[A] Memorable Song on the unhappie Hunting in Chevie-Chase, betweene Earle Piercie of
England, and Earle Dowglas of Scotland.
To the tune of, Flying Fame.
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GOd prosper long our Noble King,
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our lives and safeties all,
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A wofull Hunting once there did
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in Chevie-Chase befall:
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To drive the Deer with hound and horn,
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Earle Piercy tooke his way,
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The child may rue that is unborn
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the hunting of that day.
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The stout Earle of Northumberland,
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vow to God did make,
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His pleasure in the Scottish woods,
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three Summers dayes to take:
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The chiefest Harts in Chevie-Chase,
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to kill and beare away,
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These tydings to Earl Dowglas came
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in Scotland where he lay.
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Who sent Earle Piercy present word,
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he would prevent his sport,
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The English Earle not fearing this,
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did to the woods resort,
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With fifteene hundred Bow-men bold,
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all chosen men of might,
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Who knew full well in time of war,
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to aime their Shafts aright.
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The gallant Grey-hound swiftly ran
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to chase the Fallow Deere,
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[O]n Monday they began to hunt
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[w]hen day[-]light did appeare.
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[A]nd long before high-noone they had
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an hundred fat Bucks slaine,
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[Th]en having din'd, the Drovers went
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[t]o rowze them up againe.
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[T]he Bow-men mustred on the Hills,
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well able to endure,
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[Th]eir back-sides all with speciall care
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that day were guarded sure:
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[T]he Hounds ran swiftly through the woods,
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[t]he nimble Deere to take,
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[That] with their cryes the hils and dales
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[a]n eccho shrill did make.
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[Lord] P[i]ercy to the Quarry went,
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[to] view the tender Deere,
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[Qu]oth he, Earle Dowglas promised
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[t]his day to meet me here;
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[But] if I thought he would not come,
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[no l]onger would I stay,
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[With t]hat a brave young Gentleman
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[thus t]o the Earl did say:
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[Loe, yo]nder doth Earl Dowglas come,
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[his m]en in armour bright,
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[Full tw]enty hundred Scottish Spears,
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[all marchi]ng in our sight;
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[All pleasant m]en of Tevidale,
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[fast by the] River Tweed,
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Then cease your sport Earl Piercy said,
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and take your Bowes with speed.
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And now with me my Countrey-men,
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your courage forth advance,
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For never was there Champion yet
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in Scotland or in France,
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That ever did on horse-back come,
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but if my hap it were,
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I durst incounter man for man,
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with him to breake a Speare.
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Earl Dowglas on a Milk white Steed,
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most like a Baron bold,
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Rode formost of the company,
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whose Armour shone like gold:
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Shew me (said he) whose me ye be,
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that hunt so boldly here,
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That without my consent doe chase,
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and kill my Fallow Deere?
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The man that first did answer make,
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was Noble Piercy he,
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Who said, we list not to declare,
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nor shew whose men we be:
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Yet we will spend our dearest blood,
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thy chiefest Harts to slay,
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Then Dowglas swore a solemn oath,
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and thus in rage did say:
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Er[e] thus I will out-braved be,
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one of us [t]wo sh[a]ll dye,
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I know thee well, a[n] Earle thus art,
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Lord Piercy, so am I;
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But trust me Piercy pittie it were,
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and great offence to kill
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Any of these our harmlesse men,
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for they have done no ill.
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Let thou and I the Battell try,
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and set our men aside:
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Accurst be he, Lord Piercy said,
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by whom it is deny'd:
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Then stept a gallant Squire forth,
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Witherington was his name,
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Who said, I would not have it told
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to Henry our King for shame,
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That ere my Captaine fought on foot,
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and I stood looking on,
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You two be Earls, quoth Witherington
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and I a Squire alone;
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Ile doe the best that doe I may,
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while I have power to stand,
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While I have power to weild my sword
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Ile fight with heart and hand.
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Our English Archers bent their bows,
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their hearts were good and true,
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At the first flight of Arrowes sent,
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full fourscore Scots they slew.
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To drive the Deer with hound and horn,
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Dowglas bad on the bent,
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A Captaine mov'd with mickle pride,
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the Speares to shivers went.
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They clos'd full fast on every side,
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no slacknesse there was found,
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And many a gallant Gentleman
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lay gasping on the ground:
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O Christ, it was a griefe to see,
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and likewise for to heare
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The cryes of men lying in their gore,
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and scattered here and there.
