before That all the armie who did lait approue Wraith folie Raige sheams with repentaunce sore Bak to his tent he goes his soldiers kind Cry all go too go too to fight inclind By this their proud and mightie foe drew neit Whoe 's number ten to one did them surmount Yet martch they on whill ech did vther cheir Nor neid their captans do as they had wount Their to menace or to encurage heir But rather forcd to stay by wise atcount Their too too foreward haist for still they cry Let eurie One a rebell kill or dy The rebells se them disapointed clein Their hearts begin to faint their hands to faill The royall armeis trumpets soundet bein And valiantlie they gan for to assaill The fois so great a Multitude ver sene They shame a handful should their curags quaill Thus eche on vther rusht with furous might First wounds then blood then death aproch'd their sight Greate deids of Arms on ether side were shoune Till Phebus piteing such vnkindlie warre Shrunk doun anone on siluer skyis were throune Dark sabill clouds that thikned all the air Than by the rebells the retreat was bloune Which made the royall hoist seim sade with cair Nor wold reteir till by their leaders au Their forcd within their trinches to with draw Four daies within their camp still they remand Four dais their foes encamped in their sight No day did pas wherein they once refraind From skirmish hot and many singil fight At last the royall armie was constraind To raise their camp and for to martche fourth right For victualis in their camp were waxing small Nor Phisick helps their kings diseas at all He in a glorious chariot ritchlie wroght Goes in the mids they marching round about In Battell rank and all their Baggage broght Within the formest ranks thus all the rout still reddie was to fight if their to soght Their foes perceiud their resolutioun stout And for that time they thoght not good to moue theÌ„ But follou still at vnwarrs to proue them Eduard the fierce whill his deir brother lay Ou'r all the royall armie did command Wheir with he martcht a soft and easie way By Citeis faire through mony a fertill land At last he causd the armie for to stay In Marrs renowind schire wheir as he sand A willaige situat one a pleasant plaine Wheir walthie Ceres treasure doth remaine This famous toun Eururie heght to name Famous for that greate victorie obtaind By Bruce vnto his foes eternall shame For in this toun for health whill he remaind Buchans bold erle still thristing efter fame From vrging Battell could not be refraind Within two mylls besyid old Meldrum long Vpon a hill he lay encamped strong A chosin band with Brechins Lord he send At vnawarrs his Princelie foe to find Whoe of his long diseas began to mend Whoe 's haughtie mind was neu'r to rest inclind His armies forward at the village end Encamped lay of foes that had no mind Whill Brechins Lord against their wills wold will them Battell to giue or in their tents to kill them But he and all his chossin
of grit walue to his Prince The 8 Laerd of loghleuin who bein vpon he King his left-hand at flouden ane vther vpon the right hand was boith sleane with their Prince their being 45 of their enemies fond kild aâ—bout theame The 9 laird of loghleuin His wife aâ— moist virteus wisse beutifull Ladie His fiue doughters so admirable in all the giftes of nature as not onlie theÌ„ selfs but their of spring at the ornameÌ„ts of their seexe â—â— he tent pariâ—â—â— at sea be tempest of vather Williame now Erle of mortune Scâ—tts only wer the ouer throuwers of them selfis deuiditt in thrie factions the brooce the baliol and the cumming both the last took pairt with England against the Bruce Sir Odomer de wallance was crll of Pembrok 〈…〉 To witt the Douglas A mo oâ—ine in the Armie for the Kings diseas which shous their loue to him worthie to be notteth This Frenshman was Thomas of Longouell To wit Edward Cree a water or â—euer in galway This was the generall of the English armmie calid 〈◊〉 ingrem â—mphranell Butteil Castell a strong hoild in galloway This capten â—eght wobâ—ount This wobtoun was inioynd by his miseres to keip thee venterous Castell of Douglas an Èeir befoir she wauld fauour him which in Innâ—k tione was found in a letter gottin on him when he was sleaâ—e The Lord stewart of buhkill risâ—th agenst the douglace A crewell fight Randolph was his sister sone The Lord of lorn was sone to the â—rll of Argill The name of the Gascon was 〈…〉 bald A pitiful fight Queene 〈◊〉 garet that was cannoneidse the chast wryie vpon the wall of the chappell Gordevous 〈◊〉 François with ane maÌ„â—limming vp â—llledder 〈◊〉 â—ne wall which is meint by France that was the caus of the wining of the Castell The captane hight Guilliame â—erms whereby it appeirs he was a 〈◊〉 man The erlls of orknay and caithnes The erlls of sother land and ros The frasers Grants and Glenhatten Erlle of moray Erlle of mar Erlle of Atholl Erle marchel his first forbier at the â—attell of ar broth slew camus Prince of dains for which he gat gryt sandes and was made Marchell of Scotland Lord Ogilluy Lord of brich me Erlle of montrois Erll of Craffoord The discriptione of the carrs of gourie Erlle of arrall his first foibeit aâ—â— us batâ—ell of with his two sones And yoks in their haÌ„ds stayed the Scotts from flight and obtainned the victorie for â—he which they gott the care of gourie was made constabâ—◠〈◊〉 Scotland Erlle of rothes and the Lord lindsay with others Lord setone erlle of wencon Lord liuingston erlle of lithquhow Lord elphingston Lord drummond erlle of perth and Males then erlle of strachern Lord murray of Tullibern erlle of ballâ—uhidder Lord Stewâ—rd then of Bonkâ—ll Lord Marquis of huntle This sir Allexander Gordone sought the feild of keilâ—line agains the Erle of Atholl who took pairt with EnglaÌ„d which Erll the said sir Allexander slea with his oune hand for the which he gatt the lands of Strathbogie George Lord Gordon Erle of enzye The Lord of Lorne was sone to this Erll of Argill A short discription of the Iyrish Scots Ties war the barrons of his neame as the leard of Londy Glenurche Cadel and others The grit steuert of Scotland Waills Cornuell England The mers manie of all the deals borders and much of the Wastland Ireland Charls the 〈◊〉 graâ—e the â—â—lands to his sone Philip King of spane long efter this tyme. The Cnntrie of Gascon Poictue BritangÈie Sanct Molois haâ—â—n a griâ—e streÌ„gth is guearded by Masteus Normandie Boloigne wheir their is and old strong Tour built by Cesar to be sein at this day Pâ—cardie At Amiens two vther riuers discharges their Burdens in the soum Henolt Brabâ—nt Flanders Gent thoght to be the lairgest toun in Europ wheir chaâ—ll the 5 thaâ— famous Emperor was borne Zeland is 〈◊〉 Islands within the sea which the sea sâ—m tym ouerfloued as appeirs by sindrie good arguments Holland My â— Author saies ane hoÌ„deriâ—h but al the cronickles agre on fiue hoÌ„drâ—th The Scotts houâ— boolded in hand warâ— wherein Bruce Portrat and the Scotts Arms was set Sir Giles of argenâ—ine Sir Odomer de vallange rode on eather hand of the King Randolph the Valient Douglas the Erl of erol The Bruce his oratione Multitood maks novieâ—torie The Scots wer all chofin Gentilmen no commons amoÌ„gst theme King edward his â—ratione * King Robert and Eduard his brother King Robert head 2. bretherâ— taken presoâ—ers who ware both slaine This was the Lord Mershall â—eght Robert Keith The Erll of Stratherne and his sone both kild by the King of England These two 〈◊〉 Sir 〈◊〉 of argentine and sir adomer de vallange A gallant fight betuex the Bruce the argentine Hay Erll of 〈◊〉 constabill of Scotland
