SO CONTENTE WITH OTHER, THAT AT THEIR DEPARTVNGE CURTOYSLY
THEY WILL SAYE, GOD THANKE YOU. But in fyghtynge one with another there
is no playe, nor sparynge." Froissart'sCronycle(as translated by Sir Johan Bourchier
Lord Berners), cap. cxlij.
The following ballad is (in this present edition) printed from an old manuscript
in the Cotton Library[10] (Cleopatra, c. iv.) and contains many stanzas more than
were in the former copy, which was transcribed from a manuscript in the Harleian
Collection [No. 293, fol. 52]. In the Cotton manuscript this poem has no title, but in
the Harleian copy it is thus inscribed, "A songe made in R. 2. his tyme of the battele
of Otterburne, betweene Lord Henry Percye Earle of Northomberlande and the Earle
Douglas of Scotlande, anno 1388." But this title is erroneous, and added by some
ignorant transcriber of after-times; for, i. The battle was not fought by the Earl of
Northumberland, who was absent, but by his son Sir Henry Percy, Knt. surnamed
Hotspur. [In those times they did not usually give the title of Lord to an earl's eldest
son.] 2. Although the battle was fought in Richard IId's time, the song is evidently of
later date, as appears from the poet's quoting the chronicles in Pt. II. ver. 26; and
speaking of Percy in the last stanza as dead. It was however written in all likelihood
as early as the foregoing song, if not earlier. This perhaps may be inferred from the
minute circumstances with which the story is related, many of which are recorded in
no chronicle, and were probably preserved in the memory of old people. It will be
observed that the authors of these two poems have some lines in common; but which
of them was the original proprietor must depend upon their priority; and this the
sagacity of the reader must determine.
YT felle abowght the Lamasse tyde,
Whan husbands wynn ther haye,[11]
The dowghtye Dowglasse bowynd hym to ryde
In Ynglond to take a praye:
The yerlle of Fyffe,[12] withowghten stryffe,
He bowynd hym over Sulway:[13]
The grete wolde ever together ryde;
That race they may rue for aye.
Over Ottercap hyll they[14] came in,
And so dowyn by Rodelyffecragge,
Upon Grene Leyton they lyghted dowyn,
Styrande many a stagge;[15]
And boldely brente Northomberlonde,
And haryed many a towyn;
They dyd owr Ynglyssh men grete range,
To battel that were not bowyn.
Than spake a berne upon the bent,
Of comforte that was not colde,
And sayd, We have brent Northomberlond,
We have all welth in holde.
"Now we have haryed all Bamboroweshyre,
All the welth in the worlde have wee;
I rede we ryde to Newe Castell,
So styll and stalwurthlye."