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At last there two stout Earles did meet,
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like Captaines of great might,
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Like Lyons mov'd they layd on load,
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and made a cruell fight;
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They fought untill they both did sweat
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with swords of tempered steele,
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Untill the blood like drops of raine
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they trickling downe did feele.
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Yeeld thee Lord Piercy, Dowglas said,
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in faith I will thee bring,
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Where thou shalt high advanced be
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by James our Scottish King;
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Thy ransome will I freely give,
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and thus report of thee,
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Thou art the most couragious Knight
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as ever I did see.
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No Dowglas, q[u]oth Earle Piercy then
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thy proffers I doe scorne,
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I will not yeeld to any Scot
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that ever yet was borne:
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With that there came an Arrow keen,
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but of an England Bow,
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And struck Earl Dowglas to the heart,
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a deep and deadly blow.
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Who never spak more words then these
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fight on my merry men all,
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For why my life is at an end,
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Earles Piercy sees my fall:
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Then leaving life, Earle Piercy took
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the dead man by the hand,
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And said, Earle Dowglas for thy life
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would I had lost my Land.
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O Christ my very heart doth bleed,
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with sorrow for thy sake,
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For sure a more redoubted Knight
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mischance did neer take.
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A Knight among the Scots there was
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which saw Earle Dowglas dye,
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Who strait in wrath did vow reveng[e]
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upon the Earle Piercy.
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The Second Part, to the same Tune.
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SIr Hugh Montgomery was he cal'd,
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who with a Speare full bright,
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Well mounted on a gallant Steed,
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ran fiercely through the fight,
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And past the English Archers all,
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without all dread or feare,
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And through Earle Piercies body then
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he thrust his hatefull Speare,
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With such a vehement force and might
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his body he did gore,
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The staffe came through the other side
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a large cloth-yard and more:
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Thus did both these stout Nobles dye,
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whoes courage none could staine,
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An English Archer then perceiv'd
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the Noble Earle was slaine:
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He had a good Bow in his hand,
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made of a trustie Tree,
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An Arrow of a cloth-yard long
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unto the head drew he;
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Against Sir Hugh Montgomery,
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so right his shaft he set,
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The Grey-goose wing that was thereon
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in his heart blood was wet.
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The fight did last from break of day,
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till setting of the Sun,
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For when they rung the Evening bell
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the battle scarce was done.
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With stout Earl Piercy there was slain
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Sir John of Ogerton,
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Sir Robert Ratcliffe, and Sir John,
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Sir James that bold Baron.
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And with Sir George & good sir James,
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both Knights of good account,
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Good sir Ralph Rabby there was slain,
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whose prowesse did surmount:
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For Witherington needs must I waile,
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as one in dolefull dumps,
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For when his legs were smitten off,
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he fought upon his stumps.
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And with Earl Dowglas there was slain
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Sir Hugh Montgomery,
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Sir Charles Morrell, that from the field
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one foot would never flye:
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Sir Charles Morrell of Harcliffe too,
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his Sisters son was he,
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Sir David Lamb, so well esteem'd,
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but sav'd he could not be.
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And the Lord Markwell in like case,
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did with Earle Dowglas dye,
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Of twentie hundred Scottish Speares,
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scarce fiftie five did flye:
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Of fifteene hundred Englishmen,
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went home but fiftie three,
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The rest were slain in Chevie-Chase,
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under the green-wood Tree.
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Next day did many widowes come,
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their husbands to bewaile,
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They washt their wounds with brinish tears,
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but all could not prevaile;
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Their bodies bath'd in purple blood,
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they bore with them away,
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They kist them dead a thousand times,
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ere they were clad in clay.
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This news was brought to Edenburg,
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where Scotlands King did raigne,
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That brave Earle Dowglas suddenly
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was with an Arrow slaine:
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O heavie news King James did say,
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Scotland can witnesse be,
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I have not any Captaine more
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of such account as he.
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Like tydings to King Henry came,
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within as short a space,
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That Piercy of Northumberland
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was slaine in Chevie-Chase:
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Now God be with him, said our King,
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since 'twill no better be,
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I trust I have within my Realme
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five hundred as good as he.
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Yet shall not Scots nor Scotland say,
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but I will vengeance take,
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And be revenged on them all
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for brave Earle Piercies sake:
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This vow the King did well performe,
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after on Humble Downe,
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In one day fiftie Knights were slaine,
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with Lords of high renowne.
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And of the rest of small account,
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did many hundred dye,
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Thus ended the Hunting in Chevie-Chase,
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made by the Lord Piercy.
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God save the King and blesse this Land
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with Plentie, Joy, and Peace,
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And grant henceforth that all debate
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Noblemen may cease.
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