STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
The Brus by John Barbour
Book 10
[Preparations for battle against John of Lorn]
Quhen Thomas Randell on this wis Wes takyn as Ik her devys And send to dwell in gud keping For spek that he spak to the king, 5 The gud king that thocht on the scaith The dispyt and felny bath That Jhone off Lorne had till him doyn His ost assemblyt he then sone And towart Lorn he tuk the way 10 With his men intill gud aray. Bot Jhone off Lorn off his cummyng Lang or he come had wittering, And men on ilk sid gadryt he I trow twa thousand thai mycht be 15 And send thaim for to stop the way Quhar the gud king behovyt away, And that wes in an evill plas That sa strayt and sa narow was That twasum samyn mycht nocht rid 20 In sum place off the hillis sid. The nethyr halff was peralous For schor crag hey and hydwous Raucht to the se doun fra the pas, On athyr halff the montane was 25 Sua combrous hey and stay That it was hard to pas that way. I trow nocht that in all Bretane Ane heyar hill may fundyn be. 30 Thar Jhone off Lorne gert his menye Enbuschyt be abovyn the way, For giff the king held thar away He thocht he suld sone vencussyt be, And himselff held him apon the se 35 Weill ner the pais with his galayis. Bot the king that in all assayis Wes fundyn wys and avisé Persavyt rycht weill thar sutelte, And that he neid that gait suld ga. 40 His men departyt he in twa And till the gud lord off Douglas Quham in herbryd all worschip was He taucht the archerys everilkane And this gud lord with him has tane 45 Schyr Alysander Fraser the wycht, And Wylyam Wysman a gud knycht And with thaim syne Schyr Androw Gray. Thir with thar mengne held thar way And clamb the hill deliverly 50 And or thai off the tother party Persavyt thaim thai had ilkane The hycht abovyne thar fayis tane.
[The battle beneath Ben Cruachan]
The king and his men held thar way, And quhen intill the pas war thai 55 Entryt the folk of Lorne in hy Apon the king raysyt the cry And schot and tumblit on him stanys Rycht gret and hevy for the nanys, Bot thai scaith nocht gretly the king 60 For he had thar in his leding Men that lycht and deliver war And lycht armouris had on thaim thar Sua that thai stoutly clamb the hill And lettyt thar fayis to fulfill 65 The maist part of thar felny. And als apon the tother party Come James of Douglas and his rout And schot apon thaim with a schout And woundyt thaim with arowis fast, 70 And with thar swerdis at the last Thai ruschyt amang thaim hardely, For thai of Lorn full manlely Gret and apert defens gan ma. Bot quhen thai saw that thai war sua 75 Assaylit apon twa partys And saw weill that thar ennemys Had all the fayrer off the fycht In full gret hy thai tuk the flycht, And thai a felloun chas gan ma 80 And slew all that thai mycht ourta, And thai that mycht eschap but delay Rycht till ane water held thar way That ran doun be the hillis syd. It was sa styth and depe and wid 85 That men in na place mycht it pas Bot at ane btyg that beneuth thaim was. To that brig held thai straucht the way And to brek it fast gan assay, Bot thai that chassyt quhen thai thaim saw 90 Mak arest, but dred or aw Thai ruschyt apon thaim hardely And discumfyt thaim uterly, And held the brig haile quhill the king With all the folk off his leding 95 Passyt the brig all at thar ese. To Jhone off Lorne it suld displese I trow, quhen he his men mycht se Oute off his schippis fra the se Be slayne and chassyt in the hill, 100 That he mycht set na help thartill, For it angrys als gretumly To gud hartis that ar worthi To se thar fayis fulfill thhar will As to thaim selff to thoke the ill.
[The taking of Dunstaffnage and the surrender of Alexander of Argyll]
105 At sic myscheiff war thai of Lorn, `For fele the lyvys thar has lorne And other sum war fled thar way. The king in hy gert sese the pray Off all the land, quhar men mycht se 110 Sa gret habundance come of fe That it war wonder to behauld. The king that stout wes stark and bauld Till Dunstaffynch rycht sturdely A sege set and besily 115 Assaylit the castell it to get, And in schort tym he has thaim set In swilk thrang that tharin war than That magre tharis he it wan, And ane gud wardane tharin set 120 And betaucht hym bath men and met Sua that he lang tyme thar mycht be Magre thaim all off that countre. Schyr Alerandir off Arghile that saw The king dystroy up clene and law 125 His land send treyteris to the king And cum his man but mar duelling, And he resavit him till his pes, Bot Jhone off Lorne his sone yeit wes Rebell as he wes wont to be 130 And fled with schippis on the se, Bot thai that left apon the land War to the king all obeysand. And he thar hostage all has tane And towart Perth agayne is gane 135 To play him thar into the playne.
