p blows, a heavy shower,
On shields and helmets light.

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

O Christ! it was a grief to see,
And likewise for to hear,
The cries of men lying in their gore,
And scattered here and there.

At last these two stout earls did meet,
Like captains of great might:
Like lions wood,[83] they laid on loud,
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 Percy, 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 thus report of thee,
Thou art the most courageous knight,
That ever I did see.

No, Douglas, quoth Earl Percy 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:

[Illustration: CHEVY CHASE. EARL PERCY, AND EARL DOUGLAS.]

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

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

O Christ! my very heart doth bleed
With sorrow for thy sake;
For sure, a more renowned knight
Mischance could never take.

A knight amongst the Scots there was,
Which saw Earl Douglas die,
Who straight in wrath did vow revenge
Upon the Lord Percy:

Sir Hugh Montgomery was he call'd
Who, with a spear most bright,
Well-mounted on a gallant steed,
Ran fiercely through the fight;

And past the English archers all,
Without all dread or fear;
And through Earl Percy's body then
He thrust his hateful spear;

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

So thus did both these nobles die,
Whose courage none could stain;
An English archer then p