VIII.

And long before High-noon, they had
An hundred fat Bucks flain:

Then having din'd, the Drovers went
To rouze them up again.

IX.

The Bow-men mufter'd on the Hills,
Well able to endure;

Their Back-fides all with fpecial Care

That Day were guarded. fure.

X.

The Hounds ran swiftly through the Woods, The nimble Deer to take;

And with their Cries the Hills and Dales An Eccho fhrill did make.

XI.

Lord Piercy to the Quarry went,
To view the tender Deer:
Quoth he, Earl Douglas promifed
This Day to meet me here.

XII.

But if I thought he would not come,

No longer would

ftay.

With that a brave young Gentleman
Thus to the Earl did say:

XIII.

Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,
His Men in Armour bright,
Full twenty hundred Scotish Spears,

All marching in our Sight.

Χιν.

All Men of pleasant Tividale,

Faft by the River Tweed.

Then cease your Sport, Earl Piercy said,
And take your Bows with speed.

XV..

And now with me, my Country-men,
Your Courage forth advance;

For never was there Champion yet
In Scotland or in France,

XVI.

That ever did on Horfe-back come,
But if my hap it were,

I durft encounter Man for Man,
With him to break a Spear.

XVII.

Earl Douglas on a milk-white Steed,
Moft like a Baron bold,

Rode foremost of the Company,
Whofe Armour fhone like Gold.

XVIII

Shew me, he faid, whofe Men you be
That hunt fo boldly here,
That without my Confent do chafe
And kill my fallow Deer.

XIX.

The Man that firft did Anfwer make

Was noble Piercy, he,

Who faid, we lift not to declare,

Nor fhew whofe Men we be.

XX.

Yet we will spend our deareft Blood,
The chiefeft Harts to flay.
Then Douglas fwore a folemn Oath,
And thus in rage did say;

XXI.

E'er thus I will out-braved be,

One of us two fhall die:

I know thee well, an Earl thou art,

Lord Piercy, fo am I.

XXII.

But trust me, Piercy, Pity 'twere,
And great Offence, to kill
Any of these our harmlefs Men,
For they have done no Ill.

XXIII.

Let thou and I the Battle try,
And fet our Men afide:
Accurft be he, Lord Piercy faid,
By whom it is deny’d.