English and Scottish Ballads Volume VII Part 25

114. restore.

134. But it had this name long before; being so called from its being a common sewer (vulgarly sh.o.r.e) or drain.--PERCY.

A TRUE RELATION OE THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SIR ANDREW BARTON, A PYRATE AND ROVER ON THE SEAS.

This copy of _Sir Andrew Barton_ is to be found in _Old Ballads_ (1723) vol. i. 159, Ritson's _Ancient Songs_, ii. 204, Moore's _Pictorial Book of Ancient Ballad Poetry_, p. 256, and _Early Naval Ballads of England_, Percy Society, vol. ii. p. 4, with only exceedingly trifling variations. We have followed the last, where the ballad is given from a black-letter copy in the British Museum, "printed by and for W. O., and sold by the booksellers."

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, King Henry would a-hunting ride; 5 Over the river Thames pa.s.sed he, Unto a mountain-top also Did walk, some pleasure for to see.

Where forty merchants he espy'd, With fifty sail came towards him, 10 Who then no sooner were arriv'd, But on their knees did thus complain; "An't please your grace, we cannot sail To France no voyage to be sure, But Sir Andrew Barton makes us quail, 15 And robs us of our marchant ware."

Vext was the king, and turning him, Said to the lords of high degree, "Have I ne'er a lord within my realm, Dare fetch that traytor unto me?" 20 To him reply'd Charles Lord Howard, "I will, my liege, with heart and hand; If it will please you grant me leave," he said, "I will perform what you command."

To him then spoke King Henry, 25 "I fear, my lord, you are too young."

"No whit at all, my liege," quoth he; "I hope to prove in valour strong.

The Scotch knight I vow to seek, In what place soever he be, 30 And bring ash.o.r.e with all his might, Or into Scotland he shall carry me."

"A hundred men," the king then said, "Out of my realm shall chosen be, Besides sailors and ship-boys, 35 To guide a great ship on the sea.

Bowmen 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." 40

Lord Howard call'd a gunner then, Who was the best in all the realm, His age was threescore years and ten, And Peter Simon was his name.

My lord call'd then a bow-man rare, 45 Whose active hands had gained fame A gentleman born in Yorkshire, And William Horsely was his name.

"Horsely!" quoth he, "I must to sea, To seek a traytor, with good speed: 50 Of a hundred bow-men brave," quoth he, "I have chosen thee to be the head."

"If you, my lord, have chosen me Of a hundred men to be the head, Upon the mainmast I'll hanged be, 55 If twelve-score I miss one shilling's breadth."

Lord Howard then of courage bold, Went to the sea with pleasant cheer, Not curbed with winter's piercing cold, Tho' it was the stormy time of year. 60 Not long had he been on sea, More in days than number three, But one Henry Hunt then he espy'd, A merchant of Newcastle was he.

To him Lord Howard call'd out amain, 65 And strictly charged him to stand; Demanding then from whence he came, Or where he did intend to land.

The merchant then made answer soon, With heavy heart and careful mind, 70 "My lord, my ship it doth belong Unto New-castle upon Tine."

"Canst thou show me," the lord did say, "As thou didst sail by day and night, A Scottish rover on the sea, 75 His name is Andrew Barton, knight?"

Then the merchant sighed and said, With grieved mind and well-a-way, "But over well I know that wight, I was his prisoner yesterday. 80

"As I, my lord, did sail from France, A Burdeaue voyage to take so far, I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence, Who robb'd me of my merchant ware.

And mickle debts G.o.d knows I owe, 85 And every man doth crave his own; And I am bound to London now, Of our gracious king to beg a boon."

"Show me him," said Lord Howard then, "Let me once the villain see, 90 And every penny he hath from thee ta'en, I'll double the same with shillings three."

"Now, G.o.d forbid," the merchant said, "I fear your aim that you will miss; G.o.d bless you from his tyranny, 95 For little you think what man he is.

"He is bra.s.s within and steel without, His ship most huge and mighty strong, With eighteen pieces of ordinance, He carrieth on each side along. 100 With beams for his top-castle, As also being huge and high, That neither English nor Portugal Can Sir Andrew Barton pa.s.s by."

"Hard news thou shewst," then said the lord, 105 "To welcome stranger to the sea; But as I said, I'll bring him aboard, Or into Scotland he shall carry me."

The merchant said, "If thou will do so, Take councel, then, I pray withal: 110 Let no man to his top-castle go, Nor strive to let his beams downfall.

