swallow'd vp of mankind most abhord If any should Inquire for worthles Mee Say that some Rav'ning monster me Devoir'd And let my Name O? fame forgotten be Let al my day's t'obliu'on be Restoir'd Lest thou O tyme theirwith dishonor thee Thus Rol'd in clouds of smook let it be said That such a One was neu'r fram'd nor made Thus while he lay half dead for greif and wo A herauld came from Englands mightie king And straitle charg'd him haistelie to go To york and all his princes their to bring And homage dew for Scotlands kingdome sho Which brought the Nobill's secret murmuring To light at last and thus they work with all To mak him sie his Error shame and fall Saltons great Lord that Abirnethie hicht he had vniustle wrong'd A huinows thing Wherfore from him in all his Princes sight He did Apeall vnto the English king This heigh disgrace he took in great dispight For in Contempt with all it did him bring At last he casts about to right the wrongs That to his Endles Infamie belong's A message to the English King he send For to discharge that base infamous Band Since he without consent could not pretend Thus for to Slave a frie-vn-conquerd land But too too late Repentance Coms in End Thus shallow with deip Iudgment doth with stand So children vse for to repent their Error When nocht Remains but Punishment and Terror The mighty English rise in dreadfull arms Still threatning Blood wrake ruin vengeance sorrow Performing still their vow 's with griefs harms That from their firie wraths new woes did borrow Faire Fortune towks their Droms with lowd allarm 's And waits on bloodie Mars from day to morrow Whose dreadfull Trumpet blow's a deadly blast And rowls our daie in doulful night at last First Barwick tane was by a subtil traine Wherein seau'n thousand men of Arms were lost Woemen and children pitiles were slaine None left aliue of Scotish blood cold boast Now at Dunbar foure Princes did remaine That had conueind of Scots a mightie hoste But hâ—te of Baliol such dissention brings In his dispight they loue their foes design 's Which caus'd a straunge vn-lookt-for long decay For English Edward Marcheing ther in haist Encountred them Impatient of Delay Amongst them selfs in wofull factions plast Now Edward Causd mee in his camp to stay For to my loue were most of them addrest So when the armys ioyning did abyd Twelf thowsand turnd vpon the English syd This was full sore against my will God knows Nor was I euer privie to this treasson My Deids on Edwards side was but in shows Nor could I disobey him in that Season On no les paine then huntington to lose But ah these foolish Scots had no such Reason Whoe by their new discord struk blind with wrath Wold mak mee cloake vnto their brokin faith For they vnworthie of the Scottish name Against their Cuntreis friedome Rudlie stand Onworthie also of their Elders fame That gainst them selfs dars lift thair conquering hand When foraigne force could not their stomaks tame Them selfs against them selfs opposd they fand The Sone the father father kills the sone Eache kills his frend and help 's his foe to winne Such thinges were wrought by heaunes feirce destanye Becaus the land with sinne did overflow Evne as a statelie ship with sails on hie If iustlie poysd with ballance feares no blow Of windes but if o're chargd with weight she be Her speed is staiy'd impaird her glorious show Then angrie Neptunes foemeing surges beat-her And with decay the thundring tempests threat her Ev'ne so whill as in Scotland did remaine The sword of iustice feare of god aboue The loue of vertue hate of vice profane And whill the sptituall state the treuth did loue We saild in seas of peace and did obtaine Wealth honor all which landes most blisd do prove But once borne downe with pride lust blindnes error Our calmes of peace heavnes tempests shook with terror For mightie God that sittes vpon the throne Of iustice grace and mercie from that hight Did vew our sinnes in burning rage anone His countenance with fyrie flammes grew bright That heavnes did quaek for feare and Angells mone For men poore men at that astonieing sight Dayes glorious lamp nightes Queene heavens tapers stay'd Wrapt vp in clowdes at his dread lookes affray'd Within his wattrie pallace Neptun quaekes The roating streames were quyet whist and still His azurd crowne from crisped lookes he taekes His monsters all the lower Regions fill His forked scepter then for fear he breakes And to obey his lord and makers wil He myldlie fals before his mercies throne Whoe 's glorie made the heavnes with lightnings shone The solid earth did quak with trembling feare And downward seemd to change her wonted rowme Such grevous weyght and burdene did she beare Of hynous sinne whose punishement to come She did forsee as when throw subtel aer Dame Thetis foull with Alabastre Downe Fleis downe with wofull plaintes and mutufull cryes Before a dreadfull tempest doeth aryse The hellishe feindes that scatterd were abroad Through all the earth and for mischeif