STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
The Brus by John Barbour
Book 6
[Sir Ingram Umfraville praises the king;
the men of Galloway pursue him with a tracker dog]
The king is went till his logyng And off this deid sone come tithing Till Schyr Ingrame the Umfravill That thocht his sutelte and gyle 5 Haid al failyeit in that place. Tharfor anoyit sua he was That he agayne to Lothyane Till Schyr Amer his gate has tane And till him tauld all hale the cas, 10 That tharoff all forwonderyt was How ony man sa sodanly Mycht do so gret chevalry As did the king that him allane Vengeance off thre traytouris has tane, 15 And said, 'Certis, I may weill se That it is all certante That ure helpys hardy men As be this deid we may ken. War he nocht outrageous hardy 20 He had nocht unabasytly Sa smertly sene his avantage. I drede that his gret vassalag And his travaill may bring till end That at men quhile full litill wend.' 25 Sik speking maid he off the king That ay foroutyn sojournyng Travaillit in Carrik her and thar. His men fra him sa scalit war To purches thar necessite 30 And als the countre for to se That thai left nocht with him sexty. And quhen the Gallowais wyst suthli That he wes with sa few mengye Thai maid a preve assemble 35 Off wele twa hunder men and ma, And slewth-hundis with thaim gan ta, For thai thocht him for to suppris And giff he fled on ony wys To folow him with the hundis sua 40 That he suld nocht eschaip thaim fra. Thai schup thaim in ane evynnyng To suppris sodanly the king And tillhim held thai straucht thar way, Bot he, that had his wachis ay 45 On ilk sid, off thar cummyng Lang or thai come had wyttering And how fele that thai mycht be, Tharfor he thocht with his menye To withdraw him out off the place, 50 For the nycht weill fallyn was And for the nycht he thocht that thai Suld nocht haiff sycht to hald the way That he war passyt with his menye. And as he thocht rycht sua did he 55 And went him down till a morras Our awatter that rynnand was, And in the bog he fand a place Weill strait that weill twa bow-draucht was Fra the watter thai passit haid. 60 He said, 'Her may ye mak abaid And rest you all a quhile and ly, I will ga wach all prevely. Giff Ik her oucht off thar cummyng And giff I may her onything 65 Isall ger warn you sa that we Sall ay at our avantage be.'
[The king alone defends the ford]
The king now takys his gate to ga And with him tuk he sergandis twa And Schyr Gilbert de le Hay left he 70 Thar for to rest with his menye. To the watter he come in hy And lysnyt full ententily Giff he herd oucht off thar cummyng Bot yeit then mocht he her na thing. 75 Endlang the watter then yeid he On ather syd a gret quantite And saw the brayis hey standand, The watter holl throu slik rynnand And fand na furd that men mycht pas 80 Bot quhar himselvyn passit was, And sua strait wes the up-cumming That twa men mycht nocht samyn thring Na on na maner pres thaim sua That thai togidder mycht land ta. 85 His twa men bad he than in hy *85 Ga to thair feris to rest and ly *86 For he wald wach thar com to se. *87 'Schyr,' said thai, 'Quha sall with you be?' *88 'God,' he said, 'forouten ma *89 90 Pas on, for I will it be sua.' *90 Thai did as he thame biddin had *91 And he thar all allane abaid, *92 And quhen he a lang quhile had bene thar 85 He herknyt and herd as it war 95 A hundis questyng on fer 87 That ay come till him ner and ner. He stud still for till herkyn mar And ay the langer he wes thar He herd it ner and ner cummand, 100 Bot he thocht he thar still wald stand 92 Tyll that he herd mar takynnyng. Than for ane hundis questyng He wald nocht wakyn his menye, Tharfor he wald abid and se 105 Quhat folk thai war and quhethir thai 97 Held towart him the rycht way Or passyt ane other way fer by. The moyne wes schynand clerly, 100 [no no.] [Sa lang