At the battle of Flodden, the right wing of the van, commanded
by Sir Edmund Howard, the third son of the Earl of Surrey, was
routed by the Scots under Lord Home, Chamberlain of Scotland, and
the Earl of Huntly. "Edmund Howard had with him a thousand
Cheshire men, and five hundred Lancashire men, and many gentlemen
of Yorkshire, on the right wing of the lord Howard; and the Lord
Chamberlain of Scotland, with many lords, did set on him, and the
Cheshire and Lancashire men never abode stroke, and few of the
gentlemen of Yorkshire abode, but fled... And the said Edmund
Howard was thrice felled, and to his relief the lord Dacre came,
with fifteen hundred men."[foot-note] On the other hand, the Cheshire
and Lancashire men of the extreme left, under command of Sir
Edward Stanley, discomfited the Scottish division of Lennox and
Argyle. King Henry received the news of the victory while he was
lying before Tournay, "and highly praised the Earl, and the Lord
Admiral and his son, and all the gentlemen and commons that were
at that valiant enterprise; howbeit, the king had a secret letter
that the Cheshire men fled from Sir Edmund Howard, which letter
caused great heart-burning and many words; but the king
thankfully accepted all thing, and would no man to be
dispraised."[foot-note]
This poem, a history in the ballad style, was composed to
vindicate the behavior of Lancashire and Cheshire at Flodden, and
to glorify the Stanleys;[foot-note] in the accomplishment of which
objects it becomes incumbent upon the minstrel to expose the
malice of the Earl of Surrey, to whom he imputes the "wrong
writing" which caused such heart-burning.
The Earl of Surrey sends a letter by a herald to King Henry,
then at Tournay. The king asks the news before he breaks the
seal, and who fought and who fled. The herald answers that King
James is slain, and that Lancashire and Cheshire fled; no man of
the Earl of Derby's durst face thie foe. The king opens the
letter, which confirms the herald's report, and calls for the
Earl of Derby. Sir Ralph Egerton suggests that if Lancashire and
Cheshire fled, it must have been because they had a Howard, and
not a Stanley, for their captain. The Earl of Derby comes before
the king, and says the same; let him have Lancashire and
Cheshire, and he will burn up all Scotland and conquer to Paris
gate. The king says cowards will fight to retrieve what they have
lost. We were never cowards, rejoins Derby; who brought in your
father at Milford Haven? (It was not precisely the Stanleys.) The
king turns away; the Duke of Buckingham is ready to lay his life
that all this comes from a false writing of the Earl of
Surrey.[foot-note] Derby is not to be comforted, and breaks out in
farewells to all his kith and kin, Edward Stanley, John Stanley,
and many more; they must be slain, for they never would flee. The
Earl of Shrewsbury bids him take heart; Derby goes on with
farewells to Lancaster, Latham, and all familiar places. In the
midst of his exclamations, James Garsed, "Long Jamie," a yeoman
of the guard, comes flying to the Earl of Derby for protection:
he had killed two men, and wounded three. Derby's intercession
can do only harm now, but he will ask friends to speak for Jamie.
A messenger arrives from the king ordering Long Jamie to be
delivered up; he is to be hanged. Buckingham takes Jamie by one
arm and Shrewsbury takes him by the other, and with Derby in
front and many gentlemen following, they go to the king. Welcome,
dukes and earls, says the king, but most welcome of all our
traitor, Long Jamie! Jamie, how durst thou show thyself in our
presence after slaying thy brethren? Jamie explains that his
fellows had called him coward, and bidden him flee to that coward
the Earl of Derby. The Earl of Derby had befriended him when he
was little and maintained him till he was able to shoot. Then one
day a Scottish minstrel brought King Henry a bow which none of
his guard could bend. Jamie shot seven times with it, and the
eighth time broke it; then told the Scot to pick up the pieces
and take them to his king; upon which Henry had made him yeoman
of the guard, thanks to His Grace and to the Earl of Derby who
had brought him up. And now, to have the earl taunted, to be
false to the man who had been true to him he had rather die.
