Transcriber's Notes
Archaic, dialect and inconsistent spellings and hyphenation have been
retained as in the original. Minor corrections to format and punctuation
together with regularisation of poetry line numbering have been made
without comment. Any other changes to the text have been listed at the
end of the book.
In this Plain Text version of the e-book, symbols from the ASCII
character set only are used. Other characters and symbols are
substituted as follows:
[OE], [oe] for upper and lower case oe-ligature respectively
[=u] for u with macron.
Italic typeface is indicated by _underscores_.
Small caps typeface is represented by UPPER CASE.
A pointing hand symbol is represented as [right pointing hand].
Notes with reference to ballad line numbers are presented at the end of
each ballad. The presence of a note is indicated at the end of line
number ## by "[L##]".
* * * * *
ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS.
EDITED BY
FRANCIS JAMES CHILD.
VOLUME VII.
BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY.
M.DCCC.LX.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by LITTLE,
BROWN AND COMPANY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the
District of Massachusetts.
RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE:
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY
H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME SEVENTH.
BOOK VII. (Continued.)
Page
4 a. The Battle of Otterbourne [Percy] 3
4 b. The Battle of Otterbourne [Scott] 19
5 a. The Hunting of the Cheviot 25
5 b. Chevy-Chace 43
6. Sir Andrew Barton 55
7. Flodden Field 71
8 a. Queen Jeanie 74
8 b. The Death of Queen Jane 77
9. The Murder of the King of Scots 78
10. The Rising in the North 82
11. Northumberland betrayed by Douglas 92
12. King of Scots and Andrew Browne 103
13. Mary Ambree 108
14. Brave Lord Willoughbey 114
15 a. The Bonny Earl of Murray [Ramsay] 119
15 b. The Bonnie Earl of Murray [Finlay] 121
16. The Winning of Cales 123
17. Sir John Suckling's Campaign 128
18. The Battle of Philiphaugh 131
19. The Gallant Grahams 137
20. The Battle of Loudon Hill 144
21. The Battle of Bothwell Bridge 148
22. The Battle of Killiecrankie 152
23. The Battle of Sheriff-Muir 156
24. Lord Derwentwater 164
25. The Battle of Tranent-Muir, or of Preston-Pans 167
APPENDIX.
The Battle of Otterburn 177
The Battle of Harlaw 180
King Henrie the Fifth's Conquest 190
Jane Shore 194
Sir Andrew Barton 201
The Battle of Corichie 210
The Battle of Balrinnes (or Glenlivet) 214
Bonny John Seton 230
The Haws of Cromdale 234
The Battle of Alford 238
The Battle of Pentland Hills 240
The Reading Skirmish 243
Undaunted Londonderry 247
Pr[oe]lium Gillicrankianum 251
The Boyne Water 253
The Woman Warrior 257
The Battle of Sheriff-Muir 260
Up and war them a', Willie 264
The Marquis of Huntley's Retreat 267
Johnie Cope 274
King Leir and his three Daughters 276
Fair Rosamond 283
Queen Eleanor's Fall 292
The Duchess of Suffolk's Calamity 299
The Life and Death of Thomas Stukely 306
Lord Delaware 314
The Battle of Harlaw (Traditional version) 317
GLOSSARY 321
BOOK VII.
CONTINUED.
THE BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE.
In the twelfth year of Richard II. (1388,) the Scots assembled an
extensive army, with the intention of invading England on a grand
scale, in revenge for a previous incursion made by that sovereign. But
information having been received that the Northumbrians were gathering
in considerable force for a counter-invasion, it was thought prudent
not to attempt to carry out the original enterprise. While, therefore,
the main body of the army, commanded by the Earl of Fife, the Scottish
king's second son, ravaged the western borders of England, a
detachment of three or four thousand chosen men, under the Earl of
Douglas, penetrated by a swift march into the Bishopric of Durham, and
laid waste the country with fire and sword. Returning in triumph from
this inroad, Douglas passed insultingly before the gates of Newcastle,
where Sir Harry Percy lay in garrison. This fiery warrior, though he
could not venture to cope with forces far superior to his own, sallied
out to break a lance with his hereditary foe. In a skirmish before the
town he lost his spear and pennon, which Douglas swore he would plant
as a trophy on the highest tower of his castle, unless it should be
that very night retaken by the owner. Hotspur was deterred from
accepting this challenge immediately, by the apprehension that Douglas
would be able to effect a union with the main body of the Scottish
army before he could be overtaken, but when he learned, the second
day, that the Earl was retreating with ostentatious slowness, he
hastily got together a company of eight or ten thousand men, and set
forth in pursuit.
The English forces, under the command of Hotspur and his brother, Sir
Ralph Percy, came up with the Scots at Otterbourne, a small village
about thirty miles from Newcastle, on the evening of the 15th of
August. Their numbers were more than double the Scots, but they were
fatigued with a long march. Percy fell at once on the camp of Douglas,
and a desperate action ensued. The victory seemed to be inclining to
the English, when the Scottish leader, as the last means of
reanimating his followers, rushed on the advancing enemy with heroic
daring, and cleared a way with his battle-axe into the middle of their
ranks. All but alone and unsupported, Douglas was overpowered by
numbers, and sunk beneath three mortal wounds. The Scots, encouraged
by the furious charge of their chieftain, and ignorant of his fate,
renewed the struggle with vigor. Ralph Percy was made prisoner by the
Earl Mareschal, and soon after Hotspur himself by Lord Montgomery.
Many other Englishmen of rank had the same fate. After a long fight,
maintained with extraordinary bravery on both sides, the English
retired and left the Scots masters of the field. (See Sir W. Scott's
_History of Scotland_, i. 225.)
The ballad which follows, printed from the fourth or revised edition
of Percy's _Reliques_ (vol. i. p. 21), was derived from a manuscript
in the Cotton library (Cleopatra, c. iv. fol. 64), thought to be
written about the middle of the sixteenth century. In the earlier
editions, a less perfect copy, from the Harleian collection, had been
used. Hume of Godscroft, speaking of the songs made on the battle of
Otterbourne, says, "the Scots song made of Otterbourne telleth the
time--about Lammas; and also the occasion--to take preys out of
England; also the dividing armies betwixt the Earls of Fife and
Douglas, and their several journeys, almost as in the authentic
history," and proceeds to quote the first stanza of the present
ballad. Again, it is said that at Lammas, when the Scotch husbandmen
are busy at getting in their hay, the season has been over for a month
in most parts of England. From these circumstances, and the occurrence
of certain Scottish words, the first part of _The Battle of
Otterbourne_ has been regarded as a Scottish composition, retouched by
an English hand.
