Fearing his lordes vnty melie blasted bayes And as he doeth presaige so shall it fall Their dyes his royell Prince his sones and all Yet shall their ritch and froutfull seid spred furth Four brainches faire whoe 's frout is rypt by fame Whearof the secound planted in the north Shall graice that soyll with blossomes of his name Nor shall the thrid know anie vant of worth The fourth shall cleinge his blot in vertues stame But lo the firsts rare sone shall greace the lyne And shall our English roy ell blood proypne With that rare dame whoe 's heauinlie greace is such As hir sones sone shall be that blaising light Whom all divyns and Prophetes praise so much Of whom faire Albione longes to heaue a sight The Eame which all the prophiciâ—s would twich The ioiner of this Iills disioyned might For Albeone it 's now in name allone But then in substance we shall Albeone But leaue we him till god appoint his tyme And turne ws to that Lord that antient knight Whoe 's chairge is free vnchairg'd with anye crymâ— Famous for witt and fortunat in fight Not one beneath this cold distemperd clyme May clame more princelie vertues for his right Yea Anâ—kermure his fortune fare shall sie Whear he obteans a glorious victorie Two brother shal he heaue both valiant knights From whom two famous famâ—â—â—is shall spring The first 's reare sone weill skild in martiall fights Obteans his vnkles pleace in euerie thing Thus is that hous prepaeid of glorious lights By heauins eternall vniuersall king For reulls the line they sore in verteous deids And if the breanch it self that breanch exceids Then cums the last of this fair braench in fine For vertue cald the good when from the north Shall come a knight that shall succeed by line Who weied with him doeth equalize his woorth And yet with fame can not the world propine So loth is time to bring occasioune forthe Yet vertue for his sone shall grace prepair And thus to fame shall measour forthe his shair Heauin cheanging time shall siuill discord reas And wrap the Scotts in wealth consuming woes When he by god set vp vnto thees daies Shall leaue his soil to forren lands he goes Widing throu rtubles streame and thear with praise His pen vnto his predicessoures showes The way to win from darck obliuiones night Boolding their trophe is with his vertues might This lamp gone out o then his sone succeides Reasing that hous declind to former height Whoe 's mind is great with child of glorious deids And as a Collon fair vpholds the weight Of ane learge frame so from his witt proceids The strenth that onder props that neames great might Yet he by airt stops natures streame to flow With Junos string still bending Pallas bow He ripes the tumbes of his Ancestors old And brings them clod with robes of heauenlie light For all enshewing aiges to behold They shute furth beams of fame and glorie bright Which long lay hidde in nightes dark pitchie mold Ou'r vaelde by sadd obliuion from our sight Their ghostes reioising that so rich a geme Springs from thear loynes t'immortaliz their name Now cumes the nixt great famelie in sight That iointlie with the first at first shall spring Which eurie where sendes furth such lampes of light As Earth and other firmament doeth bring Wherin eche fixed starre doeth burne so bright As yeelldes hoth lyf and light to eurie thing So farre those glorie lighting flammes doeth shine Moueing their orbe with influence deuine The first that shall illuminat the skie Of this bright orber this hea'une reflexing sphere Armed with his fathers magnaminitie Shall be a great and mightie man of warre Of whom shall two arise to rectifie Two lines that shall their fame to heaune vprear Yet to the younger shall the elder fall And both thus ioined shall one great house install O thou thrice famous lake and strand of Leuine Famous for that great reace shall come from the Inrich'd with graces by the wandering Seuin That still aloft in th' azure vallers flee The first that shall adorne thy watrie hea'une With sure and stay'd establisd reul I sie By fatell deades shall manie fortunes shair And Pallas sword shall all his pathes prepair The beaies thy temples shall at lintoune beare Whear thow by valout from a valiant knight The leopard and Flourdeluce shall teare Thus shall thy arme put all thy foes to flight But when the valiant Perfie wageth warre Against his Prince in that ontimlie fight Thow valiant lie aduentring then shall fall Yet after death thy fame shall sore oure all But thou