A strenth thar was on the wattir off Cre, With in a roch, rycht stalwart wrocht off tre; A gait befor mycht no man to it wyn, 805 Fol. 42 b But the consent off thaim that duelt within. On the bak sid a roch and wattir was; A strait entré forsuth it was to pass. To wesy it Wallace him selff sone went; Fra he it saw, he kest in his entent 810 To wyn that hauld; he has chosyne a gait, That thai with in suld mak litill debait. His power haill he gerd bid out off sycht, Bot thre with him qwhill tyme that it was nycht. Than tuk he twa, quhen that the nycht was dym, 815 Stewyn off Irland, and Kerlé, that couth clyme The wattir wnder; and clame the roch so strang: Thus entrit thai the Sothrone men amang. The wach befor tuk na tent to that syd: Thir thre in feyr sone to the port thai glid. 820 Gud Wallace than straik the portar him sell; Dede our the roch in to the dik he fell; Leit doun the brig, and blew his horne on hycht. The buschement brak, and come in all thar mycht; At thair awne will sone entrit in that place; 825 Till Inglissmen thai did full litill grace. Sexty thai slew; in that hald was no ma, Bot ane auld preist, and sympill wemen twa. Gret purweance was in that roch to spend; Wallace baid still quhill it was at ane end: 830 Brak doune the strenth, bath bryg, and bulwark all; Out our the roch thai gert the temyr fall; Wndid the gait, and wald no langar bid. In Carrik syne thai bownyt thaim to rid; Haistit thaim nocht, bot sobyrly couth fair 835 Till Towrnbery; thar captane was at Ayr With lord Persie, to tak his consaill haill: Syne fyrd the yett, na succour mycht awaill. A prest thar was, and gentill wemen with in, Quhilk for the fyr maid hiddewis noyis and dyn. 840 “Mercy,” thai cryit, “for him that deit on tre!” Wallace gert slaik the fyr, and leit thaim be. To mak defens na ma was lewyt thar: He thaim commaund out off the land to far; Spulyeit the place, and spilt all at thai mocht. 845 Apon the morn in Cumno sone thai socht; To Laynrik syne, and set a tyme off ayr, Mysdoaris feill he gert be punyst thar. To gud trew men he gaiff full mekill wage; His brothir sone put to his heretage; 850 To the blak crag in Cumno past agayne; Fol. 43 a His houshauld set with men off mekill mayne. Thre monethis thar he duellyt in gud rest; Suttell Sotheroune fand weill it was the best Trewis to tak; for till enchew a chans 855 To furthir this, thai send for knycht Wallans. Bothwell yeit that tratour kepyt still; And Ayr all haill was at the Perseis will; The byschope Beik in Glaskow duellyt thar, Throucht gret supple off the captayne off Ayr. 860 Erll off Stamffurd, was chanslar off Ingland, With Schyr Amar this trawaill tuk on hand, To procur pess be ony maner off cace. A saiff condyt thai purchest off Wallace. In Ruglen kyrk the tryst than haiff thai set, 865 A promes maid to meit Wallace but let. The day off this approchit wondyr fast; The gret chanslar and Amar thidder past: Syne Wallace come, and his men weill beseyn, With him fyfty arayit all in greyne. 870 Ilkane off thaim a bow and arrowis bar, And lang suerdis, the quhilk full scharply schar. In to the kyrk he gert a preyst rewess; With humyll mynd rycht mekly hard a mess: Syne wp he raiss and till ane alter went, 875 And his gud men full cruell off entent. In ir he grew, that traitour quhen he sawe; The Inglissmen off his face stud gret aw. Witt reullyt him, that he did no owtrage. The erlle beheld fast till his hye curage; 880 Forthocht sum part that he come to that place, Gretlye abaysit for the vult off his face. Schir Amer said; “This spech ye mon begyne; “He will nocht bow to na part off your kyn. “Sufferyt ye ar, I trow yhe may spek weill. 885 “For all Ingland he will nocht brek adeyll “His saiff cwndyt, or quhar he makis a band.” The chanslar than approfferit him his hand. Wallace stud still, and couth na handis ta; Frendschipe to thaim na liknes wald he ma. 890 Schir Amar said; ‘Wallace, yhe wndyrstand, ‘This is a lord, and chanslar off Ingland; ‘To salus him ye may be propyr skill.’ With schort awyss he maid ansuer him till; “Sic salusyng I oyss till Ingliss men 895 “Sa sall he haiff, quhar euir I may him ken “At my power; that God I mak awow, “Out off souerance gyff that I had him now. “Bot for thi lyff, and all his land so braid, “I will nocht brek this promess that is maid. 900 “I had leuir at myn awn will haiff the, Fol. 43 b “With out condyt, that I mycht wrokyne be “Off thi fals deid, thou dois in this regioune, “Than off pur gold a kingis gret ransoune. “Bot, for my band, as now I will lat be.