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Quhou the
pretendit kyngis of ingland hes
no iust titil to the realme of ingland nothir
be electione nor be successione, and quhou
thai pretendit kyngis of ingland,
hes practikyt ane crafty dissait
contrar valis and yrland.
Chap. XI.
THIR vordis befor rehersit (O ze my thre sonnis)
suld prouoke zou to tak curaige, there for i vald
that hope of victoree var augmentit, & dreed var
<f 68r> banest fra zou. vald ze al perpend zour iust defens and
querrel than hardines and curage vald returne vitht in
zour hartis. and fyrst ze suld considyr the pepil, and
the titil of them that persecutis zou be on iust veiris.
quhen ze hef veil socht the verite, ze sal fynd that it is
the false blude that discendit of sergestes and engestes
quhilk var tua saxons that cam vitht aleuin thousand
saxons fra thair auen cuntra to support and supple the
kyng of grit bertanze quhilk is nou callit ingland quha
vas opprest be cruel ciuil veyris. than eftir that thir
tua saxons hed venquest the enemes of the kyng of
bertanze, thai trasonablie banest the rythteus kyng and
his posterite fra the realme. and sen syne that false
blude hes possest that cuntre violently be tyrranye, and
the maist part of thay tirran kyngis that hes succedit
of that fals blude, hes beene borreaus to their predecessours
as the cronikls of ingland makis manyfest, as of
henry the first of that name quhilk vas banest fra the
crone, Siklik henry the thrid vas banest fra the crone
be his second sone Richart, ihone kyng of ingland
gart slay the heretours of his predecessours and brukit
the realme tuenty zeirs and syne ther eftir he vas banest
<f 68v>
and eftir that kyng eduard vas gart dee meserablye
in preson, syklik Richart the sycond vas cruelly
slane be his auen men, and ther eftif henry the saxt
lossit his liyf be eduard the thrid of that name, than
eftir hym succedit rechart the thrid quha gart sla the
childir of eduard the thrid, and sa brukit the cuntre
certan tyme and ther eftir vas exilit fra the crone, and
henry the seuynt be the support and supple of the
kyng of France gat the crone of ingland, and sa none
of them hed rytht to the crone of ingland ergo thai
hef na titil to the crone of scotland. Al this veil considerit
suld inflam zour hartis vitht curage to resist
ther cruel vrangus assaltis & to menteme be vailzeantnes
the iust defens of zour natyf cuntre. ze knau quhou
thai and there forbears hes beene zour ald mortal
enemes tuelf hundretht zeiris by past makand cruel
veir contrar zour predecessours be fyir and suerd, dayly
distroyand zour feildis villagis and buroustounis, vytht
ane ferme purpos to denud scotland fra zour generatione,
and therer vas neuer faitht nor promes kepit be
them bot aye quhen ze beleifit til hef hed maist sure
pace betuix zou and them than thai lay at the vacht
lyik the ald subtil doggis bydand
<f 69r> quhil conspiratione
or discentione suld ryes amang zou than be there
austuce and subtilite thai furnest vitht money baitht
the parteis aduersaris to slay doune vderis, quhilk vas
ane reddy passage to gar them conqueis our realme
vithtout straik or battel, throcht the occasion of the
social ciuil and intestyne veyre that rang sa cruelly
throucht our cuntre. Valerius maximus rehersis ane
exempil conformand to this samyn purpos quhen the
atheniens and the lacedemoniens quhilkis var the tua
maist famous tounis vitht in the monarche of greice
thair raise ane discention and discord betuix the said
tua tounis, than darius kyng of perse quha hed euer
ane ardant desyir to conqueis greice be cause the
greciens hed euer been mortal enemes til hym and til
his predecessours, and speciale the toun of athenes resistit
hym mair in his veyris nor did al the remanent
of greice. for that cause he send his prouest tasifernes
vitht gold and siluer to lacedemonia to furneis them in
there veyris contrar the atheniens. at that tyme alcibiades
vas bannest fra athenes and excommunicat be the
prestis of there tempil, eftir the consuetude of there
lau. than alcibiades
<f69v> past for refuge to the lacedemoniens
quha var mortal enemes to the atheniens, he
vas resauit rytht honorabilye and gat gryt credit
amang them quhilk vas occasion that throcht his consel
and throu the gold that the prouest tacifernes hed
brocht to lacedemonia fra his maister kyng darius,
the lacedemoniens tryumphit contrar the atheniens.