A somewhat mutilated version of this ballad was published in Herd's
_Scottish Songs_. This, though defective, well deserves a place in our
Appendix. Sir Walter Scott inserted in the _Minstrelsy_ another
edition made up by him from two copies obtained from the recitation of
old persons residing in Ettrick Forest, and it is here subjoined to
Percy's version.
Genealogical notices of the personages mentioned in this and the
following ballad will be found in Percy's _Reliques_ and in Scott's
_Minstrelsy_.
Yt felle abowght the Lamasse tyde,
Whan husbonds wynn ther haye,
The dowghtye Dowglasse bowynd hym to ryde,
In Ynglond to take a praye.
The yerlle of Fyffe, withowghten stryffe, 5
He bowynd hym over Sulway:[L6]
The grete wolde ever together ryde;
That race they may rue for aye.
Over Ottercap hyll they came in,[L9]
And so dowyn by Rodelyffe cragge, 10
Upon Grene Leyton they lyghted dowyn,
Styrande many a stagge;[L12]
And boldely brent Northomberlonde,
And haryed many a towyn;
They dyd owr Ynglyssh men grete wrange, 15
To battell that were not bowyn.
Than spake a berne upon the bent,
Of comforte that was not colde,
And sayd, "We have brent Northomberlond,
We have all welth in holde. 20
"Now we have haryed all Bamboroweshyre,
All the welth in the worlde have wee;
I rede we ryde to Newe Castell,
So styll and stalwurthlye."
Uppon the morowe, when it was daye, 25
The standards schone fulle bryght;
To the Newe Castelle the toke the waye,
And thether they cam fulle ryght.
Sir Henry Percy laye at the Newe Castelle,
I telle yow withowtten drede; 30
He had byn a march-man all hys dayes,
And kepte Barwyke upon Twede.
To the Newe Castell when they cam,
The Skottes they cryde on hyght,
"Syr Harye Percy, and thow byste within, 35
Com to the fylde, and fyght:
"For we have brente Northomberlonde,
Thy eritage good and ryght;
And syne my logeyng I have take,
With my brande dubbyd many a knyght." 40
Sir Harry Percy cam to the walles,
The Skottyssh oste for to se;
"And thow hast brente Northomberlond,
Full sore it rewyth me.
"Yf thou hast haryed all Bambarowe shyre, 45
Thow hast done me grete envye;
For the trespasse thow hast me done,
The tone of us schall dye."
"Where schall I byde the?" sayd the Dowglas,
"Or where wylte thow come to me?" 50
"At Otterborne in the hygh way,
Ther maist thow well logeed be.
"The roo full rekeles ther sche rinnes,
To make the game and glee;
The fawkon and the fesaunt both, 55
Amonge the holtes on hye.
"Ther maist thow have thy welth at wyll,
"Well looged ther maist be;
Yt schall not be long or I com the tyll,"
Sayd Syr Harry Percye. 60
"Ther schall I byde the," sayd the Dowglas,
"By the fayth of my bodye:"
"Thether schall I com," sayd Syr Harry Percy
"My trowth I plyght to the."
A pype of wyne he gave them over the walles, 65
For soth, as I yow saye;
Ther he mayd the Douglas drynke,
And all hys oste that daye.
The Dowglas turnyd hym homewarde agayne,
For soth withowghten naye; 70
He tooke his logeyng at Oterborne
Uppon a Wedynsday.
And there he pyght hys standerd dowyn,
Hys gettyng more and lesse,
And syne he warned hys men to goo 75
To chose ther geldyngs gresse.
A Skottysshe knyght hoved upon the bent,[L77]
A wache I dare well saye;
So was he ware on the noble Percy
In the dawnynge of the daye. 80
He prycked to his pavyleon dore,
As faste as he myght ronne;
"Awaken, Dowglas," cryed the knyght,
"For hys love, that syttes yn trone.
"Awaken, Dowglas," cryed the knyght, 85
"For thow maiste waken wyth wynne;
Yender have I spyed the prowde Percy,
And seven standardes wyth hym."
"Nay by my trowth," the Douglas sayed,
"It ys but a fayned taylle; 90
He durste not loke on my bred banner,
For all Ynglonde so haylle.
"Was I not yesterdaye at the Newe Castell,
That stonds so fayre on Tyne?
For all the men the Percy hade, 95
He cowde not garre me ones to dyne."
He stepped owt at hys pavelyon dore,
To loke and it were lesse;
"Araye yow, lordyngs, one and all,
For here bygynnes no peysse. 100
"The yerle of Mentayne, thow art my eme,[L101]
The forwarde I gyve to the:
The yerlle of Huntlay cawte and kene,[L103]
He schall wyth the be.
"The lorde of Bowghan, in armure bryght,[L105] 105
On the other hand he schall be;
Lord Jhonstone and Lorde Maxwell,
They to schall be wyth me.
"Swynton, fayre fylde upon your pryde!
To batell make yow bowen, 110
Syr Davy Scotte, Syr Walter Stewarde,
Syr Jhon of Agurstone!"
6. i. e. over Solway frith. This evidently refers to the other
division of the Scottish army, which came in by way of
Carlisle.--PERCY.
9-11. sc. the Earl of Douglas and his party.--The several stations
here mentioned are well-known places in Northumberland. Ottercap-hill
is in the parish of Kirk-Whelpington, in Tynedale-ward.
Rodeliffe--(or, as it is more usually pronounced, Rodeley--) Cragge is
a noted cliff near Rodeley, a small village in the parish of Hartburn,
in Morpeth-ward. Green Leyton is another small village in the same
parish of Hartburn, and is southeast of Rodeley. Both the original
MSS. read here, corruptly, Hoppertop and Lynton.--P.
12. Many a styrande stage, in both MSS. Motherwell would retain this
reading, because stagge signifies in Scotland a young stallion, and by
supplying "off" the line would make sense. It was one of the Border
laws, he remarks, that the Scottish array of battle should be on foot
(see v. 15 of the Second Part). Horses were used but for a retreat or
pursuit.