he stude that he mycht her 101 [no no.] The noyis off thaim that cummand wer 102 [no no.] Than his twa men in hy send he 103 [no no.] To warn and wakyn and walkyn his menye 104 [no no.] And thai ar furth thar wayis gane 105 [no no.] And he left thar all hym allane] 106 109 And sua stude he herknand 107 110 Till that he saw cum at his hand 108 The hale rout intill full gret hy. Then he umbethocht him hastily Giff he held towart his menye That or he mycht reparyt be 115 Thai suld be passit the furd ilkan, 113 And then behuffyt him ches ane Off thir twa, other to fley or dey. Bot his hart that wes stout and hey Consaillyt hym allane to bid 120 And kepe thaim at the furd syde 118 And defend weill the upcummyng Sen he wes warnyst of armyng That thar arowys thurth nocht dreid, And gyff he war off gret manheid 125 He mycht stunay thaim everilkane 123 Sen thai ne mycht cum bot ane and ane, And did rycht as hys hart hym bad. Strang utrageous curage he had Quhen he sa stoutly him allane 130 For litill strenth off erd has tane 128 To fecht with twa hunder and ma. Tharwith he to the furd gan ga, And thai apon the tother party That saw him stand thar anyrly 135 Thringand intill the water rad 133 For off him litill dout thai had And raid till him in full gret hy. He smate the fyrst sua vygorusly With his sper that rycht scharp schar 140 Till he doun till the erd him bar. 138 The lave come then intill a randoun, Bot his hors that wes born doun Combryt thaim the upgang to ta, And quhen the king saw it wes sua 145 He stekyt the hors and he gan flyng 143 And syne fell at the upcummyng. The layff with that come with a schout, And he that stalwart wes and stout Met thaim rycht stoutly at the bra 150 And sa gud payment gan thaim ma 148 That fyvesum in the furd he slew. The lave then sumdell thaim withdrew That dred his strakys wondre sar For he in na thing thaim forbar. 155 Then said ane, 'Certis we ar to blame. 153 Quhat sall we say quhen we cum ham Quhen a man fechtis agane us all. Quha wyst ever men sa foully fall As us gyff that we thusgat leve.' 160 With that all haile a schoute thai geve 158 And cryit, 'On him, he may nocht last.' With that thai pressyt him sa fast That had he nocht the better bene He had bene dede withoutyn wen, 165 Bot he sa gret defence gan mak 163 That quhar he hyt evyn a strak Thar mycht nathing agane-stand. In litill space he left liand Sa fele that the upcummyng wes then 170 Dyttyt with slayn hors and men 168 Sua that his fayis for that stopping Mycht nocht cum to the upcummyng. A! Der God, quha had then bene by And sene howe he sa hardyly 175 Adressyt hym agane thaim all 173 I wate weile that thai suld him call The best that levyt in his day, And giff I the suth sall say I herd never in na tym gane 180 Ane stynt sa mony him allane. 178
[The story of Tydeus of Thebes]
Suth is, quhen till Ethiocles Fra his brother Polnices Wes send Thedeus in message To ask haly the heritage 185 Off Thebes till hald for a yer, 183 For thai twynnys off a byrth wer, Thai strave, for ather king wald be. Bot the barnage off thar cuntre Gert thaim assent on this maner, 190 That the tane suld be king a yer, 188 And then the tother and his mengye Suld nocht be fundyn in the countre Quhill the fyrst brother regnand wer, Syne suld the tother renge a yer 195 And then the fyrst suld leve the land 193 Quhill that the tother war regnaND. Thus ay a yer suld regne the tane, The tother a yer fra that war gane. To ask haldyn off this assent 200 Wes Thedeus to Thebes sent, 198 And sua spake for Polnices That off Thebes Ethiocles Bad his constabill with him ta Men armyt weill and forouth ga 205 To mete Thedeus in the way 203 And slay him but langer delay. The constable his way is gane And nyne and fourty with him tane Sua that he with thaim maid fyfty. 