For to-morrow morning by ten of the clock, Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow-tree.' But Jonnë looke'd over his left shoulder, Good Lord, what a grevious look looked hee! Saying, 'Asking grace of a graceles faceWhy there is none for you nor me.' But Jonne had a bright sword by his side, That had not the king stept his foot aside, Saying, 'Fight on, my merry men all, And see that none of you be taine; For rather then men shall say we were hange'd, Then, God wott, faire Eddenburrough rose, That fowerscore and tenn of Jonnës best men Then like a mad man Jonnë laide about, Saying, 'Fight on, my merry men all, I am a little hurt, but I am not slain; Newes then was brought to young Jonnë Armestrong, Who vowed if ere he live'd for to be a man, THE BATTLE OF OTTERBURN IT fell about the Lammas tide, He chose the Gordons and the Græmes, With them the Lindesays, light and gay; But the Jardines wald not with him ride, And they rue it to this day. And he has burnd the dales of Tyne, And three good towers on Reidswire fells, And he marchd up to Newcastle, 'O wha's the lord of this castle? But up spake proud Lord Percy then, I am the lord of this castle, 'If thou'rt the lord of this castle, Sae weel it pleases me, For, ere I cross the Border fells, He took a lang spear in his hand, And for to meet the Douglas there But O how pale his lady lookd, Frae aff the castle-wa, When down before the Scottish spear 'Had we twa been upon the green, I wad hae had you, flesh and fell; 'But gae ye up to Otterbourne, And, wait there dayis three, And, if I come not ere three dayis end, A fause knight ca ye me.' "The Otterbourne's a bonnie burn; But there is nought at Otterbourne 'The deer rins wild on hill and dale, 'Yet I will stay at Otterbourne, Where you shall welcome be; And, if ye come not at three dayis end, A fause lord I'll ca thee.' Thither will I come,' proud Percy said, 'By the might of Our Ladye;' 'There will I bide thee,' said the Douglas, 'My troth I plight to thee.' They lighted high on Otterbourne, They lighted high on Otterbourne, And he that had a bonnie boy, But up then spake a little page, 'O waken ye, waken ye, my good lord, 'Ye lie, ye lie, ye liar loud! 'But I have dreamd a dreary dream, I saw a dead man win a fight, He belted on his guid braid sword, But he forgot the helmet good, That should have kept his brain. When Percy wi the Douglas met, I wat he was fu fain; They swakked their swords, till sair they swat, And the blood ran down like rain. But Percy with his good broad sword, Then he calld on his little foot-page, And fetch my ain dear sister's son, 'My nephew good,' the Douglas said, 'What recks the death of ane! Last night I dreamd a dreary dream, And I ken the day's thy ain. 'My wound is deep; I fain would sleep; 'O bury me by the braken-bush, Beneath the blooming brier; Let never living mortal ken That ere a kindly Scot lies here.' He lifted up that noble lord, Wi the saut tear in his ee; He hid him in the braken-bush, That his merrie men might not see. The moon was clear, the day drew near, But mony a gallant Englishman The Gordons good, in English blood The Percy and Montgomery met, |