still soght Reann headlonges downe vnto their greislie god And was through these infernall kingdomes brought Where Proserpin with Pluto grimme abode Whoe 's rustie scepters were of yron wrought On thrones they sate bout which ferce feinds did rore Two heavie crownes of burning brase they bore Prodigious signes and wounders then were seene Which did presage what after might befall From the cold North did in our climat shyne A bright and blazing Comet and with all Reid showres of blood in sundrie had beene The last the latest warning of our fall Yet dreadfull signes and fearfull wonders sent Sinne made not lesse but iudgement did augment The Argument GReif haueing som what interrupt the Prince He showes at last his caus of discontent And followes furth with eurie tragick chance Wheir with proud Fortun erst did him present The wittie Count conforteth him and thence Desires him goe where Fergus ghost him sent Wheron they both conclude and with a dreame Sleep drownes discours at last in silence streame Cap. 3. O Subiect sad o sad vnsolid Muse In Cypres wreathd in murning blak attyre Blott confort out and in your layes refuse All mirth yea in your wofull task desyre Sad tragick tuns the which while you peruse In Nightes dark Inn's her dreadfull cave retite Tears serve for ink and if you ayme at mirth O sighes let all be smotherd in their brith But wailing Muse Ay mee why do you sho To outward view the onlie staine of Time Why in rememb'raunce of such horredwo Do you not weip to wash your wofull Rime O thry's Infamous Tims Inglorious O That this their shame had ended with their Cryme But hev'n and Time fate Fortun chance and all Had with Them selfs decreed them selfs to fall Where was the Conquering Arm 's the valiaunt heart's Where was wonted Loyltie now gone When for their faith their
fredome in a bloodie feild Those machles champions throw the forest goâ— At last allight then themselues adrest Til cheirful daies bright goldeÌ„ lamp should within a arbour faier to take their rest shone But as ambitious minds ar neuer alone Til they haue honour glorie Fame possest So they no rest at all cold here attain Such high confusion in their brests remaine At last the Douglas thus began braue Prince And my most gratious Souerainge quod he Long may thou liue in Natures excelence Iou's loue Fates fauour fortunes constancie Thy worth exalted by heauens influence And thy braue selfe long haue I wsht to sie God graunt thy shining sonne with golden Raies Our darkest nights may chaunge to brightest daies Let not my bold presumtion thee offend If I require to know the woefull birth Of sorrows which thy countenance forth send For loe swift Fame did sound thy praise thy worth In Fraunce while carelesse I on court attend Which cleers my clouds of care with lamps of mirth And did my sad vnsetled Thoughts destroy Thy sweit report so fild my Eares with Ioy Then I returnd in hope of blest reliefe Which I foresawe thy worth would soone afford And thou eu'ne thou would ease thy contreis griefe Whose glorie great must be by the restord Senc to Reuenge our blood woe wrake mischiefe By lustest Heauens thou onely art implord Doe then braue Prince what heauen for thee ordains Thy Knight I am in warre peace Ioy or pains The gallant Bruce sat long tyme much amazd Loth to vnfould his straunge misfortunes rare In wrath he star'd he lookt about he gaz'd He sigh'd he grond as One Into Dispair His rolling Eies at last from Earth he Ras'ed And Cleird with heavenlie smylls the clowds of cair Whill as the Douglas long did him behold This sadd and wofull Tragedie he told Sad may if seeme and sorrowfull to Thee Thois wofull news Thou do's Requeir ' to heare but much more cair and greif it breids to Mee Who must not onely heare and lend my eare But must relate euen what my eies did siee Yea what myselfe did act yet I 'le forbeare Those fond complaints and make a true narration What most offends me and afflicts my Nation And to vnfould this tragick storie soe To know the motiue first it doth requier And eu'rie truest circumstance to sho Whereof is much that will delight the eare Than to th'intentall may mor cleerly know The ground of this so firce crwel warr Our various speach let vs devert and view The dreidfull horreid horrors that ensew Thrie Alexanders thrise waere Scotlands King The first for valiaunt deids surnam'd the fierce Was Malcolm Canmoirs sone the second Rings Was after good king Will'iame did deceas Who is braue vndanted Deids made fame to sing The Lion-king as histories Rehers The thrid that did Oure Crown and scepter wear Henre the third of Englands dogther fair In mariage took which haple he devynd Should then conclud A full and finall Peace That both these Antient kingdoms thus Combind Those great and Mightie Nations might Imbrace A Freindlie League and Concordance in mind An happie Time to thair Ensewing race By ending all the warrs the broyls the steir's That had remain'd full thryse five hindreth Èeirs But heavens decreed it should not