to forsake none auenture That euer may fall with thy that thay Therethrough succour their liues may ¶ Men reades when Thebes was tane And King Adrestus men were slaine That assieged the Citie All the women of his Countrie Came for to fetch him home againe When they heard all his folke was slaine UUhere that the King Campeus Through the Oast of Menestheus That came through cace ryding them by UUith thrée hunder in company That through the Kings prayer assailyéed And yet to take the towne had failyéed War not the wiues that thrilde the wall With pikkes where the assailyeours all Entred and destroyed the toun And slew the people but ransoun Syne when the Duke his waies was gane And all the Kings men were slaine The Wiues had him to his Countrie UUhere was no liuing man but he In women méekle comfort lies And great solace in mony wise So fell it here for their comming Comforted gretumly the King For why euerilk night he woke And his rest on the day he tooke A good while there he soiournde then And eased wonder well his men While that the Englishmen heard say That he there with his menyie lay At all kin ease and sikkerly Their Oast assembled they in hy And trowed there him to supprise But he that in his déedes was wise Wist they assembled were and where And wist that they so monie were That he might not against them fight His men in hy he gart them dight And bushe them of the toun to ride The Ladies rade hard by his side Then to the hilles they held their way Where great default of meat had thay Bot worthie Iames of Dowglas Ay trauellde he and busie was For to purchase the Ladies meat And éeles in monie wise wald get For whyles vennison he them broght And with his hands whyles he wroght Girnes to take Geddes and Salmons Troutes Celes and Menons And whyles they went to the Forray And so their meat purchased thay Ilke man trauellde for to get And purchast them that they might eat But of all that euer there were There was not one among them there That with the Ladies more praisde was Than was Sir Iames of Dowglas And the King oft comforted was Through his wit and his businesse On this maner then gouernde they Till they came to the head of Tay How Iohn of Lorne discomfist King Robert THe Lord of Lorne winned thereby That was Capitall enemie To the King for his Emes sake Iohn the Cumyng and thought to take Uengâ—ance vpon cruell manéere When the King wist hée was so néere Hée assemblâ—d his Men in hy And had into his companie The Barons of Argyle alswa They were a thousand well and ma. That come for to suppresse the King That was well ware of their comming But all too few with him hée had And yet hée boldlie them abade And feill of them at their first méeting Was laid at eird but recouering The Kings folke full well them bare And slew and feill wounded sare But the folke of the other partie Faught with axes so fellounly For they on foote were euerilkane But they feill of their Horse hes slaine And to some gaue they wounds wide Iames of Dowglas was hurt that tid And al 's Sir Gilbert de la Hay The King his men saw in affray And his Ensenye right fast gan cry And in the stour full hardelie Hée rade and rushed among them all And feill of them there gart hee fall But when hée saw they were so fell And saw them so greit dints deale Hee dread to tine his men for thy His solke to him hee can rely And faid Lordings it folly were To vs for to assemble mare For they feill of our Horse haue slaine And if wee feght with them againe Wee shall tyne of our small MenÈie And our selues shall in perill bée Therefore mée thinke most according To withdraw vs wée defending Till wee come out of their danger Our strength is at our hand well neere Then they withdrew them haillelie But that was nothing cowartly For samin into a sop held they And the King him abandound ay To defend behind his Menyie And through his worship so wrought hée That hée rescued all the fléears And so astonisht all the chasers That none durst on t of battell chase For at their hand alwayes hée was So well defended hée his men That who so euer had seene him then Prooue so worthie vassalage And turne so oft-time his visage Hée should say hée ought well to bée A King of full greit Royaltie WHen that the Lord of Lorne saw His men stand of him sik aw That they durst not follow the chase Right angrie in his heart hée was And sair wondred that hee should so Stoney them him allone but moe Hée said Mée thinke Martheokes sonne Right as Golmakmorne was wonne To haue from Fyngall his menyie Right so from vs all his hes hée Hée set ensample thus him lyke The whilk hée might more manerlyke Likened him to Gaudifer Delaryse When that the mightie Duke Betyse Assayed in Gaders the Forrayours And when the King them made recourse Duke Betyse tooke on him the flight And would no more abide the fight But good Gaudifer the worthie