1-4. It is well known that the ancient English weapon was the long-bow, and that this nation excelled all others in archery, while the Scottish warriors chiefly depended on the use of the spear. This characteristic difference never escapes our ancient bard.—Percy.17. boys.18. briggt.22. done.26. to, i. e. tow.32. ran.33. helde.36. Scottih.45. a narrowe. So again in v.83, and a nowar in v.96. This transference of final n to the succeeding word is of common occurrence in old poetry.87. sar.88. of.99. a word has dropped out.102. abou.115. lo[=u]le.125. Lwdale, i. e. Liddel.132. gay.149. cheyff.163. Glendale is one of the seven wards of Northumberland. In this district the village of Homildown is situated, about a mile from Wooler. On the 14th of September, 1402, a battle was fought at this place between the Percys and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, in which the Scots were totally routed, and Douglas taken prisoner.170. Nonnyn.
1-4. It is well known that the ancient English weapon was the long-bow, and that this nation excelled all others in archery, while the Scottish warriors chiefly depended on the use of the spear. This characteristic difference never escapes our ancient bard.—Percy.
17. boys.
18. briggt.
22. done.
26. to, i. e. tow.
32. ran.
33. helde.
36. Scottih.
45. a narrowe. So again in v.83, and a nowar in v.96. This transference of final n to the succeeding word is of common occurrence in old poetry.
87. sar.
88. of.
99. a word has dropped out.
102. abou.
115. lo[=u]le.
125. Lwdale, i. e. Liddel.
132. gay.
149. cheyff.
163. Glendale is one of the seven wards of Northumberland. In this district the village of Homildown is situated, about a mile from Wooler. On the 14th of September, 1402, a battle was fought at this place between the Percys and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, in which the Scots were totally routed, and Douglas taken prisoner.
170. Nonnyn.
The text of this later ballad ofChevy-Chaceis given as it appears inOld Ballads(1723), vol. i. p. 111, and in Durfey'sPills to Purge Melancholy, vol. iv. p. 289, and differs very slightly from that of theReliques(i. 265), where the ballad was printed from the folio MS., compared with two other black-letter copies.
The age of this version of the story is not known, but it is certainly not later, says Dr. Rimbault, than the reign of Charles the Second. Addison's papers in theSpectator(Nos. 70 and 74) evince so true a perception of the merits of this ballad, shorn as it is of the most striking beauties of the grand original, that we cannot but deeply regret his never having seen the ancient and genuine copy, which was published by Hearne only a few days after Addison died. Well might the Spectator dissent from the judgment of Sidney, ifthiswere the rude and ill-apparelled song of a barbarous age.
God prosper long our noble king,Our lives and safeties all;A woful hunting once there didIn Chevy-Chace befall.To drive the deer with hound and horn,5Erle Piercy took his way;The child may rue that is unborn,The hunting of that day.The stout Earl of NorthumberlandA vow to God did make,10His pleasure in the Scottish woodsThree summer's days to take;The chiefest harts in Chevy-ChaceTo kill and bear away:The tidings to Earl Douglas came,15In Scotland where he lay.Who sent Earl Piercy present word,He would prevent his sport;The English earl not fearing this,Did to the woods resort,20With fifteen hundred bow-men boldAll chosen men of might,Who knew full well in time of needTo aim their shafts aright.The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran,25To chase the fallow deer;On Monday they began to hunt,When day-light did appear.And long before high noon they hadAn hundred fat bucks slain;30Then having din'd, the drovers wentTo rouze them up again.The bow-men muster'd on the hills,Well able to endure;Their backsides all, with special care,35That day were guarded sure.The hounds ran swiftly thro' the woods,The nimble deer to take,And with their cries the hills and dalesAn eccho shrill did make.40Lord Piercy to the quarry went,To view the tender deere;Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promisedThis day to meet me heer."If that I thought he would not come,45No longer would I stay."With that, a brave young gentlemanThus to the Earl did say:"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,His men in armour bright;50Full twenty hundred Scottish spears,All marching in our sight."All men of pleasant Tividale,Fast by the river Tweed:""Then cease your sport," Erle Piercy said,55"And take your bows with speed."And now with me, my countrymen,Your courage forth advance;For there was never champion yetIn Scotland or in France,60"That ever did on horseback come,But,ifmy hap it were,I durst encounter man for man,With him to break a spear."Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed,65Most like a baron bold,Rode foremost of the company,Whose armour shone like gold."Show me," he said, "whose men you be,That hunt so boldly here,70That, without my consent, do chaseAnd kill my fallow-deer."The man that first did answer makeWas noble Piercy he;Who said, "We list not to declare,75Nor show whose men we be."Yet we will spend our dearest blood,Thy chiefest hart to slay;"Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,And thus in rage did say;80"Ere thus I will out-braved be,One of us two shall dye:I know thee well, an earl thou art;Lord Piercy, so am I."But trust me, Piercy, pity it were,85And great offence, to killAny of these our harmless men,For they have done no ill."Let thou and I the battel try,And set our men aside:90"Accurs'd be he," Lord Piercy said,"By whom this is deny'd."Then stept a gallant squire forth,(Witherington was his name)Who said, "I would not have it told95To Henry our king for shame,"That ere my captaine fought on foot,And I stood looking on:You be two earls," said Witherington,"And I a squire alone.100"I'll do the best that do I may,While I have power to stand;While I have power to wield my sword,I'll fight with heart and hand."Our English archers bent their bows,105Their hearts were good and true;At the first flight of arrows sent,Full three score Scots they slew.To drive the deer with hound and horn,Earl Douglas had the bent;110A captain