STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
The Brus by John Barbour
Book 19
[The conspiracy against King Robert; its discovery]
Than wes the land a quhile in pes, Bot covatys, that can nocht ces To set men apon felony To ger thaim cum to senyoury, 5 Gert lordis off full gret renoune Mak a fell conjuracioun Agayn Robert the douchty king, Thai thocht till bring him till ending And to bruk eftre his dede 10 The kynrik and to ryng in hys steid. The lord the Soullis, Schyr Wilyam, Off that purches had mast defame, For principale tharoff was he Off assent of that cruelte. 15 He had gottyn with him sindry, Gilbert Maleherbe, Jhone of Logy Thir war knychtis that I tell her And Richard Broun als a squyer, And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn 20 Wes off this deid arettyt syne As I sall tell you forthermar. Bot thai ilkane discoveryt war Throu a lady as I hard say Or till thar purpos cum mycht thai, 25 For scho tauld all to the king Thar purpose and thar ordanyng, And how that he suld haf bene ded And Soullis ryng intill his steid, And tauld him werray taknyng 30 This purches wes suthfast thing. And quhen the king wist it wes sua Sa sutell purches gan he ma That he gert tak thaim everilkan, And quhar the lord Soullis was tane 35 Thre hunder and sexty had he Off squyeris cled in his lyvere At that tyme in his cumpany Outane knychtis that war joly. Into Berwik takyn wes he 40 That mycht all his mengne se Sary and wa, bot suth to say The king lete thaim all pas thar way And held thaim at he takyn had.
[The trial in parliament; the fate of the conspirators]
The lord Soullis sone eftre maid 45 Plane granting of all that purchas. A parlement set tharfor thar was And brocht thidder this mengne war. The lord the Soullis has grantyt thar The deid into plane parleament, 50 Tharfor sone eftre he wes sent Till his pennance to Dunbertane And deit thar in a tour off stane. Schyr Gilbert Maleherbe and Logy And Richard Broune thir thre planly 55 War with a sys thar ourtane, Tharfor thai drawyn war ilkane And hangyt and hedyt tharto As men had dempt thaim for to do. And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn 60 Thai gert chalance rycht straitly syne, And he grauntyt that off that thing Was wele maid till him discovering Bot he thartill gaf na consent, And for he helyt thar entent 65 And discoveryt it nocht to the king That he held of all his halding And maid till him his fewte Jugyt till hang and draw wes he. And as thai drew him for to hing 70 The pepill ferly fast gan thring Him and his myscheyff for to se That to behald wes gret pite.
[Sir Ingram Umfraville's reaction and decision to leave Scotland]
Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that than Wes with the king as Scottisman, 75 Quhen he that gret myscheiff gan se He said, 'Lordingis, quharto pres ye To se at myscheiff sic a knycht That wes sa worthi and sa wicht That Ik haff sene ma pres to se 80 Him him for his rycht soverane bounte Than now doys for to se him her.' And quhen thir wordis spokyn wer With sary cher he held him still Quhill men had done of him thar will, 85 And syne with the leve of the king He brocht him menskly till erding. And syne to the king said he, 'A thing I pray you graunt me, That is that ye off all my land 90 That is intill Scotland liand Wald giff me leve to do my will.' The king that sone has said him till, 'I will wele graunt that it sua be, Bot tell me quhat amovis the.' 95 He said agane, 'Schyr, graunt mercy And I sall tell you planely, Myne hart giffis me na mar to be With you dwelland in this countre, Tharfor bot that it nocht you greve 100 I pray you hartly of your leve. For quhar sua rycht worthi a knycht An sa chevalrous and sa wicht And sa renownyt off worschip syne As gud Schyr David off Brechyn 105 And sa fullfyllyt off all manheid Was put to sa velanys a ded, Myn hart forsuth may nocht gif me To dwell for na thing that may be.' The king said, 'Sen that thou will sua 110 Quhenever the likys thou may ga, And thou sall haiff gud leve tharto Thi liking off thi land to do.' And he thankyt him gretumly And off his land in full gret hy 115 As hym thocht best disponyt he, Syne at the king of gret bounte Befor all thaim that with him war He tuk his leve for evermar, And went in Ingland to the king 120 That maid him rycht fayr welcummyng And askyt him of the north tithing. And he him tauld all but lesing How thai knychtis destroyit war And as I tauld till you ar, 125 And off the kingis curtassy That levyt him debonarly To do off his land his liking. In that tyme wes send fra the king Off Scotland messyngeris to trete 130 Off pes giff that thai mycht it get, As thai befor oft-sys war send How that thai coutht nocht bring till end. For the gud king had in entent, Sen God sa fayr grace had him lent 135 That he had wonnyn all his land Throu strenth off armys till his hand, That he pes in his tyme wald ma And all landis stabill sua That his ayr eftre him suld be 140 In pes, gif men held lawte.
