Ballads in Imitation of the Antient By W. H. Ireland |
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Ballad
Of the Death of HOTSPUR PERCY. |
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 | Ballads in Imitation of the Antient |  |
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Ballad Of the Death of HOTSPUR PERCY.
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The following Ballad is founded on the Battle of Shrewsbury, where Hotspur Percy (so called from the fiery impetuosity of his temper) was defeated and slain, by the forces of King Henry IV. Earl Percy, and several other Nobles who had been accessary to the return of Bolingbroke from banishment, finding that his intent was not only to regain his estates, but depose the rightful King, Richard II. and assume himself the reins of government, formed a league, and declared war against the usurper, which terminated in favor of Bolingbroke, by the failure of this battle. To which rebellion in Richard's favor may also be attributed his murder, which shortly after took place.
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I. FIRST PART.
Wherein is displayed the sorrowful parting of the Lady Catherine and her Lord, and how she continued to bewail his unexpected flight from Alnwick-Castle.
Scarce the light grey tinge of dawning
Softly stole athwart the sky;
Scarce the rays of early morning
Flush'd the East with saffron die;
Ere the noble Hotspur stirr'd him,
From beside his Catherine bright;
Whither go'st thou, said the Lady,
Whither hies my soul's delight?
Softly stole athwart the sky;
Scarce the rays of early morning
Flush'd the East with saffron die;
Ere the noble Hotspur stirr'd him,
From beside his Catherine bright;
Whither go'st thou, said the Lady,
Whither hies my soul's delight?
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“I must quit thee, lovely Catherine,
“I must quit thee, Lady kind;
“Thou, and all I love so dearly,
“Straightways must I leave behind:
“Weighty matters will my absence,
“Lo, this is th' appointed day;
“Therefore, gentle Lady, weep not,
“Fate so wills, I must obey.”
“I must quit thee, Lady kind;
“Thou, and all I love so dearly,
“Straightways must I leave behind:
“Weighty matters will my absence,
“Lo, this is th' appointed day;
“Therefore, gentle Lady, weep not,
“Fate so wills, I must obey.”
“Wherefore, Noble Percy, quit me?
“Let me, sweet, thy will controul;
“Much I dread thy valiant temper,
“Much I fear thy warlike soul.
“Do not leave this goodly castle,
“Do not quit these turrets fair,
“Do not shun the babe that loves thee,
“Fill not Catherine's heart wtth care.
“Let me, sweet, thy will controul;
“Much I dread thy valiant temper,
“Much I fear thy warlike soul.
“Do not leave this goodly castle,
“Do not quit these turrets fair,
“Do not shun the babe that loves thee,
“Fill not Catherine's heart wtth care.
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“To thy wife unveil the secret
“Which so long hath swell'd thy breast,
“Which by day hath made thee thoughtful,
“And by night hath broke thy rest.”
“Hist thee, Wife, I love thee dearly;
“English Earl ne'er lov'd so well.”
“If 'tis so, thou'lt not deny me,
“But thy weighty purpose tell.”
“Which so long hath swell'd thy breast,
“Which by day hath made thee thoughtful,
“And by night hath broke thy rest.”
“Hist thee, Wife, I love thee dearly;
“English Earl ne'er lov'd so well.”
“If 'tis so, thou'lt not deny me,
“But thy weighty purpose tell.”
As the Ivy to the Turret,
Or the weeping Eglantine,
So the gentle loving Lady
Round her Lord her arms did twine:
From her cheek that press'd his bosom
Dropt full many a silent tear,
Which upon his breast-plate falling,
Damp'd the steel that shone so clear.
Or the weeping Eglantine,
So the gentle loving Lady
Round her Lord her arms did twine:
From her cheek that press'd his bosom
Dropt full many a silent tear,
Which upon his breast-plate falling,
Damp'd the steel that shone so clear.
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“Cath'rine, why this gush of anguish?
“Tell me why this show of pain;
“Wherefore should'st thou pine and languish;
“Lo, this flood of grief is vain:
“Though thy sex be made for sorrow,
“In thy breast such woes should sleep;
“Percy's bride should scorn such feelings,
“Hotspur's wife should never weep.”
“Tell me why this show of pain;
“Wherefore should'st thou pine and languish;
“Lo, this flood of grief is vain:
“Though thy sex be made for sorrow,
“In thy breast such woes should sleep;
“Percy's bride should scorn such feelings,
“Hotspur's wife should never weep.”
