THE EXECUTION OF SIR SIMON FRASER.
On the 27th of March, 1306, Robert Bruce was crowned king at Scone. Immediately thereupon, King Edward the First sent the Earl of Pembroke, Aymer de Valence, to Scotland, to suppress what he called the rebellion in that kingdom. Pembroke attacked Bruce in his cantonments at Methven (or Kirkenclif) near Perth, and dispersed his small army, taking several prisoners of great consequence. Among them was Sir Simon Fraser, or Frisel, whose cruel fate is narrated in the following ballad.
This piece has been printed in Ritson's Ancient Songs (i. 28), and in Wright's Political Songs, p. 212, and is extracted from the same MS. as the preceding ballad.
Lystneth, lordynges, a newe song ichulle bigynne,
Of the traytours of Scotlond, that take beth wyth gynne;
Mon that loveth falsnesse, and nule never blynne,
Sore may him drede the lyf that he is ynne,
Ich understonde:5
Selde wes he glad
That never nes a-sad
Of nythe ant of onde.
That y sugge by this Scottes that bueth nou to-drawe,
The hevedes o Londone-brugge, whosé con y-knawe;10
He wenden han buen kynges, ant seiden so in sawe;
Betere hem were han y-be barouns, ant libbe in Godes lawe
Wyth love.
Whosé hateth soth ant ryht,
Lutel he douteth Godes myht,15
The heye kyng above.
To warny alle the gentilmen that bueth in Scotlonde,
The Waleis wes to-drawe, seththe he wes an-honge,
Al quic biheveded, ys bowels ybrend,
The heved to Londone-brugge wes send,20
To abyde.
After Simond Frysel,
That wes traytour ant fykell,
Ant y-cud ful wyde.
Sire Edward oure kyng, that ful ys of pieté,25
The Waleis quarters sende to is oune contré,
On four-half to honge, huere myrour to be,
Theropon to thenche, that monie myhten se,
Ant drede.
Why nolden he be war30
Of the bataile of Donbar,
Hou evele hem con spede?