The Book of Brave Old Ballads Part 15

Simon was old, but his heart it was bold, His ordinance he laid right low; He put in chain full nine yards long, With other great shot less, and moe; And he let go his great gun's shot: So well he settled it with his ee, The first sight that Sir Andrew saw, He saw his pinnace sunk in the sea.

And when he saw his pinnace sunk, Lord, how his heart with rage did swell!

Now cut my ropes, it is time to be gone; I'll fetch yon pedlars back mysel'.

When my lord saw Sir Andrew loose, Within his heart he was full fain: Now spread your ancients, strike up drums, Sound all your trumpets out amain.

Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew says, Well howsoever this gear will sway;[121]

It is my lord admiral of England, Is come to seek me on the sea.

Simon had a son, who shot right well, That did Sir Andrew mickle scare; In at his deck he gave a shot, Killed threescore of his men of war.

Then Henry Hunt with rigour hot Came bravely on the other side, Soon he drove down his fore-mast tree, And killed fourscore men beside.

Now, out alas! Sir Andrew cried, What may a man now think, or say?

Yonder merchant thief, that pierceth me, He was my prisoner yesterday.

Come hither to me, thou Gordon good, That aye wast ready at my call; I will give thee three hundred marks, If thou wilt let my beams down fall.

Lord Howard he then call'd in haste, Horseley see thou be true instead; For thou shalt at the main-mast hang, If thou miss, twelvescore, one penny bread.

Then Gordon swarved[122] the main-mast tree, He swarved it with might and main; But Horseley with a bearing arrow, Stroke the Gordon through the brain; And he fell into the hatches again, And sore his deadly wound did bleed: Then word went through Sir Andrew's men, How that the Gordon he was dead.

Come hither to me, James Hambilton, Thou art my only sister's son, If thou wilt let my beams down fall, Six hundred n.o.bles thou hast won.

With that he swarved the main-mast tree, He swarved it with nimble art; But Horseley with a broad arrw Pierced the Hambilton through the heart:

And down he fell upon the deck, That with his blood did stream amain: Then every Scot cried, Well-away!

Alas, a comely youth is slain!

All woe begone was Sir Andrew then, With grief and rage his heart did swell: Go fetch me forth my armour of proof, For I will to the topcastle mysel'.

Go fetch me forth my armour of proof; That gilded is with gold so clear: G.o.d be with my brother John of Barton!

Against the Portingalls he it ware: And when he had on this armour of proof, He was a gallant sight to see: Ah! ne'er didst thou meet with living wight, My dear brother, could cope with thee.

Come hither Horseley, says my lord, And look your shaft that it go right, Shoot a good shot in time of need, And for it thou shalt be made a knight.

I'll shoot my best, quoth Horseley then, Your honour shall see, with might and main; But if I was hanged at your main-mast, I have now left but arrows twain.

Sir Andrew he did swarve the tree, With right good will he swarved then: Upon his breast did Horseley hit, But the arrow bounded back again.

Then Horseley spied a privy place With a perfect eye in a secret part; Under the spole[123] of his right arm He smote Sir Andrew to the heart.

Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew says, A little I'm hurt, but yet not slain; I'll but lie down and bleed awhile, And then I'll rise and fight again.

Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew says, And never flinch before the foe; And stand fast by St. Andrew's cross Until you hear my whistle blow.

They never heard his whistle blow,---- Which made their hearts wax sore adread: Then Horseley said, Aboard, my lord, For well I wot, Sir Andrew's dead.

They boarded then his n.o.ble s.h.i.+p, They boarded it with might and main; Eighteen score Scots alive they found, The rest were either maimed or slain.

Lord Howard took a sword in hand, And off he smote Sir Andrew's head, I must have left England many a day, If thou wert alive as thou art dead.

He caused his body to be cast Over the hatchboard into the sea, And about his middle three hundred crowns: Wherever thou land this will bury thee.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SIR ANDREW BARTON.]

Thus from the wars lord Howard came, And back he sailed o'er the main, With mickle joy and triumphng Into Thames mouth he came again.

Lord Howard then a letter wrote, And sealed it with seal and ring; Such a n.o.ble prize have I brought to your grace, As never did subject to a king:

Sir Andrew's s.h.i.+p I bring with me; A braver s.h.i.+p was never none: Now hath your grace two s.h.i.+ps of war, Before in England was but one.

King Henry's grace with royal cheer Welcomed the n.o.ble Howard home, And where, said he, is this rover stout, That I myself may give the doom?

The rover, he is safe, my liege, Full many a fathom in the sea; If he were alive as he is dead, I must have left England many a day: And your grace may thank four men i' the s.h.i.+p For the victory which we have won, These are William Horseley, Henry Hunt, And Peter Simon, and his son.

To Henry Hunt, the king then said, In lieu of what was from thee ta'en, A n.o.ble a-day now thou shalt have, Sir Andrew's jewels and his chain.

And Horseley thou shalt be a knight, And lands and livings shalt have store; Howard shall be earl of Surrey hight, As Howards erst have been before.

Now, Peter Simon, thou art old, I will maintain thee and thy son: And the men shall have five hundred marks For the good service they have done.

Then in came the queen with ladies fair To see Sir Andrew Barton knight: They ween'd that he were brought on sh.o.r.e, And thought to have seen a gallant sight.

But when they saw his deadly face, And eyes so hollow in his head, I would give, quoth the king, a thousand marks, This man were alive as he is dead: Yet for the manful part he played, Which fought so well with heart and hand, His men shall have twelvepence a day, Till they come to my brother king's high land.

FOOTNOTES:

[113] Travel.

[114] Breadth.

[115] Twelvescore paces off.

[116] Part of the side of the s.h.i.+p.

[117] Fitted out.

[118] Flags.

[119] _i.e._ Did not salute.

[120] Portuguese.

[121] However this affair will end.

[122] Climbed.

[123] The arm-pit.

BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBEY.[124]

The fifteenth day of July, With glistering spear and s.h.i.+eld, A famous fight in Flanders Was foughten on the field: The most courageous officers Were English captains three; But the bravest man in battle Was brave lord Willoughbey.

The next was captain Norris, A valiant man was he: The other captain Turner, From field would never flee.

With fifteen hundred fighting men, Alas! there were no more, They fought with fourteen thousand then, Upon the b.l.o.o.d.y sh.o.r.e.

Stand to it n.o.ble pikemen, And look you round about: And shoot you right you bowmen, And we will keep them out: You musket and calliver[125] men, Do you prove true to me, I'll be the foremost man in fight, Says brave lord Willoughbey.