to vew What they by valor wroght doth nixt enseu The Argument The warlick Douglase on his iournay goas Wheir his most loued Lord did him command He finds a deing knight that sadlie shoes A tale most Pitifull to vnderstand Which dooth a wofull Iniurie disclose Wheir of he vous reuenge and in that land He knou's a knight who is counsall doth obtane Douglase cheif strength the English bands ar slaue Caput 7. FAir fortuns knight that erst had tane in had The cuntrie al about to vieu and sie And all the fois designs to vnderstand whē titanes spous with purple wings forth flie The golden barrs heaunis siluer gates vpbà d She straight vndois when with dreid majestie On silver pauid heauins her Lord of light Rolls forth his golden whils and chareot bright The weestern lands in clouds of night enrold From shaddow is dark of death he doth releas When as the earle so strong so stout so bold Brings foorth his troup weill armd and thence a pais He marcht ou'r daells hills vaills and forrests old And paissaige frie he finds in eue rie place For being oft encountred by his foes Fair victoorie still foreward with him gois This conquering Lord thrie dayis surth Iournay't right When in a wod hard by a riuer side They sadlie hearea wofull groning knight Forth throu the grous to him in haist thy ride Who deidlie woundit lay a wofull sight His gorie blood the flourie verdir dyit The erle with pitie sadlie him desoght What murtherers that cruell act had wroght He weaklie leans his head vpone his hand Wan was his face paile death haith dim'd his sight An holow sound his deing voice yet fand These words he braethed faintlie as he might Ah shall the conquerd conquerours with stand When eu'ne them selfs against them selfs still fight Ah heauins thy wrath procur'd doth nou discend Ah Scotts your name fame glorie nou must end In Douglas duelt I kennedie I hight My wife a ladie was allace too fair To fair allace my sorrous doth indight Her too chaste mind was frought with virtues rai◠In her was all my ioy all my delight With her remaind my heart my thought my cair Yea she me also lou'd as much and more She me esteimd all earthlie ioys before A hundreth soldiers and a captane bold In Douglas strongest castell doth remane These hath the land in all mischeiff inrold Which nou by wrong to clifford doth pertane By wrong vsurping Edwards gift and gold whill the right heyre deferrs his right to gane And all the land obeys this captains will Ether in right or wrong in good or Iil One day hee chancd my ladie for to vew Whill she one diuine seruice did attend Whill as enamord straight of her he greu Whom not enioy't death wold affectioun end Freindship hevrg't on me thus did enseu Tuixt mee and him greate loue but still he faign'd For all his freindship was for to desceaue me And of my cheifest ioy for to bereaue me Such freindlie loue he seim'd to me to bear Confermd with words with vous with oaths not feu That my too trustie mind could noway fear From such fair sugrad words decept t'inseu But lo he whisperd in my ladeis ear That I to her did bear a mind vntrew By this one Slight to winn his soot he tryit When by all vther means he was denyit No head to this fond taill at first she took At last he vrg'd so far he taks on hand She should it sie her eie theiron should look Prouiding that she wold but cloisllie stand And nothing wold beuray to his rebook Wheit to she yeilds at last which erst I fand Then foorth into a Groue he did her bring Our which a mightie clisted rock did hing Neir to my house this quiet walk dothly By which a cleir swist runing riuer glyds A Sister hath my ladie neir hand by That with her sire a graue old knight abide For her the captane seimd in loue to dy When Pensiue oftentims allone he rids He hants my house and yet no Ill I deim'd His virteus worth I still so much esteim'd Whill oft he pensiue seimd and sad with greif I much desird the caus thereof to kno Oft wishd I to his woi's to find releif When after greate and much Intreatie lo He so disgueis'd his thoghts that to be breif He made me to beleiue his ceasles wo Proceids from ladie Anns fair beauteis beame For so my ladeis sister heght to name I pitied him and glad of this his loue Promeisd his sute should cunninglie be wrought For which in sacreit I her mind wold proue This he allous for this was all he soght But praied I to my wife sould nothing moue Nor she nor any els shuld know his thoght But trist her to that secret Groue I should And their allone to moue her if I could When night driu's day doun from the westerne lands Eu ' ne then he brings my ladie foorth to vieu Wheir I and her fair sister cloislie stands Within a Groue of bussis thik that greu My Aarms Imbrac't I gript and wrong her hands And of these words I softlie did reneu Thow then most worthie fear not lou's annoy Be secreit still and thou shall all enioy This hard my ladie like to burst for greif Tortred with burning love and cold disdane Whilst I poore Soule knew