alcibiades persauand that lacedemonia vas aperand to
be superior of athenes he said to the prouest of kyng
darius. schir ze suld nocht furneis the lacedemoniens
vitht sa grit quantite of gold and siluer contrar athenes,
for gif athenes be conquest be the lacedemoniens than
the lacedemoniens sal be superiors of al greice: and fra
tyme that thai be pacibil gouuernours of greice and hes
no ciuil veyris, discord, nor discention amang them,
than doutles thai sal intend veir contrar zour maister
darius kyng of perce, as there forbears did in alld
tymis. there for i think it maist conuenient that kyng
darius furneis lacedemonia bot vitht sa mekil money as
may keip them on venquest be the atheniens, and als
it var verray necessair that kyng darius furnest the
atheniens vitht sa mekil money as may resist the lacedemoniens,
and that sal gar al the cuntrey
<f 70r> of greice
hef perdurabil veyr amang them selfis, and than kyng,
darius may eysily conqueis greice vitht litil dommage
to his cuntrey. the prouest of darius adherit to the
counsel of alcibiades, and send nocht sameikil monye
to the lacedemoniens as mytht gar them conqueis
athenes, nor zit he send nocht so litil money that
throcht necessite thai suld leaue or desist fra the veyris.
of that samyn sort he send money to athenes to defend
them contrar the lacedomiens. and sa be the counsel
of alcibiades darius kyng of perce conqueist mair of
greice, vitht ane hundretht tallentis that he distribuit
secretly amang the grecians to menteme there ciuil
veyris ilk ane contrer vderis, nor he conquest be forse,
vitht ten thousand tallentis. As hary the eycht kyng of
ingland did to the empriour & to the kyng of Frence
in the zeir of gode ane thousand fiue hundretht tuenty
foure zeris, he professit hym self to be neutral bot zit
he furnest the empriour vitht sex thousand fut men
and tua hundretht lycht horse on his auen expensis
quhen the kyng of France vas past ouer the alpes to
seige paue ande alse that samyn kyng hary lent to the
kyng of France aucht scoir of thousandis engel noblis
of
<f 70v> the quhilk the empriour vas surly aduertest. for
quhen the kyng of France ande his armye var deffait
be the duc of Burbon, the viceroy of naples, the marquis
of pesquaire, and the marquis of gonnast, thir said
princis gat in the spulze of the France men ,the kyng
of Francis pose, quhilk vas al in engel noblis, ande
alse thai gat the kyng of inglandis preua vriting quhilk
he hed sende to the kyng of France at the seige of paue.
of this sort the kyng of ingland playit vitht baytht the
handis, to gar the empriour and the kyng of France ilk
ane distroye vthirs (O ze my thre sonnis) the discention
& discord that ryngis amang zou hes done mair
distructione til our realme nor quhen the gryt armye &
pouer of ingland inuadit zou. the experiens of this
samyn is manifest quhou that the kyngis of ingland
hes bene mair solist to hef pace & fauoir of scotland
quhen iustice & concord gouuernit the thre estaitis. of
scotland nor tyl hef hed the fauoir & pace of al the
riche realmis that the empriour possessis, and in opposit
quhen the kyngis of ingland persauis, discord discentione,
ciuil veyris, iniusteis & diuisione vitht in
scotland than thai forgie fenzet querrellis contrar our
realme,
<f 71r>in hope that ilk scottis man sal be mortal
enemye til his nychtbour. Quhar for i exort zou zou
my thre sonnis that ze be delegent to remeide zour
abusions of the tymis by past, quhilk sal neuir cum til
effect, bot gyf that ze remoue & expel discentione discord,
and hatrent that ringis amang zou for gyf ze be
enemeis to zour selfis, than quhy suld the kyngis of
ingland be accusit quhen thai intend veyris contrar zou
considerant that thai hef bene euyr zour ald enemeis
i vald spere quhat castel can be lang kepit quhen the
enemies seigis it cruelly vitht out, and vitht in the said
castel ther ringis mortal feyr amang the soudartis
men of veyr quhilkis suld lyf in ane mutual & faythtful
accord in deffens of the said castel contrar externe
violens? this veil considrit suld be occasione to gar
zou expel hatrent diuisione & auaricius lyffing furtht
of zour hartis, & alse it suld prouoke zou to remembir
of the nobil actis of zour foir fathers & predecessours,
quha deffendit this realme be there vailzeantnes, & alse
reducit there liberte quhilk vas ane lang tyme in captiute
be the machination of zour ald enemes as ze may
reid in diuersis passis of zour cronikillis. and sen ze
knau that god hes schauen sic fauoir
<f 71v> to zour foirbearis,
throcht the quhilk thai hef venqueist thair
enemes and brocht the realme be visdome & manhede
in sykkyr pace quhou beit thai var onequal baytht in
nummer & puissance to zour ald enemes, ze suld mak
ane mirrour of there nobil actis. for sen ze knau that
zour ald enemes hes intendit to conqueis & to subdieu
zou to there dominione nocht throcht there manhede
& visdome bot rather throcht the discentione that
ringis amang zou, ze suld schau zou verteous & vailzeant
in zour rytht defence. for quhen ze ar in accord &
lyuis in tranquilite, zour ald enemes sendis ther imbassadours
to desyre pace & fauoir quhilk is mair necessair
to them nor it is honest, considering of there grit
pouer & mytht be see & be land. bot nochtheles the
