his skil and order of battell albeit he had a greater number of people yet durst he not hazard returning his standerds softly retired but Wallace for feare of ambushment durst not follow This victory obtained without blood against a most potent King The enemies of Wall more sharply assaulted him raising brutes through the countrey that he openly shot at the Kingdom So they conclude by all means to subuert Wall authority These deuises not vnknown to King Edw. he raised a great army of English Scots vvho had remained constaÌ„t in their promise made to him the next SoÌ„mer came vnto Faw-kirk vvhich village is builded vpon the very ruins of Seuerus Wall distant from Striuiling 6 myles The Scottish host abade not far from thence strong enough indeed for they were 30 thousand if the Rulers had agreed amongst themselues The Rulers were Iohn Cumming Iohn Stewart Will. Wallace the former two in blood puissance the last in Marshall glory most flourishing of al Scotland While as the 3 battels stood in redines to fight a new contention was added to the former enuy Who should lead the Vanguard neither of them giuing place to the other the Englishmen ended the strife vvho in order of battell vvith displayed Banners came vpon them with expedition Cummine with his company fled vvithout stroke Steward enuironed both behind and before vvas slaine with his hoste Wallace being sore set vpon in front and Bruce comming about a Knowle to charge him on the backe contained his men together in such order as in such state he best could and returned backe ouer CARROVN Water vvhere he defended himself hauing gathered together those that were fled and Bruce desiring to speak with him he refused not wheÌ„ these two alone stood right ouer against other at a deep narrow part of the Riuer Bruce first said he wondred at him that being caried with the facile fauour of the people would hazard himself in so many perils againe a King most puissant of that age assisted also with great support of Scots that without any hope of recompence of his pains For albeit he vanquisht Edward the Scots would neuer allow of him to be King and if he were ouerthrowne he had no refuge but in the mercy of his enemy To whom Wallace answered I said he neuer tooke these paines to purchase to my self a Kingdom for that is vnagreeable with my condition and my mind couets it not but seeing my Countrey-men through your cowardice to whom the Realme rightly appertains destitute of Rulers hereby casten into their most cruel enemies hands not only in bondage and slauery but euen to the shambles I pittied their case haue enterprised the defence of their cause forsaken by you whose liberty I shall not forsake befâ—â—e my life forsake me And so the confereÌ„ce ended either of both returning to their owne After this vnhappy Battell Wallace returned to Perth and there skailed his army giuing place to the enuy born against him and after that day enterprised nothing for the Realm and renounced the name of Magistrat albeit he left not off the inuading of the English Nation wheresoeuer he could be their master Edward after this wasted by all warlike calamities the Lands beyond Forth euen to Perth subduing those that in respect of the present misery durst not stir so retired with his army into England The Scots that were carefull for the liberty of their Realme a little refreshed after the enemies departure made Iohn Cumming younger Regent who by the aduise of the Counsell sent Ambassadours to Philip Valloys King of France to trauell with him that by Mediation of his Sister who was then affianced to Edward they might at least obtaine Truce By her trauels they obtained Truce for seuen Moneths but not obserued bona fide for Englishmen tooke the Ambassadours that were directed to Bonifacius the eight and imprisoned them The Scots in the meane time who could not abide the tyranny of Englishmen nor culd by no punishment satiat Edwards cruell mind neither yet obtaine peace vpon just conditions prepared themselues with obstinat minds to fight it out without all hope of pardon First they droue all Edwards Captains foorth of all Towns and Fortresses and vexed the Scots of the English factioÌ„ vvith all the force they might vvhile as the stat of matters thus coÌ„tinued almost two years Edward sent Rodolph Confrey with a puissant Army to suppresse this rebellion of the Scots and to put an end to those Warres This Army without impediment wasted all to Rosling a place in Louthian foure miles distant from Edinburgh to destroy farther within the Countrey diuided their Army in three Iohn Cummine and Iohn Fraser the most wealthy men in Tweed-dale gathering to the number of 8000 men marched towards the enemy of purpose either to keep in the enemy that he should not run at randon to spoyl the Country or if they found better occasion to follow Fortun. Better occasion was offered then they looked for For Englishmen fearing nothing lesse than the comming of their enemies so often ouerthrowne behauing themselues more losely than was expedient in their enemies ground by sudden comming of the Scots vpoÌ„ the first of their Camps were ouerthrown with a great slaughter they that escaped raised great tumult in the secoÌ„d camp where th' alarm was fearfully raised euery man exhorting his Mate to support their own they prepared theÌ„selues for reuenge The conflict was terrible as betwixt these that were fiers throgh victory these that were enraged by thirst of reuenge in end th' Englishmen discomfist chased victory albeit not vnbloody yeelded to the Scots the third host which had bin furder off affraid the Scots for many being wounded most part wearied with trauels in 2 late battels foresaw manifest danger to ensue by fighting assured destruction by flight at length the Heads commanded to slay al captiues left while they were occupied with th' enemy they shuld come vpon their backs they armed their seruants vvith slain mens armor so made shew of a greater army to their enemies the battel begun vvas keenly foghten on both sides the fight being doutfull for a while the scots by exhortatioÌ„ of their leaders calling to mind their late doble victory renewing their streÌ„gth ran so fiercely vpoÌ„ their enemies that their aray broken they gaue backs It was foghten at Rosline the 6 of the kal. of March 1320. The more notable that this victory was 3 hosts in one day ouerthrown by one the more sharply Edw. set his mind to deface this ignominy and once to put an end to their longsome Warre He amasseth a greater army than euer he did before persued Scotland both by land sea to the vtter most borders of Ros. No man in warfare durst hazard him self against so puissant an army except Wallace with his few folks somtimes behind somtims before somtims vpon their wings chopped at such as
him full wonder well To good Hector of Troy might he In manie things likened be Hector had blacke haire as he had And starke limmes and right well made And lisped also as did he And was fulfill'd of all bountie And was courteous wise and wight But of manhéed and méekle might To Hector dare I none compare Of all that euer in world were For in his time so wrought he That he should greatly loued be HE dwelt there thus till on a tide The King Edward with méekle pride Came to Starling with great menyie For to hold there an assemblie Hitherward went many a Baroun And Bishop William of Lambertoun Who hither al 's and with him was His Esquyre Iames of Dowglas The Bishop led him to the King And said Sir here to you I bring This Child that claimes your man to be And prayeth you for Charitie That ye receiue here his homage And grant to him his heritage Quhat lands claimes he said the King Schir gif that it be your lyking He claimes the Lordship of Dowglas For Lord thereof his father was The King then wrythed him angerly And said Schir Bischop sikkerlie Gif thou wold keepe thy fewtie Thou mak no sic speaking to me His father was ay my felloun And died therefore in my presoun And was agains my Maiestie Therefore I ought his aire to be Go purches lands quhere euer he may For thereof gets he none perfay The Clyffurd shall haue them for he Ay leillely he hes serued me The Bischop heard him so answer And durst then speake to him no mair Bot from his presence went on hy For he dred sore his fellony So that no more he spoke thereto But did that he came for to do The King in England went againe With mony men of mekill maine LOrdings who likes for to heare The Romanes now begins héere Of men that were in greit distres And assayed full greit hardynes Or they micht come to their intent But syne our Lord sic grace them sent That they sensyne through greit valour Came to greit hicht and hie honour Magre their foes euer ilkone That were so fell that ay for ane Of them they were well a thousand Bot where God helps who may wtstand Èœet if we say the suithfastnes They were eir more then they were lesse But God that is of mekill micht Preserued them in his foresicht To venge the harmes and the contrares That they fell folke and oppressares Did to simple folke and worthy That could not saue themselues for thy They were like to the Maccabees That as men in the Bible sées Throw their great worship and valour Faucht in mony a stalwart stour For to delyuer their Countrie Fra folke that throw Iniquitie Held them and theirs into thirlage They wrocht so throw their vassallage That with few folke they had victory Of michty Kings as sayes the Story And delyuered their lands all frée Quherefore their names sould loued be This Lord the Bruce I spoke of air Saw all the Kinrik so forfair And so troubled the folke saw he That he thereof had great pitie Bot quhat pitie that euer he had No countenance thereof he made Quhill on a time Schir Iohn Cuming As they came ryding from Striuiling Said to him Schir will Èe not see How that gouerned is this Countrie They slew our folke but Enchesoun And hes this land against reasoun And ye thereof Lord should be And if that ye will trow to me Ye shall thereof gar make you King And I shall be in your helping With thy ye giue me all the land That ye haue now into your hand And if that ye will not doe swa Nor sik a state vpon you ta All haill my lands shall yours be And let me take the state on me And bring this land out of thirlage For there is neither man nor Page In all this land but they will be With vs to make themselues frée The Lord the Bruce heard his carping And weinde he spake but soothfast thing And for it liked to his will He gaue soone his assent theretill And said sen ye will it be swa I will blythlie vpon me ta The name for I wote I haue right And riâ—ht makes oft the féeble wight THir Barouns thus accorded are And that ilk night written were Their Indentours aithes made To hold that they forespokeÌ„ had But ouer all thing woe worth treasoun For there is neither Earle nor Baroun Nor Duke nor Prince nor King of might Though he be neuer so wise nor wight For wit worship praise nor renoun That euer may kéepe him fra treasoun Was not all Troy with treason tane When ten yéeres of the siege was gane Where there was slaine eight hundred thousand Of them thereout through strength of hand As Dares in his booke did wraite And dyted their battell and their state They might not haue bene tane with might But treasoun tooke them through her slight And Alexander the Conquerour That conquered Babylons Towre And all this world of length and bréede In twelue yéere through his doughtie déede Was syne destroyed by poysoun In his owne house through treasoun But ere he died his land dealt he To sée his death was great pitie Iulius Cesar al 's that wan Britane and France as worthie man Africk Arabie Egypt and Syrie And al 's Europe all haillelie And for his worship and valour Of Rome was first made Emperour Syne in his Capitoll was he Through them of his counsell priuie Slaine with botkins vnto the dead And when he saw there was no read His ene with hand enclosed he For to die with more honestie Al 's Arthur that through Cheualrie Had Britane Maistres and Ladie Of twelue Kinrikes that he wan And also as a Noble man He wan through battell France all frée And Lucius Tyber vanquisht he Then he of Rome was Emperour And yet for all his great valour Modreed his Sister sonne his slew And good men al 's ma than anew Through treason and through wickednesse The Bruce thereof beares witnesse So fell it of this cunning making Of the Cuming to the King Of England and told all the cace But I trow not all as it was The Indentour to him gaue hée And syne shawed the iniquitie And therefore syne hee tholed dead That to it could set no remead WHen the King saw the Indenâ—our Hée was angrie without measure And swore that hee should vengeance ta Of the Bruce that presumed sa Against him for to braull and rise Or to conspire in sic a wise And to Sir Iohn Cumyng said hee That hée should for his lawtie Be rewarded and that highly And hée him thanked humbly And thought well to haue the leading Of all Scotland but gane saying Fra that the Bruce to death was brought But oft failyeis that fooles thought And wise mens etteling Comes not aye to that ending That they thinke that it should come to For GOD wat 's what is ado Of his etling right
