  ILordings, listen, and hold you still; Hearken to me a spell; I shall you tell of the fairest battell That ever in England befell. IIIt befell in Edward the Third’s dayes, When in England he ware the crowne, That all the chief chivalry of England They buskÈd IIIThey have chosen all the best archers That in England might be found, And all was to fight with the King of France, Within a litle stounde IVAnd when our King was over the water, And on the salt sea gone, Then tydings into Scotland came That all England was gone. VBowes and arrowes they all were forth; At home was not left a man But shepards and millers both, And preists with shaven crownes. VIThen the King of Scotts in a study stood, As he was a man of great might; He sware he would hold his parlament in leeve If he cold ryde there right. VIIThen bespake a Squire, of Scottland borne, And sayd, ‘My leege, ha’ peace, Before you come to leeve London, Full sore you’le rue that race. VIII‘Ther beene bold yeomen in merry England, Husbandmen stiffe and strong; SharpÈ swords they done weare, Bearen bowes and arrowes longe.’ IXThe King was angrye at that word; A long sword out he drew, And there before his royall companye His ownÈ Squire hee slew. XHard hansell That wrought them woe enoughe, For a Scott then durst not speake a word Ffor hanging att a boughe. XI‘The Earle of Anguish In my coate-armour thou shalt bee, And thou shalt lead the forward Thorow the English countrye. XII‘Take thee Yorke,’ then sayd the King, ‘In stead wheras it doth stand; I’le make thy eldest sonne after thee Heyre of all Northumberland. XIII‘The Earle of Buchan, where be yee? In my coate-armour thou shalt bee; The high Peak and all Darbyshire I give it thee to thy fee.’ XIVThe famous Douglas then came in, Saies, ‘What shall my meede bee? And I will lead the vanward, lord, Thorow the English countrye.’ XV‘Take thee Worster,’ sayd the King, ‘Tuxburye, Killingworth, Burton on Trent; Doe thou not say another day But I gave thee lands and rent. XVI‘Sir Richard of Edenborrow, where are yee? A wise man in this warr! I’le give thee Bristow and the shire The time that wee come there. XVII‘Thou, my lord Nevill, where art thou? Thou must in this warres bee; I’le give thee Shrewsburye,’ saies the King, ‘And Coventrye faire and free. XVIII‘My lord of Hambleton Thou art of my kin full nye; I’le give thee Lincolne and Lincolneshire, And that’s enoughe for thee.’ XIXBy then came in William Douglas, As breeme He kneelÈd him downe upon his knees, In his heart he sighÈd sore. XX‘I have servÈd you, my lovelye liege, This thirty winters and four, And in the Scottish Marches Have beene wounded and beaten sore. XXI‘For all the good service that I have done, What now shall my meed bee? And I will lead the vanward Thorow the English countrye.’ XXII‘Now aske on, Douglas,’ said the King, ‘And granted it shall bee.’— ‘Why then, I aske litle London,’ saies Douglas, ‘Gotten gif that it bee.’ XXIIIThe King was wroth, and rose away, Saies, ‘Nay, that cannot bee! For that I will keepe for my cheefe chamber, Gotten gif that it bee. XXIV< |
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