English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Traditional Ballads
23. Johnie Armstrong
T
Ionnë Armestrong men did him call,
He had nither lands nor rents coming in,
Yet he kept eight score men in his hall.
Goodly steeds were all milke-white;
O the golden bands an about their necks,
And their weapons, they were all alike.
That there was sicke a won as hee,
That livëd lyke a bold out-law,
And robbëd all the north country.
A letter which was large and long;
He signëd it with his owne hand,
And he promised to doe him no wrong.
His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree:
“Never was I sent for before any king,
My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee.
I would we went most orderly;
Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak,
Laced with silver laces three.
Laced with sillver lace so white;
O the golden bands an about your necks,
Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke.”
Towards Edenburough gon was hee,
And with him all his eight score men;
Good lord, it was a goodly sight for to see!
He fell downe on his knee;
“O pardon, my soveraine leige,” he said,
“O pardon my eight score men and mee!”
For thy eight score men nor thee;
For tomorrow morning by ten of the clock,
Both thou and them shall hang on the gallowtree.”
Good Lord, what a grevious look looked hee!
Saying, “Asking grace of a graceles face—
Why there is none for you nor me.”
And it was made of the mettle so free,
That had not the king stept his foot aside,
He had smitten his head from his faire boddë.
And see that none of you be taine;
For rather then men shall say we were hange’d,
Let them report how we were slaine.”
And so besett poore Ionnë rounde,
That fowerscore and tenn of Ionnes best men
Lay gasping all upon the ground.
And like a mad man then fought hee,
Untill a falce Scot came Ionne behinde,
And runn him through the faire boddee.
And see that none of you be taine;
For I will stand by and bleed but awhile,
And then will I come and fight againe.”
As he stood by his nurses knee,
Who vowed if ere he live’d for to be a man,
O the treacherous Scots revengd hee’d be.