Part 2

‘Of the famos raigne of King Robert de Bruise.’ Chap. 6.

‘How King Edward 3 of England inwadit Scotland, and was expellet again.’ Chap. 7.

“Several chapters follow, ‘Of Love,’ ‘The politick Law,’ &c.”

He also mentions a volume in the Cotton Library, marked Claud. D. VII. in which the 13th article is a chronicle written, or rather compiled, with additions, by a Canon of Lanercost priory, illustrative of the ravages in Cumberland towards the latter end of the reign of Edward the First. Several extracts having been made from this for the use of Mr Lysons, he found them extremely valuable, and containing more for his purpose than could be found in print.

Being anxious to bring forward every authentic information that I could possibly collect concerning Wallace, I lately transmitted to Mr Ellis a few queries, especially regarding the Lanercost MS., which had occurred to me in consequence of his former obliging communication; and, while I feel myself deeply indebted to him for the trouble he has taken, and for the promptness of his reply, I cannot pretend to give the substance of it in any language so appropriate as that which he has himself used.

“I must tell you that the Chronicle of Lanercost is a manuscript of peculiar intricacy in its contractions. The first mention which I find in it of William Wallace is in 1297, fol. 208 b. ‘Vix sex mensium tempus elapsum extitit a gravi sacramento supradicto quo se Albanacti fidelitati ac subjectioni Regis Anglorum astrinxerant, cum rediviva perfidorum malitia ad alias versutias ingenium acuit. Nam presul Ecclesiæ Glascuensis proprio agnomine dictus Robertus Wyscardus, semper in proditione primus, cum senescallo primæ’ (the word _primæ_ is dotted under as if to be erased.) ‘terræ nomine Jacobo, novam sibi finxerunt audaciam, quinimo novam proditionis famam, fidem Regi præstitam manifeste infringere non audentes, _quendam virum sanguincum Wills. Waleis_, qui prius fuerat in Scotia princeps latronum, contra Regem insurgere fecerunt et Papam in sui adjutorium congregare.’

“Then follows the battle of Stirling, in which the notice of the slain contains the following anecdote: ‘Inter quos cedidit thesaurarius Angliæ Hugo de Kersyngham, de cujus corio ab occipite usque ad talum Wills. Waleis latam corrigiam sum fecit, ut inde sibi faceret cingulum ensis sui.’ The subsequent entrance of the Scots into Northumberland is of course noticed, but generally, and without any mention of Wallace’s name. The mention of the retreat of the English to Berwick opens the account of transactions under the year 1298. It is there said, ‘_Wills. Waleis non tenuit eis fidem_.’

“The Chronicle next mentions, that Edward having settled a truce with the King of France returned, and collecting his army, marched towards Scotland. ‘In festo autem beatæ Mariæ Magdalenæ occurrerunt ei Scoti apud Faukirk cum toto robore suo, _duce eorum Willelmo Waleis superius nominato_.’ The defeat is then detailed in few words. Some wretched Latin verses follow, of which I give you the only specimen concerning Wallace, viz.--

‘Sub duce de genere gens Scotia degeneravit, Quæ famam temere foedusque fidem violavit. Postquam Willelmus Wallen̄s nobilitavit, Nobilitas prorsus Scottorum degeneravit.’

“Such are the scanty materials relating to Wallace’s history in the Chronicle of Lanercost.

“In 1306, fol. 211 b, we read, ‘Dominus autem Symon Freser Scottus adductus London, prius fuit tractus, postea suspensus, tertio decapitatus, et caput ejus positum super pontem London juxta caput Willelmi Waleis.’ In the same year the Earl of Athol’s head (Comes de Athetel) was placed above that of William Wallace; and in 1307 it is said, ‘In die autem sancto Paschæ Dungallus factus est miles, et infra eandem septimanam captus est dominus _Johannes Waleis_ et ad Regem apud Karl. adductus, qui misit eum London ut ubi caperet idem judicium quod prius acceperat frater suus Willelmus.’” Fol. 212.