mair reches that thai posses the mair schame redondis
to them, & the mair gloir is zouris, sen thai hef beene
venquist be zou diuerse tymes quhome thai held maist
vile and febil, and nou sen ze knau the apering dangeir
of zour natif cuntre ze suld prudently consult to
escheu al dangeir and to begyn sic gude ordour ze
suld prouide al vays to remoue discentione sedetione
and auaricius lyffyng, quhilk may induce hatrent inuy
and
<f 72r> rancor amang zou, to that effect that ilk persone
may lyf eysylye on his auen iust conques, and that
none of the realme hef occasione to do extorsions til
vthyris. for sic gude pollycie veil ordorit sal cause
the cuntre to increse in gloir honour and reches and
dreddor to zour enemes. quha ar verray solist and
vigilant to conques zou, ther prouisione of diuerse sortis
is vonder grit, nocht alanerly be gryt multitude of men
of veyr and ane grit nauen of schipis be seey burde,
bot as veil be secret machinatione to blynd zou be
auereis presentand to zou gold siluyr and grit promessis
of heretagis to persuaid zou to commit traison
contrar zour faith honour and comon veil quhilk is
ane rycht passage to bring zou and your posterite til
ane vile & final exterminatione. vald ze maturly consydir
the subtilite of inglismen ze sal fynd them aperand
faithful and humain in thair aduersite, bot quhen
thai ar in prosperite thai ar ingrat tirrans and cruel
abuf al vdir natione. Och quhou dangerus is it, til
ony sort of pepil til hef ane cruel tirran ryngand abuf
them, and to eschaip sic tirrany zour forbears hes
debatit zour cuntre this mony zeiris be grit manhede
and visdome.
<f 72v> quhou beit it vas in dangeir to be in final
euersione. the croniklis vil certifie zou quhou thae zour
nobil predecessours and foir bears var slane and the
comont pepil brocht to vile seruitude ane lang tyme be
the saxons blude, and zit sic calamite and persecutione
indurit bot for ane tyme. for god almythty that
knauis zour iust defens hes euer schauen gryt fauoir
touart zou, therfor ze suld tak curage in zour iust querrel.
ze hef no cause to dispayr for falt of supple, for
zour predecessours hes been in mair dangeir quhen zour
strynthis and castellis hes nocht been sa defensabil, nor
zit the cuntre heffand supple of na forane prince. It is
tideous to rehers the grit calamiteis the sair battellis
and the cruel slauchtyr that vas cruelly exsecutit on
scoctis men, and to conclude, al the cuntre vas in extreme
subiectione fourty zeirs and possest be our ald
enemes. Bot nochtheles god almythty valknit vitht
his grace the hartis of zour predecessours, as he did to
sampson Dauid and iudas macchabeus contrar the
enemes of Israel, quhair for al zour cuntre vas delyuerit
fra captiute to the grit domage of reches and effusione
of blude on zour ald enemes. ze vait
<f 73r> veil that the ciuil
and intestyne veir and the discentione and discord and
rancor that ryngis amang zou is the speciale cause of
the inglismenis inuasions and of zour miserite, for
zour ald enemes quhou beit of ther puissans vald neuer
hef maid sic incursions ande hairschips on the bordours
and limitis of zour cuntre, var nocht zour selfis maid ane
reddy passage to them throcht the occasione of zour
auen discentions that ryngis amang zou. ther for it is
necessair that ze al perpend that sic discentione be
nocht the cause of zour auen distructione and final
ruyne of zour natione. the kyng of ingland knauand
the discention that ryngis amang zou, he vil tret cheris
and promes grit reches til ony of zou that vil adhere
til hym contrar zour comont veil, bot fra tyme that he
get dominione of the cuntre ze sal be his sklauis in extreme
seruitude ,zour vyfis and dochteris, deflorit be
the onbridilit lust of zour ald enemes, and violently led
auay befoir zour facis be the extreme lauis of the veyr.
zour gold and siluyr and vthir gudis public and priuat
sal be distribut and disponit amang them, the frutis
and cornis of zour grond to be vsit at ther dispositione,
and ze sal
<f 73v> be compellit to laubir the naikyt feildis
vitht zour auen handis to there proffet. ze sal nocht
alanerly be iniurit be euil vordis bot als ze sal be
violently strykkyn in zour bodeis, quharfor ze sal lyf in
mair thirlage nor brutal bestis quhilkis ar thirlit of
nature. And ony of zou that consentis tis his fals conques
of zour cuntre ze sal be recompenssit as zour forbears
var at the blac perliament at the bernis of ayre
quhen kyng eduard maid ane conuocatione of al the
nobillis of scotland at the toune of ayre, vndir culour
of faitht and concord, quha comperit at his instance,
nocht heffand suspitione of his tresonabil consait, than
thai beand in his subiectione vndir culour of familiarite,
he gart hang cruelly and dishonestly to the nummer
of sexten scoir of the maist nobillis of the cuntre. Tua
and tua ouer ane balk. the quhilk sextene scoir var
cause that the inglismen conquest sa far vithtin zour
cuntre. Ze may reid the cronklis of al cuntreis and
ze sal fynd that quhen forain princis hes violentlye
but iust titil gottin dominatione on vthis cuntreis than
in the begynnyng thai haue tretit and flatterit the
principal inhabitans quhil on to the tyme that thai var
pacebil dominatours.
