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
Quéene to England home is gane And had with her the Mortymer The Erle and they that leaued were When a whyle they her conuoyed had Toward Barwike againe they rade And syne with all their company Toward the King they went in hy And had with them the young Dauy And al 's Dame Iane the young Lady The King made them faire welcomming And efter but long delaying He hes gart set a Parliament And hidder with mony men is went For he thought he would in his life Crowne his young Sonne and his Wife At that Parliament and so did he With great fare and solemnitie The King Dauid was crowned there And all his Lords that there were And also all the Commountie Made him homage and fewtie And before that they crowned were King Robert gart ordaine there Gif it fell that his sonne Dauy Died but Aire Male of his body That Robert Stewart sould be King and brooke the Royaltie That his Doughter bare in Mariage And that this Tailyie sould leelely Be holden all the Lords sware And with their Seales affirmed if there And gif it hapned Robert the King To passe to GOD while they were ying The good Erle of Murray Sir Thomas With the Lord also of Dowglas While they had wit to stéere their Reigne Sould haue them into gouerning And then the Lordship they sould ta Hereto their aithes can they ma And all the Lords that were there To tha twa Wardanes aithes sware To obey them into Lawtie Gif it hapned them UUardanes to be WHen all this thing thus treated was And affirmed with sickernes The King to Cardros went in hy And there him tooke so suddenly His sicknesse and him trauelde sa That he wist him behooued ma Of all this life the common end That is the death when GOD will send Therefore his Letters soone sent hée For all the Lords of his Countrie And they came as hee bidden had His Testament then hes hee made Before both Lords and Prelats And to Religions of seir Estates For haill of his soule gaue hee Siluer into greit quantitie Hee ordainde for his soule right well And when this was done ilk deill Lords hee said so it is gone With mée that there is nought but one That is the death withoutten dreed That ilke man shall thole on need And I thanke God that hes mée sent Space in our life here to repent For through mée and my wéering Of blood there hes beene greit spilling Where mony saklesse man was slaine Therefore this sicknesse and this paine I take in thanke for my trespasse And mine heart firmlie set was And when I was in prosperitie From my sinnes to saued bée To trauell vpon Gods faes And sen hée mee now to him taes That the body may on no wise Performe that the heart can deuise I would mine heart were hidder sent Wherein conceiued was that intent Therefore I pray you euerilkane That yee among you all chuse ane That bée honest wise and wight And of his hands a Noble Knight On Gods foes mine Heart to beare When soule and bodie disseuered are For I would it were worthelie Had there sen God will nought that I Had power hidderward to goe Then were their hearts all so woe That none might hold them from gréeting Hee bade them leaue their sorrowing For it hée said might not reliue And might themselues greitlie grieue Hee prayed them in hy to do The thing that they were charged to Then went they foorth with drerie moode And among them that thought it good That the worthie Lord Dowglas Whom in both wit and worship was Should take the trauell vpon hand Héereto they were all accordand And to the King they went in hy And told him that they thought truely That the doughtie Lord Dowglas Best ordainde for that trauell was And when the King heard that they sa Had ordainde him his Heart to ta That hee most yarned should it haue Hee said so God himselfe mée the saue I hold mee right well payed that yee Haue chosen him for his bountie For Certes it hes béene my yarning Ay sen I thought to doe this thing That he mine heart should with him beare And sen yee all assented are It is the more liking to mée Let see now what thereto sayes hée And when the Lord of Dowglas Wist that the King thus spoken hes Hée â—â—me and knéeled to the King And on this wise made his talking I thanke you greitly Lord said hee Of mony larges and greit bountie That yée haue done to mée feill syse Sen first I came to your seruice But ouer all thing I make thanking That yée so digne and worthie a thing As your heart that illuminate was With all bountie and worthinesse Will that I in my kéeping take For you right blithly will I make This trauell if God will mée giue Laiser and space so long to liue The King him thanked tenderlie There was none in that companie That wéeped