STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
The Brus by John Barbour
Book 15
[The Scots win a great battle at Connor]
Quhen thai within has sene sua slayn Thar men and chassyt hame agayn Thai war all wa, and in gret hy 'Till armys!' hely gan thai cry. 5 Than armyt thaim all that thai war And for the bataill maid thaim yar Thai ischyt out all wele arayit Into the bataill baner displayit Bowne on thar best wis till assaile 10 Thar fayis into fell bataill. And quhen Schyr Philip the Mowbra Saw thaim ische in sa gud aray Till Schyr Edward the Bruys went he And said, 'Schyr, it is gud that we 15 Schap for sum slycht that may availe To help us into this bataill. Our men ar quhoyne, bot thai haf will To do mar than thai may fulfill, Tharfor I rede our cariage 20 Foroutyn ony man or page Be thaimselvyn arayit be And thai sall seyme fer ma than we, Set we befor thaim our baneris, Yone folk that cummys out of Coigneris 25 Quhen thai our baneris thar may se Sall trow traistly that thar ar we And thidder in gret hy sall thai rid. Cum we than on thaim at a sid And we sall be at avantag, 30 For fra thai in our cariag Be entryt thai sall combryt be, And than with all our mycht may we Lay on and do all that we may.' All as he ordanyt done haf thai, 35 And thai that come out of Coigneris Addressyt thaim to the baneris And smate with spuris the hors in hy And ruschit thaim sudandly. The barell-ferraris that war thar 40 Cumbryt thaim fast that ridand war, And than the erle with his bataill Come on and sadly gan assaill, And Schyr Edward a litill by Assemblit sua rycht hardely 45 That mony a fey fell undre fete, The feld wox sone of blud all wete. With sa gret felny thar thai faucht And sic routis till other raucht With stok with stane and with retrete 50 As ather part gan other bet That it wes hidwys for to se. Thai mantemyt that gret melle Sa knychtlik apon ather sid Giffand and takand routis rid 55 That pryme wes passyt or men mycht se Quha mast at thar abov mycht be, Bot sone eftre that prime wes past The Scottismen dang on sa fast And schot on thaim at abandoun 60 As ilk man war a campioun That all thar fayis tuk the flycht, Wes nane of thaim that wes sa wicht That evyr durst abid his fer Bot ilk man fled thar wayis ser.
[Slaughter in Connor; the prisoners and wounded]
65 To the toun fled the mast party, And Erle Thomas sa egrely And his route chassyt with swerdis bar That amang thame mellyt war That all togidder come in the toun. 70 Than wes the slauchter sa felloune That all the ruys ran of blud, Thaim that thai gat to ded all yhud Sua that than thar weill ner wer dede Als fele as in the bataill-stede. 75 The fys Warine wes takyn thar, Bot sua rad wes Richard of Clar That he fled to the south countre, All that moneth I trow that he Sall haf na gud will for to fycht. 80 Schyr Jhone Stewart a noble knycht Wes woundyt throu the body thar With a sper that scharply schar, Bot to Monpeller went he syne And lay thar lang intill helyne 85 And at the last helyt wes he. Schyr Edward than with his menye Tuk in the toun thar herbery, That nycht thai blyth war and joly For the victour that thai had thar.
[Siege of Carrickfergus Castle; a truce is broken by ships from Dublin]
90 And on the morn foroutyn mar Schyr Edward gert men gang and se All the vittaill of that cite, And thai fand sic foysoun tharin Off corne and flour and wax and wyn 95 That thai had of it gret ferly, And Schyr Edward gert halily Intill Cragfergus it caryit be, Syne thidder went his men and he And held the sege full stalwartly 100 Quhill Palme Sonday wes passit by. Than quhill the Twysday in Pays wouk On ather half thai trewys touk Sua that thai mycht that haly tid In pennance and in prayer bid. 105 Bot apon the Pasche evyn rycht To the castell into the nycht Fra Devillyne schippis come fyften Chargyt with armyt men bedene, Four thousand trow I weill thai war, 110 In the castell thai entryt ar. The Maundveill auld Schyr Thomas Capitane of that menye was. Intill the castell prively Thai entryt for thai had gert spy 115 That mony of Schyr Edwardis men War scalyt in the contre then, Tharfor thai thocht in the mornyng Till isch but langer delaying And to suppris thaim suddanly, 120 For thai thocht thai suld traistly For the trewys that takyn war, Bot I trow falset evermar Sall have unfayr and evill ending.
