167SIR ANDREW BARTON

A.‘Sir Andrew Bartton,’ Percy MS. p. 490; Hales and Furnivall, III, 399.

B.‘The Life and Death of Sir Andrew Barton,’ etc.a.Douce Ballads, I, 18 b.b.Pepys Ballads, I, 484, No 249.c.Wood Ballads, 401, 55.d.Roxburghe Ballads, I, 2; reprinted by the Ballad Society, I, 10.e.Bagford Ballads, 643, m. 9. (61).f.Bagford Ballads, 643, m. 10 (77).g.Wood Ballads, 402, 37.h.‘Sir Andrew Barton,’ Glenriddell MSS, XI, 20.

Given in Old Ballads, 1723, I, 159; in Percy’s Reliques, 1765, II, 177, a copy made up from the Folio MS. andB b, with editorial emendations; Ritson’s Select Collection of English Songs, 1783, I, 313.B fis reprinted by Halliwell, Early Naval Ballads, Percy Society, vol. ii, p. 4, 1841; by Moore, Pictorial Book of Ancient Ballad Poetry, p. 256, 1853. There is a Bow-Churchyard copy, of no value, in the Roxburghe collection, III, 726, 727, dated in the Museum catalogue 1710.

A collation ofAandBwill show how ballads were retrenched and marred in the process of preparing them for the vulgar press.[205]B a-gclearly lack two stanzas after 11 (12, 13, ofA). This omission is perhaps to be attributed to careless printing rather than to reckless cutting down, for the stanzas wanted are found inh.his a transcript, apparently from recitation or dictation, of a Scottish broadside. It has but fifty-six stanzas, against the sixty-four ofB aand the eighty-two ofA, and is extremely corrupted. Besides the two stanzas not found in the English broadside, it has one more, after 50, which is perhaps borrowed from ‘Adam Bell’:

‘Foul fa the hands,’ says Horsley then,‘This day that did that coat put on;For had it been as thin as mine,Thy last days had been at an end.’[206]

‘Foul fa the hands,’ says Horsley then,

‘This day that did that coat put on;

For had it been as thin as mine,

Thy last days had been at an end.’[206]

Ahas a regrettable gap after 35, and is corrupted at 292[207], 472.

In the year 1476 a Portuguese squadron seized a richly loaded ship commanded by John Barton, in consequence of which letters of reprisal were granted to Andrew, Robert, and John Barton, sons of John, and these letters were renewed in 1506,[208]“as no opportunity had occurred of effectuating a retaliation;” that is to say, as the Scots, up to the later date, had not been supplied with the proper vessels. The king of Portugal remonstrated against reprisals for so old an offence, but he had put himself in the wrong fouryears before by refusing to deal with a herald sent by the Scottish king for the arrangement of the matter in dispute. It is probable that there was justice on the Scottish side, “yet there is some reason to believe that the Bartons abused the royal favor, and the distance and impunity of the sea, to convert this retaliation into a kind of piracy against the Portuguese trade, at that time, by the discoveries and acquisitions in India, rendered the richest in the world.” All three of the brothers were men of note in the naval history of Scotland. Andrew is called Sir Andrew, perhaps, in imitation of Sir Andrew Wood; but his brother attained to be called Sir Robert.[209]

We may now hear what the writers who are nearest to the time have to say of the subject-matter of our ballad.

Hall’s Chronicle, 1548. In June [1511], the king being at Leicester, tidings were brought to him that Andrew Barton, a Scottish man and a pirate of the sea, saying that the king of Scots had war with the Portingales, did rob every nation, and so stopped the king’s streams that no merchants almost could pass, and when he took the Englishmen’s goods, he said they were Portingales’ goods, and thus he haunted and robbed at every haven’s mouth. The king, moved greatly with this crafty pirate, sent Sir Edmund Howard, Lord Admiral of England,[210]and Lord Thomas Howard, son and heir to the Earl of Surrey, in all the haste to the sea, which hastily made ready two ships, and without any more abode took the sea, and by chance of weather were severed. The Lord Howard, lying in the Downs, perceived where Andrew was making toward Scotland, and so fast the said lord chased him that he overtook him, and there was a sore battle. The Englishmen were fierce, and the Scots defended them manfully, and ever Andrew blew his whistle to encourage his men, yet for all that, the Lord Howard and his men, by clean strength, entered the main deck; then the Englishmen entered on all sides, and the Scots fought sore on the hatches, but in conclusion Andrew was taken, which was so sore wounded that he died there; then all the remnant of the Scots were taken, with their ship, called The Lion. All this while was the Lord Admiral in chase of the bark of Scotland called Jenny Pirwyn, which was wont to sail with The Lion in company, and so much did he with other that he laid him on board and fiercely assailed him, and the Scots, as hardy and well stomached men, them defended; but the Lord Admiral so encouraged his men that they entered the bark and slew many, and took all the other. Then were these two ships taken, and brought to Blackwall the second day of August, and all the Scots were sent to the Bishop’s place of York, and there remained, at the king’s charge, till other direction was taken for them. [They were released upon their owning that they deserved death for piracy, and appealing to the king’s mercy, says Hall.] The king of Scots, hearing of the death of Andrew of Barton and taking of his two ships, was wonderful wroth, and sent letters to the king requiring restitution according to the league and amity. The king wrote with brotherly salutations to the king of Scots of the robberies and evil doings of Andrew Barton, and that it became not one prince to lay a breach of a league to another prince in doing justice upon a pirate or thief, and that all the other Scots that were taken had deserved to die by justice if he had not extended his mercy. (Ed. of 1809, p. 525.)

Buchanan, about twenty years later, writes to this effect. Andrew Breton[211]was a Scots trader whose father had been cruelly put to death by the Portuguese, after they had plundered his ship. This outrage was committed within the dominion of Flanders, and theFlemish admiralty, upon suit of the son, gave judgment against the Portuguese; but the offending parties would not pay the indemnity, nor would their king compel them, though the king of Scots sent a herald to make the demand. The Scot procured from his master a letter of marque, to warrant him against charges of piracy and freebooting while prosecuting open war against the Portuguese for their violation of the law of nations, and in the course of a few months inflicted great loss on them. Portuguese envoys went to the English king and told him that this Andrew was a man of such courage and enterprise as would make him a dangerous enemy in the war then impending with the French, and that he could now be conveniently cut off, under cover of piracy, to the advantage of English subjects and the gratification of a friendly sovereign. Henry was easily persuaded, and dispatched his admiral, Thomas Howard,[212]with two of the strongest ships of the royal navy, to lie in wait at the Downs for Andrew, then on his way home from Flanders. They soon had sight of the Scot, in a small vessel, with a still smaller in company. Howard attacked Andrew’s ship, but, though the superior in all respects, was barely able to take it after the master and most of his men had been killed. The Scots captain, though several times wounded and with one leg broken by a cannon-ball, seized a drum and beat a charge to inspirit his men to fight until breath and life failed. The smaller ship was surrendered with less resistance, and the survivors of both vessels, by begging their lives of the king (as they were instructed to do by the English), obtained a discharge without punishment. The Scottish king made formal complaint of this breach of peace, but the answer was ready: the killing of pirates broke no leagues and furnished no decent ground for war. (Rer. Scot. Historia, 1582, fol. 149 b, 150.)

Bishop Lesley, writing at about the same time as Buchanan, openly accuses the English of fraud. “In the month of June,” he says, “Andrew Barton, being on the sea in warfare contrar the Portingals, against whom he had a letter of mark, Sir Edmund Howard, Lord Admiral of England, and Lord Thomas Howard, son and heir to the Earl of Surrey, past forth at the king of England’s command, with certain of his best ships; and the said Andrew, being in his voyage sailing toward Scotland, having only but one ship and a bark, they set upon at the Downs, and at the first entry did make sign unto them that there was friendship standing betwix the two realms, and therefore thought them to be friends; wherewith they, nothing moved, did cruelly invade, and he manfully and courageously defended, where there was many slain, and Andrew himself sore wounded, that he died shortly; and his ship, called The Lion, and the bark, called Jenny Pirrvyne, which, with the Scots men that was living, were had to London, and kept there as prisoners in the Bishop of Yorks house, and after was sent home in Scotland. When that the knowledge hereof came to the king, he sent incontinent a herald to the king of England, with letters requiring dress for the slaughter of Andrew Barton, with the ships to be rendered again; otherwise it might be an occasion to break the league and peace contracted between them. To the which it was answered by the king of England that the slaughter being a pirate, as he alleged, should be no break to the peace; yet not the less he should cause commissioners meet upon the borders, where they should treat upon that and all other enormities betwix the two realms.”[213](History of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1830, p. 82 f.)

The ballad displaces Sir Thomas and Sir Edward Howard, and puts in their place Lord Charles Howard, who was not born till twenty-five years after the fight. Lord Charles Howard, son of William, a younger half-brother of Thomas and Edward, was, in his time, like them, Lord High Admiral, and had the honor of commanding the fleet which served against the Armada. He was created Earl of Nottingham in 1596, and this circumstance, adopted intoA78,[214]puts this excellent ballad later than one would have said, unless, as is quite possible, the name of the English commander has been changed. There is but one ship in the ballad, as there is but a single captain, but Henry Hunt makes up for the other when we come to the engagement. The dates are much deranged inA. The merchants make their complaint at midsummer, the summer solstice (in May,B1), and here there is agreement with Hall and Lesley. The English ship sails the day before midsummer-even,A17; the fight occurs not more than four days after (A18, 33, 34;B16, 31); four days is a large allowance for returning, but the ship sails into Thames mouth on the day before New Year’s even,A71, 72, 74.[215]InBthe English do not sail till winter, and although the interval from May is long for fitting out a ship, inconsistency is avoided. According to Hall, the English ships brought in their prizes August 2d.

