"In this ... year, 1436, according to Hector Boethius, was fought the battle of Pepperden, not far from the Cheviot Hills, between the Earl of Northumberland [IId Earl, son of Hotspur], and Earl William Douglas, of Angus, with a small army of about four thousand men each, in which the latter had the advantage. As this seems to have been a private conflict between these two great Chieftains of the Borders, rather than a national war, it has been thought to have given rise to the celebrated old ballad of Chevy-Chase; which to render it more pathetic and interesting, has been heightened with tragical incidents wholly fictitious." [2] We regret that even Dr. Rimbault has hastily sanctioned this ascription of _Chevy-Chase_ to the "sely" minstrel of Tamworth. THE FIRST FIT. The Persè owt off Northombarlande, And a vowe to God mayd he, That he wold hunte in the mountayns Off Chyviat within days thre, In the mauger of doughtè Dogles,[L5] 5 And all that ever with him be. The fattiste hartes in all Cheviat He sayd he wold kill, and cary them away: "Be my feth," sayd the dougheti Doglas agayn, "I wyll let that hontyng yf that I may." 10 Then the Persè owt of Banborowe cam,[L11] With him a myghtee meany; With fifteen hondrith archares bold off blood and bone,[L13] The wear chosen owt of shyars thre.[L14] This begane on a Monday at morn, 15 In Cheviat the hillys so he; The chyld may rue that ys un-born, It was the mor pittè. The dryvars throrowe the woodès went, For to reas the dear; 20 Bomen byckarte uppone the bent With ther browd aras cleare. Then the wyld thorowe the woodès went, On every sydè shear; Grea-hondes thorowe the grevis glent, 25 For to kyll thear dear. The begane in Chyviat the hyls above, Yerly on a Monnyn day; Be that it drewe to the oware off none, A hondrith fat hartes ded ther lay. 30 The blewe a mort uppone the bent,[L31] The semblyd on sydis shear; To the quyrry then the Persè went, To se the bryttlynge off the deare. He sayd, "It was the Duglas promys 35 This day to met me hear; But I wyste he wold faylle, verament:" A great oth the Persè swear. At the laste a squyar of Northombelonde Lokyde at his hand full ny; 40 He was war a' the doughetie Doglas comynge,[L41] With him a myghttè meany; Both with spear, byll, and brande;[L43] Yt was a myghti sight to se; Hardyar men, both off hart nar hande, 45 Wear not in Christiantè.