Stand up, Jamie, says the King; have here my charter; but let
there be no more fighting while you are in France. Then you must
grant me one thing, says Jamie that he that abuses Lancashire or
Cheshire shall die; and the king commands proclamation to be made
that any man abusing Lancashire or Cheshire shall have his
judgment on the next tree. The next morning comes a messenger
from the queen wishing the king joy, for his brother-in-law, King
Jamie, is slain. Henry asks again, Who fought and who fled?
"Lancashire and Cheshire have done the deed," is the reply; "had
not the Earl of Derby been true to thee, England had been in
great hazard." The king on the moment promotes Edward and John
Stanley and 'Rowland' Egerton, who had fought with Edward.
Buckingham runs for Derby, and the king welcomes the earl, and
returns to him all that he had taken from him. But one thing
grieveth me still, says Derby to have been called coward
yesterday. "It was a wrong writing that came from the Earl of
Surrey," says the king, "but I shall teach him to know his
prince." Derby asks no more than to be judge over Surrey, and the
king makes him so; as he says, so it shall be. "Then his life is
saved," says the earl; "if my uncle slew his father " (but, as
before said, there was no occasion for uneasiness on that score),
"he would have taken vengeance on me." And so the glory is all
shifted to Derby, and nothing remains for Surrey.
The minstrel goes on to speak of the surrender of Tournay, and
then of an essay of the king's to reward an Egerton for good
service done.[foot-note] Egerton would be glad to have his reward in
Cheshire. The king has nothing there to give but five mills at
Chester; Egerton does not wish to be called a miller. The king
offers the forest of Snowdon; Egerton, always kneeling on his
knee, does not wish to be called a ranger. Nothing will please
thee, Egerton, says the king; but Egerton asks for Ridley in
Cheshire, and gets it.
The last twelve verses profess to enumerate Henry Eighth's
victories in France: 'Hans and Gynye' (neither of which I
recognize, unless Gynye stands for Guinegatte, the Battle of the
Spurs), Tournay and The"rouanne, these in the campaign of 1513,
and Boulogne and Montreuil[foot-note] during the invasion of 1544.
| 1 |
Now let vss talke of [the] Mount of Flodden,
Fforsooth such is our chance,
And let vs tell what tydings the Ear[l]e of Surrey
Sent to otcr king into France. |
| 2 |
The earle he hath a writting made,
And sealed it with his owne hand;
From the Newcastle vpon Tine
The herald passed from the land. |
| 3 |
And after to Callice hee arriued,
Like a noble leed of high degree,
And then to Turwin soone he hyed,
There he thought to haue found King Henery. |
| 4 |
But there the walls were beaten downe,
And our English soldiers therin laine;
Sith to Turnay the way hee nume,
Wheras Jay the emperour of Almaine,
And there he found the king of England,
Blessed lesus, preserve that name! |
| 5 |
When the herald came before our king,
Lowly e he fell downe on his knee,
And said, Christ, christen king, that on the crosse dyed,
Noble King Henery, this day thy speed may bee! |
| 6 |
The first word that the prince did minge,
Said, Welcome, herald, out of England, to me!
How fares my leeds? how fares my lords?
My knights, my esquiers, in their degree? |
| 7 |
'Heere greeteth you well your owne leaetenant,
The Honorable Erle of Surrey;
He bidds you in Ffrance to venter your chance,
For slaine is your brother, King lamye,
And att louelie London you shall him finde,
My comelye prince, in the presence of thee.' |
| 8 |
Then bespake our comlye king,
Said, Who did fight and who did flee?
And who bore him best of the Mount of Fflodden?
And who was false, and who was true to me? |
| 9 |
'Lancashire and Cheshire,' sayd the messenger,
Cleane they be fled and gone;
There was nere a man that longd to the Erle of Darby
That durst looke his enemyes vpon.' |
| 10 |
S[t]ill in a study stood our noble king,
And tooke the writting in his hand;
Shortlye the seale he did vnclose,
And readilye he read as he found. |
| 11 |
Then bespake our comlye king,
And called vpon his chiualree,
And said, Who will feitch me the King of Man,
The Honnorable Thomas Erle of Darbye? |
| 12 |
He may take Lancashire and Cheshire,
That he hath called the cheefe of chiualree;
Now falsely are they fled and gone,
Neuer a one of them is true to mee! |
| 13 |
Then bespake Sir Raphe Egerton, the knight,
And lowlye kneeled vpon his knee,
And said, My soueraigne lord, King Henery,
If it like your Grace to pardon mee, |
| 14 |
If Lancashire and Cheshire be fled and gone,
Of those tydings wee may be vnfaine;
But I dare lay my life and lande
It was for want of their captaine. |
| 15 |
For if the Erle of Derby our captaine had beene,
And vs to lead in our arraye,
Then noe Lancashire man nor Cheshire
Thai euer wold haue fled awaye. |
| 16 |
'Soe it prooued well,' said our noble king,
'By him that deerlye dyed vpon a tree!
