FOOTNOTES:[926]This circumstance is overlooked in the ballad.[927]Besides this, the ballad mentions the separate banners of the two noblemen.[928]This lady was Anne, daughter of Henry Somerset, E. of Worcester.[929][surety.][930][rather.][931][lingered.][932]["The Act of Attainder 13th Elizabeth, only mentions Richard Norton, the father andsevensons, and in 'a list of the rebels in the late northern rebellion, that are fled beyond the seas,' the same seven sons are named. Richard Norton, the father, was living long after the rebellion in Spanish Flanders. See Sharp'sBishoprick Garland, p. 10."—Child's Eng. and Scot. Ballads, Vol. 7, p. 87 (note).][933][standard.][934][Ver. 102.Dun Bull, &c.] The supporters of theNevilles, Earls of Westmoreland, were Two Bulls Argent, ducally collar'd Gold, armed Or, &c. But I have not discovered the device mentioned in the ballad, among the badges, &c. given by that house. This, however, is certain, that among those of theNevilles, Lords Abergavenny (who were of the same family) is aDun Cowwith a golden Collar: and theNevillesof Chyte in Yorkshire (of the Westmoreland branch) gave for their crest, in 1513, aDog's(Greyhound's) Head erased. So that it is not improbable butCharlesNeville, the unhappy Earl of Westmoreland here mentioned, might on this occasion give the above device on his banner. After all our old minstrel's verses here may have undergone some corruption; for, in another Ballad in the same folio MS. and apparently written by the same hand, containing the sequel of this Lord Westmoreland's history, his banner is thus described, more conformable to his known bearings:"Sett me up my faire Dun Bull,With Gilden Hornes, hee beares all soe hye."[935][Ver. 106.The Half-Moone, &c.] TheSilver Crescentis a well-known crest or badge of the Northumberland family. It was probably brought home from some of the Cruzades against the Sarazens. In an ancient Pedigree in verse, finely illuminated on a roll of vellum, and written in the reign of Henry VII. (in possession of the family) we have this fabulous account given of its original. The author begins with accounting for the name ofGernonorAlgernon, often born by thePercies; who, he says, were"... Gernons fyrst named of Brutys bloude of Troy:Which valliantly fyghtynge in the land of Persè [Persia]At pointe terrible ayance the miscreants on nyght,An hevynly mystery was schewyd hym, old bookys reherse;In hys scheld did schyne aMoneveryfying her lyght,Which to all the ooste yave a perfytte fyght,To vaynquys his enemys, and to deth them persue;And therefore thePersès[Percies] the Cressant doth renew."In the dark ages no family was deemed considerable that did not derive its descent from the Trojan Brutus; or that was not distinguished by prodigies and miracles.[936][easy.][937][dear.][938]This is quite in character: her majesty would sometimes swear at her nobles, as well as box their ears.[939][armour.][940][lingered.]
[926]This circumstance is overlooked in the ballad.
[926]This circumstance is overlooked in the ballad.
[927]Besides this, the ballad mentions the separate banners of the two noblemen.
[927]Besides this, the ballad mentions the separate banners of the two noblemen.
[928]This lady was Anne, daughter of Henry Somerset, E. of Worcester.
[928]This lady was Anne, daughter of Henry Somerset, E. of Worcester.
[929][surety.]
[929][surety.]
[930][rather.]
[930][rather.]
[931][lingered.]
[931][lingered.]
[932]["The Act of Attainder 13th Elizabeth, only mentions Richard Norton, the father andsevensons, and in 'a list of the rebels in the late northern rebellion, that are fled beyond the seas,' the same seven sons are named. Richard Norton, the father, was living long after the rebellion in Spanish Flanders. See Sharp'sBishoprick Garland, p. 10."—Child's Eng. and Scot. Ballads, Vol. 7, p. 87 (note).]
[932]["The Act of Attainder 13th Elizabeth, only mentions Richard Norton, the father andsevensons, and in 'a list of the rebels in the late northern rebellion, that are fled beyond the seas,' the same seven sons are named. Richard Norton, the father, was living long after the rebellion in Spanish Flanders. See Sharp'sBishoprick Garland, p. 10."—Child's Eng. and Scot. Ballads, Vol. 7, p. 87 (note).]
[933][standard.]
[933][standard.]
[934][Ver. 102.Dun Bull, &c.] The supporters of theNevilles, Earls of Westmoreland, were Two Bulls Argent, ducally collar'd Gold, armed Or, &c. But I have not discovered the device mentioned in the ballad, among the badges, &c. given by that house. This, however, is certain, that among those of theNevilles, Lords Abergavenny (who were of the same family) is aDun Cowwith a golden Collar: and theNevillesof Chyte in Yorkshire (of the Westmoreland branch) gave for their crest, in 1513, aDog's(Greyhound's) Head erased. So that it is not improbable butCharlesNeville, the unhappy Earl of Westmoreland here mentioned, might on this occasion give the above device on his banner. After all our old minstrel's verses here may have undergone some corruption; for, in another Ballad in the same folio MS. and apparently written by the same hand, containing the sequel of this Lord Westmoreland's history, his banner is thus described, more conformable to his known bearings:"Sett me up my faire Dun Bull,With Gilden Hornes, hee beares all soe hye."