mov'd with mickle prideThe spears to shivers sent.They clos'd full fast on every side,No slacknes there was found;And many a gallant gentleman115Lay gasping on the ground.O Christ! it was a grief to see,And likewise for to hear,The cries of men lying in their gore,And scatter'd here and there.120At last these two stout earls did meet,Like captains of great might;Likelionsmov'd they laid on load,And made a cruel fight.They fought until they both did sweat,125With swords of temper'd steel;Until the blood, like drops of rain,They trickling down did feel."Yield thee, Lord Piercy," Douglas said;"In faith I will thee bring,130Where thou shalt high advanced beBy James, our Scottish king."Thy ransom I will freely give,And thus report of thee,Thou art the most couragious knight135That ever I did see."No, Douglas," quoth Earl Piercy then,"Thy proffer I do scorn;I will not yield to any ScotThat ever yet was born."140With that, there came an arrow keenOut of an English bow,Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart,A deep and deadly blow:Who never spoke more words than these,145"Fight on, my merry men all;For why, my life is at an end,Lord Piercy sees my fall."Then leaving life, Earl Piercy tookThe dead man by the hand;150And said, "Earl Douglas, for thy lifeWould I had lost my land!"O Christ! my very heart doth bleedWith sorrow for thy sake;For sure, a more renowned knight155Mischance did never take."A knight amongst the Scots there was,Which saw Earl Douglas dye,Who straight in wrath did vow revengeUpon the Earl Piercy.160Sir Hugh Montgomery was he call'd,Who, with a spear most bright,Well-mounted on a gallant steed,Ran fiercely thro' the fight;And pass'd the English archers all,165Without all dread or fear,And through Earl Piercy's body thenHe thrust his hateful spear.With such a veh'ment force and mightHe did his body gore,170The spear ran through the other sideA large cloth-yard, and more.So thus did both these nobles dye,Whose courage none could stain;An English archer then perceiv'd175The noble earl was slain.He had a bow bent in his hand,Made of a trusty tree;An arrow of a cloth-yard longUp to the head drew he.180Against Sir Hugh MontgomerySo right his shaft he set,The grey goose-wing that was thereonIn his heart's blood was wet.This fight did last from break of day185Till setting of the sun;For when they rung theevening-bell,The battel scarce was done.With the Earl Piercy, there was slainSir John of Ogerton,190Sir Robert Ratcliff, and Sir John,Sir James, that bold baron.And with Sir George and good Sir James,Both knights of good account,Good Sir Ralph Rabby there was slain,195Whose prowess did surmount.For Witherington needs must I wail,As one in doleful dumps;For when his legs were smitten off,He fought upon his stumps.200And with Earl Douglas, there was slainSir Hugh Montgomery,Sir Charles Currel, that from the fieldOne foot would never fly.Sir Charles Murrel, of Ratcliff, too,205His sister's son was he;Sir David Lamb, so well esteem'd,Yet saved could not bee.And the Lord Maxwell in like wiseDid with Earl Douglas dye;210Of twenty hundred Scottish spearsScarce fifty-five did fly.Of fifteen hundred Englishmen,Went home but fifty-three;The rest were slain in Chevy-Chace,215Under the green-wood tree.Next day did many widows come,Their husbands to bewail;They wash'd their wounds in brinish tears,Butallwould not prevail.220Their bodies, bath'd in purple blood,They bore with them away:They kiss'd them dead a thousand times,When they were clad in clay.This news was brought to Edinburgh,225Where Scotland's king did reign,That brave Earl Douglas suddenlyWas with an arrow slain."O heavy news," King James did say;"Scotland can witness be,230I have not any captain moreOf such account as he."Like tidings to King Henry came,Within as short a space,That Piercy of Northumberland235Was slaine in Chevy-Chace."Now God be with him," said our king,"Sith 't will no better be;I trust I have within my realmFive hundred as good as he.240"Yet shall not Scot nor Scotland say,But I will vengeance take,And be revenged on them all,For brave Earl Piercy's sake."This vow full well the king perform'd,245After, on Humbledown;In one day, fifty knights were slain,With lords of great renown.And of the rest, of small account,Did many thousands dye:250Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chace,Made by the Earl Piercy.God save the king, and bless the landIn plenty, joy, and peace;And grant henceforth, that foul debate255'Twixt noblemen may cease!
God prosper long our noble king,Our lives and safeties all;A woful hunting once there didIn Chevy-Chace befall.
To drive the deer with hound and horn,5Erle Piercy took his way;The child may rue that is unborn,The hunting of that day.
The stout Earl of NorthumberlandA vow to God did make,10His pleasure in the Scottish woodsThree summer's days to take;
The chiefest harts in Chevy-ChaceTo kill and bear away:The tidings to Earl Douglas came,15In Scotland where he lay.
Who sent Earl Piercy present word,He would prevent his sport;The English earl not fearing this,Did to the woods resort,20
With fifteen hundred bow-men boldAll chosen men of might,Who knew full well in time of needTo aim their shafts aright.
The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran,25To chase the fallow deer;On Monday they began to hunt,When day-light did appear.
And long before high noon they hadAn hundred fat bucks slain;30Then having din'd, the drovers wentTo rouze them up again.
The bow-men muster'd on the hills,Well able to endure;Their backsides all, with special care,35That day were guarded sure.
The hounds ran swiftly thro' the woods,The nimble deer to take,And with their cries the hills and dalesAn eccho shrill did make.40
Lord Piercy to the quarry went,To view the tender deere;Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promisedThis day to meet me heer.
"If that I thought he would not come,45No longer would I stay."With that, a brave young gentlemanThus to the Earl did say:
"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,His men in armour bright;50Full twenty hundred Scottish spears,All marching in our sight.
"All men of pleasant Tividale,Fast by the river Tweed:""Then cease your sport," Erle Piercy said,55"And take your bows with speed.
