Part 6

In September, the humyll moneth suette, Quhen passyt by the hycht was off the hette, Wictaill and froyte ar rypyt in aboundance, Fol. 14 a As God ordans to mannys gouernance. Sagittarius with his aspre bow, 5 Be the ilk syng weryté ye may know The changing courss quhilk makis gret deference; And lewyss had lost thair colouris of plesence. All warldly thing has nocht bot a sesoune; Both erbe and froyte mon fra hewyn cum doun. 10 In this ilk tyme a gret consell was sett In to Glaskow quhar mony maistris mett, Off Ingliss lordis, to statute this cuntré. Than chargyt thai all schirreffis thar to be. Schir Ranald Crawfurd behowide that tyme be thar, 15 For he throw rycht was born schirreff of Ayr. His der neuo that tyme with hym he tuk, Willyham Wallace, as witness beris the buk; For he na time suld be fra hys sycht, He luffyt him with hart and all hys mycht. 20 Thai graith thaim weill with out langar abaid. Wallace sum part befor the court furth raid, With him twa men that douchtye war in deid; Our tuk the child Schyr Ranaldis sowme couth leid. Softlye thai raid quhill thai the court suld knaw. 25 So sodeynly at Hesilden he saw The Perseys sowme, in quhilk gret ryches was; The horss was tyryt, and mycht no forthyr pass. Fyve men was chargit to keipe it weill all tid; Twa wass on fute, and thre on horss couth ride. 30 The maistir man at thair serwand can sper; “Quha aw this sowme? the suth thou to me ler.” The man ansuerd, with outyn wordis mair; ‘My lordis,’ he said, ‘quhilk schirreff is of Ayr.’ “Sen it is his, this horss sall with ws gang 35 “To serwe our lord, or ellis me think gret wrang; “Thocht a subiet in deid wald pass his lord, “It is nocht lewyt be na rychtwiss racord.” Thai cutt the brayss and leyt the harness faw. Wallace was ner; quhen he sic reueré saw, 40 He spak to thaim with manly contenance. In fayr afforme, he said, but wariance; ‘Ye do vs wrang, and it in tyme of pess; ‘Off sic rubry war suffisance to cess.’ The Sothron schrew in ire ansuerd him to; 45 “It sall be wrocht as thow may se ws do. “Thow gettis no mendis; quhat wald thow wordis mar?” Sadly awisit Wallace remembrith him thar On the promyss he maid his eyme befor: Resoun him rewllyt, as than he did no mor. 50 The horss thai tuk for awentur mycht befall, Laid on thar sowme, syne furth the way couth call. Thar tyryt sowmir so left thai in to playne. Wallace raturnd towart the court agayne; In the mursyde sone with his eyme he mett, 55 And tauld how thai the way for his man sett: Fol. 14 b “And war noucht I was bonde in my legiance, “We partyt noucht thus for all the gold in France. “The horss thai reft quhilk suld your harness ber.” Schir Ranald said; ‘That is bot litill der. 60 ‘We may get horss and [vthir] gud in playne; ‘And men be lost, we get neuir agayne.’ Wallace than said; “Als wisly God me sawe, “Off this gret myss I sall amendis hawe; “And nothir latt for pess na your plesance. 65 “With witness her I gif vp my legiance: “For cowardly ye lik to tyne your rycht; “Your selff sone syne to dede thai think to dycht.” In wraith thar with away fra him he went. Schyr Ranald was wiss, and kest in his entent; 70 And said I will byde at the Mernys all nycht: So Inglissmen may deyme ws no wnrycht, Gyff ony be deide befor ws vpon cass, That we in law may bide the rychtwisnass. His luging tuk; still at the Mernyss baid; 75 Full gret murnyng he for his neuo maid. Bot all for nocht; quhat mycht it him awaill? As in till wer he wrocht nocht his consaill. Wallace raid furth, with him twa yemen past; The sowmer man he folowid wondyr fast; 80 Be est Cathcart he our hyede thaim agayne. Than knew thai weille that it was he in playne, Be horss and weide, that argownd thaim befor. The fyve to thaim retornde with outyn mor. Wallace to ground fra his courser can glide; 85 A burnyst brand he bradyt out that tyde. The maistir man with sa gud will straik he, Bathe hatt and hede he gert in sondyr fle, Ane othir fast apon the face he gaiff, Till dede to ground, but mercy, he him draiff. 