noght of this mischeif Whiche to aquite my paines he doth ordane Yet to his loue this finds him no releif Her spotles name for this she wold not staine But closlie heapes her pane her greif her woe In her poore heart till it sould burst in two As dooth a neu fresse strong and mighte wyne Perse throw and burst his vessell ould a shunder So wold her sorrous split her heart in twyne So oft she wishd to fall her Burden vnder But hee that could not worke with this Ingine His lust to furie turn'd almost ô wonder Yet loth by force to work this cruell fate Lest hee were thoght of all the most ingrate Not that he cair'd for creder faith or fame But that he fear'd some fatall punishment Whill as his passion birneth so extreame As if it lested death wold all preuent For seiknes doth him quite from health reclame His vitall pour's a burning ague spent Wheirwith he seimd tormented so indeid As his disease all humane panes exceid Such greif for his diseas I did conceaue And such the loue was I to him did beare Of food of rest of sleip did me bereaue Nor can I half expres my louing feare One day I hapt of his diseas to craue The ground or caus wich long I could not heare Ah if your health were in my pou'r said I Or that my life with death your life might by Doe then to mee your Sorrous all declare That if I can both wold and should reliue you Hope helith woe wisdome our cums dispare And counsall can remeid all paines that greiue you By
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
yow and all the world beside In these and suche like speaches past these two The longsome night till Morpheus provide For drowsie flight who ou'r the Earth soone past And lights on them with lazie wings at last When nights swift cours with silence was outworns She givs a kinde fairweill vnto the day The wing'd Musitians which awake the morne With hollow throts and horned bills did play The Nightingale whose Musik Match dooth scorne The Maues that throw Forrest Echois ay The lark that warns the craftsmen of their pains And laborers that daylie toyll for gaine Eu'n as a Man in sleip that seems to heare Of Instruments and song a hevn'lie sound To them in sleepe such sounds did now appeare Their Soulls transported were when Ioys abound They hard the Aengells heav'nlie Musick cleir In Paradise it seemd them selfs they found Cloy'd whill they walk throw groves of all delight Sweit to the smell and plesant to the sight And in this pleasant Slumber whill they lay This fetherd Crue with their enchanting sound Above them on the tender twists do play Wheir Musicks weilset descant did abound When in the east arois the glorious day His crisped loks in siluer Cisterns drownd Waueing his golden vaill bright poure and cleir Wheir throw the clouds like crimsone flams apeir The Argument The Bruce dispersed host their Lord doeth know Who to Kintyre reteirs and their doeth sie An aged Syre that vnto him doeth show The heauen lie const ullations curtouseie And his blesd race and princelie stemm doeth draâ— From these rair purtrates in the heauens that be He showes eche Prince and doeth the lyne aduance To that fair matchles Douager of France Caput 4. SOft now my Muse and do not sore to hye Waed not in curious questiones too deep Let thy pure ground be trueth and veritie And learne the cheefest pointe's heads to keep Altho thou somtyme wantonize awry To recreat thy self yet softlie creep So neir the treuth as none may heare nor se To taint the chastest care nor sharpest eye The chyld doeth learne his lessone euerie day Yet play doeth oftin recreat his Sprite play sharpes thingyne makes pregnant witt's they say After long studie honest mirth is meet The purest trueth doeth harshslie rune away But sau'ed with Parnass streames it sounds more sweet The strengthes stomak waek and wanting power With sugar sweet accepts a portion sover Whill Bruce and Douglas sleepes and dreames of toyes That in their moystned braine impression makes Evne as the Day comes in they heare a noyes A noyes that suddanelye them both awakes Yet makes them both therafter to reioyse And greif's sad vale from their sharp eyes it shaekes For heaune blissd Bruce was so with patience cround Adversitie his mynd could neuer wound Altho he gravelie did vnfold his ill Vnto the valiant Count his woes bewaeling Yet with a constant minde he actes them still His cheerfull lookes and words so muche prevailling As in their heattes all thought of feare did kill And winnes their love their curage still appealling Who were his followers in eche wofull fight And could no danger feare if in his sight Which made them all way vp and doun to rainge Throw desarts Montains plains and Ferrests hore Bewailling their hard lots and fortuns strainge Their want of food but want of him much more They did lament and in this wofull chainge They sweare to venge his death or die theirfore For sure they thoght he by mishap did stray Amongst his foes when night did parte the fray Now were they