The Argument.
By Fortune Valor and aduentrous chance
The Douglas doth releiue thrie Scottish Dames
In Arrans Ile and doth from thence aduance
Whill hee is brunt with loues Insulting flames
Yet showes he that on Mars not Cupide launce
Glorie prouids to hing triumphand Palmes
He finds his Lord to Scotland whoe returns
And Turnberrie he sacks distroys and burns.
Now may you think that I haue lost the sight
Of Douglas and forgot his warlick deids
Whoe still persues his chaise till Sable nighte
To saiue her frend & end his game furth speids
Then from his weill spurd hors he doth alight
To rest till heauns smyld on Apollos steids
But long he rests not when he hears a noyse
Confus'dlie Iarring with a weiping voyce.
He taks his hors and their in haist doth ride
Wheir as him thoght he hard the wofull sound
By Pheboes sight at last he hes espi'de
On horse some fiftie knights whoe led fast bound
Fiue knights thrie Ladeis all behind them tyed
Vpon their horse the knights from many a wound
Dyit the grein grase in reid that seemd to call
For dread reuenge shewing the way with all.
Hee follous still but lo they ride so fast
That they by this had gottin to the shore
And in a Tall schip soone from thence thay past
He seis Sextein in arms their him before
That them persew'd with those he gois at last
Vnto a Bairge oft wissing to restore
To libertie those poore distressed wights
The wofull Ladeis and the woundit knights,
Now these were led he met vpon the shore
By one Sir Robert Boyd a val'aunt knight
They from the Armie stray'd not long before
When on thrie Gentlemen thay hap't to light
Whoe them besoght to aid them to restore
Thrie Ladeis tane by crewell English might
And comeing neir to Arren they conclude
With Douglas onlye forto spend their blood.
Wheirfore he causd them presentlie to land
In haist to get betuixt them and their hold
Which straight was doune o happie they that fand
So braue a Guide Wise hardie fearles Bold
In whoes myld look in whoes all conqu'ring hand
They Victorie alreddie might behold
Now were they to the Castell neir hand by
Wheir all in secreit they did cloislie ly
By then the Englishe to the shore had brought
Their Prisoners but all their wealth and store
Within their Schip they left which all for noght
From merchands schips they had bereft of yore
And now straight to the Castell when thay soght
The Douglas gius the signe and steps before
His warlickrout and with his sword and sheild
He cuts a bloodie way out throgh the feild.
Thus in a raige furth throgh his foes he dreue
Whoes virtuos valor thrists for gloreis croune
With eurie blow a soull bids earth adew
Their new array he breaks their ranks beat doune
So many sheilds he cleif't and knights our threw
That too much Ualor hindred much renoune
For lo a wall of bodeis deid he layid
Wheirof the rest in neid a Rampere made.
Transported thus with heat with wraeth and Ire
Now heir now their he wofull Slaughter's wroght
Astonisht then some did with feare retire
Yet some for shame stikx to't amazde in thoght
Vthers that scornd such wounders to admire
Vou's dread reuenge and on him still they soght
Yet those that foolls were thoght did wiselie flie
And those that wiselie stays like fools they die.
Whill he not weried thus with killing fights
Their Captane stout that Hastings heght to name
Furth from the Castell cums with twentie knights
Whoes freshe supplies with furie most extreame
Beats doun their foes and stays eu'ne in their sights
Fair Victorie with glorie prais and fame
That cround was cum and smyld on them before
But now and threats the.
Wich when the noble Douglas had espy'd
Viewing their fierce and val'aunt captane bold
He leaues his task and furthwith thither hyit
Whoes cheirfull sight his manglid band did hold
From present flight whill he so weill applyit
His matchles strength that his kene blaid groune cold.
In their warme blood his heat so oft renew'd
That now they first did flie whoe first persew'd.
Thus rairlie chang'd the fortune of the broyll
Hastings with threats manace them still that flie
And now in equall ballance stood the toyll
Ah heauins yow feble Soldiors said hee
Shall yow almost a hundreth haue the foyll
Of but few more, then half a scoir yow sie
Ah shame you euer hence the name to beare
Of English so victorious in weare.
