Sir Andrew Barton Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B C D EFGF HIFI J KF LIM NON LPQ HFR STU VFW SIX QDPY FZF FA2F QDB2Y FZF FA2F C2FD2E2 FTF2T SYG2 H2I2J2 H2OH G2OIO G2IOI IG2I OG2K2G2 OG2G2G2 OJ2OO OOXO DQD OG2X OL2G2G2 G2OK2O OOM2O OG2N2G2 G2G2M2 E2OOO G2G2O OL2O2G2 G2G2E2G2 OG2D P2POP OOG2 OE2Q2E2 E2L2G2G2 R2E2S2 G2T2G2 DE2O DPG2P OPG2P OOO DE2G2E2 OE2O G2T2E2T2 POPO DXO G2T2E2T2 POT2O T2E2U2V2 U2W2D U2X2Y2D OOO PE2O PZ2A3O OT2B3T2 DT2E2P DE2O2 E2OO F2T2C3T2 OOB2E2 D3G2G2 PT2D2P G2VG2V OOO E3F3OD F2G2XD G2 D T2G2YG2 OXG3X ODO H3ODO G2OG2O OG2E2

The Text is taken from the Percy Folio MS but the spelling is modernised There is another version extant in broadsides to be found in nearly all the large collections this when set beside the Folio MS text provides a remarkable instance of the loss a ballad sustained by falling into the hands of the broadside printers The present text despite the unlucky hiatus after st is a splendid example of an English ballad which cannot be earlier than the sixteenth century There is a fine rhythm throughout and as Child says 'not many better passages are met with in ballad poetry than that which tells of the three gallant attempts on the mainmast tree stt '	A
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The Story told in the ballad is a piece of history and belongs originally to the beginning of the sixteenth century Andrew Barton was one of three sons of John Barton a Scots trader whose ship had been plundered by the Portuguese in letters of reprisal were granted to the brothers Barton and renewed to them in 'as no opportunity had occurred of effectuating a retaliation ' It seems however that this privilege was abused at least by Andrew who was reported in June to Henry VIII as seizing English ships under the pretext that they were Portuguese The king did not send Lord Charles Howard as the ballad states Lord Charles was not born till twenty five years afterwards but Sir Thomas and Sir Edward Howard set out against the pirate by Henry's leave They took two ships not one the meeting with Henry Hunt st being the ballad maker's invention Lord Charles's fraudulent use of the 'white flag' in st is supported by Bishop Lesley's partisan account of the engagement written c The time scheme of the ballad is unusually vague it begins 'in midsummer time ' and the punitive expedition starts on 'the day before midsummer even' i e June which agrees with the chronicles The fight takes place within the week but Lord Charles does not get home until December st Hall's chronicle says that they returned on August	B
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Lord Charles Howard was created Earl of Nottingham in but the adoption of this into the ballad st dates only our text It is quite probable that it existed in a previous version with names and facts more correctly stated	C
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SIR ANDREW BARTON	D
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As it befell in midsummer time	E
When birds sing sweetly on every tree	F
Our noble king King Henry the Eighth	G
Over the river of Thames passed he	F
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He was no sooner over the river	H
Down in a forest to take the air	I
But eighty merchants of London city	F
Came kneeling before King Henry there	I
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'O ye are welcome rich merchants	J
Good sailors welcome unto me '	-
They swore by the rood they were sailors good	K
But rich merchants they could not be	F
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'To France nor Flanders dare we not pass	L
Nor Bordeaux voyage we dare not fare	I
And all for a false robber that lies on the seas	M
And robs us of our merchant's ware '	-
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King Henry was stout and he turned him about	N
And swore by the Lord that was mickle of might	O
'I thought he had not been in the world throughout	N
That durst have wrought England such unright '	-
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But ever they sighed and said alas	L
Unto King Henry this answer again	P
'He is a proud Scot that will rob us all	Q
If we were twenty ships and he but one '	-
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The king looked over his left shoulder	H
Amongst his lords and barons so free	F
'Have I never a lord in all my realm	R
Will fetch yond traitor unto me '	-
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'Yes that dare I ' says my lord Charles Howard	S
Near to the king whereas he did stand	T
'If that your Grace will give me leave	U
Myself will be the only man '	-
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'Thou shalt have six hundred men ' saith our king	V
'And choose them out of my realm so free	F
Besides mariners and boys	W
To guide the great ship on the sea '	-
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'I'll go speak with Sir Andrew ' says Charles my lord Howard	S
'Upon the sea if he be there	I
I will bring him and his ship to shore	X
Or before my prince I will never come near '	-
