159DURHAM FIELD

‘Durham ffeilde,’ Percy MS., p. 245; Hales and Furnivall, II, 190.

While Edward Third was absent in France, and for the time engaged with the siege of Calais, David Bruce, the young king of Scotland, at the instance of Philip of Valois, but also because he “yearned to see fighting,” invaded England with a large army. Having taken by storm the Border castle of Liddel, he was advised by William of Douglas to turn back, which, it was represented by Douglas, he could do with credit after this success. Other lords said that Douglas had filled his bags, but theirs were toom, and that the way lay open to London, for there were no men left in England but souters, skinners, and traders.[152]The Scots moved on to Durham, and encamped in a park not far from the town, in a bad position. In the mean while a powerful force had been collected by the northern nobility and the English churchmen, without the knowledge of the Scots. William of Douglas, going out to forage, rode straight to the ground where his foes lay, and in the attempt to retreat lost five hundred of his men. King David drew up his army in three divisions: one under his own command, another under the Earl of Murray and William Douglas, the third under the Steward of Scotland and the Earl of March. The operations of the Scots were impeded by the ditches and fences that traversed the ground on which they stood, and their situation made them an almost helpless mark for the ten thousand archers of the English army. Murray’s men were completely routed by a charge of cavalry, and their leader killed. The English then fell upon the King’s division, which, after a desperate fight, was “vanquished utterly.” David, who had received two wounds from arrows, was taken prisoner by John Copland, “by force, not yolden,” after knocking out two of the Englishman’s teeth with a knife. Wyntoun’s Chronykil, ed. Laing, II, 470 ff; Scotichronicon, ed. Goodall, II, 339 ff. The battle was fought on the 17th of October, 1346.

According to the English chronicle of Lanercost, John of Douglas, ‘germanus domini Willelmi,’ fought with the Earl of Murray in the first Scottish division, and the Earl of Buchan was associated with King David in the command of the second. The English were also in three bodies. The leaders of the first were the Earl of Angus, ‘inter omnes Angliæ nobilis persona,’ Henry Percy, RalphNeville, and Henry Scrope; the Archbishop of York led the second; Mowbray, Rokeby, and John of Copland were in the third. Ed. Stevenson, pp. 349–51.

David, in the ballad, proposes to himself nothing less than the conquest of England and the distribution of the territory among his chief men. He is not a youth of twenty-two; William Douglas has served him four and thirty years. Still he will brook no advice, and kills his own squire for warning him of the danger of his enterprise. The Earl of Angus is to lead the van; but Angus, as we have seen, was engaged on the other side. The title of Angus might have deceived the minstrel, but it was hardly to be expected that Neville should be turned into a Scot as he is in st. 17. Angus, and also ‘Vaughan,’ that is Baughan, or Buchan,[153]are to be in the king’s coat-armor, sts 11, 13, imitating Blunt and the rest at Shrewsbury, and the five false Richmonds at Bosworth. James[154]Douglas offers to lead the van, 14; so does William Douglas in 21. An Englishman who does not know a Neville would surely not be very precise about a Douglas, and it must be conceded that the Douglases have not always been kept perfectly distinct by historians. James Douglas, whoever he may be supposed to be, “went before;” that is, he plays the part which belongs historically to the Knight of Liddesdale, loses all his men, and returns, with an arrow in his thigh, to report that one Englishman is worth five Scots: 26–33.[155]But the Scots, even at that rate, have the advantage, for a herald, sent out to reconnoitre, tells their king that they are ten to one.

The commanders on the English side are the Bishop of Durham, Earl Percy, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Carlisle, and “Lord Fluwilliams.”[156]The Bishop of Durham orders that no man shall fight before he has ‘served his God,’ and five hundred priests say mass in the field who afterwards take part in the fray. (The monks of Durham, Knyghton tells us, had made terms with the Scots, and were to pay a thousand pounds for ransom-money the next day; and so, when they saw the Scots yielding, they raised their voices in a Te Deum, which sounded to the clouds and quickened the courage of the English.) The king of Scots is wounded by an arrow through his nose, and, stepping aside to bleed, is taken prisoner by John of Copland, whom he first smites angrily. Copland sets the king on a palfrey and leads him to London. King Edward, newly arrived from France, asks him how he likes the shepherds, millers, and priests. There’s not a yeoman in England, says David, but he is worth a Scottish knight. Aye, says King Edward, laughing, that is because you were fighting against the right. Shortly after this the Black Prince brings the king of France captive from the field of Poitiers. Says David to John, Welcome, brother, but I would I had gone to Rome! And I, would I had gone to Jerusalem! replies John. Thus ends the battle of Durham, fought, says the minstrel, on a morning of May, sts 27, 64, and within the same month as the battles of Crécy and Poitiers.[157]Though Poitiers was fought ten years after Durham, the king of Scots and the king of France no doubt met in London, for John was taken thither in April,1357, and David was not released from his captivity until the following November.