[The plan to take the peel of Linlithgow]
Yeit Lothyane was him agayne, And at Lythkow wes than a pele Mekill and stark and stuffyt wele With Inglismen, and wes reset 140 To thaim that with armuris or met Fra Edynburgh wald to Strevelyn ga And fra Strevelyng agane alsua, And till the countre did gret ill. Now may ye her giff that ye will 145 Entrmellys and juperdyis That men assayit mony wys Castellis and peyllis for to ta, And this Lithquhow wes ane off tha And I sall tell You how it wes tane. 150 In the contre thar wonnyt ane That husband wes, and with his fe Oftsys hay to the peile led he, Wilyame Bunnok to name he hicht That stalwart man wes into ficht. 154* 155 He saw sa hard the contre staid 154 That he gret noy and pite had 155* Throw the gret force that it was then 155 Governyt and led with Inglismen, That travalyt men out-our mesure. 160 He wes a stout carle and a sture 158 And off himselff dour and hardy, And had freyndis wonnand him by And schawyt ti sum his prevete, And apon his convyne gat he 165 Men that mycht ane enbuschement ma 163 Quhill that he with his wayne suld ga To lede thaim hay into the pele Bot his wayne suld be stuffyt wele, For aucht men in the body 170 Off his wayn suld sit prevely 168 And with hay helyt be about, And himselff that wes dour and stout Suld be the wayne gang ydilly, And ane yuman wycht and hardy 175 Befor suld dryve the wayne and ber 173 Ane hachat that war scharp to scher Under his belt, and quhen the yat War apynnyt and thai war tharat And he hard him cry sturdely, 180 'Call all, call all,' than hastyly 178 He suld stryk with the ax in twa the soyme, and than in hy suld tha That war within the wayne cum out And mak debate quhill that thar rout 185 That suld nerby enbushyt be 183 Cum for to manteyme the melle.
[The taking of the peel of Linlithgow]
This wes intill the hervyst tyd Quhen feldis that ar fayr and wid Chargyt with corne all fully war, 190 For syndry cornys that thai bar 188 Wox ryp to wyn to mannys fud, And the treys all chargyt stud With ser frutis on syndry wys. In this swete tyme that I devys 195 Thai off the pele had wonnyn hay 193 And with this Bunnok spokyn had thai To lede thar hay, for he wes ner, And he assentyt but daunger And said that he in the mornyng 200 Weile sone a fothyr he suld bring 198 Fayrer and gretar and weile mor Than he brocht ony that yer befor, And held thaim cunnand sekyrly. For that nycht warnyt he prevely 205 Thaim that in the wayne suld ga 203 And that in the buschement suld be alsua, And thai sa graithly sped thaim thar That or day thai enbuschyt war Weile ner the pele quhar thai mycht her 210 The cry als sone as ony wer, 208 And held thaim sua still but stering That nane off thaim had persaving. And this Bunnok fast gan him payne To dres his menye in his wayne 215 And all a quhile befor the day 213 He had thaim helyt weile with ha And maid him to yok his fe Till men the son schynand mycht se, And sum that war within the pele 220 War ischyt on thar awne unsele 218 To wyn thar hervyst ner tharby. Than Bunnok with the cumpany That in his wayne closyt he had Went on his way but mar abaid 225 And callit his wayne towart the pele, 223 And the portar that saw him wele Cum ner the yet, it opnyt sone, And then Bunnok foroutyn hone Gert call the wayne deliverly, 230 And quhen it wes set evynly 228 Betwix the chekis of the yat Sua that men mycht it spar na gat He cryit hey, 'Call all, call all,' And he than lete the gad-wand fall 235 And hewyt in twa the soyme in hy. 233 Bonnok with that deliverly Roucht till the portar sic a rout That blud and harnys bath come out, And thai that war within the wayne 240 Lap out belyff and sone has slayne 238 Men off the castell that war by Than in ane quhile begouth the cry, And thai that ner enbuschyt war Lap out and come with swerdis bar 245 And tuk the casell all but payn 243 And has thaim that war tharin was slayn, And thai that war went furth beforn Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn Thai fled to warand to and fra, 250 And sum till Edinburgh gan ga 248 And sum till Strevilline ar other gane And sum inyill the gat war slayne.