so Remaine For the appointed Time was not foretolde Mans subtill plots and wits ar all in vaine In vaine their wais in vaine this work they wold In vaine they go about for to obtaine What Ioue as secret to himself did hold In uaine was al these fond deuises thought Since heaujn decred that al shold turne to noght For lo betwixt burnt Illion and Kingorne King Alexander di'd by fall of horse When thirtiefoure yeres of his Raigne was worne He no succesion had and which was wors Blood-thristie-warr by wings of veng'ance borne Did tear Our kingdom's bouwells but Remors Waikining by oft Diminishings at Lenght The vains the Nerv's the sinne vs of oure strenght Six yeares the land gouerned was in Peace By Regents fix at laste some broiles arose Whereby soe straunge gouernament did cease Such bloodie factions did themselues oppose Who from that boundage wold the land release And of annot her King wold make a chose For wel they knew what trains they shold imbark To set this headstrong Nations once awarke A councel then of all they call to choose The neerest of the Roiall bloode for king The Baliol there his right did wel peruse From the first female his descent to spring And from the first borne Male I not refuse My lineall and iust descent to bring Thus plead wee both nor can we once accord No peace our haughtie stomaks cold afford And thus our hate grew greater daie by daie Both thirsting for a Princely Diadem Nor cold the meanest thought of wise delaie Preâ—ons our wo our wrack our countreis shame On 〈◊〉 on wracke on ruine and decaie Ambition can not looke nor thinke nor dreame But for the Croun while wee 're a spyring thus Wee robd of what shold make it Glorious For with vs two two mightie armies rose To winn the Croun or lose our selfe and all Scotlands great Primat did himselfe oppose Betwixt vs then a treat of peace to call Who did so much at last wee made a choise Thus to accord and to agrement fall To iudge our right by Englands mighty King Who shold decerne which of vs both shold reigne Wherefore in haste to Englands King wee send Requesting him to take the cause in hand Who then prepard his conquest to defend In fertill Fraunce with many warlike band And their his large Dominions to extend By force of armes and by his valiant hand Yet for to put our Kingdom to a rest He turnd and bake to Yorke himselfe adrest Of learned men he twentifour there brought Whose graue aduise in this great worke he vs'd But lo my proud competeitor bethought Him thus If I and my iust right were chusd Than were he all vndon and threfore soght By some lewd meane to get mee quite refusd At last resolu'd to buie a Diadem With fowle dishonour and eternall shame Wherfore he dealt in secret with the King If him he wold preferre the Croune to weare By charter Seale by Oth and eu'ry thing He bound himselfe of him the Croune to beare And for the same his homage to resigne To whose base minde at first he gaue noe Eare The most part of the Lawiers parted thence All iudging me iust heire and Righteous Prince But counsell caused this mightie King to err Counsell of these that by dissention liue Still vrging him the Bailiol to prefert That for his guerdon would a Kindom giue But he that knew my right farr worthier Euen from my foes proud offer did deriue His argument and vnto me presentes The Croune if I fullfild the same contents Which offer base I plainely did refuse Wherefore King Edward in his wrathful Ire With Baliol decreits and did
abuse My right enstalling him whose blind desire Led him for honor Infamie to choose And for a crovne to slave a free Empire For loe in him two contraries agree Base Avarice and Prodigalitie Thus he returnd with pomp and Majesty Whom all the Lords and Princes of Estate Conuaied to Skoene with royall dignity Where stood the Auncient Marble cheir of late There was he cround with Kingly Roialty In Robs whose worth were longsum to repeat Imbroadred al with stons with pearle with gold Gorgious to weare and glorious to behold But litle knew the Princes of the Land That he to Englands King shold homage paie The croune that sixtien hundreth yeers did stand Gainst endles warr and cruel Armes Essay Nor Romans Danes nor Saxons cold command Vnconquer'd still nor conquer'd wold obaie Was now betraied by him whose haples name Became his countreis skorne and Kingdoms shame But when report had showne the haples losse The commons gan to murmur here ther Against the Nobles vowing that their choise Shold be with armes their freedom to repaiere And all the Princes of Estate by those Were schandalizd with shame reproch feare Thus ciuill descord broght a fearful fall On King on countrey Kingdom croune and all For now the king in heigh contempt was brought With all the Lords and Princes of Estate The Lords in hait and great disgrace were thought With all the commoun Multitude of Late When al with wit and valor should have wrought Thus Raise a fearfull straunge and new debaite That hardest A damantine hearts wold move But for Their