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JUNE 26, 1306 The Scots are Surprised

As he avisyt now have thai done;

And till thaim utouth send thai sone,

And bad thaim herbery thaim that nycht, 300

And on the morn cum to the fycht.

Quhen thai saw thai mycht no mar,

Towart Meffayn then gan thai far;

And in the woud thaim logyt thai;

The thrid part went to the forray; 305

And the lave sone unarmyt war.

And skalyt to loge thaim her and thar.

Schyr Amer then, but mar abaid,

With all the folk he with him haid,

Ischyt in-forcely to the fycht; 310

And raid, in-till a randoun rycht,

The strawcht way towart Meffen.

The King, that wes unarmyt then,

Saw thaim cum swa inforcely;

Then till his men gan hely cry, 315

“Till armys swyth, and makys yhow yhar!

“Her at our hand our fayis ar!”

And thai did swa in full gret hy;

And on thair hors lap hastily.

The King displayit his baner, 320

Quhen that his folk assemblyt wer;

And said, “Lordingis, now may yhe se

“That yhone folk all, throw sutelte,

“Schapis thaim to do with slycht,

“That at thai drede to do with mycht. 325

“Now I persave he that will trew

“His fa, it sall him sum tyme rew.

“And nocht-for-thi, thocht thai be fele,

“God may rycht weill our werdis dele;

“For multitud mais na victory, 330

“As men has red in mony story,

“That few folk has oft vencusyt ma.

“Trow we that we sall do rycht sua.

“Yhe are ilkan wycht and worthy,

“And full of gret chevalry; 335

“And wate rycht weill quhat honour is.

“Wyrk yhe then apon swylk wys,

“That yhour honour be savyt ay.

“And a thing will I to yow say,

“That he that dois for his cuntre[†] 340 “Sall herbryit in-till hevyn be.” Quhen this wes said, thai saw cumand Thar fayis ridand, ner at the hand, Arayit rycht avisely, Willful to do chevalry. 345