STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
The Brus by John Barbour
Book 9
[The king goes to Inverurie and falls ill]
Now leve we intill the Forest Douglas that sall bot litill rest Till the countre deliveryt be Off Inglis folk and thar powste, 5 And turne we till the noble king That with the folk off his leding Towart the Month has tane his wai Rycht stoutly and intill gud array, Quhar Alysander Frayser him met 10 And als his broder Symonet With all the folk thai with thaim had. The king gud contenance thaim made That wes rycht blyth off thar cummyne. Thai tauld the king off the convyne 15 Off Jhone Cumyn erle of Bouchane That till help him had with him tane Schyr Jhon Mowbray and other ma, Schyr David off Brechyn alsua, With all the folk off thar leding, 20 'And yarnys mar na ony thing Vengeance off you, schyr king, to tak For Schyr Jhone the Cumyn his sak That quhylum in Drumfres wes slayn.' The king said, 'Sa our Lord me sayn, 25 Ik had gret caus him for to sla, And sen that thai on hand will ta Becaus off him to werray me I sall thole a quhile and se On quhat wys that thai pruve thar mycht, 30 And giff it fall that thai will fycht Giff thai assaile we sall defend, Syne fall eftre quhat God will send.' Eftre this spek the king in hy Held straucht his way till Enrowry, 35 And thar him tuk sik a seknes That put him to full hard distress. He forbar bath drynk and mete, His men na medicyne couth get That ever mycht to the king availe, 40 His force gan him halyly faile That he mycht nother rid na ga. Then wyt ye that his men war wa, For nane wes in that cumpany That wald haiff bene halff sa sary 45 For till haiff sene his broder ded Lyand befor him in that steid As thai war for his seknes, For all thar confort in him wes. Bot gud Schyr Edward the worthy 50 His broder that wes sa hardy And wys and wycht set mekill payn To comfort thaim with all his mayn, And quhen the lordis that thar war Saw that the ill ay mar and mar 55 Travaillyt the king, thaim thocht in hy It war nocht spedfull thar to ly, For thar all playne wes the countre And thai war bot a few menye To ly but strenth into the playne. 60 Forthi till that thar capitane War coveryt off his mekill ill Thai thocht to wend sum strenthis till.
[A reflection on leadership; the king goes to Slioch]
For folk foroutyn capitane Bot thai the better be apayn 65 Sall nocht be all sa gud in deid As thai a lord had thaim to leid That dar put him in aventur But abaysing to tak the ure That God will send, for quhen that he 70 Off sic will is and sic bounte That he dar put him till assay His folk sall tak ensample ay Off his gud deid and his bounte, And ane off thaim sall be worth thre 75 Off thaim that wikkyt chifftane hais, His wrechytnes sa in thaim gais That thai thar manlynes sall tyn throu wrechitnes of his convyn. For quhen the lord that thaim suld leid 80 May do nocht bot as he that war ded Or fra his folk haldis his way Fleand, trow ye nocht than that thai Sall vencusyt in thar hartis be. Yis sall thai, as I trow per de, 85 Bot giff thar hartis be sa hey That thai na will for thar worschip flei, And thaocht sum be of sic bounte Quhen thai the lord and his menye Seys fley, yeit sall thai fley apayn 90 For all men fleis the deid rycht fayne. Se quhat he dois that sua foully Fleys thus for his cowardy, Bath him and his vencusys he And gerris his fayis aboune be. 95 Bot he that throu his gret noblay Till perallis him abandounys ay To recomfort his menye Gerris thame be off sa gret bounte That mony tyme unlikly thing 100 Tha bring rycht weill to gud ending. Sa did this king that Ik off reid, And for his utrageous manheid Confortyt his on sic maner That nane had radnes quhar he wer. 105 Thai wald nocht fecht till that he wes 105* Liand intill his seknes, 105 Tharfor in litter thai him lay And till the Slevauch hald thar way And thocht thar in that strenth to ly 110 Till passyt war his malady. 109
