Part 30

Quhen Wallace saw thai had him at inwy, 295 Langar to byd he coud than nocht apply. Bettir him thocht in Scotland for to be, And awntur tak othir to leiff or de. Till help his awn he had a mar plesance, Fol. 113 a Than thar to byd with all the welth off France. 300 Thus his haill mynd, manheid, and hye curage. Was playnly set to wyn out off bondage Scotland agayn fra payn and felloun sor; He woude he suld, or ellis de tharfor. The king has seyn how gud Wallace was set; 305 The lettir than him gaiff with outyn let, The quhilk off lait fra Scotland was him send. Wallace it saw, and weill thair harmys kend; Be the fyrst wryt tharto accordiall, Thaim to supplé he thocht he wald nocht faill. 310 Quhar to suld I her off lang process mak? Wallace off France a gudly leiff can tak. The kyng, has seyn it wald nocht ellis be, To chawmyr went, and mycht nocht on him se; Gret languor tuk quhen Wallace can ramuff: 315 That king till him kepit kyndnes and luff. Jowallis and gold, his worschip for to saiff, He bad thaim geyff, als mekill as he wald haiff. Lordys and ladyis wepyt wondyr fast, Quhen Wallace thar so tuk his leyff, and past. 320 Na men he tuk bot quhilk he hydder brocht; Agayn with him gud Longaweill furth socht: For payn nor blyss that gud knycht left him neuir. For cace befell, quhill ded maid thaim deseuyr. Towart the Sluce in gudly fer past he; 325 A weschell gat, and maid him to the se. Aucht schipmen feit, and gudly wage thaim gaiff; To Scotland fur; the Fyrth off Tay thai haiff. Apon a nycht Wallace the land has tane At Ernyss mouth, and is till Elchok gane. 330 He gert the schip in cowert saill away; So out off sycht thai war or it was day. At Elchok duelt ane, Wallace cusyng der, At Craufurd hecht; quhen thai the houss com ner, On the baksyd Wallace a window fand, 335 And in he cald. Sone Craufurd com at hand, Fra tym he wyst that it was gud Wallace. In till his bern he ordand thaim a place; A mow off corn he bygit thaim about, And closyt weill, nane mycht persawe without, 340 Bot at a place, quhar meit he to thaim brocht, And bedyn to, als gudly as he mocht. A dern holl furth, on the north syd, thai had To the watter, quhar off Wallace was glad. Four dayis or fyve in rest thai soiornd thar, 345 Fol. 113 b Quhill meit was gayn; than Craufurd bownd for mar Till Sanct Jhonstoun, thar purwyance for to by. Inglissmen thocht he tuk mar boundandly Than he was wount at ony tym befor; Thai haiff him tane, put him in presone sor. 350 Quhat gestis he had, to tell thai mak raquest. He said, it was bot till a kyrkyn fest. Yeit thai preiff sone the cumyng off Wallace; Knawlage to get thai kest a sutell cace. Thai latt him pass with thing that he had bocht; 355 Syn eftir sone, in all the haist thai mocht, To harnes yeid the power off the toun. Aucht hundreth men with Butler maid thaim boun, Folowed on dreich, quhill at this man com hame. Wallace him saw, and said, he serwit blame. 360 “In my sleping a fell visioun me tauld, “Till Inglissmen that thow suld me haiff sauld.” Craufurd him said, he had bene turment sair With Inglissmen, that had him in dispair; ‘Tharfor ryss wp, and for sum succour se, 365 ‘I dreid full sair, thai set wachis on me.’ The worthi Scottis thai graithit thaim in gud weid; Thar wapynnys tuk, syn off that houss furth yeid. Thus sodandly the fell Sotheroun thai saw; To few thai war to bid agayn thaim aw, 370 At keynly com with yong Butler the knycht. Than Wallace said; “A playn feild is nocht rycht; “Bot Elchok park is ner hand her besid, “The fyrst sailyie we think thar to abid.” Nynetene thai war, and Craufurd, with gud will, 375 The twentyd man, the nowmer to fullfill. The park thai tuk; Wallace a place has seyn Off gret holyns, that grew bathe heych and greyn. With thuortour treis a maner strenth maid he; Or that war wone, thai trowit to gar feill de. 380 The wod was thyk, bot litill off breid or lenth; Had thai had meit, thai thocht to hald that strenth. The Inglissmen passyt to Craufurdys place, Fand in the bern the lugeyng off Wallace; Than Crawfurdis wyff in handys haiff thai tayne, 385 And ast at hyr quhat way the Scottis war gayne. “Rycht weill thai trowyt at Wallace suld thar be; “Off France in Tay he was cumyn be the se.” Scho wald nocht tell, for bost, nor yeit reward. Than Butler said; ‘Our lang thow has beyn spard?’ 