not for greit pitie That was greit sorrow for to sée Here died King Robert and was syne Solemnedly buried in Dumfermling WHen the Lord Dowglas in this wise Hes vndertane so hie Emprise As the good Kings Heart to beare On Gods foes for to weare Praised for his Emprise was hée And the Kingâ— infirmitie Was more and more while at the last The dulefull death approached fast And when hée had gart doe him to All that good Christen men should do With true repentance then hée gaue The gaist whilke GOD to Heauen mot haue Among his Chosen for to bee In Ioye solace and Angels glée And fra his folke wist hée was dead The sorrow that raise from stead to stead There might men sée men riue their haire And comlie Knights gréete full saire And their hands togidder driue And as wood men their claithes ryue Regarding his worthie bountie His wit his strength and honestie And ouer all the greit companie That hee oft made them courteouslie All our defence they said alas And hee that haill our comfort was Our wit our heale our gouerning Is brought alace here to ending His worship and his méekle might Made all that were with him so wight That they might neuer abased bée While before them they might him sée Alace what shall wee doe or say For in life while hee lasted ay With all our foes dred were wée And into mony other Countrie Of our Worship ran the Renowne And that was all for his Persoun With sike words they made their mane And sickerlie wonder was nane For better Gouernour than hée Might in no Countrie founden bee I hope that none that is on life The lament and sorrow can descriue That tha folke for their Lord made And when that they long sorrowed had And he bowelled was cleanely And balmed syne full richly The worthy Lord the good Dowglas His Heart as it forespoken was Hes receiued in great dayntie UUith great faire and Solemnitie They haue him had to Dunfermelyne And him
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
were wraith They wold him wait with a great skaith For they sould sone find enchesoun To put him to destructioun And gif ony man neir them by Had ony thing that was worthy Hound or hors or vther thing That pleasand was to their liking With richt or wrong haue it wold they And gif ony wold them ganesay They wold so do that he sould tyne Outher lyfe or land or liue in pyne For they dampnit them euen at their will Takand no keip to richt nor skill Alace they dampnit them fellounly For gude Knichts that were worthy For litle enchesoun and oft for none Were hanged by the neckes ilkone Alace they sore that euer was frée And ay in fréedome was wont to be Through their mischance and their follie Were thirled then so wickedly That their foes their iudges were What wickednesse may men haue maire O how freedome is Noble thing For it makes man to haue liking Fréedome all solace to men giues He liues at ease that fréelie liues A Noble heart may haue none ease Nor nought els that may it please If fréedome failyee for free liking Is yarned aboue all other thing O he that hath ay liued frée May not know well the propertie The anger nor the wretched dome That is coupled vnto thirldome But if he had asâ—ayed it Then all perqueir he might it wit And should thinke fréedome more to prise Then all the gold men may deuise For contrarie things euer mare Discouerings of the other are And he that into thraldome is All that he hath in bandoun is To his Lord what euer he be Yet he hath not so méekle frée As free liking to leaue or do It that his heart drawes him to And yet Clarkes make Question When they fall in disputation If a man bad his thirle ought do And in the same time came him to His Wife and asked him his det Whether he his Lords néed should bet And pay first what he ow and syne Doe foorth his Lords commanding Or leaue his Wife vnpaide and do It that his Lord commanded him to I leaue all the solution To men of more discretion But sen they make sik comparing Betwixt the debts of wedding And Lords bidding to their will thirl Ye may well sée though none should tell How hard a thing that thraldome is For men may well wit that are wise That wedding is the hardest band That ony man may take on hand And thraldome is well war then dead For while a thirle his life may lead It marres him both bodie and banes And dead annoyes him not but ones Shortlie to say is none to tell The sore condition of a Threll THus gate they liued in thirlage Both poore and rich of hie parage For of the Lords some they slew And some they hanged some they drew And some they put into prison Withoutten cause or Encheson And among other of Dowglas Sir William put in prysoun was That of Dowglas