Legends That Every Child Should Know Part 10

The gallant greyhound swiftly ran To chase the fallow deer; On Monday they began to hunt Ere daylight did appear;

And long before high noon they had A hundred fat bucks slain; Then having dined, the drovers went To rouse the deer again.

The bowmen mustered on the hills, Well able to endure; Their backsides all with special care That day were guarded sure.

The hounds ran swiftly through the woods, The nimble deer to take, That with their cries the hills and dales An echo shrill did make.

Lord Percy to the quarry went To view the tender deer; Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promised once This day to meet me here."

"But if I thought he would not come, No longer would I stay"; With that a brave young gentleman Thus to the earl did say:

"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come, His men in armour bright; Full twenty hundred Scottish spears All marching in our sight;

"All men of pleasant Teviotdale, Fast by the River Tweed."

"O cease your sports," Earl Percy said, "And take your bows with speed;

"And now with me, my countrymen, Your courage forth advance, For there was never champion yet, In Scotland or in France,

"That ever did on horseback come, And if my hap it were, I durst encounter man for man With him to break a spear."

Earl Douglas on his milk white steed, Most like a baron bold, Rode foremost of his company, Whose armour shone like gold.

"Show me," said he, "whose men you be, That hunt so boldly here, That, without my consent, do chase And kill my fallow deer."

The first man that did answer make, Was n.o.ble Percy he, Who said, "We list not to declare Nor show whose men we be:

"Yet will we spend our dearest blood Thy chiefest harts to slay."

Then Douglas swore a solemn oath, And thus in rage did say:

"Ere thus I will out-braved be, One of us two shall die; I know thee well, an earl thou art-- Lord Percy, so am I.

"But trust me, Percy, pity it were, And great offence, to kill Any of these our guiltless men, For they have done none ill.

"Let thou and I the battle try, And set our men aside."

"Accurst be he," Earl Percy said, "By whom it is denied."

Then stept a gallant squire forth-- Witherington was his name-- Who said, "I would not have it told To Henry, our king, for shame,

"That e'er my captain fought on foot, And I stood looking on.

You be two earls," quoth Witherington, "And I a squire alone;

"I'll do the best that do I may, While I have power to stand; While I have power to wield my sword, I'll fight with heart and hand."

Our English archers bent their bows-- Their hearts were good and true; At the first flight of arrows sent, Full four score Scots they slew.

To drive the deer with hound and horn, Douglas bade on the bent, Two captains moved with mickle might, Their spears to s.h.i.+vers went.

They closed full fast on every side, No slackness there was found, But many a gallant gentleman Lay gasping on the ground.

O Christ! it was great grief to see How each man chose his spear, And how the blood out of their b.r.e.a.s.t.s Did gush like water clear.

At last these two stout earls did meet Like captains of great might; Like lions wode, they laid on lode; They made a cruel fight.

They fought until they both did sweat, With swords of tempered steel, Till blood down their cheeks like rain They trickling down did feel.

"O yield thee, Percy!" Douglas said, "And in faith I will thee bring Where thou shalt high advanced be By James, our Scottish king.

"Thy ransom I will freely give, And this report of thee, Thou art the most courageous knight That ever I did see."

"No, Douglas," quoth Earl Percy then, "Thy proffer I do scorn; I will not yield to any Scot That ever yet was born."

With that there came an arrow keen, Out of an English bow, Which struck Earl Douglas on the breast A deep and deadly blow.

Who never said more words than these: "Fight on, my merry men all!

For why, my life is at an end, Lord Percy sees my fall."

Then leaving life, Earl Percy took The dead man by the hand; Who said, "Earl Douglas, for thy life Would I had lost my land!

"O Christ! my very heart doth bleed For sorrow for thy sake, For sure a more redoubted knight Mischance could never take."

A knight amongst the Scots there was Which saw Earl Douglas die, Who straight in heart did vow revenge Upon the Lord Percy.

Sir Hugh Montgomery was he called, Who, with a spear full bright, Well mounted on a gallant steed, Ran fiercely through the fight,

And past the English archers all, Without all dread or fear, And through Earl Percy's body then He thrust his hateful spear.

With such a vehement force and might His body he did gore, The staff ran through the other side A large cloth-yard, and more.

Thus did both those n.o.bles die, Whose courage none could stain; An English archer then perceived The n.o.ble earl was slain.

He had a good bow in his hand Made of a trusty tree; An arrow of a cloth-yard long To the hard head haled he.

Against Sir Hugh Montgomery His shaft full right he set; The gray-goose-wing that was thereon In his heart's blood was wet.

This fight from break of day did last Till setting of the sun, For when they rang the evening-bell The battle scarce was done.

With stout Earl Percy there was slain Sir John of Egerton, Sir Robert Harcliff and Sir William, Sir James, that bold baron.

And with Sir George and Sir James, Both knights of good account, Good Sir Ralph Raby there was slain, Whose prowess did surmount.

For Witherington needs must I wail As one in doleful dumps.

For when his legs were smitten off, He fought upon his stumps.

And with Earl Douglas there was slain Sir Hugh Montgomery, And Sir Charles Morrell, that from field One foot would never flee;

Sir Roger Heuer of Harcliff, too, His sister's son was he; Sir David Lambwell, well esteemed, But saved he could not be.

And the Lord Maxwell, in like case, With Douglas he did die; Of twenty hundred Scottish spears, Scarce fifty-five did fly.