“Oh, my Percy, don't despise me!
“All in vain thou tell'st me so,
“For I ne'er can steel this bosom,
“Nor asswage this briny flow.
“Though my Soul's to fear a stranger,
“Yet keen sorrow have I felt;
“Though this heart contemns dread danger,
“Still for thee this heart can melt.”
“All in vain thou tell'st me so,
“For I ne'er can steel this bosom,
“Nor asswage this briny flow.
“Though my Soul's to fear a stranger,
“Yet keen sorrow have I felt;
“Though this heart contemns dread danger,
“Still for thee this heart can melt.”
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From fair Catherine's kind embracings
Quick this valiant Earl did speed,
Straightways to the Court-yard hied him,
Where the groom did tend his steed.
Mounting there his foaming war-horse,
Through fair Alnwick's gates he hied.
“Stay, my Percy, stay my Hotspur,
“Stay, my love,” fair Cath'rine cried.
Quick this valiant Earl did speed,
Straightways to the Court-yard hied him,
Where the groom did tend his steed.
Mounting there his foaming war-horse,
Through fair Alnwick's gates he hied.
“Stay, my Percy, stay my Hotspur,
“Stay, my love,” fair Cath'rine cried.
“Lo, thine infant wills to see thee;
“Do not, love, deny me this;
“Give thy babe a father's blessing,
“Give thy child a father's kiss.”
Hotspur felt a parent's yearning,
On the babe he cast a look;
Then from off fair Cath'rine's bosom
Straight the gentle infant took.
“Do not, love, deny me this;
“Give thy babe a father's blessing,
“Give thy child a father's kiss.”
Hotspur felt a parent's yearning,
On the babe he cast a look;
Then from off fair Cath'rine's bosom
Straight the gentle infant took.
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On its Sire the Babe so harmless
Bent its gaze devoid of guile;
On the manly front of Hotspur
Sweetly did the infant smile.
“Bless thee, Babe!” cried noble Percy;
“May'st thou one day boast the fire,
“May the blood of antient Percys'
“To great deeds thy soul inspire!”
Bent its gaze devoid of guile;
On the manly front of Hotspur
Sweetly did the infant smile.
“Bless thee, Babe!” cried noble Percy;
“May'st thou one day boast the fire,
“May the blood of antient Percys'
“To great deeds thy soul inspire!”
Oft he kiss'd the prattling infant,
Oft its cherry mouth he press'd;
Then to weeping Cath'rine gave him,
And the lady thus address'd:
“Should aught ill befall thy Percy,
“Rear our child to deeds of fame;
“Teach him all our kindred's glory,
“Teach him how to bear our name.”
Oft its cherry mouth he press'd;
Then to weeping Cath'rine gave him,
And the lady thus address'd:
“Should aught ill befall thy Percy,
“Rear our child to deeds of fame;
“Teach him all our kindred's glory,
“Teach him how to bear our name.”
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Thrice the Warrior wav'd his gauntlet,
Thrice his plumage fann'd the air;
Sweet he smil'd, his lips unclosing,
Cried “Farewell, my Cath'rine dear.”
Then full speed the courser bore him
Far from Cath'rine's longing eye:
Thus did part this loving Lady
And her gallant Lord Percy.
Thrice his plumage fann'd the air;
Sweet he smil'd, his lips unclosing,
Cried “Farewell, my Cath'rine dear.”
Then full speed the courser bore him
Far from Cath'rine's longing eye:
Thus did part this loving Lady
And her gallant Lord Percy.
End of the First Part.
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II. SECOND PART.
Shewing how the loving Dame moaned the loss of her gallant Lord Percy. After which followeth the purpose of the noble Hotspur, with the haughty message sent by him unto King Henry IV.
In this second Fyt, good yeomen,
I shall cause ye mickle woe;
Lady Catherine ye shall pitty,
For the Dame your tears will flow.
Percy fled the heart that lov'd him,
Swift he did his course pursue;
Catherine wail'd her Hotspur's absence,
She had mickle cause to rue.
I shall cause ye mickle woe;
Lady Catherine ye shall pitty,
For the Dame your tears will flow.
Percy fled the heart that lov'd him,
Swift he did his course pursue;
Catherine wail'd her Hotspur's absence,
She had mickle cause to rue.
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From the morn till silent evening
Moan'd this Lady kind and fair,
“Smile, my babe, Oh! smile my infant,
“Smile, and ease thy Mother's care.”