was Lord and Syre Of him they haue made a Martyre For in presoun they him slew And his lands that were faire anew They to the Lord of Cliffurd gaue He left a sonne a litill knaue That then was but a litill Page And syne came to great vassalage His fathers death he venged sa That in England I vnderta Was none in life but they him dred For he so feill in armes sched That none that liues can it tell So wonder hard thinges befell Till him or he to state was broucht But there was none auentour that mocht Astoney his heart nor gar it let To do the thing it was on set How that he ay thocht ernistly To do his déed auisedly He thocht he was not worth no weill That might not of annoyes feill And that for to encheif great things With hard trauell and barganings Sould gar his prise ay doubled be Therefore in all his lifetime he Forsuike neuer paine nor trauell Nor neuer wold for mischiefe faile To dryue the thing euen to the end And tak the chance that God wold send ¶ His name was Iames of Dowglas And quhen he heard his father was Put in presoun so fellounly And that his lands so haillely Were giuen to the Cliffurd perfay He wist not what to do or say For he had nothing to dispend Nor there was none that euer him kend Wold do so mekle for him that he Micht with sufficience found in be THus was he wonder will of wane And suddenly in hart hes tane That he wold trauell ouer the sée And a quhile into Paris be And drée mischiefe quhere none him kend Quhill God sum succour to him send And as he thocht he did richt sa And soone to Paris can he ga And liued there full simpilly Quhere that he glaid was and ioly And to sic exercise oft he Èeid As course craues of Èouthheid And quhiles in play and vanitie The quhilk sumtime may auailÈe For knowledge of mony estates May quhiles auailÈe mony gates As to the gude Erle of Artois Robert befell intill his dayes For oft fenÈeing of Ribaldie AuailÈeit him and that greatlie And Cato sayes intill his writ To fenÈe foly quhyles is wit In Paris neir thrée Èeires dwelt he And then came tything ouer the sée That his father was done to dead Then was he wonder will of read And thocht that he wold home againe To looke gif he throw ony paine Micht wyn againe his heritage And his men out of all thirlage The first rising of Lord DOWGLAS TO Sanctandrous he came in hy Where the Bishop full courteously Receiued him and gart him beare His kniues to carue to him and sheare And cled him then full honorably And ordainde chamber where he should ly A well great while there dwelt he All men him loued for his bountie For he was of full faire affeir Wise courteous and deboneir Large and louing al 's was he And ouer all thing he loued lawtie Lawtie to loue is no follie Through lawtie liues men right wiselie With one vertue of lawtie A man may yet sufficient be And but lawtie may none haue prise Whether that he be wight or wise For where it failyies no vertue May be of price nor of value To make a man so good that he May simply good man called be He was in all his déedes léele For he deinyied not to deale With traitourie nor with falset His heart on hie honour was set And him contented on sik maner That all him loued that were him neere But he was not so faire that we Should speake greatly of his beautie In visage was he some déele gray And had black haire as I heard say But then of limmes he was well made With banes great and shoulders brade His bodie well made and lenyie As they that saw him said to me When he was blyth he was louely And méeke and swéet in company But who in battell might him sée Another countenance had he And in his spéech lisped some dell And that set
befell Mony sore point as I heard tell The whilk are not all written here But I wote well that in that yéere Threttéene Castels with strength he wan And ouercame mony a moody man And who of him the sooth would read Had he had measure in his déede I trow that worthier than he In his time might not founden be Except his brother alanerly To whome into good Cheualry I dare compare none was in his day For he led him with measure ay And with wit all his Cheualry He gouerned ay so worthely That he full oft vnlikly thing Brought right well to a good ending How Iames Dowglas tooke Thomas Randell And Alexander Stewart as I heard tell IN all that time Iames of Dowglas Into the Forrest ay trauelling was And it through hardement and slight Occupied all magre the might Of his feill foes the whilk thay Set him oft syes in hard assay But oft through wit and through bountie His purpose to good end brought he Into that time himselfe through cace One night as he trauelling was And thought to haue had