Stanza 18 affords us an upper limit for a date. Lord Hambleton is said to be of the king’s kin full nigh. James Hamilton, the first lord, married the princess Mary, sister of James III, in 1474, and his descendants were the next heirs to the throne after the Stewarts, whose line was for a time but barely kept up.

1Lordinges, listen, and hold you still;Hearken to me a litle;I shall you tell of the fairest battellThat euerin England beffell.2For as it befell in Edward the Thirds dayes,In England, where he ware the crowne,Then all the cheefe chiualry of EnglandThey busked and made them bowne.3They chosen all the best archersThat in England might be found,And all was to fight with the kingof Ffrance,Within a litle stounde.4And when our kingwas ouerthe water,And on the salt sea gone,Then tydings into Scotland cameThat all England was gone.5Bowes and arrowes they were all forth,At home was not left a manBut shepards and millers both,And preists with shauen crownes.6Then the kingof Scotts in a study stood,As he was a man of great might;He sware he wold hold his parlamentin leeue London,If he cold ryde there right.7Then bespake a squier, of Scottland borne,And sayd, My leege, apace,Before you come to leeue London,Full sore you’le ruethat race.8Ther beene bold yeomen in merry England,Husbandmen stiffe and strong;Sharpe swords they done weare,Bearen bowes and arrowes longe.9The Kingwas angrye at that word;A long sword out hee drew,And there befor his royall companyeHis owne squier hee slew.10Hard hansell had the Scottesthat day,That wrought them woe enoughe,For then durst not a Scott speake a wordFfor hanging att a boughe.11‘The Earle of Anguish, where art thou?In my coate-armor thou shalt bee,And thou shalt lead the forwardThorrow the English countrye.12‘Take thee Yorke,’ then sayd the King,‘In stead wheras it doth stand;I’le make thy eldest sonne after theeHeyre of all Northumberland.13‘The Earle of Vaughan, where be yee?In my coate-armor thou shalt bee;The high Peak and DerbyshireI giue it thee to thy fee.’14Then came in famous Douglas,Saies, What shall my meede bee?And I’le lead the vawward, lord,Thorow the English countrye.15‘Take thee Worster,’ sayd the King,‘Tuxburye, Killingworth, Burton vpon Trent;Doe thou not say another dayBut I haue giuen thee lands and rent.16‘Sir Richardof Edenborrow, where are yee?A wise man in this warr!I’le giue thee Bristow and the shireThe timethat wee come there.17‘My lordNevill, where beene yee?You must in this warres bee;I’le giue thee Shrewsburye,’ saies the King,‘And Couentrye faire and free.18‘My lordof Hambleton, where art thou?Thou art of my kin full nye;I’le giue thee Lincolne and Lincolneshire,Andthat’s enouge for thee.’19By then came in William Douglas,As breeme as any bore;He kneeled him downe vpon his knees,In his hart he sighed sore.20Saies, I haue serued you, my louelye leege,This thirty winters and four,And in the Marches betweene England and ScottlandI haue beene wounded and beaten sore.21For all the good servicethat I haue done,What shall my meed bee?And I will lead the vanwardThorrow the English countrye.22‘Aske on, Douglas,’ said the king,‘And granted it shall bee:’‘Why then, I aske litle London,’ saies WilliamDouglas,‘Gotten giffthat it bee.’23The Kingwas wrath, and rose away,Saies, Nay,that cannot bee!Forthat I will keepe for my cheefe chamber,Gotten if it bee.24But take thee North Wales and Weschaster,The cuntrye all round about,And rewarded thou shalt bee,Ofthat take thou noe doubt.25Fiue score knights he made on a day,And dubbd them with his hands;Rewarded them right worthilyeWith the townes in merry England.26And when the fresh knights they were made,To battell the buske them bowne;Iames Douglas went before,And he thought to haue wonnen him shoone.27But the were mett in a morning of MayWith the comminaltye of litle England;But there scaped neuera man away,Through the might of Christës hand.28But all onely Iames Douglas;In Durham in the ffeildAn arrow stroke him in the thye;Fast flinge[s he] towards the King.29The Kinglooked toward litle Durham,Saies, All things is not well!For Iames Dowglas beares an arrow in his thye,The head of it is of steele.30‘How now Iames?’ then said the King,‘How now, how may this bee?And where beene all thy merrymenThat thou tooke hence with thee?’31‘But cease, my king,’ saies Iames Douglas,‘Aliue is not left a man!’