Chapter 2

For Jesus sake be merry and glad,Be blythe of blood, of bone, and blee,And of your words be sober and sad,And a little while listen to me:I shall tell you how Lady Bessy made her moan,And down she kneeled upon her kneeBefore the Earle of Darby her self alone,These were her words fair and free:—Who was your beginner, who was your ground,Good father Stanley, will you tell me?Who married you to the Margaret Richmond,A Dutchess of a high degree?And your son the Lord George StrangeBy that good lady you had him by.And Harden lands under your hands,And Moules dale also under your fee,Your brother Sir William Stanley by parliament,The Holt Castle who gave him truely?Who gave him Brome-field, that I now ment?Who gave him Chirk-land to his fee?Who made Him High Chamberlain of Cheshire?Of that country farr and nearThey were all wholly at his desire,When he did call they did appear;And also the Forrest of Delameer,To hunt therin both day and nightAs often as his pleasure were,And to send for baron and knight;Who made the knight and lord of all?Good father Stanley, remember thee!It was my father, that king royall,He set you in that room so high.Remember Richmond banished full bare,And lyeth in Brittain behind the sea,You may recover him of his care,If your heart and mind to him will gree:Let him come home and claim his right,And let us cry him King Henry!And if you will maintain him with might,In Brittain he needeth not long to tarry.Go away, Bessy, the Lord said then,I tell thee now for certainty,That fair words make oft fooles full faine,When they be but found vain glory.Oh! father Stanley, to you I call,For the love of God remember thee,Since my father King Edward, that king royall,At Westminster on his death bed lee;He called to him my unckle Richard,So he did Robert of Brackenbury,And James Terrill he was the third;He sent them to Ludlow in the west countrey,To fetch the Duke of York, and the Duke of Clarence,These two lords born of a high degree.The Duke of York should have been prince,And king after my father free,But a balle-full game was them among,When they doomed these two lords to dye:They had neither justice nor right, but had great wrong,Alack! it was the more pitty!Neither were they burried in St. Maries,In church or churchyard or holy place;Alas! they had dolefull destinies,Hard was their chance, worse was their disgrace!Therefore, help good father Stanley, while you have space,For the love of God and mild Mary,Or else in time to come you shall, alas!Remember the words of Lady Bessy!Good Lady Bessy, be content,For tho' your words be never so sweet,If King Richard knew, you must be shent,And perchance cast into prison deep;Then had you cause to waill and weep,And wring your hands with heavy chear;Therefore, good lady, I you beseekTo move me no more in this mattér.Oh! good father Stanley, listen now and hear;Heare is no more but you and I:King Edward that was my father dear,On whose estate God had mercy,In Westminster as he did stand,On a certain day in a study,A book of reason he had in his hand,And so sore his study he did apply,That his tender tears fell on the ground,All men might see that stood him by:There were both earls and lords of land,But none of them durst speak but I.I came before my father the king,And kneeled down upon my knee;I desired him lowly of his blessing,And full soon he gave it unto me:And in his arms he could me thring,And set me in a window so high;He spake to me full sore weeping,—These were the words he said to me:Daughter, as thou wilt have my blessing,Do as I shall councell thee,And to my words give good listening,For one day they may pleasure thee:Here is a book of Reason, keep it well,As you will have the love of me;Neither to any creature do it tell,Nor let no liveing lord it see,Except it be the Lord Stanley,The which I love full heartiley:All the matter to him show you may,For he and his thy help must be;As soon as the truth to him is shownUnto your words he will agree;For their shall never son of my body be gottenThat shall be crowned after me,But you shall be queen and wear the crown,So doth expresse the prophecye!He gave me tax and toland,And also diamonds to my degree,To get me a prince when it pleaseth Christ,The world is not as it will be:Therefore, good father Stanley, grant my requestFor the love of God I desire thee;All is at your commandment down in the west,Both knight and squire and the commentie;You may choose then where you like best,I have enough both of gold and fee;I want nothing but the strength of men,And good captains two or three.Go away, Bessy, the lord said then,To this will I never agree,For women oft time cannot faine,These words they be but vain glory!For and I should treason beginAgainst King Richard his royalty,In every street within LondonThe Eagle's foot should be pulled down,And as yet in his great favour I am,But then shoud I loose my great renowne!I shoud be called traitor thro' the sameFull soon in every markett towne!That were great shame to me and my name,I had rather spend ten thousand pounde.O father Stanley, to you I mak my moane,For the love of God remember thee;It is not three days past and gone,Since my unckle Richard sent after meA batchelor and a bold baron,A Doctor of Divinitye,And bad that I should to his chamber gone,His love and his leman that I should bee;And the queen that was his wedded feere,He would her poyson and putt away;So would he his son and his heir,Christ knoweth he is a proper boy!Yet I had rather burn in a tunneOn the Tower Hill that is so high,Or that I would to his chamber come,His love