[934][Ver. 102.Dun Bull, &c.] The supporters of theNevilles, Earls of Westmoreland, were Two Bulls Argent, ducally collar'd Gold, armed Or, &c. But I have not discovered the device mentioned in the ballad, among the badges, &c. given by that house. This, however, is certain, that among those of theNevilles, Lords Abergavenny (who were of the same family) is aDun Cowwith a golden Collar: and theNevillesof Chyte in Yorkshire (of the Westmoreland branch) gave for their crest, in 1513, aDog's(Greyhound's) Head erased. So that it is not improbable butCharlesNeville, the unhappy Earl of Westmoreland here mentioned, might on this occasion give the above device on his banner. After all our old minstrel's verses here may have undergone some corruption; for, in another Ballad in the same folio MS. and apparently written by the same hand, containing the sequel of this Lord Westmoreland's history, his banner is thus described, more conformable to his known bearings:
"Sett me up my faire Dun Bull,With Gilden Hornes, hee beares all soe hye."
"Sett me up my faire Dun Bull,With Gilden Hornes, hee beares all soe hye."
[935][Ver. 106.The Half-Moone, &c.] TheSilver Crescentis a well-known crest or badge of the Northumberland family. It was probably brought home from some of the Cruzades against the Sarazens. In an ancient Pedigree in verse, finely illuminated on a roll of vellum, and written in the reign of Henry VII. (in possession of the family) we have this fabulous account given of its original. The author begins with accounting for the name ofGernonorAlgernon, often born by thePercies; who, he says, were"... Gernons fyrst named of Brutys bloude of Troy:Which valliantly fyghtynge in the land of Persè [Persia]At pointe terrible ayance the miscreants on nyght,An hevynly mystery was schewyd hym, old bookys reherse;In hys scheld did schyne aMoneveryfying her lyght,Which to all the ooste yave a perfytte fyght,To vaynquys his enemys, and to deth them persue;And therefore thePersès[Percies] the Cressant doth renew."In the dark ages no family was deemed considerable that did not derive its descent from the Trojan Brutus; or that was not distinguished by prodigies and miracles.
[935][Ver. 106.The Half-Moone, &c.] TheSilver Crescentis a well-known crest or badge of the Northumberland family. It was probably brought home from some of the Cruzades against the Sarazens. In an ancient Pedigree in verse, finely illuminated on a roll of vellum, and written in the reign of Henry VII. (in possession of the family) we have this fabulous account given of its original. The author begins with accounting for the name ofGernonorAlgernon, often born by thePercies; who, he says, were
"... Gernons fyrst named of Brutys bloude of Troy:Which valliantly fyghtynge in the land of Persè [Persia]At pointe terrible ayance the miscreants on nyght,An hevynly mystery was schewyd hym, old bookys reherse;In hys scheld did schyne aMoneveryfying her lyght,Which to all the ooste yave a perfytte fyght,To vaynquys his enemys, and to deth them persue;And therefore thePersès[Percies] the Cressant doth renew."
"... Gernons fyrst named of Brutys bloude of Troy:Which valliantly fyghtynge in the land of Persè [Persia]At pointe terrible ayance the miscreants on nyght,An hevynly mystery was schewyd hym, old bookys reherse;In hys scheld did schyne aMoneveryfying her lyght,Which to all the ooste yave a perfytte fyght,To vaynquys his enemys, and to deth them persue;And therefore thePersès[Percies] the Cressant doth renew."
In the dark ages no family was deemed considerable that did not derive its descent from the Trojan Brutus; or that was not distinguished by prodigies and miracles.
[936][easy.]
[936][easy.]
[937][dear.]
[937][dear.]
[938]This is quite in character: her majesty would sometimes swear at her nobles, as well as box their ears.
[938]This is quite in character: her majesty would sometimes swear at her nobles, as well as box their ears.
[939][armour.]
[939][armour.]
[940][lingered.]
[940][lingered.]
Thisballad may be considered as the sequel of the preceding. After the unfortunate Earl of Northumberland had seen himself forsaken of his followers, he endeavoured to withdraw into Scotland, but falling into the hands of the thievish borderers, was stript and otherwise ill-treated by them. At length he reached the house of Hector, of Harlaw, an Armstrong, with whom he hoped to lie concealed: for, Hector had engaged his honour to be true to him, and was under great obligations to this unhappy nobleman. But this faithless wretch betrayed his guest for a sum of money to Murray the Regent of Scotland, who sent him to the castle of Lough-leven, then belonging to William Douglas. All the writers of that time assure us that Hector, who was rich before, fell shortly after into poverty, and became so infamous, thatto take Hector's cloak, grew into a proverb to express a man who betrays his friend. See Camden, Carleton, Holinshed, &c.
Lord Northumberland continued in the castle of Lough-leven till the year 1572; when James Douglas, Earl of Morton, being elected Regent, he was given up to the Lord Hunsden at Berwick, and being carried to York suffered death. As Morton's party depended on Elizabeth for protection, an elegant historian thinks "it was scarce possible for them to refuse putting into her hands a person who had taken up arms against her. But, as a sum of money was paid on that account, and shared between Morton and his kinsman Douglas, the former of whom, during his exile in England, had been much indebted to Northumberland's friendship, the abandoning this unhappy nobleman to inevitable destruction was deemed an ungrateful and mercenary act." Robertson's Hist.
So far history coincides with this ballad, which was apparently written by some Northern bard soon after the event. The interposal of thewitch-lady(v. 53) is probably his own invention: yet, even this hath some countenance from history; for about 25 years before, the Lady Jane Douglas, Lady Glamis, sister of the earl of Angus, and nearly related to Douglas of Lough-leven, had suffereddeath for the pretended crime of witchcraft; who, it is presumed, is the Witch-lady alluded to in verse 133.
