minstrel's narrative, where he describes the contention which took place before the battle of Falkirk, when Sir William Wallace refused to yield up his accustomed post of honour, at the time that Stewart of Bute insisted on leading the vanguard of the army. Stewart upon this upbraids Wallace for pride, and addressing our valourous and immortal champion, says, "by thee I tell a tale."
"'Say furth,' quoth he, 'off the farrest yhe can.'
Wnhappyly his taill thus he began:—
'Wallace,' he said, 'thow takis the mekill cur;
So feryt it, be wyrkyng off Natur,
How a Howlat complend of his fetherame,
Quhill Deym Natur tuk off ilk byrd, but blame,
A fayr fethyr, and to the Howlat gaiff;
Than he through pryd reboytyt all the layff.
Quhar off suld thow thi senyhe schaw so he?
Thow thinkis nan her at suld thi falow be.
This makis it, thow art cled with our men,
Had we our awin, thin war bot few to ken.'
At thir wordis gud Wallace brynt as fyr:
Our haistely he ansuerd him in ire,
'Thow leid,' he said, the suth full oft has ben,
Thar, and I baid, quhar thow durst nocht be seyn
Contrar enemys, na mar, for Scotlandis rycht
Than dar the Howlat quhen that the day is brycht.'"
Wallace,—by Henry the Minstrel.—Buke X. 130, &c.