[The new force attacks the besieging Scots; Sir Neil Campbell wounded]
Schyr Edward wist of this nathing 125 For off tresoun had he na thoucht, Bot for the trew he levyt nocht To set wachis to the castell, Ilk nycht he gert men walk it wele And Nele Flemyng wachit that nycht 130 With sexty men worthi and wycht. And als sone as the day wes cler Thai that within the castell wer Had armyt thaim and maid thaim boun And sone thar brig avalit down 135 And ischit intill gret plente, And quhen Nele Flemyng gan thaim se He send ane to the king in hy And said to thaim that war him by, 'Now sall men se, Ik undretak, 140 Quha dar dey for his lordis sak. Now ber you weill, for sekyrly With all this mengne fecht will I, Intill bargane thim hald sall we Quhill that our maister armyt be.' 145 With that word assemblyt thai, Thai war to few all-out perfay With sic a gret rout for to fycht, Bot nocht-forthi with all thar mycht Thai dang on thaim sa hardely 150 That all thar fayis had gret ferly That thai war all of swilk manheid As thai na drede had of thar dede. Bot thar fayis sa gane assaile That na worschip thar mycht availe, 155 Than thai war slayne up everilkane Sa clene that thar eschapyt nane And the man that went to the king For to warne him of thar isching Warnyt him in full gret hy.
[Edward Bruce defeats the men from the castle; Neil Campbell dies]
160 Schyr Edward wes commonaly Callyt the king of Irland. And quhen he hard sic thing on hand In full gret hast he gat his ger, Twelff wycht men in his chawmer wer 165 That armyt thaim in full gret hy, Syne with his baner hardily The myddis of the toun he tays. Weill ner cummand war his fayis That had delt all thar men in thre, 170 The Maundvell with a gret menye Rycht throu the toun the way held doun, The lave on athyr sid the toun Held to mete thaim that fleand war, Thai thoucht that all that thai fand thar 175 Suld dey but ransoune everilkane. Bot uthyr-wayis the gle is gane, For Schyr Edward with his baner And his twelff I tauld you of er On all that route sua hardely 180 Assemblyt that it wes ferly, For Gib Harpar befor him yeid That wes the douchteast in deid That than wes livand off his state, And with ane ax maid him sic gat 185 That he the fyrst fellyt to ground, And off thre in a litill stound The Maundveill be his armyng He knew and roucht him sic a swyng That he till erd yeid hastily. 190 Schyr Edward that wes ner him by Reversyt him and with a knyff Rycht in that place him reft the liff. With that off Ardrossane Fergus That wes a knycht rycht curageous 195 Assemblyt with sexty and ma, Thai pressyt than thar fayis sua That thai that saw thar lord slayne Tynt hart and wald haf bene again, And ay as Scottismen mycht be 200 Armyt thai come to the melle And dang apon thar fayis sua That thai all the bak gan ta, And thai thaim chassyt to the yat, Thar wes hard fycht and gret debat. 205 Thar slew Schyr Edward with his hand A knycht that of all Irland Was callit best and of maist bounte, To surname Maundveill had he, His awne name I can nocht say, 210 Bot his folk to sa hard assay War set as thai of the doungeoun Durst opyn na yhat na brig lat doun. And Schyr Edwarde, Ik tak on hand, Soucht thaim that fled thar to warand 215 Sa felly that of all perfay That ischyt apon him that day Thar eschapyt never ane That thai ne war other tane or slayn, For to the fycht Maknakill then 220 Come with twa hundreth spermen And thai slew all thai mycht to-wyn. This ilk Maknakill with a gyn Wan off thar schippis four or fyve And haly reft the men thar lif. 225 Quhen end wes maid of this fechting Yeit then wes lyffand Nele Fleming. Schyr Edward went him for to se, About him slayne lay his menye All in a lump on athyr hand 230 And he redy to dey throwand. Schyr Edward had of him pite And him full gretly menyt he And regratyt his gret manheid And his worschip and douchty deid, 235 Sic mayn he maid men had gret ferly For he wes nocht custummabilly Wont for to meyne men ony thing Na wald nocht her men mak menyng. He stud tharby till he wes ded 240 And syne had him till haly sted And him with worschip gert he be Erdyt with gret solemnite.
