Page:King Robert Bruce's garland, an heroic ballad, or, The history of the famous Battle of Bannockburn.pdf/17

 And without my conſent do chace
 * and kill my fallow deer?

The firſt that did an anſwer make,
 * was Earl Piercy, he

Did ſay we lift not to declare,
 * or ſhew whoſe men we be,

Yet will we spend our deareſt blood,
 * the chiefeſt harts to ſlay.

Then Douglas ſwore a ſolemn oath,
 * and in a rage did ſay,

Before I will out-braved be,
 * one of us two ſhall die,

I know thee well, an Earl thou art,
 * Lord Piercy, ſo am I;

But truſt me Piercy, I think it were,
 * a great offence to kill

Any of theſe our harmleſs men,
 * for they have done no ill;

Let thou and I the battle try,
 * and ſet our men aſide.