From the eve till dusky twilight
Did this weeping Lady say
“Ah, my babe thy Sire hath fled us,
“Whither doth my Percy stray!”
Moan'd this Lady kind and fair,
“Smile, my babe, Oh! smile my infant,
“Smile, and ease thy Mother's care.”
From the eve till dusky twilight
Did this weeping Lady say
“Ah, my babe thy Sire hath fled us,
“Whither doth my Percy stray!”
And by night, upon the pillow,
Watchful were her eyes so bright;
“Sweetly sleep, my smiling baby,
“Thou alone dost cheer my sight:
“As I trace thine infant features,
“As I trace them line for line,
“Lo, I view my Lord, my husband,
“In that face doth Percy shine.”
Watchful were her eyes so bright;
“Sweetly sleep, my smiling baby,
“Thou alone dost cheer my sight:
“As I trace thine infant features,
“As I trace them line for line,
“Lo, I view my Lord, my husband,
“In that face doth Percy shine.”
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Sadly thus the day did glide on,
Sadly stole the midnight hour,
And at dawn the Lady Cath'rine
Did ymount the high watch-Tower;
Round her blew the winds so bleakly,
Cath'rine swell'd them with a sigh;
“Peace,” she'd say, “my darling infant,”
Then she'd sing the Lullaby.
Sadly stole the midnight hour,
And at dawn the Lady Cath'rine
Did ymount the high watch-Tower;
Round her blew the winds so bleakly,
Cath'rine swell'd them with a sigh;
“Peace,” she'd say, “my darling infant,”
Then she'd sing the Lullaby.
Oft her lilly hand upraising,
She would wipe the starting tear,
While tow'rd East and West sad gazing,
Naught was seen her soul to cheer:
Northward lay the Heath so dreary,
Southward wav'd the Forest green,
Ni of footmen, ni of horsemen,
Were there any to be seen.
She would wipe the starting tear,
While tow'rd East and West sad gazing,
Naught was seen her soul to cheer:
Northward lay the Heath so dreary,
Southward wav'd the Forest green,
Ni of footmen, ni of horsemen,
Were there any to be seen.
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Nothing save the lark so cheery
Naught but birds the dame could see;
“Ah,” quod Cath'rine, “little songsters
“Ye are happier far than me;
“Each can fly to bonny green wood,
“There you'll find your mate so true;
“Wou'd I were but such a songster,
“And my Percy one of you.”
Naught but birds the dame could see;
“Ah,” quod Cath'rine, “little songsters
“Ye are happier far than me;
“Each can fly to bonny green wood,
“There you'll find your mate so true;
“Wou'd I were but such a songster,
“And my Percy one of you.”
Meanwhile rode the gallant Hotspur,
On high deeds his thoughts were bent,
Oft he plann'd the secret purpose,
Oft he con'd the bold intent;
Till at length he gain'd those Nobles,
Who to aid him were allied,
There he found the hardy Douglas,
With full many Chiefs beside.
On high deeds his thoughts were bent,
Oft he plann'd the secret purpose,
Oft he con'd the bold intent;
Till at length he gain'd those Nobles,
Who to aid him were allied,
There he found the hardy Douglas,
With full many Chiefs beside.
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Straight they march'd their gallant warriors
Till nigh Shrewsb'ry's walls they came:
Thither hied King Henry's army
To destroy rebellion's flame.
Soon the King did send his trumpet
Pardon granting, if in peace
Ev'ry Noble and his follower
Would these civil tumults cease.
Till nigh Shrewsb'ry's walls they came:
Thither hied King Henry's army
To destroy rebellion's flame.
Soon the King did send his trumpet
Pardon granting, if in peace
Ev'ry Noble and his follower
Would these civil tumults cease.
“Tell thy Chief,” cried hardy Percy,
“We be honest men and true,
“Bolingbroke's a Traytor leader,
“But his baseness he shall rue.
“Bid him free our captive Richard,
“Bid him yield the crown h'hath ta'en,
“Bid him straight disband his soldiers
“Or we'll strive with might and main.
“We be honest men and true,
“Bolingbroke's a Traytor leader,
“But his baseness he shall rue.
“Bid him free our captive Richard,
“Bid him yield the crown h'hath ta'en,
“Bid him straight disband his soldiers
“Or we'll strive with might and main.