[Surrender of Carrickfergus Castle]
On this wis ischit Maundvill, Bot sekyrly falset and gyle 245 Sall allwayis haif ane ivill ending As weill is sene be this isching, In tyme of trewys ischit thai And in sic tyme as on Pasche day Quhen God rais for to sauf mankin 250 Fra wem of auld Adamys syne, Tharfor sa gret myschaunce thaim fell That ilkane as ye hard me tell War slayne up or takyn thar. And thai that in the castell war 255 War set intill sic fray that hour For thai couth se quhar na succour Suld cum to releyff, and thai Tretyt and till a schort day The castell till him yauld fre 260 To sauff thaim lyff and lym, and he Held thaim full weill his cunnand. The castell tuk he in his hand And vyttalyt weill and has set A gud wardane it for to get, 265 And a quhill tharin restyt he.
[King Robert sails to the Isles, is drawn between the Tarberts;
submission of the Islesmen]
Off him no mar now spek will we Bot to King Robert will we gang That we haff left unspokyn of lang. Quhen he had convoyit to the se 270 His brodyr Edward and his menye With schippes he maid him yar 271* Intill the Ilis for till fare 272* Walter Steward with him tuk he 273* His mawch and with him gret menyhe 274* 275 And other men off gret noblay. 271 To Tarbart thai held thar way In galayis ordanyt for thar far, Bot thaim worthyt draw thar schippis thar, And a myle wes betwix the seys 280 Bot that wes lownyt all with treis. 276 The king his schippis thar gert draw, And for the wynd couth stoutly blaw Apon thar bak as thai wald ga He gert men rapys and mastis ta 285 And set thaim in the schippis hey 281 And sayllis to the toppis tey And gert men gang tharby drawand, The wyind thaim helpyt that wes blawand Sua that in a litill space 290 Thar flote all our-drawin was. 286 And quhen thai that in the Ilis war Hard how the gud king had thar Gert his schippis with saillis ga Out-our betwix the Tarbartis twa 295 Thai war abaysit sa uterly 291 For thai wyst throu auld prophecy That he that suld ger schippis sua Betwix thai seis with saillis ga Suld wyne the Ilis sua till hand 300 That nane with strenth suld him withstand. 296 Tharfor thai come all to the king, Wes nane withstud his bidding Outakyn Jhone of Lorne allane, Bot weill sone eftre wes he tane 305 And present rycht to the king, 301 And thai that war of his leding That till the king had brokyn fay War all dede and distroyit away. This Jhone of Lorne the king has tane 310 And send him furth to Dunbertane 306 A quhill in presoun thar to be, Syne to Louchlevyn send wes he Quhar he wes quhill in festnyng, I trow he maid tharin ending. 315 The king quhen all the Ilis war 311 Brocht till his liking les and mar, All that sesoun thar dwellyt he At huntyng gamyn and at gle.
