a long time observed in duels, when two or more persons were engaged on each side, he, who first conquered his immediate antagonist, was at liberty, if he pleased, to come to the assistance of his companions. The play of the Little French Lawyer turns entirely upon this circumstance; and it may be remarked throughout the poems of Boiardo and Ariosto, particularly in the combat of three Christian and three Pagan champions, in the 42d canto of Orlando Furioso. But doubtless a gallant knight was often unwilling, like young Maitland, to avail himself of this advantage. Something of this kind seems to have happened in the celebrated combat, fought in the presence of James II. at Stirling, in 1449, between three French, or Flemish, warriors, and three noble Scottishmen, two of whom were of the house of Douglas. The reader will find a literal translation of Oliver de la Marche's account of this celebrated tourney, in PINKERTON's History, vol. I. p.

428.

I am nae King, nor nae sic thing:

My word it shanna stand!—P. 35. v. 2.

Maitland's apology for retracting his promise to stand neuter, is as curious as his doing so is natural. The unfortunate John of France was wont to say, that, if truth and faith were banished from all the rest of the universe, they should still reside in the breast and the mouth of kings.

They maul'd him cruellie.-P. 35. v. 5. `

This has a vulgar sound, but is actually a phrase of romance. Tant frappant et maillent lex deux vassaux l'un sur l'autre, que leurs heaumes, et leurs hauberts, sont tous cassez et rompuz.-La fleur des Battailes.

But, wi' the poll-axe in his hand,

Upon the brigg sprang he.—P. 36. v. 4.

The battle-axe, of which there are many kinds, was a knightly weapon, much used in the middle ages, as well in single combat as in battle. "And also there was a younge bachelor,

66

"called Bertrande of Glesguyne, who, during the seige, fought wyth an Englyshman called Sir Nycholas Dagerne : and that batayle was takene thre courses wyth a speare, thre strokes "wyth an axe, and thre wyth a dagger. And eche of these "knyghtes bare themselves so valyantly, that they departed "fro the felde wythout any damage, and they were well re"garded, bothe of theyme wythyn, and they wythout." This happened at the siege of Rennes, by the Duke of Lancaster, in 1357.-FROISSART, vol. I. c. 175. With the same weapon Godfrey of Harcourt long defended himself, when surprised and defeated by the French. " And Sir Godfraye's men kepte no good array, nor dyd nat as they had promysed; moost part of theyme fledde; whan Sir Godfraye sawe that, he "sayde to hymselfe, how he had rather there be slayne than "be taken by the Frenchmen; there he toke hys axe in hys "handes, and set fast the one legge before the other, to stonde "the more surely; for hys one legge was a lytell crooked, but "he was strong in the armes. Ther he fought valyantly and long: : none durste well abyde hys strokes; than two Frenchmen mounted on theyr horses, and ranne both with their "speares at ones at hym, and so bare him to the yerth; than "other, that were a-fote, came wyth theyr swerdes, and strake "hym into the body, under his harneys, so that ther he was "slayne."-Ibid. chap. 172. The historian throws Sir Godfrey into a striking attitude of desperation.

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When Maitland saw his ain blude fu',

An angry man was he!-P. 37. v. 1.

There is a saying, that a Scottishman fights best after seeing his own blood. Camerarius has contrived to hitch this foolish proverb into a national compliment; for he quotes it as an instance of the persevering gallantry of his countrymen. "Si in pugna proprium effundi sanguinem vidissent, non statim pro"strato animo concedebant, sed irato potius in hostes velut fu"rentes omnibus viribus incurrebant.”

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That Edward once lay under me,
And e'er gat up again.-P. 37. v. 4.

Some reciters repeat it thus:

“That Englishman lay under me,"

which is in the true spirit of Blind Harry, who makes Wallace say,

"I like better to see the southeron die,

"Than gold or land, that they can gie to me."

In slaying Edward, Maitland acts pitilessly, but not contrary to the laws of arms, which did not enjoin a knight to shew mercy to his antagonist, until he yielded him, “rescue or no rescue." Thus, the Seigneur de Languerant came before the walls of an English garrison, in Gascony, and defied any of the defenders to run a course with a spear; his challenge being accepted by Bertrand Courant, the governor of the place, they couched their spears, like good knights, and dashed on their horses. Their spears were broke to pieces, and Languerant was overthrown, and lost his helmet among the horses' feet. His attendants were coming up; but Bertrand drew his dagger, and said, “ Sir, yield ye my prisoner, "rescue or no rescue; els ye are but dead." The dismounted champion spoke not a word; on which Bertrand, entering into fervent ire, dashed his dagger into his skull. Besides, the battle was not always finished by one warrior obtaining this advantage over the other. In the battle of Nejara, the famous Sir John Chandos was overthrown, and held down, by a gigantic Spanish cavalier, named Martino Fernandez. "Then Sir John Chandos remembred of a knyfe, that he had " in his bosome, and drew it out, and struck this Martyne so "in the backe, and in the sydes, that he wounded him to "dethe, as he laye upon hym." The dagger, which the knights employed in these close and desperate struggles, was called the poniard of mercy.

THE

BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE.

THE SCOTTISH EDITION.

THE following edition of the Battle of Otterbourne, being essentially different from that which is published in the Reliques of Ancient Poetry, vol. I., and being obviously of Scottish composition, claims a place in the present collection. The particulars of that noted action are related by Froissart, with the highest encomiums upon the valour of the combatants on each side. James, Earl of Douglas, with his brother, the Earl of Murray, in 1387, invaded Northumberland, at the head of 3000 men; while the Earls of Fife and Strathern, sons to the King of Scotland, ravaged the Western Borders of England, with a still more numerous army. Douglas penetrated as far as Newcastle, where the renowned Hotspur lay in garrison. In a skirmish before the walls, Percy's lance, with the pennon, or guidon, attached to it, was taken by Douglas, as most authors affirm, in a personal encounter betwixt the two heroes. The Earl

shook the pennon aloft, and swore he would carry it as his spoil into Scotland, and plant it upon his castle of Dalkeith. "That," answered Percy," shalt thou "never!"-Accordingly, having collected the forces the Marches, to a number equal, or (according to the Scottish historians) much superior, to the army of Douglas, Hotspur made a night attack upon the Scottish camp, at Otterbourne, about thirty-two miles from Newcastle. An action took place, fought by moonlight, with uncommon gallantry and desperation. At length, Douglas, armed with an iron mace, which few but he could wield, rushed into the thickest of the English battalions, followed only by his chaplain, and two squires of his body.* Before his followers could come up, their brave leader was stretched on the ground, with three mortal wounds; his squires lay dead by his side; the priest alone, armed with a lance, was protecting his master from farther injury. "I die like my forefa"thers," said the expiring hero, " in a field of battle, " and not on a bed of sickness. Conceal my death, de"fend my standard,† and avenge my fall! it is an old

Their names were Robert Hart and Simon Glendinning. The chaplain was Richard Lundie, afterwards Archdean of AberdeenGODSCROFT. Hart, according to Wintoun, was a knight. That historian says, no one knew how Douglas fell.

+ The banner of Douglas, upon this memorable occasion, was borne by his natural son, Archibald Douglas, ancestor of the family of Cavers, hereditary Sheriffs of Teviotdale, amongst whose archives this glorious relique is still preserved. The Earl, at his onset, is said to have charged his son to defend it to the last drop of his blood.