{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch162.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch162.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch162.htm","text":"162A.1 THE Pers owt off Northombarlonde,\nand avowe to God mayd he\nThat he wold hunte in the mowntayns\noff Chyviat within days thre,\nIn the magger of dought Dogles,\nand all that euer with him be.\n162A.2 The fattiste hartes in all Cheviat\nhe sayd he wold kyll, and cary them away:\n\u2018Be my feth,\u2019 sayd the dougheti Doglas agayn,\n\u2018I wyll let that hontyng yf that I may.\u2019\n162A.3 The[n] the Pers owt off Banborowe cam,\nwith him a myghtee meany,\nWith fifteen hondrith archares bold off blood and bone;\nand bone;\nthe wear chosen owt of shyars thre.\n162A.4 This begane on a Monday at morn,\nin Cheviat the hillys so he;\nThe chylde may rue that ys vn-born,\nit wos the mor pitt .\n162A.5 The dryvars thorowe the woodees went,\nfor to reas the dear;\nBomen byckarte vppone the bent\nwith ther browd aros cleare.\n162A.6 Then the wyld thorowe the woodees went,\non euery syd shear;\nGreahondes thorowe the grevis glent,\nfor to kyll thear dear.\n162A.7 This begane in Chyviat the hyls abone,\nyerly on a Monnyn-day;\nBe that it drewe to the oware off none,\na hondrith fat hartees ded ther lay.\n162A.8 The blewe a mort vppone the bent,\nthe semblyde on sydis shear;\nTo the quyrry then the Pers went,\nto se the bryttlynge off the deare.\n162A.9 He sayd, It was the Duglas promys\nthis day to met me hear;\nBut I wyste he wolde faylle, verament;\na great oth the Pers swear.\n162A.10 At the laste a squyar off Northomberlonde\nlokyde at his hand full ny;\nHe was war a the doughetie Doglas commynge,\nwith him a myghtt meany.\n162A.11 h with spear, bylle, and brande,\nyt was a myghtti sight to se;\nHardyar men, both off hart nor hande,\nwear not in Cristiant .\n162A.12 The wear twenti hondrith spear-men good,\nwithoute any feale;\nThe wear borne along be the watter a Twyde,\nyth bowndees of Tividale.\n162A.13 \u2018Leave of the brytlyng of the dear,\u2019 he sayd,\na+end to your bo\u2019ys lock ye tayk good hede;\nFor neuer sithe ye wear on your mothars borne\nhad ye neuer so mickle nede.\u2019\n162A.14 The dougheti Dogglas on a stede,\nhe rode alle his men beforne;\nHis armor glytteryde as dyd a glede;\na boldar barne was never born.\n162A.15 \u2018Tell me whos men ye ar,\u2019 he says,\n\u2019or whos men that ye be:\nWho gave youe leave to hunte in this Chyviat chays,\nin the spyt of myn and of me.\u2019\n162A.16 The first mane that ever him an answear mayd,\nyt was the good lord Pers :\n\u2018We wyll not tell the whoys men we ar,\u2019 he says,\n\u2019Nor whos men that we be;\nBut we wyll hounte hear in this chays,\nin the spyt of thyne and of the.\n162A.17 \u2018The fattiste hartees in all Chyviat\nwe haue kyld, and cast to carry them away:\u2019\n\u2018Be my troth,\u2019 sayd the doughet Dogglas agay[n],\n\u2019therfor the ton of vs shal de this day.\u2019\n162A.18 Then sayd the dought Doglas\nunto the lord Pers :\n\u2018To kyll alle thes giltles men,\nalas, it wear great pitt !\n162A.19 But, Pers, thowe art a lord of lande,\nI am a yerle callyd within my contr ;\nLet all our men vppone a parti stande,\nand do the battell off the and of me.\u2019\n162A.20 \u2018Nowe Cristes cors on his crowne,\u2019 sayd the lorde Pers,\n\u2019who-so-euer ther-to says nay!