The History of the Black Douglas/Chapter 2
THE BATTLE OF OTTERBURN.
This famous battle, familiarly known to our boyhood by the name of the Battle of Chevy Chace, was fought on the 19th of August, 1388, betwixt the Earl of Douglas, with a chosen band of 5000 Scots, and Sir Ralph and Sir Henry Percy, otherwise called Hotspur, at the head of an equal or superior number of English.
Earl Douglas, grand-nephew to the Good Sir James, in a skirmish near Newcastle, encountered Sir Henry Percy, and, in the struggle which ensued, got possession of Hotspur's spear, at the end of which was attached a small ornament of silk, embroidered with pearls. Douglas shook his trophy aloft, and declared that he would carry it into Scotland. "That," said Percy, "shall thou never do; I will regain my lance ere thou canst reach the Border."
On their way home, the Scots encamped at Otterburn, about 20 miles from the frontier. In the middle of the night the alarm was given that Percy was upon them, and the moonlight showed his advance with very superior numbers.
The battle commenced with the greatest fury, and Douglas and Percy were repeatedly engaged hand to hand. But the Scots were out-numbered, and about to give way, when Douglas, shouting his war-cry of "Douglas! Douglas!" rushed into the thickest of the enemy, clearing his way with his battle-axe. He fell, at length, under three mortal wounds.
When the other Nobles came up, they found him in a dying state, protected by a stout priest, called William of North Berwick, armed with a long lance.
"How fares it, Cousin?" said Sinclair, the first Scottish knight who came up to the wounded leader.
"Indifferently," answered Douglas; "but blessed be God, my ancestors have died in fields of battle, not on down-beds. I sink fast; but let them still cry my war-cry, and conceal my death from my followers. There was a tradition in our family that a dead Douglas should win a field, and I trust it will this day be accomplished."
The Nobles did as he had enjoined; they concealed the Earl's body, and again rushed on to the battle, shouting "Douglas! Douglas!" louder than before. The English were weakened by the loss of the brave brothers Henry and Ralph Percy, both of whom were made prisoners, fighting most gallantly; and almost no man of note amongst the English escaped death or captivity.
THE END.