Book V

Summary

THe dyrk regioun apperand wondyr fast,

In November quhen October was past

The day faillit, throu the ryeht cours worthit schort.

Till banyst men that is no gret comfort.

With thar power, in pethis worthis gang,

Hewy thai think quhen at the nycht is lang.

Thus Wallas saw the nychtis messynger,

“Phebus, had lost his fyry bemys cler.

Out of the wood thai durst nocht turn that tyd

For aduersouris that in thair way wald byde.

Wallace thaim tauld that new wer wes on hand,

The Inglismen was off the toun cuwmande.

The dure thai brak quhar thai trowyt Wallace was;

Quhen thai him myst thai bownyt thaim to pas.

In this gret noyis the woman gat away,

Bot to quhat steide I can nocht graithlye say.

The Sothroun socht rycht sadly fra that stede

Throu the South Ynch and fand thir two men dede.

Thai knew be that Wallace was in the strenth.

About the park thai set on breid and lenth

With vi hundreth weill graithit in thar armes,

All likly men to wrek thaim of thar harmes;

A hundreth men chargit in armes strang

To kepe a hunde that thai had thaim amang.

In Gyllis-land thar was that brachell brede,

Sekyr off sent to folow thaim at flede.

So was scho vsyt on Esk and on Ledaill;

Quhill scho gat blude no fleyng mycht awaill.

Than said thai all Wallace mycht nocht away,

He suld be tharis for ocht at he do may.

The ost thai delt in diiws part that tyde.

Schir Garrat Herroun in the staill can abide.

Schir Ihon Butler the range he tuk him till

With thre hundyr quhilk war of hardy will;

In-to the woode apon Wallace thai 3eid.

The wort hi Scottis, that wer in mekill dreid,

Socht till a place, for till haiff yschet out

And saw the staill enwerounyt thaim about.

Agayne thai went with hydwys strakis strang.

Gret noyis and dyne was rayssit thaim amang,

Thar cruell deide ry cht mmvalus to ken,

Quhen xl macht agayne thre hundyr men.

Wallace so weill apon him tuk that tide

Throw the gret preys he maid a way full wide ;

4Helpand the Scottis with his der-worthi hand

Fell faymen he left fey vpon the land.