Read Ebook: The Bruce by Barbour John Mackenzie W M William Mackay Editor

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Here the King and his Men Suffer Great Want.

In this maner rebutyt was The Bruys, that mekill murnyn mais For his men that war slayne and tane. 470 And he wes als sa will off wane, That he trowit in nane sekyrly, Owtane thaim off his cumpany; That war sa few that thai mycht be Five hunder ner off all mengyhe. 475 His brodir alwayis wes him by, Schyr Edward, that wes sa hardy; And with him wes a bauld baroun, Schyr Wilyham the Boroundoun; The Erle off Athole als wes thar. 480 Bot ay syn thai discomfyt war, The Erle off the Levenax wes away, And wes put to full hard assay Or he met with the King agayn: Bot always, as a man off mayn, 485 He mayntemyt him full manlyly. The King had in his cumpany James alsua of Dowglas, That wycht, wys, and averty was. Schyr Gilbert de le Hay alsua, 490 Schir Nele Cambell, and othir ma, That I thar namys can nocht say, As utelauys went mony day; Dreand in the Month thar pyne; Eyte flesch, and drank watir syne. 495 He durst nocht to the planys ga, For all the commownys went him fra; That for thar liffis war full fayn To pas to the Inglis pes agayn. Sa fayris it ay commounly; 500 In commownys may nane affy, Bot he that may thar warand be. Sa fur thai then with him; for he Thaim fra thar fais mycht nocht warand: Thai turnyt to the tothir hand. 505 Bot threldome, that men gert thaim fele, Gert thaim ay yharne that he fur wele.

Here King Robert with his Men goes as far as Aberdeen.

Thus in the hyllis levyt he, Till the maist part off his menyhe Wes revyn and rent; na schoyne thai had, 510 Bot as thai thaim off hydys mad. Tharfor thai went till Abyrdeyne, Quhar Nele the Bruys come, and the Queyn, And othir ladyis fayr and farand, Ilkane for luff off thar husband; 515 That for leyle luff, and leawte, Wald partenerys off thair paynys be. Thai chesyt tyttar with thaim to ta Angyr, and payn, na be thaim fra. For luff is off sa mekill mycht, 520 That it all paynys makis lycht; And mony tyme mais tendir wychtis Off swilk strenthtis, and swilk mychtis, That thai may mekill paynys endur, And forsakis nane aventur 525 That evyr may fall, with-thi that thai Thar-throw succur thair luffys may. Men redys, quhen Thebes wes tane, And King Adrastus men war slane, That assailyt the cite, 530 That the wemen off his cuntre Come for to fech him hame agayne, Quhen thai hard all his folk wes slayne; Quhar the King Campaneus, Throw the help off Menesteus, 535 That come percas ridand tharby, With three hunder in cumpany, That throw the kingis prayer assailyt, That yheit to tak the toun had failyheit. Then war the wiffys thyrland the wall 540 With pikkis, quhar the assailyheours all Entryt, and dystroyit the tour, And slew the pupill but recour. Syn quhen the duk his way wes gayne, And all the kingis men war slayne, 545 The wiffis had him till his cuntre, Quhar wes na man leiffand bot he. In wemen mekill comfort lyis; And gret solace on mony wis. Sa fell it her, for thar cummyng 550 Rejosyt rycht gretumly the King; The-quhethir ilk nycht him-selvyn wouk And his rest apon daiis touk. A gud quhile thar he sojournyt then, And esyt wondir weill his men; 555 Till that the Inglis men herd say That he thair with his mengyhe lay, All at ese and sekyrly. Assemblit thai thar ost in hy, And thar him trowit to suppris. 560 Bot he, that in his deid wes wys, Wyst thai assemblyt war, and quhar; And wyst that thai sa mony war, That he mycht nocht agayne thaim fycht. His men in hy he gert be dycht, 565 And buskyt of the toune to ryd: The ladyis raid rycht by his syd. Then to the hill thai raid thar way, Quhar gret defaut off mete had thai. Bot worthy James off Dowglas 570 Ay travailland and besy was, For to purches the ladyis mete; And it on mony wis wald get. For quhile he venesoun thaim brocht: And with his handys quhile he wrocht 575 Gynnys, to tak geddis and salmonys, Trowtis, elys, and als menounys. And quhill thai went to the forray; And swa thar purchesyng maid thai. Ilk man traveillyt for to get 580 And purches thaim that thai mycht ete. Bot off all that evir thai war, Thar wes nocht ane amang thaim thar, That to the ladyis profyt was Mar then Jamys of Dowglas. 585 And the King oft confortyt wes, Throw his wyt and his besynes. On this maner thaim governyt thai, Till they come to the hed of Tay.

Here the Lord of Lorn attacks the King because of the Death of John Comyn.

The Lord off Lorne wonnyt thar-by, That wes capitale ennymy To the King, for his emys sak, Jhon Comyn; and thocht for to tak Vengeance apon cruell maner. 5 Quhen he the King wyst wes sa ner, He assemblyt his men in hy; And had in-till his cumpany The barownys off Argyle alsua, Thai war a thowsand weill or ma: 10 And come for to suppris the King, That weill wes war of thair cummyng. Bot all to few with him he had, The-quhethir he bauldly thaim abaid; And weill ost, at thar fryst metyng, 15 War layd at erd, but recoveryng. The Kingis folk full weill thaim bar, And slew, and fellyt, and woundyt sar. Bot the folk off the tothir party Fawcht with axys sa felounly 20 For thai on fute war evir-ilkane, That thai feile off thar hors has slayne; And till sum gaiff thai woundis wid. James off Dowglas wes hurt that tyd; And als Schyr Gilbert de le Hay. 25 The King his men saw in affray, And his ensenyhe can he cry; And amang thaim rycht hardyly He rad, that he thaim ruschyt all; And fele of thaim thar gert he fall. 30 Bot quhen he saw thai war sa feill, And saw thaim swa gret dyntis deill, He dred to tyne his folk, forthi His men till him he gan rely, And said; 'Lordyngis, foly it war 35 'Tyll us for till assembill mar, 'For thai fele off our hors has slayn; 'And gyff we fecht with thaim agayn 'We sall tyne off our small mengyhe, 'And our-selft sall in perill be. 40 'Tharfor me thynk maist avenand 'To withdraw us, us defendand, 'Till we cum owt off thar daunger, 'For owr strenth at our hand is ner.'

