was slain
Sir John of Egerton,
Sir Robert Harcliffe and Sir William,
Sir James that bold bar-on;

And with Sir George and 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,
And Sir Charles Morrel that from the field
One foot would never fly;

Sir Roger Hever of Harcliffe too,--
His sister's son was he,--
Sir David Lambwell, well esteemed,
But saved he could not be;

And the Lord Maxwell in like case
With Douglas he did die;
Of twenty hundred Scottish spears,
Scarce fifty-five did fly.

Of fifteen hundred Englishmen
Went home but fifty-three;
The rest in Chevy Chase 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.

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

"O heavy news!" King James did say,
"Scotland may 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 nor Scotland say
But I will vengeance take,
And be reveng-ed on them all
For brave Earl Piercy's sake."

This vow the king did well perform
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 our king, and bless this land
With plenty, joy, and peace,