[The skirmishing at Slioch]
Bot fra the erle of Buchane Wyst that thai war thidder gane And wyst that sa sek wes the king That men doutyt off his covering, 115 He sent eftre his men in hy 114 And assemblyt a gret cumpany, For all his awine men war thar And all his frendis with him war, That wes Schir Jhonne the Mowbray 120 And his brodyr as Ik hard say 119 And Schyr David off Brechynge With fele folk in thar ledyng. And quhen thai all assemblit war In hy thai tuk thar way to far 125 To the Slevauch with all thar men` 124 For till assaile the king that then Wes liand intill his seknes. This wes eftyr the Martymes Quhen snaw had helyt all the land. 130 To the Slevauch thai come ner-hand 129 Arayit on thar best maner And thane the kingis men that wer War off thar come thaim apparaylyt To defend giff thai thaim assaylyt 135 And nocht-forthi thar fayis war 134 Ay twa for ane that thai war thar. The erlys men ner cummand war Trumpand and makand mekill far And maid knychtis quhen thai war ner, 140 And thai that in the woddis sid wer 139 Stud in aray rycht sarraly And thocht to byd thar hardyly The cummyng off thar ennymys, Bot thai wald apon nakyn wys 145 Ische till assaile thaim in fechting 144 Till coveryt war the nobill king, Bot and othir wald thaim assailye Thai wald defend vailye que vailye. And quhen the erlis cumpany 150 Saw that thai wrocht sa wisely 149 That thai thar strenth schupe to defend, Thar archeris furth to thaim thai send To bykkyr thaim and men off mayn, And thai send archeris thaim agayne 155 That bykkyrryt thaim sa sturdely 154 Till thai off the erlis party Intill thar bataill dryvyn war. Thre dayis on this wys lay thai thar And bykkyryt thaim everilk day 160 Bot thar bowmen the war had ay. 159 And quhen the kingis cumpany Saw thar fayis befor thaim ly That ilk day wox ma and ma, And thai war quhone and stad war sua 165 That thai had na thing for till eyt 164 Bot giff thai travaillit it to get, Tharfor thai tuk consale into hy That thar wald thai na langer ly Bot hald thar way quhar thai mycht get 170 To thaim and tharis vittaillis and mete. 169
[The king withdraws from Slioch]
In a littar the king thai lay And redyit thaim and held thar way That all thar fayis mycht thaim se, Ilk man buskyt him in his degre 175 To fycht giff thai assaillyt war. 174 In myddis thaim the king thai bar And yeid about him sarraly And nocht full gretly thaim gan hy. The erle and thai that with him war 180 Saw that thai buskit thaim to far, 179 And saw how with sa litill effray Thai held furth with the king thar way Redy to fycht quha wald assaile. Thar hartis begouth all to faile 185 And in pes lete thaim pas thar way 184 And till thar housis hame went thai.
[The king goes to Strathbogie then to Inverurie]
The erle his way tuk to Bouchane, And Schyr Edward the Bruce is gane Rycht to Strabolghy with the king 190 And sua lang thar maid sojorning 189 Till he begouth to covyr and ga, And syne thar wayis gan thai ta Till Innerroury straucht agane For thai wald ly into the plane, 195 The wynter sesone, for vittaile 194 Intill the plane mycht thaim nocht faile. The erle wyst that thai war thar And gaderyt a mengne her and thar. Brechyne and Mowbray and thar men 200 All till the erle assemblyt then 199 And war a full gret cumpany Off men arayit jolyly. Till Auld Meldrum thai yeid the way And thar with thar men logit thai 205 Befoir Yhule evyn a nycht but mar, 204 A thousand trow I weile thai war. Thai logyt thaim all thar that nycht And on the morn quhen day wes lycht The lord off Brechyn Schyr Davy 210 Is went towart Innerroury 209 To luk gyff he on ony wys Mycht do skaith till his ennymys, And till the end off Innerroury Come ridand sa sodanly 215 That off the kingis men he slew 214 A part, and other sum thaim withdrew And fled thar way towart the king That with the maist off his gadryng On the yond half Doun wes than lyand.
