The  Life  and  Death  of  Sir  Andrew  Barf  on.  15

Then  did  lie  on  Gordian1  call

unto  the  top -castle  for  to  go,
And  bid  his  beams  he  should  let  fall,

for  he  greatly  fear'd  an  overthrow.  172

The  Lord2  calPd  Horsely  [then]3  in  haste,

"  Look  that  thy  word  now  stand  in  stead,
For  thou  shalt  be  hanged  on  Main-mast,

ifthoumiss  [at]  twelvescore  a  shilling  breadth."  176
Then  up  [the]  mast-tree  swerved  he,

this  stout  and  mighty  Gordian,
But  Horsely  he  most  happily

shot  him  under  the  collar-bone.  180

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."  184

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.  188

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 ;  192

"  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  [e]  Knight."  196

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 ;  200

Then  Horsely  'spied  a  private  place,

with  a  perfect  eye  in  a  secret  part,
His  arrow  swiftly  flew  apace,

and  smote  Sir  Andrew  to  the  heart ;  204

1  Printed  so  in  orig.  and  643.  m.  9. ;  but  G-ordion  in  the  Bagford  Collection,
643.  m.  10,  and  in  Box. 'III.  726.  2  Lord  Howard.
