Prepared to raise fair Stirling's siege,

With buckler, brand, and spear. The term was nigh-they muster'd fast, By beacon and by bugle-blast

Forth marshall'd for the field;

There rode each knight of noble name,
There England's hardy archers came,
The land they trode seem'd all on flame,
With banner, blade, and shield!
And not famed England's powers alone,
Renown'd in arms, the summons own;
For Neustria's knights obey'd,
Gascogne hath lent her horsemen good,1
And Cambria, but of late subdued,
Sent forth her mountain-multitude,2

1

siege. Therefore," the summons further bears, "to remove our said enemies and rebels from such places as above mentioned, it is necessary for us to have a strong force of infantry fit for arms." And accordingly the Sheriff of York is commanded to equip and send forth a body of four thousand infantry, to be assembled at Werk, upon the tenth day of June first, under pain of the royal displeasure, &c.

[The MS. has not this line.]

2 Edward the First, with the usual policy of a conqueror, employed the Welsh, whom he had subdued, to assist him in his Scottish wars, for which their habits, as mountaineers, particularly fitted them. But this policy was not without its risks. Previous to the battle of Falkirk, the Welsh quarrelled with the English men-at-arms, and after bloodshed on both parts, separated themselves from his army, and the feud between them, at so dangerous and critical a juncture, was reconciled with difficulty. Edward II. followed his father's example in this particular, and with no better success. VOL. V.

15

And Connoght pour'd from waste and wood

Her hundred tribes, whose sceptre rude
Dark Eth O'Connor sway'd.1

V.

Right to devoted Caledon

The storm of war rolls slowly on,2
With menace deep and dread;
So the dark clouds, with gathering power,
Suspend awhile the threaten'd shower,
Till every peak and summit lower
Round the pale pilgrim's head.
Not with such pilgrim's startled eye
King Robert mark'd the tempest nigh!
Resolved the brunt to bide,

His royal summons warn'd the land,
That all who own'd their King's command
Should instant take the spear and brand,3
To combat at his side.

O who may tell the sons of fame,

They could not be brought to exert themselves in the cause of their conquerors. But they had an indifferent reward for their forbearance. Without arms, and clad only in scanty dresses of linen cloth, they appeared naked in the eyes even of the Scottish peasantry; and after the rout of Bannockburn, were massacred by them in great numbers, as they retired in confusion towards their own country. They were under command of Sir Maurice de Berkeley.

1 [See Appendix. Note U.]

2 [MS."The gathering storm of war rolls on."]

3 [MS." Should instant belt them with the brand."]

That at King Robert's bidding came,
To battle for the right !

From Cheviot to the shores of Ross,
From Solway-Sands to Marshal's-Moss,1
All boun'd them for the fight.
Such news the royal courier tells,
Who came to rouse dark Arran's dells;
But farther tidings must the ear
Of Isabel in secret hear.

These in her cloister walk, next morn,
Thus shared she with the Maid of Lorn.

66

VI.

My Edith, can I tell how dear Our intercourse of hearts sincere

Hath been to Isabel?

Judge then the sorrow of my heart,
When I must say the words, We part!
The cheerless convent-cell

Was not, sweet maiden, made for thee;
Go thou where thy vocation free
On happier fortunes fell.
Nor, Edith, judge thyself betray'd,

Though Robert knows that Lorn's high Maid
And his poor silent page were one.

Versed in the fickle heart of man,2

1 [MS." From Solway's sands to wild Cape Wrath, From Ilay's Rinns to Colbrand's Path."]

2 [MS." And his mute page were one.

For, versant in the heart of man."]

Earnest and anxious hath he look'd
How Ronald's heart the message brook'd
That gave him, with her last farewell,
The charge of Sister Isabel,
To think upon that better right,
And keep the faith his promise plight.
Forgive him for thy sister's sake,
At first if vain repinings wake-1
Long since that mood is gone:
Now dwells he on thy juster claims,
And oft his breach of faith he blames-
Forgive him for thine own!"-

VII.

"No! never to Lord Ronald's bower

Will I again as paramour'

Nay, hush thee, too impatient maid,
Until my final tale be said!-

The good King Robert would engage
Edith once more his elfin page,
By her own heart, and her own eye,
Her lover's penitence to try-2
Safe in his royal charge, and free,
Should such thy final purpose be,
Again unknown to seek the cell,
And live and die with Isabel."

Thus spoke the maid-King Robert's eye
Might have some glance of policy;

1 [MS. "I
"If brief and vain repinings wake."]
2 [MS." Her lover's alter'd mood to try."]

Dunstaffnage had the monarch ta'en,
And Lorn had own'd King Robert's reign;1
Her brother had to England fled,

And there in banishment was dead;
Ample, through exile, death, and flight,
O'er tower and land was Edith's right;
This ample right o'er tower and land
Were safe in Ronald's faithful hand.

VIII.

Embarrass'd eye and blushing cheek
Pleasure and shame, and fear bespeak!
Yet much the reasoning Edith made:
"Her sister's faith she must upbraid,
Who gave such secret, dark and dear,
In council to another's ear.

Why should she leave the peaceful cell?—
How should she part with Isabel ?—
How wear that strange attire agen?-
How risk herself 'midst martial men?—
And how be guarded on the way?—
At least she might entreat delay."
Kind Isabel, with secret smile,
Saw and forgave the maiden's wile,
Reluctant to be thought to move
At the first call of truant love.2

1[MS." Her aged sire had own'd his reign."]

2 [The MS. here presents, erased

"But all was overruled-a band

From Arran's mountains left the land;