210 Intill the evynnyng prevely 208 Thai set enbuschement in the way Quhar Thedeus behovyt away Betuix ane hey crag and the se, And he that off thar mavyte 215 Wyst na thing his way has tane 213 And towart Grece agane is gane. And as he raid into the nycht Sa saw he with the monys lycht Schynyng off scheldys gret plente, 220 And had wondre quhat it mycht be. 218 With that all hale thai gaiff a cry And he that hard sa suddanly Sic noyis sumdele affrayit was, Bot in schort time he till him tais 225 His spyritis full hardely, 223 For his gentill hart and worthy Assuryt hym into that nede. Then with te spuris he strak the sted And ruschyt in amang thaim all. 230 The fyrst he met he gert him fall, 228 And syne his sword he swapyt out And roucht about him mony rout And slew sexsum swill sone and ma. Then undre him his hors thai sla 235 And he fell, bot he smertly ras 233 And strykand rowm about him mas And slew off thaim a quantite Bot woundyt wondre sar wes he. With that a litill rod he fand 240 Up towart the crag strekand. 238 Thidder went he in full gret hy Defendand him full douchtely Till in the crag he clam sumdell And fand a place enclosyt weill 245 Quhar nane bot ane mycht him assail, 243 Thar stud he and gaiff thaim bataill And thai assaylyt everilkane And oft fell quhen that he slew ane As he doun to the erd wald dryve 250 He wald ber doun weill four or fyve. 248 Thar stud he and defendyt sua Till he had slayne thaim halff and ma. A gret stane then by him saw he That throu the gret anciente 255 Wes lowsyt redy for to fall, 253 And quhen he saw thaim cummand all He tumblyt doun on thaim the stane, And aucht men thar with it has slayn And sua stonayit the remanand 260 That thai war weile ner recreand. 258 Then wald he presone hald no mar Bot on thaim ran with swerd all bar And hewyt and slew with all his mayn Till he has nyne and fourty slayne. 265 The constabill syne gan he ta 263 And gert him swer that he suld ga Till King Ethiocles and tell The aventur that thaim befell. Thedeus bar him douchtely 270 That him allane ourcome fyfty. 268 Ye that this redys, cheys yhe Quhether that mar suld prysit be The king, that with avisement Undertuk sic hardyment 275 As for to stynt him ane but fer 273 The folk that twa hunder wer, Or Thedeus, that suddanly For thai had raysyt on him the cry Throu hardyment that he had tane 280 Wane fyfty men allhim allane. 278 Thai did thar deid bath on the nycht And faucht bath with the mone-lycht, Bot the king discomfyt ma And Thedeus then ma gan sla. 285 Now demys quhether mar loving 283 Suld Thedeus haiff or the king?
[His men find the king]
On this maner that Ik haiff tauld The king that stout wes and bauld Wes fechtand on the furd syd 290 Giffand and takand rowtis rid 288 Till he sic martyrdom thar has maid That he the ford all stoppyt haid That nane of thaim mycht till him rid. Thaim thocht than foly for to byd 295 And halely the flycht gan ta 293 And went hamewartis quhar thai come fra, For the kingis men with the cry Walknyt full effrayitly And com to sek thar lord the king. 300 The Galloway men hard thar cummyng 298 And fled and durst abid no mar. The kingis men that dredand war For thar lord full spedyly Come to the furd and sone in hy 305 Thai fand the king syttand allane, 303 That off his bassynet has tane Till avent him for he wes hate. Than speryt thai at him off his state And he tauld thaim all hale the case 310 Howgate that he assailyt was 308 And how that God him helpyt sua That he eschapyt hale thaim fra. Than lukyt thai how fele war ded, And thai fand lyand in that sted 315 Fourtene that war slayne with his hand. 313 Than lovyt thai God fast all-weildand That thai thar lord fand hale and fer, And said thaim byrd on na maner Drede thar fayis sen thar chyftane 320 Wes off sic hart and off sic mayn 318 That he for thaim had undretan With sua fele for to fecht him ane.