Now when wee had the most neede,
Falslye they serued then to mee.' |
| 17 |
Then spake William Brewerton, knight,
And lowlye kneeled his prince before,
And sayd, My soueraigne king, Henery the Eighth,
If your Grace sett by vs soe little store, |
| 18 |
Wheresoeuer you come in any feild to fight,
Set the Earle of Darby and vs before;
Then shall you see wether wee fight or flee,
Trew or false whether we be borne. |
| 19 |
Compton rowned with our king,
And said, Goe wee and leaue the cowards right;
'Heere is my gloue to thee,' quoth Egerton,
'Compton, if thou be a knight. |
| 20 |
'Take my gloue, and with me fight,
Man to man, if thou wilt turne againe;
For if our prince were not present right,
The one of vs two shold be slaine, |
| 21 |
'And neuer foote beside the ground gone
Vntill the one dead shold bee.'
Our prince was moued theratt anon,
And returned him right teenouslye. |
| 22 |
And to him came on the other hand
The Honnorable Erle of Darbye;
And when he before our prince came,
He lowlye kneeled vpon his knee, |
| 23 |
And qaid, lesu Christ, thai, on the crosse dyed,
This day, noble Henery, thy speed may bee!
The first word that the king did speake,
Sayd, Welcome, King of Man and Erle of Darbye! |
| 24 |
How likest thou Cheshire and Lancashire both,
Which were counted cheef e of chiualree?
Falslye are they fled and gone,
And neuer a one is trew to mee. |
| 25 |
'If that be soe,' said the erle free,
'My leege, therof I am not faine;
My comlye prince, rebuke not mee,
I was not there to be there captaine. |
| 26 |
'If I had beene their captaine,' the erle said then,
'I durst haue layd both liffe and land
He neuer came out of Lancashire nor Cheshire
That wold haue fle4d beside the ground. |
| 27 |
'But if it like your noble Grace
A litle boone to grant itt mee,
Lett me haue Lancashire and Cheshire both,
I desire noe more helpe trulye; |
| 28 |
'If I ffayle to burne vp all Scottland,
Take me and hang me vpon a tree I
I, I shall conquer to Paris gate,
Both comlye castles and towers hye. |
| 29 |
'Wheras the walls beene soe stronge,
Lancashire and Cheshire shall beate them downe.'
'By my fathers soule,' sayd our king,
'And by him that dyed on the roode, |
| 30 |
'Thou shalt neuer haue Lancashire nor Cheshire right
Alt thy owne obedyence for to bee!
Cowards in a feild felly will fight
Againe to win the victorye.' |
| 31 |
'Wee were neuer cowards,' said the erle,
'By him that deerlye dyed on tree!
Who brought in your father att Milford Hauen?
King Henery the Seuenth forsooth was hee. |
| 32 |
'Thorow the towne of Fortune wee did him bring,
And soe convayd him to Shrewsburye,
And soe crowned him a noble king;
And Richard that day wee deemed to dye.' |
| 33 |
Our prince was greatlye moued at that worde,
And returned him hastilye againe;
To comfort the erle came on the other hande
The doughtye Edward, Duk of Buckingam. |
| 34 |
'Plucke vp thy hart, brother Stanlye,
And lett nothing greeiue thee!