his resting In a house by the Water of Lynâ— And as he came with his Menyie Neere hand the house so listned he And heard their Sawes euerilke deill And he by that perceiued well That they were strange men that there That night in that house harbred were And as he thought so fell through cace For of Bonkill the Lord there was Alexander Stewaâ—t heght he With other two of great bountie Thomas Randell of great Renoun And also Adam of Gordoun That came there with great companie And thought in the Forrest to lie And occupie it with all their might And with trauell and stalward fight To chase Dowglas from that Countrie But otherwise all yéed the glée When Iames of Dowglas had witting And al 's to him there came tyding That strange men had tane harberie Into the place where he shupe to lie He to that place past hastelie Both he and all his companie And vmbeset the house about When they within heard sik a rouf About the house they raise in hy And tooke their geare right hastely And came foorth fra the haruest were Their foes them met with weapons bare And them assailyied right hardelie And they defended doughtelie With all their might while at the last Their foes preassed them so fast That their folke failed them ilkane Thomas Randell there was tane And Alexander Stewart alswa Wounded into one place or twa Adame of Gordoun fra the fight What through strength and what through slight Escaped and al 's seire of their men But they that were arreisted then Were of their taking wonder wa But néedlings them behooude be sa That night good Iames of Dowglas Made to Sir Alexander that was His Emes sonne right gladsome chéere So did he al 's withoutten wéere To Thomas Randell for that he Was to the King in néere degrée Of blood for his sister him bare And on the morne withoutten maire Toward the noble King he rade And with him both the two he had The King of that present was blyth And thanked him thereof feill syth And to his Neuoy can he say Thou hes a whyle renounâ—d thy fay But now recounsailde thou mon be Then to the King answered he And said ye chastie me but ye Ought better for to chastyed be For sen ye weirrayed the King Of England into plaine feghting Ye sould preasse to direnye you right With might and not yet with slight The King said yet fall it may Ere it be long to sik assay But sen thou speakes so rudely It is great reason that men chasty Thy proud words while that thou knaw The right and duerie that thou aw The King without more delaying Sent him to be in firme keeping UUhere that he a whyle sall be Nought all vpon his owne poustie How the King at Gleclabâ—n Discomfist Iohn of Lornes men WHen Thomas Randel on this wise Was taken as I here deuise And sent to dwell in firme kéeping For his speech he spake to the King The King that thought vpon the skaith The despite and the velanie baith That Iohn of Lorne had to him doone His â—ist assembled hée alsoone And toward Lorne hée tooke the way With all his men in good array But Iohn of Lorne of his comming Long ere hée came had good witting And men on ilke side gathered hée I trow two thousand they might bée And sent them for to stop the way Where the good King behooued to ga Clochmabanie heght that mountaine I trow that into all Britaine A higher Hill may not founden bée There Iohn of Lorne gart his menyie Enbushed bee aboue the way If the King held that gait perfay Hée thought hée should soone vanquisht be And himselfe held him on the sea Well neere the place with his Gaillayes But the King that at all assayes Was founden wise and right wittie Perceiued well their subtiltie And him houed that gaite to goe His men departed hée in two And that to the good Lord of Dowglas In whom all vertue winning was Hée taught his Archers euerilkane And the good Lord hes with him tane Sir Alexander the Phraser wight And William Wiseman a good Knight And with them then Sir Andro Gray That with their Menyie held their way And clambe the Hill deliuerly And ere they of the other party Perceiued them they had ilkane The hight abone their foes tane The King and his men held their way And when into the place were they Entred the folke of Lorne in hy Upon the King raised the cry And shot and tumbled on them stanes Both greit and heauie for the nanes But they skaithed not greitly the King For hee had there in his leading Men that light and deliuered were And light armour vpon them bare So that they stoutly clambe the Hill And stopped their foes to fulfill The most part of their fellony And al 's vpon the other party Came Iames of Dowglas and his rouâ— And shot vpon them with a shout And wounded themwith arrows fast And with their