\nBe my troth, doughtte Doglas,\u2019 he says,\n\u2019Thow shalt neuer se that day.\n162A.21 \u2018Nethar in Ynglonde, Skottlonde, nar France,\nnor for no man of a woman born,\nBut, and fortune be my chance,\nI dar met him, on man for on.\u2019\n162A.22 Then bespayke a squyar off Northombarlonde,\nRichard Wytharyngton was him nam;\n\u2018It shal neuer be told in Sothe-Ynglonde,\u2019 he says,\n\u2019To Kyng Herry the Fourth for sham.\n162A.23 \u2018I wat youe byn great lordees twaw,\nI am a poor squyar of lande;\nI wylle neuer se my captayne fyght on a fylde,\nand stande my selffe and loocke on,\nBut whylle I may my weppone welde,\nI wylle not [fayle] both hart and hande.\u2019\n162A.24 That day, that day, that dredfull day!\nthe first fit here I fynde;\nAnd youe wyll here any mor a the hountynge a the Chyviat,\nyet ys ther mor behynde.\n162A.25 The Yngglyshe men hade ther bowys yebent,\nther hartes wer good yenoughe;\nThe first off arros that the shote off,\nseven skore spear-men the sloughe.\n162A.26 Yet byddys the yerle Doglas vppon the bent,\na captayne good yenoughe,\nAnd that was sene verament,\nfor he wrought hom both woo and wouche.\n162A.27 The Dogglas partyd his ost in thre,\nlyk a cheffe cheften off pryde;\nWith suar spears off myghtt tre,\nthe cum in on euery syde;\n162A.28 Thrughe our Yngglyshe archery\ngave many a wounde fulle wyde;\nMany a doughet the garde to dy,\nwhich ganyde them no pryde.\n162A.29 The Ynglyshe men let ther bo\u2019ys be,\nand pulde owt brandes that wer brighte;\nIt was a hevy syght to se\nbryght swordes on basnites lyght.\n162A.30 Thorowe ryche male and myneyeple,\nmany sterne the strocke done streght;\nMany a freyke that was fulle fre,\nther vndar foot dyd lyght.\n162A.31 At last the Duglas and the Pers met,\nlyk to captayns of myght and of mayne;\nThe swapte toghethar tylle the both swat,\nwith swordes that wear of fyn myllan.\n162A.32 Thes worth freckys for to fyght,\nther-to the wear fulle fayne,\nTylle the bloode owte off thear basnetes sprente,\nas euer dyd heal or ra[y]n.\n162A.33 \u2018Yelde the, Pers,\u2019 sayde the Doglas,\na+end i feth I shalle the brynge\nWher thowe shalte haue a yerls wagis\nof Jamy our Skottish kynge.\n162A.34 \u2018Thoue shalte haue thy ransom fre,\nI hight the hear this thinge;\nFor the manfullyste man yet art thowe\nthat euer I conqueryd in filde fighttynge.\u2019\n162A.35 \u2018Nay,\u2019 sayd the lord Pers,\n\u2018I tolde it the beforne,\nThat I wolde neuer yeldyde be\nto no man of a woman born.\u2019\n162A.36 With that ther cam an arrowe hastely,\nforthe off a myghtt wane;\nHit hathe strekene the yerle Duglas\nin at the brest-bane.\n162A.37 Thorowe lyvar and longees bathe\nthe sharpe arrowe ys gane,\nThat neuer after in all his lyffe-days\nhe spayke mo wordees but ane:\nThat was, Fyghte ye, my myrry men, whyllys ye may,\nfor my lyff-days ben gan.\n162A.38 The Pers leanyde on his brande,\nand sawe the Duglas de;\nHe tooke the dede mane by the hande,\nand sayd, Wo ys me for the!\n162A.39 \u2018To haue savyde thy lyffe, I wolde haue partyde with\nmy landes for years thre,\nFor a better man, of hart nare of hande,\nwas nat in all the north contr .\u2019\n162A.40 Off all that se a Skottishe knyght,\nwas callyd Ser Hewe the Monggombyrry;\nHe sawe the Duglas to the deth was dyght,\nhe spendyd a spear, a trusti tre.