A.King Henry Eighth, having been informed by eighty London merchants that navigation is stopped by a Scot who would rob them were they twenty ships to his one, asks if there is never a lord who will fetch him that traitor, and Lord Charles Howard volunteers for the service, he to be the only man. The king offers him six hundred fighting men, his choice of all the realm. Howard engages two noble marksmen, Peter Simon to be the head of a hundred gunners, and William Horsley to be the head of a hundred bowmen, and sails, resolved to bring in Sir Andrew and his ship, or never again come near his prince. On the third day he falls in with a fine ship commanded by Henry Hunt, and asks whether they have heard of Barton. Henry Hunt had been Barton’s prisoner the day before, and can give the best intelligence and advice. Barton is a terrible fellow; his ship is brass within and steel without; and although there is a deficiency atA36, there is enough to show that it was not less magnificent than strong, 362, 752. He has a pinnace of thirty guns, and the voluble and not too coherent Hunt makes it a main point to sink this pinnace first. But above all, Barton carries beams in his topcastle, and with these, if he can drop them, his own ship is a match for twenty;[216]therefore, let no man go to his topcastle. Hunt borrows some guns from Lord Howard, trusting to be forgiven for breaking the oath upon which he had been released by his captor the day before, and sets a ‘glass’ (lantern?) to guide Howard’s ship to Barton’s, which they see the next day. Barton is lying at anchor, 453, 461; the English ship, feigning to be a merchantman, passes him without striking topsails or topmast, ‘stirring neither top normast.’ Sir Andrew has been admiral on the sea for more than three years, and no Englishman or Portingal passes without his leave: he orders his pinnace to bring the pedlars back; they shall hang at his main-mast tree. The pinnace fires on Lord Howard and brings down his foremast and fifteen of his men, but Simon sinks the pinnace with one discharge, which, to be sure, includes nine yards of chain besides other great shot, less and more. Sir Andrew cuts his ropes to go for the pedlar himself. Lord Howard throws off disguise, sounds drums and trumpets, and spreads his ensign. Simon’s son shoots and kills sixty; the perjured Henry Hunt comes in on the other side, brings down the foremast, and kills eighty. One wonders that Barton’s guns do not reply; in fact he never fires a shot; but then he has that wonderful apparatus of the beams, which, whether mechanically perfect or not, is worked well by the poet, for not many better passages are met with in ballad poetry than that which tells of the three gallant attempts on the main-mast tree, 52–66. Sir Andrew had not taken the English archery into his reckoning. Gordon, the first man to mount, is struck through the brain; so is James Hamilton, Barton’s sister’s son. Sir Andrew dons his armor of proof and goes up himself. Horsley hits him under his arm; Barton will not loose his hold, but a second mortal wound forces him to come down. He calls on his men to fight on; he will lie and bleed awhile, and then rise and fight again; “fight on for Scotland and St Andrew, while you hear my whistle blow!” Soon the whistle is mute, and they know that Barton is dead; the English board; Howard strikes off Sir Andrew’s head, while the Scots stand by weeping, and throws the body over the side, with three hundred crowns about the middle to secure it a burial. So Jon Rimaardssøn binds three bags about his body when he jumps into the sea, saying, He shall not die poor that will bury my body: Danske Viser, II, 225, st. 30. Lord Howard sails back to England, and is royally welcomed. England before had but one ship of war, and Sir Andrew’s made the second, says the ballad, but therein seems to be less than historically accurate: see Southey’s Lives of the British Admirals, 1833, II, 171, note. Hunt, Horsley, and Simon are generously rewarded, and Howard is made Earl of Nottingham. When King Henry sees Barton’s ghastly head, he exclaims that he would give a hundred pounds if the man were alive as he is dead: ambiguous words, which one would prefer not to interpret by the later version of the ballad, in which Henry is eager himself to give the doom,B58; nor need we, for in the concluding stanza the king, in recognition of the manful part that he hath played, both here and beyond the sea, says that each of Barton’s men shall have half a crown a day to take them home.

The variations ofB, as to the story, are of slight importance. There is no pinnace inB. Horsley’s shots are somewhat better arranged: Gordon is shot under the collar-bone, the nephew through the heart; the first arrow rebounds from Barton’s armor, the second smites him to the heart. ‘Until you hear my whistle blow,’ in 534, is a misconception, coming from not understanding that till (as inA664) may mean while.

The copy in Percy’s Reliques is translated by Von Marées, p. 88.

Percy MS., p. 490; Hales and Furnivall, III, 399.

1As itt beffell in m[i]dsumer-time,When burds singe sweetlye on euery tree,Our noble king, KingHenery the Eighth,Ouer the riuer of Thames past hee.2Hee was no sooner ouer the riuer,Downe in a fforrest to take the ayre,But eighty merchants of London cittyeCame kneeling before KingHenery there.3‘O yee are welcome, rich merchants,[Good saylers, welcome unto me!’]They swore by the rood the were saylers good,But rich merchants they cold not bee.4‘To Ffrance nor Fflanders dare we nott passe,Nor Burdeaux voyage wee dare not ffare,And all ffor a ffalse robberthat lyes on the seas,And robb[s] vs of our merchants-ware.’5KingHenery was stout, and he turned him about,And swore by the Lordthat was mickle of might,‘I thought he had not beene in the world throughoutThat durst haue wrought England such vnright.’6But euer they sighed, and said, alas!Vnto KingHarry this answere againe:‘He is a proud Scottthat will robb vs allIf wee were twenty shipps and hee but one.’7The kinglooket ouer his left shoulder,Amongst his lords and barrons soe ffree:‘Haue I neuer lordin all my realmeWill ffeitch yond traitor vnto mee?’8‘Yes,that dare I!’ sayes my lordChareles Howard,Neere to the kingwheras hee did stand;‘Ifthat Your Grace will giue me leaue,My selfe wilbe the only man.’9‘Thou shalt haue six hundred men,’ saith our king,‘And chuse them out of my realme soe ffree;Besids marriners and boyes,To guide the great shipp on the sea.’10‘I’le goe speake with Sir Andrew,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward;‘Vpon the sea, if hee be there;I will bring him and his shipp to shore,Or before my prince I will neuercome neere.’11The ffirst of all my lorddid call,A noble gunner hee was one;This man was three score yeeres and ten,And Peeter Simon was his name.12‘Peeter,’ sais hee, ‘I must sayle to the sea,To seeke out an enemye; God be my speed!’Before all others I haue chosen thee;Of a hundred guners thoust be my head.’13‘My lord,’ sais hee, ‘if you haue chosen meeOf a hundred gunners to be the head,Hange me att your maine-mast treeIf I misse my marke past three pence bread.’14The next of all my lordhe did call,A noble bowman hee was one;In Yorekeshire was this gentleman borne,And William Horsley was his name.15‘Horsley,’ sayes hee, ‘I must sayle to the sea,To seeke out an enemye; God be my speede!Before all others I haue chosen thee;Of a hundred bowemen thoust be my head.’16‘My lord,’ sais hee, ‘if you haue chosen meeOf a hundred bowemen to be the head,Hang me att your mainemast-treeIf I misse my marke past twelue pence bread.’17With pikes, and gunnes, and bowemen bold,This noble Howard is gone to the seaOn the day before midsummer-euen,And out att Thames mouth sayled they.18They had not sayled dayes threeVpon their iourney they tooke in hand,But there they mett with a noble shipp,And stoutely made itt both stay and stand.19‘Thou must tell me thy name,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward,‘Or who thou art, or ffrom whence thou came,Yea, and where thy dwelling is,To whom and where thy shipp does belong.’20‘My name,’ sayes hee, ‘is Henery Hunt,With a pure hart and a penitent mind;I and my shipp they doe belongVnto the New-castlethat stands vpon Tine.’21‘Now thou must tell me, Harry Hunt,As thou hast sayled by day and by night,Hast thou not heard of a stout robber?Men calls him Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.’22But euer he sighed, and sayd, Alas!Ffull well, my lord, I knowthat wight;He robd me of my merchants ware,And I was his prisoner but yesternight.23As I was sayling vppon the sea,And [a] Burdeaux voyage as I did ffare,He clasped me to his archborde,And robd me of all my merchants-ware.24And I am a man both poore and bare,And euery man will haue his owne of me,And I am bound towards London to ffare,To complaine to my prince Henerye.25‘That shall not need,’ sais my lordHaward;‘If thou canst lett me this robber see,Ffor euery peny he hath taken thee ffroe,Thou shalt be rewarded a shilling,’ quoth hee.26‘Now God fforefend,’ saies Henery Hunt,‘My lord, you shold worke soe ffarr amisse!God keepe you out ofthat traitors hands!For you wott ffull litle what a man hee is.27‘Hee is brasse within, and steele without,And beames hee beares in his topcastle stronge;His shipp hath ordinance cleane round about;Besids, my lord, hee is verry well mand.28‘He hath a pinnace, is deerlye dight,Saint Andrews crosse,that is his guide;His pinnace beares nine score men and more,Besids fifteen cannons on euery side.29‘If you were twenty shippes, and he but one,Either in archbord or in hall,He wold ouercome you euerye one,And if his beames they doe downe ffall.’30‘This is cold comfort,’ sais my Lord Haward,‘To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea;I’le bring him and his shipp to shore,Or else into Scottland hee shall carrye mee.’31‘Then you must gett a noble gunner, my lord,That can sett well with his eye,And sinke his pinnace into the sea,And soone then ouercome will hee bee.32‘And whenthat you haue done this,If you chance Sir Andrew for to bord,Lett no man to his topcastle goe;And I will giue you a glasse, my lord,33‘And then you need to ffeare no Scott,Whether you sayle by day or by night;And to-morrow, by seuen of the clocke,You shall meete with Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.34‘I was his prisoner but yester night,And he hath taken mee sworne,’ quoth hee;‘I trust my L[ord] God will me fforgiueAnd ifthat oath then broken bee.35‘You must lend me sixe peeces, my lord,’ quoth hee,‘Into my shipp, to sayle the sea,And to-morrow, by nine of the clocke,Your Honour againe then will I see.’* * * * *36And the hache-bord where Sir Andrew layIs hached with gold deerlye dight:‘Now by my ffaith,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward,‘Then yonder Scott is a worthye wight!37‘Take in your ancyents and your standards,Yeathat no man shall them see,And put me fforth a white willow wand,As merchants vse to sayle the sea.’38But they stirred neither top nor mast,But Sir Andrew they passed by:‘Whatt English are yonder,’ said Sir Andrew,‘That can so litle curtesye?39‘I haue beene admirall ouer the seaMore then these yeeres three;There is neueran English dog, nor Portingall,Can passe this way without leaue of mee.40‘But now yonder pedlers, they are past,Which is no litle greffe to me:Ffeich them backe,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,‘They shall all hang att my maine-mast tree.’41Withthat the pinnace itt shott of,That my LordHaward might itt well ken;Itt stroke downe my lords fforemast,And killed fourteen of my lordhis men.42‘Come hither, Simon!’ sayes my lordHaward,‘Lookethat thy words be true thou sayd;I’le hang thee att my maine-mast treeIf thou misse thy marke past twelue pence bread.’43Simon was old, but his hart itt was bold;Hee tooke downe a peece, and layd itt ffull lowe;He put in chaine yeards nine,Besids other great shott lesse and more.44Withthat hee lett his gun-shott goe;Soe well hee settled itt with his eye,The ffirst sightthat Sir Andrew sawe,Hee see his pinnace sunke in the sea.45When hee saw his pinace sunke,Lord! in his hart hee was not well:‘Cutt my ropes! itt is time to be gon!I’le goe ffeitch yond pedlers backe my selfe!’46When my lordHaward saw Sir Andrew loose,Lord! in his hartthat hee was ffaine:‘Strike on your drummes! spread out your ancyents!Sound out your trumpetts! sound out amaine!’47‘Ffight on, my men!’ sais Sir Andrew Bartton;‘Weate, howsoeuerthis geere will sway,Itt is my lordAdm[i]rall of EnglandIs come to seeke mee on the sea.’48Simon had a sonne; with shott of a gunn—Well Sir Andrew might itt ken—He shott itt in att a priuye place,And killed sixty more of Sir Andrews men.49Harry Hunt came in att the other syde,And att Sir Andrew hee shott then;He droue downe his fformast-tree,And killed eighty more of Sir Andriwes men.50‘I haue done a good turne,’ sayes Harry Hunt;‘Sir Andrew is not our kings ffreind;He hoped to haue vndone me yesternight,But I hope I haue quitt him well in the end.’51‘Euer alas!’ sayd Sir Andrew Barton,‘What shold a man either thinke or say?Yonder ffalse theeffe is my strongest enemye,Who was my prisoner but yesterday.52‘Come hither to me, thou Gourden good,And be thou readye att my call,And I will giue thee three hundred poundIf thou wilt lett my beames downe ffall.’53Withthat hee swarued the maine-mast tree,Soe did he itt with might and maine;Horseley, with a bearing arrow,Stroke the Gourden through the braine.54And he ffell into the haches againe,And sore of this woundthat he did bleed;Then word went throug Sir Andrews men,That the Gourden hee was dead.55‘Come hither to me, Iames Hambliton,Thou art my sisters sonne, I haue no more;I will giue [thee] six hundred poundIf thou will lett my beames downe ffall.’56Withthat hee swarued the maine-mast tree,Soe did hee itt with might and maine:Horseley, with another broad arrow,Strake the yeaman through the braine.57That hee ffell downe to the haches againe;Sore of his woundthat hee did bleed;Couetousness getts no gaine,Itt is verry true, as the Welchman sayd.58But when hee saw his sisters sonne slaine,Lord! in his heart hee was not well:‘Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of proue,Ffor I will to the topcastle my-selfe.59‘Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of prooffe,For itt is guilded with gold soe cleere;God be with my brother, Iohn of Bartton!Amongst the Portingalls hee did itt weare.’60But when hee had his armour of prooffe,And on his body hee had itt on,Euery manthat looked att himSayd, Gunn nor arrow hee neede feare none.61‘Come hither, Horsley!’ sayes my lordHaward,‘And looke your shaftthat itt goe right;Shoot a good shoote in the time of need,And ffor thy shooting thoust be made a knight.’62‘I’le doe my best,’ sayes Horslay then,‘Your Honor shall see beffore I goe;If I shold be hanged att your mainemast,I haue in my shipp but arrowes tow.’63But att Sir Andrew hee shott then;Hee made sure to hitt his marke;Vnder the spole of his right armeHee smote Sir Andrew quite throw the hart.64Yett ffrom the tree hee wold not start,But hee clinged to itt with might and maine;Vnder the coller then of his iacke,He stroke Sir Andrew thorrow the braine.65‘Ffight on my men,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,‘I am hurt, but I am not slaine;I’le lay mee downe and bleed a-while,And then I’le rise and ffight againe.66‘Ffight on my men,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,‘These English doggs they bite soe lowe;Ffight on ffor Scottland and Saint AndrewTill you heare my whistle blowe!’67But when the cold not heare his whistle blow,Sayes Harry Hunt, I’le lay my headYou may bord yonder noble shipp, my lord,For I know Sir Andrew hee is dead.68Withthat they borded this noble shipp,Soe did they itt with might and maine;The ffound eighteen score Scotts aliue,Besids the rest were maimed and slaine.69My lordHaward tooke a sword in his hand,And smote of Sir Andrews head;The Scotts stood by did weepe and mourne,But neuera word durst speake or say.70He caused his body to be taken downe,And ouerthe hatch-bord cast into the sea,And about his middle three hundred crownes:‘Whersoeuer thou lands, itt will bury thee.’71With his head they sayled into England againe,With right good will, and fforce and main,And the day beffore Newyeeres euenInto Thames mouth they came againe.72My lordHaward wrote to KingHeneryes grace,With all the newes hee cold him bring:‘Such a Newyeeres gifft I haue brought to your Gr[ace]As neuerdid subiect to any king.73‘Ffor merchandyes and manhood,The like is nott to be ffound;The sight of these wold doe you good,Ffor you haue not the like in your English ground.’74But when hee heard tellthat they were come,Full royally hee welcomed them home;Sir Andrews shipp was the kings Newyeeres guifft;A brauer shipp you neuersaw none.75Now hath our kingSir Andrews shipp,Besett with pearles and precyous stones;Now hath England two shipps of warr,Two shipps of warr, before but one.76‘Who holpe to this?’ sayes KingHenerye,‘That I may reward him ffor his paine:’‘Harry Hunt, and Peeter Simon,William Horseleay, and I the same.’77‘Harry Hunt shall haue his whistle and chaine,And all his iewells, whatsoeuer they bee,And other rich gifftsthat I will not name,For his good service he hath done mee.78‘Horslay, right thoust be a knight,Lands and liuings thou shalt haue store;Howard shalbe erle of Nottingham,And soe was neuer Haward before.79‘Now, Peeter Simon, thou art old;I will maintaine thee and thy sonne;Thou shalt haue fiue hundred pound all in goldFfor the good servicethat thou hast done.’80Then KingHenerye shiffted his roome;In came the Queene and ladyes bright;Other arrands they had noneBut to see Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.81But when they see his deadly fface,His eyes were hollow in his head;‘I wold giue a hundred pound,’ sais KingHenerye,‘The man were aliue as hee is dead!82‘Yett ffor the manfull partthat hee hath playd,Both heere and beyond the sea,His men shall haue halfe a crowne a dayTo bring them to my brother, KingIamye.’