90 The thrid he hyt with gret ire in that steid; Fey on the feld he has him left for deid. Wallace slew thre; by that his yemen wicht, The tothir twa derfly to dede thai dycht. Syne spoilyeid thai the harnaiss or thai wend, 95 Off siluer and gold aboundandlye to spend. Jowellis thai tuk, the best was chosyn thar, Gud horss and geyr; syne on thair wayis can fayr. Than Wallace said; “At sum strenth wald I be.” Our Clid that tyme thar was a bryg of tre; 100 Thiddir thai past in all thair gudlye mycht: The day was gayne, and cummyn was the nycht. Thai durst nocht weylle ner Glaskow still abide; In the Lennox he tuk purposs to ryde. And so he dyde, syne lugyt thaim that nycht, 105 As thai best mowcht, quhill that the day was brycht. Till ane ostrye he went, and soiorned thar Fol. 15 a With trew Scottis, quhilk at his freindis war. The consaill mett rycht glaidly on the morn; Bot fell tithingis was brocht Persie beforne. 110 His men war slayne, his tresour als bereft With fell Scottis, and thaim na jowellis left. Thai demede about off that derff doutouss cass; The Sothren said; “Forsuth, it is Wallas.” The schirreffis court was cumand to the toune, 115 And he as ane for Scot of most renoune. Thai gert go seik Schyr Ranald in that rage; Bot he was than yeit still at herbryage. Sum wiss men said; “Heroff na thing he kend: “The men war slayne rycht at the townis end.” 120 Schyr Ranald come by ten houris of the day. Befor Persye than seir men brocht war thai: Thai folowit him of felouny that was wrocht; The siyss of this couth say to him rycht nocht. Thai demede about of that feill sodeyne cass, 125 Befor the juge thar he denyit Wallas; And so he mycht, he wist nocht quhar he was. Fra this consaill my purposs is to pass, Off Wallace spek, in wyldirnes so wyde; The eterne God his gouernour be and gyde! 130

Styll at the place four dayis he soiorned haill, Quhill tithingis come till hym fra thair consaill. Than statute thai, in ilk steide of the west, In thar boundis Wallace suld haiff no rest. His der wncle gret ayth thai gert him suer, 135 That he, but leiff, suld no freindschipe him ber: And mony othir was full woo that day. Robert the Boide stall of the toune his way; And Kneland als, befor with him had beyne. Thai had leuir haif seyne him with thair eyne, 140 Leyffand in lyff, as thai knew him befor, Than of cler gold a fyne mylyone and mor. Boid wepyt sor, said; “Our leidar is gayne, “Amang our fays he is set him allayne.” Than Kneland said; ‘Fals fortoun changis fast; 145 ‘Gret God sen we had euir with him past!’ Edward Litill in Annadyrdaill is went, And wait rycht nocht of this newe jugément. Adam Wallace baid still in Ricardtoune. So fell [it] thus with Wallace of renoune; 150 He with power partyt merwalusly, Be fortoune chance ourturnys doubilly. Thar petuouss mene as than couth nocht be bett; Thai wyst no wyt quhar that thai suld him get. He left the place, quhair he in lugyng lay; 155 Till erle Malcome he went vpon a day. The Lennox haile he had still in his hand; Till king Eduuard he had nocht than maid band. Fol. 15 b That land is strait, and maisterfull to wyn; Gud men of armyss that tyme was it within. 160 The lord was traist, the men sekyr and trew; With waik power thai durst him nocht persew. Rycht glaid he was of Wallace cumpany, Welcummyt him fayr with worschipe reuerandlye; At his awne will desyryt, gyff he walde 165 To byde thair still maistyr of his houshald; Off all his men he suld haile chyftayne be. Wallace ansuerd; “That war yneuch for me. “I can nocht byde, my mynde is sett in playne “Wrokyn to be, or ellis de in the payne. 170 “Our wast contré thar statute is so strang, “Into the north my purposs is to gang.” Stewyn of Irland than in the Lennox was With wicht Wallace; he ordynyt him to pass, And othir als that borne war off Argill. 