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diff --git a/39766.txt b/39766.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9dd22bd --- /dev/null +++ b/39766.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10459 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of English and Scottish Ballads, Volume VI (of +8), by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: English and Scottish Ballads, Volume VI (of 8) + +Author: Various + +Editor: Francis James Child + +Release Date: May 22, 2012 [EBook #39766] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH, SCOTTISH BALLADS, VOL VI *** + + + + +Produced by Simon Gardner, Dianna Adair, Louise Davies and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by the Digital & Multimedia +Center, Michigan State University Libraries.) + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Archaic, dialect and inconsistent spellings and hyphenation have been +retained as in the original. Minor corrections to format and punctuation +together with regularisation of poetry line numbering have been made +without comment. Any other changes to the text have been listed at the +end of the book. + +In this Plain Text version of the e-book, symbols from the ASCII +character set only are used. Other characters and symbols are +substituted as follows: + + [AE], [ae] ae-ligature + ['e], ['o] e, o with acute accent (or stress) + [e'] e with grave accent (or syllabic marker) + [:i] i with dieresis + [L] pound sterling + + Italic typeface is indicated by _underscores_. + Small caps typeface is represented by UPPER CASE. + A pointing hand symbol is represented as [right pointing hand]. + +Notes with reference to ballad line numbers are presented at the end of +each ballad and the presence of a note is indicated at the end of line +number ## by "[L##]". + + * * * * * + + + + + ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH + BALLADS. + + EDITED BY + FRANCIS JAMES CHILD. + + VOLUME VI. + + BOSTON: + LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY. + M.DCCC.LX. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by LITTLE, BROWN +AND COMPANY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District +of Massachusetts. + + RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: + STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY + H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME SIXTH. + + +BOOK VI. + + Page +1 a. The Lochmaben Harper [Johnson] 3 + +1 b. The Lochmaben Harper [Scott] 7 + +2 a. Johnie of Breadislee 11 + +2 b. Johnie of Cocklesmuir 16 + +3. The Sang of the Outlaw Murray 20 + +4 a. Johnie Armstrang 37 + +4 b. Johnie Armstrang [Ramsay] 45 + +5 a. Hughie Graham 51 + +5 b. Hughie the Gr[ae]me 55 + +6. Kinmont Willie 58 + +7. Dick o' the Cow 67 + +8. Jock o' the Side 80 + +9 a. Archie of Ca'field 88 + +9 b. Billie Archie 94 + +10. Hobie Noble 97 + +11. Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead 105 + +12. The Fray of Suport 115 + +13. Rookhope Ryde 121 + +14. The Raid of the Reidswire 129 + +15. The Death of Parcy Reed 139 + +16 a. Captain Car 147 + +16 b. Edom o' Gordon 154 + +17. Willie Mackintosh 159 + +18. Lord Maxwell's Goodnight 162 + +19. The Lads of Wamphray 168 + +20. The Fire of Frendraught 173 + +21 a. The Bonnie House o' Airly [Finlay] 183 + +21 b. The Bonnie House of Airly [Sharpe] 186 + +22 a. The Baron of Brackley [Jamieson] 188 + +22 b. The Baron of Braikley [Buchan] 192 + +23. Gilderoy 196 + +24. Bob Roy 202 + + +BOOK VII. + +1 a. Queen Eleanor's Confession 209 + +1 b. Queen Eleanor's Confession [Kinloch] 213 + +2 Auld Maitland 217 + +3 a. Willie Wallace 231 + +3 b. Sir William Wallace 237 + + +APPENDIX. + +Johnny Cock 243 + +The Life and Death of Sir Hugh of the Grime 247 + +Johnie Armstrang 251 + +Loudoun Castle 254 + +Rob Roy 257 + +Eppie Morrie 260 + +Macpherson's Rant 263 + +The Flemish Insurrection 269 + +The Execution of Sir Simon Fraser 274 + + +GLOSSARY 285 + + + + +BOOK VI. + + + + +THE LOCHMABEN HARPER. + + +This fine old ballad was first printed in the _Musical Museum_ (_O heard +ye e'er of a silly blind Harper_, p. 598). Scott inserted a different +copy, equally good, in the _Border Minstrelsy_, i. 422, and there is +another, of very ordinary merits, in _Scottish Traditional Versions of +Ancient Ballads_ (_The Jolly Harper_), p. 37. In this the theft is done +on a wager, and the booty duly restored. On account of the excellence of +the ballad, we give two versions, though they differ but slightly. + + + O heard ye of a silly Harper, + Liv'd long in Lochmaben town, + How he did gang to fair England, + To steal King Henry's Wanton Brown? + + But first he gaed to his gude wife + Wi' a' the speed that he coud thole: + "This wark," quo' he, "will never work, + Without a mare that has a foal." + + Quo' she, "Thou hast a gude grey mare, + That'll rin o'er hills baith low and hie; 10 + Gae tak' the grey mare in thy hand, + And leave the foal at hame wi' me. + + "And tak a halter in thy hose, + And o' thy purpose dinna fail; + But wap it o'er the Wanton's nose; 15 + And tie her to the grey mare's tail: + + "Syne ca' her out at yon back yeate, + O'er moss and muir and ilka dale, + For she'll ne'er let the Wanton bite, + Till she come hame to her ain foal." 20 + + So he is up to England gane, + Even as fast as he can hie, + Till he came to King Henry's yeate; + And wha' was there but King Henry? + + "Come in," quo' he, "thou silly blind Harper, 25 + And of thy harping let me hear;" + "O, by my sooth," quo' the silly blind Harper, + "I'd rather hae stabling for my mare." + + The King looks o'er his left shoulder, + And says unto his stable groom, 30 + "Gae tak the silly poor Harper's mare, + And tie her 'side my wanton brown." + + And ay he harpit, and ay he carpit, + Till a' the lords gaed through the floor; + They thought the music was sae sweet, 35 + That they forgat the stable door. + + And ay he harpit, and ay he carpit, + Till a' the nobles were sound asleep, + Than quietly he took aff his shoon, + And saftly down the stair did creep. 40 + + Syne to the stable door he hies, + Wi' tread as light as light coud be, + And whan he open'd and gaed in, + There he fand thirty good steeds and three. + + He took the halter frae his hose, 45 + And of his purpose did na' fail; + He slipt it o'er the Wanton's nose, + And tied it to his grey mare's tail. + + He ca'd her out at yon back yeate, + O'er moss and muir and ilka dale, 50 + And she loot ne'er the Wanton bite, + But held her still gaun at her tail. + + The grey mare was right swift o' fit, + And did na fail to find the way, + For she was at Lochmaben yeate, 55 + Fu' lang three hours ere it was day. + + When she came to the Harper's door, + There she gae mony a nicher and snear; + "Rise," quo' the wife, "thou lazy lass, + Let in thy master and his mare." 60 + + Then up she raise, pat on her claes, + And lookit out through the lock hole; + "O, by my sooth," then quoth the lass, + "Our mare has gotten a braw big foal." + + "Come haud thy peace, thou foolish lass, 65 + The moon's but glancing in thy ee, + I'll wad my haill fee 'gainst a groat, + It's bigger than e'er our foal will be." + + The neighbours too that heard the noise + Cried to the wife to put her in; 70 + "By my sooth," then quoth the wife, + "She's better than ever he rade on." + + But on the morn at fair day light, + When they had ended a' their chear, + King Henry's Wanton Brown was stawn, 75 + And eke the poor old Harper's mare. + + "Alace! alace!" says the silly blind Harper, + "Alace! alace! that I came here, + In Scotland I've tint a braw cowte foal, + In England they've stawn my guid grey mare." 80 + + "Come had thy tongue, thou silly blind Harper, + And of thy alacing let me be, + For thou shall get a better mare, + And weel paid shall thy cowte foal be." + + + + +LOCHMABEN HARPER. + +_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, i. 422. + + + O heard ye na o' the silly blind Harper, + How long he lived in Lochmaben town? + And how he wad gang to fair England, + To steal the Lord Warden's Wanton Brown? + + But first he gaed to his gude wyfe, 5 + Wi' a the haste that he could thole-- + "This wark," quo' he, "will ne'er gae weel, + Without a mare that has a foal." + + Quo' she--"Thou hast a gude gray mare, + That can baith lance o'er laigh and hie; 10 + Sae set thee on the gray mare's back, + And leave the foal at hame wi' me." + + So he is up to England gane, + And even as fast as he may drie; + And when he cam to Carlisle gate, 15 + O whae was there but the Warden hie? + + "Come into my hall, thou silly blind Harper, + And of thy harping let me hear!" + "O, by my sooth," quo' the silly blind Harper, + "I wad rather hae stabling for my mare." 20 + + The Warden look'd ower his left shoulder, + And said unto his stable groom-- + "Gae take the silly blind Harper's mare, + And tie her beside my Wanton Brown." + + Then aye he harped, and aye he carped, 25 + Till a' the lordlings footed the floor; + But an the music was sae sweet, + The groom had nae mind o' the stable door. + + And aye he harped, and aye he carped, + Till a' the nobles were fast asleep; 30 + Then quickly he took aff his shoon, + And saftly down the stair did creep. + + Syne to the stable door he hied, + Wi' tread as light as light could be; + And when he open'd and gaed in, 35 + There he fand thirty steeds and three. + + He took a cowt halter frae his hose, + And o' his purpose he didna fail; + He slipt it ower the Wanton's nose, + And tied it to his gray mare's tail. 40 + + He turn'd them loose at the castle gate, + Ower muir and moss and ilka dale; + And she ne'er let the Wanton bait, + But kept him a-galloping hame to her foal. + + The mare she was right swift o' foot, 45 + She didna fail to find the way; + For she was at Lochmaben gate + A lang three hours before the day. + + When she came to the Harper's door, + There she gave mony a nicker and sneer-- 50 + "Rise up," quo' the wife, "thou lazy lass; + Let in thy master and his mare." + + Then up she rose, put on her clothes, + And keekit through at the lock-hole-- + "O, by my sooth," then cried the lass, 55 + "Our mare has gotten a braw brown foal!" + + "Come haud thy tongue, thou silly wench! + The morn's but glancing in your ee; + I'll wad my hail fee against a groat, + He's bigger than e'er our foal will be." 60 + + Now all this while in merry Carlisle + The Harper harped to hie and law, + And the fiend dought they do but listen him to, + Until that the day began to daw. + + But on the morn at fair daylight, 65 + When they had ended a' their cheer, + Behold the Wanton Brown was gane, + And eke the poor blind Harper's mare! + + "Allace! allace!" quo' the cunning auld Harper, + "And ever allace that I cam here; 70 + In Scotland I hae lost a braw cowt foal, + In England they've stown my gude gray mare!" + + "Come, cease thy allacing, thou silly blind Harper, + And again of thy harping let us hear; + And weel payd sall thy cowt-foal be, 75 + And thou sall have a far better mare." + + Then aye he harped, and aye he carped, + Sae sweet were the harpings he let them hear! + He was paid for the foal he had never lost, + And three times ower for the gude GRAY MARE. 80 + + + + +JOHNIE OF BREADISLEE. + +AN ANCIENT NITHSDALE BALLAD. + +_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 114. + + +"The hero of this ballad appears to have been an outlaw and +deer-stealer--probably one of the broken men residing upon the Border. +There are several different copies, in one of which the principal +personage is called _Johnie of Cockielaw_. The stanzas of greatest merit +have been selected from each copy. It is sometimes said, that this +outlaw possessed the old Castle of Morton, in Dumfries-shire, now +ruinous: "Near to this castle there was a park, built by Sir Thomas +Randolph, on the face of a very great and high hill; so artificially, +that, by the advantage of the hill, all wild beasts, such as deers, +harts, and roes, and hares, did easily leap in, but could not get out +again; and if any other cattle, such as cows, sheep, or goats, did +voluntarily leap in, or were forced to do it, _it is doubted_ if their +owners were permitted to get them out again." _Account of Presbytery of +Penpont, apud Macfarlane's MSS._ Such a park would form a convenient +domain to an outlaw's castle, and the mention of Durisdeer, a +neighboring parish, adds weight to this tradition." + +Johnie of Breadislee was first printed in the _Border Minstrelsy_. +Fragments of two other versions, in which the hero's name is Johny Cock, +were given in Fry's _Pieces of Ancient Poetry_, Bristol, 1814, p. 55, +and the editor did not fail to notice that he had probably lighted on +the ballad of _Johny Cox_, which Ritson says the Rev. Mr. Boyd faintly +recollected, (_Scottish Song_, I. p. xxxvi.) Motherwell, not aware of +what Fry had done, printed a few stanzas belonging to the first of these +versions, under the title of _Johnie of Braidisbank_ (_Minstrelsy, +Ancient and Modern_, p. 23), and Kinloch recovered a nearly complete +story. Another copy of this last has been published from Buchan's +manuscripts in _Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads_ (Percy +Society, vol. xvii. p. 77). Chambers, in his _Scottish Ballads_, p. 181, +has compounded Scott's, Kinloch's, and Motherwell's copies, +interspersing a few additional stanzas of no value. Scott's and +Kinloch's versions are given in this place, and Fry's fragments (which +contain several beautiful stanzas) in the Appendix. + + Johnie rose up in a May morning, + Call'd for water to wash his hands-- + "Gar loose to me the gude graie dogs, + That are bound wi' iron bands." + + When Johnie's mother gat word o' that, 5 + Her hands for dule she wrang-- + "O Johnie! for my benison, + To the greenwood dinna gang! + + "Eneugh ye hae o' gude wheat bread, + And eneugh o' the blood-red wine; 10 + And, therefore, for nae venison, Johnie, + I pray ye, stir frae hame." + + But Johnie's busk't up his gude bend bow, + His arrows, ane by ane, + And he has gane to Durrisdeer, 15 + To hunt the dun deer down. + + As he came down by Merriemass, + And in by the benty line, + There has he espied a deer lying + Aneath a bush of ling. 20 + + Johnie he shot, and the dun deer lap, + And he wounded her on the side; + But atween the water and the brae, + His hounds they laid her pride. + + And Johnie has bryttled the deer sae weel, 25 + That he's had out her liver and lungs; + And wi' these he has feasted his bluidy hounds, + As if they had been earl's sons. + + They eat sae much o' the venison, + And drank sae much o' the blude, 30 + That Johnie and a' his bluidy hounds + Fell asleep as they had been dead. + + And by there came a silly auld carle, + An ill death mote he die! + For he's awa' to Hislinton, 35 + Where the Seven Foresters did lie. + + "What news, what news, ye gray-headed carle, + What news bring ye to me?" + "I bring nae news," said the gray-headed carle, + "Save what these eyes did see. 40 + + "As I came down by Merriemass, + And down among the scroggs, + The bonniest childe that ever I saw + Lay sleeping amang his dogs. + + "The shirt that was upon his back 45 + Was o' the Holland fine; + The doublet which was over that + Was o' the Lincome twine. + + "The buttons that were on his sleeve + Were o' the goud sae gude: 50 + The gude graie hounds he lay amang, + Their mouths were dyed wi' blude." + + Then out and spak the First Forester, + The heid man ower them a'-- + "If this be Johnie o' Breadislee, 55 + Nae nearer will we draw." + + But up and spak the Sixth Forester, + (His sister's son was he,) + "If this be Johnie o' Breadislee, + We soon shall gar him die!" 60 + + The first flight of arrows the Foresters shot, + They wounded him on the knee; + And out and spak the Seventh Forester, + "The next will gar him die." + + Johnie's set his back against an aik, 65 + His fute against a stane; + And he has slain the Seven Foresters, + He has slain them a' but ane. + + He has broke three ribs in that ane's side, + But and his collar bane; 70 + He's laid him twa-fald ower his steed, + Bade him carry the tidings hame. + + "O is there nae a bonnie bird + Can sing as I can say, + Could flee away to my mother's bower, 75 + And tell to fetch Johnie away?" + + The starling flew to his mother's window stane, + It whistled and it sang; + And aye the ower word o' the tune + Was--"Johnie tarries lang!" 80 + + They made a rod o' the hazel bush, + Another o' the slae-thorn tree, + And mony mony were the men + At fetching o'er Johnie. + + Then out and spake his auld mother, 85 + And fast her tears did fa'-- + "Ye wad nae be warn'd, my son Johnie, + Frae the hunting to bide awa'. + + "Aft hae I brought to Breadislee + The less gear and the mair, 90 + But I ne'er brought to Breadislee + What grieved my heart sae sair. + + "But wae betyde that silly auld carle! + An ill death shall he die! + For the highest tree in Merriemas 95 + Shall be his morning's fee." + + Now Johnie's gude bend bow is