Part 3

Willyham Wallace, or he was man of armys, Gret pitté thocht that Scotland tuk sic harmys. Mekill dolour it did hym in hys mynde; For he was wyss, rycht worthy, wicht and kynd: In Gowry duelt still with this worthy man. 185 As he encressyt, and witt haboundyt than, In till hys hart he had full mekill cayr, He saw the Sothroun multipliand mayr; And to hym self offt wald he mak his mayne. Off his gud kyne thai had slane mony ane. 190 Yhit he was than semly, stark and bald; And he of age was bot auchtene yer auld. Wapynnys he bur, outhir gud suerd or knyff; For he with thaim hapnyt richt offt in stryff. Quhar he fand ane without the othir presance, 195 Eftir to Scottis that did no mor grewance; To cut his throit, or steik hym sodanlye, He wayndyt nocht, fand he thaim fawely. Syndry wayntyt, bot nane wyst be quhat way; For all to him thar couth na man thaim say. 200 Sad of contenance he was bathe auld and ying, Litill of spech, wyss, curtass and benyng. Wpon a day to Dundé he was send; Off cruelness full litill thai him kend. The constable a felloun man of wer, 205 That to the Scottis did full mekill der, Fol. 3 a Selbye he hecht, dispitfull and owtrage. A sone he had ner twenty yer of age: Into the toun he wsyt euerlik day; Thre men or four thar went with him to play; 210 A hely schrew, wanton in his entent. Wallace he saw, and towart him he went; Liklé he was, richt byge and weyle beseyne, In till a gyde of gudly ganand greyne. He callyt on hym, and said; “Thou Scot, abyde; 215 “Quha dewill the grathis in so gay a gyde? “Ane Ersche mantill it war thi kynd to wer; “A Scottis thewtill wndyr thi belt to ber; “Rouch rewlyngis apon thi harlot fete. “Gyff me thi knyff; quhat dois thi ger so mete?” 220 Till him he yeid, his knyff to tak him fra. Fast by the collar Wallace couth him ta; Wndyr his hand the knyff he bradit owt, For all his men that semblyt him about: Bot help him selff he wsyt of no remede; 225 With out reskew he stekyt him to dede. The squier fell: of him thar was na mar. His men folowid on Wallace wondyr sar: The press was thik, and cummerit thaim full fast. Wallace was spedy, and gretlye als agast; 230 The bludy knyff bar drawin in his hand, He sparyt nane that he befor him fand. He knew the hous his eyme had lugit in; Thedir he fled, for owt he mycht nocht wyn. The gude wyff than within the closs saw he; 235 And, “Help,” he cryit, “for him that deit on tre; “The yong captane has fallyn with me at stryff.” In at the dur he went with this gud wiff. A roussat goun of hir awn scho him gaif Apon his weyd, at coueryt all the layff; 240 A soudly courche our hed and nek leit fall; A wowyn quhyt hatt scho brassit on with all; For thai suld nocht lang tary at that in; Gaiff him a rok, syn set him doun to spyn. The Sothroun socht quhar Wallace was in drede; 245 Thai wyst nocht weylle at quhat yett he in yeide. In that same houss thai socht him beselye; Bot he sat still, and span full conandly, As of his tym, for he nocht leryt lang. Thai left him swa, and furth thar gait can gang, 250 With hewy cheyr and sorowfull in thocht: Mar witt of him as than get couth thai nocht. The Inglis men, all thus in barrat boune, Bade byrne all Scottis that war in to that toun. Yhit this gud wiff held Wallace till the nycht, 255 Maid him gud cher, syne put hym out with slycht. Throw a dyrk garth scho gydyt him furth fast; Fol. 3 b In cowart went and vp the wattyr past; Forbure the gate for wachis that war thar. His modyr bade in till a gret dispar. 260 Quhen scho him saw scho thankit hewynnis queyn, And said; “Der sone, this lang quhar has thow beyne?” He tald his modyr of his sodane cass. Than wepyt scho, and said full oft, ‘Allas! ‘Or that thow cessis thow will be slayne with all.’ 265 “Modyr,” he said, “God reuller is of all. “Unsouerable are thir pepille of Ingland; “Part of thar ire me think we suld gaynstand.” His eme wist weyle that he the squier slew; For dreid thar of in gret langour he grew. 270 This passit our, quhill diueris dayis war gane: That gud man dred or Wallace suld be tane: For Suthroun ar full sutaille euirilk man. A gret dyttay for Scottis thai ordand than; Be the lawdayis in Dundé set ane ayr: 275 Than Wallace wald na langar soiorne thar.

