Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Composite music volume > Second set of Scots songs for a voice & harpsichord

But truft ire, Pierey, pity it were,
And great offence to kill
Any of thofe our harmlefs men ;
Foi they have dene no ill;
Let thee and me the battle fry,
And fet our men afide.
Accurfl.be he, faid Earl Piercy,
By whom this is denied.
Then fteps a gallant Squire forth,
Witherington by name ;
Who laid, He would not have it told
To Henry, his King, for fhame,
That ere my captain fought on foot,
And 1 flood looking on.
You be Iwo Earls faid Witherington,
And J a Squire alone.
I'll dc the bei! that I may do,
While I have power to ftand ;
While I have power to wield my fword,
I'll fight with heart and hand.
Our Scottifh archers bent their bows,
Their hcans were good and true ;
At the fird flight of arrows fent,
Full fourfcore Englifii flew.
To drive the detr with hound and horn,
Douglas bade on the bent,
A captain mov'd with meik^e pride ;
The fpears in (hivers went.
They clos'd full fair on every fide,
No flacknefs there was found;
And many a gallant gentleman
Lay gaf'ing on the ground.
O but it was a grief to fee,
And likewife for to hear,
The cries of men lying in their gore.
Were fcatter'd here and there!
At lad, thefe two flout Earls did meet,
Like chiftains of great might;
Like lions mov'd, they fear'd no lord,
And made a cruel fight.
They fought until they both did fweatt
With fwords of temp'red fteel,
Until the blood, like drops of rain,
They trickling down did feel.
Yield thee, Lord Piercy, Douglas faid,
Tn faith T will thee bring
Where thou (halt high advanced be,
By James, our Scottilh King.
Thy ranfom 1 will freely give,
And this report of thee,
Thcu art the moft couragicus knight
That ever I did fee.
No, Deltas, quoth Lord Piercy then,
Thy ptofer I do fcorn.
I will nor yield to any Scot
That ever yet was born.
With that there came an arrow keen,
Out of an Englifli bow,
Which flruck Lord Douglas to the heart
A deep and deadly blow.;
Who never fpake more words than thefe,
Fight on my merry men all ;
For why, my life is at an end :
Lord Pierey fees me fall.
Then, leaving life, Lord Piercy took
The dead man by the hand,
And faid, Lord Douglas,, for thy life
Would I had loll my land.
Oh but my very heart doth bleed
With forrow for thy fake :
For furea more renowned knight
Mifchance did never take.
A knight among the Scots there was,
Which faw Earl Douglas die j
Who ftraight, in wrath, did vow revenge
Upon the Earl Piercy.
Sir Hugh Montgomery was he c.ill'd,
Who, with a fpear full bright,
Weil mounted on a gallant deed,
Ran fiercely thro' the fight.
He pafs"d the Englifii archers all,
Without all dread or fear,
And through Earl Piercy's body then.
He thrud his hateful fpear:
With fuch a vehement force and might.
It did his body gore,
The fpear ran through the other fide,
A large cloth-yard and more.
So thus did both thefe nobles die,
Whofe courage none could (lain.
An Englifh archer then percciv'd
His noble Lord was (lain ;
He had a bow bent in his band,
Made of a trufty tree,
An arrow of a cloth-yard's length.
Unto the head drew he ;
Againft Sir Hugh Montgomery then,
So right his draft he fet,
The grey-goofe wing that was thereon,
In his heartTblood was wet.
This fight did lad from break of day
Till fetting of the fun ;
For when they rang the evening bell,
The battle fcarce was done.
With the Lord Piercy there were Haiti
Sir John of Ogerton,
Sir Robert Ratelifznc] Sir John,
Sir James that bold baron ;
Sir George, and alfo good Sir Hugh,
Both knights of good account ;
Good Sir Ralph Roby there was (lain,
Whofe prowefs did furmount.
For IVitheringtonl needs mud wail,
As one in doleful dumps;
For when his legs were i'nvtten off,
He fought dill on his dumps.
And with Earl Owglas there were ilain
Sir Hugh Montgomery;
Sir Charles Murray, that from the field,
One foot would never fly;
Sl'r Charles Murray of Ratclif too,
His filler's fon was he;
Sir David Lamb fo well efleem'd,
Yet faved could not be ;
And the Lord Maxwel in likewife
Did with Earl Douglas die.
Of fifteen hundred Scottifh fpears
Went home but fifty three:
Of twenty bundled Engliflimen
Scarce fifty five did flee :
The reft were (lain at Chemy-chace,
Under the green-wood tree.
Next day did many widows come,
Their hulbands to bewail;
They wafli'd their wounds in brinifli tear
But all could not prevail.
Their bodies, bath'd in purple blood,
They bare with them away ;
They kifs'd them dead a thoufand time^
When they were cold as clay.
The news were brought to Edinburgh,
Where Scotland's King did reign.
That brave Earl Douglas fuddenly
Was wjth an arrow (lain.
Now God be with him, faid our King,
S;th 'twill no better be :
I trufl I have in my realm
Five hundred as good as he.
Like tidings to King Henry came,
Within as fliort a fpace,
That Piercy of Northumberland
Was (lain at Chevy-chace.
0 heavy news, King Henry faid,
England can witnefs be,
1 have not any captain more,
Of fuch account as he.
Now of the reft of fmall account,
Did many hundreds die.
Thus ended the hunting of Cbt<vy-thfit\
Made by the Earl Piercy.
God fave the King, and blefs the land
With plenty, joy and peace ;
And grant henceforth, that foul debate*
Twixt noblemen may ceafe.