come neir to the grove wheir he And Douglas slumberd soundlie in a dreme Who both awaekt rush'd furt he and streight they sie An armed man the King knew weill his name whome when he cald the rest did quicklie flie furth through the groves some feares and some thinkes shame Yet loue and ioie recald them all at last Before his feit them selfes they humblie cast So haue I fiene a moore-hen in the spring Missing her tender Brood throw desearts straying She in her throat some chirping nots doth sing Which when they heare with naturall loue repaying Her kyndlie cair in haist them selfs they bring And floks about her all her will obeying She seims right glad to sie her yung ones so Scap'd from the Daunger of their rawning foe When he vnlac'd his burnishd helme of gold His milde Sueit manlie countenance they knew Vertue and Grace diuyne they might behold Like Phebus beams from his fair looks t'ensew As Phebus draw's the dew vp from the mold His eies their hearts so from their bosoms drew Before him still vpone their kneis they fall To gratious hea'uens they render thankes for all He thankes them for their saith their trueth their love And to eche man did seuerall favores sho Soone after they from thence did all remove And westward to Dumberton glaedlie go From thence great Neptunes freindship wold they prove And th' Oceans watrie force they neids wold kno Shipd for Kyntire fleing the wind before Ere morrow nixt they saiflie came to shore The king his men in throgh the cuntrie sent With them the Errl of lennox for their Lord An vther way he with the Douglas went To sie what fauour fortuon wold affoord They trawelling allong with this Intent At last their way them to a wod restord Wheir half a myill at most they had not riddin When both to ryd one way were thus forbiddin Two vglie monstruous wolfs they might espy Had kild a harte and on the same was feiding Eche choosd a wolf his hors swist Paise to try For Boare-spears serud their launce in this proceeding Eche wolf his follower leads a sundrie way Their eger chase and ther persuit deriding What fortun hevins for Douglas had apointed We 'll after show now to the Lords anointed I mean the Bruce that brave and valiant Prince Who with an egger mind perseu'd the chace The wolf had left the wood and for defence Vnto a mighte Rock he rins a pace Breathles he seimd so slowlie running thence As made the Prince hope weill to winne the race He cuyts his horse rins vp the Rock in haiste But soone he loste the sight of whome he chaist His trevell lost he wold returne o're night Yet anye where to ryid he doeth not knoe The Rock he seis of such a wondrous hight As all the countrey round about would show Vp then he goes to view so fair a sight Whill he ascends the sone discendet low But e're he could vnto the top attaine Night spreds her painted vaile o're all the plaine In heavns heighe court the lampes all lighted shynes Which him constraind to searche some place of rest The montaines top was deckt with oakes and pynes Where nature hade a garden rairlie drest With fontanes walkes and groves without ingynes Of arte yet seemd of artes best skill poseest But sad it seemd to Nightes sad shad inclyning Showne to the Prince by Phaebes feble shyning
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
craft by strength by witt or forsights care Wee shall haue hence all hurt that doth mischiefe you Let not fond shame gainst health and faiftie striue Flie willing death whill hope is yet on liue So ernestlie in woe these words furth brak As he at last to tell me seimd content And haveing pausd a little thus he spakâ— Deare frend it fear 's me much you shall repent When yee haue knowne what doth my sorrous makâ— And to my death you will giue soone consent For in my death much pleasur does belong you In life I can not leiue except I wrong you No then said I I feare not let me know It Come weill come woe come death come life com either Weill then said hevn willing I shall show It Your wife her beautie nay my folie Rather From both of these or either loue doth droue it Or shall I say more treulie fate and nather Which secretlie I smotherd haue so long And rather chuisd to die then do you wrong To chaiss this framâ—â— passion from my mind I you desired to moue her Sister Ann For to her beautie had I bein inclind I haplie had left off wheir I began But since remeid at all I can not find Except of all the earth the onlie man Whom I lou'd best I should so fare injure Death first vnto my loue shall end procure These speiches pearst my heart in throgh mine eare Nor tongue nor hand nor fute could sturr or moue Greate was the loue Ito my wife did beare Him both I lou'd and pitied as did proue Who rather chuisd to die without all feare Then me to wrong this all the rest aboue This this I say eu'ne this allone dâ—d kill me This one respect his life to saif did will me Wheirfore at last I said first shall I lose Both her my self and all my Ioys beside Then such a worthie