Swords at the last They rushed among them hardely But they of Lorne full manfully Greit and a peart defence can ma. But when they saw that they were sa Assailyied vpon two parties And saw well that their enemies Had all the fairer of the fight In full greit hy they tooke the flight And they a felloun chase can ma And slew all that they might ouerta And they that might escape perfay Right to a Water held their way That ran downe by the Hilles side That was so straite so déepe and wide That men on no wise might it passe But at a Brig that narrow was To that Brig held they fast their way And to breake it can fast assay â—ut they them chased when they them saw Make their a rest but dread or aw They rushed vpon them hastelie And discomfist them vtterlie And held the Brig haile while the King With all
hight That who so euer he were that fand His heart not sikker for to stand To win all or die with honour For to maintaine that stalward stour That he betime should take his way And none sould dwell with him but thay That would stand with him to the end And take the grace that God would send Then all answered with one cry And with one voyce said generally That none for dout of dead sould faile While discomfist were the haill battaile How the King sent fra him all haill His small folke cariage and vittaill WHen the good King hes heard his men So hardely answere him then Saying that nouther dead nor dread To sik discomfort sould them lead That they sould eschew the feghting In heart he had great reioycing For him thought men of sik hauing So good so hardy and so fyne Sould well in battell hold their right Against men of full méekle might Syne all the small folke and puraill He sent with harnesse and vittaill Into the Parke right far him fra And gart them fra the battell ga And as he bade they went their way Twentie thousand néere were thay They held their way to a valley Out of the sight of the great battellyie Of men of armes wight and hardy The King left with a cleane Menyie That were togidder twentie thousand That I trow stalwardly sall stand And doe their deuoure as they aw They stood then raynged on a raw Ready for to byde battailyie Gif ony folke would them assailyie How the King bade the Erle Murray To keepe beside the Kirke the way THe King then gart them busked be For he wist into certainetie That Englishmen with méekle might Had lyen at the Falkirk that night And syne to him the way all straight Held with their men of méekle might Therefore to his Neuoy bad he The Erle of Murray with his Menyie Beside the Kirk to kéepe the way That none sould passe that gaite perfay Without debate to the Castell And he said that himselfe sould well Kéepe the entrie with his battaile Gif that ony would there assaile And syne his brother Sir Edward And young Walter the good Steward And the Lord Dowglas alswa With their Menyie good tent sould ta UUhilk of them had most mister Sould help with them that with them wer The King then sent Iames of Dowglas And Sir Robert of Keith that was Marshall of all the Oast in fée The Englishmens comming for to sée And they lap on withoutten bade UUell horsed men with them they had And soone the great Oast haue they séene UUhere shields shining were so shéene And Basnets byrnished so bright That gaue against the Sunne sik light They saw so mony browdred Baners Standerds and Pensalls vpon speares And so feill Knights vpon Stéedes And flawming in their â—oly wéedes And so feill battells and so brade And tooke so great rowme as they rade That the most Oast and the best Of Christendome and the lykliest Sould be abased for to sée Their foes into sik quantitie And so arrayed for to fight UUhen their discurreours had sight Of their foes as I heard say Toward the King they tooke their way And told him into priuitie The multitude and the beautie Of their foes that came so brade And of the great might that they had Then the King bade that they sould ma No countenance as it were swa But bade them into common say That they came into ill array To comfort his men through that wise For oft times of a word may rise Discomfort and tynsall withall And al 's well through a word may fall Comfort may rise and hardement To garmen come to their intent And on the same wise did it heare Their comfort and their hardie cheare Comforted them so gretumlie That of their Host the least hardie By countenance would formest bée For to begin the greit melle How with a hundreth the Erle of Murray To aught hundreth battell gaue VPon this wise the Noble King Gaue to his men greit comforting Through hardie countenance and cheare That hee made on so good maneere They