<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=418937" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Brus Book 19</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The conspiracy against King Robert; its discovery] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Than wes the land a quhile in pes, <br>Bot covatys, that can nocht ces <br>To set men apon felony <br>To ger thaim cum to senyoury, <br>5 Gert lordis off full gret renoune <br>Mak a fell conjuracioun <br>Agayn Robert the douchty king, <br>Thai thocht till bring him till ending <br>And to bruk eftre his dede <br>10 The kynrik and to ryng in hys steid. <br>The lord the Soullis, Schyr Wilyam, <br>Off that purches had mast defame, <br>For principale tharoff was he <br>Off assent of that cruelte. <br>15 He had gottyn with him sindry, <br>Gilbert Maleherbe, Jhone of Logy <br>Thir war knychtis that I tell her <br>And Richard Broun als a squyer, <br>And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn <br>20 Wes off this deid arettyt syne <br>As I sall tell you forthermar. <br>Bot thai ilkane discoveryt war <br>Throu a lady as I hard say <br>Or till thar purpos cum mycht thai, <br>25 For scho tauld all to the king <br>Thar purpose and thar ordanyng, <br>And how that he suld haf bene ded <br>And Soullis ryng intill his steid, <br>And tauld him werray taknyng <br>30 This purches wes suthfast thing. <br>And quhen the king wist it wes sua <br>Sa sutell purches gan he ma <br>That he gert tak thaim everilkan, <br>And quhar the lord Soullis was tane <br>35 Thre hunder and sexty had he <br>Off squyeris cled in his lyvere <br>At that tyme in his cumpany <br>Outane knychtis that war joly. <br>Into Berwik takyn wes he <br>40 That mycht all his mengne se <br>Sary and wa, bot suth to say <br>The king lete thaim all pas thar way <br>And held thaim at he takyn had. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The trial in parliament; the fate of the conspirators] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The lord Soullis sone eftre maid <br>45 Plane granting of all that purchas. <br>A parlement set tharfor thar was <br>And brocht thidder this mengne war. <br>The lord the Soullis has grantyt thar <br>The deid into plane parleament, <br>50 Tharfor sone eftre he wes sent <br>Till his pennance to Dunbertane <br>And deit thar in a tour off stane. <br>Schyr Gilbert Maleherbe and Logy <br>And Richard Broune thir thre planly <br>55 War with a sys thar ourtane, <br>Tharfor thai drawyn war ilkane <br>And hangyt and hedyt tharto <br>As men had dempt thaim for to do. <br>And gud Schyr Davy off Breichyn <br>60 Thai gert chalance rycht straitly syne, <br>And he grauntyt that off that thing <br>Was wele maid till him discovering <br>Bot he thartill gaf na consent, <br>And for he helyt thar entent <br>65 And discoveryt it nocht to the king <br>That he held of all his halding <br>And maid till him his fewte <br>Jugyt till hang and draw wes he. <br>And as thai drew him for to hing <br>70 The pepill ferly fast gan thring <br>Him and his myscheyff for to se <br>That to behald wes gret pite. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Sir Ingram Umfraville's reaction and decision to leave Scotland] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that than <br>Wes with the king as Scottisman, <br>75 Quhen he that gret myscheiff gan se <br>He said, 'Lordingis, quharto pres ye <br>To se at myscheiff sic a knycht <br>That wes sa worthi and sa wicht <br>That Ik haff sene ma pres to se <br>80 Him him for his rycht soverane bounte <br>Than now doys for to se him her.' <br>And quhen thir wordis spokyn wer <br>With sary cher he held him still <br>Quhill men had done of him thar will, <br>85 And syne with the leve of the king <br>He brocht him menskly till erding. <br>And syne to the king said he, <br>'A thing I pray you graunt me, <br>That is that ye off all my land <br>90 That is intill Scotland liand <br>Wald giff me leve to do my will.' <br>The king that sone has said him till, <br>'I will wele graunt that it sua be, <br>Bot tell me quhat amovis the.' <br>95 He said agane, 'Schyr, graunt mercy <br>And I sall tell you planely, <br>Myne hart giffis me na mar to be <br>With you dwelland in this countre, <br>Tharfor bot that it nocht you greve <br>100 I pray you hartly of