Abandound him so hardelie For to rescue all the fléears And for to astoney the chasers That Alexander to eird hée bare And so did hee Ptolome there And good Corneus also Danchine and also other moe But at the last there slaine hée was In that failÈied the liklinesse For that the King Cheualruosly Defended all his companie That was set in full greit danger And yet escaped haill and féere Howe the King slewe the three men that swore his death TWo brether were into the land That were the hardiest of hand There were in all that same Countrie And they had sworne if they might see The Bruce and him ouer ta That they should die or then him sâ—a Their Surname was Makindorser That is al 's meekile to say héere As Durwarts sonnes perfay Of their conuéene the third had they That was right stout ill and felloun When they the King of greit renoun Saw so behind his MenÈie ride And saw him turne so mony a tide They abade ay while that hée was Entred into a narrow place Betwixt a Loch and a narrow Bra That was so strait I vnderta That hee might not well turne his Stéed Then with ane will to him they yéed And ane him by the Bridle hint But hée raught to him sik a dint That arme and shoulder flaw him fra With that another can him ta By the Leg and his hand can shoote Betwixt the stirop and his foote And when the King felt there his hand In steroppes stythlie can hée vp stand And strake with Spurres his Stéed in hy And hee lanced deliueredly So that the other failÈied feete And nought for thy his hands was yet Under the sterop magre his The third in full greit hy with this Right to
tell his worshippes one and one He sould of them find monie one For in his time as men told me Thretteine times vanquisht was he And had victorie times seuen and fiftie He séemed not long time idle to lie By his trauell he had no will Me thinke men sould him loue of skill How Iames of Dowglas slew Webtoun And wan his Castell kest it downe THis Iames when the King was gane All priuilie his men hes tane And went to Dowglasdaill againe And priuilie hes made a traine To them that in the Castle were A bushment sâ—elie made they there And of his men fourtéene and ma He gart as they would sekkes ta Filled with gers and syne them lay Upon their horse and hold their way Right as they would to Lanerik fare Out with where they embushed were And when they of the Castell saw So feill lades ganging on raw Of that sight were they wonder fane And told it to their Capitane That heght Sir Iohn of Webroun That was both starke stout and felloun Iolie also and couragious And for that he loued Paramours He would ishe far the lightlier He gart his men all take their geare And ishe to get them vittaile For it that they had fast did faile They ished all aboundantlie And preiked foorth so wilfullie To win the lades that they saw pas Till the Dowglas and his men was Betwixt them and the Castell The lade-men then perceiued well And they cast downe their lades in hie And their gownes deliuerlie That heilled them they cast away And in great hy their horse hynt they And start vpon them sturdelie And met their foes with a crie They had great wonder when they saw Them that were eir lurking full law Come vpon them so hardelie They were abased suddenlie And at the Castle would haue bene When on the other side they haue séene Dowglas breake his Embushement That against them so stoutlie went They wist not what to doe or say Their foes on ather side saw thay That strake on them without sparing That they might help their selfe nothing But fled to warrand where they moght And they so angerlie them soght That of them all escaped nane Sir Iohn of Webtoun there was slaine And when he dead was as ye heare They fand into his Awmanneir A letter that to him sent a Ladie That he loued for Drowrie That said when he had kept one yéere In wéere as worthie Batcheléere The auentrous Castell of Dowglas That for to kéepe so perilous was Then might he well aske a Ladie His Armours and her Drowrie The Letter spake on this maner And when they slaine on this wise wer Dowglas right to the Castell rade And there so great debate he made That in the Castell entred he I wate not all the certaintie Whether it was through strength or slight For he wrought so with his great might That the Constable and all the laue That was therein both man and knaue He tooke and gaue them dispending And sent them home but more grieuing To the Cliffurde in their Countrie And syne so busilie wrought he That he all tumbled downe the wall And destroyed the houses all Syne to the Forrest held his way Where hée had many hard assay And mony faire points of wéere befell Who could them all rehearse or tell Hee should say that his name should bée Lasting in full greit Renounie How ouer the Month past the King And there fell sicke in his passing NOw will wee leaue in the Forrest