His modyr graithit hir in pilgrame weid; Hym[selff] disgysyt syne glaidlye with hir yeid; A schort swerd wndyr his weid priualé. In all that land full mony fays had he. 280 Baith on thar fute, with thaim may tuk thai nocht. Quha sperd, scho said to Sanct Margret thai socht, Quha serwit hir. Full gret frendschipe thai fand With Sothroun folk: for scho was of Ingland. Besyd Landoris the ferrye our thai past 285 Syn throw the Ochell sped thaim wondyr fast. In Dunfermlyn thai lugyt all that nycht. Apon the morn, quhen that the day was brycht, With gentill wemen hapnyt thaim to pass, Off Ingland born, in Lithquhow wounnand was. 290 The captans wiff, in pilgramage had beyne, Fra scho thaim mett, and had yong Wallace sene, Gud cher thaim maid; for he was wondyr fayr, Nocht large of tong, weille taucht and debonayr. Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht, 295 Quhill south our Forth with hyr son scho thaim brocht. In to Lithkow thai wald nocht tary lang; Thar leyff thai tuk, to Dunypace couth gang. Thar duelt his eyme, a man of gret richess. This mychty persone, hecht to name Wallas, 300 Maid thaim gud cher, and was a full kynd man, Welcummyt thaim fair, and to thaim tald he than, Dide him to witt, the land was all on ster; Trettyt thaim weyle, and said; “My sone so der, “Thi modyr and thow rycht heir with me sall bide, 305 “Quhill better be, for chance at may betyde.” Wallace ansuerd, said; ‘Westermar we will: Fol. 4 a ‘Our kyne ar slayne, and that me likis ill; ‘And othir worthi mony in that art: ‘Will God I leiffe, we sall ws wreke on part.’ 310 The persone sicht, and said; “My sone so fre, “I cannot witt how that radress may be.” Quhat suld I spek of frustir? as this tyd, For gyft of gud with him he wald nocht bide. His modyr and he till Elrislé thai went. 315 Vpon the morn scho for hir brothyr sent, In Corsby duelt and schirreff was of Ayr. Hyr fadyr was dede, a lang tyme leyffyt had thar; Hyr husband als at Lowdoun-hill was slayn. Hyr eldest sone, that mekill was of mayn, 320 Schir Malcom Wallas was his nayme but less, His houch senons thai cuttyt in that press; On kneis he faucht, felle Inglismen he slew; Till hym thar socht may fechtaris than anew; On athyr side with speris bar him doun; 325 Thar stekit thai that gud knycht of renoun. On to my taile I left. At Elrislé Schir Ranald come son till his sistyr fre, Welcummyt thaim hayme, and sperd of hir entent. Scho prayde he wald to the lord Persye went, 330 So yrk of wer scho couth no forthir fle, To purchess pes, in rest at scho mycht be. Schyr Ranald had the Perseys protectioune, As for all part to tak the remissioune. He gert wrytt ane till his systir that tyde. 335 In that respyt Wallas wald nocht abyde: Hys modyr kyst, scho wepyt with hart sar, His leyff he tuk, syne with his eyme couth far. Yonge he was, and to Sothroun rycht sauage; Gret rowme thai had, dispitfull and wtrage. 340 Schir Ranald weylle durst nocht hald Wallas thar; For gret perell he wyst apperand war: For thai had haile the strenthis of Scotland; Quhat thai wald do durst few agayne thaim stand. Schyrreff he was, and wsyt thaim amang; 345 Full sar he dred or Wallas suld tak wrang: For he and thai couth neuir weyle accord. He gat a blaw, thocht he war lad or lord, That proferryt him ony lychtlynes; Bot thai raparyt our mekill to that place. 350 Als Ingliss clerkis in prophecyss thai fand, How a Wallace suld putt thaim of Scotland. Schir Ranald knew weill a mar quiet sted, Quhar Wilyham mycht be bettir fra thair fede, With his wncle Wallas of Ricardtoun, 355 Schir Richard hecht, that gud knycht off renoun. Thai landis hayle than was his heretage, Fol. 4 b Bot blynd he was, (so hapnyt throw curage, Be Ingliss men that dois ws mekill der; In his rysyng he worthi was in wer.) 360 Throuch hurt of waynys, and mystyrit of blud. Yeit he was wiss, and of his conseil gud. In Feuiryer Wallas was to him send; In Aperill fra him he bownd to wend. Bot gud serwice he dide him with plesance, 365 As in that place was worthi to awance.