390 Thar with he grew in matelent and ire, And gert thaim byg a bailfull braid brym fyr. The Sotheroun suor tharin scho suld brynt be. Than Wallace said; “Scho sall nocht end for me; “Gret syn it war yon saikless wicht to sla. 395 Fol. 114 a “Or scho suld end, in faith thar sall de ma.” He left the strenth, and the playn feild can ta; On lowd he cryt, and said; “Lo, her I ga. “Thinkis thow no schaym for to turment a wyff? “Cum fyrst to me, and mak end off our stryff.” 400 Fra Butler had apon gud Wallace seyn, Throuch auld malice he wox ner wod for teyn; Apon the Scottis schup thaim all with gret mayn: Bot Wallace son the strenth he tuk agayn. A fell bykkyr the Inglissmen began, 405 Assailyeid sayr with mony cruell man: Bot thai with in, war nobill at defens, Maid gret debait be force and wiolens. At the entra fyftene thai brocht to ded; Than all the lawe, ramowit fra that sted, 410 Yeid till aray agayn to sailye new. Wallace beheld, quhilk weill in weir him knew: “Falowis,” he said, “agayn all at this place “Thai will nocht saill: but thus standis the cace; “Yon knycht thinkis for to dewid his men 415 “In seir partis, the suth ye sall weill ken, “Agayn on ws to preiff how it may be. “Ws worthis now sum wayis for thaim to se, “Contrar thair mycht a gud defens to mak. “Now, Longaweill, thow sall sex with the tak, 420 “Wilyam my eym, als mony sall with yow ga, “And fyve with me; as now we haiff no ma.” Knycht Butler than partyt his men in thre. Wallace wesyd quhar Butler schup to be; Thidder he past that entré for to wer: 425 On ilka syd thai sailye with gret fer. Wallace leit part in the entré begyn; Bot nane yeid out that on the Scottis com in. Sewyn formast was, quhilk in the forest yeid, Wallace fyve men, quhilk douchty was in deid, 430 Ilkane slew ane, and Wallace gert twa de. Butler was next, and said; ‘This will nocht be.’ On bak he drew, and leit his curage slaik: The worthi Scottis prewyt weill for Scotlandis saik. Gud Longaweill his cowntyr maid sa sar, 435 And Craufurd als, thai sailyeid than no mar. Rycht ner be than approchyt to the nycht; And sternys wp peyr began in to thair sycht. Sotheroun set wach, and to thair souper went. The Butler was sayr grewyt in his entent; 440 Yeit fur thai weill off stuff, wyn, aill, and breid. Wallace and his thai wyst off no rameid Bot cauld watter, that ran throu owt a strand; In that lugeyng nane othir fud thai fand. Fol. 114 b Than Wallace said; “Gud falowis, think nocht lang; 445 “Will God, we sall be sone out off this thrang. “Supposs we fast a day our, and a nycht, “Tak all in thank this payn for Scotlandis rycht.” The erll off York, was in Sanct Jhonstoun still, To Butler send, and bad him byd at will; 450 Till him full sone thar suld cum new power, And als him selff; thus tald the messynger. Butler wald fayn Wallace had yoldyn beyn Or the erll com: for thir causis was seyn; His grant schyr bathe and his fadyr he slew. 455 This knycht thar with towart the park him drew; Quhat cher thai maid, apon the Scottis cald; Than Wallace said; “Fer bettyr than thow wald.” The Butler said; ‘I wald fayn spek with the.’ Wallace ansuerd; “Thow may for litill fe.” 460 ‘Wallace,’ he said, ‘thow has done me gret scaith; ‘My rycht fadyr and grant schyr thow slew baith.’ Than Wallace said; “For stait at thow art in, “It war my det for till wndo thi kyn. “I think als, sa God off hewin me saiff! 465 “At my twa handis sall graith the to thi graiff.” The Butler said; ‘That is nocht likly now: ‘In my credence and thow will fermly trow, ‘Off this I ask and thow will mak me grant, ‘Quhat I the hecht, that thing thow sall nocht want.’ 470 “Sa furth,” quoth he, “be thi desyr resonable, “I sall it grant with outyn ony fable.” The Butler said; ‘Wallace thow knawis rycht, ‘Thow may nocht chaip for power nor for slycht. ‘And sen thou seis it may no bettir be; 475 ‘For thi gentrice, thow will yeild the to me.’ Than Wallace said; “Thi will wnskillfull is; “Thow wald I did quhilk is our hie a myss. “Yoldin I am to bettir, I can pruff; “To mychty God, that Makar is, abuff. 480 “For euir ilk day, sen I had wit off man, “Befor my werk, to yeild me I began; “And als at ewyn, quhen that I failyeid lycht, “I me be tuk to the Makar off mycht.” The Butler said; ‘Me think thow has done weill, 485 ‘Yeit off a thing, I pray the, lat me feill. ‘For thi manheid this forthwart to me fest ‘Quhen that thow seis thow may no langer lest ‘On this ilk place, quhilk I haiff tane to wer, ‘At thow cum furth, and all othir forber.’ 490 Than Wallace leuch at his cruell desyr; And said; “I sall, thocht thow war wod as fyr, “And all Ingland contrar tharoff had suorn, “I sall cum out at that ilk place to morn, “Or ellys to nycht; traist weill quhat I the say; 495 Fol. 115 a “I byd nocht her quhill nyne houris off the day.” Butler send furth the chak wache on ilka syd; In that ilk place bauldly he bownyt to bid. Thus still thai baid quhill day began to peyr; A thyk myst fell, the planet was nocht cleyr. 500 Wallace assayd at all placis about, Leit as he wald at ony place brek out; Quhill Butleris men sum part fra him can ga To helpe the lawe, quhen thai saw it was sa. Wallace and his fast sped thaim to that sted 505 Quhar Butler baid; feill men thai draiff to ded. The worthy Scottis sone past throucht that mellé: Craufurd, thar oyst, was sayr hurt on the kne, At erd he was; gud Wallace turnd agayn, And at a straik he has the Butler slayn; 510 Hynt wp that man wndyr his arm sa strang, Defendand him out off that felloun thrang, Gud rowm he maid amang thaim quhar he gais, With his rycht hand he slew fyve off thair fais; Bur furth Crawfurd, be force off his persoun, 515 Nyne akyrbreid, or euir he set him doun. The Sotheroun fand at thair capdane was ded, All him about; bot than was no rameid. Thretty with him off the wychtast thai brocht, Ded at that place quhar at the Scottis furth socht. 520 Wallace and his be than was off thair sycht; Sotheroun baid still for sor loss off that knycht. The myst wes myrk; that Wallace likit weill; Him selff was gyd, and said to Longaweill; “At Meffan wood is my desyr to be, 525 “On bestiall thar, for meit, that we may se.” Be than thai war weill cumyn to the hicht, The myst scalyt, the son schawyt fayr and brycht. Son war thai war, a litill space thaim by, Four and twenty was in a cumpany. 530 Than Wallace said; “Be yon men freynd or fa, “We will to thaim, sen at thai ar na ma.” Quhen thai com ner, a nobill knycht it was, The quhilk to name hecht Elyss off Dundass; And Schyr Jhon Scot ek, a worthi knycht, 535 In to Straithern a man off mekill mycht: For thar he had gret part of heretage; Dundass syster he had in mariage. Passand thai war, and mycht no langar lest, Till Inglissmen, thair fewté for to fest. 540 Lord off Breichyn sic connand had thaim maid, Off Eduuard thai suld hald thair landys braid; Bot fra thai saw that it was wicht Wallace, Fol. 115 b Heyffyt wp thar handis, and thankit God off grace, Off his gret help quhilk he had sende thaim thair. 545 To Meffen wod with ane assent thai far, Sone gat thaim meit off bestiall at thai fand; Restyt that day; quhen nycht was cumyn on hand, To Byrnane wode, but restyng, ar thai gayne, Quhar thai found the squier gud Ruwayn. 550 In vtlaw oyss he had lang lewyt thair On bestiall, quhill he mycht get no mair. Thai taryit nocht, bot in till Adell yeid, Quhar mete was scant; than Wallace had gret dreid, Past in till Lorn, and rycht litill fand thair: 555 Off wyld and taym that contré was maid bair. Bot in strenthis, thar fud was lewyt nayn; The worthi Scottis than maid a petouss mayn. Schir Jhon Scot said, he had fer leuir de In till gud naym, and leyff his ayris fre, 560 Than for till byd as bond in subiectioun. Quhen Wallace saw thir gud men off renoun With hungyr stad, almast mycht leiff no mar, Wyt ye, for thaim he sichit wondyr sar. “Gud men,” he said, “I am the causs off this; 565 “At your desyr I sall amend this myss, “Or leyff you fre sum chewysans for to ma.” All him allayn he bownyt fra thaim to ga; Prayit thaim to byd quhill he mycht cum agayn. Atour a hill he passit till a playn. 570