thought that no mischiefe might bée So greit with thy they might him sée Before them that should so engréeue But his worship should them relieue His worship them comforted sa And countenance that hée did ma. That the most Coward was hardie On other halfe full sturdelie The Englishmen in sik array As yee haue heard mee forrow say Came with their battalles approaching Their Banners to the wind waiuing And when they commen were so neere That but two myle betwixt them were They chused a â—oly companie Of wight men armed â—olelie On faire Coursers ar med at right And great Lords of méekle might There was Capitane of that rout The Lord Cliffurd that was so stout Was of them all soueraigne leader Aught hundreth armed I trow they were They were all young men and joly Yarning for to doe Cheualry The best of all the Hoste were they Of countenance and of array They were the fairest companie That men might find of so mony To the Castell they thought to fare For if that they might well come there They thought it should rescued bee Foorth on their way held this Menyie And toward Striâ—iling held their way Beneath the Parke eschewed they For they wist well the King was there And beneath the Parke so can they fare Under the Kirke into a rout The Erle Thomas that was so stout When hee saw them so take the Plaine In full greit by went them againe With an hundreth withoutten moe Annoyed in his heart and woe That they so far were passed by For the King had him said rudely That a Rose of his Chaiplet Was fallen for hée was set To kéepe the way tha men were past Therefore hee hasted him so fast That commen into short time was hée In the plaine fielde with his MenÈie For hée thought that hee should amend That hée trespassed had or then end And when the Englishmen him saw Come on withoutten dread or aw And tooke so hardelie the Plane In hy they went then him againe And strake with spurs the Stéedes stight That bare them euen and hard and suight And when the Erle saw that Menyie Come so stoutly to his men said hée Bée not abashed for their shore But set your Speares you before And backe to backe set all your rout And all your speare points out That gate defend vs best may wée Enuironed with them gif wée bée And as hee bade so haue they done And the other came on all soone Before them all there came prickand A Knight hardy of heart and hand And was a well greit Lord at hame Sir William the Hawcourt was his name And pricked at them so hardelie And they met him so sturdelie And he and horse were both borne down And slaine right there without ransoun With Englishmen greitlie was hée Méened that day for his bountie The laue come on full sturdelie But none
solemnedly eirded syne And in a faire Tombe in the Queire Bishops and Prelats they there were Assolyied him when the Seruice Was done as they could best deuise And syne vpon the other day Sorie and wa they went away Here bouned the Lord Dowglas forwart To the haly Land with the Bruces Heart WHen that the good King buried was The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Tooke all the land in gouerning And all obeyed to his bidding And the good Lord of Dowglas syne Gart make a Case of gold right fyne Enamalled through subtiltie Therein the Kings heart put he And ay about his halse it bare And fast he bouned him for to fare His Testament deuised he And ordained his lands sould be Gouerned while his gaine-comming By friends and all other thing That to him pertained ony wise With sik foresight as men could deuise Ere his foorth passing ordained he That nothing might amended be And when that he his lieue hes tane To shippe at Barwike is he gane And with him a Noble company Of Knights and of Squyery He put him in hy to the Sea A long way fordward sailed he Betwixt Cornewall and Bartanyie He sailed and left the ground of Spainyie On North-halfe him and held their way While to Massillie ground came they But greatly was his men and he Trauelled with tempests on the Sea Bot though they greatly grieued were Haill and feere they commen are And landed at the great Sibille And efter it a litle whyle Their horse to land they drew ilkane And in the toun hes harbery tane And him conteened right richly For he had a faire company And gold enough for to dispend The King Alphous efter him send And him right well receiued he And proffered him in great plentie Gold and siluer horse and arming Bot he thereof would take nothing For he said he tooke that veyage To passe into his pilgrimage On Gods foes that his trauell Might efter to his Saull auaile And sen he wist that he had wéere With Saracens that dwelled there To help him was his