‘Now by my faith,’ saies the kingof Scottes,‘That gate was euill gone.32‘But I’le reuenge thy quarrell well,And ofthat thou may be faine;For one Scott will beate fiue Englishmen,If the meeten them on the plaine.’33‘Now hold your tounge,’ saies Iames Douglas,‘For in faiththat is not soe;For one English man is worth fiue Scotts,When they meeten together thoe.34‘For they are as egar men to fightAs a faulcon vpon a pray;Alas! if euerthe winne the vanward,There scapes noe man away.’35‘O peace thy talking,’ said the King,‘They bee but English knaues,But shepards and millers both,And preists with their staues.’36The Kingsent forth one of his heralds of armesTo vew the Englishmen:‘Be of good cheere,’ the herald said,‘For against one wee bee ten.’37‘Who leades those ladds?’ said the kingof Scottes,‘Thou herald, tell thou mee:’The herald said, The Bishopp of DurhamIs captaine ofthat companye.38‘For the Bishopp hath spred the King‘s banner,And to battell he buskes him bowne:’‘I sweare by St. Andrewes bones,’ saies the King,‘I’le rappthat preist on the crowne.’39The Kinglooked towards litle Durham,Andthat hee well beheld,That the Earle Percy was well armed,With his battell-axe entred the feild.40The Kinglooket againe towards litle Durham,Four ancyents there see hee;There were to standards, six in a valley,He cold not see them with his eye.41My Lord of Yorke was one of them,My Lord of Carlile was the other,And my Lord Ffluwilliams,The one came with the other.42The Bishopp of Durham commanded his men,And shortlye he them bade,That neuera man shold goe to the feild to fightTill he had serued his God.43Fiue hundred preists said massethat dayIn Durham in the feild,And afterwards, as I hard say,They bare both speare and sheeld.44The Bishopp of Durham orders himselfe to fight,With his battell-axe in his hand;He said, This day now I will fightAs long as I can stand!45‘And soe will I,’ sayd my Lordof Carlile,‘In this faire morning gay;’‘And soe will I,’ said my LordFfluwilliams,‘For Mary,that myld may.’46Our English archers bent their bowes.Shortlye and anon;They shott ouerthe Scottish oastAnd scantlye toucht a man.47‘Hold downe your hands,’ sayd the Bishopp of Durham,‘My archers good and true:’The second shootethat the shott,Full sore the Scottes itt rue.48The Bishopp of Durham spoke on hye,That both partyes might heare:‘Be of good cheere, my merrymen all,The Scotts flyen, and changen there cheere.’49But as the saidden, soe the didden,They fell on heapës hye;Our Englishmen laid on with their bowes,As fast as they might dree.50The kingof Scotts in a studye stoodAmongst his companye;An arrow stoke him thorrow the nose,And thorrow his armorye.51The Kingwent to a marsh-sideAnd light beside his steede;He leaned him downe on his sword-hilts,To let his nose bleede.52There followed him a yeaman of merry England,His name was Iohn of Coplande:‘Yeeld thee, traytor!’ saies Coplande then,‘Thy liffe lyes in my hand.’53‘How shold I yeeld me,’ sayes the King,‘And thou art noe gentleman?’‘Noe, by my troth,’ sayes Copland there,‘I am but a poore yeaman.54‘What art thou better then I, Sir King?Tell me if that thou can!What art thou better then I, Sir King,Now we be but man to man?’55The Kingsmote angerly at Copland then,Angerly in that stonde;And then Copland was a bold yeaman,And bore the Kingto the ground.56He sett the Kingupon a palfrey,Himselfe upon a steede;He tooke him by the bridle-rayne,Towards London he can him lead.57And when to Londonthat he came,The Kingfrom Ffrance was new come home,And there unto the kingof ScottesHe sayd these words anon.58‘How like you my shepards and my millers?My priests with shaven crownes?’‘By my fayth, they are the sorest fighting menThat ever I mett on the ground.59‘There was never a yeaman in merry EnglandBut he was worth a Scottish knight:’‘I, by my troth,’ said KingEdward, and laughe,‘For you fought all against the right.’60But now the prince of merry England,Worthilye under his sheelde,Hath taken the kingof Ffrance,At Poytiers in the ffeelde.61The prince did present his father withthat food,The louely kingoff Ffrance,And fforward of his iourney he is gone:God send us all good chance!62‘You are welcome, brother!’ sayd the kingof Scotts, tothe kingof Ffrance,‘For I am come hither to soone;Christ leevethat I had taken my wayUnto the court of Roome!’63‘And soe wold I,’ said the kingof Ffrance,‘When I came over the streame,That I had taken my iourneyUnto Ierusalem!’64Thus ends the battell of ffaire Durham,In one morning of May,The battell of Cressey, andthe battle of Potyers,All within one monthës day.65Then was welthe and welfare in mery England,Solaces, game, and glee,And every man loved other well,And the Kingloved good yeomanrye.66But Godthat made the grasse to growe,And leaves on greenwoode tree,Now save and keepe our noble king,And maintaine good yeomanry!

