{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch158.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch158.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch158.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 158A: High Spencer\u2019s Feats in France\n \n \n 158A.1 THE court is kept att leeue London,\n And euermore shall be itt;\n The King sent for a bold embassador,\n And Sir Hugh Spencer that he hight.\n 158A.2 \u2018Come hither, Spencer,\u2019 saith our kinge,\n \u2018And come thou hither vnto mee;\n I must make thee an embassadour\n Betweene the king of Ffrance and mee.\n 158A.3 \u2018Thou must comend me to the king of Ffrance,\n And tell him thus and now from mee,\n I wold know whether there shold be peace in his land,\n Or open warr kept still must bee.\n 158A.4 \u2018Thou\u2019st haue thy shipp at thy comande,\n Thou\u2019st neither want for gold nor fee;\n Thou\u2019st haue a hundred armed men,\n All att thy bidding for to bee.\u2019\n 158A.5 The wind itt serued, and they sayled,\n And towards Ffrance thus they be gone;\n The wind did bring them safe to shore,\n And safelye landed euerye one.\n 158A.6 The Ffrenchmen lay on the castle-wall,\n The English souldiers to behold:\n \u2018You are welcome, traitors, out of England;\n The heads of you are bought and sold.\u2019\n 158A.7 With that spake proud Spencer:\n My leege, soe itt may not bee;\n I am sent an embassador\n Ffrom our English king to yee.\n 158A.8 The king of England greetes you well,\n And hath sent this word by mee;\n He wold know whether there shold be peace in your land,\n Or open warres kept still must bee.\n 158A.9 \u2018Comend me to the English kinge,\n And tell this now from mee;\n There shall neuer peace be kept in my land\n While open warres kept there may bee.\u2019\n 158A.10 With that came downe the queene of Ffrance,\n And an angry woman then was shee;\n Saies, Itt had beene as fitt now for a king\n To be in his chamber with his ladye,\n Then to be pleading with traitors out of England,\n Kneeling low vppon their knee.\n 158A.11 But then bespake him proud Spencer,\n For noe man else durst speake but hee:\n You haue not wiped your mouth, madam,\n Since I heard you tell a lye.\n 158A.12 \u2018O hold thy tounge, Spencer!\u2019 shee said,\n \u2018I doe not come to plead with thee;\n Darest thou ryde a course of warr\n With a knight that I shall put to thee?\u2019\n 158A.13 \u2018But euer alacke!\u2019 then Spencer sayd,\n \u2018I thinke I haue deserued Gods cursse;\n Ffor I haue not any armour heere,\n Nor yett I haue noe iusting-horsse.\u2019\n 158A.14 \u2018Thy shankes,\u2019 quoth shee, \u2019Beneath the knee\n Are verry small aboue the shinne\n Ffor to doe any such honourablle deeds\n As the Englishmen say thou has done.\n 158A.15 \u2018Thy shankes beene small aboue thy shoone,\n And soe the beene aboue thy knee;\n Thou art to slender euery way\n Any good iuster for to bee.\u2019\n 158A.16 \u2018But euer alacke,\u2019 said Spencer then,\n \u2018For one steed of the English countrye!\u2019\n With that bespake and one Ffrench knight,\n This day thou\u2019st haue the choyce of three.\n 158A.17 The first steed he feiched out,\n I-wis he was milke-white;\n The first foot Spencer in stirropp sett,\n His backe did from his belly tyte.\n 158A.18 The second steed that he feitcht out,\n I-wis that hee was verry browne;\n The second foot Spencer in stirropp settt,\n That\thorsse and man and all fell downe.\n 158A.19 The third steed that he feitched out,\n I-wis that he was verry blacke;\n The third foote Spencer into the stirropp sett,\n He leaped on to the geldings backe.\n 158A.20 \u2018But euer alacke,\u2019 said Spencer then,\n \u2018For one good steed of the English countrye!\n Goe feitch me hither my old hacneye,\n That\tI brought with me hither beyond the sea.\u2019\n 158A.21 But when his hackney there was brought,\n Spencer a merry man there was hee;\n Saies, With the grace of God and St George of England,\n The feild this day shall goe with mee.