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“When at Ravenspurg
he landed,
“Rightful was his claim, I ween,
“Peaceful then his every action,
“Meek and lowly was his mien;
“But by fraud and wily cunning,
“He his monarch did entrap,
“Braggart like, he then deposed him,
“Rueful is the sad mishap.
“Rightful was his claim, I ween,
“Peaceful then his every action,
“Meek and lowly was his mien;
“But by fraud and wily cunning,
“He his monarch did entrap,
“Braggart like, he then deposed him,
“Rueful is the sad mishap.
“These our terms are, if straight yielding,
“Bolingbroke doth wend his way,
“We insure our King's forgiveness,
“If for aye he doth obey:
“But should he, like bold usurper,
“These our wholesome terms deny,
“Then we'll curb the rebel Traytor,
“Or we'll in the just cause die.
“Bolingbroke doth wend his way,
“We insure our King's forgiveness,
“If for aye he doth obey:
“But should he, like bold usurper,
“These our wholesome terms deny,
“Then we'll curb the rebel Traytor,
“Or we'll in the just cause die.
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Having heard the Percy's answer,
Grimly did King Henry frown,
By my say, these hardy rebels,
Soon shall bend hefore my crown.
Quod the King, the western welkin,
Is yclad with gold-ey'd day:
Yet we'll rest the morrow's dawning,
Ere we 'gin the bloody fray.
Grimly did King Henry frown,
By my say, these hardy rebels,
Soon shall bend hefore my crown.
Quod the King, the western welkin,
Is yclad with gold-ey'd day:
Yet we'll rest the morrow's dawning,
Ere we 'gin the bloody fray.
End of the Second Part.
Earl Douglas was one of the Confederates leagued with Percy to dethrone Henry IV. and reinstate Richard on the throne.
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III. THIRD PART.
Declaring how the battail was fought between the King and the Earl nigh unto the walls of Shrewsbury, with fourteen thousand goodly yeomen, on the Eve of the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalen. When Earl Percy was defeated and slain.
Haughty Percy and the Douglas,
To the Nobles thus did say,
Yonder in the Western Welkin,
Slopes the burning eye of day;
Boling broke, that bold usurper,
Doth our wholesome terms defy,
Wherefore should we stay the morrow?
Fate to-day shall cast the die.
To the Nobles thus did say,
Yonder in the Western Welkin,
Slopes the burning eye of day;
Boling broke, that bold usurper,
Doth our wholesome terms defy,
Wherefore should we stay the morrow?
Fate to-day shall cast the die.
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Vainly strove the aged nobles,
'Gainst the fiery Hotspur's will,
Naught avail'd their goodly counsell,
Douglas would the feat fulfill;
Now the sound of neighing horses,
Now the din of warriors brave,
Now the clank of rattling armour,
And the deadly dooming glave.
'Gainst the fiery Hotspur's will,
Naught avail'd their goodly counsell,
Douglas would the feat fulfill;
Now the sound of neighing horses,
Now the din of warriors brave,
Now the clank of rattling armour,
And the deadly dooming glave.
Now in ranks yrange the footmen,
With their arrows sharp and long,
Now each man his yew ybending,
To the horn doth bind the thong;
Some the axe bear, some the falchion,
Some the shining glave did wield,
Others rear the launce ypointed,
On their arms they brace the shield.
With their arrows sharp and long,
Now each man his yew ybending,
To the horn doth bind the thong;
Some the axe bear, some the falchion,
Some the shining glave did wield,
Others rear the launce ypointed,
On their arms they brace the shield.
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Ev'ry chieftain to his captains
Thus his kindly speech address'd:
“Lo, ye fight for truth and justice,
“If ye die, ye shall be blest.”
Ev'ry captain to his hundred
Straight the cheiftain's words did say,
“Courage horsemen; courage footmen,
“For your King ye fight this day.
Thus his kindly speech address'd:
“Lo, ye fight for truth and justice,
“If ye die, ye shall be blest.”
Ev'ry captain to his hundred
Straight the cheiftain's words did say,
“Courage horsemen; courage footmen,
“For your King ye fight this day.
“If ye conquer; captive Richard
“By your arms enthron'd shall be,
“Rather die, my gallant yeomen,
“Never 'fore these traytors flee.
“If the glave of churlish rebels,
“Should be dank'd in blood of life,
“Ye that fall shall live in heav'n,
“Free'd from Traytors, free'd from strife.
“By your arms enthron'd shall be,
“Rather die, my gallant yeomen,
“Never 'fore these traytors flee.
