A True relation of the life and death of Sir Andrew Barton, a pirate and rover on the seas to the tune of, Come follow me loue.

A true Relation of the Life and Death of Sir Andrew Barton, a Pirate and Rover on the Seas

To the tune of, Come follow me Loue.

[illustration]

WHen Flora with her fragrant flowers, bedeckt the earth so trim and gay, And Neptune with his dainty showers, came to present the month of May: King Henry would a progresse ride, over the Riuer Thames past he, Unto a Mountaines top also, did walke some pleasure for to sée.

Where forty Merchants he espied, with swiftest saile came towards him, Who then no sooner were arived, but on their knées did thus complaine: And't like your Grace, we cannot saile, to France no voyage to be sure. But Sir Andrew Barton makes vs quaile, and robs vs of our Merchants ware.

Uert was the King, and turned him, said to his Lords of best d••gree, Haue I nere a Lord in all my Realme, dare fetch that Traitor vnto me: To him repli'd Lord Charles Howa••d, I will my Liege with heart and hand If it please you grant me leaue, he said, I will performe what you command.

To him then spake King Henry, I feare my Lord you are too young: No whit at all my Liege, quoth he, I hope to prooue in valour strong: The Scottish Knight I vow to séeke, in place wheresoever that he be, And bring on shore with all his might, or into Scot••and he shall carry me.

A hundred men the King then said out of my Realme shall chosen be, Besides Saylors, and Ship-boys, to guide a great Ship on the Sea. Bow-men and Gunners of good skill shall for this service chosen be, And they at thy command and will, in all affaires shall waite on thee.

Lord Howard cald a Gunner then who was the best of all the Realme, His age was thréescore yeares and ten, one Peter Simon was his name. My Lord cald then a Bow-man rare, whose actiue hands had gained fame, A Gentleman borne in Yorkeshire and William Horsly was his name.

Horsly, quoth he, I must to sea, to seeke a Traytor with great spéed, Of an hundred bow-men braue, quoth he, I haue chosen thée to be my head: If you my Lord haue chosen me, of an hundred men to be the head, Upon maine Mast Ile hanged be, if twelue score I misse one shilling breadth

Lord Howard then of courage bold, went to the sea with pleasant chéere, Not curb'd with winters piercing cold, though it was the stormy time of the yeare Not long he had beene on the seas, no more then dayes in number three, Till one Henry Hunt he then espied, a Merchant os New-castle was he.

To him Lord Howard cald out amaine, and strictly charged him to stand, Demanding then from whence he came, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where he did intend to land, The Merchant then made answer soone with heauy heart and carefull minde: My Lord, my ship it doth belong vnto New-Castle vpon Tine.

Canst thou me shew, the Lord did say, as thou didst sayle by day and night, A Scottish Rouer who lyes on Sea, his name is Sir Andrew Barton knight Then to him the Merchant said, and sigh'd with a grieved mind and a wellaway, But ouer well I know that wight, for I was his prisoner but yesterstay.

As I my Lord did passe from France a Burdeaux voyage to take so far, I met Sir Andrew Barton thence, who rob'd me of my Merchants ware, And mickle debts (God knowes) I owe, and euery man did craue his owne, And I am bound to London now, of our gracious King to beg a boone.

The second part, To the same tune.

SHew me him said Lord Howard then, let me but once that villaine sée, And for one penny he hath from thée tane, Ile double the same with shillings thrée Now (God forbid) my Lord, quoth he, I feare your ayme that you wil•• misse, God blesse you from his tyranny for you little know what man he is.

••e is brasse within and steele without, his ship most huge and very strong: With eighteene pieces strong and stout, he carieth on each side along: With beames from her Top-castle, as also being huge and high, That neither English nor Portugall, can Sir Andrew Barton passe by,

Hard news thou shewest, thē said my Lord to welcome strangers to the Sea, But as I said Ile bring him aboord, or into Scotland he shall carry me: The Merchant said, if you will do so, take counsell then I pray withall, Let no man to his topcastle goe, nor striue to let his beames downe fall.

Lend me seuen pieces of Ordinance then, of either side my ship quoth he, And to mor••ow my Lord twixt sixe and se∣uen againe I will your honour see: A glasse Ile set that may be seene whether you saile by day or night: And to morrow surely before seven you shal see Sir Andrew Barton knight.