175 Wallace still thair residence maid a quhill, Quhill men it wist, and semblit sone him till. He chargyt nayne bot at thair awne gud will; For thai war strang: yeitt he couth nocht thaim dreid, Bot resawit all in weris thaim to leid. 180 Sum part off tham was in to Irland borne, That Makfadyan had exilde furth beforne: King Eduuardis man he was suorn, of Ingland, Off rycht law byrth, supposs he tuk on hand. To Wallace thar come ane that hecht Fawdoun; 185 Malancoly he was of complexioun, Hewy of statur, dour in his contenance, Soroufull, sadde, ay dreidfull but plesance. Wallace resawit quhat man wald cum him till; The bodelye ayth thai maid him with gud will 190 Before the erle, all with a gud accord; And him resawyt as captane and thair lord. His speciall men, that cum with him fra hayme, The tayne hecht Gray, the tothir Kerlé be nayme, In his seruice come fyrst with all thair mayne, 195 To Lowdoun hill quhar that Fenweik was slayne. He thaim comandyt ay next him to persew; For he thaim kend rycht hardye, wiss and trew. His leyff he tuk rycht on a fair maner. The gud erlle than he bad him gyftis ser: 200 Wallace wald nayne, bot gaiff of his fell syss, To pour and rych, vpon a gudlye wiss. Humyll he was, hardy, wiss and fre, As off rychess he held na propyrté. Off honour, worschipe, he was a merour kend; 205 Als he off gold had boundandlye to spend. Wpon his fayis he wan it worthely. Thus Wallace past, and his gud chewalry. Sexty he had off lykly men at wage; Throuch the Lennox he led thaim with curage. 210 Fol. 16 a Abown Lekkie he lugyt thaim in a waille. A strenth thar was quhilk thai thocht till assaill.

On Gargownno was byggyt a small peill, That warnyst was with men and wittaill weill, Within a dyk, bathe closs, chawmer, and hall; 215 Capteyne tharoff to nayme he hecht Thrilwall. Thai led Wallace quhar that this byggynge wass; He thocht to assaill it, ferby or he wald pass. Twa spyiss he send to wesy all that land: Rycht laith he was the thing to tak on hand, 220 The quhilk, beforce, that suld gang hym agayne; Leuir had he throw awentur be slayne. Thir men went furth as it was large mydnycht; About that houss thai spyit all at rycht. The wachman was hewy fallen on sleipe; 225 The bryg was doun at that entré suld keipe; The lauboreris latt rakleslye went in. Thir men retornede, with outyn noyess or dyn, To thair maistir; told him as thai had seyne. Than grathit sone thir men of armyss keyne; 230 Sadlye on fute on to the houss thai socht, And entryt in, for lattyn fand thai nocht. Wicht men assayede, with all thair besy cur, A loklate bar, was drawyn ourthourth the dur; Bot thai mycht nocht it brek out of the waw. 235 Wallace was grewyt quhen he sic tary saw. Sumpart amowet, wraithly till it he went; Be forss off handis it raist out of the stent; Thre yerde off breide alss off the wall puld out. Than merweld all his men that war about, 240 How he dide mair than twenty off thaim mycht. Syne with his fute the yett he straik wp rycht, Quhill braiss and band to byrst all at anyss. Ferdely thai raiss, that war in to thai wanyss. The wachman had a felloune staff of steill, 245 At Wallace strake, bot he kepyt hym weill. Rudely fra him he reft it in that thrang, Dang out his harnyss, syne in the dik him flang. The remaynand be that was on thair feit; Thus Wallace sone can with the capteyn meite. 250 That staff he had, hewy and forgyt new, With it Wallace wpon the hede him threw, Quhill bayn and brayn all in to sondyr yeid. His men entryt, that worthy war in deid, In handis hynt, and stekit of the layff. 255 Wallace commaundede thai suld na wermen saiff. Twenty and twa thai stekit in that steid. Wemen and barnyss, quhen that the men war deide, He gert be tayn, in closs houss kepyt weill, So thai wytht out thar off mycht haiff no feill. 