frend should mak a choise Of death if I can for his life prouide And to be short at length we did dispose The matter so that kind too kind I tride For in my place I did him so connoy Her thoughts vn-stain'd he did her self enioy But I my self such greife did soone conceaue A thousand deaths vnto my self I wish'd ' For Jelosie did in my soule engraue Such endles pains that I no torment mis'd ' Such eating corrasius my witts bereaue That my too wofull heart was like to burst Ah woful acte which doth my soule afraie My self consents my self for to betray But he all reasone did exceid so farr And with Ingratitude so muche was staind That of my ioy he did me quite debar For when he had his filthie lust obtaind He then bewrayt him self which all did marr And whiche was more of mee hee also faignd That I contriued the Plot that I did sende him Her I disdaind her I did gladlie lend him Wheiratshe did conceaue such endles greife That presentlie she doth resolue to die Whill hee eu'ne he that wroght this greate mischeif Departs in hast and to his strength doth flie I all this Time of cares found noe reliefe Wondring that to his bedd retornd not he Wherefore I in the morning straight arose And to the Chambre where she laie forth-goes But there I found her ah I found her there As she was then would God that I had been A purple streame with milke mixt white faire Ran her more white and snowie brests between With child she was the milke cold wel declare Ah too vntimely fate ah death I meane Thus past helpe forth from the bed I drew her And in my arms ah woful sight did view her Eu'en as the Lillie cliere fresh faire white Widdred with drught grows wrinkled pale blak So her saire face faire bewties choice delight Did swartish seeme that life bloode moisture lack In her dimm Eies death did my Crime indite Once lookd shee vp and once these words she spake Aeh let my guilty blood wash forth the staine That cruell you to my chast-bed did gaine Ah let my Soule mount to heighe Iustice throne And their sound foorth a sad still sad reuenge Heauins onlie viewed my Chaste Chaste thoghts allone Heauins onlie may forgiue this murther straunge Heauins onlie oues my chaste vous eurie one Heauins onlie wrongd since I my voues infring Heauins onlie then your wrath fierce wrath surceas you And let my blood thus sacrafiz'd apeas you These words Apeasd you seal'd vp deâ—ths sad birth And her last breath deir breath deir life deir all Ah cursed death bereft earths rarest worth Ay me for shame whill hee on shame did call Shame closd his lips the sound went warklie forth Shameing to shaw what after did befall His moueing speiche his sight and all was lost Doun fals his head and hee yeelds vp the Ghost Him self had kild him self they surlie scand But when they wey these his first speiches right Ah shall the conquerd conquerours with stand When euin them selfs against them selfs do fight They think some freind of hers that their him fanâ— Had doone the deid or els some English knight Aâ—det by Scotts had kild him for the same Surmiseing that him self had kild his dame But why or housoeur he shed his blood They all lament this wofull tragedie Whill their braue Lord auou'd to taist no food Till he had tane reuenge most rigoruslie Of that same English Lords Ingratitood Wheirto occasion fitlie did applie A present meane wheir by he might forthfill His weell made vow and wirk his warlick-will By this the light gaue place to schaddous broune And sable clouds had maskit all the skie When from the hills and forrests they come doune And man valley fare they might espie Ane staitlie pallace far from anie toune To which this warlick creu did haist in hie Wheir they a reuerent aged knight did find That gius them Entertainment to their mind To a Chambre richlie heung the Erle was broght And their disarmed by a ladie fair The rest was all vnarm'd and with a thoght Thay to a staitlie hall did then repair Whâ—â—s Tables ritchlie spred their soone was broght All kynd of meats all kynd of dainteis rair Thus were they serud to supper in such sort As might become a king for Princelie port The supper done the worthie count began To questioun with his hoasts both graue and wise His linage house and name requird he tkâ—n And who doth reule that Prouence when he lyis Braue sir quod he I 'le till you treulie when Fair Schotlands glorie mounted to the sky'is When in sueit calms of peace her natiue borne Dekt her fair front whoe 's wealth did thame adorne Eu'ne then I seru'd a too too noble Lord Heir silent long scarce could the rest essay Greif kindnes loue and pitie weill deploird His greuous lose tears did his woes beuray This quandarie once past and speiche restoird He thus begane agane eu'ne him I say Whom english Edward did by wrong surmeis In