For I dare lay my liffe to wedd
It is a false writing of the Erle of Surrey. |
| 35 |
'Sith King Richard felle, he neuer loued thee,
For thy vnckle slue his father deere,
And deerlye deemed him to dye;
Sir Christopher Savage his standard away did beare.' |
| 36 |
'Alas, brother,' sayd the Erle of Darbye,
'Woe be the time that I was made knight,
Or were ruler of any lande,
Or euer had manhood in feild to fight! |
| 37 |
'Soe bold men in battle as were they,
Forsooth had neither lord nor swaine;
Ffarwell my vnckle, Str Edtcard Stanley!
For well I wott that thou art slaine. |
| 38 |
'Surelye whiles thy liffe wold last
Thou woldest neuer shrinke beside the plaine;
Nor Iohn Stanley, that child soe younge;
Well I wott that thou art slaine. |
| 39 |
'Ffarwell Kighlye! coward was thou neuer;
Old Sir Henery, the good knight,
I left the[e] ruler of Latham,
To be [my] deputye both day and night. |
| 40 |
'Ffarwell Townlye, that was soe true!
And that noble Ashton of Middelton!
And the sad Southwarke, that euer was sure!
For well I wott that thou art gone. |
| 41 |
'Farwell Ashton vnde[r] Line!
And manlye Mullenax! for thou art slaine;
For doubtlesse while your Hues wold last
You wold never shun beside the plaine. |
| 42 |
'Ffarwell Adderton with the leaden mall!
Well I know thow art deemed to dye;
I may take my leaue att you all;
The flower of manhoode is gone from mee. |
| 43 |
'Ffarwell Sir Iohn Booth of Barton, knight!
Well I know that thou art slaine;
While thy liffe wold last to fight,
Thou wold neuer be-sids the plaine. |
| 44 |
Ffarwell Butler, and Sir Bode!
Sure you haue beene euer to mee;
And soe I know that [still] you wold,
If that vnslaine you bee. |
| 45 |
'Ffarwell Christopher Savage, the wighte!
Well I know that thou art slaine;
For whiles thy life wold last to fight,
Thou wold neuer besids the plaine. |
| 46 |
Ffarwell Button, and Sir Dane!
You haue beene euer trew to mee;
Ffarwell the Baron of Kinderton!
Beside the feild thou wold not flee. |
| 47 |
Ffarwell Ffitton of Gawsworth!
Either thou art taken or slaine;
Doubtelesse while thy life wold last,
Thou wold neuer beside the plaine.' |
| 48 |
As they stood talkinge together there,
The duke and the erle trulye,
Came ffor to comfort him th[e] trew Talbott,
And the noble Erle of Shrewsburye. |
| 49 |
'Plucke vp thy hart, sonne Thomas, and be merry,
And let noe tydings greeve thee!
Am not I godfather to our king?
My owne god-sonne forsooth is hee.' |
| 50 |
He tooke the Duke of Buckingam by the arrne,
And the Erle of Sh[r]ewsburye by the other:
'To part with you it is my harme;
Farwell, my father and my brother! |
| 51 |
'Farwell Lancaster, that litle towne!
Farwell now for euer and aye !
Many pore men may pray for my soule
When they lye weeping in the lane. |
| 52 |
'Ffarwell Latham, that bright bower!
Nine towers thou beares on hye,
And other nine thou beares on the outer walls;
Within thee may be lodged kings three. |
| 53 |
'Ffarwell Knowsley, that litle tower
Vnderneth the holtes soe hore!
Euer when I tbinke on that bright bower,
Wite me not though my hart be sore. |
| 54 |
'Ffarwell Tocstaffe, that trustye parke,
And the fayre riuer that runes there beside,
There I was wont to chase the hinde and hart!
Now therin will I neuer abide. |
| 55 |
'Ffarwell bold Birkhead! there was I boorne,
Within the abbey and that monesterye;
The sweet covent for mee may mourne;
I gaue to you the tythe of Beeston, trulye. |
| 56 |
'Ffarwell Westchester for euermore!
And the Walter Gate! it is my owne;
I gaue a mace for the serieant to weare,
To waite on the maior, as it is knowne. |
| 57 |
'Will I neuer come that citye within;
But, sonne Edward, thou may clayme it of right:
Ffarwell Westhardin! I may thee [call] myn,
and lord I was of great might. |
| 58 |
58 'Sweete sonne Edwarrf, white bookes thou make,
And euer haue pittye on the pore cominaltye!