[Sir Ingram Umfraville advises a long truce, which is made]
Intill this tyme that Umfravill As I bar you on hand er quhill Come till the king of Ingland The Scottis messingeris thar he fand 145 Of pes and rest to haiff tretis. The king wist Schyr Ingrahame wes wis And askyt consaile tharto Quhat he wald rede him for to do, For he said him thocht hard to ma 150 Pes with the King Robert his fa Quhill that he off him vengit war. Schyr Ingrahame maid till him answar And said, 'He delt sa curtasly With me that on na wis suld I 155 Giff consaill till his nethring.' 'The behovis nedwayis,' said the king, 'To this thing her say thine avis.' 'Schyr,' said he, 'sen your willis is That I say, wit ye sekyrly 160 For all your gret chevalry To dele with him yhe haf na mycht. His men all worthyn ar sa wicht For lang usage of fechting That has bene nuryst in swilk thing 165 That ilk yowman is sa wicht Off his that he is worth a knycht. Bot, and ye think your wer to bring To your purpos and your liking, Lang trewys with him tak ye. 170 Than sall the mast off his menye That ar bot simple yumanry Be dystrenyit commonaly To wyn thar mete with thar travaill, And sum of thaim nedis but faill 175 With pluch and harow for to get And other ser crafftis thar mete, Sua that thar armyng sall worth auld And sall be rottyn stroyit and sauld, And fele that now of wer ar sley 180 Intill the lang trew sall dey And other in thar sted sall rys That sall conn litill of that mastrys. And quhen thai disusyt er Than may ye move on thaim your wer 185 And sall rycht well as I suppos 185* Bring your entent to gud purpos.' 186* Till this assentyt thai ilkane, 185 And eftre sone war trewis tane Betwix the twa kingis that wer 190 Tailyeit to lest for thretten yer 188 And on the marchis gert thaim cry. The Scottismenn kepyt thaim lelely, Bot the Inglismen apon the se Distroyit throu gret inyquyte 195 Marchand schippis that sailand war 193 Fra Scotland till Flaundris with war, And destroyit everilkane And to thar oys the gud has tane. The king send oft till ask redres, 200 Bot nocht off it redressyt wes 198 And he abaid all tyme askand, The trew on his half gert he stand Apon the marchis stabilly And gert men kep thaim lelely.
[The death of Walter the Steward]
205 In this tyme that trewis war 203 Lestend on marchis as I said ar Schyr Walter Stewart that worthi was At Bathgat a gret seknes tas. His ivill ay woux mar and mar 210 Quhill men persavit be his far 208 That him worthit nede to pay the det That na man to pay may let, Schryvyn and als repentit weill Quhen all wes doyn him ilkdeill 215 That Crystyn man nedyt till have 213 As gud Crystyn the gast he gave. Then men mycht her men gret and cry And mony a knycht and mony a lady Mak in apert rycht evill cher, 220 Sa did thai all that ever thai war, 218 All men him menyt commounly For off his eild he wes worthy. Quhen thai lang quhill thar dule had maid The cors to Paslay haiff thai haid, 225 And thar with gret solempnyte 223 And with gret dule erdyt wes he, God for his mycht his saule bring Quhar joy ay lestis but ending.