meit against them all to fight But him commands in haist to kill that hound Which he him self could not abide to doe Hard by a Forrest couered all the ground Whoe 's treis our all the Rockie montans Bow Hither they flie where such dark ways they found As from their foes their saiftie did allow Thus mockt and scornd the armie turns againe With lose and Shame their travell spent in vaine The Argument Hells damnd fiends finds Scots renouned King And by three theeues works him a niew dispight To God he praies who graunts his iust designe Through deserts wild alone he flies by night He findes his men at last whom he doth bring On his proud foe who slawghterd fear 's his might Winter maks both their Camps brak vp at last At hunts greate Bruce a fearfull danger past Caput 11. INfernall Pluto Missing his Intent Began to rore his voice his words confound From whoe 's foull throat such thundring noise forth-went As schook the hel resovnding throw the ground His Bowells deip a mistie smook foorth sent Which made the Soules in endles Torments bond To dive in floods and in the flams to hide them Eschewing paine whill greater paines abide them His dreadfull looks effrayd the feinds and Ghosts Chokt with the savour of his noysum breath Like fleghts of Crows Hell musters forth her hosts From Herebus with horor feare and death In clouds of daungers on our Northern coasts They raine the bloodie tempests of theire wrath And scatred here and there they soon untwinde The webs of Woe wouen in each sinfull minde And one of them eu'ne then did hap to light On Robbers thrie that in this forrest lay Wheirthrou the valiant Bruce had tane his flight Him 〈◊〉 they whom they count an easie pray For which greate Eduard ritche rewards had heght Wheirfore their Treassone thus they did essay Myldlie they come vnto that noble Prence And vous to spend their lives in his defence They Scotts-men war by right his subiects too Which to their treasoun ads more credit still Dark night to shroud the rest which they wold doâ— Heauins siluer walls with sabill hingings fill Within this fortest stood a Schiphirds croo No other ludging were they neir vntill Thither those theius this noble Prince furth guid And with their Schift a supper soone prouid When hee right pleasandlie hand tane repast Of viands such as tyme wold then affoord On the cold earth he lays him doune at last A sheld for pillow serud this noble Lord When thousand cairfull thoghts were ouerpast Sleips charning rod of silence him restord Vnto a slumber soft but whill he lay He thoght he hard a voice him threatning say Though careles of they self heauins for thee care Vp vp arise from daunger the defend Whaerat he starts aloft begines to stare When as he seis com from the houssis end The Robbers thrie that with their swords prepare Death on his Knight and him in sleip to send But with his sword he their designment braks And with his foot his faithfull knight awaiks Yet or he could arise one of the thrie Vnto him stâ—pâ—t and with his trenshant blad He forc'd his soull furth from his brest to flie Which in the Prince both greif and anger bred And in his wrathe his death so venged he That of these Traitours thrie he soone was red Then thanks he God who saift him from that snare And thence depairts loadned with greif and care Wheir as his horse was feiding their he goes Whill as the darknes sum what cleirer greu And being monted then no way he knoes And yet from thence him self he soone with dreâ— Yea oftentims him self him self did lose In desarts wyld in paths but vsed by feu Renoluing still within his troubled thoght What greuons cait's proud fortun had him wroght At last beseching his great Lord of Grace To pitie him and confort to him send His earnest praier cleius heauins starrie face And at Jous throne for mercie did attend Whoe bends his gratious eies on mortalls race Vieuing their woes their waiknes weill he kend The splendour of his glorious countenance Cleir's heaune and earth and chaisd hells feinds fare hence Earth fred of such a sinfull Burthen vild Begins to smill on heauins all glorious sphear's When from the Prince all sorou was exyld Confort from heauin to his sad soule repair's His faith had broght from his deir saueour mild Assured hope of what his soule requear's Now to that place he goes the neirest way Wheir he appointed all his men to stay When bright Auror her treasurs had furth sought She edgd the siluer clouds with freing's of gold And hangs the skies with Arras rarely wroght Powdred with Paarle and pretious stones vntold Then roses reid and whit from inde she broght And strou'd heauins floor most glorious to beholdâ— Yet weips she for she thinks it all to small To welcum great Apollo to her hall Ere Sole could shine his way did him restor Wheir Edward and the Douglas did abide With all his troups that scattred wer befor With whome the Prince doth secretlie prouide For to assalt his foes so proud of yore For them he cairles kneu dispersed wide Disordred quite and scatterd heir and their Nor for him wold they look nor for him care They all agrie yet thus he wold them cheir Braue frends quod he behold this happie day That