broke, + And his gude graie dogs are slain; + And his bodie lies dead in Durrisdeer, + And his hunting it is done. 100 + + + + +JOHNIE OF COCKLESMUIR. + + +From Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 38. This version was +procured in the North Country. The termination would seem to be wanting, +for the story must have had a tragical conclusion. Buchan's copy ends +very insipidly with the King's granting Johny a free license to hunt! + + Johnie rose up in a May morning, + Call'd for water to wash his hands; + And he has call'd for his gude gray hunds, + That lay bund in iron bands, _bands_, + _That lay bund in iron bands_. + + "Ye'll busk, ye'll busk my noble dogs, 5 + Ye'll busk and mak them boun, + For I'm going to the Broadspear-hill, + To ding the dun deer doun, _doun_, &c. + + Whan Johnie's mither heard o' this, + She til her son has gane-- 10 + "Ye'll win your mither's benison, + Gin ye wad stay at hame. + + "Your meat sall be of the very very best, + And your drink o' the finest wine; + And ye will win your mither's benison, 15 + Gin ye wad stay at hame." + + His mither's counsel he wad na tak, + Nor wad he stay at hame; + But he's on to the Broadspear-hill, + To ding the dun deer doun. 20 + + Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west, + And a little below the sun; + And there he spied the dun deer sleeping, + Aneath a buss o' brume. + + Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap, 25 + And he's woundit him in the side; + And atween the water and the wud + He laid the dun deer's pride. + + They ate sae meikle o' the venison, + And drank sae meikle o' the blude, 30 + That Johnie and his twa gray hunds, + Fell asleep in yonder wud. + + By there cam a silly auld man, + And a silly auld man was he; + And he's aff to the proud foresters, 35 + To tell what he did see. + + "What news, what news, my silly auld man, + What news? come tell to me;" + "Na news, na news," said the silly auld man, + "But what my een did see. 40 + + "As I cam in by yon greenwud, + And doun amang the scrogs, + The bonniest youth that e'er I saw, + Lay sleeping atween twa dogs. + + "The sark that he had on his back, 45 + Was o' the Holland sma'; + And the coat that he had on his back, + Was laced wi' gowd fu' braw." + + Up bespak the first forester, + The first forester of a'-- 50 + "And this be Johnie o' Cocklesmuir, + It's time we were awa." + + Up bespak the niest forester, + The niest forester of a'-- + "And this be Johnie Cocklesmuir, 55 + To him we winna draw." + + The first shot that they did shoot, + They woundit him on the thie; + Up bespak the uncle's son,-- + "The niest will gar him die." 60 + + "Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs, + Stand stout and dinna flee; + Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds, + And we will mak them die." + + He has killed six o' the proud foresters, 65 + And wounded the seventh sair; + He laid his leg out owre his steed, + Says, "I will kill na mair." + + + + +THE SANG OF THE OUTLAW MURRAY. + +_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, i. 369. + + +"This ballad appears to have been composed about the reign of James V. +It commemorates a transaction supposed to have taken place betwixt a +Scottish monarch and an ancestor of the ancient family of Murray of +Philiphaugh, in Selkirkshire. The Editor is unable to ascertain the +historical foundation of the tale; nor is it probable that any light can +be thrown upon the subject, without an accurate examination of the +family charter-chest.... + +"The merit of this beautiful old tale, it is thought, will be fully +acknowledged. It has been, for ages, a popular song in Selkirkshire. The +scene is by the common people supposed to have been the Castle of Newark +upon Yarrow. This is highly improbable, because Newark was always a +royal fortress. Indeed, the late excellent antiquarian, Mr. Plummer, +Sheriff-depute of Selkirkshire, has assured the Editor that he +remembered the _insignia_ of the unicorns, &c., so often mentioned in +the ballad, in existence upon the old Tower of Hangingshaw, the seat of +the Philiphaugh family; although, upon first perusing a copy of the +ballad, he was inclined to subscribe to the popular opinion. The Tower +of Hangingshaw has been demolished for many years. It stood in a +romantic and solitary situation, on the classical banks of the Yarrow. +When the mountains around Hangingshaw were covered with the wild copse +which constituted a Scottish forest, a more secure stronghold for an +outlawed baron can scarcely be imagined. + +"The tradition of Ettrick Forest bears, that the outlaw was a man of +prodigious strength, possessing a baton or club, with which he laid +_lee_ (_i. e._ waste) the country for many miles round; and that he was +at length slain by Buccleuch, or some of his clan, at a little mount, +covered with fir-trees, adjoining to Newark Castle, and said to have +been a part of the garden. A varying tradition bears the place of his +death to have been near to the house of the Duke of Buccleuch's +gamekeeper, beneath the castle; and that the fatal arrow was shot by +Scott of Haining, from the ruins of a cottage on the opposite side of +Yarrow. There were extant, within these twenty years, some verses of a +song on his death. The feud betwixt the Outlaw and the Scots, may serve +to explain the asperity with which the chieftain of that clan is handled +in the ballad. + +"In publishing the following ballad, the copy principally resorted to is +one apparently of considerable antiquity, which was found among the +papers of the late Mrs. Cockburn of Edinburgh, a lady whose memory will +be long honoured by all who knew her. Another copy, much more imperfect, +is to be found in Glenriddel's MSS. The names are in this last miserably +mangled, as is always the case when ballads are taken down from the +recitation of persons living at a distance from the scenes in which they +are laid. Mr. Plummer also gave the editor a few additional verses, not +contained in either copy, which are thrown into what seemed their proper +place. There is yet another copy in Mr. Herd's MSS., which has been +occasionally made use of. Two verses are restored in the present +edition, from the recitation of Mr. Mungo Park, whose toils during his +patient and intrepid travels in Africa have not eradicated from his +recollection the legendary lore of his native country."--S. + +Since the above was printed, Mr. Aytoun has published still another copy +of this piece, (_Ballads of Scotland_, ii. 129,) from a manuscript in +the Philiphaugh charter-chest. I cannot assent to the praise bestowed by +Scott on _The Outlaw Murray_. The story lacks point, and the style is +affected--not that of the unconscious poet of the real _traditional_ +ballad. + + Ettricke Foreste is a feir foreste, + In it grows manie a semelie trie; + There's hart and hynd, and dae and rae, + And of a' wilde bestis grete plentie. + + There's a feir castelle, bigged wi' lyme and stane; + O gin it stands not pleasauntlie! 6 + In the fore front o' that castelle feir, + Twa unicorns are bra' to see: + + There's the picture of a knight, and a ladye bright, + And the grene hollin abune their brie: 10 + There an Outlaw kepis five hundred men, + He keepis a royalle cumpanie. + + His merryemen are a' in ae liverye clad, + O' the Lincome grene sae gaye to see; + He and his ladye in purple clad, 15 + O gin they lived not royallie! + + Word is gane to our nobil King, + In Edinburgh where that he lay, + That there was an Outlaw in Ettricke Foreste, + Counted him nought, nor a' his courtrie gay. 20 + + "I make a vowe," then the gude King said, + "Unto the man that deir bought me, + I'se either be King of Ettricke Foreste, + Or King of Scotlande that Outlaw sall be!" + + Then spake the lord hight Hamilton, 25 + And to the nobil King said he, + "My sovereign prince, sum counsell take, + First at your nobilis, syne at me. + + "I redd ye, send yon braw Outlaw till, + And see gif your man cum will he: 30 + Desyre him cum and be your man, + And hald of you yon Foreste frie. + + "Gif he refuses to do that, + We'll conquess baith his landis and he! + Or else, we'll throw his castell down, 35 + And make a widowe o' his gaye ladye." + + The King then call'd a gentleman, + James Boyd (the Earle of Arran his brother was he);[L38] + When James he cam before the King, + He knelit befor him on his kn['e]. 40 + + "Wellcum, James Boyd!" said our nobil King, + "A message ye maun gang for me; + Ye maun hye to Ettricke Foreste, + To yon Outlaw, where bydeth he. + + "Ask him of whom he haldis his landis, 45 + Or man, wha may his master be, + And desyre him cum, and be my man, + And hald of me yon Foreste frie. + + "To Edinburgh to cum and gang, + His safe warrant I sall gie; 50 + And gif he refuses to do that, + We'll conquess baith his landis and he. + + "Thou mayst vow I'll cast his castell down, + And mak a widowe o' his gaye ladye; + I'll hang his merryemen, payr by payr, 55 + In ony frith where I may them see." + + James Boyd tuik his leave o' the nobil King, + To Ettricke Foreste feir cam he; + Down Birkendale Brae when that he cam, + He saw the feir Foreste wi' his ee.[L60] 60 + + Baith dae and rae, and harte and hinde, + And of a' wilde bestis great plentie; + He heard the bows that bauldly ring,[L63] + And arrows whidderan' hym near bi. + + Of that feir castell he got a sight; 65 + The like he neir saw wi' his ee! + On the fore front o' that castell feir, + Twa unicorns were gaye to see; + The picture of a knight, and ladye bright, + And the grene hollin abune their brie. 70 + + Thereat he spyed five hundred men, + Shuting with bows on Newark Lee; + They were a' in ae livery clad, + O' the Lincome grene sae gaye to see. + + His men were a' clad in the grene, 75 + The knight was armed capapie, + With a bended bow, on a milk-white steed, + And I wot they rank'd right bonnilie: + Thereby Boyd kend he was master man, + And served him in his ain degr['e]. 80 + + "God mot thee save, brave Outlaw Murray! + Thy ladye, and all thy chyvalrie!" + "Marry, thou's wellcum, gentleman, + Some king's messenger thou seemis to be." + + "The King of Scotlonde sent me here, 85 + And, gude Outlaw, I am sent to thee; + I wad wot of whom ye hald your landis, + Or man, wha may thy master be?" + + "Thir landis are MINE!" the Outlaw said; + "I ken nae king in Christentie; 90 + Frae Soudron I this foreste wan, + When the King nor his knightis were not to see." + + "He desyres you'l cum to Edinburgh, + And hauld of him this foreste fre; + And, gif ye refuse to do this, 95 + He'll conquess baith thy landis and thee. + He hath vow'd to cast thy castell down, + And mak a widowe o' thy gaye ladye; + + "He'll hang thy merryemen, payr by payr, + In ony frith where he may them finde." 100 + "Ay, by my troth!" the Outlaw said, + "Than wauld I thinke me far behinde. + + "Ere the King my feir countrie get, + This land that's nativest to me, + Mony o' his nobilis sall be cauld, 105 + Their ladyes sall be right wearie." + + Then spak his ladye, feir of face, + She seyd, "Without consent of me, + That an Outlaw suld come befor a King; + I am right rad of treasonrie. 110 + Bid him be gude to his lordis at hame, + For Edinburgh my lord sall nevir see." + + James Boyd tuik his leave o' the Outlaw kene, + To Edinburgh boun is he; + When James he cam before the King, 115 + He knelit lowlie on his kn['e]. + + "Welcum, James Boyd!" seyd our nobil King; + "What foreste is Ettricke Foreste frie?" + "Ettricke Foreste is the feirest foreste + That evir man saw wi' his ee. 120 + + "There's the dae, the rae, the hart, the hynde, + And of a' wild bestis grete plentie; + There's a pretty castell of lyme and stane, + O gif it standis not pleasauntlie! + + "There's in the fore front o' that castell, 125 + Twa unicorns, sae bra' to see; + There's the picture of a knight, and a ladye bright, + Wi' the grene hollin abune their brie. + + "There the Outlaw keepis five hundred men, + He keepis a royalle cumpanie; 130 + His merryemen in ae livery clad, + O' the Lincome grene sae gaye to see: + He and his ladye in purple clad; + O gin they live not royallie! + + "He says, yon foreste is his awin; 135 + He wan it frae the Southronie; + Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it, + Contrair all kingis in Christentie." + + "Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith, + Fife, up and downe, and Louthians three, 140 + And graith my horse!" said our nobil King, + "For to Ettricke Forest hie will I me." + + Then word is gane the Outlaw till, + In Ettricke Forest, where dwelleth he, + That the King was cuming to his cuntrie, 145 + To conquess baith his landis and he. + + "I mak a vow," the Outlaw said, + "I mak a vow, and that trulie, + Were there but three men to tak my pairt, + Yon King's cuming full deir suld be!" 150 + + Then messengers he called forth, + And bade them hie them speedilye-- + "Ane of ye gae to Halliday, + The Laird of the Corehead is he.[L154] + + "He certain is my sister's son; 155 + Bid him cum quick and succour me! + The King cums on for Ettricke Foreste, + And landless men we a' will be." + + "What news? What news?" said Halliday, + "Man, frae thy master unto me?" 160 + "Not as ye wad: seeking your aide; + The King's his mortal enemie." + + "Ay, by my troth!" said Halliday, + "Even for that it repenteth me; + For gif he lose feir Ettricke Foreste, 165 + He'll tak feir Moffatdale frae me. + + "I'll meet him wi' five hundred men, + And surely mair, if mae may be; + And before he gets the foreste feir, + We a' will die on Newark Lee!" 170 + + The Outlaw call'd a messenger, + And bid him hie him speedilye, + To Andrew Murray of Cockpool,[L173] + "That man's a deir cousin to me; + Desyre him cum, and make me aide, 175 + With a' the power that he may be." + + "It stands me hard," Andrew Murray said, + "Judge gif it stand na hard wi' me; + To enter against a king wi' crown, + And set my landis in jeopardie! 180 + Yet, if I cum not on the day, + Surely at night he sall me see." + + To Sir James Murray of Traquair,[L183] + A message came right speedilye-- + "What news? What news?" James Murray said, 185 + "Man, frae thy master unto me?" + + "What neids I tell? for weel ye ken + The King's his mortal enemie; + And now he is cuming to Ettricke Foreste, + And landless men ye a' will be." 190 + + "And, by my trothe," James Murray said, + "Wi' that Outlaw will I live and die; + The King has gifted my landis lang syne-- + It cannot be nae warse wi' me." + + The King was cuming thro' Caddon Ford,[L195] 195 + And full five thousand men was he; + They saw the derke Foreste them before, + They thought it awsome for to see. + + Then spak the lord hight Hamilton, + And to the nobil King said he, 200 + "My sovereign liege, sum council tak, + First at your nobilis, syne at me. + + "Desyre him mete thee at Permanscore, + And bring four in his cumpanie; + Five Erles sall gang yoursell befor, 205 + Gude cause that you suld honour'd be. + + "And, gif he refuses to do that, + We'll conquess baith his landis and he; + There sall nevir a Murray, after him, + Hald land in Ettricke Foreste free." 210 + + Then spak the kene Laird of Buckscleuth, + A stalworthe man, and sterne was he-- + "For a King to gang an Outlaw till, + Is beneath his state and his dignitie. + + "The man that wons yon foreste intill, 215 + He lives by reif and felonie! + Wherefore, brayd on, my sovereign liege, + Wi' fire and sword we'll follow thee; + Or, gif your countrie lords fa' back, + Our Borderers sall the onset gie." 220 + + Then out and spak the nobil King, + And round him cast a wilie ee-- + "Now, had thy tongue, Sir Walter Scott, + Nor speak of reif nor felonie: + For had every honest man his awin kye, 225 + A right puir clan thy name wad be!" + + The King then call'd a gentleman, + Royal banner-bearer there was he, + James Hoppringle of Torsonse, by name; + He cam and knelit upon his kn['e]. 230 + + "Wellcum, James Pringle of Torsonse! + A message ye maun gang for me: + Ye maun gae to yon Outlaw Murray, + Surely where bauldly bideth he. + + "Bid him mete me at Permanscore, 235 + And bring four in his cumpanie; + Five erles sall cum wi' mysell, + Gude reason I suld honour'd be. + + "And gif he refuses to do that, + Bid him luke for nae good o' me! 240 + There sall nevir a Murray, after him, + Have land in Ettricke Foreste free." + + James cam before the Outlaw kene, + And served him in his ain degr['e]-- + "Welcum, James Pringle of Torsonse! 245 + What message frae the King to me?" + + "He bids ye meet him at Permanscore,[L247] + And bring four in your cumpany; + Five erles sall gang himsell befor, + Nae mair in number will he be. 250 + + "And gif you refuse to do that, + (I freely here upgive wi' thee,) + He'll cast yon bonny castle down, + And make a widowe o' that gay ladye. + + "He'll loose yon bluidhound Borderers, 255 + Wi' fire and sword to follow thee; + There will nevir a Murray, after thysell, + Have land in Ettrick Foreste free." + + "It stands me hard," the Outlaw said, + "Judge gif it stands na hard wi' me, 260 + Wha reck not losing of mysell, + But a' my offspring after me. + + "My merryemen's lives, my widowe's teirs-- + There lies the pang that pinches me; + "When I am straught in bluidie eard, 265 + Yon castell will be right dreirie. + + "Auld Halliday, young Halliday, + Ye sall be twa to gang wi' me; + Andrew Murray, and Sir James Murray, + We'll be nae mae in cumpanie." 