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.
Siluer thai tuk, and als gold at thai fand, 305
Othir gud ger full lychtly 3eid be hand;
Cuttyt throttis, and in to cuwys thaim kest,
Put out of sycht, for that him thocht was best.
At the Blakfurd, as at thai suld pass our,
Fol. 17 a A squier come, and with him bernys four, 310
Till Doun suld ryde; and wend at thai had beyne
All Inglismen, at he befor had seyne.
Tithingis to sper he howid thaim amang.
Wallace thar with swyth with a suerd out swang.
Vpon the hede he straik with so gret ire, 315
Throu bayne and brayn in sondyr schar the swyr.
The tothir four in handis sone war hynt,
Derfly to dede stekit or thai wald stynt.
Thar horss thai tuk, and quhat thaim likit best;
Spoil^eid thaim bar, syne in the brook thaim kest. 320
Off this mater no mor tary thai maid,
Bot furth thar way passit with outyn baid.
Thir werlik Scottis, all with one assent,
Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went:
In Meffan woode thair lugyng tuk that nycht. 325
Vpon the morn, quhen it was dayis lycht,
Wallace rais wp, went to the forest side,
Quhar that he sawe full feill bestis abide,
Off wylde and tayme walkand haboundandlye.
Than Wallace said ; “This centre likis me. 330
Wermen may do with fud at thai suld haiff;
Bot want thai meit, thai rak nocht of the laiff.”
Off dyet fayr Wallace tuk neuir kepe ;
Bot as it come, welcum was meit and sleip.
Sum quhill he had gret sufficience within; 335
305. as thay fand.
306. red fra hand.
307. syne in peitpottis yame kest.
308. yai thocht.
309. as thay suld yan pas.
310. bernis.
313. huwit thame.
314. with ane gude sword out he swang.
316. sunder straik ye fyre—a misprint for syre.
317. {/our) thre.
319. thay lykit.
320. {brook) bog.
322. without abaid.
325. Methuen.
326. yat ye day was licht.
328. full weill.
333. of daylitie fair.