\n162A.41 He rod vppone a corsiare\nthroughe a hondrith archery:\nHe neuer stynttyde, nar neuer blane,\ntylle he cam to the good lord Pers .\n162A.42 He set vppone the lorde Pers\na dynte that was full soare;\nWith a suar spear of a myghte tre\nclean thorow the body he the Pers ber,\n162A.43 A the tothar syde that a man myght se\na large cloth-yard and mare:\nTowe bettar captayns wear nat in Cristiant\nthen that day slan wear ther.\n162A.44 An archar off Northomberlonde\nsay slean was the lord Pers ;\nHe bar a bende bowe in his hand,\nwas made off trusti tre.\n162A.45 An arow that a cloth-yarde was lang\nto the harde stele halyde he;\nA dynt that was both sad and soar\nhe sat on Ser Hewe the Monggombyrry.\n162A.46 The dynt yt was both sad and sar\nthat he of Monggomberry sete;\nThe swane-fethars that his arrowe bar\nwith his hart-blood the wear wete.\n162A.47 Ther was neuer a freake wone foot wolde fle,\nbut still in stour dyd stand,\nHeawyng on yche othar, whylle the myghte dre,\nwith many a balfull brande.\n162A.48 This battell begane in Chyviat\nan owar befor the none,\nAnd when even-songe bell was rang,\nthe battell was nat half done.\n162A.49 The tocke . . on ethar hande\nbe the lyght off the mone;\nMany hade no strenght for to stande,\nin Chyviat the hillys abon.\n162A.50 Of fifteen hondrith archars of Ynglonde\nwent away but seuenti and thre;\nOf twenti hondrith spear-men of Skotlonde,\nbut even five and fifti.\n162A.51 But all wear slayne Cheviat within;\nthe hade no streng[th]e to stand on hy;\nThe chylde may rue that ys unborne,\nit was the mor pitt .\n162A.52 Thear was slayne, withe the lord Pers,\nSer Johan of Agerstone,\nSer Rogar, the hinde Hartly,\nSer Wyllyam, the bolde Hearone.\n162A.53 Ser Jorg, the worth Loumle,\na knyghte of great renowen,\nSer Raff, the ryche Rugbe,\nwith dyntes wear beaten dowene.\n162A.54 For Wetharryngton my harte was wo,\nthat euer he slayne shulde be;\nFor when both his leggis wear hewyne in to,\nyet he knyled and fought on hys kny.\n162A.55 Ther was slayne, with the dougheti Duglas,\nSer Hewe the Monggombyrry,\nSer Dauy Lwdale, that worth was,\nhis sistars son was he.\n162A.56 Ser Charls a Murr in that place,\nthat neuer a foot wolde fle;\nSer Hewe Maxwelle, a lorde he was,\nwith the Doglas dyd he dey.\n162A.57 So on the morrowe the mayde them byears\noff birch and hasell so g[r]ay;\nMany wedous, with wepyng tears,\ncam to fache ther makys away.\n162A.58 Tivydale may carpe off care,\nNorthombarlond may mayk great mon,\nFor towe such captayns as slayne wear thear\non the March-parti shall neuer be non.\n162A.59 Word ys commen to Eddenburrowe,\nto Jamy the Skottishe kynge,\nThat dougheti Duglas, lyff-tenant of the Marches,\nMarches,\nhe lay slean Chyviot within.\n162A.60 His handd s dyd he weal and wryn7 he sayd, Alas, and woe ys me!\nSuch an othar captayn Skotland within,\nhe sayd, ye-feth shuld neuer be.\n162A.61 Worde ys commyn to lovly Londone,\ntill the fourth Harry our kynge,\nThat lord Pers, leyff-tenante of the Marchis,\nhe lay slayne Chyviat within.\n162A.62 \u2018God haue merci on his solle,\u2019 sayde Kyng Harry,\n\u2019good lord, yf thy will it be!\nI haue a hondrith captayns in Ynglonde,\u2019 he sayd,\na+es good as euer was he:\nBut, Pers, and I brook my lyffe,\nthy deth well quyte shall be.