Out off thair sycht, in till a forest syd, He sat him doun wndyr ane ayk to bid; His bow and suerd he lenyt till a tre, In angwyss greiff, on grouff so turned he. His petows mynd was for his men so wrocht, 575 That off him selff litill as than he roucht. “O wrech!” he said, “that neuir couth be content “Off our gret mycht that the gret God the lent; “Bot thi fers mynd, wylfull and wariable, “With gret lordschip thow coud nocht so byd stable; 580 “And wyllfull witt, for to mak Scotland fre; “God likis nocht that I haiff tane on me. “Fer worthyar off byrth than I was born, “Throuch my desyr wyth hungyr ar forlorn. “I ask at God thaim to restor agayn; 585 “I am the causs, I suld haiff all the payn.” Quhill studeand thus, quhill flitand with him sell, Quhill at the last apon slepyng he fell. Thre dayis befor thar had him folowed fyve, The quhilk was bound, or ellis to loss thair lyff: 590 Fol. 116 a The erll off York bad thaim so gret gardoun, At thai be thyft hecht to put Wallace doun. Thre off thaim was all born men off Ingland, And twa was Scottis, that tuk this deid on hand; And sum men said, thar thrid brothir betraissed 595 Kyldromé eft, quhar gret sorow was raissed. A child thai had, quhilk helpyt to ber mett In wildernes amang thai montans grett. Thai had all seyn disseuyryng off Wallace Fra his gud men, and quhar he baid on cace; 600 Amang thyk wod in cowert held thaim law, Quhill thai persawyt he couth on sleping faw. And than thir fyve approchit Wallace neir; Quhat best to do, at othir can thai speir. A man said thus; ‘It war a hie renoun, 605 ‘And we mycht qwyk leid him to Sanct Jhonstoun. ‘Lo, how he lyis; we may our grippis waill; ‘Off his wapynnys he sall get nane awaill. ‘We sall him bynd in contrar off hys will; ‘And leid him thus on baksyd off yon hill, 610 ‘So that his men sall nothing off him knaw.’ The tothir thre assentyt till his saw; And than thir fyve thus maid thaim to Wallace, And thocht throw force to bynd him in that place. Quhat, trowit thir fyve for to hald Wallace doun? 615 The manlyast man, the starkast off persoun, Leyffand he was; and als stud in sic rycht, We traist weill, God his dedis had in sycht. Thai grippyt him, than out off slepe he braid; “Quhat menys this?” rycht sodandly he said. 620 About he turnyt, and wp his armys thrang; On thai traytouris with knychtlik fer he dang. The starkast man in till his armys hynt he, And all his harnys he dang out on a tre. A sword he gat son eftyr at he rayss, 625 Campiounlik amang the four he gais; Euyr a man he gert de at a dynt. Quhen twa was ded, the tothir wald nocht stynt, Maid thaim to fle; bot than it was na but, Was nane leyffand mycht pass fra him on fut. 630 He folowed fast, and sone to ded thaim brocht; Than to the chyld sadly agayn he socht. “Quhat did thow her?” The child, with [ane] paill face, On kneis he fell, and askyt Wallace grace. ‘With thaim I was, and knew no thing thair thocht; 635 Fol. 116 b ‘In to seruice, as thai me bad, I wrocht.’ “Quhat berys thow her?” ‘Bot meit, the child can say.’ “Do, turss it wp, and pass with me away. “Meit in this tym is fer bettyr than gold.” Wallace and he furth foundyt our the fold. 640 Quha brocht Wallace fra his enemyss bauld? Quha, bot gret God, that has the warld in wauld? He was his help in mony felloun thrang. With glaid cheyr thus on till his men can gang. Bathe rostyt flesche thar was, als breid, and cheis, 645 To succour thaim that was in poynt to leiss. Than he it delt to four men and fyfté, Quhilk had befor fastyt our dayis thre; Syn tuk his part, he had fastyt als lang. Quhar herd ye euir ony in sic a thrang, 650 In hungyr so slepand, and wapynlass, So weill recouer as Wallace did this cass; Playnly befors vencust his enemyss fyve? Yhe men off wit, this questioun dyscryve: Wythoutyn gloiss I will tell furth my taill. 