Part 4

Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe, Quhar he was set in to that vgly cawe. Sic fude for him was febill to commend. Than said he thus; ‘All weildand God, resawe ‘My petows spreit and sawle amang the law! 175 ‘My carneill lyff I may nocht thus defend. ‘Our few Sothroune on to the dede I drawe. ‘Quhen so thow will, out of this warld I wend; ‘Giff I suld now in presoune mak ane end. ‘Eternaile God, quhy suld I thus wayis de; 180 ‘Syne my beleiff all haile remanys in the, ‘At thin awn will full worthely was wrocht? ‘Bot thow rademe, na liff thai ordand me, ‘Gastlye Fadyr, that deit apon the tre, ‘Fra hellis presoune with thi blud ws bocht; 185 ‘Quhi will thow giff thi handéwark for nocht; ‘And mony worthy in to gret payne we se? ‘For off my lyff ellys no thing I roucht. ‘O wareide suerd, of tempyr neuir trew, ‘Thi fruschand blaid in presoune sone me threw: 190 ‘And Inglissmen our litill harm has tayne. ‘Off ws thai haiff wndoyne may than ynew; ‘My faithfull fadyr dispitfully thai slew, ‘My brothir als, and gud men mony ane. ‘Is this thi dait, sall thai our cum ilkane? 195 ‘On our kynrent, deyr God, quhen will thow rew; ‘Sen my pouer thus sodandlye is gane. ‘All worthi Scottis, almychty God yow leid, ‘Sen I no mor in wyage may you speid! ‘In presoune heir me worthis to myscheyff. 200 ‘Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide, ‘Thi natioune all standis in a felloun dreid. ‘Off wardlynes all thus I tak my leiff. ‘Off thir paynys God lat you neuir preiff, ‘Thocht I for wo all out off witt suld weid! 205 ‘Now othir gyft I may none to you gyff.’ O der Wallace, wmquhill was stark and stur, Thow most o neide in presoune till endur. Thi worthi kyn may nocht the saiff for sold. Ladyis wepyt, that was bathe mylde and mur, 210 In fureous payne, the modyr that the bur: For thou till hir was fer derer than gold. Hyr most desyr was to be wndyr mold. In wardlynes quhi suld ony ensur? For thow was formyt forsye on the feld. 215 Fol. 7 b Compleyn, Sanctis thus, as your sedull tellis; Compleyn to hewyn with wordis that nocht faillis: Compleyne your woice wnto the God abuffe; Compleyne for him in to that sitfull sell is; Compleyne his payne in dolour thus that duellis; 220 In langour lyis, for losyng of thar luff, Hys fureous payne was felloune for to pruff. Compleyne also, yhe birdis, blyth as bellis, Sum happy chance may fall for your behuff. Compleyne, lordys, compleyne, yhe ladyis brycht, 225 Compleyne for him that worthi was and wycht, Off Saxons sonnys sufferyt full mekill der. Compleyne for him was thus in presone dicht And for na causs, bot, Scotland, for thi rycht. Compleyne also, yhe worthi men of wer, 230 Compleyne for hym that was your aspresper; And to the dede fell Sothroun yeit he dicht: Compleyne for him your triumphe had to ber. Celimus was maist his geyeler now. In Inglissmen, allace, quhi suld we trow, 235 Our worthy kyn has payned on this wyss? Sic reulle be rycht is litill [till] allow: Me think we suld in barrat mak thaim bow At our power, and so we do feill syss. Off thar danger God mak ws for to ryss, That weill has wrocht befor thir termyss, and now! 240 For thai wyrk ay to wayt ws with suppryss. Quhat suld I mor of Wallace turment tell; The flux he tuk in to thar presoune fell? Ner to the dede he was likly to drawe. 245 Thai chergyt the geyler nocht on him to duell, Bot bryng him wp out of that vgly sell To jugisment, quhar he suld thoill the law. This man went doun, and sodanlye he saw, As to hys sycht, dede had him swappyt snell; 250 Syn said to thaim, “He has payit at he aw.” Quhen thai presumyt he suld be werray ded, Thai gart serwandys, with outyn langer pleid, With schort awiss on to the wall him bar: Thai kest him our out of that bailfull steid, 255 Off him thai trowit suld be no mor ramede, In a draff myddyn, quhar he remannyt thar. His fyrst noryss, of the Newtoun of Ayr, Till him scho come, quhilk was full will of reid, And thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr. 260 In to gret ire thai grantyt hir to go. Scho tuk him wp with outyn wordis mo, And on a caar wnlikly him thai cast: Atour the wattir led him with gret woo, Till hyr awin houss with outyn ony hoo. 265 Scho warmyt wattir, and hir serwandis fast His body wousche, quhill filth was of hym past. His hart was wicht, and flykeryt to and fro, Fol. 8 a Als his twa eyne he kest wp at the last. His fostyr modyr, lowed him our the laiff, 270 Did mylk to warme, his liff giff scho mycht saiff; And with a spoyn gret kyndnes to him kyth. Hyr dochtir had of twelf wokkis ald a knayff; Hir childis pape in Wallace mouth scho gaiff. The womannys mylk recomford him full swyth: 275 Syn in a bed thai brocht him fair and lyth. Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff, Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht. In thar chawmyr thai kepyt him that tide; Scho gart graith wp a burd be the houss side, 280 Wyth carpettis cled, and honowryt with gret lycht: And for the woice in euiry place suld bide, At he was ded, out throuch the land so wide, In presence ay scho wepyt wndyr slycht; Bot gudely meytis scho graithit him at hir mycht. 285 And so befel in to that sammyn tid, Quhill forthirmar at Wallas worthit wycht. Thomas Rimour in to the Faile was than, With the mynystir, quhilk was a worthi man: He wsyt offt to that religiouss place. 290 The peple demyt of witt mekill he can; And so he told, thocht at thai bliss or ban, Quhilk hapnyt suth in many diuerss cace, I can nocht say, be wrang or rychtwisnas, In rewlle of wer, quhethir thai tynt or wan; 295 It may be demyt be diuisioun of grace. Thar man that day had in the merket bene, On Wallace knew this cairfull cass so kene. His mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw. This man ansuerd; “Of litill hard I meyn.” 300 The mynister said; ‘It has bene seildyn seyn, ‘Quhar Scottis and Ingliss semblit bene on raw, ‘Was neuir yit, als fer as we coud knaw, ‘Bot othir a Scott wald do a Sothroun teyne, ‘Or he till him, for awentur mycht faw.’ 305 “Wallas,” he said, “ye wist tayne in that steid; “Out our the wall I saw thaim cast him deide, “In presoune famyst for fawt of fude.” The mynister said, ‘with hart hewy as leid; ‘Sic deid to thaim, me think, suld foster feid; 310 For he was wicht, and cummyn of gentill blud.’ Thomas ansuerd; “Thir tythingis ar noucht gud; “And that be suth, my self sall neuir eit breid, “For all my witt her schortlye I conclud.” ‘A woman syne of the Newtoun of Ayr, 315 ‘Till him scho went fra he was fallyn thar; ‘And on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht, ‘To purchess leiff scho mycht thine with him fayr. ‘In lychtlyness tyll hyr thai grant it thair. Fol. 8 b ‘Our the wattyr on till hir houss him brocht, 320 To beryss him als gudlye as scho mocht.’ Yhit Thomas said; “Than sall I leiff na mar, “Giff that be trow, be God, that all has wrocht.” The mynister herd quhat Thomas said in playne. He chargyt him than; ‘Go, speid the fast agayne 325 ‘To that sammyn houss, and werraly aspye.’ The man went furth, at byddyng was full bayne; To the Newtoun to pass he did his payn, To that ilk houss; and went in sodanlye. About he blent on to the burd him bye. 330 This woman raiss, in hart scho was [nocht] fayn. Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny. “Wallace,” scho said, “that full worthy has beyne.” Than wepyt scho, that peté was to seyne. The man thar to gret credens gaif he nocht: 335 Towart the burd he bowned as he war teyne. On kneis scho felle, and cryit; ‘For Marye scheyne, ‘Let sklandyr be, and flemyt out of your thocht.’ This man hir suour; “Be him that all has wrocht, “Mycht I on lyff him anys se with myn eyn, 340 “He suld be saiff, thocht Ingland had hym socht.” Scho had him wp to Wallace by the dess; He spak with him, syne fast agayne can press With glaid bodword, thar myrthis till amend. He told to thaim the first tithingis was less. 345 Than Thomas said; ‘Forsuth, or he decess, ‘Mony thousand in feild sall mak thar end. ‘Off this regioun he sall the Sothroun send; ‘And Scotland thriss he sall bryng to the pess: ‘So gud off hand agayne sall neuir be kend.’ 350 All worthi men, that has gud witt to waille, Be war that yhe with myss deyme nocht my taille. Perchance ye say, that Bruce he was none sik. He was als gud, quhat deid was to assaill, As off his handis, and bauldar in battaill. 355 Bot Bruce was knawin weyll ayr off this kynrik; For he had rycht, we call no man him lik. Bot Wallace thriss this kynrik conquest haile, In Ingland fer socht battaill on that rik.

