On this maner assentyt war 135 The barownis, as I said yhow ar: And throuch thar aller hale assent, Messingeris till hym thai sent, That was than in the haly land, On Saracenys warryand. 140 And fra he wyst quhat charge thai had, He buskyt hym, but mar abad, And left purpos that he had tane; And till Ingland agayne is gayne. And syne till Scotland word send he, 145 That thai suld mak ane assemble; And he in hy suld cum to do In all thing, as thai wrayt him to. But he thoucht weile, throuch thar debate, That he suld slely fynd the gate 150 How that he all the senyhowry, Throw his gret mycht, suld occupy. And to Robert the Bruys said he; “Gyff thow will hald in cheyff off me “For evirmar, and thine ofspryng, 155 “I sall do swa thou sall be king.” ‘Schyr,’ said he, ‘sa God me save, ‘The kynryk yharn I nocht to have, ‘Bot gyff it fall off rycht to me: ‘And gyff God will that it sa be, 160 ‘I sall als frely in all thing ‘Hald it, as it afferis to king; ‘Or as myn eldris forouch me ‘Held it in freyast rewate.’ The tothir wreythyt him, and swar 165 That he suld have it nevir mar: And turnyt him in wreth away. Bot Schyr Jhon the Balleoll, perfay, Assentyt till him, in all his will; Quhar-throuch fell eftir mekill ill. 170 He was king bot a litill quhile; And throuch gret sutelte and ghyle, For litill enchesone, or nane, He was arestyt syne and tane, And degradyt syne wes he 175 Off honour and off dignite. Quhethir it wes throuch wrang or rycht, God wat it, that is maist off mycht. [Sidenote: 1292-1296] _Edward takes Possession of Scotland_]