[A profile of Thomas Randolph, earl of Moray]
Bonnok on this wis with his wayne The pele tuk and the men has slane, 255 Syne taucht in till the king in hy 253 That him rewardyt worthely And gert dryve it doun to the ground, And syne our all the land gan found Settand in pes all the countre 260 That at his obeysance wald be. 258 And quhen a litill time wes went Eftre Thomas Randell he sent And sa weile with him tretit he That he his man hecht for to be, 265 And the king his ire him forgave 263 And for to hey his state him gave Murreff and erle tharoff him maid, And other syndry landis braid He gave him intill heritage. 270 He knew his worthi vasselage 268 And his gret wyt and his avys His traist hart and his lele service, Tharfor in him affyit he And ryche maid him off land and fe, 275 As it wes certis rycht worthi. 273 For and men spek off him trewly He wes sua curageous ane knycht Sa wys, sa worthy and sa wycht And off sa soverane gret bounte 280 That mekill off him may spokyn be, 278 And for I think off him to rede And to schaw part off his gud dede I will discryve now his fassoun And part off his condicioun. 285 He wes off mesurabill statur 283 And weile porturat at mesur With braid vesage plesand and fayr, Curtais at poynt and debonayr And off rycht sekyr contenyng. 290 Lawte he lovyt atour all thing, 288 Falset tresoun and felony He stude agayne ay encrely, He heyit honour ay and larges And ay mentemyt rychtwysnes. 295 In cumpany solacious He was and tharwith amorous, And gud knychtis he luffyt ay, And giff I the suth sall say He wes fulfilly off bounte 300 As off vertuys all maid was he. 298 I will commend him her no mar Bot ye sall her weile forthyrmar That he for his dedis worthy Suld weile be prisyt soverandly.
[Moray sets siege toi Edinburgh Castle]
305 Quhen the king thus was with him sauch 303 And gret lordschyppis had him betaucht He wox sa wyse and sa avysé That his land fyrst weill stablyst he And syne he sped him to the wer 310 Till help his eyme in his myster 308 And with the consent off the king Bot with a symple aparaling Till Edinburgh he went in hy With gud men intill cumpany, 315 And set a sege to the castell 313 That than was warnyst wonder weill With men and vyttalis at all rycht Sua that it dred na mannys mycht. Bot this gud erle nocht-forthi 320 The sege tuk full apertly 318 And pressyt the folk that tharin was Sua that nocht ane the yet durst pas. Thai may abid tharin and ete Thair vittaill quhill thai oucht mai get 325 Bot I trow thai sall lettyt be 323 To purchas mar in the contre.
[The situation in Edinburgh; Douglas's activity]
That tyme Edward off Ingland king Had gevyn that castell in keping Till Schyr Perys Lombert a Gascoun, 330 And quhen thai of his varnysoun 328 Saw the sege set thar sa stythly Thai mystrowit him off tratoury For that he spokyn had with the king, And for that ilk mystrowing 335 Thai tuk him and put in presoun, 333 And off thar awine nacioun Thai maid ane constable thaim to lede Bath wys and war and wycht off deid, And he set wyt and strenth and slycht 340 To kep the castell at his mycht. 338 Bot now off thaim I will be still, And spek a litill quhill I will Off the douchty lord off Douglas At that tyme in the Forest was 345 Quhar he mony a juperty 343 And fayr poyntis off chevalry Servyt als weill be nycht as day Till tthaim that in the castellis lay Of Roxburch and Jedwort, bot I 350 Will let fele off thaim pas forby 348 For I can noucht rehers thaim all, And thoucht I couth, weill trow ye sall That I mycht nocht suffice tharto, Thar suld mekill be ado, 355 Bot thai that I wate utterly 353 Eftre my wyt rehers will I.
