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44
The fourth muse
And Aberbrotok; who these works did frame,
For merite, and for honour of their name:
Such zeale had they, though blinde; ah now a-dayes
Much knowledge is profest, but zeale decayes.
Thus was the citie strongly fortified,[1]
Till Robert the first Stuart first assayed
With foure great armies, yet by force repell'd
And after three months sage with grief compell'd
To sound retreat, Douglas meane while in Tay
Most happ'ly did arrive: then they assay
To reinforce the charge, and with munition
For batterie new prepard, and demolition,
Most furiously assault, a month and more,
Yet nothing could availe their endevoure,
Untill the Earle of Rosse with new supplie
Did fortifie the leaguer, and drew by
The water, which the wall did compasse round,
By secret conduits, and made dry the ground.
Then after sharp assault, and much bloud spended,
Bravely pursued, and no lesse well defended,
Finding themselves too weak who were within
More to resist, to parlie they begin,[2]
And treat of peace; both parties jump in one,
With bag and baggage that they should be gone,
And so it was: The citie they surrender
No English since hath been thereof commander.
Read George Buchanane Boëce, Master Mair
These histories they word for word declare.
After this seige the wals some part thrown down
But were not wholly razde, to keep the town
For merite, and for honour of their name:
Such zeale had they, though blinde; ah now a-dayes
Much knowledge is profest, but zeale decayes.
Thus was the citie strongly fortified,[1]
Till Robert the first Stuart first assayed
With foure great armies, yet by force repell'd
And after three months sage with grief compell'd
To sound retreat, Douglas meane while in Tay
Most happ'ly did arrive: then they assay
To reinforce the charge, and with munition
For batterie new prepard, and demolition,
Most furiously assault, a month and more,
Yet nothing could availe their endevoure,
Untill the Earle of Rosse with new supplie
Did fortifie the leaguer, and drew by
The water, which the wall did compasse round,
By secret conduits, and made dry the ground.
Then after sharp assault, and much bloud spended,
Bravely pursued, and no lesse well defended,
Finding themselves too weak who were within
More to resist, to parlie they begin,[2]
And treat of peace; both parties jump in one,
With bag and baggage that they should be gone,
And so it was: The citie they surrender
No English since hath been thereof commander.
Read George Buchanane Boëce, Master Mair
These histories they word for word declare.
After this seige the wals some part thrown down
But were not wholly razde, to keep the town
In