270 + + When that they cam before the King, + They fell before him on their kn['e]-- + "Grant mercie, mercie, nobil King! + E'en for his sake that dyed on tree." + + "Sicken like mercie sall ye have, 275 + On gallows ye sall hangit be!" + "Over God's forbode," quoth the Outlaw then, + "I hope your grace will bettir be; + Else, ere you come to Edinburgh port, + I trow thin guarded sall ye be. 280 + + "Thir landis of Ettricke Foreste fair, + I wan them from the enemie; + Like as I wan them, sae will I keep them, + Contrair a' kingis in Christentie." + + All the nobilis the King about, 285 + Said pitie it were to see him dee-- + "Yet grant me mercie, sovereign prince, + Extend your favour unto me! + + "I'll give thee the keys of my castell, + Wi' the blessing o' my gay ladye, 290 + Gin thou'lt make me sheriffe of this Foreste, + And a' my offspring after me." + + "Wilt thou give me the keys of thy castell, + Wi' the blessing of thy gaye ladye? + I'se make thee sheriffe of Ettricke Foreste. 295 + Surely while upward grows the tree; + If you be not traitour to the King, + Forfaulted sall thou nevir be." + + "But, Prince, what sall cum o' my men? + When I gae back, traitour they'll ca' me. 300 + I had rather lose my life and land, + Ere my merryemen rebuked me." + + "Will your merryemen amend their lives, + And a' their pardons I grant thee? + Now, name thy landis where'er they lie, 305 + And here I RENDER them to thee."-- + + "Fair Philiphaugh is mine by right, + And Lewinshope still mine shall be; + Newark, Foulshiells, and Tinnies baith, + My bow and arrow purchased me. 310 + + "And I have native steads to me, + The Newark Lee and Hanginshaw;[L312] + I have mony steads in the forest schaw, + But them by name I dinna knaw." + + The keys of the castell he gave the King, 315 + Wi' the blessing o' his feir ladye; + He was made sheriffe of Ettricke Foreste, + Surely while upward grows the tree; + And if he was na traitour to the King, + Forfaulted he suld never be. 320 + + Wha ever heard, in ony times, + Sicken an outlaw in his degr['e], + Sic favour get befor a King, + As did the OUTLAW MURRAY of the Foreste free? + +38. Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran, was forfeited, with his father and +uncle, in 1469, for an attempt on the person of James III. He had a son, +James, who was restored, and in favor with James IV. about 1482. If this +be the person here meant, we should read, "The Earl of Arran his _son_ +was he." Glenriddel's copy reads, "a Highland laird I'm sure was he." +Reciters sometimes call the messenger the Laird of Skene.--S. + +60. Birkendale Brae, now commonly called _Birkendailly_, is steep +descent on the south side of Minch-moor, which separates Tweeddale from +Ettrick Forest; and from the top of which we have the first view of the +woods of Hangingshaw, the Castle of Newark, and the romantic dale of +Yarrow.--S. + +63, Scott, _blows_: Aytoun, _bows_. + +154. This is a place at the head of Moffat-water, possessed of old by +the family of Halliday.--S. + +173. This family were ancestors of the Murrays, Earls of Annandale; but +the name of the representative, in the time of James IV., was William, +not Andrew. Glenriddel's MS. reads, "the country-keeper."--S. + +183. Before the Barony of Traquair became the property of the Stewarts, +it belonged to a family of Murrays, afterwards Murrays of Black-barony, +and ancestors of Lord Elibank. The old castle was situated on the Tweed. +The lands of Traquair were forfeited by Willielmus de Moravia, previous +to 1464; for, in that year, a charter, proceeding upon his forfeiture, +was granted by the crown to "Willielmo Douglas de Cluny." Sir James was, +perhaps, the heir of William Murray. It would farther seem, that the +grant in 1464 was not made effectual by Douglas; for another charter +from the crown, dated the 3d February, 1478, conveys the estate of +Traquair to James Stewart, Earl of Buchan, son of the Black Knight of +Lorne, and maternal uncle to James III., from whom is descended the +present Earl of Traquair. The first royal grant not being followed by +possession, it is very possible that the Murrays may have continued to +occupy Traquair long after the date of that charter. Hence, Sir James +might have reason to say, as in the ballad, "The King has gifted my +lands lang syne."--S. + +195, A ford on the Tweed, at the mouth of the Caddon Burn, near +Yair.--S. + +247. Permanscore is a very remarkable hollow on the top of a high ridge +of hills, dividing the vales of Tweed and Yarrow, a little to the +eastward of Minch-moor. It is the outermost point of the lands of +Broadmeadows. The Glenriddel MS., which, in this instance, is extremely +inaccurate as to names, calls the place of rendezvous, "_The Poor Man's +House_," and hints that the Outlaw was surprised by the treachery of the +King:-- + + "Then he was aware of the King's coming, + With hundreds three in company, + 'I wot the muckle deel * * * * * + He learned Kingis to lie! + For to fetch me here frae amang my men, + Here, like a dog for to die.'" + +I believe the reader will think with me, that the catastrophe is better, +as now printed from Mrs. Cockburn's copy. The deceit, supposed to be +practised on the Outlaw, is unworthy of the military monarch, as he is +painted in the ballad; especially if we admit him to be King James +IV.--S. + +312. In this and the following verse, the ceremony of feudal investiture +is supposed to be gone through, by the Outlaw resigning his possessions +into the hands of the king, and receiving them back, to be held of him +as superior. The lands of Philiphaugh are still possessed by the +Outlaw's representative. Hangingshaw and Lewinshope were sold of late +years. Newark, Foulshiels, and Tinnies, have long belonged to the family +of Buccleuch.--S. + + + + +JOHNIE ARMSTRANG. + + +"Johnie Armstrong, of Gilnockie, the hero of the following ballad, is a +noted personage, both in history and tradition. He was, it would seem +from the ballad, a brother of the Laird of Mangertoun, chief of the +name. His place of residence (now a roofless tower) was at the Hollows, +a few miles from Langholm, where its ruins still serve to adorn a scene, +which, in natural beauty, has few equals in Scotland. At the head of a +desperate band of freebooters, this Armstrong is said to have spread the +terror of his name almost as far as Newcastle, and to have levied +black-mail, or protection and forbearance money, for many miles round. +James V., of whom it was long remembered by his grateful people that he +made the "rush-bush keep the cow," about 1529, undertook an expedition +through the Border counties, to suppress the turbulent spirit of the +Marchmen. But before setting out upon his journey, he took the +precaution of imprisoning the different Border chieftains, who were the +chief protectors of the marauders. The Earl of Bothwell was forfeited, +and confined in Edinburgh Castle. The Lords of Home and Maxwell, the +Lairds of Buccleuch, Fairniherst, and Johnston, with many others, were +also committed to ward. Cockburn of Henderland, and Adam Scott of +Tushielaw, called the King of the Border, were publicly +executed.--LESLEY, p. 430. The King then marched rapidly forward, at the +head of a flying army of ten thousand men, through Ettrick Forest and +Ewsdale. The evil genius of our Johnie Armstrong, or, as others say, the +private advice of some courtiers, prompted him to present himself before +James, at the head of thirty-six horse, arrayed in all the pomp of +Border chivalry. Pitscottie uses nearly the words of the ballad, in +describing the splendor of his equipment, and his high expectations of +favor from the King. "But James, looking upon him sternly, said to his +attendants, 'What wants that knave that a king should have?' and ordered +him and his followers to instant execution."--"But John Armstrong," +continues this minute historian, "made great offers to the King: That he +should sustain himself, with forty gentlemen, ever ready at his service, +on their own cost, without wronging any Scottishman: Secondly, that +there was not a subject in England, duke, earl, or baron, but, within a +certain day, he should bring him to his majesty, either quick or dead. +At length, he seeing no hope of favor, said very proudly, 'It is folly +to seek grace at a graceless face; but,' said he, 'had I known this, I +should have lived upon the Borders in despite of King Harry and you +both; for I know King Harry would _downweigh my best horse with gold_, +to know that I were condemned to die this day."--PITSCOTTIE'S _History_, +p. 145. Johnie and all his retinue were accordingly hanged upon growing +trees, at a place called Carlenrig Chapel, about ten miles above Hawick, +on the high road to Langholm. The country people believe, that, to +manifest the injustice of the execution, the trees withered away. +Armstrong and his followers were buried in a deserted churchyard, where +their graves are still shown. + +"As this Border hero was a person of great note in his way, he is +frequently alluded to by the writers of the time. Sir David Lindsay of +the Mount, in the curious play published by Mr. Pinkerton, from the +Bannatyne MS., introduces a pardoner, or knavish dealer in relics, who +produces, among his holy rarities-- + + ----"The cordis, baith grit and lang, + Quhilk hangit Johnnie Armstrang, + Of gud hempt, soft and sound. + Gud haly pepill, I stand ford, + Quhavir beis hangit in this cord, + Neidis nevir to be dround!" + + PINKERTON'S _Scottish Poems_, vol. ii. p. 69. + +"In _The Complaynt of Scotland_, John Armistrangis' dance, mentioned as +a popular tune, has probably some reference to our hero." [See the +_Musical Museum_, ed. 1853, vol. iv. p. 336.]--SCOTT'S _Minstrelsy_, i. +402. + +The ballad as here given is to be found in _A Collection of Old +Ballads_, 1723, vol. i. p. 170. The whole title is: _Johnny Armstrang's +Last Good-night, shewing how John Armstrong, with his eightscore men, +fought a bloody battle with the Scotch King at Edenborough_. It had +previously appeared in _Wit Restor'd_, 1658, p. 123, in very good shape, +except the want of some stanzas towards the end. It is in this form, +says Motherwell, that the story is preserved in the mouths of the +people. Nevertheless, Allan Ramsay has inserted in his _Evergreen_ quite +a different version, taken down from the mouth of a gentleman of the +name of Armstrong, "the sixth generation from this John," which the +reciter maintained to be the genuine ballad, "and the common one false." + +Ramsay's copy is subjoined, and the imperfect edition from _Wit +Restor'd_ finds a place in the Appendix. + +The following verses, generally styled _Armstrong's Good-night_, are +said to have been composed by one of that tribe who was executed in 1601 +for the murder of Sir John Carmichael, Warden of the Middle Marches. +They are from Johnson's _Museum_, p. 620, and are also found in Herd's +_Scottish Songs_, ii. 182. In Buchan's _Ballads of the North of +Scotland_, ii. 127, there is a twaddling piece called _The Last Guid +Night_, which is a sort of imitation of these stanzas. + + The night is my departing night, + The morn's the day I maun awa, + There's no a friend or fae of mine, + But wishes that I were awa. + + What I hae done for lack o' wit + I never never can reca'; + I trust ye're a' my friends as yet, + Gude night, and joy be wi' you a'. + + * * * * * + + Is there ever a man in all Scotland, + From the highest estate to the lowest degree, + That can shew himself now before our King? + Scotland is so full of treachery. + + Yes, there is a man in Westmorland, 5 + And Johnny Armstrong they do him call; + He has no lands nor rents coming in, + Yet he keeps eightscore men within his hall. + + He has horses and harness for them all, + And goodly steeds that be milk-white, 10 + With their goodly belts about their necks, + With hats and feathers all alike. + + The King he writes a loving letter, + And with his own hand so tenderly, + And hath sent it unto Johnny Armstrong, 15 + To come and speak with him speedily. + + When John he look'd this letter upon, + He lok'd as blith as a bird in a tree; + "I was never before a King in my life, + My father, my grandfather, nor none of us three. 20 + + "But seeing we must go before the King, + Lord, we will go most gallantly; + Ye shall every one have a velvet coat, + Laid down with golden laces three. + + "And every one shall have a scarlet cloak, 25 + Laid down with silver laces five, + With your golden belts about your necks, + With hats and feathers all alike." + + But when Johnny went from Giltnock-Hall, + The wind it blew hard, and full fast it did rain; + "Now fare thee well, thou Giltnock-Hall, 30 + I fear I shall never see thee again." + + Now Johnny he is to Edenborough gone, + With his eightscore men so gallantly, + And every one of them on a milk-white steed, 35 + With their bucklers and swords hanging to their knee. + + But when John came the King before, + With his eightscore men so gallant to see, + The King he mov'd his bonnet to him, + He thought he had been a king as well as he. 40 + + "O pardon, pardon, my sovereign liege, + Pardon for my eightscore men and me; + For my name, it is Johnny Armstrong, + And subject of yours, my liege," said he. + + "Away with thee, thou false traytor, 45 + No pardon will I grant to thee, + But to-morrow morning by eight of the clock, + I will hang up thy eightscore men and thee." + + Then Johnny look'd over his left shoulder, + And to his merry men thus said he, 50 + "I have asked grace of a graceless face, + No pardon there is for you and me." + + Then John pull'd out his good broad sword, + That was made of the mettle so free; + Had not the King moved his foot as he did, 55 + John had taken his head from his fair body. + + "Come, follow me, my merry men all, + We will scorn one foot for to fly; + It shall never be said we were hang'd like dogs; + We will fight it out most manfully." 60 + + Then they fought on like champions bold, + For their hearts were sturdy, stout, and free; + 'Till they had kill'd all the King's good guard,-- + There were none left alive but one, two, or three. + + But then rose up all Edenborough, 65 + They rose up by thousands three; + A cowardly Scot came John behind, + And run him through the fair body. + + Said John, "Fight on, my merry men all, + I am a little wounded, but am not slain; 70 + I will lay me down to bleed a while, + Then I'll rise and fight with you again." + + Then they fought on like mad men all, + Till many a man lay dead on the plain, + For they were resolved before they would yield, 75 + That every man would there be slain. + + So there they fought couragiously, + 'Till most of them lay dead there and slain, + But little Musgrave, that was his foot-page, + With his bonny Grissel got away unta'n. 80 + + But when he came to Giltnock-Hall, + The Lady spy'd him presently; + "What news, what news, thou little foot-page, + What news from thy master, and his company?" + + "My news is bad, Lady," he said, 85 + "Which I do bring, as you may see, + My master Johnny Armstrong is slain, + And all his gallant company. + + "Yet thou are welcome home, my bonny Grissel, + Full oft thou hast been fed with corn and hay, 90 + But now thou shalt be fed with bread and wine, + And thy sides shall be spurr'd no more, I say." + + O then bespake his little son, + As he sat on his nurse's knee, + "If ever I live to be a man, 95 + My father's death reveng'd shall be." + + + + +JOHNIE ARMSTRANG. + +From Ramsay's _Evergreen_, ii. 190. + + + Sum speiks of lords, sum speiks of lairds, + And sicklike men of hie degrie; + Of a gentleman I sing a sang, + Sumtyme calld Laird of Gilnockie. + + The King he wrytes a luving letter, 5 + With his ain hand sae tenderly, + And he hath sent it to Johny Armstrang, + To cum and speik with him speidily. + + The Elliots and Armstrangs did convene, + They were a gallant company-- 10 + "We'il ryde and meit our lawfull King, + And bring him safe to Gilnockie. + + "Make kinnen and capon ready, then, + And venison in great plenty; + "We'il welcome hame our royal King; 15 + I hope he'il dyne at Gilnockie!" + + They ran their horse on the Langholme howm,[L17] + And brake their speirs with mekle main; + The ladys lukit frae their loft windows-- + "God bring our men weil back again!" 