THE FAMOVS HISTORIE OF the Renouned and Valiant Prince ROBERT surnamed the BRVCE King of SCOTLAND c of Sundrie Other valiant knights both Scots and English Enlarged with an addition of the Scottishe Kinges lineallie discended from him to Charles now Prince together with a note of the beginninges of the most parte of the antieÌ„t and famous Nobilitie of Scotland A Historye both pleasant and profitable set forthe and done in heroik verse by PATRICK GORDON Gentleman At Dort Printed by George Waters 1615. At Adenburgh the twentie thrie day of december 1613. This book seene and alloued and therefore may be published and put to the presse Sanctandrous DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI ✚ SOIT ✚ QVI MAL ✚ Y ✚ PENSE THeit is sindrie Errours askepd both in the Orthographe and want of single letters But inspetiall their is two falts to my knowledge in the vears the first in the 2. cap. the 5. Line of the last vears to witt Reed shours of blood in sindrie pearts had beene The 2. is in the thrid cap the 3. vers and the 2. line to witt VVheir was the wounted Loyaltie now gone This with sindrie vther salts as but whear it is teaine for without and vther Scots words which I haue rather chusd to pas then loise a sound runing line I dout not but the reader will excuse in respect that this book was Printed in ane vther contrey wheir the setters did not vnderstand the Langage To the most Honorable and most Accomplished Erles William Erle of Angus and William Erle of Morton RIght honorable noble Lords presuming on the accustomed myldnes and affabelitie for the which your L. L. haue not beene a litle famous It hath imboldned me to lay the barren feild of my Vnfructfull braine before the powerfull Sune of your Perfections whoe 's beams may Illuminat the dark sheddowes Dispers the gros Vapores and rype the enrypened Ears that so you may receaue the increas of this my second Harvest nether deserveth such a rare excellent Fruer anie les then such a fair and confortable Summer being the glorious actiones of that Illustrus and generus Bruce which haueing bred in so sweet and ferteill a Soyll hath made me ambitiouslie greeddie therwith to inrich my barrén fielde hoping that my insuffitiencie if once supported by the vnremouable pillers of your Vertues shall be able to resiste the stormie Tempests of wind-blasting Sicophants and beat bak the swerms of Poisone sucking Wasps so that the Seed preserued by your means onlie shall yeeld all aeges the tymlie Harvest of your L. L. Eternall glorie I being bound by such admirable worth vndeserued courtessie for euer to Rest. Your L. L. most affectioned and humble servand Patrick Gordon The preface or rather an aduertisment to the Reader before he read this Poem of some spetiail points to be obserued in the whole worke with the vse of some partes seeming Fabolus therein FEaring to be taxt of ambitious arragance for daring to midle with so rare a work I am onlie armd with the natural dewtie which I owe to my countrey the vant of good wil in the more excelleÌ„t Spreits but aboue al the neuer enough praised verteus of that most admirable Prince Robert Bruce ambitiously desiring to immitat him whose vnquensable loue burning zeale towards his Contrey was such as he being a Prince Roialy discended delicately brought vp beloued and honoured of all men of larlge and great reueneues both in England and scotland so that it was thoght he had more contentment of mynd and more blisings-heaped on him by heavens then any liveing in his dayes Yet such was his loue to the libertie of his countrey as forseaking his reveneues leaveing his wyf cheldren abandoning al his royel delicasies plesurs and delights he betook him self to armes wherein when fortune hade crosd him so far as it is sead he lost thertin Battels before he wan one so that heauens seemd to threattin wengence for the wilfull refusall of thees former blisings and first was he crosd with mis-fortun in warr the lose of his brotheren his wife and daughter being taken presoners at which tyme his brotheren was cruallie execute his freinds become al his enameis and being persueit both of scots and English was forsd in great miserie and powertie the speace of thrie yeare to keip the montains wher herbs was his dentiest meaits and watter his strongest wyne not withstanding that he might still haue bene restored to al his former digniteis and much more if he could haue suffered to behold his countreyes miserie as they saw his but such was his meachles loue to them althogh they hatted him that still he lamented their caus more then his owin in his manie soroufull discourses wold alwayes repeat these wersses following Ni me Scotorum Libertas prisca moveret Non mala tot paterer orbis ob Imperium Robertus Brusius THeis verses written and subscribed with his owin hand in his Manuall book which he alwayes careed about with him was extent within thes feew years but to sett downe all his workes and fortitude of mynd ware to redious seing you shal find manie of them in the historie following and altho the old printid book besyds the owtworne barborous speiches was so euill composd that I culd bring it to no good method till my loveing freind Donald farchersone a worthie gentil man whoe 's name I am not asham'd to expres for that he was a restles suter to me to taik this work in hand broght me a book of virgine parchement which he hade found amongst the rest of his books is was old torne almost inlegeable in manie places vanting leaves yet hade it the beginning and hade bein sett doune by a monk in the abey of melros called Piter fenton in the year of god one thousand thâ—ie hundreth sixtie nyne which was a year before the death of King Dauid Bruce it was in old ryme like to Chaucer but vanting in manie parts and in special from the field of Bannochburne fourth It wanted all the rest almost so that it could not be gotten to the pres yet such as I could reid thereof hade manie remarkable taillis worthie to be noted and al so probable agreing with the trewth of the historie as I haue foloued it alsweil as the other theris onlie two partes seeming sabolous the first is the Baliols Visioune which as it is of small consequence doth no euil so doth it chek and forbid a base mind to aspire showing that a mightie generous sperit onlie ought to be ambitious the secound is the historie of the Kingis which after I hade fullie accomplisd with the rest of the book fearing it should be too tedius for the reader I haue taken it out in the place therof insert thoes princes discended of the Bruce nether would I be offenceive for the adding of theis fragments for I know that sume curious