The following is selected (like the former) from two copies, which contained great variations; one of them in the Editor's folio MS. In the other copy some of the stanzas at the beginning of this Ballad are nearly the same with what in that MS. are made to begin another Ballad on the escape of the E. of Westmoreland, who got safe into Flanders, and is feigned in the ballad to have undergone a great variety of adventures.
[Percy wrote the following note on the version of this ballad in his folio MS. "To correct this by my other copy which seems more modern. The other copy in many parts preferable to this." It will be seen by comparing the text with the folio MS. copy, now printed at the end, that the alterations are numerous. The first three stanzas are taken with certain changes from the ballad of "The Erle of Westmoreland" (Folio MS. vol. i. p. 300). The alterations made in them are not improvements, as, for instance, the old reading of verse 2 is—
[Percy wrote the following note on the version of this ballad in his folio MS. "To correct this by my other copy which seems more modern. The other copy in many parts preferable to this." It will be seen by comparing the text with the folio MS. copy, now printed at the end, that the alterations are numerous. The first three stanzas are taken with certain changes from the ballad of "The Erle of Westmoreland" (Folio MS. vol. i. p. 300). The alterations made in them are not improvements, as, for instance, the old reading of verse 2 is—
"And keepe me heare in deadlye feare,"
"And keepe me heare in deadlye feare,"
which is preferable to the line below—
which is preferable to the line below—
"And harrowe me with fear and dread."]
"And harrowe me with fear and dread."]
How long shall fortune faile me nowe,And harrowe[941]me with fear and dread?How long shall I in bale[942]abide,In misery my life to lead?To fall from my bliss, alas the while!5It was my sore and heavye lott:And I must leave my native land,And I must live a man forgot.One gentle Armstrong I doe ken,A Scot he is much bound to mee:10He dwelleth on the border side,To him I'll goe right privilìe.Thus did the noble Percy 'plaine,With a heavy heart and wel-away,When he with all his gallant men15On Bramham moor had lost the day.But when he to the Armstrongs came,They dealt with him all treacherouslye;For they did strip that noble earle:And ever an ill death may they dye.20False Hector to Earl Murray sent,To shew him where his guest did hide:Who sent him to the Lough-levèn,With William Douglas to abide.And when he to the Douglas came,25He halched[943]him right curteouslie:Say'd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle,Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.When he had in Lough-leven beenMany a month and many a day;30To the regent[944]the lord warden[945]sent,That bannisht earle for to betray.He offered him great store of gold,And wrote a letter fair to see:Saying, Good my lord, grant me my boon,35And yield that banisht man to mee.Earle Percy at the supper sateWith many a goodly gentleman:The wylie Douglas then bespake,And thus to flyte[946]with him began:40What makes you be so sad, my lord,And in your mind so sorrowfullyè?To-morrow a shootinge will bee heldAmong the lords of the North countryè.The butts are sett, the shooting's made,45And there will be great royaltye:And I am sworne into my bille,[947]Thither to bring my lord Percye.I'll give thee my hand, thou gentle Douglas,And here by my true faith, quoth hee,50If thou wilt ryde to the worldes end,I will ryde in thy companye.And then bespake a lady faire,Mary à Douglas was her name:You shall byde here, good English lord,55My brother is a traiterous man.He is a traitor stout and stronge,As I tell you in privitie:For he hath tane liverance[948]of the erle,[949]Into England nowe to 'liver thee.60Now nay, now nay, thou goodly lady,The regent is a noble lord:Ne for the gold in all Englànd,The Douglas wold not break his wordWhen the regent was a banisht man,65With me he did faire welcome find;And whether weal or woe betide,I still shall find him true and kind.Betweene England and Scotland it wold breake truce,And friends againe they wold never bee,70If they shold 'liver a banisht erleWas driven out of his own countrie.Alas! alas! my lord, she sayes,Nowe mickle is their traitorie;Then lett my brother ryde his wayes,75And tell those English lords from thee,How that you cannot with him ryde,Because you are in an ile of the sea,[950]Then ere my brother come againeTo Edenborow castle[951]Ile carry thee.80To the Lord Hume I will thee bring,He is well knowne a true Scots lord,And he will lose both land and life,Ere he with thee will break his word.Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,85When I thinkie on my own countrie,When I thinke on the heavye happe[952]My friends have suffered there for mee.Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,And sore those wars my minde distresse;90Where many a widow lost her mate,And many a child was fatherlesse.And now that I a banisht man,Shold bring such evil happe with mee,To cause my faire and noble friends95To be suspect of treacherie:This rives[953]my heart with double woe;And lever had I dye this day,Than thinke a Douglas can be false,Or ever he will his guest betray.100If you'll give me no trust, my lord,Nor unto mee no credence yield;Yet step one moment here aside,Ile showe you all your foes in field.Lady, I never loved witchcraft,105Never dealt in privy wyle;But evermore held the high-wayeOf truth and honour, free from guileIf you'll not come yourselfe my lorde,Yet send your chamberlaine with mee;110Let me but speak three words with him,And he shall come again to thee.James Swynard with that lady went,She showed him through the weme[954]of her ringHow many English lords there were115Waiting for his master and him.And who walkes yonder, my good lady,So royallyè on yonder greene?O yonder is the lord Hunsdèn:[955]Alas! he'll doe you drie and teene.