[Edmund de Caillou plunders the Merse]
Quhill the king apon this maner 320 Dauntyt the Ilis as I tell her 316 The gud Schyr James of Douglas Intill the Forest dwelland was Defendand worthely the land. That tyme in Berwik wes dwelland 325 Edmound de Cailow a Gascoun 321 That wes a knycht of gret renoune And intill Gascoune his contre Lord off gret senyoury wes he. He had Berwik in keping 330 And maid a prive gadering 326 And gat him a gret cumpany Of wycht men armyt jolily, And the nethyr end of Tevidale He prayit doun till him all hale 335 And of the Mers a gret party, 331 Syne towart Berwik went in hy. Schyr Adam of Gordoun that than Wes becummyn Scottisman Saw thaim dryf sua away thar fe 340 And wend thai had bene quhone for he 336 Saw bot the fleand scaill perfay 337* And thaim that sesyt in the pray. 338* Than till Schyr James of Douglas 339* Into gret hye the way he tais 340* 345 And tauld how Inglismen thair pray 341* Had tane and syne went thar way 342* Toward Berwik with all thar fee, 343* And said thai quheyn war and gif he 344* Wald sped him he suld weill lichtly 337 350 Wyn thaim and reskew all the ky. 338
[Douglas pursues, catches and kills Caillou]
Schyr James rycht soyne gaf his assent Till follow thame and furth is went Bot with the men that he had thair And met hym by the gat but mair. 355 Thai followit thame in full gret hy 343 And com weill neir thame hastely For or thai mycht thame fully se Thai come weill ner with thair menye, And than bath the forreouris and the scaill 360 Intill a childrome knyt all haill 348 And wes a rycht fair cumpany. Befor thame gert thai driff the ky With knavis and swanys that na mycht Had for to stand in feld and fycht, 365 The lave behynd thaim maid a stale. 353 The Douglas saw thar lump all hale And saw thaim of sa gud covyn And saw thai war sa mony syne That thai for ane of his war twa. 370 'Lordingis,' he said, 'sen it is sua 358 That we haf chassyt of sic maner That we now cummyn ar sa ner That we may nocht eschew the fycht Bot gif we fouly ta the flycht, 375 Lat ilkane on his lemman mene 363 And how he mony tyme has bene On gret thrang and weill cummyn away. Think we to do rycht sua today, And tak we of this furd her-by 380 Our avantage for in gret hy 368 Thai sall cum on us for to fycht. Set we than will and strenth and mycht For to mete thaim rycht hardely.' And with that word full hastily 385 He displayit his baner 373 For his fayis war cummand ner That quhen thai saw he wes sa quhoyne Thocht thai suld with thaim sone haf done And assemblit full hardely. 390 Thar men mycht se men fecht felly 378 And a rycht cruell melle mak And mony strakys giff and tak. The Douglas thar weill hard wes stad, Bot the gret hardyment that he hade 395 Comfort hys men on sic a wys 383 That na man thocht on cowardys Bot faucht sa fast with all thar mayn That thai fele of thar fayis has slayn, And thoucht thai be weill fer war ma 400 Than thai, yeit ure demanyt thaim sua 388 That Edmound de Cailow wes ded Rycht in that ilk fechtyn-stede, And all the lave fra he wes done War planly discomfyt sone, 405 And thai that chassyt sum has slayn 393 And turnyt the prayis all agayn. The hardast fycht forsuth this wes That ever the gud lord off Douglas Wes in as off sa few mengne, 410 For nocht had bene his gret bounte 398 That slew thar chyftane in that fycht His men had all to dede bene dycht. He had intill custoume alway Quhenever he come till hard assay 415 To preys him the chiftane to sla, 403 And her fell hap that he did sua, That gert him haff victour fele sys. Quhen Schyr Edmound apon this wis Wes dede the gud lord of Douglas 420 To the Forest his wayis tays. 408 His fayis gretly gan him dred, The word sprang weile fer of his deid Sua that in Ingland ner tharby Men spak of it commonaly.
[The challenge of Sir Robert Neville is taken up by Douglas]
425 Schir Robert Nevile that tid 413 Wonnyt at Berwik ner besid The march quhar the lord Douglas In the forest repayrand was And had at him gret invy, 430 For he saw him sa manlyly 418 Mak ay his boundis mar and mar. He hard the folk that with him war Spek off the lord Douglas mycht And how he forsye wes in fycht 435 And how him fell oft fayr fortoun. 423 He wrethyt tharat all-soun And said, 'Quhat wene ye, is thar nane That ever is worth bot he allane. Ye set him as he wer but per, 440 Bot Ik avow befor you her 428 Giff ever he cum intill this land He sall fynd me ner at his hand, And gif Ik ever his baner May se displayit apon wer 445 I sall assembill on him but dout 433 All-thocht yhe hald him never sa stout.' Of this avow sone bodword was Brocht to Schyr James of Douglas That said, 'Gif he will hald his hycht 450 I sall do sa he sall haiff sycht 438 Off me an my cumpany Yeyt or oucht lang wele ner him by.' Hys retenew than gaderyt he That war gud men of gret bounte, 455 And till the march in gud aray 443 Apon a nycht he tuk the way Sua that into the mornyng arly He wes with all his cumpany Befor Berwik and thar he maid 460 Men to display his baner brad, 448 And of his menye sum sent he For to bryn townys twa or thre, And bad thaim sone agayne thaim sped Sua that on hand giff thar come ned 465 Thai mycht be for the fycht redy. 453
