After salle ȝe here þe ende of þis folie,
Turne we tille our matere, & on our gest to hie.
þe date a þousand was, þre hundred mo bi þre,
þe kyng did grete trespas, diffamed þe pape's se.
IN þe next somerestide Sir Edward had haste, [Devastatio Scottorum.]
No lenger wild he bide, Scotland for to waste.
Conseil he had of on, a brigge he suld do wrihte,
Botes & barges ilkon, with flekes mak þam tighte,
þe Scottis se to passe, if þat he had nede.
þer passage neuer ore wasse, he rode ouer on his stede.
þe Scottis sauh him com, fleand fast þei ȝede,
Mores & mountayns nom, bifore þei dryue for drede.
¶ þe kyng did parte his oste, to sprede in parties sere, [Dividebat turmam suam circi|ter Scociam.]
West alle bi þat coste ȝede þe erle of Hulnestere.
[Luy Rey vers lorient enprent son aler, Hamelez & villes, graunges & gerner, Et playnes e voydes, par tote fet arder, & c. MSS. Gall.] þe kynge's oste at gesse in þe Est mad lardere,
Of tounes & hamelesse, of granges & garner,
More & mede did rynce, wod & playn he brent.
þe same way þe prince destroied þer he went,
So fer Northward he ferde, þe Scottis to cliace,
Of Inglis no man herde, þat euer kyng had þat grace,
So fer baner to bere, & suilk oste forto lede,
No wasted with no werre, þe cuntres gan þam drede,
Saue kyng Athelstan, þat wastid alle Catenesse.
Siþen was no man, þat so fer mad stressc,