1As itt beffell in m[i]dsumer-time,When burds singe sweetlye on euery tree,Our noble king, KingHenery the Eighth,Ouer the riuer of Thames past hee.

As itt beffell in m[i]dsumer-time,

When burds singe sweetlye on euery tree,

Our noble king, KingHenery the Eighth,

Ouer the riuer of Thames past hee.

2Hee was no sooner ouer the riuer,Downe in a fforrest to take the ayre,But eighty merchants of London cittyeCame kneeling before KingHenery there.

Hee was no sooner ouer the riuer,

Downe in a fforrest to take the ayre,

But eighty merchants of London cittye

Came kneeling before KingHenery there.

3‘O yee are welcome, rich merchants,[Good saylers, welcome unto me!’]They swore by the rood the were saylers good,But rich merchants they cold not bee.

‘O yee are welcome, rich merchants,

[Good saylers, welcome unto me!’]

They swore by the rood the were saylers good,

But rich merchants they cold not bee.

4‘To Ffrance nor Fflanders dare we nott passe,Nor Burdeaux voyage wee dare not ffare,And all ffor a ffalse robberthat lyes on the seas,And robb[s] vs of our merchants-ware.’

‘To Ffrance nor Fflanders dare we nott passe,

Nor Burdeaux voyage wee dare not ffare,

And all ffor a ffalse robberthat lyes on the seas,

And robb[s] vs of our merchants-ware.’

5KingHenery was stout, and he turned him about,And swore by the Lordthat was mickle of might,‘I thought he had not beene in the world throughoutThat durst haue wrought England such vnright.’

KingHenery was stout, and he turned him about,

And swore by the Lordthat was mickle of might,

‘I thought he had not beene in the world throughout

That durst haue wrought England such vnright.’

6But euer they sighed, and said, alas!Vnto KingHarry this answere againe:‘He is a proud Scottthat will robb vs allIf wee were twenty shipps and hee but one.’

But euer they sighed, and said, alas!

Vnto KingHarry this answere againe:

‘He is a proud Scottthat will robb vs all

If wee were twenty shipps and hee but one.’

7The kinglooket ouer his left shoulder,Amongst his lords and barrons soe ffree:‘Haue I neuer lordin all my realmeWill ffeitch yond traitor vnto mee?’

The kinglooket ouer his left shoulder,

Amongst his lords and barrons soe ffree:

‘Haue I neuer lordin all my realme

Will ffeitch yond traitor vnto mee?’

8‘Yes,that dare I!’ sayes my lordChareles Howard,Neere to the kingwheras hee did stand;‘Ifthat Your Grace will giue me leaue,My selfe wilbe the only man.’

‘Yes,that dare I!’ sayes my lordChareles Howard,

Neere to the kingwheras hee did stand;

‘Ifthat Your Grace will giue me leaue,

My selfe wilbe the only man.’

9‘Thou shalt haue six hundred men,’ saith our king,‘And chuse them out of my realme soe ffree;Besids marriners and boyes,To guide the great shipp on the sea.’

‘Thou shalt haue six hundred men,’ saith our king,

‘And chuse them out of my realme soe ffree;

Besids marriners and boyes,

To guide the great shipp on the sea.’

10‘I’le goe speake with Sir Andrew,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward;‘Vpon the sea, if hee be there;I will bring him and his shipp to shore,Or before my prince I will neuercome neere.’

‘I’le goe speake with Sir Andrew,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward;

‘Vpon the sea, if hee be there;

I will bring him and his shipp to shore,

Or before my prince I will neuercome neere.’

11The ffirst of all my lorddid call,A noble gunner hee was one;This man was three score yeeres and ten,And Peeter Simon was his name.

The ffirst of all my lorddid call,

A noble gunner hee was one;

This man was three score yeeres and ten,

And Peeter Simon was his name.

12‘Peeter,’ sais hee, ‘I must sayle to the sea,To seeke out an enemye; God be my speed!’Before all others I haue chosen thee;Of a hundred guners thoust be my head.’

‘Peeter,’ sais hee, ‘I must sayle to the sea,

To seeke out an enemye; God be my speed!’

Before all others I haue chosen thee;

Of a hundred guners thoust be my head.’

13‘My lord,’ sais hee, ‘if you haue chosen meeOf a hundred gunners to be the head,Hange me att your maine-mast treeIf I misse my marke past three pence bread.’

‘My lord,’ sais hee, ‘if you haue chosen mee

Of a hundred gunners to be the head,

Hange me att your maine-mast tree

If I misse my marke past three pence bread.’

14The next of all my lordhe did call,A noble bowman hee was one;In Yorekeshire was this gentleman borne,And William Horsley was his name.

