“I die like my forefathers,” said the expiring hero, “in a field of battle, and not on a bed of sickness.  Conceal my death, defend my standard,[99] and avenge my fall!  It is an old prophecy, that a dead man shall gain a field,[100] and I hope it will be accomplished this night.”—­Godscroft.—­With these words he expired; and the fight was renewed with double obstinacy around his body.  When morning appeared, however, victory began to incline to the Scottish side.  Ralph Percy, brother to Hotspur, was made prisoner by the earl Marischal, and, shortly after, Harry Percy[101] himself was taken by Lord Montgomery.  The number of captives, according to Wyntoun, nearly equalled that of the victors.  Upon this the English retired, and left the Scots masters of the dear-bought honours of the field.  But the bishop of Durham approaching, at the head of a body of fresh forces, not only checked the pursuit of the victors, but made prisoners some of the stragglers, who had urged the chase too far.  The battle was not, however, renewed, as the bishop of Durham did not venture to attempt the rescue of Percy.  The field was fought 15th August, 1388.—­Fordun, Froissard, Hollinshed, Godscroft.

[Footnote 98:  Their names were Robert Hart and Simon Glendinning.  The chaplain was Richard Lundie, afterwards archdean of Aberdeen.—­Godscroft.  Hart, according to Wintown, was a knight.  That historian says, no one knew how Douglas fell.]

[Footnote 99:  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.]

[Footnote 100:  This prophecy occurs in the ballad as an ominous dream.]

[Footnote 101:  Hotspur, for his ransom, built the castle of Penoon, in Ayrshire, belonging to the family of Montgomery, now earls of Eglintoun.]

The ground, on which this memorable engagement took place, is now the property of John Davidson, Esq. of Newcastle, and still retains the name of Battle Cross.  A cross, erroneously termed Percy’s Cross, has been erected upon the spot where the gallant Earl of Douglas is supposed to have fallen.  These particulars were communicated to the editor, in the most obliging manner, by the present proprietor of Otterbourne.

The ballad, published in the Reliques, is avowedly an English production; and the author, with a natural partiality, leans to the side of his countrymen; yet, that ballad, or some one similar, modified probably by national prejudice, must have been current in Scotland during the reign of James VI.:  for Godscroft, in treating of this battle, mentions its having been the subject of popular song, and proceeds thus:  But that, which is commonly sung of the Hunting