your leve. <br>For quhar sua rycht worthi a knycht <br>An sa chevalrous and sa wicht <br>And sa renownyt off worschip syne <br>As gud Schyr David off Brechyn <br>105 And sa fullfyllyt off all manheid <br>Was put to sa velanys a ded, <br>Myn hart forsuth may nocht gif me <br>To dwell for na thing that may be.' <br>The king said, 'Sen that thou will sua <br>110 Quhenever the likys thou may ga, <br>And thou sall haiff gud leve tharto <br>Thi liking off thi land to do.' <br>And he thankyt him gretumly <br>And off his land in full gret hy <br>115 As hym thocht best disponyt he, <br>Syne at the king of gret bounte <br>Befor all thaim that with him war <br>He tuk his leve for evermar, <br>And went in Ingland to the king <br>120 That maid him rycht fayr welcummyng <br>And askyt him of the north tithing. <br>And he him tauld all but lesing <br>How thai knychtis destroyit war <br>And as I tauld till you ar, <br>125 And off the kingis curtassy <br>That levyt him debonarly <br>To do off his land his liking. <br>In that tyme wes send fra the king <br>Off Scotland messyngeris to trete <br>130 Off pes giff that thai mycht it get, <br>As thai befor oft-sys war send <br>How that thai coutht nocht bring till end. <br>For the gud king had in entent, <br>Sen God sa fayr grace had him lent <br>135 That he had wonnyn all his land <br>Throu strenth off armys till his hand, <br>That he pes in his tyme wald ma <br>And all landis stabill sua <br>That his ayr eftre him suld be <br>140 In pes, gif men held lawte. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Sir Ingram Umfraville advises a long truce, which is made] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Intill this tyme that Umfravill <br>As I bar you on hand er quhill <br>Come till the king of Ingland <br>The Scottis messingeris thar he fand <br>145 Of pes and rest to haiff tretis. <br>The king wist Schyr Ingrahame wes wis <br>And askyt consaile tharto <br>Quhat he wald rede him for to do, <br>For he said him thocht hard to ma <br>150 Pes with the King Robert his fa <br>Quhill that he off him vengit war. <br>Schyr Ingrahame maid till him answar <br>And said, 'He delt sa curtasly <br>With me that on na wis suld I <br>155 Giff consaill till his nethring.' <br>'The behovis nedwayis,' said the king, <br>'To this thing her say thine avis.' <br>'Schyr,' said he, 'sen your willis is <br>That I say, wit ye sekyrly <br>160 For all your gret chevalry <br>To dele with him yhe haf na mycht. <br>His men all worthyn ar sa wicht <br>For lang usage of fechting <br>That has bene nuryst in swilk thing <br>165 That ilk yowman is sa wicht <br>Off his that he is worth a knycht. <br>Bot, and ye think your wer to bring <br>To your purpos and your liking, <br>Lang trewys with him tak ye. <br>170 Than sall the mast off his menye <br>That ar bot simple yumanry <br>Be dystrenyit commonaly <br>To wyn thar mete with thar travaill, <br>And sum of thaim nedis but faill <br>175 With pluch and harow for to get <br>And other ser crafftis thar mete, <br>Sua that thar armyng sall worth auld <br>And sall be rottyn stroyit and sauld, <br>And fele that now of wer ar sley <br>180 Intill the lang trew sall dey <br>And other in thar sted sall rys <br>That sall conn litill of that mastrys. <br>And quhen thai disusyt er <br>Than may ye move on thaim your wer <br>185 And sall rycht well as I suppos 185 <br>Bring your entent to gud purpos.' 186 <br>Till this assentyt thai ilkane, 185 <br>And eftre sone war trewis tane <br>Betwix the twa kingis that wer <br>190 Tailyeit to lest for thretten yer 188 <br>And on the marchis gert thaim cry. <br>The Scottismenn kepyt thaim lelely, <br>Bot the Inglismen apon the se <br>Distroyit throu gret inyquyte <br>195 Marchand schippis that sailand war 193 <br>Fra Scotland till Flaundris with war, <br>And destroyit everilkane <br>And to thar oys the gud has tane. <br>The king send oft till ask redres, <br>200 Bot nocht off it redressyt wes 198 <br>And he abaid all tyme askand, <br>The trew on his half gert he stand <br>Apon the marchis stabilly <br>And gert men kep thaim lelely. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The death of Walter the Steward] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">205 In this tyme that trewis war 203 <br>Lestend on marchis as I said ar <br>Schyr Walter Stewart that worthi was <br>At Bathgat a gret seknes tas. <br>His ivill ay woux mar and mar <br>210 Quhill men persavit be his far 208 <br>That him worthit nede to pay the det <br>That na man to pay may let, <br>Schryvyn and als repentit weill <br>Quhen all wes doyn him ilkdeill <br>215 That Crystyn man nedyt till have 213 <br>As gud Crystyn the gast he gave. <br>Then men mycht her men gret and cry <br>And mony a knycht and mony a lady <br>Mak in apert rycht evill cher, <br>220 Sa did thai all that ever thai war, 218 <br>All men him menyt commounly <br>For off his eild he wes worthy. <br>Quhen thai lang quhill thar dule had maid <br>The cors to Paslay haiff thai haid, <br>225 And thar with gret solempnyte 223 <br>And with gret dule erdyt wes he, <br>God for his mycht his saule bring <br>Quhar joy ay lestis but ending. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The truce is given up; Moray and Douglas harry Weardale] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Efftre his dede as I said ar <br>230 The trewys that sua takyn war 228 <br>For till haff lestyt thretten yer, <br>Quhen twa yer of thaim passyt wer <br>And ane halff as I trow allsua <br>The King Robert saw men wald nocht ma <br>235 Redres of schippys that war tane 233 <br>And off the men als that war slane, <br>Bot contynowyt thar mavtye <br>Quhenever thai met thaim on the se. <br>He sent and acquit him planly <br>240 And gave the trewis up opynly, 238 <br>And in the vengeance of this trespas <br>The gud erle of Murreff Thomas <br>And Donald erle of Mar alsua <br>And James of Douglas with thai twa, <br>245 And James Stewart that ledar wes 243 <br>Efter his gud brotheris disceis <br>Off all his bruderys men in wer, <br>He gert apon thar best maner <br>With mony men bowne thaim to ga <br>250 In Ingland for to bryn and sla, 248 <br>And thai held furth till Ingland. <br>Thai war of gud men ten thousand, <br>Thai brynt and slew intill thar way, <br>Thar fayis fast destroyit thai <br>255 And suagat southwart gan thai far 253 <br>To Wardaill quhill thai cummyn war. <br>That tyme Edward off Carnaverane <br>The king wes ded and laid in stane, <br>And Edward his sone that wes ying <br>260 In Ingland crownyt wes to king 258 <br>And surname off Wyndyssor. <br>He had in France bene thar-befor <br>With his moder Dame Ysabell, <br>And wes weddyt as Ik herd tell <br>265 With a young lady fayr of face 263 <br>That the erlis douchter was <br>Off Hennaud, and off that cuntre <br>Brocht with him men of gret bounte, <br>Schyr Jhone the Hennaud wes thar leder <br>270 That was wys and wycht in wer. 268 <br>And that tyme that Scottismen wer <br>At Wardaile, as I said you er, <br>Intill York wes the new-maid king, <br>And herd tell of the destroying <br>275 That Scottismen maid in his countre. 273 <br>A gret ost till him gaderyt he, <br>He wes wele ner fyfty thousand, <br>Than held he northwart in the land <br>In haill battaill with that mengne, <br>280 Auchtene yer auld that tyme wes he. 278 <br>The Scottismen a day Cokdaile <br>Fra end till end had heryit haile <br>And till Wardaile again thai raid. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Edward III's army approaches; Douglas prepares an ambush; <br>the skirmish by the Wear] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thar discourriouris that sycht has haid <br>285 Off cummyn of the Inglismen 283 <br>To thar lordis thai tauld it then. <br>Than the lord Douglas in a ling <br>Raid furth to se thar cummyng <br>And saw that sevyn bataillis war thai <br>290 That cum ridand in gud aray, 288 <br>Quhen he that folk behaldyn had <br>Towart his ost agayn he rad. <br>The erle speryt gif he had sene <br>That ost. 'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'but wene.' <br>295 'Quhat folk ar thai?' 