Ballad IV: Northumberland Betrayed by Douglas

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?

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.

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.

Thus did the noble Percy 'plaine,With a heavy heart and wel-away,When he with all his gallant menOn 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.

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.

And when he to the Douglas came,He halched him right curteouslie:Say'd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle,Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.

When he had in Lough-leven beenMany 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.

Earle Percy at the supper sateWith many a goodly gentleman:The wylie Douglas then bespake,And thus to flyte with him began:

What makes you be so sad, my lord,And in your mind so sorrowfullyè?To-morrow a shootinge will bee heldAmong the lords of the North countryè.

The butts are sett, the shooting's made,And there will be great royaltye:And I am sworne into my bille,Thither to bring my lord Percye.

I'll give thee my hand, thou gentle Douglas,And here by my true faith, quoth hee,If thou wilt ryde to the worldes end,I will ryde in thy companye.

And then bespake a lady faire,Mary à Douglas was her name:You shall byde here, good English lord,My brother is a traiterous man.

He is a traitor stout and stronge,As I tell you in privitie:For he hath tane liverance of the erle,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

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.

Betweene England and Scotland it wold breake truce,And friends againe they wold never bee,If they shold 'liver a banisht erleWas driven out of his own countrie.

Alas! alas! my lord, she sayes,Nowe mickle is their traitorie;Then lett my brother ryde his wayes,And tell those English lords from thee,

How that you cannot with him ryde,Because you are in an ile of the sea,Then ere my brother come againeTo Edenborow 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.

Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,When I thinkie on my own countrie,When I thinke on the heavye happeMy 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 now that I a banisht man,Shold bring such evil happe with mee,To cause my faire and noble friendsTo 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.

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.

Lady, I never loved witchcraft,Never dealt in privy wyle;But evermore held the high-wayeOf truth and honour, free from guile

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.

James Swynard with that lady went,She showed him through the weme of her ringHow many English lords there wereWaiting 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.

And who beth yonder, thou gay ladye,That walkes so proudly him beside?That is Sir William Drury, shee sayd,A keene captàine hee is and tryde.

How many miles is itt, madàme,Betwixt yond English lords and mee?Marry it is thrice fifty miles,To saile to them upon the sea.

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.

My mother shee was a witch ladye,And of her skille she learned mee;She wold let me see out of Lough-levenWhat 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.

He pulled his hatt down over his browe;He wept; 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 have now in Lough-leven beenThe most part of these years three,Yett have I never had noe outrake,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.

He writhe a gold ring from his finger,And gave itt to that gay ladìe:Sayes, It was all that I cold save,In Harley woods where I cold bee.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes;Come on, come on, and let her bee:There's ladyes enow in Lough-levenFor to cheere 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.

Come on, come on, my lord, he sayes,Come on, come on, and let her bee:My sister is craftye, and wold beguileA thousand such as you and mee.

When they had sayled fifty myle,Now fifty mile upon the sea;Hee sent his man to ask the Douglas,When they shold that shooting see.

Faire words, quoth he, they make fooles faine,And that by thee and thy lord is seen:You may hap to thinke itt soone enough,Ere you that shooting reach, I ween.

Jamye his hatt pulled over his browe,He thought his lord then was betray'd;And he is to Erle Percy againe,To tell him what the Douglas sayd.

Hold upp thy head, man, quoth his lord;Nor therefore lett thy courage fayle,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 called to Douglas himselfe,Sayd, What wilt thou nowe doe with mee?

Looke that your brydle be wight, my lord,And your horse goe swift as shipp att sea:Looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe,That you may pricke her while she'll away.

What needeth this, Douglas, he sayth;What needest thou to flyte with mee?For I was counted a horseman goodBefore that ever I mett with thee.

A false Hector hath my horse,Who dealt with mee so treacherouslìe:A false Armstrong hath my spurres,And all the geere belongs to mee.

When they had sayled other fifty mile,Other fifty mile upon the sea;They landed low by Berwicke side,A deputed 'laird' landed Lord Percye.