[Preparation for battle]
220 And quhen men tauld him tithand 219 How Schyr Davy had slayn his men His hors in hy he askyt then And bad his men all mak thaim yar Into gret hy, for he wald far 225 To bargane with his ennymys. 224 With that he buskyt for to rys That wes nocht all weill coveryt then. Then said sum off his preve men, 'Quhat think ye thusgat to far 230 To fycht and nocht yeit coveryt ar.' 229 'Yhis,' said the king, 'withoutyn wer, Thar bost has maid me haile and fer, For suld na medicyne sa sone Haiff coveryt me as thai haiff done. 235 Tharfor, sa God himself me se, 234 I sall othir haiff thaim or thai me.' And quhen his men has hard the king Set him sa hale for the fechting, Off his coveryng all blyth thai war 240 And maid thaim for the battaill yar. 239
[The battle of Old Meldrum]
The nobill king and his mengye That mycht weile ner sevin hunder be Towart Auld Meldrum tuk the way Wuhar the erle and his menye lay. 245 The discurrouris saw thaim cummand 244 With baneris to the wynd wavand And yeid to thar lord in hy That gert arme hys men hastely And thaim arayit for battaile, 250 Behind thaim set thai thar merdale 249 And maid gud sembland for to fycht. The king come on with mekill mycht And thai abaid makand gret fayr Till thai ner at assembling wayr, 255 Bot quhen thai saw the nobill king 254 Cum stoutly on foroutyn fenyeing A litill on bridill thai thaim withdrew, And the king that rycht weill knew That thai war all discumfyt ner 260 Pressyt on thaim with his baner 259 And thai withdrew mar and mar. And quhen the small folk thai had thar Saw thar lordis withdraw them sua Thai turnyt the bak all and to-ga 265 And fled all scalyt her and thar. 264 The lordis that yeyt togydder war Saw that thar small folk war fleand And saw the king stoutly cummand, Thai war ilkane abaysit swa 270 That thai the bak gave and to-ga, 269 A litill stound samyn held thai And syne ilk man has tane his way. Fell never men sa foule myschance Eftre sa sturdy contenance 275 For quhen the kingis cumpany 274 Saw that thai fled sa foulyly Thai chasyt thaim with all thair mayn And sum thai tuk and sum has slayn. The remanand war fleand ay, 280 Quha had gud hors gat best away. 279 Till Ingland fled the erle of Bouchquhane Shyr Jhon Mowbray is with him gane And war resett with the king, Bot thai had bath bot schort lesting 285 For thai deyt sone eftre syne. 284 And Schyr David off Brechyne Fled till Brechyne his awine castell And warnyst it bath fayr and weill, Bot the erle of Atholl, Davy, 290 His sone that wes in Kildromy 289 Come syne and him assegyt thar, And he that wald hald were ne mar Na bargane with the nobile king Come syne his man with gud treting.
[The ravaging of Buchan; the taking of Forfar Castle]
295 Now ga we to the king agayne 294 That off his victory wes rycht fayn, And gert his men bryn all Bowchane Fra end till end and sparyt nane, And heryit thaim on sic maner 300 That eftre weile fyfty yer 299 Men menyt the herschip off Bouchane. The king than till his pes has tane The north cuntreys that humbly Obeysyt till his senyoury 305 Sua that benorth the Month war nane 304 Then thai his men war everilkan, His lordschip wox ay mar and mar. Towart Angus syne gan he far And thocht sone to mak all fre 310 That wes on the north halff the Scottis se. 309 The castell off Forfayr wes then Stuffyt all with Inglismen, Bot Philip the Forestar of Platane Has off his freyndis with him tane 315 And with leddrys all prevely 314 Till the castell he gan him hy And clam up our the wall off stane And swagate has the castell tane Throu faute off wach with litill pane, 320 And syne all that he fand has slayne 319 Syne yauld the castell to the king That maid him rycht gud rewarding, And syne gert brek doun the wall And fordyd well and castell all.