"And now with me, my countrymen,Your courage forth advance;For there was never champion yetIn Scotland or in France,60
"That ever did on horseback come,But,ifmy hap it were,I durst encounter man for man,With him to break a spear."
Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed,65Most like a baron bold,Rode foremost of the company,Whose armour shone like gold.
"Show me," he said, "whose men you be,That hunt so boldly here,70That, without my consent, do chaseAnd kill my fallow-deer."
The man that first did answer makeWas noble Piercy he;Who said, "We list not to declare,75Nor show whose men we be.
"Yet we will spend our dearest blood,Thy chiefest hart to slay;"Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,And thus in rage did say;80
"Ere thus I will out-braved be,One of us two shall dye:I know thee well, an earl thou art;Lord Piercy, so am I.
"But trust me, Piercy, pity it were,85And great offence, to killAny of these our harmless men,For they have done no ill.
"Let thou and I the battel try,And set our men aside:90"Accurs'd be he," Lord Piercy said,"By whom this is deny'd."
Then stept a gallant squire forth,(Witherington was his name)Who said, "I would not have it told95To Henry our king for shame,
"That ere my captaine fought on foot,And I stood looking on:You be two earls," said Witherington,"And I a squire alone.100
"I'll do the best that do I may,While I have power to stand;While I have power to wield my sword,I'll fight with heart and hand."
Our English archers bent their bows,105Their hearts were good and true;At the first flight of arrows sent,Full three score Scots they slew.
To drive the deer with hound and horn,Earl Douglas had the bent;110A captain mov'd with mickle prideThe spears to shivers sent.
They clos'd full fast on every side,No slacknes there was found;And many a gallant gentleman115Lay gasping on the ground.
O Christ! it was a grief to see,And likewise for to hear,The cries of men lying in their gore,And scatter'd here and there.120
At last these two stout earls did meet,Like captains of great might;Likelionsmov'd they laid on load,And made a cruel fight.
They fought until they both did sweat,125With swords of temper'd steel;Until the blood, like drops of rain,They trickling down did feel.
"Yield thee, Lord Piercy," Douglas said;"In faith I will thee bring,130Where thou shalt high advanced beBy James, our Scottish king.
"Thy ransom I will freely give,And thus report of thee,Thou art the most couragious knight135That ever I did see.
"No, Douglas," quoth Earl Piercy then,"Thy proffer I do scorn;I will not yield to any ScotThat ever yet was born."140
With that, there came an arrow keenOut of an English bow,Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart,A deep and deadly blow:
Who never spoke more words than these,145"Fight on, my merry men all;For why, my life is at an end,Lord Piercy sees my fall."
Then leaving life, Earl Piercy tookThe dead man by the hand;150And said, "Earl Douglas, for thy lifeWould I had lost my land!
"O Christ! my very heart doth bleedWith sorrow for thy sake;For sure, a more renowned knight155Mischance did never take."
A knight amongst the Scots there was,Which saw Earl Douglas dye,Who straight in wrath did vow revengeUpon the Earl Piercy.160
Sir Hugh Montgomery was he call'd,Who, with a spear most bright,Well-mounted on a gallant steed,Ran fiercely thro' the fight;
And pass'd the English archers all,165Without all dread or fear,And through Earl Piercy's body thenHe thrust his hateful spear.
With such a veh'ment force and mightHe did his body gore,170The spear ran through the other sideA large cloth-yard, and more.
So thus did both these nobles dye,Whose courage none could stain;An English archer then perceiv'd175The noble earl was slain.
He had a bow bent in his hand,Made of a trusty tree;An arrow of a cloth-yard longUp to the head drew he.180
Against Sir Hugh MontgomerySo right his shaft he set,The grey goose-wing that was thereonIn his heart's blood was wet.
This fight did last from break of day185Till setting of the sun;For when they rung theevening-bell,The battel scarce was done.
With the Earl Piercy, there was slainSir John of Ogerton,190Sir Robert Ratcliff, and Sir John,Sir James, that bold baron.
And with Sir George and good Sir James,Both knights of good account,Good Sir Ralph Rabby there was slain,195Whose prowess did surmount.
For Witherington needs must I wail,As one in doleful dumps;For when his legs were smitten off,He fought upon his stumps.200
And with Earl Douglas, there was slainSir Hugh Montgomery,Sir Charles Currel, that from the fieldOne foot would never fly.
Sir Charles Murrel, of Ratcliff, too,205His sister's son was he;Sir David Lamb, so well esteem'd,Yet saved could not bee.
And the Lord Maxwell in like wiseDid with Earl Douglas dye;210Of twenty hundred Scottish spearsScarce fifty-five did fly.
Of fifteen hundred Englishmen,Went home but fifty-three;The rest were slain in Chevy-Chace,215Under the green-wood tree.
Next day did many widows come,Their husbands to bewail;They wash'd their wounds in brinish tears,Butallwould not prevail.220
Their bodies, bath'd in purple blood,They bore with them away:They kiss'd them dead a thousand times,When they were clad in clay.
This news was brought to Edinburgh,225Where Scotland's king did reign,That brave Earl Douglas suddenlyWas with an arrow slain.
"O heavy news," King James did say;"Scotland can witness be,230I have not any captain moreOf such account as he."
Like tidings to King Henry came,Within as short a space,That Piercy of Northumberland235Was slaine in Chevy-Chace.
"Now God be with him," said our king,"Sith 't will no better be;I trust I have within my realmFive hundred as good as he.240
"Yet shall not Scot nor Scotland say,But I will vengeance take,And be revenged on them all,For brave Earl Piercy's sake."
This vow full well the king perform'd,245After, on Humbledown;In one day, fifty knights were slain,With lords of great renown.
And of the rest, of small account,Did many thousands dye:250Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chace,Made by the Earl Piercy.