Ffarwell Hope and Hopedale!
Mould and Moulesdale, God be with thee!
I may take leaue with a sorry cheere,
For within thee will I neuer bee.' |
| 59 |
As they stoode talking together there,
The duke and the lords trulye,
Came Iamie Garsed, a yeman of the guard,
That had beene brought vp with the Erle of Derbye;
Like the devill with his fellowes he had fared,
He s[t]icked two, and wounded three. |
| 60 |
After, with his sword drawen in his hand,
He fled to the noble Earle of Derbye:
'Stand vp, lamye!' the erle said,
'These ty dings nothing liketh mee. |
| 61 |
'I haue seene the day I cold haue saued thee,
Such thirty men if thou hads slaine,
And now if I shold speake for thee,
Sure thow weret to be slaine. |
| 62 |
'I will once desire my bretheren eche one
That they will speake for thee.'
He prayd the Duke of Buckingam,
And alsoe the Erle of Shrewsburye, |
| 63 |
Alsoe my lord Fitzwater soe wise,
And the good Lord Willowbye,
Sir Rice Ap Thomas, a knight of price;
They all spoke for Long lamye. |
| 64 |
They had not stayd but a litle while there,
The duke and the erles in their talkinge,
But straight to the erle came a messenger,
That came latelye from the king, |
| 65 |
And bad that Long Iamie shold be sent;
There shold neither be grith nor grace,
But on a boughe he shold be hanged,
In middest the feild, before the erles face. |
| 66 |
'If that be soe,' said the Erle of Derbye,
'I trust our prince will better bee;
Such tydings maketh my hart full heavye
Afore his Grace when that wee bee.' |
| 67 |
The Duke of Buckingam tooke Iamie by the one arme,
And the Erle of Shrewsburye by the other;
Afore them they put the King of Man,
It was the Erle of Darby e and noe other. |
| 68 |
The lord Fitzwater followed fast,
And soe did the lord Willowbyghe;
The comfortable Cobham mad great hast;
All went with the noble Erle of Derbye. |
| 69 |
The hind Hassall hoved on fast,
With the lusty Lealand trulye;
Soe did Sir Alexander Osbaston,
Came in with the Erle of Derbye. |
| 70 |
The royall Ratcliffe, that rude was neuer,
And the trustye Trafford, keene to trye,
And wight Warburton, out of Cheshire,
All came with the Erle of Darbye. |
| 71 |
Sir Rice ap Thomas, a knight of Wales,
Came with a feirce menye;
He bent his bowes on the bent to abyde,
And cleane vnsett the gallow-tree. |
| 72 |
When they came afore our king,
Lowlye they kneeled vpon their knees;
The first word that our prince did myn,
'Welcome, dukes and erles, to mee! |
| 73 |
'The most welcome hither of all
Is our owne traitor, Long Iamie:
Iamie, how durst thou be soe bold
As in our presence for to bee? |
| 74 |
To slay thy bretheren within their hold!
Thou was sworne to them, and they to thee.'
Then began Long Iamie to speake bold:
'My leege, if it please your Grace to pardon mee, |
| 75 |
'When I was to my supper sett,
They called me coward to my face,
And of their talking they wold not lett,
And thus with them I vpbrayded was. |
| 76 |
'The bade me flee from them apace
To that coward the Erle of Derbye!
When I was litle, and had small grace,
He was my helpe and succour trulye. |
| 77 |
'He tooke [me] from my father deere,
And keeped me within his woone
Till I was able of my selfe
Both to shoote and picke the stone. |
| 78 |
'Then after, vnder Grenwich, vpon a day
A Scottish minstrell came to thee,
And brought a bow of yew to drawe,
And all the guard might not stirr that tree. |
| 79 |
'Then the bow was giuen to the Erle of Derbye,
And the erle deliuered it to mee;
Seven shoots before your face I shott,
And att the eighth in sunder it did flee. |
| 80 |
'Then I bad the Scott bow downe his face,
And gather vp the bow, and bring it to his king;
Then it liked your noble Grace
Into yowr guard for me to bring. |
| 81 |
Sithen I haue liued a merry liffe,
I thanke your Grace and the Erle of Darbye;
But to haue the erle rebuked thus,
That my bringer-vp forsooth was hee, |
| 82 |
'I had rather suffer death,' he said,
'Then be false to the erle that was true to me.'