\u2019\n162A.63 As our noble kynge mayd his avowe,\nlyke a noble prince of renowen,\nFor the deth of the lord Pers\nhe dyde the battell of Hombyll-down;\n162A.64 Wher syx and thritt Skottishe knyghtes\non a day wear beaten down;\nGlendale glytteryde on ther armor bryght,\nover castille, towar, and town.\n162A.65 This was the hontynge off the Cheviat,\nthat tear begane this spurn;\nOld men that knowen t8e grownde well yenoughe\ncall it the battell of Otterburn.\n162A.66 At Otterburn begane this spurne,\nvppone a Monnynday;\nTher was the dought Doglas slean,\nthe Pers neuer went away.\n162A.67 Ther was neuer a tym on the Marche-part s\nsen the Doglas and the Pers met,\nBut yt ys mervele and the rede blude ronne not,\nas the reane doys in the stret.\n162A.68 Ihesue Crist our balys bete,\nand to the blys vs brynge!\nThus was the hountynge of the Chivyat:\nGod send vs alle good endyng!\n162B: The Hunting of the Cheviot\n162B.1 GOD prosper long our noble king,\nour liffes and saftyes all!\nA woefull hunting once there did\nin Cheuy Chase befall.\n162B.2 To driue the deere with hound and horne\nErle Pearcy took the way:\nThe child may rue that is vnborne\nthe hunting of that day!\n162B.3 The stout Erle of Northumberland\na vow to God did make\nHis pleasure in the Scottish woods\nthree sommers days to take,\n162B.4 The cheefest harts in Cheuy C[h]ase\nto kill and beare away:\nThese tydings to Erle Douglas came\nin Scottland, where he lay.\n162B.5 Who sent Erle Pearcy present word\nhe wold prevent his sport;\nThe English erle, not fearing that,\ndid to the woods resort,\n162B.6 With fifteen hundred bowmen bold,\nall chosen men of might,\nWho knew full well in time of neede\nto ayme their shafts arright.\n162B.7 The gallant greyhound[s] swiftly ran\nto chase the fallow deere;\nOn Munday they began to hunt,\nere daylight did appeare.\n162B.8 And long before high noone the had\na hundred fat buckes slaine;\nThen hauing dined, the drouyers went\nto rouze the deare againe.\n162B.9 The bowmen mustered on the hills,\nwell able to endure;\nTheire backsids all with speciall care\nthat day were guarded sure.\n162B.10 The hounds ran swiftly through the woods\nthe nimble deere to take,\nThat with their cryes the hills and dales\nan eccho shrill did make.\n162B.11 Lord Pearcy to the querry went\nto veiw the tender deere;\nQuoth he, Erle Douglas promised once\nthis day to meete me heere;\n162B.12 But if I thought he wold not come,\nnoe longer wold I stay.\nWith that a braue younge gentlman\nthus to the erle did say:\n162B.13 \u2018Loe, yonder doth Erle Douglas come,\nhys men in armour bright;\nFull twenty hundred Scottish speres\nall marching in our sight.\n162B.14 \u2018All men of pleasant Tiuydale,\nfast by the riuer Tweede:\u2019\n\u2018O ceaze your sportts!\u2019 Erle Pearcy said,\na+end take your bowes with speede.\n162B.15 \u2018And now with me, my countrymen,\nyour courage forth advance!\nFor there was neuer champion yett,\nin Scottland nor in Ffrance,\n162B.16 \u2018That euer did on horsbacke come,\n[but], and if my hap it were,\nI durst encounter man for man,\nwith him to breake a spere.\u2019\n162B.17 Erle Douglas on his milke-white steede,\nmost like a baron bold,\nRode formost of his company,\nwhose armor shone like gold.\n162B.18 \u2018Shew me,\u2019 sayd hee, \u2019whose men you bee\nthat hunt soe boldly heere,\nThat without my consent doe chase\nand kill my fallow deere.