Dowglas that shall haue litle rest While the Countrie deliuered bée Of Englishmen and their poustie And turne wee to the Noble King That with the folke of his leading Toward the Month hes tane his way Right short into full good array Where Alexander Fraser him met And al 's his brother that Simon het With all his folke they with him had The King of their comming was glad And cherisht them in all kin thing And they told him of the comming Of Sir Comyng Erle of Buchane That to him helpe had with him tane Sir Iohn Mowbray and other ma And Sir Dauid Brechine alswa With all the folke of their leading And yarnes more than ony thing Uengeance of you Sir King to take For Sir Iohn Cumyng his Emes sake That whilum at Drumfreis was slaine The King said So our Lord mée sane I had greit cause him for to sla And sen that they on hand will ta Because of him to weere on mée I shall abide a while and see On what wise they will prooue their might And if it fall that they will fight If they assaile wée shall deâ—end Let fall efter what God will send Efter this spéech the King in hy Held straight his way to Enrowry And there hée tooke sik a sicknesse That put him to so heard distresse That hée forbure both drinke and meat His men no Medicine might get That euer might to the King auailyiâ— His heart all haill begouth to failyie That hée might nouther ride nor goe Then wit yee well his men were woe For none was in that company That would haue béene halfe so sory For to haue seene his brother dead Lying before them in that stead As they were all for his sicknesse For all their comfort in him was And good Sir Edward the worthie His brother that was so hardie And wise and wight set meekle paine To comfort them with all his maine And when Lords that were there Saw that the euill aye mair and maire Traueld the King they thought in hy It was not spâ—edfull there to ly For there all plaine was the Countrie And they were but a few Menyie To ly but strength into the Plaine Therefore while that their Captaine Were recouered of his méekle ill They thought to wind some strengths till For folke withoutten Captaine But they the better be in paine Shall not bee all so good indéed As they a Lord had them to lead That put himselfe in auenture But abasing to take the Ure That God will send for when that hée Of sik will is and sik bounty That hée dare put him to essay His folke shall take example ay Of his good déede and his bountie And ane of them shall bee worth thrée Of them that wicked Chiftane hes His wretchednesse so in them gaes That they their manlinesse shall tyne Through wickednesse of his conuyne For when the Lord that them should leaâ— May doe nought but as hee were dead Or from his folke holds his way Fléeing trow yée not that they Uincust shall in their hearts bée â—es shall they as I trow pardie But if their hearts bée so hie They will not for their worship flée And though some bée of sik bountie When they the Lord and his Menyie Sees flée yet shall they flée a paine For all men flees the deed full faine See what hée does that so foullie Flées thus for his Cowardrie Both him and his vanquishes hee And garres his foes abone bée
of his Menyie some sent he For to burne townes two or thrée And bade them soone againe them spéed So that at hand gif there come néed They might before the feght be read The Newell that wist verily That Dowglas commen was so néere And saw all brode stand his Banéere Then with tha folke that he had there That with him a great Menyie were For all the good of that Countrie Into that time with him had he So that he with him there had then UUell mo then were the Scottishmen He held his way vp to an hill And said Lordings it were my will To make end of the great deray That Dowglas does to vs ilk day But me thinke it spéedfull that we Abide till that his Menyie be Skailled all to take our Pray Then fiercely set on them we maâ— And we sall haue them at our will Then they gaue all assent theretill And on the hill abade houand The men fast gaddered of the land And drew to him in full great hy And Dowglas then that was worthy Thought it was foly more to bide Toward the hill then can he ride And when the Newell saw that they Would not passe foorth to the Forray But preassed to him with all their might He wist well then that he would fight And to his Menyie can he say Lordings now hold we foorth our way Here is the floure of this Countrie And mo then they also are we Assemble we then hardely For Dowglas with yone Yemanry Sall haue no might to vs perfay Then in a frush assembled they That men might heare the speares brast And ilkone dang on other fast And blood brast out of wounds wide They foght fast vpon ather side For ather partie can them paine To put their foes on back againe The Lord the Newell and Dowglas When that the fighting fellest was They fought felly with