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
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
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
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
drunk too much And some with cards and some with dice wer led Some lasie lubbards quafd carrousis deip Till eurie drink began an endles sleep Whill thus they ly thois warreours enter in Too strik Iustitiars for to pairt the fray The wine and blood both foorth togidder rin From bak from brest or side eu'ne as they lay Half words confoosd their hollow throts within Made billowing nois their blood their breath did stay Someâ—ise to strik some op's their mouth to chide Those fall and these with blood chokt gasing diede Thus whill eche sword dislodg'd a hundreth liues Braue Bruce made knowne his rancour wrath and ire Squadrons he killâ— cuts cords and tents he riu's And for reuenge enflam'd with hote desire To ouerthrou them all alone he strius To kill the men and set the camp on fire And foreward still allone he Murthring goes giuing more deaths then wounds more wounds then bloeâ— But as a hungrie Lion for his foode Kills thousand beasts mo then he can deuore So thou stout Edward doth their liues seclude Whom thy braue Brothers haist had past before And tredding proudlie on the multitude Thou seemest sad becaus thou findst no more Whereon to exerceis thy valor so Wishing eche trunk could raise a stronger foe Now at an vther Parte doth enter in The conquering knight that dreidful slaughter makâ— So from the west the drying winds begin To cleir heauins cloudie front and stronglie braks The spoungie bann exhal'd vp by the Sunne Furth of the Germane laik which Aâ—oll taks Vpone his wings and mousters sorth in hosts Wheir with he threats to droun the northern costs Eu'ne so this campioun dâ—iueth bak by force The multitude of armed Squadrons strong His warlik wepon kill 's without remorse His eies such firie splendor dairts along As burns their hearts but fear concealls their lose All turning baks forget to venge their wrong And cairles of their shame their fame their fall They lose their liues their honor hope and all And he that to gainestand will proue so bold As not to flie but brauelie beare it out Soone lyis he breathles tumbling on the mold Which in the rest conferms their fear and doubt Thus foreward none his furie can with hold Till with his Lord he meits wheir all the rout Assembled were and weareid nou with killing The souldiers disperst the tents were pilling But Scots greate king who saw them cairles care More for their gaine then conquest to prolong Causd sound retreat least some neu force repare And bring the conquest backe with shame and wrong By this the English Generall did prepare Of armed knights aboue fiue thousand strong But this braue Lord in time reteird his crew Whill as they had no lust for to persew The worthie Bruce thus haueing payd his foe Of that disgrace which he had lait receau'd He was both lou'd and fear'd and hatit so As the iust worth of his greate deids had crau'd Yea Englands warlick Generall thoght in woe Extold him much when he his worth perceau'd Swearing by Joue that heauins decred to raise him And in the midst of hate was forcd to praise him Wheirfore he breaketh vp his camp that night Letting his Soldiers to their home reteire The mightie Scot to Carrick marcheth right And soiorns their the deade time of the yeare Wheir noght befell him worthie to reciet Saif once he went a hunting of the Deare For their hee thoght no foes could harme afford Since all that land obeyd him as their Lord. Now being much delighted with that sport His warlik knights were neir about him still One day vnto an forrest they resort The hart and hind with Grewhounds for to kill And he allone stai'd in a priuat sort With two swift hounds aboue them on a hill Till all the rest were scattred farr and niere Rousing the woods to bring him in the deere While here he staied three men he did espie Come from the wood with awfull countenance Each bends a bowe and thus doth him defie To venge the Cumings blood is our pretence Braue Sirs quod he then first I praie you trie Me with your swords if I can make defence Thrie one to kill so farre were endles shame So Cowards fight the ualiant hates such game At these his words their bows awaie they threw And with their swoords they sharply him assaile His hounds he loos'd his sword he quickly drew And many bloes on either hand they deale The hounds that sie such foes their Lord persue One by the gorge vnto the ground they haile One of the other two by this he kil'd Then kills him whom the hounds at ground still hild The third who fears such guerdon for to trie Staied not but soon betakes himselfe to flight Whom when these Heauen-ordained hounds espie They follow both with kien and aufull might And in a Trace they force him by and by Most furiouslie vpon the ground to light Their Lord at last from them did him reswme And striklie giv's him his deserved doome When all his knights returnd they wondring view How heavens their Prince from danger had preserv'd To God they gaue greate thanks and Praises dew Reioysing that so braue a Lord they serv'd This did his fame throu all the land renew All wish'd him now what his great worth deserv'd Who skap'd so many Dangers they conclude Must be reserved for a greater goode The Argument FIrst at Gâ—entrâ—ll doth Scotts renowned Prince Get victorie aboue the English foe Douglas at Ederfoord with valiaunce By fourtie doth a thousand overthro Then Pembrok Sews for Battell with pretence To frie the land from longer warr and so 〈◊〉 Lowdon-hill he brings an armie fare But vanquist Fleis the land in greate Dispare Caput 12. WHen in his goolden carroish Sol returns From Zenith bake into the northern starr The Ram growne proud with am'rous heat so burne That with his horns he seimis too make him warr Hils turns in tearis their milk whit Robs and murns To se them selfs so strip'd by Sol afarr Who too redresse that wrong is quicklie seen For ermins poore to cloith them all in green The Gardens pranckt with rosie buds still spring Whill Flora dalleis in her flowire bed Whom Zepheir Cowrts and swit to her doth sing Wiping away the Tears Aurora sched Whoe 's shril sweit notts throu all the sorreâ—â—s ring When Meids with grase and woods with Leavs ar cled So that the spring thus following Phebus treace Made ewre thing to look with cheirfull face When Bruce Scotts hope their confort and their Ioy With all his knights doth too the feilds repeare Stout hardie Eduard feirles of Annoy And fortuns knight braue Douglas al 's wes there Whom victorie did sewintie tyms convoy Crownd with the Garlands of her golden hare And many mo all knights of highe renowne Pillars of State and Pearles vnto the Crowne Thrice nyntie knights their number were at most All marcheing furth with cheirfnll Countenance Whoe 's