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The first of all my lord did call	Q
A noble gunner he was one	D
This man was three score years and ten	P
And Peter Simon was his name	Y
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'Peter ' says he 'I must sail to the sea	F
To seek out an enemy God be my speed	Z
Before all others I have chosen thee	F
Of a hundred gunners thou'st be my head '	-
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'My lord ' says he 'if you have chosen me	F
Of a hundred gunners to be the head	A2
Hang me at your main mast tree	F
If I miss my mark past three pence bread '	-
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The next of all my lord he did call	Q
A noble bowman he was one	D
In Yorkshire was this gentleman born	B2
And William Horsley was his name	Y
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'Horsley ' says he 'I must sail to the sea	F
To seek out an enemy God be my speed	Z
Before all others I have chosen thee	F
Of a hundred bowmen thou'st be my head '	-
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'My lord ' says he 'if you have chosen me	F
Of a hundred bowmen to be the head	A2
Hang me at your main mast tree	F
If I miss my mark past twelve pence bread '	-
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With pikes and guns and bowmen bold	C2
This noble Howard is gone to the sea	F
On the day before mid summer even	D2
And out at Thames' mouth sailed they	E2
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They had not sailed days three	F
Upon their journey they took in hand	T
But there they met with a noble ship	F2
And stoutly made it both stay and stand	T
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'Thou must tell me thy name ' says Charles my lord Howard	S
'Or who thou art or from whence thou came	Y
Yea and where thy dwelling is	G2
To whom and where thy ship does belong '	-
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'My name ' says he 'is Harry Hunt	H2
With a pure heart and a penitent mind	I2
I and my ship they do belong	J2
Unto the New castle that stands upon Tyne '	-
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'Now thou must tell me Harry Hunt	H2
As thou hast sailed by day and by night	O
Hast thou not heard of a stout robber	H
Men call him Sir Andrew Barton knight '	-
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But ever he sighed and said 'Alas	G2
Full well my lord I know that wight	O
He robbed me of my merchant's ware	I
And I was his prisoner but yesternight	O
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'As I was sailing upon the sea	G2
And Bordeaux voyage as I did fare	I
He clasped me to his arch board	O
And robbed me of all my merchant's ware	I
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'And I am a man both poor and bare	I
And every man will have his own of me	G2
And I am bound towards London to fare	I
To complain to my prince Henry '	-
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'That shall not need ' says my lord Howard	O
'If thou canst let me this robber see	G2
For every penny he hath taken thee fro	K2
Thou shalt be rewarded a shilling ' quoth he	G2
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'Now God forfend ' says Henry Hunt	O
'My lord you should work so far amiss	G2
God keep you out of that traitor's hands	G2
For you wot full little what a man he is	G2
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'He is brass within and steel without	O
And beams he bears in his top castle strong	J2
His ship hath ordnance clean round about	O
Besides my lord he is very well manned	O
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'He hath a pinnace is dearly dight	O
Saint Andrew's cross that is his guide	O
His pinnace bears nine score men and more	X
Besides fifteen cannons on every side	O
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'If you were twenty ships and he but one	D
Either in arch board or in hall	Q
He would overcome you every one	D
And if his beams they do down fall '	-
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'This is cold comfort ' says my lord Howard	O
'To welcome a stranger thus to the sea	G2
I'll bring him and his ship to shore	X
Or else into Scotland he shall carry me '	-
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'Then you must get a noble gunner my lord	O
That can set well with his eye	L2
And sink his pinnace into the sea	G2
And soon then overcome will he be	G2
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'And when that you have done this	G2
If you chance Sir Andrew for to board	O
Let no man to his top castle go	K2
And I will give you a glass my lord	O
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'And then you need to fear no Scot	O
Whether you sail by day or by night	O
And to morrow by seven of the clock	M2
You shall meet with Sir Andrew Barton knight	O
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'I was his prisoner but yesternight	O
And he hath taken me sworn ' quoth he	G2
'I trust my Lord God will me forgive	N2
And if that oath then broken be	G2