[Douglas plans to take Roxburgh Castle]
This tyme that the gud erle Thomas Assegyt as the lettre sayis Edinburgh, James off Douglas 360 Set all his wit for to purchas 358 How Roxburch throu sutelte Or ony craft mycht wonnyn be, Till he gert Syme off the Leidhous A crafty man and a curious 365 Off hempyn rapis leddris ma 363 With treyn steppis bundyn sua That brek wald nocht on nakyn wis. A cruk thai maid at thair divis Off irne that wes styth and squar 370 That fra it in a kyrneill war 368 And the ledder tharfra straitly Strekit, it suld stand sekyrly. This gud lord off Douglas alsone As this divisit wes and dome 375 Gaderyt gud men in prevete 373 Thre scor I trow thai mycht be, And on the fasteryngis evyn rycht In the begynnyng off the nycht To the castell thai tuk thar way. 380 With blak frogis all helyt thai 378 The armouris that thai on thaim had. Thai come nerby thar but abad And send haly thar hors thaim fra, And thai on raunge in ane route gan ga 385 On handis and fete quhen thai war ner 383 Rycht as thai ky or oxin wer That war wont to be bondyn left tharout. It wes rycht myrk withoutyn dout, The-quhether ane on the wall that lay 390 Besid him till his fere gan say, 388 'This man thinkis to mak gud cher,' And nemmyt ane husband tharby ner, 'That has left all his oxyn out.' The tother said, 'It is na dout 305 He sall mak mery tonycht thocht thai 303 Be with the Douglas led away.' Thai wend the Douglas and his men Had bene oxin, for thai yeid then On handis and fete ay ane and ane. 400 The Douglas rycht gud tent has tane 398 Till thar spek, bot all sone thai Held carpand inwart thar way.
[The taking of the enclosure of Roxburgh Castle]
Douglas men tharoff war blyth And to the wall thai sped thaim swith, 405 And sone has up thar ledder set 403 That maid ane clap quhen the cruchet Wes fixit fast in the kyrneill. That herd ane off the wachis weill And buskyt thidderwart but baid, 410 Bot Ledehous that the ledder maid 408 Sped him to clymb fyrst to the wall, Bot or he wes up gottyn all He at that ward had in keping Met him rycht at the up-cummyng, 415 And for he thocht to ding him doun 413 He maid na noys na cry na soun Bot schot till him deliverly. And he that wes in juperty To de a launce he till him maid 420 And gat him be the nek but baid 418 And stekyt him upwart with a knyff Quhill in his hand he left the lyff. And quhen he ded sua saw him ly Up on tthe wall he went in hy 425 And doun the body kest thaim till 423 And said, 'All gangis as we will, Spede you upwart deliverly.' And thai did sua in full gret hy. Bot or thai wan up thar come ane 430 And saw Ledhous stand him allane 428 And knew he wes nocht off thar men. In hy he ruschyt till him then And him assailit sturdely, Bot he slew him deliverly 435 For he wes armyt and wes wycht, 433 The tother nakyt wes, Ik hicht And had nocht for to stynt the strak. Sic melle tharup gan he mak Quhill Douglas and his mengne all 440 War cummyn up apon the wall, 438 Than in the tour thai went in hy.
[The taking of the hall at Roxburgh Castle; the garrison in the tower]
The folk wes that tyme halily Intill the hall at thar daunsing Syngyng and other wayis playing, 445 And apon Fasteryngis evyn this 443 As custume is to mak joy and blys Till folk that ar into pouste. Sua trowyt thai that tyme to be, Bot or thai wyst rycht in the hall 450 Douglas and his rout cummyn war all 448 And cryit on hycht, 'Douglas! Douglas!' And thai that ma war than he was Hard 'Douglas!' criyt hidwysly, Thai war abaysit for the cry 455 And schup rycht na defens to ma, 453 And thai but pite gan thaim sla Till thay had gottyn the overhand. The tother fled to sek warand That out off mesure ded gane dreid. 460 The wardane saw how that it yeid 458 That callyt wes Gilmyn de Fynys, In the gret toure he gottyn is And other off his cumpany And sparryt the entre hastily. 465 The lave that levyt war without 463 War tane or slayne, this is na dout, Bot giff that ony lap the wall. The Douglas that nycht held the hall Allthocht his fayis tharoff war wa, 470 His men was gangand to and fra 468 Throu-out the castell all that nycht Till on the morn that day wes lycht.