20 + + When Johny came before the King, + With all his men so brave to see, + The King he movit his bonnet to him; + He wein'd he was a King as well as he. + + "May I find grace, my sovereign liege, 25 + Grace for my loyal men and me? + For my name it is Johny Armstrang, + And subject of yours, my liege," said he. + + "Away, away, thou traytor strang! + Out of my sicht sune mayst thou be![L30] 30 + I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe, + And now I'll not begin with thee." + + "Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my King! + And a bonny gift I will give to thee-- + Full four-and-twenty milk-whyt steids, 35 + Were a' foald in a yeir to me. + + "I'll gie thee all these milk-whyt steids, + That prance and nicher at a speir; + With as mekle gude Inglis gilt, + As four of their braid backs dow beir." 40 + + "Away, away, thou traytor strang! + Out o' my sicht sune mayst thou be! + I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe, + And now I'll not begin with thee!" + + "Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my King! 45 + And a bonny gift I'll gie to thee-- + Gude four-and-twenty ganging mills, + That gang throw a' the yeir to me. + + "These four-and-twenty mills complete + Sall gang for thee throw all the yeir; 50 + And as mekle of gude reid wheit, + As all thair happers dow to bear." + + "Away, away, thou traytor strang! + Out o' my sicht sune mayst thou be! + I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe, 55 + And now I'll not begin with thee." + + "Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my King! + And a great gift I'll gie to thee-- + Bauld four-and-twenty sisters' sons, + Sall for thee fecht, tho all sould flee!" 60 + + "Away, away, thou traytor strang! + Out o' my sicht sune mayst thou be! + I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe, + And now I'll not begin with thee." + + "Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my King! 65 + And a brave gift I'll gie to thee-- + All betwene heir and Newcastle town + Sall pay their yeirly rent to thee." + + "Away, away, thou traytor strang! + Out o' my sicht sune mayst thou be! 70 + I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe, + And now I'll not begin with thee." + + "Ye lied, ye lied, now, King," he says, + "Althocht a king and prince ye be! + For I luid naithing in all my lyfe, 75 + I dare well say it, but honesty-- + + "But a fat horse, and a fair woman, + Twa bonny dogs to kill a deir; + But Ingland suld haif found me meil and malt, + Gif I had livd this hundred yeir! 80 + + "Scho suld haif found me meil and malt, + And beif and mutton in all plentie; + But neir a Scots wyfe could haif said, + That eir I skaithd her a pure flie. + + "To seik het water beneth cauld yce, 85 + Surely it is a great folie; + I haif asked grace at a graceles face, + But there is nane for my men and me! + + "But had I kend, or I came frae hame, + How thou unkind wadst bene to me, 90 + I wad haif kept the Border syde, + In spyte of all thy force and thee. + + "Wist Englands King that I was tane, + O gin a blyth man wald he be! + For anes I slew his sisters son, 95 + And on his breist-bane brak a tree." + + John wore a girdle about his midle, + Imbroidred owre with burning gold, + Bespangled wi' the same mettle + Maist beautifull was to behold. 100 + + Ther hang nine targats at Johnys hat, + And ilka an worth three hundred pound-- + "What wants that knave that a King suld haif, + But the sword of honour and the crown? + + "O whair gat thou these targats, Johnie, 105 + That blink sae brawly abune thy brie?" + "I gat them in the field fechting, + Wher, cruel King, thou durst not be. + + "Had I my horse, and harness gude, + And ryding as I wont to be, 110 + It sould haif bene tald this hundred yeir, + The meiting of my King and me! + + "God be withee, Kirsty, my brither, + Lang live thou Laird of Mangertoun! + Lang mayst thou live on the Border syde, 115 + Or thou se thy brither ryde up and doun. + + "And God be withee, Kirsty, my son, + Whair thou sits on thy nursees knee! + But and thou live this hundred yeir, + Thy fathers better thou'lt never be. 120 + + Farweil, my bonny Gilnock-Hall, + Whair on Esk syde thou standest stout! + Gif I had leived but seven yeirs mair, + I wald haif gilt thee round about." + + John murdred was at Carlinrigg, 125 + And all his galant companie; + But Scotlands heart was never sae wae, + To see sae mony brave men die. + + Because they savd their country deir + Frae Englishmen: nane were sae bauld, 130 + Whyle Johnie livd on the Border syde, + Nane of them durst cum neir his hald. + + +17. Langum hown. + +30. thou mayst sune. + + + + +HUGHIE GRAHAM. + + +Of the two editions of this ballad which follow, the first is taken from +_The Scots Musical Museum_ (p. 312), to which it was contributed by +Burns. Burns states that he obtained his copy from oral tradition in +Ayrshire, but he had certainly retouched several stanzas (the ninth and +tenth, says Cromek), and the third and eighth are entirely of his +composition. + +The other copy is from the _Border Minstrelsy_, and consists of a +version "long current in Selkirkshire" (procured for Scott by Mr. +William Laidlaw), which also has been slightly improved by the pen of +the editor. + +In the Appendix we have placed the story as it occurs in Durfey's _Pills +to purge Melancholy_, and in Ritson's _Ancient Songs_. The seventeenth +volume of the Percy Society Publications furnishes us with a Scottish +version in which Sir Hugh is rescued and sent over the sea: _Scottish +Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads_, p. 73. These, we believe, are +all the published forms of this ballad, unless we mention Mr. Allan +Cunningham's _r['e]chauff['e]_ of Burns, in his _Songs of Scotland_, i. +327. + +"According to _tradition_," says Mr. Stenhouse, "Robert Aldridge, Bishop +of Carlisle, about the year 1560, seduced the wife of Hugh Graham, one +of those bold and predatory chiefs who so long inhabited what was called +the Debatable Land, on the English and Scottish border. Graham, being +unable to bring so powerful a prelate to justice, in revenge made an +excursion into Cumberland, and carried off _inter alia_, a fine mare +belonging to the bishop (!) but being closely pursued by Sir John +Scroope, warden of Carlisle, with a party on horseback, was apprehended +near Solway Moss, and carried to Carlisle, where he was tried and +convicted of felony. Great intercessions were made to save his life; but +the bishop, it is said, being determined to remove the chief obstacle to +his guilty passions, remained inexorable, and poor Graham fell a victim +to his own indiscretion and his wife's infidelity. Anthony Wood observes +that there were many changes in this prelate's time, both in church and +state, but that he retained his offices and preferments during them +all."--_Musical Museum_, iv. 297. + + + Our lords are to the mountains gane, + A hunting o' the fallow deer, + And they hae gripet Hughie Graham, + For stealing o' the Bishop's mare. + + And they hae tied him hand and foot, 5 + And led him up thro' Stirling town; + The lads and lasses met him there, + Cried, "Hughie Graham, thou art a loun." + + "O lowse my right hand free," he says, + "And put my braid sword in the same, 10 + He's no in Stirling town this day, + Daur tell the tale to Hughie Graham." + + Up then bespake the brave Whitefoord, + As he sat by the bishop's knee, + "Five hundred white stots I'll gie you, 15 + If ye'll let Hughie Graham gae free." + + "O haud your tongue," the bishop says, + "And wi' your pleading let me be; + For tho' ten Grahams were in his coat, + Hughie Graham this day shall die." 20 + + Up then bespake the fair Whitefoord, + As she sat by the bishop's knee; + "Five hundred white pence I'll gie you, + If ye'll gie Hughie Graham to me." + + "O haud your tongue now, lady fair, 25 + And wi' your pleading let it be; + Altho' ten Grahams were in his coat, + It's for my honour he maun die." + + They've taen him to the gallows knowe, + He looked to the gallows tree, 30 + Yet never colour left his cheek, + Nor ever did he blin' his e'e. + + At length he looked round about, + To see whatever he could spy, + And there he saw his auld father, 35 + And he was weeping bitterly. + + "O haud your tongue, my father dear. + And wi' your weeping let it be; + Thy weeping's sairer on my heart, 40 + Than a' that they can do to me. + + "And ye may gie my brother John + My sword that's bent in the middle clear, + And let him come at twelve o'clock, + And see me pay the bishop's mare. + + "And ye may gie my brother James 45 + My sword that's bent in the middle brown, + And bid him come at four o'clock, + And see his brother Hugh cut down. + + "Remember me to Maggy, my wife, + The niest time ye gang o'er the moor; 50 + Tell her, she staw the bishop's mare, + Tell her, she was the bishop's whore. + + "And ye may tell my kith and kin + I never did disgrace their blood, + And when they meet the bishop's cloak, 55 + To mak it shorter by the hood." + + + + +HUGHIE THE GR[AE]ME. + +From _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 110. + + + Gude Lord Scroope's to the hunting gane, + He has ridden o'er moss and muir; + And he has grippet Hughie the Gr[ae]me, + For stealing o' the Bishop's mare. + + "Now, good Lord Scroope, this may not be! 5 + Here hangs a broadsword by my side; + And if that thou canst conquer me, + The matter it may soon be tryed." + + "I ne'er was afraid of a traitor thief; + Although thy name be Hughie the Gr[ae]me, 10 + "I'll make thee repent thee of thy deeds, + If God but grant me life and time." + + "Then do your worst now, good Lord Scroope, + And deal your blows as hard as you can; + It shall be tried within an hour, 15 + Which of us two is the better man." + + But as they were dealing their blows so free, + And both so bloody at the time, + Over the moss came ten yeomen so tall, + All for to take brave Hughie the Gr[ae]me. 20 + + Then they hae grippit Hughie the Gr[ae]me, + And brought him up through Carlisle town; + The lasses and lads stood on the walls, + Crying, "Hughie the Gr[ae]me, thou'se ne'er gae down!" + + Then they hae chosen a jury of men, 25 + The best that were in Carlisle town; + And twelve of them cried out at once, + "Hughie the Gr[ae]me, thou must gae down!" + + Then up bespak him gude Lord Hume, + As he sat by the judge's knee, 30 + "Twenty white owsen, my gude lord, + If you'll grant Hughie the Gr[ae]me to me." + + "O no, O no, my gude Lord Hume, + Forsooth and sae it mauna be; + For were there but three Gr[ae]mes of the name, 35 + They suld be hanged a' for me." + + 'Twas up and spake the gude Lady Hume, + As she sat by the judge's knee, + "A peck of white pennies, my good lord judge, + If you'll grant Hughie the Gr[ae]me to me." 40 + + "O no, O no, my gude Lady Hume, + Forsooth and so it must na be; + Were he but the one Gr[ae]me of the name, + He suld be hanged high for me." + + "If I be guilty," said Hughie the Gr[ae]me, 45 + "Of me my friends shall have small talk;" + And he has louped fifteen feet and three, + Though his hands they were tied behind his back. + + He looked over his left shoulder, + And for to see what he might see; 50 + There was he aware of his auld father, + Came tearing his hair most piteouslie. + + "O hald your tongue, my father," he says, + "And see that ye dinna weep for me! + For they may ravish me o' my life, 55 + But they canna banish me fro' Heaven hie. + + "Fair ye weel, fair Maggie, my wife! + The last time we came ower the muir, + 'Twas thou bereft me of my life, + And wi' the Bishop thou play'd the whore. 60 + + "Here, Johnie Armstrang, take thou my sword, + That is made o' the metal sae fine; + And when thou comest to the English side, + Remember the death of Hughie the Gr[ae]me." + + + + +KINMONT WILLIE. + + +In the year 1596, Mr. Salkeld, the deputy of Lord Scroope, the English +warden of the West Marches, and Robert Scott, the representative of the +Laird of Buccleuch, then keeper of Liddesdale, held a meeting on the +border line of the kingdoms, according to the custom of the times, for +the purpose of arranging such differences, and redressing such +grievances, as either party might have to allege. On these occasions a +truce was always proclaimed, inviolable on pain of death, from the day +of the meeting to the next day at sunrise. After the conference in +question, as William Armstrong of Kinmonth, a notorious freebooter, +whose ordinary style was Kinmont Willie, was returning to his home, +accompanied by only three or four persons, he was pursued by a couple of +hundred Englishmen, taken prisoner, and in contravention of the truce, +lodged in the castle of Carlisle. The Laird of Buccleuch sought to +obtain the enfranchisement of his client and retainer, through the +mediation, first of the English warden, and then of the Scottish +ambassador. Receiving no satisfaction, he took the matter into his own +hands, raised a party of two hundred horse, surprised the castle of +Carlisle, and carried off the prisoner by main force. This dashing +achievement was performed on the 13th of April, 1596. + +According to a rhymester who celebrated the daring feat of Buccleuch +about a hundred years later, Kinmont Willie was a descendant of Johnie +Armstrong of Gilnockie. + +Interesting details of the surprise of the castle, and further notices +of Kinmont Willie are given by Scott in the _Border Minstrelsy_ (ii. +32), where the ballad was first published. + +"This ballad is preserved," says Scott, "on the West Borders, but much +mangled by reciters, so that some conjectural emendations have been +absolutely necessary to render it intelligible." + + + O have ye na heard o' the fause Sakelde? + O have ye na heard o' the keen Lord Scroope? + How they hae ta'en bauld Kinmont Willie, + On Haribee to hang him up?[L4] + + Had Willie had but twenty men, 5 + But twenty men as stout as he, + Fause Sakelde had never the Kinmont ta'en, + Wi' eight score in his cumpanie. + + They band his legs beneath the steed, + They tied his hands behind his back; 10 + They guarded him, fivesome on each side, + And they brought him ower the Liddel-rack. + + They led him thro' the Liddel-rack,[L13] + And also thro' the Carlisle sands; + They brought him to Carlisle castell, 15 + To be at my Lord Scroope's commands. + + "My hands are tied, but my tongue is free, + And whae will dare this deed avow? + Or answer by the Border law? + Or answer to the bauld Buccleuch?" 20 + + "Now haud thy tongue, thou rank reiver! + There's never a Scot shall set thee free: + Before ye cross my castle yate, + I trow ye shall take farewell o' me." + + "Fear na ye that, my lord," quo' Willie: 25 + "By the faith o' my body, Lord Scroope," he said, + "I never yet lodged in a hostelrie, + But I paid my lawing before I gaed." + + Now word is gane to the bauld Keeper, + In Branksome Ha' where that he lay, 30 + That Lord Scroope has ta'en the Kinmont Willie, + Between the hours of night and day. + + He has ta'en the table wi' his hand, + He garr'd the red wine spring on hie-- + "Now Christ's curse on my head," he said, 35 + "But avenged of Lord Scroope I'll be! + + "O is my basnet a widow's curch? + Or my lance a wand of the willow-tree? + Or my arm a ladye's lilye hand, + That an English lord should lightly me! 40 + + "And have they ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, + Against the truce of Border tide, + And forgotten that the bauld Buccleuch + Is keeper here on the Scottish side? + + "And have they e'en ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, 45 + Withouten either dread or fear, + And forgotten that the bauld Buccleuch + Can back a steed, or shake a spear? + + "O were there war between the lands, + As well I wot that there is none, 50 + I would slight Carlisle castell high, + Though it were builded of marble stone. + + "I would set that castell in a low, + And sloken it with English blood! + There's never a man in Cumberland, 55 + Should ken where Carlisle castell stood. + + "But since nae war's between the lands, + And there is peace, and peace should be; + I'll neither harm English lad or lass, + And yet the Kinmont freed shall be!" 60 + + He has call'd him forty Marchmen bauld, + I trow they were of his ain name, + Except Sir Gilbert Elliot, call'd + The Laird of Stobs, I mean the same. + + He has call'd him forty Marchmen bauld, 65 + Were kinsmen to the bauld Buccleuch; + With spur on heel, and splent on spauld, + And gleuves of green, and feathers blue. + + There were five and five before them a', + Wi' hunting-horns and bugles bright: 70 + And five and five came wi' Buccleuch, + Like warden's men, array'd for fight. + + And five and five, like a mason gang, + That carried the ladders lang and hie; + And five and five, like broken men; 75 + And so they reach'd the Woodhouselee.[L76] + + And as we cross'd the Bateable Land, + When to the English side we held, + The first o' men that we met wi', + Whae sould it be but fause Sakelde? 