77. the best bent, MS.
101. The Earl of Menteith. At the time of the battle the earldom of
Menteith was possessed by Robert Earl of Fife, who was in command of
the main body of the army, and consequently not with Douglas.
103. The reference is to Sir John Gordon. The use of this designation
shows, says Percy, that the ballad was not composed before 1449. In
that year the title of Earl of Huntly was first conferred on Alexander
Seaton, who married the grand-daughter of the Gordon of Otterbourne.
105. The Earl of Buchan, fourth son of King Robert II.
A FYTTE.
[THE SECOND PART.]
The Perssy came byfore hys oste,
Wych was ever a gentyll knyght;
Upon the Dowglas lowde can he crye,
"I wyll holde that I have hyght.
"For thow haste brente Northumberlonde, 5
And done me grete envye;
For thys trespasse thou hast me done,
The tone of us schall dye."
The Dowglas answerde hym agayne
With grete wurds up on hye, 10
And sayd, "I have twenty agaynst the one,
Byholde, and thow maiste see."
Wyth that the Percye was grevyd sore,
For sothe as I yow saye;
He lyghted dowyn upon his fote, 15
And schoote his horsse clene away.
Every man sawe that he dyd soo,
That ryall was ever in rowght;
Every man schoote hys horsse him froo,
And lyght hym rowynde abowght. 20
Thus Syr Hary Percye toke the fylde,
For soth, as I yow saye;
Jesu Cryste in hevyn on hyght
Dyd helpe hym well that daye.
But nyne thowzand, ther was no moo, 25
The cronykle wyll not layne;
Forty thowsande Skottes and fowre
That day fowght them agayne.
But when the batell byganne to joyne,
In hast ther came a knyght; 30
'Then' letters fayre furth hath he tayne,
And thus he sayd full ryght:
"My lorde, your father he gretes yow well,
Wyth many a noble knyght;
He desyres yow to byde 35
That he may see thys fyght.
"The Baron of Grastoke ys com owt of the west,
With him a noble companye;
All they loge at your fathers thys nyght,
And the battell fayne wold they see. 40
"For Jesus love," sayd Syr Harye Percy,
"That dyed for yow and me,
Wende to my lorde my father agayne,
And saye thou saw me not with yee.
"My trowth ys plyght to yonne Skottysh knyght, 45
It nedes me not to layne,
That I schulde byde hym upon thys bent,
And I have hys trowth agayne.
"And if that I wende off thys grownde,
For soth, unfoughten awaye, 50
He wolde me call but a kowarde knyght
In hys londe another daye.
"Yet had I lever to be rynde and rente,
By Mary, that mykel maye,
Then ever my manhod schulde be reprovyd 55
Wyth a Skotte another daye.
"Wherefore schote, archars, for my sake,
And let scharpe arowes flee;
Mynstrells, play up for your waryson,
And well quyt it schall be. 60
"Every man thynke on hys trewe love,
And marke hym to the Trenite;
For to God I make myne avowe
Thys day wyll I not fle."
The blodye harte in the Dowglas armes, 65
Hys standerde stode on hye;
That every man myght full well knowe;
By syde stode starres thre.
The whyte lyon on the Ynglysh parte,
Forsoth, as I yow sayne, 70
The lucetts and the cressawnts both;
The Skotts faught them agayne.
Uppon Sent Andrewe lowde cane they crye,
And thrysse they schowte on hyght,
And syne marked them one owr Ynglysshe men, 75
As I have tolde yow ryght.
Sent George the bryght, owr ladyes knyght,
To name they were full fayne;
Owr Ynglysshe men they cryde on hyght,
And thrysse the schowtte agayne. 80
Wyth that, scharpe arowes bygan to flee,
I tell yow in sertayne;
Men of armes byganne to joyne,
Many a dowghty man was ther slayne.
The Percy and the Dowglas mette, 85
That ether of other was fayne;
They schapped together, whyll that the swette,
With swords of fyne collayne;
Tyll the bloode from ther bassonnetts ranne,
As the roke doth in the rayne; 90
"Yelde the to me," sayd the Dowglas,
"Or ells thow schalt be slayne.
"For I see by thy bryght bassonet,
Thow art sum man of myght;
And so I do by thy burnysshed brande; 95
Thow art an yerle, or ells a knyght."[L96]
"By my good faythe," sayd the noble Percy,
"Now haste thou rede full ryght;
Yet wyll I never yelde me to the,
Whyll I may stonde and fyght." 100
They swapped together, whyll that they swette,
Wyth swordes scharpe and long;
Ych on other so faste they beette,
Tyll ther helmes cam in peyses dowyn.
The Percy was a man of strenghth, 105
I tell yow in thys stounde;
He smote the Dowglas at the swordes length,
That he felle to the growynde.
The sworde was scharpe, and sore can byte,
I tell yow in sertayne; 110
To the harte he cowde hym smyte,
Thus was the Dowglas slayne.
The stonderds stode styll on eke syde,
With many a grevous grone;
Ther the fowght the day, and all the nyght, 115
And many a dowghty man was slayne.
Ther was no freke that ther wolde flye,
But styffly in stowre can stond,
Ychone hewyng on other whyll they myght drye,
Wyth many a bayllefull bronde. 120
Ther was slayne upon the Skottes syde,
For soth and sertenly,
Syr James a Dowglas ther was slayne,
That daye that he cowde dye.
The yerle of Mentaye he was slayne, 125
Grysely groned uppon the growynd;
Syr Davy Scotte, Syr Walter Steward,
Syr John of Agurstonne.[L128]
Syr Charlles Morrey in that place,
That never a fote wold flye; 130
Sir Hughe Maxwelle, a lorde he was,
With the Dowglas dyd he dye.
Ther was slayne upon the Skottes syde,
For soth as I yow saye,
Of fowre and forty thowsande Scotts 135
Went but eyghtene awaye.
Ther was slayne upon the Ynglysshe syde,
For soth and sertenlye,
A gentell knyght, Sir John Fitz-hughe,
Yt was the more petye. 140
Syr James Harebotell ther was slayne,
For hym ther hartes were sore;
The gentyll Lovelle ther was slayne,[L143]
That the Percyes standerd bore.
Ther was slayne uppon the Ynglyssh perte, 145
For soth as I yow saye,
Of nyne thowsand Ynglyssh men
Fyve hondert cam awaye.