will hailly The King him thanked courteously And betaught him good men that were Well knowne with the lands wéere And the maner of the land alswa Syne to his Innes can he ga And well good Soiourne there he made And méekle treating al 's he had Knights that came of far Countrie Came in great routtes him to sée And honoured him full gretumly And ouer all men most Souerainely The English Knights that were there Him honoured and great company bare Among them all was one strong Knight That was holden so wonder wight That for one of the best was he Praised of all Christaintie So fast to Heauen was all his face That it well néere all wounded was Ere he the Lord Dowglas had séene He weind his face had all wounded bene But neuer a hurt in it had he When he vnwounded can it sée He said that he had great ferly That sik a Knight and so worthy And praised of so great bountie Might in his face vnwounded be And méekely thereto answered he And said GOD lent me hands to beare Wherewith I might my head wéere Thus made he courteous answering With a right hie vnderstanding That for default of Fence it was That so euill hewen was his face The good Knights that then were by Praised his answere gretumly For it was made with small speaking And had right hie vnderstanding The iudging of the Lord Dowglas That in his time sa worthie was VPon this maner still they lay While through the Countrie they heard say That the King of Palmeryn UUith mony a moody Saracene UUas entred in the land of Spaine All haill the Countrie to demaine The King of Spaine on the other party Gaddered his Oast deliuerly And delt them into battels thrée And to the Lord Dowglas gaue he The Uangard for to lead and stéere And all the strangers that with him were And the great Maister of Sanct Iake The other battell gart he take The Réeregard made himselfe there And thus deuised foorth they fare To méete their foes that in battaile Arrayed was ready to assaile And came against them full sturdely The Dowglas then that was worthy UUhen he to them of his leading Had made a faire admonishing To doe well and no dead to dréede For Heauens blisse sould be their meede If that they died in Gods seruice Then as good wéerryours and wise With them stoutlie assembled hée There men might felloun feghting sée For all they were wight and hardie That were on the Christian partie But ere they joyned in battell What the Dowglas did I shall you tell ¶ The Bruces Heart that on his brest Was hinging in the field hée kest Upon a stone-cast and well more before And said Now passe thou foorth before As thou was wont in field to bee And I shall follow or else die And so hee did withoutten ho Hée faught euen while hee came it to And tooke it vp in greitâ— daintie And euer in field this vsed hée So fast they faught with all their maine That of their seruants mony were â—laine The whilke with mony â—ell fusioâ—n Mony a Christian dang they downe But at the last the Lord Dowglas And the Christians that with him was Preassed vpon the Saracenes sa That they haillie the flight can ta And they chased with all their maine And mony in the chase was slaine So farre chased the Lord Dowglas With few folkes that hée passed was Foorth fare from them that chased then Hee had not with him but skant ten Of all men that were with him there When hee saw all repared were Toward his Hust syne turned hée And as hée turned can well sée That all the Chaissers turned againe And they réelled with méekle paine And as the good Lord of Dowglas As I said aire repairing was So saw hée right before him néere Where that Sir William de Sincleere With a greit rout inuironed was Hée was annoyed and said alas Yone worthie Knight will soone bee dead But he haue helpe through our manhead Let vs then helpe him now in hy Sen that wee are so néere him by And I wate well our intent is To liue and die in Gods seruice His will in all thing doe shall wee There shall no perill eschewed bée While hée bee put out of yone paine Or then wée shall bée with him slaine With that with speares right spéedely They strake the Horse in full greit hyâ— Among the Saracenes they rade And roome about them haue they made They dang on fast with all their might And feill of them to death were dight Greiter defence made neuer so whéene Against so feill it was right seene While theâ— might last to giue battaile There might no worship there auaile That time for slaine was ilkane there The Saracenes so mony were That they were twentie large for ane The good Lord Dowglas there was slaine And Sir William Sinclare alswa And other worthie Knights twa
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