Show me, sayd hee, whose men you bee, That hunt soe boldly heere, That, without my consent, doe chase And kill my fallow-deere. The first man that did answer make Was noble Percy hee; Who sayd, Wee list not to declare, Nor shew whose men wee bee: Yet wee will spend our deerest blood, Thy cheefest harts to slay. Then Douglas swore a solempne oathe, And thus in rage did say, Ere thus I will out-braved bee, One of us two shall dye: I know thee well, an erle thou art; Lord Percy, soe am I. But trust me, Percy, pittye it were, And great offence to kill Any of these our guiltlesse men, For they have done no ill. Let thou and I the battell trye, And set our men aside. Accurst bee he, Erle Percy sayd, By whome this is denyed. Then stept a gallant squier forth, Witherington was his name, Who said, I wold not have it told To Henry our king for shame, That ere my captaine fought on foote, And I stood looking on. You be two erles, sayd Witherington, And I a squier alone: He doe the best that doe I may, While I have power to stand: While I have power to weeld my sword He fight with hart and hand. Our English archers bent their bowes, Their harts were good and trew; Att the first flight of arrowes sent, Full four-score Scots they slew. Yet bides Earl Douglas on the bent, As Chieftain stout and good. As valiant Captain, all unmov'd The shock he firmly stood. His host he parted had in three, As Leader ware and try'd, And soon his spearmen on their foes Bare down on every side. To drive the deere with hound and horne, Douglas bade on the bent Two captaines moved with mickle might Their speres to shivers went. Throughout the English archery They dealt full many a wound: But still our valiant Englishmen All firmly kept their ground: And throwing strait their bows away, They grasp'd their swords so bright: And now sharp blows, a heavy shower, On shields and helmets light. They closed full fast on every side, Noe slackness there was found: And many a gallant gentleman Lay gasping on the ground. O Christ! it was a griefe to see; And likewise for to heare, The cries of men lying in their gore, And scattered here and there. At last these two stout erles did meet, Like captaines of great might: Like lyons wood, they layd on lode, And made a cruell fight: They fought untill they both did sweat, With swords of tempered steele; Untill the blood, like drops of rain, They tricklin downe did feele. Yeeld thee, Lord Percy, Douglas sayd In faith I will thee bringe, Where thou shalt high advanced bee By James our Scottish king: Thy ransome I will freely give, And this report of thee, Thou art the most couragious knight, That ever I did see.