worth was knowne so to their Enemeis cost As their brave Generall feard not to aduance With these against a great and mightie lost And hazard all vpon a Battells chance Thus marcheth he and wold with these beginâ— To conquer all or lose what he hath winn This warlik Lord when as the night drew nere Camps on a hill a strength by nature wrought And as the second morning did appeare The watch a Woman had before him broght In beggers weid whom he did straight Inquiet What her Intention was or what her thoght That way to come She answerd to betray him And that his foe wold presentlie Essay him Pembroks braue Erle saide she within a myll Is come with thousands five thee to supprise That Scots and Englishe are and swears the whill That they triumphing on thy death must rise I hope quod he their hopes shall them begyll The right is ours and with the world he crys To arms to arms and in a moment their All cled in dreadfull arms to fight prepare The Prince without the Camp his armie drew In thrie Battalions or Squadrons strong The vangard gave he to the Douglas trew Vnder whoe 's standard Sixtie marcht along Expert in Arms that feats of warrs well knew The reiâ—ward too prince Eduard did belong Which also did consist of Sixtie moe That faint fearis ghostlie house did newer kno The King him self the greate Battalion led Wherin ther stood thryce fyftie borne too fight There Scotlands constabill in arms was cled The worthie hay a bold and fearles knight There Lenox faithfull er'le his ensigne spred There Walorous Boyd and others scorning flight All Soldiers old all weill aprou'd at arms all breathed warr and conquests loud allarms Be they were ranckt and well in Ordre sett A cloud of men of horse of spears and scheilds Comes from a Wood a heard of Deir besett By huntars kein to fearfull flight so yields Whoe 's horned heids a ratling noyse begett Such noyse their lances made when all the fields Were hid with Troups and ew'ne as flights of Croeâ— Sing throw the air their haist such sounding shoes But to the Scots when they approched nere They stood Amazd to sie there good Array Till their Curagious Genrall did them cheirâ— With hopfull words of Conquest spoill and Pray Lo what are those said he which you sie here But Robbers which dare newer vew the day Outcasts and not trew Scots whoe 's warlik force You oft before haue tryde vnto their lose And tho they were there Nations flour and choise Yet are they but a handfull vnto you Gainst ew'rie one let ten them selffe oppose So they beneth Oure conquiring sword shall bow At these braue words the Armie foreward goes With schouts and clamors greate and with a show A front the Douglas troupe they giue the charge Whoe was too few against these squadrons large Yet make they nether murmur noise nor Dinn Saif Armours clash and death resounding blows Till they had pearst these squadrons wide within On eurie hand a streame of blood forth floes That o're their Man-made bankes to swell begin And on their freinds they helpe to venge theer foes For such as wounded cold not stand for paine Falling vntimlie were both dround and slaine The conquering Knight with his victorious band That now hade brokin all the ranks well niere Beholds the Clifford that still fighting stand Whose valors worth he cold not but admire For by that gallant Earls strong conquring hand Some slaine some hurt some forc'd were to retire To him for iust conceaued hate he hies And him to bloodie mortal fight desies Now firste when as the Bruce his foes did view Vnder an ensigne al to march in groe He chargd his Troups their distance to renew And leaue more ground twixt eu'rie batel soe In seu'rall parts they did their foes persue One chargd a front one to each flanke did goe And each a solem vow had made with all Mid-waie to meet or by the waie to fall On the right side firce Edward gaue essaie Whose courage hote cold scarcely be refraind By those more cold by his braue Troupe to staie And yet the vallor of his foes constraind Faire Victorie aboue them both to plaie With doubtful wings till at the last detaind By his all conquering hand beneth his sword They fall yeld flie and tremble at his word But Scotlands famous Champion the while Whoe 's chairge he kneu was their left syid to charge Brak throu the ranks with long and bloodie toill And to his troup he made an entrie lairge Whill th' English Generall chusd their force to foill Fiue hundreth strong with lance with sourd with targe Whoe 's armed ranks he settes into the way Of Scotts renouned king his force to stay These at the first so feirclie doe assaill They brak the Scotts with wraith and heigh disdaine Who yeelding straight begins to bend and reill And braik their ranks nor could from flight refraine Which th' Englishe captane harriugtone sau well By whoess braue hand aught deid the nint neu slaine The standart bore which winn he loudlie cryis The victorie is ours who yeeldis not dyis Scotlands great campioun who this while had fought Amidst his foes and left his men behind Rushd throu the throng and this stout captane soght Whome got his head he from his shoulders twind And wan agane that standart deirlie boght With which he fordward goes wheir he did find His men dispersd but with his cheirfull words They rank them selfs and march with conquring swordâ— The victorie recouerd thus with pane And raerlie wrong out of the English hands Earths brauest Prince leads on his troups agane The standart still he bears and throu the bands Of his proud foes he looks if they contane Some obiect worth the hyir of his demands He shaiks his sword wheirat the English quaik And shrunk oway and out of order brak Then he espyis a littel him before Lennox stout Erle and Hays vnconquerd Lord And famous Boyd all thrie assailed sore And hemnd in by their fois he much deplord Their danger great and valors worthie store They shou for to be tane they still abhord And all the ground to strou it seems they striue With woundit men half deid and half a liue Not fare from them he also might espy Wheir as the conquering knight with clifford stood Clifford was strong but fought too furiouslie And nou groune faint with sheidding too muche blood His cairfull band to saif their Lord wold try Thrusting betuix him and the Douglas good Yea all at once him furiourslie assaill But his vnconquerd valor doth preuaill All this the Prince of warriours did behold And as a Lion nev cum from the wod Roring for pray espyis a scheiphirds fold His â—ungrie Whelps still follow houling loud Whoe 's sight and sound effrais the heardmen bold Thy flie that fearfull foe resistles proud Who killeth all tho one wold serue for food
