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and gain you renown to all proſterity.”- Having thus ſaid, they all ſhouted ſo loud, in token of conſent and lively courage, that the hills and dales ſent back the echoes of their voice, and immediately fell into order, prunning their arrows, and ſtringing their bows, made of truſty yew.
The Engliſh archers (in number about fifteen hundred) were no ſooner in readineſs, than Earl Douglas appeared on the top of the hill that deſcended into the plain npon which Piercy ſtood, mounted on 3 ſtately white ſteed, his gilded armour reflecting with the ſun-beams, and his men, in order, behind him, with their glittering ſpears! Their number was computed about two thouſand. Upon this, Piercy cook a leading ſtaff in his hand, and a truſty ſword by his fide, and cauſed his men move forward by ſlow paces, whilst he marched in the front.— By this time Douglas being come within forthy paces, ſternly demanded whoſe men they were, that durft ſo boldly preſume to hunt in his foreſt, and kill his deer? That whoever they were, face they had dared to do it, they muſt expect to be ſeverely puniſhed; commanding them to yield immediately, as his priſoners, if they expected mercy from him.
