J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

78 MINSTRELSY OF
and Sir Alexander. To Sir James Lindsay there fell " a
'' strange chance of war," which I give in the words of the
old historian. " I shall shewe you of Sir Mathewe Reedman
" (an EngUsh warrior, and governor of Berwick,) who was on
" horsebacke, to save himselfe, for he alone coude not remedy
" the mater. At his departynge, Sir James Lindsay was nere
" him, and sawe Sir Mathewe departed. And this Sir James,
" to wyn honour, followed in chase Sir Mathewe Reedman,
" and came so nere him, that he myght have stryken hym
" with hys speare, if he had lyst. Than he said, ' A ! Sir
" Knyght, tourne ! it is a shame thus to fly ! 1 am James of
" Lindsay. If ye will nat tourne, I shall strike you on the
" backe with my speare.' Sir Mathewe spoke no worde, but
" struke his hors with his spurres sorer than he did before.
" In this maner he chased hym more than three myles. And
" at last Sir Mathewe Rcedman's hors foundered, and fell
" under hym. Than he stept forthe on the erthe, and drewe
" oute his swerde, and toke corage to defend himselfe. And
" the Scotte thoughte to have stryken hym on the brest, but
" Sir Mathewe Reedman swerved fro the stroke, and the speare
" point entred into the erthe. Than Sir INIathewe strak
" asonder the speare wyth his swerde. And whan Sir James
" Lindsay saw howe he had lost his speare, he cast away the
" tronchon, and lyghted a-fote, and toke a lytcU battell-axe,
" that he carrycd at his backe, and handled it with his one
" hand, quickly and delyverly, in the whyche ftate Scottes
" be well experte. And than he set at Sir IMathewe, and he
" defended himselfe properly. Thus they journeyed toguyder,
" one with an axe, and the other with a swerde, a longe season,
" and no man to lette them. Fynally, Sir James Lindsay
" gave the knyght such strokes, and helde him so short, that
" he was putte out of brethe in such wyse, that he yelded
" himselfe, and sayde, * Sir James Lindsay, I yelde me to
" you.' — ' Well,' quod he ; ' and I receyve you, rescue or no
" rescue.' — ' I am content,' quod Reedman, * so ye dele wyth
" me like a good companyon.' — ' I shall not fayle that,' quod
" Lindsay, and so put up his swerd. — ' Well,' said Reetlman,