This said hee gaizd and staring round about
At last he flees with fierce and angrie look
Furth throw the throng against the douglas stout
A stiffsteill pointed dairt he stronglie schook
And as an bow an arrow swift schoots out
Singing throghe air such sounding aire it took
Whill as the hardie fearles knight opposd.
His sheild against all daungers on disclosd.
This straunge and mightie throw peirst douglas scheild
And in his armour stayed which queiklie done
The warlick douglas doeth the wapin weild
And gaue his foe no leasure for to schune
Gainst whoes strong arme his arms could be no beild
Quyte through his right syde past it too too soone
For at his heart he aymd yit forcd him fal
Which doeth abate the curage of them all.
Loue sorrow feare threu furth confution fast
Yet quicklie they resolue and in their fray
Taks vp their wounded Lord and thence they past
Yea soorlie this had bein their laitest day
But nights dark schaids betwene them slipt at last
And forst them both a syd their arms to lay
For if heauns cheirful lamp had biddin in
The val'annt douglase force the towre had winn.
Now they the wofull Prisoners vntye'd
Whoe fell with humble reverence on the ground
Praising almightie Joue whoe did provide
The douglas that their way to saftie found
When he the ladeis Beauties weill espy'd
He wondred what wyld sauage wold haue bound
Their mingd bodies with their daintie hands
Fitter for arms imbrace then iron bands.
For their neat bodies-daintie sweit and rare
Was exquiseit and excellent he thoght
That eune almost his martiall mynd, all care
Of Arms forgot and loues delight he soght
The youngests beutie did his thoghtes Insnare
Her face, Eies, hair, her all, by nature wroght,
Was in the rarest and the finest Mold
That heart could wishe, hand touch or eie behold,
But now becaus the Night was waxing dark
He did from thence vnto the shore reteir
Wheir they at anker fand the English bark
Which they of all resistants soone did cleir
And lancing from the shore they did remark
What store of wins they had what daintie cheir
And as ther former task greate Praise obtaind
So by the last a woundrous wealth they gaind.
With dainteis cloi'd at last they go to rest
And setts their weatch but lo no rest at all
The Douglas finds loue did him so molest
Now he's becom inchanting beauteis thrall
Loth was he that his loue should be possest
By one to whom he was a debter small
And by her changeing passiouns sore it seimde
That she of late sum knight had much asteimd.
But that you may the treuth more cleirlie kno
Thrie sisters borne were these fair ladeis thrie
Their noble syir of children had no mo
Great was his wealth his house and linnage hie
His reueneus he whollie did bestow
On those thrie ladeis yet did thus forsie
To giue the yongest whom he most afected
The better half whoes worth he most respected.
All thrie to their old Syir suche reuerence boore
And eche to vther had suche mutuall loue
As still his pleasure was their pleasure sure
His will they did with willing minds approue
A braue yung knight the yungest wold procure
In mareage and still his soote did moue
Whom she did nather loue nor hait outright
Sir Andrew Murray heght this valiant knight
Those ladeis chanc'd one day abroad to go
To Neptuns sandie shore for their delight
With whom this knight went foorth and tuentie mo
No Armour but a sword had eurie knight
It chanc'd eune then hard by a crag belo
Those English came a shore whoes suddant sight
Putts those poore ladeis in so greate a fray
That they obtaind a ritch yet esie pray.
Murray long time the ladeis did defend
With cheirfull words encuraging the rest
But lo their was no saiftie for in end
Fiftein their dyit the remander, possest
As presoners they hold and then extend
Their wreth which in that land their walth increst
At last they fled with shame and withrebook
These folloud thame whom Douglas overtook.
And onlie by this warlick Erlls brave hand
Warre they repaid of all their former wrong
Amongst the rest of Prisoners he fand
This Murray who had looud this ladie long
All this the valiaunt erll did vnderstand
Informd by conferrence the rest among
And thoght indeid he loued that gallant knight
Yet in the ladie was his cheif delight.
