{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch177.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch177.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch177.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 177A: The Earl of Westmoreland\n \n \n 177A.1 \u2018HOW long shall fortune faile me now,\n And keepe me heare in deadlye dreade?\n How long shall I in bale abide,\n In misery my life to leade?\n 177A.2 \u2018To fall from my rose, it was my chance;\n Such was the Queene of England free;\n I tooke a lake, and turned my backe,\n On Bramaball More shee caused my flye.\n 177A.3 \u2018One gentle Armstrong that I doe ken,\n Alas, with thee I dare not mocke!\n Thou dwellest soe far on the west border,\n Thy name is called the Lord Iocke.\u2019\n 177A.4 Now hath Armstrong taken noble Nevill,\n And as one Martinfield did Profecye;\n He hath taken the Lord Dakers,\n A lords sonne of great degree.\n 177A.5 He hath taken old Master Nortton,\n And sonnes four in his companye;\n Hee hath taken another gentleman,\n Called Iohn of Carnabie.\n 177A.6 Then bespake him Charles Nevill;\n To all his men, I wott, sayd hee,\n Sayes, I must into Scottland fare;\n Soe nie the borders is noe biding for me.\n 177A.7 When he came to Humes Castle,\n And all his noble companye;\n The Lord Hume halched them right soone,\n Saying, Banished men, welcome to mee!\n 177A.8 They had not beene in Humes Castle\n Not a month and dayes three,\n But the regent of Scottland and he got witt\n That\tbanished men there shold be.\n 177A.9 \u2018I\u2019le write a letter,\u2019 sayd the regent then,\n \u2018And send to Humes Castle hastilye,\n To see whether Lord Hume wilbe soe good\n To bring the banished men vnto mee.\n 177A.10 \u2018That lord and I haue beene att deadlye fuyde,\n And hee and I cold neuer agree;\n Writting a letter, that will not serue;\n The banished men must not speake with me.\n 177A.11 \u2018But I will send for the garrison of Barwicke,\n That\tthey will come all with speede,\n And with them will come a noble captaine,\n Which is called Captain Reade.\u2019\n 177A.12 Then the Lord Hume he got witt\n They wold seeke vnto Nevill, where he did lye;\n He tooke them out of the castle of Hume,\n And brought them into the castle of Camelye.\n 177A.13 Then bespake him Charles Nevill,\n To all his men, I wott, spoke hee,\n Sayes, I must goe take a noble shippe,\n And wee\u2019le be marriners vpon the sea.\n 177A.14 I\u2019le seeke out fortune where it doth lye;\n In Scottland there is noe byding for mee;\n Then the tooke leaue with fayre Scottland,\n For they are sealing vpon the sea.\n 177A.15 They had not sayled vpon the sea\n Not one day and monthes three,\n But they were ware of a Noble shippe,\n That\tfiue topps bare all soe hye.\n 177A.16 Then Nevill called to Martinfeeld,\n Sayd, Martinffeeld, come hither to mee;\n Some good councell, Martinfeeld,\n I pray thee giue it vnto mee.\n 177A.17 Thou told me when I was in England fayre,\n Before that I did take the sea,\n Thou neuer sawst noe banner borne\n But thou wold ken it with thine eye.\n 177A.18 Thou neuer saw noe man in the face,\n Iff thou had seene before with thine eye,\n [But] thou coldest haue kend the freind by thy foe,\n And then haue told it vnto mee.\n 177A.19 Thou neuer heard noe speeche spoken,\n Neither in Greeke nor Hebrewe,\n [But] thou coldest haue answered them in any language,\n And then haue told it vnto mee.\n 177A.20 \u2018Master, master, see you yonder faire ancyent?\n Yonder is the serpent and the serpents head,\n The mould-warpe in the middest of itt,\n And itt all shines with gold soe redde.\n 177A.21 \u2018Yonder is Duke Iohn of Austria,\n A noble warryour on the sea,\n Whose dwelling is in Ciuill land,\n And many men, God wot, hath hee.\u2019\n 177A.22 Then bespake him Martinfeelde,\n To all his fellowes, I wot, said hee,\n Turne our noble shipp about,\n And that\u2019s a token that wee will flee.\n 177A.23 \u2018Thy councell is not good, Martinfeeld;\n Itt falleth not out fitting for mee;\n I rue the last time I turnd my backe;\n I did displease my prince and the countrye.\u2019\n 177A.24 Then bespake him noble Nevill,\n To all his men, I wott, sayd hee,\n Sett me vp my faire Dun Bull,\n With gilden hornes hee beares all soe hye.\n 177A.25 And I will passe yonder noble Duke,\n By the leaue of mild Marye;\n For Yonder is the Duke of Austria,\n That\ttrauells now vpon the sea.\n 177A.26 And then bespake this noble Duke,\n Vnto his men then sayd hee,\n Yonder is sure some nobleman,\n Or else some youth that will not flee.\n 177A.27 I will put out a pinace fayre,\n A harold of armes vpon the sea,\n And goe thy way to yonder noble shippe,\n And bring the masters name to mee.