Of fifteen hundred Englishmen,
Went home but fifty-three;
The rest in Chevy Chase were slain,
Under the greenwood tree.
Next day did many widows come
Their husbands to bewail:
They washed their wounds in brinish tears;
But all would not prevail!
Their bodies, bathed in purple blood,
They bore with them away.
They kissed them, dead, a thousand times,
Ere they were clad in clay.
The news was brought to Edinborough,
Where Scotland's King did reign,
That brave Earl Douglas suddenly
Was with an arrow slain.
'O, heavy news!' King James did say,
'Scotland may witnèss be,
I have not any captain more
Of such account as he!'
Like tidings to King Henry came,
Within as short a space,
That Percy of Northumberland,
Was slain in Chevy Chase.
'Now, God be with him!' said our king,
'Sith it will no better be;
I trust I have, within my realm,
Five hundred as good as he!
'Yet shall not Scots, nor Scotland, say
But I will vengeance take;
And be revengèd on them all,
For brave Earl Percy's sake.'
This vow the king did well perform
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 die.
Thus endeth the hunting in Chevy Chase,
Made by the Earl Percy.