Book XII

Summary

THE Sayr trawaill, the ernystfull besynas,

The feill labour he had in mony place

To wyn the land at the gud king him gaiff!

In-till his ryng he wald no Sotheroun saiff.

In Gyan land Wallace was still at wer.

Off Scotlandis los It did his hart gret der.

Off trew Scottis in mynd he had pete ;

He thocht to help quhen he his tym mycht se.

Off set battaillis fyve he dyscumfyt haill,

But ieperie and mony strang assaill.

Syn thai forsuk and durst him nocht abid.

The Sotheroun fled fra him on atlir sid.

To Burdeous in gret multiplye

Than com thai stufft with wictaill be the se.

All Gyan land Wallace brocht till his pees.

To Burdeous 3it he past or he wald ces.

On out byggyngis full gret maistrre thai maid.

Still saxte dayis at sar sail3e thai baid.

Fortrace and werk that was with-out the toun

Thai brak and brynt and put to ccwfusioun ;

Hagis, alais, be laubour that was thar

Ful3eit and spilt ; thai wald no froitis spar.

The Inglismen maid gret defens agayn

WTith schot and cast, for thai war mekill off mayn.

Off gownnys thai war and gan3eis stuffyt weill,

All artail3e and wapywnys off fyn steill,

With men and meit within war buskit beyn.

Thar gret Capdane was wys, cruell and keyn,

Off Glosyster that huge hie lord and her.

This Erll had beyn weill vsyt in-to wer,

Kepyt his men be wit and hardement.

With-ont the toun thar durst nane fra him went.

The landis with-out wer ner waistyt away,

Wermen so lang in-to the contre lay.

In Wallace ost so scantyt the wictaill

Thai mycht nocht bid no langar till assaill.

Than this wis lord, the duk off Orlyance,

To Wallace said, “ Schir, 3e suld knaw this chance.

It standis our weill with this fals Sotheroun blud,

For on no wayis we can nocht stop thar fud.

The hawin thai haiff and schippis at thar will.

Off Ingland cuwmys enewch off wictaill thaiw till.

This land is purd off fud that suld ws beild

And 3e se weill als thai forsaik the feild.