rided for having chosen the expedition of the Golden Fleece
and the Wars of Thebes for the subjects of their epic writings.

The poet before us has not only found out a hero in his own country, but
raises the reputation of it by several beautiful incidents. The English
are the first who take the field and the last who quit it. The English
bring only fifteen hundred to the battle, the Scotch two thousand. The
English keep the field with fifty-three, the Scotch retire with fifty-
five; all the rest on each side being slain in battle. But the most
remarkable circumstance of this kind is the different manner in which the
Scotch and English kings receive the news of this fight, and of the great
men's deaths who commanded in it:

This news was brought to Edinburgh,
Where Scotland's king did reign,
That brave Earl Douglas suddenly
Was with an arrow slain.

"O heavy news!" King James did say,
"Scotland can witness be,
I have not any captain more
Of such account as he."

Like tidings to King Henry came,
Within as short a space,
That Percy of Northumberland
Was slain in Chevy-Chase.

"Now God be with him," said our king,
"Sith 'twill no better be,
I trust I have within my realm
Five hundred as good as he.

"Yet shall not Scot nor Scotland say
But I will vengeance take,
And be revenged on them all
For brave Lord Percy's sake."

This vow full well the king performed
After on Humble-down,
In one day fifty knights were slain,
With lords of great renown.

And of the rest of small account
Did many thousands die, &c.

At the same time that our poet shows a laudable partiality to his
countrymen, he represents the Scots after a manner not unbecoming so bold
and brave a people:

Earl Douglas on a milk-white steed,
Most like a baron bold,
Rode foremost of the company,
Whose armour shone like gold.

His sentiments and actions are every way suitable to a hero. "One of us
two," says he, "must die: I am an earl as well as yourself, so that you
can have no pretence for refusing the combat; however," says he, "it is
pity, and indeed would be a sin, that so many innocent men should perish
for our sakes: rather let you and I end our quarrel in single fight:"

"Ere thus I will out-braved be,
One of us two shall die;
I know thee well, an earl thou art,
Lord Percy, so a