I will ratorn to my mater agayne. 360 Quhen Wallace was ralesched off his payne, The contré demyd haile that he was dede; His derrest kyn nocht wist of his ramede. Bot haile he was, likly to gang and ryd. In to that place he wald na langar byde. 365 His trew kepar he send to Elrislé; Eftir him thar he durst nocht lat hyr be: Hir dochtir, als thar serwand, and hir child, He gart thaim pass on to his modyr myld. Quhen thai war gayne, na wapynnys thar he saw 370 Fol. 9 a To helpe him with, quhat auentur mycht befaw. A rousty suerd in a noik he saw stand, With outyn belt, but boss, bukler, or band. Lang tyme befor it had beyne in that steid; Ane agyt man it left quhen he was dede. 375 He drew the blaid, he fand it wald bitt weill; Thocht it was foule, nobill it was of steyll. “God helpis his man; for thou sall go with me, “Quhill bettir cum; will God full sone may be!” To Schyr Ranald as than he wald nocht fair; 380 In that passage offt Sothroun maid repar. At Rycardtoun full fayn he wald hawe beyne, To get him horss and part of armour scheyne. On thedyrwart as he bownyt to fair, Thre Inglissmen he met ridand till Ayr, 385 In thair wiage at Glaskow furth had beyne; Ane Longcastell, that cruell was and keyne, A bauld squier, with him gud yemen twa. Wallace drew by, and wald haiff lattyn thaim ga. Till him he raid, and said dispitfully; 390 “Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy; “Or ellis a theyff, fra presens wald the hid.” Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis, that tid; ‘Schir, I am seik, for Goddis luff latt me ga!’ Langcastell said; “Forsuth it beis nocht sa. 395 “A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair; “Quhill men the knaw, thow sall with me till Ayr.” Hynt out his suerd, that was of nobill hew, Wallace with that, at hys lychtyn, him drew; Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne; 400 Throw brayne and seyne in sondyr straik the bayne. Be he was fallyn, the twa than lichtyt doun; To wenge his dede to Wallace maid thaim boun. The tayne of thaim apon the hed he gaiff, The rousty blaid to the schulderis him claiff. 405 The tothir fled, and durst no langer bide; With a rud step Wallace coud eftyr glide. Our thourch his rybbis a seker straik drewe he, Quhill leuir and lounggis men mycht all redy se. Thar horss he tuk, bathe wapynnys and armour; 410 Syne thankit God with gud hart in that stour. Syluer thai had, all with him has he tayne, Him to support; for spendyng had he nayne. In to gret haist he raid to Ricardtoun, A blyth semblay was at his lychtyn doun. 415 Quhen Wallace mett with Schyr Richart the knycht, For him had murnit quhill feblit was his mycht. His thre sonnys of Wallace was full fayne; Thai held him lost, yit God him sawth agayne. His eyme, Schyr Ranald, to Rycardtoun come fast; 420 The wemen, told, by Corsby as thai past, Off Wallace eschaipe, syne thar wiage yeid. Schyr Ranald yit was in a felloune dreid: Fol. 9 b Quhill he him saw, in hart he thocht full lang; Than sodanlye in armys he couth him fang. 425 He mycht nocht spek, but kyst him tendyrlye; The knychtis spreit was in ane extasye, The blyth teris tho bryst for his eyne two; Or that he spak, a lang tyme held him so: And at the last rycht freindfully said he; 430 “Welcum, neuo, welcum deir sone to me. “Thankit be he that all this warld has wrocht, “Thus fairlye the has out of presoune brocht.” His modyr come, and othir freyndis enew, With full glaid will, to feill thai tithingis true. 435 Gud Robert Boyd, that worthi was and wicht, Wald nocht thaim trew, quhill he him saw with sycht. Fra syndry part thai socht to Ricardtoun. Feille worthi folk, that war of gret renoun. Thus leiff I thaim in myrth, blyss and plesance, 440 Thankand gret God off his fre happy chance.

