  It fell and about the Lammas time, When husband men do win their hay, Earl Douglas is to the English woods, And a’ with him to fetch a prey. He has chosen the Lindsays light, With them the gallant Gordons gay, And the Earl of Fyfe withouten strife, And Sir Hugh Montgomery upon a grey. They hae taken Northumberland, And sae hae they the North-shire, And the Otter-dale they burnt it hale, And set it a’ into a fire. Out then spack a bonny boy, That serv’d ane o’ Earl Douglas’ kin; Methinks I see an English host A-coming branken us upon. If this be true, my little boy, An it be troth that thou tells me, The brawest bower in Otterbourne, This day shall be thy morning fee. But if it be false, my little boy, And but a lie that thou tells me; On the highest tree that’s in Otterbourne, With my awin hands I’ll hing thee hie. The boy’s taen out his little penknife, That hanget low down by his gare, And he gae Earl Douglas a deadly wound, Alack! a deep wound and a sare. Earl Douglas said to Sir Hugh Montgomery, Tack thou the vanguard o’ the three; And bury me at yon braken bush, That stands upon yon lilly lee. Then Percy and Montgomery met, And weel a wat they war na fain; They swapped swords, and they twa swat, And ay the blood ran down between. O yield thee, yield thee, Percy, he said, Or else I vow I’ll lay thee low. Whom to shall I yield? said Earl Percy; Now that I see it maun be so. O yield thee to yon braken bush, That grows upon yon lilly lee. As in that bush a bier there be, For it I’d save thy life and thee. I winna yield to a braken bush, Nor yet will I unto a bier; But I wad yield to Earl Douglas, Or Sir Hugh Montgomery, if he was here. As soon as he knew it was Montgomery, He stuck his sword’s point in the ground: And Sir Hugh Montgomery was a courteous knight, And he quickly brought him by the hand. The deed was done at Otterbourne, About the breaking o’ the day. Earl Douglas was buried at the braken bush, And Percy led captive away. |
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