and his leman will I not be!I had rather be drawn with wild horses five,Through every street of that citty,Or that good woman should lose her life,Good father, for the love of mee.I am his brother's daughter dear;He is my uncle, it is no nay;Or ever I would be his wedded feere,With sharp swords I will me slay;At his bidding if I were then,And follow'd also his cruel intent,I were well worthy to suffer pain,And in a fire for to be brent.Therefore, good father Stanley, some pity takeOn the Earl Richmond and me,And the rather for my father's sake,Which gave thee the Ile of Man so free;He crowned thee with a crown of lead,He holpe the first to that degree;He set thee the crown upon thy head,And made thee the lord of that countrey;That time you promised my father dear,To be to him both true and just,And now you stand in a disweare,Oh! Jesu Christ, who may men trust?O good lady, I say againeYour fair words shall never move my mind;King Richard is my lord and sov'raign,To him I will never be unkind.I will serve him truly till I die,I will him take as I him find;For he hath given to mine and me,His bounteous gifts do me so bind.Yet good father Stanley, remember thee,As I have said so shall it prove,If he of his gift be soe free,It is for fear and not for love;For if he may to his purpose come,You shall not live these years three,For these words to me he did once moveIn Sandall Castle underneath a tree:He said there shall no branch of the eagle flyWithin England, neither far nor nigh;Nor none of the Talbots to run him by,Nor none of their lineage to the ninth degree;But he would them either hang or head,And that he swear full grievously.Therefore help, gentle lord with all speed;For when you would fain it will not be.Your brother dwellith in Holt Castle,A noble knight forsooth is he;All the Welsh-men love him well,He may make a great company.Sir John Savage is your sister's son.He is well beloved within his shire,A great company with him will come,He will be ready at your desire.Gilbert Talbott is a captain pure,He will come with main and might;To you he will be fast and sure,Against my uncle king and knight.Let us raise an host with him to fight,Soon to the ground we shall him ding,For God will stand ever with the right,For he hath no right to be king!Go away, Bessy, the Lord can say;Of these words, Bessy, now lett be;I know king Richard woud not me betray,For all the gold in Christantye.I am his subject, sworn to be true:If I should seek treason to begin,I and all mine full sore should rue,For we were as like to lose as winne.Beside that, it were a deadly sinTo refuse my king, and him betray:The child is yet unborne that might moan in time,And think upon that woefull day.Wherefore, good lady, I do you pray,Keep all things close at your hart root;So now farr past it is of the day,To move me more it is no boot.Then from her head she cast her attire,Her colour changed as pale as lead,Her faxe that shoan as the gold wireShe tair it of besides her head,And in a swoon down can she swye,She spake not of a certain space!The Lord had never so great pittyAs when he saw her in that case,And in his arms he can her embrace;He was full sorry then for her sake.The tears fell from her eyes apace,But at the last these words she spake,She said, to Christ my soul I betake,For my body in Tem'ms drow'nd shall be!For I know my sorrow will never slake,And my bones upon the sands shall lye!The fishes shall feed upon me their fill;This is a dolefulle destinye!And you may remedy this and you will,Therefore the bone of my death I give to thee!And ever she wept as she were woode,The Earle on her had so great pitty,That her tender heart turned his mood.He said, stand up now, Lady Bessye,As you think best I will agreeNow I see the matter you do not faine,I have thought in this matter as much as yee:But it is hard to trust women,For many a man is brought into great woe,Through telling to women his privity:I trust you will not serve me soFor all the gold in Christantie.No, father, he is my mortall foe,On him fain wrooken woud I bee!He hath put away my brethren two,And I know he would do so by me;But my trust is in the Trinity,Through your help we shall bale to him bring,And such a day on him to seeThat he and his full sore shall rue!O Lady Bessye, the Lord can say,Betwixt us both forecast we mustHow we shall letters to Richmond convey,No man to write I dare well trust;For if he list to be unjustAnd us betray to King Richard,Then you and I are both lost;Therefore of the scribe I am afraid.You shall not need none such to call,Good father Stanley, hearken to meWhat my father, King Edward, that king royal,Did for my sister, my Lady Wells, and me:He sent for a scrivener to lusty London,He was the best in that citty;He taught us both to write and read full soon,If it please you, full soon you shall see:Lauded be God, I had such speed,That I can write as well as he,And also indite and full well read,And that (Lord) soon shall you see,Both English and alsoe French,And also Spanish, if you had need.The earle said, You are a proper wench,Almighty Jesus be your speed,And give us grace to proceed out,That we may letters soon conveyIn secrett wise and out of doubtTo Richmond, that lyeth beyond the sea.We must depart, lady, the earle said then;Wherefore keep this matter secretly,And this same night, betwixt nine and ten,In your chamber I think to be.Look that you make all things ready,Your maids shall not our councell hear,For I will bring no man with meBut Humphrey Brereton, my true esquire.He took his leave of that lady fair,And to her chamber