He clankit Ethert ower the head,
A deep wound and a sair,
Till the best blood of his bodie
Came rinning ower his hair.
"Now I've slayne twa; slaye ye the ane;205
Isna that gude companye?
And tho' the ane suld slaye ye baith,
Ye'se get nae help o' me."
The twa-some they hae slayne the ane;
They maul'd him cruellie;210
Then hung them over the draw-brigg,
That all the host might see.
They rade their horse, they ran their horse,
Then hover'd on the lee:
"We be three lads o' fair Scotland,215
That fain would fighting see."
This boasting when young Edward heard,
An angry man was he:
"I'll tak yon lad, I'll bind yon lad,
And bring him bound to thee!"220
"Now God forbid," King Edward said,
"That ever thou suld try!
Three worthy leaders we hae lost,
And thou the fourth wad lie.
"If thou shouldst hang on yon draw-brigg,
Blythe wad I never be:"
But, wi' the poll-axe in his hand,
Upon the brigg sprang he.
The first stroke that young Edward gae,
He struck wi' might and mayn;230
He clove the Maitland's helmet stout,
And bit right nigh the brayn.
When Maitland saw his ain blood fa',
An angry man was he:
He let his weapon frae him fa',235
And at his throat did flee.