Let thou and I the battell trye,
And set our men aside.90
Accurst bee [he], Erle Percy sayd,
By whome this is denyed.[903]
Then stept a gallant squier forth,
Witherington was his name,
Who said, I wold not have it told95
To Henry our king for shame,
That ere my captaine fought on foote,
And I stood looking on.[904]
You bee two erles, sayd Witherington,
And I a squier alone:100
Ile doe the best that doe I may,
While I have power to stand:
While I have power to weeld my sword,
Ile fight with hart and hand.
Our English archers bent their bowes,[905]105
Their harts were good and trew;
Att the first flight of arrowes sent,
Full four-score Scots they slew.
[906][Yet bides Earl Douglas on the bent,[907]
As Chieftain stout and good.110
As valiant Captain, all unmov'd
The shock he firmly stood.
His host he parted had in three,
As Leader ware and try'd,
As soon his spearmen on their foes115
Bare down on every side.
Throughout the English archery
They dealt full many a wound:
But still our valiant Englishmen
All firmly kept their ground:120
And throwing strait their bows away,
They grasp'd their swords so bright:
And now sharp blows, a heavy shower,
On shields and helmets light.]
They closed full fast on everye side,125
Noe slacknes there was found;
And many a gallant gentleman
Lay gasping on the ground.