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.

Now list and lithe you gentlemen,and Ist tell you the veretye,how they haue delt with a banished man,driuen out of his countrye.

when as hee came on Scottish groundas woe and wonder be them amonge,ffull much was there traitoryethé wrought the Erle of Northumberland.

when they were att the supper sett,beffore many goodly gentlementhé ffell a fflouting and mocking both,and said to the Erle of Northumberland,

"What makes you be soe sad, my Lord,and in your mind soe sorrowffullye?in the North of Scotland to-morrow theres a shooting,and thither thoust goe, my Lord Percye.

"the buttes are sett, and the shooting is made,and there is like to be great royaltye,and I am sworne into my billthither to bring my Lord Pearcy."

"Ile giue thee my land, Douglas," he sayes,"and be the faith in my bodye,if that thou wilt ryde to the worlds end,Ile ryde in thy companye."

and then bespake the good Ladye,--Marry a Douglas was her name,--"you shall byde here, good English Lord;my brother is a traiterous man;

"he is a traitor stout and stronge,as Ist tell you the veretye,for he hath tane liuerance of the Erle,and into England he will liuor thee."

"Now hold thy tounge, thou goodlye Ladye,and let all this talking bee;ffor all the gold thats in Loug Leuen,william wold not Liuor mee!

"it wold breake truce betweene England & Scottland,and friends againe they wold neuer beeif he shold liuor a banisht Erlewas driuen out of his owne countrye."

"hold your tounge, my Lord," shee sayes,"there is much ffalsehood them amonge;when you are dead, then they are done,soone they will part them friends againe.

"if you will giue me any trust, my Lord,Ile tell you how you best may bee;youst lett my brother ryde his wayes,and tell those English Lords trulye

"how that you cannot with them rydebecause you are in an Ile of the sea,then, ere my Brother come againe,to Edenborrow castle Ile carry thee,

"Ile liuor you vnto the Lord Hume,and you know a trew Scothe Lord is hee,for he hath lost both Land and goodsin ayding of your good bodye."

"Marry! I am woe! woman," he sayes,"that any freind fares worse for mee;for where one saith 'it is a true tale,'then two will say it is a Lye.

"when I was att home in myamonge my tennants all trulye,in my time of losse, wherin my need stoode,they came to ayd me honestlye;

"therfore I left many a child ffatherlese,and many a widdow to looke wanne;and therfore blame nothing, Ladye,but the woeffull warres which I began."

"If you will giue me noe trust, my Lord,nor noe credence you will give mee,and youle come hither to my right hand,indeed, my Lord, Ile lett you see."

saies, "I neuer loued noe witchcraft,nor neuer dealt with treacherye,but euermore held the hye way;alas! that may be seene by mee!"

"if you will not come your selfe, my Lord,youle lett your chamberlaine goe with mee,three words that I may to him speake,and soone he shall come againe to thee."

when James Swynard came that Lady before,shee let him see thorrow the weme of her ringhow many there was of English lordsto wayte there for his Master and him.

"but who beene yonder, my good Ladye,that walkes soe royallye on yonder greene?""yonder is Lord Hunsden, Jamye," she saye;"alas! heele doe you both tree and teene!"

"and who beene yonder, thou gay Ladye,that walkes soe royallye him beside?""yond is Sir William Drurye, Jamy," shee sayd,"and a keene Captain hee is, and tryde."

"how many miles is itt, thou good Ladye,betwixt yond English Lord and mee?""marry thrise fifty mile, Jamy," shee sayd,"and euen to seale and by the sea:

"I neuer was on English ground,nor neuer see itt with mine eye,but as my witt and wisedome serues,and as the booke it telleth mee.

"my mother, shee was a witch woman,and part of itt shee learned mee;shee wold let me see out of Lough Leuenwhat they dyd in London cytye."