[A comment on valour]
Syk wordis spak thai of the king, And for his hey undretaking 325 Farlyit and yarnyt hym for to se 323 That with hym ay wes wont to be. A! Quhat worschip is prisit thing, For it mays men till haiff loving Gyff it be folowit ythenly, 330 For pryce off worschip nocht-forthi 328 Is hard to wyn, for gret travaill Offt to defend and oft assaill And to be in thar dedis wys Gerris men off worschip wyn the price, 335 And may na man haiff worthyhed 333 Bot he haiff wyt to ster his deid And se quhat ys to leve or ta. Worschip extremyteys has twa, Fule-hardyment the formast is 340 And the tother is cowartys, 338 And thai ar bath for to forsak. Fule-hardyment all will undertak, Als weill thingis to leve as ta, Bot cowardys dois na thing sua 345 But uttrely forsakis all, 343 Bot that war derer for to fal Na war faute of discretioun. Forthi has worschip sic renoun, That it is mene betuix tha twa 350 And takys that is till underta 348 And levys that is to leve, for it Has sa gret warnysing of wyt That it all perellis weile gan se And all avantagis that may be. 355 I wald till hardyment heyld haly 353 With-thi away war the foly For hardyment with foly is vice Bot hardyment that mellyt is With wyt is worschip ay perde, 360 For but wyt worschip may nocht be. 358 This nobile king that we off red Mellyt all tyme with wit manheid, That may men by this melle se. His wyt schawyt him the strait entre 365 Off the furd and the uschyng alsua 363 That as him thocht war hard to ta Apon a man that war worthy, Tharfor his hardyment hastily Thocht it mycht be weill undretan 370 Sen at anys mycht assail bot ane. 368 Thus hardyment governyt with wyt That he all tyme wald samyn knyt Gert him off worschip haiff the price And oft ourcum his ennymyis.
[Douglas attacks Thirlwall at Douglas Castle]
375 The king in Carrik dwellyt ay still, 373 Hys men assemblyt fast him till That in the land war travailland Quhen thai off this deid herd tithand For thai thar ure wald with him ta 380 Gyff that he eft war assaylyt sua. 378 Bot yeit than James of Douglas In Douglas daile travailland was Or ellysweill ner-hand tharby In hydillys sumdeill prevely, 385 For he wald se his governyng 383 That had the castell in keping, And gert mak mony juperty To se quhether he wald ische blythly. And quhen he persavyt that he 390 Wald blthly ische with his menye, 388 He maid a gadring prevely Of thaim that war on his party, That war sa fele that thai durst fycht With Thyrwall and all the mycht 395 Of thaim that in the castell war. 393 He schupe him in the nycht to far To Sandylandis, and ner tharby He him enbuschyt prevely And send a few a trane to ma, 400 That sone in the mornyng gan ta 398 Catell that wes the castell by And syne withdrew thaim hastily Towart thaim that enbuschit war. Than Thyrwall foroutyn mar 405 Gert arme his men foroutyn baid 403 And ischyt with all the men he haid And folowyt fast efter the ky. He wes armyt at poynt clenly Outane his hede wes bar. 410 Than with the men that with him war 408 The catell folowit he gud speid Rycht as a man that had na dreid Till that he gat off thaim a sycht. Than prekyt thai with all thar mycht 415 Folowand thaim out off aray, 413 And thai sped thaim fleand quhill thai Fer by thar buschement war past, And Thyrwall ay chassyt fast. And than thai that enbuschyt war 420 Ischyt till him bath les and mar 418 And rayssyt sudanly the cry, And thai that saw sa sudandly That folk come egyrly prekand Rycht betwix thaim and thar warand, 425 Thai war into full gret effray 423 And for thai war out off aray Sum off thaim fled and sum abad, And the Douglas that thar with him had A gret mengye full egrely 430 Assaylyt and scalyt thaim hastyly 428 And in schort tyme ourraid thaim sua That weile nane eschapyyt thaim fra. Thyrwall that wes thar capitane Wes thar in the bargane slane 435 And off his men the mast party, 433 The lave fled full effraytly. Douglas his menye fast gan chas, And the flearis thar wayis tays Till the castell in full gret hy. 440 The formast entryt spedyly 438 Bot the chaseris sped thaim sa fast That thai ourtuk sum of the last And thaim foroutyn mercy gan sla. And quhen thai off the castell sua 445 Saw thaim sla off thar men thaim by 443 Thai sparyt the yattis hastily And in hy to the wallis rane. James off Douglas his menye than Sesyt weile hastily in hand 450 That thai about the castell fand 448 To thair resett, syne went thar way. Thus ischyt Thyrwall that day.
