“The Hunting of the Cheviot”

Description

Percy, Earl of Northumberland, goes deer hunting into Earl Douglas' land of (Cheviot/Chevy Chase), in defiance of a warning from Douglas. In battle they earn each other's respect, but both die, along with many of their men.

Notes

Child opines that this is based on the same events as "The Battle of Otterburn" (Child #161) rather than some other border battle between Percies and Douglases. The historical Henry Percy (Hotspur) fought [and] was captured [by the Scots], but did not in fact die at Otterburn in 1388 or at any other battle with Scots but was instead slain in battle with Henry IV's forces. - KK

In addition, Harry Hotspur was never Earl of Northumberland. His father (the first of five generations of Henry Percys of Northumberland) was the first Earl, and lived until 1408. Hotspur was killed in 1403, and thus never succeeded to the title, although Hotspur's son became the second Earl.

However, none of the various Earls Percy died in battle with the Scots. The first Earl was a traitor against Henry IV; the second (d. 1455) and third (d. 1461) were casualties of the Wars of the Roses, and the fourth was killed by the people of his own Earldom because he had not supported Richard III at Bosworth. (Richard, despite his later reputation, was loved in the north of England for being fair and honest and keeping the Scots away from the borders.) - RBW

Historical references

• 1388 - Battle of Otterburn. Scots under Douglas attack England. Although Douglas is killed in the battle, the Scots defeat the English and capture their commander Harry "Hotspur" Percy

Same tune

• Of Turkey lately I did read/The Patient Wife betrayed; Or, The Lady Elizabeths Tragedy (BBI ZN2124)
• Give o'er you rhiming Cavaliers/ Bloody News from Chelmsford (BBI ZN971)
• In bloody town of Newberry/...Shuff of Newberry (BBI ZN1413)
• In Popish time when Bishops proud/The King and the Bishop ((BBI ZN1452)
• In searching ancient chronicles/A pleasant history of a Gentleman in Thracia (BBI ZN1461)
• Strange news, strange news, I here have write/..Relation from the Faulcon.. Mr Powel [a ghost] (BBI ZN2405)
• Amongst the Forresters of old/The Unfortunate Forrester ...Lord Thomas.. fair Elener (BBI ZN173)
• God prosper long our noble King, and send him quickly o'er/Hunting-Match (BBI ZN986)
• When as my mind was fully bent/ Bloudy News from Germany (BBI ZN2821)
• All you which sober minded are/Terrible News from Branford (BBI ZN155)
• All tender hearts that ake to hear/The Spanish Virgin (BBI ZN97)
• God prosper long our noble king, His Turks and Germans all/An excellent new Ballad (BBI ZN983)
• God hath preserved our Royal King/The Royal Patient Traveller [Charles II] (BBI ZN978)

Cross references

• cf. "The Battle of Otterburn" (subject)
• cf. "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet" [Child 73] (tune)

References

1. Child 162, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (2 texts)
2. Bronson 162, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (10 versions)
3. Percy/Wheatley I, pp. 20-35+notes on pp. 51-52, "The Ancient Ballad of Chevy Chase"; pp. 249-264, "The More Modern Ballad of Chevy Chace" (sic.) (2 texts)
4. BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 243-248, "Chevy Chase" (1 text)
5. Flanders-Ancient3, pp. 135-144, "The Hunting of the Cheviot, or Chevy Chase" (1 text, from "The Charms of Melody" rather than tradition)
6. Davis-Ballads 34, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (1 text)
7. Davis-More 31, pp. 239-244, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #5}
8. Leach, pp. 446-463, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (3 texts)
9. Friedman, p. 276, "Chevy Chase" (1 text, 2 tunes) {approximating Bronson's #1, #4}
10. Stokoe/Reay, pp. 1-3, "Chevy Chase" (1 text, 1 tune) {cf. Bronson's #6, also from Stokoe's collection but differing in one note}
11. OBB 128, "Chevy Chase" (1 text)
12. PBB 71, "Chevy Chase (The Hunting of the Cheviot)" (1 text)
13. Gummere, pp. 105-115+325-327, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (1 text)
14. Hodgart, p. 96, "Chevy Chase (The Hunting of the Cheviot)" (1 text)
15. TBB 21, "The Hunting of the Cheviot" (1 text)
16. HarvClass-EP1, pp. 93-101, "Chevy Chase" (1 text)
17. Abrahams/Foss, pp. 43-45, "Chevy Chase" (1 text)
18. Chappell/Wooldridge I, pp. 90-92, "Chevy Chase" (1 tune, perhaps linked to this piece)
19. BBI, ZN980, "God prosper long our Noble King"; ZN982, "God prosper long our noble king" (?)
20. DT 162, CHEVCHAS*
21. Roud #223
22. BI, C162