confusdlie Iarring roar Such sound greate waters send from brokin shoar Or as when Raine by nights blak tempests borne Doun from heighe Rocks and mountans to the plane Stons earth and treis vp by the roots hath torne Till streams and all in one pit fall agane Whoe 's bullring noyse when cums the pleasant morne The herdmen frights that with their floks remane Such sounds their conflict yeilds and throu the aer Sends clamors groans and all th' affects of rear But thou braue Eduard was the first did wound And wounding kild and killing did affright Thy Enemers whill through the troupe redound The neus of thy greate deads which raise on hight Thy soldiers hairts their valor did abound With aufull strenght resistles still they fight And thou bold Hay aduentrouslie did venter Heuing a way nixt for thy troups to enter The woes Hay wroght an English lord their brings Whoe wonders at his deids at last in wrathe A darte he sends that to his labors sings And weill neir broght with it a haistie death Persing his Curace fâ—om his breist out springs A streame of blood neir wheir his life took breath Wheir with the throuer call's now do not bost If thou has kild thy blood appease their Ghost My blood quod he cums from an honord wound But this kein dairt from ane deceitfull hand To tell me of thy treasone it did sound And vows to ayme more right at my command By this the English campeoun was bound With chains of death no longer could he stand Death child his blood and strength within his vains For lo the Schaft send bak had perst his breans The warlick English Generall seis him fall And thrusts vnto the front or face of fight His brand he shaks so dreadfullie with all That many fanting schrunk out of his sight But oure bold Hay wold not his steps recall Whoe 's honord marche reproou'd their shamefull flight And for him self he wisheth death were ny So that braue Imp of Englands race might dy The conquering knight this while had march'd so fare And led his troups so brauelie on his foes That their they yeeld vnto the chance of warr Their ranks sore shakkin now much ground they lose Bak went the first their ordour quite they marr And then the Scotts with clamours hudge arose Some stuffs the chase whoe 's breists with curage boild And other some drew furth the deid and spoild Greate Odomer of all this nothing knew Whoe being woundit by the valiant Hay Enraged like a sauage bore he grew And with a fureous blow he doth him lay Senceles to ground and off his helmet flew Yea surlie this had bein his laitest day But that he saw his side go to the worse And turns to stay their flight his en'meis force He haisteth furth and shaems to sie their foill Whoe 's cheirfull count ' nance maks them all returne Against the Scotts whoe still dispysd their toyll And thikning their instructed pour's they burne With hote desire of their expected spoill And in that verie place wold they soiurne Whill as the light was pent vpin the skyes With swartish clouds of dust that did aryse Eu'ne as in Mills wheir Graine is ground non may Stand neir for dust blowne vp by breathing aer That turns to paled hew their bright array So from returning troups and squadrons faireâ— The clouds of dust suted the Scotts in gray Now fights the English fierslie to repare Their faults the Scotts wold keip what they had winn Both sides stands firme and freshlie doth beginn Bold hay recouered of his trance agane With angrie shame did venge him of his foes Searching for him that left him so in paine Many their life 's for their lordes fault did lose Whill he on wereid killing did remane And gainst wholle trowps he doth him self oppose Whoe 's good example cheirs eche englishe band And to their bold lordes work they boldlie stand Weill bakt with trowps this Mars-like man coms in Who 's deids strook feare through all the Scottish host Who lossing ground to flight doth nou begin But Edward Douglas Haye and Boyd doth cost Along their troups and here and there doth rinn Praising the bold and cowards still they boast Yet their braue deids preuaileth more then cries In leaders deeds the souldiers confort lies But worthie Bruce their harts with courage fills A cloud of Knights with spears shields he brings And as when sheepheards sees from tops of hills A cloud broght from the sea on Eurus wings Amazd they stand and gaze against their wills While heauen on earth a smoakee darknes wrings Which drawing neire to them affrighted then They dreue their heards into some couert den So darkning Earth with spears with swords with shields They came and in their breast a tempest broght To whose apparent wrath the English yeilds For they had seein what these before had wroght Of their left wing they quite had scourd the fields Thus quickly they resolue and with a thought All yeilds to flight and down their weapons threw Scotts kill anb chase til night her conrteins drew The Argument Bruce falleth sick neir to the Northern Shore Tho armie mutanes for his sore diseas Whom at that instant heauins to speich restore Els all hadd yit his speich doth all appease They fight with Buchans Erle and thence they bore Their Lord in spight of foes their camp they raise Auld Meldrums Battell brings his health agane He wins Sanct Iohnstoun with a subtill trane Caput 13. LIghts cheirful dame in saiffron Robs did shine Whoe 's siluer beams through eurie pairt disperst Of this Terrestrial Glob did nou refine The thikned air and leauie forrests peirst Wheir hills Groius dens and valeis deip decline To nights dark showis thoes shadowis broune it sherâ— When to the camp of conquring Bruce aspird Greate troups of Scotts of English thraldome tir'd And all that land soone to his peace was broght Bold Odomer nou like to burst for wo To Bodwell flies and then to Englaud soght No more to Scotland wold he proue a foe Thus was the thrid pairt of the Kingdome thoght Trew homage to their natiue Prince to sho The rest for Lord the English King did know By threttie thousand English held in ow Greate enemies had oure farr greater King In the greate north that natiue Scotts ware borne Their Buchans mightie Erle did proudlie regne That Cummernalds reuenge had deiplie sworne Brechins greate Lord like vengeaunce coueting And with them Sir Iohn Moubray they suborne With many more that by the Cumnings factioun Held many boundles Bounds in greate subiectioun To quaill their pride and tame their tameles wills Directlie north our dantles Prince doth go Crossing these farr renoumed toples hills Of Grangebene that Scotland pairts in two His euer famous name these regions fills With feare and terror of ensewing wo He led his famous captains with him all Saiue Douglas whom he left for to recal Trew Scotts to