80 + + "Where be ye gaun, ye hunters keen?" + Quo' fause Sakelde; "come tell to me!" + "We go to hunt an English stag, + Has trespass'd on the Scots countrie." + + "Where be ye gaun, ye marshal men?" 85 + Quo' fause Sakelde; "come tell me true!" + "We go to catch a rank reiver, + Has broken faith wi' the bauld Buccleuch." + + "Where are ye gaun, ye mason lads, + Wi' a' your ladders lang and hie?" 90 + "We gang to herry a corbie's nest, + That wons not far frae Woodhouselee." + + "Where be ye gaun, ye broken men?" + Quo' fause Sakelde; "come tell to me!" + Now Dickie of Dryhope led that band, 95 + And the nevir a word of lear had he. + + "Why trespass ye on the English side? + Row-footed outlaws, stand!" quo' he; + The nevir a word had Dickie to say, + Sae he thrust the lance through his fause bodie. 100 + + Then on we held for Carlisle toun, + And at Staneshaw-bank the Eden we cross'd;[L102] + The water was great and meikle of spait, + But the nevir a horse nor man we lost. + + And when we reach'd the Staneshaw-bank, 105 + The wind was rising loud and hie; + And there the Laird garr'd leave our steeds, + For fear that they should stamp and nie. + + And when we left the Staneshaw-bank, + The wind began full loud to blaw; 110 + But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet, + When we came beneath the castle wa'. + + We crept on knees, and held our breath, + Till we placed the ladders against the wa'; + And sae ready was Buccleuch himsell 115 + To mount the first before us a'. + + He has ta'en the watchman by the throat, + He flung him down upon the lead-- + "Had there not been peace between our lands, + Upon the other side thou hadst gaed! 120 + + "Now sound out, trumpets!" quo' Buccleuch; + "Let's waken Lord Scroope right merrilie!" + Then loud the warden's trumpet blew-- + _O wha dare meddle wi' me_?[L124] + + Then speedilie to wark we gaed, 125 + And raised the slogan ane and a', + And cut a hole through a sheet of lead, + And so we wan to the castle ha'. + + They thought King James and a' his men + Had won the house wi' bow and spear; 130 + It was but twenty Scots and ten, + That put a thousand in sic a stear! + + Wi' coulters, and wi' forehammers, + We garr'd the bars bang merrilie, + Until we came to the inner prison, 135 + Where Willie o' Kinmont he did lie. + + And when we cam to the lower prison, + Where Willie o' Kinmont he did lie-- + "O sleep ye, wake ye, Kinmont Willie, + Upon the morn that thou's to die?" 140 + + "O I sleep saft, and I wake aft, + It's lang since sleeping was fley'd frae me; + Gie my service back to my wife and bairns, + And a' gude fellows that spier for me." + + Then Red Rowan has hente him up, 145 + The starkest man in Teviotdale-- + "Abide, abide now, Red Rowan, + Till of my Lord Scroope I take farewell. + + "Farewell, farewell, my gude Lord Scroope! + My gude Lord Scroope, farewell!" he cried-- 150 + "I'll pay you for my lodging maill, + When first we meet on the Border side." + + Then shoulder high, with shout and cry, + We bore him down the ladder lang; + At every stride Red Rowan made, 155 + I wot the Kinmont's airns play'd clang. + + "O mony a time," quo' Kinmont Willie, + "I have ridden horse baith wild and wood; + But a rougher beast than Red Rowan + I ween my legs have ne'er bestrode. 160 + + "And mony a time," quo' Kinmont Willie, + "I've prick'd a horse out oure the furs; + But since the day I back'd a steed, + I never wore sic cumbrous spurs." + + We scarce had won the Staneshaw-bank, 165 + When a' the Carlisle bells were rung, + And a thousand men on horse and foot + Cam wi' the keen Lord Scroope along. + + Buccleuch has turn'd to Eden Water, + Even where it flow'd frae bank to brim, 170 + And he has plunged in wi' a' his band, + And safely swam them through the stream. + + He turn'd him on the other side, + And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he-- + "If ye like na my visit in merry England, 175 + In fair Scotland come visit me!" + + All sore astonish'd stood Lord Scroope, + He stood as still as rock of stane; + He scarcely dared to trew his eyes, + When through the water they had gane. 180 + + "He is either himsell a devil frae hell, + Or else his mother a witch maun be; + I wadna have ridden that wan water + For a' the gowd in Christentie." + +4. Haribee is the place of execution at Carlisle.--S. + +13. The Liddel-rack is a ford on the Liddel.--S. + +76. A house on the Border, belonging to Buccleuch.--S. + +102. Eden has been substituted for Eske, the latter +name being inconsistent with geography.--S. + +124. The name of a Border tune.--S. + + + + +DICK O' THE COW. + +From Caw's _Poetical Museum_, p. 22. + + +The personage from whom this ballad is named was jester to Lord Scroop, +who was warden of the West Marches of England from 1590 to 1603. The +Laird's Jock, that is John, the son of the Laird of Mangerton, "appears +as one of the _men of name_ in Liddesdale, in the list of the Border +Clans, 1597." + +_Dick o' the Cow_ is closely connected with _Jock o' the Side_ and +_Hobie Noble_, which follow shortly after. All three were first printed +in Caw's _Museum_, and seem to have been contributed by a Mr. Elliot, a +Liddesdale gentleman, to whom Sir W. Scott acknowledges many +obligations. We are told that both _Dick o' the Cow_ and _Jock o' the +Side_ were until lately so popular in Liddesdale with all classes of +people, that they were invariably sung, from beginning to end, at every +festive meeting. + +The ballad of _Dick o' the Cow_ was well known in England as early as +1596. + +"An allusion to it likewise occurs in PARROT'S _Laquei Ridiculosi_, or +_Springes for Woodcocks_; London, 1613. + + "Owenus wondreth since he came to Wales, + What the description of this isle should be, + That nere had seen but mountains, hills, and dales, + Yet would he boast, and stand on pedigree, + From Rice ap Richard, sprung from _Dick a Cow_, + Be cod, was right gud gentleman, look ye now!" + + _Epigr. 76._--SCOTT. + + + Now Liddisdale has lyan lang in, + There is nae riding there at a'; + The horses are grown sae lidder fat, + They downa stur out o' the sta'. + + Then Johnie Armstrong to Willie can say-- 5 + "Billie, a riding then we'll gae; + England and us has been lang at a feid; + Ablins we'll hit on some bootie." + + Then they're com'd on to Hutton Ha', + They rade the proper place about; 10 + But the laird he was the wiser man, + For he had left nae gear without. + + Then he had left nae gear to steal, + Except sax sheep upon a lee: + Quo' Johnie--"I'd rather in England die, 15 + Ere thir sax sheep gae t' Liddisdale wi' me. + + "But how ca'd they the man we last met, + Billie, as we cam o'er the know?" + "That same he is an innocent fool, + And some men ca' him Dick o' the Cow." 20 + + "That fool has three as good ky o' his ain, + As there's in a' Cumberland, billie," quo' he: + "Betide me life, betide me death, + These three ky shall gae t' Liddisdale wi' me." + + Then they're com'd on to the poor fool's house, 25 + And they hae broken his wa's sae wide; + They have loos'd out Dick o' the Cow's three ky, + And tane three co'erlets aff his wife's bed. + + Then on the morn, whan the day was light, + The shouts and cries rose loud and hie: 30 + "O had thy tongue, my wife," he says, + "And o' thy crying let me be! + + "O had thy tongue, my wife," he says, + "And of thy crying let me be; + And aye that where thou wants a cow, 35 + In good sooth I'll bring thee three." + + Then Dickie's com'd on for's lord and master, + And I wat a dreirie fool was he; + "Now had thy tongue, my fool," he says, + "For I may not stand to jest wi' thee." 40 + + "Shame speed a' your jesting, my lord!" quo' Dickie, + "For nae sic jesting grees wi' me; + Liddisdale's been i' my house last night, + And they hae tane my three ky frae me. + + "But I may nae langer in Cumberland dwell, 45 + To be your poor fool and your leal, + Unless ye gi' me leave, my lord, + T' gae t' Liddisdale and steal." + + "I gi' thee leave, my fool," he says; + "Thou speakest against my honour and me, 50 + Unless thou gi' me thy trowth and thy hand, + Thou'lt steal frae nane but wha sta' frae thee." + + "There is my trowth, and my right hand! + My head shall hang on Hairibee,[L54] + I'll near cross Carlisle sands again, 55 + If I steal frae a man but wha sta' frae me." + + Dickie's tane leave at lord and master, + And I wat a merry fool was he; + He's bought a bridle and a pair o' new spurs, + And pack'd them up in his breek thigh. 60 + + Then Dickie's come on for Pudding-burn,[L61] + E'en as fast as he might drie; + Now Dickie's come on for Pudding-burn, + Where there were thirty Armstrongs and three. + + "O what's this com'd o' me now?" quo' Dickie; 65 + "What meikle wae's this happen'd o' me? quo' he; + Where here is but ae innocent fool, + And there is thirty Armstrongs and three!" + + Yet he's com'd up to the ha' amang them a', + Sae weil he's became his curtesie! 70 + "Weil may ye be, my good Laird's Jock! + But the de'il bless a' your companie. + + "I'm come to 'plain o' your man, fair Johnie Armstrong, + And syne o' his billie Willie," quo' he; + "How they hae been i' my house the last night, 75 + And they hae tane my three ky frae me." + + Quo' Johnie Armstrong, "We will him hang;" + "Na then," quo' Willie, "we'll him slae;" + But up and bespake anither young man, + "We'll gie 'im his batts, and let him gae." 80 + + Then up and bespake the good Laird's Jock, + The best falla in a' the companie; + "Sit thy ways down a little while, Dickie, + And a piece o' thy ain cow's hough I'll gi' thee." + + But Dickie's heart it grew sae great, 85 + That ne'er a bit o't he dought to eat; + Then Dickie was ware o' an auld peat-house, + Where a' the night he thought for to sleep. + + Then Dickie was ware o' an auld peat-house, + Where a' the night he thought for to ly; 90 + And a' the prayers the poor fool pray'd, + "I wish I had amense for my ain three ky!" + + Then it was the use of Pudding-burn, + And the house of Mangerton, all haill,[L94] + These that cam na at the first ca', 95 + They got nae mair meat t' the neist meal. + + The lads, that hungry and weary were, + Aboon the door-head they hang the key; + Dickie he took good notice to that, + Says--"There's a bootie yonder for me." 100 + + Then Dickie into the stable is gane, + Where there stood thirty horses and three; + He has tied them a' wi' St. Mary's knot,[L103] + A' these horses but barely three. + + He has tied them a' wi' St. Mary's knot, 105 + A' these horses but barely three; + He's loupen on ane, tane anither in hand, + And out at the door and gane is Dickie. + + Then on the morn, whan the day grew light, + The shouts and cries rose loud and hie-- 110 + "O where's that thief?" quo' the good Laird's Jock, + "Tell me the truth and the veritie!" + + "O where's that thief?" quo' the good Laird's Jock; + "See unto me ye dinna lie!"-- + "Dickie's been i' the stable last night, 115 + And has my brother's horse and mine frae me." + + "Ye wad ne'er be tall'd," quo' the good Laird's Jock; + "Have ye not found my tales fu' leel? + Ye wad ne'er out o' England bide, + Till crooked, and blind, and a' wad steal." 120 + + "But lend me thy bay," Johnie Armstrong can say; + "There's nae horse loose in the stable but he; + And I'll either bring Dick o' the Cow again, + Or the day is come that he shall die." + + "To lend thee my bay!" the Laird's Jock can say, 125 + "He's worth baith goud and good monie: + Dick o' the Cow has away twa horse: + I wish na thou may make him three." + + He's tane the laird's jack on his back, + A twa-handed sword that hang by his thigh; 130 + He's tane the steel cap on his head, + And on is he gane to follow Dickie. + + Then Dickie was na a mile aff the town, + I wat a mile but barely three, + Till he's o'ertane by Johnie Armstrong, 135 + Hand for hand, on Cannobie lee.[L136] + + "Abide, abide now, Dickie, than, + The day is come that thou maun die;" + Then Dickie look'd o'er his left shoulder, + "Johnie, has thou any moe in companie? 140 + + "There is a preacher in our chapel, + And a' the lee-lang day teaches he: + Whan day is gane and night is come, + There's ne'er ae word I mark but three. + + "The first and second is--Faith and Conscience; 145 + The third--Ne'er let a traitour free: + But, Johnie, what faith and conscience hadst thou, + Whan thou took my three ky frae me? + + "And when thou had tane away my three ky, + Thou thought in thy heart thou was no well sped, 150 + But sent thy billie Willie o'er the know, + And he took three co'erlets aff my wife's bed." + + Then Johnie let a spear fa' laigh by his thigh, + Thought weil to hae slain the innocent, I trow; + But the powers above were mair than he, 155 + For he ran but the poor fool's jerkin through. + + Together they ran, or ever they blan, + This was Dickie the fool and he; + Dickie coud na win to him wi' the blade o' the sword, + But feld 'im wi' the plumet under the eie. 160 + + Now Dickie has feld fair Johnie Armstrong, + The prettiest man in the south countrie; + "Gramercy!" then can Dickie say, + "I had but twa horse, thou has made me three." + + He has tane the laird's jack aff his back, 165 + The twa-handed sword that hang by his thigh; + He has tane the steel cap aff his head-- + "Johnie, I'll tell my master I met wi' thee." + + When Johnie wakened out o' his dream, + I wat a drierie man was he: 170 + "And is thou gane, now, Dickie, than? + The shame gae in thy companie! + + "And is thou gane, now, Dickie, than? + The shame gae in thy companie! + For if I should live this hundred years, 175 + I ne'er shall fight wi' a fool after thee." + + Then Dickie's come hame to lord and master, + E'en as fast as he may drie; + "Now, Dickie, I'll neither eat nor drink, + Till hie hanged thou shalt be." 180 + + "The shame speed the liars, my lord!" quo' Dickie; + "That was no the promise ye made to me! + For I'd ne'er gane t' Liddisdale t' steal, + Till I had got my leave at thee." + + "But what gard thou steal the Laird's Jock's horse? 185 + And, limmer, what gard thou steal him?" quo' he; + "For lang might thou in Cumberland dwelt, + Ere the Laird's Jock had stawn frae thee."[L188] + + "Indeed I wat ye lied, my lord! + And e'en sae loud as I hear ye lie! 190 + I wan him frae his man, fair Johnie Armstrong, + Hand for hand, on Cannobie lee. + + "There's the jack was on his back, + This twa-handed sword that hang laigh by his thigh, + And there's the steel cap was on his head; 195 + I hae a' these takens to let thee see." + + "If that be true thou to me tells, + (I trow thou dare na tell a lie,) + I'll gi' thee twenty punds for the good horse, + Weil tel'd in thy cloak lap shall be. 200 + + "And I'll gi' thee ane o' my best milk-ky, + To maintain thy wife and children three; + And that may be as good, I think, + As ony twa o' thine might be." + + "The shame speed the liers, my lord!" quo' Dickie; 205 + "Trow ye aye to make a fool o' me? + I'll either hae thirty punds for the good horse, + Or he's gae t' Mortan fair wi' me." + + He's gi'en him thirty punds for the good horse, + All in goud and good monie; 210 + He has gi'en him ane o' his best milk-ky, + To maintain his wife and children three. + + Then Dickie's came down through Carlisle town, + E'en as fast as he might drie: + The first o' men that he met with, 215 + Was my Lord's brother, Bayliff Glozenburrie. + + "Weil may ye be, my gude Ralph Scroope!"-- + "Welcome, my brother's fool!" quo' he: + "Where did thou get fair Johnie Armstrong's horse?" + "Where did I get him, but steal him," quo' he. 220 + + "But wilt thou sell me fair Johnie Armstrong's horse? + And, billie, wilt thou sell him to me?" quo' he: + "Aye, and tell me the monie on my cloak lap: + For there's no ae fardin I'll trust thee." + + "I'll gi' thee fifteen punds for the good horse, 225 + Weil tel'd on thy cloak lap shall be; + And I'll gi' thee ane o' my best milk-ky, + To maintain thy wife and children three." + + "The shame speed the liers, my lord!" quo' Dickie; + "Trow ye aye to make a fool o' me?" quo' he; 230 + "I'll either hae thirty punds for the good horse, + Or he's gae t' Mortan fair wi' me." + + He's gi'en him thirty punds for the gude horse, + All in goud and good monie; + He has gi'en him ane o' his best milk-ky, 235 + To maintain his wife and children three. + + Then Dickie lap a loup fu' hie, + And I wat a loud laugh laughed he-- + "I wish the neck o' the third horse were broken, + For I hae a better o' my ain, if better can be." 240 + + Then Dickie's com'd hame to his wife again, + Judge ye how the poor fool sped; + He has gi'en her three score English punds, + For the three auld co'erlets was tane aff her bed. + + "Hae, tak thee these twa as good ky, 245 + I trow, as a' thy three might be; + And yet here is [a] white-footed nagie, + I think he'll carry baith thee and me. + + "But I may nae langer in Cumberland bide; + The Armstrongs they'll hang me hie:"-- 250 + So Dickie's tane leave at lord and master, + And [at] Burgh under Stanmuir there dwells he. + +54. The place of execution at Carlisle.--P. M. + +61. This was a house of strength held by the Armstrongs. The ruins at +present form a sheep-fold on the farm of Reidsmoss, belonging to the +Duke of Buccleuch.