<f 74r> and there eftir thai haue vsit
there dissymilit intent on the pepil, and hes distroyit
them, as kyng eduard did at the bernis of ayre befor rehersit.
There is ane exempil conformand to this samen
purpos rehersit be valerius maximus and in titus
liuius quhou that tarquinus superbus the sext kyng of
rome quhilk maid cruel veyre contrar the cite of gabine
til hef hed it subdeuit to the dominione of rome. bot
that nobil cite deffendit there liberte rytht vailzeantly.
his sone sextus tarquinus vas in grit melancolye be
cause his father culd nocht conques that cite be fors
nor be loue not zit be flattery. ther for he departit fra
his father vitht ane fenzet displeseir and past to the
cite of gabine makand ane pitteus complaint on the
crualte of his fader contrar hym, prayand to them of
gabine that thai vald be his deffens contrar his father,
and he sal be subiect to that cite in perpetual. the
cite of gabine throcht there facilnes gef hasty credit
to sextus tarquinus and resauit hym and trettit hym
be grit familiarite. than day be day be his fayr vordis
thai gef hym credens, in sic ane sort that al the pepil
be cam obedient til hym. than he send ane of his
familiaris til
<f 74v>his fader tarquinus superbus declarand
quhou he hed conqueist the fauor of al the pepil, desyrand
his fatheris counsel quhou he suld vse hym to
hald them in subiectione. the messager of sextus past
to tarquine superbe declarand his message quhar he
gat ald tarquine in ane garding, bot ald tarquine gef
nay ansuer to the messanger, bot tuike his staf and
syne past throcht his gardin and quhar that he gat ony
chasbollis that greu hie, he straik the heidis fra them
vitht his staf, and did no thyng to the litil chasbollis.
the messengeir gat nay ansuer be tong fra ald tarquine
bot returnit til gabine til his maister sextus tarquinus
quha askit ane ansuer of his message. the messenger
tald quhou his father send nay ansuer be tong, bot past
vp and doune his gardyng vitht his staf cuttand doune
the hie chasbollis. than sextus tarquinus kneu veil his
fatheris mynd, that his counsel vas to strik of al the
hedis of the principal men of the cite of gabine, and
than the remanent of the pepil durst nocht reuolt contrar
hym. of this sort the nobil cite of gabine vas disauit
be flatterye and facilnes of gyffing credit til ane
tirrane. sextus tarquinus vsit his father counsel for he
<f 75r>distroyit and sleu al the principal lordis of gabine as
kyng eduard did to the lordis of scotland at the bernis
of ayre. The onfaithful cruel act that kyng henry the
aucht vsit contrar yrland and valis quhen he becam
ther superiors suld be mirrour and ane exempil til al
scotland, for he vsit the samen practik contrar irland
and valis as sextus tarquinus exsecut on the cite of
gabine, and as kyng eduard exsecutit on the barrons of
scotland at the bernis of ayre, for quhou beit that the
kyng of ingland nou present be discendet of the blude
of valis, zit nochtheles the pepil of valis ar in sic subiectione
that thai dar neuer ryde bot iiij to giddir, and
als that nane of them sal cum vitht in the mane cuntre
of ingland vitht out ane certificat fra the sceref to
gar it be knauen that thai hef sum speciale byssynes
vitht in ingland. and als ther sal nane that is borne in
valis beyr office in valis, nor zit in ingland. and alsa
the principal men of valis ar subiect to pas to the
veyris in propyr person contrar scotland or contrar
France quhen euer thai ar chargit be the kyng of inglandis
lettris. Bot at the first apoyntement that vas
accordit betuix the kyng of ingland and the lordis of
<f 75v>valis he promest them grit liberte quhil he hed resauit
the castellis and strynthis of valis, and hed put
inglis captans in them. bot incontinent ther efter he
gart strik the heidis fra al the lordis of valis, and fra
the principal barronis. and syklik to spek of irland,
quhen the kyng of ingland vas accordit vitht the lordis
of irland and that he hed resauit ane certan of castellis
and sum of the principal tounis, than ane lang tyme
eftir he tretit the lordis of irland vitht fayr vordis and
gef them riche gyftis, quhil he be his subtilite gart
tuelf of them cum to london, quha cam at his command
be cause thai dreid na cruelte. than incontynent
he gart strik the hedis fra the said tuelf lordis of irland.
