A true relation of the life and death of Sir Andrew Barton, a pyrate and rover on the seas. Tune, Come follow my love, &c.

A True Relation of the Life and Death of Sir Andrew Barton a Pyrate and Rover on the Seas . Tune , Come follow my Love , &c.

depiction of two ships at battle in full sail.

WHen Flora with her fragrant flowers bedect the earth so trim and gay , And Neptune with his dainty showers came to present the month of May ; King Henry would a hunting ride , over the river of Thames past he , Vnto a mountain top also did walk some pleasure for to see : Where forty Merchants he espyed , with fifty sail come towards him , Who then no sooner were arriv'd , but on their knees did thus complain : An 't please your Grace , we cannot sail to France no voyage to be sure , But Sir Andrew Barton makes us quail , and robs us of our marchant-ware . Vext was the King , and turning him said to his Lords of high degree , Have I ne'r a Lord within my Realm dare fetch that Traytor unto me ? To him reply'd Charles Lord Howard , I will my Liege with heart and hand , If it please you grant me leave , he said , I will perform what you command . To him then speak King Henry , I fear , my Lord , you are too young . No whit at all , my Leige , quoth he ; I hope to prove in valour strong : The Scotch Knight I vow to seek , in what place soever he be , And bring ashore with all his might , or into Scotland he shall carry me , A hundred Men , the King then said , out of my Realm shall chosen be , Besides Saylers 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 affairs shall wait on thee . Lord Howard call'd a Gunner then , who was the best in all the Realm , His age was threescore years and ten , and Peter Simon was his name : My Lord call'd then a Bow-man rare , whose active hands had gained fame , A Gentleman born in Yorkshire , and William Horsely was his name : Horsely , quoth he , I must to Sea to seek a Traytor with good speed ; Of a hundred Bow-men brave , quoth he , I have chosen thee to be the Head . If you , my Lord , have chosen me of a hundred Men to be the Head , Vpon the main-mast i 'll hanged be , if twelvescore I miss one shillings breadth . Lord Howard then of courage bold , went to the Sea with pleasant chear , Not curh'd with winter's piercing cold , though it was the stormy time of year , Not long he had been on the Sea , on more in days than number three , But the Henry Hunt there he espy'd , a Merchant of New-castle was he , To him Lord Howard call'd out amain , and strictly charged him to stand , Demanding then from whence he came , or where he did intend to land : The Merchant then made answer soon , with heavy heart and careful mind , My Lord , my ship it doth belong unto New-castle upon Tine . Canst thou shew me , the Lord did say , as thou didst all by day and night , A Scotish Rover on the Sea , his name is Andrew Barton , Knight ? Then the Merchant sigh'd and said , with grieved mind and well-away , But over-well I know that Wight , I was his Prisoner yesterday ; As I , thy Lord , did sail from France , a Burdeaux-voyage to take so far . I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence , who rob'd me of my merchant-ware : And mickle debts God knows I owe , and every Man doth crave his own ; And I am bound to London now , of our gracious King to beg a boon . Shew me him , said Lord Howard then , let me once the Villain see , And e'ry penny he hath from thee tane , i 'll double the same with shillings three . Now God forbid , the Merchant said , I fear your aim that you will miss : God bless you from his tyranny , for little you think what Man he is , He is brass within and steel without , his ship most huge and mighty strong , With eighteen pieces of ordnance he carrieth on each side along , With beams for his top-castle , as also being huge and high , That neither English nor Portugal can Sir Andrew Barton pass by . Hard news than shew'st , then said the Lord , to welcome Stranger to the Sea : But as I said i 'll bring him aboard , or into Scotland he shall carry me . The Merchant said , If you will do so , take counsel then I pray withal , Let no Man to his top-castle go , nor strive to let his beams down fall : Lend me seven pieces of ordnance then of each side of my ship , said he , And to morrow , my Lord , again I will your Honour see : A glass i 'll set as may be seen , whether you sail by day or night ; And to morrow be sure before seven you shall see Sir Andrew Barton , Knight , The Merchant set my Lord a glass so well apparent in his sight , That 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 believe