\n 158A.22 \u2018I haue noe forgotten,\u2019 Spencer sayd,\n \u2018Since there was feild foughten att Walsingam,\n When the horsse did heare the trumpetts sound,\n He did beare ore both horsse and man.\u2019\n 158A.23 The day was sett, and togetther they mett,\n With great mirth and melodye,\n With minstrells playing, and trumpetts soundinge,\n With drumes striking loud and hye.\n 158A.24 The first race that Spencer run,\n I-wis hee run itt wonderous sore;\n He [hitt] the knight vpon his brest,\n But his speare itt burst, and wold touch noe more.\n 158A.25 \u2018But euer alacke,\u2019 said Spencer then,\n \u2018For one staffe of the English countrye!\n Without you\u2019le bind me three together,\u2019\n Quoth hee, \u2019They\u2019le be to weake for mee.\u2019\n 158A.26 With that bespake him the Ffrench knight,\n Sayes, Bind him together the whole thirtye,\n For I haue more strenght in my to hands\n Then is in all Spencers bodye.\n 158A.27 \u2018But proue att parting,\u2019 Spencer sayes,\n \u2018Ffrench knight, here I tell itt thee;\n For I will lay thee five to four\n The bigger man I proue to bee.\u2019\n 158A.28 But the day was sett, and together they mett,\n With great mirth and melodye,\n With minstrells playing, and trumpetts soundinge,\n With drummes strikeing loud and hye.\n 158A.29 The second race that Spencer run,\n I-wis hee ridd itt in much pride,\n And he hitt the knight vpon the brest,\n And draue him ore his horsse beside.\n 158A.30 But he run thorrow the Ffrench campe;\n Such a race was neuer run beffore;\n He killed of King Charles his men\n Att hand of thirteen or fourteen score.\n 158A.31 But he came backe againe to the K[ing],\n And kneeled him downe vpon his knee;\n Saies, A knight I haue slaine, and a steed I haue woone,\n The best that is in this countrye.\n 158A.32 \u2018But nay, by my faith,\u2019 then said the King,\n \u2018Spencer, soe itt shall not bee;\n I\u2019le haue that traitors head of thine,\n To enter plea at my iollye.\u2019\n 158A.33 But Spencer looket him once about,\n He had true bretheren left but four;\n He killed ther of the Kings gard\n About twelve or thirteen score.\n 158A.34 \u2018But hold thy hands,\u2019 the King doth say,\n \u2018Spencer, now I doe pray thee;\n And I will goe into litle England,\n Vnto that cruell kinge with thee.\u2019\n 158A.35 \u2018Nay, by my faith,\u2019 Spencer sayd,\n \u2018My leege, for soe itt shall not bee;\n For an you sett foot on English ground,\n You shall be hanged vpon a tree.\u2019\n 158A.36 \u2018Why then, comend [me] to that Englishe kinge,\n And tell him thus now from mee,\n That\tthere shall neuer be open warres kept in my land\n Whilest peace kept that there may bee.\u2019\n \n \n \n 158B: High Spencer\u2019s Feats in France\n \n \n 158B.1 OUR king lay at Westminster,\n as oft times he had done,\n And he sent for Hugh Spencer,\n to come to him anon.\n 158B.2 Then in came Hugh Spencer,\n low kneeling on his knee:\n \u2018What\u2019s the matter, my liege,\n you sent so speedily for me?\u2019\n 158B.3 \u2018Why you must go ambassadour\n to France now, to see\n Whether peace shall be taken,\n aye, or open wars must be.\u2019\n 158B.4 \u2018Who shall go with me?\u2019\n says Hugh Spencer, he:\n \u2018That shall Hugh Willoughby\n and John of Atherly.\u2019\n \u2018O then,\u2019 says Hugh Spencer,\n \u2019we\u2019ll be a merry company.\u2019\n 158B.5 When they came before the French king,\n they kneeled low on the knee:\n \u2018O rise up, and stand up,\n whose men soer you be.\u2019\n 158B.6 The first that made answer\n was Hugh Spencer, he:\n \u2018We are English ambassadours,\n come hither to see\n Whether peace shall be taken,\n aye, or open wars must be.\u2019\n 158B.7 Then spoke the French king,\n and he spoke courteously:\n The last time peace was broken,\n it was neer along of me.\n 158B.8 For you sunk my ships, slew my men,\n and thus did ye;\n And the last time peace was broken,\n it was neer along of me.