[956]120And who beth yonder, thou gay ladye,That walkes so proudly him beside?That is Sir William Drury,[957]shee sayd,A keene captàine hee is and tryde.How many miles is itt, madàme,125Betwixt yond English lords and mee?Marry it is thrice fifty miles,To saile to them upon the sea.I never was on English ground,Ne never sawe it with mine eye,130But as my book it sheweth mee,And through my ring I may descrye.My mother shee was a witch ladye,And of her skille she learned[958]mee;She wold let me see out of Lough-leven135What they did in London citìe.But who is yond, thou lady faire,That looketh with sic an austerne[959]face?Yonder is Sir John Foster,[960]quoth shee,Alas! he'll do ye sore disgrace.140He pulled his hatt down over his browe;He wept; in his heart he was full of woe:And he is gone to his noble Lord,Those sorrowful tidings him to show.Now nay, now nay, good James Swynàrd,145I may not believe that witch ladìe:The Douglasses were ever true,And they can ne'er prove false to mee.I have now in Lough-leven beenThe most part of these years three,150Yett have I never had noe outrake,[961]Ne no good games that I cold see.Therefore I'll to yond shooting wend,As to the Douglas I have hight:[962]Betide me weale, betide me woe,155He ne'er shall find my promise light.He writhe[963]a gold ring from his finger,And gave itt to that gay ladìe:Sayes, It was all that I cold save,In Harley woods where I cold bee.[964]160And wilt thou goe, thou noble lord,Then farewell truth and honestìe;And farewell heart and farewell hand;For never more I shall thee see.The wind was faire, the boatmen call'd,165And all the saylors were on borde;Then William Douglas took to his boat,And with him went that noble lord.Then he cast up a silver wand,Says, Gentle lady, fare thee well!170The lady fett[965]a sigh soe deep,And in a dead swoone down shee fell.Now let us goe back, Douglas, he sayd,A sickness hath taken yond faire ladìe;If ought befall yond lady but good,175Then blamed for ever I shall bee.Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes;Come on, come on, and let her bee:There's ladyes enow in Lough-levenFor to cheere that gay ladìe.180If you'll not turne yourself, my lord,Let me goe with my chamberlaine;We will but comfort that faire lady,And wee will return to you againe.Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes,185Come on, come on, and let her bee:My sister is craftye, and wold beguileA thousand such as you and mee.When they had sayled[966]fifty myle,Now fifty mile upon the sea;190Hee sent his man to ask the Douglas,When they shold that shooting see.Faire words, quoth he, they make fooles faine,[967]And that by thee and thy lord is seen:You may hap[968]to thinke itt soone enough,195Ere you that shooting reach, I ween.Jamye his hatt pulled over his browe,He thought his lord then was betray'd;And he is to Erle Percy againe,To tell him what the Douglas sayd.200Hold upp thy head, man, quoth his lord;Nor therefore lett thy courage fayle,He did it but to prove thy heart,To see if he cold make it quail.When they had other fifty sayld,205Other fifty mile upon the sea,Lord Percy called to Douglas himselfe,Sayd, What wilt thou nowe doe with mee?Looke that your brydle be wight,[969]my lord,And your horse goe swift as shipp att sea:210Looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe,That you may pricke her while she'll away.What needeth this, Douglas, he sayth;What needest thou to flyte[970]with mee?For I was counted a horseman good215Before that ever I mett with thee.A false Hector hath my horse,Who dealt with mee so treacherouslìe:A false Armstrong hath my spurres,And all the geere belongs to mee.220When they had sayled other fifty mile,Other fifty mile upon the sea;They landed low by Berwicke side,A deputed 'laird' landed Lord Percye.[971]Then he at Yorke was doomde to dye,225It was, alas! a sorrowful sight:Thus they betrayed that noble earle,Who ever was a gallant wight.
How long shall fortune faile me nowe,And harrowe[941]me with fear and dread?How long shall I in bale[942]abide,In misery my life to lead?
To fall from my bliss, alas the while!5It was my sore and heavye lott:And I must leave my native land,And I must live a man forgot.
One gentle Armstrong I doe ken,A Scot he is much bound to mee:10He dwelleth on the border side,To him I'll goe right privilìe.
Thus did the noble Percy 'plaine,With a heavy heart and wel-away,When he with all his gallant men15On Bramham moor had lost the day.
But when he to the Armstrongs came,They dealt with him all treacherouslye;For they did strip that noble earle:And ever an ill death may they dye.20
False Hector to Earl Murray sent,To shew him where his guest did hide:Who sent him to the Lough-levèn,With William Douglas to abide.
And when he to the Douglas came,25He halched[943]him right curteouslie:Say'd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle,Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.
When he had in Lough-leven beenMany a month and many a day;30To the regent[944]the lord warden[945]sent,That bannisht earle for to betray.
He offered him great store of gold,And wrote a letter fair to see:Saying, Good my lord, grant me my boon,35And yield that banisht man to mee.
Earle Percy at the supper sateWith many a goodly gentleman:The wylie Douglas then bespake,And thus to flyte[946]with him began:40
What makes you be so sad, my lord,And in your mind so sorrowfullyè?To-morrow a shootinge will bee heldAmong the lords of the North countryè.
The butts are sett, the shooting's made,45And there will be great royaltye:And I am sworne into my bille,[947]Thither to bring my lord Percye.
I'll give thee my hand, thou gentle Douglas,And here by my true faith, quoth hee,50If thou wilt ryde to the worldes end,I will ryde in thy companye.
And then bespake a lady faire,Mary à Douglas was her name:You shall byde here, good English lord,55My brother is a traiterous man.
