‘Now aske on, Douglas,’ said the King, ‘And granted it shall bee.’-- ‘Why then, I aske litle London,’ saies Douglas, ‘Gotten gif that it bee.’ XXIII The King was wroth, and rose away, Saies, ‘Nay, that cannot bee! For that I will keepe for my cheefe chamber, Gotten gif that it bee. XXIV ‘But take thee North Wales and Weschester, The countrye all round about, And rewarded thou shalt bee, Of that take thou noe doubt.’ XXV Five score knights he made on a day, And dubb’d them with his hands; Rewarded them right worthilye With the townes in merry England. XXVI And when the fresh knights they were made, To battell they buske[1031] them bowne[1032]; Jamès Douglas he went before, And he thought to have wonnen him shoone. XXVII But they were mett in a morning of May With the comminaltye of litle England; But there scapèd never a man away, Through the might of Christès hand. XXVIII But all onely Jamès Douglas; In Durham in the ffeild An arrow stroke him in the thye; Fast flinges he towards the King. XXIX The King looked toward litle Durham, Saies, ‘All things is not weel! For James Douglas beares an arrow in his thye, The head of it is of steele. XXX ‘How now, James?’ then said the King, ‘How now, how may this bee? And where beene all thy merrymen That thou tooke hence with thee?’ XXXI ‘But cease, my King,’ saies James Douglas, ‘Alive is not left a man!’ ‘Now by my faith,’ saies the King of Scotts, ‘That gate was evil gone. XXXII ‘But I’le revenge thy quarrell well, And of that thou may be fain; For one Scott will beate five Englishmen, If they meeten them on the plaine.’ XXXIII ‘Now hold your tongue,’ saies James Douglas, ‘For in faith that is not soe; For one English man is worth five Scotts, When they meeten together thoe[1033]. XXXIV ‘For they are as eager men to fight As a faulcon upon a prey; Alas! if ever they winne the vanward, There scapes noe man away.’ XXXV ‘O peace thy talking,’ said the King, ‘They bee but English knaves, But shepards and millers both, And priestès with their staves.’ XXXVI The King sent forth one of his heralds of armes To vew the Englishmen: ‘Be of good cheere,’ the herald said, ‘For against one we be ten.’ XXXVII ‘Who leads those lads?’ said the King of Scotts, ‘Thou herald, tell thou mee’: The herald said, ‘The Bishop of Durham Is captaine of that companye. XXXVIII ‘For the Bishop hath spred the King’s banner, And to battell he buskes him bowne’; ‘I sweare by St Andrewes bones,’ saies the King, ‘I’le rapp that priest on the crowne!’ XXXIX