IV.
NORTHUMBERLAND BETRAYED BY DOUGLAS.
This ballad may be considered as the sequel of the preceding. After the unfortunate Earl of Northumberland had seen himself forsaken of his followers, he endeavoured to withdraw into Scotland, but falling into the hands of the thievish borderers, was stript and otherwise ill-treated by them. At length he reached the house of Hector, of Harlaw, an Armstrong, with whom he hoped to lie concealed: for, Hector had engaged his honour to be true to him, and was under great obligations to this unhappy nobleman. But this faithless wretch betrayed his guest for a sum of money to Murray the Regent of Scotland, who sent him to the castle of Lough-leven, then belonging to William Douglas. All the writers of that time assure us that Hector, who was rich before, fell shortly after into poverty, and became so infamous, that _to take Hector's cloak_, grew into a proverb to express a man who betrays his friend. See Camden, Carleton, Holinshed, &c.
Lord Northumberland continued in the castle of Lough-leven till the year 1572; when James Douglas, Earl of Morton, being elected Regent, he was given up to the Lord Hunsden at Berwick, and being carried to York suffered death. As Morton's party depended on Elizabeth for protection, an elegant historian thinks "it was scarce possible for them to refuse putting into her hands a person who had taken up arms against her. But, as a sum of money was paid on that account, and shared between Morton and his kinsman Douglas, the former of whom, during his exile in England, had been much indebted to Northumberland's friendship, the abandoning this unhappy nobleman to inevitable destruction was deemed an ungrateful and mercenary act." Robertson's Hist.
So far history coincides with this ballad, which was apparently written by some Northern bard soon after the event. The interposal of the _witch-lady_ (v. 53) is probably his own invention: yet, even this hath some countenance from history; for about 25 years before, the Lady Jane Douglas, Lady Glamis, sister of the earl of Angus, and nearly related to Douglas of Lough-leven, had suffered death for the pretended crime of witchcraft; who, it is presumed, is the Witch-lady alluded to in verse 133.
The following is selected (like the former) from two copies, which contained great variations; one of them in the Editor's folio MS. In the other copy some of the stanzas at the beginning of this Ballad are nearly the same with what in that MS. are made to begin another Ballad on the escape of the E. of Westmoreland, who got safe into Flanders, and is feigned in the ballad to have undergone a great variety of adventures.
* * * * *
[Percy wrote the following note on the version of this ballad in his folio MS. "To correct this by my other copy which seems more modern. The other copy in many parts preferable to this." It will be seen by comparing the text with the folio MS. copy, now printed at the end, that the alterations are numerous. The first three stanzas are taken with certain changes from the ballad of "The Erle of Westmoreland" (Folio MS. vol. i. p. 300). The alterations made in them are not improvements, as, for instance, the old reading of verse 2 is--
"And keepe me heare in deadlye feare,"
which is preferable to the line below--
"And harrowe me with fear and dread."]
* * * * *
How long shall fortune faile me nowe, And harrowe[941] me with fear and dread? How long shall I in bale[942] abide, In misery my life to lead?
To fall from my bliss, alas the while! 5 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: 10 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 men 15 On 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. 20
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, 25 He halched[943] him right curteouslie: Say'd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle, Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.
When he had in Lough-leven been Many a month and many a day; 30 To the regent[944] the lord warden[945] 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, 35 And yield that banisht man to mee.
Earle Percy at the supper sate With many a goodly gentleman: The wylie Douglas then bespake, And thus to flyte[946] with him began: 40
What makes you be so sad, my lord, And in your mind so sorrowfullyè? To-morrow a shootinge will bee held Among the lords of the North countryè.
The butts are sett, the shooting's made, 45 And there will be great royaltye: And I am sworne into my bille,[947] Thither to bring my lord Percye.
I'll give thee my hand, thou gentle Douglas, And here by my true faith, quoth hee, 50 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, 55 My brother is a traiterous man.