she went full tight,And for all things she did prepare,Both pen and ink, and paper white.The lord unto his study went,Forecasting with all his mightTo bring to pass all his intent;He took no rest till it was night.And when the stars shone fair and bright,He him disguised in strange mannere,He went unknown of any wyght,No more with him but his esquire.And when he came her chamber near,Full privily there can he stand,To cause the lady to appeareHe made a signe with his right hand;And when the lady there him wist,She was as glad as she might be.Char-coals in chimneys there were cast,Candles on sticks standing full high;She opened the wickett and let him in,And said, welcome, lord and knight soe free!A rich chair was set for him,And another for that fair lady.They ate the spice and drank the wine,He had all things at his intent;They rested them as for a time,And to their study then they went.Then that lady so fair and free,With rudd as red as rose in May,She kneeled down upon her knee,And to the lord thus can she say:Good father Stanley, I you pray,Now here is no more but you and I;Let me know what you will say,For pen and paper I have ready.He saith, commend me to my son George Strange,In Latham Castle there he doth lye,When I parted with him his heart did change,From Latham to Manchester he road me by.Upon Salford Bridge I turned my horse againe,My son George by the hand I hent;I held so hard forsooth certaine,That his formast finger out of the joint went:I hurt him sore, he did complain,These words to him then I did say:Son, on my blessing, turne home againe,This shall be a token another day.Bid him come like a merchant of Farnfield,Of Coopland, or of Kendall, wheather that it be,And seven with him, and no more else,For to bear him company.Bid him lay away watch and ward,And take no heed to mynstrel's glee;Bid him sit at the lower end of the board,When he is amongst his meany,His back to the door, his face to the wall,That comers and goers shall not him see;Bid him lodge in no common hall,But keep him unknowne right secretly.Commend me to my brother Sir William so dear,In the Holt Castle there dwelleth hee;Since the last time that we together were,In the forest of Delameere both fair and free,And seven harts upon one hearde,Were brought to the buck sett to him and me;But a forester came to me with a whoore bearde,And said, good sir, awhile rest ye,I have found you a hart in Darnall Park,Such a one I never saw with my eye.I did him crave, he said I shoud him have;He was brought to the broad heath truely;At him I let my grayhound then slipp,And followed after while I might dree.He left me lyeing in an ould moss pit,A loud laughter then laughed hee;He said, Rise up, and draw out your cousin;The deer is dead, come you and see.Bid him come as a marchant of Carnarvon,Or else of Bew-morris whether it be;And in his company seven Welshmen,And come to London and speak to me;I have a great mind to speak with him,I think it long since I him see.Commend me to Sir John Savage, that knight,Lady, he is my sister's sone,Since upon a friday at nightBefore my bedside he kneeled downe:He desired me as I was uncle dear,Many a time full tenderly,That I would lowly King Richard requireIf I might get him any fee.I came before my soveraigne Lord,And kneeled down upon my knee,So soon to me he did accord,I thanked him full courteously,A gatt him an hundred pounds in KentTo him and his heirs perpetually,Also a manor of a duchy rent,Two hundred pounds he may spend thereby,And high sheriff of Worcestershire,And also the park of Tewksbury.He hath it all at his desire,Therewith dayley he may make merry.Bid him come as a merchant manOf West Chester, that fair city,And seven yeomen to wait him on,Bid him come to London and speak with me.Commend me to good Gilbert Talbott,A gentle esquire forsooth is he;Once on a Fryday, full well I wootKing Richard called him traitour high:But Gilbert to his fawchon prest,A bold esquire forsooth is he;Their durst no sarjant him arreast,He is called so perlous of his body.In the Tower Street I meet him thenGoing to Westminster to take sanctuarie;I light beside my horse I was upon,The purse from my belt I gave him truely;I bad him ride down into the North-West,Perchance a knight in England I might him see:Wherefore pray him at my requestTo come to London to speak with me.Then said the royall Lord so just,Now you have written, and sealed have I,There is no messenger that we may trust,To bring these writeings into the West Countrey.Because our matter it is so high,Least any man wou'd us descry.Humphrey Brereton, then said Bessye,Hath been true to my father and me;He shall take the writeings in hand,And bring them into the West Countrey:I trust him best of all this landOn this message to go for me.Go to thy bed, Father, and sleep full soon,And I shall wake for you and me,By tomorrow at the riseing of the sune,Humphrey Brereton shall be with thee.She brings the Lord to his bed so trimly dightAll that night where he should lye,And Bessy waked all that night,There came no sleep within her eye:In the morning when the day can spring,Up riseth young Bessye,And maketh hast in her dressing;To Humphrey Brereton gone is she:But when she came to Humphrey's bower bright,With a small voice called she,Humphrey answered that lady bright,Saith, Who calleth on me so early?I am King Edward's daughter right,The Countesse clear, young Bessy,In all hast with mean and mightThou must come speak with the Earle of Darby.Humphrey cast upon him a gowne,And a pair of slippers upon his feet;Alas! said Humphrey, I may not ride,My