\u2019\n162B.19 The first man that did answer make\nwas noble Pearcy hee,\nWho sayd, Wee list not to declare\nnor shew whose men wee bee;\n162B.20 \u2018Yett wee will spend our deerest blood\nthy cheefest harts to slay.\u2019\nThen Douglas swore a solempne oathe,\nand thus in rage did say:\n162B.21 \u2018Ere thus I will outbraued bee,\none of vs tow shall dye;\nI know thee well, an erle thou art;\nLord Pearcy, soe am I.\n162B.22 \u2018But trust me, Pearcye, pittye it were,\nand great offence, to kill\nThen any of these our guiltlesse men,\nfor they haue done none ill.\n162B.23 \u2018Let thou and I the battell trye,\nand set our men aside:\u2019\n\u2018Accurst bee [he!]\u2019 Erle Pearcye sayd,\n\u2019By whome it is denyed.\u2019\n162B.24 Then stept a gallant squire forth-+-\nWitherington was his name-+-\nWho said, \u2018I wold not haue it told\nto Henery our king, for shame,\n162B.25 \u2018That ere my captaine fought on foote,\nand I stand looking on.\nYou bee two Erles,\u2019 quoth Witheringhton,\nand I a squier alone;\n162B.26 \u2018I\u2019le doe the best that doe I may,\nwhile I haue power to stand;\nWhile I haue power to weeld my sword,\nI\u2019le fight with hart and hand.\u2019\n162B.27 Our English archers bent their bowes;\ntheir harts were good and trew;\nAtt the first flight of arrowes sent,\nfull foure score Scotts the slew.\n162B.28 To driue the deere with hound and horne,\nDauglas bade on the bent;\nTwo captaines moued with mickle might,\ntheir speres to shiuers went.\n162B.29 They closed full fast on euerye side,\nnoe slacknes there was found,\nBut many a gallant gentleman\nlay gasping on the ground.\n162B.30 O Christ! it was great greeue to see\nhow eche man chose his spere,\nAnd how the blood out of their brests\ndid gush like water cleare.\n162B.31 At last these two stout erles did meet,\nlike captaines of great might;\nLike lyons woode they layd on lode;\nthe made a cruell fight.\n162B.32 The fought vntill they both did sweat,\nwith swords of tempered steele,\nTill blood downe their cheekes like raine\nthe trickling downe did feele.\n162B.33 \u2018O yeeld thee, Pearcye!\u2019 Douglas sayd,\na+end in faith I will thee bringe\nWhere thou shall high advanced bee\nby Iames our Scottish king.\n162B.34 \u2018Thy ransome I will freely giue,\nand this report of thee,\nThou art the most couragious knight\n[that ever I did see.]\u2019\n162B.35 \u2018Noe, Douglas!\u2019 quoth Erle Percy then,\n\u2019Thy profer I doe scorne;\nI will not yeelde to any Scott\nthat euer yett was borne!\u2019\n162B.36 With that there came an arrow keene,\nout of an English bow,\nWhich stroke Erle Douglas on the brest\na deepe and deadlye blow.\n162B.37 Who neuer sayd more words then these:\nFight on, my merry men all!\nFor why, my life is att [an] end,\nlord Pearcy sees my fall.\n162B.38 Then leauing liffe, Erle Pearcy tooke\nthe dead man by the hand;\nWho said, \u2018Erle Dowglas, for thy life,\nwold I had lost my land!\n162B.39 \u2018O Christ! my verry hart doth bleed\nfor sorrow for thy sake,\nFor sure, a more redoubted knight\nmischance cold neuer take.\u2019\n162B.40 A knight amongst the Scotts there was\nwhich saw Erle Douglas dye,\nWho streight in hart did vow revenge\nvpon the Lord Pearcye.