With stout Erle Percy, there was slaine
Sir John of Egerton,

Sir Robert Ratcliffe, and Sir John,
Sir James, the bold barròn.

And with Sir George and stout Sir James,
Both knights of good account,
Good Sir Ralph Raby there was slaine,
Whose prowesse did surmount.

For Witherington my heart is woe,
That ever he slaine shold be:
For when his legs were hewn in two,
He knelt and fought on his knee.

And with Erle Douglas, there was slaine
Sir Hugh Montgomery,

Sir Charles Murray, that from the feeld
One foot wold never flee.

Sir Charles Murray of Ratcliffe, too,
His sister's sonne was hee;
Sir David Lamb, so well esteem'd,
But saved he cold not bee.

And the Lord Maxwell in like case
Did with Erle Douglas dye;
Of twenty hundred Scottish speres,
Scarce fifty-five did flye.

Of fifteen hundred Englishmen,
Went home but fifty-three;

The rest in Chevy-Chace were slaine,
Under the greene woode tree.

Next day did many widdowes come,
Their husbands to bewayle:

They washt their wounds in brinish teares,
But all wold not prevayle.

Their bodyes, bathed in purple blood,
They bore with them away:

They kist them dead a thousand times,

Ere they were cladd in clay.

The news was brought to Eddenborrow, Where Scottland's king did raigne, That brave Erle Douglas suddenlye Was with an arrow slaine:

"O heavy news," King James did say,
"Scottland can witness bee,

I have not any captaine more
Of such account as hee."

Like tydings to King Henry came,
Within as short a space,
That Percy of Northumberland
Was slaine in Chevy-Chace:

"Now by my faith," said then our king, "Sith 't will noe better bee;

I trust I have, within my realme,
Five hundred as good as hee:

"Yett shall not Scotts nor Scottland say, But I will vengeance take:

I'll be revenged on them all,

For brave Erle Percy's sake."

This vow full well the king perform'd
After, at Humbledowne;

In one day, fifty knights were slayne,
With lords of high renowne:

And of the rest, of small account,
Did many hundreds dye.

Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chace,
Made by the Erle Percy.

God save the king, and bless this land. With plentye, joy, and peace;

And grant, henceforth, that foule debate 'Twixt noblemen may cease.

15

THE RED-CROSS KNIGHT.

"BLOW, warder, blow thy sounding horn,
And thy banner wave on high;

For the Christians have fought in the Holy Land,
And have won the victory."

Loud, loud the warder blew his horn,

And his banner waved on high;

Let the mass be sung, and the bells be rung,
And the feast eat merrily.

The warder look'd from his tower on high,
As far as he could see:

"I see a bold knight, and by his red cross,
He comes from the east countree."

Then loud the warder blew his horn,
And call'd till he was hoarse:

“I see a bold knight, and on his shield bright
He beareth a flaming cross."

Then down the lord of the castle came,

The Red-Cross Knight to meet,

And when the Red-Cross Knight he espied,

Right loving he did him greet.

"Thou'rt welcome here, dear Red-Cross Knight,

For thy fame's well known to me;

And the mass shall be sung and the bells shall be rung, And we'll feast right merrily."

"Oh, I am come from the Holy Land, Where saints did live and die; Behold the device I bear on my shield,

The Red-Cross Knight am I!

"And we have fought in the Holy Land,

And we've won the victory;

For with valiant might did the Christians fight,
And made the proud Pagans fly."

C

"Thou 'rt welcome here, dear Red-Cross Knight,

Come, lay thy armour by;

And for the good tidings thou dost bring,
We'll feast us merrily.

"For all in my castle shall rejoice

That we've won the victory;

And the mass shall be sung and the bells shall be rung, And the feast eat merrily."

"Oh, I cannot stay," cried the Red-Cross Knight,
"But must go to my own countree,

Where manors and castles will be my reward,
And all for my bravery."

"Oh say not so, thou Red-Cross Knight,
But if you'll bide with me,

With manors so wide and castles beside
I'll honour thy bravery."

"I cannot stay," cried the Red-Cross Knight,
"Nor can I bide with thee,

But I must haste to my king and his knights
Who are waiting to feast with me."

"Oh say not so, thou Red-Cross Knight, But if you'll stay with me,

With feast and with dance-with tourney and lance We'll honour thy bravery."

"I cannot stay," cried the Red-Cross Knight,

"Nor can I feast with thee,

But I must haste to a pleasant bower
Where a lady's waiting for me."

“Oh say not so, dear Red-Cross Knight,
Nor heed that fond lady,

For she can't compare to my daughter fair,
And she shall wed with thee."

And now the lute's sweet silver sound

Re-echoed through the hall,

And in that lord's fair daughter came
With her ladies clad in pall.

The lady was deckt in costly robes,

And shone as bright as day,

And with courtesy sweet the Knight she did greet, And pressed him for to stay.

"Right welcome, brave Sir Red-Cross Knight,

Right welcome unto me;

And here long time I hope thou 'lt stay,

And bear us company."

"It grieves me much, thou lady fair,
That here I cannot stay,

For a beauteous lady is waiting for me,
Whom I've not seen many a day."

And as the lady pressed the Knight
With her attendants all,

Oh, then bespake a pilgrim youth,
As he stood in the hall.

"Now, Heaven thee save, good Red-Cross Knight,
I'm come from the north countree,
Where a lady is laid all in her sick bed,
And evermore calls for thee."

"Alas! alas! thou pilgrim boy,

Sad news thou tellest me, Now I must ride full hastily

To comfort that dear lady."

"Oh, heed him not," the lady cried,

"But send a page to see,

While the mass is sung and the bells are rung,

And we feast merrily."

Again bespake the pilgrim boy,

"Ye need not send to see,

For know, Sir Knight, that lady's dead,

And died for love of thee."

Oh, then the Red-Cross Knight was pale,
And not a word could say,

But his heart did swell, and his tears down fell,
And he almost swooned away.