God save the king, and bless the landIn plenty, joy, and peace;And grant henceforth, that foul debate255'Twixt noblemen may cease!
62. since.—O. B.123. Percy haslions wood.137. To.187. Sc. the Curfew bell, usually rung at eight o'clock; to which the modernizer apparently alludes, instead of the "Evensong bell," or bell for vespers of the original author, before the Reformation.—Percy.198. "I, as one in deep concern, must lament." The construction here has generally been misunderstood.—P.This phrase may help us to determine the date of the authorship of the ballad. "Doleful dumps" suggested nothing ludicrous to a writer of the age of Elizabeth, but not long after became burlesque. The observation is Percy's.220. They.—O. B.
62. since.—O. B.
123. Percy haslions wood.
137. To.
187. Sc. the Curfew bell, usually rung at eight o'clock; to which the modernizer apparently alludes, instead of the "Evensong bell," or bell for vespers of the original author, before the Reformation.—Percy.
198. "I, as one in deep concern, must lament." The construction here has generally been misunderstood.—P.
This phrase may help us to determine the date of the authorship of the ballad. "Doleful dumps" suggested nothing ludicrous to a writer of the age of Elizabeth, but not long after became burlesque. The observation is Percy's.
220. They.—O. B.
From Percy'sReliques, ii. 193.
"The transactions which did the greatest honour to the Earl of Surrey and his family at this time [A. D.1511], was their behaviour in the case of Barton, a Scotch sea-officer. This gentleman's father having suffered by sea from the Portuguese, he had obtained letters of marque for his two sons to make reprisals upon the subjects of Portugal. It is extremely probable, that the court of Scotland granted these letters with no very honest intention. The council-board of England, at which the Earl of Surrey held the chief place, was daily pestered with complaints from the sailors and merchants, that Barton, who was called Sir Andrew Barton, under pretence of searching for Portuguese goods, interrupted the English navigation. Henry's situation at that time rendered him backward from breaking with Scotland, so that their complaints were but coldly received. The Earl of Surrey, however, could not smother his indignation, but gallantly declared at the council-board, that while he had an estate that could furnish out a ship, or a son that was capable of commanding one, the narrow seas should not be infested.
"Sir Andrew Barton, who commanded the two Scotch ships, had the reputation of being one of the ablest sea officers of his time. By his depredations,he had amassed great wealth, and his ships were very richly laden. Henry, notwithstanding his situation, could not refuse the generous offer made by the Earl of Surrey. Two ships were immediately fitted out, and put to sea with letters of marque, under his two sons, Sir Thomas and Sir Edward Howard. After encountering a great deal of foul weather, Sir Thomas came up with the Lion, which was commanded by Sir Andrew Barton in person; and Sir Edward came up with the Union, Barton's other ship [called by Hall, the Bark of Scotland]. The engagement which ensued was extremely obstinate on both sides; but at last the fortune of the Howards prevailed. Sir Andrew was killed, fighting bravely, and encouraging his men with his whistle, to hold out to the last; and the two Scotch ships, with their crews, were carried into the River Thames [Aug. 2, 1511]." (Guthrie'sPeerage, as quoted by Percy.)
An old copy in the precious Manuscript furnished the foundation for Percy's edition of this noble ballad. The editor states that the text of the original was so incorrect as to require emendations from black-letter copies and from conjecture. These emendations, where they are noted, we have for the most part disregarded. We would fain believe that nothing except a defect in the manuscript could have reconciled the Bishop to adopting the four lines with which the ballad now begins.
The common, or black-letter copies, are somewhat abridged as well as modernized. One of these is givenin the Appendix.
When Flora with her fragrant flowersBedeckt the earth so trim and gaye,And Neptune with his daintye showersCame to present the monthe of Maye,King Henrye rode to take the ayre,5Over the river of Thames past hee;When eighty merchants of London came,And downe they knelt upon their knee."O yee are welcome, rich merchànts,Good saylors, welcome unto mee:"10They swore by the rood, they were saylors good,But rich merchànts they cold not bee."To France nor Flanders dare we pass,Nor Bordeaux voyage dare we fare;And all for a robber that lyes on the seas,15Who robbs us of our merchant ware."King Henrye frownd, and turned him rounde,And swore by the Lord that was mickle of might,"I thought he had not beene in the world,Durst have wrought England such unright."20The merchants sighed, and said, "Alas!"And thus they did their answer frame;"He is a proud Scott, that robbs on the seas,And Sir Andrewe Barton is his name."The king lookt over his left shoulder,25And an angrye look then looked hee;"Have I never a lorde in all my realme,Will feitch yond traytor unto mee?""Yea, that dare I," Lord Charles Howard sayes;"Yea, that dare I, with heart and hand;30If it please your grace to give me leave,Myselfe will be the only man.""Thou art but yong," the kyng replyed,"Yond Scott hath numbred manye a yeare:""Trust me, my liege, Ile make him quail,35Or before my prince I will never appeare.""Then bowemen and gunners thou shalt have,And chuse them over my realme so free;Besides good mariners, and shipp-boyes,To guide the great shipp on the sea."40The first man that Lord Howard chose,Was the ablest gunner in all the realm,Thoughe he was threescore yeeres and ten;Good Peter Simon was his name."Peter," sais hee, "I must to the sea,45To bring home a traytor live or dead;Before all others I have chosen thee,Of a hundred gunners to be