<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=418943" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Brus Book IX</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The king goes to Inverurie and falls ill] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now leve we intill the Forest <br>Douglas that sall bot litill rest <br>Till the countre deliveryt be <br>Off Inglis folk and thar powste, <br>5 And turne we till the noble king <br>That with the folk off his leding <br>Towart the Month has tane his wai <br>Rycht stoutly and intill gud array, <br>Quhar Alysander Frayser him met <br>10 And als his broder Symonet <br>With all the folk thai with thaim had. <br>The king gud contenance thaim made <br>That wes rycht blyth off thar cummyne. <br>Thai tauld the king off the convyne <br>15 Off Jhone Cumyn erle of Bouchane <br>That till help him had with him tane <br>Schyr Jhon Mowbray and other ma, <br>Schyr David off Brechyn alsua, <br>With all the folk off thar leding, <br>20 'And yarnys mar na ony thing <br>Vengeance off you, schyr king, to tak <br>For Schyr Jhone the Cumyn his sak <br>That quhylum in Drumfres wes slayn.' <br>The king said, 'Sa our Lord me sayn, <br>25 Ik had gret caus him for to sla, <br>And sen that thai on hand will ta <br>Becaus off him to werray me <br>I sall thole a quhile and se <br>On quhat wys that thai pruve thar mycht, <br>30 And giff it fall that thai will fycht <br>Giff thai assaile we sall defend, <br>Syne fall eftre quhat God will send.' <br>Eftre this spek the king in hy <br>Held straucht his way till Enrowry, <br>35 And thar him tuk sik a seknes <br>That put him to full hard distress. <br>He forbar bath drynk and mete, <br>His men na medicyne couth get <br>That ever mycht to the king availe, <br>40 His force gan him halyly faile <br>That he mycht nother rid na ga. <br>Then wyt ye that his men war wa, <br>For nane wes in that cumpany <br>That wald haiff bene halff sa sary <br>45 For till haiff sene his broder ded <br>Lyand befor him in that steid <br>As thai war for his seknes, <br>For all thar confort in him wes. <br>Bot gud Schyr Edward the worthy <br>50 His broder that wes sa hardy <br>And wys and wycht set mekill payn <br>To comfort thaim with all his mayn, <br>And quhen the lordis that thar war <br>Saw that the ill ay mar and mar <br>55 Travaillyt the king, thaim thocht in hy <br>It war nocht spedfull thar to ly, <br>For thar all playne wes the countre <br>And thai war bot a few menye <br>To ly but strenth into the playne. <br>60 Forthi till that thar capitane <br>War coveryt off his mekill ill <br>Thai thocht to wend sum strenthis till. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[A reflection on leadership; the king goes to Slioch] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">For folk foroutyn capitane <br>Bot thai the better be apayn <br>65 Sall nocht be all sa gud in deid <br>As thai a lord had thaim to leid <br>That dar put him in aventur <br>But abaysing to tak the ure <br>That God will send, for quhen that he <br>70 Off sic will is and sic bounte <br>That he dar put him till assay <br>His folk sall tak ensample ay <br>Off his gud deid and his bounte, <br>And ane off thaim sall be worth thre <br>75 Off thaim that wikkyt chifftane hais, <br>His wrechytnes sa in thaim gais <br>That thai thar manlynes sall tyn <br>throu wrechitnes of his convyn. <br>For quhen the lord that thaim suld leid <br>80 May do nocht bot as he that war ded <br>Or fra his folk haldis his way <br>Fleand, trow ye nocht than that thai <br>Sall vencusyt in thar hartis be. <br>Yis sall thai, as I trow per de, <br>85 Bot giff thar hartis be sa hey <br>That thai na will for thar worschip flei, <br>And thaocht sum be of sic bounte <br>Quhen thai the lord and his menye <br>Seys fley, yeit sall thai fley apayn <br>90 For all men fleis the deid rycht fayne. <br>Se quhat he dois that sua foully <br>Fleys thus for his cowardy, <br>Bath him and his vencusys he <br>And gerris his fayis aboune be. <br>95 Bot he that throu his gret noblay <br>Till perallis him abandounys ay <br>To recomfort his menye <br>Gerris thame be off sa gret bounte <br>That mony tyme unlikly thing <br>100 Tha bring rycht weill to gud ending. <br>Sa did this king that Ik off reid, <br>And for his utrageous manheid <br>Confortyt his on sic maner <br>That nane had radnes quhar he wer. <br>105 Thai wald nocht fecht till that he wes 105 <br>Liand intill his seknes, 105 <br>Tharfor in litter thai him lay <br>And till the Slevauch hald thar way <br>And thocht thar in that strenth to ly <br>110 Till passyt war his malady. 