So on a tym he desyrit to play. In Aperill the thre and twenty day, Till Erewyn wattir fysche to tak he went; Sic fantasye fell in his entent. 370 To leide his net, a child furth with him yeid; But he, or nowne, was in a fellowne dreid. His suerd he left, so did he neuir agayne; It dide him gud, supposs he sufferyt payne. Off that labour as than he was nocht sle: 375 Happy he was, tuk fysche haboundanlé. Or of the day ten houris our couth pass, Ridand thar come, ner by quhar Wallace wass, The lorde Persye, was captane than off Ayr; Fra thine he turnde and couth to Glaskow fair. 380 Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne, Till him raid fyve cled in to ganand greyne, And said sone; “Scot, Martyns fysche we wald hawe.” Wallace meklye agayne ansuer him gawe; ‘It war resone, me think, yhe suld haif part: 385 ‘Waith suld be delt, in all place, with fre hart.’ He bad his child, “Gyff thaim of our waithyng.” The Sothroun said; ‘As now of thi delyng ‘We will nocht tak, thow wald giff ws our small.’ He lychtyt doun, and fra the child tuk all. 390 Wallas said than; “Gentill men gif ye be, “Leiff ws sum part, we pray for cheryté. “Ane agyt knycht serwis our lady to day; “Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away.” ‘Thow sall haiff leiff to fysche, and tak the ma, 395 ‘All this forsuth sall in our flyttyng ga. ‘We serff a lord; thir fysche sall till him gang.’ Wallace ansuerd, said; “Thow art in the wrang.” ‘Quham thowis thow, Scot? in faith thow serwis a blaw.’ Till him he ran, and out a suerd can draw. 400 Willyham was wa he had na wappynis thar, Bot the poutstaff, the quhilk in hand he bar. Wallas with it fast on the cheik him tuk Wyth so gud will, quhill of his feit he schuk. The suerd flaw fra him a fur breid on the land. 405 Wallas was glad, and hynt it sone in hand; And with the swerd awkwart he him gawe Wndyr the hat, his crage in sondre drawe. Be that the layff lychtyt about Wallas; Fol. 5 a He had no helpe, only bot Goddis grace. 410 On athir side full fast on him thai dange; Gret perell was giff thai had lestyt lang. Apone the hede in gret ire he strak ane; The scherand suerd glaid to the colar bane. Ane othir on the arme he hitt so hardely, 415 Quhill hand and suerd bathe on the feld can ly. The tothir twa fled to thar hors agayne; He stekit him was last apon the playne. Thre slew he thar, twa fled with all thair mycht Eftir thar lord; bot he was out of sycht, 420 Takand the mure, or he and thai couth twyne. Till him thai raid onon, or thai wald blyne, And cryit; “Lord, abide; your men ar martyrit doun “Rycht cruelly, her in this fals regioun. “Fyve of our court her at the wattir baid, 425 “Fysche for to bryng, thocht it na profyt maid. “We ar chapyt, bot in feyld slayne are thre.” The lord speryt; ‘How mony mycht thai be?’ “We saw bot ane that has discumfyst ws all.” Than leuch he lowde, and said; ‘Foule mot yow fall; 430 ‘Sen ane yow all has putt to confusioun. ‘Quha menys it maist, the dewyll of hell him droun; ‘This day for me, in faith, he beis nocht socht.’ Quhen Wallas thus this worthi werk had wrocht, Thar horss he tuk, and ger that lewyt was thar; 435 Gaif our that crafft, he yeid to fysche no mar; Went till his eyme, and tauld him of this dede. And he for wo weyle ner worthit to weide; And said; “Sone, thir tythingis syttis me sor; “And be it knawin, thow may tak scaith tharfor.” 440 ‘Wncle,’ he said, ‘I will no langar byde; ‘Thir Southland horss latt se gif I can ride.’ Than bot a child, him serwice for to mak, Hys emys sonnys he wald nocht with him tak. This gude knycht said; “Deyr cusyng, pray I the, 445 “Quhen thow wanttis gud, cum fech ynewch fra me.” Syluir and gold he gert on to him geyff. Wallace inclynys, and gudely tuk his leyff.