and sen sine al the irland men ar sklauis til hym excepand
ane certan that kepis them sel on the strait
montanis of irland, quhilkis vil nocht obeye to his
tyrranye for thai hed rather remane in cald and hunger
in the vyild forestis ande hillis at there liberte, nor for
to be in his captiuite to be hangit and hedit as he hes
dune causles til mony vthyr innocent men. The extortione
that the kyngis of ingland hes dune to zour predecessours
is manifest to zou al. the chroniklis
<f76r>makis
manifest quhou that kyng eduard eftir that he hed
ouer run al zour cuntre and hed brocht al the pepil til
extreme captiuite, quhar for compulsione and necessite
causit them til obeye and to mak homage til ingland.
than the craulte of this said kyng eduard nocht satesfet
nor saceat, he brocht fra ingland ane hundretht thousand
men, and als he brotht ane freir vitht hym callit
conraldus the quhilk freir hed commissione to mak
ane chronikil of the actis that kyng eduard and his
hundretht tousand men suld do in scotland. this
said grit armye of ingland beand befor bannochtburne,
kyng eduard maid ane perlement vitht in his camp
vitht ane certan of statutis & ordinance quhilk vas put
in vryit be the said freir This vas the tenor of the
said ordinance. in the fyrst he ordand thre vaupynschauyngis
to be maid al on ane day in scotland be
scottis men in thre of the farrest placis of scotland, as
in til the marse, in gallouaye, and in the northt of
scotlande and at thay vappynschauyngis, al the
vaupynis and armour of scotland to be delyuerit to the
inglismen to be kepit in castellis quhil on to the tyme
that the kyng of ingland intend to mak veir aganis
vthyr
<f 76v>cuntres. the nixt statut he ordand that na scottis
man suld veyr na vaupyn bot ane knif of fife inche of
lyntht vithtout ane point. in the thrid statut he
ordand that na scottis man suld duel in ane house that
vas loftit bot rather in ane litil cot house. in the ferd
he ordand that na scottis man suld veir ony clais bot
hardyn cotis, in the fyft artikle he ordand that the
scottis men of scotland suld be partit in thre partis,
the first part suld remane in scotland to laubeir the
cornis on the grond. the sycond part suld be send in
ingland to be seruandis to laubyr thair grond, and the
thrid part of them of the best lyik men, suld be banest
fra scotland and to hef ane lecens to pas in ony straynge
cuntre to seik ther gude auenture. This cruel ordinance
vas maid in the kyng of ingland campt befor bannothtburne,
he beleifit at that tyme that al vas his
auen. than god almythty quhilk beheld his pryde and
arrogance and his onmerciful intent, he valknyt vitht
his spreit the hartis of the nobil men of scotland the
quhilkis in ane feu numer cam vitht ane hardy curage
contrar kyng eduard and sleu thretty thousand of his
men, and chaissit hym self thre scoir of mylis vitht in
ingland
<f 77r>And in ther returnyng hamuart thai vaistit
and byrnt northt humyrland and mony vthir plaicis of
ingland. this battel vas fochtyn at bannothburne as
the inglis croniklis rehersis mair large. then quhan the
tentis pailzons & spoulze of the inglis armye vas tane
& gaddrit vp be scottis men, thai gat the forsaid inglis
freir conraldus vithtin kyng eduardis tent, & als thai
gat thyr forsaid artiklis & ordinance quhilk the inglismen
purposit to execut on the scottis men, bot inglismen
tuik nocht god to be their cheiftane, bot rather
vsit there auen arrogant mynde therfor their gryt
pouer hed na grace to fulfil ther entreprice. this exempil
is vondir probabil that inglismen vil vse this
samyn crualte on zou al, gif sa beis that ze cum subiect
to them. ze knau that thir tuelf hundretht zeirs thai leit
zou neuyr hef pace xvi zeir to giddir, bot zit ther
tyrranye redondit aye to their auen dishonestye and
domage. and quhou beit at sum tyme zour cuntre gat
grit skaytht be them, sic thing suld nocht gar zou tyne
zour curagis for the chancis of veir ar nocht certan to
na party, al thir vordis befor said ar rehersit to that
effect that zour facilnes be nocht sedusit be ther astuce
and subtil persuasions. Titus
<f 77v>liuius rehersis ane exempil
in his nynt beuk conformand to this samyn
purpos, quhilk vas eftir the fundatione of rome 420
zeris at that tyme their vas in rome tua consulis, ane
callit titus viterius and the tothyr callis spurnius posthunius,
quha var committit to be cheiffis and captans
of the armye of the romans to pas contrar the samnetis,
quhilkis hed maid mortal veyr thertty zeir to giddir
contrar rome. the captan of the samnetis vas callit
pontius, quhilk vas the sone of ane vailzeant man callit
hereneus, quha vas exempit fra the veyris and fra the
gouernyng of the public veil, be raison of his grit aige.
