4
Earl Douglas on a milk white ſteed,
much like a baron bold,
Rode foremoſt of his company,
whoſe armour ſhone like gold:
Shew me, ſaid he, whoſe men you be,
that hunt ſo boldly here
And without my conſent do chace
and kill my fallow deer?
The firſt that did an anſwer make,
was Earl Piercy, he
Did ſay we liſt not to declare,
or ſhew whoſe men we be,
Yet will we spend our deareſt blood,
the chiefeſt harts to ſlay.
Then Douglas ſwore a ſolemn oath,
and in a rage did ſay,
Before I will out-braved be,
one of us two ſhall die,
I know thee well, an Earl thou art,
Lord Piercy, ſo am I;
But truſt me Piercy, I think it were,
a great offence to kill
Any of theſe our harmleſs men,
for they have done no ill;
Let thou and I the battle try,
and ſet our men aſide,
Accurſt be he, Lord Piercy ſaid,
by whom this is deny'd.
Then ſtept a gallant ſquire forth,
Witherington by name,
Who ſaid, I would not have it told,
to Henry our king for ſhame.
That e'er my captain fought on foot,
