Now agayne to the King ga we, 50 That on the morn, with his barne, Sat in-till his parlement; And eftyr the lord the Bruys he sent, Rycht till his in, with knychtis kene. Quhen he oft tyme had callit bene, And his men eftir him askit thai, 55 Thai said that he, sen yhytirday, Duelt in his chambyr ythanly, With a clerk with him anerly. Than knokyt thai at his chamur thar; And quhen thai hard nane mak ansuar 60 Thai brak the dur; bot thai fand nocht, The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht. Thai tauld the King than hale the cas, And how that he eschapyt was. He wes off his eschap sary; 65 And swour in ire, full stalwartly, That he suld drawyn and hangit be. He manausyt as him thocht: bot he Thoucht that suld pas ane othir way. Here Robert Bruce sends Letters for an Assembly. [Sidenote: FEB. 1306] _Douglas hears Bruce’s Letter_] And quhen he, as ye hard me say, 70 In-till the kyrk Schyr Jhone haid slayn, Till Louchmabane he went agayne; And gert men, with his lettres, ryd To freyndis apon ilke sid, That come to hym with thar mengyhe; 75 And his men als assemblit he: And thocht that he wald mak him king. Our all the land the word gan spryng, That the Bruce the Cumyn had slayn; And, amang othir, lettres ar gayn 80 To the byschop off Androws towne, That tauld how slayn wes that baroun, The lettir tauld hym all the deid: And he till his men can it reid; And sythyn said thaim; “Sekyrly 85 “I hop that Thomas prophecy “Off Hersildoune sall veryfyd be “In him; for, swa our Lord help me! “I haiff gret hop he sall be king, “And haiff this land all in leding.” 90 [74: _Ilke_ is from H: S adopts the form _ilka_. E gives _ilk_, a syllable short.] [84: E has _gert_ for _can it_ read by S from H.] [86: _That_ is from H.] [87: S following H reads _verray_ for _veryfyd_.] The Douglas meeting with King Robert. [Sidenote: MARCH 1306] _Meeting of Bruce and Douglas_]