'Schyr, mony men.' 293 <br>The erle his ayth has sworn then, <br>'We sall fecht with thaim thocht thai war <br>Yeit ma eftsonys than thai ar.' <br>'Schyr, lovyt be God,' he said agayn, <br>300 'That we haiff sic a capitayn 298 <br>That sua gret thing dar undreta, <br>Bot, be saynct Bryd, it beis nocht sua <br>Giff my consaill may trowyt be, <br>For fecht on na maner sall we <br>305 Bot it be at our avantage, 303 <br>For methink it war na outrage <br>To fewar folk aganys ma <br>Avantage quhen thai ma to ta.' <br>As thai war on this wis spekand <br>310 Our ane hey rig thai saw ridand 308 <br>Towart thaim evyn a battaill braid, <br>Baneris displayit inew thai haid, <br>And a nothyr come eftre ner <br>And rycht apon the samyn maner <br>315 Thai come quhill sevin bataillis braid 313 <br>Out-our that hay rig passyt haid. <br>The Scottismen war than liand <br>On north halff Wer towart Scotland. <br>The dale wes strekyt weill Ik hycht, <br>320 On athyr sid thar wes ane hycht 318 <br>And till the water doune sumdeill stay. <br>The Scottismen in gud aray <br>On thar best wis buskyt ilkane <br>Stud in a strenth that thai had tane, <br>325 And that wes fra the water of Wer 323 <br>A quartar of a myle weill ner, <br>Thar stud thai battaill till abid, <br>And Inglismen on athyr sid <br>Come ridand dounwart quhill thai wer <br>330 To Weris water cummyn als ner 328 <br>As on other halff thar fayis war. <br>Than haf thai maid a rest rycht thar <br>And send out archerys a thousand <br>With hudis off and bowys in hand <br>335 And gert thaim drink weill of the wyn, 333 <br>And bad thaim gang to bykker syne <br>The Scottis ost in abandoun <br>And ger thaim cum apon thaim doun, <br>For mycht thai ger thaim brek aray <br>340 To haiff thaim at thar will thocht thai. 338 <br>Armyt men doune with thaim thai send <br>Thaim at the water to defend. <br>The lord Douglas has sene thar fer, <br>And men that rycht weill horsyt wer <br>345 And armyt a gret cumpany 343 <br>Behind the bataillis prevely <br>He gert howe to bid thar cummyng, <br>And quhen he maid to thaim taknyng <br>Thai suld cum prekand fast and sla <br>350 With sperys that thai mycht ourta, 348 <br>Donald off Mar thar chiftane was <br>And Archebald with hym of Douglas. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Douglas drives back the English; the two sides encamp; novelties seen] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The lord Douglas towart thaim raid, <br>A gowne on his armur he haid, <br>355 And traversyt all wayis up agayn 353 <br>Thaim ner his bataillis for to trayn, <br>And thai that drunkyn had off the wyne <br>Come ay up lingand in a lyne <br>Quhill thai the battaill come sa ner <br>360 That arowis fell amang thaim ser. 358 <br>Robert off Ogill a gud squyer <br>Come prikand than on a courser <br>And on the archeris criyt agane, <br>'Ye wate nocht quha mays you that trayn, <br>365 That is the lord Douglas that will 363 <br>Off his playis ken sum you till,' <br>And quhen thai herd spek of Douglas <br>The hardyest effrayit was <br>And agayn turnyt halely. <br>370 His takyn maid he than in hy, 368 <br>And the folk that enbuschit war <br>Sa stoutly prekyt on thaim thar <br>That weile thre hunder haiff thai slane <br>And till the water hame agane <br>375 All the remanand gan thai chas. 373 <br>Schyr Wilyam off Erskyn that was <br>Newlyngis makyn knycht that day 375 <br>Weill horsit intill gud aray 376 <br>Chasyt with other that thar war 375 <br>380 Sa fer furth that hys hors him bar 376 <br>Amang the lump of Inglismen, <br>And with strang hand wes takyn then, <br>Bot off him wele sone chang wes maid <br>For other that men takyn haid. <br>385 Fra thir Inglis archeris wes slane 381 <br>Thar folk raid till thar ost agane, <br>And rycht sua did the lord off Douglas. <br>And quhen that he reparyt was <br>Thai mycht amang thar fayis se <br>390 Thar pailyounys sone stentyt be, 386 <br>And thai persavyt sone in hy <br>That thai that nycht wald tak herbery <br>And schup to do no mar that day, <br>Tharfor thaim alsua herbryit thay <br>395 And stent pailyounys in hy, 391 <br>Tentis and lugis als tharby <br>Thai gert mak and set all on raw. <br>Twa novelryis that day thai saw <br>That forouth in Scotland had bene nene, <br>400 Tymmeris for helmys war the tane 396 <br>That thaim thoucht thane off gret bewte <br>And alsua wondyr for to se, <br>The tother crakys war off wer <br>That thai befor herd never er, <br>405 Off thir twa thingis thai had ferly. 401 <br>That nycht thai walkyt stalwartly, <br>The mast part off thaim armyt lay <br>Quhill on the morn that it wes day. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Douglas foils an English ambush] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The Inglismen thaim umbethocht <br>410 Apon quhat mener that thai moucht 406 <br>Ger Scottis leve thar avantage, <br>For thaim thocht foly and outrage <br>To gang up till thaim till assaill <br>Thaim at thar strenth in plane battaill, <br>415 Tharfor of gud men a thousand 411 <br>Armyt on hors bath fute and hand <br>Thai send behind thar fayis to be <br>Enbuschit intill a vale, <br>And schup thar bataillis as thai wald <br>420 Apon thaim till the fechtyn hald, 416 <br>For thai thocht Scottismen sic will <br>Had that thai mycht nocht hald thaim still, <br>For thai knew thaim off sic curage <br>That tharthrouch strenth and avantage <br>425 Thai suld leve and mete them planly. 421 <br>Than suld thar buschement halily <br>Behind brek on thaim at the bak, <br>Sa thocht thai wele thai suld thaim mak <br>For to repent thaim off thar play. <br>430 Thar enbuschment furth send haiff thai 426 <br>That thaim enbuschit prevely, <br>And on the morn sum-dele arly <br>Intill this ost hey trumpyt thai <br>And gert thar braid bataillis aray, <br>435 And all arayit for to fycht 431 <br>Thai held towart the water rycht. <br>Scottismen that saw thaim do swa <br>Boune on thar best wis gan thaim ma <br>And in bataill planly arayit <br>440 With baneris till the wynd displayit 436 <br>Thai left thar strenth, and all planly <br>Come doune to mete thaim hardely <br>In als gud maner as thai moucht <br>Rycht as thar fayis befor had thocht. <br>445 Bot the lord Douglas that ay was war 441 <br>And set out wachis her and thar <br>Gat wyt off thar enbuschement, <br>Than intill gret hy is he went <br>Befor the bataillis and stoutly <br>450 He bad ilk man turn him in hy 446 <br>Rycht as he stud, and turnyt sua <br>Up till thar strenth he bad thaim ga <br>Sua that na let thar thai maid, <br>And thai did as he biddyn haid <br>455 Quhill till thar strenth thai come agayne, 451 <br>Than turnyt thai thaim with mekill mayn <br>And stud redy to giff battaill <br>Giff thar fayis wald thaim assaill. <br>Quhen Inglismen had sene thaim sua <br>460 Towart thar strenth agayne up ga 456 <br>Thai criyt hey, 'Thai fley thar way.' <br>Schyr Jhone Hennaud said, 'Perfay <br>Yone fleyng is rycht degysé, <br>Thar armyt men behind I se <br>465 And thar baneris, sua that thaim thar 461 <br>Bot turne thaim as thai standand ar <br>And be arayit for to fycht <br> Giff ony presyt thaim with mycht. <br>Thai haiff sene our enbuschement <br>470 And agane till thar strenth ar went. 466 <br>Yone folk ar governyt wittily, <br>And he that ledis is worthi <br>For avisé worschip and wysdome <br>To governe the empyr off Rome.' <br>475 Thus spak that worthi knycht that day, 471 <br>And the enbuschement fra that thai <br>Saw that thai sua discoveryt war <br>Towart thar ost agane thai fair, <br>And the bataillis off Inglismen <br>480 Quhen thai saw thai had faillyt then 476 <br>Off thar purpos to thar herbery <br>Thai went and logit thaim in hy. <br>On other halff rycht sua did thai, <br>Thai maid na mar debat that day. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The Scots camp in a walled park; the English follow] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">485 Quhen thai that day ourdrevyn had 481 <br>Fyris in gret foysoun thai maid <br>Alsone as the nycht fallyn was. <br>And than the gud lord off Douglas, <br>That had spyit a place tharby <br>490 Twa myile thin that quhar mar traistly 486 <br>The Scottis ost mycht herbery ta <br>And defend thaim better alsua <br>Than ellys in ony place tharby, <br>It wes a park all halily <br>495 Wes envyround about with wall, 491 <br>It wes ner full of treys all <br>Bot a gret plane intill it was, <br>Thidder thocht the lord of Douglas <br>Be nychtyrtale thar ost to bring. <br>500 Tharfor foroutyn mar dwelling 496 <br>Thai bet thar fyris and maid thaim mar, <br>And syne all samyn furtht thai far <br>And till the park foroutyn tynseill <br>Thai come and herbryit thaim weill <br>505 Upon the water and als ner 501 <br>Till it as thai beforouth wer. <br>And on the morn quhen it wes day <br>The Inglis ost myssyt away <br>The Scottismen and had ferly, <br>510 And gert discourriouris hastily 506 <br>Pryk to se quhar thai war away, <br>And be thar fyris persavyt thai <br>That thai in the park of Werdale <br>Had gert herbry thar ost all hale. <br>515 Tharfor thar ost but mar abaid 511 <br>Buskyt, and evyn anent thaim raid <br>And on athyr halff the water of Wer <br>Gert stent thar palyounys als ner <br>As thar befor stentyt war thai. <br>520 Aucht dayis on baith halff sua thai lay 516 <br>That Inglismen durst nocht assaill <br>The Scottismen with plane battaill <br>For strenth of erd that thai had thar. <br>Thar wes ilk day justyn of wer <br>525 And scrymyn maid full apertly 521 <br>And men tane on athyr party, <br>And thai that war tane on a day <br>On ane other changyt war thai, <br>Bot other dedis nane war done <br>530 That gretly is apon to mone, 526 <br>Till it fell on the sevynd day <br>The lord Douglas had spyit a way <br>How that he mycht about thaim rid <br>And com on the ferrer sid. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Douglas rides round the English camp and surprises it on the far side] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">535 And at evyn purvayit him he 531 <br>And tuk with him a gud mengne <br>Fyve hunder on hors wicht and hardy, <br>And in the nycht all prevely <br>Forout noyis sa fer he raid <br>540 Quhill that he ner enveronyt had 536 <br>Thar ost and on the ferrar sid <br>Towart thaim slely gan he rid. <br>And the men that with him war <br>He gert in hand have swerdis bar <br>545 And bad thaim hew rapis in twa 541 <br>That thai the palyounys mycht ma <br>To fall on thaim that in thaim war, <br>Than suld the lave that folowit thar <br>Stab doune with speris sturdely, <br>550 And quhen thai hard his horne in hy 546 <br>To the water hald doune thar way. <br>Quhen this wes said that Ik her say <br>Towart thar fayis fast thai raid <br>That on that sid na wachis haid. <br>555 And as thai ner war approchand 551 <br>Ane Inglisman that lay bekand <br>Him be a fyr said till his fer, <br>'I wat nocht quhat may tyd us her <br>Bot rycht a gret growyng me tais, <br>560 For I dred sar for the blak Douglas,' 556 <br>And he that hard him said, 'Perfay <br>Thou sall haiff caus gif that I may.' <br>With that with all him cumpany <br>He ruschyt in on thaim hardely <br>565 And pailyounys doune he bar, 561 <br>With sperys that scharply schar <br>Thai stekyt men dispitously. <br>The noys weill sone rais and cry, <br>And thai stabbyt stekyt and slew <br>570 And pailyounys doun yarne thai drew. 566 <br>A felloune slauchter maid thai thar <br>For thai that liand nakit war <br>Had na power defens to ma <br>And thai but pite gan thaim sla. <br>575 Thai gert thaim weill wyt that foly 571 <br>Wes ner thar fayis for to ly <br>Bot giff thai traistly wachit war. <br>The Scottismen war slayand thar <br>Thar fayis on this wis quhill the cry <br>580 Ras throu the ost commonaly 576 <br>That lord and other war on ster, <br>And quhen the Douglas wyst thai wer <br>Armand thaim all commonaly <br>He blew his horn for to rely <br>585 His men and bad thaim hald thar way 581 <br>Towart the water and sua did thai, <br>And he abaid henmast to se <br>That nane of hys suld levyt be. <br>And as he bade sua howand <br>590 Sua come thane ane with a club in hand 586 <br>And sua gret a rout till him raucht <br>That had nocht bene his mekill maucht <br>And his rycht soverane manheid <br>Intill that place he had bene dede, <br>595 Bot he that na tyme wes effrayit 591 <br>Thocht he weill oft wes hard assayit <br>Throu mekill strenth and gret manheid <br>Has brocht the tother to the ded. <br>His men that till the water doun <br>600 War ridyne intill a raundoun 596 <br>Myssyt thar lord quhen thai come thar, <br>Than war thai dredand for him sar, <br>Ilkan at other speryt tithing <br>Bot yeit off him thai hard na thing. <br>605 Than gan thai consaill samyn ta 601 <br>That thai to sek him up wald ga, <br>And as thai war in sic effray <br>A tutilling off his horne hard thai <br>And thai that has it knawyn swith <br>610 War of his cummyn wonder blyth 606 <br>And speryt at him of his abaid. <br>And he tauld how a carle him maid <br>With a club sic felloun pay <br>That met him stoutly in the way <br>615 That had nocht fortoun helpit the mar 611 <br>He had bene in gret perell thar. