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

SCHIR WILLIAM WALLACE.
150
Fled to thair lord, and tald him off this cas. 315
To Laglane wode than ridis wicht Wallas.
The Sotheroun said, quhat ane that he hit rycht,
With out mercye, dredles, to ded wes dycht.
Merwell thai had sic strenth in ane suld be;
Ane off thair men at ilk straik he gert de. 320
Than demyt thai, it suld be Wallace wicht.
To thar langage maid ansuer ane aid knycht:
“ Forsuth,” he said, “be he chapyt this ayr,
All your new deid is eking off our cair.”
The justice said, quhen thar sic murmur rais; 325
‘ Yhe wald be ferd, and thar come mony fais,
That for a man me think yow lik to fie,
And wait nocht jeit in deid gyff it be he.
And thocht it be, I cownt him bot full lycht;
Quha bidis her, ilk gentill man sail be knycht: 330
I think to deill thair landis haill to morn
To yow about, that ar off Ingland born.’
The Sotheron drew to thar lugyng but mar;
Four thousand haill that nycht was in till Ayr.
In gret bernys, biggyt with out the toun, 335
The justice lay, with mony bald barroun.
Than he gert cry about thai waynys wide,
Na Scottis born amang thaim thar suld bid.
To the castell he wald nocht pass for eys,
Bot soiornd thar with thing that mycht him pleys. 340
Gret purwians be se to thaim was brocht,
With Irland ayle, the mychteast couth be wrocht.
Na wach wes set, be caus thai had na dout
Off Scottis men that leiffand was with out.
Lawberand in mynd thai had beyne all that day, 345
Off ayle and wyne yneuch chosyne haifif thai:
315. with thair. 342. With wyne and aill, the best that couth
329. it war. be bocht—a much better reading.
337* i758 Ed. has the wayning wide. 345. Laubourit.
338. Scottis beirne. 346. aneuch chosin had*
341. purveyance.