The assailants approached and, "the signal being given," says Hector Boece, "tearing their barbed steeds with their spurs, they rushed, with square ground spears, and a mighty force, impetuously to the conflict.
Neither party was moved by the vehement impulse or by the splintering of their spears; so that the common people affected to cry out that David was bound to the saddle of his horse, contrary to the law of arms, because he sat unmoved amidst the splintering of lances on his helmet and visor.
When Earl David heard this, he presently leapt off his charger, and then as quickly vaulted upon his back again without any assistance; and, taking a second hasty course, their spears were a second time shivered by the shock through their burning desire to conquer.
A third time, the valorous enemies stretched out and ran together; but then the English knight was struck down breathless to the earth, with great sounds of mourning from his countrymen that he was killed!
Earl David, when victory appeared, leapt suddenly to the ground for he had fought without anger, only for glory to show himself to be the strongest of the champions- and, casting himself upon Lord Wells, tenderly embraced him till he revived, and the surgeon came to attend him."