In the versions of this ballad given in the body of this work, the Earl of Douglas is represented as falling by the hand of Harry Percy. In the ballad which follows, taken from Herd's _Scottish Songs_, i. 211, his death is ascribed to the revenge of an offended servant. Though there is not the slightest reason to give credence to this story, it has a certain foundation in tradition. Hume of Godscroft writes "there are that say, that he [Douglas] was not slain by the enemy, but by one of his own men, a groom of his chamber, whom he had struck the day before with a truncheon, in ordering of the battle, because he saw him make somewhat slowly to. And they name this man John Bickerton of Luffness, who left a part of his armour behind unfastened, and when he was in the greatest conflict, this servant of his came behind his back, and slew him thereat." Wintown says that the Earl was so intent on marshalling his forces, and so eager to be at the foe, that he neglected to arm himself carefully.--SCOTT's _Minstrelsy_, i. 350. It fell, and about the Lammas time, When husbandmen do win their hay, Earl Douglas is to the English woods, And a' with him to fetch a prey. He has chosen the Lindsays light, 5 With them the gallant Gordons gay, And the Earl of Fyfe, withouten strife, And Sir Hugh Montgomery upon a grey. They hae taken Northumberland, And sae hae they the North-shire, 10 And the Otter-dale, they burnt it hale, And set it a' into the fire. Out then spack a bonny boy,[L13] That serv'd ane o' Earl Douglas kin, "Methinks I see an English host, 15 A-coming branken us upon." "If this be true, my little boy, An it be troth that thou tells me, The brawest bower in Otterburn This day shall be thy morning fee. 20 "But if it be false, my little boy, But and a lie that thou tells me, On the highest tree that's in Otterburn With my awin hands I'll hing thee hie." The boy's taen out his little penknife, 25 That hanget low down by his gare, And he gae Earl Douglas a deadly wound, Alas, a deep wound and a sare! Earl Douglas said to Sir Hugh Montgomery, "Tack thou the vanguard o' the three, 30 And bury me at yon bracken bush, That stands upon yon lilly lee." Then Percy and Montgomery met, And weel I wat they war na fain; They swapped swords, and they twa swat, 35 And ay the blood ran down between. "O yield thee, yield thee, Percy," he said, "Or else I vow I'll lay thee low; "Whom to shall I yield," said Earl Percy, "Now that I see it maun be so?" 40