Now on the seas they stray a certane space
Till on a night the count that silent lay
Vpone his bed did heare one cry allace
Will thus my ladie all my hope betray
is my long loue rewardit with disgrace
Ah greif allace what will the world now say
On wings of hope I mount aboue my might
And now am forst with Phaeton to light.
Ah who so seids on wemens double wordes
Runs with a straingeling Toue to meit dispare
Who kyndnes to their wantoun looks affoords
Heaps on them self a hell of endles care
Who to her smills applies Loues sweit concords
With scorne and shame they shall their thoghts insnare
Yea whoe vpone a Womans voues shal dreame
Can neu'r be red of woe, greif, cair and shame
But I must loue her I must loue her still
And loueing her eune loving I must die
Or shall I leiue my freindly foe to kill
That thus deprius my hops, O no not I,
I will my verie soule in tears distill,
In sighs consume my heart, with groans Iyll ty,
On willing death vnto my torterd mynd,
And with all pains, end to one paine shall find,
Thogh this disdaind disgrat'd and quyte forlorne
Yet her poore soule eu'ne her I can not blame
But fortune proud that to this knight hath sworns
Ou'r all the Earth she will extoll his name
And nature that did weip when he was borne
For all her wealth hangs at his virteus beame
Yea she in him her self excells so fare
Compaerd with him all vthers she douth marre.
Ah thrise vnhappie I that eu'r did yeeld
As Prisoner vnto the english foe
Thrise happie I, if slaine into the feild
Then had she piteid if not lou'd I kno
But o this knight did with his sword and scheild
Frie me from bands and yet he fred me so
As giving life and sauing this my Breath,
He sends to me a farr more cruell death
Heir sorow cuts his sad discours at last
With manie greuous groans, with sighs and tear's
Whereat this warlick Lord was much agast
When as this wofull song had perst his Ears
His ladeis loue all other caer's surpast
Her diuine shape graft in his mind he bear's
And yet he thinks he wrongs that worthie knight
Whoes faithful loue long since made knowne his right.
Wheirfore in time hee wold command these fitts
And loues fond flammig passiouns wold remoue
But o commanding in his heart she sitts
Ruelling the motionis of his soule aboue
It wold him kill or neir destraught of witts
If he the meanest thoght of lose shuold proue
Yet streght he thinks with reasone man's Indeut
That by him self his lusts might be subduet
Thus tossing thousand, Passions in his mynd
At last he vouis him self for to command
Now Phebus had his golden locks vntwind
And them in Thetis cristall glas vpband
When cuttinge Neptouns back a fare they find
Thrie warlike ships come toward them from land
Wheirfore in Arms each one them self addrest
And at their Lords deuotion then they rest.
Now all of them did in his presence stand
And furth he cau'sd the ladeis to be broght
And thus said hee fair Dames yow vnderstand
What I and these most valiant men haue wroght
By Ioue his onlie, aide we took in hand
Your honors saftie your releif we soght
Tho Heauins did fauor this our interprise
Yow know it was more desperat then wise.
And thogh all knights indeid should Armour beare
For ladeis and in their defence to feght
Yet I more shameles then the rest I feare
Of you fair Eue for so the yungest heght
Wold craue reward which you may weill forbeare
Yea I wold haue your oth in all their sight
That what I charge you with you will obey
Nor what I seik may you offend I pray.
The modest Baishfull dame in silent mood
Her mild swit looks she bent vpon the ground
Throgh sone bright beautie shind her crimsone blood
Which suddain Tempest past she quiklie found
This answer (whill the Gallant trembling stood
Expecting that which his poore Soule shold wound)
Curst be the child his Dame ganesayis in Oght,
Whoe his deir life with her lifes hasard boght.
Glade was she for to grant what eu'r he wold
Whoe wold to him haue geu'ne her self and all
Wheirfore againe she made this answer bold,
Braue knight your will I promesse and I shall
(Myne honor saiff) performe so shall you hold
My fate cume life or death or what you call
To which my grant I heir the heauns attest,
Let me be plagd if I refuse the rest.