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
By schip him self on sea the fight wold view And left two thousand on the land beside That 〈◊〉 montans tope them self withdrew Which did that cuntrie by it self diuide And vnderneth that hill the passage lay So that the arme's forst to pas that way The King that of them had intelligence Sends Douglas furth with him a chosen band Who with much paine but schort continuance Had winn their baks by hid wais which thâ—y fand Now comes the armie to the strait and thence They sie their foes aboue all armed stand On crags and hurld doun mightie stons from hie And thence they lat their clouds of arrous flie Wherefore an vther chosen band intend With valiant Hay to giue the chairge before Of these the stons broght many to their end And some returnd leamd briusd and wonded sore Yet to his foes bold Hay did still ascend Still formest to encurage them the more And tho but feu in spight of all their foes They wan the montains heighest top with bloes But surlie their eche one had losd his life Their foes so hudge encompast them about If Douglas who with labor pane and strife Had not arriued with his resistles rout But then o then bloes wounds and deaths were riâ—e Long faught they long was victorie in dout But Douglas now gan on his men to froune Becaus they were so long vn ouerthroune Then with the strongest ranks it faireth worce His sword their maks a wide and bloodie laine He treds them kild and wounded by his force Who yeeldeth leius all that resists at slaine So kill 's a hound the cur without remorse That bits when he that yeelds his life doth gaine Oure knight still kills the armd with best assistance And scorns t'assaill but wheir he finds resistance Good valiaunt Hay that through the rout furthwent Fand matchles Douglas dealling deaths anew And to his side he step't incontinent A hardie freind bold constant wise and trew These two once mett were all sufficient A greate and mightie Armie to subdew Yea thogh bold Hay had bidden from the fight Douglas allone had put them all to flight At last discomfeit all doth flie away Doune to a tumbling riuer deip and read They past a bridg that our this riuer lay Which they wold cut of danger to be fred But of their work they did them quiklie stay And gaue so fierce a chairge till thence they fled By this one bridg the Armie past the flood And fand from thence that no man them with stood A wondrous strength was their Dunstaffage heght The vanquest rebells mand this fortres strong But with a Seige inuirond hard and straight They forced ar to yeeld it vp or long Argills old Erle a man of wondrous might Got peace whoe 's sone had done such endles wrong Then all submit them selfs the King before Eu'ne all the Lords along the westerne shore All faithfull Scotts reioise of his succes And for to shew their iust conceaud Ire Their craftie foe by craft they wold supres Still when occasioun winkd at their defire Amongst the rest that shew his willingnes A contrey suaine their duelt in Lithgo shire That was both fearles hardie strong and bold He to his natiue Prince some seruice wold A peill or strength by Lithgo lake their stood That held in aw the countrie round about A hundreth English with their captane good Comands the strength wells fortified about This contrey cloune oft for their horses food With prouender and hay came in and out Fiue sones he hade as bold as was their sire Thrie brether borne and bred in Mars his ire And these weill arm'd within a wane he set And cuning lie he couerd them with Hay Then driueth furth his wane straght to the gatâ— Wheir he arâ—â—ed with the morning gray The porter rose and in the wane he let This driuer Binny heght who made no stay But to the porter lept and soone dispatchd him Then furth he lets the rest whill nothing fashd him And soone them selfs they throw the chambres spred Some sleipt some armd and naiked some they fand But all their liues at length they quiklie red None that resists could their rude rage with stand Thret tien were to the captains chalmer fled Who with him thoâ—n armd thes houses mand But tours nor walls could not preuent their smertâ— Mild pitie dualls not in a Curish heart The King returnd from Lorne did weill reward This binnie for so hazardous a deid Then of his nepheu Randolph heth regaird For still his loue his Anger did exceid Morais great Erldome he for him prepaird Of whom hereafter he might stand in neid And sure his worth is worthelie renound A brauer knight neu'r tred vpone the Ground Whoe being to his vncle reconceild Wislâ—d oft within his haughtie heart to sho Some peice of rarest seruice in the feild Whoâ—s fame his former faults might far outgo Fortun eu'ne then did fit occasioun yeild Whereby the King his willing mind should kno Nine prouinces with England yet did stand Besoutâ— the siluer Forth eu'ne all the land Obeid to Englands King but onlie thrie Iedbrughe and Eirik and fair Douglas dail These by the mightie Douglas conquerd be Gainst whose all couquring arme none could preuaill In all these lands braue Randolph weill did sie Many strong holds and castells to assaill Amongst the which was one whoe 's strenth excelâ— The Virgin-tour or Maiden-castell cald Of that heigh crag this beautifies the top Whereon the famous Edinburghe doth stand And that fair touns frie liberteis doth stop So proudlie doth the Garesone command Whoe 's wills to tame their insolence to crop His vncle puts the chairge into his hand Which he obeis and being furneishd out With a strait seige he sets the walls about A Gascon captane cheif was of the hold Whome straight the English tak and putt in bands And of them selfs they chusd a captane bold That valiantlie their enemie with stands Who in continuall labor doth them hold By new assaults with freshe and warlik bands Yet still with lose he 's forcd for to reteir So resolute and bold his foes appeir At last he seiks for to obtane by slight Wheir strenth did faill and wheir no force preuailis For sure it was vnpregnable by might In vaine with warlik force he still assaills Sir Williame Frensh or Fraunces lo he hight Whoe comes one day to him and thus reveills To winn the hold my Lord I know the way Nor all their force my subtle craft can stay My lustie youth I spent within these walls As capteiue whill my father did comand My loue within the toune as oft it falls To whom by night a secreit way I fand Tho dangerous to Bankâ—ts Masks and Balls I went for loue O what can loue with stand I shall you lead vp throu the crag by night Vnto a wall but scant seavne cvbits hight Glade was the erle that he did thus deuise And promeist him
