Page:Hunting of Chevy-chase (5).pdf/2



God prosper long our Noble King,

Our lives and safeties all—

A woeful hunting once there did

In Chevy-Chase befal.

To drive the deer with hound and horn

Earl Percy took the way,

The child may rue that was unborn,

The hunting of that day.

The stout Earl of Northumberland

A vow to God did make,

His pleasure in the Scottish woods.

Three summer days to take;

The choicest harts in Chevy-chase

To kill and bear away.

These tidings to Earl Douglas came.

In Scotland where he lay;

Who sent Earl Percy present word.

He would prevent the sport.

The English Earl not fearing him.

Did to the wood resort,

With twenty hundred bowmen bold.

All chosen men of might—

Who knew full well in time of need

To aim their shafts aright.

The gallant grey-hounds swiftly ran,

To chase the fallow deer,

On Monday they began to hunt,

When day-light did appear;

And long before high noon they had

An hundred fat bucks slain.

Then having dined, the rovers went

To rouse them up again,

Earl Percy to the quarry went

To view the fallow deer,