shall the clouds of oure disasters cleir And bring the Garland from oute foes away Me thinks I sie fair victorie appeir To croune vs that triuphms on their decay And their hot blood ritch trophes vs aduances Borne on the points of oure victorious lances Me thinks vpone oure glistring creste I sie The glorious garland of the conquest worne Whill fether-futted fame before vs flie Vpone the golden wings of Honor borne Altho nor ours their numbers greater be Yet fear them not Jehoua heighe hath sworne To yeild them in your hands that ye may steip Your thristie blaids in blood whill as they sleip This said from heauen reflected on his face A lightning beame bright shining pure and cleir His countinance shind with such heaunilie grace As lightned all about both farr and neir a Martiall furie in his breist took place Whoe 's sparkling did his eies with lightning cheir So that his gallant port and gracefull looks The bold conferms the faint with shame rebooks A Guide he got whoe broght him wheir they lay Encamped in a fair and open plane And or the glorious soun could guilt the day Four hundreth he had wounded hurt and slane For these before the camp a littel way Within a village cairles did remane Yea eu'ne the camp at last they did perseu And their with slaughter did the fight reneâ— The fire yet stay'd within his assie coath When they began the camp for to invaid Sleip rest or silence eurie one did touch And heir and their they lay disordered Some were a sleip of wine that
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
a fair and ritche rewaird When pitche clouds then muffills vp the skies With thrittie and his guide the count repaird Hard to the rock and mounting doth arise A thousand faddoms height without regaird For fearfull danger could them noght with hold Vnder the wall at last they rest them wold When straight aboue them doth the watche repare And our the wall one throus a mightie stone The which a corner of the crag did beare Hard by them els they died had eurie one Flie trautors flie quod one I fie you their But with her dreadfull waill blak night allone Had couerd them by heauins heighe prouidence Els with a thoght ther sowlls hade pairted thence The watche that hears not seis nothing depairts When to the wall they sett their ledder straight And Frances first assends that knew these pairts Sir Andro Gray was nixt a valiaunt knight Then mounts the erlle when with curagious hearts The watch returns that now had got a sight Of them and treassone treasone loudlie cryes Wheir with they all awaekd in arms aryse Then thâ—t braue Loâ—d and his two knights persew The watche with such vndanted curage stout That all of them they quiklie ouerthrew When all the armed garesone cums out The Scotts or then got vp all doth renew A deadlie fight whill Blood flow'd round about Their bloodie swords oft gius a glomeing light Still made more fearfull by the dreadfull night Greate was the Number of the English foe But many hearts were ceas'd with soddant feare And yet their Captane did greate valor sho With whome as yet them selfs they brauelle beare A hardie Scot doth to the Captane go That Setone hight a knight that knew no feare Graue wise and old whoe 's counsall's stayd effâ—ct The worthie Randolph held in greate respectâ— Thrie sones he hade that with him self furth speids And when he seis the Captans murdring Ire My sones quod he let this bold knights braue deads Be bellowes for to kindle angers fire Perrells and dangers hard or honors seads Fame worthie prase to perrells still aspire His tender whelps so leads the Lion old Furth to their pray and whits their curage bold The youths stept foorth and with their hardie father The warrlick Captane furiouslie persew The old knight hits him on the helme but neither His armour pearst he nor his blood forthdrew Whoe nocht affraid but enraged rather His brand with blood of honord aige t'inbrew Quite throu his gentle brest the brand he thrust Whoe 's life and blood both at the wound furth burst The yeoungest sone that seis his father slaine Holds vp his dying sire with both his hands But o poore pitie kindnes o in vaine In vane for help he calls for his demands Ar soone cut of and with them cut in tuaine His arms that links about his Sire like bands Doun fall they both Both bid the rest adew Both kissing die Ah wofull sight to view Two brether now was onlie left a liue And yet tho both aliue both twice were slane In these two deaths yet both against him striue But nather could his furie greate restrane The brest doun to the bowells he doth riue Of one the vthers head he cleft in twane The noise and tumult of this haples fight Broght Randolph for to view this wofull sight He rudlie brak the prease and came in tyme To tak reuenge but too too late to ayd Ah woes me quod he shall you hs fair pryme Be thus distroyd and wisdoms wealth decay'd Whoe durst commit so in humane a cryme Whoe hath so fare from reasons center stray'd He quod the