XII. SIR ANDREW BARTON. 12 I cannot give a better relation of the fact, which is the Jubject of the following ballad, than in an extract from a very elegant work lately offered to the public. See Mr. Guthrie's New Peerage, 4to. Vol. I. p. 22. cer. * ! "The transaction which did the greatest honour to the earl of Surrey and his family at this time [A. D. 1511. ] was their behaviour in the cafe of Barton, a Scotch Sea offiThis gentleman's father having suffered by fea from the Portuguese, he had obtained letters of marque for his two Sons to make reprisals upon the Subjects of Portugal. It is extremely probable, that the court of Scotland granted these letters with no very honest intention. The council board of England, at which the earl of Surrey held the chief place, was daily pestered with complaints from the failors and merchants, that Barton, who was called Sir Andrew Barton, under pretence of fearching for Portuguese goods, interrupted the English navigation, Henry's fituation at that time rendered him backward from breaking with Scotland, So that their complaints were but coldly received. The earl of Surrey, however, could not Smother his indignation, but gallantly declared at the council board, that while he had an estate that could furnish out a Ship, or a Son that was capable of commanding one, the narrow feas bould not be infested. A "Sir Andrew Barton, who commanded the two Scotch Ships, had the reputation of being one of the ablest sea - officers of his time. By his depredations, he had amassed great wealth, and his fhips were very richly laden. Henry, not with ftan *Afterwards created Duke of Norfolk. withstanding his fituation, could not refuse the generous offer made by the earl of Surrey. fitted out, and put to Sea two fons, Sir Thomas encountering a great deal of foul weather, Sir Thomas came up with the Lion, which was commanded by Sir Andrew Barton in perfon; and Sir Edward came up with the Union. Barton's other ship, [ called by Hall, the bark of Scotland.] The engagement which ensued was extremely obftinate on both fides; but at last the fortune of the Howards prevailed. Andrew was killed fighting bravely, and encouraging his men with his whistle, to hold out to the last; and the twa Scotch Ships with their crews, were carried into the river Thames, [Aug. 2, 1511.] Two Ships were immediately with letters of marque, under his and Sir Edward Howard. After Sir "This exploit had the more merit, as the two Englis↳ commanders were in a manner volunteers in the Service, by their father's order. But it seems to have laid the foundation of Sir Edward's fortune; for on the 7th of April, 1512, the king constituted him (according to Dugdale) admiral of England, Wales, &c. . King James infifted' upon fatisfaction for the death of Barton, and capture of his Ship: 'tho' Henry had generously difmiffed the crews, and even agreed that the parties accused might appear in his courts of admiralty by their attornies, to vindicate themselves. This affair was in a great measure the cause of the battle of Flodden, in which James IV. loft his life. دو In the following ballad will be found perhaps some few de◄ viations from the truth of history: to attone for which it has probably K 4 * Called by old biftorians lord Howard, afterwards created earl of Surrey in his father's life-time, a probably recorded many lesser facts, which history bath not condescended to relate. I take many of the little circumstances of the story to be real, because I find one of the most unlikely to be not very remote from the truth. In Pt. 2. v. 156. it is faid, that England had before “but two Ships ❝ of war." Now the GREAT HARRY had been built but Seven years before, viz. in 1504: which “. was properly Spea"king the first Ship in the English navy. Before this pe"riod, when the prince wanted a fleet, be had no other ex66 pedient but hiring Ships from the merchants. „ Hume. The following copy (which is given from the Editor's følio MS. and feems to have been written early in the reign of Elizabeth) will be found greatly Superior to the vulgar ballad, which is evidently modernized and abridged from it. Some few deficiences are however supplied from a black-letter copy of the latter in the Pepys collection. THE FIRST PART. WHEN Flora with her fragrant flowers 'Bedeckt the earth fo trim and gaye. 'And Neptune with his daintye showers King Henrye rode to take the ayre, 5 "O yee are welcome rich merchants ; Good faylors, welcome unto me. ་ They fwore by the rood, they were faylors good 10 15 King Henrye frownd, and turned him rounde, And fwore by the Lord, that was mickle of might, "I thought he had not been in the world, Durft have wrought England fuch unright. 20 The merchants fighed, and faid, alas! And thus they did theire anfwer frame, The king lookt over his left shouldèr, And an angrye looke then looked hee: "Have I never a lorde in all my realme, Will fetch yond traytor unto mee?, Yea, that dare I; lord Howard fayes, Yea, that dare I with heart and hand; If it please your grace to give me leave, Myfelfe wil be the only man. Thou art but yong; the king replyed : 25 30 Yond Scott hath numbred manye a yeare. 35 Then Then bowemen and gunners thou shalt have, To guide the great shipp on the fea, The first man, that lord Howard chofe, 40 Then hang me up on your maine - maft tree, 'Whofe active hands had gained fame, In Yorkshire he was a gentleman borne," And William Horfeley was his name. Horfeley, fayd he, I must with speede To be the head I have chofen thee. From the pr. copy. 50 55 60 If |