Then thai withdrew thaim halely; 45 Bot that wes nocht full cowartly; For samyn in-till a sop held thai; And the King him abandonyt ay To defend behind his mengyhe. And throw his worschip sa wroucht he, 50 That he reskewyt all the flearis, And styntyt swagat the chassaris, That nane durst owt off batall chas For alwayis at thar hand he was. Sa weile defendyt he his men, 55 That quha-sa-evir had seyne him then Prove sa worthely vasselage, And turn sa oft sythis the visage, He suld say he awcht weill to be A king of gret rewate. 60

Quhen that the Lord of Lorne saw His men stand off him ane sik aw, That thai durst nocht folow the chase, Rycht angry in his hart he was; And for wondyr that he suld swa 65 Stot thaim, him allane but ma, He said; "Me think, Marthokys sone, "Rycht as Golmakmorn was wone "To haiff fra Fyn all his mengne, "Rycht swa all his fra us has he." 70 He set ensample thus mydlike, The-quhethir he micht, mar manerlik, Lyknyt hym to Gaudifer de Larys, Quhen that the mychty duk Betys Assailyheit in Gadyrris the forrayours. 75 And quhen the King thaim made rescours, Duk Betys tuk on him the flycht, That wald ne mar abid to fycht. Bot gud Gaudifer the worthi Abandonyt him so worthyly, 80 For to reskew all the fleieris, And for to stonay the chasseris, That Alysandir to erth he bar; And alsua did he Tholimar, And gud Coneus alsua, 85 Danklyne alsua, and othir ma. But at the last thar slayne he wes: In that failyheit the liklynes. For the King, full chevalrusly, Defendyt all his cumpany, 90 And wes set in full gret danger; And yheit eschapyt haile and fer.

How the King slew the Three Men that swore his Death.

Twa brethir war into that land, That war the hardiest off hand That war in-till all that cuntre; 95 And thai had sworn, iff thai micht se The Bruys, quhar thai mycht him our-ta, That thai suld dey, or then hym sla. Thar surname wes Makyne-drosser; That is al-so mekill to say her 100 As "the Durwarth sonnys" perfay. Off thar covyne the thrid had thai, That wes rycht stout, ill, and feloune. Quhen thai the King of gud renoune Saw sua behind his mengne rid, 105 And saw him torne sa mony tid, Thai abaid till that he was Entryt in ane narow place, Betuix a louchside and a bra; That wes sa strait, Ik underta, 110 That he mycht nocht weill turn his sted. Then with a will till him thai yhede; And ane him by the bridill hynt: But he raucht till him sic a dynt, That arme and schuldyr flaw him fra. 115 With that ane othir gan him ta Be the lege, and his hand gan schute Betuix the sterap and his fute: And quhen the King felt thar his hand. In sterapys stythly gan he stand, 120 And strak with spuris the stede in hy, And he lansyt furth delyverly, Swa that the tothir failyheit fete; And nocht-for-thi his hand wes yheit Undyr the sterap, magre his. 125 The thrid, with full gret hy, with this Rycht till the bra-syd he yheid, And stert be-hynd hym on his sted. The King wes then in full gret pres; The-quhethir he thocht, as he that wes 130 In all hys dedys avise, To do ane owtrageous bounte. And syne hyme that behynd hym was, All magre his will, him gan he ras Fra be-hynd hym, thocht he had sworn, 135 He laid hym evyn him beforn. Syne with the suerd sic dynt hym gave, That he the heid till the harnys clave. He rouschit doun off blud all rede, As he that stound feld off dede. 140 And then the King, in full gret hy, Strak at the tothir vigorusly, That he eftir his sterap drew, That at the fyrst strak he him slew. On this wis him delyverit he 145 Off all thai felloun fayis thre.

Quhen thai of Lorne has sene the King Set in hym-selff sa gret helping, And defend him sa manlely; Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy 150 That durst assailyhe him mar in fycht: Sa dred thai for his mekill mycht. Thar wes a baroune Maknauchtan, That in his hart gret kep has tane Unto the Kingis chevalry, 155 And prisyt hym in hert gretly. And to the Lord off Lorne said he; 'Sekyrly now may yhe se 'Betane the starkest pundelan, 'That evyr yhour lyff-tyme yhe saw tane. 160 'For yhone knycht, throw his douchti deid, 'And throw his owtrageous manheid, 'Has fellyt in-till litill tyd 'Thre men of mekill mycht and prid: 'And stonayit all our mengyhe swa, 165 'That eftyr him dar na man ga; 'And tournys sa mony tyme his stede, 'That semys off us he had na dred.' Then gane the Lord off Lorn say; "It semys it likis the perfay, 170 "That he slayis yhongat our mengyhe." 'Schyr,' said he, 'sa our Lord me se! 'To sauff yhour presence it is nocht swa. 'Bot quhethir sa he be freynd or fa, 'That wynnys prys off chevalry, 175 'Men suld spek tharoff lelyly. 'And sekyrly, in all my tyme, 'Ik hard nevir, in sang na ryme, 'Tell off a man that swa smertly 'Eschevyt swa gret chevalry.' 180 Sic speking off the King thai maid: And he eftyr his mengyhe raid; And in-till saufte thaim led, Quhar he his fayis na thing dred. And thai off Lorne agayn ar gayn, 185 Menand the scaith that thai haiff tayn.