[The truce is given up; Moray and Douglas harry Weardale]
Efftre his dede as I said ar 230 The trewys that sua takyn war 228 For till haff lestyt thretten yer, Quhen twa yer of thaim passyt wer And ane halff as I trow allsua The King Robert saw men wald nocht ma 235 Redres of schippys that war tane 233 And off the men als that war slane, Bot contynowyt thar mavtye Quhenever thai met thaim on the se. He sent and acquit him planly 240 And gave the trewis up opynly, 238 And in the vengeance of this trespas The gud erle of Murreff Thomas And Donald erle of Mar alsua And James of Douglas with thai twa, 245 And James Stewart that ledar wes 243 Efter his gud brotheris disceis Off all his bruderys men in wer, He gert apon thar best maner With mony men bowne thaim to ga 250 In Ingland for to bryn and sla, 248 And thai held furth till Ingland. Thai war of gud men ten thousand, Thai brynt and slew intill thar way, Thar fayis fast destroyit thai 255 And suagat southwart gan thai far 253 To Wardaill quhill thai cummyn war. That tyme Edward off Carnaverane The king wes ded and laid in stane, And Edward his sone that wes ying 260 In Ingland crownyt wes to king 258 And surname off Wyndyssor. He had in France bene thar-befor With his moder Dame Ysabell, And wes weddyt as Ik herd tell 265 With a young lady fayr of face 263 That the erlis douchter was Off Hennaud, and off that cuntre Brocht with him men of gret bounte, Schyr Jhone the Hennaud wes thar leder 270 That was wys and wycht in wer. 268 And that tyme that Scottismen wer At Wardaile, as I said you er, Intill York wes the new-maid king, And herd tell of the destroying 275 That Scottismen maid in his countre. 273 A gret ost till him gaderyt he, He wes wele ner fyfty thousand, Than held he northwart in the land In haill battaill with that mengne, 280 Auchtene yer auld that tyme wes he. 278 The Scottismen a day Cokdaile Fra end till end had heryit haile And till Wardaile again thai raid.
[Edward III's army approaches; Douglas prepares an ambush;
the skirmish by the Wear]
Thar discourriouris that sycht has haid 285 Off cummyn of the Inglismen 283 To thar lordis thai tauld it then. Than the lord Douglas in a ling Raid furth to se thar cummyng And saw that sevyn bataillis war thai 290 That cum ridand in gud aray, 288 Quhen he that folk behaldyn had Towart his ost agayn he rad. The erle speryt gif he had sene That ost. 'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'but wene.' 295 'Quhat folk ar thai?' 'Schyr, mony men.' 293 The erle his ayth has sworn then, 'We sall fecht with thaim thocht thai war Yeit ma eftsonys than thai ar.' 'Schyr, lovyt be God,' he said agayn, 300 'That we haiff sic a capitayn 298 That sua gret thing dar undreta, Bot, be saynct Bryd, it beis nocht sua Giff my consaill may trowyt be, For fecht on na maner sall we 305 Bot it be at our avantage, 303 For methink it war na outrage To fewar folk aganys ma Avantage quhen thai ma to ta.' As thai war on this wis spekand 310 Our ane hey rig thai saw ridand 308 Towart thaim evyn a battaill braid, Baneris displayit inew thai haid, And a nothyr come eftre ner And rycht apon the samyn maner 315 Thai come quhill sevin bataillis braid 313 Out-our that hay rig passyt haid. The Scottismen war than liand On north halff Wer towart Scotland. The dale wes strekyt weill Ik hycht, 320 On athyr sid thar wes ane hycht 318 And till the water doune sumdeill stay. The Scottismen in gud aray On thar best wis buskyt ilkane Stud in a strenth that thai had tane, 325 And that wes fra the water of Wer 323 A quartar of a myle weill ner, Thar stud thai battaill till abid, And Inglismen on athyr sid Come ridand dounwart quhill thai wer 330 To Weris water cummyn als ner 328 As on other halff thar fayis war. Than haf thai maid a rest rycht thar And send out archerys a thousand With hudis off and bowys in hand 335 And gert thaim drink weill of the wyn, 333 And bad thaim gang to bykker syne The Scottis ost in abandoun And ger thaim cum apon thaim doun, For mycht thai ger thaim brek aray 340 To haiff thaim at thar will thocht thai. 338 Armyt men doune with thaim thai send Thaim at the water to defend. The lord Douglas has sene thar fer, And men that rycht weill horsyt wer 345 And armyt a gret cumpany 343 Behind the bataillis prevely He gert howe to bid thar cummyng, And quhen he maid to thaim taknyng Thai suld cum prekand fast and sla 350 With sperys that thai mycht ourta, 348 Donald off Mar thar chiftane was And Archebald with hym of Douglas.