[The king is pursued by John of Lorn and his tracker-dog;
he and his foster brother kill five men]
Quhen Thyrwall on this maner Had ischit as I tell you her, 455 James off Douglas and his men 453 Buskit thaim all samyn then And went thar way towart the king In gret hy, for thai herd tything That off Valence Schyr Amery 460 With full gret chevalry 458 Bath off Scottis and Inglis men With gret felny war rerdy then Assemblyt for to sek the king, That wes that tyme with his gadring 465 In Cumnok quhair it straitast was. 463 Thidder went James of Douglas And wes rycht welcum to the king And quhen he had tauld that tithing, How that schyr Amer wes cummand 470 For till hunt him out off the land 468 With hund and horne rycht as he war A woulff, a theyff, or theyffis fer, Than said the king, 'It may weill fall Thocht he cum and his power all 475 We sall abid in this countre, 473 And gyff he cummys we sall him se.' The king spake apon this maner, And of Valence Schyr Amer Assemblyt a gret cumpany 480 Off noble men and off worthy 478 Off Ingland and of Lowthiane, And he has alsua with him tane Jhone off Lorn and all his mycht That had off worthi men and wycht 485 With him aucht hunder men and ma 483 A sleuth-hund had he thar alsua Sa gud that wald chang for na thing, And sum men sayis yeit that the king As a strecour him noryst had 490 And sa mekill off him he maid 488 That hys awyn handis wald him feid. He folowyt him quharever he yeid Sa tthat the hund him lovit sua That he wald part na wys him fra. 495 Bot how that Jhon of Lorn him had 493 Ik herd never mencioun be mad, Bot men sayis it wes certane thing That he had him in his sesyng And throu him thocht the king to ta, 500 For he wyst he him luffyt sua 498 That fra that he mycht anys fele The kingis sent he wyst rycht weill That he wald chaung it for na thing. This Jhon off Lorne hattyt the king 505 For Jhon Cumyn his emys sak, 503 Mycht he him other sla or tak He wald nocht prys his liff a stra Sa that he vengeance of him mycht ta. The wardane than Schyr Amery 510 With this Jhone in cumpany 508 And other off gud renoun alsua, Thomas Randell was ane off tha, Come intill Cumnok to sek the king That wes weill war off that cummyng 515 And wes up in the strenthis then 513 And with him weill four hunder men. His broder that tym with him was And alsua James off Douglas. Schyr Ameryys rowte he saw 520 That held the plane ay and the law 518 And in hale battaill alwayis raid. The king that na supposyn had That thai wer may then he saw thar Till thaim and nother ellisquhar 525 Had ey and wrocht unwittily, 523 For Jhom off Lorn full sutelly Behind thocht to supprys the king. Tharfor with all his gadring About ane hill he held the way 530 And held him into covert ay 528 Till he sa ner come to the king Or he persavyt his cummyng That he wes cummyn on him weill ner. The tother ost and Schyr Amer 535 Pressyt aponthe tother party. 533 The king wes in gret juperty That wes on ather sid umbeset With fayis that to sla him thret, And the leyst party off the twa 540 Was starkar than he and ma. 538 And quhen he saw thaim pres him to He thocht in hy quhat was to do And said, 'Lordis we haiff na mycht As at this tyme to stand and fycht, 545 Tharfor departis us in thre, 543 All sall nocht sa assailyt be, And in thre partis hald our way.' Syne till his preve folk gan he say Betwix thaim into prevete 550 In quhat sted thar repayr suld be. 548 With that thar gate all ar thai gane And in thre partis thar way has tane. Jhone of Lorne come to the place Fra quhar the king departyt was 555 And in his trace the hund he set 553 That then foroutyn langer let Held even the way efter the king Rycht as he had off him knawing, And left the tother partys twa 560 As he na kep to thaim wald ta. 558 And quhen the king saw his cummyng Efter hys route intill a ling He thocht thai knew