And the Lord Maxwell in like case
Did with Earl Douglas die:
Of twenty hundred Scottish spears,
Scarce fifty-five did fly.
Of fifteen hundred Englishmen,
Went home but fifty-three;
The rest were slain in Chevy Chase,
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 gore,
They bare with them away:
They kiss'd them dead a thousand times,
Ere they were clad in clay.
This news was brought to Edinburgh,
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,
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,
Since 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:
I'll be revenged on them all,
For brave Earl Percy's sake.
This vow full well the king perform'd
After, at Humbledown;
In one day, fifty knights were slain,
With lords of great renown: