Yet stays Earl Douglas on the bent,
    As chieftain stout and good;
  As valiant captain, all unmoved,
    The shock he firmly stood.

  His host he parted had in three,
    As leader ware and tried;
  And soon his spearmen on their foes
    Bore down on every side.

  Throughout the English archery
    They dealt full many a wound;
  But still our valiant Englishmen
    All firmly kept their ground.

  And throwing straight their bows away,
    They grasped their swords so bright;
  And now sharp blows, a heavy shower,
    On shields and helmets light.

  They closed full fast on every side,—­
    No slackness there was found;
  And many a gallant gentleman
    Lay gasping on the ground.

  In truth, it was a grief to see
    How each one chose his spear,
  And how the blood out of their breasts
    Did gush like water clear.

  At last these two stout earls did meet;
    Like captains of great might,
  Like lions wode, they laid on lode,
    And made a cruel fight.

  They fought until they both did sweat,
    With swords of tempered steel,
  Until the blood, like drops of rain,
    They trickling down did feel.

  “Yield thee, Lord Piercy,” Douglas said,
    “In faith I will thee bring
  Where thou shalt high advanced be
    By James, our Scottish king.

  “Thy ransom I will freely give,
    And this report of thee,—­
  Thou art the most courageous knight
    That ever I did see.”

  “No, Douglas,” saith Earl Piercy then,
    “Thy proffer I do scorn;
  I will not yield to any Scot
    That ever yet was born.”

  With that there came an arrow keen
    Out of an English bow,
  Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart,—­
    A deep and deadly blow;

  Who never spake more words than these: 
    “Fight on, my merry men all;
  For why, my life is at an end;
    Lord Piercy sees my fall.”

  Then leaving life, Earl Piercy took
    The dead man by the hand;
  And said, “Earl Douglas, for thy life
    Would I had lost my land.

  “In truth, my very heart doth bleed
    With sorrow for thy sake;
  For sure a more redoubted knight
    Mischance did never take.”

  A knight amongst the Scots there was
    Who saw Earl Douglas die,
  Who straight in wrath did vow avenge
    Upon the Earl Piercy.

  Sir Hugh Mountgomery was he called,
    Who, with a spear full bright,
  Well mounted on a gallant steed,
    Ran fiercely through the fight;

  And past the English archers all,
    Without a dread or fear;
  And through Earl Piercy’s body then
    He thrust his hateful spear.

  With such vehement force and might
    He did his body gore,
  The staff ran through the other side
    A large cloth-yard and more.