We have a similar account in the St Albans Chronicle.

“How Johne, that was Wyllyam Waleys brother, was put to dethe.

“As the gretteste masteyrs of Scotlonde were thus doon to euyll dethe, and destroyed for theyr falsnesse, Johan. that was Wyllyam Waleys brother, was take and doon vnto deth, as Syr Johan erle of Alethes [Athol] was.” Sign. q. vi. b. Edit. 1502.

This account, as regarding _Johannes Waleis_, must certainly be viewed as a mistake of the writers of these Chronicles. It has originated, perhaps, from the circumstance of two _brothers_ of Robert Bruce, Thomas and Alexander, being made prisoners by Macdowal at Lochrian in Galloway, 9th February, 1306–7, and carried to Edward at Carlisle, who ordered them to instant execution. Or it may respect Sir Reginald Crawfurd, the _cousin_ of Wallace, who was made prisoner with them, and subjected to the same fate. Matthew of Westminster says that their heads were placed on the gates of Carlisle. V. Dalrymple’s Annals, II. 19.

The other queries were;--If, from any of the MSS. in the British Museum, there is ground to suppose that Wallace had ever fought with King Edward in England? If any thing occurs that might have given rise to the story, told by Henry, of an interview with the English queen? If there is any hint as to Wallace having opposed the English in Guienne? If there is any proof that Sir John Menteith was concerned in delivering up Wallace to the English? And if it appears that Menteith acted in concert with Aymer de Valence? To these Mr Ellis gives the following answer:--

“Except at the battle of Falkirk, I see no reason to think that Wallace was ever personally opposed to Edward the First; certainly not during his incursion in 1297, as Edward was then in France. The story of his meeting the queen at St Albans must be a fiction. It is too singular a circumstance, if it had happened, to remain totally unnoticed in any of the English annals. I can find no mention of Wallace’s being in Guienne. I think it was not likely that he should be found there. Scotland and the Border gave him full employ for his short career. No concert is at all noticed in the Lanercost MS. between Aymer de Valence and Sir John Menteith.”

His important communication, in regard to the concern that Menteith himself had in the base transactions referred to, will be found among the proofs which I have collected on this subject, in the Note on Book XI. ver. 948, p. 402.

Having made some inquiries as to the manuscript No. 1226, formerly mentioned, and suggested that, from its orthography, it seems to claim a date prior to the age of Charles the First; Mr Ellis has favoured me with the following reply:--

“The manuscript in the same collection, Num. 1226, is entirely in prose. It occupies about a hundred leaves in small quarto; but is not paged. From the orthography, the manuscript may be somewhat older than I had supposed. It certainly is not before the time of James the First. I think you are correct in supposing it a copy from Henry the Minstrel. In an address ‘To the moist cortews Reader,’ the author says, ‘al thoche this famous historie hathe beine republished heir to foir by hime which deserws great thankis for so worthie a work, yit the gathering of the said historie in a smaller compass may gif moir content vnto some readers,’ &c. From another passage it should seem that additions are interspersed; but evidently without either distinction or authorities.”

Mr Ellis also informs me, that the only old edition of Wallace, in the Museum, besides that of 1570, is the one printed at Aberdeen, in 1630, small octavo.

ARGUMENTS

OF

THE DIFFERENT BOOKS.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.

PROEM, v. 1.--Parentage of Wallace, v. 17.--Bruce and Baliol, v. 47.--Battles of Berwick and Dunbar, v. 85.--Baliol deposed, v. 115.--Wallace slays young Selbie at Dundee, v. 203.--Escapes disguised as an old woman, v. 239.--Arrives, with his mother, at Ellerslie, v. 315.--Adventure, when fishing at the water of Irvine, v. 367.

ARGUMENT OF THE SECOND BOOK.

Wallace slays the churl at Ayr, v. 29.--Also Percy’s Steward, v. 84.--Cast into prison in Ayr, v. 153.--Henry’s lamentation for him, v. 160.--Thrown over the wall as dead, v. 252.--Recovered by his nurse, v. 258.--Thomas the Rhymer, v. 288.--Wallace, on his way to Riccarton, slays the Squire Longcastle, v. 360.

ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.

Wallace revenges the slaughter of his father and brother at Loudounhill, v. 40.--Slays the knight Fenwick, v. 175.--Sojourns in Clyde’s wood, v. 249.--Makes peace with the English, at the instigation of Sir Ronald Crawfurd his uncle, v. 278.--Slays the buckler-player in Ayr, v. 353.

ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH BOOK.

Percy’s servant slain, v. 31.--Wallace rides towards the Lennox, v. 104.--Visits Earl Malcolm, v. 156.--Character of Fawdoun, v. 185.--The Peel of Gargunnock taken, v. 213.--Wallace crosses Forth, v. 270.--Goes to St. Johnston; and takes the castle of Kinclevin, v. 358.--Battle of Shortwoodshaw, v. 512.--Betrayed by his lemman, escapes from Perth, v. 703.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

Wallace traced by a slouth-hound, v. 23.--Goes to Elcho Park, v. 35.--Slays Fawdoun on suspicion, v. 115.--Kerlé kills Heron, v. 145.--Wallace reaches Gask Hall, v. 175.--Ghost of Fawdoun, v. 192.--Wallace slays Butler, v. 238.--Swims across Forth at Cambuskenneth, v. 304.--Finds shelter at Torwood, v. 319.--Here he meets with his uncle, v. 350.--Visits Sir John the Graham at Dundaff, v. 436.--Master John Blair and Parson Gray, v. 538.--Falls in love with a young lady in Lanark, v. 584.--His reasoning against love, v. 622.--He visits her, v. 672.--The English cut the tails of his horses in Lochmaben, v. 731.--He slays Hugh of Moreland, v. 820.--Graystock follows Wallace with three hundred men, and is slain by Sir John the Graham, v. 860.--Lochmaben Castle taken, v. 992.--Also that of Crawford, v. 1075.

ARGUMENT OF THE SIXTH BOOK.

Dissertation on love, v. 25.--Wallace marries Miss Bradfute, v. 48.--Being assaulted by the English, retreats to Cartlane Craigs, v. 155.--Hesilrig, to revenge the escape of Wallace, murders his wife, v. 191.--Wallace slays Hesilrig, and drives the English out of Lanark, v. 230.--The battle of Biggar, v. 341.--Wallace disguises himself, v. 435.--Chosen guardian of Scotland, v. 767.--Takes a strength on the water of Cree, v. 803.--Also Turnbery Castle in Carrick, v. 834.--Agrees to a truce at Rutherglen, v. 865.--Resides at Cumnock, v. 936.

ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTH BOOK.

Wallace’s vision in Monkton Kirk, v. 57.--Treachery of the English at Ayr, v. 171.--Burning of the Barns, v. 333.--The Friar of Ayr’s Benison, v. 471.--Wallace drives Bishop Beck and Percy out of Glasgow, v. 515.--He seeks Macfadyan, and slays old Rukby at Stirling, v. 623.--Earl Malcolm takes Stirling Castle, v. 727.--Macfadyan killed, v. 862.--Council at Ardchattan, v. 875.--Wallace takes St Johnston, v. 958.--Destroys the English at Dunottar, v. 1042.--Burns an hundred ships belonging to them at Aberdeen, v. 1065.--Besieges the Castle of Dundee, v. 1090.--Battle of Stirling-bridge, v. 1134.--Hugh de Cresyngham slain, v. 1196.--Sir John Menteith takes an oath to Wallace, v. 1259.--Cristal of Seatoun, v. 1275.

ARGUMENT OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.

A parliament at Perth, to which Corspatrick refuses to come, v. 1.--Wallace fights with him at Dunbar, v. 86.--Bruce and Beik enter Scotland with an army, v. 139.--They, with Corspatrick, are driven out of the country, v. 380.--Wallace invades England, v. 433.--Advances to York, v. 517.--Demands battle of King Edward, v. 550.--The siege of York, v. 741.--Ramswaith burnt, v. 1008.--Poetical description of morning, v. 1181.--The Queen of England sues to Wallace for peace, v. 1215.--This is granted on certain conditions, v. 1510.--Wallace returns to Scotland, v. 1570.--Invited by the King of France to visit him, v. 1619.

