_The men were determined--their steeds they were strong, And eager for plunder they pranced along; The clang of their weapons rung loud on the dale, And their helmet-plumes waving aloft an the gale._
_Beholdst thou the beacon-light gleaming afar, On misty Glenbennan, the signal of war? Bengairn and Caerlochan their blazes display, And they warn the bold spearmen of Fair Galloway._
_But the damsels of Esk and of Annan may mourn, And in vain may they look for their lovers’ return; On the green dale of Dryburgh they rest in their grave, And o’er them the hemlock and rank nettles wave._
_And few have escaped from the Galloway spear, That followed the flying and glanced in their rear, And the moss-troopers’ widows are ruing the day Their husbands departed for Fair Galloway._
God prosper long our noble King, Our liffes and saftyes all! A woefull hunting once there was In Chevy-Chase befall.
To drive the deere with hound and horne, Erle Percy took the way; The child may rue that is unborne The hunting of that day!
The stout Erle of Northumberland A vow to God did make, His pleasure in the Scottish woods Three sommers days to take;
The cheefest harts in Chevy-Chase To kill and beare away. These tydings to Erle Douglas came, In Scottland where he lay,
Who sent Erle Percy present word, He wold prevent his sport, The English Erle, not fearing that, Did to the woods resort,
With fifteen hundred bowmen bold, All chosen men of might, Who knew ffull well in time of neede To ayme their shafts arright.
The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran To chase the fallow deere; On Munday they began to hunt Ere daylight did appeare;
And long before high noone they had A hundred fat buckes slaine. Then having dined, the drovyers went To rouze the deare againe;
The bowmen mustered on the hills, Well able to endure; Theire backsids all with speciall care, That day were guarded sure.
The hounds ran swiftly through the woods The nimble deere to take, That with their cryes the hills and dales An eccho shrill did make.
Lord Percy to the quarry went To view the tender deere; Quoth he, “Erle Douglas promised once This day to meete me heere;
But if I thought he wold not come, Noe longer wold I stay.” With that, a brave younge gentlman Thus to the Erle did say,