The other were slayne in the fylde;
Cryste kepe their sowles from wo! 150
Seying ther was so few fryndes
Agaynst so many a foo.
Then one the morne they mayd them beeres
Of byrch, and haysell graye;
Many a wydowe with wepyng teyres 155
Ther makes they fette awaye.
Thys fraye bygan at Otterborne,
Bytwene the nyghte and the day:
Ther the Dowglas lost hys lyfe,
And the Percy was lede awaye. 160
Then was ther a Scottyshe prisoner tayne,
Syr Hughe Mongomery was hys name;[L162]
For soth as I yow saye,
He borowed the Percy home agayne.
Now let us all for the Percy praye 165
To Jesu most of myght,
To bryng hys sowle to the blysse of heven,
For he was a gentyll knyght.
96. Being all in armour he could not know him.--P.
128. Both the MSS. read here _Sir James_, but see above, Pt. I. ver.
112.--P.
143. Covelle, MS.
162. Supposed to be son of Lord John Montgomery, who took Hotspur
prisoner. In _The Hunting of the Cheviot_ this Sir Hugh is said to
have been slain with an arrow.
THE BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE.
From _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, i. 354. In the _Complaynt of
Scotland_ (1548), "The Persee and the Mongumrye met," (v. 117 of this
piece,) occurs as the title, or rather the catchword, of one of the
popular songs of the time.
It fell about the Lammas tide,
When the muir-men win their hay,
The doughty Douglas bound him to ride
Into England, to drive a prey.
He chose the Gordons and the Græmes, 5
With them the Lindesays, light and gay;[L6]
But the Jardines wald not with him ride,[L7]
And they rue it to this day.
And he has burn'd the dales of Tyne,
And part of Bambroughshire; 10
And three good towers on Reidswire fells,
He left them all on fire.
And he march'd up to Newcastle,
And rode it round about;
"O wha's the lord of this castle, 15
Or wha's the lady o't?"
But up spake proud Lord Percy then,
And O but he spake hie!
"I am the lord of this castle,
My wife's the lady gay." 20
"If thou'rt the lord of this castle,
Sae weel it pleases me!
For, ere I cross the Border fells,
The tane of us shall die."
He took a lang spear in his hand, 25
Shod with the metal free,
And for to meet the Douglas there,
He rode right furiouslie.
But O how pale his lady look'd,
Frae aff the castle wa', 30
When down before the Scottish spear
She saw proud Percy fa'.
"Had we twa been upon the green,
And never an eye to see,
I wad hae had you, flesh and fell;[L35] 35
But your sword sall gae wi' me."
"But gae ye up to Otterbourne,
And wait there dayis three;
And if I come not ere three dayis end,
A fause knight ca' ye me." 40
"The Otterbourne's a bonnie burn;
'Tis pleasant there to be;
But there is nought at Otterbourne,
To feed my men and me.
"The deer rins wild on hill and dale, 45
The birds fly wild from tree to tree;
But there is neither bread nor kale,
To fend my men and me.
"Yet I will stay at Otterbourne,
Where you shall welcome be; 50
And if ye come not at three dayis end,
A fause lord I'll ca' thee."
"Thither will I come," proud Percy said,
"By the might of Our Ladye!"
"There will I bide thee," said the Douglas, 55
"My troth I plight to thee."
They lighted high on Otterbourne,
Upon the bent sae brown;
They lighted high on Otterbourne,
And threw their pallions down. 60
And he that had a bonnie boy,
Sent out his horse to grass;
And he that had not a bonnie boy,
His ain servant he was.
But up then spake a little page, 65
Before the peep of dawn--
"O waken ye, waken ye, my good lord,
For Percy's hard at hand."
"Ye lie, ye lie, ye liar loud!
Sae loud I hear ye lie: 70
For Percy had not men yestreen
To dight my men and me.
"But I have dream'd a dreary dream,
Beyond the Isle of Sky;
I saw a dead man win a fight, 75
And I think that man was I."
He belted on his guid braid sword,
And to the field he ran;
But he forgot the helmet good,
That should have kept his brain. 80
When Percy wi' the Douglas met,
I wat he was fu' fain;
They swakked their swords, till sair they swat,
And the blood ran down like rain.
But Percy with his good broad sword, 85
That could so sharply wound,
Has wounded Douglas on the brow,
Till he fell to the ground.
Then he call'd on his little foot-page,
And said--"Run speedilie, 90
And fetch my ain dear sister's son,
Sir Hugh Montgomery.
"My nephew good," the Douglas said,
"What recks the death of ane!
Last night I dream'd a dreary dream, 95
And I ken the day's thy ain.
"My wound is deep; I fain would sleep;
Take thou the vanguard of the three,
And hide me by the braken bush,
That grows on yonder lilye lee. 100
"O bury me by the braken bush,
Beneath the blooming brier,
Let never living mortal ken
That ere a kindly Scot lies here."
He lifted up that noble lord, 105
Wi' the saut tear in his ee;
He hid him in the braken bush,
That his merrie-men might not see.
The moon was clear, the day drew near,
The spears in flinders flew, 110
But mony a gallant Englishman
Ere day the Scotsmen slew.
The Gordons good, in English blood
They steep'd their hose and shoon;
The Lindsays flew like fire about, 115
Till all the fray was done.
The Percy and Montgomery met,
That either of other were fain;
They swapped swords, and they twa swat,
And aye the blood ran down between. 120
"Now yield thee, yield thee, Percy," he said,
"Or else I vow I'll lay thee low!"
"To whom must I yield," quoth Earl Percy,
"Now that I see it must be so?"
"Thou shalt not yield to lord nor loun, 125
Nor yet shalt thou yield to me;
But yield thee to the braken bush,
That grows upon yon lilye lee."
"I will not yield to a braken bush,
Nor yet will I yield to a brier; 130
But I would yield to Earl Douglas,
Or Sir Hugh the Montgomery, if he were here."
As soon as he knew it was Montgomery,
He struck his sword's point in the gronde;
The Montgomery was a courteous knight, 135
And quickly took him by the honde.
This deed was done at the Otterbourne,
About the breaking of the day;
Earl Douglas was buried at the braken bush,
And the Percy led captive away.[L140] 140
* * * * *
6. "Light" is the appropriated designation of the Lindsays, as "gay"
is that of the Gordons.