sin so heavens decree'd aboue Of these ensewing sorrows now the King For seis forthinks and Meditats and Moins A Thousand greifs did in his bosome spring Assailing all his wofull heart at ons One day he wold be secret furth to bring The wofull birth of tears of sighs and grons Throune on his bed with Rageing Discontents At laâ—t he thus burst furth in heighe complaints Ah haples wretch Curst be the Fatall hour Wherein I did Obtaine a Diadem By false conceat by strong entysing Pow'r Not cairing for Disgrace for loss for shame While auarice and ambition did deuour Treuth Knowledge witt discretion praise and fame Ah Auarice inchaunter of the wise The blind devouror of faire honours prize O bloodie starres why did you thus agree To make a bad conjunction at my birth Why did you al power doune mischiefe from hie To make vyle me the abject of the earth What shall al times and ages saie of me To buie a croune that sold a Kingdoms woorth The reuenews I sold to buie the Name Exchaunging honour for eternall shame What woe or griefe but time can make it old Yet Infamie time neuer can svppresse The meaner sort their faults will pas vntold But faults of Kings by Fame doe stil increase Such spotts are in my leaprous sowle enrold As still accuse me of my guiltines And while my wronged people me doe vewe Me thinks their eies to death doe me persue In midst of this his sorowful complaint His eies grew heauie dround with floods of tears His tongue his throt no more their found forth-sent Thus slummerd he full fraght with greifes fears At last this fearfull vision did present A dreadful founding noice that pearst his eares Hee thought he saw before him all at once Were nintie Kings and two on golden Throns Each bore a close rich couerd glorious Croune In forme like an Emperiall Diadem With ribs of gold o'rthwart aboue doune All round about each bowing like a beame In the fore front were made of Iacinths broune Faire letters shewing eurie Prince his Name Beneath their feet an iron throne was made Whereon of lead au Open croune was laid He thought they set him on the iron Throne And cround him with that leaden croune in scorne Whereon was written this Inscription This non but bastard Baliol hath borne Then saied the firste and grauest all alone Whose aged haires had many yeares outworne Thou wreched catiue most accurst of all Thy place is great but greater farre thy fall This Diadem Pointing his Ow'ne by Me Erected was with honor strength and Might And from my Aged loyns discendit be By Iust discent thes Nyntye two in sight Eche bure this Crowne with Royall dignitie Adding as much by Conquiest to ther Right Defending It gainst Romains saxons Dains For witnes famous victories Remains But vn-compeld vn sought or on requierd By words by warr by Conquest or by gane Thou Randert vp what we aloft had Reard And what we keipt with travell cair and Pane The thretning trompet that all Nati'ons feard Which worlds of Armeis newer could obtaine Yet this thou could not do without consent Of all the Thrie Estates of Parl'ament But for thy fault thy shame thy losse thy wrong This iust and heauie Iudgment shall correct thee The Kingdom shal be reft from thee e're long And thy owne subjects shamefully rejecte thee In blinded darknes woes shal be thy song For want of daie yet no man shall affect thee And to all ages thy Infamous name Shal be a prouerbe of eternal shame For lo Thou shall be cal'd in littill space Thy countreis ruine and thy Nations wo Much harmles Blood shall pay for thy disgrace Theas yet onborne thy Doome shall feill and kno A mightie Nation shall thy land Deface Beneth whois havie yok She grons but lo She Viper-like brings furth vn nat'rall Brood That most shall waist her wond her drink her Blood At last her tears her Cry's her sad Complaint Shal Pearce the heavins and Iove to Mercie move Who pitis sinners when they first repent And looking Meeklie dounward from above Shall Raise Them vp that shall her wrak prevent Whose manlie Valors shall her woes Remoue And bring to end the warr Thou wroght with shame But neu'r an end to Thy Infamous Name Therfor this leaden croune base worthles poore Thou hast as one vnworthy to put on The croune which I the famous Fergus boore And al these warrlike Princes One by one And while this mightie Nation shal indure Hauing a Prince to sitt vpon my Throne Thou of a Princes name shalt be refus'd Because my croune vn-conqu'erd thou abu'sd At these last woords he wak'd with sodain fear But nothing saw while in his braine was tost These woful warnings buzing in his eare That threatn'd was by great King Fergus ghost Which burthen great his soule could skarsly beare Till moueing fieling speach and all was lost His vitall powers hernd in with thousand cares At last burst forth in these or like dispaires O Sad and wearied Soull quod he depairt And leaue the lothed Lodge thou doest posse Stop vp my breath within my lothed heart My life make les if shame may not be les Hev'ne from aboue thy vengence at me Daiert Heel from below thy Torment still Incres Devouring Earth my damned bodie smoother Heav'ne Earth and hell destroy mee altogither Thus