He is a traitor stout and stronge, As I tell you in privitie: For he hath tane liverance[948] of the erle,[949] Into England nowe to 'liver thee. 60
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, 65 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, 70 If they shold 'liver a banisht erle Was driven out of his own countrie.
Alas! alas! my lord, she sayes, Nowe mickle is their traitorie; Then lett my brother ryde his wayes, 75 And tell those English lords from thee,
How that you cannot with him ryde, Because you are in an ile of the sea,[950] Then ere my brother come againe To Edenborow castle[951] Ile carry thee. 80
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, 85 When I thinkie on my own countrie, When I thinke on the heavye happe[952] My friends have suffered there for mee.
Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd, And sore those wars my minde distresse; 90 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 friends 95 To be suspect of treacherie:
This rives[953] 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. 100
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, 105 Never dealt in privy wyle; But evermore held the high-waye Of truth and honour, free from guile
If you'll not come yourselfe my lorde, Yet send your chamberlaine with mee; 110 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[954] of her ring How many English lords there were 115 Waiting for his master and him.
And who walkes yonder, my good lady, So royallyè on yonder greene? O yonder is the lord Hunsdèn:[955] Alas! he'll doe you drie and teene.[956] 120
And who beth yonder, thou gay ladye, That walkes so proudly him beside? That is Sir William Drury,[957] shee sayd, A keene captàine hee is and tryde.
How many miles is itt, madàme, 125 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, 130 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[958] mee; She wold let me see out of Lough-leven 135 What they did in London citìe.
But who is yond, thou lady faire, That looketh with sic an austerne[959] face? Yonder is Sir John Foster,[960] quoth shee, Alas! he'll do ye sore disgrace. 140
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, 145 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 been The most part of these years three, 150 Yett have I never had noe outrake,[961] Ne no good games that I cold see.
Therefore I'll to yond shooting wend, As to the Douglas I have hight:[962] Betide me weale, betide me woe, 155 He ne'er shall find my promise light.
He writhe[963] 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.[964] 160
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, 165 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! 170 The lady fett[965] 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, 175 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-leven For to cheere that gay ladìe. 180
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, 185 Come on, come on, and let her bee: My sister is craftye, and wold beguile A thousand such as you and mee.
When they had sayled[966] fifty myle, Now fifty mile upon the sea; 190 Hee sent his man to ask the Douglas, When they shold that shooting see.
Faire words, quoth he, they make fooles faine,[967] And that by thee and thy lord is seen: You may hap[968] to thinke itt soone enough, 195 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. 200
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, 205 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,[969] my lord, And your horse goe swift as shipp att sea: 210 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[970] with mee? For I was counted a horseman good 215 Before 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. 220
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.[971]
Then he at Yorke was doomde to dye, 225 It was, alas! a sorrowful sight: Thus they betrayed that noble earle, Who ever was a gallant wight.
[Illustration]
[The following version of the Betrayal of Northumberland is from the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 218.)
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. 4
when as hee came on Scottish ground as woe and wonder be them amonge, ffull much was there traitorye thé wrought the Erle of Northumberland. 8
when they were att the supper sett, beffore many goodly gentlemen thé ffell a fflouting and mocking both, and said to the Erle of Northumberland, 12
"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. 16
"the buttes are sett, and the shooting is made, and there is like to be great royaltye, and I am sworne into my bill thither to bring my Lord Pearcy." 20
"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." 24
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; 28
"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." 32
"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! 36
"it wold breake truce betweene England & Scottland, and friends againe they wold neuer bee if he shold liuor a bani[s]ht Erle was driuen out of his owne countrye." 40
"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. 44
"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 48
"how that you cannot with them ryde because you are in an Ile of the sea, then, ere my Brother come againe, to Edenborrow castle Ile carry thee, 52
"Ile liuor you vnto the Lord Hume, and you know a trew Scothe Lord is hee, for he hath lost both Land and goods in ayding of your good bodye." 56
"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. 60
"when I was att home in my [realme] amonge my tennants all trulye, in my time of losse, wherin my need stoode, they came to ayd me honestlye; 64
"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." 68
"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." 72
saies, "I neuer loued noe witchcraft, nor neuer dealt with treacherye, but euermore held the hye way; alas! that may be seene by mee!" 76
"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." 80
when James Swynard came that Lady before, shee let him see thorrow the weme of her ring how many there was of English lords to wayte there for his Master and him. 84
"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!" 88
"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." 92
"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: 96
"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. 100
"my mother, shee was a witch woman, and part of itt shee learned mee; shee wold let me see out of Lough Leuen what they dyd in London cytye." 104
"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." 108 "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; 116 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, 120 how many English Lords there is is wayting there for you and mee;
"yonder I see the Lord Hunsden, and hee and you is of the third degree; 124 a greater enemye, indeed, my Lord, in England none haue yee,"
"and I haue beene in Lough Leven the most part of these yeeres three: 128 yett had I neuer noe out-rake, nor good games that I cold see;
"and I am thus bidden to yonder shooting by William Douglas all trulye; 132 therfore speake neuer a word out of thy mouth That thou thinkes will hinder mee."