EXPLICIT LIBER SECUNDUS, ET INCIPIT TERCIUS.

BUKE THRYD.

In joyowss Julii, quhen the flouris suete, Degesteable, engenered throu the heet, Baith erbe and froyte, busk and bewis, braid Haboundandlye in euery slonk and slaid; Als bestiall, thar rycht courss till endur, 5 Weyle helpyt ar be wyrkyn off natur, On fute and weynge ascendand to the hycht, Conserwed weill be the Makar of mycht; Fyscheis in flude refeckit rialye Till mannys fude, the warld suld occupye. 10 Bot Scotland sa was waistit mony day, Throw wer sic skaith, at labour was away. Wictaill worth scant or August coud apper, Throu all the land, that fude was hapnyt der: Bot Inglissmen, that richess wantyt nayne, 15 Be caryage brocht thair wictaill full gud wayne; Stuffit houssis with wyn and gud wernage; Demaynde this land as thair awne heretage; The kynryk haile thai rewllyt at thar will. Messyngeris than sic tithingis brocht thaim till; 20 And tald Persye, that Wallace leffand war, Off his eschaip fra thar presoune in Ayr. Thai trowit rycht weill he passit was that steid; For Longcastell and his twa men was deid. He trowit the chance that Wallace so was past. 25 In ilka part thai war gretly agast, Throw prophesye that thai had herd befor. Lord Persye said; “Quhat nedis wordis mor? “Bot he be cest he sall do gret merwaill. “It was the best for king Eduuardis awaill, 30 “Mycht he him get to be his steidfast man, “For gold or land; his conquest mycht lest than. “Me think beforce he may nocht gottyn be; Fol. 10 a “Wyssmen the suth be his eschaip may se.” Thus deyme [thai] him in mony diuerss cass. 35 We leiff thaim her, and spek furth of Wallass. In Rycardtoun he wald no langer byde, For freindis consaill, nor thing that mycht betide. And quhen thai saw that it awaillit nocht, His purposs was to wenge him, at he mocht, 40 On Sothron blud, quhilk has his eldris slayne. Thai latt him wyrk his awn will in to playne. Schir Richart had thre sonnys, as I yow tald. Adam, Rychart, and Symont that was bald. Adam, eldest, was growand in curage; 45 Forthward, rycht fayr, auchtene yer of age; Large off persone; bath wiss, worthi and wicht: Gude king Robert in his tyme maid him knycht. Lang tyme eftir in Brucis weris he baid, On Inglissmen moné gud iorné maid. 50 This gud squier with Wallace bound to ryd; And Robert Boid, quhilk wald no langar bide Vndir thrillage of segis of Ingland. To that falss king he had neuir maid band. Kneland was thar, ner cusyng to Wallace, 55 Syne baid with him in mony peralouss place; And Eduuard Litill, his sistir sone so der; Full weill graithit in till thar armour cler.