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be reproached with cowardice, if this was ſuffered or known! With hearts and hands we are ready to live or die in your cauſe; and, therefore, whilſt I am able to fiend, more ſwords than one ſhall this encounter.” Piercy, though grieved at this hindrance, ſeeing all his men reſolute, and of the ſame opinion, found himſelf conſtrained to yield to their importunities; and ſo both ſides were ordered to make ready for battle.
The Engliſh archers on the left diviſion immediately ſent a flight of fatal arrows, which laid threeſcore of the Scots dead on the place! And the right diviſion letting fly on the flank of their battalion, gauled them moſt miſerably. Douglas ſeeing his men diſcouraged, by being killed ſo at a diſtance, and that another volley might put them into diſorder, commanded them ſpeedily to advance, and come to a cloſe fight; by which means he thought to render the Engliſh bows (which was their chief weapons) uſeleſs: but in this he was deceived; for they kept ſuch excellent order, that whenever the front opened, the archers behind feathered the Scots with ſhowers of deadly arrows, whilſt the others kept them in play with their ſwords. However, both being furious, they fought