7. The Jardines were a clan of hardy West-Border men. Their chief was
Jardine of Applegirth. Their refusal to ride with Douglas was,
probably, the result of one of those perpetual feuds, which usually
rent to pieces a Scottish army.--S.
35. Douglas insinuates that Percy was rescued by his soldiers.--S.
140. Douglas was really buried in Melrose Abbey, where his tomb is
still to be seen.
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT.
In _the Battle of Otterbourne_ the story is told with all the usual
accuracy of tradition, and the usual fairness of partizans. Not so
with the following ballad, which is founded on the same event. "That
which is commonly sung of the _Hunting of Cheviot_," says Hume of
Godscroft truly, "seemeth indeed poetical, and a mere fiction,
perhaps to stir up virtue; yet a fiction whereof there is no mention
either in the Scottish or English chronicle." When this ballad arose
we do not know, but we may suppose that a considerable time would
elapse before a minstrel would venture to treat an historical event
with so much freedom.
We must, however, allow some force to these remarks of Percy: "With
regard to the subject of this ballad, although it has no countenance
from history, there is room to think it had originally some foundation
in fact. It was one of the laws of the Marches, frequently renewed
between the nations, that neither party should hunt in the other's
borders, without leave from the proprietors or their deputies. There
had long been a rivalship between the two martial families of Percy
and Douglas, which, heightened by the national quarrel, must have
produced frequent challenges and struggles for superiority, petty
invasions of their respective domains, and sharp contests for the
point of honour; which would not always be recorded in history.
Something of this kind, we may suppose, gave rise to the ancient
ballad of the _Hunting a' the Cheviat_. Percy Earl of Northumberland
had vowed to hunt for three days in the Scottish border, without
condescending to ask leave from Earl Douglas, who was either lord of
the soil, or lord warden of the Marches. Douglas would not fail to
resent the insult, and endeavour to repel the intruders by force: this
would naturally produce a sharp conflict between the two parties;
something of which, it is probable, did really happen, though not
attended with the tragical circumstances recorded in the ballad: for
these are evidently borrowed from the Battle of Otterbourn, a very
different event, but which aftertimes would easily confound with
it."[1]
The ballad as here printed is of the same age as the preceding. It is
extracted from Hearne's Preface to the _History_ of Guilielmus
Neubrigensis, p. lxxxii. Hearne derived his copy from a manuscript in
the Ashmolean collection at Oxford, and printed the text in long
lines, which, according to custom, are now broken up into two.
The manuscript copy is subscribed at the end "Expliceth quoth Rychard
Sheale." Richard Sheale (it has been shown by a writer in the _British
Bibliographer_, vol. iv. p. 97-105) was a minstrel by profession, and
several other pieces in the same MS. have a like signature with this.
On this ground it has been very strangely concluded that Sheale was
not, as Percy and Ritson supposed, the transcriber, but the actual
author of this noble ballad. The glaring objection of the antiquity of
the language has been met, first, by the supposition that the author
belonged to the north of England, and afterwards, when it appeared
that Sheale lived at Tamworth, about a hundred miles from London, by
the allegation that the language of a person in humble life in
Warwickshire or Staffordshire would be very far behind the current
speech of the metropolis. It happens, however, that the language of
the ballad is very much older than the other compositions of Sheale,
as a moment's inspection will show. Besides, Sheale's poetical
abilities were manifestly of the lowest order, and although he styles
himself "minstrel," we have no reason to think that he ever composed
ballads. He speaks of his memory being at one time so decayed that he
"could neither sing nor talk." Being a mere ballad-_singer_ and
story-teller, he would naturally be dependent on that faculty. The
fact is very obvious, that Richard Sheale was a mere reciter of songs
and tales; at any rate, that all we have to thank him for in the
matter of _Chevy Chase_ is for committing to paper the only old copy
that has come down to our times.[2]
The _Hunting of the Cheviot_ is mentioned in the _Complaynt of
Scotland_ with other, very ancient, ballads. It was consequently
popular in Scotland in 1548, ten years before the time that we _know_
Sheale to have written anything. The mention of James the Scottish
King forbids us to assign this piece an earlier date than the reign of
Henry VI.
It has been customary to understand Sidney's saying of the "old song
of Percy and Douglas"--that it moved his heart more than a
trumpet--exclusively of _Chevy Chase_. There is no question which
ballad would stand higher in the estimation of the gentle knight, but
the terms by which the war-song he admired is described are of course
equally applicable to _The Battle of Otterbourne_. By the way we may
remark that if we do understand Sidney to have meant _Chevy Chase_,
then, whatever opinion writers of our day may have of its antiquity,
and however probable it may seem to them that _Chevy Chase_ was
written by a contemporary of Sir Philip, it appeared to the author of
the _Defence of Poetry_ to be "evil apparelled in the dust and cobweb
of an uncivil age"!
* * * * *
[1] The Editor of the _Reliques_ afterwards met with the following
passage in Collins's _Peerage_, which he thought might throw some
light on the question of the origin of the ballad.
"In this ... year, 1436, according to Hector Boethius, was fought the
battle of Pepperden, not far from the Cheviot Hills, between the Earl
of Northumberland [IId Earl, son of Hotspur], and Earl William
Douglas, of Angus, with a small army of about four thousand men each,
in which the latter had the advantage. As this seems to have been a
private conflict between these two great Chieftains of the Borders,
rather than a national war, it has been thought to have given rise to
the celebrated old ballad of Chevy-Chase; which to render it more
pathetic and interesting, has been heightened with tragical incidents
wholly fictitious."
[2] We regret that even Dr. Rimbault has hastily sanctioned this
ascription of _Chevy-Chase_ to the "sely" minstrel of Tamworth.
THE FIRST FIT.
The Persè owt off Northombarlande,
And a vowe to God mayd he,
That he wold hunte in the mountayns
Off Chyviat within days thre,
In the mauger of doughtè Dogles,[L5] 5
And all that ever with him be.
The fattiste hartes in all Cheviat
He sayd he wold kill, and cary them away:
"Be my feth," sayd the dougheti Doglas agayn,
"I wyll let that hontyng yf that I may." 10
Then the Persè owt of Banborowe cam,[L11]
With him a myghtee meany;
With fifteen hondrith archares bold off blood and bone,[L13]
The wear chosen owt of shyars thre.[L14]
This begane on a Monday at morn, 15
In Cheviat the hillys so he;
The chyld may rue that ys un-born,
It was the mor pittè.