\n162B.41 Sir Hugh Mountgomerye was he called,\nwho, with a spere full bright,\nWell mounted on a gallant steed,\nran feircly through the fight,\n162B.42 And past the English archers all,\nwithout all dread or feare,\nAnd through Erle Percyes body then\nhe thrust his hatfull spere.\n162B.43 With such a vehement force and might\nhis body he did gore,\nThe staff ran through the other side\na large cloth-yard and more.\n162B.44 Thus did both these nobles dye,\nwhose courage none cold staine;\nAn English archer then perceiued\nthe noble erle was slaine.\n162B.45 He had [a] good bow in his hand,\nmade of a trusty tree;\nAn arrow of a cloth-yard long\nto the hard head haled hee.\n162B.46 Against Sir Hugh Mountgomerye\nhis shaft full right he sett;\nThe grey-goose-winge that was there-on\nin his harts bloode was wett.\n162B.47 This fight from breake of day did last\ntill setting of the sun,\nFor when the rung the euening-bell\nthe battele scarse was done.\n162B.48 With stout Erle Percy there was slaine\nSir Iohn of Egerton,\nSir Robert Harcliffe and Sir William,\nSir Iames, that bold barron.\n162B.49 And with Sir George and Sir Iames,\nboth knights of good account,\nGood Sir Raphe Rebbye there was slaine,\nwhose prowesse did surmount.\n162B.50 For Witherington needs must I wayle\nas one in dolefull dumpes,\nFor when his leggs were smitten of,\nhe fought vpon his stumpes.\n162B.51 And with Erle Dowglas there was slaine\nSir Hugh Mountgomerye,\nAnd Sir Charles Morrell, that from feelde\none foote wold neuer flee;\n162B.52 Sir Roger Heuer of Harcliffe tow,\nhis sisters sonne was hee;\nSir David Lambwell, well esteemed,\nbut saved he cold not bee.\n162B.53 And the Lord Maxwell, in like case,\nwith Douglas he did dye;\nOf twenty hundred Scottish speeres,\nscarce fifty-fiue did flye.\n162B.54 Of fifteen hundred Englishmen\nwent home but fifty-three;\nThe rest in Cheuy Chase were slaine,\nvnder the greenwoode tree.\n162B.55 Next day did many widdowes come\ntheir husbands to bewayle;\nThey washt their wounds in brinish teares,\nbut all wold not prevayle.\n162B.56 Theyr bodyes, bathed in purple blood,\nthe bore with them away;\nThey kist them dead a thousand times\nere the were cladd in clay.\n162B.57 The newes was brought to Eddenborrow,\nwhere Scottlands king did rayne,\nThat braue Erle Douglas soddainlye\nwas with an arrow slaine.\n162B.58 \u2018O heauy newes!\u2019 King Iames can say;\n\u2018Scottland may wittenesse bee\nI haue not any captaine more\nof such account as hee.\u2019\n162B.59 Like tydings to King Henery came,\nwithin as short a space,\nThat Pearcy of Northumberland\nwas slaine in Cheuy Chase.\n162B.60 \u2018Now God be with him!\u2019 said our king,\n\u2019Sith it will noe better bee;\nI trust I haue within my realme\nfiue hundred as good as hee.\n162B.61 \u2018Yett shall not Scotts nor Scottland say\nbut I will vengeance take,\nAnd be revenged on them all\nfor braue Erle Percyes sake.\u2019\n162B.62 This vow the king did well performe\nafter on Humble-downe;\nIn one day fifty knights were slayne,\nwith lords of great renowne.\n162B.63 And of the rest, of small account,\ndid many hundreds dye:\nThus endeth the hunting in Cheuy Chase,\nmade by the Erle Pearcye.\n162B.64 God saue our king, and blesse this land\nwith plentye, ioy, and peace,\nAnd grant hencforth that foule debate\ntwixt noble men may ceaze!","title":"The Child Ballads: 162. The Hunting of the Cheviot","type":"page"}