260 The dede bodyes thai put sone out of sycht; Fol. 16 b Tuk wp the bryg or that the day was lycht. In that place baid four dayis or he wald pass; Wist nane with out how at this mater wass: Spoilyeide that steid, and tuk thaim ganand ger; 265 Jowellis and gold away with thaim thai ber. Quhen him thocht tyme, thai ischede on the nycht; To the next woode thai went with all thair mycht. The captenys wiff, wemen, and childer thre, Pass quhar thai wald, for Wallas leit thaim be. 270 In that forest he likit nocht to bide: Thai bownyt thaim atour Forth for to ride. The moss was strang, to ryde it was no but: Wallas was wicht and lychtyt on his fute. Few horss thai had, litill thar off thai roucht: 275 To sawe thar lywes feill strenthis oft thai socht. Stewyn of Irland he was thair gyd that nycht Towart Kyncardyn, syne restit thar at rycht In a forest, that was bathe lang and wide, Rycht fra the moss grew to the wattir syde. 280 Eftre the sone Wallas walkit about Vpon Tetht side, quhar he saw mony rout Off wyld bestis wauerand in wode and playne. Sone at a schot a gret hart hass he slayne; Slew fyr on flynt, and graithit thaim at rycht; 285 Sodeynly thar fresche venesoun thai dycht. Wictaill thai had, bathe breid, and wyne so cler, With othir stuff yneuch at thair dyner. His staff of steill he gaiff Kerly to kepe; Syn passit [thai] our Tetht wattir so depe. 290 In to Straithern thai entrit sodeynly; In couert past, or Sothren suld thaim spy. Quhen at thai fand of Scotlandis aduersouris, With out respyt cummyn was thair fatell houris. Quham euir thai mett, was at the Ingliss fay, 295 Thai sparyt nane that was off Ingliss blude; To dede he yeid thocht he war neuir so gude. Thai sawyt nothir knycht, squier, nor knaiff; This was the grace that Wallace to thaim gaiff; 300 Bot wastyt all be worthynes off wer, Off that party that mycht weild bow or sper. Sumpart be slycht, sum throw force thai slew; Bot Wallace thocht thai stroyit nocht half enew. Siluer thai tuk, and als gold at thai fand, 305 Othir gud ger full lychtly yeid be hand; Cuttyt throttis, and in to cuwyss thaim kest, Put out of sycht, for that him thocht was best. At the Blakfurd, as at thai suld pass our, A squier come, and with him bernyss four, 310 Fol. 17 a Till Doun suld ryde; and wend at thai had beyne All Inglissmen, at he befor had seyne. Tithingis to sper he howid thaim amang. Wallace thar with swyth out a [gude] suerd swang; Vpon the hede he straik with so gret ire, 315 Throu bayne and brayn in sondyr schar the swyr. The tothir four in handis sone war hynt, Derfly to dede stekit or thai wald stynt. Thar horss thai tuk, and quhat thaim likit best; Spoilyeid thaim bar, syne in the brook thaim kest. 320 Off this mater no mor tary thai maid, Bot furth thar way passit with outyn baid. Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent, Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went: In Meffan woode thair lugyng tuk that nycht. 325 Vpon the morn, quhen it was dayis lycht, Wallace raiss wp, went to the forest side, Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide, Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye. Than Wallace said; “This contré likis me. 330 “Wermen may do with fud at thai suld haiff; “Bot want thai meit, thai rak nocht of the laiff.” Off dyet fayr Wallace tuk neuir kepe; Bot as it come, welcum was meit and sleip. Sum quhill he had gret sufficience within; 335 Now want, now has; now losis, now can win; Now lycht, now sadd; now blisful, now in baill; In haist, now hurt; now sorroufull, now haill; Nowe weildand weyle; now calde weddyr, now hett; Nowe moist, now drowth; now wauerand wynd, now weit. 340 So ferd with hym for Scotlandis rycht full ewyn, In feyle debait six yeris and monethis sewyn. Quhen he wan peess, and left Scotland in playne, The Inglissmen maid new conquest agayne.

