The Douglas parted his host in three, Like a chief chieftain of pride; With surè spears of mighty tree[1100] They came in on every side; XXVII --Throughè our English archery Gave many a woond full wide; Many a doughty[1101] they gar’d to dye, Which gainèd them no pride. XXVIII The Englishmen let their bowès be, And pull’d out brands that were bright; It was a heavy sight to see Bright swords on basnets[1102] light. XXIX Thoro’ rich mail and manoplie[1103] Many stern[1104] they struck down straight; Many a freyke[1105] that was full free There under foot did light. XXX At last the Douglas and the Percy met, Like to captains of might and of main; They swapt[1106] together till they both swat[1107] With swordès of fine Milan. XXXI These worthy freykès for to fight Thereto they were full fain, Till the blood out of their basnets sprent[1108] As ever did hail or rain. XXXII ‘Yield thee, Percy,’ said the Douglas, ‘And i’ faith I shall thee bring Where thou shalt have an Earl’s wages Of Jamie our Scottish king. XXXIII ‘Thou shaltè have thy ransom free, --I hight[1109] thee here this thing; For the manfullest man thou art that e’er I conquer’d in field fighting.’ XXXIV But ‘Nay’, then said the lord Percye, ‘I told it thee beforn That I would never yielded be To man of a woman born.’ XXXV With that an arrow came hastily Forth of a mighty wane[1110]; And it hath stricken the Earl Douglas In at the breastè-bane. XXXVI Thoro’ liver and lungès both The sharp arròw is gone, That never after in his life-days He spake mo words but one: ’Twas, ‘Fight ye, my merry men, whiles ye may, For my life-days bin gone!’ XXXVII The Percy leanèd on his brand And saw the Douglas dee; He took the dead man by the hand, And said, ‘Woe is me for thee! XXXVIII ‘To have sav’d thy life I’d have parted with My lands for yearès three, For a better man of heart nor of hand Was not in the north countrye.’ XXXIX [All this there saw] a Scottish knight, Sir Hugh the Montgomerye: When he saw Douglas to the death was dight[1111], Through a hundred archerye He never stint[1112] nor he never blint[1113] Till he came to the lord Percye. XL He set upon the lord Percỳ A dint[1114] that was full sore; With a surè spear of a mighty tree Thro’ the body him he bore, O’ the t’other side that a man might see A large cloth-yard and more. XLI An archer of Northumberland Saw slain was the lord Percye: He bare a bent bow in his hand, Was made of a trusty tree. XLII