The King that nycht his wachis set, And gert ordayne that thai mycht et; And bad thaim comford to thaim tak, And at thar mychtis mery mak. 190 'For disconford,' as then said he, 'Is the werst thing that may be. 'For throw mekill disconforting 'Men fallis oft in-to disparyng. 'And fra a man disparyt be, 195 'Then utterly vencusyt is he. 'And fra the hart be discumfyt, 'The body is nocht worth a myt. 'Tharfor,' he said, 'atour all thing, 'Kepys yhow fra disparyng: 200 'And thynk, thouch we now harmys fele, 'That God may yheit releve us weill. 'Men redys off mony men that war 'Fer hardar stad then we yhet ar; 'And syne our lord sic grace thaim lent, 205 'That thai come weill till thair entent. 'For Rome quhilum sa hard wes stad, 'Quhen Hanniball thaim vencusyt had, 'That, off ryngis with rich stane, 'That war off knychtis fyngerys tane, 210 'He send thre bollis to Cartage: 'And syne to Rome tuk his viage, 'Thar to distroye the cite all. 'And thai with-in, bath gret and small, 'Had fled, quhen thai saw his cummyng, 215 'Had nocht bene Scipio the king, 'That, or thai fled, wald thaim haiff slayn, 'And swagat turnyt he thaim agayn. 'Syne for to defend the cite, 'Servandis and threllis mad he fre; 220 'And maid thaim knychtis evirilkane: 'And syne has off the templis tane 'The armys, that thar eldrys bar, 'In name off victory offerryt thar. 'And quhen thai armyt war and dycht, 225 'That stalwart karlis war and wycht, 'And saw that thai war fre alsua, 'Thaim thocht that thai had levir ta 'The dede, na lat the toun be tane. 'And with commowne assent, as ane, 230 'Thai ischit off the toune to fycht, 'Quhar Hannyball his mekill mycht 'Aganys thaim arayit was. 'Bot, throw mycht off Goddis grace, 'It ranyt sa hard and hevyly, 235 'That thar wes nane sa hardy 'That durst in-to that place abid; 'Bot sped thaim in-till hy to rid; 'The ta part to thar pailyhownys, 'The tothyr part went in the toune is. 240 'The rayne thus lettyt the fechtyn: 'Sa did it twys thar-eftir syne. 'Quhen Hanibal saw this ferly, 'With all his gret chevalry 'He left the toune, and held his way; 245 'And syne wes put to sik assay, 'Throw the power off that cite, 'That his lyff and his land tynt he. 'Be thir quheyne, that sa worthily 'Wane sik a king, and sa mychty, 250 'Yhe may weill be ensampill se, 'That na man suld disparyt be: 'Na lat his hart be vencusyt all, 'For na myscheiff that evir may fall. 'For nane wate, in how litill space, 255 'That God umquhile will send his grace. 'Had thai fled and thar wayis gane, 'Thar fayis swith the toune had tane. 'Tharfor men, that werrayand ar, 'Suld set thair etlyng evir-mar 260 'To stand agayne thar fayis mycht, 'Umquhile with strenth, and quhile with slycht; 'And ay thynk to cum to purpos: 'And giff that thaim war set in chos, 'To dey, or to leyff cowartly, 265 'Thai suld erar dey chevalrusly.'

Thusgat thaim confortyt the King; And, to confort thaim, gan inbryng Auld storys off men that wer Set in-tyll hard assayis ser, 270 And that fortoun contraryit fast, And come to purpos at the last. Tharfor he said, that thai that wald Thar hartis undiscumfyt hald Suld ay thynk ythandly to bryng 275 All thar enpres to gud ending: As quhile did Cesar the worthy, That traveillyt ay so besyly, With all his mycht, folowing to mak To end the purpos that he wald tak; 280 That hym thocht he had doyne rycht nocht, Ay quhill to do him levyt ocht: For-thi gret thingis eschevyt he, As men may in his story se. Men may se be his ythand will, 285 And it suld als accord to skill, That quha tais purpos sekyrly, And followis it syne ythandly, For-owt fayntice, or yheit faynding, With-thi it be conabill thing, 290 Bot he the mar be unhappy, He sall eschev it in party. And haiff he lyff-dayis, weill mai fall, That he sall eschev it all. For-thi suld nane haiff disparing 295 For till eschev a full gret thing: For giff it fall he thar off failyhe, The fawt may be in his trawailyhe.

He prechyt thaim on this maner; And fenyheit to mak bettir cher, 300 Then he had matir to, be fer: For his caus yheid fra ill to wer. Thai war ay in sa hard travaill, Till the ladyis began to fayle, That mycht the travaill drey na mar; 305 Sa did othir als that war thar. The Erle Jhone wes ane off tha, Off Athole, that quhen he saw sua The King be discumfyt twys, And sa feile folk agayne him rys; 310 And lyff in sic travaill and dout, His hart begane to faile all out. And to the King, apon a day, He said; "Gyff I durst to yhow say, "We lyff in-to sa mekill dreid, 315 "And haffis oft-sys off met sik ned, "And is ay in sic travailling, "With cauld, and hungir, and waking; "That I set off my-selvyn sua, "That I count nocht my liff a stra. 320 "Thir angrys may I na mar drey, "For thoucht me tharfor worthit dey, "I mon sojourne, quhar-evir it be. "Levys me tharfor par cheryte." The King saw that he sa wes failyt, 325 And that he ik wes for-travaillyt. He said; 'Schir Erle, we sall sone se, 'And ordayne how it best may be. 'Quhar-evyr yhe be, our Lord yhow send 'Grace, fra yhour fais yhow to defend!' 330 With that in hy to him callyt he Thaim, that till him war mast prive: Then amang thaim thai thocht it best, And ordanyt for the liklyest, That the Queyne, and the Erle alsua, 335 And the ladyis, in hy suld ga, With Nele the Bruce, till Kildromy. For thaim thocht thai mycht sekyrly Duell thar, quhill thai war victaillit weile: For swa stalwart wes the castell, 340 That it with strenth war hard to get, Quhill that thar-in were men and mete. As thai ordanyt thai did in hy: The Queyne, and all hyr cumpany, Lap on thar hors, and furth thai far. 345 Men mycht haiff sene, quha had bene thar, At leve-takyng the ladyis gret, And mak thar face with teris wet: And knychtis, for thar luffis sak, Baith sich, and wep, and murnyng mak. 350 Thai kyssyt thair luffis at thair partyng, The King umbethocht him off a thing; That he fra-thine on fute wald ga, And tak on fute bath weill and wa; And wald na hors-men with him haiff. 355 Tharfor his hors all haile he gaiff To the ladyis, that mystir had. The Queyn furth on hyr wayis rade; And sawffly come to the castell, Quhar hyr folk war ressavyt weill; 360 And esyt weill with meyt and drynk. Bot mycht nane eys let hyr to think On the King, that sa sar wes stad, That bot twa hunder with him had, The quhethir thaim weill confort he ay: 365 God help him, that all mychtis may!