In frustyr termys I will nocht tary lang. 345 Wallace agayne wnto his men can gang, And said; “Her is a land of gret boundance, “Thankit be God of his hye perwyans. “Sewyn of yow feris graith sone, and ga with me; “Rycht sor I long Sanct Jhonstoun for to se. 350 “Stewyn of Irland als, God of hewyn the saiff, “Maister leiddar I mak the of the laiff. “Kepe weill my men, latt nane out [of] thi sycht, “Quhill I agayn sall cum with all my mycht. “Byde me sewyn dayis in this forest strang: 355 “Yhe may get fude, supposs I duell so lang. “Sumpart yhe haif, and God will send ws mair.” Thus turnyt he, and to the toune couth fair. The mar, kepyt the port of that willage, Fol. 17 b Wallace knew weill, and send him his message. 360 The mar was brocht, saw him a gudlye man; Rycht reuerandlye he has resawyt thaim than. At him he speryt, all Scottis gyff thai be. Wallace said; “Ya, and it is peess trow we.” ‘I grant,’ he said, ‘that likis ws wondyr weill: 365 ‘Trew men of peess may ay sum frendschipe feill. ‘Quhat is your nayme? I pray yow tell me it.’ “Will Malcomsone,” he said, “sen ye wald witt. “In Atryk forest has my wonnyng beyne: “Thar I was born amang the schawis scheyne. 370 “Now I desyr this north land for to se, “Quhar I mycht find bettyr duellyng for me.” The mar said; ‘Schyr, I sper nocht for nane ille; ‘Bot feill tithingis oft syiss is brocht ws till ‘Off ane Wallace, was born in to the west. 375 ‘Our kingis men he haldis at gret wnrest, ‘Martyris thaim doun, gret peté is to se: ‘Out of the trewis, forsuth, we trow he be.’ Wallace than said; “I her spek of that man; “Tithingis off him to you nane tell I can.” 380 For him he gert ane innys graithit be, Quhar nane suld cum bot his awne men and he. Hys stwart Kerlye brocht thaim in fusioun Gude thing eneuch quhat was in to the toun. Alss Inglissmen to drynkyn wald him call, 385 And commownly he delt nocht thar withall. In thar presence he spendyt resonably, Yheit for him self he payit ay boundandlye. On Scottis men he spendyt mekill gud, Bot nocht his thankis wpon the Sothren blud. 390 Son he consawyt in his witt prewalye, In to that land quha wass of maist party. Schir Jamys Butler, ane agit cruell knycht, Kepyt Kynclewyn, a castell wondyr wycht. His sone Schyr Jhon than duelt in to the toune, 395 Vndyr capteyn to Schyr Garrard Heroune. The wemen alss he wysyt at the last; And so on ane hys eyne he can to cast, In the south gait, of fassoun fresche and fayr. Wallace to hir maid preualye repair. 400 So fell it thus, of the toun or he past, At ane accorde thai hapnyt at the last. Wallace with hyr in secré maid him glaid. Sotheren wist nocht that he sic plesance haid. Offt on the nycht he wald say to him sell; 405 “This is fer war than ony payn of hell, “At thus, with wrang, thir dewillis suld bruk our land, “And we with force may nocht agayne thaim stand. “To tak this toune my pouer is to small, Fol. 18 a “Gret perell als on my self may fall. 410 “Set we it in fyr, it will wndo my sell, “Or loss my men; thar is no mor to tell. “Yhettis ar closs, the dykis depe with all. “Thocht I wald swyme, forsuth so can nocht all. “This matir now herfor I will ourslyde; 415 “Bot in this toun I may no langar byde.” Alss men tald him quhen the captayne wald pass Hayme to Kynclewyn, quharoff glaid he wass.