\n 158B.9 Then in came Queen Maude,\n and full as ill was she:\n \u2018A chamber of presence\n is better for thee,\n Then amongst English shepherds,\n low bending on the knee.\u2019\n 158B.10 The first that made answer\n was Hugh Spencer, he:\n \u2018We are no English shepherds,\n Queen Maude, I tell thee,\n But we\u2019re knights, and knights fellows,\n the worst man in our company.\u2019\n 158B.11 O then spoke Queen Maude,\n and full as ill was she:\n Thou shouldst be Hugh Spencer,\n thou talkst so boldly.\n 158B.12 And if thou beest Hugh Spencer,\n as well thou seemst to be,\n I\u2019ve oft heard of thy justling,\n and some of it would fain see.\n 158B.13 I have a steed in my stable\n that thou canst not ride;\n I have a spear in my keeping\n that thou canst not guide;\n And I have a knight in my realm\n that thou darest not abide.\n 158B.14 Then Spencer askd Willoughby\n and John of Atherly\n Whether he should take this justling in hand,\n aye, or let be.\n 158B.15 O then spoke Hugh Willoughby\n and John of Atherly:\n If you won\u2019t take it [in] hand,\n why turn it unto we.\n 158B.16 \u2018It shall neer be said in England,\u2019\n says Hugh Spencer, he,\n \u2018That I refused a good justling\n and turned it to ye.\n 158B.17 \u2018Alas,\u2019 says Hugh Spencer,\n \u2019Full sore may I moan,\n I have nought here but an ambler,\n my good steed\u2019s at home.\u2019\n 158B.18 Then spoke a French knight,\n and he spoke courteously:\n I have thirty steeds in my stables,\n the best of them take to thee.\n 158B.19 \u2018Gramercy,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2018aye, and gramercy;\n If eer thou comest to England,\n well rewarded shalt thou be.\u2019\n 158B.20 The first steed they brought him,\n he was a milk-white:\n \u2018Take that away,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2019For I do not him like.\u2019\n 158B.21 The next steed they brought him,\n he was a good dun:\n \u2018Take that away,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2019For he\u2019s not for my turn.\u2019\n 158B.22 The next steed they brought him,\n he was a dapple-grey:\n \u2018Take that away,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2019For he is not used to the way.\u2019\n 158B.23 The next steed they brought him,\n he was a coal-black;\n His eyes burnt in his head,\n as if fire were in flax;\n \u2018Come saddle me that horse,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2019For I\u2019ll have none but that.\u2019\n 158B.24 When that horse was saddled,\n and Spencer got on,\n With his spear at his foot,\n O he was portly man!\n 158B.25 \u2018Now I am on that steede-back\n that I could not ride,\n That spear in my keeping\n that I could not guide,\n Come shew me that French knight\n that I dare not abide.\u2019\n 158B.26 \u2018It is a sign by thy sharp shin,\n ay, and thy cropped knee,\n That are no fit match\n to justle with me:\u2019\n \u2018Why it makes no matter,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2019you hear no brags of me.\u2019\n 158B.27 The first time they rode together,\n now Sir Hugh and he,\n He turnd him in his saddle\n like an apple on a tree.\n 158B.28 The next time they rode together,\n now Sir Hugh and he,\n He lit upon his breast-plate,\n and he broke his spear in three.\n 158B.29 \u2018A spear now,\u2019 says Spencer,\n a+e spear now get me:\u2019\n \u2019 thou shalt have one,\u2019 says Willoughby,\n \u2019if in France one there be.\u2019\n 158B.30 \u2018O tye two together,\n and the stronger they\u2019l be,\n For the French is the better,\n and the better shall be:\u2019\n \u2018Why it makes no matter,\u2019 says Spencer,\n \u2019you hear no brags of me.\u2019\n 158B.31 The next time they rode together,\n now Sir Hugh and he,\n He threw him fifteen foot from his saddle,\n and he broke his back in three:\n \u2018Now I have slain thy justler,\n Queen Maude, I tell thee.