655 ‘How com this meit?’ the falowschip askyt haill. To thar desyr Wallace nane ansuer yald; Quhar fyve was ded he led thaim furth, syn tauld. Gretly displessyd was all that chewalry: Till a chyftane, thai held it fantasy 660 To walk allayn. Wallace, with sobyr mud, Said; “As her off is no thing cummyn bot gud.” To the law land full fast agayn thai socht; Sperd at this child, gyff he couth wyss thaim ocht, Quhar thai mycht best off purviance for to wyn. 665 Off nane he said was that cuntré within; ‘Nor all about, als fer as I can knaw, ‘Quhill that ye cum down to the Ranoucht hawe. ‘That lord has stuff, breid, aill, and gud warnage: ‘Off king Eduuard he takis full mekill wage.’ 670 Than Wallace said; “My selff sall be your gyd; “I knaw that sted about on athir syd.” Throuch the wyld land he gydyt thaim full rycht; To Ranouch hall thai com apon the nycht. A wach was owt, and that full sone thai ta; 675 For he was Scottis, that man thai wald nocht sla, Bot gert him tell the maner off that place. Thus entryt thai with in a litill space. The yett thai wan, for castell was thar nayn, Bot mudwall werk withoutyn lym or stayn. 680 Wallace in haist straik wp the chawmir dur Bot with his fut, that stalwart was and stur. Than thai within sa walknyt sodeynly; Fol. 117 a The lord gat wp, and mercy can him cry. Fra tym he wyst that gud Wallace was thar, 685 He thankyt God, syn said thir wordis mar; ‘Trow man I was, and woun agayn my will ‘With Inglissmen, supposs I likit ill. ‘All Scottis we ar that in this place is now; ‘At your commaund all playnly we sall bow.’ 690 Off our natioun gud Wallace had peté; Tuk aythis off thaim, [and] syne meit askyt he. Gud cheyr thai maid quhill lycht day on the morne. This trew man than sone semblit him beforne Thre sonnys he had, that stalwart was and bauld, 695 And twenty men off his kyn in houshauld. Wallace was blyth thai maid him sic supplé, Said; “I thank God, that we thus multiplé.” All that day our in gud liking thai rest; Wachys thai waill to kep thaim, at coud best. 700 Apon the morn, the lycht day quhen thai saw, Than Wallace said; “Our power for to knaw, “We will tak feild, and wp our baner raiss “Off rycht Scotland, in contrar off our fais. “We will no mar now ws in couert hid; 705 “Power till ws will sembill on ilk syd.” Horsis thai gat, the best men at was thar; Towart Dunkell the gaynest way thai far. The byschope fled, and gat till Sanct Jhonstoun The Scottis slew all was thar off that nacioun, 710 Baith pur and rych, and serwandis at thai fand; Left nane on lyff that born was off Ingland. The place thai tuk, and maid thaim weill to fayr, Off purwiance that byschop had brocht thair. Jowellis thai gat, bathe gold and syluer brycht; 715 With gud cheyr thar fyve dayis thai soiornd rycht. On the sext day Wallace to consaill went, Gert call the best, and schew thaim his entent: “Na men we haiff to sailye Sanct Jhonstoun; “In to the north tharfor lat mak ws boun. 720 “In Ross, ye knaw, gud men a strenth has maid; “Her thai off ws, thai cum with outyn baid. “Alss in to But the byschope gud Synclar, “[Fra he get wit, he cummis with outyn mar.] “Gud westland men off Aran and Rauchlé, 725 “Fra thai be warnd, thai will all cum to me.” This purpos tuk, and in the north thai rid; Nan Inglissman durst in thair way abid. Quham Wallace tuk, thai knew the ald ransoun; Fra he com haym, to fle thai mak thaim boun. 730 And Scottis men semblyt to Wallace fast; Fol. 117 b In awfull feyr throuch owt the land thai past; Strenthis was left, witt ye, all desolate; Agayn thir folk thai durst mak no debate. In raid battaill thai raid till Abyrdeyn, 735 The haill nowmyr, sewyn thousand than was seyn. Bot Inglissmen had left that toun all waist; On ilka syd away thai can thaim haist; In all that land left nothir mar nor less. Lord Bewmond tuk the sey at Bowchan ness. 740 Throu Scotland than was manifest in playn, The lordis that past in hart was wondyr fayn. The knycht Climés off Ross com sodeynly In Murray land with thair gud chewalry. The houss off Narn that gud knycht weill has tayne, 745 Slew the capdane and strang men mony ane; Out off Murray in Bowchane land com thai To sek Bewmound, be he was past away; Than thir gud men to Wallace passyt rycht. Quhen Wallace saw Schyr Jhon Ramsay the knycht, 750 And othir gud at had bene fra him lang, Gret curag than was rasyt thaim amang. The land he reullyt as at him likit best; To Sanct Jhonstoun syn raid or thai wald rest.