Family records of the Bruces and the Cumyns

592 AIRTH OR ERTHE IN WALLACE'S DAY.
Of drawdykes, and full of water wan.
Wisely thereof has warned them this man.
On the back side he led them privilie
From the water as wont to come was he.
Over a small bridge good Wallace entered in,
Into the hall himself thought to begin ;
From the supper as they were bown to rise
He salust them, upon an awful wise !
With shearing swords sharply about them dang
Fiel on the floor were felled, thaim amang.
With Thomlyn of Ware, Wallace himself hath met,
Through head and swyze allthrough the cost him clave.
The worthy Scot fast sticket all the lave,
Keepit the doors, and dolefully them dight,
To scape away the Sotheran had no might.
Some windows sought, for to have broken out,
But all for nought, full fey was made that rout.
About the fire bruschet the blood so red,
An hundred men were slain unto that sted.
When Wallace sought where his uncle should be,
In a dark cave he was set dolefully,
Where water stood, and he in irons Strang.
Wallace full soon he up the braces dang
Off that mirk hole, brought him with strength, and list
Bot noise he heard, of nothing else he wist.
So blyth before in world he had not been
As then, with sight when he had Wallace seen.
In the dyke out the dead bodies they crest,
Graithed the place, as that them liked best,
Made good cheer, and wise watches set
While near the day they sleep withouten let.
When they had light, spulzied the place in hy,
Fand gaining gear, and gold and jewelry.
Over all that day in quiet held them still,
What Sotheran came received with good will ;
Women and bairns put in the prison's cave,
So they might make no warning to the lave.
Steven of Ireland, and Kerlie, that were wight,
Keepit the post upon the second night.
Before the sun the worthy Scots they rose,
Tursed good gear, and to the Torwood goes, •
Remained there whilst night was come on hand,
Syne bowned them in quiet thro' the land.
The widow soon, frae they had passed doubt,
A servant sent, and let the women out,
To pass from Airth where that them liked best —
Now speak I o' them that went into the west.
It appears that the " De Erths " resumed possession of their extensive
estates, for in 1426 we find them still powerful, William de Erth being then
sent to England as one of the hostages for the king ; and before the year 1440
his lands became divided between his three co-heiresses.