Stories of the Olden Time Part 5

_XVII.--CHEVY-CHASE._

1. G.o.d prosper long our n.o.ble king, Our lives and safeties all; A woful hunting once there did In Chevy-Chase befall.

2. The stout Earl of Northumberland A vow to G.o.d did make His pleasure in the Scottish woods Three summer days to take--

3. The chiefest harts in Chevy-Chase To kill and bear away.

These tidings to Earl Douglas came, In Scotland where he lay;

4. Who sent Earl Percy present word He would prevent his sport.

The English earl, not fearing that, Did to the woods resort,

5. With fifteen hundred bowmen bold, All chosen men of might, Who knew full well in time of need To aim their shafts aright.

6. The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran To chase the fallow deer; On Monday they began to hunt When daylight did appear;

7. And long before high noon they had A hundred fat bucks slain; Then, having dined, the drovers went To rouse the deer again.

8. Lord Percy to the quarry went, To view the slaughtered deer; Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promised This day to meet me here;

9. "But if I thought he would not come-- No longer would I stay"; With that a brave young gentleman Thus to the earl did say:

10. "Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come-- His men in armor bright, Full twenty hundred Scottish spears All marching in our sight."

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

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

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

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

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

15. "Ere thus I will out-braved be, One of us two shall die!

I know thee well, an earl thou art-- Lord Percy, so am I.

16. "Let you and me the battle try, And set our men aside."

"Accursed be he," Earl Percy said, "By whom this is denied!"

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

18. "That e'er my captain fought on foot, And I stood looking on.

You two be earls," said Witherington, "And I a squire alone.

19. "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."

20. Our English archers bent their bows-- Their hearts were good and true; At the first flight of arrows sent, Full fourscore Scots they slew.

21. Yet stays Earl Douglas on the bent, As chieftain stout and good; As valiant captain, all unmoved, The shock he firmly stood.

22. His host he parted had in three, As leaders ware and tried; And soon his spearmen on their foes Bore down on every side.

23. At last these two stout earls did meet; Like captains of great might, Like lions wode, they laid on lode, And made a cruel fight.

24. "Yield thee, Lord Percy," Douglas said.

"In faith I will thee bring Where thou shalt high advanced be By James, our Scottish king.

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

26. "No, Douglas," saith Earl Percy then, "Thy proffer I do scorn; I will not yield to any Scot That ever yet was born."

27. With that there came an arrow keen Out of an English bow, Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart-- A deep and deadly blow;

28. Who never spake more words than these "Fight on, my merry men all; For why, my life is at an end; Lord Percy sees my fall."

29. Then leaving life, Earl Percy took The dead man by the hand, And said: "Earl Douglas, for thy life Would I had lost my land!

30. "In truth, my very heart doth bleed With sorrow for thy sake; For sure a more redoubted knight Mischance did never make."

31. A knight amongst the Scots there was Who saw Earl Douglas die, Who straight in wrath did vow revenge Upon the Earl Percy.

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

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

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

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

35. Against Sir Hugh Mountgomery To right a shaft he set; The gray goose-wing that was thereon In his heart's blood was wet.

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

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

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

39. "Oh, heavy news!" King James did say; "Scotland can witness be, I have not any captain more Of such account as he."

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

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

42. "Yet shall not Scot or Scotland say But I will vengeance take; I'll be revenged on them all For brave Earl Percy's sake!"

43. This vow full well the king performed After at Humbledown: In one day fifty knights were slain, With lords of high renown;

44. And of the rest, of small account, Did many hundreds die: Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chase, Made by the Earl Percy.