Captane whoe dars seall his deid With thy hot blood and on thy heart dart's feid For rage and wrathe the count could not reply But stronglie thrusts his sword furth him before Quyte throgh his brest the wound he ript t'esspy His cruell heart which his left hand furth tore And wrong furth blood sprinkling on these that ly But neulie dead if this can bak restore Your lius he proous a Pelicane quod he If noght let this appease your Ghosts from me And noght suffeisd with this reuenge at will He wraks vpon the multitude his wrathe Ther Captanis blood suffeisd him not vntill They â—ane in heaps to flie suche crwell deathe Some leaps ye craige some runs out our ye hill These breaks there necks those crushd to dust beneathe So headlong flies a flight of simple dous When from her way the princelie falcon bous Or then night fled to let the lightsome day Vnfold her works of murder death and blood The strength was wune no southeron their did stay Nor saw they anye that their will gaine stood The Gascon Captane that in prison lay The Erlle releasd from bands and seruitude Then fullie was that prophesie perfited Which Candmoirs Sanct-like Queen theirin indyted The Argument A messinger vnto the King doth scho Sad neus that doth incense his wrathfull lre From Roxbrughs tours braue Douglas beats the foe Eduards bold answer Quens hd his brothers fire To view the Englis camp doth Douglas go The Scots obey their Princes Iust desire Iew men they send but valiant fierce and bold Chusde furth of eurie Region vncontrold Caput 15. SCotlands great King that all this tyme had gone From toun to toune from citie strength and tour Throgh fiffe Stratherne Merns Angus one by one And Goureis cars which all vnto his pou'r Did glaidlie yeild and he eune he allone Their natiue Lord was their greate conquerour But he to Fdinbrughe returnd at last Till Isickles his chilling breth furth blast No greater pompe Solempnitie nor glorie Magnificence Praise ritches nor renowne Got Cesar as records the Romane storie When as he made the westerne world bow doune To Rooms proud reull wheirof he might be sorie Nor entred he more brauelie in that â—oune Then oure greate Lord when first he enterd heir Whoe was more lou'd whom all as much did fear Whill heir he stayd admeird feard lou'd of all To him braue Randolph did the Castell yeild Which to the ground he raizd both tour and wall That their his foe agane fould haue no beild And on a day set in his Princelie hall He to his knights and Lords his will reueild When straght a messinger doth to him bring Tydings of Ioy wheirof new trubbles spring The Messinger vpon his face doth fall And sayis great King and my most Gratious Prence All praise be geune to God that doth enstall Vpon oure throne thy worth thy excellence God grant that in thy seid he may recall Thy glorie and resume thy greatnes thence Thy brother Eduard humble greiteth thee And warns the thus of what is past by me Rugleins strong peill is tane by Eduard bold That warrlike toun Dundie by him is winn And also royall Stirling vncontrold Gladlie receau'd his conquring armie Inn But that inpregnable and matchles hold Stirlings strong Castell wold not once begin To heare of peace till
heads wil alege I wrong the vnione but farr be it from me to think muche les to doo anie thing that may offend his Royall maiestie or seeme to hinder so blessed a pace of the which it seameth that the heauins has called him to be the happie instrument my intensione is onlie to eternize his predicessors his own glorie being bound both by naturall love and dewtie to imploy my whole Indeuors theirto nether doo I their in wrong the English but rather to my power exstolle their valour and with more â—mildnes modifie that which our wryters most sharplie haue wretin Therby to extinguish if it be posibill the euil opinion that hath bein so long ingreftid in the hearts of manie by reading of thoes old historeis hoping yat this my work may haply mak thois that tretith of the sam mater to be forgotin by tyme being onlie desirous to steir vp euerie manes mind to the following of glorious actions with that most praise worthie and admirable wonder of mankind that heauen ordeaned Sidnie who sayeth that the hearing of the Martiall feats of arms betuixt the Perfie and the Douglas stierd vp his spierit to the search of glorious actionis and as for the Kinges discendit of the Bruce comparing them with the constellations I haue foloued Bartas who cheangeth not onlie theis portraits names from names of Gentils giuen them by old Philosophers to names of holie men in the Scripture but also concludeth with a libertie to anie christian to name them after sume good christian princes and yet that I should not seeme without reasone to aluede to theis princes more then to anie other I haue sundrie good arguments moveing me theirto First then I say if thoes portraits must neids be designed by their names without the which Astronomers can not proceid in the cours of Astronomie