1Lordinges, listen, and hold you still;Hearken to me a litle;I shall you tell of the fairest battellThat euerin England beffell.

Lordinges, listen, and hold you still;

Hearken to me a litle;

I shall you tell of the fairest battell

That euerin England beffell.

2For as it befell in Edward the Thirds dayes,In England, where he ware the crowne,Then all the cheefe chiualry of EnglandThey busked and made them bowne.

For as it befell in Edward the Thirds dayes,

In England, where he ware the crowne,

Then all the cheefe chiualry of England

They busked and made them bowne.

3They chosen all the best archersThat in England might be found,And all was to fight with the kingof Ffrance,Within a litle stounde.

They chosen all the best archers

That in England might be found,

And all was to fight with the kingof Ffrance,

Within a litle stounde.

4And when our kingwas ouerthe water,And on the salt sea gone,Then tydings into Scotland cameThat all England was gone.

And when our kingwas ouerthe water,

And on the salt sea gone,

Then tydings into Scotland came

That all England was gone.

5Bowes and arrowes they were all forth,At home was not left a manBut shepards and millers both,And preists with shauen crownes.

Bowes and arrowes they were all forth,

At home was not left a man

But shepards and millers both,

And preists with shauen crownes.

6Then the kingof Scotts in a study stood,As he was a man of great might;He sware he wold hold his parlamentin leeue London,If he cold ryde there right.

Then the kingof Scotts in a study stood,

As he was a man of great might;

He sware he wold hold his parlamentin leeue London,

If he cold ryde there right.

7Then bespake a squier, of Scottland borne,And sayd, My leege, apace,Before you come to leeue London,Full sore you’le ruethat race.

Then bespake a squier, of Scottland borne,

And sayd, My leege, apace,

Before you come to leeue London,

Full sore you’le ruethat race.

8Ther beene bold yeomen in merry England,Husbandmen stiffe and strong;Sharpe swords they done weare,Bearen bowes and arrowes longe.

Ther beene bold yeomen in merry England,

Husbandmen stiffe and strong;

Sharpe swords they done weare,

Bearen bowes and arrowes longe.

9The Kingwas angrye at that word;A long sword out hee drew,And there befor his royall companyeHis owne squier hee slew.

The Kingwas angrye at that word;

A long sword out hee drew,

And there befor his royall companye

His owne squier hee slew.

10Hard hansell had the Scottesthat day,That wrought them woe enoughe,For then durst not a Scott speake a wordFfor hanging att a boughe.

Hard hansell had the Scottesthat day,

That wrought them woe enoughe,

For then durst not a Scott speake a word

Ffor hanging att a boughe.