the head.""If you, my lord, have chosen meeOf a hundred gunners to be the head,50Then hang me up on your maine-mast tree,If I misse my marke one shilling bread."My lord then chose a boweman rare,Whose active hands had gained fame;In Yorkshire was this gentleman borne,55And William Horseley was his name."Horsley," sayd he, "I must with speedeGo seeke a traytor on the sea,And now of a hundred bowemen braveTo be the head I have chosen thee."60"If you," quoth hee, "have chosen meeOf a hundred bowemen to be the head,On your main-mast Ile hanged bee,If I miss twelvescore one penny bread."With pikes, and gunnes, and bowemen bold,65This noble Howard is gone to the sea;With a valyant heart and a pleasant cheare,Out at Thames mouth sayled he.And days he scant had sayled three,Upon the journey he tooke in hand,70But there he mett with a noble shipp,And stoutely made itt stay and stand."Thou must tell me," Lord Howard said,"Now who thou art, and what's thy name;And shewe me where thy dwelling is,75And whither bound, and whence thou came.""My name is Henry Hunt," quoth hee,With a heavye heart, and a carefull mind;"I and my shipp doe both belongTo the Newcastle that stands upon Tyne."80"Hast thou not heard, nowe, Henrye Hunt,As thou hast sayled by daye and by night,Of a Scottish robber on the seas;Men call him Sir Andrew Barton, knight?"Then ever he sighed, and sayd "Alas!"85With a grieved mind, and well-away,"But over-well I knowe that wight;I was his prisoner yesterday."As I was sayling uppon the sea,A Burdeaux voyage for to fare,90To hishach-bordehe clasped me,And robd me of all my merchant ware.And mickle debts, God wot, I owe,And every man will have his owne,And I am nowe to London bounde,95Of our gracious king to beg a boone.""That shall not need," Lord Howard sais;"Lett me but once that robber see,For every penny tane thee froeIt shall be doubled shillings three."100"Nowe Gode forefend," the merchant said,"That you shold seek soe far amisse!God keepe you out of that traitors hands!Full litle ye wott what a man hee is."Hee is brasse within, and steele without,105With beames on his topcastle stronge;And eighteen pieces of ordinanceHe carries on each side along.And he hath a pinnace deerlye dight,St. Andrewes crosse, that is his guide;110His pinnace beareth ninescore men,And fifteen canons on each side."Were ye twentye shippes, and he but one,I sweare by kirke, and bower, and hall,He wold overcome them everye one,115If once his beames they doe downe fall.""This is cold comfort," sais my lord,"To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea:Yet Ile bring him and his shipp to shore,Or to Scotland hee shall carrye mee."120"Then a noble gunner you must have,And he must aim well with his ee,And sinke his pinnace into the sea,Or else hee never orecome will bee.And if you chance his shipp to borde,125This counsel I must give withall,Let no man to his topcastle goeTo strive to let his beams downe fall."And seven pieces of ordinance,I pray your honour lend to mee,130On each side of my shipp along,And I will lead you on the sea.A glasse Ile sett, that may be seene,Whether you sayle by day or night;And to-morrowe, I sweare, by nine of the clocke,You shall meet with Sir Andrewe Barton, knight."135
When Flora with her fragrant flowersBedeckt the earth so trim and gaye,And Neptune with his daintye showersCame to present the monthe of Maye,King Henrye rode to take the ayre,5Over the river of Thames past hee;When eighty merchants of London came,And downe they knelt upon their knee.
"O yee are welcome, rich merchànts,Good saylors, welcome unto mee:"10They swore by the rood, they were saylors good,But rich merchànts they cold not bee."To France nor Flanders dare we pass,Nor Bordeaux voyage dare we fare;And all for a robber that lyes on the seas,15Who robbs us of our merchant ware."
King Henrye frownd, and turned him rounde,And swore by the Lord that was mickle of might,"I thought he had not beene in the world,Durst have wrought England such unright."20The merchants sighed, and said, "Alas!"And thus they did their answer frame;"He is a proud Scott, that robbs on the seas,And Sir Andrewe Barton is his name."
The king lookt over his left shoulder,25And an angrye look then looked hee;"Have I never a lorde in all my realme,Will feitch yond traytor unto mee?""Yea, that dare I," Lord Charles Howard sayes;"Yea, that dare I, with heart and hand;30If it please your grace to give me leave,Myselfe will be the only man."
"Thou art but yong," the kyng replyed,"Yond Scott hath numbred manye a yeare:""Trust me, my liege, Ile make him quail,35Or before my prince I will never appeare.""Then bowemen and gunners thou shalt have,And chuse them over my realme so free;Besides good mariners, and shipp-boyes,To guide the great shipp on the sea."40
The first man that Lord Howard chose,Was the ablest gunner in all the realm,Thoughe he was threescore yeeres and ten;Good Peter Simon was his name."Peter," sais hee, "I must to the sea,45To bring home a traytor live or dead;Before all others I have chosen thee,Of a hundred gunners to be the head."
"If you, my lord, have chosen meeOf a hundred gunners to be the head,50Then hang me up on your maine-mast tree,If I misse my marke one shilling bread."My lord then chose a boweman rare,Whose active hands had gained fame;In Yorkshire was this gentleman borne,55And William Horseley was his name.
"Horsley," sayd he, "I must with speedeGo seeke a traytor on the sea,And now of a hundred bowemen braveTo be the head I have chosen thee."60"If you," quoth hee, "have chosen meeOf a hundred bowemen to be the head,On your main-mast Ile hanged bee,If I miss twelvescore one penny bread."
With pikes, and gunnes, and bowemen bold,65This noble Howard is gone to the sea;With a valyant heart and a pleasant cheare,Out at Thames mouth sayled he.And days he scant had sayled three,Upon the journey he tooke in hand,70But there he mett with a noble shipp,And stoutely made itt stay and stand.