He is a traitor stout and stronge,As I tell you in privitie:For he hath tane liverance[948]of the erle,[949]Into England nowe to 'liver thee.60
Now nay, now nay, thou goodly lady,The regent is a noble lord:Ne for the gold in all Englànd,The Douglas wold not break his word
When the regent was a banisht man,65With me he did faire welcome find;And whether weal or woe betide,I still shall find him true and kind.
Betweene England and Scotland it wold breake truce,And friends againe they wold never bee,70If they shold 'liver a banisht erleWas driven out of his own countrie.
Alas! alas! my lord, she sayes,Nowe mickle is their traitorie;Then lett my brother ryde his wayes,75And tell those English lords from thee,
How that you cannot with him ryde,Because you are in an ile of the sea,[950]Then ere my brother come againeTo Edenborow castle[951]Ile carry thee.80
To the Lord Hume I will thee bring,He is well knowne a true Scots lord,And he will lose both land and life,Ere he with thee will break his word.
Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,85When I thinkie on my own countrie,When I thinke on the heavye happe[952]My friends have suffered there for mee.
Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,And sore those wars my minde distresse;90Where many a widow lost her mate,And many a child was fatherlesse.
And now that I a banisht man,Shold bring such evil happe with mee,To cause my faire and noble friends95To be suspect of treacherie:
This rives[953]my heart with double woe;And lever had I dye this day,Than thinke a Douglas can be false,Or ever he will his guest betray.100
If you'll give me no trust, my lord,Nor unto mee no credence yield;Yet step one moment here aside,Ile showe you all your foes in field.
Lady, I never loved witchcraft,105Never dealt in privy wyle;But evermore held the high-wayeOf truth and honour, free from guile
If you'll not come yourselfe my lorde,Yet send your chamberlaine with mee;110Let me but speak three words with him,And he shall come again to thee.
James Swynard with that lady went,She showed him through the weme[954]of her ringHow many English lords there were115Waiting for his master and him.
And who walkes yonder, my good lady,So royallyè on yonder greene?O yonder is the lord Hunsdèn:[955]Alas! he'll doe you drie and teene.[956]120
And who beth yonder, thou gay ladye,That walkes so proudly him beside?That is Sir William Drury,[957]shee sayd,A keene captàine hee is and tryde.
How many miles is itt, madàme,125Betwixt yond English lords and mee?Marry it is thrice fifty miles,To saile to them upon the sea.
I never was on English ground,Ne never sawe it with mine eye,130But as my book it sheweth mee,And through my ring I may descrye.
My mother shee was a witch ladye,And of her skille she learned[958]mee;She wold let me see out of Lough-leven135What they did in London citìe.
But who is yond, thou lady faire,That looketh with sic an austerne[959]face?Yonder is Sir John Foster,[960]quoth shee,Alas! he'll do ye sore disgrace.140
He pulled his hatt down over his browe;He wept; in his heart he was full of woe:And he is gone to his noble Lord,Those sorrowful tidings him to show.
Now nay, now nay, good James Swynàrd,145I may not believe that witch ladìe:The Douglasses were ever true,And they can ne'er prove false to mee.
I have now in Lough-leven beenThe most part of these years three,150Yett have I never had noe outrake,[961]Ne no good games that I cold see.
Therefore I'll to yond shooting wend,As to the Douglas I have hight:[962]Betide me weale, betide me woe,155He ne'er shall find my promise light.
He writhe[963]a gold ring from his finger,And gave itt to that gay ladìe:Sayes, It was all that I cold save,In Harley woods where I cold bee.[964]160
And wilt thou goe, thou noble lord,Then farewell truth and honestìe;And farewell heart and farewell hand;For never more I shall thee see.
The wind was faire, the boatmen call'd,165And all the saylors were on borde;Then William Douglas took to his boat,And with him went that noble lord.
Then he cast up a silver wand,Says, Gentle lady, fare thee well!170The lady fett[965]a sigh soe deep,And in a dead swoone down shee fell.
Now let us goe back, Douglas, he sayd,A sickness hath taken yond faire ladìe;If ought befall yond lady but good,175Then blamed for ever I shall bee.
Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes;Come on, come on, and let her bee:There's ladyes enow in Lough-levenFor to cheere that gay ladìe.180
If you'll not turne yourself, my lord,Let me goe with my chamberlaine;We will but comfort that faire lady,And wee will return to you againe.
Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes,185Come on, come on, and let her bee:My sister is craftye, and wold beguileA thousand such as you and mee.
When they had sayled[966]fifty myle,Now fifty mile upon the sea;190Hee sent his man to ask the Douglas,When they shold that shooting see.
Faire words, quoth he, they make fooles faine,[967]And that by thee and thy lord is seen:You may hap[968]to thinke itt soone enough,195Ere you that shooting reach, I ween.
Jamye his hatt pulled over his browe,He thought his lord then was betray'd;And he is to Erle Percy againe,To tell him what the Douglas sayd.200
Hold upp thy head, man, quoth his lord;Nor therefore lett thy courage fayle,He did it but to prove thy heart,To see if he cold make it quail.
When they had other fifty sayld,205Other fifty mile upon the sea,Lord Percy called to Douglas himselfe,Sayd, What wilt thou nowe doe with mee?
Looke that your brydle be wight,[969]my lord,And your horse goe swift as shipp att sea:210Looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe,That you may pricke her while she'll away.