conquests handes Long foght the knights but neither side wold yeild Equall their hope and equall was their feare Spears helms swords were stroud through all the feild Heads arms and legs by headles bodeis were Some dieing look to heauin leans on their shield In deaths pane some blood from their wounds furth tear These ranks to marche reteir or chairge that minds Trods on the bodeis of their slauchtred freinds Their horses kild lay with their masters dead And he to death that did his foe persew Now in his bosome laid his heauie head The conqueror by him he ouerthrew Is prest to death and findeth no remeid O're all confusione tumult and terror flow Their nather silence was nor noyse perfite But sounds of Death paine pitie rage dispight The Glorious arms that lait did glistring show Now blood and dust and myiâ— had dinid their beams Fear Herror Terror on swch hight doth grow That sullen pryde sunck doune no honor clames Her glorie stroud vpon the earth below O're all her beautie blood floues furth in streames Now Greif and Sorrow beats Delight fra thence And all doth look with wofull countenence Earths rairest King that all this while had fought With his fierce foe and geuin him many a wound Yet doubts who thence with conquest will be broght Such valor greate was in that knight renound At last to kill or die him self he thoght And with a strength far more then erst he found He thrustis againe and from his side furth tore A deadlie stream a flood of blood and Gore Ah matchles Prince when thow hes knoune the man Whoe 's days by the must now be brought to end Thow shal be like to burst for sorrow then No confort shall thy conquest to the lend He was thy srend thy deir companioun when In th' Englishe court thy youth thow hapt to spend No Fauor he at all to the did sâ—o But Vertuous minds lous Vertue in their foe The Argentiue that seis this bloodie sight Bathd in his louk-warme blood him self doâ—h stay Ire in his fanting hairt prolongs his might Feble his force for to renew the sray Furie Disdane and Raige mantaind the fight For strength was gone and Curage was away Lyfe leaues his toure and in the breache remaines That death shou'd gaine so braue a hold disdaines Vnitting his spent pours a blow he lendes The Prince that woundes his head and cuttes his cask With whoe 's laâ—t force and weyght doune he discendes Death winnes the breache beginnes his endles task Furth from his lippes lifes aged Syre he sendes Then on his faâ—e he spreds his doolfull mask 〈…〉 his soulle fleâ—s throw the cloudie Air Whoe 's greate name som tyme all the Eiâ—t did fear In thrie set Battells thrice he did with stand The Sarasins and still with conquest cround And twice beneath his all victorious hand With chains of death their cheifest Lords he bund But now when endles sleip did him command No longer durst proud Fortun their be fund Wheir English fight but she and victorie Rankt with the Scotts vpon ther enemeis flie The English Irckt and wiered then disrank All flie yea 〈◊〉 the boldest yeilds to flight Their Cullors throune away with thankles thank Threats Cryes and Plaints redoubles their Affright Their King still threats but still away they shrank For yet with him vnbrokin byds the fight Whole tuentie thousand horse with whom he wolâ— Their Fight or Die or Conquer vncontrold But as the seas when tempests past and gone That â—old her tombling waus vnto the shoaâ—s Of lait past storms retanes some shoues anone And heir and their sume swelling Billow roars So thought faint feare triumph ' do're these allone Some sponks of their spent Valor hope restorsâ— Wheiron sustaind their task they new beginn But wound on wound and death on death doth rinâ— The Carriens of the Scottish camp arose And see their Masters still mantane the â—ray Both Lakâ—ys Carters Wemen Slaâ—â—es and those That carage keept came in their best array And disperatlie wold assaill their soes So al should winn oral should lose the day Long napkins white vnto their staues they bind These seru'd for Ensigns wauing in the wind Whill thus the English fighting loth to flie Eune suddandlie appears into their sight An armie freshe that seimd in arms to be With th'eir their siluer Ensigns wauing bright They haste their pace and with a shout they sie That these curagiouslie intend to fight Disconfeit quite they now resist no more But flees that wold haue fled long time before The Scotts persew them in a dispirat sort Some through the plains some to the montans flie Wheir eu'r their headles fear doth them transport A whirll wind seims to beare them haistelie Thousands the tumbling forth of lyfe cuts short And thousands mo in flight their foes our hy Base deaths they seâ—k but fleis the death which lend In Glorious fight a fare more Glorious end FINIS The balio his vision not vnnecessare for the Historie The Historie of the Kings preceeding