Chapter 1
CHEVY CHASE. God prosper long our noble king, Our lives and safeties all, A woeful hunting once there did In Chevy Chase befall. To drive the deer with hound and horn, Earl Percy took his way, The child may rue that is unborn, The hunting of that day.
The stouterl of Northumberland, A vow to God did make, His pleasure in the Scottish woods, Three summer days to take, The chiefest hearts in Chevy Chase To kill and bear away. These tidings too Earl Douglas came, In Scotland where he lay, Who sent Earl Percy present word, He would prevent his sport,
The English Earl not fearing that, Did to the woods resort. With fifteen hundred bowmen bowled, All chosen men of might, Who knew full well in time of need, To aim their shafts aright. The gallant greyhound swiftly ran, To chase the fallow deer, On Monday they began to hunt, Ere daylight did appear,
And long before high noon they had, An hundredth fat buck slain, Then having dined the drovers went, To rouse the deer again. The bowmen mustered on the hills, Well able to endure, Their backsides all with special care, That day were guarded sure. The hounds ran swiftly through the woods, The nimble deer to take,
That with their cries the hills and dales, An echo shrill did make. Lord Percy too the quarry went, To view the tender deer, Quoth he, Earl Douglas promised, This day to meet me here, 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,
Lo yonder doth Earl Douglas come, His men in armour bright, Full twenty hundred Scottish spears, All marching in our sight. All men of pleasant Tividale, Fast by the river tweed, O cease your sport, Earl Percy said, And take your bows with speed, And now with me, my countrymen, Your courage forth advance,
For never was there champion yet, In Scotland or in France, That ever did on horseback come, But if my habit were, I durst encounter man for man, With him to break a spear. Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed, Most like a barren bold, Wrote foremost of his company, Whose armour shone like gold.
Show me, said he, whose men you be, That hunt so boldly here, That without my consent, Do chase and kill my fallow deer. The man that first did answer make, Was noble Percy he, who said, We list not to declare, Nor shoe whose men we be, Yet will we spend our dearest blood, Thy chiefest heart to slay?
Then Douglas swore a solemn oath, And thus in rage did say, Ere thus I will outbraved be, One of us too shall die, I know thee well, And Earl thou art, Lord Percy, so am I. But trust me, Percy, pity it were, And great offence to kill, Any of these our guiltless men, For they have done no ill.
Let thou and I the battle try, And set our men aside. Accursed be he, Earl Percy said, By whom this is denied. Then stepped a gallant squire forth, Witherington was his name, Who said I would not have it told, Took Henry our king for shame, That ere my captain fought on foot, And I stood looking on,
You be too, Earl, said Witherington, And I a squire alone. 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. Our English archers bent their bows, Their hearts were good and true, At the first flight of arrows sent, Full four-score scots they slew.
Yet bides Earl Douglas on the bent, As chieftain stout and good, As valiant captain all unmoved, The shock he firmly stood. His host he parted had in three, As leader wear and tried, And soon his spearmen on their foes, Bare down on every side. Throughout the English archery, They dealt full many a wound,
But still our valiant Englishmen, All firmly kept their ground. And throwing straight their bows away, They grasped their swords so bright, And now, sharp blows, a heavy shower, On shields and helmets light. They closed full fast on every side, No slackness there was found, And many a gallant gentleman, Lay gasping on the ground.
O Christ, it was a grief to see, And likewise for to hear, The cries of men lying in their gore, And scattered here and there. At last these two stout Earls did meet, Like captains of great might, Like lions would, they laid on load, And made a cruel fight. They fought until they both did sweat, With swords of tempered steel,
Until the blood, like drops of rain, They trickling down did feel. Yield thee, Lord Percy, Douglas said, In faith I will thee bring, Where thou shalt high at Vancid be, By James, our Scottish king. Thy ransom I will freely give, And thus report of thee, Thou art the most courageous knight That ever I did see.
No, Douglas, quoth Earl Percy then, Thy proffer I do scorn, I will not yield to any scott That ever yet was born. With that there came an arrow keen, Out of an English bow, Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart, A deep and deadly blow. 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. 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. O Christ, my very heart doth bleed, With sorrow for thy sake, For sure a more renown night Mischance could never take.
A night amongst the Scots there was Which saw Earl Douglas die, Who straight in wrath did vow revenge Upon the Lord Pursae. Sir Hugh Montgomery was he called, Who with a spear most bright, Well mounted on a gallant steed, Ran fiercely through the fight, And past the English archers all, Without all dread or fear,
And through Earl Percy's body then He thrust his hateful spear. With such a vehement force and might He did his body gore, The spear ran through the other side, A large cloth yard and more. So thus did both these nobles die, Whose courage none could stain. An English archer then perceived, The noble Earl was slain.
He had a bow bent in his hand, Made of a trusty tree, An arrow of a cloth yard long, Up to the head drew he. Against Sir Hugh Montgomery, So right the shaft he set, The grey goose-wing that was thereon, In his heart's blood was wet. 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. With stout Earl Percy there was slain Sir John of Edgerton, Sir Robert Radcliffe and Sir John, Sir James that bold baron, And with Sir George and stout Sir James, Both knights of good account, Good Sir Ralph Rabbie there was slain, Whose prowess did Sir Mount.
For witherington needs must I wail As one in doleful dumps, For when his legs were smitten off, He fought upon his stumps. And with Earl Douglas there was slain Sir Hugh Montgomery, Sir Charles Murray that from the field One foot would never flee. Sir Charles Murray of Radcliffe too, His sister's son was he,
Sir David Lamb so well esteemed, Yet save it could not be. And the Lord Maxwell in like case Did with Earl Douglas die. Of twenty hundred Scottish spears, Scarce fifty-five did fly. Of fifteen hundred Englishmen, Went home but fifty-three, The rest were slain in Chevy Chase Under the green wood tree.
Next day did many widows come, Their husbands too bewail. They washed their wounds in brinish tears, But all would not prevail. Their bodies bathed in purple blood, They bore with them away. They kissed them dead a thousand times, Ere they were clad in clay. This news was brought to Edinburgh, Where Scotland's King did reign.
That brave Earl Douglas suddenly Was with an arrow slain. O heavy news King James did say, Scotland can witness be. I have not any Captain more Of such account as he. Like tidings too King Henry came, Within as short a space, That Percy of Northumberland Was slain in Chevy Chase.
Now God be with him, Said our King, Sith it will no better be. I trust I have within my realm Five hundred as good as he. Yet shall not Scots nor Scotland say, But I will vengeance take, I'll be revenge'd on them all, For brave Earl Percy's sake. This vow full well the King performed, After at Humboldt Down.
In one day fifty nights were slain, With lords of great renown. And of the rest of small account Did many thousands die. Thus endeth the hunting in Chevy Chase Made by the Earl Percie. God save our King and bless this land In plenty joy and peace, And grant henceforth that foul debate Twix noble men may cease.