What needeth this, Douglas, he sayth;What needest thou to flyte[970]with mee?For I was counted a horseman good215Before that ever I mett with thee.
A false Hector hath my horse,Who dealt with mee so treacherouslìe:A false Armstrong hath my spurres,And all the geere belongs to mee.220
When they had sayled other fifty mile,Other fifty mile upon the sea;They landed low by Berwicke side,A deputed 'laird' landed Lord Percye.[971]
Then he at Yorke was doomde to dye,225It was, alas! a sorrowful sight:Thus they betrayed that noble earle,Who ever was a gallant wight.
[Thefollowing version of the Betrayal of Northumberland is from the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 218.)
[Thefollowing version of the Betrayal of Northumberland is from the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 218.)
Now list and lithe you gentlemen,and Ist tell you the veretye,how they haue delt with a banished man,driuen out of his countrye.4when as hee came on Scottish groundas woe and wonder be them amonge,ffull much was there traitoryethé wrought the Erle of Northumberland.8when they were att the supper sett,beffore many goodly gentlementhé ffell a fflouting and mocking both,and said to the Erle of Northumberland,12"What makes you be soe sad, my Lord,and in your mind soe sorrowffullye?in the North of Scotland to-morrow theres a shooting,and thither thoust goe, my Lord Percye.16"the buttes are sett, and the shooting is made,and there is like to be great royaltye,and I am sworne into my billthither to bring my Lord Pearcy."20"Ile giue thee my land, Douglas," he sayes,"and be the faith in my bodye,if that thou wilt ryde to the worlds end,Ile ryde in thy companye."24and then bespake the good Ladye,—Marry a Douglas was her name,—"you shall byde here, good English Lord;my brother is a traiterous man;28"he is a traitor stout and stronge,as Ist tell you the veretye,for he hath tane liuerance of the Erle,and into England he will liuor thee."32"Now hold thy tounge, thou goodlye Ladye,and let all this talking bee;ffor all the gold thats in Loug Leuen,william wold not Liuor mee!36"it wold breake truce betweene England & Scottland,and friends againe they wold neuer beeif he shold liuor a bani[s]ht Erlewas driuen out of his owne countrye."40"hold your tounge, my Lord," shee sayes,"there is much ffalsehood them amonge;when you are dead, then they are done,soone they will part them friends againe.44"if you will giue me any trust, my Lord,Ile tell you how you best may bee;youst lett my brother ryde his wayes,and tell those English Lords trulye48"how that you cannot with them rydebecause you are in an Ile of the sea,then, ere my Brother come againe,to Edenborrow castle Ile carry thee,52"Ile liuor you vnto the Lord Hume,and you know a trew Scothe Lord is hee,for he hath lost both Land and goodsin ayding of your good bodye."56"Marry! I am woe! woman," he sayes,"that any freind fares worse for mee;for where one saith 'it is a true tale,'then two will say it is a Lye.60"when I was att home in my [realme]amonge my tennants all trulye,in my time of losse, wherin my need stoode,they came to ayd me honestlye;64"therfore I left many a child ffatherlese,and many a widdow to looke wanne;and therfore blame nothing, Ladye,but the woeffull warres which I began."68"If you will giue me noe trust, my Lord,nor noe credence you will give mee,and youle come hither to my right hand,indeed, my Lord, Ile lett you see."72saies, "I neuer loued noe witchcraft,nor neuer dealt with treacherye,but euermore held the hye way;alas! that may be seene by mee!"76"if you will not come your selfe, my Lord,youle lett your chamberlaine goe with mee,three words that I may to him speake,and soone he shall come againe to thee."80when James Swynard came that Lady before,shee let him see thorrow the weme of her ringhow many there was of English lordsto wayte there for his Master and him.84"but who beene yonder, my good Ladye,that walkes soe royallye on yonder greene?""yonder is Lord Hunsden, Jamye," she saye;"alas! heele doe you both tree and teene!"88"and who beene yonder, thou gay Ladye,that walkes soe royallye him beside?""yond is Sir William Drurye, Jamy," shee sayd,"and a keene Captain hee is, and tryde."92"how many miles is itt, thou good Ladye,betwixt yond English Lord and mee?""marry thrise fifty mile, Jamy," shee sayd,"and euen to seale and by the sea:96"I neuer was on English ground,nor neuer see itt with mine eye,but as my witt and wisedome serues,and as [the] booke it telleth mee.100"my mother, shee was a witch woman,and part of itt shee learned mee;shee wold let me see out of Lough Leuenwhat they dyd in London cytye."104"but who is yond, thou good Layde,that comes yonder with an Osterne fface?""yonds Sir John fforster, Jamye," shee sayd;"methinks thou sholdest better know him then I."108"Euen soe I doe, my goodlye Ladye,and euer alas, soe woe am I!"he pulled his hatt ouer his eyes,and, lord, he wept soe tenderlye!he is gone to his Master againe,and euen to tell him the veretye."Now hast thou beene with Marry, Jamy," he sayd,"Euen as thy tounge will tell to mee;116but if thou trust in any womans words,thou must refraine good companye.""It is noe words, my Lord," he sayes,"yonder the men shee letts mee see,120how many English Lords there isis wayting there for you and mee;"yonder I see the Lord Hunsden,and hee and you is of the third degree;124a greater enemye, indeed, my Lord,in England none haue yee,""and I haue beene in Lough Leventhe most part of these yeeres three:128yett had I neuer noe out-rake,nor good games that I cold see;"and I am thus bidden to yonder