The grit armye of the samnites campit them secretly
besyde ane place callit furce caudide, the quhilk place
hed ane narrou entres & narrou isching and vitht in it,
their vas mony cragis and vyild treis. that place stude
betuix tua strait montanis inhabitabil and onmontabil.
In the myddis of it their vas ane large grene plane
feild. than quhen the samnetis var their logit and
campit, thai var aduertist be ther exploratours and
spyis quhou that the romans var campit neir them in
ane place callit calacia. than pontius the captan of the
samnetis causit ten of his
<f 78r>knychtis to cleitht them
lyik hyrdis, and he gef them cattel nolt ande scheip
to keip, giffand them command to pas vitht tha cattel
on the feildis be syde the romans, and ilk ane in ane
syndry part be hym self, sayand to them, gif ony of
the romans cumis and inquiris at ony of zou, quhair our
armye is campit, ze sal ansuer that ve ar past to
apuilya to gif ane assalt to the cite of lucere, quhilk
partenis to the romans than thir neu maid hyrdis past
vitht bestial, quhar thai var recontrit be the forreours
and exploratours of the romanis, quha led them al ten
befor the tua consulis that var captans to the romans.
quhen thir ten hyrdis var exemnit seueralie ilk ane be
hym self quhar the samnete armye vas campit. thai
ansuerit as ther captan pontius hed giffin them command,
to the quhilk vordis the romans gef credit, be
rason that thai al beand ane be ane examinit condiscendit
in ane ansuer. than the romans heffand sic ane
feruent loue to the cite of lucere, quhilk vas of their anciant
alya, thai raisit ther camp to pas to reskeu lucere
fra the samnetes. ther vas tua passagis to pas betuix
the romans camp and lucere, the first passage vas plane
and plesand be the see syde,
<f 78v>bot it vas ouer lang about,
the nixt passage vas ful of roche cragis and verray
strait and narou, bot zit that passage vas verray schort.
than the romans for haist that tha hed to saif that cite
of lutere, thai tuke that narrou strait passage, and
quhen thai var entrit in it the samnetes be grit subtilite
hed gart cut doun grit treis & brac doune roche
cragis quhilkis thai pat in grit numer at the entres and
at the ischyng furtht of that strait passage, and als thai
set mony of ther men of veir amang the cragis to empesche
the romans that thai culd nothir returne nor
zit to pas forduart. quhen the romans var disauit of this
sort, thai var lykly to dispayr for the displesier and
melancole that affligit them, bot the samnetes var
ondir glaid fra tyme that thai hed the romans in that
pundfald quhar thai culd nothir fecht nor fle, deffend
nor resist, bot on verray neid thai behuffit to remane
vencust vitht out straik or battel. the samnetes beand
in this grit blythtnes be cause of ther happy chance,
thai determit to send ane message til ald herenius quha
vas the father of ther captan pontius til hef his
opinione and consel quhou thai suld vse them contrar
the romanis, that thai hed closit vithtin
<f 79r>them. this ald
herenius send his ansuer and consel, and bald the
samnetes gyf the romans ther fre liberte to pas hame
saue vitht out hurt of ther honour bodys or guidis.
the armye of the samnetes nocht beand satesfit nor
contentit of this ansuer of herenius. thai send the messenger
agane til hym til hef ane bettir consel. than ald
herenius send ane vthir ansuer and bald them slaye al
the romans and nocht to lat ane of them return vitht
ther lyif, quhen the samnetes herd the tua discordabil
consellis of herenius, thai culd nocht meruel aneucht
of his onconstant ansuer quhar for pontius his sone
suspekit that his father dottit in folie throcht his grit
aige, zit noththeles he vald nocht conclude na exsecutione
contrar the romans quhil he hed spokyn vitht his
father, therfor vitht the consent of the samneties he
send for his father to cum to their camp. quha cam at
his command, in ane charriot be cause he mytht nothir
ryde nor gang be cause he vas decrepit for aige. he
beand aryuit his sone pontius sperit quhou he suld vse
hym contrar the romans that var inclosit betuix the tua
strait montans. the ald herynyus changit nocht his tua
fyrst consellis that he hed send to them bot zit he declarit
<f 79v>to them the cause of thyr tua defferent consellis
sayand. my sone pontius and ze my frendis of samnete,
the first consel that i send to zou the quhilk i think
for the best, that is to say i consellit zou to thole al
the romans and ther guidis depart saifly in liberte but
ony hurt or displeseir, than throtht that grit benefice
that ze hef schauen to them, of ther free vil & vitht ane
guide mynde, thai vil allaya them vitht zou quhilk sal
cause ferme and perpetual pace to be betuix rome and
samnete, the tothir consel that i send to zou i ordand
zou to slay doune al the romans and nocht to saif ane
of them, for than it sal be ane lang tyme or the romans
can purches sa grit ane armye contrar zou. & sa ze maye
lyif in pace and surete ane lang tyme considerand that
the grit pouer and the maist nobilis of rome ar in this
present armye inclosit to giddir. ane of thir tua consellis
is necessar to be vsit, and the thrid consel can
nocht be gifin to zou for zour veilfair. than pontius and
the princis of samnete nocht beand contentit of thir tua
consellis, inquyrit at ald herenyus sayand. ve think it
bettir to tak ane myd vaye betuix vs and them to saif
their lyiffis and to resaif them as vencust pepil and
ther eftir ve
<f 80r>sal mak strait lauis and ordinance quhilk
ve sal compel them til obeye. ald herynyus ansuert.