men were ganging to and fra Throughout the Castell all that night While on the morne that day was light THe Wardan that was in the Towre That was a man of great valour Gilmyn de Firmes when he saw The Castell tynt both hie and law He set his might for to defend The Towre but they without him send Arrowes in so great quantitie That sore annoyed thereof was he Yet while the other day not for thy He held the Towre full sturdely And then at an assault he was Wounded so felly in the face That he was dréeding of his life Therefore he treated them but strife And yald the Towre on sik maner That he and all that with him wer Sould safely passe into England Dowglas held them full good cunnand And conuoyde him to his Countrie But there full short whyle liued he For through the wound into the face He died soone and buried was Dowglas the Castell séesed all That then was closed with stalward wall And sent this Ledhouse to the King That made him right good rewarding And his brother in full great hy Sir Edward that was so doughty He sent hidder to tumble downe Both Towre Castell and al 's Dungeoun And he came with great companie And gart trauell so busilie That Towre Wall right to the ground He gart cast downe in litle stound And dwelt there while that Teuydaill Came to the Kings peace all haill Except Iedburgh and other that néere To the Englishmens bounds were How William Frances led Thomas Randell Vp to the Craig of Edinburgh Castell WHen Roxburgh was win on this wise The Erle Thomas that hie emprise Set ay on Souerane hie bountie At Edinburgh with his Menyie Was lying at the Siege as I Told you before all openly But fra he heard how Roxburgh was Tane with a traine all his purchase And wit and businesse I hight He set to purchase him some slight How he might help him through victorie Melled with hie Cheualrie To win the wall of the Castell Through some kin slight for he wist well That no strength might it plainelie get While there within were men and meat Therefore priuily spéered he Gif ony man might there founden be That could find ony ieopardy To climbe the wall right priuily And he sould haue his warisoun For it was his intentioun To put himselfe in auenture Or at that Siege on him misfure Then was there one William Frances Wise and expert wise and courtes And he in his youthhead had bene In the Castell when he had séene The Erle so ernestly him set Some subtiltie or wyle to get Where through the Castell haue might hée Hee came to him in priuitie And said Mee thinke yée would blithlie That men found you some jeopardie How yee might ouer the walles win And certes if yée will begin For to assay on sik a wise I vndertake for my seruice For to ken you to climbe the wall And I shall formest bée of all Wherewith a short Ladder may wee I hope of twelue foote it may bee Climbe the Wall vp all quietlie And if that yée will wit how I Wate this I shall you blythlie say When I was young this hinder day My father was kéeper of yone house And I was somedeill lecherous And loued a Wench héere in the towne And that I but suspitioun Might repaire to her priuilie Of rapes to mee a ladder made I And therewith ouer the wall I slade A strait rod there I spyed had Into the Craige syne downe I went And oft syes come to mine intent And when that it drew néere the day I held againe the samine way And aye came in but perceiuing I vsed so long that trauelling So that I can that rod goe right Though men sée neuer so mirke a night And if yée thinke yée would assay To passe vp after mee that way Up to the Wall I shall you bring If GOD vs saue from perceiuing Of them that Watches are on the wall And if it vs so faire may fall That wee our ladders may vp set While a man on the Wall may get Hee shall defend if there bée néede While the remnand vp them spéed The Erle was blyth of that carping And heght to him faire rewarding And vndertooke that gate to ga And bade him soone his ladder ma. And hold him priuie while they might Set for their purpose on a night Soone efter was the Ladder made And then the Erle but more abade Puruayed him a night priuily With threttie men wight and hardy And in a myrke night held their way They put them in full hard assay And to greit perill sikkerly I trow might they haue séene clearely That gate had not béene vndertane Although to stoppe them had not beene ane For the Craig was high and hiddeous And the climming right perrillous If ony hapned to slide or fall Hee should bee soone too frushed all The night was mirke as I heard say And to the foot soone commen were they Of the Craige that was high and shore Then William Frances them before Clambe in the Crookes before them ay And at the backe him followed they With méekle paine while to while fro They clambe in the Crookes so While halfe the Craig they climmen had And there a place they found so brade That they might sit on allanerly And they were ayndlesse and weary And there abode their aind to ta And right as they were sitting sa Right abone them vpon the Wall The Chak-watches assembled all Now helpe them God that all thing may For in full greit perill are they For might they see them there should nane Escape out of that place vnslaine To dead with stons they sould them ding For they might helpe themselues nothing But wonder mirke there was the night So that they had of them no sight And not for thy yet was there one Of them that swakked downe a stone And said away treatoure I see thée well Nowbeit hee saw of him no deill Out ouer their heads flew the stane And they sate still lurking ilkane The Watches when they heard no stéere From that place passed all in feare And carâ—ing held they foorth their way The Erle Thomas as soone as they That on the Craige sat then him by Toward the Craige clambe hastely And hidder came with méekle maine And not but greit perrill and paine For fra thyne vp was greiâ—ousar To climbe vp nor beneath by far But what kin paine so euer they had Right to the Wall they came but bade That was well neere twelue foot on hight And withoutten perceiuing or sight They set the Ladder to the Wall And syne Frances before them all Clambe vp and syne Sir Andro Gray And syne the Erle himselfe perfay Was the third man the Wall can ta When they there downe their Lord swa Saw climbe vp vpon the Wall As wood men they clambe efter all But ere vp commen all were they They that were watches to assay Heard steering and
When this was done that here say I The King sent a great companie Up to the Craigges them to assaile That were fled from the great battaile And they them yald without debate And them in hand they tooke full haite Syne to the King all brought were they And they dispended hailly that day In riches and in spraith taking Fra end was made of the feghting And when they naked spoyled were That were slaine in the battell there It was forsooth a great ferly To sée so mony there dead to ly Two hundreth paire of spurres red Were tane of Knights that were dead The Erle of Glocester dead was there That men called Sir Gilbert of Clare And Geiles de Argentie alswa And Payn Typont and other ma That there names not tell can I. And vpon Scottishmens partie There was slaine worthie Knights twa William Wepont was one of tha And Sir Walter of Rosse another That Sir Edward the Kings brother Loued and held in sik daintie That as himselfe him loued he And when he wist that he was dead He was so wa and will of read That he said making full euill cheare That him had rather the iourney were Undone ere he so dead had bene Outtaken him men hes not séene UUhen he for ony man made méening And the cause was of his louing That he his sister in Paramours Loued and held at great retoures His owne wife Dame Issabell And therefore so great distance fell Betwixt him and the Erle Dauy Of Atholl brother to this Lady That the Erle on Sanct Iohns night When both the Kings were boun to fight In Cambuskynneth the Kings vittaile Tooke and hardlie can assaile Sir William of Airth and him slew And with him men mo than enew Therefore syne into England He was banisht and all his land Was seazed as forfeite to the King That did thereof all his liking ANd when the field as I told aire Was dispoyled and made all bare The King and all his companie Glade and ioyfull was and merie Of the grace that them fallen was Toward their Innes the wayes taes To rest them for they wearie were But for the Erle Gilbert of Clare That slaine was in the battell place The King somedeill annoyed was For to him néere sibbe was he Then to a Kirk he gart him be Brought and walked all that night And on the morne when day was light The King raise as his vse was And to an English Knight through cace Hapned that he yéede wauerand So that no man laid on him hand And in a buske he hid his arming And waited while he saw the King In the morning come foorth earlie Then is he went to him in hie Sir Marmaduk the Twemane he hight He raiked to the King full right And hailsed him vpon his knée Welcome Sir Marmaduk said hée To what man art thou prisoner To none he said but to you here I yéelde me at your will to be And I receiue thée Sir said he Then gart he treat him courteouslie He dwelt long in his companie And syne in England him sent he Arrayed well but ransome frée And gaue him great gifts thereto A worthie man that so could do Might make him greatly for to prise When Marmaduk vpon this wise UUas yolden as I to you say Then came Sir Philip the Mowbray And to the King yald the Castell His cunnand hes he holden well Then with him treated so the King That he beleft of his dwelling And held him léelely his fay To the last end of his life day How Iames of Dowglas conuoyed the King Of England home but Sojourning NOw speake we of the Lord Dowglas And tell how hée followed the chase And had whéene in his companie But hee sped him in full greit hy And as hée through the Torwood foore Hée saw come riding ouer the Moore Sir Lawrence of Abernethie That with sextie in companie Came for to helpe the Englishmen For hée was Englishman yet then And when hée heard how that it was Hée left the Englishmens peace And to the Lord Dowglas there For to bée léele and trew hée sware And then they both followed the chase And ere the King of England was Passed Linlithgow they came so néere With all the folke that with them were That well among them shoot they might But they thought them too few to fight For five hundreth armed they were In the greit rout that they had there Togidder full surelie rade they And held them vpon bridle aye They were gouerned full wittelie For it séemed they were aye ready For to defend them at their might If they assailÈied were in fight And the Lord Dowglas and his men Thought it was not good purpose then To feght with them all openlie Hee conuoyed them so narrowlie That of the hindmest aye tooke hee Might none behind his Fellowes bée A pennie-stone-cast but hee in hy Was tane or slaine deliueredlie They no rescourse would to him ma Although hée followed neuer sa IN this maneâ— conuoyed them hée While that the King and his Menyie To Wincheburgh all commen are Then lighted they all that there were To baite their Horse that were wearie And Dowglas and his companie Bated also beside them néere They were so feill withoutten wéere And in armes so cleanelie dight And so arayed for to fight And hâ—e so wéene and but gaddering That hee would not in plaine feghting Assaillyie them but rade them by Waiting his time so eithandly A litle while they baited there And syne lap on and foorth can fare And hee was alwayes by them néere And leete them not haue sik leiser As anes waâ—er for to ma. And if that ony stad were sa And behind left was 〈◊〉 space Seezed in hand al 's soone hee was They conuoyed them vpon this wiseâ— While that the King and rout is Comde to the Castell of Dumbar Where hée and of his men so were Receiued right well for yet than The Erle Patricke was Englishman That gart with meat and drinke alswa Refresh them well and syne can ta A baite and send the King by sey To Bamburgh in his owne Countrie Their Horse there left they all on stray But léesed al 's soone in hand were they The laue that liued were without Addressed them into a rout And held to Berwicke straight their way In a rout and the sooth shall say They leaued of there men partly Ere they came there but not for thy They came to Barwicke soone and there Into the towne receiued were Else at greit mischiefe had they béene And when the Lord Dowglas hes seene That hee had léesed there his paine Toward the King hée went againe THe King escaped on this wise Loe what falding to Fortune lyes That whiles vpon a man will smile And pricke him syne another while In no time stable can shee stand This mightie King of England Shee had set on her whéele at hight When with so ferlifull a might Of men of armes and archers And