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'You must lend me six pieces my lord ' quoth he	G2
'Into my ship to sail the sea	G2
And to morrow by nine of the clock	M2
Your honour again then will I see '	-
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And the hatch board where Sir Andrew lay	E2
Is hatched with gold dearly dight	O
'Now by my faith ' says Charles my lord Howard	O
'Then yonder Scot is a worthy wight	O
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'Take in your ancients and your standards	G2
Yea that no man shall them see	G2
And put me forth a white willow wand	O
As merchants use to sail the sea '	-
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But they stirred neither top nor mast	O
But Sir Andrew they passed by	L2
'What English are yonder ' said Sir Andrew	O2
'That can so little courtesy	G2
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'I have been admiral over the sea	G2
More than these years three	G2
There is never an English dog nor Portingale	E2
Can pass this way without leave of me	G2
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'But now yonder pedlars they are past	O
Which is no little grief to me	G2
Fetch them back ' says Sir Andrew Barton	D
'They shall all hang at my mainmast tree '	-
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With that the pinnace it shot off	P2
That my lord Howard might it well ken	P
It struck down my lord's foremast	O
And killed fourteen of my lord his men	P
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'Come hither Simon ' says my lord Howard	O
'Look that thy words be true thou said	O
I'll hang thee at my mainmast tree	G2
If thou miss thy mark past twelve pence bread '	-
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Simon was old but his heart it was bold	O
He took down a piece and laid it full low	E2
He put in chain yards nine	Q2
Besides other great shot less and moe	E2
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With that he let his gunshot go	E2
So well he settled it with his eye	L2
The first sight that Sir Andrew saw	G2
He saw his pinnace sunk in the sea	G2
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When he saw his pinnace sunk	R2
Lord in his heart he was not well	E2
'Cut my ropes it is time to be gone	S2
I'll go fetch yond pedlars back myself '	-
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When my lord Howard saw Sir Andrew loose	G2
Lord in his heart that he was fain	T2
'Strike on your drums spread out your ancients	G2
Sound out your trumpets sound out amain '	-
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'Fight on my men ' says Sir Andrew Barton	D
'Weet howsoever this gear will sway	E2
It is my lord Admiral of England	O
Is come to seek me on the sea '	-
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Simon had a son with shot of a gun	D
Well Sir Andrew might it ken	P
He shot it at a privy place	G2
And killed sixty more of Sir Andrew's men	P
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Harry Hunt came in at the other side	O
And at Sir Andrew he shot then	P
He drove down his foremast tree	G2
And killed eighty more of Sir Andrew's men	P
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'I have done a good turn ' says Harry Hunt	O
'Sir Andrew is not our king's friend	O
He hoped to have undone me yesternight	O
But I hope I have quit him well in the end '	-
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'Ever alas ' said Sir Andrew Barton	D
'What should a man either think or say	E2
Yonder false thief is my strongest enemy	G2
Who was my prisoner but yesterday	E2
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'Come hither to me thou Gordon good	O
And be thou ready at my call	E2
And I will give thee three hundred pound	O
If thou wilt let my beams down fall '	-
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With that he swarved the mainmast tree	G2
So did he it with might and main	T2
Horsley with a bearing arrow	E2
Strake the Gordon through the brain	T2
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And he fell into the hatches again	P
And sore of this wound that he did bleed	O
Then word went through Sir Andrew's men	P
That the Gordon he was dead	O
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'Come hither to me James Hamilton	D
Thou art my sister's son I have no more	X
I will give thee six hundred pound	O
If thou will let my beams down fall '	-
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With that he swarved the mainmast tree	G2
So did he it with might and main	T2
Horsley with another broad arrow	E2
Strake the yeoman through the brain	T2
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That he fell down to the hatches again	P
Sore of his wound that he did bleed	O
Covetousness gets no gain	T2
It is very true as the Welshman said	O
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But when he saw his sister's son slain	T2
Lord in his heart he was not well	E2
'Go fetch me down my armour of proof	U2
For I will to the top castle myself	V2
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'Go fetch me down my armour of proof	U2