\n 177A.28 When the herald of armes came before noble Nevill,\n He fell downe low vpon his knee:\n \u2018You must tell me true what is your name,\n And in what countrye your dwelling may bee.\u2019\n 177A.29 \u2018That will I not doe,\u2019 sayd noble Nevill,\n \u2018By Mary mild, that mayden free,\n Except I first know the masters name,\n And in what country his dwelling may bee.\u2019\n 177A.30 Then bespake the herald of armes,\n O that he spoke soe curteouslye!\n Duke Iohn of Austria is my masters name,\n He will neuer lene it vpon the sea.\n 177A.31 He hath beene in the citye of Rome,\n His dwelling is in Ciuillee:\n \u2018Then wee are poore Brittons,\u2019 the Nevill can say,\n \u2018Where wee trauell vpon the sea.\n 177A.32 \u2018And Charles Nevill itt is my name,\n I will neuer lene it vpon the sea;\n When I was att home in England faire,\n I was the Erle of Westmoreland,\u2019 sayd hee.\n 177A.33 Then backe is gone this herald of armes\n Whereas this noble duke did lye;\n \u2018Loe, yonder are poore Brittons,\u2019 can he say,\n \u2018Where the trauell vpon the sea.\n 177A.34 \u2018And Charles Nevill is thier masters name,\n He will neuer lene it vpon the sea;\n When he was at home in England fayre,\n He was the Erle of Westmoreland, said hee.\u2019\n 177A.35 Then bespake this noble duke,\n And euer he spake soe hastilye,\n And said, Goe backe to yonder noble-man,\n And bid him come and speake with me.\n 177A.36 For I haue read in the Booke of Mable,\n There shold a Brittaine come ouer the sea,\n Charles Nevill with a childs voice:\n I pray God that it may be hee.\n 177A.37 When these two nobles they didden meete,\n They halched eche other right curteouslye;\n Yett Nevill halched Iohn the sooner\n Because a banished man, alas! was hee.\n 177A.38 \u2018Call in your men,\u2019 sayd this noble duke,\n \u2018Faine your men that I wold see;\u2019\n \u2018Euer alas!\u2019 said noble Nevill,\n \u2018They are but a litle small companye.\u2019\n 177A.39 First he called in Martinfield,\n That\tMartinffeeld that cold prophecye;\n He call[ed] in then Lord Dakers,\n A lords sonne of high degree.\n 177A.40 Then called he in old Master Nortton,\n And sonnes four in his companye;\n He called in one other gentleman,\n Called Iohn of Carnabye.\n 177A.41 \u2018Loe! these be all my men,\u2019 said noble Nevill,\n \u2018And all that\u2019s in my companye;\n When we were att home in England fayre,\n Our prince and wee cold not agree.\u2019\n 177A.42 Then bespake this noble duke:\n To try your manhood on the sea,\n Old Master Nortton shall goe ouer into France,\n And his sonnes four in his companye.\n 177A.43 my lord Dakers shall goe over into Ffrance,\n There a captaine for to bee;\n And those two other gentlemen wold goe with him,\n And for to fare in his companye.\n 177A.44 And you your-selfe shall goe into Ciuill land,\n And Marttinffeild that can prophecye;\n \u2018That will I not doe,\u2019 sayd noble Nevill,\n \u2018By Mary mild, that mayden free.\n 177A.45 \u2018For the haue knowen me in wele and woe,\n In neede, scar[s]nesse and pouertye;\n Before I\u2019le part with the worst of them,\n I\u2019le rather part with my liffe,\u2019 sayd hee.\n 177A.46 And then bespake this noble duke,\n And euer he spake soe curteouslye;\n Sayes, You shall part with none of them,\n There is soe much manhood in your bodye.\n 177A.47 Then these two noblemen labored together,\n Pleasantlye vpon the sea;\n Their landing was in Ciuill land,\n In Ciuilee that faire citye.\n 177A.48 Three nights att this dukes Nevill did lye,\n And serued like a nobleman was hee;\n Then the duke made a supplication,\n And sent it to the queene of Ciuilee.\n 177A.49 Saying, Such a man is your citye within,\n I mett him pleasantlye vpon the sea;\n He seemes to be a noble man,\n And captaine to your Grace he faine wold bee.\n 177A.50 Then the queene sent for [these] noble men\n For to come into her companye;\n When Nevill came before the queene,\n Hee kneeled downe vpon his knee.\n 177A.51 Shee tooke him vp by the lilly-white hand,\n Said, Welcome, my lord, hither to me;\n You must first tell me your name,\n And in what countrye thy dwelling may bee.\n 177A.52 He said, Charles Nevill is my name;\n I will neuer lene it in noe countrye;\n When I was att home in England fayre,\n I was the Erle of Westmoreland trulye.\n 177A.53 The queene made him captaine ouer forty thousand,\n Watch and ward within Ciuill land to keepe,\n And for to warr against the heathen soldan,\n And for to helpe her in her neede.\n 177A.54 When the heathen soldan he gott witt,\n In Barbarye where he did lye,\n Sainge, Such a man is in yonder citye within,\n And a bold venturer by sea is hee,\n 177A.55 Then the heathen soldan made a letter,\n And sent it to the queene instantlye,\n And all that heard this letter reade\n Where it was rehersed in Ciuillee.