These tidings to Earl Douglas came
In Scotland where he lay,

Who sent Earl Percy present word
He would prevent his sport.
The English Earl, not fearing that,
Did to the woods resort

With fifteen hundred bowmen bold,
All chosen men of might,

Who knew full well in time of need
To aim their shafts aright.

The gallant grey hound swiftly ran
To chase the fallow deer;
On Monday they began to hunt
Ere day-light did appear;

And long before high noon they had
An hundred fat bucks slain.

Then having dined, the drovers went

To rouse the deer again.

The hounds ran swiftly through the woods The nimble deer to take,

And with their cries the hills and dales

An echo shrill did make.

Lord Percy to the Quarry went

To view the tender deer;

Quoth he, “Earl Douglas promised once

This day to meet me here;

❝ But if I thought he would not come, No longer would I stay."

With that a brave young gentleman
Thus to the Earl did say,

"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,
His men in armor bright,

Full twenty hundred Scottish spears
All marching in our sight,

"All pleasant men of Teviotdale Fast by the river Tweed."

"O cease your sports!" Earl Percy said, "And take your bows with speed,

"And now with me, my countrymen,
Your courage forth advance !
For there was never champion yet
In Scotland nor in France

"That ever did on horseback come,
But if my hap it were,

I durst encounter man for man,
With him to break a spear."

Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed,
Most like a Baron bold,

Rode foremost of his company,

Whose armor shone like gold:

"Show me," said he, "whose men you be
That hunt so boldly here,
And, without my consent, do chase
And kill my fallow deer."

The first man that did answer make

Was noble Percy he,

Who said, "We list not to declare,
Nor show whose men we be,

"Yet we will spend our dearest blood
Thy chiefest harts to slay."
Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,
And thus in rage did say,

"Ere thus I will out-bravèd be,
One of us two shall die!

I know thee well! An Earl thou art,
Lord Percy! So am I;

"But trust me, Percy, pity 't were,
And great offence, to kill
Any of these our guiltless men,
For they have done no ill;

"Let thou and I the battle try,

And set our men aside."

"Accursed be he!" Earl Percy said,

Then stepped a gallant Squire forth, -
Witherington was his name,

Who said, "I would not have it told
To Henry our King, for shame,

"That e'er my captain fought on foot, And I stand looking on:

You be two Earls," quoth Witherington, “And I a Squire alone.

I'll do the best that do I may,

While I have power. to stand.

While I have power to wield my sword,
I'll fight with heart and hand!”

Our English archers bent their bows
Their hearts were good and true,
At the first flight of arrows sent,
Full four score Scots they slew.

To drive the deer with hound and horn,
Douglas bade on the bent;

Two Captains moved with mickle might,
Their spears to shivers went.

They closed full fast on every side,
No slackness there was found,
But many a gallant gentleman
Lay gasping on the ground.

O Christ! it was great grief to see
How each man chose his spear,
And how the blood out of their breasts
Did gush like water clear!

At last these two stout Earls did meet
Like Captains of great might;
Like lions' moods they laid on load,
They made a cruel fight.

They fought until they both did sweat,
With swords of tempered steel,
Till blood adown their cheeks like rain
They trickling down did feel.

"O yield thee, Percy!" Douglas said, "And in faith I will thee bring

Where thou shalt high advanced be
By James, our Scottish King;

"Thy ransom I will freely give,
And this report of thee,

Thou art the most courageous Knight
That ever I did see."

"No, Douglas!" quoth Earl Percy then,

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Thy proffer I do scorn;

I will not yield to any Scot

That ever yet was born!"

With that there came an arrow keen
Out of an English bow,

Which struck Earl Douglas on the breast
A deep and deadly blow;

Who never said more words than these,

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'Fight on, my merry men all

For why, my life is at an end,

Lord Percy sees my fall."

Then leaving life, Earl Percy took
The dead man by the hand;
And said, "Earl Douglas! for thy sake
Would I had lost my land!

"O Christ! my very heart doth bleed
With sorrow for thy sake!
For sure, a more renowned Knight
Mischance could never take!"

A Knight amongst the Scots there was. Who saw Earl Douglas die,