11‘The Earle of Anguish, where art thou?In my coate-armor thou shalt bee,And thou shalt lead the forwardThorrow the English countrye.

‘The Earle of Anguish, where art thou?

In my coate-armor thou shalt bee,

And thou shalt lead the forward

Thorrow the English countrye.

12‘Take thee Yorke,’ then sayd the King,‘In stead wheras it doth stand;I’le make thy eldest sonne after theeHeyre of all Northumberland.

‘Take thee Yorke,’ then sayd the King,

‘In stead wheras it doth stand;

I’le make thy eldest sonne after thee

Heyre of all Northumberland.

13‘The Earle of Vaughan, where be yee?In my coate-armor thou shalt bee;The high Peak and DerbyshireI giue it thee to thy fee.’

‘The Earle of Vaughan, where be yee?

In my coate-armor thou shalt bee;

The high Peak and Derbyshire

I giue it thee to thy fee.’

14Then came in famous Douglas,Saies, What shall my meede bee?And I’le lead the vawward, lord,Thorow the English countrye.

Then came in famous Douglas,

Saies, What shall my meede bee?

And I’le lead the vawward, lord,

Thorow the English countrye.

15‘Take thee Worster,’ sayd the King,‘Tuxburye, Killingworth, Burton vpon Trent;Doe thou not say another dayBut I haue giuen thee lands and rent.

‘Take thee Worster,’ sayd the King,

‘Tuxburye, Killingworth, Burton vpon Trent;

Doe thou not say another day

But I haue giuen thee lands and rent.

16‘Sir Richardof Edenborrow, where are yee?A wise man in this warr!I’le giue thee Bristow and the shireThe timethat wee come there.

‘Sir Richardof Edenborrow, where are yee?

A wise man in this warr!

I’le giue thee Bristow and the shire

The timethat wee come there.

17‘My lordNevill, where beene yee?You must in this warres bee;I’le giue thee Shrewsburye,’ saies the King,‘And Couentrye faire and free.

‘My lordNevill, where beene yee?

You must in this warres bee;

I’le giue thee Shrewsburye,’ saies the King,

‘And Couentrye faire and free.

18‘My lordof Hambleton, where art thou?Thou art of my kin full nye;I’le giue thee Lincolne and Lincolneshire,Andthat’s enouge for thee.’

‘My lordof Hambleton, where art thou?

Thou art of my kin full nye;

I’le giue thee Lincolne and Lincolneshire,

Andthat’s enouge for thee.’

19By then came in William Douglas,As breeme as any bore;He kneeled him downe vpon his knees,In his hart he sighed sore.

By then came in William Douglas,

As breeme as any bore;

He kneeled him downe vpon his knees,

In his hart he sighed sore.

20Saies, I haue serued you, my louelye leege,This thirty winters and four,And in the Marches betweene England and ScottlandI haue beene wounded and beaten sore.

Saies, I haue serued you, my louelye leege,

This thirty winters and four,

And in the Marches betweene England and Scottland

I haue beene wounded and beaten sore.

21For all the good servicethat I haue done,What shall my meed bee?And I will lead the vanwardThorrow the English countrye.

For all the good servicethat I haue done,

What shall my meed bee?

And I will lead the vanward

Thorrow the English countrye.

22‘Aske on, Douglas,’ said the king,‘And granted it shall bee:’‘Why then, I aske litle London,’ saies WilliamDouglas,‘Gotten giffthat it bee.’

‘Aske on, Douglas,’ said the king,

‘And granted it shall bee:’

‘Why then, I aske litle London,’ saies WilliamDouglas,

‘Gotten giffthat it bee.’

23The Kingwas wrath, and rose away,Saies, Nay,that cannot bee!Forthat I will keepe for my cheefe chamber,Gotten if it bee.

The Kingwas wrath, and rose away,

Saies, Nay,that cannot bee!

Forthat I will keepe for my cheefe chamber,

Gotten if it bee.

24But take thee North Wales and Weschaster,The cuntrye all round about,And rewarded thou shalt bee,Ofthat take thou noe doubt.

But take thee North Wales and Weschaster,

The cuntrye all round about,

And rewarded thou shalt bee,

Ofthat take thou noe doubt.

25Fiue score knights he made on a day,And dubbd them with his hands;Rewarded them right worthilyeWith the townes in merry England.