all their maught Great routes ather to other raught But Dowglas starke was I hight And more vsed al 's in the fight And set heart and will alswa For to deliuer him of his fa While at the last through méekle mains Of forre the Newell hes he slaine Then his Ensenyie can he cry And on the laue so hardely He rushed with all his Menyie That in short time men might sée Their foes take on them the flight And they them chaist with all their might Sir Raph the Newell in that place And the Baroun of Hiltonn was Taken and other of méekle might There was reill flaine into that fight That worthie in their time had béene And when the field was cleanged cléene So that their foes euerilkane Were slaine or chaist away or tane Then gart he forray all the land And séesed all that euer he fand And burnt the townes in their way Syne haill feare home commen are they The Pray among his Menyie Efter their merites dealt hes he And held nothing to his behooue Sik déedes ought to gar men loue Their Lord and so they did perfay He treated them so wisely ay And with so méekle loue alswa And countenance that he would ma Of their déed that the most Coward He made stoutter then a Leopard UUith cherissing this gaite made he His men wight and of great bountie When Newell thus was broght to ground And of Calhow Sir Edmound The dread of the good Lord Dowglas And his Renowne so skailled was Throughout the Marches of England That all that were therein dwelland Dred him as the selfe Deuit of Hell And yet I haue heard oft syse tell That hée so greitly dred was then That when wiues wold their children ban They would euen with an angrie face Betake them to the blacke Dowglas Through his greit worship and bountie So with his foes dred was hee That they growed to heare his Name Hee may at ease now dwell at hame A while for I trow hée shall nought With foes mony dayes bée sought Now let him in the Forrest bée And of him speake no more will wée But of Sir Edward the worthie That with all his Cheualrie Was at Craigfergus yet lyand To speake more wée will take on hand Here past in Ireland the Noble King To his brother with great gaddering WHen Sir Edward as I said aire Had discomâ—Ì„st Richard of Clare And of Ireland all the Barnage Thrise through his worthie Uassalage And syne with all his men of maine To Craigfergus was comde againe The good Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Tooke lieue in Scotland for to passe And hee him left without grudging And syne him charged to the King To pray him speciallie that hee Would come in Ireland him to sée For were they both into that lanâ— They should find none should them withstand The Erle then foorth his way hes tane And to his Shippes is hee gane Hée sailled well out ouer the sea In Scotland soone arriued hée Syne to the King hee went in hy And hée receiued him joyfully And spéered of his brothers fare And of his journeyes that they had there And hée him told all but leesing And when the King left had speaking His charge to the King told hée And hée said Hée would blythlie sée His brother and also the affaire Of the Countrie and what it were A greit MenÈie then gaddered hée And two Lords of greit bountie The one Walter Stewart was The other Iames of Dowglas Wardans in his absence made hee For to maintaine well the Countrie Syne to the sea hee tooke his way And at Lochreane in Galloway Hee shipped with all his MenÈie To Craigfergus soone commen is hee Sir Edward of hiâ— come was blyth And went downe for to meete him swyth And welcommed him with gladsom cheare So did hee all that with him were And speciallie the Erle Thomas Of Murray that his Neuoy was Syne to the Castell went hee there And made them meekle feast and fare They sojournde therein dayes three In mirth solace and royaltie KIng Robert now vpon this wise Into Ireland arriued is And when into Craigfergus had hee With his men sojournde dayes three Hee tooke counsell that hee wold With all their folke their wayes hold Through all Ireland from end to other Sir Edward then the Kings brother Before into the Uangard rade The King himselfe the Reeregard had That had into his companie The Erle Thomas that was worthie Their wayes fordward haue they tane And soone passed euer ilkane Here faught King Robert in Ireland With 5. thousand against 40. thousand THIS was in mids the mirthfull May When Birds sings on ilke Spray Making their Notes with seemlie soun For softnesse of the sweet seasoun And Leaues of the Branches spreeds And bloomes bright about them breedes And Fieldes strowed are with Flowres Well sauouring of seir colours And all thing worthed blyth and gay When that the good King tooke his way To ryde Southward as I said aire The Wardane then Richard of Clare Wist the King was arriued sa And wist hee shupe him for to