The dryvars throrowe the woodès went,
For to reas the dear; 20
Bomen byckarte uppone the bent
With ther browd aras cleare.
Then the wyld thorowe the woodès went,
On every sydè shear;
Grea-hondes thorowe the grevis glent, 25
For to kyll thear dear.
The begane in Chyviat the hyls above,
Yerly on a Monnyn day;
Be that it drewe to the oware off none,
A hondrith fat hartes ded ther lay. 30
The blewe a mort uppone the bent,[L31]
The semblyd on sydis shear;
To the quyrry then the Persè went,
To se the bryttlynge off the deare.
He sayd, "It was the Duglas promys 35
This day to met me hear;
But I wyste he wold faylle, verament:"
A great oth the Persè swear.
At the laste a squyar of Northombelonde
Lokyde at his hand full ny; 40
He was war a' the doughetie Doglas comynge,[L41]
With him a myghttè meany;
Both with spear, byll, and brande;[L43]
Yt was a myghti sight to se;
Hardyar men, both off hart nar hande, 45
Wear not in Christiantè.
The wear twenty hondrith spear-men good,
Withowtè any feale;
The wear borne along be the watter a Twyde,
Yth' bowndes of Tividale. 50
"Leave of the brytlyng of the dear," he sayde,
"And to your bowys lock ye tayk good heed;[L52]
For never sithe ye wear on your mothars borne
Had ye never so mickle ned."
The dougheti Dogglas on a stede 55
He rode att his men beforne;
His armor glytteryde as dyd a glede;
A bolder barne was never born.
"Tell me whos men ye ar," he says,
"Or whos men that ye be: 60
Who gave youe leave to hunte in this Chyviat chays,
In the spyt of me?"
The first mane that ever him an answear mayd,
Yt was the good lord Persè:
"We wyll not tell the whoys men we ar," he says, 65
"Nor whos men that we be;
But we wyll hount hear in this chays,
In the spyt of thyne and of the.
"The fattiste hartes in all Chyviat
We have kyld, and cast to carry them a-way:" 70
"Be my troth," sayd the doughtè Dogglas agayn,[L71]
"Ther-for the ton of us shall de this day."
Then sayd the doughtè Doglas
Unto the lord Persè:
"To kyll all thes giltles men, 75
Alas, it wear great pittè!
"But, Persè, thowe art a lord of lande,
I am a yerle callyd within my contrè;
Let all our men uppone a parti stande,
And do the battell off the and of me." 80
"Nowe Cristes cors on his crowne," sayd the lord Persè,[L81]
"Whosoever ther-to says nay;
Be my troth, doughttè Doglas," he says,
"Thow shalt never se that day.
"Nethar in Ynglonde, Skottlonde, nar France, 85
Nor for no man of a woman born,
But, and fortune be my chance,
I dar met him, on man for on."
Then bespayke a squyar off Northombarlonde,
Richard Wytharyngton was him nam; 90
"It shall never be told in Sothe-Ynglonde," he says,
"To kyng Herry the fourth for sham.
"I wat youe byn great lordes twaw,
I am a poor squyar of lande;
I wyll never se my captayne fyght on a fylde, 95
And stande myselffe, and loocke on,
But whyll I may my weppone welde,
I wyll not [fayl] both hart and hande."
That day, that day, that dredfull day![L99]
The first fit here I fynde; 100
And youe wyll here any mor a' the hountyng a' the Chyviat,
Yet ys ther mor behynd.
5. magger.
11. The the.
13. archardes.
14. By these _shyars thre_ is probably meant three districts in
Northumberland, which still go by the name of _shires_, and are all in
the neighbourhood of Cheviot. These are _Islandshire_, being the
district so named from Holy-Island: _Norehamshire_, so called from the
town and castle of Noreham (or Norham): and _Bamboroughshire_, the
ward or hundred belonging to Bamborough-castle and town.--PERCY.
31. blwe a mot.
41. ath the.
43. brylly.
52. boys.
71. agay.
81. sayd the the.
99. "That day, that day, that gentil day," is cited in _The Complaynt
of Scotland_, (ii. 101,) not, we imagine, as the _title_ of a ballad
(any more than "The Persee and the Mongumrye met," _ante_, p. 19,) but
as a line by which the song containing it might be recalled.
THE SECOND FIT.
The Yngglyshe men hade ther bowys yebent,[L1]
Ther hartes were good yenoughe;
The first off arros that the shote off,
Seven skore spear-men the sloughe.
Yet byddys the yerle Doglas uppon the bent, 5
A captayne good yenoughe,
And that was sene verament,
For he wrought hom both woo and wouche.
The Dogglas pertyd his ost or thre,
Lyk a cheffe cheften off pryde, 10
With suar spears off myghttè tre,
The cum in on every syde:
Thrughe our Yngglyshe archery
Gave many a wounde full wyde;
Many a doughete the garde to dy, 15
Which ganyde them no pryde.
The Ynglyshe men let thear bowys be,[L17]
And pulde owt brandes that wer bright;[L18]
It was a hevy syght to se
Bryght swordes on basnites lyght. 20
Throrowe ryche male and myneyeple,
Many sterne the stroke downe streght;[L22]
Many a freyke that was full fre,
Ther undar foot dyd lyght.
At last the Duglas and the Persè met, 25
Lyk to captayns of myght and of mayne;[L26]
The swapte togethar tyll the both swat,
With swordes that wear of fyn myllàn.
Thes worthè freckys for to fyght,
Ther-to the wear full fayne, 30
Tyll the bloode owte off thear basnetes sprente,
As ever dyd heal or rayne.[L32]
"Holde the, Persè," sayde the Doglas,[L33]
"And i' feth I shall the brynge
Wher thowe shalte have a yerls wagis 35
Of Jamy our Scottish kynge.[L36]
"Thoue shalte have thy ransom fre,
I hight the hear this thinge,
For the manfullyste man yet art thowe,
That ever I conqueryd in filde fightyng." 40
"Nay," sayd the lord Persè,
"I tolde it the beforne,
That I wolde never yeldyde be
To no man of a woman born."
With that ther cam an arrowe hastely,[L45] 45
Forthe off a myghttè wane;
Hit hathe strekene the yerle Duglas
In at the brest bane.