The Pains of King Robert among the Mountains.

The Queyne duelt thus in Kyldromy: And the King and his cumpany, That war twa hunder, and na ma, Fra thai had send thar hors thaim fra, 370 Wandryt emang the hey montanys Quhar he and his oft tholyt paynys. For it wes to the wynter ner; And sa feile fayis about him wer, That all the countre thaim werrayit. 375 Sa hard anoy thaim then assayit, Off hungir, cauld, with schowris snell, That nane that levys can weill it tell. The King saw how his folk wes stad, And quhat anoyis that thai had; 380 And saw wynter wes cummand ner; And that he mycht on na wys der, In the hillys, the cauld lying, Na the lang nychtis waking. He thocht he to Kyntyr wald ga, 385 And swa lang sojowrnyng thar ma, Till wynter weddir war away: And then he thocht, but mar delay, In-to the manland till aryve, And till the end hys werdis dryve. 390 And for Kyntyr lyis in the se, Schyr Nele Cambel befor send he, For to get him navyn and meite: And certane tyme till him he sete, Quhen he suld meite him at the se. 395 Schir Nele Cambel, with his mengyhe, Went his way, but mar letting, And left his brothir with the King. And in twelve dayis sua traveillit he, That he gat schippyne gud plente, 400 And victalis in gret aboundance: Sa maid he nobill chevisance. For his sibmen wonnyt thar-by, That helpyt him full wilfully.

How the King passed over Loch Lomond.

The King, eftir that he wes gane, 405 To Lowchlomond the way has tane, And come thar on the thrid day. Bot thar-about na bait fand thai, That mycht thaim our the watir ber: Than war thai wa on gret maner: 410 For it wes fer about to ga; And thai war in-to dout alsua, To meyt thair fayis that spred war wyd. Tharfor, endlang the louch his syd, Sa besyly thai socht, and fast, 415 Tyll Jamys of Dowglas, at the last, Fand a litill sonkyn bate, And to the land it drew, fut-hate. But it sa litill wes that it Mycht our the wattir bot thresum flyt. 420 Thai send thar-off word to the King, That wes joyfull off that fynding; And fyrst in-to the bate is gane, With him Dowglas; the thrid wes ane That rowyt thaim our deliverly, 425 And set thaim on the land all dry: And rowyt sa oft-sys to and fra, Fechand ay our twa and twa, That in a nycht and in a day, Cummyn owt-our the louch ar thai. 430 For sum off thaim couth swome full weill, And on his bak ber a fardele. Swa with swymmyng, and with rowyng, Thai brocht thaim our, and all thair thing.

The King, the quhilis, meryly 435 Red to thaim, that war him by, Romanys off worthi Ferambrace, That worthily our-cummyn was, Throw the rycht douchty Olyver; And how the Duk-Peris wer 440 Assegyt in-till Egrymor, Quhar King Lavyne lay thaim befor, With may thowsandis then I can say. And bot eleven within war thai, And a woman: and war sa stad, 445 That thai na mete thar-within had, Bot as thai fra thar fayis wan. Yheyte sua contenyt thai thaim than, That thai the tour held manlily, Till that Rychard off Normandy, 450 Magre his fayis, warnyt the King, That wes joyfull off this tithing: For he wend thai had all bene slayne. Tharfor he turnyt in hy agayne, And wan Mantrybill and passit Flagot; 455 And syne Lavyne and all his flot, Dispitusly discumfyt he: And deliveryt his men all fre, And wan the naylis, and the sper, And the croune that Jesu couth ber; 460 And off the croice a gret party He wan throw his chevalry. The gud King, apon this maner, Comfortyt thaim that war him ner; And maid thaim gamyn and solace, 465 Till that his folk all passyt was.

Quhen thai war passit the watir brad, Suppos thai fele off fayis had, Thai maid thaim mery, and war blyth; Nocht-for-thi full fele syth 470 Thai had full gret defaut off mete, And tharfor venesoun to get In twa partys ar thai gayne. The King him-selff was in-till ane, And Schir James off Dowglas 475 In-to the tothir party was. Then to the hycht thai held thar way, And huntyt lang quhill off the day; And soucht schawys, and setis set; Bot thai gat litill for till ete. 480 Then hapnyt at that tyme percas, That the Erle of the Levenax was Amang the hillis ner tharby; And quhen he hard sa blaw and cry, He had wondir quhat it mycht be; 485 And on sic maner spyryt he, That he knew that it wes the King And then, for-owtyn mar duelling, With all thaim off his company, He went rycht till the King in hy, 490 Sa blyth and sa joyfull, that he Mycht on na maner blyther be. For he the King wend had bene ded; And he wes alsua will off red, That he durst rest in-to na place 495 Na, sen the King discumfyt was At Meffan, he herd nevir thing That evir wes certane off the King. Tharfor in-to full gret daynte, The King full humyly haylsit he; 500 And he him welcummyt rycht blythly, And kyssyt him full tendirly. And all the lordis, that war thar, Rycht joyfull off thar meting war, And kyssyt him in gret daynte. 505 It wes gret pite for till se How thai for joy and pite gret, Quhen that thai with thar falow met, That thai wend had bene dede; forthi Thai welcummyt him mar hartfully. 510 And he for pite gret agayne, That nevir off metyng wes say fayne.