then he writhe the gold ring of his ffingar and gaue itt to that Ladye gay; 136 sayes, "that was a Legacye left vnto mee in Harley woods where I cold bee."
"then ffarewell hart, and farewell hand, and ffarwell all good companye! 140 that woman shall neuer beare a sonne shall know soe much of your privitye."
"now hold thy tounge, Ladye," hee sayde, "and make not all this dole for mee, 144 for I may well drinke, but Ist neuer eate, till againe in Lough Leuen I bee."
he tooke his boate att the Lough Leuen for to sayle now ouer the sea, 148 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. 152
"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! 156
"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." 160
"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." 164
"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." 168
"come on, come on, my Lord," he sayes, "and lett now all this talking bee! ffor my sister is craftye enoughe for to beguile thousands such as you and mee." 172
When they had sayled fifty myle, now fifty mile vpon the sea, hee had fforgotten a message that hee shold doe in lough Leuen trulye: 176 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, 180 ffor you may happen think itt soone enoughe when-euer you that shooting see."
Jamye pulled his hatt now ouer his browe; I wott the teares fell in his eye; 184 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, 188 ffor wee may happen thinke itt soone enoughe when-euer wee that shooting see."
"hold vpp thy head, Jamye," the Erle sayd, "and neuer lett thy hart fayle thee; 192 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, 196 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; 200 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? 204 for I was counted a horsseman good before that euer I mett with thee.
"A ffalse Hector hath my horsse; and euer an euill death may hee dye! 208 and Willye Armestronge hath my spurres and all the geere belongs to mee."
when thé had sayled other fifty mile, other fifty mile vpon the sea, 212 thé landed low by Barwicke side; a deputed land Landed Lord Percye.
ffin[s]]
FOOTNOTES:
[941] [harass.]
[942] [evil.]
[943] [saluted.]
[944] James Douglas, Earl of Morton, elected regent of Scotland November 24, 1572.
[945] Of one of the English marches. Lord Hunsden.
[946] [contend.]
[947] [sworn in writing.]
[948] [money for delivering you up.]
[949] Of the Earl of Morton, the Regent.
[950] _i. e._ Lake of Leven, which hath communication with the sea.
[951] At that time in the hands of the opposite faction.
[952] [fortune.]
[953] [rends.]
[954] [hollow.]
[955] The Lord Warden of the East marches.
[956] [ill and injury.]
[957] Governor of Berwick.
[958] [taught.]
[959] [austere.]
[960] Warden of the Middle-march.
[961] [an outride or expedition.]
[962] [promised.]
[963] [twisted.]
[964] _i. e._ Where I was. An ancient idiom.
[965] [fetched.]
[966] There is no navigable stream between Lough-Leven and the sea: but a ballad-maker is not obliged to understand geography.
[967] [glad.]
[968] [chance.]
[969] [strong.]
[970] [contend.]
[971] Ver. 224. Fol. MS. reads _land_, and has not the following stanza.