Tales of the Olden Time

Against Sir Hugh Montgomery

So right the shaft he set,
The gray goose wing that was thereon
In his heart's blood was wet.

This fight did last from break of day
Till setting of the sun:

For when they rung the evening-bell,
The battle scarce was done.

With stout Earl Percy there was slain
Sir John of Egerton,

Sir Robert Ratcliff, and Sir John,

Sir James, that bold baròn.

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

For Witherington needs must I wail
As one in doleful dumps;
For when his legs were smitten off,
He fought upon his stumps.

And with Earl Douglas there was slain.

Sir Hugh Montgomery,

Sir Charles Murray, that from the field,
One foot would never flee.

Sir Charles Murray of Ratcliff, too—

His sister's son was he;

Sir David Lamb, so well esteemed,

But saved he could not be.

And the Lord Maxwell in like case
Did with Earl Douglas die:
Of twenty hundred Scottish spears,
Scarce fifty-five did fly.

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

The rest on Chevy-Chace were slain,
Under the greenwood tree.

Next day did many widows come,
Their husbands to bewail;

They washed their wounds in brinish tears,
But all would not prevail.

Their bodies, bathed in purple blood,

They bore with them away;

They kissed them dead a thousand times,
Ere they were clad in clay.

The news was brought to Edinburgh,
Where Scotland's king did reign,
That brave Earl Douglas suddenly
Was with an arrow slain:

Tales

of the

Olden

Time

?

Tales of the

Olden
Time

"Oh heavy news," King James did say: "Scotland can witness be

I have not any captain more

Of such account as he."

Like tidings to King Henry came
Within as short a space,

That Percy of Northumberland
Was slain in Chevy-Chace:

"Now God be with him," said our king,
"Since 'twill no better be;

I trust I have within my realm
Five hundred as good as he:

"Yet shall not Scots or Scotland say

But I will vengeance take:

I'll be revenged on them all,

For brave Earl Percy's sake."

This vow full well the king performed
After at Humbledown;

In one day fifty knights were slain,
With lords of high renown;

And of the rest, of small account,

Did many hundreds die:

Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chace,

Made by the Earl Percy.

God save the king, and bless this land,

With plenty, joy and peace;

And grant, henceforth, that foul debate

Taies

of the Olden

Time

"Twixt noblemen may cease!

OLD BALLAD.

Hynde Horn

"Oh, it's Hynde Horn fair, and it's Hynde Horn free;

Oh, where were you born, and in what countrie? ” "In a far distant countrie I was born;

But of home and friends I am quite forlorn."

Oh, it's seven long years he served the king,
But wages from him he ne'er got a thing:
Oh, it's seven long years he served, I ween,
And all for love of the king's daughter Jean.

Oh, he gave to his love a silver wand,
Her sceptre of rule over fair Scotland;
With three singing laverocks set thereon,
For to mind her of him when he was gone.

And his love gave to him a gay gold ring,
With three shining diamonds set therein;
Oh, his love gave to him this gay gold ring,
Of virtue and value above all thing;

of the

Tales Saying "While the diamonds do keep their hue,
You will know that my love holds fast and true;
But when the diamonds grow pale and wan,
I'll be dead, or wed to another man."

Olden

Time

Then the sails were spread, and away sail'd he;
Oh, he sail'd away to a far countrie;

And when he had been seven years to sea,
Hynde Horn look'd to see how his ring might be.

But when Hynde Horn look'd the diamonds upon,
Oh, he saw that they were both pale and wan;
And at once he knew, from their alter'd huc,
That his love was dead or had proved untrue.

Oh, the sails were spread, and away sail'd he
Back over the sea to his own countrie;
Then he left the ship when it came to land,
And he met an auld beggar upon the strand.

66

'What news, thou auld beggar man?" said he; "For full seven years I've been over the sca." Then the auld man said-" The strangest of all Is the curious wedding in our king's hall.

"For there's a king's daughter, came frae the
wast,

Has been married to him these nine days past;
But unto him a wife the bride winna be,
For love of Hynde Horn, far over the sea."