Thocht I say that thai gret, sothly It wes na greting propyrly: For I trow traistly that gretyng 515 Cummys to men for mysliking; And that nane may but anger gret, Bot it be wemen, that can wet Thair chekys quhen-evir thaim list with teris, The-quhethir weill oft thaim na thing deris. 520 Bot I wate richt weill, but lesyng, Quhat-evir men say off sic greting, That mekill joy, or yheit pete, May ger men sua amovyt be, That watir fra the hart will rys, 525 And weyt the eyne on sic avys, That it is lik to be greting, Thocht it to be nocht sua in all thing. For quhen men gretis enkrely, The hart is sorowfull or angry. 530 Bot for pite, I trow, gretyng Be na thing bot ane opynnyng Off hart, that schawis the tendirnys Off rewth that in it closyt is. The barownys apon this maner, 535 Throw Goddis grace, assemblyt wer. The Erle had mete, and that plente, And with glaid hart it thaim gaiff he; And thai eyt it with full gud will, That soucht nane othir sals thar-till 540 Bot appetyt, that oft men takys; For rycht weill scowryt war thar stomakys. Thai eit and drank sic as thai had; And till our Lord syne lovyng maid, And thankit him, with full gud cher, 545 That thai war met on that maner. The King then at thaim speryt yharne, How thai, sen he thaim saw, had farne; And thai full petwysly gan tell Aventuris that thaim befell, 550 And gret anoyis, and poverte. The King thar-at had gret pite: And tauld thaim petwisly agayne The noy, the travaill, and the payne, That he had tholyt, sen he thaim saw. 555 Wes nane amang thaim, hey na law, That he ne had pite and plesaunce, Quhen that he herd mak remembrance Off the perellys that passyt war. For, quhen men oucht at liking ar, 560 To tell off paynys passyt by Plesys to heryng wonderly; And to rehers thar auld disese, Dois thaim oft-sys confort and ese; With-thi thar-to folow na blame, 565 Dishonour, wikytnes, na shame.

How the King passed to the Sea, and how the Earl of Lennox was chased.

Eftir the mete sone rais the King, Quhen he had levyt hys speryng; And buskyt him, with his mengyhe, And went in hy towart the se; 570 Quhar Schir Nele Cambell thaim mete, Bath with schippis, and with meyte; Saylys, ayris, and othir thing, That wes spedfull to thar passyng. Then schippyt thai, for-owtyn mar; 575 Sum went till ster, and sum till ar, And rowyt be the ile of But. Men mycht se mony frely fute About the costis thar lukand, As thai on ayris rais rowand: 580 And nevys that stalwart war and squar, That wont to spayn gret speris war, Swa spaynyt aris, that men mycht se Full oft the hyde leve on the tre. For all war doand, knycht and knave; 585 Wes nane that evir disport mycht have Fra steryng, and fra rowyng, To furthyr thaim off thar fleting.

Here the Earl of Lennox is followed by Traitors.

Bot in the samyn tyme at thai War in schipping, as yhe hard me say, 590 The Erle off the Levenax was, I can nocht tell yhow throw quhat cas. Levyt behynd with his galay, Till the King wes fer on his way. Quhen that thai off his cuntre 595 Wyst that so duelt behynd wes he, Be se with schippys thai him soucht; And he that saw that he wes nocht Off pith to fecht with thai traytouris, And that he had na ner socouris 600 Then the Kingis flote, for-thi He sped him eftir thaim in hy. Bot the tratouris hym folowyt sua, That thai weill ner hym gan our-ta. For all the mycht that he mycht do, 605 Ay ner and ner thai come him to. And quhen he saw thai war sa ner That he mycht weill thar manauce her, And saw thaim ner and ner cum ay, Then till his mengyhe gan he say; 610 "Bot giff we fynd sum sutelte, "Ourtane all sone sall we be. "Tharfor I rede, but mar letting, "That, owtakyn our armyng, "We kast our thing all in the se: 615 "And fra our schip swa lychtyt be, "We sall swa row, and speid us sua, "That we sall weill eschaip thaim fra; "With that thai sall mak duelling "Apon the se, to tak our thing; 620 "And we sall row but resting ay, "Till we eschapyt be away." As he devisyt thai have done; And thar schip thai lychtyt sone: And rowyt syne, with all thar mycht; 625 And scho, that swa wes maid lycht, Raykyt slidand throw the se. And quhen thar fayis gan thaim se Forowth thaim alwayis, mar and mar, The thingis that thar fletand war 630 Thai tuk; and turnyt syne agayne, Swa that thai lesyt all thar payne.

Quhen that the Erle on this maner, And hys mengyhe, eschapyt wer, Eftyr the King he gan hym hy, 635 That then, with all his cumpany, In-to Kyntyr aryvyt was. The Erle tauld him all his cas; How he wes chasyt on the se, With thaim that suld his awyn be; 640 And how he had bene tane but dout, Na war it that he warpyt owt All that he had, him lycht to ma; And swa eschapyt he thaim fra. "Schyr Erle," said the King, "perfay 645 "Syn thow eschapyt is away, "Off the tynsell is na plenyheing. "Bot I will say the weile a thing; "That thar will fall the gret foly "To pas oft fra my cumpany. 650 "For fele sys, quhen thow art away, "Thow art set in-till hard assay. "Tharfor me thynk it best to the "To hald the alwayis ner by me." 'Schyr,' said the Erle, 'it sall be swa. 655 'I sall na wys pas fer yhow fra, 'Till God giff grace we be of mycht 'Agayne our fayis to hald our stycht.'

Angus off Ile that tyme wes syr, And lord and ledar off Kyntyr. 660 The King rycht weill resavyt he; And undretuk his man to be: And him and his, on mony wys, He abandownyt till his service. And, for mar sekyrnes, gaiff him syne 665 Hys castell off Donavardyne, To duell tharin at his liking. Full gretumly thankyt him the King, And resavyt his service. Nocht-for-thi, on mony wys, 670 He wes dredand for tresoun ay: And tharfor, as Ik hard men say, He traistyt in nane sekyrly, Till that he knew him utraly. Bot quhatkyn dred that evir he had, 675 Fayr contenance to thaim he maid. And in Donavardyne dayis thre, For-owtyne mar, then duellyt he. Syne gert he his mengyhe mak thaim yhar, Towart Rauchryne be se to far, 680 That is ane ile in-to the se; And may weill in mydwart be Betuix Kyntyr and Irland: Quhar als gret stremys ar rynnand, And als peralous and mar 685 Till our-saile thaim in-to schipfair, As is the rais of Bretangyhe, Or strait off Marrok in-to Spanyhe.

