Reliques of Ancient English Poetry consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, (Chiefly of the Lyric kind.) Together with some few of later Date |
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| IV. | IV. NORTHUMBERLAND BETRAYED BY DOUGLAS. |
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 | Reliques of Ancient English Poetry |  |
IV. NORTHUMBERLAND BETRAYED BY DOUGLAS.
[_]
This ballad may be considered as the sequel of the preceding. After the unfortunate Earl of Northumberland
280
Lord Northumberland continued in the castle of Loughleven, till the year 1572; when James Douglas Earl of Morton being elected Regent, he was given up to the Lord Hunsden at Berwick, and being carried to York, suffered death. As Morton's party depended on Elizabeth for protection, an elegant Historian thinks “it was scarce possible for them to refuse putting into her hands, a person who had taken up arms against her. But as a sum of money was paid on that account, and shared between Morton and his kinsman Douglas, the former of whom during his exile in England had been much indebted to Northumberland's friendship, the abandoning this unhappy nobleman to inevitable destruction, was deemed an ungrateful and mercenary act.”
Robertson's Hist.So far history coincides with this ballad, which was apparently written by some northern bard, soon after the event. The interposal of the witch-lady (v. 53.) is probably his own invention: yet even this hath some countenance from history; for about 25 years before, the Lady Jane Douglas, Lady Glamis, sister of the earl of Angus, and nearly related to Douglas of Lough-leven, had suffered death for the pretended crime of witchcraft; who, it is presumed, is the lady alluded to in verse 133.
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The following is printed (like the former) from two copies: one of them in the Editor's folio MS: Which also contains another ballad on the escape of the E. of Westmoreland, who got safe into Flanders, and is feigned in the ballad to have undergone a great variety of adventures.
How long shall fortune faile me nowe,
And harrowe me with fear and dread?
How long shall I in bale abide,
In misery my life to lead?
And harrowe me with fear and dread?
How long shall I in bale abide,
In misery my life to lead?
To fall from my bliss, alas the while!
It was my sore and heavye lott:
And I must leave my native land,
And I must live a man forgot.
It was my sore and heavye lott:
And I must leave my native land,
And I must live a man forgot.
One gentle Armstrong I doe ken,
A Scot he is much bound to mee:
He dwelleth on the border side,
To him I'll goe right privilìe.
A Scot he is much bound to mee:
He dwelleth on the border side,
To him I'll goe right privilìe.
Thus did the noble Percy 'plaine,
With a heavy heart and wel-away,
When he with all his gallant men
On Bramham moor had lost the day.
With a heavy heart and wel-away,
When he with all his gallant men
On Bramham moor had lost the day.
But when he to the Armstrongs came,
They dealt with him all treacherouslye;
For they did strip that noble earle:
And ever an ill death may they dye.
They dealt with him all treacherouslye;
For they did strip that noble earle:
And ever an ill death may they dye.
282
False Hector to Earl Murray sent,
To shew him where his guest did hide:
Who sent him to the Lough-levèn,
With William Douglas to abide.
To shew him where his guest did hide:
Who sent him to the Lough-levèn,
With William Douglas to abide.
And when he to the Douglas came,
He halched him right curteouslíe:
Say'd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle,
Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.
He halched him right curteouslíe:
Say'd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle,
Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.
When he had in Lough-leven been
Many a month and many a day;
To the regent the lord warden sent,
That bannisht earle for to betray.
Many a month and many a day;
To the regent the lord warden sent,
That bannisht earle for to betray.
He offered him great store of gold,
And wrote a letter fair to see:
Saying, Good my lord, grant me my boon,
And yield that banisht man to mee.
And wrote a letter fair to see:
Saying, Good my lord, grant me my boon,
And yield that banisht man to mee.
Earle Percy at the supper sate
With many a goodly gentleman:
The wylie Douglas then bespake,
And thus to flyte with him began:
With many a goodly gentleman:
The wylie Douglas then bespake,
And thus to flyte with him began:
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What makes you be so sad, my lord,
And in your mind so sorrowfullyè?
To-morrow a shootinge will bee held
Among the lords of the North countryè.
And in your mind so sorrowfullyè?
To-morrow a shootinge will bee held
Among the lords of the North countryè.
The butts are sett, the shooting's made,
And there will be great royaltìe:
And I am sworne into my bille,
Thither to bring my lord Percìe.
And there will be great royaltìe:
And I am sworne into my bille,
Thither to bring my lord Percìe.
I'll give thee my hand, thou gentle Douglas,
And here by my true faith, quoth hee,
If thou wilt ride to the worldes end,
I will ride in thy companìe.
And here by my true faith, quoth hee,
If thou wilt ride to the worldes end,
I will ride in thy companìe.
And then bespake a lady faire,
Mary à Douglas was her name:
You shall bide here, good English lord,
My brother is a traiterous man.
Mary à Douglas was her name:
You shall bide here, good English lord,
My brother is a traiterous man.
He is a traitor stout and strong,
As I tell you in privitìe:
For he has tane liverance of the earle ,
Into England nowe to 'liver thee.
As I tell you in privitìe:
For he has tane liverance of the earle ,
Into England nowe to 'liver thee.