For it is gilded with gold so clear	W2
God be with my brother John of Barton	D
Amongst the Portingales he did it wear '	-
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But when he had his armour of proof	U2
And on his body he had it on	X2
Every man that looked at him	Y2
Said gun nor arrow he need fear none	D
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'Come hither Horsley ' says my lord Howard	O
'And look your shaft that it go right	O
Shoot a good shoot in the time of need	O
And for thy shooting thou'st be made a knight '	-
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'I'll do my best ' says Horsley then	P
'Your honour shall see before I go	E2
If I should be hanged at your mainmast	O
I have in my ship but arrows two '	-
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But at Sir Andrew he shot then	P
He made sure to hit his mark	Z2
Under the spole of his right arm	A3
He smote Sir Andrew quite through the heart	O
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Yet from the tree he would not start	O
But he clinged to it with might and main	T2
Under the collar then of his jack	B3
He strake Sir Andrew through the brain	T2
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'Fight on my men ' says Sir Andrew Barton	D
'I am hurt but I am not slain	T2
I'll lay me down and bleed awhile	E2
And then I'll rise and fight again	P
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'Fight on my men ' says Sir Andrew Barton	D
'These English dogs they bite so low	E2
Fight on for Scotland and Saint Andrew	O2
Till you hear my whistle blow '	-
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But when they could not hear his whistle blow	E2
Says Harry Hunt 'I'll lay my head	O
You may board yonder noble ship my lord	O
For I know Sir Andrew he is dead '	-
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With that they boarded this noble ship	F2
So did they it with might and main	T2
They found eighteen score Scots alive	C3
Besides the rest were maimed and slain	T2
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My lord Howard took a sword in his hand	O
And smote off Sir Andrew's head	O
The Scots stood by did weep and mourn	B2
But never a word durst speak or say	E2
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He caused his body to be taken down	D3
And over the hatch board cast into the sea	G2
And about his middle three hundred crowns	G2
'Wheresoever thou lands it will bury thee '	-
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With his head they sailed into England again	P
With right good will and force and main	T2
And the day before New Year's Even	D2
Into Thames' mouth they came again	P
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My lord Howard wrote to King Henry's grace	G2
With all the news he could him bring	V
'Such a New Year's gift I have brought to your Grace	G2
As never did subject to any king	V
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'For merchandise and manhood	O
The like is not to be found	O
The sight of these would do you good	O
For you have not the like in your English ground '	-
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But when he heard tell that they were come	E3
Full royally he welcomed them home	F3
Sir Andrew's ship was the king's New Year's gift	O
A braver ship you never saw none	D
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Now hath our king Sir Andrew's ship	F2
Beset with pearls and precious stones	G2
Now hath England two ships of war	X
Two ships of war before but one	D
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'Who holp to this ' says King Henry	G2
'That I may reward him for his pain '	-
'Harry Hunt and Peter Simon	D
William Horsley and I the same '	-
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'Harry Hunt shall have his whistle and chain	T2
And all his jewels whatsoever they be	G2
And other rich gifts that I will not name	Y
For his good service he hath done me	G2
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'Horsley right thou'st be a knight	O
Lands and livings thou shalt have store	X
Howard shall be Earl of Nottingham	G3
And so was never Howard before	X
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'Now Peter Simon thou art old	O
I will maintain thee and thy son	D
Thou shalt have five hundred pound all in gold	O
For the good service that thou hast done '	-
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Then King Henry shifted his room	H3
In came the Queen and ladies bright	O
Other errands had they none	D
But to see Sir Andrew Barton knight	O
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But when they see his deadly face	G2
His eyes were hollow in his head	O
'I would give a hundred pound ' says King Henry	G2
'The man were alive as he is dead	O
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'Yet for the manful part that he hath played	O
Both here and beyond the sea	G2
His men shall have half a crown a day	E2
To bring them to my brother King Jamie '	-

Frank Sidgwick

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