Fiue score knights he made on a day,

And dubbd them with his hands;

Rewarded them right worthilye

With the townes in merry England.

26And when the fresh knights they were made,To battell the buske them bowne;Iames Douglas went before,And he thought to haue wonnen him shoone.

And when the fresh knights they were made,

To battell the buske them bowne;

Iames Douglas went before,

And he thought to haue wonnen him shoone.

27But the were mett in a morning of MayWith the comminaltye of litle England;But there scaped neuera man away,Through the might of Christës hand.

But the were mett in a morning of May

With the comminaltye of litle England;

But there scaped neuera man away,

Through the might of Christës hand.

28But all onely Iames Douglas;In Durham in the ffeildAn arrow stroke him in the thye;Fast flinge[s he] towards the King.

But all onely Iames Douglas;

In Durham in the ffeild

An arrow stroke him in the thye;

Fast flinge[s he] towards the King.

29The Kinglooked toward litle Durham,Saies, All things is not well!For Iames Dowglas beares an arrow in his thye,The head of it is of steele.

The Kinglooked toward litle Durham,

Saies, All things is not well!

For Iames Dowglas beares an arrow in his thye,

The head of it is of steele.

30‘How now Iames?’ then said the King,‘How now, how may this bee?And where beene all thy merrymenThat thou tooke hence with thee?’

‘How now Iames?’ then said the King,

‘How now, how may this bee?

And where beene all thy merrymen

That thou tooke hence with thee?’

31‘But cease, my king,’ saies Iames Douglas,‘Aliue is not left a man!’‘Now by my faith,’ saies the kingof Scottes,‘That gate was euill gone.

‘But cease, my king,’ saies Iames Douglas,

‘Aliue is not left a man!’

‘Now by my faith,’ saies the kingof Scottes,

‘That gate was euill gone.

32‘But I’le reuenge thy quarrell well,And ofthat thou may be faine;For one Scott will beate fiue Englishmen,If the meeten them on the plaine.’

‘But I’le reuenge thy quarrell well,

And ofthat thou may be faine;

For one Scott will beate fiue Englishmen,

If the meeten them on the plaine.’

33‘Now hold your tounge,’ saies Iames Douglas,‘For in faiththat is not soe;For one English man is worth fiue Scotts,When they meeten together thoe.

‘Now hold your tounge,’ saies Iames Douglas,

‘For in faiththat is not soe;

For one English man is worth fiue Scotts,

When they meeten together thoe.

34‘For they are as egar men to fightAs a faulcon vpon a pray;Alas! if euerthe winne the vanward,There scapes noe man away.’

‘For they are as egar men to fight

As a faulcon vpon a pray;

Alas! if euerthe winne the vanward,

There scapes noe man away.’

35‘O peace thy talking,’ said the King,‘They bee but English knaues,But shepards and millers both,And preists with their staues.’

‘O peace thy talking,’ said the King,

‘They bee but English knaues,

But shepards and millers both,

And preists with their staues.’

36The Kingsent forth one of his heralds of armesTo vew the Englishmen:‘Be of good cheere,’ the herald said,‘For against one wee bee ten.’

The Kingsent forth one of his heralds of armes

To vew the Englishmen:

‘Be of good cheere,’ the herald said,

‘For against one wee bee ten.’

37‘Who leades those ladds?’ said the kingof Scottes,‘Thou herald, tell thou mee:’The herald said, The Bishopp of DurhamIs captaine ofthat companye.

‘Who leades those ladds?’ said the kingof Scottes,

‘Thou herald, tell thou mee:’

The herald said, The Bishopp of Durham

Is captaine ofthat companye.

38‘For the Bishopp hath spred the King‘s banner,And to battell he buskes him bowne:’‘I sweare by St. Andrewes bones,’ saies the King,‘I’le rappthat preist on the crowne.’

‘For the Bishopp hath spred the King‘s banner,

And to battell he buskes him bowne:’

‘I sweare by St. Andrewes bones,’ saies the King,

‘I’le rappthat preist on the crowne.’

39The Kinglooked towards litle Durham,Andthat hee well beheld,That the Earle Percy was well armed,With his battell-axe entred the feild.

The Kinglooked towards litle Durham,

Andthat hee well beheld,

That the Earle Percy was well armed,

With his battell-axe entred the feild.