"Lend me seven pieces of ordnance then, Of each side of my ship," said he, "And to-morrow, my Lord, 115 Again I will your honour see.

A gla.s.s I set as may be seen, Whether you sail by day or night; And to-morrow, be sure before seven, You shall see Sir Andrew Barton, knight." 120

The merchant set my lord a gla.s.s, So well apparent in his sight, That on the morrow, as his promise was, He saw Sir Andrew Barton, knight: The lord then swore a mighty oath, 125 "Now by the heavens that be of might, By faith, believe me, and my troth, I think he is a worthy knight."

"Fetch me my lyon out of hand,"[L129]

Saith the lord, "with rose and streamer high; 130 Set up withal a willow-wand, That merchant like, I may pa.s.s by:"

Thus bravely did Lord Howard pa.s.s, And on anchor rise so high; No top-sail at last he cast, 135 But as a foe did him defie.

Sir Andrew Barton seeing him Thus scornfully to pa.s.s by, As tho' he cared not a pin For him and his company; 140 Then called he his men amain, "Fetch back yon pedlar now," quoth he, "And ere this way he comes again, I'll teach him well his courtesie."

A piece of ordnance soon was shot 145 By this proud pirate fiercely then, Into Lord Howard's middle deck, Which cruel shot killed fourteen men.

He called then Peter Simon, he: "Look how thy word do stand instead, 150 For thou shall be hanged on main-mast, If thou miss twelve score one penny breadth."

Then Peter Simon gave a shot, Which did Sir Andrew mickle scare, In at his deck it came so hot, 155 Killed fifteen of his men of war.

"Alas," then said the pirate stout, "I am in danger now I see; This is some lord, I greatly fear, That is set on to conquer me." 160

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

Then "Out alas," Sir Andrew cryd, 165 "What may a man now think or say!

Yon merchant thief that pierceth me, He was my prisoner yesterday."

Then did he on Gordion call Unto the top castle for to go, 170 And bid his beams he should let fall, For he greatly fear'd an overthrow.

The lord call'd Horsely now in haste: "Look that thy word stand in stead, For thou shall be hanged on main mast, 175 If thou miss twelve score a shilling's breadth."

Then up [the] mast tree swerved he, This stout and mighty Gordion; But Horsely he most happily Shot him under his collar-bone: 180 Then call'd he on his nephew then, Said, "Sister's son, I have no mo, Three hundred pound I will give thee, If thou will to top-castle go."

Then stoutly he began to climb, 185 From off the mast scorn'd to depart; But Horsely soon prevented him, And deadly pierced him to the heart.

His men being slain, then up amain Did this proud pirate climb with speed, 190 For armour of proof he had on, And did not dint of arrows dread.

"Come hither, Horseley," said the lord, "See thou thy arrows aim aright; Great means to thee I will afford, 195 And if thou speedst, I'll make thee knight."

Sir Andrew did climb up the tree, With right good will and all his main; Then upon the breast hit Horsley he, Till the arrow did return again. 200

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

"Fight on, fight on, my merry men all, 205 A little I am hurt, yet not slain; I'll but lie down and bleed awhile, And come and fight with you again.

"And do not," said he, "fear English rogues, And of your foes stand not in awe, 210 But stand fast by St. Andrew's crosse, Until you hear my whistle blow."

They never heard this whistle blow, Which made them all full sore afraid.

Then Horsely said, "My Lord, aboard, 215 For now Sir Andrew Barton's dead."

Thus boarded they his gallant ship, With right good will and all their main; Eighteen score Scots alive in it, Besides as many more was slain. 220 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."

Thus from the wars Lord Howard came, 225 With mickle joy and triumphing; The pirate's head he brought along For to present unto our king: Who haply unto him did say, Before he well knew what was done, 230 "Where is the knight and pirate gay, That I myself may give the doom?"

"You may thank G.o.d," then said the lord, "And four men in the ship," quoth he, "That we are safely come ash.o.r.e, 235 Sith you never had such an enemy; That is Henry Hunt, and Peter Simon, William Horsely, and Peter's son;[L238]

Therefore reward them for their pains, For they did service at their turn." 240

To the merchant therefore the King he said, "In lieu of what he hath from thee tane, I give thee a n.o.ble a-day, Sir Andrew's whistle and his chain: To Peter Simon a crown a-day, 245 And half-a-crown a-day to Peter's son, And that was for a shot so gay, Which bravely brought Sir Andrew down.