thâ— Bruce cheanged for thoes succeding after him This Historie not offeÌ„ siue to anie Sir Phillip Sidnie his saying Why the Kings discended of the Bruce are Compard to the constellations Resones why they at so compared To wit Fraunce The Scots arms a lion Other ways odomer de 〈◊〉 walenc eâ—il of peâ—â—broâ— The randell was an of the six * 〈◊〉 with Edward King of Eugland The Lord of loâ—â—ne his armie was abowe fyve thousand The â—iuâ—nall motion of the sphers Their naturall motion is snaued lyikwayes beginning at the Moue 〈…〉 The Prophets Praye Heir follous the constel â—ations about the Polls allooding to the Kings discendit of the Bruce ConstellatioÌ„ Hercules holds a Lion bound in chayns â—lluding to King Robert Bruce holding the Scots arms Constellatió Iason in the schip argus Dauid Bruce that sailit to FraÌ„ce wheir he stayit nyne Èeirs Induring the warrs against the Baleoll ayded by england but when hereturnit he broght home peace allu-ConstellatioÌ„ auriga draueth a cotch full of galeÌ„t youths Robert steuart the 1 of whom the Kingis of that name discended ConstellatioÌ„ Zepheus a Weiping for Andromada swane and a eagils one ether hand of him alluding to Robart the 3. Constellations Perseus releiues the vergin Andromadoe luding Imee the first who institute the colledge of iustice * Medusas hend constellatione chiroÌ„ the centaur with a lance holds a wolf by the nek alooding to lames the 2. a Zelous reformer of finne and wyce Heir the Prophet taks occasion to Intreat a litel of the begining of the hammiltouÌ„s Sir Iames hamiltoun that marcie King Iames the 2. his doghter K. Iames 〈◊〉 King Iames the 4. send hammilton Erll of Arran with ane Armje with the Danish King whom he reastablist in hjs kingdoÌ„ and after returned to his contrey with great glorie The Erll of Arran protector of ScotlaÌ„d in QueeÌ„e Marâ—is mi 〈◊〉 whoÌ„ the King of FraÌ„ce maid duge
the West When both did seem of Conquest to dlspait And yet the Knight vnknowne wes lustiest His Curage and his strength did still repair For as a loytring Slaue in Lasie rest Has spent the day that for his Task should care And tho to lait at last to work doth stand Repenting that he took so much in hand Ev'ne so the straunger Knight did ferslie flie Against his Foe with Vn-resisted Might And thogh indeed he some what Stronger be His Breath induring Longer yet in fight The Douglas did that want with art supplie For holding forth his Suord and Sheild outright He geuards him self and bears the others Blo's Now Out now in now heir now thair he goes Both breathles now both forc'd a while to staie Botth leane upon their swords a while to rest The vnknow'ne knight thus to himselfe did saie Ah foolish man with madnes thus possest Thy labor 's great great pains great workes to daie With sorrows new new woes new cares increast Heated by heavin by faits Long Coorst ere borne Proud Fortune holds Thy heighe attempts in skorne Thy foile thy shame and thy disgrace receau'd Not onely thou but all the world doth know Fond man of non but of thy selfe deceu'd What vallor canst thou boast what strength can show O thou eu'ne thou who once a kingdom crau'd Ah folly great â—h great presumtion lo Ah shame thate're thou shold'st be sien or knowne Vanquish'd by one ou'rcom and overthrowne But so the Fates and so the heavin prouids That thou thy strength and weaknes might perceave To Errors gross Thy foolishe Mind Thee guids Which to abait what doth Remaine to Crave Lost is thy Crowne lost be thy frends besids Chaisd from thy kingdome hunted like a Slave And savadge-like thou liu'st on herbs and Root 's In Deserts wild those of thy panis at fruits Then fertill Scotland fair Adew for Ay Good was my will and great was my Desire On thy blacks Hemispheare to bring the day And to Restore Thy Friedome Crowne Impire But to my fond Attempts the heavins said nay Whill Thou' rt counsumd by Jov's wraith hot as feire Now wo is Mee for my owne wois I say not Bot O Thee fain I wold remeid and may not The Douglas also was perplexed so For still him self Condem's him self of folie Art thou returnd from France quod he to sho Thou vow'd thy Syrs revenge A vow most holie This mighâ—ie Task when thou should vndergo Thy first Attemp Thy shâ—me returneth sollie Why then fond man if thou be oueâ—rthrowne Yeild not but Die and keip thy vow on-knowne And if the heavins decree Thy Ouerthrow And that thy vow must still be vnperfected Yeat who the Victor is faine would I know If but a priuate man then I dispit it But if his praise Fame eu'rie where doth blow Then on my graue these lines shal be ind tit Though chaunce and fortune made him loose the fild He merits praise whose courage scorns to yealde Where are my Predecessors deeds of old Which like a walâ— impregnable did stand And did like Pillers firme strong vphold The wâ—ale the peace saftie of the land Though non of those I boast yet am I bold The worthie name of Scot for â—o demaund Whereof so manie Worthies still proceeds As makes their Contrey