Throroue lyvar and longs, bathe
The sharp arrowe ys gane, 50
That never after in all his lyffe-days,
He spayke mo wordes but ane:
That was, "Fyghte ye, my myrry men, whyllys ye may,
For my lyff-days ben gan."
The Persè leanyde on his brande, 55
And sawe the Duglas de;
He tooke the dede mane be the hande,
And sayd, "Wo ys me for the!
"To have savyde thy lyffe, I wolde have pertyde with
My landes for years thre, 60
For a better man, of hart nare of hande,
Was not in all the north contrè."
Off all that se a Skottishe knyght,
Was callyd Sir Hewe the Monggonbyrry;
He sawe the Duglas to the deth was dyght, 65
He spendyd a spear, a trusti tre:--
He rod uppon a corsiare
Throughe a hondrith archery:
He never stynttyde, nar never blane,
Tyll he cam to the good lord Persè. 70
He set uppone the lord Persè
A dynte that was full soare;
With a suar spear of a myghttè tre
Clean thorow the body he the Persè ber,
A' the tothar syde that a man myght se 75
A large cloth yard and mare:
Towe bettar captayns wear nat in Cristiantè,
Then that day slain wear ther.
An archar off Northomberlonde
Say slean was the lord Persè; 80
He bar a bende-bowe in his hand,
Was made off trusti tre.
An arow, that a cloth yarde was lang,
To th' harde stele haylde he;
A dynt that was both sad and soar, 85
He sat on Sir Hewe the Monggonbyrry.
The dynt yt was both sad and soar,[L87]
That he on Monggonberry sete;[L88]
The swane-fethars, that his arrowe bar,
With his hart-blood the wear wete. 90
Ther was never a freak wone foot wolde fle,
But still in stour dyd stand,
Heawyng on yche othar, whyll the myght dre,
With many a balfull brande.
This battell begane in Chyviat 95
An owar befor the none,
And when even-song bell was rang,
The battell was nat half done.
The tooke on ethar hand[L99]
Be the lyght off the mone; 100
Many hade no strength for to stande,
In Chyviat the hillys aboun.[L102]
Of fifteen hondrith archars of Ynglonde
Went away but fifti and thre;
Of twenty hondrith spear-men of Skotlonde, 105
But even five and fifti:
But all wear slayne Cheviat within;
The hade no strenge to stand on hy;
The chylde may rue that ys unborne,
It was the mor pittè. 110
Thear was slayne withe the lord Persè,
Sir John of Agerstone,
Sir Rogar, the hinde Hartly,
Sir Wyllyam, the bolde Hearone.
Sir Jorg, the worthè Lovele,[L115] 115
A knyght of great renowen,
Sir Raff, the ryche Rugbè,
With dyntes wear beaten dowene.
For Wetharryngton my harte was wo,
That ever he slayne shulde be; 120
For when both his leggis wear hewyne in to,
Yet he knyled and fought on hys kny.
Ther was slayne with the dougheti Duglas,
Sir Hewe the Monggonbyrry,
Sir Davy Lwdale, that worthè was,[L125] 125
His sistars son was he:
His Charls a Murrè in that place,
That never a foot wolde fle;
Sir Hewe Maxwell, a lorde he was,
With the Doglas dyd he dey. 130
So on the morrowe the mayde them byears
Off birch and hasell so gray;[L132]
Many wedous with wepyng tears
Cam to fach ther makys away.
Tivydale may carpe off care, 135
Northombarlond may mayk grat mon,
For towe such captayns as slayne wear thear,
On the March-perti shall never be non.
Word ys commen to Eddenburrowe,
To Jamy the Skottishe kyng, 140
That dougheti Duglas, lyff-tenant of the Merches,
He lay slean Chyviot with-in.
His handdes dyd he weal and wryng,
He sayd, "Alas, and woe ys me!"
Such an othar captayn Skotland within, 145
He sayd, ye-feth shuld never be.
Worde ys commyn to lovly Londone,
Till the fourth Harry our kyng,
That lord Persè, leyff-tenante of the Merchis,[L149]
He lay slayne Chyviat within. 150
"God have merci on his soll," sayd kyng Harry,
"Good lord, yf thy will it be!
I have a hondrith captayns in Ynglonde," he sayd,
"As good as ever was he:
But Persè, and I brook my lyffe, 155
Thy deth well quyte shall be."
As our noble kyng mayd his a-vowe,
Lyke a noble prince of renowen,
For the deth of the lord Persè
He dyde the battell of Hombyll-down: 160
Wher syx and thritté Skottishe knyghtes
On a day wear beaten down:
Glendale glytteryde on ther armor bryght,[L163]
Over castill, towar, and town.
This was the Hontynge off the Cheviat; 165
That tear begane this spurn:
Old men that knowen the grownde well yenoughe,
Call it the Battell of Otterburn.
At Otterburn began this spurne
Uppon a Monnyn day:[L170] 170
Ther was the dougghtè Doglas slean,
The Persè never went away.
Ther was never a tym on the March-partes
Sen the Doglas and the Persè met,
But yt was marvele, and the rede blude ronne not, 175
As the reane doys in the stret.
Jhesue Christ our ballys bete,
And to the blys us brynge!
Thus was the Hountynge of the Chivyat:
God send us all good endyng! 180
1-4. It is well known that the ancient English weapon was the
long-bow, and that this nation excelled all others in archery, while
the Scottish warriors chiefly depended on the use of the spear. This
characteristic difference never escapes our ancient bard.--PERCY.
17. boys.
18. briggt.
22. done.
26. to, i. e. tow.
32. ran.
33. helde.
36. Scottih.
45. a narrowe. So again in v. 83, and a nowar in v. 96. This
transference of final n to the succeeding word is of common occurrence
in old poetry.
87. sar.
88. of.
99. a word has dropped out.
102. abou.
115. lo[=u]le.
125. Lwdale, i. e. Liddel.
132. gay.
149. cheyff.
163. Glendale is one of the seven wards of Northumberland. In this
district the village of Homildown is situated, about a mile from
Wooler. On the 14th of September, 1402, a battle was fought at this
place between the Percys and Archibald, Earl of Douglas, in which the
Scots were totally routed, and Douglas taken prisoner.
170. Nonnyn.
CHEVY-CHACE.