horse is tired as you may see;Since I came from London city,Neither night nor day, I tell you plain,There came no sleep within my eye;On my business I thought certaine.Lay thee down, Humphrey, he said, and sleep,I will give space of hours three:A fresh horse I thee beehyte,Shall bring thee through the West Countrey.Humphrey slept not hours two,But on his journey well thought hee;A fresh horse was brought him tooe,To bring him through the West Countrey.Then Humphrey Brereton with mickle might,Hard at Latham knocketh hee;Who is it, said the porter, this time of the night,That so hastily calleth on mee?The porter then in that state,That time of the night riseth hee,And forthwith opened me the gate,And received both my horse and me.Then said Humphrey Brereton, truelyWith the Lord Strange speak would I faine,From his father the Earle of Darby.Then was I welcome that time certaine;A torch burned that same tide,And other lights that he might see;And brought him to the bedd sideWhere as the Lord Strange lie.The lord mused in that tide,Said, Humphrey Brereton, what mak'st thou here?How fareth my father, that noble lord,In all England that hath no peer?Humphrey took him a letter in hand,And said, Behold, my lord, and you may see.When the Lord Strange looked the letter upon,The tears trickled downe from his eye:He said, we must come under a cloud,We must never trusted bee;We may sigh and make a great moane,This world is not as it will bee.Have here, Humphrey, pounds three,Better rewarded may thou bee;Commend me to my father dear,His daily blessing he would give me;He said also in that tide,Tell him all thus from me;If I be able to go or ride,This appointment keep will I.When Humphrey received the gold, I say,Straight to Manchester rideth hee.The sun was light up of the day,He was aware of the Warden and Edward Stanley;The one brother said to the other,As they together their matins did say:Behold, he said, my own dear brother,Yonder comes Humphrey Brereton, it is no nay,My father's servant at command,Some hasty tydeings bringeth hee.He took them either a letter in hand,And bad them behold, read and see:They turn'd their backs shortly tho',And read those letters readily.Up they leap and laughed too,And also they made game end glee,—Fair fare our father, that noble lord,To stirr and rise now beginneth hee;Buckingham's blood shall be wroken,That was beheaded in Salsbury;Fare fall that countesse, the king's daughter,That fair lady, young Bessye,We trust in Jesus in time hereafter,To bring thy love over the sea.Have here, Humphrey, of either of us shillings ten,Better rewarded may thou bee.He took the gold of the two gentlemen,To sir John Savage then rideth hee;He took him then a letter in hand,And bad him behold, read and see:When sir John Savage looked the letter upon,All blackned the knight's blee;Woman's wisdom is wondrous to hear, loe,My uncle is turned by young Bessye:Whether it turn to waile or woe,At my uncle's bidding will I bee.To Sheffield Castle at that same tide,In all the hast that might bee,Humphrey took his horse and forth could rideTo Gilbert Talbot fair and free.He took him a letter in his hand,Behold, said Humphrey, read and see;When he the letter looked upon,A loud laughter laughed hee,—Fare fall that Lord in his renowne there,To stirr and rise beginneth hee:Fair fall Bessie that countesse clear,That such councell cou'd give truely;Commend me to my nephew nigh of blood,The young Earle of Shrewsbury,Bid him neither dread for death nor good;In the Tower of London if he bee,I shall make London gates to tremble and quake,But my nephew borrowed shall bee.Commend me to the countess that fair make,King Edward's daughter, young Bessy:Tell her I trust in Jesu that hath no pear,To bring her love over the sea.Commend me to that lord to me so dear,That lately was made the Earle of Darby;And every hair of my headFor a man counted might bee,With that lord without any dread,With him will I live and dye.Have here, Humphrey, pounds three,Better rewarded may thou bee:Look to London gates thou ride quickly,In all the hast that may bee;Commend me to that countesse young Bessy,She was King Edward's daughter dear,Such a one she is, I say truely,In all this land she hath no peer.He took his leave at that time,Strait to London rideth he,In all the hast that he could wind,His journey greatly he did apply.But when he came to London, as I weene,It was but a little before the evening,There was he warr, walking in a garden,Both the earle, and Richard the king.When the earle did Humphrey see,When he came before the king,He gave him a privy twink then with his eye,Then down falls Humphrey on his knees kneeling;Welcome, Humphrey, says the lord,I have missed thee weeks three.I have been in the west, my lord,There born and bred was I,For to sport and play me certaine,Among my friends far and nigh.Tell me, Humphrey, said the earle then,How fareth all that same countrey?Of all the countreys I dare well say,They be the flower of chivalry;For they will bycker with their bowes,They will fight and never fly.Tell me, Humphrey, I thee pray,How fareth King Richard his commenty?When King Richard heard him say so,In his heart he was right merry;He with his cap that was so dear,He thanked that lord most courteously:And said, father Stanley, thou art to me near,You are the chief of our poor commenty;Half England shall be thine,It shall be equall between thee and me;I am thine and thou art mine,So two fellows will we bee.I swear by Mary, that mild maiden,I know no more such under the skye;When I am king and wear the crown, thenI will be