famous by their deeds Yea and this present Age augments our Fame With warrlik knights that al the world admires As machles Wallace and the ualiant Grhame The worthie Bruce most glorious that appears If one of those it were lesse were my shame My credit more and more my fortune cleers Therefore to cleere this doubt he thought it beâ—t His speech shold thus be to the knight addrest Stout hardie valliant man at armes quod he Before our combar end I pray thee show Whom I ou'rcom or who ou'rcommeth me Since non of vs the quarrel yet doth know No quod the other Sir that may not bee For that you made the challenge first and so As challenger your cause must first be know'n The Douglas answer'd that shall soone be showne Vnles I err you are an English knight I ame a Scot and in defence will stand Of Scots free libertie and auntient Right So long as I can bear a sword in hand It may be so quod he but in my sight You are too weake alone for to withstand So great a taske craues more then one I feare Against great Edward if you mind to warre Quod Douglas tho I be alone yousie I were enough for to Revenge Oure harms If I had Edwarde heir as I have Thee Al tho the Matchles Bruce with Conquering Arms Has thousands Mo whoe 's valors worth shall flie For dreed Revenge with Trumpets Loude alar'ms Throgh all the Regions of the English soill And havok mak with Rewin blood and spoill Yet know an other Querrell for Oure fight And my iust Caus which lust revenge requiers My Syre that somtime Erel of Douglas hight In Edwards prisson spent his Aged yeers And their he deid by wrong without all Right Whoe 's guietles blood Blood-guiltie Edward beers For whoe 's sad Death eu'ne Th'ou thy life must lois And with these words he thunders on the Blo's Hold hold quod he stay thy revenge for schame I am thy frend no foe nor English I I am that Lukles Bruce whose haples Name Thou dus so much Exalt and magnifie Whose froward Fortun fate and far-knowne fame Is turn'd disgrace to all eternitie At these sad words the Douglas stood and gazed Blushing astonisht speichles and amazed At last he falls before the warlik Prince And says my gratious Soveragne thou may Pardon my hastie fault my Rude offence Or my Death-worthie Crime with death Repay That Durst offend Thy worth thy excellence Ah cursed Tyme Ah blacke and dismall Day No no sweit freind quod he Thy peace enioy Long may Thou liue in spight of fates anoy And thus when he had R aisd him from the Ground He in his Arms him Lovinglie imbrac'd Whoe 's Love and Favour alway did abound And alway did Indure whill life did left Now both their horse agane at last they found And both theme selfe at last from thence addrest Both vows their Cuntries wo's for to Revenge Both to Indur cahe others fortuns strange Together then they ridâ— a plate throughout Til in a forrest faier themselues they fand While night with sable curtens Round about Breaths darknes out or'shaddowing all the land Vppon her lowring brows sate feare and dobt And round about in horror trembling stand The duskie clouds that threts a second flood Such Seas there swelling clusters doth includ Cap. 2. The Argument THe Douglass courteslye Requirs the King For to vnfold the caus of al his Greif Wherby he taks Occassions for to bring To outward vew the ground of this mischief He schews the worthles Bate'â—ls haples Reigne That heapt new woes on woes without releif Braue barwick Lost Scots fall at ods and yeeld Losing Their
famein forced at last They parle thus and thus their peace is past A yeir to keip the hold he them permits And if within that tyme greate Englands King Releius them noght but cairles them omits Then in his hands they shall the place resing Sir Philip Moubray their in reuling sitts He 's gone to England Succor thence to bring And now that mightie King prouids we heare By Gaine and gold to bring all Europe heir For he by proclamatioun great hath sworne Through eu'rie kingdome cuntrie toune and shire That Scotlands name by him shall be out worne He will distroy that nation in his Ire And all that comes of vther nations borne To keip that day shall haue what they desire And of this Kingdome greate without extorsioun Eche equall to his worth shall haue his portioun Greate multitude of straungers day by day Broght by these means in England doth ariue So that they think ritche England scarslie may Find store ynuch to keip them all alliue Besids those cuntreis greate that him obey In France all Princes his confedrats striue Whoe shall the best and greatest armeis raise 〈◊〉 willing seims all Europe him to please And thus in time your grace wold neids be ware To sue with guifts the angrie King to please Or giue you mind to try the chance of Warr Prouide in time your forces for to raise Wheir with the Kings eies brunt with wraeths teid staâ— Should we his Iyre with guifts quod he appease Why villane what base fear so timerous Ere till this day hath thow espy'd in vs Haue wee till now sustaind such endles pane And storms of Warrs sad