Yet we will spend our dearest blood, Thy chiefest hearts to slay. Then Douglas swore a solemn oath, And thus in rage did say:
Ere thus I will outbraved 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 harmless men, For they have done no ill.
Let thou and I the battle try, And set our men aside. Accurs’d be he, lord Percy said, By whom this is deny’d.
Then stepp’d 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, said Witherington, And I a squire alone:
I’ll do the best that do I may, While I have strength to stand; While I have pow’r 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 three-score Scots they slew.
To drive the deer with hound and horn Earl Douglas had the bent; A captain mov’d with mickle pride, The spears to shivers sent.
They clos’d full fast on every side, No slackness there was found; And many a gallant gentleman Lay gasping on the ground.
O Christ! it was a grief to see, And likewise for to hear The cries of men lying in their gore, And scatter’d here and there.
At last these two stout earls did meet, Like captains of great might; Like lions mov’d, they laid on load, And made a cruel fight.
They fought until they both did sweat, With swords of temper’d steel; Until the blood, like drops of rain, They trickling down did feel.
Yield thee, lord Percy, Douglas said, In faith I will thee bring, Where thou shall high advanced be, By James our Scotish king:
Thy ransom I will freely give, And thus 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 to the heart, A deep and deadly blow:
Who never spoke more words than these, “Fight on my merry men all; For why, my life is at an end, Lord Percy sees my fall.”