Page:Douglas & Piercy, or, The hunting at Chevychase (1).pdf/11

, enraged with a generous fury, ordered his men to halt; and drawing nearer, ſaid, “Earl Douglas, it matters not whoſe men we are, but ſuch you will find us, that what we have done we will juſtify; and what deer we have killed, we will carry away; or leave our own bodies dead behind us, which will coſt very dear in the blood of thoſe that dare oppoſe us.” This being ſpoken with an undaunted reſolution, made Douglas grow a little calmer: “O, ſaid he, I know thee now, Lord Piercy! thou art a Peer, an Earl, hs well as I; therefore, if thou art as brave as fame report thee, what need we deſtroy our men, by engaging them in this combat; the quarrel being properly between you and me; let our ſwords decide it.” This unexpected offer overjoyed Piercy! who, drawing his victorious ſword, bid defiance to the challenger. But it could not be, fate had involved many more lives in this quarrel than the two Earls; for Witherington, a valiant Engliſh 'Squire, ſtanding by the Earl, when this combat was about to begin, clapt between them with his ſword, and made a ſtand, ſaying, “My noble Lord, it ſhall never be told Henry our King, that we let you fight, whilſt we ſtood looking on. How ſhould we