[Douglas drives back the English; the two sides encamp; novelties seen]
The lord Douglas towart thaim raid, A gowne on his armur he haid, 355 And traversyt all wayis up agayn 353 Thaim ner his bataillis for to trayn, And thai that drunkyn had off the wyne Come ay up lingand in a lyne Quhill thai the battaill come sa ner 360 That arowis fell amang thaim ser. 358 Robert off Ogill a gud squyer Come prikand than on a courser And on the archeris criyt agane, 'Ye wate nocht quha mays you that trayn, 365 That is the lord Douglas that will 363 Off his playis ken sum you till,' And quhen thai herd spek of Douglas The hardyest effrayit was And agayn turnyt halely. 370 His takyn maid he than in hy, 368 And the folk that enbuschit war Sa stoutly prekyt on thaim thar That weile thre hunder haiff thai slane And till the water hame agane 375 All the remanand gan thai chas. 373 Schyr Wilyam off Erskyn that was Newlyngis makyn knycht that day 375* Weill horsit intill gud aray 376* Chasyt with other that thar war 375 380 Sa fer furth that hys hors him bar 376 Amang the lump of Inglismen, And with strang hand wes takyn then, Bot off him wele sone chang wes maid For other that men takyn haid. 385 Fra thir Inglis archeris wes slane 381 Thar folk raid till thar ost agane, And rycht sua did the lord off Douglas. And quhen that he reparyt was Thai mycht amang thar fayis se 390 Thar pailyounys sone stentyt be, 386 And thai persavyt sone in hy That thai that nycht wald tak herbery And schup to do no mar that day, Tharfor thaim alsua herbryit thay 395 And stent pailyounys in hy, 391 Tentis and lugis als tharby Thai gert mak and set all on raw. Twa novelryis that day thai saw That forouth in Scotland had bene nene, 400 Tymmeris for helmys war the tane 396 That thaim thoucht thane off gret bewte And alsua wondyr for to se, The tother crakys war off wer That thai befor herd never er, 405 Off thir twa thingis thai had ferly. 401 That nycht thai walkyt stalwartly, The mast part off thaim armyt lay Quhill on the morn that it wes day.
[Douglas foils an English ambush]
The Inglismen thaim umbethocht 410 Apon quhat mener that thai moucht 406 Ger Scottis leve thar avantage, For thaim thocht foly and outrage To gang up till thaim till assaill Thaim at thar strenth in plane battaill, 415 Tharfor of gud men a thousand 411 Armyt on hors bath fute and hand Thai send behind thar fayis to be Enbuschit intill a vale, And schup thar bataillis as thai wald 420 Apon thaim till the fechtyn hald, 416 For thai thocht Scottismen sic will Had that thai mycht nocht hald thaim still, For thai knew thaim off sic curage That tharthrouch strenth and avantage 425 Thai suld leve and mete them planly. 421 Than suld thar buschement halily Behind brek on thaim at the bak, Sa thocht thai wele thai suld thaim mak For to repent thaim off thar play. 430 Thar enbuschment furth send haiff thai 426 That thaim enbuschit prevely, And on the morn sum-dele arly Intill this ost hey trumpyt thai And gert thar braid bataillis aray, 435 And all arayit for to fycht 431 Thai held towart the water rycht. Scottismen that saw thaim do swa Boune on thar best wis gan thaim ma And in bataill planly arayit 440 With baneris till the wynd displayit 436 Thai left thar strenth, and all planly Come doune to mete thaim hardely In als gud maner as thai moucht Rycht as thar fayis befor had thocht. 445 Bot the lord Douglas that ay was war 441 And set out wachis her and thar Gat wyt off thar enbuschement, Than intill gret hy is he went Befor the bataillis and stoutly 450 He bad ilk man turn him in hy 446 Rycht as he stud, and turnyt sua Up till thar strenth he bad thaim ga Sua that na let thar thai maid, And thai did as he biddyn haid 455 Quhill till thar strenth thai come agayne, 451 Than turnyt thai thaim with mekill mayn And stud redy to giff battaill Giff thar fayis wald thaim assaill. Quhen Inglismen had sene thaim sua 460 Towart thar strenth agayne up ga 456 Thai criyt hey, 'Thai fley thar way.' Schyr Jhone Hennaud said, 'Perfay Yone fleyng is rycht degysé, Thar armyt men behind I se 465 And thar baneris, sua that thaim thar 461 Bot turne thaim as thai standand ar And be arayit for to fycht Giff ony presyt thaim with mycht. Thai haiff sene our enbuschement 470 And agane till thar strenth ar went. 466 Yone folk ar governyt wittily, And he that ledis is worthi For avisé worschip and wysdome To governe the empyr off Rome.' 475 Thus spak that worthi knycht that day, 471 And the enbuschement fra that thai Saw that thai sua discoveryt war Towart thar ost agane thai fair, And the bataillis off Inglismen 480 Quhen thai saw thai had faillyt then 476 Off thar purpos to thar herbery Thai went and logit thaim in hy. On other halff rycht sua did thai, Thai maid na mar debat that day.