chief of the poor commenty:Task nor mize I will make none,In no countrey farr nor nigh;If their goods I shoud take and pluck them downe,For me they woud fight full faintly:There is no riches to me so rich,As is the love of our poor commenty.When they had ended all their speeches,They take their leave full heartiley;And to his bower King Richard is gone.The earle and Humphrey BreretonTo Bessy's bower anon were gone;When Bessy Humphrey did see anon,She took him in her arms and kissed him times three.Welcome, she said, Humphrey Brereton;How hast thou spedd in the West CountreyI pray thee tell me quickly and anon.Into a parlour they went from thence,There were no more but he and shee:Humphrey, said Bessy, tell me e're we go henceSome tideings out of the West Countrey;If I shall send for yonder princeTo come over the sea, for the love of me,And if King Richard shoud him convince,Alas! it were great ruthe to see,Or murthered among the Stanley's blood to be,Indeed that were great pitty;That sight on that prince I woud not see,For all the gold in Christantie!Tell me, Humphrey, I thee pray,How hast thou spedd in the West Countrey?What answer of them thou had now say,And what reward they gave to thee.By the third day of May it shall be seen,In London all that they will bee;Thou shalt in England be a queen,Or else doubtless that they will dye.Thus they proceed forth the winter then,Their councell they kept close all three,The earle he wrought by prophecy certaine,In London he would not abide or bee,But in the subburbs without the cityAn ould inn chosen hath hee.A drew an Eagle foot on the door truely,That the western men might know where he did lye.Humphrey stood on a high tower then,He looked into the West Countrey;Sir William Stanley and seven in green,He was aware of the Eagle drawne;He drew himselfe so wonderous nigh,And bad his men go into the towne,And drink the wine and make merry;Into the same inn he went full prest,Whereas the earle his brother lay.Humphrey full soon into the westLooks over a long lee;He was aware of the Lord Strange and seven in green,Come rideing into the city.When he was aware of the Eagle drawn,He drew himself so wonderously nigh,He bad his men go into the towne certain,And drink the wine and make merry;And he himselfe drew then,Where as his father in the inne lay.Humphrey looked in the west, I say,Sixteen in green then did he see;He was aware of the Warden and Edward Stanley,Come rideing both in one company.When they were aware of the Eagle drawne,The gentlemen they drew it nee;And bad their men go into the towne,And drink the wine and make merry.And did go themselves into the same inn full prest,Where the earle their father lay.Yet Humphrey beholdeth into the west,And looketh towards the north countrey;He was aware of Sir John Savage and Sir Gilbert Talbot,Came rideing both in one company.When they were aware of the Eagle drawn,Themselves drew it full nigh,And bad their men go into the towne,To drink the wine and make merry.They did go themselves into the same inn,Where as the earle and Bessy lye.When all the lords together were,Amongst them all Bessy was full buissy;With goodly words Bessy then said there,Fair lords, what will you do for me?Will you relieve yonder prince,That is exiled beyond the sea?I woud not have King Richard him to convince,For all the gold in Christentye.The Earle of Darby came forth then,These words he said to young Bessye,—Ten thousand pounds will I send,Bessy, for the love of thee,And twenty thousand Eagle feet,The Queen of England for to make thee;Then Bessy most lowly the earle did greet,And thankt his honor most heartiley.Sir William Stanley came forth then,These words he said to fair Bessy:Remember, Bessy, another time,Who doth the most, Bessy, for thee;Ten thousand coats, that shall be red certaine,In an hours warning ready shall bee;In England thou shall be our queen,Or doubtlesse I will dye.Sir John Savage came forth then,These words he said to young Bessye,—A thousand marks for thy sake certaine,Will I send thy love beyond the sea.Sir Gilbert Talbott came forth then,These were the words he said to Bessy:Ten thousand marks for thy sake certaine,I will send to beyond the sea.The Lord Strange came forth then,These were the words he said to Bessy:A little money and few men,Will bring thy love over the sea;Let us keep our gold at home, said he,For to wage our company;For if we should send it over the sea,We shoud put our gold in jeopartie.Edward Stanley came forth then,These were the words he said to Bessye:Remember, Bessye, another time,Who that now doth the best for thee,For there is no power that I have,Nor no gold for to give thee;I will be under my father's banner, if God me save,There either to live or dye.Bessye came forth before the lords all,And downe she falleth upon her knee;Nineteen thousand pound of gold, I shallSend my love behind the sea,A love letter, and a gold ring,From my heart root rite will I.Who shall be the messenger the same to bring,Both the gold and the writeing over the sea?Humphrey Brereton, said Bessy,I know him trusty and true certaine,Therefore the writeing and the gold truelyBy him shall be carried to Little Brittaine.Alas, said Humphry, I dare not take in hand,To carry the gold over the sea;These galley shipps they be so strange,They will me night so wonderously;They will me robb, they will me drowne,They will take the gold from me.Hold thy peace, Humphrey, said Bessye then,Thou shalt it carry without jepordye;Thou shalt not have any caskett nor any male,Nor budgett, nor cloak sack, shall go with thee;Three mules