An Unhappy Memorable SONG of the Hunting in
CHEVY-CHASE, between Earl PIERCY of England,
and Earl DOWGLAS of Scotland.
To the Tune of, Flying Fame, etc.
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GOd prosper long our noble King,
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our lives and safeties all,
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A woful hunting once there did,
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in Chevy-chase befal:
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To drive the deer with hound and horn,
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Earl Piercy took 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 Earl of Northumberland,
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a vow to God did make,
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His pleasure in the Scottish woods,
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three summer's days to take,
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The chiefest harts in Chevy-chase,
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to kill and bear away.
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The tydings to Earl Dowglas came,
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in Scotland where he lay:
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Who sent Earl Piercy present word,
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he would prevent his sport.
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The English Earl not fearing this,
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did to the woods resort;
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With fifteen hundred bow-men bold,
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all chosen men of might,
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Who knew full well in time of need,
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to aim their shafts aright.
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The gallant gray-hounds swiftly ran,
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to chase the fallow-deer,
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On Munday they began to hunt,
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when day-light did appear;
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And long before high-noon they had
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a hundred fat bucks slain,
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Then having din'd, the drovers went
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to rouze them up again.
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The bow-men mustred on the hills,
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well able to endure,
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Their backsides all with special care,
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that day were guarded sure.
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The hounds ran swiftly thro' the woods,
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the nimble deer to take,
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And with their cries the hills and dales,
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an eccho shrill did make.
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Lord Pierey to the quarry went,
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to view the tender deer,
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Quoth he, Earl Dowglas promised
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this day to meet me here:
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If that I thought he would not come,
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no longer would I stay.
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With that a brave young Gentleman,
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thus to the Earl did say,
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Lo yonder doth Earl Dowglas come,
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his men in armour bright,
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Full twenty hundred Scottish spears
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all marching in our sight;
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All men of pleasant Tividale,
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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 bows with speed:
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And now with me, my countrymen,
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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 since my hap it were,
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I durst encounter man for man,
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with him to break a spear.
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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 foremost of the company,
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whose armour shone like gold:
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Shew me (he said) whose men you be,
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that hunt so boldly here,
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That without my consent do chase
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and kill my fallow-deer?
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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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E'er thus I will out-braved be,
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one of us two shall dye;
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I know the well, an Earl thou art,
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Lord Piercy, so am I.
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But trust me Piercy, pitty it were,
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and great offence to kill,
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And of these our harmless men,
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for they have done no ill.
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Let thou and I the battel 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 this 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 e're my Captain fought on foot,
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and I stood looking on:
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You be two Earls, said Witherington,
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and I a Squire alone,
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I'll do the best that do I may,
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while I have power to stand,
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While I have power to wield my sword,
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I'll 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 arrows sent,
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full threescore Scots they slew.
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To drive the deer with hound and horn,
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Earl Dowglas bad the bent.
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A Captain mov'd with mickle pride,
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the spears to shivers sent:
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They clos'd full fast on ev'ry side
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no slackness 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 great grief to see,
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and likewise for to hear,
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The cries of men lying in their gore,
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and scatered here and there.
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At last these two stout Earls did meet,
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like Captains of great might,
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Like lions mov'd they laid on load,
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and made a cruel fight;
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They fought until they both did sweat,
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with swords of tempered steel,
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Until the blood like drops of rain,
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they trickling down did fell:
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Yield 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 ransom I will 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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that ever I did see.
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To Dowglas, quoth Earl Piercy then,
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Thy proffer I do scorn,
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I will not yield to any Scot
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that ever yet was born.
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With that there came an arrow keen,
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out of an English bow,
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Which struck Earl Dowglas to the heart
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a deep and deadly blow,
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Who never spoke 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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Lord Piercy sees my fall.
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Then leaving life, Earl Piercy took
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the dead man by the hand,
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And said, Earl 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 renowned Knight,
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mischance did ever take.
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A Knight amongst the Scots there was,
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which saw Earl Dowglas dye,
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Who straight in wrath did vow revenge
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upon the Earl Piercy:
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Sir Hugh Montgomery was he call'd,
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who with a spear most 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 fear,
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And through Earl Piercys body then,
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he thrust his hateful spear,
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With such a vehement force and might
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he did his body gore,
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The spear went through the other side
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a large cloath-yard and more.
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So thus did both these Nobles dye,
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whose courage none could stain:
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An English archer then perceiv'd
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the noble Earl was slain,
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He had a bow bent in his hand,
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made of a trusty tree,
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An arrow of a cloath-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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This 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 the Earl Piercy there was slain,
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Sir John of Ogerton,
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Sir Robert Ratclif, and Sir John,
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Sir James that bold Baron;
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And with Sir George and 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 prowess did surmount.
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For Witherington needs must I wail,
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as one in doleful 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 Currel, that from the field
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one foot would never flye.
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Sir Charles Murrel of Ratclif too,
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his sister's son was he,
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Sir David Lamb so well esteem'd,
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yet saved could not be.
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And the Lord Markwel in likewise,
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did with Earl Dowglas dye,
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Of twenty hundred Scottish spears,
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scarce fifty five did flye.
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Of fifteen hundred English men,
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went home but fifty three,
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The rest were slain in Chevy-chase
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under the green-wood tree.
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Next day did many widows come,
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their husbands to bewail,
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They wash'd their wounds in brinish tears,
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but all would not prevail:
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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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when they were clad in clay.
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This news was brought to Edenburg,
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where Scotlands King did reign,
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That brave Earl Dowglas, suddenly
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was with an arrow slain:
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O heavy news, King James did say,
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Scotland can witness be,
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I have not any Captain more,
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of such accout 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 slain in Chevy-chase:
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Now God be with him, said our King,
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sith 'twill no better be,
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I trust I have within my realm,
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five hundred as good as he:
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Yet shall not Scot 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 Lord Piercys sake.
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This vow full well the King perform'd,
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after on Humble-Down,
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In one day fifty Knights were slain
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with Lords of great renown:
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And of the rest of small account,
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did many hundreds dye:
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Thus ended the hunting of Chevy-chase,
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made by the Earl Piercy.
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God save the King, and bless the Land
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in plenty, joy, and peace,
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And grant henceforth that f[o]ul debate,
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'twixt Noble-men may cease.
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