\n 177A.56 Saying, Haue you any man your land within\n Man to man dare fight with mee?\n And both our lands shalbe ioyned in one,\n And cristened lands they both shalbe.\n 177A.57 Shee said, I haue noe man my land within\n Man to man dare fight with thee;\n But euery day thou shalt haue a battell,\n If it be for these weekes three.\n 177A.58 All beheard him Charles Nevill,\n In his bedd where he did lye,\n And when he came the queene before,\n He fell downe low vpon his knee.\n 177A.59 \u2018Grant me a boone, my noble dame,\n For Chrissts loue that dyed on tree;\n Ffor I will goe fight with yond heathen soldan,\n If you will bestowe the manhood on mee.\u2019\n 177A.60 Then bespake this curteous queene,\n And euer shee spoke soe curteouslye:\n Though you be a banished man out of your realme,\n It is great pitye that thou shold dye.\n 177A.61 Then bespake this noble duke,\n As hee stood hard by the queenes knee:\n As I haue read in the Booke of Mable,\n There shall a Brittone come ouer the sea,\n 177A.62 And Charles Nevill shold be his name;\n But a childs voyce, I wott, hath hee,\n And if he be in Christendome;\n For hart and hand this man hath hee.\n 177A.63 Then the queenes councell cast their heads together,\n . . . .\n That\tNevill shold fight with the heathen soldan\n That\tdwelt in the citye of Barbarye.\n 177A.64 The battell and place appointed was\n In a fayre greene, hard by the sea,\n And they shood meete att the Headless Crosse,\n And there to fight right manfullye.\n 177A.65 Then Nevill cald for the queenes ancient,\n And faine that ancient he wold see;\n The brought him forth the broken sword,\n With bloodye hands therein trulye.\n 177A.66 The brought him forth the headless crosse,\n In that ancyent it was seene;\n \u2018O this is a token,\u2019 sayd Martinfeeld,\n \u2018That sore ouerthrowen this prince hath beene.\n 177A.67 \u2018O sett me vp my fayre Dun Bull,\n And trumpetts blow me farr and nee,\n Vntill I come within a mile of the Headlesse Crosse,\n That\tthe Headlesse Crosse I may see.\u2019\n 177A.68 Then lighted downe noble Nevill,\n And sayd, Marttinffeeld, come hither to me;\n Heere I make thee choice captain over my host\n Vntill againe I may thee see.\n 177A.69 Then Nevill rode to the Headlesse Crosse,\n Which stands soe fayre vpon the sea;\n There was he ware of the heathen soldan,\n Both fowle and vglye for to see.\n 177A.70 Then the soldan began for to call;\n Twise he called lowd and hye,\n And sayd, What is this? Some kitchin boy\n That\tcomes hither to fight with mee?\n 177A.71 Then bespake him Charles Nevill,\n But a childs voice, I wott, had hee:\n \u2018Thou spekest soe litle of Gods might,\n Much more lesse I doe care for thee.\u2019\n 177A.72 Att the first meeting that these two mett,\n The heathen soldan and the christen man,\n The broke their speares quite in sunder,\n And after that on foote did stand.\n 177A.73 The next meeting that these two mett,\n The swapt together with swords soe fine;\n The fought together till they both swett,\n Of blowes that were both derf and dire.\n 177A.74 They fought an houre in battell strong;\n The soldan marke[d] Nevill with his eye;\n \u2018There shall neuer man me ouercome\n Except it be Charles Nevill,\u2019 sayd hee.\n 177A.75 Then Nevill he waxed bold,\n And cunning in fight, I wott, was hee;\n Euen att the gorgett of the soldans iacke\n He stroke his head of presentlye.\n 177A.76 Then kneeled downe noble Nevill,\n And thanked God for his great grace,\n That\the shold come soe farr into a strang[e] land,\n To ouercome the soldan in place.\n 177A.77 Hee tooke the head vpon his sword-poynt,\n And carryed it amongst his host soe fayre;\n When the saw the soldans head,\n They thanked God on their knees there.\n 177A.78 Seuen miles from the citye the queene him mett,\n With procession that was soe fayre;\n Shee tooke the crowne beside her heade,\n And wold haue crowned him king there.\n 177A.79 \u2018Now nay! Now nay! my noble dame,\n For soe, I wott, itt cannott bee;\n I haue a ladye in England fayre,\n And wedded againe I wold not bee.\u2019\n 177A.80 The queene shee called for her penman,\n I wot shee called him lowd and hye,\n Saying, Write him downe a hundred pound a day,\n To keepe his men more merrylye.\n 177A.81 \u2018I thanke your Grace,\u2019 sayd noble Nevill,\n \u2018For this worthy gift you haue giuen to me;\n If euer your Grace doe stand in neede,\n Champion to your Highnesse again I\u2019le bee.\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 178. Captain Car, or, Edom o Gordon","title":"The Child Ballads: 177. The Earl of Westmoreland","type":"page"}