[The Scots camp in a walled park; the English follow]
485 Quhen thai that day ourdrevyn had 481 Fyris in gret foysoun thai maid Alsone as the nycht fallyn was. And than the gud lord off Douglas, That had spyit a place tharby 490 Twa myile thin that quhar mar traistly 486 The Scottis ost mycht herbery ta And defend thaim better alsua Than ellys in ony place tharby, It wes a park all halily 495 Wes envyround about with wall, 491 It wes ner full of treys all Bot a gret plane intill it was, Thidder thocht the lord of Douglas Be nychtyrtale thar ost to bring. 500 Tharfor foroutyn mar dwelling 496 Thai bet thar fyris and maid thaim mar, And syne all samyn furtht thai far And till the park foroutyn tynseill Thai come and herbryit thaim weill 505 Upon the water and als ner 501 Till it as thai beforouth wer. And on the morn quhen it wes day The Inglis ost myssyt away The Scottismen and had ferly, 510 And gert discourriouris hastily 506 Pryk to se quhar thai war away, And be thar fyris persavyt thai That thai in the park of Werdale Had gert herbry thar ost all hale. 515 Tharfor thar ost but mar abaid 511 Buskyt, and evyn anent thaim raid And on athyr halff the water of Wer Gert stent thar palyounys als ner As thar befor stentyt war thai. 520 Aucht dayis on baith halff sua thai lay 516 That Inglismen durst nocht assaill The Scottismen with plane battaill For strenth of erd that thai had thar. Thar wes ilk day justyn of wer 525 And scrymyn maid full apertly 521 And men tane on athyr party, And thai that war tane on a day On ane other changyt war thai, Bot other dedis nane war done 530 That gretly is apon to mone, 526 Till it fell on the sevynd day The lord Douglas had spyit a way How that he mycht about thaim rid And com on the ferrer sid.
[Douglas rides round the English camp and surprises it on the far side]
535 And at evyn purvayit him he 531 And tuk with him a gud mengne Fyve hunder on hors wicht and hardy, And in the nycht all prevely Forout noyis sa fer he raid 540 Quhill that he ner enveronyt had 536 Thar ost and on the ferrar sid Towart thaim slely gan he rid. And the men that with him war He gert in hand have swerdis bar 545 And bad thaim hew rapis in twa 541 That thai the palyounys mycht ma To fall on thaim that in thaim war, Than suld the lave that folowit thar Stab doune with speris sturdely, 550 And quhen thai hard his horne in hy 546 To the water hald doune thar way. Quhen this wes said that Ik her say Towart thar fayis fast thai raid That on that sid na wachis haid. 555 And as thai ner war approchand 551 Ane Inglisman that lay bekand Him be a fyr said till his fer, 'I wat nocht quhat may tyd us her Bot rycht a gret growyng me tais, 560 For I dred sar for the blak Douglas,' 556 And he that hard him said, 'Perfay Thou sall haiff caus gif that I may.' With that with all him cumpany He ruschyt in on thaim hardely 565 And pailyounys doune he bar, 561 With sperys that scharply schar Thai stekyt men dispitously. The noys weill sone rais and cry, And thai stabbyt stekyt and slew 570 And pailyounys doun yarne thai drew. 566 A felloune slauchter maid thai thar For thai that liand nakit war Had na power defens to ma And thai but pite gan thaim sla. 575 Thai gert thaim weill wyt that foly 571 Wes ner thar fayis for to ly Bot giff thai traistly wachit war. The Scottismen war slayand thar Thar fayis on this wis quhill the cry 580 Ras throu the ost commonaly 576 That lord and other war on ster, And quhen the Douglas wyst thai wer Armand thaim all commonaly He blew his horn for to rely 585 His men and bad thaim hald thar way 581 Towart the water and sua did thai, And he abaid henmast to se That nane of hys suld levyt be. And as he bade sua howand 590 Sua come thane ane with a club in hand 586 And sua gret a rout till him raucht That had nocht bene his mekill maucht And his rycht soverane manheid Intill that place he had bene dede, 595 Bot he that na tyme wes effrayit 591 Thocht he weill oft wes hard assayit Throu mekill strenth and gret manheid Has brocht the tother to the ded. His men that till the water doun 600 War ridyne intill a raundoun 596 Myssyt thar lord quhen thai come thar, Than war thai dredand for him sar, Ilkan at other speryt tithing Bot yeit off him thai hard na thing. 605 Than gan thai consaill samyn ta 601 That thai to sek him up wald ga, And as thai war in sic effray A tutilling off his horne hard thai And thai that has it knawyn swith 610 War of his cummyn wonder blyth 606 And speryt at him of his abaid. And he tauld how a carle him maid With a club sic felloun pay That met him stoutly in the way 615 That had nocht fortoun helpit the mar 611 He had bene in gret perell thar.
