Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Actis and deidis of the illustere and vailzeand campioun, Schir William Wallace, Knicht of Ellerslie

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SCHIR WILLIAM WALLACE.
For thi that way behowid thaim for to ride.
Ay fra the tyme that he of presoune four,
Gude souir weide dayly on him he wour:
Gude lycht harnes, fra that tyme, wsyt he euir; 85
For sodeyn stryff, fra it he wald nocht seuir.
Fol. 10 b A habergione vndyr his goune he war,
A steylle capleyne in his bonet but mar;
His glowis of plait in claith war couerit weill,
In his doublet a clos coler off steyle: 90
His face he kepit, for it was euir bar,
With his twa handis, the quhilk full worthi war.
In to his weid, and he come in a thrang,
Was na man than on fute mycht with him gang.
So growane in pith, off pouer stark and stur, 95
His terryble dyntis war awfull till endur.
Thai trast mar in Wallace him allane,
Than in a hundreth mycht be off Ingland tayne.
The worthi Scottis maid thar no soiornyng,
To Lowdoun hill past in [the] gray dawyng; 100
Dewysyt the place, and putt thair hors thaim fra;
And thocht to wyn, or neuir thin to ga:
Send twa skowrrouris to wesy weyll the playne;
Bot thai rycht sone raturnde in agayne,
To Wallace tald that thai war cummand fast. 105
Than thai to grounde all kneland at the last,
With humyll hartis prayit with all thair mycht,
To God abowne to help thaim in thar rycht.
Than graithit thai thaim till harnes hastely
Thar son^eit nane of that gud chewalrye. no
Than Wallace said; “ Her was my fadyr slayne;
82. For that same way behouit thay to ride.
83. (four) sure—a misprint.
84. (souir) somer ; (wour) bure.
87. (war) bair.
88. Ane gude steill cap in his bonnet.
89. (in) with.
92. ye quhilkis, an imitation of French les-
quelles.
95- (*») of.
96. (anfull) feirfull.
97. traietit.
98. Thane ane hundreth of Ingland micht be
tane.
99. (The) Thir ; (soioryng) tarying.
101. (thaim fra) away ; thair, in MS. than.
102. (thin) hyne.
103. twa scurriouris send. In MS. it is tkowr-
rouris—an error.
108. (abowne) abuiff.
109. A. omits thai.
no. P. has fen^eit.