THE OPPRESSION OF SCOTLAND BY THE ENGLISH (1296).

Quhen Schyr Edward, the mychty King, Had on this wyss done his likyng Off Jhone the Balleoll, that swa sone Was all defawtyt and wndone, To Scotland went he than in hy,[77] And all the land gan occupy Sa hale that bath castell and toune War in-till his possessioune, Fra Weik[78] anent[79] Orkenay To Mullyr snwk[80] in Gallaway, And stuffyt all with Ingliss men. Schyrreffys and bailyheys maid he then, And alkyn[81] othir officeris That for to gowern land afferis[82] He maid off Inglis nation; That worthyt[83] than sa rych fellone,[84] And sa wykkyt and cowatouss, And swa hawtane and dispitouss,[85] That Scottis men mycht do na thing That euir mycht pleyss to thar liking. Thar wyffis wald thai oft forly,[86] And thar dochtrys dispitusly: And gyff ony of thaim thair-at war wrath, Thai watyt[87] hym wele with gret scaith;[88] For thai suld fynd sone enchesone[89] To put hym to destructione. And gyff that ony man thaim by Had ony thing that wes worthy, As horss or hund or othir thing That war plesand to thar liking, With rycht or wrang it have wald thai. And gyf ony wald thaim withsay,[90] Thai suld swa do, that thai suld tyne[91] Othir land or lyff, or leyff in pyne.[92] For thai dempt[93] thaim eftir thair will, Takand na kep[94] to rycht na skill.[95] A! quhat[96] thai dempt them felonly. For gud knychtis that war worthy, For litill enchesoune or than nane Thai hangyt be the nekbane. Als that folk that euir wes fre And in fredome wount for to be, Throw thar gret myschance and foly War tretyt than sa wykkytly That thair fays[97] thair jugis[98] war. Quhat wrechitnes may man have mar?