The next of all my lordhe did call,

A noble bowman hee was one;

In Yorekeshire was this gentleman borne,

And William Horsley was his name.

15‘Horsley,’ sayes hee, ‘I must sayle to the sea,To seeke out an enemye; God be my speede!Before all others I haue chosen thee;Of a hundred bowemen thoust be my head.’

‘Horsley,’ sayes hee, ‘I must sayle to the sea,

To seeke out an enemye; God be my speede!

Before all others I haue chosen thee;

Of a hundred bowemen thoust be my head.’

16‘My lord,’ sais hee, ‘if you haue chosen meeOf a hundred bowemen to be the head,Hang me att your mainemast-treeIf I misse my marke past twelue pence bread.’

‘My lord,’ sais hee, ‘if you haue chosen mee

Of a hundred bowemen to be the head,

Hang me att your mainemast-tree

If I misse my marke past twelue pence bread.’

17With pikes, and gunnes, and bowemen bold,This noble Howard is gone to the seaOn the day before midsummer-euen,And out att Thames mouth sayled they.

With pikes, and gunnes, and bowemen bold,

This noble Howard is gone to the sea

On the day before midsummer-euen,

And out att Thames mouth sayled they.

18They had not sayled dayes threeVpon their iourney they tooke in hand,But there they mett with a noble shipp,And stoutely made itt both stay and stand.

They had not sayled dayes three

Vpon their iourney they tooke in hand,

But there they mett with a noble shipp,

And stoutely made itt both stay and stand.

19‘Thou must tell me thy name,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward,‘Or who thou art, or ffrom whence thou came,Yea, and where thy dwelling is,To whom and where thy shipp does belong.’

‘Thou must tell me thy name,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward,

‘Or who thou art, or ffrom whence thou came,

Yea, and where thy dwelling is,

To whom and where thy shipp does belong.’

20‘My name,’ sayes hee, ‘is Henery Hunt,With a pure hart and a penitent mind;I and my shipp they doe belongVnto the New-castlethat stands vpon Tine.’

‘My name,’ sayes hee, ‘is Henery Hunt,

With a pure hart and a penitent mind;

I and my shipp they doe belong

Vnto the New-castlethat stands vpon Tine.’

21‘Now thou must tell me, Harry Hunt,As thou hast sayled by day and by night,Hast thou not heard of a stout robber?Men calls him Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.’

‘Now thou must tell me, Harry Hunt,

As thou hast sayled by day and by night,

Hast thou not heard of a stout robber?

Men calls him Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.’

22But euer he sighed, and sayd, Alas!Ffull well, my lord, I knowthat wight;He robd me of my merchants ware,And I was his prisoner but yesternight.

But euer he sighed, and sayd, Alas!

Ffull well, my lord, I knowthat wight;

He robd me of my merchants ware,

And I was his prisoner but yesternight.

23As I was sayling vppon the sea,And [a] Burdeaux voyage as I did ffare,He clasped me to his archborde,And robd me of all my merchants-ware.

As I was sayling vppon the sea,

And [a] Burdeaux voyage as I did ffare,

He clasped me to his archborde,

And robd me of all my merchants-ware.

24And I am a man both poore and bare,And euery man will haue his owne of me,And I am bound towards London to ffare,To complaine to my prince Henerye.

And I am a man both poore and bare,

And euery man will haue his owne of me,

And I am bound towards London to ffare,

To complaine to my prince Henerye.

25‘That shall not need,’ sais my lordHaward;‘If thou canst lett me this robber see,Ffor euery peny he hath taken thee ffroe,Thou shalt be rewarded a shilling,’ quoth hee.

‘That shall not need,’ sais my lordHaward;

‘If thou canst lett me this robber see,

Ffor euery peny he hath taken thee ffroe,

Thou shalt be rewarded a shilling,’ quoth hee.

26‘Now God fforefend,’ saies Henery Hunt,‘My lord, you shold worke soe ffarr amisse!God keepe you out ofthat traitors hands!For you wott ffull litle what a man hee is.

‘Now God fforefend,’ saies Henery Hunt,

‘My lord, you shold worke soe ffarr amisse!

God keepe you out ofthat traitors hands!

For you wott ffull litle what a man hee is.

27‘Hee is brasse within, and steele without,And beames hee beares in his topcastle stronge;His shipp hath ordinance cleane round about;Besids, my lord, hee is verry well mand.

‘Hee is brasse within, and steele without,

And beames hee beares in his topcastle stronge;

His shipp hath ordinance cleane round about;

Besids, my lord, hee is verry well mand.

28‘He hath a pinnace, is deerlye dight,Saint Andrews crosse,that is his guide;His pinnace beares nine score men and more,Besids fifteen cannons on euery side.

‘He hath a pinnace, is deerlye dight,

Saint Andrews crosse,that is his guide;

His pinnace beares nine score men and more,

Besids fifteen cannons on euery side.

29‘If you were twenty shippes, and he but one,Either in archbord or in hall,He wold ouercome you euerye one,And if his beames they doe downe ffall.’

‘If you were twenty shippes, and he but one,

Either in archbord or in hall,

He wold ouercome you euerye one,

And if his beames they doe downe ffall.’

30‘This is cold comfort,’ sais my Lord Haward,‘To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea;I’le bring him and his shipp to shore,Or else into Scottland hee shall carrye mee.’

‘This is cold comfort,’ sais my Lord Haward,

‘To wellcome a stranger thus to the sea;

I’le bring him and his shipp to shore,

Or else into Scottland hee shall carrye mee.’

31‘Then you must gett a noble gunner, my lord,That can sett well with his eye,And sinke his pinnace into the sea,And soone then ouercome will hee bee.

‘Then you must gett a noble gunner, my lord,

That can sett well with his eye,

And sinke his pinnace into the sea,

And soone then ouercome will hee bee.

32‘And whenthat you haue done this,If you chance Sir Andrew for to bord,Lett no man to his topcastle goe;And I will giue you a glasse, my lord,

‘And whenthat you haue done this,

If you chance Sir Andrew for to bord,

Lett no man to his topcastle goe;

And I will giue you a glasse, my lord,

33‘And then you need to ffeare no Scott,Whether you sayle by day or by night;And to-morrow, by seuen of the clocke,You shall meete with Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.

‘And then you need to ffeare no Scott,

Whether you sayle by day or by night;

And to-morrow, by seuen of the clocke,

You shall meete with Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.

34‘I was his prisoner but yester night,And he hath taken mee sworne,’ quoth hee;‘I trust my L[ord] God will me fforgiueAnd ifthat oath then broken bee.

‘I was his prisoner but yester night,

And he hath taken mee sworne,’ quoth hee;

‘I trust my L[ord] God will me fforgiue

And ifthat oath then broken bee.

35‘You must lend me sixe peeces, my lord,’ quoth hee,‘Into my shipp, to sayle the sea,And to-morrow, by nine of the clocke,Your Honour againe then will I see.’

‘You must lend me sixe peeces, my lord,’ quoth hee,

‘Into my shipp, to sayle the sea,

And to-morrow, by nine of the clocke,

Your Honour againe then will I see.’

* * * * *

36And the hache-bord where Sir Andrew layIs hached with gold deerlye dight:‘Now by my ffaith,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward,‘Then yonder Scott is a worthye wight!

And the hache-bord where Sir Andrew lay

Is hached with gold deerlye dight:

‘Now by my ffaith,’ sais Charles, my lordHaward,

‘Then yonder Scott is a worthye wight!

37‘Take in your ancyents and your standards,Yeathat no man shall them see,And put me fforth a white willow wand,As merchants vse to sayle the sea.’

‘Take in your ancyents and your standards,

Yeathat no man shall them see,

And put me fforth a white willow wand,

As merchants vse to sayle the sea.’

38But they stirred neither top nor mast,But Sir Andrew they passed by:‘Whatt English are yonder,’ said Sir Andrew,‘That can so litle curtesye?

But they stirred neither top nor mast,

But Sir Andrew they passed by:

‘Whatt English are yonder,’ said Sir Andrew,

‘That can so litle curtesye?

39‘I haue beene admirall ouer the seaMore then these yeeres three;There is neueran English dog, nor Portingall,Can passe this way without leaue of mee.

‘I haue beene admirall ouer the sea

More then these yeeres three;

There is neueran English dog, nor Portingall,

Can passe this way without leaue of mee.

40‘But now yonder pedlers, they are past,Which is no litle greffe to me:Ffeich them backe,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,‘They shall all hang att my maine-mast tree.’

‘But now yonder pedlers, they are past,

Which is no litle greffe to me:

Ffeich them backe,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,

‘They shall all hang att my maine-mast tree.’

41Withthat the pinnace itt shott of,That my LordHaward might itt well ken;Itt stroke downe my lords fforemast,And killed fourteen of my lordhis men.

Withthat the pinnace itt shott of,

That my LordHaward might itt well ken;

Itt stroke downe my lords fforemast,

And killed fourteen of my lordhis men.

42‘Come hither, Simon!’ sayes my lordHaward,‘Lookethat thy words be true thou sayd;I’le hang thee att my maine-mast treeIf thou misse thy marke past twelue pence bread.’

‘Come hither, Simon!’ sayes my lordHaward,

‘Lookethat thy words be true thou sayd;

I’le hang thee att my maine-mast tree

If thou misse thy marke past twelue pence bread.’

43Simon was old, but his hart itt was bold;Hee tooke downe a peece, and layd itt ffull lowe;He put in chaine yeards nine,Besids other great shott lesse and more.

Simon was old, but his hart itt was bold;

Hee tooke downe a peece, and layd itt ffull lowe;

He put in chaine yeards nine,

Besids other great shott lesse and more.

44Withthat hee lett his gun-shott goe;Soe well hee settled itt with his eye,The ffirst sightthat Sir Andrew sawe,Hee see his pinnace sunke in the sea.

Withthat hee lett his gun-shott goe;

Soe well hee settled itt with his eye,

The ffirst sightthat Sir Andrew sawe,

Hee see his pinnace sunke in the sea.

45When hee saw his pinace sunke,Lord! in his hart hee was not well:‘Cutt my ropes! itt is time to be gon!I’le goe ffeitch yond pedlers backe my selfe!’

When hee saw his pinace sunke,

Lord! in his hart hee was not well:

‘Cutt my ropes! itt is time to be gon!

I’le goe ffeitch yond pedlers backe my selfe!’

46When my lordHaward saw Sir Andrew loose,Lord! in his hartthat hee was ffaine:‘Strike on your drummes! spread out your ancyents!Sound out your trumpetts! sound out amaine!’

When my lordHaward saw Sir Andrew loose,

Lord! in his hartthat hee was ffaine:

‘Strike on your drummes! spread out your ancyents!