that sentens says he purchessis na frendis nor it
makis na reconsiliatione of enemes, therfor ze suld
animaduert varly to quhat pepil that ze purpos to vse
sic iniurius rigor, for se knau the nature of the roman
pepil is of sic ane sort, that gif thai resaif oultrage and
beis vencust be rigor be zou, thai can neuer hef rest in
ther spreit quhil that thai heif reuengit zour crualte,
for thai ar of ane vendicatife nature, and the displeseir
that thai sal resaif be zou sal euer remane in their hartis
quhil thai hef reuengit the iniurius defame that ze haue
perpetrat contrar them. thyr tua sentensis of herynyus
var repulsit and nocht admittit, therfor he departit and
returnit in his chariot to samnite to end the residu of
his days. the romans heand inclosit betuix thir tua
montans thai purposit mony maneyrs to ische furtht
fra that strait place & to pas to fecht in fair battel
contrar the samnetes, bot al ther laubyr vas in vane,
for thai var sa strait closit that thai culd nothir pas
bakuart nor forduart than thai send ther legatis to desire
concord and pace at the samneties or els to desire
battel on the plane feildis. pontius
<f 80v> ansuert to the
legatis of the romans, quod he the battel is fochtyn
al reddy, & quhou beit that ze ar al vencust zit none
of zou vil confesse zour euil fortoune ther for ve gif
zou for ane final ansuer that al zour armye sal be spulzit
of zour armour and of zour clais except ilk ane sa
hef ane singil coit on zou, & ther eftir ve sal put zour
cragis in ane zoik to be ane perpetual takyn that ze ar
vencust be vs, and alsa ze sal delyuer til us the villagis
castellis and vthir placis the quhilkis zour predecessours
conquest fra vs in ald tymis, and alsa ze sal lyif
and obeye til our lauis. and gif this ansuer vil nocht
content the romans, i gif zou expres charge that ze returne
nocht heir agane. the legatis of the romans returnit
to the camp of the romans vitht the ansuer of
pontius the quhilk ansuer did mair displeseir to the
romans nor that pontius ansuer hed been to sla them al
cruelle, for in ald tymes ther culd nocht be ane gritar
defame nor quhen ane mannis crag vas put in the zoik
be his enemye, for that defame and punitione vas haldin
mair abhominabil and vile nor the punitione that trespassours
indurit in the galeis for demeritis. bot zit ther
vas no remeid to saif the romans, therfor extreme
<f 81r>necessite vas resauit for vertu. than throcht the counsel
of ane nobil romane callit lucius lentulus thai condiscendit
to cheis the leyst of tua euillis and til indure
that vile punitione rather nor til hef been cruelly slane.