Now nay, now nay, thou goodly lady,
The regent is a noble lord:
Ne for the gold in all Englànd,
The Douglas wold not break his word.
The regent is a noble lord:
Ne for the gold in all Englànd,
The Douglas wold not break his word.
284
When the regent was a banisht man,
With me he did faire welcome find;
And whether weal or woe betide,
I still shall find him true and kind.
With me he did faire welcome find;
And whether weal or woe betide,
I still shall find him true and kind.
Tween England and Scotland 'twold break truce,
And friends again they wold never bee,
If they shold 'liver a banisht earle
Was driven out of his own countrie.
And friends again they wold never bee,
If they shold 'liver a banisht earle
Was driven out of his own countrie.
Alas! alas! my lord, she sayes,
Nowe mickle is their traitorìe;
Then let my brother ride his ways,
And tell those English lords from thee,
Nowe mickle is their traitorìe;
Then let my brother ride his ways,
And tell those English lords from thee,
How that you cannot with him ride,
Because you are in an isle of the sea ,
Then ere my brother come againe
To Edinbrow castle Ile carry thee.
Because you are in an isle of the sea ,
Then ere my brother come againe
To Edinbrow castle Ile carry thee.
To the Lord Hume I will thee bring,
He is well knowne a true Scots lord,
And he will lose both land and life,
Ere he with thee will break his word.
He is well knowne a true Scots lord,
And he will lose both land and life,
Ere he with thee will break his word.
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Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,
When I thinkíe on my own countrie,
When I thinke on the heavye happe
My friends have suffered there for mee.
When I thinkíe on my own countrie,
When I thinke on the heavye happe
My friends have suffered there for mee.
Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,
And sore those wars my minde distresse;
Where many a widow lost her mate,
And many a child was fatherlesse.
And sore those wars my minde distresse;
Where many a widow lost her mate,
And many a child was fatherlesse.
And now that I a banisht man,
Shold bring such evil happe with mee,
To cause my faire and noble friends
To be suspect of treacherie:
Shold bring such evil happe with mee,
To cause my faire and noble friends
To be suspect of treacherie:
This rives my heart with double woe;
And lever had I dye this day,
Than thinke a Douglas can be false,
Or ever he will his guest betray.
And lever had I dye this day,
Than thinke a Douglas can be false,
Or ever he will his guest betray.
If you'll give me no trust, my lord,
Nor unto mee no credence yield;
Yet step one moment here aside,
Ile showe you all your foes in field.
Nor unto mee no credence yield;
Yet step one moment here aside,
Ile showe you all your foes in field.
Lady, I never loved witchcraft,
Never dealt in privy wyle;
But evermore held the high-waye
Of truth and honours, free from guile.
Never dealt in privy wyle;
But evermore held the high-waye
Of truth and honours, free from guile.
286
If you'll not come yourselfe my lorde,
Yet send your chamberlaine with mee;
Let me but speak three words with him,
And he shall come again to thee.
Yet send your chamberlaine with mee;
Let me but speak three words with him,
And he shall come again to thee.
James Swynard with that lady went,
She showed him through the weme of her ring
How many English lords there were
Waiting for his master and him.
She showed him through the weme of her ring
How many English lords there were
Waiting for his master and him.
And who walkes yonder, my good lady,
So royallyè on yonder greene?
O yonder is the lord Hunsdèn :
Alas! he'll doe you drie and teene.
So royallyè on yonder greene?
O yonder is the lord Hunsdèn :
Alas! he'll doe you drie and teene.
And who beth yonder, thou gay ladye,
That walkes so proudly him beside?
That is Sir William Drury , she sayd,
A keen captàine he is and tryed.
That walkes so proudly him beside?
That is Sir William Drury , she sayd,
A keen captàine he is and tryed.
How many miles is it, madàme,
Betwixt yond English lords and mee?
Marry it is thrice fifty miles,
To sayl to them upon the sea.
Betwixt yond English lords and mee?
Marry it is thrice fifty miles,
To sayl to them upon the sea.
287
I never was on English ground,
Ne never sawe it with mine eye,
But as my book it sheweth mee,
And through my ring I may descrye.
Ne never sawe it with mine eye,
But as my book it sheweth mee,
And through my ring I may descrye.
My mother she was a witch ladye,
And of her skille she learned mee;
She wold let me see out of Lough-leven
What they did in London citìe.
And of her skille she learned mee;
She wold let me see out of Lough-leven
What they did in London citìe.
But who is yond, thou lady faire,
That looketh with sic an austerne face?
Yonder is Sir John Foster , quoth shee,
Alas! he'll do ye sore disgrace.
That looketh with sic an austerne face?
Yonder is Sir John Foster , quoth shee,
Alas! he'll do ye sore disgrace.
He pulled his hatt down over his browe,
And in his heart he was full of woe;
And he is gone to his noble lord,
Those sorrowful tidings him to show.
And in his heart he was full of woe;
And he is gone to his noble lord,
Those sorrowful tidings him to show.
Now nay, now nay, good James Swynàrd,
I may not believe that witch ladìe:
The Douglasses were ever true,
And they can ne'er prove false to mee.