Sound out your trumpetts! sound out amaine!’

47‘Ffight on, my men!’ sais Sir Andrew Bartton;‘Weate, howsoeuerthis geere will sway,Itt is my lordAdm[i]rall of EnglandIs come to seeke mee on the sea.’

‘Ffight on, my men!’ sais Sir Andrew Bartton;

‘Weate, howsoeuerthis geere will sway,

Itt is my lordAdm[i]rall of England

Is come to seeke mee on the sea.’

48Simon had a sonne; with shott of a gunn—Well Sir Andrew might itt ken—He shott itt in att a priuye place,And killed sixty more of Sir Andrews men.

Simon had a sonne; with shott of a gunn—

Well Sir Andrew might itt ken—

He shott itt in att a priuye place,

And killed sixty more of Sir Andrews men.

49Harry Hunt came in att the other syde,And att Sir Andrew hee shott then;He droue downe his fformast-tree,And killed eighty more of Sir Andriwes men.

Harry Hunt came in att the other syde,

And att Sir Andrew hee shott then;

He droue downe his fformast-tree,

And killed eighty more of Sir Andriwes men.

50‘I haue done a good turne,’ sayes Harry Hunt;‘Sir Andrew is not our kings ffreind;He hoped to haue vndone me yesternight,But I hope I haue quitt him well in the end.’

‘I haue done a good turne,’ sayes Harry Hunt;

‘Sir Andrew is not our kings ffreind;

He hoped to haue vndone me yesternight,

But I hope I haue quitt him well in the end.’

51‘Euer alas!’ sayd Sir Andrew Barton,‘What shold a man either thinke or say?Yonder ffalse theeffe is my strongest enemye,Who was my prisoner but yesterday.

‘Euer alas!’ sayd Sir Andrew Barton,

‘What shold a man either thinke or say?

Yonder ffalse theeffe is my strongest enemye,

Who was my prisoner but yesterday.

52‘Come hither to me, thou Gourden good,And be thou readye att my call,And I will giue thee three hundred poundIf thou wilt lett my beames downe ffall.’

‘Come hither to me, thou Gourden good,

And be thou readye att my call,

And I will giue thee three hundred pound

If thou wilt lett my beames downe ffall.’

53Withthat hee swarued the maine-mast tree,Soe did he itt with might and maine;Horseley, with a bearing arrow,Stroke the Gourden through the braine.

Withthat hee swarued the maine-mast tree,

Soe did he itt with might and maine;

Horseley, with a bearing arrow,

Stroke the Gourden through the braine.

54And he ffell into the haches againe,And sore of this woundthat he did bleed;Then word went throug Sir Andrews men,That the Gourden hee was dead.

And he ffell into the haches againe,

And sore of this woundthat he did bleed;

Then word went throug Sir Andrews men,

That the Gourden hee was dead.

55‘Come hither to me, Iames Hambliton,Thou art my sisters sonne, I haue no more;I will giue [thee] six hundred poundIf thou will lett my beames downe ffall.’

‘Come hither to me, Iames Hambliton,

Thou art my sisters sonne, I haue no more;

I will giue [thee] six hundred pound

If thou will lett my beames downe ffall.’

56Withthat hee swarued the maine-mast tree,Soe did hee itt with might and maine:Horseley, with another broad arrow,Strake the yeaman through the braine.

Withthat hee swarued the maine-mast tree,

Soe did hee itt with might and maine:

Horseley, with another broad arrow,

Strake the yeaman through the braine.

57That hee ffell downe to the haches againe;Sore of his woundthat hee did bleed;Couetousness getts no gaine,Itt is verry true, as the Welchman sayd.

That hee ffell downe to the haches againe;

Sore of his woundthat hee did bleed;

Couetousness getts no gaine,

Itt is verry true, as the Welchman sayd.

58But when hee saw his sisters sonne slaine,Lord! in his heart hee was not well:‘Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of proue,Ffor I will to the topcastle my-selfe.

But when hee saw his sisters sonne slaine,

Lord! in his heart hee was not well:

‘Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of proue,

Ffor I will to the topcastle my-selfe.

59‘Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of prooffe,For itt is guilded with gold soe cleere;God be with my brother, Iohn of Bartton!Amongst the Portingalls hee did itt weare.’

‘Goe ffeitch me downe my armour of prooffe,

For itt is guilded with gold soe cleere;

God be with my brother, Iohn of Bartton!

Amongst the Portingalls hee did itt weare.’

60But when hee had his armour of prooffe,And on his body hee had itt on,Euery manthat looked att himSayd, Gunn nor arrow hee neede feare none.

But when hee had his armour of prooffe,

And on his body hee had itt on,

Euery manthat looked att him

Sayd, Gunn nor arrow hee neede feare none.

61‘Come hither, Horsley!’ sayes my lordHaward,‘And looke your shaftthat itt goe right;Shoot a good shoote in the time of need,And ffor thy shooting thoust be made a knight.’

‘Come hither, Horsley!’ sayes my lordHaward,

‘And looke your shaftthat itt goe right;

Shoot a good shoote in the time of need,

And ffor thy shooting thoust be made a knight.’

62‘I’le doe my best,’ sayes Horslay then,‘Your Honor shall see beffore I goe;If I shold be hanged att your mainemast,I haue in my shipp but arrowes tow.’

‘I’le doe my best,’ sayes Horslay then,

‘Your Honor shall see beffore I goe;

If I shold be hanged att your mainemast,

I haue in my shipp but arrowes tow.’

63But att Sir Andrew hee shott then;Hee made sure to hitt his marke;Vnder the spole of his right armeHee smote Sir Andrew quite throw the hart.

But att Sir Andrew hee shott then;

Hee made sure to hitt his marke;

Vnder the spole of his right arme

Hee smote Sir Andrew quite throw the hart.

64Yett ffrom the tree hee wold not start,But hee clinged to itt with might and maine;Vnder the coller then of his iacke,He stroke Sir Andrew thorrow the braine.

Yett ffrom the tree hee wold not start,

But hee clinged to itt with might and maine;

Vnder the coller then of his iacke,

He stroke Sir Andrew thorrow the braine.

65‘Ffight on my men,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,‘I am hurt, but I am not slaine;I’le lay mee downe and bleed a-while,And then I’le rise and ffight againe.

‘Ffight on my men,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,

‘I am hurt, but I am not slaine;

I’le lay mee downe and bleed a-while,

And then I’le rise and ffight againe.

66‘Ffight on my men,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,‘These English doggs they bite soe lowe;Ffight on ffor Scottland and Saint AndrewTill you heare my whistle blowe!’

‘Ffight on my men,’ sayes Sir Andrew Bartton,

‘These English doggs they bite soe lowe;

Ffight on ffor Scottland and Saint Andrew

Till you heare my whistle blowe!’

67But when the cold not heare his whistle blow,Sayes Harry Hunt, I’le lay my headYou may bord yonder noble shipp, my lord,For I know Sir Andrew hee is dead.

But when the cold not heare his whistle blow,

Sayes Harry Hunt, I’le lay my head

You may bord yonder noble shipp, my lord,

For I know Sir Andrew hee is dead.

68Withthat they borded this noble shipp,Soe did they itt with might and maine;The ffound eighteen score Scotts aliue,Besids the rest were maimed and slaine.

Withthat they borded this noble shipp,

Soe did they itt with might and maine;

The ffound eighteen score Scotts aliue,

Besids the rest were maimed and slaine.

69My lordHaward tooke a sword in his hand,And smote of Sir Andrews head;The Scotts stood by did weepe and mourne,But neuera word durst speake or say.

My lordHaward tooke a sword in his hand,

And smote of Sir Andrews head;

The Scotts stood by did weepe and mourne,

But neuera word durst speake or say.

70He caused his body to be taken downe,And ouerthe hatch-bord cast into the sea,And about his middle three hundred crownes:‘Whersoeuer thou lands, itt will bury thee.’

He caused his body to be taken downe,

And ouerthe hatch-bord cast into the sea,

And about his middle three hundred crownes:

‘Whersoeuer thou lands, itt will bury thee.’

71With his head they sayled into England againe,With right good will, and fforce and main,And the day beffore Newyeeres euenInto Thames mouth they came againe.

With his head they sayled into England againe,

With right good will, and fforce and main,

And the day beffore Newyeeres euen

Into Thames mouth they came againe.

72My lordHaward wrote to KingHeneryes grace,With all the newes hee cold him bring:‘Such a Newyeeres gifft I haue brought to your Gr[ace]As neuerdid subiect to any king.

My lordHaward wrote to KingHeneryes grace,

With all the newes hee cold him bring:

‘Such a Newyeeres gifft I haue brought to your Gr[ace]

As neuerdid subiect to any king.

73‘Ffor merchandyes and manhood,The like is nott to be ffound;The sight of these wold doe you good,Ffor you haue not the like in your English ground.’

‘Ffor merchandyes and manhood,

The like is nott to be ffound;

The sight of these wold doe you good,

Ffor you haue not the like in your English ground.’

74But when hee heard tellthat they were come,Full royally hee welcomed them home;Sir Andrews shipp was the kings Newyeeres guifft;A brauer shipp you neuersaw none.

But when hee heard tellthat they were come,

Full royally hee welcomed them home;

Sir Andrews shipp was the kings Newyeeres guifft;

A brauer shipp you neuersaw none.

75Now hath our kingSir Andrews shipp,Besett with pearles and precyous stones;Now hath England two shipps of warr,Two shipps of warr, before but one.

Now hath our kingSir Andrews shipp,

Besett with pearles and precyous stones;

Now hath England two shipps of warr,

Two shipps of warr, before but one.

76‘Who holpe to this?’ sayes KingHenerye,‘That I may reward him ffor his paine:’‘Harry Hunt, and Peeter Simon,William Horseleay, and I the same.’

‘Who holpe to this?’ sayes KingHenerye,

‘That I may reward him ffor his paine:’

‘Harry Hunt, and Peeter Simon,

William Horseleay, and I the same.’

77‘Harry Hunt shall haue his whistle and chaine,And all his iewells, whatsoeuer they bee,And other rich gifftsthat I will not name,For his good service he hath done mee.

‘Harry Hunt shall haue his whistle and chaine,

And all his iewells, whatsoeuer they bee,

And other rich gifftsthat I will not name,

For his good service he hath done mee.

78‘Horslay, right thoust be a knight,Lands and liuings thou shalt haue store;Howard shalbe erle of Nottingham,And soe was neuer Haward before.

‘Horslay, right thoust be a knight,

Lands and liuings thou shalt haue store;

Howard shalbe erle of Nottingham,

And soe was neuer Haward before.