40The Kinglooket againe towards litle Durham,Four ancyents there see hee;There were to standards, six in a valley,He cold not see them with his eye.

The Kinglooket againe towards litle Durham,

Four ancyents there see hee;

There were to standards, six in a valley,

He cold not see them with his eye.

41My Lord of Yorke was one of them,My Lord of Carlile was the other,And my Lord Ffluwilliams,The one came with the other.

My Lord of Yorke was one of them,

My Lord of Carlile was the other,

And my Lord Ffluwilliams,

The one came with the other.

42The Bishopp of Durham commanded his men,And shortlye he them bade,That neuera man shold goe to the feild to fightTill he had serued his God.

The Bishopp of Durham commanded his men,

And shortlye he them bade,

That neuera man shold goe to the feild to fight

Till he had serued his God.

43Fiue hundred preists said massethat dayIn Durham in the feild,And afterwards, as I hard say,They bare both speare and sheeld.

Fiue hundred preists said massethat day

In Durham in the feild,

And afterwards, as I hard say,

They bare both speare and sheeld.

44The Bishopp of Durham orders himselfe to fight,With his battell-axe in his hand;He said, This day now I will fightAs long as I can stand!

The Bishopp of Durham orders himselfe to fight,

With his battell-axe in his hand;

He said, This day now I will fight

As long as I can stand!

45‘And soe will I,’ sayd my Lordof Carlile,‘In this faire morning gay;’‘And soe will I,’ said my LordFfluwilliams,‘For Mary,that myld may.’

‘And soe will I,’ sayd my Lordof Carlile,

‘In this faire morning gay;’

‘And soe will I,’ said my LordFfluwilliams,

‘For Mary,that myld may.’

46Our English archers bent their bowes.Shortlye and anon;They shott ouerthe Scottish oastAnd scantlye toucht a man.

Our English archers bent their bowes.

Shortlye and anon;

They shott ouerthe Scottish oast

And scantlye toucht a man.

47‘Hold downe your hands,’ sayd the Bishopp of Durham,‘My archers good and true:’The second shootethat the shott,Full sore the Scottes itt rue.

‘Hold downe your hands,’ sayd the Bishopp of Durham,

‘My archers good and true:’

The second shootethat the shott,

Full sore the Scottes itt rue.

48The Bishopp of Durham spoke on hye,That both partyes might heare:‘Be of good cheere, my merrymen all,The Scotts flyen, and changen there cheere.’

The Bishopp of Durham spoke on hye,

That both partyes might heare:

‘Be of good cheere, my merrymen all,

The Scotts flyen, and changen there cheere.’

49But as the saidden, soe the didden,They fell on heapës hye;Our Englishmen laid on with their bowes,As fast as they might dree.

But as the saidden, soe the didden,

They fell on heapës hye;

Our Englishmen laid on with their bowes,

As fast as they might dree.

50The kingof Scotts in a studye stoodAmongst his companye;An arrow stoke him thorrow the nose,And thorrow his armorye.

The kingof Scotts in a studye stood

Amongst his companye;

An arrow stoke him thorrow the nose,

And thorrow his armorye.

51The Kingwent to a marsh-sideAnd light beside his steede;He leaned him downe on his sword-hilts,To let his nose bleede.

The Kingwent to a marsh-side

And light beside his steede;

He leaned him downe on his sword-hilts,

To let his nose bleede.

52There followed him a yeaman of merry England,His name was Iohn of Coplande:‘Yeeld thee, traytor!’ saies Coplande then,‘Thy liffe lyes in my hand.’

There followed him a yeaman of merry England,

His name was Iohn of Coplande:

‘Yeeld thee, traytor!’ saies Coplande then,

‘Thy liffe lyes in my hand.’

53‘How shold I yeeld me,’ sayes the King,‘And thou art noe gentleman?’‘Noe, by my troth,’ sayes Copland there,‘I am but a poore yeaman.

‘How shold I yeeld me,’ sayes the King,

‘And thou art noe gentleman?’

‘Noe, by my troth,’ sayes Copland there,

‘I am but a poore yeaman.

54‘What art thou better then I, Sir King?Tell me if that thou can!What art thou better then I, Sir King,Now we be but man to man?’

‘What art thou better then I, Sir King?

Tell me if that thou can!