plaine harbrie Here followed King Robert in hight The English King with all his might THe King of England and his men That saw their harbreours come then Rebuted on that great maner Annoyed in their hearts they were And thought it was a great folie Into the wood to take harbrie Therefore by Dryburgh in a Plaine They harbried them and syne againe Are went to England but delay And when the King Robert heard say That they were turned home againe And how their harbreours were slaine In hy an Oast assembled he And went foorth ouer the Scots sea Eightie thousand he was and ma And eight battels he made of tha In ilk battell were ten thousand Syne went he foorth to England And in haill rout he followed fast The English King while at the last He came approaching by Byland When at that time there was lyand The King of Englanâ— with his men King Robert that had witting then That he lay there with méekle might Tranoynted so on him one night That on the morne by it was day Commen to the plaine field were they Fra Byland a litle space But betwixt them and it there was A craig bra streiked well lang And a great Path vp for to gang Otherwise might they not haue way To passe to Bylands Abbay Bot gif they passed far about And when the méekle English rout Heard that the King Robert was néere The most part of them that were there Went to the Path to take the bra There thought they their defence to ma Their Baners there they gart display And their battels in brade array And thought well to defend the place When King Robert perceiued hes That they them thought for to defend Efter his counsell hes he send And asked what was best to do The Lord Dowglas answered him to And said Sir I will vnderta That in short time I sall doe sa That I sall win yone place plainely Or then gar all yone company Come downe to you into this Plaine Or ye sall neuer trow me againe The King then said great GOD thée spéed And he on foorth his wayes yeede And of the Oast the most partie Put then into his companie And held their way toward the place The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Left his battell and in great hy But with few men in company Came to the Court of the Lord Dowglas And ere he entred into the place Before them all the place tooke he For he would that men sould him sée And when the good Lord Dowglas Saw that he so commen was He praised him thereof greatly And welcommed him honorably And to the place can togidder ga When Englishmen saw them doe sa They lighted and against them yéed Two Knights that doughtie were indéed Thomas of Struthers heght one to name And the other Sir Ralph of Cowbanâ— Thir two Knights of good degrée Came downe before all their Menyie They were both of full great bountie And met their foes right manfullie There might men sée well other assaile And men defend with stout battaile And arrowes flee in great fusioun And they that aboue were tumbled doun Stones vpon them from the hight But they that set both will and might To wiâ— the Path and preassed sa That Sir Ralph Cowbane can ta The way right to his Oast in hy And left Sir Thomas manfully Defending with great might the place UUhile that he so supprised was That he was tane through hard fighting And therefore syne while his ending He was renouned the best of hand Of one Knight was in all England For this ilk Sir Ralph of Cowbane In all England he had the name For the best Knight of that land And for Sir Thomas dwelt still fightand Where Sir Ralph as before said we Withdrew him abone him prised was he The discomfiting of Englishmen At Bylands Path into the Glen THus were they fighting in the place And when King Robert that was UUise in his deedes and eke worthie Saw his men ay so doughtelie The Peth vpon their foes ta And saw his foes defend them sa Then gart he all the Irishry That were into his company Of Argyle and Iles alswa Spéede them in hy vnto the bra He bade them leaue the Peth haillely And climbe vp on the Craiges thereby And speed them fast the hight to ta And in greit hy they haue done sa And clambe as Gaites vp to the hight And left not for their foes might Magre their foes they bare them sa That they are gotten abone the bra Then faught they wonder fellounlie And rushed their foes right sturdelie There was a right perilous bargaine For a Knight heght Sir Iohn of Britaine That lighted hes abone the bra With his men greit defence can ma But the Scottishmen can so assaille And gaue to them so feill battaile That they were set in sike effray That they that flée might fled away Sir Iohn of Brittaine there was tane And most part of his MenÈie sâ—aine Of France there were tane Knights two The Lord of Sowllie was one of tho The other was the Marshall Britaine That was a right greit Lord at hame The laue some dead were and some slain The remnand fled were euerilkane And when the King of England As yet at Byland was lyand Saw his men discomfist plainlie Hée