the feght the way he taes Endlang the Caussey that there was Filled into so great fusioun Of men that went then to the toun And he that met them can them ma Sik payment where he can them ta That well an hundreth men gart he Leaue magre theirs the Caussey And Iohn Thomson said surelie That saw his déedes all haillelie That toward the battell euen he yéede Iohn Thomson thereto tooke good héed And cried to him in full great hy That they were vanquisht all plainely And said come here for there is nane On life for they are dead ilkane Then stood he still a whyle and saw That they were all done out of daw Syne went he toward him sikkerlie This Iohn wrought syne so wittelie That all that hidder fled they were Comde to Craigfergus haile and féere Although they left some of their geare And they that at the fighting were Sought Sir Edward to get his head Among the folke that there was dead And found Gib Harper in his geare And for so good his armings were They strake his head off and syne it They haue gart salt into a Kit And in a Present but hething In England sent it to the King They weind Sir Edward it had béene But for the arming that was shéene They of the head deceiued were Although Sir Edward died there On this wise were the Noble men Through wilfulnesse all lossed then And that was sin and great pitie For had their outragious bountie Bene led with wit and with measure But gif the more misauenture Befell them it sould bene hard thing Sould lead them to discomforting But greit outragious succudrie Gart them all deare their worship buy And they that fled from the Melle Sped them in hy toward the Sea And to Craigfergus commen are they And they that were into the way To Sir Edward sent from the King When they heard the discomfiting To Craigfergus they went againe And that was not withoutten paine For they were mony times that day Assailyied with Irishrie but they Held them togidder sikkerlie Defending them so worthelie That they escaped oft through might And mony times oft by slight For oft there to themselues gaue they To let them skaithlesse passe away And to Craigfergus came they sa Then baits and shipmen they ta And sailled to Scotland into hy And arriued all their safelie When they of Scotland had witting Of Sir Edwards discomfiting They méened him full tenderlie Ouer all the land full commonly And they that with him slaine were there Full tender al 's méened they were SIr Edward Bruce as is said aire Was discomfist on this maner And when the fielde was cleanged cleene So that no resistance there was séene The Wardane then Richard of Clare With all the folkes that hee had there Toward Dondalke hes tane the way So that no debate made they At that time with the Irishry But to the towne they held in hy And syne hes sent to the King That England had in gouerning Gib harpers head into a Kit Iohn Mowppas to the King had it Whilke hée receiued in greit daintie Right blith of that Present was hee For hée was glad that hée was so Deliuered of sike a felloun foe In heart thereof hée tooke sike pride That in all haste hee would ride With a greit Host into Scotland To reuenge him with stalward hand Of the tray trauell and the teene That done to him therein had béene Then a right greit Host gaddered hée And gart his shippes by the sea Come with greit fusioun of vittaile For at that time hee thought all haill For to destroy so cleane Scotland That none should bée therein liuand And with his Host in greit array Toward Scotland hee tooke the way And when King Robert wist that hée Came on him with sik a MenÈie Hee gaddered men both far and néere While so feill commen to him were And was al 's for to come him to That him thought hée should well doe Hee gart with draw all the Cattell Of Lowthiane euerilk deill And into strengths gart them bee led And ordainde men to defend that stead And with his Host all still hee lay At Coâ—ros for hee would assay To gar his foes through fasting Bee feeble and through long waking And fra hee feeblished had heir might Assemble with them hee would to fight Hee thought to worke vpon this wise And Englishmen through greit Maistries Came with their Host to â—outhiane And then to Edinburgh are they gane And there abade dayes thrée Their ships that were vpon the sea Tad the wind contrare to them ay So that vpon no maner of way Power they had to the Firth to bring Their vittaile to relieue their King And they of the Host that failyied meat When they saw that they might not get Their vittailes to them by the sea They sent then foorth a greit Menyie For to forray all Louthiane But Cattell haue they founden nane Except a Kow that was haltand That in Tranent towne they â—and And when the Erle of Warrane Saw their Forrayours come againe And a Kow anerly come sa Hee asked if they found no ma And they haue said all to him Nay Then Certes said hee I dare say This is the dearest beast that I Saw euer yet for sikkerly It cost a thousand pound and maire And when the King and they that were Of his counsell saw they might get No Cattell to their Host to eat Then they of fasting had greit paine To England turned they home againe At Melros shupe they for to ly And sent before a company Thrée hundreth néere of armed men But the Lord Dowglas that was then Beside into a Forrest neere Wist of their comming and what they were And with them of his companie Into Melros all haillelie Hée howered into a bushment And a right sturdie Fréere hes sent Without the Yate their comming to see And bade him hold him all priuie While that hée saw them commen all Right to the cunyie of the Wall And cried on hie Dowglas Dowglas The Fréere then foorth his wayes taes That was right darfe stout and hardy His méekle hoode couered haillely The arming that hée on him had Upon a stalwart Horse hée rade And in his hand hée had a Speare And abade vpon that manéere While that hée saw them commenner And when the formest passed were The cunyie he cried Dowglas Dowglas Then to them all a course hée maes And bare one downe deliueredlie Then Dowglas with his companie Ished vpon them with a shoute And when they saw so great a rout Come vpon them so suddenlie They were abased gretumlie And gaue the backe but more abade The Scottishmen among them rade And slew all them they might ouerta And great martyrdome there can ma And they that scaped were vnslaine And to their Oast went home againe And told them what good welcomming Dowglas then made at their comming Conuoying them againe rudelie And warned them the
plaine harbrie Here followed King Robert in hight The English King with all his might THe King of England and his men That saw their harbreours come then Rebuted on that great maner Annoyed in their hearts they were And thought it was a great folie Into the wood to take harbrie Therefore by Dryburgh in a Plaine They harbried them and syne againe Are went to England but delay And when the King Robert heard say That they were turned home againe And how their harbreours were slaine In hy an Oast assembled he And went foorth ouer the Scots sea Eightie thousand he was and ma And eight battels he made of tha In ilk battell were ten thousand Syne went he foorth to England And in haill rout he followed fast The English King while at the last He came approaching by Byland When at that time there was lyand The King of Englanâ— with his men King Robert that had witting then That he lay there with méekle might Tranoynted so on him one night That on the morne by it was day Commen to the plaine field were they Fra Byland a litle space But betwixt them and it there was A craig bra streiked well lang And a great Path vp for to gang Otherwise might they not haue way To passe to Bylands Abbay Bot gif they passed far about And when the méekle English rout Heard that the King Robert was néere The most part of them that were there Went to the Path to take the bra There thought they their defence to ma Their Baners there they gart display And their battels in brade array And thought well to defend the place When King Robert perceiued hes That they them thought for to defend Efter his counsell hes he send And asked what was best to do The Lord Dowglas answered him to And said Sir I will vnderta That in short time I sall doe sa That I sall win yone place plainely Or then gar all yone company Come downe to you into this Plaine Or ye sall neuer trow me againe The King then said great GOD thée spéed And he on foorth his wayes yeede And of the Oast the most partie Put then into his companie And held their way toward the place The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Left his battell and in great hy But with few men in company Came to the Court of the Lord Dowglas And ere he entred into the place Before them all the place tooke he For he would that men sould him sée And when the good Lord Dowglas Saw that he so commen was He praised him thereof greatly And welcommed him honorably And to the place can togidder ga When Englishmen saw them doe sa They lighted and against them yéed Two Knights that doughtie were indéed Thomas of Struthers heght one to name And the other Sir Ralph of Cowbanâ— Thir two Knights of good degrée Came downe before all their Menyie They were both of full great bountie And met their foes right manfullie There might men sée well other assaile And men defend with stout battaile And arrowes flee in great fusioun And they that aboue were tumbled doun Stones vpon them from the hight But they that set both will and might To wiâ— the Path and preassed sa That Sir Ralph Cowbane can ta The way right to his Oast in hy And left Sir Thomas manfully Defending with great might the place UUhile that he so supprised was That he was tane through hard fighting And therefore syne while his ending He was renouned the best of hand Of one Knight was in all England For this ilk Sir Ralph of Cowbane In all England he had the name For the best Knight of that land And for Sir Thomas dwelt still fightand Where Sir Ralph as before said we Withdrew him abone him prised was he The discomfiting of Englishmen At Bylands Path into the Glen THus were they fighting in the place And when King Robert that was UUise in his deedes and eke worthie Saw his men ay so doughtelie The Peth vpon their foes ta And saw his foes defend them sa Then gart he all the Irishry That were into his company Of Argyle and Iles alswa Spéede them in hy vnto the bra He bade them leaue the Peth haillely And climbe vp on the Craiges thereby And speed them fast the hight to ta And in greit hy they haue done sa And clambe as Gaites vp to the hight And left not for their foes might Magre their foes they bare them sa That they are gotten abone the bra Then faught they wonder fellounlie And rushed their foes right sturdelie There was a right perilous bargaine For a Knight heght Sir Iohn of Britaine That lighted hes abone the bra With his men greit defence can ma But the Scottishmen can so assaille And gaue to them so feill battaile That they were set in sike effray That they that flée might fled away Sir Iohn of Brittaine there was tane And most part of his MenÈie sâ—aine Of France there were tane Knights two The Lord of Sowllie was one of tho The other was the Marshall Britaine That was a right greit Lord at hame The laue some dead were and some slain The remnand fled were euerilkane And when the King of England As yet at Byland was lyand Saw his men discomfist plainlie Hée tooke his way in full greit hy And Southward fled in all his might The Scots men chased him hard I hight And in the chase hes mony slaine But hee quicklie away is gane And the most part of his MenÈie Walter Stewart of greit bountie Set ay vpon hie Cheualrie With fiue hundreth in companie To Yorke Yates a chase can ma And there some of their men can sâ—a And abade while neere the night To see if ony would ish to fight And when hee saw none would ish out Hée turned againe wiâ—h all his rout And to the Host they went in hy That then had tane their harbery Into the Abbay of Byland And Rewes that were neere by lyand They dealâ— among them that was there And gaue the King of Englands geare That hee had left into Byland All gripped they into their hand And made them glad and eke merrie And when the King had tane Harberie They brought to him their prisoners All vnarmed as it affeeres And when hée saw Iohn of Brittaine Hee had at him full greit disdaine For hee of him would speake highly At home and too dispitefullie Hée bade haue him away in hy And looke hee kéeped were straitlie And said were it not that hée were A Captiâ—e as hée then was there His words hee should full deare aby And hée full fast can cry mercy They let him foorth withoutten maire And kéept him well white that they were Commen home to their owne Countrie Long efter syne ransomed was hee For twentie thousand pound to pay As I haue heard among men say WHen that the King this spéech had made The French Knights they taken had Were brought there