A shiuring cold throgh all his Vains, forth-went
Stopping the Organe of his speache a space
To what he wold he should nocht giue consent
And what he should he wold noght that imbrace
Proud Cupid from her firie looks foorth-sent
Loue burning dairts that more and more incres
His thoghts at last he thinks his oune he'll make her
Her heart fleis throgh her eies and prays him take her.
And whill he goes within hes arms to catche her
Casting his Eie aside he their espyis
Her faithfull knight who all this time did watche her
Loue, Furie, Wrathe, Disdain, a combat tries
In his sad looks and Rage bids still dispatch her
But blak Dispair did thus to him deuis
More honor is't thy self to Saccrefies
And tell disloyall her thou loyall dyes.
So shalt thou end thy els eu'r endles paine
And die with honor to her endles shame
No take his life quod Jelosie againe
Quod reasone why he does not bear her blame
Quod Curage shall hee vn-reprou'd obtaine
Then thou no man much les a knight by name
Quod Reasone if he die she hate thee shall
Then quod Despair kill Him, her thee and all.
But reasone says and Pitie taks her parte
O will thou kill thy Natiouns lamp of light
No rather go to him with all thy hearte
And giue him all thy intrest all thy right
So shall thou winn great praise and heighe desart
Quod Beautie first depriue thine Eies of sight
No then quod Loue thy heart first must thou tear
Foorth from thy breist for her Jdea's their.
Which is the starr that reulls thy life thow knois
Whill he thus reuld with Iaring passions stands
Sad pitie mou'd this braue yung erle mak chois
Beautie to flie and brak loues mightie bands
And thus he said if heau'ne will that wee lose
And that those pirats get ws in their hands
No torment shall sufficientlie assuage
Their cruell will their furie and their rage
So gladlie wold they wish reuenge to tak
Of fourtie which we last of theirs did kill
Wounding their Lord tho we but few did laik
But so Eternall Maiestie did will
Now theirfoir first I wish you to forsake
Our companie let hap ws good or Ill
And tak those knights which heir on you attend
Those shall with you home to your counttie wend.
And in the light swift sailling Bairge yow may
Be out of reache or these oure foes cum neir
But this is it I will you to obey
Which of your heauins sworne oath sall mak you cleir
That presentlie you tak without delay
Braue murray for your Knight and husband deir
Tho I my self yow to my self could wish
If to my taste were tyed no other dish.
Let him your chest and spotles hart receaue
Him self and his trew loue deserus no les
And so your sisters hee and you shall leaue
Ws to oure fate whill his greate worthines
With these your knights shall you from daunger saue
God grant in wealth ease honor you incres
Wheir with good Murray efter thanks reply'd
Not so braue sit I will with you abyd.
Till this sharp threatning storme be our bloune
Or els I surlie were to much to blame
Yea and the like goodwill the test hath shoune
But none wold he accept nor none wold name
Except braue Boyd in fates of arms weill knowne
And with him ten bold fearles full of fame
But eue thus gone proud loue must neids obey
She deis for greif braue Murray murnes for ay.
Our gallant Earll the sight abids by sea
And verye long in fearfull hazard stands
At last he winns and Sinks one of the thrie
And mightelie the vther two demands
To yeild, till both in end ar forc'd to flie
By the approache furth from the western lands
Of one new fleit eu'ne quikle riggid forth
By Bruce that famous Prince and full of worth
Whoe glad was Douglas thus againe to find
Whose lose with wondrous care he oft lamented
All what the Prophet had to him divind
He told him there whoe therof much contented
Praisis almightie Ioue with thankfull mynd
Now that their foes might quicklie be preuented
The King his armie their wold set on shore
Wheir persie reul't and hee was Lord before.
Two tyms heauns glorious golden Post had past
Mesuring the boundles bounds of all the skie
When Auster to the shore their fleit had chast
With cheirfull shoutes eche one a land did flie
With thundring sounds of Trumpets interlaist
They rear aloft the royall standart hy
Wheir as the princelie Lion in his Iaus
Wold so's intombe assunder torne with Paus.
Their Tents they Pitch doun in a pleasant plaine
Whill their glade rumor throgh the land aroise
Freshe troups from eche pairt to them fleis amaine
All wishd to shak ye yok of their proud foes
Braue Eduard hear's his brother's come againe
To him he with a gallant troup forth goes
This dantles Prince so fearce was and so bold
He thretning Fortun by the hair did hold.
