The ballad which follows, printed from the fourth or revised edition of Percy's _Reliques_ (vol. i. p. 21), was derived from a manuscript in the Cotton library (Cleopatra, c. iv. fol. 64), thought to be written about the middle of the sixteenth century. In the earlier editions, a less perfect copy, from the Harleian collection, had been used. Hume of Godscroft, speaking of the songs made on the battle of Otterbourne, says, "the Scots song made of Otterbourne telleth the time--about Lammas; and also the occasion--to take preys out of England; also the dividing armies betwixt the Earls of Fife and Douglas, and their several journeys, almost as in the authentic history," and proceeds to quote the first stanza of the present ballad. Again, it is said that at Lammas, when the Scotch husbandmen are busy at getting in their hay, the season has been over for a month in most parts of England. From these circumstances, and the occurrence of certain Scottish words, the first part of _The Battle of Otterbourne_ has been regarded as a Scottish composition, retouched by an English hand. A somewhat mutilated version of this ballad was published in Herd's _Scottish Songs_. This, though defective, well deserves a place in our Appendix. Sir Walter Scott inserted in the _Minstrelsy_ another edition made up by him from two copies obtained from the recitation of old persons residing in Ettrick Forest, and it is here subjoined to Percy's version. Genealogical notices of the personages mentioned in this and the following ballad will be found in Percy's _Reliques_ and in Scott's _Minstrelsy_. Yt felle abowght the Lamasse tyde, Whan husbonds wynn ther haye, The dowghtye Dowglasse bowynd hym to ryde, In Ynglond to take a praye. The yerlle of Fyffe, withowghten stryffe, 5 He bowynd hym over Sulway:[L6] The grete wolde ever together ryde; That race they may rue for aye. Over Ottercap hyll they came in,[L9] And so dowyn by Rodelyffe cragge, 10 Upon Grene Leyton they lyghted dowyn, Styrande many a stagge;[L12] And boldely brent Northomberlonde, And haryed many a towyn; They dyd owr Ynglyssh men grete wrange, 15 To battell that were not bowyn. Than spake a berne upon the bent, Of comforte that was not colde, And sayd, "We have brent Northomberlond, We have all welth in holde. 20 "Now we have haryed all Bamboroweshyre, All the welth in the worlde have wee; I rede we ryde to Newe Castell, So styll and stalwurthlye." Uppon the morowe, when it was daye, 25 The standards schone fulle bryght; To the Newe Castelle the toke the waye, And thether they cam fulle ryght.