that be stiff and strong withall,Sore loaded with gold shall they bee,With saddle-side skirted I do tell theeWherein the gold sowe will I:If any man faine whose is the shipp truelyThat saileth forth upon the sea,Say it is the Lord Lislay,In England and France well beloved is he.Then came forth the Earle of Darby,These words he said to young Bessy:He said, Bessye, thou art to blameTo appoint any shipp upon the sea;I have a good shipp of my owne,Shall carry Humphrey with the mules three;An eagle shall be drawne upon the mast top,That the Italians may it see;There is no freak in all FranceThe eagle that dare come neeIf any one ask whose ship it is, thenSay it is the Earles of Darby.Humphrey took the three mules then,Into the west wind wou'd hee,Without all doubt at LiverpooleHe took shipping upon the sea:With a swift wind and a liart,He so saild upon the sea,To Beggrames Abbey in Little Brittain,Where as the English Prince lie;The Porter was a Cheshire man,Well he knew Humphrey when he him see;Humphrey knockt at the gate truely,Where as the porter stood it by,And welcomed me full heartiley,And received then my mules three;I shall thee give in this breedTo thy reward pounds three;I will none of thy gold, the porter said,Nor Humphrey none of the fee,I will open thee the gates certaineTo receive thee and the mules three;For a Cheshire man born am I certain,From the Malpas but miles three.The porter opened the gates that time,And received him and the mules three.The wine that was in the hall that timeHe gave to Humphrey Brereton truely.Alas! said Humphrey, how shoud I doe,I am strayed in a strange countrey,The Prince of England I do not know,Before I never did him see.I shall thee tell, said the porter then,The Prince of England know shall ye,Low where he siteth at the butts certaine,With other lords two or three;He weareth a gown of velvet blackAnd it is cutted above the knee,With a long visage and pale and black—Thereby know that prince may ye;A wart he hath, the porter said,A little alsoe above the chinn,His face is white, his wart is redd,No more than the head of a small pinn;You may know the prince certaine,As soon as you look upon him truely.—He received the wine of the porter, thenWith him he took the mules three.When Humphrey came before that princeHe falleth downe upon his knee,He delivereth the letters which Bessy sent,And so did he the mules three,A rich ring with a stone,Thereof the prince glad was hee;He took the ring of Humphrey then,And kissed the ring times three.Humphrey kneeled still as any stone,As sure as I do tell to thee;Humphrey of the prince answer gott none,Therefore in heart was he heavy;Humphrey stood up then full of skill,And then to the prince said he:Why standest thou so still at thy will,And no answer dost give to me?I am come from the Stanleys' blood so dear,King of England for to make thee,A fairer lady then thou shalt have to thy fair,There is not one in all christantye;She is a countesse, a king's daughter, Humphrey said,The name of her it is Bessye,She can write, and she can read,Well can she work by prophecy;I may be called a lewd messenger,For answer of thee I can gett none,I may sail home with heavy cheare,What shall I say when I come home?The prince he took the Lord Lee,And the Earle of Oxford was him nee,The Lord Ferris wou'd not him beguile truely,To councell they are gone all three;When they had their councell taken,To Humphrey then turned he:Answer, Humphrey, I can give none truelyWithin the space of weeks three;The mules into a stable were taken anon,The saddle skirts unopened were,Therein he found gold great plentyFor to wage a company.He caused the abbot to make him chear:In my stead now let him be,If I be king and wear the crownWell acquited Abbott shalt thou be.Early in the morning they made them knowne,As soon as the light they cou'd see;With him he taketh his lords three,And straight to Paris he took his way.An herriott of arms they made ready,Of men and money they cou'd him pray,And shipps to bring him over the sea,The Stanleys' blood for me hath sent,The King of England for to make me,And I thank them for their intent,For if ever in England I wear the crowne,Well accquited the King of France shall be:Then answered the King of France anon,Men nor money he getteth none of me,Nor no shipps to bring him over the sea;In England if he wear the crowne,Then will he claim them for his own truely:With this answer departed the prince anon,And so departed the same tide,And the English lords threeTo Beggrames Abbey soon coud the ride,There as Humphrey Brereton then lee;Have Humphrey a thousand mark here,Better rewarded may thou be;Commend me to Bessy that Countesse clear,Before her never did I see:I trust in God she shall be my feer,For her I will travell over the sea;Commend me to my father Stanley, to me so dear,My owne mother married hath he,Bring him here a love letter full rightAnd another to young Bessye,Tell her, I trust in Jesus full of mightThat my queen that she shall bee;Commend me to Sir William Stanley,That noble knight in the west countrey,Tell him that about Michaelmas certaineIn England I do hope to be;At Millford haven I will come innWith all the power that make may I,The first town I will come innShall be the towne of Shrewsbury;Pray Sir William Stanley, that noble knight,That night that he will look on me:Commend me to Sir Gilbert Talbot, that royall knight,He much in the north countrey,And Sir John Savage, that man of might,—Pray them all to look on me,For I trust in Jesus Christ so full of might,In England for to abide and bee.I will none of