109 </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The skirmishing at Slioch] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Bot fra the erle of Buchane <br>Wyst that thai war thidder gane <br>And wyst that sa sek wes the king <br>That men doutyt off his covering, <br>115 He sent eftre his men in hy 114 <br>And assemblyt a gret cumpany, <br>For all his awine men war thar <br>And all his frendis with him war, <br>That wes Schir Jhonne the Mowbray <br>120 And his brodyr as Ik hard say 119 <br>And Schyr David off Brechynge <br>With fele folk in thar ledyng. <br>And quhen thai all assemblit war <br>In hy thai tuk thar way to far <br>125 To the Slevauch with all thar men` 124 <br>For till assaile the king that then <br>Wes liand intill his seknes. <br>This wes eftyr the Martymes <br>Quhen snaw had helyt all the land. <br>130 To the Slevauch thai come ner-hand 129 <br>Arayit on thar best maner <br>And thane the kingis men that wer <br>War off thar come thaim apparaylyt <br>To defend giff thai thaim assaylyt <br>135 And nocht-forthi thar fayis war 134 <br>Ay twa for ane that thai war thar. <br>The erlys men ner cummand war <br>Trumpand and makand mekill far <br>And maid knychtis quhen thai war ner, <br>140 And thai that in the woddis sid wer 139 <br>Stud in aray rycht sarraly <br>And thocht to byd thar hardyly <br>The cummyng off thar ennymys, <br>Bot thai wald apon nakyn wys <br>145 Ische till assaile thaim in fechting 144 <br>Till coveryt war the nobill king, <br>Bot and othir wald thaim assailye <br>Thai wald defend vailye que vailye. <br>And quhen the erlis cumpany <br>150 Saw that thai wrocht sa wisely 149 <br>That thai thar strenth schupe to defend, <br>Thar archeris furth to thaim thai send <br>To bykkyr thaim and men off mayn, <br>And thai send archeris thaim agayne <br>155 That bykkyrryt thaim sa sturdely 154 <br>Till thai off the erlis party <br>Intill thar bataill dryvyn war. <br>Thre dayis on this wys lay thai thar <br>And bykkyryt thaim everilk day <br>160 Bot thar bowmen the war had ay. 159 <br>And quhen the kingis cumpany <br>Saw thar fayis befor thaim ly <br>That ilk day wox ma and ma, <br>And thai war quhone and stad war sua <br>165 That thai had na thing for till eyt 164 <br>Bot giff thai travaillit it to get, <br>Tharfor thai tuk consale into hy <br>That thar wald thai na langer ly <br>Bot hald thar way quhar thai mycht get <br>170 To thaim and tharis vittaillis and mete. 169 </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The king withdraws from Slioch] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">In a littar the king thai lay <br>And redyit thaim and held thar way <br>That all thar fayis mycht thaim se, <br>Ilk man buskyt him in his degre <br>175 To fycht giff thai assaillyt war. 174 <br>In myddis thaim the king thai bar <br>And yeid about him sarraly <br>And nocht full gretly thaim gan hy. <br>The erle and thai that with him war <br>180 Saw that thai buskit thaim to far, 179 <br>And saw how with sa litill effray <br>Thai held furth with the king thar way <br>Redy to fycht quha wald assaile. <br>Thar hartis begouth all to faile <br>185 And in pes lete thaim pas thar way 184 <br>And till thar housis hame went thai. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The king goes to Strathbogie then to Inverurie] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The erle his way tuk to Bouchane, <br>And Schyr Edward the Bruce is gane <br>Rycht to Strabolghy with the king <br>190 And sua lang thar maid sojorning 189 <br>Till he begouth to covyr and ga, <br>And syne thar wayis gan thai ta <br>Till Innerroury straucht agane <br>For thai wald ly into the plane, <br>195 The wynter sesone, for vittaile 194 <br>Intill the plane mycht thaim nocht faile. <br>The erle wyst that thai war thar <br>And gaderyt a mengne her and thar. <br>Brechyne and Mowbray and thar men <br>200 All till the erle assemblyt then 199 <br>And war a full gret cumpany <br>Off men arayit jolyly. <br>Till Auld Meldrum thai yeid the way <br>And thar with thar men logit thai <br>205 Befoir Yhule evyn a nycht but mar, 204 <br>A thousand trow I weile thai war. <br>Thai logyt thaim all thar that nycht <br>And on the morn quhen day wes lycht <br>The lord off Brechyn Schyr Davy <br>210 Is went towart Innerroury 209 <br>To luk gyff he on ony wys <br>Mycht do skaith till his ennymys, <br>And till the end off Innerroury <br>Come ridand sa sodanly <br>215 That off the kingis men he slew 214 <br>A part, and other sum thaim withdrew <br>And fled thar way towart the king <br>That with the maist off his gadryng <br>On the yond half Doun wes than lyand. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Preparation for battle] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">220 And quhen men tauld him tithand 219 <br>How Schyr Davy had slayn his men <br>His hors in hy he askyt then <br>And bad his men all mak thaim yar <br>Into gret hy, for he wald far <br>225 To bargane with his ennymys. 224 <br>With that he buskyt for to rys <br>That wes nocht all weill coveryt then. <br>Then said sum off his preve men, <br>'Quhat think ye thusgat to far <br>230 To fycht and nocht yeit coveryt ar.' 229 <br>'Yhis,' said the king, 'withoutyn wer, <br>Thar bost has maid me haile and fer, <br>For suld na medicyne sa sone <br>Haiff coveryt me as thai haiff done. <br>235 Tharfor, sa God himself me se, 234 <br>I sall othir haiff thaim or thai me.' <br>And quhen his men has hard the king <br>Set him sa hale for the fechting, <br>Off his coveryng all blyth thai war <br>240 And maid thaim for the battaill yar. 239 </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The battle of Old Meldrum] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The nobill king and his mengye <br>That mycht weile ner sevin hunder be <br>Towart Auld Meldrum tuk the way <br>Wuhar the erle and his menye lay. <br>245 The discurrouris saw thaim cummand 244 <br>With baneris to the wynd wavand <br>And yeid to thar lord in hy <br>That gert arme hys men hastely <br>And thaim arayit for battaile, <br>250 Behind thaim set thai thar merdale 249 <br>And maid gud sembland for to fycht. <br>The king come on with mekill mycht <br>And thai abaid makand gret fayr <br>Till thai ner at assembling wayr, <br>255 Bot quhen thai saw the nobill king 254 <br>Cum stoutly on foroutyn fenyeing <br>A litill on bridill thai thaim withdrew, <br>And the king that rycht weill knew <br>That thai war all discumfyt ner <br>260 Pressyt on thaim with his baner 259 <br>And thai withdrew mar and mar. <br>And quhen the small folk thai had thar <br>Saw thar lordis withdraw them sua <br>Thai turnyt the bak all and to-ga <br>265 And fled all scalyt her and thar. 264 <br>The lordis that yeyt togydder war <br>Saw that thar small folk war fleand <br>And saw the king stoutly cummand, <br>Thai war ilkane abaysit swa <br>270 That thai the bak gave and to-ga, 269 <br>A litill stound samyn held thai <br>And syne ilk man has tane his way. <br>Fell never men sa foule myschance <br>Eftre sa sturdy contenance <br>275 For quhen the kingis cumpany 274 <br>Saw that thai fled sa foulyly <br>Thai chasyt thaim with all thair mayn <br>And sum thai tuk and sum has slayn. <br>The remanand war fleand ay, <br>280 Quha had gud hors gat best away. 279 <br>Till Ingland fled the erle of Bouchquhane <br>Shyr Jhon Mowbray is with him gane <br>And war resett with the king, <br>Bot thai had bath bot schort lesting <br>285 For thai deyt sone eftre syne. 284 <br>And Schyr David off Brechyne <br>Fled till Brechyne his awine castell <br>And warnyst it bath fayr and weill, <br>Bot the erle of Atholl, Davy, <br>290 His sone that wes in Kildromy 289 <br>Come syne and him assegyt thar, <br>And he that wald hald were ne mar <br>Na bargane with the nobile king <br>Come syne his man with gud treting. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The ravaging of Buchan; the taking of Forfar Castle] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">295 Now ga we to the king agayne 294 <br>That off his victory wes rycht fayn, <br>And gert his men bryn all Bowchane <br>Fra end till end and sparyt nane, <br>And heryit thaim on sic maner <br>300 That eftre weile fyfty yer 299 <br>Men menyt the herschip off Bouchane. <br>The king than till his pes has tane <br>The north cuntreys that humbly <br>Obeysyt till his senyoury <br>305 Sua that benorth the Month war nane 304 <br>Then thai his men war everilkan, <br>His lordschip wox ay mar and mar. <br>Towart Angus syne gan he far <br>And thocht sone to mak all fre <br>310 That wes on the north halff the Scottis se. 309 <br>The castell off Forfayr wes then <br>Stuffyt all with Inglismen, <br>Bot Philip the Forestar of Platane <br>Has off his freyndis with him tane <br>315 And with leddrys all prevely 314 <br>Till the castell he gan him hy <br>And clam up our the wall off stane <br>And swagate has the castell tane <br>Throu faute off wach with litill pane, <br>320 And syne all that he fand has slayne 319 <br>Syne yauld the castell to the king <br>That maid him rycht gud rewarding, <br>And syne gert brek doun the wall <br>And fordyd well and castell all. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The king goes to Perth and besieges it] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">325 Quhen that the castell off Forfar 324 <br>And all the towris tumblyt war <br>Down till the erd as Ik haiff tauld <br>The king that wycht wes wys and bauld <br>That thocht that he wald mak all fre <br>330 Apon the northhalff the Scottis se 329 <br>Till Perth is went with all his rout <br>And umbeset the toun about <br>And till it a sege has set. <br>Bot quhill it mycht haiff men and met <br>335 It mycht nocht but gret payne be tane 334 <br>For all the wall wes then of stane <br>And wycht towris and hey-standand, <br>And that tyme war tharin dwelland <br>Muschet and als Olyfard, <br>340 Thai twa the toun had all in ward 339 <br>And off Straitherne als the erle wes thar, <br>Bot his sone and off his men war <br>Without intill the kingis rowt. <br>Thar wes oft bekering styth and stout <br>345 And men slayne apon ilk party, 344 <br>Bot the gud king that all wytty <br>Wes in his dedis everilkane <br>Saw the wallis sa styth off stane <br>And saw defens that thai gan ma <br>350 And how the toun wes hard to ta 349 <br>With opyn sawt strenth or mycht. <br>Tharfor he thocht to wyrk with slycht, <br>And in all tyme that he thar lay <br>He spyit and slely gert assay <br>355 Quhar at the dyk schaldest was, 354 <br>Till at the last he fand a place <br>That men mycht till thar schuldris wad. <br>And quhen he that place fundyn had <br>He gert his men busk ilkane <br>360 Quhen sex woukis off the sege war gane, 359 <br>And tursyt thar harnes halyly <br>And left the sege all opynly <br>And furth with all his folk gan fayr <br>As he wald do tharto no mayr. <br>365 And thai tha war within the toun 364 <br>Quhen thai to fayr sa saw him boun <br>Thai schoutit him and skornyn mad, <br>And he furth on his wayis rad <br>As he ne had will agayne to turn <br>370 Na besyd thaim mak sojourn. 369 </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The assault on Perth] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Bot in aucht dayis nocht-forthi <br>He gert mak leddrys prevely <br>That mycht suffice till his enent, <br>And in a myrk nycht syne is went <br>375 Toward the toun with his menye 374 <br>Bath hors and knafis all left he 375 <br>Fer fra the toun, and syne has tane 376 <br>Thair ledderis and on fut ar gane 377* <br>Towart the toun all prevely. 