--S. + +94. The Laird of Mangerton was chief of the clan Armstrong--S. + +103. Hamstringing a horse is termed, in the Border dialect, _tying him +with St. Mary's knot_. Dickie used this cruel expedient to prevent a +pursuit. It appears from the narration, that the horses left unhurt, +belonged to fair Johnie Armstrang, his brother Willie, and the Laird's +Jock--of which Dickie carried off two, and left that of the Laird's +Jock, probably out of gratitude for the protection he had afforded him +on his arrival.--S. + +136. A rising-ground on Cannobie, on the borders of Liddesdale.--P. M. + +188. The commendation of the Laird's Jock's honesty seems but +indifferently founded; for, in July, 1586, a bill was fouled against +him, Dick of Dryup, and others, by the Deputy of Bewcastle, at a +warden-meeting, for 400 head of cattle taken in open foray from the +Drysike in Bewcastle: and in September, 1587, another complaint appears +at the instance of one Andrew Rutlege of the Nook, against the Laird's +Jock, and his accomplices, for 50 kine and oxen, besides furniture, to +the amount of 100 merks sterling. See Bell's MSS., as quoted in the +_History of Cumberland and Westmoreland_. In Sir Richard Maitland's poem +against the thieves of Liddesdale, he thus commemorates the Laird's +Jock:-- + + "They spuilye puir men of their pakis, + They leif them nocht on bed nor bakis: + Baith hen and cok, + With reil and rok, + The _Lairdis Jock_ + All with him takis."--S. + + + + +JOCK O' THE SIDE. + +From Caw's _Poetical Museum_, p. 145. + + +The rescue of a prisoner from the hands of justice was a very favourite +subject with ballad-makers, and, it is to be feared, no uncommon event +in the actual experience of the police of former days. We have in the +fifth volume seen how such an affair was conducted by Robin Hood and +his associates; and in _Kinmont Willie_ have had an authenticated +account of a remarkable exploit of this description at the close of the +reign of Elizabeth. The two ballads which follow have this same theme; +but only the authority of tradition. _Jock o' the Side_ has one +circumstance in common with _Kinmont Willie_--the daring passage of the +river: with _Archie of Ca'field_ it agrees throughout. + +Jock o' the Side would seem to have been nephew to the Laird of +Mangertoun (the chief of the clan Armstrong), and consequently cousin to +the Laird's Jock. Scott suggests that he was probably brother to +Christie of the Syde, mentioned in the list of Border clans, 1597. Both +of these worthies receive special notice in Maitland's complaint +_Against the Thieves of Liddisdale_. + + "He is weil kend, Johne of the Syde; + A greater thief did never ryde; + He nevir tyris + For to brek byris, + Our muir and myris + Ouir gude ane guide." + +Scott has pointed out that Jock o' the Side assisted the Earl of +Westmoreland in his escape after his insurrection with the Earl of +Northumberland, in the twelfth year of Elizabeth. + + "Now Liddisdale has ridden a raid, + But I wat they had better staid at hame; + For Mitchel o' Winfield he is dead, + And my son Johnie is prisoner ta'en." + + For Mangerton-House Auld Downie is gane, 5 + Her coats she has kilted up to her knee; + And down the water wi' speed she rins, + While tears in spaits fa' fast frae her eie. + + Then up and bespake the Lord Mangerton, + "What news, what news, sister Downie, to me?" 10 + "Bad news, bad news, my Lord Mangerton; + Mitchel is kill'd, and tane they hae my son Johnie." + + "Ne'er fear, sister Downie," quo' Mangerton; + "I hae yokes of oxen, four and twentie; + My barns, my byres, and my faulds, a' weel fill'd, 15 + And I'll part wi' them a', ere Johnie shall die. + + "Three men I'll take to set him free, + Weel harness'd a' wi' best o' steel; + The English rogues may hear, and drie + The weight o' their braid-swords to feel. 20 + + "The Laird's Jock ane, the Laird's Wat twa, + O Hobie Noble, thou ane maun be; + Thy coat is blue, thou has been true, + Since England banish'd thee, to me." + + Now Hobie was an English man, 25 + In Bewcastle-dale was bred and born; + But his misdeeds they were sae great, + They banish'd him ne'er to return. + + Lord Mangerton them orders gave, + "Your horses the wrang way maun a' be shod; 30 + Like gentlemen ye must not seem, + But look like corn-caugers gawn ae road. + + "Your armour gude ye maunna shaw, + Nor ance appear like men o' weir; + As country lads be all array'd, 35 + Wi' branks and brecham on ilk mare." + + Sae now a' their horses are shod the wrang way, + And Hobie has mounted his grey sae fine; + Jock his lively bay, Wat's on his white horse behind, + And on they rode for the water o' Tyne. 40 + + At the Cholerford they a' light down,[L41] + And there, wi' the help o' the light o' the moon, + A tree they cut, wi' fifteen naggs upo' ilk side, + To climb up the wa' o' Newcastle town. + + But when they cam to Newcastle town, 45 + And were alighted at the wa', + They fand their tree three ells o'er laigh, + They fand their stick baith short and sma'. + + Then up and spake the Laird's ain Jock, + "There's naething for't, the gates we maun force;" 50 + But when they cam the gates unto, + A proud porter withstood baith men and horse. + + His neck in twa I wat they hae wrung, + Wi' hand or foot he ne'er play'd paw; + His life and his keys at anes they hae tane, 55 + And cast his body ahind the wa'. + + Now soon they reach Newcastle jail, + And to the pris'ner thus they call; + "Sleips thou, wakes thou, Jock o' the Side, + Or is thou wearied o' thy thrall?" 60 + + Jock answers thus, wi' dolefu' tone-- + "Aft, aft I wake--I seldom sleip: + But wha's this kens my name sae weel, + And thus to hear my waes do[es] seek?" + + Then up and spake the good Laird's Jock, 65 + "Ne'er fear ye now, my billie," quo' he; + "For here's the Laird's Jock, the Laird's Wat, + And Hobie Noble, come to set thee free." + + "O had thy tongue, and speak nae mair, + And o' thy tawk now let me be; 70 + For if a' Liddisdale were here the night, + The morn's the day that I maun die. + + "Full fifteen stane o' Spanish iron, + They hae laid a' right sair on me; + Wi' locks and keys I am fast bound 75 + Into this dungeon mirk and drearie." + + "Fear ye no that," quo' the Laird's Jock; + "A faint heart ne'er wan a fair ladie; + Work thou within, we'll work without, + And I'll be bound we set thee free." 80 + + The first strong dore that they came at, + They loosed it without a key; + The next chain'd dore that they cam at, + They gar'd it a' in flinders flee. + + The pris'ner now, upo' his back, 85 + The Laird's Jock's gotten up fu' hie; + And down the stair, him, irons and a', + Wi' nae sma' speed and joy brings he. + + "Now, Jock, I wat," quo' Hobie Noble, + "Part o' the weight ye may lay on me;" 90 + "I wat weel no!" quo' the Laird's Jock, + "I count him lighter than a flee." + + Sae out at the gates they a' are gane, + The pris'ner's set on horseback hie; + And now wi' speed they've tane the gate, 95 + While ilk ane jokes fu' wantonlie. + + "O Jock, sae winsomely's ye ride, + Wi' baith your feet upo' ae side! + Sae weel's ye're harness'd, and sae trig, + In troth ye sit like ony bride!" 100 + + The night, tho' wat, they didna mind, + But hied them on fu' mirrilie, + Until they cam to Cholerford brae, + Where the water ran like mountains hie. + + But when they came to Cholerford, 105 + There they met with an auld man; + Says--"Honest man, will the water ride? + Tell us in haste, if that ye can." + + "I wat weel no," quo' the good auld man; + "Here I hae liv'd this threty yeirs and three, 110 + And I ne'er yet saw the Tyne sae big, + Nor rinning ance sae like a sea." + + Then up and spake the Laird's saft Wat, + The greatest coward in the company-- + "Now halt, now halt, we needna try't; 115 + The day is com'd we a' maun die!" + + "Poor faint-hearted thief!" quo' the Laird's ain Jock, + "There'll nae man die but he that's fie; + I'll lead ye a' right safely through; + Lift ye the pris'ner on ahint me." 120 + + Sae now the water they a' hae tane, + By anes and twas they a' swam through; + "Here are we a' safe," says the Laird's Jock, + "And, poor faint Wat, what think ye now?" + + They scarce the ither side had won, 125 + When twenty men they saw pursue; + Frae Newcastle town they had been sent, + A' English lads, right good and true. + + But when the land-sergeant the water saw,[L129] + "It winna ride, my lads," quo' he; 130 + Then out he cries--"Ye the pris'ner may take, + But leave the irons, I pray, to me." + + "I wat weel no," cry'd the Laird's Jock, + "I'll keep them a'; shoon to my mare they'll be: + My good grey mare--for I am sure, 135 + She's bought them a' fu' dear frae thee." + + Sae now they're away for Liddisdale, + E'en as fast as they cou'd them hie; + The pris'ner 's brought to his ain fire-side, + And there o's aims they make him free. 140 + + "Now, Jock, my billie," quo' a' the three, + "The day was com'd thou was to die; + But thou's as weel at thy ain fire-side, + Now sitting, I think, 'tween thee and me." + + They hae gard fill up ae punch-bowl, 145 + And after it they maun hae anither, + And thus the night they a' hae spent, + Just as they had been brither and brither. + +41. Cholerford is a ford on the Tyne, above +Hexham.--S. + +129. The land-sergeant (mentioned also in _Hobbie Noble_) was an officer +under the warden, to whom was committed the apprehending of delinquents, +and the care of the public peace.--S. + + + + +ARCHIE OF CA'FIELD. + +_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. 116. + + +This is substantially the same story as _Jock o' the Side_. Another +version from Motherwell's collection, is subjoined. + +"Ca'field, or Calfield," says Scott, "is a place in Wauchopdale, +belonging of old to the Armstrongs. In the account betwixt the English +and Scottish Marches, Jock and Geordie of Ca'field, then called +Calf-hill, are repeatedly marked as delinquents. _History of +Westmoreland and Cumberland_, vol. i. Introduction, p. 33." + + As I was a-walking mine alane, + It was by the dawning of the day, + I heard twa brithers make their mane, + And I listen'd weel to what they did say. + + The youngest to the eldest said, 5 + "Blythe and merrie how can we be? + There were three brithren of us born, + And ane of us is condemn'd to die." + + "And ye wad be merrie, and ye wad be sad, + What the better wad billy Archie be? 10 + Unless I had thirty men to mysell, + And a' to ride in my cumpanie. + + "Ten to hald the horses' heads, + And other ten the watch to be, + And ten to break up the strong prison, 15 + Where billy Archie he does lie." + + Then up and spak him mettled John Hall,[L17] + (The luve of Teviotdale aye was he,) + "An I had eleven men to mysell, + It's aye the twalt man I wad be." 20 + + Then up bespak him coarse Ca'field, + (I wot and little gude worth was he,) + "Thirty men is few anew, + And a' to ride in our companie." + + There was horsing, horsing in haste, 25 + And there was marching on the lee, + Until they cam to Murraywhate, + And they lighted there right speedilie. + + "A smith! a smith!" Dickie he cries, + "A smith, a smith, right speedilie, 30 + To turn back the caukers of our horses' shoon; + For it's unkensome we wad be." + + "There lives a smith on the water-side, + Will shoe my little black mare for me; + And I've a crown in my pocket, 35 + And every groat of it I wad gie." + + "The night is mirk, and it's very mirk, + And by candle-light I canna weel see; + The night is mirk, and it's very pit mirk, + And there will never a nail ca' right for me." 40 + + "Shame fa' you and your trade baith, + Canna beet a good fellow by your mystery; + But leeze me on thee, my little black mare, + Thou's worth thy weight in gold to me." + + There was horsing, horsing in haste, 45 + And there was marching upon the lee, + Until they cam to Dumfries port, + And they lighted there right speedilie. + + "There's five of us will hold the horse, + And other five will watchmen be:" 50 + "But wha's the man among ye a', + Will gae to the Tolbooth door wi' me?" + + O up then spak him mettled John Hall, + (Frae the Laigh Teviotdale was he,) + "If it should cost my life this very night, 55 + I'll gae to the Tolbooth door wi' thee." + + "Be of gude cheir, now, Archie, lad, + Be of gude cheir, now, dear billie! + Work thou within, and we without, + And the morn thou'se dine at Ca'field wi' me." 60 + + O Jockie Hall stepp'd to the door, + And he bended low back his knee, + And he made the bolts, the door hang on, + Loup frae the wa' right wantonlie. + + He took the prisoner on his back, 65 + And down the Tolbooth stair cam he: + The black mare stood ready at the door, + I wot a foot ne'er stirred she. + + They laid the links out owre her neck, + And that was her gold twist to be;[L70] 70 + And they cam doun thro' Dumfries toun, + And wow but they cam speedilie! + + The live-lang night these twelve men rade, + And aye till they were right wearie, + Until they cam to the Murraywhate, 75 + And they lighted there right speedilie. + + "A smith! a smith!" then Dickie he cries, + "A smith, a smith, right speedilie, + To file the irons frae my dear brither, + For forward, forward we wad be." 80 + + They hadna filed a shackle of iron, + A shackle of iron but barely thrie, + When out and spak young Simon brave, + "O dinna you see what I do see? + + "Lo! yonder comes Lieutenant Gordon, 85 + Wi' a hundred men in his companie; + This night will be our lyke-wake night, + The morn the day we a' maun die." + + O there was mounting, mounting in haste, + And there was marching upon the lee; 90 + Until they cam to Annan water, + And it was flowing like the sea. + + "My mare is young and very skeigh, + And in o' the weil she will drown me; + But ye'll take mine, and I'll take thine, 95 + And sune through the water we sall be." + + Then up and spak him, coarse Ca'field, + (I wot and little gude worth was he,) + "We had better lose ane than lose a' the lave; + We'll lose the prisoner, we'll gae free." 100 + + "Shame fa' you and your lands baith! + Wad ye e'en your lands to your born billy? + But hey! bear up, my bonnie black mare, + And yet thro' the water we sall be." + + Now they did swim that wan water, 105 + And wow but they swam bonnilie! + Until they cam to the other side, + And they wrang their cloathes right drunkily. + + "Come thro', come thro', Lieutenant Gordon! + Come thro' and drink some wine wi' me! 110 + For there is an ale-house here hard by, + And it shall not cost thee ae penny." + + "Throw me my irons," quo' Lieutenant Gordon; + "I wot they cost me dear eneugh;" + "The shame a ma," quo' mettled John Ha', 115 + "They'll be gude shackles to my pleugh." + + "Come thro', come thro', Lieutenant Gordon! + Come thro', and drink some wine wi' me! + Yestreen I was your prisoner, + But now this morning am I free." 120 + +17. Mettled John Hall, from the laigh Teviotdale, is perhaps John Hall +of Newbigging, mentioned in the list of Border clans as one of the chief +men of name residing on the Middle Marches in 1597.--S. + +70. The _gold twist_ means the small gilded chains drawn across the +chest of a war-horse, as a part of his caparison.