braue youth altho a stripling young Scornes in thy natiue soil for to remeaine Thou heirs Bâ—lonas dreadfull bell was roung Following the voice with honoures thristing paine Wheer all the plaines inbroudert war along With gorre blood rent armes and souldiers slaine Theer haiueing win fair conquest by the hair Thou leapes from of this wordlie theater And then succeides that all prais worthie youth That with the ground stone laies a fairer streame Mounting that house vp to the secound grouth Whois worth in varre illusterates his name Then cumes that blaizing comet of the south Whoe 's voundrous deads with terror soundes his fame His lookes sendes vertue furth so graic'd with art As striks mild reuerence in each barbarous heart And yet his galent sone shall with him striue Who to that aige shall greatest light restore As painefull bees still workes to serue the hiue And leazie drons that deoth their wealth deuore Their dares not enter nor with them may striue So nature doeth prouid for to decore That fruitfull Stem with such whoe 's pains excidesâ— Past all cumpare in heigh and vertues deades No frutles drone shall from that reace arise Ech giues testificats of honours height What praises to the sext can I deuise That serues his Prince in manie a blood die fight Nor conquest euer to eroune his pains denies Nixt him cumes one whoe 's worth and pourfull might Doeth aid his Prince against vsurping foes Whois vant at last that mightie Prince ouerthoues But O what knight is this Adrest for warre That all the countray round about Obaies Whome greatest Princes of the land doeth feare In bloddie battell who at last assaies Our English force from of his Prince to beare With whom ane vther valiant compioune staies And whill to seaue their Prince their liues they yeild Great multitude from valour wins the feild But who coms heir in the could north t'insius Such heauenlie gift is all Europe passing by O it s Apollo suir that dooth refius The east and coms the wast too beutifie Whear he the siluer laik of Leuin doth chuis The cleir Caballian streams he doth deny Thus leauing Gretian plainis and pleasant fontanis He seats him self neir too the Ocheell montanis Whear whilist he veiues
each of life dispaires and death attends They â—ther knoe the fight in friendship ends Caput 1. OF Martiall deeds of dreadful warres I sing Of Potentates firce Knightes Champions bold Who to mantaine o're threw a valiant King Most brave atchieuments well perform'd of old What flamming swords blood terror death can bring Love tyme and fortuns wheele that still is rold My vrigine Muse doeth laboure to bring forth Crownd with the golden starrs which grace the North Those Heroese old whose glory seems obscure Of which in Fames steel tables nought remains I offer on your sacred shrines most pure whose strength labours weighty swey sustains Those antients worth in you doth liue secure which once may be the subiect of my paines wherewith my laies adornd shal flie a long And make the earth enamored of my song Why heau'ns powrd out such a deludge of woes which to the world my weeping muse doth sing And how those sad tumultuous broiles arose O who can tell since heauens eternal King After his wil earths Empires doth dispoese And fatal periods to all Rengs doth bring Who shakes the earth assunder in his wrath And melts the heau'ns with his consuming breath But ô what wast involu'd those daies in warres Was 't not that age by force gouerning al Which now is reuld by arte or was 't the starres From whose coniunctions these mishaps might fall Or was 't helbred enuie that al things marres Forcing themselues destruction forth to call No no it seemes eternal heau'ns decree That sines owne weight by sine ouer'throwne shold be But soft my home-bred muse sore not too high Least thou or'epas what erst thou did'st intend Send passion hence be modest flie enuie With pow're deuine bring this great worke to end Thou eu'erie verse each line each woord must trie In my fraile brest thy sacred furie send That who so reades these lines for those respects Maie praise thy deeds and pardon my defectts In that faier Land where floweth al delight That heauen on earth whose paradisian plains Had drawne the Douglas farre from Fathers sight Where he both arts and elloquence obtaines He stai'd till dreidful warr with thundring might Soundes forth his countreis ruin woes paines Then fortune fate reuenge glories spoile Inuites him home vnto his natiue soyl And once