shootingby William Douglas all trulye;132therfore speake neuer a word out of thy mouthThat thou thinkes will hinder mee."then he writhe the gold ring of his ffingarand gaue itt to that Ladye gay;136sayes, "that was a Legacye left vnto meein Harley woods where I cold bee.""then ffarewell hart, and farewell hand,and ffarwell all good companye!140that woman shall neuer beare a sonneshall know soe much of your privitye.""now hold thy tounge, Ladye," hee sayde,"and make not all this dole for mee,144for I may well drinke, but Ist neuer eate,till againe in Lough Leuen I bee."he tooke his boate att the Lough Leuenfor to sayle now ouer the sea,148and he hath cast vpp a siluer wand,saies "fare thou well, my good Ladye!"the Ladye looked ouer her left sholder;in a dead swoone there fell shee.152"goe backe againe, Douglas!" he sayd,"and I will goe in thy companye.for sudden sicknesse yonder Lady has tane,and euer, alas, shee will but dye!156"if ought come to yonder Ladye but good,then blamed fore that I shall bee,because a banished man I am,and driuen out of my owne countrye."160"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes,"and lett all such talking bee;theres Ladyes enow in Lough Leuen,and for to cheere yonder gay Ladye."164"and you will not goe your selfe, my Lord,you will lett my chamberlaine goe with me;wee shall now take our boate againe,and soone wee shall ouertake thee."168"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes,"and lett now all this talking bee!ffor my sister is craftye enoughefor to beguile thousands such as you and mee."172When they had sayled fifty myle,now fifty mile vpon the sea,hee had fforgotten a message that heeshold doe in lough Leuen trulye:176hee asked 'how ffar it was to that shooting,that William Douglas promised me.'"now faire words makes fooles faine;and that may be seene by thy Master and thee,180ffor you may happen think itt soone enoughewhen-euer you that shooting see."Jamye pulled his hatt now ouer his browe;I wott the teares fell in his eye;184and he is to his Master againe,and ffor to tell him the veretyehe sayes, "fayre words makes fooles faine,and that may be seene by you and mee,188ffor wee may happen thinke itt soone enoughewhen-euer wee that shooting see.""hold vpp thy head, Jamye," the Erle sayd,"and neuer lett thy hart fayle thee;192he did itt but to prove thee with,and see how thow wold take with death trulye."when they had sayled other fifty mile,other fifty mile vpon the sea,196Lord Peercy called to him, himselfe,and sayd, "Douglas what wilt thou doe with mee?""looke that your brydle be wight, my Lord,that you may goe as a shipp att sea;200looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe,that you may pricke her while sheele awaye.""what needeth this, Douglas," he sayth."that thou needest to ffloute mee?204for I was counted a horsseman goodbefore that euer I mett with thee."A ffalse Hector hath my horsse;and euer an euill death may hee dye!208and Willye Armestronge hath my spurresand all the geere belongs to mee."when thé had sayled other fifty mile,other fifty mile vpon the sea,212thé landed low by Barwicke side;a deputed land Landed Lord Percye.
Now list and lithe you gentlemen,and Ist tell you the veretye,how they haue delt with a banished man,driuen out of his countrye.4
when as hee came on Scottish groundas woe and wonder be them amonge,ffull much was there traitoryethé wrought the Erle of Northumberland.8
when they were att the supper sett,beffore many goodly gentlementhé ffell a fflouting and mocking both,and said to the Erle of Northumberland,12
"What makes you be soe sad, my Lord,and in your mind soe sorrowffullye?in the North of Scotland to-morrow theres a shooting,and thither thoust goe, my Lord Percye.16
"the buttes are sett, and the shooting is made,and there is like to be great royaltye,and I am sworne into my billthither to bring my Lord Pearcy."20
"Ile giue thee my land, Douglas," he sayes,"and be the faith in my bodye,if that thou wilt ryde to the worlds end,Ile ryde in thy companye."24
and then bespake the good Ladye,—Marry a Douglas was her name,—"you shall byde here, good English Lord;my brother is a traiterous man;28
"he is a traitor stout and stronge,as Ist tell you the veretye,for he hath tane liuerance of the Erle,and into England he will liuor thee."32
"Now hold thy tounge, thou goodlye Ladye,and let all this talking bee;ffor all the gold thats in Loug Leuen,william wold not Liuor mee!36
"it wold breake truce betweene England & Scottland,and friends againe they wold neuer beeif he shold liuor a bani[s]ht Erlewas driuen out of his owne countrye."40
"hold your tounge, my Lord," shee sayes,"there is much ffalsehood them amonge;when you are dead, then they are done,soone they will part them friends againe.44
"if you will giue me any trust, my Lord,Ile tell you how you best may bee;youst lett my brother ryde his wayes,and tell those English Lords trulye48
"how that you cannot with them rydebecause you are in an Ile of the sea,then, ere my Brother come againe,to Edenborrow castle Ile carry thee,52
"Ile liuor you vnto the Lord Hume,and you know a trew Scothe Lord is hee,for he hath lost both Land and goodsin ayding of your good bodye."56
"Marry! I am woe! woman," he sayes,"that any freind fares worse for mee;for where one saith 'it is a true tale,'then two will say it is a Lye.60
"when I was att home in my [realme]amonge my tennants all trulye,in my time of losse, wherin my need stoode,they came to ayd me honestlye;64
"therfore I left many a child ffatherlese,and many a widdow to looke wanne;and therfore blame nothing, Ladye,but the woeffull warres which I began."68