ARGUMENT OF THE NINTH BOOK.

Description of Spring, v. 1.--Wallace sets sail for France, v. 47.--Is attacked by Longueville, the Red Reaver, v. 86.--Takes him prisoner, v. 149.--Goes to Paris, v. 300.--Obtains Longueville’s pardon, v. 381.--Passes into Guienne, v. 427.--During his absence the English invade Scotland, v. 550.--He is invited to return, v. 646.--On his return he takes St Johnston, v. 697.--The battle of Black Irnside, v. 779.--Sir John Stewart killed, v. 1103.--Castle of Lochlevin taken, v. 1161.--Also, that of Airth, v. 1281.--Wallace delivers his uncle from prison, v. 1345.--Englishmen burnt in Dunbarton, v. 1376.--The castle kept by Menteith, v. 1395.--Death of the mother of Wallace, v. 1530.--Douglas takes the castle of Sanquhar, v. 1551.--The English lay siege to it, and Douglas is rescued by Wallace, v. 1729.--He lays siege to Dundee, v. 1839.

ARGUMENT OF THE TENTH BOOK.

The battle of Sheriff-muir, v. 19.--Battle of Falkirk, v. 37.--Contention between Wallace and Stewart of Bute, v. 109.--Death of Sir John the Graham, v. 378.--Conference between Wallace and Bruce at Carron, v. 439.--Lamentation of Wallace for the loss of Graham, v. 557.--Edward surprised at Linlithgow, v. 627.--Bruce held in subjection to England, v. 720.--Dundee taken, v. 751.--Wallace resigns his office, v. 762.--Sets sail for France, and meets John of Lynn, v. 797.--The Reaver killed, v. 885.--Menteith engaged to King Edward, v. 972.--Edward invades Scotland, divides the lands, and sends some noblemen to prison, v. 985.--Cumyn enters into a compact with the Bruce, v. 1007.--Different opinions as to the part he acted, v. 1153.

ARGUMENT OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK.

The success of Wallace in Guienne, v. 1.--A French knight seeks to slay him, v. 71.--Wallace slays two champions, v. 149.--His pretended encounter with a lion, v. 195.--He leaves France, and lands at the mouth of Earn, v. 295.--Slays young Butler in Elcho Park, v. 358.--Straits of Wallace and his companions from want of food, v. 553.--Kills five men who come on him while asleep, and provides food for his men, v. 571.--Lays siege to St Johnstoun, and drives the English out of Scotland, v. 707.--Wallange and Menteith plot against Wallace, v. 791.--St Johnstoun taken, v. 854.--Edward Bruce meets Wallace, v. 918.--Wallace invites Robert the Bruce to Scotland, v. 965.--Is betrayed and taken at Rob Royston, v. 995.--Lamentation for the loss of him, v. 1109.--Grief of Longueville, v. 1139.--Robert the Bruce arrives at Lochmaben, v. 1155.--Kills Cumyn, v. 1185.--Vision of a monk of Bury Abbey, v. 1238.--Martyrdom of Wallace at London, v. 1305.--Conclusion, v. 1451.

WALLACE.

BUKE FYRST.

Our antecessowris, that we suld of reide, And hald in mynde thar nobille worthi deid, We lat ourslide, throw werray sleuthfulnes; And castis ws euir till vthir besynes. Till honour ennymys is our haile entent, 5 It has beyne seyne in thir tymys bywent; Our ald ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud, That neuyr yeit to Scotland wald do gud, Bot euir on fors, and contrar haile thair will, Quhow gret kyndnes thar has beyne kyth thaim till. 10 It is weyle knawyne on mony diuerss syde, How thai haff wrocht in to thair mychty pryde, To hald Scotlande at wndyr euirmar. Bot God abuff has maid thar mycht to par: Yhit we suld thynk one our bearis befor. 15 Of thair parablyss as now I say no mor.

