3
to rouſe them up again.
The bowmen muſter'd on the hill,
well able to endure,
Their backſides all with ſpecial care,
that day were guarded ſure.
The hounds ran ſwiftly thro' the woods
the nimble deer to take
And with their cries the hills and dales
an echo ſhrill did make.
Lord Piercy to the quarry went,
to view the tender deer,
Quoth he Earl Douglas promiſed
this day to meet me here;
Iſ that I thought he would not come,
no longer would I ſtay,
Then ſtept a brave young gentleman,
and to the Earl did ſay,
Lo! yonder cometh Earl Douglas,
his men of armour bright;
Full fifteen hundred Scottiſh ſpears,
all marching in our fight,
All men of pleaſant Tiviotdale,
faſt by the river Tweed
Then ceaſe your ſport, Earl Piercy ſaid,
and take your bows with ſpeed.
And now with me, my countrymen,
your courage forth advance,
For never was there a champion yet,
in Scotland or in France.
That ever did on horſeback come,
but if my hap it were,
I durſt encounter man for man,
with him to break a ſpear.