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Douglas and Moray debate; the fable of the fox and the fisherman] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thusgat spekand thai held thar way <br>Quhill till thar ost cummyn ar thai <br>That on fute armyt thaim abaid <br>620 For till help giff thai myster haid, 616 <br>And alsone as the lord Douglas <br>Met with the erle off Murreff was <br>The erle speryt at thaim tithing <br>How thai had farne in thar outing. <br>625 'Schyr,' said he, 'we haf drawyn blud.' 621 <br>The erle that wes of mekill mude <br>Said, 'And we all had thidder gayne <br>We haid discumfyt thaim ilkan.' <br>'That mycht haff fallyn weill,' said he, <br>630 'Bot sekyrly ynew war we 626 <br>To put us in yone aventur, <br>For had thai maid discumfitur <br>On us that yonder passyt wer <br>It suld all stonay that ar her.' <br>635 The erle said, 'Sen that it sua is 631 <br>That we may nocht with jupertys <br>Our feloune fayis fors assaill <br>We sall do it in plane battaill.' <br>The lord Douglas said, 'Be saynct Brid <br>640 It war gret foly at this tid 636 <br>Till us with swilk ane ost to fycht <br>That growys ilk day off mycht <br>And has vittaill tharwith plente, <br>And in thar countre her ar we <br>645 Quhar thar may cum us na succourys, 641 <br>Hard is to mak us her rescours <br>Na we ne may ferrar mete to get, <br>Swilk as we haiff her we mon et. <br>Do we with our fayis tharfor <br>650 That ar her liand us befor 646 <br>As Ik herd tell this othyr yer <br>That a fox did with a fyscher.' <br>'How did the fox?' the erle gan say. <br>He said, 'A fyscher quhilum lay <br>655 Besid a ryver for to get 651 <br>Hys nettis that he had thar set. <br>A litill loge tharby he maid, <br>And thar-within a bed he haid <br>And a litill fyr alsua, <br>660 A dure thar wes foroutyn ma. 656 <br>A nycht, his nettis for to se <br>He rase and thar wele lang dwelt he, <br>And quhen he had doyne his deid <br>Towart his loge agayn he yeid, <br>665 And with licht of the litill fyr 661 <br>That in the loge wes brynnand schyr <br>Intill his luge a fox he saw <br>That fast on ane salmound gan gnaw. <br>Than till the dur he went in hy <br>670 And drew his swerd deliverly 666 <br>And said, 'Reiffar thou mon her out.' <br>The fox that wes in full gret dout <br>Lukyt about sum hole to se, <br>Bot nane eschew persave couth he <br>675 Bot quhar the man stud sturdely. 671 <br>A lauchtane mantell than him by <br>Liand apon the bed he saw, <br>And with his teth he gan it draw <br>Out-our the fyr, and quhen the man <br>680 Saw his mantill ly brinnand than 676 <br>To red it ran he hastily. <br>The fox gat out than in gret hy <br>And held his way his warand till. <br>The man leyt him begilyt ill <br>685 That he his gud salmound had tynt 681 <br>And alsua his mantill brynt, <br>And the fox scaithles gat away. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Douglas proposes a method of withdrawal] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">This ensample weill I may say <br>Be yone ost and us that ar her, <br>690 We ar the fox and thai the fyscher 686 <br>That stekis forouth us the way. <br>Thai wene we may na-gat away <br>Bot rycht quhar thai ly, bot perdé <br>All as thai think it sall nocht be, <br>695 For I haff gert se us a gait 691 <br>Suppos that it be sumdele wate, <br>A page off ouris we sall nocht tyne. <br>Our fayis for this small tranountyn <br>Wenys weill we sall prid us sua <br>700 That we planely on hand sall ta 696 <br>To giff thaim opynly battaill. <br>Bot at this tyme thar thocht sall faill, <br>For we to-morne her all the day <br>Sall mak als mery as we may, <br>705 And mak us boune agayn the nycht, 701 <br>And than ger mak our fyris lycht <br>And blaw our hornys and mak far <br>As all the warld our awne war <br>Quhill that the nycht weill fallin be. <br>710 And than with all our harnays we 706 <br>Sall tak our way hamwart in hy, <br>And we sall gyit be graithly <br>Quhill we be out off thar daunger <br>That lyis now enclossyt her. <br>715 Than sall we all be at our will 711 <br>And thai sall lete thaim trumpyt ill <br>Fra thai wyt weill we be away.' <br>To this haly assentyt thai, <br>And maid thaim gud cher all that nycht <br>720 Quhill on the morn that day wes lycht. 