12. Many a styrande stage, in both MSS. Motherwell would retain this reading, because stagge signifies in Scotland a young stallion, and by supplying "off" the line would make sense. It was one of the Border laws, he remarks, that the Scottish array of battle should be on foot (see v. 15 of the Second Part). Horses were used but for a retreat or pursuit.
101. The Earl of Menteith. At the time of the battle the earldom of Menteith was possessed by Robert Earl of Fife, who was in command of the main body of the army, and consequently not with Douglas.
103. The reference is to Sir John Gordon. The use of this designation shows, says Percy, that the ballad was not composed before 1449. In that year the title of Earl of Huntly was first conferred on Alexander Seaton, who married the grand-daughter of the Gordon of Otterbourne.
105. The Earl of Buchan, fourth son of King Robert II.
The Perssy came byfore hys oste, Wych was ever a gentyll knyght; Upon the Dowglas lowde can he crye, "I wyll holde that I have hyght.
"For thow haste brente Northumberlonde, 5 And done me grete envye; For thys trespasse thou hast me done, The tone of us schall dye."
The Dowglas answerde hym agayne With grete wurds up on hye, 10 And sayd, "I have twenty agaynst the one, Byholde, and thow maiste see."
Wyth that the Percye was grevyd sore, For sothe as I yow saye; He lyghted dowyn upon his fote, 15 And schoote his horsse clene away.
Every man sawe that he dyd soo, That ryall was ever in rowght; Every man schoote hys horsse him froo, And lyght hym rowynde abowght. 20
Thus Syr Hary Percye toke the fylde, For soth, as I yow saye; Jesu Cryste in hevyn on hyght Dyd helpe hym well that daye.
But nyne thowzand, ther was no moo, 25 The cronykle wyll not layne; Forty thowsande Skottes and fowre That day fowght them agayne.
But when the batell byganne to joyne, In hast ther came a knyght; 30 'Then' letters fayre furth hath he tayne, And thus he sayd full ryght:
"My lorde, your father he gretes yow well, Wyth many a noble knyght; He desyres yow to byde 35 That he may see thys fyght.
"The Baron of Grastoke ys com owt of the west, With him a noble companye; All they loge at your fathers thys nyght, And the battell fayne wold they see. 40