tooke his way in full greit hy And Southward fled in all his might The Scots men chased him hard I hight And in the chase hes mony slaine But hee quicklie away is gane And the most part of his MenÈie Walter Stewart of greit bountie Set ay vpon hie Cheualrie With fiue hundreth in companie To Yorke Yates a chase can ma And there some of their men can sâ—a And abade while neere the night To see if ony would ish to fight And when hee saw none would ish out Hée turned againe wiâ—h all his rout And to the Host they went in hy That then had tane their harbery Into the Abbay of Byland And Rewes that were neere by lyand They dealâ— among them that was there And gaue the King of Englands geare That hee had left into Byland All gripped they into their hand And made them glad and eke merrie And when the King had tane Harberie They brought to him their prisoners All vnarmed as it affeeres And when hée saw Iohn of Brittaine Hee had at him full greit disdaine For hee of him would speake highly At home and too dispitefullie Hée bade haue him away in hy And looke hee kéeped were straitlie And said were it not that hée were A Captiâ—e as hée then was there His words hee should full deare aby And hée full fast can cry mercy They let him foorth withoutten maire And kéept him well white that they were Commen home to their owne Countrie Long efter syne ransomed was hee For twentie thousand pound to pay As I haue heard among men say WHen that the King this spéech had made The French Knights they taken had Were brought there
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
him full wonder well To good Hector of Troy might he In manie things likened be Hector had blacke haire as he had And starke limmes and right well made And lisped also as did he And was fulfill'd of all bountie And was courteous wise and wight But of manhéed and méekle might To Hector dare I none compare Of all that euer in world were For in his time so wrought he That he should greatly loued be HE dwelt there thus till on a tide The King Edward with méekle pride Came to Starling with great menyie For to hold there an assemblie Hitherward went many a Baroun And Bishop William of Lambertoun Who hither al 's and with him was His Esquyre Iames of Dowglas The Bishop led him to the King And said Sir here to you I bring This Child that claimes your man to be And prayeth you for Charitie That ye receiue here his homage And grant to him his heritage Quhat lands claimes he said the King Schir gif that it be your lyking He claimes the Lordship of Dowglas For Lord thereof his father was The King then wrythed him angerly And said Schir Bischop sikkerlie Gif thou wold keepe thy fewtie Thou mak no sic speaking to me His father was ay my felloun And died therefore in my presoun And was agains my Maiestie Therefore I ought his aire to be Go purches lands quhere euer he may For thereof gets he none perfay The Clyffurd shall haue them for he Ay leillely he hes serued me The Bischop heard him so answer And durst then speake to him no mair Bot from his presence went on hy For he dred sore his fellony So that no more he spoke thereto But did that he came for to do The King in England went againe With mony men of mekill maine LOrdings who likes for to heare The Romanes now begins héere Of men that were in greit distres And assayed full greit hardynes Or they micht come to their intent But syne our Lord sic grace them sent That they sensyne through greit valour Came to greit hicht and hie honour Magre their foes euer ilkone That were so fell that ay for ane Of them they were well a thousand Bot where God helps who may wtstand Èœet if we say the suithfastnes They were eir more then they were lesse But God that is of mekill micht Preserued them in his foresicht To venge the harmes and the contrares That they fell folke and oppressares Did to simple folke and worthy That could not saue themselues for thy They were like to the Maccabees That as men in the Bible sées Throw their great worship and valour Faucht in mony a stalwart stour For to delyuer their Countrie Fra folke that throw Iniquitie Held them and theirs into thirlage They wrocht so throw their vassallage That with few folke they had victory Of michty Kings as sayes the Story And delyuered their lands all frée Quherefore their names sould loued be This Lord the Bruce I spoke of air Saw all the Kinrik so forfair And so troubled the folke saw he That he thereof had great pitie Bot quhat pitie that euer he had No countenance thereof he made Quhill on a time Schir Iohn Cuming As they came ryding from Striuiling Said to him Schir will Èe not see How that gouerned is this Countrie They slew our folke but Enchesoun And hes this land against reasoun And ye thereof Lord should be And if that ye will trow to me Ye shall thereof gar make you King And I shall be in your helping