A Lamentable
BALLAD.
Of a Combat lately Fought, near LONDON, between
Sir. James Steward, and Sir George Wharton:
Who were both Slain near Waltham. (Tune down Plumpton-Park,) etc.
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IT grieves my heart to tell the woe,
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that did near London late befal,
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On Martlemas-eve, O woe is me,
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I grieve the chance and ever shall.
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Of two right gallant Gentlemen,
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who very rashly fell at Words,
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But to their Quarrell could not fall,
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till they fell both by their keen sword
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The one Sir George Wharton call'd,
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the good Lord Wharton's son & heir,
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The other Sir James a Scottish Knight,
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a Man that a valiant heart did bear:
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Near to the Court the Gallants stout,
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fell out as they agaming were:
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And in their fury grew so hot,
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they hardly could from blows forbear
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Nay kind intreaties could not stay,
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Sir James from striking in that place,
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For in the height and heat of Blood,
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he struck young Wharton o'er th' face
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What dost thou mean said Wharton then
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to strike in such unmanly Sort,
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That I will take it at thy Hands,
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the Tongue of Man shall n'eer report,
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Then do thy worst then said Sir James,
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and mark me Wharton what I say,
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There is ne'er a Lord in England breaths
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shall make me give an inch of way,
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This Brags too brave stout Wharton said
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Let our brave English Lords alone,
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And talk with me that am your foe:
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for you shall find enough of one,
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Alas alas said the Scottish Knight,
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thy Blood and mind's too base for me,
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Thy oppositions are too bold
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and will thy dire destruction be,
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Nay said young Wharton, you mistake,
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my courage and valour equals thine,
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To mak't apparent cast thy Glove,
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to gage to try as I do mine,
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Ay said Sir James hast thou such spirit,
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I did not think within my breast
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That such a haughty daring heart,
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as thou mak'st shew of e'er could rest,
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I enterchange my Glove with thee,
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take it and point thy Bed of Death,
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The Field I mean where we must fight,
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and one for both loose Life and breath,
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We'll meet near Waltham said Sir George
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to Morrow that shall be the Day,
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We'll either take a single man,
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and try who bears the Bell away,
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This done together hands they shook,
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and without any envious sign,
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They went to Ludgate where they staid
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and drank each Man his Pint of Wine,
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No kind of anger might be seen,
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no words of anger might bewray,
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But all was fair as calm as cool:
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as love within their bosoms lay,
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Till parting time and then Indeed,
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they shew'd some rancor of their heart
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George said Sir James next time we meet
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so sound I know we shall not part,
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And so they parted both resolv'd,
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to have their Valour fully try'd,
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The second part shall briefly show:
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both how they met and how they dy'd.
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The Second PART
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YOung Wharton was the first that came
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to the appointed Place next Day
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Who presently 'spy'd Sir James coming,
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as fast as he could Post away.
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And being met in manly sort,
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the Scotch Kt. did to Wharton say,
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I do not like thy Doublet George,
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it sits so well on thee to Day:
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Hast thou no privy Armour on,
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nor yet no privy Coat of Steel,
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I never say Lord in all my Life,
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become a Doublet half so well.
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Now nay now nay stout Wharton said,
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Sir James Steward that may not be,
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I'll not an armed Man come hither,
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and thou a naked Man truly
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Our Men shall strip our Doublets George,
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so shall we know whether of us lye,
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And then we'll to our Weapans sharp,
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ourselves true Gallants for to try
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Then they stript off their Dublets fair,
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standing up in their Shirts of Lawn,
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Follow my Councel the Scoch-man said
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and Wharton to thee I'll make known
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Now follow my counsel, I'll follow thine
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and we'll fight in our Shirts said he,
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Now nay, now nay young Wharton said
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Sir James Steward that may not be,
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Unless we were drunkards & quarrelers,
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that had no care of our sell,
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Not caring what we go about,
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or whether our souls go to heaven or hell
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We'll first to god bequeath our souls,
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then next our Corps to dust and clay:
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With that stout Wharton was the first
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took Raiper and Poniard there that day
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Seven thrusts in turns these Gallants had,
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before one drop of Blood was drawn,
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The Scottish Kt. then spake valliantly,
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stout Wharton still thou holdst thy own
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With the next thrust Wharton thrust,
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he ran him thro' the Shoulder Bone,
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The next was thro' the thick o'th thigh
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thinking he had the Scottish Kt. slain.
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Then Wharton said to the Scottish Kt.
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are you a living Man tell me?
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If there be a Surgeon in England can,
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he shall cure your wounds right speedily
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Now nay now nay, the Scottish Kt. said,
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Sir George Wharton that may not be,
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The one of us shall the other kill,
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e'er off this Ground that we do flee.
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Then in amaze Sir George lookt back,
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to see what Company was nigh-
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they both had dangerous marks of death,
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yet neither would from the other fly.
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But both thro' Body wounded sore,
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with courage lusty strong and sound,
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They made a deadly desperate close,
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and both fell dead unto the Ground.
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Our English Kt. was the first that fell,
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the Scottish Knight fell immediately,
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Who cried both to Jesus Christ,
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receive our Souls O Lord we dye,
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God bless our noble King and Queen,
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and all the noble Progeny,
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That Britain still may live in one,
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in perfect love and unity.
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Thus to conclude I make an end,
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wishing that quarrels still may cease,
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And that we still may live in love,
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in prosperous state, in Joy and Peace.
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