Now oure great King a Nece had neir hand by
A Ladie full of wisdome wealth and worth
Who marchis to the Camp Maiestiklie
To view her Royall Cusing cam she forth
And with her broght a gallant companie
In Arms, dreid Mars the Lord was of their birth
Into his Warrs those knights she did conuoy
Hee thanks her, her he intertains with Ioy,
She vnto him those sad misfortouns told
That by mischance had chanc'd since he departed
How his fair Queene to his proud foe was sold
His brother Neill and Mares greate Earll had smarted
Kindrimme also woon, and how that hold
By filthie treasone brint was, she imparted
And how his greatest foe King Eduart dyit
Whoes sone young Eduard now his place supplyit
Throgh all the Camp these rumors sadlie goes
Of these misfortouns that eche one abased
For all doth ade these new mislucks to thoes
That had so much before their fames defaced
Their Prince that seis their curage now they lose
And for trew worth hade frantik fear embraced
Causd bring them all before his royall throne
And wiselie thus encorag'd eurie one.
Braue gallant freinds with mee that haue remaind
Against so many fearfull dangers past,
So many painfull trauells that sustaind
Nor from your necks my yock for want wold cast
Of hunger thrist and lose you neu'r complaind
Nor nothing could your noble mynds agast
Thogh fortune thus hath smyld vpon our foes
Shall we of feare and not of fame make chois?
No no the Lord forbid we should refuse
This warr so iust wheirto we all ar borne
Tho conquest with our foes soe long doth vse
And our poore wofull cuntrie seimes forlorne
It is not destenie but Sinns abuse
Not man but God that hath oure cuntrie torne
That wee may euill and sin and pride reiect
And with repentance murne for our defecte.
Yea if wee do with sad repentaunce murne
No doubt but his sweit merceis he'el extend
His loue and fauor bak he will returne
So hard beginings haue an happie end
Our foes hee will consume distroy and burne
To cruell them hee this rewerd shal send
That when wee haue triumphd on their decay
Them selfs shall be vnto them selfs a pray.
Thus endit his Prophetik speach devine
Which breathing life in their dead hope they leiue
His countenance with lightning seimd to shine
From his bright looks did courage them reuiue
And humbled all befoir Joues sacred shrine
With fasts and Prayr these starrie walls they cleiue
Before the Lord them selfs they humblie lay
With brokin hearts and weiping soules they pray
The King and all his Princes of estate
Of Godlines and faith ensampills be
With fasting publike prayr and sins regrait
The one eternall euerlasting thrie
They do beseich to Pardon them ingrait
And vieu with mercie this their miserie
Thus they inuoek and from the Lord aboue
On them discends grace, mercie conquest, loue.
Now whill they broght their solemm fast to end
And holie vous vnto the lord had made
To turnberry their haistie course they bend
It wold they first besige and first invade
Which toun the warlick Perse did defend
Within the castell strong him self abade
By warlick bruce inuirond so about
That noght but feare getts in and curage out.
So suddantlie so vnawars They came
That they no time had left vnto them so
Their towne to victuall or their strenghts to frame
Them to defend or to offend their foe
No rolling forc no Ingine nor no ram
Oure Gallants soght the walls to overthro
By force hee enters at the first essay
And to his armie giu's it as a prey
But still the Persie did the castell hold
Built on a rock impregnalbe it stands
Thrice feirslie he assaults and thrise the bold
Northumbrean, beats bak his valiant bands
At last the warlik Persie yeild it wold
For want of victalls in the Prince his hands
Not mou'd forsd feard by Gold by strength nor terror
want breeds his faultlesse fault his guilteles error.
This worthie Prince his armie heir wold rest
Wereit with trauell both by sea and land
His foes disigns to vieu he thinks it best
Which charge he putts unto the Douglas hand
For this attempt him self he soone addrest
With him twise twelf hid dangers to withstand
And furth they went the Contreie for to vew.
What they by valor wroght doth nixt enseu.