--S. + + + + +BILLIE ARCHIE. + +Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 335. + + +A North-Country version of the preceding ballad. There is another +copy in Buchan's larger collection, i. 111, _The Three Brothers_. + + "Seven years have I loved my love, + And seven years my love's loved me, + But now to-morrow is the day + That Billie Archie, my love, must die." + + Out then spoke him Little Dickie, 5 + And still the best fellow was he; + "Had I but five men and mysell, + Then we would borrow Billie Archie." + + Out it spoke him Caff o' Lin, + And still the worst fellow was he; 10 + "Ye shall have five men and yoursell, + And I will bear you companie. + + "We will not go like to dragoons, + Nor yet will we like grenadiers; + But we will go like corn-dealers, 15 + And lay our brechams on our meares. + + "And twa of us will watch the road, + And other twa between will gang, + And I will go to jail-house door, + And hold the prisoner unthought lang." 20 + + "Wha is this at the jail-house door, + Sa weel as they do ken the gin?" + "It's I mysell," said him Little Dickie, + "And O sae fain's I would be in!" + + "Awa, awa, now, Little Dickie, 25 + Awa, let all your folly be; + If the Lord Lieutenant come on you, + Like unto dogs he'll cause you die." + + "Hold you, hold you, Billy Archie, + And now let all your folly be; 30 + Though I die without, you'll not die within, + For borrowed shall your body be." + + "Awa, awa, now, Little Dickie, + Awa, let all this folly be; + An hundred pounds of Spanish irons 35 + Is all bound on my fair bodie." + + Wi' plough coulters and gavelocks + They made the jail-house door to flee; + "And in God's name," said Little Dickie, + "Cast you the prisoner behind me." 40 + + They had not rade a great way off, + With all the haste that ever could be, + Till they espied the Lord Lieutenant, + With a hundred men in companie. + + But when they cam to wan water, 45 + It now was rumbling like the sea; + Then were they got into a strait, + As great a strait as well could be. + + Then out did speak him Caff o' Lin, + And aye the warst fellow was he: 50 + "Now God be with my wife and bairns, + For fatherless my babes will be. + + "My horse is young, he cannot swim; + The water's deep, and will not wade; + My children must be fatherless, 55 + My wife a widow, whate'er betide." + + O then cried out him Little Dickie, + And still the best fellow was he: + "Take you my mare, I'll take your horse, + And Devil drown my mare and thee!" 60 + + Now they have taken the wan water, + Though it was roaring like the sea; + And when they gat to the other side, + I wat they bragged right crousilie. + + "Come thro', come thro', now, Lord Lieutenant, 65 + O do come thro', I pray of thee; + There is an alehouse not far off, + We'll dine you and your companie." + + "Awa, awa, now, Little Dickie, + O now let all your taunting be; 70 + There's not a man in the king's army + That would have tried what's done by thee. + + "Cast back, cast back my fetters again, + Cast back my fetters, I say to thee; + And get you gane the way you came, 75 + I wish no prisoners like to thee." + + "I have a mare, she's called Meg, + The best in all our low countrie; + If she gang barefoot till they're done, + An ill death may your Lordship die." 80 + + + + +HOBIE NOBLE. + +From Caw's _Poetical Museum_, p. 193. + + +"We have seen the hero of this ballad act a distinguished part in the +deliverance of Jock o' the Side, and are now to learn the ungrateful +return which the Armstrongs made him for his faithful services. +Halbert, or Hobbie, Noble appears to have been one of those numerous +English outlaws, who, being forced to fly their own country, had +established themselves on the Scottish Borders. As Hobbie continued his +depredations upon the English, they bribed some of his hosts, the +Armstrongs, to decoy him into England under pretence of a predatory +expedition. He was there delivered, by his treacherous companions, into +the hands of the officers of justice, by whom he was conducted to +Carlisle, and executed next morning. The Laird of Mangertoun, with whom +Hobbie was in high favour, is said to have taken a severe revenge upon +the traitors who betrayed him. The principal contriver of the scheme, +called here Sim o' the Maynes, fled into England from the resentment of +his chief; but experienced there the common fate of a traitor, being +himself executed at Carlisle, about two months after Hobbie's death. +Such is, at least, the tradition of Liddesdale. Sim o' the Maynes +appears among the Armstrongs of Whitauch, in Liddesdale, in the list of +Clans so often alluded to."--_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. +90. + + Foul fa' the breast first treason bred in! + That Liddisdale may safely say; + For in it there was baith meat and drink, + And corn unto our geldings gay. + + We were stout-hearted men and true, 5 + As England it did often say; + But now we may turn our backs and fly, + Since brave Noble is seld away. + + Now Hobie he was an English man, + And born into Bewcastle dale; 10 + But his misdeeds they were sae great, + They banish'd him to Liddisdale. + + At Kershope foot the tryst was set,[L13] + Kershope of the lily lee; + And there was traitour Sim o' the Mains,[L15] 15 + With him a private companie. + + Then Hobie has graith'd his body weel, + I wat it was wi' baith good iron and steel; + And he has pull'd out his fringed grey, + And there, brave Noble, he rade him weel. 20 + + Then Hobie is down the water gane, + E'en as fast as he may drie; + Tho' they shoud a' brusten and broken their hearts, + Frae that tryst Noble he would not be. + + "Weel may ye be, my feiries five! 25 + And aye, what is your wills wi' me?" + Then they cry'd a' wi' ae consent, + "Thou'rt welcome here, brave Noble, to me. + + "Wilt thou with us in England ride, + And thy safe warrand we will be? 30 + If we get a horse worth a hundred punds, + Upon his back that thou shalt be." + + "I dare not with you into England ride, + The Land-sergeant has me at feid; + I know not what evil may betide, 35 + For Peter of Whitfield, his brother, is dead. + + "And Anton Shiel, he loves not me, + For I gat twa drifts of his sheep;[L38] + The great Earl of Whitfield loves me not,[L39] + For nae gear frae me he e'er could keep. 40 + + "But will ye stay till the day gae down, + Until the night come o'er the grund, + And I'll be a guide worth ony twa + That may in Liddisdale be fund. + + "Tho' dark the night as pick and tar, 45 + I'll guide ye o'er yon hills fu' hie, + And bring ye a' in safety back, + If you'll be true and follow me." + + He's guided them o'er moss and muir, + O'er hill and houp, and mony a down; 50 + Til they came to the Foulbogshiel, + And there, brave Noble, he lighted down. + + Then word is gane to the Land-sergeant, + In Askirton where that he lay--[L54] + "The deer that ye hae hunted lang 55 + Is seen into the Waste this day." + + "Then Hobie Noble is that deer! + I wat he carries the style fu' hie; + Aft has he beat your slough-hounds back, + And set yourselves at little lee. 60 + + "Gar warn the bows of Hartlie-burn, + See they shaft their arrows on the wa'! + Warn Willeva, and Spear Edom,[L63] + And see the morn they meet me a'. + + "Gar meet me on the Rodrie-haugh, 65 + And see it be by break o' day; + And we will on to Conscowthart-Green, + For there, I think, we'll get our prey." + + Then Hobie Noble has dream'd a dream, + In the Foulbogsheil where that he lay; 70 + He thought his horse was 'neath him shot, + And he himself got hard away. + + The cocks could crow, and the day could dawn, + And I wat so even down fell the rain; + If Hobie had no waken'd at that time, 75 + In the Foulbogshiel he had been tane or slain. + + "Get up, get up, my feiries five! + For I wat here makes a fu' ill day; + And the warst cloak of this companie,[L79] + I hope shall cross the Waste this day." 80 + + Now Hobie thought the gates were clear; + But, ever alas! it was not sae: + They were beset wi' cruel men and keen, + That away brave Noble could not gae. + + "Yet follow me, my feiries five, 85 + And see of me ye keep good ray; + And the worst cloak of this companie[L87] + I hope shall cross the Waste this day." + + There was heaps of men now Hobie before, + And other heaps was him behind, 90 + That had he been as wight as Wallace was, + Away brave Noble he could not win. + + Then Hobie he had but a laddies sword, + But he did more than a laddies deed; + In the midst of Conscouthart-Green, 95 + He brake it o'er Jersawigham's head. + + Now they have tane brave Hobie Noble, + Wi' his ain bowstring they band him sae; + And I wat heart was ne'er sae sair, + As when his ain five band him on the brae. 100 + + They have tane him for West Carlisle; + They ask'd him if he knew the way; + Whate'er he thought, yet little he said; + He knew the way as well as they. + + They hae tane him up the Ricker-gate;[L105] 105 + The wives they cast their windows wide, + And ilka wife to anither can say, + "That's the man loos'd Jock o' the Side!" + + "Fy on ye, women! why ca' ye me man? + For it's nae man that I'm used like; 110 + I'm but like a forfoughen hound, + Has been fighting in a dirty syke." + + Then they hae tane him up thro' Carlisle town, + And set him by the chimney fire; + They gave brave Noble a wheat loaf to eat, 115 + And that was little his desire. + + Then they gave him a wheat loaf to eat + And after that a can o' beer; + Then they cried a', wi' ae consent, + "Eat, brave Noble, and make good cheer. 120 + + "Confess my lord's horse, Hobie," they say, + "And the morn in Carlisle thou's no die;" + "How shall I confess them?" Hobie says, + "For I never saw them with mine eye." + + Then Hobie has sworn a fu' great aith-- 125 + By the day that he was gotten or born, + He never had onything o' my lord's, + That either eat him grass or corn. + + "Now fare thee weel, sweet Mangerton![L129] + For I think again I'll ne'er thee see: 130 + I wad betray nae lad alive, + For a' the goud in Christentie. + + "And fare thee weel, now Liddisdale, + Baith the hie land and the law! + Keep ye weel frae traitor Mains! 135 + For goud and gear he'll sell ye a'. + + "I'd rather be ca'd Hobie Noble, + In Carlisle, where he suffers for his faut, + Before I were ca'd traitor Mains, + That eats and drinks of meal and maut." 140 + +13. Kershope-burn, where Hobbie met his treacherous companions, falls +into the Liddel, from the English side, at a place called Turnersholm, +where, according to tradition, tourneys and games of chivalry were often +solemnized.--S. + +15. The Mains was anciently a Border-keep, near Castletown, on the north +side of the Liddel, but is now totally demolished.--S. + +38. For twa drifts of his sheep I gat.--P. M. + +39. Whitfield is explained by Mr. Ellis of Otterbourne to be a large and +rather wild manorial district in the extreme southwest part of +Northumberland; the proprietor of which might be naturally called the +Lord, though not _Earl_ of Whitfield. I suspect, however, that the +reciters may have corrupted the _great_ Ralph Whitfield into Earl of +Whitfield. Sir Matthew Whitfield of Whitfield, was Sheriff of +Northumberland in 1433, and the estate continued in the family from the +reign of Richard II. till about fifty years since.--S. + +54. Askerton is an old castle, now ruinous, situated in the wilds of +Cumberland, about seventeen miles north-east of Carlisle, amidst that +mountainous and desolate tract of country bordering upon Liddesdale, +emphatically termed the Waste of Bewcastle.--S. + +63-67. Willeva and Speir Edom are small districts in Bewcastledale, +through which also the Hartlie-burn takes its course. +Conscouthart-Green, and Rodrie-haugh, and the Foulbogshiel, are the +names of places in the same wilds, through which the Scottish plunderers +generally made their raids upon England.--S. + +79, 87. clock. + +105. A street in Carlisle. + +129. Of the Castle of Mangertoun, so often mentioned in these ballads, +there are very few vestiges. It was situated on the banks of the +Liddell, below Castletoun.--S. + + + + +JAMIE TELFER OF THE FAIR DODHEAD. + +From _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. 3. + + +"There is another ballad, under the same title as the following, in +which nearly the same incidents are narrated, with little difference, +except that the honour of rescuing the cattle is attributed to the +Liddesdale Elliots, headed by a chief, there called Martin Elliot of the +Preakin Tower, whose son, Simon, is said to have fallen in the action. +It is very possible, that both the Teviotdale Scotts, and the Elliots, +were engaged in the affair, and that each claimed the honour of the +victory. + +"The Editor presumes, that the Willie Scott, here mentioned, must have +been a natural son of the Laird of Buccleuch."--S. + + + It fell about the Martinmas tyde, + When our Border steeds get corn and hay, + The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde, + And he's ower to Tividale to drive a prey. + + The first ae guide that they met wi', 5 + It was high up in Hardhaughswire;[L6] + The second guide that they met wi', + It was laigh down in Borthwick water. + + "What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?" + "Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee; 10 + But gin ye'll gae to the fair Dodhead,[L11] + Mony a cow's cauf I'll let thee see." + + And when they cam to the fair Dodhead, + Right hastily they clam the peel; + They loosed the kye out, ane and a', 15 + And ranshackled the house right weel. + + Now Jamie Telfer's heart was sair, + The tear aye rowing in his ee; + He pled wi' the Captain to hae his gear, + Or else revenged he wad be. 20 + + The Captain turned him round and leugh; + Said--"Man, there's naething in thy house, + But ae auld sword without a sheath, + That hardly now would fell a mouse." + + The sun wasna up, but the moon was down, 25 + It was the gryming of a new-fa'n snaw, + Jamie Telfer has run ten myles a-foot, + Between the Dodhead and the Stobs's Ha'.[L28] + + And when he cam to the fair tower yate, + He shouted loud, and cried weel hie, 30 + Till out bespak auld Gibby Elliot-- + "Whae's this that brings the fraye to me?" + + "It's I, Jamie Telfer, o' the fair Dodhead, + And a harried man I think I be; + There's naething left at the fair Dodhead, 35 + But a waefu' wife and bairnies three." + + "Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha',[L37] + For succour ye'se get nane frae me; + Gae seek your succour where ye paid black-mail, + For, man, ye ne'er paid money to me." 40 + + Jamie has turned him round about, + I wat the tear blinded his ee-- + "I'll ne'er pay mail to Elliot again, + And the fair Dodhead I'll never see! + + "My hounds may a' rin masterless,[L45] 45 + My hawks may fly frae tree to tree, + My lord may grip my vassal lands, + For there again maun I never be!" + + He has turn'd him to the Tiviot side, + E'en as fast as he could drie, 50 + Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh,[L51] + And there he shouted baith loud and hie. + + Then up bespak him auld Jock Grieve-- + "Whae's this that brings the fraye to me?" + "It's I, Jamie Telfer o' the fair Dodhead, 55 + A harried man I trow I be. + + "There's naething left in the fair Dodhead, + But a greeting wife and bairnies three, + And sax poor ca's stand in the sta', 60 + A' routing loud for their minnie." + + "Alack a wae!" quo' auld Jock Grieve, + "Alack, my heart is sair for thee! + For I was married on the elder sister, + And you on the youngest of a' the three." + + Then he has ta'en out a bonny black, 65 + Was right weel fed with corn and hay, + And he's set Jamie Telfer on his back, + To the Catslockhill to tak the fraye. + + And whan he cam to the Catslockhill, + He shouted loud, and cried weel hie, 70 + Till out and spak him William's Wat-- + "O whae's this brings the fraye to me?" + + "It's I, Jamie Telfer of the fair Dodhead, + A harried man I think I be; + The Captain of Bewcastle has driven my gear; 75 + For God's sake rise, and succour me!" + + "Alas for wae!" quoth William's Wat, + "Alack, for thee my heart is sair! + I never cam by the fair Dodhead, + That ever I fand thy basket bare." 80 + + He's set his twa sons on coal-black steeds, + Himsell upon a freckled gray, + And they are on wi' Jamie Telfer, + To Branksome Ha' to tak the fraye. + + And when they cam to Branksome Ha', 85 + They shouted a' baith loud and hie, + Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch, + Said--"Whae's this brings the fraye to me?" + + "It's I, Jamie Telfer o' the fair Dodhead, + And a harried man I think I be; 90 + There's nought left in the fair Dodhead, + But a greeting wife and bairnies three." + + "Alack for wae!" quoth the gude auld lord, + "And ever my heart is wae for thee! + But fye, gar cry on Willie, my son, 95 + And see that he come to me speedilie. + + "Gar warn the water, braid and wide,[L97] + Gar warn it sune and hastilie; + They that winna ride for Telfer's kye, + Let them never look in the face o' me! 100 + + "Warn Wat o' Harden, and his sons,[L101] + Wi' them will Borthwick Water ride; + Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh, + And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside. + + "Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,[L105] 105 + And warn the Currors o' the Lee; + As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack, + Warn doughty Willie o' Gorrinberry." + + The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran, + Sae starkly and sae steadilie, 110 + And aye the ower-word o' the thrang + Was--"Rise for Branksome readilie!" + + The gear was driven the Frostylee up,[L113] + Frae the Frostylee unto the plain, + Whan Willie has look'd his men before, 115 + And saw the kye right fast drivand. + + "Whae drives thir kye?" gan Willie say, + "To make an outspeckle o' me?" + "It's I, the Captain o' Bewcastle, Willie; + I winna layne my name for thee." 120 + + "O will ye let Telfer's kye gae back? + Or will ye do aught for regard o' me? + Or, by the faith of my body," quo' Willie Scott, + "I'se ware my dame's cauf skin on thee." + + "I winna let the kye gae back, 125 + Neither for thy love, nor yet thy fear; + But I will drive Jamie Telfer's kye, + In spite of every Scott that's here." + + "Set on them, lads!" quo' Willie than; + "Fye, lads, set on them cruellie! 130 + For ere they win to the Ritterford, + Mony a toom saddle there sall be!" + + Then til't they gaed, wi' heart and hand, + The blows fell thick as bickering hail; + And mony a horse ran masterless, 135 + And mony a comely cheek was pale. + + But Willie was stricken ower the head, + And thro' the knapscap the sword has gane; + And Harden grat for very rage, + Whan Willie on the grund lay slane. 