'And now with me, my countrymen,
Your courage forth advance;
For there was never champion yet,
In Scotland, nor 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 noble Percy he,
Who said, 'We list not to declare,
Nor show, whose men we be:
'Yet we will 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 outbravèd 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 no ill.
'Let thou and I, the battle try;
And set our men aside.'
'Accursed be he,' Earl Percy said,
'By whom it is denied!'
Then stepped a gallant squire forth,
Witherington was his name,
Who said, 'I would not have it told
To Henry our king, for shame,