EXPLICIT LIBER PRIMUS, ET INCIPIT SECUNDUS.

BUKE SECUND.

Yong Wallace fulfillit of hie curage; In pryss of armys desirous and sauage; Thi waslage may neuir be forlorn, Thi deidis are knawin, thocht that the warld had suorn: For thi haile mynde, labour and besynes, 5 Was set in wer, and werray rychtwisnes; And felloune loss of thi deyr worthi kyn. The rancour more remaynde thi mynd with in. Fol. 5 b It was his lyff, and maist part of his fude, To se thaim sched the byrnand Sothroun blude. 10 Till Auchincruff with outyn mar he raid, And bot schort tyme in pess at he thar baid. Thar duelt a Wallas, welcummyt him full weill; Thocht Ingliss men thar of had litill feille. Bathe meite and drynk at his wille he had thar. 15 In Laglyne wode, quhen that he maid repayr, This gentill man was full oft his resett; With stuff of houshald strestely he thaim bett. So he desirit the toune of Air to se, His child with him; as than na man had he. 20 Ay next the wode Wallace gert leiff his horss; Syne on his feit yeid to the merkat corss. The Persye was in the castell of Ayr With Ingliss men, gret nowmber and repayr: Our all ye toune rewlyng on thair awne wiss, 25 Till mony Scot thai did full gret suppriss. Aboundandely Wallace amang thaim yeid; The rage of youth maid him to haf no dreid. A churll thai had, that felloune byrdyngis bar; Excedandlye he wald lyft mekill mar 30 Than ony twa that thai amang thaim fand; And als be wss a sport he tuk in hand: He bar a sasteing in a boustous poille: On his braid bak of ony wald he thoile, Bot for a grot, als fast as he mycht draw. 35 Quhen Wallas herd spek of that mery saw, He likyt weill at that mercat to be, And for a strak he bad him grottis thre. The churll grantyt, of that proferr was fayn. To pay the siluer Wallas was full bayne. 40 Wallas that steing tuk wp in till his hand; Full sturdely he coud befor him stand, Wallace, with that, apon the bak him gaif, Till his ryg bayne he all in sondyr draif. The carll was dede: of him I spek no mar. 45 The Ingliss men semblit on Wallace thair, Feill on the feld of frekis fechtand fast; He vnabasyt, and nocht gretlie agast, Vpon the hed ane with the steing hitt he, Till bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle. 50 Ane othir he straik on a basnat of steille, The tre to raiff and fruschit euiredeille. His steyng was tynt, the Ingliss man was dede; For his crag bayne was brokyn in that stede. He drew a suerd at helpit him at neide, 55 Throuch oute the thikest of the press he yeid; And at his horss full fayne he wald haif beyne. Twa sarde him maist that cruell war and keyne. Wallace raturnd as man of mekyll mayne; And at a straik the formast has he slayne. 60 Fol. 6 a The tothir fled, and durst him nocht abide; Bot a rycht straik Wallace him gat that tid: In at the guschet brymly he him bar; The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar. Fyve slew he thar, or that he left the toune: 65 He gat his horss, to Laglyne maid him boune, Kepyt his child, and leyt him nocht abide; In saufté thus on to the wod can ride. Feille folowit him on hors, and eik on futte, To tak Wallace: bot than it was no butte; 70 Couert of treis sawit him full weille. Bot thar to bid than coude he nocht adeille Gud ordinance, that serd for his estate, His cusyng maid at all tyme, ayr and late, The Squier Wallace in Auchincruff that was; 75 Baith bed and meite he maid for thaim to pass, As for that tyme that he remanyt thar; Bot sar he langit to [se] the toune of Ayr. Thedyr he past apon the mercate day; Gret God gif he as than had beyne away! 80