The text of this later ballad of _Chevy-Chace_ is given as it appears
in _Old Ballads_ (1723), vol. i. p. 111, and in Durfey's _Pills to
Purge Melancholy_, vol. iv. p. 289, and differs very slightly from
that of the _Reliques_ (i. 265), where the ballad was printed from the
folio MS., compared with two other black-letter copies.
The age of this version of the story is not known, but it is certainly
not later, says Dr. Rimbault, than the reign of Charles the Second.
Addison's papers in the _Spectator_ (Nos. 70 and 74) evince so true a
perception of the merits of this ballad, shorn as it is of the most
striking beauties of the grand original, that we cannot but deeply
regret his never having seen the ancient and genuine copy, which was
published by Hearne only a few days after Addison died. Well might the
Spectator dissent from the judgment of Sidney, if _this_ were the rude
and ill-apparelled song of a barbarous age.
God prosper long our noble king,
Our lives and safeties all;
A woful hunting once there did
In Chevy-Chace befall.
To drive the deer with hound and horn, 5
Erle Piercy took his way;
The child may rue that is unborn,
The hunting of that day.
The stout Earl of Northumberland
A vow to God did make, 10
His pleasure in the Scottish woods
Three summer's days to take;
The chiefest harts in Chevy-Chace
To kill and bear away:
The tidings to Earl Douglas came, 15
In Scotland where he lay.
Who sent Earl Piercy present word,
He would prevent his sport;
The English earl not fearing this,
Did to the woods resort, 20
With fifteen hundred bow-men bold
All chosen men of might,
Who knew full well in time of need
To aim their shafts aright.
The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran, 25
To chase the fallow deer;
On Monday they began to hunt,
When day-light did appear.
And long before high noon they had
An hundred fat bucks slain; 30
Then having din'd, the drovers went
To rouze them up again.
The bow-men muster'd on the hills,
Well able to endure;
Their backsides all, with special care, 35
That day were guarded sure.
The hounds ran swiftly thro' the woods,
The nimble deer to take,
And with their cries the hills and dales
An eccho shrill did make. 40
Lord Piercy to the quarry went,
To view the tender deere;
Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promised
This day to meet me heer.
"If that I thought he would not come, 45
No longer would I stay."
With that, a brave young gentleman
Thus to the Earl did say:
"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,
His men in armour bright; 50
Full twenty hundred Scottish spears,
All marching in our sight.
"All men of pleasant Tividale,
Fast by the river Tweed:"
"Then cease your sport," Erle Piercy said, 55
"And take your bows with speed.
"And now with me, my countrymen,
Your courage forth advance;
For there was never champion yet
In Scotland or in France, 60
"That ever did on horseback come,
But, if my hap it were,[L62]
I durst encounter man for man,
With him to break a spear."
Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed, 65
Most like a baron bold,
Rode foremost of the company,
Whose armour shone like gold.
"Show me," he said, "whose men you be,
That hunt so boldly here, 70
That, without my consent, do chase
And kill my fallow-deer."
The man that first did answer make
Was noble Piercy he;
Who said, "We list not to declare, 75
Nor show whose men we be.
"Yet we will spend our dearest blood,
Thy chiefest hart to slay;"
Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,
And thus in rage did say; 80
"Ere thus I will out-braved be,
One of us two shall dye:
I know thee well, an earl thou art;
Lord Piercy, so am I.
"But trust me, Piercy, pity it were, 85
And great offence, to kill
Any of these our harmless men,
For they have done no ill.
"Let thou and I the battel try,
And set our men aside: 90
"Accurs'd be he," Lord Piercy said,
"By whom this is deny'd."
Then stept a gallant squire forth,
(Witherington was his name)
Who said, "I would not have it told 95
To Henry our king for shame,
"That ere my captaine fought on foot,
And I stood looking on:
You be two earls," said Witherington,
"And I a squire alone. 100
"I'll do the best that do I may,
While I have power to stand;
While I have power to wield my sword,
I'll fight with heart and hand."
Our English archers bent their bows, 105
Their hearts were good and true;
At the first flight of arrows sent,
Full three score Scots they slew.
To drive the deer with hound and horn,
Earl Douglas had the bent; 110
A captain mov'd with mickle pride
The spears to shivers sent.
They clos'd full fast on every side,
No slacknes there was found;
And many a gallant gentleman 115
Lay gasping on the ground.
O Christ! it was a grief to see,
And likewise for to hear,
The cries of men lying in their gore,
And scatter'd here and there. 120
At last these two stout earls did meet,
Like captains of great might;
Like lions mov'd they laid on load,[L123]
And made a cruel fight.
They fought until they both did sweat, 125
With swords of temper'd steel;
Until the blood, like drops of rain,
They trickling down did feel.
"Yield thee, Lord Piercy," Douglas said;
"In faith I will thee bring, 130
Where thou shalt high advanced be
By James, our Scottish king.
"Thy ransom I will freely give,
And thus report of thee,
Thou art the most couragious knight 135
That ever I did see.
"No, Douglas," quoth Earl Piercy then,[L137]
"Thy proffer I do scorn;
I will not yield to any Scot
That ever yet was born." 140
With that, there came an arrow keen
Out of an English bow,
Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart,
A deep and deadly blow:
Who never spoke more words than these, 145
"Fight on, my merry men all;
For why, my life is at an end,
Lord Piercy sees my fall."
Then leaving life, Earl Piercy took
The dead man by the hand; 150
And said, "Earl Douglas, for thy life
Would I had lost my land!
"O Christ! my very heart doth bleed
With sorrow for thy sake;
For sure, a more renowned knight 155
Mischance did never take."
A knight amongst the Scots there was,
Which saw Earl Douglas dye,
Who straight in wrath did vow revenge
Upon the Earl Piercy. 160
Sir Hugh Montgomery was he call'd,
Who, with a spear most bright,
Well-mounted on a gallant steed,
Ran fiercely thro' the fight;
And pass'd the English archers all, 165
Without all dread or fear,
And through Earl Piercy's body then
He thrust his hateful spear.
With such a veh'ment force and might
He did his body gore, 170
The spear ran through the other side
A large cloth-yard, and more.
So thus did both these nobles dye,
Whose courage none could stain;
An English archer then perceiv'd 175
The noble earl was slain.
He had a bow bent in his hand,
Made of a trusty tree;
An arrow of a cloth-yard long
Up to the head drew he. 180