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This being denounced, he was about to depart; but the undaunted Earl Piercy, taking him by the ſleeve, ſaid,
“Sir, It is proper you ſhould carry an anſwer back to your Lord; and that is this: Tell him my name is Piercy: a name at which Scotland has trembled! and that I am of ſo true Engliſh courage, that threats are in vain to terrify me.—Tell him, moreover, I have propoſed to take my pleaſure in thefe Foreſts and Chaſes for two days longer; and if he be ſo valiant as you ſay, let him hinder my ſport, if he be fo bold as to attempt it, at the hazard of his life.”
Upon this, the meſſenger departed with ſpeed to the Scotch Earl, who lay at Edinburgh, and related what was given him in charge by Earl Piercy: At which the Scotch Earl raged, walking up and down, threatening all manner of puniſhments on thoſe he ſhould take priſoners; and enquired particularly the number of the Engliſh, but the meſſenger could give him no certain account, only gueſſed there might be about ten or twelve hundred men, for many of them were in diſtant parts of the foreſt, when he delivered his meſſage.