tempests hath out worne Oure Kingdome croune and cuntrie to obtane And raisd oure self in spight of Englands scorne For braggs thus for to fold with shame agane When Fortune to oure foot the Ball hath borne No heauins forbid such clouds of fear and shame Sould so obscuir oure mornings rising beame What tho the pride of oure imperâ—ous foe With euer soll destruction doth vs bost Oure forces mene his multituds doth kno Yea tho a world of men augment his host Oure mite incresleth with his talent lo The widous oill when blisd tho leist was most He must be many still and still be glorious And feu we must be still and still victorious Let him bring furth his England Ireland Waills With Britange Gascon and fair Aquitane Poitew and Guian and all cuntreis els With Scotlands better pairt yet all in vane God vs protects gainst whoe 's strong aâ—me preuaillâ— No Earthlie pour in him oure hopes remane Trew Scotts we bring and brings this prais with all Gainst Scotts allone all Europs thought too small Thus spak the King whill all his Lords and peers Reioisd thereat and hoped in heauins reuenger Whill he not onlie fearles bold appeirs But also ware and wyislie weyis the danger He for each captain sends who sone compeirs Consulting all how to bear af the straunger The conquering knight came their whoe 's worthie acteâ— My tird quill mends and my dull Museawaiks How soone the King returned was from Lorne And progres took through eurie regione faire To vieu the land wheirto himself was borne As righteous King iust Prince and onlie heire Douglas that rest and ease did euer scorne Did bak vnto the south agane repair Wheir he the English oft did ouerthrou But Roxbrugh how he wan Iyll onlie shou And thus it was on fastingeuins dark night Thrie scoir he brings in armour pitchie blak All on their hands and feit doth creip out right No noyse no sound no word bewraid their tract The watch them seis but so as in their sight They seimd a heard of bews and this they spak This night good Rodger lets his heard at learg Whereof er long blak Douglas may tak chearg He smils to sie their sight disceaued so But hard below the wall arriv'd at last In goes the watch such thundring tempests blo Ledhous a Ledder made of Touis vp cast Whoe 's clerks of jâ—on soundeth with the thro Yet full of euraige he ascendâ—th fast This ingine he deuisd wherebe to gaine Him self sume glorie and his foe sume paine The Sentinell that hears the sound espyis Ledhous ascend and quiklie to him goes Who doth not only on the walls arise But kills him too then doun the carkas throes When all was mounted Douglas quiklie hyis Doun to the hall for to assaill his foes Who now amid their feastuall Ioyis var caght Sum play to death sum drink their leatest draght With lyf devoring swords the Scotts ariue That Douglas Douglas cryis whoe 's verey name So dreadfull seimd that few for wapins striue But flei to saue their lius not cairing shame Or day thrie hundreth they of life depriue The captane with the rest them selfs reclame In an strong tour but Douglas kept the feild Till famien forcd them all at last to Èeild And then braue Douglas they intreat for peace To whom anon they render vp the hold Them selfis their liwes and all vnto his grace Who was as wise and mild as feirce and bold Them of that bondaige streight he did relace And send them home with all their wealth their gold And then to Edinbruche his cours he bent Wher warlik Bruce for all his Lords hade sent Their Edward their greate Stewarde might he sie Trew Marr wise Lenox Hey and Randolph strong With manie more graue counsalours that be To their braue Prince who satt them all among All silence keipt he muisd with maiestie Whill one his throne he satt att last of wrong Acuisd his brother who with reuerend fear Too this his wise and solid words gaue ear Brother what haist what raschnes did you guide What folie causd you giue so long a day To Englands mightie king for to prouide His forces greate when weill you know he may Bring furth for eucrie one vpon our side A hundreth warlik knights in good aray How could yow think that we culd him gainstand Who yet most parte of Scotland doth command Yea thoght he wold no vther forces raise But onlie Scots for to releiue the hold Eu'ne these can ouermatche vs if he please Much more with Irish English Welshmen bold With Almans Frenshe and Dutchis by all these Whom in subiection he in France doth hold All these shall come and with a world of men Shall we be able to encounter then Surlie you had no foresight heir at all And to oure rising state you wronged much What we haue conquest yet is verie small Nor ar we siure of these the commouns such Inconstant minds do beare and so oure fall Is neir if one the brokin reid but tuche Better had bein we neu'r had soght with paine To clim so hie so soone to fall againe His brother answers heauins forbid that so Should fall what I haue done we can not mend Not neid we much to feare oure mightie foe Thoght he bring armeis from thâ— worlds end