Then he sprang from the stage,
To a soldier in the ring,50
Saying, "Lend your sword, that to an end
This tragedy we bring:
Though he's fighting me in armour,
While I am fighting bare,
Even more than this I'd venture55
For young Lord Delaware."
Leaping back on the stage,
Sword to buckler now resounds,
Till he left the Dutch lord
A bleeding in his wounds:60
This seeing, cries the King
To his guards without delay,
"Call Devonshire down,—
Take the dead man away!"
"No," says brave Devonshire,65
"I've fought him as a man;
Since he's dead, I will keep
The trophies I have won.
For he fought me in your armour,
While I fought him bare,70
And the same you must win back, my Liege,
If ever you them wear."
God bless the Church of England,
May it prosper on each hand,
And also every poor man75
Now starving in this land;
And while I pray success may crown
Our king upon his throne,
I'll wish that every poor man
May long enjoy his own.80
THE BATTLE OF HARLAW. (See [p. 180].)
Traditionary Version, from Aytoun's Scottish Ballads, i. 75.
"I am indebted to the kindness of Lady John Scott for the following extremely spirited ballad, which was taken down some years ago in Aberdeenshire, where it is still very popular. It is sung to a beautiful air, with the following refrain to each stanza:—