it is les fault that they be named after such christian princes as haue leiued in the light of the Gospell acknowligeing the creator of all things Trinitie in Vnitee then after theis Gentils to whome god did not reveil him self and from whom the misterie of Saluatioune was hid secoundlie the height of their royall station the blessednes of their calling the excellencie of their actions yea and cuin their werie forme seemeth too haue a correspondence with them Simpathesing them so neirlie as they seemd to be the verie same Whom the eternal Maiestie hath meand by these portraits Thirdlie their is but the portraits of eleuin men and one woman and the twelf man some Astrologsans afermith to be an the schipe Argus this agreable with the number of the Kings discendit from the Bruce for counting him the first and prince Charles the last their is lust twelf and one woman Queene Marie As for anie other poetik floures I haue presumde on Aristotill his opinioune who saieth that how trew soeuer the historie be it ought not to be formed in Poesiâ— without invention wharin that excellent and wise Philosopher hath said must trew for with invention the Poet must bewâ—isie his work of invention he frammeth the curious winding knots of his Garding of invention he composeth his colours of invention buddeth his diuersitie of odoâ—iferous flouris as the onlie ornaments of his whole framm of invention he forgeth links to make as it wer a chaine of his work theirby making euerie parte to depend and hang vpon vther and so winding the reader in his laborinth delighteth the mynd without paine which vtherwaises should be a vallaie full of diches wheer the traveller shold be forceed to leap from on banck to an vther heaveing no bridges to go ouer at his pleasiur those are the things wherof thou courtous reader should be aduertest wishing the alwayes to reed my work to an end before thou take offence the if nether the willingnes to pleas nor onwillingnes to displeas can satisfie let my first fault be forginen for Ignâ—rance sake and I never shall intend a second So shall I euer rest Thy silent Friend P. G. To the Author THy sugred wearses and thy sacred songe Shall make thy neame O Gordon glorius Thou maks â—orgottin Bruce obsâ—urd so longe Reuieud to ryise againe victorious Thou crownis him with a laurell in thy storie Thou greaces him and he augments thy Glorie Thy greaue heroik Muse disdanis to treat Of bassâ—and seruill loue or fond afectione But of a Kingdome and a Contries staet Of naturs cheifest worth and hir perfectione Of Fortuns Champione whom the world renounis For conquering Kingdoms cities touris and tounis Those are the first fruets of thy rair ingine The braue beginning of a virtous mind Presaging plainlie what thou 'l prooue in fine Whose lamp skarsse fird doth many lights outshine Long may thou lieue whose lins braue Bruce adorne And let Bruce Ghost be glaid that thow was borne A. Gordone In prais of the prais worthie Author WIse Virgill wreat Aeneades long to prais Anchisis sone whome he did not behold Octauian lykd his heigh and loftie phrais And gaue the Mantuan monie myone gold The prais of Bruce no questione thou proclamee To pleas and prais the faithes defender Iames. If Maroes figments leiue in fresh request Which he of Stiks Cocitus Serber pend Of Charon hell Elisium and the rest Thy storie trew shall with the worlde tak end And to thy prais I darbe bold to say No lins prophaine can leiue a longer day To his deare freend the restorer of the famous Bruce his storie VNto this age while thou of new restoirs The ruin'd storie of this famus King Thy noble spreet in emulation gloirs Eu'ne in his praise thy proper worth to sing For lyke as he did re-erect his croun By Longeshankd Edwards subtiltie brought doun Right so thy song from darke obliuions graue Hath now restoird the glorie of his name Ingrauing it vpon this column braue Which thow has sacred to eternall fame And placed heir till time begone to shine As monument of his heigh worth and thine Io. Wrrey To the Author IF Allexander wish'd yit sighd ' to see That famous tombe wher fierce Achilles lay Thow worthie chiftain euer blesd quod he Had Homers penn thy praises to display And if Eneas danger night and day And long some labours bothe by sea and land Are recompensd and more and he for ay Famos'd be Maroes martial pen doe stand Mak Allexander judge fame shall avow Bruce hath his guerdone of a Gordon now M. Th. Michell The first Booke of THE FAMOVS HISTORIE OF THE Excellent most valiaunt Prince ROBERT Surnamed the BRVCE King of SCOTLAND corrected and enlarged by Patrik Gordon Gentleman The Argument THe Douglas hears his Countries shame her fall And back returns from France with wofull Heart Vewing herwâ—es her ruine wrak and all He muche laments her lose in eurie parte When 〈◊〉 a Kinght from dumps doeth him recall With whome he fights with valour strength and arte When
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