His Sunne is at his Sommerr Sâ—lsteice lo And neids he must returne for to discend Fortun must Froune when she too long hath smilâ— Who surest hopeth oft is oft begâ—ld Yea tho he hed a hundreth Kingdoms more And could a hundâ—eth Englands bring to warr By heaune he shall haue Battell once before He come to Stirling if to come he dare This spak bold Edward whoe 's bold words restore The shining light of Gloreis darkned Starr In many hearts which to greate loue doth raise him His Brother in his heart doth greatlie praise him But grauelie thus agane the King began My Lords my captains and my chiftains all I gladlie wold we were assured when Oure foes should come and when oure troups recall For oure meane force must be made stronger then To catche occasioun and giue vantage small Then Douglas sai's my Lord let one be sent That warlie can perceaue whaat's their inten And surlie I my self the man must be â—yll slilie walk through all their squadrons braue A Frensh man of a Scot they all shall sie With Almans Frensh and Dutch I can disceaue I Knou their Lords and Princes of degrie Through all their camp the secrets I will haue Iyll raise my beard and bazane mak my face Iyll change my voice my gesture and my Grace Loth was the King that he should vndergo This fearfull task he for him self prouids But neids he wold be gone at last and so Disguised like a Frensh man forth he rids His face straik with ane oile no pairt did sho Of his first Grace his countenance it hids The accenâ—s hard of Frensh he sounds so right That eune the Frensh them selfs mistak their sight The worthie Bruce his tyme not idlie spent But forth to muster calls his men of warr Furth to the flourie banks of forth they went Vnto a pleasant Medou lairge and squair Deir Muse tho time hath in obliuion pent These wortheis names that heir did armour beit And made their of springs nams to differ fare Thou knows bothe what they were what they are But what they were were longsome to repeat Onlie as they ar now to vs vnfold That tho their names be some what changd of lait Yet we may know them for the of spring bold That yet remains stand not on points of stait But lat eche land eche prouince be enrold With their Lords name and these such Tinkior lend As mightie time nor age may efter spend Vnto the camp their worthie King forth goes Their King their Captane and their Gen'rall great Whill all the commoun soldeors arose With Ioyfull shouts and signs of Loue perfyit Pleasd with their salutatiouns sweit he shoes A cheirfull smyle their loue for to requyit Then gius command against the following morne Their glorious standarts should the plaine adorne No sooner Titan Butneist Neotuns vawe And spred his beams ou'r Earths enameld brest When forth the wortheis warlick bold and braue Came all in shining Steill their glistring crest Adorn'd with plums their armed horse whoe 's show With statlie prausing seemd with pryde possest Before their Lord he from a rocks proude height One eurie troup doune bent his curious sight Now Eduards Douglas Randolphs troups remaind About the King nor marchd they to the plaine And all on Douglas absence much complaind But most of all his owne men thoght in vaine A sight he of the English camp obtaind Nor feaâ—d he oght nor wold he turne againe Whome to his fortun leaue we now to sho These troups that martchd vnto the plaine belo From Skieland orknay Caittnes faire and wyde Furth stretcht to the great north theis cuntries lyes Came furth two thousand led in martiall pryde By two bold erlls of Antient families That long these cuntries lairge did wishe gyde And tho farr of they ly yet they aryiss To help their noblle prince ther minds so hautie Showing therby their faith loue zeall ther deutie Ross Sutherland Stranauer nixt to them As many men as braue as stout as strong Led by two worthie erlls of auntient fame Greate Sutherland and Ros right famous long Of Irish Scotts in clanns that keipt the name Fiue hundreth thrice their chieftans broght along From all these montane cuntreis north that ly And plesaunt shoirs that coasts the Irish sey Randolph broght forth all Morrays shire almost These wait on him he waits vpon the King The men of Buchane thogh their Lord was lost To shew their loue and duette forth did bring A thousand bold broght from that pleasant cost That still beholds the German Ocean spring For Graine a fertill land for pastor good The men a people of Bellonas brood From Marr two thousand came of warlik fame Led by that euer famous erlle of Marr Whoe 's faithfull heart whoe 's much redoubted name Yet neuer left his Prince in Peace nor Warr Whoe 's Starr of Glorie euer casts a beame Which still Illuminats both neir and farr The men of at holl then their Ensigne spred A thousand by their gallant erlle forth-led From Merns their came of Squiers and of knights A thousand warlick hardie fearles bold Led by their Erlle traind vp in marti'all fights Their erlle whoe 's worth my Muse can not vnfold Whoe 's great ancestors shind still glorious lights And whoe 's first father did the land vp hold From bondage wild for which they still command As onlie greate Lord Merschalls of the land But Angous heght the Region nixt that lyes A famous fertill fair and plesant land From which two thousand did in arms aryse Led by greate Lords that by them selfs command As Ogiluy and Brechin bold and wyse Montrois greate erlle that led a valiant band But he that led the most pairt of that host Was Crausurds mightie erlle who reuled most Nixt Goureis Carss a pleasant euntrie lyes Vpone the northerne banks of famous Tey And to the North the Eist and West aryse Pleasant grem hills vp to the cloudie sky That like a wall impregnable defyes The boasting foe or foragne enemie Streaching their ragid arms aloft ascending The pleasant plains from tempests still defending Wheir Barlie Wheat and all the sorts of Graine That pleasant cuntrie plentefullie yeilds In all the valeys meids and eurie plaine The frutfull Treis at strou'd through all the feilds The Regions round about that doth remane At still suppleid from thence wheir plentie weilds By heau'ne and nature greac'd with all things els That eu'ne the famous Normandie excel's The port or entres to this pleasant land Is strong Dundie weill cituat and fair Betuixt it and the German laek that stand Wheir as Tays mightie floud with murm'ring cair Like Tagus rolling our the golden sand Doth cast him self away as in dispair From this fair land came foorth a thousand good That in their cuntreis caus wold spend their blood By mightie Erroll wer these troups forth led