We reide of ane rycht famouss of renowne, Of worthi blude that ryngis in this regioune: And hensfurth I will my process hald Of Wilyham Wallas yhe haf hard beyne tald. 20 His forbearis quha likis till wndrestand, Of hale lynage, and trew lyne of Scotland, Schir Ranald Crawfurd, rycht schirreff of Ayr: So in hys tyme he had a dochter fayr, And yonge Schir Ranald schirreff of that toune, 25 His systir fair, off gud fame and ranoune: Malcom Wallas hir gat in mariage, That Elrislé than had in heretage, Auchinbothe, and othir syndry place; The secund O he was of gud Wallace: 30 The quhilk Wallas fully worthely at wrocht, Quhen Waltyr hyr of Waillis fra Warayn socht. Quha likis till haif mar knawlage in that part, Go reid the rycht lyne of the fyrst Stewart. Bot Malcom gat wpon this lady brycht 35 Schir Malcom Wallas, a full gentill knycht, And Wilyame als, as Conus cornykle beris on hand; Quhilk eftir was the reskew of Scotland. Quhen it was lost with tresoune and falsness, Our set be fais, he fred it weyle throu grace. 40

Quhen Alexander our worthi king had lorn, Be awentur, his liff besid Kyngorn, Thre yer in pess the realm stude desolate; Quharfor thair raiss a full grewous debate. Our prynce Dawy, the erle of Huntyntoun, 45 Thre dochtrys had that war of gret ranoun; Off quhilk thre com Bruce, Balyoune, and Hastyng: Twa of the thre desyryt to be kyng. Balyoune clamyt of fyrst gre lynialy; And Bruce fyrst male of the secund gre by. 50 To Paryss than, and in Ingland thai send, Fol. 1 b Off this gret striff how thai suld haif ane end. Foly it was, forsuth it happynnyt sa, Succour to sek of thar alde mortale fa. Eduuarde Langschankis had new begune hys wer 55 Apon Gaskone, fell awfull in effer: Thai landis thane he clamde as heretage. Fra tyme that he had semblit his barnage, And herd tell weyle Scotland stude in sic cace, He thocht till hym to mak it playn conquace. 60 Till Noram kirk he come with outyn mar, The consell than of Scotland meit hym thar. Full sutailly he chargit thaim in bandoune, As thar our lord, till hald of hym the croun. Byschope Robert, in his tyme full worthi, 65 Off Glaskow lord, he said that “we deny “Ony our lord, bot the gret God abuff.” The king was wrath, and maid hym to ramuff. Couatus Balyoune folowid on hym fast: Till hald of hym he grantyt at the last. 70 In contrar rycht, a king he maid hym thar; Quhar throuch Scotland rapentyt syne full sar. To Balyoune yhit our lordis wald nocht consent. Eduuard past south, and gert set his parliment: He callyt Balyoune till ansuer for Scotland. 75 The wyss lordis gert hym sone brek that band. Ane abbot past, and gaif our this legiance. King Eduuard than it tuk in gret greuance. His ost he rasd, and come to Werk on Twede; Bot for to fecht, as than he had gret drede. 80 To Corspatryk of Dunbar sone he send, His consell ast, for he [the] contré kend: And he was brocht in presence to the king. Be suttale band thai cordyt of this thing.

