This gave us time to form up in good order, as we had lain down each in his proper position.
"A portion of the force went down to skirmish with the English in front, but the greater portion marched along the mountain side, and fell suddenly upon the English flank.

At first there was great confusion; but the English, being more numerous, soon recovered their order and pushed us back, though not without much loss on both sides.
"Douglas shouted his battle cry, advanced his banner, fighting most bravely; as did Sir Patrick Hepburn, but for whose bravery the Douglas banner would have been taken, for the Percys, hearing the cry of 'a Douglas! a Douglas!' pressed to that part of the field, and bore us backwards.

I was in the midst of it, with ten of my kinsmen; and though we all fought as became men, we were pressed back, and began to think that the day would be lost.
"Then the young earl, furious at seeing disaster threaten him, dashed into the midst of the English ranks, swinging his battle-axe and, for a time, cutting a way for himself.

But one man's strength and courage can go for but little in such a fray.

Some of his knights and squires had followed him, but in the darkness it was but few who perceived his advance.
"Presently three knights met him, and all their spears pierced him, and he was borne from his horse, mortally wounded.