fenfible of his Danger, and would willingly have made his Peace. Some of the King's Officers finding him in this Difpofition, fecretly perfwaded him to make his Submiffion, adding, that they durft affure him he would be kindly receiv'd. Armstrong follow'd their Counfel, and with Sixty Horfemen unarm'd, haften'd to the King, but imprudently forgot to provide himself with Paffes, and a fafe Conduct. Those who had given him this Advice, fenfible of his Error, lay in Ambush for, furpriz'd and took him, with his Sixty Men, and carryed'em all to the King, pretending that they had made them Prifoners. Nor was he accus'd of robbing only, but of having alfo form'da Defign of delivering up all that Part of the Country to the English, and being condemn'd, he, with Fifty four of his Companions, was hang'd, the other fix were referv'd as HoStages to deter their Fellows from being guilty of the like Crime. Our Poet, I fuppofe, thought that the Gallows was too low a Death for his Heroe, and therefore rather chofe to let him dye bravely fighting. InStead of Three, he gives him a Retinue of Eightfcore Men, and lays his Scene in Edenburg, and thefe, I think, are the only material Points in which he differs from Hiftory. S there ever a Man in all Scotland, Is From the highest Estate to the lowest Degree, That can fhew himself now before our King, Scotland is fo full of Treachery? Yes, there is a Man in Weftmorland, And Johnny Armstrong they do him call, He has Horses and Harness for them all, The King he writes a loving Letter, When John he look'd this Letter upon, My Father, my Grandfather, nor none of us three. But feeing we must go before the King, And every one fhall have a fcarlet Cloak, But when Johnny went from Giltknock-Hall, The Wind it blew hard, and full faft it did rain, Now fare thee well thou Giltknock-Hall, I fear I fhall never fee thee again. Now Johnny he is to Edenborough gone, And every one of them on a Milk-white Steed, With their Bucklers and Swords hanging to their (Knee. But But when John came the King before, He thought he had been a King as well as he. O Pardon, pardon, my Sovereign Liege, Away with thee, thou false Traytor, No Pardon will I grant to thee, But to-Morrow Morning by Eight of the Clock, Then Johnny look'd over his left Shoulder, Then John pull'd out his good broad Sword, Had not the King moved his Foot as he did, Come follow me my merry Men all, We will fcorn one Foot for to fly, It fhall never be faid we were hang'd like Dogs, Then they fought on like Champions bold, For their Hearts were sturdy, ftout and free, 'Till they had kill'd all the King's good Guard, There were none left alive but one, two or three. But then rofe up all Edenborough, They rose up by Thousands three, A cowardly Scot came John behind, And run him through the fair Body. Said Fohn, Fight on my merry Men all, Then I'll rife and fight with you again. Then they fought on like mad Men all, Till many a Man lay dead on the Plain, So there they fought couragiously, 'Till moft of them lay dead there and flain, But little Mufgrave, that was his Foot-Page, With his bonny Griffel got away unta'n. But when he came to Giltknock-Hall, What News, what News, thou little Foot-Page, My News is bad, Lady, he said, Which I do bring, as you may see, Yet thou art welcome home, my bonny Griffel, O then befpake his little Son, As he fat on his Nurfe's Knee, If ever I live to be a Man, My Father's Death reveng'd fhall be. Α |