Next day did many widows come,
Their husbands to bewail;
They wash'd their wounds in brinish tears,
But [all] would not prevail.220
Their bodies, bath'd in purple blood,
They bore with them away:
They kiss'd them dead a thousand times,
When they were clad in clay.
This news was brought to Edinburgh,225
Where Scotland's king did reign,
That brave Earl Douglas suddenly
Was with an arrow slain.
"O heavy news," King James did say;
"Scotland can witness be,230
I have not any captain more
Of such account as he."
Like tidings to King Henry came,
Within as short a space,
That Piercy of Northumberland235
Was slaine in Chevy-Chace.
"Now God be with him," said our king,
"Sith 't will no better be;
I trust I have within my realm
Five hundred as good as he.240
"Yet shall not Scot nor Scotland say,
But I will vengeance take,
And be revenged on them all,
For brave Earl Piercy's sake."
This vow full well the king perform'd,245
After, on Humbledown;
In one day, fifty knights were slain,
With lords of great renown.
And of the rest, of small account,
Did many thousands dye:250
Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chace,
Made by the Earl Piercy.