716 </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The Scots withdraw secretly by night, leaving fires burning; <br>the English give up the chase] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Apon the morn all prevely <br>Thai tursit harnays and maid redy <br>Sua that or evyn all boun war thai, <br>And thar fayis that agane thaim lay <br>725 Gert haiff thar men that thar war ded 721 <br>In cartis till ane haly sted. <br>All that day cariand thai war <br>With cartis men that slayn war thar, <br>That thai war fele mycht men well se <br>730 That in carying sa lang suld be. 726 <br>The ostis baith all that day wer <br>In pes, and quhen the nycht wes ner <br>The Scottis folk that liand war <br>Intill the park maid fest and far <br>735 And blew hornys and fyris maid 731 <br>And gert thaim mak brycht and braid, <br>Sua at that nycht thar fyris war mar <br>Than ony tym befor thai war. <br>And quhen the nycht wes fallin weill <br>740 With all the harnayis ilka-dele 736 <br>All prevely thai raid thar way. <br>Sone in a mos entryt ar thai <br>That had wele twa myle lang of breid, <br>Out-our that mos on fute thai yeid <br>745 And in thar hand thar hors leid thai. 741 <br>It wes rycht a noyus way <br>Bot flaikkis in the wod thai maid no no. <br>Of wandis and thame with thame had no no. <br>And sykis thairwith briggit thay, no no. <br>750 And sua had weill thair hors away no no. <br>On sic wyse that all that thair weir 743 <br>Come weill out-our it hale and fer, <br>And tynt bot litill off thar ger <br>Bot giff it war ony summer <br>755 That in the mos wes left liand. 747 <br>Quhen all as Ik haff born on hand <br>Out-our that mos that wes sa braid <br>War cummyn a gret glaidschip thai haid <br>And raid furth hamwart on thar way. <br>760 And on the morn quhen it wes day 752 <br>The Inglismen saw the herbery <br>Quhar Scottismen war wont to ly <br>All void. Thai wondryt gretly then <br>And send furth syndry off thar men <br>765 To spy quhar thai war gayn away 757 <br>Quhill at the last thar trais fand thai <br>That till the mekill mos thaim haid <br>That wes sua hidwous for to waid <br>That awntyr thaim tharto durst nane, <br>770 Bot till thar ost agayne ar gayn 762 <br>And tauld how that thai passyt war <br>Quhar never man passit ar. <br>Quhen Inglismen hard it wes sua <br>In hy to consaill gan thai ta <br>775 That thai wald folow thaim no mar, 767 <br>Thar ost rycht than thai scalit thar <br>And ilk man till his awn raid. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[King Robert sends a relief force;the two Scottish forces meet; <br>the king rejoices] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And King Robert that wittering haid <br>At his men in the park sua lay <br>780 And at quhat myscheiff thar war thai, 772 <br>Ane ost assemblyt he in hy <br>And ten thousand men wicht and hardy <br>He has send furth with erllis twa <br>Off the Marche and Angus war tha <br>785 The ost in Werdale to releve, 777 <br>And giff thai mycht sa weill escheve <br>That samyn mycht be thai and thai <br>Thai thocht thar fayis till assay. <br>Sua fell that on the samyn day <br>790 That the mos, as ye hard me say, 782 <br>Wes passyt, the discourrouris that thar <br>Ridand befor the ost war <br>Off athyr ost has gottyn sycht, <br>And thai that worthy war and wicht <br>795 At thar metyng justyt of wer, 787 <br>Ensenyeys hey thai criyt ther. <br>And be thar cry persavyt thai <br>That thai war frendys and at a fay, <br>Than mycht men se thaim glaid and blyth <br>800 And tauld it to thar lordis swith. 792 <br>The ostis bath met samyn syne, <br>Thar wes rycht hamly welcummyn <br>Maid amand thai gret lordis thar, <br>Off thar metyng joyfull thai war. <br>805 The erle Patrik and his menye 797 <br>Had vittaillis with thaim gret plente <br>And tharwith weill relevyt thai <br>Thar frendis, for the suth to say <br>Quhill thai in Wardale liand war <br>810 Thai had gret defaut off mete, bot thar 802 <br>Thai war relevyt with gret plente. <br>Towart Scotland with gamyn and gle <br>Thai went and hame wele cummyn ar thai <br>And scalyt syne ilk man thar way. <br>815 The lordis ar went to the king 807 <br>That has maid thaim fair welcumyng, <br>For off thar come rycht glaid wes he, <br>And that thai sic perplexite <br>Forout tynsaill eschapyt haid <br>820 All war thai blyth and mery maid. 812</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=John+Barbour">John Barbour</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=418937" data-title="The Brus Book 19 de John Barbour" data-description="[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 R..."></div> </div> </div>

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