"A hundred men," the king then said,
"Out of my realm shall chosen be,
Besides sailors and ship-boys,35
To guide a great ship on the sea.
Bowmen and gunners of good skill,
Shall for this service chosen be,
And they at thy command and will
In all affairs shall wait on thee."40
Lord Howard call'd a gunner then,
Who was the best in all the realm,
His age was threescore years and ten,
And Peter Simon was his name.
My lord call'd then a bow-man rare,45
Whose active hands had gained fame
A gentleman born in Yorkshire,
And William Horsely was his name.
"Horsely!" quoth he, "I must to sea,
To seek a traytor, with good speed:50
Of a hundred bow-men brave," quoth he,
"I have chosen thee to be the head."
"If you, my lord, have chosen me
Of a hundred men to be the head,
Upon the mainmast I'll hanged be,55
If twelve-score I miss one shilling's breadth."
Lord Howard then of courage bold,
Went to the sea with pleasant cheer,
Not curbed with winter's piercing cold,
Tho' it was the stormy time of year.60
Not long had he been on sea,
More in days than number three,
But one Henry Hunt then he espy'd,
A merchant of Newcastle was he.
To him Lord Howard call'd out amain,65
And strictly charged him to stand;
Demanding then from whence he came,
Or where he did intend to land.
The merchant then made answer soon,
With heavy heart and careful mind,70
"My lord, my ship it doth belong
Unto New-castle upon Tine."
"Canst thou show me," the lord did say,
"As thou didst sail by day and night,
A Scottish rover on the sea,75
His name is Andrew Barton, knight?"
Then the merchant sighed and said,
With grieved mind and well-a-way,
"But over well I know that wight,
I was his prisoner yesterday.80
"As I, my lord, did sail from France,
A Burdeaue voyage to take so far,
I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence,
Who robb'd me of my merchant ware.
And mickle debts God knows I owe,85
And every man doth crave his own;
And I am bound to London now,
Of our gracious king to beg a boon."
"Show me him," said Lord Howard then,
"Let me once the villain see,90
And every penny he hath from thee ta'en,
I'll double the same with shillings three."
"Now, God forbid," the merchant said,
"I fear your aim that you will miss;
God bless you from his tyranny,95
For little you think what man he is.