[Surrender of the tower at Roxburgh Castle; slighting of the castle]
The wardane that was in the tour That wes a man off gret valour 475 Gilmyn the Fynys, quhen he saw 473 The castell tynt be clene and law He set his mycht for to defend The tour, bot thai without him send Arowys in sa gret quantite 480 That anoyit tharoff wes he, 478 Bot till the tother day nocht-forthi He held the tour full sturdely, And than at ane assalt he was Woundyt sa felly in the face 485 That he wes dredand off his lyff. 483 Tharfor he tretit than beliff And yauld the tour on sic maner That he and all that with him wer Suld saufly pas in Ingland. 490 Douglas held thaim gud conand 488 And convoid thaim to thar countre, Bot thar full schort tyme levyt he For throu the wound intill tthe face He deyt sone and beryit was. 495 Douglas the castell sesyt all 493 That thane wes closyt with stalwart wall, And send this Leidhous till the king That maid him full gud rewarding And hys brother in full gret hy 500 Schyr Edward that wes sa douchty 498 He send thidder to tumbill it doun Bath tour and castell and doungeoun. And he come with gret cumpany And gert travaile sa besyly 505 That tour and wall rycht to the ground 503 War tumblit in a litill stound, And dwelt thar quhill all Tevidale Come to the kingis pes all haile Outane Jedwort and other that ner 510 The Inglismennys boundis wer. 508
[Moray seeks a means of taking Edinburgh Castle]
Quhen Roxburgh wonnyn was on this wis The Erle Thomas that hey empris Set ay on soverane he bounte At Edynburgh with his mengne 515 Wes lyand at a-sege as I 513 Tauld you befor all opynly. Bot fra he hard how Roxburgh was Tane with a trayne, all his purchas And wyt and besines Ik hycht 520 He set for to purches sum slycht 518 How he mycht halp him throu body Mellyt with hey chevalry To wyn the wall off the castell Throu sumkyn slycht, for he wyst weill 525 That na strenth mycht it playnly get 523 Quhill thai within had men and met. Tharfor prevely speryt he Giff ony man mycht fundyn be That couth fynd ony juperty 530 To clymb the wallis prevely 528 And he suld have his warysoun, For it wes his entencioun To put him till all aventur Or that a sege on him mysfur.
[The plan suggested by William Francis]
535 Than wes thar ane Wilyame Francus 533 Wycht and apert wys and curyus That intill hys youtheid had bene In the castell. Quhen he has sene The erle sua enkerly him set 540 Sum sutelte or wile to get 538 Quharthrou the castell have mycht he He come till him in prevete And said, 'Me think ye wald blythly That men fand you sum jeperty 545 How ye mycht our the wallis wyn, 543 And certis giff ye will begyn For till assay on sic a wys Ik undertak for my service To ken you to clymb to the wall, 550 And I sall formast be off all, 548 Quhar with a schort ledder may we, I trow off tuelf fute it may be, Clymb to the wall up all quytly, And gyff that ye will wyt how I 555 Wate this I sall you blythly say. 553 Quhen I wes young this hendre day My fader wes kepar of yone hous, And I wes sumdeill valegeous And lovyt a wench her in the toun, 560 And for i but suspicioun 558 Mycht repayr till hyr prevely Off rapys a leddre to me mad I And tharwith our the wall I slaid. A strait roid that I sperit had 565 Intill the crage syne doun I went 563 And oftsys come till myn entent, And quhen it ner drew to the day Ik held agayne that ilk way And ay come in but persaving. 570 Ik usyt lang that travaling 568 Sua that I kan that roid ga rycht Thoucht men se nevyr sa myrk the nycht. And giff ye think ye will assay To pas up efter me that way 575 Up to the wall I sall you bring, 573 Giff God us savys fra persaving Off thaim that wachys on the wall. And giff that us sua fayr may fall that we our ledder up may set, 580 Giff a man on the wall may get 578 He sall defend and it be ned Quhill the remanand up thaim sped.' The erle wes blyth off his carping And hycht him fayr rewarding 585 And undretuk that gat to ga 583 And bad him sone his ledder ma And hald him preve quhill thai mycht Set for thar purpos on a nycht.