Erle Patrik than till Berweik couth persew; 85 Ressawide he was and trastyt werray trew. The king folowid with his host of ranoun; Eftir mydnycht at rest wes all the toun. Corspatryk raiss, the keyis weile he knew, Leit breggis doun, and portculess thai drew; 90 Set wp yettis syne, couth his baner schaw; The ost was war, and towart hym thai draw. Eduuard entrit, and gert sla hastely, Of man and wiff, sewyn thousand and fyfty, And barnys als: be this fals awentur, 95 Of trew Scottis chapyt na creatur. A captayne thair this fals Eduuard maid: Towart Dunbar, without restyng thai raid; Quhar gaderyt was gret power of Scotland, Agayne Eduuard in bataill thocht to stand. 100 Thir four erllis was entrit in that place, Of Mar, Menteith, Adell, Ross, wpon cace. In that castell the erle gert hald thaim in, Fol. 2 a At to thar men with out thai mycht nocht wyn; Na thai to thaim supplëyng for to ma. 105 The battaillis than to giddyr fast thai ga. Full gret slauchtyr, at pitté was to se, Off trew Scottis oursett with sutelté. Erle Patrik than, quhen fechtyng was fellast, Till our fa turnd, and harmyng did ws mast. 110 Is nayne in warld, at scaithis ma do mar, Than weile trastyt in borne familiar. Our men was slayne with outyn redemptioune; Throuch thar dedis all tynt was this regioune. King Eduuard past and Corspatrik to Scwne; 115 And thar he gat homage of Scotland swne: For nane was left the realme for to defend. For Jhon the Balyoune to Munross than he send, And putt hym doune for euir of this kynrik: Than Eduuarde self was callit a roy full ryk. 120 The croune he tuk apon that sammyne stane At Gadalos send with his sone fra Spane, Quhen Iber Scot fyrst in till Irland come. At Canemor syne king Fergus has it nome; Brocht it till Scwne, and stapill maid it thar, 125 Quhar kingis was cround aucht hundyr yer and thar, Befor the tyme at king Eduuard it fand. This jowell he gert turss in till Ingland; In Lwnd it sett till witness of this thing; Be conquest than of Scotland cald hym king. 130 Quhar that stayne is, Scottis suld mastir be: God chess the tyme Margretis ayr till see! Sewyn scor thai led off the gretast that thai fand Off ayris with thaim, and Bruce, out of Scotland. Eduuard gayf hym his faderis heretage; 135 Bot he thocht ay till hald hym in thrillage. Baith Blatok Mur was his and Huntyntoun; Till erle Patrik thai gaif full gret gardoun. For the frendschipe king Eduuard with hym fand, Protector haile he maid hym of Scotland. 140 That office than he brukyt bot schort tyme. I may nocht now putt all thair deid in ryme; Off cornikle quhat suld I tary lang? To Wallace agayne now breiffly will I gange. Scotland was lost quhen he was bot a child, 145 And our set throuch with our ennemyss wilde. His fadyr Malcom in the Lennox fled; His eldest sone thedir he with hym led. Hys modyr fled with him fra Elrislé, Till Gowry past, and duelt in Kilspyndé. 150 The knycht hir fadyr thedyr he thaim sent Till his wncle, that with full gud entent In Gowry duelt, and had gud lewyng thar; Ane agyt man, the quhilk resawyt thaim far. In till Dundé Wallace to scule thai send, 155 Quhill he of witt full worthely was kend. Fol. 2 b Thus he conteynde in till hys tendyr age; In armys syne did mony hie waslage, Quhen Saxons blude into this realm cummyng, Wyrkand the will of Eduuard that fals king, 160 Mony gret wrang thai wrocht in this regioune, Distroyed our lordys, and brak thar byggynnys doun. Both wiffis, wedowis, thai tuk all at thair will, Nonnys, madyns, quham thai likit to spill. King Herodis part thai playit in to Scotland, 165 Off yong childer that thai befor thaim fand. The byschoprykis, that war of gretast waile, Thai tuk in hand of thar archbyschops haile: No for the Pape thai wald no kyrkis forber, Bot gryppyt all be wiolence of wer. 170 Glaskow thai gaif, as it our weile was kend, To dyocye in Duram to commend. Small benifice that wald thai nocht persew, And for the richt full worthy clerkis thai slew; Hangitt barrownnys and wroucht full mekill cayr: 175 It was weylle knawyn, in the Bernys of Ayr, Auchtene score putt to that dispitfull dede: Bot God abowyn has send ws sum ramede. The remembrance is forthir in the taile. I will folow apon my process haile. 180