ariuing hereehe might behold The murnfull monuments of death feare It seem'd that heauen fortune had controld The Fates Joue by hoaried Stix did sweare Those daies in vengeance bookes shold be enrold Those worthles times al worthy time shold teare From memorie as monuments of shame The blotts of age and onely stains of Fame As one within a Garden faire in maie Seis flora deck'd in bewtis brauest pride Sweet smelling Roses fragrant fresh gaie Pincks Violets and thousand flowers beside That parradice there onely seemes to staie Yet Pisces coolling once faire Phaebus side That fruitful place by frost hailes disgrac'd So seemd this pleasant land now quite defac'd For loe a straunger nation doth he sie Inhâ—bit all the countrey round about And al his natiue countrie men did she Yealding to feare fate fortun chance dout Waste ruinde walls tours touns hamlets be The meids and pleasant valleis in and out Vntild ' like deserts voyd and quite forsaken Abandon'd of their owne of strangers taken And where he goes the ground did seeme to moorne Planing for lose of her deir naturall Brood The floodes their sweetest murmuring streames did turne From fair cleir cristall dropes to crimsone blood From Forrests home the whisling winds Retoorne Dwlce sounds of sorrows Melancholique Mood Thus in his Eares Earth water winds and Tieis Sad Musick make of sadder Tragedeis To see so fair a kingdome desolate And snche a mightie Nation thus forlorne His Frends all lost him self disconsolate Tears sighs and grons made speiche Long time forborne At last those Doolfull words thus Intricat With sorrows deip his woful heart has torne Ah was I borne and must I leive to sie The Sone to shine on this Thy Infamie Ah now Poore Cuntrey wofull is thy fall But ah moire wofull is thy wretched State Thy Blis to Bail the heavens to soone did call But farre too swift now comes thy helples fate For â—re vndone and no remede at all Ah no remede said I yea though too late Can heauens thy Croun of glorie from thy brow So soone teare of so famous stil til now Where was treue vallor found if not in thee In thee was virtue neu'r by time outworne The source of Loue the Nursse of Vnitie Where Faith and Treuth were bred brought forth borne Witts habitation Fortuns Constancie But now al theise euen theise are quite forlorne And in a dolful den thy Genius lies Howling for Blood vengeance to the Skyes Hence cursed time more wold the knight haue said But he beheld a warriour at hand His furniture and Armour sanguin red A bunch of fethers on his Crest did stand Him wold this fearce sad angrie Eatle inuade And in the other like desire he fand Each other with tempestuous furie greet So in the aer the bolting thunder meet Loth was each spâ—ar to wond his enemie Their wrathful masters message while they go Al shiuered moorning through the aer they fly Complaining of vnkindly discord so While that the Champions chaft with anger be For each disdaines a match in armes to know Each takes the other for an English Knight And seeks reuenge with force hate rage dispight Eu'n as two aged strong and sturdy Oakes Against a thundring tempest firmly stand Or as two raggid Clifs of mighty Rocks Beare of the wafting surges from the land So each abides the others pondrous stroaks These onely two trew vallor did commaund Yea who so eu'r had sien that warrlike fight Feare would haue bred both terror and delight By thrusts and foins their bloes seconded be Each waits occation each aduantage spying Each on the other hath a watchful Eie Each shuns the fents for open wards stil prying Where plaâ—s were iyond and buckles ty'd they sie Yeat eithers foresight others flight denying Stil fretting in themselues with rage and ire That neither could their conquest wisht aspire Somtime their Swords forth from their helm shield Send firie sparkles spangling all the Aier Euen so the Meteors fighting lightning yeald Beneath the Northern Pole that doe prepare To cleare the starrie firmamental field With cold extream pure subtil sherp and raire That els wold geall the cloustred clouds aloft And make a bad confusion straunge and oft As fast as haile in sharpe and Iscie balles Vpon the tiled housses doth alight So thik fo fast each speedie blow doun falles batring their helms and shields with furious might They fighting wishe each others funerals Four houres it was since they began the fight Some litle wonds had each of others woon Yeat both as fresh as when they first begun Now was the Sun declining to