than the cruel samnetes ordand the instrument of the
zoik of this sort as i sal rehers ther vas tua speyris set
fast in the eyrd, and ane vthir speyr set & bundyn
athort betuix the tua speyris that stude vp fra the eyrd
lyik ane gallus, than the desolat and vencust romans
var constrenzet to pas vndir that zoik ane and ane, bot
the tua consellaris quhilkis var captans to the romans
thai var compellit to pas fyrst vndir that zoik vitht out
their harnes or vaupynnis, than the remanent of the
romans follouit ilk ane eftir his auen degre. on euerye
syde of this zoik ther vas ane legione of the armye of
samnetes vitht ther sourdis drauen in ther handis
quhar thai manneist and scornit the sillie romans that
var in that gryt vile perplexite. O ze my thre sonnis,
this defame and vile punitione of the samnites perpetrat
contrar the romans, vas verray cruel, bot doubtles, thai
that ar participant of the cruel inuasione of inglis men
contrar their natyue cuntreye, ther craggis
<f 81v>sal be put
in ane mair strait zoik nor the samnetes did to the
romans, as kyng eduard did til scottis men at the blac
parlament at the bernis of ayr quhen he gart put the
craggis of sexten scoir in faldomis of cordis tua and
tua ouer ane balk of the maist principal of them that
adherit til hym in his oniust querrel quhen he vrangusle
brotht mekil of scotland in his subiectione. this protector
of ingland purposit til vse this samyn crualte in
the zeir of god ane thousand fyfe hundretht fourty
seuyn zeris in the monetht of marche quhen the vardan
of the vest marchis of ingland cam to hald ane vardan
court on the vest marchis of scotland vitht in the
schirefdome of galloua as scotland hed been in pacebil
subiectione to the crone of ingland, bot as god vald
the maister of maxuel the lard of drumlanrik and
diuerse vthir nobil barronis and gentil men cam vitht
ane hie curage contrar the inglismen, quhome thai venquest
vailzeantlye, and sleu ane grit part of them and
tuke ane vthir part of them presoners, and chaissit the
thrid part of them ten myle vithtin ingland, and ther
eftir the barronis & gentil men of oure vest cuntre gat
the inglismens spulze vitht in the quhilk
<f 82r>spulze thai
gat tua barrellis ful of cordis and euerie cord bot ane
faldome of lyncht vitht ane loupe on the end al reddy
maid quhilk thai ordant til hef hangit sa mony scottis
men as thai purposit til hef venquest at that iournay.
Than to quhat effect suld ony scottis men gif credens
or til adhere til inglesmen. our croniklis rehersis of
diuerse scottis men of al staittis that hes past in ingland
sum hes past for pouerte and sum hes past in
hope to lyue at mair eyse and liberte nor thai did in
scotland and sum hes been denunsit rebellis be the
authorite quhilk vas occasione that thai past in ingland
for refuge quhom the kyngis of ingland hes resauit
fameliarly and hes trettit them and hes gifin
them gold and siluir the quhilk he did nothir for piete
nor humanite bot rather that thai suld help to distroye
there auen natif cuntre, bot zit he vald neuer gif them
heretage nor credit, for the experiens of the samyn is
manifest presentlye. for quhou beit that there be abufe
thre thousand scottis men and there vyfis and childir
that hes duellit in ingland thir fyftye zeir by past, and
hes conquest be there industre batht heretage and
guidis, zit nocht ane of them dar grant that thai ar
<f 82v>scottis men, bot rather thai man deny and refuse there
cuntre, there surname, and kyn & frendis, for the
scottis men that duellis in the southt part of ingland
thai suere and mentemis that thai var borne in the
northt part or in the vest part of ingland, and scottis
men that duellis in the vest or in the northt of ingland,
thai man suere and menteme that thai var borne in
kynt schire zoirke schire in london or in sum vthir
part of the southt partis of ingland: than to quhat effect
suld ony scottis men adhere til inglis men to gar them
selfis be cum sklauis and to remane in perpetual seruitude,
ther for ve may verray veil beleif that quhou
beit that the kyng of ingland garris tret scottis men
vitht gold and siluer as thai var his frendis zit doutles
he vald be rytht glaid sa that euerye scottis man hed
ane vthyr scottis man in his bellye. and als fra tyme
that god sendis tranquilite amang princis, thai that ar
maist familiar vitht the protector sal be haldin maist
odius in ingland and euerye inglis knaif sal cal them
dispytfully renegat scottis and gif ony of them passis
to the protector to regret and lament the abstractione
of his familiarite that he scheu to them in the begynnyng
of the veyris,
<f 83r>he vil ansuer to them as agustus
cesar ansuerit til ane captan of thrace callit rhymirales
qua betrasit his maister anthonius & past to remane
vitht agustus cesar quha vas mortal enemye til anthonius,
than be the supple of rhymirales, agustus
cesar vequest antonius. than quhen the veyris var endit
betuix cesar and antonius rhymirales vas nocht sa veil
trettit as he vas indurand the tyme of the veyris quhar
for he past til cesar sayand. O nobil empriour i hef left
my cuntre and my maister anthonius for zour pleseir and
i hef been the cause that ze hef venquest my maister
anthonius & nou ze schau me nocht sa grit loue and
familiarte as ze scheu me in the tyme of the veyris
quharfor ze haif schauen zou rycht ingrat contrar me.
Cesar ansuerit to rhymirales i vil hef na familiarte
vitht zou for i loue bot the trason that cumis to my
effect and louis nocht the tratours that committis the
trason. this forsaid exempil maye be veil applyit til al
scottis men that beleuis to get mair liberte and honor
in ingland nor thai did in scotland for this exempil
hes been prectykit thir fyfe hundretht zers bygane til
al scottis men that hes adherit til inglis men contrar
ther natyfe cuntre as the croniklis
<f 83v>makis manifest
for quhou be it that the kyng of ingland louis the
traison that scottis men committis contrar ther prince
zit he louis nocht the tratours that committis the
traison. |