With thy ye giue me all the land That ye haue now into your hand And if that ye will not doe swa Nor sik a state vpon you ta All haill my lands shall yours be And let me take the state on me And bring this land out of thirlage For there is neither man nor Page In all this land but they will be With vs to make themselues frée The Lord the Bruce heard his carping And weinde he spake but soothfast thing And for it liked to his will He gaue soone his assent theretill And said sen ye will it be swa I will blythlie vpon me ta The name for I wote I haue right And riâ—ht makes oft the féeble wight THir Barouns thus accorded are And that ilk night written were Their Indentours aithes made To hold that they forespokeÌ„ had But ouer all thing woe worth treasoun For there is neither Earle nor Baroun Nor Duke nor Prince nor King of might Though he be neuer so wise nor wight For wit worship praise nor renoun That euer may kéepe him fra treasoun Was not all Troy with treason tane When ten yéeres of the siege was gane Where there was slaine eight hundred thousand Of them thereout through strength of hand As Dares in his booke did wraite And dyted their battell and their state They might not haue bene tane with might But treasoun tooke them through her slight And Alexander the Conquerour That conquered Babylons Towre And all this world of length and bréede In twelue yéere through his doughtie déede Was syne destroyed by poysoun In his owne house through treasoun But ere he died his land dealt he To sée his death was great pitie Iulius Cesar al 's that wan Britane and France as worthie man Africk Arabie Egypt and Syrie And al 's Europe all haillelie And for his worship and valour Of Rome was first made Emperour Syne in his Capitoll was he Through them of his counsell priuie Slaine with botkins vnto the dead And when he saw there was no read His ene with hand enclosed he For to die with more honestie Al 's Arthur that through Cheualrie Had Britane Maistres and Ladie Of twelue Kinrikes that he wan And also as a Noble man He wan through battell France all frée And Lucius Tyber vanquisht he Then he of Rome was Emperour And yet for all his great valour Modreed his Sister sonne his slew And good men al 's ma than anew Through treason and through wickednesse The Bruce thereof beares witnesse So fell it of this cunning making Of the Cuming to the King Of England and told all the cace But I trow not all as it was The Indentour to him gaue hée And syne shawed the iniquitie And therefore syne hee tholed dead That to it could set no remead WHen the King saw the Indenâ—our Hée was angrie without measure And swore that hee should vengeance ta Of the Bruce that presumed sa Against him for to braull and rise Or to conspire in sic a wise And to Sir Iohn Cumyng said hee That hée should for his lawtie Be rewarded and that highly And hée him thanked humbly And thought well to haue the leading Of all Scotland but gane saying Fra that the Bruce to death was brought But oft failyeis that fooles thought And wise mens etteling Comes not aye to that ending That they thinke that it should come to For GOD wat 's what is ado Of his etling right
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
Sir Robert Logane heght the ane And the other Walter Logane Wherefore our Lord with méekle might Their soules haue to the Heauens hight THe good Lord Dowglas thus was dead And the Saracenes on that stead Abade no more but held their way Their Knights dead there soone liue they Some of the good Lord Dowglas men That their Lord dead had founden then Yéed néere all wood for dule and woe Long for him they sorrowed so And syne with greit dule home him bare And the Kings Heart haue they found there And that home with them haue they tane And are toward their Innes gane With gréeting and with euill cheare That sorrow and griefe it was to heare And of Keith good Sir Williame That all that day had beene at hame For at so greit disease was hée That hee came not to that Iournie For his arme was broken in twa When hée tha folkes sik dule saw ma Hee asked what it was in hy And they told him all openly How that their doughtie Lord was slaine With Saracenes that had turned againe And when hée wist that it was so Attour all other hée was most woe And made a wonder euill cheare That all wondred that by him were But to tell of their sorrowing Annoyes and helpes but litle thing Men might well wit thogh none them told What dule and sorrow men make wold For to tine sike a Lord as hée Was vnto them of his MenÈie For hée was swéete and debonaire And well could treat his friendes faire And his foes right fellounlie Astonish through his greit Cheualrie For of full litle feare was hée But ouer all thing hee loued Lawtie At treasoun groowed so greitly That no traitour might bee him by But hée should wit that hée should bee Well