MS. Cotton Galba E. ix (about 1425), f. 52 a.
_Now for to tell ȝou will I turn
Of batayl of Banocburn_
Skottes out of Berwik and of Abirdene
At þe Bannokburn war ȝe to kene;
Þare slogh ȝe many sakles, als it was sene,
And now has King Edward wroken it, I wene.
It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth þe while! 5
War ȝit with þe Skottes for þai er ful of gile!
Whare er ȝe Skottes of Saint Iohnes toune?
Þe boste of ȝowre baner es betin all doune.
When ȝe bosting will bede, Sir Edward es boune
For to kindel ȝow care, and crak ȝowre crowne. 10
He has crakked ȝowre croune, wele worth þe while
Schame bityde þe Skottes, for þai er full of gile!
Skottes of Striflin war steren and stout,
Of God ne of gude men had þai no dout.
Now haue þai, þe pelers, priked obout, 15
Bot at þe last Sir Edward rifild þaire rout.
He has rifild þaire rout, wele wurth þe while!
Bot euer er þai vnder bot gaudes and gile.
Rughfute riueling, now kindels þi care;
Berebag with þi boste, þi biging es bare; 20
Fals wretche and forsworn, whider wiltou fare?
Busk þe vnto Brig, and abide þare.
Þare, wretche, saltou won, and wery þe while;
Þi dwelling in Dondé es done for þi gile.
Þe Skottes gase in Burghes and betes þe stretes; 25
Al þise Inglis men harmes he hetes;
Fast makes he his mone to men þat he metes,
Bot fone frendes he findes þat his bale betes.
Fune betes his bale, wele wurth þe while!
He vses al threting with gaudes and gile. 30
Bot many man thretes and spekes ful ill
Þat sum tyme war better to be stane—still.
Þe Skot in his wordes has wind for to spill,
For at þe last Edward sall haue al his will.
He had his will at Berwik, wele wurth þe while! 35
Skottes broght him þe kayes,—bot get for þaire gile.