before the King And hee made them faire welcomming And said I wate right well that yée For your greit worship and bountie Came for to sée this feghting héere For sen yee in the Countrie were Your strength your worship your might Would not thole you eschew the fight And sen that cause led you theretill And nouther wrath nor yet ill will As friends yée shall receiued bee And welcome bée all time to mée They kneeled and thanked him greitly And hee gart treat them courteously A long while with him them held hée And did them honour and bountie And when they yarned to their land Unto the King of France in Presand Hée sent them quite but ransome free And gifts greit to them gaue hee His friends thusgaite courteously Hee could receiue and right humbly And his foes stoutlie astoney At Byland all that night hee lay For their victorie all blyth they were And on the morne withoutten maire They haue Southwards tane their way So far at that time trauelde they Burning slaying and destroying Their foes with all their might noying While to the wall commen were they Syne North againe they tooke the way And syne homeward in their repare They destroyed haill the wall of Bewar And syne with prisoners and Cattell Riches and mony faire Iewell To Scotland tooke they home their way Blith and joyfull of their Prey And ilke man went to his repaire Thanking greâ—t God of their wellfare That they the King of England Through worship and through strength of hand And through their Kings greit bountie Discomfist had in his owne Countrie THus was the Land a while at peace But Couetise that cannot cease To set men vpon fellony To gar men come to Senyeorie Greit Lords of full greit Renowne Made a feill Conjuration Against Robert the doughtie King They thought to bring him to ending And for to brooke efter his dead The Kâ—nrike and Reigne in his stead Of the great Treasoun the ordaining To Robert the Bruce the noble King THe Lord Sowles Sir Williame Of this dead had most defame For principall thereof was hee Both of assent and crueltie And had gotten with him sundrie Gilbert Malyerd and Iohn of Logie They were Knights I tell of here And Richard Browne al 's a Squyer And good Sir Dauid the Brechyne UUas of this déed arested syne And I sall tell you furthermare But they ilkane discouered were Through a Ladie as I heard say Ere to their purpose come might they For she told hailly to the King Their purpose and their ordaining And when that he sould haue bene dead And Sowles King into his stead And told him very takinning That this purpose was soothfast thing And when the King wist that it was sa So subtle purpose can he ta That he gart take them euerilkane And where the Lord Sowles was tane Thrée hundreth and sextie had he Of Squyers cled in his Leuerie At that time in his companie Outtane Knights that were iolie Into Barwike taken was he Then might men all his Menyie sée Sorie and wo the sooth to say The King léet them all passe away And held them that he taken had The Lord Sowles then efter made â—laine granting of that haill purpose A Parliament therefore set was And hidder brought that Menyie were The Lord Sowles hes granted there The déede into plaine Parliament Therefore soone efter he was sent To his paines in Dumbartane And died in that toun of stane Sir Gilbert Malyerd and Logie And Richard Browne thir three plainelie Was with assise there ouertane Therefore they were drawne ilkane And hanged and headed al 's thereto As men them damned had to do And good Sir Dauid the Brechine They gart challenge thereafter syne And he granted that of that thing Was made to him discouering But thereto gaue he no consent But for he heilled their intent And discouered it not to the King Whome of he held all his holding And had made to him fewtie Iudged to hing and drawne be He was and as they drew him to hing The people farly fast can thring Him and his mischiefe for to sée That to behold was great pitie Sir Ingrame Vmfrauile that then Was with the King a Scottishman When he that great mischiefe did sée He said Lordings whereto preasse yée To sée the mischiefe of this Knight That was so worthie and so wight For I haue séene ma preasse to sée Him for his Soueraigne bountie Than now does for to sée him here And when thir words spoken were With sorie cheare he held him still While men had done on him their will And syne with lieue of the King He brought him menskfully to eirding And syne to the King said he One thing I pray you Sir grant to me That is that ye of all my land That is into Scotland lyand Would giue me leaue to doe my will The King soone hes said him till I will well grant that it so be But tell me what annoyes thée He said againe grant me mercy And I sall tell you it plainely Mine heart giues me no more to be With you dwelling in this Countrie Therefore that it not you grieue I pray you hartly of your lieue For where so Noble and worthy a Knight And so Cheualrous and so wighâ— And so renouned of worship syne As Sir Dauid the good Brechyne And so fulfilled of all manhéede UUas put to so villanous a dead Mine heart forsooth may not giue me To dwell for nothing that may be The King said sen that ye will sa When euer ye will ye may ga And you sall haue good leaue thereto Thy liking of thy land to do And he him thanked gretumly And of his land in full great hy As him thought best disponed he Syne at the King of great bountie Before them all that with him were His lieue he tooke for euermaire And went in England to the King And he him told all but leesing How that the Knights destroyed were And all as I told you aire And of the Kings Courtesie That leaued him debonerlie To doe with his land his liking In that time were sent fra the King Of Scotland Messingers to treat For peace gif that they might it get As there oftsyse before was send Suppose they could not bring it to end For the good King in his intent Sen GOD sik grace to him had sent That he had winnen all his land Through strength of armes to his hand That he peace in his land would ma And all the land establisht sa That his aire efter him sould be In peace gif men held their lawtie IN this time that the Vmfrauile As I bare on hand aire whyle Came to the King of England The Scots Messengers there he fand Of peace and rest to haue tretise The King wist Sir Ingrame was wise And asked his counsell thereto What he would réede him for to do For he said he was laith to ma Peace with King Robert Bruce his fa While
The Hosts both all that day were In peace till that the night was néere The Scots Host that lying were Into the Parke made Feast and Fare And blew Hornes and fires made And gart them burne both bright brade So that their fires that night was maire Than ony time before there were And when the night was fallen well With all their Harnesse euerilke deille All priuilie they rade their way Syne in a Mosse soone entred they That was well two mile of bread Out ouer the Mosse on foote they yéede And in their hand their Horse led they It was a full greit noysome way But Flaikes in the Wood they made Of wands and them with them had And sykes therewith brigged they And so had well their horse away On sik wise that all that there were Come through the Mosse both haill féere And tint but litle of their geare But if it were any olde Sowméere That in the Mosse was left lyand When all as I haue borne on hand Out ouer the Mosse that was so brade Were commen greit gladnesse they had And rade foorth homeward on their way And on the morne when it was day Ahe Englishmen saw the Harbrie Where Scottishmen before can ly All voide and wondred greitlie then And sent foorth sundrie of their men While at the last their trace fand they And syne when they were goneaway That to a méekle Mosse them had That was so hiddeous for to waid That auenture of them durst none But to their Host againe is gone And told how that they passed were Where neuer man had passed aire When Englishmen heard it was sa In hy to counsell can they ta That they would follow them no maire Their Host right then they skailed there And ilke man to his owne they rade King Robert then that witting had That his men so in the Parke lay And what mischiefe then at were they An Host assembled hee in hâ—â— Ten thousand men wight and hardy And sent them foorth with Erles two Of Stratherne and Angus were they The Host in Wardaile to relieue And if they might so well enchéeue That samine night that meete might they They thought their foes to assay So fell it on that samine day That the Mosse as yee heard mee say Was past the Discurreours that there Ryding before the Hosts were On ather Host hes gotten a sight And they that worthie were and wight At their méeting justeâ— of wéere EnsenÈies hie they cried their And by their cry perceiued they That they were friends and no fay Then might men sée them glad and blyth And told it to their Lords swyth The Hosts met both togidder syne There was right homelie welcomming Made among greit Lords there Of their méeting joyfull they were The Erle Patricke and his MenÈie Had vittaile with greit plentie And gaue it to them with glad cheare Thus went they hameward all in feare Destroying the Countrie in their way In Scotland well commen are they The Lords went then all to the King That made them right faire welcoming For of their comming right glad was hée And that they â—ith sik propertie Withoutten tinsall escaped had They were blith merie and glad How King Robert assembled there Three Hosts in England for to fare SOone efter that the Erle Thomas From Wardall thus repaired was The King assembled all his might And left none that was worthie to fight A greit Host there assembled hee And dealt his Host in parts thrée Ane part of Norame went but let And there a stalward Siege they set And held them right in at their dyke Another part vnto Anuike Is went and there a Siege set they And while that there the Siege lay At the Castell as I said aire Part of assaults made they there And mony fairè Cheualrie Enchéeued was full doughtely The King at the Castell lyand Left his folke as I boore on hand And with the third Oast held his way Fra Parke to Parke him for to play Hoouing as all his owne it were And to them that were with him there The lands of Northumberland That next to Scotland was lyand In fée and heritage gaue hée And they payed for the Seales fée On this wise rade he destroyand While that the King of England Through counsell of the Mortymer And his Mother that at that time were Leaders to him that then young was To King Robert to treat of peace Sent Messengers and so sped they That he assented on this way Then a perpetuall peace to take And they a marriage sould make With King Roberts sonne Dauy That fiue yéeres old was then surely And of Dame Iane al 's of the towre That syne was of great valour Sister she was to the young King That England had in gouerning That had in eild then seuen yéere And King Robert for skaithes feare That he did to them of England Had done in weere through stalward hand Twentie thousand pound sall pay Of siluer and gold and good money When men thir things spoken had And with Seales and othes made Séesing of friendship and of peace For ony cause it sould neuer cease The Marriage then gart ordaine they To be in Barwike and the day They haue set when that it sould be Syne went ilk man to his Countrie Thus made was peace where wéere was aire And syne the Sieges raised were The King ordained for to pay The Siluer and against the day He gart well for the Maugery Ordaine when his sonne Dauy Sould wedded be and the Erle Thomas And al 's the good Lord of Dowglas Into his stead syne ordainde he Deuisers of the Feast to be For his sicknesse tooke him so saire That on no wise might he be there His sicknesse came of a fundying He had tane through his cold lying When in his great mischiefe was he He felt that hard perplexitie At Cardrosse all that time he lay And when néere commen was the day That ordainde for the wedding was The Erle and the Lord Dowglas To Barwikâ— came with méekle fare And brought young Dauid with them there The Quéene and with her the Mortimer On the other partie commen were With great efféere and Royaltie The young Ladie of great beautie Hidder came with rich afféere The wedding haue they made right there With great feast and solemnitie There might men myrth and gladnesse sée For full great Feast made they there And Scottishmen and English were Togidder in ioy and solace No felloun speech betwixt them was The Feast a well long time held they And when they busked to fare away The Queene hes her Doughter left there With great riches and Royall fare I trow that long time no Lady To house was giuen so richly The Erle and the Lord Dowglas Her in great daintie receiued hes As it was worthy sickerly For she was syne the best Ladie And the fairest that men might sée Efter this great solemnitie When on both sides the lieue was tane The
