(D) HC XL The first man that did answer make Who sayd, "Wee list not to declare "Yett wee will spend our deerest blood Then Douglas swore a solempne oathe, "Ere thus I will outbraued bee, I know thee well, an erle thou art; "But trust me, Pearcye, pittye it were, Then any of these our guiltlesse men, "Let thou and I the battell trye, 66 Accurst bee [he !]" Erle Pearcye sayd, "by whome it is denyed." Then stept a gallant squire forth- "That ere my captaine fought on foote, and I stand looking on. You bee two Erles," quoth Witherington, "and I a squier alone; "I'le doe the best that doe I may, while I haue power to stand; While I haue power to weeld my sword, Our English archers bent their bowes; To driue the deere with hound and horne, Douglas bade on the bent; Two captaines moued with mickle might, their speres to shiuers went. They closed full fast on euerye side, O Christ! it was great greeue to see At last these two stout erles did meet, like captaines of great might; Like lyons woode they layd on lode; the made a cruell fight. The fought vntil they both did sweat, with swords of tempered steele, Till blood downe their cheekes like raine the trickling downe did feele. "O yeeld thee, Pearcye!" Douglas sayd, "And in faith I will thee bringe Where thou shall high advanced bee by Iames our Scottish king. "Thy ransome I will freely giue, and this report of thee, Thou art the most couragious knight [that ever I did see.] "Noe, Douglas!" quoth Erle Percy then, 66 thy profer I doe scorne; I will not yeelde to any Scott that euer yett was borne!" With that there came an arrow keene, out of an English bow, Which stroke Erle Douglas on the brest a deepe and deadlye blow. Who neuer sayd more words than these; 66 Fight on, my merry men all! For why, my life is att [an] end, lord Pearcy sees my fall." Then leauing liffe, Erle Pearcy tooke Who said, "Erle Dowglas, for thy life, 66 O Christ! my verry hart doth bleed for sorrow for thy sake, For sure, a more redoubted knight mischance cold neuer take." A knight amongst the Scotts there was which saw Erle Douglas dye, Who streight in hart did vow revenge vpon the Lord Pearcye. Sir Hugh Mountgomerye was he called, And past the English archers all, without all dread or feare, And through Erle Percyes body then he thrust his hatfull spere. 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 nobles dye, whose courage none cold staine; An English archer then perceiued the noble erle was slaine. He had [a] good bow in his hand, Against Sir Hugh Mountgomerye his shaft full right he sett; The grey-goose-winge that was there-on in his harts bloode was wett. This fight from breake of day did last till setting of the sun, For when the rung the euening-bell the battele scarse was done. With stout Erle Percy there was slaine Sir Robert Harcliffe and Sir William, And with Sir George and Sir Iames, both knights of good account, Good Sir Raphe Rebbye there was slaine, whose prowesse did surmount. For Witherington needs must I wayle And with Erle Dowglas there was slaine Sir Hugh Mountgomerye, And Sir Charles Morrell, that from feelde one foote wold neuer flee; Sir Roger Heuer of Harcliffe tow, his sisters sonne was hee; Sir David Lambwell, well esteemed, but saved he cold not bee. And the Lord Maxwell, in like case, with Douglas he did dye; Of twenty hundred Scottish speeres, scarce fifty-fiue did flye. Of fifteen hundred Englishmen went home but fifty-three; The rest in Cheuy Chase were slaine, vnder the greenwoode tree. Next day did many widdowes come their husbands to bewayle; They washt their wounds in brinish teares, but all wold not prevayle. Theyr bodyes, bathed in purple blood, the bore with them away; They kist them dead a thousand times ere the were cladd in clay. The newes was brought to Eddenborrow, "O heauy newes!" King Iames can say; 66 Scotland may wittenesse bee I haue not any captaine more of such account as hee." |