[The king goes to Perth and besieges it]
325 Quhen that the castell off Forfar 324 And all the towris tumblyt war Down till the erd as Ik haiff tauld The king that wycht wes wys and bauld That thocht that he wald mak all fre 330 Apon the northhalff the Scottis se 329 Till Perth is went with all his rout And umbeset the toun about And till it a sege has set. Bot quhill it mycht haiff men and met 335 It mycht nocht but gret payne be tane 334 For all the wall wes then of stane And wycht towris and hey-standand, And that tyme war tharin dwelland Muschet and als Olyfard, 340 Thai twa the toun had all in ward 339 And off Straitherne als the erle wes thar, Bot his sone and off his men war Without intill the kingis rowt. Thar wes oft bekering styth and stout 345 And men slayne apon ilk party, 344 Bot the gud king that all wytty Wes in his dedis everilkane Saw the wallis sa styth off stane And saw defens that thai gan ma 350 And how the toun wes hard to ta 349 With opyn sawt strenth or mycht. Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht, And in all tyme that he thar lay He spyit and slely gert assay 355 Quhar at the dyk schaldest was, 354 Till at the last he fand a place That men mycht till thar schuldris wad. And quhen he that place fundyn had He gert his men busk ilkane 360 Quhen sex woukis off the sege war gane, 359 And tursyt thar harnes halyly And left the sege all opynly And furth with all his folk gan fayr As he wald do tharto no mayr. 365 And thai tha war within the toun 364 Quhen thai to fayr sa saw him boun Thai schoutit him and skornyn mad, And he furth on his wayis rad As he ne had will agayne to turn 370 Na besyd thaim mak sojourn. 369
[The assault on Perth]
Bot in aucht dayis nocht-forthi He gert mak leddrys prevely That mycht suffice till his enent, And in a myrk nycht syne is went 375 Toward the toun with his menye 374* Bath hors and knafis all left he 375* Fer fra the toun, and syne has tane 376* Thair ledderis and on fut ar gane 377* Towart the toun all prevely. 374 380 Thai hard na wachys spek na cry 375 For thai war within may-fall As men that dred nocht slepand all. Thai haid na dreid then off the king For thai off him herd na thing 385 All thai thre dayis befor or mar, 380 Thairfor sekyr and traist thai war. And quhen the king thaim hard nocht ster He was blyth on gret maner, And his ledder in hand gan ta 390 Ensample till his men to ma, 385 Arayit weill in all his ger Schot in the dik and with his sper Taistyt till he it our-woud, Bot till his throt the watyr stud. 395 That tyme wes in his cumpany 390 Aknycht off France wycht and hardy, And quhen he in the watyr sua Saw the king pas and with him ta His ledder unabasytly, 400 He saynyt him for the ferly 395 And said, 'A, lord, quhat sall we say Off our lordis off Fraunce that thai With gud morsellis fayrcis thar pawnce And will bot ete and drink and dawnce 405 Quhen sic a knycht and sa worthy 400 As this throu his chevalry Into sic perell has him set To win a wrechyt hamillet.' With that word to the dik he ran 410 And our efter the king he wan, 405 And quhen the kingis menye saw Thar lord out-our intill a thraw Thai passyt the dik and but mar let Thar leddrys to the wall thai set 415 And to clymb up fast pressyt thai, 410 Bot the gud king as I herd say Was the secund man tuk the wall And bad thar till his mengye all War cummyn up in full gret hy.
[The king takes Perth; his treatment of the townsfolk]
420 Yeit than rais nother noyis na cry, 415 Bot sone efter thai noyis maid That off thaim fyrst persaving had Swa that the cry rais throu the toun, Bot he that with his men wes boun 425 Till assaill to thte toun is went 420 And the maist off his menye sent All scalyt throu the toun, bot he Held with himselvyn a gret mengne Sa that he moucht be ay purvayit 430 To defend giff he war assayit. 425 Bot thai that he send throu the toun Put to sa gret confusioun Thar fayis that in beddis war Or scalyt fleand her and thar 435 That or the sone rais thai had tane 430 Thar fayis or discumfyt ilkane. The wardanys bath tharin war tane, And Malice off Straithern is gane Till his fadyr the Erle Malice 440 And with strenth tuk him and his, 435 Syne for his sak the noble king Gave him his in governyng. The lave that ran out-throu the toun Sesyt to thaim into gret fusoun 445 Men and armyng and marchandis 440 And other gud on syndry wys, Quhill thai that er war pour and bar Off that gud rych and mychty war, Bot thar wes few slayne for the king, 450 That thaim had gevyn in commanding 445 On gret payne that thai suld slay nane That but gret bargane mycht be tane. That thai war kynd to the countre He wyst and off thaim had pite.