in the Mountaines 35 How King Robert was discomfist by Iohn of Lorne 38 Howe King Robert slew the three men that swore his death Fol. 41 How the Queene and the Erle of Athole departed fra the King to Kildromy 48 How the King past to Lochlowmound 50 Of the meeting of the Erle of Lennox with the King 52 How the King past to the sea 55 How the Erle of Lennox was chaist on the sea 56 How the King was receiued of Angus of the Iles and was gentâ—y entreated of him 58 How the Queene and her other Ladies were tane and prisoned and her men slaine 61 Of the siege of Kildromie and how it was betraised to the Englishmen 62 Of the death of King Edward of England 66 The illusion of the Deuill made to the mother of Ferrand Erle of Flanders and of the successe of the battell that followed thereafter 68 How Iames of Dowglas past in Arrane and gart vittall and armour there 71 How the King sent a spy in Carrik to spy wha were his friends there 76 Of the fire the King saw burning 79 Of the Kings hanselling at his first arriuing in Carrik 83 How Iames of Dowglas wan his Castell of Dowglas 97 How a man of Carrik with twa sonnes tooke in hand to slay the King Robert 97 How King Robert slew the three Traitours 101 How King Robert discomfist twa hundreth Galloway-men and slew fifteene of them 105 Howe Tydeus slewe fourtie nine men and their Captaine 108 How Iames of Dowglas slew Thriswall the Captaine of Dowglas 114 Howe sir Aymer and Iohn of Lorne searched the King with a sleuthhound 118 How King Robert slew yeâ— men that followed him 121 Howe the King was sairlie sought by the sleuthhound and how the sleuthhound was slaine 123 How the three Thieues came to the King and fainyied that they would bee his men 126 How the Kings Foster-brother was slaine and himselfe in great danger and how hee slew the three Thieues 128 How the King after his great troubles effrayed the English companie 133 How the King his hounds slew the 3 men in the wood 136 How the King discomfist sir Aymer in Glentroll 140 How sir Iames Dowglas discomfist sir Philip Mowbray with his companie at Ederfurd 143 How the King discomfist sir Aymer and his men vnder Lowdoun hill 147 How sir Iames Dowglas slew sir Iohn Webtoun and wâ— the Castell of Dowglas and syne cast it downe 156 How the King past ouer the Month and fell sick by the way 159 Howe the Kings men defended him during the time of his sicknesse 162 How the King discoÌ„fist the Erle of Buchane at Enrowry 165 Of the heirship of Buchane and howe the Castle of Forfare was tane 168 How the King wan sainct Iohnstoun and cast downe all the Tower thereof 169 Of the French Knight that was with King Robert at the winning of sainct Iohnstoun 171 How sir Edward Bruce discomfist sir Aymer and sir Ingrame Vmfrauile at the Water of Cree 174 How sir Edward Bruce with fiftie in company discomfist sir Aymer with fifteene hundreth 176 Howe sir Iames Dowglas tooke Thomas Randell and Alexander Stewart 180 How the King discomfist Iohn of Lornes meÌ„ at Creâ—labeÌ„ 182 Howe William Binny wanne the Peill of Linlithgowe through the bringing in of hay to it 182 How Thomas Randell was recounselled with the King and was made Erle of Murray 190 How Thomas Randel sieged the Castel of Edinburgh 191 How Sir Iames Dowglas by the conuoy of Sym of Lydhouse wan the Castell of Roxburgh 193 Howe Erle Thomas Randell wanne the Castell of Edinburgh by the conuoying of William Frances 198 Howe sir Edward Bruce wanne the Peill of Ruglyn and syne wanne Dundie 206 Howe sir Edward Bruce sieged Sttiuiling and of the â—rewes tane thereat 207 How King Edward gaddered a puissant armie to relieue Stâ—iuiling 208 Howe King Edward diuided his battels and tooke harbry in Edinburgh 213 How King Robert gaddered his folkes and ordered his battels to resist king Edward 216 Howe king Robert gart make deepe pots in the field ouercouered them with eâ—rd 218 How king Robert disseuered his vitaillers and carriage men fra his campe and set Erle Thomas Randell to keep the gaite beside the Kirke 220 How the Erle of Murray with an hundreth in company discomfist eight hundreth Englishmen 224 How king Robert slew sir Henrie Bowme in the face of â—aith the Oasts 228 Of the comfort giuen by king Robert to his folks 233 Of the battell of Bannocburne 242 How the Scottish vittallers and carriage men made them baners of sâ—eetes and presented theÌ„selues to the field 253 The valiantnes and death of sir Geiles de Argentie 255 How the Erle of Herfurd after the battell was receiued in Bothwell 258 Howe the king gart honourably bury the Erle of Glocester and the Castell of Striuiling was randered and sir Philip Mowbray became the kings man 262 Howe sir Iames Dowglas chased king Edward to Dumâ—ar and his company to Barwike 263 How the Castell of Bothwell the Erle of Herfurd were randred to sir Edward Bruce the Erle interchanged for the Queene and her Daughter that were prisoners 267 How king Robert rade in England and brunt Northumberland 268 Howe sir Edward Bruce with a great companie past in 〈◊〉 269 Of the first three battels sir Edward wan in Ireland 271 How the Irishmen treasonably leet our a Loâ—h on sir Edward and his company 279 Howe Erle Thomas Randell conqueissed the Irishmens vittailes 287 How Erle Thomas chased the Scurreours that came fra Cogneres 284 Of the fourth battell sir Edward wan in Ireland 286 Howe king Robert danted the Iles and tooke Iohn of Lorne 296 Howe sir Iames Dowglas reskewed the Pray tane by Englishmen and slewe sir Edmund Calhow Capitane of Barwike 296 How sir Iames Dowglas slew the Lord Newell 299 Howe king Robert past in Ireland to support his brother 303 How king Robert faught in Ireland against a great number of men and discomfist them 305 How sir Iames Dowglas in absenee of king Robert with a few company slew the Erle of Richmond 313 How sir Iames Dowglas slew Clerke Eleis and his company 317 How sir Iames Dowglas in absence of King Robert defended valiantly the Countrie 318 Howe the Bishop of Dunkeld and the Erle of Fife discomfist the Englishmen beside Dumfermeling 320 Of the returning of king Robert from Ireland 323 How Barwik was win by the moyen of Sim of Spaldin 327 Howe the King receiued the Castell of Barwike and made Walter Stewart Capitane thereof 330 How the King of England assembled his power to siege Barwike 333 Of the siege of Barwike 345 How Erle Thomas Randell and sir Iames Dowglas past and burnt in England to raise the siege from Barwike 340 Of the second assault of Barwike 343 How the siege of Barwike was skailled and the towne relieued 350 Of the death of sir Edward in Ireland and mony noble men with him 356 How King Edward againe inuaded Scotland and how sundrie of his men were slaine by sir Iames Dowglas 363 How Englishmen were discomfist at Byland 366 Of the conspiracie deuised against King Robert 370 Of the Trewes tane betwixt Scotland and England and of the death of walter Stewart 376 How the Erle of Murray and sir Iames Dowglas brunt in England till they came to Wardall Parke and of the death of King Edward of Carnauer and of his sonne Edward of Windesore 377 How Sir Iames Dowglas entred in the English Host and slew mony in their Tents 386 Howe the Scottish Host by the conuoy of Sir Iames Dowglas returned in Scotland without battell 391 How King Robert to relieue his â—olkes assembled his Host and entred into England in three parts 394 Of the peace tane and of the Mariage of Edwards sister with Dauid King Roberts sonne 395 How King Robert tooke sicknesse in Cardrosse sent for his Lords 398 How the Lord Dowglas was chosen to passe to the haly Land with the Bruces Heart and of the death of King Robert and how hee was buried in Dumfermling 401 How the Lord Dowglas past to the haly Land with the Kings heart 403 Of the great prowesse and valliantnesse done by the Lord Dowglas in Spaine 406 How the Lord Dowglas in relieuing Sir William Sinclar were both slaine by â—uge multitude of Saracenes 408 Of the noble vertues of the Lord Dowglas and a comparison betwixt him and the Romane Fabricius 410 Howe Sir William Keith brought the Lord Dowglas banes in Scotland and buried them in the Kirke of Dowglas 412 Of the death of sir Thomas Randell Gouernour of Scotland by poyson Fol eodem FINIS TABVLAE
THE ACTES and life of the most Victorious Conquerour Robert Bruce King of SCOTLAND WHEREIN also are contained the Martiall deeds of the valiant Princes Edward Bruce Syr Iames Dowglas Erle Thomas Randel Walter Stewart and sundrie others Newly corrected and conferred with the best and most ancient Manuscripts EDINBVRGH Printed by Andro Hart. ANNO 1620. The Printers Preface to the Reader THere is nothing vnto which the minde of maÌ„ doth more aspire thaÌ„ to renown immortality therfore it is that no time hath bene so barbarous no countries so vnciuile but they haue had a care to preserue worthie actions from the iniurie of obliuion and laboured that the names of these that were vertuous while they liued should not perish with their breath And amongst all the strange and diuerse fashions of remembring the dead no record hath bene found to bee compared to that of bookes and amongst all bookes none so lasting as these in verse which how so euer rudely done yet seeme to haue striuen with dayes and euen to compasse time beeing the first remembrances that either Greece or Rome haue and apparantly shall be the last Howe curious our Antecessours in this Isle haue bene to extend their memorie to after ages many olde monuments yet to be seene can beare witnesse but more than any that fame of which many yeers since was amongst forrainers of their ancient Poets the Bardes who wrote in verse the deedes of their most valiant men and song them in the wilde Forrests and mountaines with which though long time after the manie records wee haue of the ancient defenders of our Countrie may bee brought forth and amongst all the rest this storie of the valiant BRVCE is not the least it speaketh the language of that time if it spake ours it would not bee it selfe yet as an antique it is venerable To speake somewhat of the occasion of those warres that the Historie may the better appeare Alexander the third of that name King of SCOTLAND departed this life suddenlie without succession to the crowne except Margaret his Neece daughter to the King of Norway who beeing left the vndoubted heire to the Kingdome King Edward of England desired her in mariage to his sonne Prince Edward whereunto our Scottish Nobilitie easilie condescended but shee beeing dead before the ambassadors arriued they returned with sorrowfull hearts wherevpon arose great tâ—oubles and contention amongst the Nobilitie who should succeed to the Crowne and albeit there were manie contendents yet at leÌ„gth came onely betwixt the Bruce Baliol. The Nobility to auoide further strife conueened themselues to decide who should haue the vndoubted right but because they could not agree both the parties being so great that their power could not make the parties stand to their