Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance | Page 6

Cheviot_ is No. viii., and is subscribed 'Expliceth, quod Rychard Sheale.' Sheale is known to have been a minstrel of Tamworth, and it would appear that much of this MS. (including certain poems, no doubt his own) is in his handwriting--probably the book belonged to him. But the supposition that he was author of the _Hunting of the Cheviot_, Child dismisses as 'preposterous in the extreme.'
The other version, far better known as _Chevy Chase_, is that of the Percy Folio, published in the _Reliques_, and among the Pepys, Douce, Roxburghe, and Bagford collections of ballads. For the sake of differentiation this may be called the broadside form of the ballad, as it forms a striking example of the impairment of a traditional ballad when re-written for the broadside press. Doubtless it is the one known and commented on by Addison in his famous papers (Nos. 70 and 74) in the _Spectator_ (1711), but it is not the one referred to by Sir Philip Sidney in his _Apologie_. Professor Child doubts if Sidney's ballad, 'being so evill apparelled in the dust and cobwebbes of that uncivill age,' is the traditional one here printed, which is scarcely the product of an uncivil age; more probably Sidney had heard it in a rough and ancient form, 'sung,' as he says, 'but by some blind crouder, with no rougher voyce than rude stile.' 'The Hunttis of the Chevet' is mentioned as one of the 'sangis of natural music of the antiquite' sung by the shepherds in _The Complaynt of Scotland_, a book assigned to 1549.
+The Story.+--The _Hunting of the Cheviot_ is a later version of the _Battle of Otterburn_, and a less conscientious account thereof. Attempts have been made to identify the _Hunting_ with the Battle of Piperden (or Pepperden) fought in 1436 between a Percy and a Douglas. But the present ballad is rather an unauthenticated account of an historical event, which made a great impression on the public mind. Of that, its unfailing popularity on both sides of the Border, its constant appearance in broadside form, and its inclusion in every ballad-book, give the best witness.
The notable deed of Witherington (stanza 54) has many parallels. All will remember the warrior who
'... when his legs were smitten off?He fought upon his stumps.'
Tradition tells an identical story of 'fair maiden Lilliard' at the Battle of Ancrum Muir in 1545. Seneca mentions the feat. It occurs in the Percy Folio, Sir Graysteel (in _Eger and Grine_) fighting on one leg. Johnie Armstrong and Sir Andrew Barton both retire to 'bleed awhile' after being transfixed through the body. Finally, in an early saga, King Starkathr (Starkad) fights on after his head is cut off.
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT
1.?The Pers? owt off Northombarlonde,?and avowe to God mayd he?That he wold hunte in the mowntayns?off Chyviat within days thre,?In the magger of dought? Dogles,?and all that ever with him be.
2.?The fattiste hartes in all Cheviat?he sayd he wold kyll, and cary them away:?'Be my feth,' sayd the dougheti Doglas agayn,?'I wyll let that hontyng yf that I may.'
3.?Then the Pers? owt off Banborowe cam,?with him a myghtee meany,?With fifteen hondrith archares bold off blood and bone;?the wear chosen owt of shyars thre.
4.?This begane on a Monday at morn,?in Cheviat the hillys so he;?The chylde may rue that ys vn-born,?it wos the mor pitt?.
5.?The dryvars thorowe the wood?s went,?for to reas the dear;?Bomen byckarte vppone the bent?with ther browd aros cleare.
6.?Then the wyld thorowe the wood?s went,?on every syd? shear;?Greahond?s thorowe the grevis glent,?for to kyll thear dear.
7.?This begane in Chyviat the hyls abone,?yerly on a Monnyn-day;?Be that it drewe to the oware off none,?a hondrith fat hart?s ded ther lay.
8.?The blewe a mort vppone the bent,?the semblyde on sydis shear;?To the quyrry then the Pers? went,?to se the bryttlynge off the deare.
9.?He sayd, 'It was the Duglas promys?this day to met me hear;?But I wyste he wolde faylle, verament;'?a great oth the Pers? swear.
10.?At the laste a squyar off Northomberlonde?lokyde at his hand full ny;?He was war a the doughetie Doglas commynge,?with him a myghtt? meany.
11.?Both with spear, bylle, and brande,?yt was a myghtti sight to se;?Hardyar men, both off hart nor hande,?wear not in Cristiant?.
12.?The wear twenti hondrith spear-men good,?withoute any feale;?The wear borne along be the watter a Twyde,?yth bownd?s of Tividale.
13.?'Leave of the brytlyng of the dear,' he sayd,?'and to your bo?s lock ye tayk good hede;?For never sithe ye wear on your mothars borne?had ye never so mickle nede.'
14.?The dougheti Dogglas on a stede,?he rode alle his men beforne;?His armor glytteryde as dyd a glede;?a boldar barne was never born.
15.?'Tell me whos men ye ar,' he says,?'or whos men that ye be:?Who gave youe leave to hunte in this Chyviat chays,?in the spyt of myn and of me.'
16.?The first mane that ever him an