79‘Now, Peeter Simon, thou art old;I will maintaine thee and thy sonne;Thou shalt haue fiue hundred pound all in goldFfor the good servicethat thou hast done.’

‘Now, Peeter Simon, thou art old;

I will maintaine thee and thy sonne;

Thou shalt haue fiue hundred pound all in gold

Ffor the good servicethat thou hast done.’

80Then KingHenerye shiffted his roome;In came the Queene and ladyes bright;Other arrands they had noneBut to see Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.

Then KingHenerye shiffted his roome;

In came the Queene and ladyes bright;

Other arrands they had none

But to see Sir Andrew Bartton, knight.

81But when they see his deadly fface,His eyes were hollow in his head;‘I wold giue a hundred pound,’ sais KingHenerye,‘The man were aliue as hee is dead!

But when they see his deadly fface,

His eyes were hollow in his head;

‘I wold giue a hundred pound,’ sais KingHenerye,

‘The man were aliue as hee is dead!

82‘Yett ffor the manfull partthat hee hath playd,Both heere and beyond the sea,His men shall haue halfe a crowne a dayTo bring them to my brother, KingIamye.’

‘Yett ffor the manfull partthat hee hath playd,

Both heere and beyond the sea,

His men shall haue halfe a crowne a day

To bring them to my brother, KingIamye.’

a.Douce Ballads, I, 18 b.b.Pepys Ballads, I, 484, No 249.c.Wood Ballads, 401, 55.d.Roxburghe Ballads, I, 2.e.Bagford Ballads, 643, m. 9 (61).f.Bagford Ballads, 643, m. 10 (77).g.Wood Ballads, 402, 37.h.Glenriddell MSS, XI, 20.

1When Flora, with her fragrant flowers,Bedeckt the earth so trim and gay,And Neptune, with his dainty showers,Came to present the month of May,2King Henry would a progress ride;Over the river of Thames past he,Unto a mountain-top alsoDid walk, some pleasure for to see.3Where forty merchants he espy’d,With fifty sail, come towards him,Who then no sooner were arriv’d,But on their knees did thus complain.4‘An’t please Your Grace, we cannot sailTo France no voyage, to be sure,But Sir Andrew Barton makes us quail,And robs us of our merchant-ware.’5Vext was the king, and turned him,Said to the lords of high degree,Have I ner a lord within my realmDare fetch that traytor unto me?6To him repli’d Lord Charles Howard:I will, my liege, with heart and hand;If it please you grant me leave, he said,I will perform what you command.7To him then spake King Henry:I fear, my lord, you are too young.‘No whit at all, my liege,’ quoth he;‘I hope to prove in valour strong.8‘The Scottish knight I vow to seek,In what place soever he be,And bring a shore, with all his might,Or into Scotland he shall carry me.’9‘A hundred men,’ the king then said,‘Out of my realm shall chosen be,Besides saylors and ship-boysTo guide a great ship on the sea.10‘Bow-men and gunners of good skillShall for this service chosen be,And they at thy command and willIn all affairs shall wait on thee.’11Lord Howard calld a gunner thenWho was the best in all the realm;His age was threescore years and ten,And Peter Simon was his name.12My lord calld then a bow-man rare,Whose active hands had gained fame,A gentleman born in Yorkshire,And William Horsly was his name.13‘Horsly,’ quoth he, ‘I must to sea,To seek a traytor, with great speed;Of a hundred bow-men brave,’ quoth he,‘I have chosen thee to be the head.’14‘If you, my lord, have chosen meOf a hundred men to be the head,Upon the main-mast I’le hanged be,If twelve-score I miss one shillings breadth.’15Lord Howard then, of courage bold,Went to the sea with pleasant chear,Not curbd with winters piercing cold,Though it was the stormy time of the year.16Not long he had been on the sea,No more in days then number three,Till one Henry Hunt he there espied,A merchant of Newcastle was he.17To him Lord Howard cald out amain,And strictly charged him to stand;Demanding then from whence he came,Or where he did intend to land.18The merchant then made him answer soon,With heavy heart and careful mind,‘My lord, my ship it doth belongUnto Newcastle upon Tine.’19‘Canst thou shew me,’ the lord did say,‘As thou didst sail by day and night,A Scottish rover on the sea,His name is Andrew Barton, knight? ’20Then to him the merchant sighd and said,With grieved mind and well a way,‘But over well I know that wight,I was his prisoner but yesterday.21‘As I, my lord, did pass from France,A Burdeaux voyage to take so far,I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence,Who robd me of my merchant-ware.22‘And mickle debts, God knows, I owe,And every man did crave his own;And I am bound to London now,Of our gracious king to beg a boon.’23‘Shew me him,’ said [Lord] Howard then,‘Let me but once the villain see,And one penny he hath from the tane,I’le double the same with shillings three.’24‘Now, God forbid,’ the merchant said;‘I fear your aim that you will miss;God bless you from his tyranny,For little you know what man he is.25‘He is brass within and steel without,His ship most huge and mighty strong,With eighteen pieces strong and stout,He carrieth on each side along.26‘With beams for his top-castle,As also being huge and high,That neither English nor PortugalCan pass Sir Andrew Barton by.’27‘Hard news thou shewst,’ then said the lord,‘To welcome strangers to the sea;But, as I said, I’le bring him aboard,Or into Scotland he shall carry me.’28The merchant said, If you will do so,Take counsel, then, I pray withal:Let no man to his top-castle go,Nor strive to let his beam[s] down fall.29‘Lend me seven pieces of ordnance then,Of each side of my ship,’ quoth he,‘And to-morrow, my lord, twixt six and seven,Again I will Your Honour see.30‘A glass I’le set that may be seenWhether you sail by day or night;And to-morrow, be sure, before seven,You shall see Sir Andrew Barton, knight.’31The merchant set my lord a glass,So well apparent in his sightThat on the morrow, as his promise was,He saw Sir Andrew Barton, knight.32The lord then swore a mighty oath,‘Now by the heavens that be of might,By faith, believe me, and by troth,I think he is a worthy knight.33‘Fetch me my lyon out of hand,’Saith the lord, ‘with rose and streamer high;Set up withal a willow-wand,That merchant-like I [may] pass by.’34Thus bravely did Lord Howard pass,And did on anchor rise so high;No top-sail at all he cast,But as his foe he did him defie.35Sir Andrew Barton seeing himThus scornfully to pass by,As though he cared not a pinFor him and all his company,36Then called he his men amain,‘Fetch back yon pedler now,’ quoth he,‘And against this way he comes againI’le teach him well his courtesie.’37A piece of ordnance soon was shotBy this proud pirate fiercely thenInto Lord Howards middle deck,Which cruel shot killd fourteen men.38He calld then Peter Simon, he:‘Look now thy word do stand in stead,For thou shalt be hanged on main-mastIf thou miss twelve score one penny breadth.’39Then Peter Simon gave a shotWhich did Sir Andrew mickle scare,In at his deck it came so hot,Killd fifteen of his men of war.40‘Alas!’ then said the pyrate stout,‘I am in danger now, I see;This is some lord, I greatly doubt,That is set on to conquer me.’41Then Henry Hunt, with rigor hot,Came bravely on the other side,Who likewise shot in at his deck,And kild fifty of his men beside.42Then ‘Out, alas!’ Sir Andrew cri’d,‘What may a man now think or say!Yon merchant thief that pierceth me,He was my prisoner yesterday.’43Then did he on Gordion call,Unto top-castle for to go,And bid his beams he should let fall,‘For I greatly fear an overthrow.’44The lord cald Horsly now in hast:‘Look that thy word stand now in stead,For thou shalt be hanged on main-mastIf thou miss twelve score one shillings breadth.’45Then up [the] mast-tree swarved he,This stout and mighty Gordion;But Horsly, he most happilyShot him under the collar-bone.46Then calld he on his nephew then,Said, Sisters sons I have no mo;Three hundred pound I will give thee,If thou wilt to top-castle go.47Then stoutly he began to climb,From off the mast scornd to depart;But Horsly soon prevented him,And deadly piercd him to the heart.48His men being slain, then up amainDid this proud pyrate climb with speed,For armour of proof he had put on,And did not dint of arrow dread.49‘Come hither, Horsly,’ said the lord,‘See thine arrow aim aright;Great means to thee I will afford,And if you speed, I’le make you a knight.’50Sir Andrew did climb up the tree,With right good will and all his main;Then upon the breast hit Horsly he,Till the arrow did return again.51Then Horsly spied a private place,With a perfect eye, in a secret part;His arrow swiftly flew apace,And smote Sir Andrew to the heart.52‘Fight on, fight on, my merry men all,A little I am hurt, yet not slain;I’le but lie down and bleed a while,And come and fight with you again.53‘And do not,’ he said, ‘fear English rogues,And of your foes stand not in awe,But stand fast by St Andrews cross,Until you hear my whistle blow.’54They never heard his whistle blow,Which made them [all] sore afraid:Then Horsly said, My lord, aboard,For now Sir Andrew Barton’s dead.55Thus boarded they this gallant ship,With right good will and all their main,Eighteen score Scots alive in it,Besides as many more were slain.56The lord went where Sir Andrew lay,And quickly thence cut off his head:‘I should forsake England many a day,If thou wert alive as thou art dead.’57Thus from the wars Lord Howard came,With mickle joy and triumphing;The pyrates head he brought alongFor to present unto our king:58Who briefly then to him did say,Before he knew well what was done,‘Where is the knight and pyrate gay?That I my self may give the doom.’59You may thank God,’ then said the lord,‘And four men in the ship,’ quoth he,‘That we are safely come ashore,Sith you had never such an enemy:60‘That is Henry Hunt, and Peter Simon,William Horsly, and Peters son;Therefore reward them for their pains,For they did service at their turn.’61To the merchant then the king did say,‘In lue of what he hath from the tane,I give to the a noble a day,Sir Andrews whistle and his chain:62‘To Peter Simon a crown a day,And half-a-crown a day to Peters son,And that was for a shot so gay,Which bravely brought Sir Andrew down.63‘Horsly, I will make thee a knight,And in Yorkshire thou shalt dwell:Lord Howard shall Earl Bury hight,For this title he deserveth well.64‘Seven shillings to our English men,Who in this fight did stoutly stand,And twelve pence a-day to the Scots, till theyCome to my brother kings high land.’

1When Flora, with her fragrant flowers,Bedeckt the earth so trim and gay,And Neptune, with his dainty showers,Came to present the month of May,

When Flora, with her fragrant flowers,

Bedeckt the earth so trim and gay,

And Neptune, with his dainty showers,

Came to present the month of May,

2King Henry would a progress ride;Over the river of Thames past he,Unto a mountain-top alsoDid walk, some pleasure for to see.