arbitrement they with one voyce referred the deciding thereof to Edward of EnglaÌ„d supponing that he should deale most sincerely therein considering how willingly they had condescended to the marriage of his sonne with Margaret the Neece of King Alexander who accepting very gladly of the matter hoping to atchieue by craft that which hee and his predecessours could neuer obtaine by force left off his Iourney to the Holie LAND hoping to speede better at home for the enlarging of his Dominions beeing a man greatly inclined that way called the parties before him at Barwike protesting heere withall that hee called them not vpon any presumption that he pretended ouer them but as they had chosen him to be arbiter in the cause so hee called them to the deciding of the matter and to collour his purpose hee had conueened a number of learned Lawyers out of France and other Countries pretending that he would doe nothing without law and reason yet the moste parte of the Doctours there conueened as namely Mr. Siluius Mr. Rainerius Decius Mr. Severius de Florentia mentioned in the Pluscadin Chronicle and in Scotichronicon condescended that Robert Bruce had the best right quòd propinquior in gradu debet succedere and therefore Robert Bruce in respect hee was uno gradu stipiti propinquior and was also the first Male albeit begotten on the younger sister But King Edward had his owne decinct not regarding their arbitrement called first secretly the Bruce vnto him to whome he was well inclined promising to decide in his fauours if he would hold his Kingdome in homage of him But Bruce being a man of Heroik spirit refused absolutely to subject a free Realme to the seruitude of any forraine Prince whomsoeuer The King highly offended turned himselfe frowardly in great anger froÌ„ the Bruce called Iohn Ballioll also secretly promised him the same coÌ„ditions the man being blinded with ardent desire to reigne not regarding what hee did promise so hee might haue Soueraignitie condiscended easily to whatsumeuer Edward required and so by him was nominate King sent home to Scotland where hee was conueyed to Scone and there crowned and all except Bruce swore to him obedience Shortly after there fell out a slaughter of Makdulffe Erle of Fife by the Abirnethies men at that time in great authoritie and wealth and because Makdulffe his brother suspected the King to bee partiall in judging summond him to bee judged before King Edward The Ballioll being there present and sitting beside King Edward in the conuention of Estates and being called thoght to answere by a Procutour was compelled to arise and defend his cause at the Barre wherewith being sorely grieued albeit hee durst not peepe for the time yet returning home in a maruelous chaufe reuoluing in his minde how hee might cast off this yoke and bondage whereunto foolishly hee had subjected himselfe and as hee did meditate vpon this a profitable dissention for his purpose interueened betweene France and England which immediatly brast foorth in warre so that at a Conuention in Scotland both the Kings Ambassadours were present The French to renue their olde league with the new King the English by the recent surrender of the Realme desired assistance in that warre Both the Ambassadours were referred to the Parliament the Nobilitie prone to cast off the late yoke of England decerned the French petition just and the English vnjust for that league with France was made fiue hundreth yeeres agoe by the consent of the whole Realme inviolably obserued to that day but that surrender was but new throwen out of the King against his will which albeit hee had beene willing to doe yet neither was the King nor the Realme bound to bide at it seeing it was done without the consent of the Estates in Parliament without whose consent the King could doe nothing These Newes comming to King Edwards eares hauing taken some Moneths truce with France hee sent his Nauie that was bowne to France into Scotland thinking to ouerthrowe the Scots before they were prouided and to keep Barwike vnvittalled The Scots encountring this Nauie at the Riuer mouth of Tweed wanne eighteene shippes and chased the rest King Edwards wrath was by this
losse more vehemently prouoked to reuenge summond the Ballioll thrise to compeare before him at Newcastle and because he compeared not at all hee sent for Bruce and promised him the Kingdome if hee would write to his friendes either to leaue their King or to flee in battell The King with all diligence past toward Barwike where finding the towne strongly garnished with men and comming small speed in his pursute hee fained a retreat and caused some of the Bruces faction sparse brutes that the Ballioll with a great Oast was euen there at hand whereupon the most notable men of the towne supponing themselues to bee free of the common enemie ran foorth for to receiue their King honourably and so both horse and foote went out of the towne confusedlie But Edward had appointed a number of horsemen to wait vpoÌ„ that turne who cutted them off easilie from their companies beeing vshed so confusedly and out of order and comming to the next Port entred in the towne the King with his foot-hoste following made miserable slaughter vpon all sorts of people increasing in multitude sent a part of his armie to besiege Dumbar himselfe within few dayes receiued the Castell of Barwike which the keepers randred despairing of reliefe then joyning all his forces together at Dumbar encountred with the Scots hoste which came hither with a great battell to raise the siege the victorie enclined to the English side The chiefe men of the Nobilitie fledde to the Castell but the Captaine not hauing Viuers sufficient to sustaine such a multitude randered and all kinde of crueltie execute vppon the captiues But when the Bruce desired the Kingdome in recompense of his trauell and according to promise Edward answered him in French haue we nothing ado but to purchase Kingdomes for you Dumbar and some other Castles vppon the Border beeing randred Edinburgh and Striuiling were deliuered also from Striuiling Edward passed Forth and marched towards Forfare where the Ballioll was when without impediment hee came to Monrosse The Ballioll by perswasion of Iohn Cummine of Strabogie randred himselfe the Kingdome into King Edwards hands whom he shipped sent into England Edward returned to Barwike by sharpe edict summond all the Scottish Nobilitie to come thither such as came were compelled to sweare obedience vnto him William Dowglas a man of Noble blood and valiant refusing to sweare was cast in prison where within few yeeres he died Thus all things succeeding to his wish hee appointed Iohn Warreâ— Erle of Surrey Viceroy Hew Cressingham Thesaurer and leauing them behind him hee returned to London where hee warded Iohn Ballioll when hee had reigned 4. yeeres But hee within a short space at the request of the Bishop of Rome was sent to France leauing his sonne Edward in pledge for him Afterward Edward with a great army tooke shipping to passe in France The Scots in esperance of liberty hee being absent chused twelue Regents and by all their aduises Iohn Cummine Erle of Buchan with a sufficient armie was sent in England The English Garrisons left in Scotland dispersed heere and there durst not stirre so hee without impediment spoyled Cumberland and Northumberland Albeit this voyage somewhat incouraged the Scots yet did it but small help to the whole warre for all strong holds were fortified by the enemies garrisons But while as Noblemen lacked both strength and sufficient courage to enterprise greater matters VVilliam VVallace a man of Noble and ancient Family who did Actes in those Warres not only aboue all mens exspectatioÌ„ but also incredible being a man of great bodily strenght high courage He hardened his body against injuries of Fortune and confirmed his courage by perillous attempts to enterprise higher and greater euen with danger he gathered vnto him some companie of Men and herewith not only slew any Englishmen he met with but often times aâ—so with few foght with great numbers in sundrie places where he met with them slew them In short space his fam filled both the Realms so they that had lik causes as he had not vnlike loue to their Countrey gathering together swarmed to him from all parts and within few moneths he amassed an indifferent Army Noblemen for feare or lashnes lying still Wallace was proclaimed Gouernour and as Lieutenant for Ballioll commanded as lawfull Magistrate Hee tooke not this name of pride or of desire to Empire but only like another Sampson vpon compassion and loue of his Countrey-people After this he essayed with open force tooke many Castells either not sufficiently furnished or not weill guarded or negligently kept and razed them His Men of Warres minds were so confirmed that vnder his conduct they feared no perrill for that his hardiment lacked neuer wisdom nor his wisdome the wished euent So in short space he wan all the Forts that Englishmen possessed beyond Forth King Edward hearing these rumours and hauing all his Army with him in France he wrote to Henrie Pearsie Lord of Northumberland to William Latimer to raise quickly Forces out of the next adjacent Countrey and joyne themselues with Cressinghame to suppres the Scots Wallace in this time besieged the Castle of Cowper in Fyfe to the end his men of warre should not be idle attending the coming of the English army his enimies now cuming neare marched directly to Striuiling The Riuer of Forth hath no foords at Striuiling Yet there was a vvoodden bridge ouer the vvhich Cressinghame past vvith the great part of his aâ—mâ— the rest following so thick the bridge being ouerburthened vvith so hudge a weght brak in pieces The Scots charged these that vvere past before they could be Arayed slew their leader droue backe the rest in the water with so huge a slaughter that almost the whole were either slain by the Scots or drownd in the riuer Wallace after this so followed his fortune that he left not an Englishman in Scotland except prisoners This victory was obtained vpoÌ„ the Ides of Septemb. 1297. Hereafter followed great Famine for not manuring of the ground and Pest followed Hunger wherof greater destruction was feared than of the Warre Wallace to remedy this aswell as he might charged al sensible men to come vnto him at a certain day caried them with him into England vvhere liuing in vvinter in their enemies lands they spared Viuers at home vvhere he remained from the kalends of Nouember vnto the kal. of Febr. and no man durst match him And then hauing inriched theÌ„selfs vvith their enemies spoyls returned with great glory As this journey augmented Wallaces fame and authority among the people so it increased the Noble mens enuy against him vvhereof Edw. being priuy setting things in France in order as time would permit leauing his old souldiers beyond sea amassing a very great army vpon the sudden of nouices he marched toward Scotland but wheÌ„ in the plain of Stanemure both armies stood in order of battel about half a mile from other Edw. viewing Wall hoste