[The king controls Scotland north of the Forth]
455 On this maner the toun wes tane 450 And syne towris everilkane And wallis gert he tumble down. He levyt nocht about that town Towr standand na stane na wall 460 That ne haly gert stroy thaim all, 455 And presonerys that thar tuk he He send quhar thai mycht haldyn be, And till his pes tuk all the land. Wes nane that durst him than withstand 465 Apon northhalff the Scottis se, 460 All obeysyt till his majeste Outane the lord of Lorn and thai Off Arghile that wald with him ga. He held him ay agayne the king 470 And hatyt him atour all thing, 465 Bot yete or all the gamyn ga I trow weill that the king sall ta Vengeance off his gret cruelte, And that him sar repent sall he 475 That he the king contraryit ay, 470 May-fall quhen he it mend na may.
[Edward Bruce's reputation; he goes to Galloway]
The kingis broder, quhen the toun Wes takyn thus and dongyn doun, Schyr Edward that wes sa worthy 480 Tuk with him a gret cumpany 475 And tuk his gayt till Galloway, For with his men he wald assay Giff he mycht recover that land And wyn it fra Inglismennys hand. 485 This Schyr Edward forsuth Ik hycht 480 Wes off his hand a noble knycht And in blythnes suete and joly, Bot he wes outrageous hardy And of sa hey undretaking 490 That he haid never yeit abaysyng 485 Off multitud off men, forthi He discumfyt commounly Mony with quhone, tharfor had he Out-over his peris renomme. 495 And quha wald rehers all the deid 490 Off his hey worschip and manheid Men mycht a mekill romanys mak, And nocht-forthi I think to tak On hand Off him to say sum thing 500 Bot nocht tende part his travalyn. 495 This gud knycht that I spek off her With all the folk that with him wer Weill sone to Galloway cummyn is, All that he fand he makyt his 505 And ryotyt gretly the land. 500 Bot than in Galloway war wonnand Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that wes Renommyt off sa hey prowes that he off worschippassyt the rowt, 510 Tharfor he gert ay ber about 505 Apon a sper a rede bonet Into takyn that he wes set Into the hycht off chevalry, And off Saynct Jhone als Schyr Aymry.
[The battle by the Cree]
515 Thir twa the land had in stering, 510 And quhen thai hard off the cummyng Off Schyr Edward that sa playnly Oure-raid the land, thare in gret hy Thai assemblyt all thar mengne, 520 I trow tuelf hunder thai mycht be. 515 Bot he with fewar folk thaim met Besyd Cre and sa hard thaim set With hard battaill and stalwart fycht That he thaim all put to the flycht 525 And slew twa hunder wrill and ma, 520 And the chyftanys in hy gan ta Thar way to Buttill for to be Thar resavyt to sawfte, And Schyr Edward thaim chasit fast, 530 Bot till the castell at the last 525 Gat Schyr Ingrahame and Schyr Amery, Bot the best off thar cumpany Left ded behind thaim in the place. And quhen Schyr Edward saw the chace 535 Wes falyt he gert seys the pray 530 And sua gret cattell had away That it war wonder for to se. Out of Buttill thai saw how he Gert his men dryve with him thar pray 540 Bot na let tharin mycht thai. 535 Throu his chevalrous chevalry Galloway wes stonayit gretumly And he dowtyt for his bounte. Sum off the men off the countre 545 Cum till his pes and maid him aith. 540 Bot Schyr Amery that had the skaith Off the bargane I tauld off er, Raid till Ingland till purches ther Off armyt men gret cumpany 550 To veng him off the velany 545 That Schyr Edward that noble knycht Him did by Cre into the fycht. Off gud men he assemblit thar Weill fyften hunder men and mar 555 That war rycht of gud renowne. 550 His way with all that folk tuk he, And in the land all prevely Entryt with tha chevalry Thynkand Schyr Edward to suppris 560 Giff that he moucht on ony wis 555 For he thocht he wald him assaile Or that he left in playn bataill.
