Where six-and-thirty Scottish knights
On a day were beaten down;
Glendale[1124] glitter’d on their armour bright
Over castle, tower and town.
LXI
This was the Hunting of the Cheviot;
That e’er began this spurn[1125]!
Old men, that knowen the ground well,
Call it of Otterburn.
LXII
There was never a time on the Marche-partès
Since the Douglas and Percy met,
But ’tis marvel an the red blood run not
As the reane[1126] does in the street.
LXIII
Jesu Christ! our balès[1127] bete[1128],
And to the bliss us bring!
This was the Hunting of the Cheviot:
God send us all good endìng!
FOOTNOTES:
[1082] maugre = despite.
[1083] let = hinder.