me , and by troth , I think he is a worthy Knight . Sir Andrew Barton seeing him thus scornfull to pass by , As though he cared not a pin for him and all his Company ; Then called he his Men amain , Fetch back yon Pedler now , quoth he , And e're this way he comes again , i 'll t●ach him will his courtesie . Fetch me my lyon out of hand , saith the Lord , with rose & streamer high ; Set up withal a willow-wand , that Merchant like I may pass by . Thus bravely did Lord Howard pass , and on anchor rise so high , No top-sail at ●ast he cast , but as a Foe did him defie . A piece of ordnance soon was shot , by this proud Pirate fiercely then , Into Lord Howard's middle deck , which cruel shot kil'd fourteen Men. He called then Peter Simon , he , Look how thy word do stand instead , For thou shall be hanged on main-mast , if thou miss twelvescore one peny breadth . Then Peter Simon gave a shot , which did Sir Andrew mickle scare , In at his deck it came so hot kill'd fifteen of his Men of war : Alas , then said the Pirate stout , I am in danger now I see ; This is some Lord , I greatly fear that is set on to conquer me Then Henry Hunt with 〈◊〉 hot came bravely on the other side , Who likewise shot in at his deck , and killed fifty of his Men beside : Then out , alas , Sir Andrew cry'd , What may a Man now think or say , You Merchant-thief that pierceth me , he was my Prisoner yesterday . ●hen did he on Gordian ra●l , ●nto the top-castle for to go , 〈◊〉 bid his beams he should let fall , for he greatly fear'd an overthrow . ●he Lord call'd Horsel● now in haste , Look that thy word now stand instead , For thou shalt be hanged on main-mast , if thou miss twelvescore a shilling breadth . Then up mast-tree s●●erved he , this stout and mighty Gordian , But Horsely he most happily that him under the collar-bone : Then call'd he on his Nephew then , said , Sister's Sons I have no mo , Three hundred pound I will give thee , if thou wilt to top-castle go . Then stoutly he began to climb , from off the mast scorn'd to depart . But Horsely soon prevented him , and deadly pierc'd him to the heart . His Men being slain , then up amain did this proud Pirate climb with speed ; For armour of proof he had put on , and did not dint of arrows dread : Come hither Horsely , said the Lord , see thou thy arrows aim aright , Great means to thee I will afford , and if thou speed'st i 'll make the Knight : Sir Andrew did climb up the tree , with right good will and all his main ; Then upon the breast hit Horsely he , till the arrow did return again : Then Horsely spied a private place , with a perfect eye in a secret part , His arrow swifly flew apace , and smote Sir Andrew to the heart : Fight on , fight on , my merry Men all , a little I am hurt , yet not slain , I 'll but lye down and bleed a while , and come and fight with you again : And do not , said he , fear English Rogues , and of your Foes stand not in awe , But stand fast by St. Andrew's cross , until you hear my whistle blow . They never heard his whistle blow , which made them all full sore afraid . Then Horsely said , My Lord aboard , for now Sir Andrew Barton's dead ; Thus boarded they this gallant ship , with right good will and all their main , Eighteen score Scots alive in it , besides as many more was slain . The Lord went where Sir Andrew lay , and quickly thence cut off his head ; I should forsake England many a day , if thou were alive as thou art dead . Thus from the wars Lord Howard came , with mickle joy and triumphing ; The Pirate's head he brought along for to present unto our King : Who briefly then to him did say , before he knew well what was done , Where is the Knight and Pirate gay , that I myself may give the doom . You may thank God , then said the Lord , and four Men in the ship , quoth he , That we are safely come ashore , sith you never had such an Enemy : That is Henry Hunt and Peter Simon , William Horsely and Peter's Son ; Therefore reward them for their pains , for they did service at their turn . To the Merchant then the King did say , In lieu of what he hath from the tune , I give to thee a noble a day , Sir Andrew's whistle and his chain : To Peter Simon a crown a day ; and half a crown a day to Peter's Son ; And that was for a shot so gay which bravely brought Sir Andrew down : Horsely I will make the a Knight , and in Yorkshire thou shalt dwell : Lord Howard shall Earl Bury hight , for this title he deserveth well : Seven shillings to our English Men , who in this fight did stoutly stand ; And twelve-pence a day to the Scots , till they come to my Brother King 's high Land .