[In a second encounter Edward Bruce defeats a much larger force]
Now may ye her off gret ferly And off rycht hey chevalry, 565 For Schyr Edward into the land 560 Wes with his mengne rycht ner-hand, And in the mornyng rycht arly Herd the countre men mak cry And had wyttryng off thar cummyng. 570 Than buskyt he him but delaying 565 And lapp on hors deliverly, He had than in toute fyfty All apon gud hors armyt weill, His small folk gert he ilk-deill 575 Withdraw thaim till a strait thar-by, 570 And he raid furth with his fyfty. A knycht that then was in his rowt Worthi and wycht stalwart and stout Curtais and fayr and off gud fame 580 Schyr Alane off Catkert be name 575 Tauld me this taile as I sall tell. Gret myst into the mornyng fell Sa thai mycht nocht se thaim by For myst a bow-draucht fullely. 585 Sa hapnyt that thai fand the trais 580 Quhar at the rowt furth passyt wais Off thair fayis that forouth raid. Schyr Edward that gret yarnyn had All tymys to do chevalry 590 With all his rout in full gret hy 585 Folowyt the trais quhar gane war thai, And befor mydmorne off the day The myst wox cler all sodanly And than he and his cumpany 595 War nocht a bowdraucht fra the rout. 590 than schot thai on thaim with a schout, For gyff thai fled thai wyst that thai Suld nocht weill feyrd part get away, Tharfor in aventur to dey 600 He wald him put or he wald fle. 595 And quhen the Inglis cumpany Saw on thaim cum sa sodanly Sik folk foroutyn abaysyng Thai war stonayt for effrayng, 605 And the tother but mar abaid 600 Swa hardely amang thaim raid That fele off thaim till erd thai bar. Stonayit sa gretly than thai war Throu the force off that fyrst assay 610 That thai war intill gret effray, 605 And wend be fer thai had bene ma For that thai war assailit sua. Quhen thai had thyrlyt thaim hastily Than Schyr Edwardis cumpany 615 Set stoutly in the heid agayne, 610 And at that cours borne doune and slayn War off thar fayis a gret party That thai effrayit war sa gretly That thsi war scalyt gretly then. 620 And quhen Schyr Edward and his men 615 Saw thaim intill sa evill aray The thrid tyme on thaim prekyt thai, And thai that saw thaim sa stouly Come on dred thaim sa gretumly 625 That all thar rowt bath les and mar 620 Fled prekand scalyt her and thar. Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy To bid, bot all comonaly Fled to warand, and he gan chas 630 That wilfull to distroy thaim was 625 And sum he tuk and sum war slayn, Bot Schyr Amery with mekill payn Eschapyt and his gat in gayn. His men discumfyt war ilkane, 635 Sum tane, sum slayne, sum gat away, 630 It wes a rycht fayr poynt perfay.