[Douglas and Moray debate; the fable of the fox and the fisherman]
Thusgat spekand thai held thar way Quhill till thar ost cummyn ar thai That on fute armyt thaim abaid 620 For till help giff thai myster haid, 616 And alsone as the lord Douglas Met with the erle off Murreff was The erle speryt at thaim tithing How thai had farne in thar outing. 625 'Schyr,' said he, 'we haf drawyn blud.' 621 The erle that wes of mekill mude Said, 'And we all had thidder gayne We haid discumfyt thaim ilkan.' 'That mycht haff fallyn weill,' said he, 630 'Bot sekyrly ynew war we 626 To put us in yone aventur, For had thai maid discumfitur On us that yonder passyt wer It suld all stonay that ar her.' 635 The erle said, 'Sen that it sua is 631 That we may nocht with jupertys Our feloune fayis fors assaill We sall do it in plane battaill.' The lord Douglas said, 'Be saynct Brid 640 It war gret foly at this tid 636 Till us with swilk ane ost to fycht That growys ilk day off mycht And has vittaill tharwith plente, And in thar countre her ar we 645 Quhar thar may cum us na succourys, 641 Hard is to mak us her rescours Na we ne may ferrar mete to get, Swilk as we haiff her we mon et. Do we with our fayis tharfor 650 That ar her liand us befor 646 As Ik herd tell this othyr yer That a fox did with a fyscher.' 'How did the fox?' the erle gan say. He said, 'A fyscher quhilum lay 655 Besid a ryver for to get 651 Hys nettis that he had thar set. A litill loge tharby he maid, And thar-within a bed he haid And a litill fyr alsua, 660 A dure thar wes foroutyn ma. 656 A nycht, his nettis for to se He rase and thar wele lang dwelt he, And quhen he had doyne his deid Towart his loge agayn he yeid, 665 And with licht of the litill fyr 661 That in the loge wes brynnand schyr Intill his luge a fox he saw That fast on ane salmound gan gnaw. Than till the dur he went in hy 670 And drew his swerd deliverly 666 And said, 'Reiffar thou mon her out.' The fox that wes in full gret dout Lukyt about sum hole to se, Bot nane eschew persave couth he 675 Bot quhar the man stud sturdely. 671 A lauchtane mantell than him by Liand apon the bed he saw, And with his teth he gan it draw Out-our the fyr, and quhen the man 680 Saw his mantill ly brinnand than 676 To red it ran he hastily. The fox gat out than in gret hy And held his way his warand till. The man leyt him begilyt ill 685 That he his gud salmound had tynt 681 And alsua his mantill brynt, And the fox scaithles gat away.