had rashly run forth froÌ„ the host Edw. preast by great promises to mak him his own but in vain his answer was ay to all men that hee had auowed his life to his Countrey Thus things atchieued Edw. adjoyned himself to his son Edward whom he had left at Perth took in sundry Strengths Forts Striuiling after 3 moneths siege the rest rendred for fear Edward held a ParliameÌ„t in Sainct-Andrews vvher he made most part of the Nobility for fear to swear to be his true subjects Wall always excepted who for fear to be betrayed of the nobility withdrue himself to his old lurking places Edw. appointed LieutenaÌ„ts and Magistrats throughout Scotland past home to England and left no Monuments Histories Books Lawes nor learned men vndestroyed or transported with him thinking therby to exterminate the name of that NatioÌ„ He left Odomare Valentine Vice-Roy to extinguish all innouations if any begin to peepe But now Wars arose where he least meaned Among the rest of Scottish Nation with Edward was Robert Bruces son who conteÌ„ded with Ballioll for the Kingdome and Iohn Cummine cousen german to Iohn Ballioll late King of Scots Edw. had spoken often times seuerally long time holden them in the hals vpoÌ„ vain hope of the Kingdom and so used their means in the conquest of the same being both meÌ„ of great power and friendship but the deceitfull mockage at length manifested there was nothing more desired of either of them than occasion to be reueÌ„ged vpon Edw. falset against promise trust to both but emulation whereby the one suspected the other was the stay that neither durst coÌ„municat his counsell to the other Now Cum. perceiued these doings miscoÌ„teÌ„ted Bruce vehemently deplored vnto him the misery of their Countrey beginning from the ground thereof and inueighing greatly against the King of Englands persidie accused first himself then Bruce by whose assistance and trauels their people were brought to this misery proceeding further from this beginning of speach euery of them promising secrecy to other vpon their Faith and honesty They agreed betwixt themselues thus That Bruce should bee King and Cummine should resigne his Right in his fauours Cummine should haue all Lands that Bruce possessed in Scotland he had many faire and fruitfull Lands and Cummine should be second in honour next vnto the King These things sworn writteÌ„ sealed Bruce vvaiting opportunity of change past to the Court of England leauing behind him in Scotland his wife and brethren After his departure Cummine either repenting his former aduise or els he thought by craft to cut away Bruce that therby he might more easily come by the kingdome He bevvrayed these secrets to Edward and to purchase credite herein he sent him the Contract signed by both Bruce was summoÌ„d to a day for treason charged not to depart from Court quiet keepers appointed vnto him commanded to spy both his vvords and deeds The cause why the King protracted time in this so manifest a turne was that his brethren might be apprehended before the brute of his execution should arise Bruce in the meane time was informed of the suddeÌ„ danger by his old freind the Earle of Gomera vvho durst not counsell him by letter to flee but warning by example sent a pair of guilt spurs with som pieces of gold as if he had borrowed them the day preceeding Robert as men in danger are most tenty not ignoraÌ„t what was meant by the propine called for a Smith in the night caused shoo three Horses backward lest the print of the Horse feet in the snow might bewray their flight that same night might be espied accompanied with other two took journey vpon the 7 day thereafter themselues and their horses weary came to a Castle of his own standing beside Lochmabene there finding his brother Dauid Robert Fleming and taking them with him scarcely opening vnto them the cause of his flight chanced vpon a Messenger carying letters from Cummine to Edward bearing That Robert should be executed with diligence for delay brought danger lest a Noble man â—auoured of the people and therewith also wise stout should raise new troubles c. The Cummines treason also by this testimony tried Robert inflamed with rage of ire past directly to Drumfreise wher he vnderstood his enemy was finding Iohn Cummine in the Gray-Friers Kirke produced his letters reproued him bitterly while as he impudently stood to the deniall therof but he impatient in wrath strak him in the belly with his Dagger and left him for dead When he was horsing again Iames Lindesay his cousen and Roger Kirk-Patricke his friend perceiuing his countenaâ—ce chaÌ„ged inquired the cause He told them in a word He belieued Cummine was dead What said LINDESAY Hast thou left so dangerous a deed in doubt therwith he entred into the Kirk not only slew him but also Robert Cummine his kinsman preassing to support him This murther was committed the 4 of the Ides of February 1305. about this time William Wallace was taken and betrayed by Iohn Menteith his familiar companion corrupted by Edwards Mony in the bounds of Glasgow where he lurked for the time sent to London where by Edwards command he was vnhonestly beheaded and quartered his members tâ— terrifie others hung vp in most publicke places in England Scotland This was the end of this most worthy mans life who for high spirit in interprising dangers for fortitude in execution comparable in deed to the most famous Chiftains amongst the Ancients for loue to his natiue Countrey second to noâ—e he onely free the rest slaues could neither bee bâ—ught with benefites nor compelled by force to leaue the publicke cause which he had once profest whose death appeared more to be lamented that being inuincible to his enemie he was betrayed by his Familiar that in no cace should haue done so The Bruce staying only till he had obtained pardon of the Bishop of Rome for the murther committed in holy Church In the next month of Aprile 1306. passing to Scone hee was crowned King First knowing well the great puissance of his enemie hee amasseth all the forces he could from all parts although the whole clan of Cummines the greatest in Scotland that euer was before them or since in puissance withstoode him and his assisting of Edward offended many and the greater part of the Realme beside lay quiet for feare of English force hee notwithstanding of his few number hazarded against Odomar at Meibwen with the losse of a few was put to the worst The like bad successe hee had in passing from Atholl to Argyle where the Cummines beset him and forced him to fight at Dalry his men fleeing to saue themselues in places of greatest suretie From this time with one or two in companie thinking himselfe in that state more sure with few than many Hee wandred in the wildernes like a wilde man and albeit hee would haue assayed Fortoun hee saw
no appearance of force in anie part for the common people vpon the construing of the two former losses caused him bee forsaken of all two onely of his old friends stood constantly by him Micolum Leuin Erle of Lennox and Gilbert Hay Englishmen not saciate sufficiently with his miseries sent and apprehended his kinsemen throughout all the Countrie his wife token by William Erle of Rosse was sent into England his brother Nigell the Castle of Kildrummie betrayed by the Captaine thereof with his wife and children were randred to the enemie Thomas and Alexander his brethren also passing from Galloway to Carrik were taken at Lochrien and sent into England These three in sundrie places were beheaded the remnant of the Bruces faction were sought also and slaine their goods confiscate The King himself most often with one in companie in this time kept the vnhaunted mountaines euery day and houre changing lurking holes and while as hee thought not himselfe sure that way neither from treason of the people nor crueltie of his enemies past to the Iles to an old friend of his called Angus and lurking there certaine moneths he was supposed to bee dead and so the enemie ceased searching This brute as it was not vnprofitable for his securitie so if it had any while coÌ„tinued it appeared to his frends to cut away all hope of recouering the Realme thinking therefore to attempt some what getting a smal company from his friend with whome hee lurked he sailed to Carrik where hee tooke a Castle of his owne inheritance at vnawares kept by a strong garison of Englishmen and slew them all least hee might bee inuironed by force of the enemie and crossing the Firth of Clyde with the like felicitie tooke the Castle of Innernesse far distant from there and so passing from place to place taking in townes Castles and strengths The Countrie-people beeing heauily opprest by the enemy flocking to him from all quarters hee gathered a reasonable armie and albeit hee had not onely the common enemy to withstand but also a number of mightie intestine enemies at home especially the Cummines faction yet from this time forth whatsoeuer hee attempted succeeded prosperously till he had expelled the enemie vtterly out of the Realme and subdued the whole Countrie to his obedience but leauing the History of his further progresse because it will appeare more particularly it selfe I remit the Reader to the perusing thereof This is he of whom it may be said that was said of that Roman Scipio unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Into what bondage found he his Nation To what liberty did he restore it Since the times of the old Heroes none hath more excelled in all vertues Who more couragious in warre Who more temperate in peace Who euer had a fortun more hard Who euer did more hardly lead Fortun captiue and lesse regarded her frownes a constant course of victorie still enabling all his enterprises whose mind would not bin broken much more bowed vnder such heaps of miseries whose eonstancy would not be queld to haue his wife taken captiue his foure brethren slaine his friends with all mischiefes opprest to haue himselfe not only barred of his patrimony and estat but of a Kingdome and all done against faith by a Prince the mightiest of that age Beside all these calamities thralled and brought to the extreamest of waÌ„t he neither doubted of the recouery of his Crown nor was at any tim sene to coÌ„mit any thing vnworthy of a kingly mind Let Rome boast of Camillus and Scipio France of her Charles Epirus of great Scandeberge Scotland shall not forget this Prince for she cannot And if hee be not so renoumed as these it is not for that he is not as worthy but for that he hath not had so braue trumpeters of his fame being born in so vnpolished an age which time the destroyer and restorer of euery thing may perhaps hereafter in these more learned dayes amend There be some who hold the opinion that the publishing of those books is hurtfull as embers of consumed discord but it is not the publishing of the simplicity of our predecessours that can diuide vs or cause any discord but rather our owne too great subtilty ambition and auarice and the turning the pages of Tacitus and of Secretar Machiauell that caÌ„ breed an ague in our state Can the reading of the warres betwixt Longcaster and Yorke separate the red and white Roses I thinke no. But I am perswaded that al men of sound minds will rather abhor discord in reading of these books seeing what miseries and horrible calamities these warres bring foorth and what great occasion we of both Nations haue to magnifie Gods goodnes that in our dayes since the Gospell hath bene in sincerity published amongst vs hath turned all these bloody broyles into a peaceable Calme especially now in the person of our dread Soueraigne So that now as the Prophet sayeth Our swords are brokeÌ„ into mattocks and our speares into siths But if we would consider what meanes haue bene vsed what paines taken and plots laide by the wisest of both Nations to knit vp this vnion and yet could neuer effectate the same vntill it pleased GOD to cut downe this partitioÌ„ wall of long debate in the person of our most gracious SOVERAIGNE GOD giue vs grace to bee thankefull for it AMEN ROBERTVS BRVSSIVS Regni instaurator ac penè novus conditor in omni Fortuna invictus QVIS varios casus quis dura pericula BRVSSI Fatorumque vices commemorare queat Qui victus toties toties qui victor hostis In vacuo fixit Martia signa solo Qui domitis Fatis pugnando restituit rem Civibus patriam jusque suum patriae Cùm tot acerba virum cùm tot cumulata suorum Funera funeribus cerneret ante oculos Mens generosa animi Fortunae excelsior omni Imperio stabili perstitit usque gradu SCOTIA quae statues VICTORI justa trophaea Qui Fati ac hostis Victor ipse Sui est The same in English Who can the hazards hard the chances straÌ„ge Of Bruce report a Mark of Fortunes chaÌ„ge Oft was hee thrall'd his Foes oft from him fled Oft ensignes on the purple Plaines he spred He danted Fates his natiue Soyle ou'rthrowne Her to her own to her brought backe a Crowne By fight he all restor'd and hauing seene So many funerall heapes before his cene His Mind vnquell'd reach't Fortunes wheele aboue And in the Spheare of Courage â—ixt did moue Where hast thou Scotland for his Trophees room Who Fates Foes himselfe for thee o'recome THE ACTES AND LIFE OF the most victorious Conquerour Robert Bruce King of SCOTLAND WHEREIN ALSO ARE contained the Martiall deedes of the valiant Princes Edward Bruce Syr Iames Dowglas Earle Thomas Randell Walter Stewart and sundrie others STories to read are delectable Suppose they nought containe but fable Then sould Stories the soothfast were If they bée spoken in good