"Thou must tell me," Lord Howard said,"Now who thou art, and what's thy name;And shewe me where thy dwelling is,75And whither bound, and whence thou came.""My name is Henry Hunt," quoth hee,With a heavye heart, and a carefull mind;"I and my shipp doe both belongTo the Newcastle that stands upon Tyne."80
"Hast thou not heard, nowe, Henrye Hunt,As thou hast sayled by daye and by night,Of a Scottish robber on the seas;Men call him Sir Andrew Barton, knight?"Then ever he sighed, and sayd "Alas!"85With a grieved mind, and well-away,"But over-well I knowe that wight;I was his prisoner yesterday.
"As I was sayling uppon the sea,A Burdeaux voyage for to fare,90To hishach-bordehe clasped me,And robd me of all my merchant ware.And mickle debts, God wot, I owe,And every man will have his owne,And I am nowe to London bounde,95Of our gracious king to beg a boone."
"That shall not need," Lord Howard sais;"Lett me but once that robber see,For every penny tane thee froeIt shall be doubled shillings three."100"Nowe Gode forefend," the merchant said,"That you shold seek soe far amisse!God keepe you out of that traitors hands!Full litle ye wott what a man hee is.
"Hee is brasse within, and steele without,105With beames on his topcastle stronge;And eighteen pieces of ordinanceHe carries on each side along.And he hath a pinnace deerlye dight,St. Andrewes crosse, that is his guide;110His pinnace beareth ninescore men,And fifteen canons on each side.
"Were ye twentye shippes, and he but one,I sweare by kirke, and bower, and hall,He wold overcome them everye one,115If once his beames they doe downe fall.""This is cold comfort," sais my lord,"To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea:Yet Ile bring him and his shipp to shore,Or to Scotland hee shall carrye mee."120
"Then a noble gunner you must have,And he must aim well with his ee,And sinke his pinnace into the sea,Or else hee never orecome will bee.And if you chance his shipp to borde,125This counsel I must give withall,Let no man to his topcastle goeTo strive to let his beams downe fall.
"And seven pieces of ordinance,I pray your honour lend to mee,130On each side of my shipp along,And I will lead you on the sea.A glasse Ile sett, that may be seene,Whether you sayle by day or night;And to-morrowe, I sweare, by nine of the clocke,You shall meet with Sir Andrewe Barton, knight."135
1-4. from the printed copy.54. from the printed copy.91. The MS. has here archborde, but in Part II. v.5, hachebord.115. It should seem from hence, that before our marine artillery was brought to its present perfection, some naval commanders had recourse to instruments or machines, similar in use, though perhaps unlike in construction, to the heavy Dolphins made of lead or iron used by the ancient Greeks; which they suspended from beams or yards fastened to the mast, and which they precipitately let fall on the enemies' ships, in order to sink them, by beating holes through the bottoms of their undecked triremes, or otherwise damaging them.—Percy.
1-4. from the printed copy.
54. from the printed copy.
91. The MS. has here archborde, but in Part II. v.5, hachebord.
115. It should seem from hence, that before our marine artillery was brought to its present perfection, some naval commanders had recourse to instruments or machines, similar in use, though perhaps unlike in construction, to the heavy Dolphins made of lead or iron used by the ancient Greeks; which they suspended from beams or yards fastened to the mast, and which they precipitately let fall on the enemies' ships, in order to sink them, by beating holes through the bottoms of their undecked triremes, or otherwise damaging them.—Percy.
The merchant sett my lorde a glasse,Soe well apparent in his sight,And on the morrowe, by nine of the clocke,He shewed him Sir Andrewe Barton, knight.Hishachebordit was hached with gold,5Soe deerlye dight it dazzled the ee;"Nowe by my faith," Lord Howarde sais,"This is a gallant sight to see."Take in your ancyents, standards eke,So close that no man may them see;10And put me forth a white willowe wand,As merchants use to sayle the sea."But they stirred neither top nor mast;Stoutly they past Sir Andrew by;"What English churles are yonder," he sayd,15"That can soe litle curtesye?"Now by the roode, three yeares and moreI have been admirall over the sea,And never an English nor PortingallWithout my leave can passe this way."20Then called he forth his stout pinnàce;"Fetch backe yond pedlars nowe to mee:I sweare by the masse, yon English churlesShall all hang att my maine-mast tree."With that the pinnace itt shott off;25Full well Lord Howard might it ken;For itt stroke down my lord's fore-mast,And killed fourteen of his men."Come hither, Simon," sayes my lord,"Looke that thy word be true, thou said;30For at my main-mast thou shalt hang,If thou misse thy marke one shilling bread."Simon was old, but his heart itt was bold;His ordinance he laid right lowe,He put in chaine full nine yardes long,35With other great shott, lesse and moe,And he lette goe his great gunnes shott;Soe well he settled itt with his ee,The first sight that Sir Andrew sawe,He see his pinnace sunke in the sea.40And when he saw his pinnace sunke,Lord, how his heart with rage did swell!"Nowe cutt my ropes, itt is time to be gon;Ile fetch yond pedlars backe mysell."When my lord sawe Sir Andrewe loose,45Within his heart hee was full faine;"Nowe spread your ancyents, strike up drummes,Sound all your trumpetts out amaine.""Fight on, my men," Sir Andrewe sais,"Weale, howsoever this geere will sway;50Itt is my lord admirall of Englànd,Is come to seeke mee on the sea."Simon had a sonne, who shott right well,That did Sir Andrewe mickle scare;In att his decke he gave a shott,55Killed threescore of his men of warre.Then Henrye Hunt, with rigour hott,Came bravely on the other side;Soone he drove downe his fore-mast tree,And killed fourscore men beside.60"Nowe, out alas!" Sir Andrewe cryed,"What may a man now thinke or say?Yonder merchant