Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-26
Chevy Chace.

It was in the reign Of Henr7 the
Sixth, of England. and Of James the
First. of Scotland, that the hot headed
Percy, Earl of northumberland; made
VOW, and svcre a great oath, that he
would hunt for three good days among
the Cheviot Hills; in spite OF his Scot
tish foe--the brave and mighty Earl
Douglas-and all his clan. He declar-
ed that he would kill the fattest harts
in all the forest, and carry them away
to feast upon in his grand castle. When
the bold Douglas heard this, he laugh
ed, in grim, mocking way, and sent
The Percy word to look for him, also,
at that merry hunting.
Lord Percy came out of Bamboro,
with company Of fifteen hundred ar
shers, and began the chase among the
beautiful Cteviot Hills, early Oh a
Monday morning, in the golden autumn
time. Fast and far they rode through
the forest, following their eager hounds,
which pressed close upon the flying
deer. Now they galloped up hills !;
now they foundered through marshy
places now they leaped fallen trees ;
now they tore through thick brush
wood now they dashed through quiet
streams, breaking down Towering
shrubs, crushing small wild flowers,
startling little song-birds from their
nests, shaking down showers cf many
colored leaves, chasing down Tie pant
ing hart, and bathing their swift ar
rows in bis gushing blood SO carrying
noise, and tumult, and terror, and
death wherever they went.
BY noon they had killed hundred
fat deer. Then they blew a loud bugle-
call, and all came together to see the
quartering of the game. Then the
proud Lord Percy said, "The doughty
Douglas promised to meet US here,
to-day; but [ knew full well the
braggart Scot would fail to keep his
word. :"
just then, one of his squires call
ed his attention to a sight which quick
y changed his opinion of the Scottish
chief.
Down below, in Tiviot dale, along
the borders Of the Tweed, came a host
of full two thousand men, armed with
bows and spears, bills and brands. AS
Soon as they come near to the hunters,
the cried out, ''Leave off quartering
the deer, and look to your bows /; for
never, since you were born, have you
b. ~ greater need of them than now >
Tie Douglas fJde in front of his
ttAsn, his white Tlumes dancing in the
wind, and his bfazen armor flashing in
the midday sun and when be spoke
Ills voice was like d trumpet, so clear,
and strong; and threatning.
''Ho, there !" he cried "what
tnen, or whose men are you? And
who gave you leave to hunt in Cheviot,
IN spite Of me 2"
Then Lord Percy, with a black
frown, and a voice like thunder, an
swered, awe will not tell thee what
men, nor whose men we are but we
Will hunt here, in this chace, in spite
6f thee and all thy elan. We have
killed the fattest harts in all these for.
eSts, and we intend to take them home
and make merry with them
s'By my troth y answered the
Douglas, ''for that boasting speech,
one or the other of us must die this
day But, my Lord Percy, it we're &
great pity to kill all these guiltless
men, in our quarrel We are both no
bles of high degree, and well matched
so let our men stand aside, while VIZ
fight it OUT
The Percy agreed to this; but
neither his nor the Douglas men would
consent to stand while their lords were
fighting.
So the English archers bent THEN
bows, and let fly perfect shower Of
arrows, and the Scottish spearmer
charged upon them. Then the Eng
lish and Scots both drew their swords
and fought face to face, and foot tc
foot And so began dne of the most
terrible fights that the sun ever looked
upon. Soon the Douglas and the Per
cy came together, and fought till The
Blood spurted through their armor, arc
sprinkled all the ground around then
in a,thick, red rain.
At last the Douglas cried, "Yield
Percy, and [ will take thee to our Scot
tish king, and thou shalt be nobly treat
ed, and have thy ransom free; fol
thou art the bravest man that [ ever
conquered in all my fighting p
''No p replied the proud earl q
have told thee before, and I tell thee
again, l Will never yield to any mar
living SO lay on !"
Just then an arrow, sent by stou1
English archer; came singing sharply
through the air, and pierced deep into
the breast of the Douglas. He gave
one cry,-"Fight on my merry men
while. you may for all my days are
over !" and then straigtened himself
out and died.
Lord Percy took the dead man''
hand, and said, "Wo's me /! to have
saved thy life I would have parted witt
my lands ;. for in all the country there
Has not a braver or better man -