[The climbing of Edinburgh Castle rock]
Sone efter was the ledder made, 590 And than the erle but mar abaid 588 Purvayt him a nycht prevely With thretty men wycht and hardy, And in a myrk nycht held thar way That put thaim till full hard assay 595 And to gret perell sekyrly. 593 I trow mycht thai haiff sene clerly That gat had nocht bene undretane Thoucht thai to let thaim had nocht ane, For the crag wes hey and hidwous 600 And the clymbing rycht peralous, 598 For hapnyt ony to slyd and fall He suld sone be to-fruschyt all. The nycht wes myrk as Ik hard say, And to the fute sone cummyn ar thai 605 Off the crag that wes hey and schor, 603 Than Wilyame Fransoys thaim befor Clamb in crykes forouth ay And at the bak him folowyt thai. With mekill payne quhile to quhile fra 610 Thai clamb into thai crykys sua 608 Quhile halff the crag thai clumbyn had And thar a place thai fand sa brad That thai mycht syt on anerly, And thai war ayndles and wery 615 And thar abaid thar aynd to ta, 613 And rycht as thai war syttand sua Rycht aboune thaim up apon the wall The chak-wachys assemblyt all. Now help thaim God that all thing mai 620 For in full gret perell ar thai! 618 For mycht thai se thaim thar suld nane Eschape out off that place unslane, To dede with stanys thai suld thaim ding That thai mycht halp thaimselvyn na thing. 625 Bot wonder myrk wes the nycht 623 Sua that thai off thaim had na sicht, And nocht-forthi yete wes thar ane Off thaim that swappyt doun a stane And said, 'Away, I se you weile,' 630 The-quhether he saw thaim nocht a dele. 628 Out-our thar hedis flaw the stane And thai sat still lurkand ilkane. The wachys quhen thai herd nocht ster Fra that ward samyn all passit er 635 And carpand held fer by thar way. 633 The erle Thomas alsone and thai That on the crag thar sat him by Towart the wall clamb hastily And thidder come with mekill mayn 640 And nocht but gret perell and payn. 638 For fra thine up wes grevouser To clymb up ne beneth be fer.
[The taking of Edinburgh Castle]
Bot quhhatkyn payne sua ever thai had Rycht to the wall thai come but bad 645 That had weile ner twelf fute of hycht, 643 And forout persaving or sycht Thai set thar ledder to the wall, And syne Fransoys befor thaim all Clamb up and syne Schyr Androw Gray, 650 And syne the erle himselff perfay 648 Was the thrid that the wall can ta. Qhuhen thai thar-doune thar lord sua Saw clumbyne up apon the wall As woud men thai clamb eftre all, 655 Bot or all up clumbene war thai 653 Thai that war wachys till assay Hard steryng and preve speking And alsua fraying off armyng And on thaim schot full sturdely, 660 And thai met thaim rycht hardely 658 And slew off thaim dispitously. Than throu the castell rais the cry, 'Tresoun! Tresoun!' thai cryit fast. Than sum of thaim war sua agast 665 That thai fled and lap our the wall, 663 Bot to sa swyth thai fled nocht all, For the constabill that wes hardy All armyt schot furth to thte cry And with him fele hardy and stout. 670 Yeyt wes the erle with his rout 668 Fechtand with thaim apon the wall Bot sone he discumfit thaim all. Be that his men war cummyn ilkan Up to the wall and he has tane 675 His way doun to the castell sone. 673 In gret perell he has him doyn For thai war fer ma men tharin And thai had bene of gud covyn Than he, bot thai effrayit war, 680 And nocht-forthi with wapnys bar 678 The constabill and his cumpany Met him and his rycht hardely. Thar mycht men se gret bargane ris, For with wapnys of mony wis 685 Thai dang on other at thar mycht 683 Quhill swerdis that war fayr and brycht War till the hiltis all bludy. Then hydwysly begouth the cry For thai that fellyt or stekyt war 690 Hidwysly gan cry and rar. 688 The gud erle and his cumpany Faucht in that fycht sa sturdely That all thar fayis ruschyt war. The constable wes slane rycht thar, 695 And fra he fell the ramanand 693 Fled quhar thai best mycht to warand, Thai durst nocht bid to ma debate. The erle wes handlyt thar sa hat That had it nocht hapnyt throu cas 700 That the constable thar slane then was 698 He had bene in gret perell thar, Bot quhen thai fled thar wes no mar, Bot ilk man to sauff his lyff Fled furth his dayis for to dryve, 705 And sum slaid doune out-our the wall. 703
[Comparison with the taking of Tyre by Alexander the Great]
