e led (says the Scottish version) by King David, the
Earl of Murray and William Douglas, and the Steward of Scotland and the
Earl of March respectively. The English chronicle puts John of Douglas
with the Earl of Murray, and the Earl of Buchan with King David.

The ballad, therefore, that calls Angus 'Anguish' (11.1) and puts him on
the side of the Scots, as well as Neville (17.1), and apparently
confuses the two Douglases (14 and 21), is not more at variance with
history than is to be expected, and in the present case is but little
more vague than the historical records themselves.

'Vaughan' (13.1) may be Baughan or Buchan, though it is doubtful whether
there was an Earl of Buchan in 1346. 'Fluwilliams' (41.3) is perhaps a
form of Llewellyn (Shakespeare spells it Fluellen), but this does not
help to identify that lord.

DURHAM FIELD

1.
Lordings, listen and hold you still;
Hearken to me a little [spell];
I shall you tell of the fairest battle
That ever in England befell.

2.
For as it befell in Edward the Third's days,
In England, where he ware the crown,
Then all the chief chivalry of England
They busked and made them boun.

3.
They chosen all the best archers
That in England might be found,
And all was to fight with the King of France,
Within a little stound.

4.
And when our king was over the water,
And on the salt sea gone,
Then tidings into Scotland came
That all England was gone.

5.
Bows and arrows they were all forth,
At home was not left a man
But shepherds and millers both,
And priests with shaven crowns.

6.
Then the King of Scots in a study stood,
As he was a man of great might;
He sware he would hold his Parliament in leeve London,
If he could ride there right.

7.
Then bespake a squire, of Scotland born,
And said, 'My liege, apace,
Before you come to leeve London,
Full sore you'll rue that race.

8.
'There been bold yeomen in merry England,
Husbandmen stiff and strong;
Sharp swords they done wear,
Bearen bows and arrows long.'

9.
The King was angry at that word;
A long sword out he drew,
And there before his royal company
His own squire he slew.

10.
Hard hansel had the Scots that day,
That wrought them woe enough,
For then durst not a Scot speak a word
For hanging at a bough.

11.
'The Earl of Anguish, where art thou?