Then atepp'd a gallant equ.ire forth,
Witherington wu hie name,
Who aid, •• I would not han it told
To Henry, our king, for abAme,
"That e'er my captain fought on foot,
And I stood loolciog on.
You t.wo be earle," u.id Witherington,
" And I a aquire alone :
"TU do the best that do I may,
While I have power to stand :
While I have power to wield my aword,
I'll fight with heart and band."
Onr English archers bent their bows,
Their hearta were good and true ;
At the first Jlight of arrowa eent,
Full foiU'Bcore Scota they alew.
Yet. stays Earl Douglas 011 the bent,
.U chieftain stout aud good ;
As valiant captaiu, all unmoved,
The ahock he firmly stood.
His boat he parted bad in three,
As leader ware and tried ;
And soon bill spearmen on their fo3s
Bore down on every aide.
Throughout the English archery
Thel deRlt full many a wound;
Bat still our valiant Englishmen
All firmly kept their ground.
And throwing straight their bows away,
They grusp'd their swords ao 'llright:
And now ahRrp blows, a bt>avy shower,
On shields and bel mete light.
They closed full faat on eveJ')' aide,
No slackness tht>re W3.9 found;
And mauy a g!!.llant geutlemllll
La.y gasping 011 the ground.
Ob.J.. Christ! it wns a grief to aee
J:l.ow each one cbo~e hie apenr,
And how the blood out of their breasts
Did gush like water clear.