Much is my woe, Lord Percy sayd,
And sore those wars my minde distresse;90
Where many a widow lost her mate,
And many a child was fatherlesse.
And now that I a banisht man,
Shold bring such evil happe with mee,
To cause my faire and noble friends95
To be suspect of treacherie:
This rives[953] my heart with double woe;
And lever had I dye this day,
Than thinke a Douglas can be false,
Or ever he will his guest betray.100
If you'll give me no trust, my lord,
Nor unto mee no credence yield;
Yet step one moment here aside,
Ile showe you all your foes in field.
Lady, I never loved witchcraft,105
Never dealt in privy wyle;
But evermore held the high-waye
Of truth and honour, free from guile
If you'll not come yourselfe my lorde,
Yet send your chamberlaine with mee;110
Let me but speak three words with him,
And he shall come again to thee.
James Swynard with that lady went,
She showed him through the weme[954] of her ring
How many English lords there were115
Waiting for his master and him.
And who walkes yonder, my good lady,
So royallyè on yonder greene?
O yonder is the lord Hunsdèn:[955]
Alas! he'll doe you drie and teene.[956]120
And who beth yonder, thou gay ladye,
That walkes so proudly him beside?
That is Sir William Drury,[957] shee sayd,
A keene captàine hee is and tryde.
How many miles is itt, madàme,125
Betwixt yond English lords and mee?
Marry it is thrice fifty miles,
To saile to them upon the sea.