The erle has tane the castell all For then wes nane durst him withstand. I hard nevyr quhar in nakin land Wes castell tane sa hardely 710 Outakyn Tyre all anerly, 708 Quhen Alexandir the conquerour That conqueryt Babylonys tour Lap fra a berfrois on the wall Quhar he amang his fayis all 715 Defendyt him full douchtely 713 Quhill his noble chevalry With leddris our the wall yeid That nother left for deid no dreid, For thai wyst weill that the king 720 Wes in the toune thar wes na thing 718 Intill that tym that stynt thaim moucht, For all the perell thai set at nocht. Thai clamb the wall and Aristé Come fyrst to the gud king quhar he 725 Defendyt him with all his mycht 723 That then sa hard wes set Ik hycht That he wes fellit on a kne, He till his bak had set a tre For dred thai suld behind assaile. 730 Aristé then to the bataile 728 Sped him in all hy sturdely And dang on thaim sa douchtely That the king weiiile reskewit was, For his men into syndri plas 735 Clamb our the wall and soucht the king 733 And him reskewit with hard fechting And wane the toun deliverly. Outane this taking anerly I herd nevyr in na tym gane 740 Quhar castell wes sa stoutly tane. 738
[St Margaret's prophecy]
And off this taking that I mene Sanct Margaret the gud haly quene Wyst in hyr tyme throu reveling Off him that knawis and wate all thing, 745 Tharfor in sted of prophecy 743 Scho left a taknyng rycht joly, That is that intill hyr chapele Scho gert weile portray a castell, A ledder up to the wall standand 750 And a man up thar-apon climband, 748 And wrat outht him as auld men sais In Frankis, 'Gardys vous de Francais.' And for this word scho gert writ sua Men wend the Frankis-men suld it ta, 755 Bot for Fraunsois hattyn wes he 753 That sua clamb up in prevete Scho wrat that as in prophecy, And it fell efterwart sothly Rycht as scho said, for tane it was 760 And Fraunsoys led thaimup that pas. 758
[Treatment of Piers Lubaud; rewards of the earl of Moray]
On this wis Edinburgh wes tane And thai that war tharin ilkane Other tane or slane or lap the wall. Thar gudis haiff thai sesyt all 765 And souch the hous everilkane. 763 Schyr Peris Lubaut that wes tane, As I said er, befor thai fand In boyis and hard festnyng sittand. Thai brocht him till the erle in hy 770 And he gert lous him hastily, Then he become the kingis man. Thai send word to the king rycht than And tauld how the castell wes tane, And he in hy is thidder gane 775 With mony ane in cumpany 773 And gert myne doun all halily Bath tour and wall rycht to the grond, And syne our all the land gan fond Sesand the countre till his pes. 780 Off this deid that sa worthy wes 778 The erle wes prisyt gretumly, The king that saw him sa worthi Wes blyth and joyfull our the lave And to manteyme his stat him gave 785 Rentis and landis fayr inewch, 783 And he to sa gret worschip dreuch That all spak off his gret bounte. Hys fayis gretly stonayit he For he fled never for force off fycht. 790 Quhat sall I mar say off his mycht? 788 His gret manheid and his bounte Gerris him yeit renownyt be.
[Places taken by Sir Edward Bruce; his siege of Stirling Castle]
In this tyme that thir jupertys Off thir castellis that I devis 795 War eschevyt sa hardely, 793 Schyr Edward the Bruce the hardy Had all Galloway and Nydysdale Wonnyn till his liking all haile And doungyn doun the castellis all 800 Rycht in the dyk bath tour and wall. 798 He hard then say and new it weill That into Ruglyne wes a pele, Thidder he went with his menye And wonnyn it in schort tyme has he, 805 Syne to Dunde he tuk the way 803 That then wes haldyne as Ic herd say Agayne the king, tharfor in hy He set a sege tharto stoutly And lay thar quhill it yoldyn was. 810 To Strevillyne syne the way he tais 808 Quhar gud Schyr Philip the Mowbray That wes sa douchty at assay Wes wardane and had in keping That castell of the Inglis king. 815 Thartill a sege thai set stythly, 813 Thai bykyrrit oftsys sturdely Bot gret chevalry done wes nane. Schyr Edward fra the sege wes tane A weile lang tyme about it lay, 820 Fra the Lentryne that is to say 818 Quhill forouth the Sanct Jhonys mes. The Inglis folk that tharin wes Begouth to failye vitaill be than. Than Schyr Philip that douchti man 825 Tretyt quhill thai consentit war 823 That gyff at mydsomer the neyst yer To cum it war nocht with bataile Reskewyt, then that foroutyn faile He suld the castell yauld quytly, 830 That connand band thai sickerly. 828