punisht for his traitourie I trow the Lord Fabricius That from Rome to wéerray Pirrhus Was sent with a greit Menyie Hated treasoun no lesse than hée The whilke when that Pirrhus had On him and on his MenÈie made An outragious discomfiture When hée escaped through auenture And mony of his men were slaine And hée had gaddered his Host againe A greit master of Medicine That Pirrhus had in gouerning Profered vnto Fabritius In treasoun for to slay Pirrhus For in his first potatioun Hée should giue him deadly poysoun Fabricius that wonder had That hée sik proffer to him made Said Certes Rome is méekle of might Through strength of armes for to fight To vanquish well their foes though they Consent to Treasoun by no way And for thou would doe that Treasoun Thou salt go fetch the warisoun Euen at Pirrhus and let him do UUhat euer him lies in heart thereto Then to Pirrhus he sent in hy This Maister and gart him openly From end to end tell all his tale UUhen Pirrhus had it heard all haill He said was neuer man that sa For Lawtie bure him to his fa As here Fabricius beares to me It is al 's ill to gar him be Turned fra way of righteousnesse Or to consent to wickednesse As at midday to turne againe The sunne that rinnes his course all plaine Thus said he of Fabricius That syne vanquisht this same Pirrhus In plaine battell through hard fighting His honest lawtie gart me bring In this Example now for he Had Soueraigne praise of true Lawtie And right so had the Lord Dowglas That honest léele and worthy was That was dead as before said we Men méened him in ilk Countrie When his men had made mourning They bowelled him but delaying And gart séeth him that might be tane The flesh all quite euen fra the bane The Corps there in a holy place Eirded with great worship was The bones haue they with them tane And syne are to their shipps gane When they were leaued of the King That dule had of their seuering To Sea they went good wind they had Their course to England haue they made And there safely arriued they Syne toward Scotland held their way And there they are commen in great hy And the bones right honourably Into the Kirk of Dowglas there Eirded with dule and méekle care Sir Archibald his sonne gart syne Of Allabast both faire and fine Ordaine a Tombe full richly As it efféered to so worthy The Erle of Murray died here Through Poysoun giuen by a false Frere WHen that on this wise Sir Williame Of Keith had brought the bones hame And the good Kings Heart alswa And had gart men richly ma With saire afféere a Sepulture The Erle of Murray that the cure That time of Scotland had haâ—lly With great worship hes gart bury The Kings Heart in the Abbay Of Melros where men do pray ay That he and his haue Paradise UUhen this was done as I deuise The good Erle gouerned all the land And held the poore well to warrand The Lawes so well maintained he And held in peace so the Countrie That it was neuer led ere his day So well as I heard old men say Bot syne alas poysoned was ho By a false Monk full traiterously Thir Lords died vpon this wise He that Lord of all thing is Up to his ioyfull blisse them bring And grant vs grace that their ofspring Lead well the land and intentife Be for to follow in all their life Their Noble Elders great bountie The onefald GOD in Trinitie May bring vs vp to Heauens blisse Where alway ioy and resting is AMEN Here endes the Booke of the Noble King That euer in Scotland yet did ring Called King Robert the Bruce That was maist worthie of all ruce And of the Noble and good Lord Dowglas And mony ma that with him was A TABLE OF the Contention that araise after the death of King Alexander who should succede to the Crowne Fol. 2 How by the consent of all the Estates King Edward of England was elected as a friendly Compositour of this contention 3 How King Edward after the attempting the mindes of the Bruce the Ballioll declared the Ballioll King 6 Of the pleasures and commodities of Libertie and the heauinesse and hurtes of seruitude of strangers 8 How sir William Dowglas was put in prison and his lands giuen to the Clifford and of his sonne Iames Dowglas 9 How the said Iames past in France and returning againe in Scotland after his fathers death dwelt with the Bishop of Sainctandros 12 Of the commoning and band made betwixt the Bruce and Cumming and how the cumming shew the Indentour to King Edward 16 How Bruce was examined before the Parliament and howe hee escaped and slewe the cumming in the Kirke of Dumfreis 18 Of the meeting of sir Iames Dowglas with Robert Bruce and of his coronation 23 How King Robert came to Pearth and sought battell of sir Aymer Wallance 26 The Iudging of King Robert in the Parke of Methwen 29 Of the battell of Methwen and discomfiture of King Robert where mony Noble men were tane 31 Of the distresse that King Robert and his folks tholled