Two Valiant Knights

There is a tale about two knights; one a distant relative of mine Sir Michael Musgrave and the other Sir John Armstrong. They were both in love with Isabele Dacre the daughter of Lady Dacre. Isabele had chose to wed, Sir John Armstrong and the heartbroken, disappointed Sir Musgrave vowed to retaliate. On the day of the wedding Sir Musgrave challeneged Sir Armstrong and killed him in battle. The clansmen of Sir Armstrong were filled with rage and killed Sir Musgrave slashing and hacking him into pieces so small that they filled a cook pot with the pieces.

Sir Michael Musgrave Earl of Northumberton was born in Eden Hall near the river Eden in Penrith, Cumberland, England not far from the Scottish border.

Sir John Armstrong was the second son of Lord Alexander Armstrong of Mangerton Castle, Scotland. He was born about 1358 and died August 19 1388. He married Isabella on August 19 1388 in Otterburne.

It is said that this battle at Otterburne was the most valiantly fought and the most severe with over 100 men dying. Both men had been in love with her for over two years before she chose John.

Sir John Armstrong's Marriage
(Part 1)
" As it fell out one Whitsonday,
The Blith Time of the Year,
When every Tree was clad with green,
And pretty Birds sing clear;

The Lady Dacres took her way
Unto the Church that pleasant Day
With her fair Daughter, fresh and gay,
A bright and bonny Lass.

Sir Michael Musgrave in like sort
To Church repaired then,
And so did Sir John Armstrong too,
With all his merry Men;

Two greater Friends there could not be
Nor braver Knights for Chivalry,
Both bachelors of high Degree
Fit for a bonny Lass.

They sat them down upon one Seat
Like loving Brethren dear,
With Hearts and Minds devoutly bent
God's Service for to hear

But rising from their Prayers tho
Their Eyes a ranging strait did go,
Which wrought their utter Overthrow
All for one bonny Lass

Quoth Musgrave unto Armstrong then
Yon sits the sweetest Dame,
That ever for her fair Beauty
Within this Country came

Insooth, quoth Armstrong presently
Your Judgement I must verify,
There never came unto my Eye
A braver boney Lass

I swear, said Musgrave, by this sword
Which did my Knighthood win,
To steal away so sweet a Dame
Could be no Ghostly Sin

That Deed, quoth Armstrong, would be ill
Except you had her right good Will,
That your Desire she would fulfil
And for thy bonny Lass

By this the Service quite done
And home the People past,
They wished a Blister, on his Tongue
That made thereof such haste

At the Church-Door the Knights did meet
The Lady Dacres for to greet,
But most of all her Daughter sweet
That beauteous bonny Lass

Said Armstrong to the Lady fair
We both have made a Vow,
At Dinner for to be your Guests
If you will it allow

With that bespoke the Lady free
Sir Knights, right welcome shall you be,
The happier Men therefore are we
For Love of this bonny Lass

Thus were the Knights both prick'd in Love
Both in one Moment thrall'd,
And both with one fair Lady gay
Fair Isabella call'd

With hunble Thanks they went away
Like wounded Harts chas'd all the Day,
One would not to the other say
They lov'd this bonny Lass

Fair Isbel on the other side
As far in Love was found,
So long brave Armstrong she had ey'd
Till Love her Heart did wound

Brave Armstrong is my Joy, quoth she
Would Christ he were alone with me,
To talk an Hour two or three
With his fair bonny Lass

But as these Knights together rode
And Homeward did repair,
Their Talk and eke their Counterenance shew'd
Their Hearts were clogg'd with Care

Fair Isabel, the one did say
Thou hast subdu'd my Heart this Day,
But she's my Joy, did Musgrave say
My bright and bonny Lass

With that these Friends incontinent
Became most deadly Foes,
For love of beauteous Isabel
Great Strife betwist them rose

Quoth Armstrong, She shall be my Wife
Although for her I lose my life,
And thus began a deadly Strife
And for one bonny Lass

Thus two Years long this Grudge did grow
These gallant Knights between,
While they swooing both did go
Unto this beauteous Queen

And she who did their Furies prove
To neither would bewray her Love,
The deadly Quarrel to remove
About this bonny Lass


As I am hunting the ghosts of the Musgraves who are my kin I came across Lord Gamel de Musgrave who is my 31st Great Grand father and also the 28th Great Grand father of Prince William and Prince Henry of England. Gamel translates to "old man" in Norse. Gamel de Musgrave was born in 1035 in either France or Scotland.