THE BATTLE OF LARGS (1263).
Reading edition
Source.—Androw of Wyntoun's Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, book vii., ll. 3267-3306.
A thowsand twa hundyr sexty and thre Yheris efftyr the Natyvyté, Haco, Kyng than off Norway, Come wyth hys ost and gret array In Scotland on the West Se. In Cwnyngame[21] at the Largis he Arryẅyd wyth a gret multitud Off schyppys wyth topcastellys gud. And thare be a tempest fell Off gret weddrys scharpe and snell Off fors thai behoẅyd to tak Land, and thame for battayle make: And offt syne[22], as thai mycht wyn Thare schyppys, thai wald enter in, And ordanyd thame wyth dilygens In thare schyppys to mak defens. The Kyng Alysandyre off Scotland Come on thame than wyth stalwart hand, And thame assaylyd rycht stowtly: Thai thame defendyd rycht manlyly. A Scottis sqwyare off gud fame, Perys off Curry cald be name. Amang the rapys[23] wes all to rent Off tha schyppys in a moment. And mony wes slayne that ilk tyde Off Scottis and Norways on ilke syde. Thare thai fechtand war sa fast, The Kyng off Norway at the last And hys men fer revyd[24] sare, That evyre thai arryẅyd thare: For off hys schyppys in the sé Ware mony drownyd; and thare menyhe Ware sa sted in gret peryle. The Kyng hymself into that qwhylle Wytht hys naẅyn[25], that sawffyd was, Wychtly wan[26] owt off the pres, And tuk the se hamwart the way, Thare trad[27] haldand till Orknay. Thare than tuk land Haco thar Kyng, And in gret seknes mad endyng.