"If you will giue me noe trust, my Lord,nor noe credence you will give mee,and youle come hither to my right hand,indeed, my Lord, Ile lett you see."72
saies, "I neuer loued noe witchcraft,nor neuer dealt with treacherye,but euermore held the hye way;alas! that may be seene by mee!"76
"if you will not come your selfe, my Lord,youle lett your chamberlaine goe with mee,three words that I may to him speake,and soone he shall come againe to thee."80
when James Swynard came that Lady before,shee let him see thorrow the weme of her ringhow many there was of English lordsto wayte there for his Master and him.84
"but who beene yonder, my good Ladye,that walkes soe royallye on yonder greene?""yonder is Lord Hunsden, Jamye," she saye;"alas! heele doe you both tree and teene!"88
"and who beene yonder, thou gay Ladye,that walkes soe royallye him beside?""yond is Sir William Drurye, Jamy," shee sayd,"and a keene Captain hee is, and tryde."92
"how many miles is itt, thou good Ladye,betwixt yond English Lord and mee?""marry thrise fifty mile, Jamy," shee sayd,"and euen to seale and by the sea:96
"I neuer was on English ground,nor neuer see itt with mine eye,but as my witt and wisedome serues,and as [the] booke it telleth mee.100
"my mother, shee was a witch woman,and part of itt shee learned mee;shee wold let me see out of Lough Leuenwhat they dyd in London cytye."104
"but who is yond, thou good Layde,that comes yonder with an Osterne fface?""yonds Sir John fforster, Jamye," shee sayd;"methinks thou sholdest better know him then I."108"Euen soe I doe, my goodlye Ladye,and euer alas, soe woe am I!"
he pulled his hatt ouer his eyes,and, lord, he wept soe tenderlye!he is gone to his Master againe,and euen to tell him the veretye.
"Now hast thou beene with Marry, Jamy," he sayd,"Euen as thy tounge will tell to mee;116but if thou trust in any womans words,thou must refraine good companye."
"It is noe words, my Lord," he sayes,"yonder the men shee letts mee see,120how many English Lords there isis wayting there for you and mee;
"yonder I see the Lord Hunsden,and hee and you is of the third degree;124a greater enemye, indeed, my Lord,in England none haue yee,"
"and I haue beene in Lough Leventhe most part of these yeeres three:128yett had I neuer noe out-rake,nor good games that I cold see;
"and I am thus bidden to yonder shootingby William Douglas all trulye;132therfore speake neuer a word out of thy mouthThat thou thinkes will hinder mee."
then he writhe the gold ring of his ffingarand gaue itt to that Ladye gay;136sayes, "that was a Legacye left vnto meein Harley woods where I cold bee."
"then ffarewell hart, and farewell hand,and ffarwell all good companye!140that woman shall neuer beare a sonneshall know soe much of your privitye."
"now hold thy tounge, Ladye," hee sayde,"and make not all this dole for mee,144for I may well drinke, but Ist neuer eate,till againe in Lough Leuen I bee."
he tooke his boate att the Lough Leuenfor to sayle now ouer the sea,148and he hath cast vpp a siluer wand,saies "fare thou well, my good Ladye!"the Ladye looked ouer her left sholder;in a dead swoone there fell shee.152
"goe backe againe, Douglas!" he sayd,"and I will goe in thy companye.for sudden sicknesse yonder Lady has tane,and euer, alas, shee will but dye!156
"if ought come to yonder Ladye but good,then blamed fore that I shall bee,because a banished man I am,and driuen out of my owne countrye."160
"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes,"and lett all such talking bee;theres Ladyes enow in Lough Leuen,and for to cheere yonder gay Ladye."164
"and you will not goe your selfe, my Lord,you will lett my chamberlaine goe with me;wee shall now take our boate againe,and soone wee shall ouertake thee."168
"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes,"and lett now all this talking bee!ffor my sister is craftye enoughefor to beguile thousands such as you and mee."172
When they had sayled fifty myle,now fifty mile vpon the sea,hee had fforgotten a message that heeshold doe in lough Leuen trulye:176hee asked 'how ffar it was to that shooting,that William Douglas promised me.'
"now faire words makes fooles faine;and that may be seene by thy Master and thee,180ffor you may happen think itt soone enoughewhen-euer you that shooting see."
Jamye pulled his hatt now ouer his browe;I wott the teares fell in his eye;184and he is to his Master againe,and ffor to tell him the veretye
he sayes, "fayre words makes fooles faine,and that may be seene by you and mee,188ffor wee may happen thinke itt soone enoughewhen-euer wee that shooting see."
"hold vpp thy head, Jamye," the Erle sayd,"and neuer lett thy hart fayle thee;192he did itt but to prove thee with,and see how thow wold take with death trulye."
when they had sayled other fifty mile,other fifty mile vpon the sea,196Lord Peercy called to him, himselfe,and sayd, "Douglas what wilt thou doe with mee?"
"looke that your brydle be wight, my Lord,that you may goe as a shipp att sea;200looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe,that you may pricke her while sheele awaye."
"what needeth this, Douglas," he sayth."that thou needest to ffloute mee?204for I was counted a horsseman goodbefore that euer I mett with thee.
"A ffalse Hector hath my horsse;and euer an euill death may hee dye!208and Willye Armestronge hath my spurresand all the geere belongs to mee."
when thé had sayled other fifty mile,other fifty mile vpon the sea,212thé landed low by Barwicke side;a deputed land Landed Lord Percye.
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