[Neville waits then attacks Douglas's force]
The Nevill that wyst witterly That Douglas cummyn wes sa ner And saw all braid stand his baner, Than with the folk that with him war 470 And he had a gret menye thar 458 For all the gud off that countre Intill that tyme with him had he Sua that he thar with him had then Wele may then war the Scottismen, 475 He held his way up till a hill 463 And said, 'Lordingis, it war my will To mak end off the gret deray That Douglas mayis us ilk day, Bot me think it spedfull that we 480 Abid quhill his men scalit be 468 Throu the countre to tak thar pray, Than fersly schout on thaim we may And we sall haf thaim at our will.' Than all thai gaf assent thar-till 485 And on the hill abaid howand. 473 The men fast gaderyt of the land And drew till him in full gret hy. The Douglas then that wes worthi Thoucht it wes foly mar to bid, 490 Towart the hill than gan he rid, 478 And quhen the Nevill saw that thai Wald nocht pas furth to the forray Bot pressyt to thaim with thar mycht He wyst weill than that thai wald fycht 495 And till his mengye gan he say, 483 'Lordingis, now hald we furth our way, Her is the flour of the countre And may then thai alsua ar we, Assembill we then hardely, 500 For Douglas with yone yhumanry 488 Sall haf na mycht till us perfay.' Then in a frusch assemblyt thai, Than mycht men her the speris brast And ilkane ding on other fast, 505 And blude bryst out at woundis wid. 493 Thai faucht fast apon athyr sid For athyr party gan thaim payn To put thar fayis on bak agayn.
[Douglas fights with and kills Neville; division of the spoils]
The lordis off Nevill and Douglas 510 Quhen at the fechting fellast was 498 Met togidder rycht in the preys, Betwix thaim than gret bargane wes. Thai faucht felly with all thar maucht, Gret routis ather othyr raucht, 515 Bot Douglas starkar wes Ik hycht 503 And mar usyt alsua to fycht, And he set hart and will alsua For to deliver him of his fa Quhill at the last with mekill mayn 520 Off fors the Nevill has he slayn, 508 Then his ensenye hey gan cry And the lave sa hardely He ruschyt with his menye That intill schort tym men mycht se 525 Thar fayis tak thaim to the flycht 513 And thai thaim chassyt with all thar mycht Schir Rauff Nevill in the chas And the baron of Hiltoun was Takyn and other of mekill mycht. 530 Thar wes fele slayne into that fycht 518 That worthi in thar tym had bene. And quhen the feld wes clengit clen Sua that thar fayis everilkane War slayne or chassyt awai or tan 535 Than gert he forray all the land 523 And sesyt all that ever thai fand And brynt townys in thar way, Syne hale and fer cummyn ar thai. The prayis amang his menye 540 Eftre thar meritis delt he 528 And held na thing till his behuff. Sic dedis aucht to ger men luff Thar lord, and sua thai did perfay. He tretyt thaim sa wisly ay 545 And with sa mekill luff alsua 533 And sic avansement wald ma Off thar deid that the mast cowart He maid stoutar then a libart, With cherysing thusgat maid he 550 His men wycht and of gret bounte. 538
[The reputation of Douglas]
Quhen Nevill thus was brocht to ground And of Cailow auld Schyr Edmound, The drede of the lord of Douglas And his renoune sa scalit was 555 Throu-out the marchis of Ingland 543 That all that war tharin wonnand Dred him as the fell devill of hell, And yeit haf Ik hard otfsys tell That he sa gretly dred wes than 560 That quhen wivys wald childer ban 548 Thai wald rycht with ane angry face Betech thaim to the blak Douglas. 562A For with thair taill he wes mair fell * 562B Than wes ony devill in hell. * Throu his gret worschip and bounte Sua with his fayis dred wes he 565 That thaim growyt to her his name. 553 He may at ese now dwell at hame A quhill for I trow he sall nocht With fayis all a quhile be socht. Now lat him in the Forest be, 570 Off him spek now no mar will we, 558 Bot off Schyr Edward the worthi That with all his chevalry Wes at Cragfergus yeit liand To spek mar we will tak on hand.