theefe, that pierceth mee,He was my prisoner yesterday."Come hither to me, thou Gordon good,65That aye wast readye att my call;I will give thee three hundred pounds,If thou wilt let my beames downe fall."Lord Howard hee then calld in haste,"Horselye, see thou be true in stead;70For thou shalt at the maine-mast hang,If thou misse twelvescore one penny bread."Then Gordon swarved the maine-mast tree,He swarved it with might and maine;But Horseley with a bearing arrowe,75Stroke the Gordon through the braine;And he fell unto the haches again,And sore his deadlye wounde did bleede:Then word went through Sir Andrews men,How that the Gordon hee was dead.80"Come hither to mee, James Hambilton,Thou art my only sisters sonne;If thou wilt let my beames downe fall,Six hundrednoblesthou hast wonne."With that he swarved the main-mast tree,85He swarved it with nimble art;But Horseley with a broad arrowePierced the Hambilton thorough the heart.And downe he fell upon the deck,That with his blood did streame amaine:90Then every Scott cryed, "Well-away!Alas a comelye youth is slaine!"All woe begone was Sir Andrew then,With griefe and rage his heart did swell;"Go fetch me forth my armour of proofe,95For I will to the topcastle mysell."Goe fetch me forth my armour of proofe,That gilded is with gold soe cleare;God be with my brother John of Barton!Against the Portingalls hee it ware.100And when he had on this armour of proofe,He was a gallant sight to see;Ah! nere didst thou meet with living wight,My deere brothèr, could cope with thee.""Come hither, Horseley," sayes my lord,105"And looke your shaft that itt goe right;Shoot a good shoote in time of need,And for it thou shalt be made a knight.""Ile shoot my best," quoth Horseley then,109"Your honour shall see, with might and maine;But if I were hanged at your maine-mast,I have now left but arrowes twaine."Sir Andrew he did swarve the tree,With right good will he swarved then,Upon his breast did Horseley hitt,115But the arrow bounded back agen.Then Horseley spyed a privye place,With a perfect eye, in a secrette part;Under the spole of his right armeHe smote Sir Andrew to the heart.120"Fight on, my men," Sir Andrew sayes,"A little Ime hurt, but yett not slaine;Ile but lye downe and bleede a while,And then Ile rise and fight againe.Fight on, my men," Sir Andrew sayes,125"And never flinche before the foe;And stand fast by St. Andrewes crosse,Untill you heare my whistle blowe."They never heard his whistle blow,Which made their hearts waxe sore adread:130Then Horseley sayd, "Aboard, my lord,For well I wott Sir Andrew's dead."They boarded then his noble shipp,They boarded it with might and maine;Eighteen score Scots alive they found,135The rest were either maimed or slaine.Lord Howard tooke a sword in hand,And off he smote Sir Andrewes head;"I must have left England many a daye,If thou wert alive as thou art dead."140He caused his body to be castOver the hatchbord into the sea,And about his middle three hundred crownes:"Wherever thou land, this will bury thee."Thus from the warres Lord Howard came,145And backe he sayled ore the maine;With mickle joy and triumphìngInto Thames mouth he came againe.Lord Howard then a letter wrote,And sealed it with seale and ring;150"Such a noble prize have I brought to your graceAs never did subject to a king."Sir Andrewes shipp I bring with mee,A braver shipp was never none;Nowe hath your grace two shipps of warr,155Before in England was but one."King Henryes grace with royall cheereWelcomed the noble Howard home;"And where," said he, "is this rover stout,That I myselfe may give the doome?"160"The rover, he is safe, my leige,Full many a fadom in the sea;If he were alive as he is dead,I must have left England many a day.And your grace may thank four men i' the ship165For the victory wee have wonne;These are William Horseley, Henry Hunt,And Peter Simon, and his sonne.""To Henry Hunt," the king then sayd,"In lieu of what was from thee tane,170A noble a day now thou shalt have,Sir Andrewes jewels and his chayne.And Horseley thou shalt be a knight,And lands and livings shalt have store;Howard shall be Erle Surrye hight,175As Howards erst have beene before."Nowe, Peter Simon, thou art old,I will maintaine thee and thy sonne;And the men shall have five hundred markesFor the good service they have done."180Then in came the queene with ladyes fair,To see Sir Andrewe Barton, knight;They weend that hee were brought on shore,And thought to have seen a gallant sight.But when they see his deadlye face,185And eyes soe hollow in his head,"I wold give," quoth the king, "a thousand markes,This man were alive as hee is dead.Yett for the manfull part hee playd,Which fought soe well with heart and hand,190His men shall have twelvepence a day,Till they come to my brother kings high land."
The merchant sett my lorde a glasse,Soe well apparent in his sight,And on the morrowe, by nine of the clocke,He shewed him Sir Andrewe Barton, knight.Hishachebordit was hached with gold,5Soe deerlye dight it dazzled the ee;"Nowe by my faith," Lord Howarde sais,"This is a gallant sight to see.
"Take in your ancyents, standards eke,So close that no man may them see;10And put me forth a white willowe wand,As merchants use to sayle the sea."But they stirred neither top nor mast;Stoutly they past Sir Andrew by;"What English churles are yonder," he sayd,15"That can soe litle curtesye?
"Now by the roode, three yeares and moreI have been admirall over the sea,And never an English nor PortingallWithout my leave can passe this way."20Then called he forth his stout pinnàce;"Fetch backe yond pedlars nowe to mee:I sweare by the masse, yon English churlesShall all hang att my maine-mast tree."
With that the pinnace itt shott off;25Full well Lord Howard might it ken;For itt stroke down my lord's fore-mast,And killed fourteen of his men."Come hither, Simon," sayes my lord,"Looke that thy word be true, thou said;30For at my main-mast thou shalt hang,If thou misse thy marke one shilling bread."
