1559). The text was part of his stock-in-trade.
The Cheviot ballad, in a Scots form popular in 1549, is later in many
ways than the English Battle of Otterburne. It begins with a brag of
Percy, a vow that, despite Douglas, he will hunt in the Cheviot hills.
While Percy is hunting with a strong force, Douglas arrives with
another. Douglas offers to decide the quarrel by single combat with
Percy, who accepts. Richard Witherington refuses to look on quietly,
and a general engagement ensues.
At last the Duglas and the Perse met,
Lyk to Captayns of myght and of mayne,
They swapte together tylle they both swat
With swordes that wear of fyn myllan."
We are back in stanza I. of the English Otterburne, in stanza xxxv.
(substituting Hugh Montgomery for Douglas) of the Hogg MS. In The
Hunting, Douglas is slain by an English arrow (xxxvi.-xxxviii.).
Sir Hugh Montgomery now charges and slays Percy (who, of course, was
merely taken prisoner). An archer of Northumberland sends an arrow
through good Sir Hugh Montgomery (xliii.
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