'Stand vp Iamie!' said our king,
'Haue heere my charter, I giue it thee. |
| 83 |
'Let me haue noe more fighting of thee
Whilest thou art within Ffrance lande.'
1 Then one thing you must grant,' said Iamie,
'That your word theron may stand: |
| 84 |
'Whosoe rebuketh Lancashire or Chesshire
Shortlye shall be deemed to dye.'
Our king comanded a cry i-wis
To be proclaimed hastilye. |
| 85 |
'If the dukes and erles kneele on their knees,
Itt getteth on sturr the comonaltye;
If wee be vpbrayded thus,
Manye a man is like to dye.'
The king said, He that rebuket Lancashire or Cheshire
Shall haue his iudgment on the next tree. |
| 86 |
Then soe they were in rest
For the space of a night, as I weene,
And on the other day, without leasinge,
There came a messenger from the queene. |
| 87 |
And when he came before our king,
Lowlye he kneeled vpon his knee,
And said, Chr[i]st thee saue, our noble king,
And thy speed this day may bee!
Heere greeteth thee well thy loue and liking,
And our honorable queene and ladye, |
| 88 |
And biddeth you in Ffrance to be glad,
For slaine is your brother-in-law King Iamie,
And att louelye London he shalbe found,
My comlye prince, in the presence of thee. |
| 89 |
Then bespake our comlye prince,
Saiinge, Who did fight and who did flee?
And who bare them best of the Mount of Fflodden?
And who is false, and who is true to mee? |
| 90 |
'Lancashire and Cheshire,' said the messenger,
'They haue done the deed with their hand;
Had not the Erle of Derbye beene to thee true,
In great aduenture had beene all England.' |
| 91 |
Then bespake our prince on hye,
'Sir Raphe Egertton, my marshall I make thee;
Sir Edward Stanley, thou shalt be a lord,
Lord Mounteagle thou shalt bee. |
| 92 |
'Yonge Iohn Stanley shalbe a knight,
And he is well worthy for to bee.'
The Duke of Buckingham the tydings hard,
And shortlye ran to the Erle of Darbye: |
| 93 |
'Brother, plucke vp thy hart and be menye,
And let noe tydings greeve thee!
Yesterday, thy men called cowerds were,
And this day they haue woone the victorye.' |
| 94 |
The duke tooke the erle by the arme,
And thus they ledden to the prince [trulye].
Seven roods of ground the king he came,
And sayd, 'Welcome, King of Man and Erle of Derbye!
The thing that I haue taken from thee,
I geeve it to thee againe whollye. |
| 95 |
'The manrydden of Lancashire and Cheshire both,
Att thy bidding euer to bee;
Ffor those men beene true, Thomas, indeed;
They beene trew both to thee and mee.' |
| 96 |
'Yett one thing greeveth me,' said the erle,
'And in my hart maketh me heavye,
This day to heare the wan the feild,
And yesterday cowards to bee.' |
| 97 |
'It was a wronge wry ting,' sayd our king,
'That came ffrom the Erle of Surrey;
But I shall him teach his prince to know,
If euer wee come in our countrye.' |
| 98 |
'I aske noe more,' sayd the noble erle,
'Ffor all that my men haue done trulye,
But that I may be iudge my selfe
Of that noble Erle of Sun-eye.' |
| 99 |
'Stand vp, Thomas!' sayd our prince,
'Lord Marshall I make thee,
And thou shalt be iudge thy selfe,
And as thou saiest, soe shall it bee.' |
| 100 |
'Then is his liffe saued,' sayd the erle,
'I thanke lesu and your Grace trulye;
If my vnckle slew his father deere,
He wold haue venged him on mee.' |
| 101 |
'Thou art verry patient,' sayd our king;
'The Holy Ghost remaines, I thinke, in thee;
On the south side of Turnay thou shalt stande,
With my godfather the Erle of Shrewsburye.' |
| 102 |
And soe to that seege forth the went,
The noble Shrewsburye and the Erle of Derbye,
And the laid seege vnto the walls,
And wan the towne in dayes three. |
| 103 |
Thus was Lancashire and Cheshire rebuked
Thorow the pollicye of the Erle of Surrey.