[Douglas proposes a method of withdrawal]
This ensample weill I may say Be yone ost and us that ar her, 690 We ar the fox and thai the fyscher 686 That stekis forouth us the way. Thai wene we may na-gat away Bot rycht quhar thai ly, bot perdé All as thai think it sall nocht be, 695 For I haff gert se us a gait 691 Suppos that it be sumdele wate, A page off ouris we sall nocht tyne. Our fayis for this small tranountyn Wenys weill we sall prid us sua 700 That we planely on hand sall ta 696 To giff thaim opynly battaill. Bot at this tyme thar thocht sall faill, For we to-morne her all the day Sall mak als mery as we may, 705 And mak us boune agayn the nycht, 701 And than ger mak our fyris lycht And blaw our hornys and mak far As all the warld our awne war Quhill that the nycht weill fallin be. 710 And than with all our harnays we 706 Sall tak our way hamwart in hy, And we sall gyit be graithly Quhill we be out off thar daunger That lyis now enclossyt her. 715 Than sall we all be at our will 711 And thai sall lete thaim trumpyt ill Fra thai wyt weill we be away.' To this haly assentyt thai, And maid thaim gud cher all that nycht 720 Quhill on the morn that day wes lycht. 716
[The Scots withdraw secretly by night, leaving fires burning;
the English give up the chase]
Apon the morn all prevely Thai tursit harnays and maid redy Sua that or evyn all boun war thai, And thar fayis that agane thaim lay 725 Gert haiff thar men that thar war ded 721 In cartis till ane haly sted. All that day cariand thai war With cartis men that slayn war thar, That thai war fele mycht men well se 730 That in carying sa lang suld be. 726 The ostis baith all that day wer In pes, and quhen the nycht wes ner The Scottis folk that liand war Intill the park maid fest and far 735 And blew hornys and fyris maid 731 And gert thaim mak brycht and braid, Sua at that nycht thar fyris war mar Than ony tym befor thai war. And quhen the nycht wes fallin weill 740 With all the harnayis ilka-dele 736 All prevely thai raid thar way. Sone in a mos entryt ar thai That had wele twa myle lang of breid, Out-our that mos on fute thai yeid 745 And in thar hand thar hors leid thai. 741 It wes rycht a noyus way Bot flaikkis in the wod thai maid no no. Of wandis and thame with thame had no no. And sykis thairwith briggit thay, no no. 750 And sua had weill thair hors away no no. On sic wyse that all that thair weir 743 Come weill out-our it hale and fer, And tynt bot litill off thar ger Bot giff it war ony summer 755 That in the mos wes left liand. 747 Quhen all as Ik haff born on hand Out-our that mos that wes sa braid War cummyn a gret glaidschip thai haid And raid furth hamwart on thar way. 760 And on the morn quhen it wes day 752 The Inglismen saw the herbery Quhar Scottismen war wont to ly All void. Thai wondryt gretly then And send furth syndry off thar men 765 To spy quhar thai war gayn away 757 Quhill at the last thar trais fand thai That till the mekill mos thaim haid That wes sua hidwous for to waid That awntyr thaim tharto durst nane, 770 Bot till thar ost agayne ar gayn 762 And tauld how that thai passyt war Quhar never man passit ar. Quhen Inglismen hard it wes sua In hy to consaill gan thai ta 775 That thai wald folow thaim no mar, 767 Thar ost rycht than thai scalit thar And ilk man till his awn raid.
[King Robert sends a relief force;the two Scottish forces meet;
the king rejoices]
And King Robert that wittering haid At his men in the park sua lay 780 And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai, 772 Ane ost assemblyt he in hy And ten thousand men wicht and hardy He has send furth with erllis twa Off the Marche and Angus war tha 785 The ost in Werdale to releve, 777 And giff thai mycht sa weill escheve That samyn mycht be thai and thai Thai thocht thar fayis till assay. Sua fell that on the samyn day 790 That the mos, as ye hard me say, 782 Wes passyt, the discourrouris that thar Ridand befor the ost war Off athyr ost has gottyn sycht, And thai that worthy war and wicht 795 At thar metyng justyt of wer, 787 Ensenyeys hey thai criyt ther. And be thar cry persavyt thai That thai war frendys and at a fay, Than mycht men se thaim glaid and blyth 800 And tauld it to thar lordis swith. 792 The ostis bath met samyn syne, Thar wes rycht hamly welcummyn Maid amand thai gret lordis thar, Off thar metyng joyfull thai war. 805 The erle Patrik and his menye 797 Had vittaillis with thaim gret plente And tharwith weill relevyt thai Thar frendis, for the suth to say Quhill thai in Wardale liand war 810 Thai had gret defaut off mete, bot thar 802 Thai war relevyt with gret plente. Towart Scotland with gamyn and gle Thai went and hame wele cummyn ar thai And scalyt syne ilk man thar way. 815 The lordis ar went to the king 807 That has maid thaim fair welcumyng, For off thar come rycht glaid wes he, And that thai sic perplexite Forout tynsaill eschapyt haid 820 All war thai blyth and mery maid. 812