ancient nobility, &c. Their common banner ‡ (on which was difplayed the cross, together with the five wounds of Chrift) was borne by an ancient gentleman, Richard Norton, Efq; of Norton-conyers: who with his fons (among whom, Christopher, Marmaduke, and Thomas, are expressly named by Camden) diftinguished himself on this occafion. Having entered Durham, they tore the Bible, Sc. and caufed mafs to be faid there they then marched on to Clifford-moor near Wetherbye, where they mustered their men. Their intention

was to have proceeded on to York, but altering their minds they fell upon Barnard's castle, which Sir George Bowes held out against them for eleven days. The two earls, who Spent their large eftates in hofpitality, and were extremely "beloved on that account, were mafters of little ready money; the E. of Northumberland bringing with him only 8000 crowns, and the E. of Westmoreland nothing at all for the fubfiftence of their forces, they were not able to march to London, as they had at firft intended. In thefe circumftances, Weftmoreland began fo vifibly to defpond that many of his men flunk away, tho' Northumberland fill kept up his.refolution, and was mafter of the field till December 13. avhen the Earl of Suffex, ascompanied with Lord Hunden and others, having marched out of York at the head of a large body of forces, and being followed by a still larger army under the command of Ambrofe Dudley Earl of Warwick, the infurgents retreated northward towards the borders, and there difmiffing their followers, made their efcape into Scotland. Tho' this infurrection had been suppreffed with fo little bloodshed, the Earl of Suffex and Sir George Bowes, marshal of the army, put vast numbers to death by martial law, without any regular trial. former of thefe caufed at Durham fixty-three conflables to be banged at once. And the latter made his boast that for fixty miles in length and forty in breadth, betwixt Newcastle and Wetherby, there was hardly a town or village wherein be had not executed fome of the inhabitants. This exceeds

The

the

↑ Befudes this, the ballad mentions the separate lanners of the swo Noblemes.

the cruelties practifed in the Weft after Monmouth's rebellion: but that was not the age of tenderness and humanity.

Such is the account collected from Stow, Speed, Camden, Guthrie, Carte, and Rapin; it agrees in moft particulars with the following ballad, which was apparently the production of fome northern minstrel, who was well affected to the two noblemen. It is here printed from two MS copies, one of them in the editor's folio collection. They contained confiderable variations, out of which fuch readings were chofen as feemed moft poetical and confonant to hiftory.

L'

ISTEN, lively lordings all,

Lithe and liften unto mee,

And I will fing of a noble earle,

The nobleft earle in the north countrie.

Earle Percy is into his garden gone,

And after him walkes his faire ladìe į:
I heare a bird fing in mine eare,
That I must either fight, or flee.

Now heaven forefend, my dearest lord,

That ever fuch harm should hap to thee:

10

But goe to London to the court,
And fair fall truth and honeftìe.

Now nay, now nay, my lady gay,
Alas! thy counfell fuits not mee;

Mine enemies prevail fo faft,

That at the court I may not bee.

‡ This lady was Anne, daughter of Henry Somersets E. of Worcester,

O goe to the court yet, good my lord,
And take thy gallant men with thee:
If any dare to doe you wrong,

Then your warrant they may bee.

Now nay, now nay, thou lady faire,
The court is full of fubtiltìe;
And if I goe to the court, lady,
Never more I may thee fee.

Yet goe to the court, my lord, she sayes,

20

25

His faithfull borrowe I will bee.

Now nay, now nay, my lady deare;

Far lever had I lofe my life,

3@

Than leave among my cruell foes

My love in jeopardy and ftrife.

But come thou hither, my little foot-page,

Come thou hither unto mee,

To maifter Norton thou must goe

In all the hafte that ever may bee.

Commend me to that gentleman,

And beare this letter here fro mee;
And fay that earnestly I praye,
He will ryde in my companie.

35

40

One

One while the little footpage went,
And another while he ran ;
Untill he came to his journeys end,
The little footpage never blan.

When to that gentleman he came,
Down he knelt upon his knee;
Quoth he, My lord commendeth him,
And fends this letter unto thee.

And when the letter it was redd

Affore that goodlye companye,

45

I wis, if you the truthe wold know,
There was many a weeping eye.

50

He fayd, Come thither, Chriftopher Norton,
A gallant youth thou feemft to bee;
What doest thou counfell me, my fonne,
Now that good earle's in jeopardy ?

Father, my counfelle's fair and free;
That earle he is a noble lord,
And whatsoever to him you hight,

55

Gramercy, Chriftopher, my fonne,

Thy counfell well it liketh mee,

And if we speed and fcape with life,

Well advanced thou fhalt bee..

Come

Come you hither, my nine good fonnes,
Gallant men I trowe you bee:

How many of you, my children deare,
Will stand by that good earle and mee?

Eight of them did anfwer make,
Eight of them fpake haftilie,

O father, till the daye we dye

We'll ftand by that good earle and thee.

Gramercy now, my children deare,

65

70

You fhowe yourselves right bold and brave; And whetherfoe'er I live or dye,

75

A fathers bieffing you fhal have.

But what fayft thou, O Francis Norton,
Thou art mine eldest fonn and heire:
Somewhat lyes brooding in thy breast;
Whatever it bee, to mee declare.

Father, you are an aged man,

Your head is white, your bearde is gray;

It were a fhame at these your yeares

For you to ryfe in fuch a fray.

89