assignes great empires for his lot Heir doth he marche in arms to warr Inclind Ou'r Danub Neill Euphrates Ganges hote And treds on all as on that fearfull here Gainst his victorious Arms that dars prepare Heat his royall fathers heigh command This greate and weghtie chairge shall vnder go For dred reuenge with warts hote burning brand Send from that angrie Monarchs breâ—st shall thro A thundering tempest our all sea and land With schame lose foyle blood ruin wrak and wo For why his waiting slaues ar warr and death T'unbind his browes knit vp in cloudes of wrathe To whoe 's braue sone thus sent the lord hath granted If hee his thoghts hoord in that heauenlie place With him and his hee sure hes couenanted To pour ane Ocean of his plenteous grace Nor his greate Syrs dominions shal be wanted But all from fertill Jnde to Occades All shal be his and his victorious hand Ou'r sea and earth all nations shall command And lo that dreadfull Serpent scourge of earth Whoe 's pride aloft him to the heavns doth rear Shall yeeld to his all-conquering arme whoe 's worthâ— From his prowd head this Diadem shall tear And Ioyne it to his oune by right of Birth Then to his sauiours sacred tomb shall bear This glorious standart this triumphant Signe Of sinn of death of hells great tameing King Nature and all her train on him attend Putting the golden key Into his hand Of earth and seas ritche treasure to the end That all obey and he may all command Ceare wisdome foirsicht virtue to him send Fortun fast bound with many thousand band Loue Beautie youth striue to adorne him more Then virtue grace and wisdoms plenteous store The tuelf greate Labors of that antick Lord Was Iustlie praisd and magnifeit allone Yet much more worth to him sall be restord Then Men beasts monsters conquerd one by one Wheir onlie strength noght witt did aide afford Ou'r murdred beasts his glorie shall not shone But Kings subdew't and mightie nations strong Shall to his fame and endles praise belong This Prince shall always feill heauins gratious loue And happie fortuns shall consort him still Proud conquering Mars still by his side shall moue Fair victorie shall eu'r obey his will His infancie she nwrsing shall remoue To noble hoppes and his strong yeers furthfill With statlie Trophes and his aige with balms With crouns with Lawrells and triumphant palme The boundles sea shall seeme to him a brook Heaun threatning Alps shall seime ane easie way Two horned Po shall his proud streams rebook Beholding his victorious armie stay His glassie Cave he leaus and cums to look Wheir as a thousand cisterns eu'rie day To pay their endles siluer tribute hyis whichtil that time did newer view the skyis The aiged flood cums grauelie from his cell Doun from his head hings dangling siluer tressis From eu'rie hair a christall spring doth fall Ay when he sweats a roaring Steams foorrh praissis Eche sigh raise vp a wane eche groan foretell A fearfull inundation following passes His vrinkled Brou's a pearly dew distelleth His greennishe eis with endles tears still filleth The Nimphs with daunsing round about him trips Aganes the Sonne their azure mantils shone From vaue to vaue the wanton faries skips Whole scoolls of fishe heir swims their leaps anone Their watrie Lord with Ice cold schivering lips Thus chyds his streams you foolish streams allone Ah will you thus heauns champion ganestand When sea and Earth obeis his conquiring hand Proud brooke be calme abate thy raging torrent Gainst him whome Ioue hath loude lift not thy horne Rol smothe youe waues lash not your swelling current Furth at his glorious fleet which should be borne On youre smooth backe but dance an easie currant With me your aged flood with years not worne Till his victorious armie march before Their glistring ensing's on our eastern shore His fear'd renoune like thundring cannons roars In eche mans ears through all lands touns and tours And tempest like it beitts the baltike shoars Clouds of his wrathe in haills scharp stormie shours Tumbling throgh mightie winds aloft still soar's At whoe 's dreid sound all nat'ions sadlie lour's And ou'r all lands it fleis at last it falls And beats doun bulwarks touns tours gates and walls This valorous Prince wise cumlie fair and neaâ— In eurie thing him self shall bravelie bear His Enemeis he shall no sooner threat Than hee shall ouer throw with schame and fear The terror of his name sall tyrannes beat Doun from their throns who yeelds before he warre For Joue noght geu's him sparinglie good hap But alway pours doun plentie in his lap Thus thy greate house thy race thy of spring faire Vnbred vnborne all those and mor 's enrold On heauens brasse leafes by the almighteis cair For all ensuing aiges to behold Be thankfull serue loue Praise his merce is rare That in heauins birth did frost their Births vnfold So thy blisd race shal be more blessed still Nor time nor age thy blesse'd Seid shall kill And thou deir Countrie with all Grace contented That heau'ne on fertill Earth can thee afford Let not thy mind with pride be once atteinted For those great blessings of thy greatious Lord. Let not fair â—ates approch be so prevented And Blise Once geuin with shame soone bak restoerd But O allace heir my poore Soule doth faint O then I fear a thankfull mynd thou's want Which if thou doe th'almighte's smyles shall turne To hote consumeing wrathe and coales of fire That shall thy intrealls all thy bouells burne Thou's feill his iust sad wrathe and dreadfull ire For which thy maids and hearmles babes shall murns Nor shall thy Plagues watre famien death retire â—ill thow be wallouing in a crimsone flood And dround almost in thy oune guiltie blood Greate Ioue shall send straunge Nations farr and neir Within thy natiue land thee to distroy Earths farrest ends thy widowes plaints shal heare Wheir weiping aer thy mornings shall convoy From Pole to Pole beneath heavins volts so cleir Echo shall sadlie soond thy sad annoy Annoy cuts his discours thus wofull harted Wheir with the Prophetizing spreit departed Long time he silent stood at last againe He thus began braue Prince in time bewarr Lest when the croune thou freilie shalt obtaine Thou let not sinn and vice creip in so farr That Joue his endles Blessings he refraine And thee and thyne with endles vengeaunce mars Which if thou doe not than thou heir hast sene What hath for thee and thine prepared bene Thus said the Prophet whill the Prince reioisd Those of his royall of spring thus to sie In heauins so framde by Ioue so weill disposede And rendring thanks to his greate majestie Eune then a vow hee on him self impoisd His Kingdome once at peace his crowne made frie Hee with ane armie great Christs tomb wold view
he threats threatning deis The captains Brother thristing for reuenge Thrusts throu the throng and to the Prince he hyis Wrath from his eies foorth sparkled lightning straunge And with an Angrie voice he sternlie cryis Ah villans you your credet thus infreinge Ah soldiers you no soldiers thus that seis Your captane slane ah now returne yow neuer You Fasards wretches Outcasts curst for euer Waik feble faint for horse for sword or spear More fit for iron toolls then Armour bright Your heads Breists baks should hauie burdens bear No helms nor sheilds should you adorne with light In curage place is entred shame and fear No hope is left but in your feit and flight In darkest night your cheifest strenth abyds Darknes your shame your feare and faintnes hyds And full of raige for eu'rie word a stroak He gius oure Prince whoe 's sword bears eurieble And whill he yet enraig'd wold more haue spok He cuts his words and with them cuts in two His Iaws on him death spreads his mistie cloak He on his brother falls whoe leiuing lo Him doth imbrace both kish both soules remoue O! Pitie great O! Blesd O! wandrous love Now foreward rushd this single Campioun stout And maks such hauock alway wheir he goes As Boreas when he has blasted out His storms of Herbs Treis Beists and Foulls the foes Or as the raiging Floods that rore and rout Gainst Rooks or Thunders that heigh Tours doun throes As Earthquaks threat to burst the eairh a sunder His force so shaks thois bands O Strenth O wonder Whill thus he kills and driu's them bak by force And all their bloes vn-harm'd vn-hurt sustaind Horse bruisd their Maisters whill he treds the horse In and beyond the stream they all remaind Forst doun with might the passage quite they lose When lo the armie cums and quiklie raind A storme of swords whill trumpets roaring blast Warr's thundring tempests foorth with lightning cast Death horror murther feare Greif sorrou Paine Came fare before and with thier tallons wide Sease on their hearts and chilid in eurie vaine Their vitall Breath that fleis it self to hide Nou ar they so benoum d that scarce remiane Strenth for to flie Or force for to abide Some flee some fall some droun dispaird allone Eche vther hurts for haist for to be Gone The