THE BATTLE OF CUTON MOOR.

ANONYMOUS.

THE welkin, dark o'er Cuton Moor,
With dreary clouds did lower !-
The woful carnage of that day
Shall Scotland aye deplore.

The river Tees full oft did sigh,
As she roll'd her winding flood,
That e'er her silver tide, so clear,
Should be swell'd with human blood.

King David he stood on the rising hill,
And the verdant prospect view'd,

*

And he saw that sweet river which o'er the moor Roll'd on her silver flood.

Oh! then bespake that noble King,

As grief his heart subdu'd,

"And ever I mourn that yon fair stream Should be stain'd with human blood!"

King David he saw the verdant moor
With wild flowers all bestrew'd :-
"And ever I'm griev'd that so green a moor
Must be stain'd with human blood!"

"But more am I griev'd, alas!" he cried, "And more my heart is woed,

* The Battle of Cuton Moor was fought in 1138, between the English and the Scots; the former were victorious.-Ed.

That so many warriors, young and brave,
Must this day shed their blood!"

As princely a host this King did lead
As ever march'd on plain :
Ah! that so many a warrior brave
Should be so quickly slain !

And first march'd forth the Galloway men,
From the ancient Picts who sprang;
Their spears all so bright, and bucklers strong,
For many miles they rang.

And then came on the Norman troops,
With English them among;

For the Empress Maud they came to fight,
And right that lady's wrong.

And then march'd forth the Scottish foot,
And then march'd forth the horse:
In armour strong all those warriors came,
A great and warlike force.

King David look'd athwart the moor,
With Prince Henry, his brave son;
And they were aware of the English host,
Now merrily marching on.

Oh then call'd forth the King David,
And loudly called he-

"And who is here in all my camp

Can describe yon host to me?"

Then came there one beside the tent,
An Englishman was he;

'Twas not long since from th' English host
That traitorous wight did flee.

"Now tell me yon hosts," the King he cried, "And thou shalt have gold and fee; And who is yon chief that rides along, With his locks so aged gray ?"

"Oh, that is Walter de Gaunt you see,
And he hath been gray full long;
But many the troops that he doth lead,
And they are stout and strong."

"And who is yon chief, so bright to see, With his troops that beat the plain?" "Oh, that's the young Earl of Albemarle, Who's leading his gallant train:

"A more gallant warrior than that lord Is not yon host among;

And the gallant troops that he doth lead, Like him, are stout and strong."

"And who yon shining warriors two, With their troops yclad the same?" "Oh, they are the Bruces, that in this fight Have come to acquire them fame."

Then call'd he out, that King David,
And full of wo spake he,-
"And ever I hold those Bruces false,
For much they owe to me!

"And who's yon chief of giant height, And bulk so huge to see?"

"Walter Espec is that chief's name, And a potent chief is he :

"His stature's large as the mountain oak, And eke as strong his might;

There's never a chief, in all the north,
Can dare with him to fight!"

"And who's yon youth, yon youth I see
Galloping o'er the moor?—
His troops, that follow so gallantly,
Proclaim him a youth of power."

"Young Roger de Mowbray is that youth,
And he's sprung of the royal line;
His wealth and followers, O King!
Are almost as great as thine."

"And who's yon aged chief I see, All clad in purple vest?" "Oh, that's the Bishop of the Orkney isles; And he all the host doth bless!

"And all the rest are noblemen

Of fortune and fame each one; From Nottingham, and from Derbyshire, Those valiant chieftains come."

"But what's yon glittering tower I see, In the centre of the host?" "Oh, that is the hallow'd Standard, of which The English make such boast!

"A mast of a ship it is so high,

All bedeck'd with gold so gay;
And on its top is a holy cross,
That shines as bright as the day :

"Around it hang the holy banners
Of many a blessed saint :

Saint Peter, and John of Beverly,
And Saint Wilfred, there they paint :

"The aged folk around it throng,
With their old hairs all so gray;
And many a chieftain there bows down,
And so heartily doth pray!"

Oh then bespake the King of ScotsAnd so heavily spake he― "And had I but yon holy standard, Right gladsome should I be !

"And had I but yon holy standard,
That there so high doth tower,
I would not care for yon English host,
Nor all yon chieftains' power!

"O! had I but yon holy rood,

That there so bright doth shew,—— I would not care for yon English host, Nor the worst that they could do.”

Then well spake he the Prince Henry, And like a brave prince spake he: Oh, let us but fight like valiant men, And we'll make yon hosts to flee.

"Oh, let us but fight like valiant men, And to Christ his will yet bow, And yon holy standard shall be ours, And the victory also!"

Prince Henry was as brave a youth
As ever fought in field;

And many a warrior, that dread day,
To him his life did yield.

Prince Henry was as fair a youth
As the sun did e'er espy: