A Bundle of Ballads Part 2

"That ever did on horseback come, But if my hap it were, I durst encounter man for man, With him to break a spear."

Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed, Most like a baron bold, Rode foremost of his company, Whose armour shone like gold:

"Show me," said he, "whose men you be That hunt so boldly here; That without my consent do chase And kill my fallow deer."

The first man that did answer make Was n.o.ble Piercy, he, Who said, "We list not to declare, Nor show whose men we be;

"Yet we will spend our dearest blood Thy chiefest harts to slay."

Then Douglas swore a solemn oath, And thus in rage did say,

"Ere thus I will outbrav-ed be, One of us two shall die!

I know thee well! an earl thou art, Lord Piercy! so am I.

"But trust me, Piercy, pity it were, And great offence, to kill Any of these our guiltless men For they have done no ill;

"Let thou and I the battle try, And set our men aside."

"Accurst be he," Earl Piercy said, "By whom it is denied."

Then stepped a gallant squire forth,-- Witherington was his name,-- Who said, "I would not have it told To Henry our king, for shame,

"That e'er my captain fought on foot, And I stand looking on: You be two Earls," quoth Witherington, "And I a Squire alone.

"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-- Their hearts were good and true,-- At the first flight of arrows sent, Full fourscore Scots they slew.

To drive the deer with hound and horn, Douglas bade on the bent; Two captains moved with mickle might, Their spears to shivers went.

They closed full fast on every side, No slackness there was found, But many a gallant gentleman Lay gasping on the ground.

O Christ! it was great grief to see How each man chose his spear, And how the blood out of their b.r.e.a.s.t.s Did gush like water clear!

At last these two stout Earls did meet Like captains of great might; Like lions wood they laid on load, They made a cruel fight.

They fought, until they both did sweat, With swords of tempered steel, Till blood adown their cheeks like rain They trickling down did feel.

"O yield thee, Piercy!" Douglas said, "And in faith I will thee bring Where thou shalt high advanc-ed be By James our Scottish king;

"Thy ransom I will freely give, And this report of thee, Thou art the most courageous knight That ever I did see."

"No, Douglas!" quoth Earl Piercy then, "Thy proffer I do scorn; I will not yield to any Scot That ever yet was born!"

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 said more words than these, "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; Who said, "Earl Douglas! for thy life Would I had lost my land!

"O Christ! my very heart doth bleed For sorrow for thy sake!

For sure, a more redoubted knight Mischance could never take!"

A knight amongst the Scots there was, Which saw Earl Douglas die, Who straight in heart did vow revenge Upon the Lord Pierc-y;

Sir Hugh Montgomery he was called, Who, with a spear full bright, Well mounted on a gallant steed, Ran fiercely through the fight,

And past the English archers all Without all dread or fear, And through Earl Piercy's body then He thrust his hateful spear.

With such a vehement force and might His body he did gore, The staff ran through the other side A large cloth yard and more.

So thus did both those n.o.bles die, Whose courage none could stain.

An English archer then perceived The n.o.ble Earl was slain;

He had a good bow in his hand Made of a trusty tree; An arrow of a cloth yard long To the hard head hal-ed he,

Against Sir Hugh Montgomery His shaft full right he set; The grey goose-wing that was thereon, In his heart's blood was wet.

This fight from break of day did last Till setting of the sun; For when they rung the evening bell, The battle scarce was done.

With stout Earl Piercy there was slain Sir John of Egerton, Sir Robert Harcliffe and Sir William, Sir James that bold bar-on;

And with Sir George and Sir James, Both knights of good account, Good Sir Ralph Raby there was slain, Whose prowess did surmount.

For Witherington needs must I wail As one in doleful dumps, For when his legs were smitten off, He fought upon his stumps.

And with Earl Douglas there was slain Sir Hugh Montgomery, And Sir Charles Morrel that from the field One foot would never fly;

Sir Roger Hever of Harcliffe too,-- His sister's son was he,-- Sir David Lambwell, well esteemed, But saved he could not be;

And the Lord Maxwell in like case With Douglas he did die; Of twenty hundred Scottish spears, Scarce fifty-five did fly.

Of fifteen hundred Englishmen Went home but fifty-three; The rest in Chevy Chase were slain, Under the greenwood tree.

Next day did many widows come Their husbands to bewail; They washed their wounds in brinish tears, But all would not prevail.

Their bodies, bathed in purple blood, They bore with them away; They kissed them dead a thousand times Ere they were clad in clay.

This news was brought to Edinburgh, Where Scotland's king did reign, That brave Earl Douglas suddenly Was with an arrow slain.

"O heavy news!" King James did say, "Scotland may witness be I have not any captain more Of such account as he!"

Like tidings to King Henry came Within as short a s.p.a.ce, That Piercy of Northumberland Was slain in Chevy Chase.

"Now G.o.d be with him!" said our king, "Sith 'twill no better be, I trust I have within my realm Five hundred as good as he!

"Yet shall not Scots nor Scotland say But I will vengeance take, And be reveng-ed on them all For brave Earl Piercy's sake."