King Henry would a progress ride;

Over the river of Thames past he,

Unto a mountain-top also

Did walk, some pleasure for to see.

3Where forty merchants he espy’d,With fifty sail, come towards him,Who then no sooner were arriv’d,But on their knees did thus complain.

Where forty merchants he espy’d,

With fifty sail, come towards him,

Who then no sooner were arriv’d,

But on their knees did thus complain.

4‘An’t please Your Grace, we cannot sailTo France no voyage, to be sure,But Sir Andrew Barton makes us quail,And robs us of our merchant-ware.’

‘An’t please Your Grace, we cannot sail

To France no voyage, to be sure,

But Sir Andrew Barton makes us quail,

And robs us of our merchant-ware.’

5Vext was the king, and turned him,Said to the lords of high degree,Have I ner a lord within my realmDare fetch that traytor unto me?

Vext was the king, and turned him,

Said to the lords of high degree,

Have I ner a lord within my realm

Dare fetch that traytor unto me?

6To him repli’d Lord Charles Howard:I will, my liege, with heart and hand;If it please you grant me leave, he said,I will perform what you command.

To him repli’d Lord Charles Howard:

I will, my liege, with heart and hand;

If it please you grant me leave, he said,

I will perform what you command.

7To him then spake King Henry:I fear, my lord, you are too young.‘No whit at all, my liege,’ quoth he;‘I hope to prove in valour strong.

To him then spake King Henry:

I fear, my lord, you are too young.

‘No whit at all, my liege,’ quoth he;

‘I hope to prove in valour strong.

8‘The Scottish knight I vow to seek,In what place soever he be,And bring a shore, with all his might,Or into Scotland he shall carry me.’

‘The Scottish knight I vow to seek,

In what place soever he be,

And bring a shore, with all his might,

Or into Scotland he shall carry me.’

9‘A hundred men,’ the king then said,‘Out of my realm shall chosen be,Besides saylors and ship-boysTo guide a great ship on the sea.

‘A hundred men,’ the king then said,

‘Out of my realm shall chosen be,

Besides saylors and ship-boys

To guide a great ship on the sea.

10‘Bow-men and gunners of good skillShall for this service chosen be,And they at thy command and willIn all affairs shall wait on thee.’

‘Bow-men and gunners of good skill

Shall for this service chosen be,

And they at thy command and will

In all affairs shall wait on thee.’

11Lord Howard calld a gunner thenWho was the best in all the realm;His age was threescore years and ten,And Peter Simon was his name.

Lord Howard calld a gunner then

Who was the best in all the realm;

His age was threescore years and ten,

And Peter Simon was his name.

12My lord calld then a bow-man rare,Whose active hands had gained fame,A gentleman born in Yorkshire,And William Horsly was his name.

My lord calld then a bow-man rare,

Whose active hands had gained fame,

A gentleman born in Yorkshire,

And William Horsly was his name.

13‘Horsly,’ quoth he, ‘I must to sea,To seek a traytor, with great speed;Of a hundred bow-men brave,’ quoth he,‘I have chosen thee to be the head.’

‘Horsly,’ quoth he, ‘I must to sea,

To seek a traytor, with great speed;

Of a hundred bow-men brave,’ quoth he,

‘I have chosen thee to be the head.’

14‘If you, my lord, have chosen meOf a hundred men to be the head,Upon the main-mast I’le hanged be,If twelve-score I miss one shillings breadth.’

‘If you, my lord, have chosen me

Of a hundred men to be the head,

Upon the main-mast I’le hanged be,

If twelve-score I miss one shillings breadth.’

15Lord Howard then, of courage bold,Went to the sea with pleasant chear,Not curbd with winters piercing cold,Though it was the stormy time of the year.

Lord Howard then, of courage bold,

Went to the sea with pleasant chear,

Not curbd with winters piercing cold,

Though it was the stormy time of the year.

16Not long he had been on the sea,No more in days then number three,Till one Henry Hunt he there espied,A merchant of Newcastle was he.

Not long he had been on the sea,

No more in days then number three,

Till one Henry Hunt he there espied,

A merchant of Newcastle was he.

17To him Lord Howard cald out amain,And strictly charged him to stand;Demanding then from whence he came,Or where he did intend to land.

To him Lord Howard cald out amain,

And strictly charged him to stand;

Demanding then from whence he came,

Or where he did intend to land.

18The merchant then made him answer soon,With heavy heart and careful mind,‘My lord, my ship it doth belongUnto Newcastle upon Tine.’

The merchant then made him answer soon,

With heavy heart and careful mind,

‘My lord, my ship it doth belong

Unto Newcastle upon Tine.’

19‘Canst thou shew me,’ the lord did say,‘As thou didst sail by day and night,A Scottish rover on the sea,His name is Andrew Barton, knight? ’

‘Canst thou shew me,’ the lord did say,

‘As thou didst sail by day and night,

A Scottish rover on the sea,

His name is Andrew Barton, knight? ’

20Then to him the merchant sighd and said,With grieved mind and well a way,‘But over well I know that wight,I was his prisoner but yesterday.

Then to him the merchant sighd and said,

With grieved mind and well a way,

‘But over well I know that wight,

I was his prisoner but yesterday.

21‘As I, my lord, did pass from France,A Burdeaux voyage to take so far,I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence,Who robd me of my merchant-ware.

‘As I, my lord, did pass from France,

A Burdeaux voyage to take so far,

I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence,

Who robd me of my merchant-ware.

22‘And mickle debts, God knows, I owe,And every man did crave his own;And I am bound to London now,Of our gracious king to beg a boon.’

‘And mickle debts, God knows, I owe,

And every man did crave his own;

And I am bound to London now,

Of our gracious king to beg a boon.’

23‘Shew me him,’ said [Lord] Howard then,‘Let me but once the villain see,And one penny he hath from the tane,I’le double the same with shillings three.’

‘Shew me him,’ said [Lord] Howard then,

‘Let me but once the villain see,

And one penny he hath from the tane,

I’le double the same with shillings three.’

24‘Now, God forbid,’ the merchant said;‘I fear your aim that you will miss;God bless you from his tyranny,For little you know what man he is.

‘Now, God forbid,’ the merchant said;

‘I fear your aim that you will miss;

God bless you from his tyranny,

For little you know what man he is.

25‘He is brass within and steel without,His ship most huge and mighty strong,With eighteen pieces strong and stout,He carrieth on each side along.

‘He is brass within and steel without,

His ship most huge and mighty strong,

With eighteen pieces strong and stout,

He carrieth on each side along.

26‘With beams for his top-castle,As also being huge and high,That neither English nor PortugalCan pass Sir Andrew Barton by.’

‘With beams for his top-castle,

As also being huge and high,

That neither English nor Portugal

Can pass Sir Andrew Barton by.’

27‘Hard news thou shewst,’ then said the lord,‘To welcome strangers to the sea;But, as I said, I’le bring him aboard,Or into Scotland he shall carry me.’

‘Hard news thou shewst,’ then said the lord,

‘To welcome strangers to the sea;

But, as I said, I’le bring him aboard,

Or into Scotland he shall carry me.’

28The merchant said, If you will do so,Take counsel, then, I pray withal:Let no man to his top-castle go,Nor strive to let his beam[s] down fall.

The merchant said, If you will do so,

Take counsel, then, I pray withal:

Let no man to his top-castle go,

Nor strive to let his beam[s] down fall.

29‘Lend me seven pieces of ordnance then,Of each side of my ship,’ quoth he,‘And to-morrow, my lord, twixt six and seven,Again I will Your Honour see.

‘Lend me seven pieces of ordnance then,

Of each side of my ship,’ quoth he,

‘And to-morrow, my lord, twixt six and seven,

Again I will Your Honour see.

30‘A glass I’le set that may be seenWhether you sail by day or night;And to-morrow, be sure, before seven,You shall see Sir Andrew Barton, knight.’

‘A glass I’le set that may be seen

Whether you sail by day or night;

And to-morrow, be sure, before seven,

You shall see Sir Andrew Barton, knight.’

31The merchant set my lord a glass,So well apparent in his sightThat on the morrow, as his promise was,He saw Sir Andrew Barton, knight.

The merchant set my lord a glass,

So well apparent in his sight

That on the morrow, as his promise was,

He saw Sir Andrew Barton, knight.

32The lord then swore a mighty oath,‘Now by the heavens that be of might,By faith, believe me, and by troth,I think he is a worthy knight.

The lord then swore a mighty oath,

‘Now by the heavens that be of might,

By faith, believe me, and by troth,

I think he is a worthy knight.

33‘Fetch me my lyon out of hand,’Saith the lord, ‘with rose and streamer high;Set up withal a willow-wand,That merchant-like I [may] pass by.’

‘Fetch me my lyon out of hand,’

Saith the lord, ‘with rose and streamer high;

Set up withal a willow-wand,

That merchant-like I [may] pass by.’

34Thus bravely did Lord Howard pass,And did on anchor rise so high;No top-sail at all he cast,But as his foe he did him defie.

Thus bravely did Lord Howard pass,

And did on anchor rise so high;

No top-sail at all he cast,

But as his foe he did him defie.

35Sir Andrew Barton seeing himThus scornfully to pass by,As though he cared not a pinFor him and all his company,

Sir Andrew Barton seeing him

Thus scornfully to pass by,

As though he cared not a pin

For him and all his company,

36Then called he his men amain,‘Fetch back yon pedler now,’ quoth he,‘And against this way he comes againI’le teach him well his courtesie.’

Then called he his men amain,

‘Fetch back yon pedler now,’ quoth he,

‘And against this way he comes again

I’le teach him well his courtesie.’

37A piece of ordnance soon was shotBy this proud pirate fiercely thenInto Lord Howards middle deck,Which cruel shot killd fourteen men.

A piece of ordnance soon was shot

By this proud pirate fiercely then

Into Lord Howards middle deck,

Which cruel shot killd fourteen men.

38He calld then Peter Simon, he:‘Look now thy word do stand in stead,For thou shalt be hanged on main-mastIf thou miss twelve score one penny breadth.’

He calld then Peter Simon, he:

‘Look now thy word do stand in stead,

For thou shalt be hanged on main-mast

If thou miss twelve score one penny breadth.’

39Then Peter Simon gave a shotWhich did Sir Andrew mickle scare,In at his deck it came so hot,Killd fifteen of his men of war.

Then Peter Simon gave a shot

Which did Sir Andrew mickle scare,

In at his deck it came so hot,

Killd fifteen of his men of war.

40‘Alas!’ then said the pyrate stout,‘I am in danger now, I see;This is some lord, I greatly doubt,That is set on to conquer me.’