that it wes he, Tharfor he bad till his menye 565 Yeit then in thre depart thaim sone, 563 And thai did sua foroutyn hone And held thar way in thre partys. The hund did thar sa gret maistrys That held ay foroutyn changing 570 Eftre the rowt quhar wes the king. 568 And quhen the king had sene thaim sua All in a rowt efter him ga The way and folow nocht his men He had a gret persaving then 575 That thai knew him, forthi in hy 573 He bad his men rycht hastily Scaile and ilkan hald his way All himselff, and sua did thai. Ilk man a syndry gate is gane 580 And the king with him has tane 578 His foster broder foroutyn ma And samyn held thar gate thai twa. The hund folowyt alwayis the king And changyt for na departing 585 Bot ay folowit the kingis trace 583 But waveryng as he passyt was And quhen Jhon off Lorn saw The hund sa hard eftre him draw And folow strak after thai twa 590 He knew the king wes ane of tha, 588 And bad fyve off his cumpany That war rycht wycht men and hardy And als off fute spediast war Off all that in thair rowt war 595 Ryn eftre him and him ourta 593 And lat him na wys pas thaim fra, And fra thai had herd the bydding Thai held thar way efter the king And folowyt him sa spedely 600 That thai him weill sone gan ourhy. 598 The king that saw thaim cummand ner Wes anoyit on gret maner, For he thocht giff thai war worthi Thai mycht hi, travaile and tary 605 And hald him swagate tariand 603 Till the remanand com at hand, Bot had he dred bot anerly Thai fyve I trow all sekyrly He suld have had na mekill dred. 610 And till his falow as he yeid 608 He said, 'Thir fyve ar fast cummand Thai ar weill ner now at our hand, Sa is thar ony help at the For we sall sone assailyt be.' 615 'Ya, schyr,' he said, 'all that I may.' 613 'Thou sayis weill,' said the king. 'Perfay I see thaim cummand till us ner. I will na forthyr bot rycht her I will byd quhill Ic am in aynd 620 And se quhat force that thai can faynd.' 618 The king than stud full sturdely And the fyvesum in full gret hy Come with gret schor and manassing. Then thre off thaim went to the king, 625 And till his man the tother twa 623 With swerd in hand gan stoutly ga. The king met thaim that till him socht And to the fyrst sic rowt he roucht That er and chek downe in the hals 630 He scharnand off the schuldir als, 628 He ruschyt down all disyly. The twa that saw sa sudanly Thar falow fall effrayit war And stert a litill ovyrmar. 635 The king with that blenkit him by 633 And saw the twasome sturdely Agane his man gret melle ma. With that he left his awin twa And till thaim that faucht with his man 640 A loup rycht lychtly maid he than 638 And smate the hed off the tane, To mete his awne syne is he gane. Thai come on him full sturdely, He met the fyrst sa egrely 645 That with the swerd that scharply schar 643 The arme fra the body he bar. Quhat strakys thai gaiff I can nocht tell, Bot to the king sa fayr befell That thocht he travaill had and payne 650 He off his fa-men four has slayn, 648 His foster broder tharefter sone The fyft out of dawys has done. And quhen the king saw that all fyve War on that wys broucht out off lyve 655 Till hys falow than gan he say, 653 'Thou has helpyt weile perfay' 'It likys you to say sua,' said he, 'Bot the gret part to you tuk ye That slew four off the fyve you ane.' 660 The king said, 'As the glew is gane 658 Better than thou I mycht it do For Ik had mar layser tharto, For the twa falowys that delt with the Quhen thai saw me assailyt with thre 665 Off me rycht nakyn dout thai had 663 For thai wend I sa straytly war stad, And forthi that thai dred me noucht Noy thaim fer out the mar I moucht.' With that the king lokyt him by 670 And saw off Lorn the company 668 Weill ner with thar sleuth-hund cummand. Than till a wod that wes ner-hand He went with his falow in hy. God sayff thaim for his gret mercy.