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.
Apon his kneis, and said ane orysoun.
His leyff he tuk, and to West monastyr raid.
The lokmen than thai bur Wallace but baid
On till a place, his martyrdom to tak;
For till his ded he wald no forthyr mak.
Fra the fyrst nycht he was tane in Scotland,
Thai kepyt him in to that sammyn band.
Na thing he had at suld haiff doyn him gud;
Bot Inglismen him seruit off carnaill fud.
Hys warldly lyff desyrd the sustenance,
Thocht he it gat in contrar off plesance.
I35°
i34°
1345
Thai xxxty dayis his band thai durst nocht slaik,
Quhill he was bundyn on a skamyll off ayk,
With irn chen^eis that was bath stark and keyn.
A clerk thai set to her quhat he wald meyn.
“ Thow Scot,” he said, “ that gret wrangis has don, 1355
Thi fatell hour, thow seis, approchis son.
Thow suld in mynd remembyr thi mysdeid,
At clerkis may, quhen thai thair psalmis reid
For Crystyn saullis, that makis thaim to pray,
In thair nowmyr thow may be ane off thai; 1360
Fol. 124 a For now thow seis on fors thou mon decess.”
Than Wallace said; ‘ For all thi roid rahress,
Thow has na charge, suppos at I did myss;
3 on blyst byschop has hecht I sail haiff blis;
And [I] trew weill, at God sail it admyt: 1365
Thi febyll wordis sail nocht my conscience smyt.
Conford I haiff off way that I suld gang,
Maist payn I feill at I bid her our lang.’
Than said the clerk; “ Our king oft send the till;
Thow mycht haiff had all Scotland at thi will, I37°
To hald off him, and cessyt off thi stryff;
1341. Westmynster.
1342. The cleuch men.
1344. his deith . . . furthering.
1348. cairfull fude.
1351. bandis.
1362. round reheirs.
1365. / is from A.
1366. Thy simulate.