Whoe 's greate begining gloriouslie was wrought When as the bloodie Danes their ensigns spred Heir to distroy oure natioun whill they soght As endles swarms in thousands Bie-hyus bred Such endles swarms these rude Barbariens broght Of armed sauageis tho still with stood And fild the land with Famine Warr and blood But when their Moone was full their Tyde at hight Oure Eb so low that hope and all was lost Thy first forbe'r stout Hey came to the fight Who with two sones allone their fortune crost Whoe 's valours onlie put them all to flight O wonder thrie our cums a mightie host But so Joue wild that from so fair a spring Scotlands greate Constabill his stream should bring Then fertill Fife nixt musterd foorth hir brood A land by Nature fair and ritche by arte From Tay's great streame to Forths cleir christall flood She gathers furth her bands in eurie parte Erlles Lords and knights they all ar horsmen good Thâ—â—â— thousand chosen men of heighe desarte Rothes greate erlle and many erlls beside Amid these troups spred furth their Ensigns wide Thrie thousand more came furth of Louthean fair All Princes Lords and knights and men of fame Wheir Setons Lord eume Weintons erlle did bear Not meanest reull with vthers of greate name Angous greate erlle aâ—d Morton bothe was their Tho other cuntries fair might them reclame Wheir they bore reull with many barrons more As Gems doe ringis whose worths that land decore Then Lithgoes schire and Stirlings pleasant land Seauin tims five hundreth men of armes forth send Their Liuingston our Lithquhow did comand Lord Elphingstoun his aid did likewaies lend Monteiths old erlle broght furth a chosen band A gallant rout on Erskins Lord depend From Câ—yde that cam all thes and many mo As floods to th' ocean to their soueraing flow Perth and Sâ—ratherne two regions fair and bred Send furthe two thousand hardie knights on horse Stratbern and Drumond erlle of perth furth led The greatest pairt of all this martiall force And hâ—it the Morrayis turth ther ensigne spred Who from Morauia bring ther ancestors A doughtie race of people bold and sterne Led by that valiant Lord of Tulliberne And Bunkills Lord their cam that Stewart hight Whom Douglas with braue Randolph took of yore When Huntles mightie Lord by honord flight Eschaipt from Jedward as you hard before He broght a gallant troup and wroght so right That to his Princes peace he did restore This Adam Gordone huntlies noble Lord With virtue and with valour much decorde He is the Mers a mightie reull did bear Eune he of whom heauns maker had decred Such Branches still should Spring as should vp rear That house to such a height as now his seid Ring 's in the North nor can tims aig out weare Their greatnes worth and vell deseruing meid Nor can it be amise for to repeat From South to North what causd them cheange their seat This Lords braue sone in Mars his bloodie feild In spight of thou sands of his armed foes With conquering suord made Atholls er'll to yeild That in dispight of Scotlands King arose And to the English foe became a sheild Till they the secound time procuild new woes For which braue deid his Prince did him declaire Lord of Strathbogis fertill region faire His race ay since oft mixt with Princelie blood In the greate North doth worthelie comand From Bogyis stream too Speyis greart famous flood And famous made their name in manie a land And to their Prince hath done suche seruice good As in the hight of Glorie still they stand So litill springs of fair cleir christall fontains Become greate floods and sueill ore toples montains From thence greate Lords arose whoe 's virteus rate Might well by fames eternall beayes be cround Of whom our cuntreis vriters at so speare That in obliuions floods their deads ar dround Whoe 's worth greate woloms cold not all declare Deseruing well for ay to be renound Yet vriters bleamles ar eas may be seine For of renoune all Scottâ—s hath carles beine Which maks them yet vnto the wordle obscure So thâ—t most parte of Europe doeth not know them Altho their woorthie actions might procure Our all the Earth in glorie for to shou them What Homers paines can make their name indure Prais them aliue lett death quite ouerthrow them They scorne their wealth should â—herish learning treâ— And after death to look for paiment deu But soft my Muise faint not for all they paine This famelie doth for the worlde prepare A youth who seiks too waish away that staine From this greate hous with Magnanimious care Whoe 's Martiall heart heauen neuer framd in vaine Like to his valiant Syres that might compare With fortuns knight for happie succes still So fortune shall his braue desings furth fill O this is he that most one day propine Me with the flowing subiect of my song Vpon whoe 's brou such glorie greate shall shine O Muise my zeall inflame with furie strong His cheracter to paint with tinktor fine Transparent neate and cleir my laies among All mistereis thou know is beneath the skies Then lead me in whear his rare fortunes lies What is he then O bodlie may thou say In his ritch Soull all faculties inshrind Whoe 's sweitt complexion beares a mutuall suay Of all the elements in peace conioind With such a loue and fraudles sâ—â—pathie As all commands yet all obeis the mind His temper fine doeth moddell furth aparte The rare ingine of nature heaune and arte Time shall not cheange his purpose soleid ground His course no course shall let or bear awry Fortune in chains his fortitude hath bound Nor Iudgements sharpest cleir and subtill eie Can pry wher danger once his heart shall wound His matchles mind is Eleuat so hie Yea Nature of her Treasure Wealth and Store Giues him the key and lets him opp the dore But o how am I thus with pleasure led Amide the wildernes of his perfection Where hauing thousand sondrie waies to tred My self may lose my self without derection From such a laborinth I most be fred To hold my wandering wits in some subiâ—ction Their wher thow left deir Muse retourne in haist When Gordons Prince him in the North had plac'd He did not leue by south his seatt so beare But of a younger brother is discended From that same Stook a race whoe 's virteus rare Hath worthie still bein iudg'd to be comended But pardon me that stands for to declare The race of which I not so much intended Yet if I bring more from obliuions brink What reasone i st they should in Lethe sink This Huntlâ—es Lord greate Gordone with him broght A thousand horsmen clade in glistring arms All these cast of the English yock and soght After the dreadfull sound of warrs allarms From Huntlie and long Gordone some all thoght The Mers obeid and feard
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