What art thou better then I, Sir King,

Now we be but man to man?’

55The Kingsmote angerly at Copland then,Angerly in that stonde;And then Copland was a bold yeaman,And bore the Kingto the ground.

The Kingsmote angerly at Copland then,

Angerly in that stonde;

And then Copland was a bold yeaman,

And bore the Kingto the ground.

56He sett the Kingupon a palfrey,Himselfe upon a steede;He tooke him by the bridle-rayne,Towards London he can him lead.

He sett the Kingupon a palfrey,

Himselfe upon a steede;

He tooke him by the bridle-rayne,

Towards London he can him lead.

57And when to Londonthat he came,The Kingfrom Ffrance was new come home,And there unto the kingof ScottesHe sayd these words anon.

And when to Londonthat he came,

The Kingfrom Ffrance was new come home,

And there unto the kingof Scottes

He sayd these words anon.

58‘How like you my shepards and my millers?My priests with shaven crownes?’‘By my fayth, they are the sorest fighting menThat ever I mett on the ground.

‘How like you my shepards and my millers?

My priests with shaven crownes?’

‘By my fayth, they are the sorest fighting men

That ever I mett on the ground.

59‘There was never a yeaman in merry EnglandBut he was worth a Scottish knight:’‘I, by my troth,’ said KingEdward, and laughe,‘For you fought all against the right.’

‘There was never a yeaman in merry England

But he was worth a Scottish knight:’

‘I, by my troth,’ said KingEdward, and laughe,

‘For you fought all against the right.’

60But now the prince of merry England,Worthilye under his sheelde,Hath taken the kingof Ffrance,At Poytiers in the ffeelde.

But now the prince of merry England,

Worthilye under his sheelde,

Hath taken the kingof Ffrance,

At Poytiers in the ffeelde.

61The prince did present his father withthat food,The louely kingoff Ffrance,And fforward of his iourney he is gone:God send us all good chance!

The prince did present his father withthat food,

The louely kingoff Ffrance,

And fforward of his iourney he is gone:

God send us all good chance!

62‘You are welcome, brother!’ sayd the kingof Scotts, tothe kingof Ffrance,‘For I am come hither to soone;Christ leevethat I had taken my wayUnto the court of Roome!’

‘You are welcome, brother!’ sayd the kingof Scotts, tothe kingof Ffrance,

‘For I am come hither to soone;

Christ leevethat I had taken my way

Unto the court of Roome!’

63‘And soe wold I,’ said the kingof Ffrance,‘When I came over the streame,That I had taken my iourneyUnto Ierusalem!’

‘And soe wold I,’ said the kingof Ffrance,

‘When I came over the streame,

That I had taken my iourney

Unto Ierusalem!’

64Thus ends the battell of ffaire Durham,In one morning of May,The battell of Cressey, andthe battle of Potyers,All within one monthës day.

Thus ends the battell of ffaire Durham,

In one morning of May,

The battell of Cressey, andthe battle of Potyers,

All within one monthës day.

65Then was welthe and welfare in mery England,Solaces, game, and glee,And every man loved other well,And the Kingloved good yeomanrye.

Then was welthe and welfare in mery England,

Solaces, game, and glee,

And every man loved other well,

And the Kingloved good yeomanrye.

66But Godthat made the grasse to growe,And leaves on greenwoode tree,Now save and keepe our noble king,And maintaine good yeomanry!

But Godthat made the grasse to growe,

And leaves on greenwoode tree,

Now save and keepe our noble king,

And maintaine good yeomanry!

Andfor&throughout.

11.Perhapslesten: yo.

12. a litle spell?

21. 3ds.

83. sharpes.

113. forwardhas a tag to thed.Furnivall.

121. thyforthee.

131.inEarlethelis made over ane.Furnivall.

152. Tuxburyedoubtful in the MS.

202. 30: 4.

251.5 score.

311. Janes.

323, 333. 5.

After39. 2d part.

402. 4.

403. 6.

431. 500.

441. Durhan.

473. 2d.

621. brothers.

66.Pencil note in Percy’s late hand.

This and 2 following leaves being unfortunately torn out, in sending the subsequent piece [‘King Estmere’] to the press, the conclusion of the preceding ballad has been carefully transcribed; and indeed the fragments of the other leaves ought to have been so.

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