Thair schippys to the se thai set; And maid redy but langer let, 690 Ankyrs, rapys, bath saile and ar, And all that nedyt to schipfar. Quhen thai war boune, to saile thai went: The wynd wes wele to thar talent. Thai raysyt saile, and furth thai far; 695 And by the mole thai passyt yhar, And entryt sone in-to the rase, Quhar that the strem sa sturdy was That wavys wycht, that brekand war, Weltryt as hillys her and thar. 700 The schippys our the wavys slayd, For wynd at poynt blawand thai had. Bot nocht-for-thi quha had thar bene, A gret stertling he mycht haiff seyne Off schippys; for quhilum sum wald be 705 Rycht on the wavys, as on mounte; And sum wald slyd fro heycht to law, Rycht as thai doune till hell wald draw; Syne on the wav stert sodanly. And othyr schippis, that war thar-by, 710 Deliverly drew to the depe. It wes gret cunnannes to kep Thar takill in-till sic a thrang, And wyth sic wavis; for, ay amang, The wavys reft thar sycht of land. 715 Quhen thai the land wes rycht ner hand, And quhen schippys war sailand ner, The se wald rys on sic maner, That off the wavys the weltrand hycht Wald refe thaim oft off thar sycht. 720

Bot in to Rauchryne, nocht-forthi, Thai aryvyt ilkane sawffly: Blyth, and glaid, that thai war sua Eschapyt thai hidwyss wavis fra. In Rauchryne thai aryvyt ar; 725 And to the land thai went but mar, Armyt upon thar best maner. Quhen the folk, that thar wonnand wer, Saw men off armys in thar cuntre Aryve in-to sic quantite, 730 Thai fled in hy, with thar catell, Towart a rycht stalwart castell, That in the land wes ner thar-by. Men mycht her wemen hely cry, And fle with cataill her and thar. 735 Bot the Kingis folk, that war Deliver off fute, thaim gan our-hy; And thaim arestyt haillely, And brocht thaim to the King agayne, Swa that nane off thaim all wes slayne. 740 Then with thaim tretyt swa the King, That thai, to fullfill hys yharning, Become his men evirilkane: And has him trewly undretane That thai and thairis, loud and still, 745 Suld be in all thing at his will: And, quhill him likit thar to leynd, Evirilk day thai suld him seynd Victalis for three hunder men: And ay as lord thai suld him ken; 750 Bot at thar possessioune suld be, For all his men, thair awyn fre.

The cunnand on this wys was maid. And on the morn, but langir baid Off all Rauchryne bath man and page 755 Knelyt, and maid the King homage; And tharwith swour him fewte, To serve him ay in lawte: And held him rycht weill cunnand. For quhill he duelt in-to the land, 760 Thai fand meit till his cumpany; And servyt him full humely.

How the Queen and Other Ladies were taken and imprisoned, and her Men slain.

In Rauchryne leve we now the King In rest, for-owtyn barganying; And off his fayis a quhile spek we, That, throw thar mycht and thar powste, Maid sic a persecucioune, 5 Sa hard, sa strayt, and sa feloune, On thaim that till hym luffand wer, Or kyn, or freynd on ony maner; That it till her is gret pite. For thai sparyt, off na degre, 10 Thaim that thai trowit his freynd wer, Nothir off the kyrk, na seculer. For off Glaskow byschop Robert, And Marcus off Man thai stythly speryt, Bath in fetrys and in presoune. 15 And worthy Crystoll off Seytoun In-to Lochdon betresyt was, Throw a discipill off Judas. Maknab, a fals tratour, that ay Wes off his duelling, nycht and day; 20 Quhom-to he maid gud cumpany. It wes fer wer than tratoury For to betreys sic a persoune, So nobill, and off sic renoune. Bot thar-off had he na pite: 25 In hell condampnyt mot he be! For quhen he him betrasyt had, The Inglis men rycht with him rad In hy, in Ingland, to the King, That gert draw hym, and hede, and hing, 30 For-owtyn pete, or mercy. It wes gret sorow sekyrly, That so worthy persoune as he Suld on sic maner hangyt be. Thusgate endyt his worthynes. 35 And off Crauford als Schyr Ranald wes. And Schyr Bruce als the Blar, Hangyt in-till a berne in Ar.

The Queyn, and als dame Marjory, Hyr dochtyr that syne worthily 40 Wes coupillyt in-to Goddis band With Walter, Stewart off Scotland; That wald on na wys langar ly In the castell off Kyldromy, To byd a sege, ar ridin raith 45 With knychtis and with squyeris bath, Throw Ros, rycht to the gyrth off Tayne. Bot that travaill thai maid in vayne; For thai off Ros, that wald nocht ber For thaim na blayme, na yheit danger, 50 Owt off the gyrth thame all has tayne; And syne has send thaim evirilkane Rycht in-till Ingland, to the King, That gert draw all the men, and hing; And put the ladyis in presoune, 55 Sum in-till castell, sum in dongeoun. It wes gret pite for till heir Folk till be troublyt on this maneir.

How Prince Edward of England besieged Kyldrumy.

That tyme wes in-to Kyldromy, With men, that wycht war and hardy, 60 Schyr Neile the Bruce: and I wate weile That thar the Erle wes off Adheill. The castell weill victalyt thai, And mete and fuell gan purvay; And inforsit the castell sua, 65 That thaim thocht na strenth mycht it ta. And quhen that it the King wes tald Off Ingland, how thai schup to hald That castell, he wes all angry; And callit his sone till hym in hy, 70 The eldest and apperande air, A yhoung bachiller, stark and fair, Schyr Edward callit off Carnavirnane, That wes the starkest man off ane That men fynd mycht in ony cuntre; 75 Prynce off Walys that tym wes he. And he gert als call erlis twa, Glowsister and Herfurd war thai; And bad thame wend in-to Scotland And set a sege, with stalward hand, 80 To the castell of Kildromy. And all the haldaris halely He bad distroy, without ransoun, Or bring thame till him in presoune.