"but who is yond, thou good Layde,that comes yonder with an Osterne fface?""yonds Sir John fforster, Jamye," shee sayd;"methinks thou sholdest better know him then I.""Euen soe I doe, my goodlye Ladye,and euer alas, soe woe am I!"

he pulled his hatt ouer his eyes,and, lord, he wept soe tenderlye!he is gone to his Master againe,and euen to tell him the veretye.

"Now hast thou beene with Marry, Jamy," he sayd,"Euen as thy tounge will tell to mee;but if thou trust in any womans words,thou must refraine good companye."

"It is noe words, my Lord," he sayes,"yonder the men shee letts mee see,how many English Lords there isis wayting there for you and mee;

"yonder I see the Lord Hunsden,and hee and you is of the third degree;a greater enemye, indeed, my Lord,in England none haue yee,"

"and I haue beene in Lough Leventhe most part of these yeeres three:yett had I neuer noe out-rake,nor good games that I cold see;

"and I am thus bidden to yonder shootingby William Douglas all trulye;therfore speake neuer a word out of thy mouthThat thou thinkes will hinder mee."

then he writhe the gold ring of his ffingarand gaue itt to that Ladye gay;sayes, "that was a Legacye left vnto meein Harley woods where I cold bee."

"then ffarewell hart, and farewell hand,and ffarwell all good companye!that woman shall neuer beare a sonneshall know soe much of your privitye."

"now hold thy tounge, Ladye," hee sayde,"and make not all this dole for mee,for I may well drinke, but Ist neuer eate,till againe in Lough Leuen I bee."

he tooke his boate att the Lough Leuenfor to sayle now ouer the sea,and he hath cast vpp a siluer wand,saies "fare thou well, my good Ladye!"the Ladye looked ouer her left sholder;in a dead swoone there fell shee.

"goe backe againe, Douglas!" he sayd,"and I will goe in thy companye.for sudden sicknesse yonder Lady has tane,and euer, alas, shee will but dye!

"if ought come to yonder Ladye but good,then blamed fore that I shall bee,because a banished man I am,and driuen out of my owne countrye."

"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes,"and lett all such talking bee;theres Ladyes enow in Lough Leuen,and for to cheere yonder gay Ladye."

"and you will not goe your selfe, my Lord,you will lett my chamberlaine goe with me;wee shall now take our boate againe,and soone wee shall ouertake thee."

"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes,"and lett now all this talking bee!ffor my sister is craftye enoughefor to beguile thousands such as you and mee."

When they had sayled fifty myle,now fifty mile vpon the sea,hee had fforgotten a message that heeshold doe in lough Leuen trulye:hee asked 'how ffar it was to that shooting,that William Douglas promised me.'

"now faire words makes fooles faine;and that may be seene by thy Master and thee,ffor you may happen think itt soone enoughewhen-euer you that shooting see."

Jamye pulled his hatt now ouer his browe;I wott the teares fell in his eye;and he is to his Master againe,and ffor to tell him the veretye

he sayes, "fayre words makes fooles faine,and that may be seene by you and mee,ffor wee may happen thinke itt soone enoughewhen-euer wee that shooting see."

"hold vpp thy head, Jamye," the Erle sayd,"and neuer lett thy hart fayle thee;he did itt but to prove thee with,and see how thow wold take with death trulye."

when they had sayled other fifty mile,other fifty mile vpon the sea,Lord Peercy called to him, himselfe,and sayd, "Douglas what wilt thou doe with mee?"

"looke that your brydle be wight, my Lord,that you may goe as a shipp att sea;looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe,that you may pricke her while sheele awaye."

"what needeth this, Douglas," he sayth."that thou needest to ffloute mee?for I was counted a horsseman goodbefore that euer I mett with thee.

"A ffalse Hector hath my horsse;and euer an euill death may hee dye!and Willye Armestronge hath my spurresand all the geere belongs to mee."

when thé had sayled other fifty mile,other fifty mile vpon the sea,thé landed low by Barwicke side;a deputed land Landed Lord Percye.

James Douglas, Earl of Morton, elected regent of ScotlandNovember 24, 1572.