A Memoriable Song on the unhappy hunting in Chevy Chase between Earl Piercy of England and Earl Dowglas of Scoland.  
To the tune of Flying Fame.  
GOd prosper long our Noble King,  
our lives and safeties all,  
The woeful hunting once there did  
in Cheevy chase befall,  
To drive the Deer with hound and horn  
Earl Piercy took his way,  
The child may rue that is unborn  
the hunting of that day.  
The stout Earl of Northumberland  
a vow to God did make,  
His pleasure in the Scottish woods  
Three summers days to take:  
The chiolest hearts in Chevy-chase  
to kill ●o bear away,  
These tidngs to Earl Dowglas came,  
in Scotand where he lay,  
Who sent Earl P●●rc● present word,  
h● would prevent his sport,  
The Enlgish Earl not fearing this,  
did to the woods resort  
With fiféen hundred Bowmen bold,  
all cho●en men of might  
Who knew full well in time of need  
to aim their shafts aright.  
The gal●ant Gray-hounds swiftly ran  
to chase the Fallow deer,  
On Monday they began to hunt.  
when daylight did appear,  
And long before high noon they had  
an hundred fat Bucks slain,  
Then having dined the Drovers went  
to rouse them up again.  
The Bowmen mustered on the hills  
well able to endure.  
The backsides all with special care  
that day were guarded sure:  
The hounds ran swiftly through the woods  
the nimble deer to take,  
And with their cries the hills and Dales  
an echo shrill did make.  
Lord Piercy to the quarry went  
To view the tender deer,  
Quoth he Earl Dowglas promised  
this day to meet me here:  
But if I thought he would not come,  
no longer would I stay,  
With that a brave young Gentleman  
thus to the Earl did say,  
Lo yonder doth Earl Dowglas come,  
his men in armour bright,  
Full twenty hundred Scottish spears  
all marching in our sight.  
All men of pleasant Tividale  
fast by the Rivers Tweed.  
Then cease your sport Earl Piercy said,  
and take your bows with speed.  
And now with me my countrymen  
your courage forth advance,  
For never was there Champion yet  
in Scotland or in France,  
That ever did on horseback come,  
but if my hop it were  
durst encounter man for man  
with him to break a Spear.  
Earl Dowglas on a milk white Steed,  
most like a Baron bold,  
Rode foremost of the company,  
whose armour-shone like gold.  
Show me he said whose men you be,  
that hunt so boldly here,  
That without my consent do chase  
and kill my fallow Deer?  
The man that first did answer make,  
was noble Piercy he,  
Who said, we list not to declare  
nor show whose men we be.  
Yet will we spend our dearest blood,  
thy chiefest hearts to slay  
Then Dowglas swore a solemn Oath,  
and thus in rage did say:  
Ere thus I will outbraved be,  
one of us two shall die,  
I know thee well an Earl thou art,  
Lord Piercy so am I:  
But trust me Piercy pity it were,  
and great offence to kill  
Any of these our guiltless men,  
for they have done no ill:  
Let thou and I the battle try,  
and set our men aside,  
Accurst be he Lord Piercy said,  
by whom this is denied.  
Then stepped a gallant Squire forth,  
Witherington was his name.  
Who said he would not have it told  
to Henry our King for shame,  
That ever my Captain fought on foot,  
and I stood looking on:  
You two be Earls said Witherington,  
and I a Squire alone:  
I'll do the best that do I may,  
while I have power to stand,  
While I have power to wield my sword,  
I'll fight with heart and hand.  
Our English Archers bent their Bows,  
their hearts were good and true,  
At the first flight of Arrows sent,  
full four score Scots the● slew.  
To drive the Deer with hound and horn  
Dowglas had on the bent,  
A Captain moved with mickle pride,  
the Spears to shivers went.  
They closed full fast on every side,  
no slackness there was found,  
And many a gallant Gentleman  
lay gasping on the ground;  
O Christ it was great grief to see,  
and likewise for to hear,  
The cries of men lying in their gore,  
and scattered here and there.  
At last these two stout Earls did meet,  
like Captains of great might,  
Like lions moved they laid on load  
and made a cruel fight:  
They fought until they both did sweat,  
with sword of tempered steel,  
Until the blood like drops of rain.  
they trickling down did feel.  
