The Percy was a man of strenghth, 105 I tell yow in thys stounde; He smote the Dowglas at the swordes length, That he felle to the growynde.
The sworde was scharpe, and sore can byte, I tell yow in sertayne; 110 To the harte he cowde hym smyte, Thus was the Dowglas slayne.
The stonderds stode styll on eke syde, With many a grevous grone; Ther the fowght the day, and all the nyght, 115 And many a dowghty man was slayne.
Ther was no freke that ther wolde flye, But styffly in stowre can stond, Ychone hewyng on other whyll they myght drye, Wyth many a bayllefull bronde. 120
Ther was slayne upon the Skottes syde, For soth and sertenly, Syr James a Dowglas ther was slayne, That daye that he cowde dye.
The yerle of Mentaye he was slayne, 125 Grysely groned uppon the growynd; Syr Davy Scotte, Syr Walter Steward, Syr John of Agurstonne.[L128]
Syr Charlles Morrey in that place, That never a fote wold flye; 130 Sir Hughe Maxwelle, a lorde he was, With the Dowglas dyd he dye.
Ther was slayne upon the Skottes syde, For soth as I yow saye, Of fowre and forty thowsande Scotts 135 Went but eyghtene awaye.
Ther was slayne upon the Ynglysshe syde, For soth and sertenlye, A gentell knyght, Sir John Fitz-hughe, Yt was the more petye. 140
Syr James Harebotell ther was slayne, For hym ther hartes were sore; The gentyll Lovelle ther was slayne,[L143] That the Percyes standerd bore.
Ther was slayne uppon the Ynglyssh perte, 145 For soth as I yow saye, Of nyne thowsand Ynglyssh men Fyve hondert cam awaye.
The other were slayne in the fylde; Cryste kepe their sowles from wo! 150 Seying ther was so few fryndes Agaynst so many a foo.
Then one the morne they mayd them beeres Of byrch, and haysell graye; Many a wydowe with wepyng teyres 155 Ther makes they fette awaye.
Thys fraye bygan at Otterborne, Bytwene the nyghte and the day: Ther the Dowglas lost hys lyfe, And the Percy was lede awaye. 160
Then was ther a Scottyshe prisoner tayne, Syr Hughe Mongomery was hys name;[L162] For soth as I yow saye, He borowed the Percy home agayne.
Now let us all for the Percy praye 165 To Jesu most of myght, To bryng hys sowle to the blysse of heven, For he was a gentyll knyght.
96. Being all in armour he could not know him.--P.