Book VIII

Summary

Fywe monethis thus Scotland stud in gud rest.

A consell cryit, thaim thocht it wes the best

In Sanct Ihonstoun at it suld haldyn be.

Assemblit thar clerk, barown and bowrugie,

Bot Corspatrik wald nocht cum at thar call,

Baid in Dunbar and maid scorn at thaim all.

Thai spak off him feill wordis in that parlyment.

Than Wallace said: “ Will 3e her-to consent,

For-gyff him fre all thing that is bypast

Sa he will cum and grant he has trespast,

Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croun? “

Thai grant tharto, clerk, burges and barroun,

With haill consent thar wn’tyng till him send.

Richt lawly thus till him thai thaim commend,

Besocht him fair as a peyr off the land

To cum and tak sum goumiaill on hand.

Lychtly he lowch, in scorn as it had beyn,

And said he had sic message seyldyn seyne :

“That Wallace now as goumiowr sail ryng,

Her is gret faute off a gud prince or kyng.

That king off Kyll I can nocht wndirstand.

Off him I held nemir a fur off land.

That bachiller trowis, for fortoun schawis hyr quhell

Thar-with to lest. It sail nocht lang be weill.

Bot to 30W lordis, and 3e will wndirVstand,

I mak 30W wys, I aw to mak na band.

Als fre I am in this regioun to ryng

Lord off myn awne, as euir was prince or king.

In Ingland als gret part off land I haiff;

Manrent tharoii thar will no man me craiff.

Quhat will 3e mar? I warne 30W I am fre.

For 3our somoundis 3e get no mar off me.“

Till Saynct Ihonstone this wryt he send agayne,

Befor the lordis was manifest in playne.

Quhen Wallace herd the erll sic ansuer mais

A gret hate Ire throu curage than he tais ;

For weyll he wyst thar suld be bot a king

Off this regioun at-anys for to ryng ;

A ‘ king off KyU’ for that he callyt WaUace.

I wow to god witheys he sail nocht be

In-to this Realm bot ane off ws sail de,

Les than he cum and knaw his rychtwis king !

50 In this regioun weill bathe we sail nocht ryng.