I may not believe that witch ladìe:
The Douglasses were ever true,
And they can ne'er prove false to mee.
I have now in Lough-leven been
The most part of these years three,
And I have never had noe outrake,
Ne no good games that I cold see.
The most part of these years three,
288
Ne no good games that I cold see.
Therefore I'll to yond shooting wend,
As to the Douglas I have hight:
Betide me weale, betide me woe,
He ne'er shall find my promise light.
As to the Douglas I have hight:
Betide me weale, betide me woe,
He ne'er shall find my promise light.
He writhe a gold ring from his finger,
And gave it to that faire ladìe:
Sayes, It was all that I cold save,
In Harley woods where I could be .
And gave it to that faire ladìe:
Sayes, It was all that I cold save,
In Harley woods where I could be .
And wilt thou goe, thou noble lord,
Then farewell truth and honestìe;
And farewell heart and farewell hand;
For never more I shall thee see.
Then farewell truth and honestìe;
And farewell heart and farewell hand;
For never more I shall thee see.
The wind was faire, the boatmen call'd,
And all the saylors were on borde;
Then William Douglas took to his boat,
And with him went that noble lord.
And all the saylors were on borde;
Then William Douglas took to his boat,
And with him went that noble lord.
Then he cast up a silver wand,
Says, Gentle lady, fare thee well!
The lady fett a sigh soe deep,
And in a dead swoone down shee fell.
Says, Gentle lady, fare thee well!
The lady fett a sigh soe deep,
And in a dead swoone down shee fell.
289
Now let us goe back, Douglas, he sayd,
A sickness hath taken yond faire ladìe;
If ought befall yond lady but good,
Then blamed for ever I shall bee.
A sickness hath taken yond faire ladìe;
If ought befall yond lady but good,
Then blamed for ever I shall bee.
Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes;
Come on, come on, and let her bee:
There's ladyes enow in Lough-leven
For to chear that gay ladìe.
Come on, come on, and let her bee:
There's ladyes enow in Lough-leven
For to chear that gay ladìe.
If you'll not turne yourself, my lord,
Let me goe with my chamberlaine;
We will but comfort that faire lady,
And wee will return to you againe.
Let me goe with my chamberlaine;
We will but comfort that faire lady,
And wee will return to you againe.
Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes,
Come on, come on, and let her bee:
My sister is crafty, and wold beguile
A thousand such as you and mee.
Come on, come on, and let her bee:
My sister is crafty, and wold beguile
A thousand such as you and mee.
When they had sayled
fifty mile,
Fifty mile upon the sea;
He sent his man to ask the Douglas,
When they shold that shooting see.
Fifty mile upon the sea;
He sent his man to ask the Douglas,
When they shold that shooting see.
290
Faire words, quoth he, they make fools faine,
And that by thee and thy lord is seen:
You may hap to think it soon enough,
Ere you that shooting reach, I ween.
And that by thee and thy lord is seen:
You may hap to think it soon enough,
Ere you that shooting reach, I ween.
Jamey his hatt pulled over his browe,
He thought his lord then was betray'd;
And he is to Earle Percy againe,
To tell him what the Douglas sayd.
He thought his lord then was betray'd;
And he is to Earle Percy againe,
To tell him what the Douglas sayd.
Hold up thy head, man, quoth his lord;
Nor therefore let thy courage fail:
He did it but to prove thy heart,
To see if he cold make it quail.
Nor therefore let thy courage fail:
He did it but to prove thy heart,
To see if he cold make it quail.
When they had other fifty sayld,
Other fifty mile upon the sea,
Lord Percy call'd to the Douglas himselfe,
Sayd, What wilt thou nowe doe with mee?
Other fifty mile upon the sea,
Lord Percy call'd to the Douglas himselfe,
Sayd, What wilt thou nowe doe with mee?
Looke that your bridle be wight, my lord,
And your horse goe swift as ship at sea:
Looke that your spurres be bright and sharp,
That you may prick her while she'll away.
And your horse goe swift as ship at sea:
Looke that your spurres be bright and sharp,
That you may prick her while she'll away.
What needeth this, Douglas, he sayd;
What needest thou to flyte with mee?
For I was counted a horseman good
Before that ever I met with thee.
What needest thou to flyte with mee?
For I was counted a horseman good
Before that ever I met with thee.
291
A false Hector he hath my horse,
Who dealt with mee so treacherouslìe:
A false Armstrong he hath my spurres,
And all the geere that belongs to mee.
Who dealt with mee so treacherouslìe:
A false Armstrong he hath my spurres,
And all the geere that belongs to mee.
When they had sayled other fifty mile,
Other fifty mile upon the sea:
They landed him at Berwick towne,
The Douglas landed Lord Percìe.
Other fifty mile upon the sea:
They landed him at Berwick towne,
The Douglas landed Lord Percìe.
Then he at Yorke was doomde to dye,
It was, alas! a sorrowful sight:
Thus they betrayed that noble earle,
Who ever was a gallant wight.
It was, alas! a sorrowful sight:
Thus they betrayed that noble earle,
Who ever was a gallant wight.
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