The Merchant set my Lord a glasse, so we••l apparant to his sight, Then on the morrow, as his promise was he saw Sir Andrew Barton Knight, The Lord then swore a mighty oath, now by the heavens that be of might. By faith belieue me and by truth, I thinke he is a worthy weight.

Fetch ••e my Lyon out of hand saith the Lord, with Rose & Streamers hye, Set vp withall a Willow wand, that Merchant like I may passe by. Thus brauely Lord Howard past, and d••d on Anchor ride so high, No top-sale downe at all he cast, but as his foe did him defie.

A piece of Ordinance soone was shot, by this proud Pirate fiercely then, Into Lo••d Howards middle Deck, which cruell shot killed fourteen men, He called then Peter Simon he looke now thy word do stand in stead, For tho•• shalt be hanged on maine Mast, if thou misse twelue score one penny bred.

Then Peter Simon gaue a shot, which did Sir Andrew mickle scarre, In at his Decke it came so hot, kill'd fifty of his men of war. Alas, then said the Pirate stout, I am in danger now I see, This is some Lord I greatly doubt, that's now set on to conquer me.

Then Henry Hunt with rig••r ••ot, came brauely on his other side, Who likewise shot in at his decke, and kild fiue of his men beside. Then out alas, sir Andrew cri'd, what may a man now thinke or say, Yon Merchant theefe that pierceth me, he was my prisoner but yesterday.

Then did he on one Gordian call, vnto Top-castle for to goe, And bid his beames he should let fall, for I greatly feare an overthrow. The Lord cald H••rsly then in hast, looke that thy word stand now in stead, For thou shalt be hanged on maine Mast, if thou misse twelue score a finger bred.

Then vp Mast trée then swarmed he, this stout and mighty Gordian, But Horsly he most happily, shot him vnder the collor bone: Then called he of his Nephew then, saith, sisters sonnes I haue no moe, Thrée hundred pounds Ile giue to thée, if thou wilt to Top-castle goe.

Then stoutly he began to climbe, and from the Mast scornd to depart, But Horsly soone preuented him, and deadly pierc'd him to the heart His men being slaine then vp amaine, did this stout Pirat climbe with speed, For armour of proofe he had put on, and did not dint of Arrow dread.

Come hither Ho••sl•• then said the Lord, sée that thy arro•• ••yme aright: Great meanes to thée I will afford and if thou spéed Ile make thee Knight, Sir Andrew he did climbe vp the tree with right good will, and all his maine Then vpon the brest hit Horsl•• he, till the arrow did returne againe.

Then Horsly spied a privie place, with a perfect eye in a secret part, His arrow swiftly flew apace, and smote sir Andrew to the heart, Fight on, fight on my merry men all, a little I am hurt yet not slaine, Ile but lie downe and bléed a while, and come and fight with you againe

And do not, saith he, feare English Rogues and of your Foes stand in no awe, But stand fast by S. Andrewes crosse, vntill you heare my whistle blow, They never heard his whistle blow, which made them all full sore afraid: Then Horsly said, my Lord aboard, for now Sir Andrew Bartons dead.

Then boorded they that gallant ship, with a right good wil and al their maine Eighteenescore Scots aliue in it, besides as many moe were slaine, The Lord went where sir Andrew lay, and quickly then cut off his head: I would forsweare England many a day, if thou wert aliue as thou art dead.

Thus from the wars Lord Howard came, with mickle joy, and triumphing, The Pirats head he brought along, for to present vnto the King: Who briefly then to him did say, before he knew well what was done, Where is the knight and Pirate gay, th••t I my selfe may be his doome.

You may thanke God, then said the Lord and foure men in this ship with me, That we are safely come to shore, sith you never had such an enemy, That's Henry Hunt and Peter Simon, William Horsly, and Peter's sonne: Therefore reward them for their paine, for they did service at their turne.

To the Merchant then the King did say, in liew of what he had from thée taine, I giue to thée a Noble a day, sir Andrewes whistle and his Chaine, To Peter Simon a Crowne a day, and halfe a Crowne a day to Peters son And that was for a shot so gay, which brauely brought sir Andrew down.

Horsly I will make thée a Knight, and in Yorkeshire there shalt thou dwell, Lord Howard shal Earle of Bury hight, for his title he hath deserved well, Seuen shillings to our English men, who to this f••ght did stoutly stand, And 12 pence a day to the Scots, till they come to my brother King his Land.

FINIS.