\u2019\n 158B.32 O then spoke Queen Maude,\n and full as ill was she:\n If thou\u2019st slain my justler,\n by the Kings laws thou\u2019st dye.\n 158B.33 \u2018It shall neer be said in England,\u2019\n says Hugh Spencer, he;\n \u2018It shall neer be said in England,\u2019\n says Hugh Willoughby;\n 158B.34 \u2018It shall neer be said in England,\u2019\n says John of Atherly,\n \u2018That a queen of another nation\n eer had her will of we.\u2019\n 158B.35 They laid their heads together,\n and their backs to the wall;\n There were four score of the Queen\u2019s guards,\n and they slew them all.\n 158B.36 Then spoke the French king,\n and he spoke courteously:\n O hold thy hand, Spencer,\n I dearly pray thee.\n 158B.37 Thou art sharp as thy spear,\n and as fierce as thy steed,\n And the stour of thy lilly-white hand\n makes my heart bleed.\n 158B.38 Thou hadst twenty ships hither,\n thou\u2019st have twenty away;\n Then hold thy hand, Spencer,\n I dearly thee pray.\n \n \n \n 158C: High Spencer\u2019s Feats in France\n \n \n 158C.1 IT fell about the Martinmas time\n The wind blew loud and cauld,\n And all the knichts of fair Scotland\n They drew them to sum hald.\n 158C.2 Unless it was him young Sir Hugh,\n And he beet to sail the sea,\n Wi a letter between twa kings, to see an they\n wald lat down the wars,\n And live and lat them be.\n 158C.3 On Friday shipped he, and lang\n Ere Wodensday at noon\n In fair France landed he,\n . . .\n 158C.4 He fell down before the King,\n On his bare knees:\n \u2018Gude mak ye safe and soun;\u2019\n \u2018Fat news o your contrie?\u2019 he says.\n 158C.5 \u2018The news o our countrie,\u2019 he says,\n \u2018Is but news brought over the sea,\n To see an ye\u2019ll lat down the wars,\n And live and lat them be.\u2019\n 158C.6 \u2018Deed no,\u2019 he says;\n \u2018I\u2019m but an auld man indeed,\n But I\u2019ll no lat down the wars,\n And live and lat them be.\u2019\n 158C.7 It\u2019s out it spak the Queen hersel: I have a shepherd\u2019s sin\n Would fight an hour wi you;\n \u2018And by my seeth,\u2019 says young Sir Hugh,\n \u2018That sight fain would I see.\u2019\n 158C.8 The firsten steed that he drew out,\n He was the penny-gray;\n He wad hae ridden oer meel or mor\n A Leve-lang summer\u2019s day.\n 158C.9 O girths they brak, and great horse lap,\n But still sat he on he:\n \u2018A girth, a girth,\u2019 says young Sir Hugh,\n \u2018A girth for charity!\u2019\n \u2018O every girth that you shall have,\n Its gude lord shall hae three.\u2019\n 158C.10 The nexten steed that he drew out,\n He was the penny-brown;\n He wad hae ridden oer meel or mor\n As ever the dew drap down.\n 158C.11 O bridles brak, and great horse lap,\n But still sat he on he:\n \u2018A bridle, a bridle,\u2019 says young Sir Hugh,\n \u2018A bridle for charitie!\u2019\n \u2018O every bridle that you shall have,\n And its gude lord shall have three.\u2019\n 158C.12 The nexten steed that he drew out\n He was the raven-black;\n His een was glancin in his head\n Like wild-fire in a slack;\n \u2018Get here a boy,\u2019 says young Sir Hugh,\n \u2018Cast on the saddle on that.\u2019\n 158C.13 O brands there brak, and great horse lap,\n But still sat he on he:\n \u2018A brand, a brand,\u2019 says young Sir Hugh,\n \u2018A brand for charitie!\u2019\n \u2018O every brand that you sall have,\n And its gude lord sall have three.\u2019\n 158C.14 He gave him a dep unto the heart,\n And over the steed fell he:\n \u2018I rather had gane you money,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018And free lands too,\n That ye had foughten an hour wi him,\n And than had latten him be.\u2019\n 158C.15 \u2018If ye hae ony mair shepherd\u2019s sins,\u2019 he says,\n \u2018Or cooks i your kitchie,\n Or ony mair dogs to fell,\n Ye\u2019ll bring them here to me;\n And gin they be a true-hearted Scotsman,\n They\u2019ll no be scorned by thee.\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 159. Durham Field","title":"The Child Ballads: 158. High Spencer's Feats in France","type":"page"}