Page:Hunting of Chevy Chace.pdf/2

(2) The hunting of Chevy-Chace.

OD proſper long our noble king,

our lives and ſafties all,

A woeful hunting once their did,

if cheavy chace befal,

To drive the dear with hound and horn,

earl Piercy took his way,

The babe may rue that was unborn,

the haunting of that day,

The ſtout earl of Northumberland,

a vow to God did make,

His pleaſure at the Scotiſh woods,

three ſummer days to take,

The choiceſt hearts of Cheavy-chaſe,

to kill and bear away.

Theſe tidings to Lord Douglas came,

in Scotland where he lay,

Who ſent earl Piercy preſent word,

he would prevent their ſport,

The Engliſh earl not fearing him,

did to the woods reſort.

With twenty hundred bowmen bold

all choſen men of might.

Who knew full well in time of need,

to aim their ſhots aright,

The gallant greyhounde ſwiftly ran,

to chaſe the fallow deer,

On Monday the began to hunt,

when day light did appear,

And long before high noon they had,

a hundred fat bucks ſlain.

Then having died the rover went,

to rouſe them up gain,

Then bowmen muſter'd on the hill.

well able to endure,