374 <br>380 Thai hard na wachys spek na cry 375 <br>For thai war within may-fall <br>As men that dred nocht slepand all. <br>Thai haid na dreid then off the king <br>For thai off him herd na thing <br>385 All thai thre dayis befor or mar, 380 <br>Thairfor sekyr and traist thai war. <br>And quhen the king thaim hard nocht ster <br>He was blyth on gret maner, <br>And his ledder in hand gan ta <br>390 Ensample till his men to ma, 385 <br>Arayit weill in all his ger <br>Schot in the dik and with his sper <br>Taistyt till he it our-woud, <br>Bot till his throt the watyr stud. <br>395 That tyme wes in his cumpany 390 <br>Aknycht off France wycht and hardy, <br>And quhen he in the watyr sua <br>Saw the king pas and with him ta <br>His ledder unabasytly, <br>400 He saynyt him for the ferly 395 <br>And said, 'A, lord, quhat sall we say <br>Off our lordis off Fraunce that thai <br>With gud morsellis fayrcis thar pawnce <br>And will bot ete and drink and dawnce <br>405 Quhen sic a knycht and sa worthy 400 <br>As this throu his chevalry <br>Into sic perell has him set <br>To win a wrechyt hamillet.' <br>With that word to the dik he ran <br>410 And our efter the king he wan, 405 <br>And quhen the kingis menye saw <br>Thar lord out-our intill a thraw <br>Thai passyt the dik and but mar let <br>Thar leddrys to the wall thai set <br>415 And to clymb up fast pressyt thai, 410 <br>Bot the gud king as I herd say <br>Was the secund man tuk the wall <br>And bad thar till his mengye all <br>War cummyn up in full gret hy. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The king takes Perth; his treatment of the townsfolk] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">420 Yeit than rais nother noyis na cry, 415 <br>Bot sone efter thai noyis maid <br>That off thaim fyrst persaving had <br>Swa that the cry rais throu the toun, <br>Bot he that with his men wes boun <br>425 Till assaill to thte toun is went 420 <br>And the maist off his menye sent <br>All scalyt throu the toun, bot he <br>Held with himselvyn a gret mengne <br>Sa that he moucht be ay purvayit <br>430 To defend giff he war assayit. 425 <br>Bot thai that he send throu the toun <br>Put to sa gret confusioun <br>Thar fayis that in beddis war <br>Or scalyt fleand her and thar <br>435 That or the sone rais thai had tane 430 <br>Thar fayis or discumfyt ilkane. <br>The wardanys bath tharin war tane, <br>And Malice off Straithern is gane <br>Till his fadyr the Erle Malice <br>440 And with strenth tuk him and his, 435 <br>Syne for his sak the noble king <br>Gave him his in governyng. <br>The lave that ran out-throu the toun <br>Sesyt to thaim into gret fusoun <br>445 Men and armyng and marchandis 440 <br>And other gud on syndry wys, <br>Quhill thai that er war pour and bar <br>Off that gud rych and mychty war, <br>Bot thar wes few slayne for the king, <br>450 That thaim had gevyn in commanding 445 <br>On gret payne that thai suld slay nane <br>That but gret bargane mycht be tane. <br>That thai war kynd to the countre <br>He wyst and off thaim had pite. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The king controls Scotland north of the Forth] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">455 On this maner the toun wes tane 450 <br>And syne towris everilkane <br>And wallis gert he tumble down. <br>He levyt nocht about that town <br>Towr standand na stane na wall <br>460 That ne haly gert stroy thaim all, 455 <br>And presonerys that thar tuk he <br>He send quhar thai mycht haldyn be, <br>And till his pes tuk all the land. <br>Wes nane that durst him than withstand <br>465 Apon northhalff the Scottis se, 460 <br>All obeysyt till his majeste <br>Outane the lord of Lorn and thai <br>Off Arghile that wald with him ga. <br>He held him ay agayne the king <br>470 And hatyt him atour all thing, 465 <br>Bot yete or all the gamyn ga <br>I trow weill that the king sall ta <br>Vengeance off his gret cruelte, <br>And that him sar repent sall he <br>475 That he the king contraryit ay, 470 <br>May-fall quhen he it mend na may. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Edward Bruce's reputation; he goes to Galloway] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The kingis broder, quhen the toun <br>Wes takyn thus and dongyn doun, <br>Schyr Edward that wes sa worthy <br>480 Tuk with him a gret cumpany 475 <br>And tuk his gayt till Galloway, <br>For with his men he wald assay <br>Giff he mycht recover that land <br>And wyn it fra Inglismennys hand. <br>485 This Schyr Edward forsuth Ik hycht 480 <br>Wes off his hand a noble knycht <br>And in blythnes suete and joly, <br>Bot he wes outrageous hardy <br>And of sa hey undretaking <br>490 That he haid never yeit abaysyng 485 <br>Off multitud off men, forthi <br>He discumfyt commounly <br>Mony with quhone, tharfor had he <br>Out-over his peris renomme. <br>495 And quha wald rehers all the deid 490 <br>Off his hey worschip and manheid <br>Men mycht a mekill romanys mak, <br>And nocht-forthi I think to tak <br>On hand Off him to say sum thing <br>500 Bot nocht tende part his travalyn. 495 <br>This gud knycht that I spek off her <br>With all the folk that with him wer <br>Weill sone to Galloway cummyn is, <br>All that he fand he makyt his <br>505 And ryotyt gretly the land. 500 <br>Bot than in Galloway war wonnand <br>Schyr Ingrahame the Umfravill that wes <br>Renommyt off sa hey prowes <br>that he off worschippassyt the rowt, <br>510 Tharfor he gert ay ber about 505 <br>Apon a sper a rede bonet <br>Into takyn that he wes set <br>Into the hycht off chevalry, <br>And off Saynct Jhone als Schyr Aymry. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[The battle by the Cree] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">515 Thir twa the land had in stering, 510 <br>And quhen thai hard off the cummyng <br>Off Schyr Edward that sa playnly <br>Oure-raid the land, thare in gret hy <br>Thai assemblyt all thar mengne, <br>520 I trow tuelf hunder thai mycht be. 515 <br>Bot he with fewar folk thaim met <br>Besyd Cre and sa hard thaim set <br>With hard battaill and stalwart fycht <br>That he thaim all put to the flycht <br>525 And slew twa hunder wrill and ma, 520 <br>And the chyftanys in hy gan ta <br>Thar way to Buttill for to be <br>Thar resavyt to sawfte, <br>And Schyr Edward thaim chasit fast, <br>530 Bot till the castell at the last 525 <br>Gat Schyr Ingrahame and Schyr Amery, <br>Bot the best off thar cumpany <br>Left ded behind thaim in the place. <br>And quhen Schyr Edward saw the chace <br>535 Wes falyt he gert seys the pray 530 <br>And sua gret cattell had away <br>That it war wonder for to se. <br>Out of Buttill thai saw how he <br>Gert his men dryve with him thar pray <br>540 Bot na let tharin mycht thai. 535 <br>Throu his chevalrous chevalry <br>Galloway wes stonayit gretumly <br>And he dowtyt for his bounte. <br>Sum off the men off the countre <br>545 Cum till his pes and maid him aith. 540 <br>Bot Schyr Amery that had the skaith <br>Off the bargane I tauld off er, <br>Raid till Ingland till purches ther <br>Off armyt men gret cumpany <br>550 To veng him off the velany 545 <br>That Schyr Edward that noble knycht <br>Him did by Cre into the fycht. <br>Off gud men he assemblit thar <br>Weill fyften hunder men and mar <br>555 That war rycht of gud renowne. 550 <br>His way with all that folk tuk he, <br>And in the land all prevely <br>Entryt with tha chevalry <br>Thynkand Schyr Edward to suppris <br>560 Giff that he moucht on ony wis 555 <br>For he thocht he wald him assaile <br>Or that he left in playn bataill. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[In a second encounter Edward Bruce defeats a much larger force] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now may ye her off gret ferly <br>And off rycht hey chevalry, <br>565 For Schyr Edward into the land 560 <br>Wes with his mengne rycht ner-hand, <br>And in the mornyng rycht arly <br>Herd the countre men mak cry <br>And had wyttryng off thar cummyng. <br>570 Than buskyt he him but delaying 565 <br>And lapp on hors deliverly, <br>He had than in toute fyfty <br>All apon gud hors armyt weill, <br>His small folk gert he ilk-deill <br>575 Withdraw thaim till a strait thar-by, 570 <br>And he raid furth with his fyfty. <br>A knycht that then was in his rowt <br>Worthi and wycht stalwart and stout <br>Curtais and fayr and off gud fame <br>580 Schyr Alane off Catkert be name 575 <br>Tauld me this taile as I sall tell. <br>Gret myst into the mornyng fell <br>Sa thai mycht nocht se thaim by <br>For myst a bow-draucht fullely. <br>585 Sa hapnyt that thai fand the trais 580 <br>Quhar at the rowt furth passyt wais <br>Off thair fayis that forouth raid. <br>Schyr Edward that gret yarnyn had <br>All tymys to do chevalry <br>590 With all his rout in full gret hy 585 <br>Folowyt the trais quhar gane war thai, <br>And befor mydmorne off the day <br>The myst wox cler all sodanly <br>And than he and his cumpany <br>595 War nocht a bowdraucht fra the rout. 590 <br>than schot thai on thaim with a schout, <br>For gyff thai fled thai wyst that thai <br>Suld nocht weill feyrd part get away, <br>Tharfor in aventur to dey <br>600 He wald him put or he wald fle. 595 <br>And quhen the Inglis cumpany <br>Saw on thaim cum sa sodanly <br>Sik folk foroutyn abaysyng <br>Thai war stonayt for effrayng, <br>605 And the tother but mar abaid 600 <br>Swa hardely amang thaim raid <br>That fele off thaim till erd thai bar. <br>Stonayit sa gretly than thai war <br>Throu the force off that fyrst assay <br>610 That thai war intill gret effray, 605 <br>And wend be fer thai had bene ma <br>For that thai war assailit sua. <br>Quhen thai had thyrlyt thaim hastily <br>Than Schyr Edwardis cumpany <br>615 Set stoutly in the heid agayne, 610 <br>And at that cours borne doune and slayn <br>War off thar fayis a gret party <br>That thai effrayit war sa gretly <br>That thsi war scalyt gretly then. <br>620 And quhen Schyr Edward and his men 615 <br>Saw thaim intill sa evill aray <br>The thrid tyme on thaim prekyt thai, <br>And thai that saw thaim sa stouly <br>Come on dred thaim sa gretumly <br>625 That all thar rowt bath les and mar 620 <br>Fled prekand scalyt her and thar. <br>Wes nane amang thaim sa hardy <br>To bid, bot all comonaly <br>Fled to warand, and he gan chas <br>630 That wilfull to distroy thaim was 625 <br>And sum he tuk and sum war slayn, <br>Bot Schyr Amery with mekill payn <br>Eschapyt and his gat in gayn. <br>His men discumfyt war ilkane, <br>635 Sum tane, sum slayne, sum gat away, 630 <br>It wes a rycht fayr poynt perfay. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[A comment on Edward Bruce in Galloway] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Lo! how hardyment tane sa sudandly <br>And drevyn to the end scharply <br>May ger oftsys unlikly thingis <br>640 Cum to rycht fayr and gud endingis 635 <br>As it fell into this cas her. <br>For hardyment withoutyn wer <br>Wan fyften hunder with fyfty <br>Quhar ay for ane thar wes thretty, <br>645 And twa men ar a mannys her, 640 <br>Bot ure thaim led on swilk maner <br>That thai discumfyt war ilkane. <br>Schyr Amery hame his gat is gane <br>Rycht blyth that he swa gat away, <br>650 I trow he sall nocht mony day 645 <br>Haiff will to werray that countre, <br>With-thi Schyr Edward tharin be. <br>And he dwelt furth into the land <br>Thaim that rebell war werrayand, <br>655 And in a yer sa werrayit he 650 <br>That he wane quyt that countre <br>Till his broderys pes the king. <br>Bot that wes nocht but hard fechting, <br>For in that tyme thar him befell <br>660 Mony fayr poynt as Ik herd tell 655 <br>The quhilk that ar nocht writyn her, <br>Bot I wate weile that in that yer <br>Thretten castellis with strenth he wan <br>And ourcome mony a mody man. <br>665 Quha-sa off him the south will reid, 660 <br>Had he had mesure in his deid <br>I trow that worthyar then he <br>Mycht nocht in his tym fundyn be <br>Outakyn his broder anerly, <br>670 To quham into chevalry 665 <br>Lyk wes nane in his day, <br>For he led him with mesur ay, <br>And with wyt his chevalry <br>He governyt sa worthily <br>675 That he oft full unlikly thing 670 <br>Broucht rycht weill to gud ending. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Douglas in the Forest surrounds and takes enemy Scots in a house] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">In all this tyme James of Douglas <br>In the Forest travaland was, <br>And it throu hardiment and slycht <br>680 Occupyit all magre the mycht 675 <br>Off his fell fayis, the-quhether thai <br>Set him full oft in full hard assay, <br>Bot oft throu wyt and throu bounte <br>His purpos to gud end brocht he. <br>685 Intill that tyme him fell throu cas 680 <br>On ane nycht as he travaland was <br>And thocht till haiff tane resting <br>In ane hous on the watyr off Lyne <br>And as he come with his mengne <br>690 Ner-hand the hous sua lysnyt he 685 <br>And herd thair sawis ilke deill, <br>And be that he persavyt weill <br>That thai war strang men that thar <br>That nycht tharin herbryd war. <br>695 And as he thocht it fell per cas, 690 <br>For off Bonkle the lord thar was <br>Alexander Stewart hat he <br>With other twa off gret bounte, <br>Thomas Randell off gret renowne <br>700 And Adam alsua off Gordoune, 695 <br>That thar come with gret cumpany <br>And thocht into the Forest to ly <br>And occupy it throu thar mycht, <br>And with travaill and stalwart fycht <br>705 Chace Douglas out of that countre. 700 <br>Bot otherwayis then yeid the gle <br>For quhen James had wittering <br>That strang men had taken herbryng <br>In the place that he schup him to ly <br>710 He to the hous went hastily 705 <br>And umbeset it all about. <br>Quhen thai within hard swilk a rout <br>About the hous thai rais in hy <br>And tuk thar ger rycht hastily <br>715 And schot furth fra thai harnasyt war. 710 <br>Thar fayis thaim met with wapnys bar <br>And assaylit rycht hardely <br>And thai defendyt douchtely <br>With all thar mycht, till at the last <br>720 Thar fayis pressyt thaim sa fast 715 <br>That thar folk failyt thaim ilkane. <br>Thomas Randell thar wes tane <br>And Alexander Stewart alsua <br>Woundyt in a place or twa. <br>725 Adam of Gordoun fra the fycht 720 <br>Quhat throu his strenth and his mycht <br>Eschapyt and ser off thar men, <br>Bot thai that war arestyt then <br>War off thar taking wondre wa, <br>730 Bot neidlingis behovit it be sua. 725 </div><div style="margin:10px 0">[Thomas Randolph upbraids the king] </div><div style="margin:10px 0">That nycht the gud lord off Douglas <br>Maid to Schyr Alysander that was <br>His emys sone rycht glaidsome cher, <br>Sua did he als withoutyn wer <br>735 Till Thomas Randell for that he 730 <br>Wes to the king in ner degre <br>Off blud, for his sistre him bar, <br>And on the morne foroutyn mar <br>Towart the noble king he raid <br>740 And with him bath thai twa he haid. 735 <br>The king off his present wes blyth <br>And thankyt him weill fele syth, <br>And till his nevo gan he say, <br>'Thou has ane quhill renyid thi fay, <br>745 Bot thou reconsalit now mon be.' 740 <br>Then till the king answerit he <br>And said, 'Ye chasty me, bot ye <br>Aucht bettre chastyt for to be, <br>For sene ye werrayit the king <br>750 Off Ingland, in playne fechtyng 745 <br>Ye suld pres to derenyhe rycht <br>And nocht with cowardy na with slycht.' <br>The king said, 'Yeit may-fall it may <br>Cum or oucht lang to sic assay. <br>755 Bot sen thou spekys sa rudly 750 <br>It is gret skyll men chasty <br>Thai proud wordis till that thou knaw <br>The rycht and bow it as thou aw.' <br>The king foroutyn mar delaying <br>760 Send him to be in ferme keping 755 <br>Quhar that he allane suld be, <br>Nocht all apon his powste fre.</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=418943" data-title="The Brus Book IX de John Barbour" data-description="[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 ..."></div> </div> </div>

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