His emys serwand to buy him fysche was send, Schir Ranald Craufurd, schirreff than was kend. Quhen he had tane of sic gud as he bocht, The Perseys stwart sadly till him socht, And said; “Thow Scot, to quhom takis thow this thing?” 85 ‘To the schirreff,’ he said. “Be hewynnys king, “My lord sall haiff it; and syne go seke the mar.” Wallace on gaite ner by was walkand thar: Till him he yeid, and said; ‘Gud freynd, pray I the, ‘The schirreffis serwand thow wald lat him be.’ 90 A hetfull man the stwart was of blude; And thoucht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude. “Go hens, the Scot, the mekill dewill the speid; “At thi shrewed wss thow wenys me to leid.” A huntyn staff in till his hand he bar; 95 Thar with he smat on Willyham Wallace thair. Bot for his tre litill sonyhé he maid, Bot be the coler claucht him with outyn baid. A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he; Syn fra him dede schot him doun sodanlé: 100 Catour sen syne he was, but weyr, no mar. Men of armess on Wallace semblit thar, Four scor was sett in armyss buskyt boune, On the merket day, for Scottis to kepe the toune. Bot Wallace bauldlye drew a suerd of wer, 105 In to the byrneis the formast can he ber, Throuch out the body stekit him to dede; And syndry ma, or he past of that stede. Ane othir awkwart a large straik tuk [he] thar, Abown the kne, the bayne in sondir schar. 110 The thrid he straik throuch his pissand of maile. The crag in twa; no weidis mycht him waill. Thus Wallace ferd als fers as a lyoun. Fol. 6 b Than Inglissmen, that war in bargane, boune To kepe the gait with speris rud and lang; 115 For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang. Wallace was harnest on his body weyle; Till him thai socht with hedis scharp of steyle, And fra his strenth enwerounde him about; Bot throu the press on a side he went out, 120 On till a wall that stude by the se syde; For weyle or wo thar most he nedis abide. And off thar speris in pecis part he schar. Than fra the castell othir help come mar. Atour the dike thai yeid on athir side, 125 Schott doun the wall; no socour was that tyde. Than wist he nocht of no help, bot to de; To wenge his dede amang thaim louss yeid he, On athyr part in gret ire hewand fast. Hys byrnyst brand to byrstyt at the last, 130 Brak in the heltis, away the blaid it flaw; He wyst na wayne, bot out his knyff can draw. The fyrst he slew, that him in hand has hynt; And othir twa he stekit with his dynt. The remanand with speris to him socht, 135 Bar him to ground, than forthir mycht he nocht. The lordis bad that thai suld nocht him sla; To pyne him mar thai chargyt him to ta. Thus in thar armyss, supposs that he had suorne, Out off the garth befors thai haff him borne. 140 Thus gud Wallace with Inglissmen was tane, In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne: He coud nocht cheyss, sic curage so hym bar, Frewill fortoun thus broucht him in the snar; And falss Inwye, ay contrar rychtwisnes, 145 That wiolent god full of doubilnes. Thai fenyeit goddis Wallace neuir knew: Gret rychtwisness him ay to mercy drew. His kyn mycht nocht him get for na kyn thing, Mycht thai hawe payit the ransoune of a king. 150 The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne. Off thar best men that day sewyn has he slayne. Thai gert set him in till a presoune fell; Off his turment gret payne it war to tell. Ill meyt and drynk thai gert on till hym gyff, 155 Gret merwaille was lang tyme gif he mycht leyff: And ek thar to he was in presoune law, Quhill thai thocht tyme on him to hald the law. Leyff I him thar in to that paynfull sted. Gret God abowe till him send sum ramede! 160 The playne compleynt, the pittows wementyng! The wofull wepyng that was for his takyng! The tormentyng of euery creatur! “Alas,” thai said, “how suld our lyff endur? “Be fortoun armess has left him in thrillage: 165 “The flour of youth in till his tendir age. Fol. 7 a “Lefand as now a chiftane had we nane, “Durst tak on hand, bot yong Wallace alayne. “This land is lost; he caucht is in the swar, “The Apersé of Scotland left in cayr!” 170