Yield thee Lord Piercy Dowgla● said,  
in faith I will thee bring  
Were thou shalt high advanced be,  
by James the Scottish King.  
Thy ransom will I freely give,  
and thus report of thee,  
Thou art the most courageous Knight  
as ever I did see.  
No Dowglas quoth Earl Piercy then.  
thy proster I do scorn,  
I will not yield to any Scot  
that ever yet was born,  
With that there came an Arrow keen  
out of an English Bow,  
Which struck Earl Dowglas to the hear●  
a deep and deadly blow.  
Who never spoke more words than these  
Fight on my merry men all,  
For why my life is at an end,  
Lord Piercy lees my fall.  
Then leaving life Earl Piercy took  
the dead man by the hand,  
And said Earl Dowglas for thy life  
would I had lost my Land.  
O Christ my very heart doth bleed  
with sorrow for thy sake,  
For sure a more renowned Knight  
mischance did never take.  
A Knight amongst the Scots there was,  
which saw Earl Dow●las die  
Who straight in wrath did vow revenge  
upon the Earl Piercy  
SIr Hugh Mongomer● was he called,  
who with a spear full bright,  
Well mounted on a gallant Steed,  
ran fiercely through the fight,  
And past the Eng●ish Archers all,  
without all dread or fear,  
And through Earl Piercies body than  
he thrust his hateful-spear.  
With such a vehement force and might  
he did his body gore,  
The spear went through the other side,  
a la●ge cloth yard and more.  
So thus did both those Nobles die,  
whose coura●e none could stain,  
An English Archer then perceived  
the Noble Earl was slain▪  
He had a Bow bent in his hand,  
made of a trusty tree,  
An Arrow of a cloth yard long  
unto the head drew he:  
Against Sir Hugh Montgomery, then,  
so right his shaft he set.  
The gray-g●●se wing that was thereon,  
in his heart blood was wet  
This fight did last from break of day,  
till setting of the Sun,  
For when they rang the Evening Bell,  
the battle scarce was done.  
With the Earl Piercy there was slain  
Sir John of Ogerton.  
Sir Robert Ratliffe and Sir John,  
Sir James that bold Baron,  
And with Sir George and good sir James  
both Knights of good account,  
Good Sir Ralph F●bby there was slain,  
whose prowess did surmount:  
For Witherington needs must I wall,  
as one in doleful dumps,  
For when his legs were smitten oft,  
he fought upon his stumps.  
And with Earl Dowglas there was slain  
Sir Hugh Montgomery,  
Sir Charles Murrel that from the Field  
one foot would never fly.  
Sir Charles Murr●l of Ratliffe too,  
his sister's sister's Son was he,  
Sir David Lamb so well esteemed  
yet saved could not be.  
And the Lord Markwel in likewise,  
did with Earl Dowglas die  
Of twenty hundred Scotish péers  
scarce fifty five did fly.  
Of fifteen hundred English men  
went home but fifty three  
The rest were slain in Chéevy Chase  
under the greenwood tree  
Next day did many widows come  
their husbands to bewail,  
They washed their wounds in brinish tear  
but all would not prevail:  
Their bodies bathed in purple blood,  
they bo●e with them away,  
They kissed them dead a thousand times  
when they were clad in clay.  
This news was brought to Edinburgh▪  
where Sco●lands King did reign,  
That brave Earl Douglas suddenly  
was with an Arrow slain.  
O heavy news King Jomes 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 Piercy of Northumberland  
was slain in Chevy-chase.  
Now God be with him said our King,  
sith 'twill no better be,  
I trust I have within my Realm  
five hundred as good as he.  
Yet shall not Scots no● Scotland say,  
but I will vengeance take,  
And be revenged on them all,  
for brave Earl Piercies sake:  
This vow full well the King performed,  
after on Humble Down,  
In one day fifty Knights were slain,  
with Lords of great renown.  
And of the rest of small account  
did many hundreds die,  
Thus ended the hunting in Chevy Chase,  
made by the Earl Piercy.  
God save the King and bless the Land▪  
in Plenty, joy, and Peace,  
And grant henceforth that foul debate  
twixt noblemen may cease.  
FINIS.   

Printed for F. Coles. T. Vere. and W. Oilbertson.