‘Alas!’ then said the pyrate stout,

‘I am in danger now, I see;

This is some lord, I greatly doubt,

That is set on to conquer me.’

41Then Henry Hunt, with rigor hot,Came bravely on the other side,Who likewise shot in at his deck,And kild fifty of his men beside.

Then Henry Hunt, with rigor hot,

Came bravely on the other side,

Who likewise shot in at his deck,

And kild fifty of his men beside.

42Then ‘Out, alas!’ Sir Andrew cri’d,‘What may a man now think or say!Yon merchant thief that pierceth me,He was my prisoner yesterday.’

Then ‘Out, alas!’ Sir Andrew cri’d,

‘What may a man now think or say!

Yon merchant thief that pierceth me,

He was my prisoner yesterday.’

43Then did he on Gordion call,Unto top-castle for to go,And bid his beams he should let fall,‘For I greatly fear an overthrow.’

Then did he on Gordion call,

Unto top-castle for to go,

And bid his beams he should let fall,

‘For I greatly fear an overthrow.’

44The lord cald Horsly now in hast:‘Look that thy word stand now in stead,For thou shalt be hanged on main-mastIf thou miss twelve score one shillings breadth.’

The lord cald Horsly now in hast:

‘Look that thy word stand now in stead,

For thou shalt be hanged on main-mast

If thou miss twelve score one shillings breadth.’

45Then up [the] mast-tree swarved he,This stout and mighty Gordion;But Horsly, he most happilyShot him under the collar-bone.

Then up [the] mast-tree swarved he,

This stout and mighty Gordion;

But Horsly, he most happily

Shot him under the collar-bone.

46Then calld he on his nephew then,Said, Sisters sons I have no mo;Three hundred pound I will give thee,If thou wilt to top-castle go.

Then calld he on his nephew then,

Said, Sisters sons I have no mo;

Three hundred pound I will give thee,

If thou wilt to top-castle go.

47Then stoutly he began to climb,From off the mast scornd to depart;But Horsly soon prevented him,And deadly piercd him to the heart.

Then stoutly he began to climb,

From off the mast scornd to depart;

But Horsly soon prevented him,

And deadly piercd him to the heart.

48His men being slain, then up amainDid this proud pyrate climb with speed,For armour of proof he had put on,And did not dint of arrow dread.

His men being slain, then up amain

Did this proud pyrate climb with speed,

For armour of proof he had put on,

And did not dint of arrow dread.

49‘Come hither, Horsly,’ said the lord,‘See thine arrow aim aright;Great means to thee I will afford,And if you speed, I’le make you a knight.’

‘Come hither, Horsly,’ said the lord,

‘See thine arrow aim aright;

Great means to thee I will afford,

And if you speed, I’le make you a knight.’

50Sir Andrew did climb up the tree,With right good will and all his main;Then upon the breast hit Horsly he,Till the arrow did return again.

Sir Andrew did climb up the tree,

With right good will and all his main;

Then upon the breast hit Horsly he,

Till the arrow did return again.

51Then Horsly spied a private place,With a perfect eye, in a secret part;His arrow swiftly flew apace,And smote Sir Andrew to the heart.

Then Horsly spied a private place,

With a perfect eye, in a secret part;

His arrow swiftly flew apace,

And smote Sir Andrew to the heart.

52‘Fight on, fight on, my merry men all,A little I am hurt, yet not slain;I’le but lie down and bleed a while,And come and fight with you again.

‘Fight on, fight on, my merry men all,

A little I am hurt, yet not slain;

I’le but lie down and bleed a while,

And come and fight with you again.

53‘And do not,’ he said, ‘fear English rogues,And of your foes stand not in awe,But stand fast by St Andrews cross,Until you hear my whistle blow.’

‘And do not,’ he said, ‘fear English rogues,

And of your foes stand not in awe,

But stand fast by St Andrews cross,

Until you hear my whistle blow.’

54They never heard his whistle blow,Which made them [all] sore afraid:Then Horsly said, My lord, aboard,For now Sir Andrew Barton’s dead.

They never heard his whistle blow,

Which made them [all] sore afraid:

Then Horsly said, My lord, aboard,

For now Sir Andrew Barton’s dead.

55Thus boarded they this gallant ship,With right good will and all their main,Eighteen score Scots alive in it,Besides as many more were slain.

Thus boarded they this gallant ship,

With right good will and all their main,

Eighteen score Scots alive in it,

Besides as many more were slain.

56The lord went where Sir Andrew lay,And quickly thence cut off his head:‘I should forsake England many a day,If thou wert alive as thou art dead.’

The lord went where Sir Andrew lay,

And quickly thence cut off his head:

‘I should forsake England many a day,

If thou wert alive as thou art dead.’

57Thus from the wars Lord Howard came,With mickle joy and triumphing;The pyrates head he brought alongFor to present unto our king:

Thus from the wars Lord Howard came,

With mickle joy and triumphing;

The pyrates head he brought along

For to present unto our king:

58Who briefly then to him did say,Before he knew well what was done,‘Where is the knight and pyrate gay?That I my self may give the doom.’

Who briefly then to him did say,

Before he knew well what was done,

‘Where is the knight and pyrate gay?

That I my self may give the doom.’

59You may thank God,’ then said the lord,‘And four men in the ship,’ quoth he,‘That we are safely come ashore,Sith you had never such an enemy:

You may thank God,’ then said the lord,

‘And four men in the ship,’ quoth he,

‘That we are safely come ashore,

Sith you had never such an enemy:

60‘That is Henry Hunt, and Peter Simon,William Horsly, and Peters son;Therefore reward them for their pains,For they did service at their turn.’

‘That is Henry Hunt, and Peter Simon,

William Horsly, and Peters son;

Therefore reward them for their pains,

For they did service at their turn.’

61To the merchant then the king did say,‘In lue of what he hath from the tane,I give to the a noble a day,Sir Andrews whistle and his chain:

To the merchant then the king did say,

‘In lue of what he hath from the tane,

I give to the a noble a day,

Sir Andrews whistle and his chain:

62‘To Peter Simon a crown a day,And half-a-crown a day to Peters son,And that was for a shot so gay,Which bravely brought Sir Andrew down.

‘To Peter Simon a crown a day,

And half-a-crown a day to Peters son,

And that was for a shot so gay,

Which bravely brought Sir Andrew down.

63‘Horsly, I will make thee a knight,And in Yorkshire thou shalt dwell:Lord Howard shall Earl Bury hight,For this title he deserveth well.

‘Horsly, I will make thee a knight,

And in Yorkshire thou shalt dwell:

Lord Howard shall Earl Bury hight,

For this title he deserveth well.

64‘Seven shillings to our English men,Who in this fight did stoutly stand,And twelve pence a-day to the Scots, till theyCome to my brother kings high land.’

‘Seven shillings to our English men,

Who in this fight did stoutly stand,

And twelve pence a-day to the Scots, till they

Come to my brother kings high land.’

All the copies in stanzas of eight lines.

13. 8th..

23. 80.

32.MS. pared away. From the Reliques. Percy’s marginal reading isFor sailors good are welcome to me.The tops of letters left do not suit either of Percy’s lines, says Furnivall.

33. swore:MS. pared away. Percy’s reading.

64. 20.

91. 600.

113. 60:B, three score.

124, 132, 154, 162. 100ḍ, 100.

134, 181. 3.

162. theyforthe.

164, 424. 12[d:].

151. sayes,a letter blotted out beforea:Furnivall.

202. poorwould read better thanpure (cf.B, 182, heavy heart),but is not satisfactory.

233. archbordeforhachborde?:cf.361, 702.

272, 294, 524, 554. beanes,orbeaues.

283. 9.

284. 15.

291. 20.

292. charke-bord:should perhaps behachbord.

331. fferae.

333. 7.

353, 433. 9.

36is perhaps out of place.

361. liesforlay?

37. Part II.

411. theyforthe.

413. strokes.

444. sumke.

472. WeateI cannot emend.

484. 60.

493. fformost.

494. 80: Andirwes.

523. 300li:.

531, 561.perhapsswarned:Furnivall.

553. 600li..

573,4.three follows four: transposed for rhyme.

644. theyforthe.

654.Only half thenofagainein the MS.: Furnivall.

683. 18.

703. 300.

712. meanyeformain.

714. againe they came.

753,4. 2.

762. paime.

793. 500li..

813. 100li:.

B. a.

The Relation of the life and death of Sir Andrew Barton, a Pyrate and Rover on the Seas.

The tune is, Come follow my love.

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright [1655–80].

131. lyinHorslyis worn or torn away, and so istoin the next line.

203. But ever.

241. the Lord he:c,g, my Lord he:the others, the merchant.

264. Can S. A. B. pass by.So all buth.

284. beam.

33, 34follow36.

382. tofordo.

452. Thus.

473.Cut off: supplied fromb,c.

533. Sir Andrews,and sob,c,d.

542. allsupplied fromc.

633. brightforhight.

643. eyoftheycut off, andlandin the following line.

A True Relation,etc.Tune is,etc.

Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger [1670–82?].

From a transcript made for Bishop Percy, who has in a few places made corrections which are not always easily distinguished from those of the copyist.

52. to his.

101. greatchanged togood.

132. To seek: good speed.

144. Of: Iwanting.

154. was stormy.

163. But one: there he ‘spy’d.

174. didinserted by Percy, but perhaps in the text.

181. himwanting.

203. over well.

204. butwanting.

211. did sail.

221. deps.

231. [Lord]wanting.

241. the merchant.

253. pieces of ordnance.

284. beams.

293. twix.

33, 34follow36.

334. [may]wanting.

361. is men.

363. And again.

382. tofordo.

384, 444. breath.

444. a shilling.

473. But Horsly soon prevented him.

494. if thou.

531. said he.

533. Sir:corrected by Percy toSt.

541. hear.

542. [all]wanting.

574. unto the.

594. neverwanting.

612. lieu.

632. shall.

633. hight.

643. they.

644. land.

A true Relation,etc.The tune is,etc.

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson. [1648–80. Coles, Vere, Wright, and Gilbertsonare found together as early as1655.]

41. An’t like.

53. lord in all.

82. In place wheresoever.

83. on shore.

113. year.

132. To see.

143. thewanting.

181. himwanting.

203. ever: knew.

213. withwanting.

214. wares.

232. that villain.

241. my Lord he.

244. you little know.

261. for her.

312. to his.

33, 34follow36.

332. streamers.

342. rideforrise.

353. Although.

361. he on.

363. come.

382. do stand.

392. careforscare.

394. fifty.

413. shot it.

414. fiveforfifty.

424. but yesterday.

444. shilling bred.

451. then swarded he.

462. son: no more.

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