Prince by this of al his foes was cleird And setts him doune vpone a stone to rest Sueat on his face Blood on his arms appeird His breath was short faint heat his hairt opprest Wearie his arms his hands so stiflie steird He could not weild his sword which he possest And lo the sword did seeme no sword at all So blunted was the Edge and hack't so small By this his Troups were come vnto the place And for him calls and for him loudlie cryis But when they fand him when they kneu his face In heaps they run to feid their longing eies And doun they fall his feitt for to imbrace With thanks and praise to God they rend the skeis That hee allone overcums a thousand foes They doubt who wonders most or most reiocs They find the captaine and his Brother slane And fiftein more ly wallowing in their blood Some English were some Scotts who felt the pane They gane who gainst their king and cuntrie stood In Gallowoy these Troups did all remane Holding that cuntrie in great feruitude They took King Edwards pay their captane bold Broght them in hope of gane praise Glorie gold But the Lord hay and vthers graue and wise Against his rashnes bitterlie did chide Quod they what proue you in this interprise No Generall nor no captane Prince nor Guide In whoe 's deir lose en'ne all oure losse nou lyis Nor ours allone but all this all beside Ah should you not to mind oure natioun call That but for yow no natioun were at all Allace do you of Glorie so at count That It to gane ane Empire you wold lose Nor can you not to endles glorie mount But to all dangers you yourself expose In vaine poore valor doth for Glorie hount If noght for Goode of wisdome he maks choise Be wise deare Lord since of our croun and camp You ar the head the heart the life the lamp He litle answere to these speeches made But said he forcd was ether fight or flee Now to the camp triumphand waies they ryid Whil day shuttes furth his siluer hornes on hie Fame flees oure all on Warr's winges sanguine reid And stroues the seid of this great victorie Which back vnto the camp brought manie skore Who crost with fortunes bad hade fled before Edward the bold in Lennox nou remiand And with thrie hundreth did that land subdeu Who hearing what his brother late hade gaind Returnes vnto the campe with all his creu The Douglas with his traine that late obtaind His oune cheef strenth which last he ou'r threu Heares that the Clifford had with wondrous care Reedified the bulding much more faire And left a warr-like man a valiaunt knight To keep the hold with him three hundreth strong And he who thus commanded Thirswall hight A man who hade in warre experience long Yet wold the Douglas needs essay his might And to the world make knowne his right their wrong To sixtie now his traine augmented werre With those he wold essay the chance of warre The Argument An English visard with great arte foreshowes The Douglas of spring great to these our daies And how that happie famelie aroise To fortunes height where at the world may gaize The secound time he doeth himself apoise Against his foe and their with endles praise Oure throwes the captain of his cheifest streinth Then back to ead his Prince returnes at leinth Caput 9. NOw with this English captaine did abyde His Vncle old graue learned wise and trew Whoe 's iudgement deep was rairlie deified Highe misteries and secreitts hidd he kneu One day by chance the Douglas he espyde Who thus vnto the Captane quicklie drew From this infused spiriet and flowing minde This Historie by hea'une long since deuinde The righteous heire of that most famous line That shall the Scots ferce natione still adorne To whome and not without right doeth incline These Lordshipes great which Clifford holdes in scorne Who once hath wunn this strength without ingine Whoe 's virtue be no time can be outworne Shall winne the land againe and it posses In vaine wold mightie England him oppres O're him to triumphe ne're shall England bost But victor he shall ouermore remaine He shall not feare to meet their mightie host With his small troupe the gatland still to gaine Whill fortune his attempts hath neuer crost He cloi'd with conquest heir shall croce the maine His Princes vnperformed vow to beare Where infidells his worth shall knou and feare Nought without cause the west shall feare him still Their cheefest nationes force his sword shall tame And all the
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
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