50 BALLADS
Who sayd, 'We list not to declare, Nor shew whose men we be,
Yet we will spend our dearest blood, Thy chief est harts to slay.'
Then Douglas swore a solemn oath, And thus in rage did say :
'Ere thus I will out-braved be, One of us two shall dye :
I know thee well, an erle thou art; Lord Percy, so am I.
But trust me, Percy, pittye it were,
And great offence to kill Any of these our guiltlesse men,
For they have done no ill.
Let thou and I the battell trye,
And set our men aside.' 'Accurst be he,' Erie Percy said,
'By whom this is denied.'
Then stept a gallant squier forth, Witherington was his name,
Who said, 'I wold not have it told To Henry our king for shame,
That ere my captaine fought on foote,
And I stood looking on. Ye be two erles,' said Witherington,
'And I a squier alone:
He do the best that do I may, While I have power to stand :
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