maner Haue double pleasure in hearing The first is their pleasant carping The other is their soothsastnesse That shewes the thing right as it wee And soothfast things that are likand To mens hearing are pleasand Therefore I would faine set my will If my wit might suffice theretill To put in write a soothfast storie That it may last in memorie Sa that no length of time may let Nor gar it hailly be forÈet For ald Stories that men reides Represents to them their deides Of stalward folk that liued air Right as they then present wair And certes they sould weill haue prise That in thair time were wicht and wise And led thair life in great trauell And oft intill hard stoure of battell Wan richt greit praise of Cheualrie And was voyde of all Cowartrie As was King Robert of Scotland That hardy was of hart and hand And gude Schir Iames of Dowglas That in his time sa worthie was That of his praise and his bountie In sindrie lands honour wan he Of tham I thinke this buke to ma. Now God of grace that I may swa Treit it and bring it to gude ending That I say nocht but suithfast thing QUhen Alexander the King was deid That Scotland had to steir and leid The land sex Èeires and mair perfay Lay desolate efter his day Till all the Barouns at the last Assemblit them and that full fast To cheis a King the land to steir That of the ancestrée cummin weir Of Kings that had that Royaltie And had most richt their King to be But Inuy that is so felloun Maid among them dissensioun For some wold haue the Balliol King For he was cummin of the ofspring Of hir that eldest sister was Uther sum contrary it that cais And said that he there King sould be That was of al 's neir degre And cummin was of the first Male And of Branches Collaterale They said succession of Kinrike Was not till lower state alike For there micht not succeid a Female Quhill foundin micht be ony Male That were in lyne euen descendand They beir all vther wayes in hand For then the nixt cummin of their seid Man or woman sould succeid By this ressoun the Lords thocht haill That the Lord of Annandaill Robert the Bruce Earle of Carrik Aught to succeid to the Kinrik THe Barons thus were in discord And on no maner micht accord Till at the last they all accordit That all their speich sould be recordit To Schir Edward of England King And he sould sweir but fenÈeing He sould as arbiter declair Of the two that I tould of air Quho sould succeid to sit on hicht And let him Regne that had the richt This Ordinance they thocht the best For at that time was peace and rest Betwixt Scotland and England baith That they could not perceiue the skaith That toward them was appearand For why the King of England Held such friendship and companie With their King that was worthie They trow'd that he as good nighbour And as friendfull Compositour Wold haue iudged in leele Lawtie But otherwise yeed all the glie A Folke blinded full of great follie Had ye bethought once earnestlie What perill to you might appeare Ye had not wrought in that maneare Had ye tane keepe how that this King Alwayes withoutten fainyéeing Trauell'd for to win Senyeorie And through his might did occupie Lands that were to him marchand As Wales was and all Ireland That he put into such thirlage That they that were of hie Parage Should run on foot as Ribalds all When he would anie folke assaile Durst none of Wales in battell ride Nor yet fra Euen fell abide Castle nor walled towne within But he should lith and limmes tine Into sik thirlage them led he Whome he ou'rcame with his poustie Ye might sée he should occupie Through slight that he might not through mastrie Had ye tanâ— kéepe what was thirlage And had considred his vsage That gripped ay but gane giuing Ye should withoutten his denying Haue chosen you a King that might Haue holden well your Land at right Wales ensample might haue beene To you had ye it well foreséene And wise men say he is happie That will therein himselfe chastie For vnfaire things may fall perfay The morne as they did yesterday But ye trusted into lawtie As simple folke but subtiltie Anâ— wist not what might after tide For in the world that is so wide As none determinatly that shall Know ony thing that 's for to fall For GOD that is of most Poustis Reseru'd it to his Maiestie For to know in his Prescience Of things to come the contingence IN this maner assented were The Barons as I said you aire And through their owne haill consent Messengers to him they went Then to the holie land boun was he To Saracens to wéere surely And fra he wist what charge they had He busked him but more abade And to England againe is gane And left the purpose that he had tane And syne to Scotland word sent he That they should make an assemblie And he in hie should come to do In all thing as they write him to But he thotht weill throw their debait That he sould slely find sum gait How that he all the SenÈory Throw his greit micht sould occupy And to Robert the Bruce said he Gif thou will hald in cheif of me For euermore and thine ofspring I sall do so thou sall be King Schir he said so God me saif The Kinrik Èarne I nocht to haif But gif it fall of richt to me And gif God will that it so be I sall al 's frely in all thing Hold it as longes to a King Or as myne Elders before me Held it in freast Royaltie The vther wryit him and swair That he sould neuer haue it mair And turnit him in wraith away But Schir Iohn Ballioll perfay Assentit sone till all his will Quherethrow efter fell mekill ill He was King but a litill quhyle Quhen throw greit subtiltie and gyle For litill enchesoun or for nane He was arreistit and syne tane And degradit fine was he Of honour and of dignitie Quhether that it was wrong or richt God wait it that is most of micht QUhen Schir Edward the michty King Had on this wayes done his liking With Iohn the Ballioll that so sone Was all degrad and it vndone To Scotland went he then in hy And all the land can occupy So haill that both Castell and Toun Were all in his possessioun From Weik anent Orknay To Mulesnuke in Galloway And stuffit all with Englishmen Schireffs and Bailleis made he then And all kin vther Officers That to gouerne the land affeires He made of Inglis Natioun Then worthit they so feirs and felloun And so wickit and so greuous So heuy and so couetous That Scottismen micht do nothing That euer micht pleis to their likingâ— Their wyfes wold they oftly by And their doughters despiteously And gif ony thereat
They judged it all to greit foly And thought to haue them at their lyking If men abade them in feghting But oft failÈies that fooles thought And yet wise men comes nought To that end that they weine alwayes A litle stone oft as men sayes May gar walter a méekle Wane Na mans might may stand againe The grace of God that all things stéeres Hée wates whereto all thinges afféeres And dispones at his liking Efter his ordinance all thing WHen Sir Edward as I you say Had giuen so outragious a day To yéelde or to rescue Striuiling Right to the King then went hee syne And told what treaty hée had made And what day hée them giuen had The King said when hee heard the day That was vnwisely done perfay I neuer yet heard so long warning Was giuen to so mighty a King As is the King of England For hée hes now into his hand England Ireland and Wales alswa And Aquitayne yet with all tha Dwells vnder his Senyeory And of Scotland a greit party And of treasure so stuffed is hée That hee may wageours haue plentie And wee are few against so feill GOD may right well our weirdes deill But wée are set in jeopardie To tyne or win then hastelie Sir Edward said So God mée réede Though hée and all that hee may â—éede Come wée shall feght all though they were moe When the King heard his brother so Speake to the Battell so hardelie Hée praised him in his heart greatly And said Brother sen so is gane That this thing thus is vndertane Shape wée vs therefore manly And all that loues vs tenderly And the fréedome of this Countrie Puruay them at that time to bée Boun on their best wise that they may So if our foes will assay To rescue Striuiling with battaile That wée of purpose gar them faile The sembling of the English Host That with great power cam and boast ON this wise all assented were And bade their men all make them yare For to bee boun against that day Weapons and armours puruayed they And all that afféered to feghting And of England the mightie King Puruayed him in so greit array That Certes I heard neuer say That Englishmen more apparell Made than they did for that battell For when the time was commen néere The King assembled his powéere And beside his owne Cheualrie That was so greit it was ferlie Hée had of mony a farre Countrie With him good men of greit bountie Of France and other Cheualry Hée had into his companie The Erle of Henault al 's was there And with him met that worthie were Of Gasconyie and of Almanyie And of the worthiest of Brittainyie Hée had wight men and well farrand Armed cleanelie both head and hand Of England al 's the Cheualrie Hée had there gaddered so cleanelie That none were left might weapons wéeld Or worthie were to feght in field Of Wales al 's with him had hée And of Ireland a greit Menyie Of Poytow Aquitayne and Bayoun Hee had mony of greit renowne Of Scotland hée had yet then A greit Menyie of worthie men When altogedder assembled were Hee had of feghters with him there An hundreth thousand men and ma And fourtie thousand were of tha Armed on Horse both head and hand And of tha yet were three thousand With barded Horse in plait and mailyie To make the front of the battailyie And fiftie thousand of Archers Hée had withoutten Hobillers And men on foot and small rangall That kéeped Harnesse and Uittaill Hee had so feil it were ferly Of Cartes al 's that yéed him by So feill that by them that charged were With Pauilliouns and that vessell bare And apparell for Chamber and Hall Fourescore were charged with Fewall They were so feill where that they rade And their battells were so brad And so greit rout held they there That men that méekle Host might sée there Ouertooke the Lands largelie Men might sée there who had béene by Mony a worthie man and wight And mony an armour gaylie dight And mony a sturdie stéering Stéede Arrayed aye into rich wéede Mony Helmes and Haberiones Shields Speares and eke Pennouns And so mony a comelie Knight That it séemed into that sight They should vanquish the world all haill Why should I make too long my tale To Baruike are they come ilkane And some therein hes Innes tane And some lodged without the towne In tents and in Pauillioun How Englishmen manassed at will The Scots and delt their lands till ANd when the King his Oast hes séene So great so good men and so cleane He was right ioyfull in his thought And well supposed that there were nought A King in World might him withstand Him thought all winnen to his hand And largely among his men The lands of Scotland dealt he then Of other mens lands large was he And they that were of his Menyie Manassed the Scottishmen haillely With great words and not for thy Or that they come to their intent Hollâ—s in haill claith sall be rent In ton battels the Englishmen Were delt taught to Chiftanes then THe King through counsell of his men His folke delt into battels ten In ilk battell were ten thousand That thought they stalwardly sould stand In battell and sould hold their right And let not for their foes might He set Leaders to ilk battall That knowen were of good gouernall And to renouned Erles twa Of Glocester and Herfurd were tha He gaue the Uangard in leading With mony men at their bidding Ordained with full great array They were so Cheualrous that thay Trowed gif they came to the fight There sould no strength withstand their might And the King when his Menyie were Diuided into battells sear His owne battell ordained he And who sould at his brydle be Sir Geiles the Argentine he set Upon the one side his renyie to get And of Wallance Sir Aymery On other halfe that was worthy For into their soueraine bountie Ouer all the laue affyed he How all the Noble Cheualry At Edinburgh tooke harbery WHen the King vpon this wise Had ordained as I here deuise His battels and his renowning He raise earely in the morning And fra Barwicke they tooke their way Both hilles and valleyes couered thay And the battels there was so brade Departed ouer the hilles rade The Sunne was bright and shined cleare And armours that bright byrneist were So blenked with the Sunnes beame That all the land séemed in a leame Banners right freshly flambisighand And Pensalls to the wind waiuand So feill they were of seir Countreyes That it was wonder to deuise And I sould tell all their afféere Their countenance and their manéere Though I couth I sould cumbred be The King with all his great Menyie To Edinburgh are they commen right They were all out too feill to fight With few folke of a simple land But where God helpes who may withstand How in this time assembled then To King Robert hes certaine