Here the King of England collects his Men in Scotland.

Quhen thai the mandment all had tane, 85 Thai assemblit ane ost on-ane, And to the castell went in hy, And it assegyt vigorusly; And mony tyme full hard assalit; Bot for to tak it yheit thame falit. 90 For thai within war rycht worthy, And thame defendit douchtely; And ruschit thair fayis oft agayne; Sum best woundit, and sum wes slayne. And mony tymes ysche thai wald, 95 And bargane at the barras hald; And wound thair fayis oft and sla. Schortly thai thaim contenyt swa, That thai without disparit war, And thoucht till Ingland for to far; 100 For thai sa stith saw the casteill, And wist that it wes warnist weill; And saw the men defend thame swa, That thai na hop had thame to ta.

Nane had thai done all that sesoune, 105 Gyff na had beyn thair fals tresoune. For thar within wes a tratour, A fals lurdane, ane losengeour, Osbarn to name, maid the tresoun, I wate nocht for quhat enchesoun, 110 Na quham-with he maid that covyne: Bot as thai said, that war thar-in, He tuk a culter hat glowand, That het wes in a fyre byrnand, And went in-to the mekill hall, 115 That than with corne wes fillit all, And heych up on a mow it did, Bot it full lang wes thar nocht hyd. For men sais oft that fyr, na pryd, But discovering may na man hyd. 120 For the pomp oft the prid furth shawis, Or ellis the gret bost that it blawis. Na mar may na man fyr sa covyr, Than low or rek sall it discovyr. So fell it heir, for fyre all cleir 125 Soyn throu the thik burd can appeir, Ferst as a sterne, syne as a moyne, And weill bradar thar-efter soyn The fyre out syne in blasis brast; And the reik rais rycht wounder fast. 130 The fyre our all the castell spred, Thar mycht no fors of men it red. Than thai within drew till the wall, That at that tym wes battalit all Within, rycht as it wes with-out. 135 That battalyng, withouten dout, Saffit thair liffis, for it brak Blesis that wald thame ourtak. And quhen thair fayis the myscheiff saw, Till armys went thai in a thraw; 140 And assalit the castell fast, Quhar thai durst come for fyris blast, Bot thai, within that myster had, Sa gret defens ande worthy maid, That thai full oft thair fayis ruschit, 145 For thai nakyn peralis refusit. Thai travaill for to sauf thair lifis: Bot werd, that to the end ay driffis The warldis thingis, sua thame travalit, That thai on twa halfis war assalit. 150 Within with fyr, that thame sa brulyheit; Without with folk, that thaim sa tulyheit, That thai brynt magre thairis the yhet, Bot for the fyre, that wes so het, Thai durst nocht enter swa in hy. 155 Thar folk thar-for thai can rely, And went to rest, for it wes nycht; Till on the morn that day wes lycht.

How King Edward died in Burgh-in-Sand.

At sic myscheiff, as yhe herd say, War thai within; the-quhethir thai 160 Evir thame defendit worthely, And thame contenit sa manfully, That thai or day, throu mekill pane, Had muryt up the yhet agane. Bot on the morn, quhen day wes lycht, 165 And sone wes ryssyn schynand brycht, Thai without in hale battale, Com purvait, reddy till assale. Bot thai within, that sa war stad, That na wittaill na fuaill had, 170 Quhar-with thai mycht the castell hald, Tretit ferst, and syne thame yhald To be in-to the Kyngis will, That than to Scottis wes full ill; As soyn efter wes weill knawin, 175 For thai war hangit all and drawin.

Quhen this cunnand thus tretit wes, And affermit with sekirnes, Thai tuk thaim of the castell soyn. And in till schort tyme has swa done, 180 That all a quarter off Snawdoune, Rycht to the erd, thai tumlit doune. Syne toward Ingland wend thar way. Bot quhen the King Edward herd say How Neyll the Bruce held Kildrummy 185 Agane his sone sa stallwardly; He gaderit a gret chevelry, And toward Scotland went in hy.

And as in-to Northumbirland He wes, with his gret rowt, rydand, 190 A seiknes tuk him in the way; And put him in sa hard assay, That he mycht nouthir gang no ryde. Him worthit, magre his, abyde In-till ane hamelat neir thair-by, 195 A litill toune, and unworthy. With gret payn thiddir thai hym brocht; He wes sa stad that he na mocht Hys aynd bot with gret panys draw; Na spek bot gif it war weill law. 200 The-quethir he bad thai suld him say Quhat toune wes that, that he in lay. "Schir," thai said, "Bowrch-in-the-Sand "Men callis this toune, in-to this land." 'Call thai it Burch? Allace!' said he, 205 'My hope is now fordone to me. 'For I wend nevir to thole the payn 'Of dede, quhill I, throu mekyll mayn, 'The Burch of Jerusalem had tane; 'My lif wend I thair suld be gane. 210 'In Burch I wist weill I suld de: 'Bot I was nouthir wis, no sle, 'Till othir burchis kepe to ta. 'Now may I no wis forthir ga.' Thus plenyheit he off his folye; 215 As he had mater sekirly, Quhen he wend to wit certante Of that at nane may certane be.

The-quhethir, men said enclosit he had Ane spirit, that hym ansuer mad 220 Of thingis that he wald inqueir. Bot he wes fule, forouten weir, That gaf treuth to that creature. For fendis ar of sic nature, That thai to mankynd has invy; 225 For thai wat weill and wittirly, That thai that weill ar liffand heir Sall wyn the segis, quhar-of thai weir Tumlit doune throu thair mekill pryde. Quharfor oftymis will betyde. 230 That quhen fendis distrenyheit ar For till apper and mak answar, Throu force of conjuracioune, That thai sa fals ar and felloune, That thai mak ay thair ansuering, 235 In-till dowbill undirstanding, Till dissaf thame that will thame trow. Ensampill will I set heir now Of a were, as I herde tell, Betuix France and the Flemynnis fell. 240

The Erll Ferrandis moder was Ane nygramansour; and Sathanas Scho rasit; and him askit syne, Quhat suld worth off the fichtyne Betuix the Franch king and hir sone. 245 And he, as he all tyme wes wone, In-to dissat maid his ansuer; And said to hir thir versis heir.