Now God, that was in Bethlem borne,
And for vs dyed vpon a tree,
Saue our noble prince that wereth the crowne,
And haue mercy on the Erles soule of Derbye! |
|
| 104 |
And then bespake our noble king,
These were the words said hee;
Sayes, Come, Alexander Ratcliffe, knight,
Come hither now vnto mee,
Ffor thou shalt goe on the south side of Tournay,
And with thee thou shalt haue thousands three. |
| 105 |
Then forth is gone Alexander Ratcliffe, knight;
With him he leads men thousand three;
But or ere three dayes were come to an end,
The Ffrenchmen away did flee. |
| 106 |
Then King Henery planted three hundred Englishmen
That in the citye shold abyde and bee:
Alexander Ratc/i/fe, he wold haue mad him gouernour there,
But he forsooke it certainelye,
And made great intreatye to our king
That he might come into England in his compa[n]ye. |
|
| 107 |
And then bespake noble King Henery,
And these were the words said hee:
Sayes, Come hither, Rowland Egerton, knight,
And come thou hither vnto mee; |
| 108 |
For the good service that thou hast done,
Well rewarded shalt thou bee.
Then forth came Rowland Egerton,
And kneeled downe vpon his knee. |
| 109 |
Sales, If it like your Grace, my gracious king,
The reward that you will bestow on mee,
I wold verry gladlye haue it in Cheshire,
Ffor that 's att home in my owne country. |
| 110 |
And then bespake him noble King Henery,
And these were the words said hee;
'I haue nothing, Egerton, in all Cheshire
That wilbe any pleasure for thee
But flue mills stands att Chester townes end;
The gone all ouer the water of Dee.' |
| 111 |
Still kneeled RowZand Egerton,
And did not rise beside his knee;
Sayes, If it like your Highnesse, my gracious king,
A milner called I wold neuer bee. |
| 112 |
And then bespake him noble King Harrye,
These were the words said hee;
Saith, I'le make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinitye,
There shall neuer be king of England
But the shalbe miller of the mills of Dee! |
| 113 |
I haue noe other thing, Egerton,
That wilbe for thy delight;
I will giue thee the forrest of Snoden in Wales,
Wherby thou may giue the home and lease;
In siluer it wilbe verry white,
And meethinkes shold thee well please. |
| 114 |
...
Still kneeled Rowland Egerton on his knee;
He sayes, If itt like your Highnes, my gracious king,
A ranger called wold I neuer bee. |
| 115 |
Then our king was wrathe, and rose away,
Sayes, I thinke, Egerton, nothing will please thee.
And then bespake him, Row/and Egerton,
Kneeling yet still on his knee: |
| 116 |
Sayes, If itt like your Highnesse, my gracious king,
That your Highnes pleasure will now heer mee,
In Cheshire there lyes a litle grange-house,
In the lordsh[i]ppe of Rydeley it doth lyee. |
| 117 |
A tanner there in it did dwell;
My leege, it is but a cote with one eye,
And if your Grace wold bestow this on mee,
Ffull well it wold pleasure me. |
| 118 |
Then bespake our noble King Harrye,
And these were the words saith hee;
Saies, Take thee that grange-house, Egerton,
And the lordshippe of Rydley, faire and free. |
| 119 |
For the good service thou hast to me done,
I will giue it vnto thy heyres and thee:
And thus came Row[land] Egertton
To the lordshippe of Rydley, faire and free. |
|
| 120 |
This noble King Harry wan great victoryes in France,
Thorrow the might that Christ Jesus did him send.
First our king wan Hans and Gynye,
And [two] walled townes, the truth to say;
And afterwards wan other two townes,
The names of them were called Turwin and Turnay. |
| 121 |
High Bullen and Base Bullen he wan alsoe,
And other village-townes many a one,
And Muttrell he wan alsoe
The cronicles of this will not lye
And kept to Calleis, plainsht with Englishmen,
Vnto the death that he did dye. |
End-Notes