Simon was old, but his heart itt was bold;His ordinance he laid right lowe,He put in chaine full nine yardes long,35With other great shott, lesse and moe,And he lette goe his great gunnes shott;Soe well he settled itt with his ee,The first sight that Sir Andrew sawe,He see his pinnace sunke in the sea.40
And when he saw his pinnace sunke,Lord, how his heart with rage did swell!"Nowe cutt my ropes, itt is time to be gon;Ile fetch yond pedlars backe mysell."When my lord sawe Sir Andrewe loose,45Within his heart hee was full faine;"Nowe spread your ancyents, strike up drummes,Sound all your trumpetts out amaine."
"Fight on, my men," Sir Andrewe sais,"Weale, howsoever this geere will sway;50Itt is my lord admirall of Englànd,Is come to seeke mee on the sea."Simon had a sonne, who shott right well,That did Sir Andrewe mickle scare;In att his decke he gave a shott,55Killed threescore of his men of warre.
Then Henrye Hunt, with rigour hott,Came bravely on the other side;Soone he drove downe his fore-mast tree,And killed fourscore men beside.60"Nowe, out alas!" Sir Andrewe cryed,"What may a man now thinke or say?Yonder merchant theefe, that pierceth mee,He was my prisoner yesterday.
"Come hither to me, thou Gordon good,65That aye wast readye att my call;I will give thee three hundred pounds,If thou wilt let my beames downe fall."Lord Howard hee then calld in haste,"Horselye, see thou be true in stead;70For thou shalt at the maine-mast hang,If thou misse twelvescore one penny bread."
Then Gordon swarved the maine-mast tree,He swarved it with might and maine;But Horseley with a bearing arrowe,75Stroke the Gordon through the braine;And he fell unto the haches again,And sore his deadlye wounde did bleede:Then word went through Sir Andrews men,How that the Gordon hee was dead.80
"Come hither to mee, James Hambilton,Thou art my only sisters sonne;If thou wilt let my beames downe fall,Six hundrednoblesthou hast wonne."With that he swarved the main-mast tree,85He swarved it with nimble art;But Horseley with a broad arrowePierced the Hambilton thorough the heart.
And downe he fell upon the deck,That with his blood did streame amaine:90Then every Scott cryed, "Well-away!Alas a comelye youth is slaine!"All woe begone was Sir Andrew then,With griefe and rage his heart did swell;"Go fetch me forth my armour of proofe,95For I will to the topcastle mysell.
"Goe fetch me forth my armour of proofe,That gilded is with gold soe cleare;God be with my brother John of Barton!Against the Portingalls hee it ware.100And when he had on this armour of proofe,He was a gallant sight to see;Ah! nere didst thou meet with living wight,My deere brothèr, could cope with thee."
"Come hither, Horseley," sayes my lord,105"And looke your shaft that itt goe right;Shoot a good shoote in time of need,And for it thou shalt be made a knight.""Ile shoot my best," quoth Horseley then,109"Your honour shall see, with might and maine;But if I were hanged at your maine-mast,I have now left but arrowes twaine."
Sir Andrew he did swarve the tree,With right good will he swarved then,Upon his breast did Horseley hitt,115But the arrow bounded back agen.Then Horseley spyed a privye place,With a perfect eye, in a secrette part;Under the spole of his right armeHe smote Sir Andrew to the heart.120
"Fight on, my men," Sir Andrew sayes,"A little Ime hurt, but yett not slaine;Ile but lye downe and bleede a while,And then Ile rise and fight againe.Fight on, my men," Sir Andrew sayes,125"And never flinche before the foe;And stand fast by St. Andrewes crosse,Untill you heare my whistle blowe."
They never heard his whistle blow,Which made their hearts waxe sore adread:130Then Horseley sayd, "Aboard, my lord,For well I wott Sir Andrew's dead."They boarded then his noble shipp,They boarded it with might and maine;Eighteen score Scots alive they found,135The rest were either maimed or slaine.
Lord Howard tooke a sword in hand,And off he smote Sir Andrewes head;"I must have left England many a daye,If thou wert alive as thou art dead."140He caused his body to be castOver the hatchbord into the sea,And about his middle three hundred crownes:"Wherever thou land, this will bury thee."
Thus from the warres Lord Howard came,145And backe he sayled ore the maine;With mickle joy and triumphìngInto Thames mouth he came againe.Lord Howard then a letter wrote,And sealed it with seale and ring;150"Such a noble prize have I brought to your graceAs never did subject to a king.
"Sir Andrewes shipp I bring with mee,A braver shipp was never none;Nowe hath your grace two shipps of warr,155Before in England was but one."King Henryes grace with royall cheereWelcomed the noble Howard home;"And where," said he, "is this rover stout,That I myselfe may give the doome?"160
"The rover, he is safe, my leige,Full many a fadom in the sea;If he were alive as he is dead,I must have left England many a day.And your grace may thank four men i' the ship165For the victory wee have wonne;These are William Horseley, Henry Hunt,And Peter Simon, and his sonne."
"To Henry Hunt," the king then sayd,"In lieu of what was from thee tane,170A noble a day now thou shalt have,Sir Andrewes jewels and his chayne.And Horseley thou shalt be a knight,And lands and livings shalt have store;Howard shall be Erle Surrye hight,175As Howards erst have beene before.
"Nowe, Peter Simon, thou art old,I will maintaine thee and thy sonne;And the men shall have five hundred markesFor the good service they have done."180Then in came the queene with ladyes fair,To see Sir Andrewe Barton, knight;They weend that hee were brought on shore,And thought to have seen a gallant sight.
But when they see his deadlye face,185And eyes soe hollow in his head,"I wold give," quoth the king, "a thousand markes,This man were alive as hee is dead.Yett for the manfull part hee playd,Which fought soe well with heart and hand,190His men shall have twelvepence a day,Till they come to my brother kings high land."