[A comment on Edward Bruce in Galloway]
Lo! how hardyment tane sa sudandly And drevyn to the end scharply May ger oftsys unlikly thingis 640 Cum to rycht fayr and gud endingis 635 As it fell into this cas her. For hardyment withoutyn wer Wan fyften hunder with fyfty Quhar ay for ane thar wes thretty, 645 And twa men ar a mannys her, 640 Bot ure thaim led on swilk maner That thai discumfyt war ilkane. Schyr Amery hame his gat is gane Rycht blyth that he swa gat away, 650 I trow he sall nocht mony day 645 Haiff will to werray that countre, With-thi Schyr Edward tharin be. And he dwelt furth into the land Thaim that rebell war werrayand, 655 And in a yer sa werrayit he 650 That he wane quyt that countre Till his broderys pes the king. Bot that wes nocht but hard fechting, For in that tyme thar him befell 660 Mony fayr poynt as Ik herd tell 655 The quhilk that ar nocht writyn her, Bot I wate weile that in that yer Thretten castellis with strenth he wan And ourcome mony a mody man. 665 Quha-sa off him the south will reid, 660 Had he had mesure in his deid I trow that worthyar then he Mycht nocht in his tym fundyn be Outakyn his broder anerly, 670 To quham into chevalry 665 Lyk wes nane in his day, For he led him with mesur ay, And with wyt his chevalry He governyt sa worthily 675 That he oft full unlikly thing 670 Broucht rycht weill to gud ending.
[Douglas in the Forest surrounds and takes enemy Scots in a house]
In all this tyme James of Douglas In the Forest travaland was, And it throu hardiment and slycht 680 Occupyit all magre the mycht 675 Off his fell fayis, the-quhether thai Set him full oft in full hard assay, Bot oft throu wyt and throu bounte His purpos to gud end brocht he. 685 Intill that tyme him fell throu cas 680 On ane nycht as he travaland was And thocht till haiff tane resting In ane hous on the watyr off Lyne And as he come with his mengne 690 Ner-hand the hous sua lysnyt he 685 And herd thair sawis ilke deill, And be that he persavyt weill That thai war strang men that thar That nycht tharin herbryd war. 695 And as he thocht it fell per cas, 690 For off Bonkle the lord thar was Alexander Stewart hat he With other twa off gret bounte, Thomas Randell off gret renowne 700 And Adam alsua off Gordoune, 695 That thar come with gret cumpany And thocht into the Forest to ly And occupy it throu thar mycht, And with travaill and stalwart fycht 705 Chace Douglas out of that countre. 700 Bot otherwayis then yeid the gle For quhen James had wittering That strang men had taken herbryng In the place that he schup him to ly 710 He to the hous went hastily 705 And umbeset it all about. Quhen thai within hard swilk a rout About the hous thai rais in hy And tuk thar ger rycht hastily 715 And schot furth fra thai harnasyt war. 710 Thar fayis thaim met with wapnys bar And assaylit rycht hardely And thai defendyt douchtely With all thar mycht, till at the last 720 Thar fayis pressyt thaim sa fast 715 That thar folk failyt thaim ilkane. Thomas Randell thar wes tane And Alexander Stewart alsua Woundyt in a place or twa. 725 Adam of Gordoun fra the fycht 720 Quhat throu his strenth and his mycht Eschapyt and ser off thar men, Bot thai that war arestyt then War off thar taking wondre wa, 730 Bot neidlingis behovit it be sua. 725
[Thomas Randolph upbraids the king]
That nycht the gud lord off Douglas Maid to Schyr Alysander that was His emys sone rycht glaidsome cher, Sua did he als withoutyn wer 735 Till Thomas Randell for that he 730 Wes to the king in ner degre Off blud, for his sistre him bar, And on the morne foroutyn mar Towart the noble king he raid 740 And with him bath thai twa he haid. 735 The king off his present wes blyth And thankyt him weill fele syth, And till his nevo gan he say, 'Thou has ane quhill renyid thi fay, 745 Bot thou reconsalit now mon be.' 740 Then till the king answerit he And said, 'Ye chasty me, bot ye Aucht bettre chastyt for to be, For sene ye werrayit the king 750 Off Ingland, in playne fechtyng 745 Ye suld pres to derenyhe rycht And nocht with cowardy na with slycht.' The king said, 'Yeit may-fall it may Cum or oucht lang to sic assay. 755 Bot sen thou spekys sa rudly 750 It is gret skyll men chasty Thai proud wordis till that thou knaw The rycht and bow it as thou aw.' The king foroutyn mar delaying 760 Send him to be in ferme keping 755 Quhar that he allane suld be, Nocht all apon his powste fre.