The Lines about the War of Bosbek.

His doubill spek hir sua dissavit, That throu hir feill the ded resavit; For scho was of his ansuer blith, And till hir sone scho tald it swith; 275 And bad him till the battale spede, For he suld victor haf but drede. And he, that herd hir sermonyng, Sped hym in hy to the fichting; Quhar he discumfit wes and schent, 280 And takyn, and to Paris sent. Bot in the fechting nocht-for-thi The kyng, throu his chevelry, Wes laid at erd, and lamyt bath, Bot his men horsit hym weill rath. 285 And quhen Ferrandis moder herd How hir sone in the battale ferd, And that he swa wes discumfit, Scho rasit the evill spirit als tit: And askit quhy he gabbit had 290 Of the ansuer that he hir mad. And he said that he suth said all; "I said the that the kyng suld fall "In the battale, and sua did he; "And falys erding, as men may se. 295 "And I said that thi sone suld ga "To Paris, and he did he rycht sua; "Followand him sic a mengyhe, "That nevir, in his lif-tyme, he "Had sic mengyhe at his leding. 300 "Now seis thow I maid na gabbing." The wif confusit wes, perfay, And durst no mair on-till him say.

Thusgat, throu doubill undirstanding, 304 That bargane come to sic ending, That the ta part dissavit was: Richt sua-gat fell it in this cas: At Jerusalem thus trowit he 308 Gravyn in the burch to be; The-quethir at Burch in-to the Sand He suelt rycht in his awne land. And quhen he to the ded wes ner, 312 The folk, that at Kyldrummy wer, Com with the presoners at thai had tane, And syne unto the Kyng ar gane. And for to confort him thai tald 316 How thai the castell to thame yhald; And how thai to his will war brocht, Till do of thame quhat-evir he thocht; And askit quhat thai suld of thaim do. 320 Than lukit he angyrly thame to, And said gyrnand, "Hangis and drawis." It wes gret wounder of sic sawis; That he, that to the ded wes neir, 324 Suld ansuer apon sic maneir Forouten menyng of mercy, How mycht he trastly on hym cry, That suthfastly demys all thing 328 To haf mercy for his crying Of him that, throu his felony, In-to sic poynt had no mercy? His men his mandment has all done: 332 And he deit thar-eftir sone; And syne wes brocht till berynes: His son syne eftir kyng he wes.

How James of Douglas passed into Arran.

With that thai buskit thame on-ane: 364 And at the Kyng thair leyf has tane, And went thaim furth syne on thair way. In-to Kentyre soyn cumin ar thai: Syne rowit all-wayis by the land, 368 Till at the nycht wes neir at hand; Than till Arane thai went thair way, And saufly thair arivit thai. And under ane bra thair galay dreuch, 372 And syne it helit weill ineuch; Thair takill, ayris, and thair stere, Thai hyde all on the samyn maner: And held thair way rycht in the nycht, 376 Sa that, or day wes dawyn lycht, Thai war enbuschit the castell neir, Arayit on the best maneir. And thouch thai wate war and wery, 380 And for lang fastyng all hungry, Thai thoucht to hald thame all preve, Till that thai weill thair poynt mycht se.

Schir John the Hastyngis, at that tyde, 384 With knychtis of full mekyll pryde, And squyaris and gude yhemanry, That war a weill gret cumpany, Wes in the castell of Brathwik. 388 And oftsis, quhen it wald him lik, He went to hunt with his menyhe And sua the land abandonit he, That nane durst warn to do his will. 392 He wes in-to the castell still, The tym that James of Douglas, As I haf tald, enbuschit was. Sa hapnyt at that tyme, throu chans, 396 With vittalis and ek purvians, And with clething, and with armyng, The day befor, in the evynnyng, The undirwardane arivit was, 400 With thre batis, weill neir the place Quhar that the folk I spak off ar Prevely enbuschit war. Soyn fra the batis saw thai ga 404 Of Inglis men thretty and ma, Chargit all with syndry thing, Sum bare wyne, and sum armyng: The remanand all chargit were 408 With thingis on syndry manere: And othir syndry yheid thame by, As thai war masteris, ydilly. Thai that enbuschit war thame saw, 412 Ande, for-outen dreid or aw, Thair buschement apon thame thai brak, And slew all that thai mycht ourtak. The cry rais hydwisly and hee: 416 For thai, that dredand war to de, Rycht as bestis can rair and cry, Thai slew thaim for-outen mercy; Swa that, in-to the samyn sted, 420 Weill neir to fourty thar war ded.

Quhen thai, that in the castell war, Herd the folk sa cry and rair, Thai yschit furth to the fechtyng; 424 Bot quhen Douglas saw thar cummyng, His men till hym he can rely, And went till meit thame hastely. And quhen thai of the castell saw 428 Hym cum on thaim forouten aw, Thai fled forouten mair debate; And thai thame followit to the yhate, And slew of thame, as thai in past. 432 Bot thai thair yhet barrit so fast, At thai mycht do at thame no mair: Tharfor thai left thame ilkane thair, And turnit to the see agane, 436 Quhar that the men war forrow slane. And quhen thai that war in the batis Saw thair cummyng, and wist how-gatis Thai had discumfit thair menyhe, 440 In hy thai put thame to the se, And rowit fast with all thare mayn. Bot the wynde wes thame agayn, That it gert sa the land-brist rys, 444 That thai mycht weld the se na wis. Na thai durst nocht cum to the land, Bot hald thame thair so lang hobland, That of thre batis drownyt twa, 448 And quhen Dowglas saw it wes swa, He tuk the armyng, and cleything, Vittalis, wyne, and othir thing At thai fand thar; and held thair way 452 Rycht glad and joyfull of thair pray.

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