On the highest tree that's in Otterburn
With my awin hands I'll hing thee hie."
The boy's taen out his little penknife,25
That hanget low down by his gare,
And he gae Earl Douglas a deadly wound,
Alas, a deep wound and a sare!
Earl Douglas said to Sir Hugh Montgomery,
"Tack thou the vanguard o' the three,30
And bury me at yon bracken bush,
That stands upon yon lilly lee."
Then Percy and Montgomery met,
And weel I wat they war na fain;
They swapped swords, and they twa swat,35
And ay the blood ran down between.
"O yield thee, yield thee, Percy," he said,
"Or else I vow I'll lay thee low;
"Whom to shall I yield," said Earl Percy,
"Now that I see it maun be so?"40
"O yield thee to yon braken bush,
That grows upon yon lilly lee;
[For there lies aneth yon braken bush]
What aft has conquer'd mae than thee."
"I winna yield to a braken bush,45
Nor yet will I unto a brier;
But I wald yield to Earl Douglas,
Or Sir Hugh Montgomery, if he was here."
As soon as he knew it was Montgomery,
He stuck his sword's point in the ground,50
And Sir Hugh Montgomery was a courteous knight.
And he quickly caught him by the hand.
This deed was done at Otterburn,
About the breaking o' the day;
Earl Douglas was buried at the braken bush,55
And Percy led captive away.