thy gold, sir prince, said Humphrey then,Nor none sure will I have of thy fee,Therefore keep thy gold thee within,For to wage thy company;If every hair were a man,With thee, sir prince, will I be:Thus Humphrey Brereton his leave hath tane,And sailed forth upon the sea,Straight to London he rideth then,There as the earle and Bessy lay;And bad them behold, read and see.The earle took leave of Richard the king,And into the west wind wou'd he;He left Bessye in Leicester thenAnd bad her lye in pryvitye,For if King Richard knew thee here anon,In a fire burned thou must be.Straight to Latham the earle is gone,There as the Lord Strange then lee;He sent the Lord Strange to London,To keep King Richard company.Sir William Stanley made anoneTen thousand coats readily,Which were as redd as any blood,Thereon the hart's head was set full high,Which after were tryed both trusty and goodAs any cou'd be in Christantye.Sir Gilbert Talbot ten thousand doggsIn one hour's warning for to be,And Sir John Savage fifteen white hoods,Which wou'd fight and never flee;Edward Stanley had three hundred men,There were no better in Christantye;Sir Rees ap Thomas, a knight of Wales certain,Eight thousand spears brought he.Sir William Stanley sat in the Holt Castle,And looked over his head so high;Which way standeth the wind, can any tell?I pray you, my men, look and see.The wind it standeth south east,So said a knight that stood him by.This night yonder prince, truelyInto England entereth hee.He called a gentleman that stood him nigh,His name was Rowland of Warburton,He bad him go to Shrewsbury that night,And bid yonder prince come inn:But when Rowland came to Shrewsbury,The portculles was let downe;They called him Henry Tydder, in scorn truely,And said, in England he shou'd wear no crowne;Rowland bethought him of a wyle then,And tied a writeing to a stone,And threw the writeing over the wall certain,And bad the bailiffs to look it upon:They opened the gates on every side,And met the prince with procession;And wou'd not in Shrewsbury there abide,But straight he drest him to Stafford towne.King Richard heard then of his comeing,He called his lords of great renowne;The Lord Pearcy he came to the kingAnd upon his knees he falleth downe,I have thirty thousand fighting menFor to keep the crown with thee.The Duke of Northfolk came to the king anone,And downe he falleth upon his knee;The Earle of Surrey, that was his heir,Were both in one company;We have either twenty thousand men here,For to keep the crown with thee.The Lord Latimer, and the Lord Lovell,And the Earle of Kent he stood him by,The Lord Ross, and the Lord Scrope, I you tell,They were all in one company;The Bishopp of Durham, he was not away,Sir William Bonner he stood him by,The good Sir William of Harrington, as I say,Said, he wou'd fight and never fly.King Richard made a messenger,And sent him into the west countrey,And bid the Earle of Darby make him bowne,And bring twenty thousand men unto me,Or else the Lord Strange his head I will him send,And doubtless his son shall dye;For hitherto his father I took for my friend,And now he hath deceived me.Another herald appeared thenTo Sir William Stanley that doughty knight,Bid him bring to me ten thousand men,Or else to death he shall be dight.Then answered that doughty knight,And spake to the herald without letting;Say, upon Bosseworth Field I meen to fight,Uppon Monday early in the morning;Such a breakfast I him behight,As never did knight to any king.The messenger home can him gett,To tell King Richard this tydeing.Fast together his hands then cou'd he ding,And said, the Lord Strange shou'd surely dye;And putt him into the Tower of London,For at liberty he shou'd not bee.Lett us leave Richard and his lords full of pride,And talk we more of the Stanleys' blood,That brought Richmond over the sea with wind and tyde,From Litle Brittain into England over the flood.Now is Earle Richmond into Stafford come,And Sir William Stanley to Litle Stoone;The prince had rather then all the gold in Christantye,To have Sir William Stanley to look upon;A messenger was made ready anone,That night to go to Litle Stoon;Sir William Stanley he rideth to Stafford towne,With a solemn company ready bowne.When the knight to Stafford was comin,That Earle Richmond might him see,He took him in his arms then,And there he kissed him times three;The welfare of thy body doth comfort me moreThen all the gold in Christantye.Then answered that royall knight there,And to the prince these words spake he,—Remember, man, both night and day,Who doth now the most for thee;In England thou shalt wear a crown, I say,Or else doubtless I will dye;A fairer lady then thou shalt have for thy feer,Was there never in Christanty;She is a countesse, a king's daughter,And there to both wise and witty;I must this night to Stone, my soveraigne,For to comfort my company.The prince he took him by the hand,And said, farewell, Sir William, fair and free.Now is word come to Sir William Stanley there,Early in the Monday, in the morning,That the Earle of Darby, his brother dear,Had given battle to Richard the king.That wou'd I not, said Sir William anone,For all the gold in Christantye,That the battle shou'd be done;Straight to Lichfield cou'd he ride,In all the hast that might bee,And when he came to Lichfield that tyde,All they cryed King Henry:Straight to Bolesworth can they goIn all the hast that might be,But when he came Bolesworth Field unto,There met a royall company;The Earle of Darby thither was come,And twenty thousand stood him by;Sir John Savage, his sister's son,He was his nephew of his blood so nigh,He had fifteen hundred fighting men,That wou'd fight and never flye;Sir William Stanley, that royall knight, thenTen thousand red coats had he,They wou'd bicker with their bows there,They wou'd fight and never flye;The Red Rosse, and the Blew Boar,They were both a solemn company;Sir Rees ap Thomas he was thereby,With ten thousand spears of mighty tree;The Earle of Richmond went to the Earle of Darby,And downe he falleth upon his knee,Said, father Stanley, full of might,The vaward I pray you give to me,For I am come to claime my right,And faine revenged wou'd I bee.Stand up, he said, my son, quickly,Thou hast thy mother's blessing truely,The vaward, son, I will give to thee,So that thou wilt be ordered by me:Sir William Stanley, my brother dear,In the battle he shall be;Sir John Savage, he hath no peer,He shall be a wing then to thee;Sir Rees ap Thomas shall break the array,For he will fight and never flee;I myselfe will hove on the hill, I say,The fair battle I will see.King Richard he hoveth upon the mountaine;He was aware of the banner of the bould Stanley,And saith, Fetch hither the Lord Strange certain,For he shall dye this same day;To the death, Lord, thee ready make,For I tell thee certainlyThat thou shalt dye for thy uncle's sake,Wild William of Stanley.If I shall dye, said the Lord Strange then,As God forbid it shou'd so bee,Alas! for my lady that is at home,It should be long or she see me,But we shall meet at doomsday,When the great doom shall be.He called for a gent in good fay,Of Lancashire, both fair and free,The name of him it was Lathum;A ring of gould he took from his finger,And threw it to the gent then,And bad him bring it to Lancashire,To his lady that was at home;At her table she may sit right,Or she see her lord it may be long,I have no foot to fligh nor fight,I must be murdered with the king:If fortune my uncle Sir William Stanley loose the field,As God forbid it shou'd so bee,Pray her to take my eldest son and child,And exile him over behind the sea;He may come in another timeBy feild or fleet, by tower or towne,Wreak so he may his father's death in fyne,Upon Richard of England that weareth the crown.A knight to King Richard then did appeare,The good Sir William of Harrington.Let that Lord have his life, my dearSir king, I pray you grant me this boone,We shall have upon this field anon,The father, the son, and the uncle all three;Then shall you deem, lord, with your own mouth then,What shall be the death of them all three.Then a block was cast upon the ground,Thereon the lord's head was laid,A slave over his head can stand,And thus that time to him thus said:In faith there is no other booty tho',But need that thou must be dead.Harrington in hart was full woe,When he saw that the lord must needs be dead.He said, our ray breaketh on ev'ry side,We put our feyld in jepordie.He took up the lord that tyde,King Richard after did him never see.Then they blew up their bewgles of brass,That made many a wife to cry alas!And many a wive's child fatherlesse;They shott of guns then very fast,Over their heads they could them throw:Arrows flew them between,As thick as any hayle or snowe,As then that time might plaine be seene;Then Rees ap Thomas with the black raven,Shortly he brake their array;Then with thirty thousand fighting menThe Lord Pearcy went his way;The Duke of Northefolke wou'd have fledd with a good will,With twenty thousand of his company,They went up to a wind millne uppon a hill,That stood soe fayre and wonderousse hye;There he met Sir John Savage, a royall knight,And with him a worthy company;To the death was he then dight,And his sonne prisoner taken was he;Then the Lord Alroes began for to flee,And so did many other moe;When King Richard that sight did see,In his heart hee was never soe woe:I pray you, my merry men, be not away,For upon this field will I like a man dye,For I had rather dye this day,Then with the Standley prisoner to be.A knight to King Richard can say there,Good Sir William of Harrington;He said, sir king, it hathe no peer,Upon this feyld to death to be done,For there may no man these dints abide;Low, your horse is ready at your hand:Sett the crown upon my head that tyde,Give me my battle axe in my hand;I make a vow to myld Mary that is so bright,I will dye the king of merry England.Besides his head they hewed the crown down right,That after he was not able to stand;They dinge him downe as they were woode,They beat his bassnet to his heade,Until the braynes came out with the bloode;They never left him till he was dead.Then carryed they him to Leicester,And pulled his head under his feet.Bessye mett him with a merry cheare,And with these words she did him greete;How like you the killing of my brethren dear?Welcome, gentle uncle, home!Great solace ytt was to see and hear,When the battell yt was all done;I tell you, masters, without lett,When the Red Rosse soe fair of hew,And young Bessye together mett,It was great joy I say to you.A bishopp then marryed with a ringeThe two bloods of great renowne.Bessy said, now may we singe,Wee two bloods are made all one.The Earle of Darby hee was there,And Sir William Stanley, that noble knight,Upon their heads he set the crown so fair,That was made of gould so bright.And there he came under a cloud,That some time in England looked full high;But then the hart he lost his head,That after no man cou'd him see.But Jesus, that is both bright and shine,And born was of mylde Mary,Save and keepe our noble kinge,And also the poore commentie. Amen.

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