“If the glave of churlish rebels,
“Should be dank'd in blood of life,
“Ye that fall shall live in heav'n,
“Free'd from Traytors, free'd from strife.
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Thus did speak each goodly captain,
Ev'ry man was tough of heart,
From the camp the gallant Hotspur
And his yeomen did depart.
Lo, to meet them, crowned Henry,
With his vassals, a great rout,
With his sons and nobles many,
Lords that were right bold and stout.
Ev'ry man was tough of heart,
From the camp the gallant Hotspur
And his yeomen did depart.
Lo, to meet them, crowned Henry,
With his vassals, a great rout,
With his sons and nobles many,
Lords that were right bold and stout.
Straight began the furious onset,
Shrilly rung the trumpets blast,
Many brave and hardy warriors,
There I wis did breath their last.
Princes, Nobles, Captains, Yoemen,
Breast to breast their skill 'gan try;
Each alike his foe would conquer,
Each in his own cause would die.
Shrilly rung the trumpets blast,
Many brave and hardy warriors,
There I wis did breath their last.
Princes, Nobles, Captains, Yoemen,
Breast to breast their skill 'gan try;
Each alike his foe would conquer,
Each in his own cause would die.
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Percy, like a raging Tiger,
Through the field his course he scour'd,
On his Anlace rode grim terror,
Death his ev'ry foe devour'd;
Mad the hardy Scottish Douglas,
Badg'd with blood, with eye so fierce,
To each Noble bad defiance;
Great and small his glave did pierce.
Through the field his course he scour'd,
On his Anlace rode grim terror,
Death his ev'ry foe devour'd;
Mad the hardy Scottish Douglas,
Badg'd with blood, with eye so fierce,
To each Noble bad defiance;
Great and small his glave did pierce.
Long did last this fray so bloody,
But brave Hotspur's lack of force
Did to Henry yield the conquest,
And the Percy's life divorce;
There did bleed full many nobles,
There stout gentlemen did die,
There fell yeomen without number,
Jesu take their Souls on high.
But brave Hotspur's lack of force
Did to Henry yield the conquest,
And the Percy's life divorce;
There did bleed full many nobles,
There stout gentlemen did die,
There fell yeomen without number,
Jesu take their Souls on high.
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Foughten
was this bloody battle
Nigh the walls of Shrewsbury,
From the goodly Castle's turrrets
Townsmen did the feat descry;
There did meet of sturdy soldiers
Fourteen thousand good yeomen;
But one half ne'er saw the morrow,
'Twas the feast of Magdalen.
Nigh the walls of Shrewsbury,
From the goodly Castle's turrrets
Townsmen did the feat descry;
There did meet of sturdy soldiers
Fourteen thousand good yeomen;
But one half ne'er saw the morrow,
'Twas the feast of Magdalen.
When to Alnwick came these tidings,
Sorely wept the gentle Dame;
Naught she'd hear of goodly comfort,
Naught she'd sigh but Percy's name,
Frantick thro' each hall and chamber
Did the Lady Catherine cry
“Where's my Lord, my Love, my Husband!
“Give me back my brave Percy.”
Sorely wept the gentle Dame;
Naught she'd hear of goodly comfort,
Naught she'd sigh but Percy's name,
Frantick thro' each hall and chamber
Did the Lady Catherine cry
“Where's my Lord, my Love, my Husband!
“Give me back my brave Percy.”
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Thus full many days did glide on,
Thus she made her plaint in vain;
All her cries then turn'd to sadness,
'Twas her bosom felt the pain.
Sometimes on her infant gazing,
Big would swell her woe-worn heart,
Then she'd sigh “He's dead, my baby:”
In her eye the tear would start.
Thus she made her plaint in vain;
All her cries then turn'd to sadness,
'Twas her bosom felt the pain.
Sometimes on her infant gazing,
Big would swell her woe-worn heart,
Then she'd sigh “He's dead, my baby:”
In her eye the tear would start.
Ne'er again may such rude tumults
Drench our land with human gore,
Never may a goodly Lady,
Thus her valiant Knight deplore;
But may Lords and yeomen bravely
Round the board right jovial sing,
Christ for aye in peace preserve us,
And God bless our Royal King.
Drench our land with human gore,
Never may a goodly Lady,
Thus her valiant Knight deplore;
But may Lords and yeomen bravely
Round the board right jovial sing,
Christ for aye in peace preserve us,
And God bless our Royal King.
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