140 + + But he's ta'en aff his gude steel cap, + And thrice he's waved it in the air; + The Dinlay snaw was ne'er mair white[L143] + Nor the lyart locks of Harden's hair. + + "Revenge! revenge!" auld Wat 'gan cry; 145 + "Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie! + We'll ne'er see Tiviotside again, + Or Willie's death revenged sall be." + + O mony a horse ran masterless, + The splinter'd lances flew on hie; 150 + But or they wan ta the Kershope ford, + The Scotts had gotten the victory. + + John o' Brigham there was slane,[L153] + And John o' Barlow, as I heard say; + And thirty mae o' the Captain's men 155 + Lay bleeding on the grund that day. + + The Captain was run through the thick of the thigh, + And broken was his right leg bane; + If he had lived this hundred years, + He had never been loved by woman again. 160 + + "Hae back the kye!" the Captain said; + "Dear kye, I trow, to some they be; + For gin I suld live a hundred years, + There will ne'er fair lady smile on me." + + Then word is gane to the Captain's bride, 165 + Even in the bower where that she lay, + That her lord was prisoner in enemy's land, + Since into Tividale he had led the way. + + "I wad lourd have had a winding-sheet, + And helped to put it ower his head, 170 + Ere he had been disgraced by the Border Scot, + Whan he ower Liddel his men did lead!" + + There was a wild gallant amang us a', + His name was Watty wi' the Wudspurs, + Cried--"On for his house in Stanegirthside,[L175] 175 + If ony man will ride with us!" + + When they cam to the Stanegirthside, + They dang wi' trees, and burst the door; + They loosed out a' the Captain's kye, + And set them forth our lads before. 180 + + There was an auld wyfe ayont the fire, + A wee bit o' the Captain's kin-- + "Whae dar loose out the Captain's kye, + Or answer to him and his men?" + + "It's I, Watty Wudspurs, loose the kye, 185 + I winna layne my name frae thee; + And I will loose out the Captain's kye, + In scorn of a' his men and he." + + Whan they cam to the fair Dodhead, + They were a wellcum sight to see; 190 + For instead of his ain ten milk kye, + Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three. + + And he has paid the rescue shot, + Baith wi' goud and white monie; + And at the burial o' Willie Scott, 195 + I wat was mony a weeping ee.[L196] + +6-8. Hardhaughswire is the pass from Liddesdale to the head of +Teviotdale. Borthwick water is a stream which falls into the Teviot +three miles above Hawick.--S. + +11. The Dodhead, in Selkirkshire, near Singlee, where there are still +the vestiges of an old tower.--S. + +28. Stobs Hall, upon Slitterick, the seat of Sir William, of that clan. +Jamie Telfer made his first application here, because he _seems_ to have +paid the proprietor of the castle _black-mail_, or protection money.--S. + +37. The ancient family-seat of the Lairds of Buccleuch, near Hawick.--S. + +45-48. See _Young Beichan_, vol. iv. p. 3. + +51. The Coultart Cleugh is nearly opposite to Carlinrig, on the road +between Hawick and Mosspaul.--S. + +97. The _water_, in the mountainous districts of Scotland, is often used +to express the banks of the river, which are the only inhabitable parts +of the country. _To raise the water_, therefore, was to alarm those who +lived along its side.--S. + +101. The estates, mentioned in this verse, belonged to families of the +name of Scott, residing upon the waters of Borthwick and Teviot, near +the castle of their chief.--S. + +105. The pursuers seem to have taken the road through the hills of +Liddesdale, in order to collect forces, and intercept the forayers at +the passage of the Liddel, on their return to Bewcastle. The Ritterford +and Kershope-ford, after-mentioned, are noted fords on the river +Liddel.--S. + +113. The Frostylee is a brook, which joins the Teviot, near +Mosspaul.--S. + +143. The Dinlay is a mountain in Liddesdale.--S. + +153. Perhaps one of the ancient family of Brougham, in Cumberland. The +Editor has used some freedom with the original in the subsequent verse. +The account of the Captain's disaster is rather too _na[:i]ve_ for +literal publication.--S. + +175. A house belonging to the Foresters, situated on the English side of +the Liddel.--S. + +196. An article in the list of attempts upon England, fouled by the +Commissioners at Berwick, in the year 1587, may relate to the subject of +the foregoing ballad. + +October, 1582. + + Thomas Musgrave, deputy { Walter Scott, Laird } 200 kine and + of Bewcastle, and { of Buckluth, and his } oxen, 300 gait + the tenants, against { complices; for } and sheep. + +_Introduction to the History of Westmoreland and Cumberland_, p. 31.--S. + + + + +THE FRAY OF SUPORT. + +From _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. 124. + + +"Of all the Border ditties which have fallen into the Editor's hands, +this is by far the most uncouth and savage. It is usually chanted in a +sort of wild recitative, except the burden, which swells into a long and +varied howl, not unlike to a view hollo'. The words, and the very great +irregularity of the stanza (if it deserves the name) sufficiently point +out its intention and origin. An English woman, residing in Suport, near +the foot of the Kers-hope, having been plundered in the night by a band +of the Scottish moss-troopers, is supposed to convoke her servants and +friends for the pursuit, or _Hot Trod_; upbraiding them, at the same +time, in homely phrase, for their negligence and security. The _Hot +Trod_ was followed by the persons who had lost goods, with blood-hounds +and horns, to raise the country to help. They also used to carry a +burning wisp of straw at a spear head, and to raise a cry, similar to +the Indian war-whoop. It appears, from articles made by the Wardens of +the English Marches, September 12th, in 6th of Edward VI., that all, on +this cry being raised, were obliged to follow the fray, or chase, under +pain of death. With these explanations, the general purport of the +ballad may be easily discovered, though particular passages have become +inexplicable, probably through corruptions introduced by reciters. The +present text is collected from four copies, which differed widely from +each other."--S. + + Sleep'ry Sim of the Lamb-hill, + And snoring Jock of Suport-mill, + Ye are baith right het and fou'; + But my wae wakens na you. + Last night I saw a sorry sight-- 5 + Nought left me o' four-and-twenty gude ousen and ky, + My weel-ridden gelding, and a white quey, + But a toom byre and a wide, + And the twelve nogs on ilka side. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', 10 + My gear's a' gane. + + Weel may ye ken, + Last night I was right scarce o' men: + But Toppet Hob o' the Mains had guesten'd in my house by chance; + I set him to wear the fore-door wi' the speir, while I kept the + back-door wi' the lance; 15 + But they hae run him thro' the thick o' the thie, and broke his + knee-pan, + And the mergh o' his shin-bane has run down on his spur-leather + whang: + He's lame while he lives, and where'er he may gang. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' gane. 20 + + But Peenye, my gude son, is out at the Hagbut-head, + His een glittering for anger like a fiery gleed; + Crying--"Mak sure the nooks + Of Maky's-muir crooks; + For the wily Scot takes by nooks, hooks, and crooks. 25 + Gin we meet a' together in a head the morn, + We'll be merry men." + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' gane. + + There's doughty Cuddy in the Heugh-head, 30 + Thou was aye gude at a need; + With thy brock-skin bag at thy belt,[L32] + Aye ready to mak a puir man help. + Thou maun awa' out to the Cauf-craigs, + (Where anes ye lost your ain twa naigs,) 35 + And there toom thy brock-skin bag. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' ta'en. + + Doughty Dan o' the Houlet Hirst, + Thou was aye gude at a birst; 40 + Gude wi' a bow, and better wi' a speir, + The bauldest March-man that e'er follow'd gear: + Come thou here. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' gane. 45 + + Rise, ye carle coopers, frae making o' kirns and tubs, + In the Nicol forest woods.[L47] + Your craft hasna left the value of an oak rod, + But if you had ony fear o' God, + Last night ye hadna slept sae sound, 50 + And let my gear be a' ta'en. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' ta'en. + + Ah! lads, we'll fang them a' in a net, + For I hae a' the fords o' Liddel set; 55 + The Dunkin and the Door-loup, + The Willie-ford, and the Water-slack, + The Black-rack and the Trout-dub of Liddel. + There stands John Forster, wi' five men at his back, + Wi bufft coat and cap of steil. 60 + Boo! ca' at them e'en, Jock; + That ford's sicker, I wat weil. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' ta'en. + + Hoo! hoo! gar raise the Reid Souter, and Ringan's Wat, 65 + Wi' a broad elshin and a wicker; + I wat weil they'll mak a ford sicker. + Sae, whether they be Elliots or Armstrangs, + Or rough-riding Scots, or rude Johnstones, + Or whether they be frae the Tarras or Ewsdale, 70 + They maun turn and fight, or try the deeps o' Liddel. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' ta'en. + + "Ah! but they will play ye anither jigg, + For they will out at the big rig, 75 + And thro' at Fargy Grame's gap."[L76] + But I hae another wile for that: + For I hae little Will, and Stalwart Wat, + And lang Aicky, in the Souter Moor, + Wi' his sleuth-dog sits in his watch right sure. 80 + Shou'd the dog gie a bark, + He'll be out in his sark, + And die or won. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' ta'en. 85 + + Ha! boys!--I see a party appearing--wha's yon? + Methinks it's the Captain of Bewcastle, and Jephtha's John,[L87] + Coming down by the foul steps of Catlowdie's loan: + They'll make a' sicker, come which way they will. + Ha, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', 90 + My gear's a' ta'en. + + Captain Musgrave, and a' his band,[L92] + Are coming down by the Siller-strand, + And the Muckle toun-bell o' Carlisle is rung: + My gear was a' weel won, 95 + And before it's carried o'er the Border, mony a man's gae down. + Fy, lads! shout a' a' a' a' a', + My gear's a' gane. + +32. The badger-skin pouch was used for carrying ammunition.--S. + +47. A wood in Cumberland, in which Suport is situated.--S. + +76. Fergus Grame of Sowport, as one of the chief men of that clan, +became security to Lord Scroope for the good behaviour of his friends +and dependents, 8th January, 1662.--_Introduction to History of +Westmoreland and Cumberland_, p. 111.--S. + +87-8. According to the late Glenriddel's notes on this ballad, the +office of Captain Bewcastle was held by the chief of the Nixons. +Catlowdie is a small village in Cumberland, near the junction of the Esk +and Liddel.--S. + +92. This was probably the famous Captain Jack Musgrave, who had charge +of the watch along the Cryssop, or Kershope, as appears from the order +of the watches appointed by Lord Wharton, when Deputy-Warden-General, in +the 6th Edward VI.--S. + + + + +ROOKHOPE RYDE. + + +"A Bishopric Border song, composed in 1569, taken down from the chanting +of George Collingwood the elder, late of Boltsburn, in the neighbourhood +of Ryhope, who was interred at Stanhope, the 16th December, 1785. + +"Rookhope is the name of a valley about five miles in length; at the +termination of which, Rookhope burn empties itself into the river Wear, +and is in the north part of the parish of Stanhope, in Weardale. +Rookhope-head is the top of the vale."--RITSON. + +The date of the event, says Sir W. Scott, is precisely ascertained to be +(not 1569 but) the 6th of December, 1572, when the Tynedale robbers were +encouraged to make a foray into Weardale in consequence of the confusion +occasioned by the rebellion of Westmoreland and Northumberland. + +From Ritson's _Bishopric Garland_ (p. 54), with one or two slight +verbal improvements from the _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. +101. + + + Rookhope stands in a pleasant place, + If the false thieves wad let it be, + But away they steal our goods apace, + And ever an ill death may they dee! + + And so is the men of Thirlwall and Willie-haver,[L5] 5 + And all their companies thereabout, + That is minded to do mischief, + And at their stealing stands not out. + + But yet we will not slander them all, + For there is of them good enow; 10 + It is a sore consumed tree + That on it bears not one fresh bough. + + Lord God! is not this a pitiful case, + That men dare not drive their goods to the fell, + But limmer thieves drives them away, 15 + That fears neither heaven nor hell? + + Lord, send us peace into the realm, + That every man may live on his own! + I trust to God, if it be his will, + That Weardale men may never be overthrown. 20 + + For great troubles they've had in hand, + With borderers pricking hither and thither, + But the greatest fray that e'er they had, + Was with the men of Thirlwall and Willie-haver. + + They gather'd together so royally, 25 + The stoutest men and the best in gear; + And he that rade not on a horse, + I wat he rade on a weel-fed mear. + + So in the morning, before they came out, + So weel I wot they broke their fast; 30 + In the [forenoon they came] unto a bye fell,[L31] + Where some of them did eat their last. + + When they had eaten aye and done, + They say'd some captains here needs must be: + Then they choosed forth Harry Corbyl, 35 + And 'Symon Fell,' and Martin Ridley. + + Then o'er the moss, where as they came, + With many a brank and whew, + One of them could to another say, + "I think this day we are men enew. 40 + + "For Weardale-men is a journey ta'en; + They are so far out o'er yon fell, + That some of them's with the two earls,[L43] + And others fast in Bernard castell. + + "There we shall get gear enough, 45 + For there is nane but women at hame; + The sorrowful fend that they can make, + Is loudly cries as they were slain."[L48] + + Then in at Rookhope-head they came, + And there they thought tul a had their prey, 50 + But they were spy'd coming over the Dry-rig, + Soon upon Saint Nicolas' day.[L52] + + Then in at Rookhope-head they came, + They ran the forest but a mile; + They gather'd together in four hours 55 + Six hundred sheep within a while. + + And horses I trow they gat, + But either ane or twa, + And they gat them all but ane + That belang'd to great Rowley. 60 + + That Rowley was the first man that did them spy, + With that he raised a mighty cry; + The cry it came down Rookhope burn, + And spread through Weardale hasteyly. + + Then word came to the bailiff's house 65 + At the East-gate, where he did dwell;[L66] + He was walk'd out to the Smale-burns, + Which stands above the Hanging-well.[L68] + + His wife was wae when she heard tell, + So weel she wist her husband wanted gear; 70 + She gar'd saddle him his horse in haste, + And neither forgot sword, jack, nor spear. + + The bailiff got wit before his gear came, + That such news was in the land, + He was sore troubled in his heart, 75 + That on no earth that he could stand. + + His brother was hurt three days before, + With limmer thieves that did him prick; + Nineteen bloody wounds lay him upon, + What ferly was't that he lay sick? 80 + + But yet the bailiff shrinked nought, + But fast after them he did hye, + And so did all his neighbours near, + That went to bear him company. + + But when the bailiff was gathered, 85 + And all his company, + They were numbered to never a man + But forty under fifty. + + The thieves was numbered a hundred men, + I wat they were not of the worst 90 + That could be choosed out of Thirlwall and Willie-haver, + [I trow they were the very first.][L92] + + But all that was in Rookhope-head, + And all that was i' Nuketon-cleugh, + Where Weardale-men o'ertook the thieves, 95 + And there they gave them fighting eneugh. + + So sore they made them fain to flee, + As many was 'a'' out of hand, + And, for tul have been at home again, + They would have been in iron bands. 100 + + And for the space of long seven years + As sore they mighten a' had their lives, + But there was never one of them + That ever thought to have seen their 'wives.' + + About the time the fray began, 105 + I trow it lasted but an hour, + Till many a man lay weaponless, + And was sore wounded in that stour. + + Also before that hour was done, + Four of the thieves were slain, 110 + Besides all those that wounded were, + And eleven prisoners there was ta'en. + + George Carrick, and his brother Edie, + Them two, I wot they were both slain; + Harry Corbyl, and Lennie Carrick, 115 + Bore them company in their pain. + + One of our Weardale-men was slain, + Rowland Emerson his name hight; + I trust to God his soul is well, + Because he 'fought' unto the right. 120 + + But thus they say'd, "We'll not depart + While we have one:--speed back again!" + And when they came amongst the dead men, + There they found George Carrick slain. + + And when they found George Carrick slain, 125 + I wot it went well near their 'heart;' + Lord, let them never make a better end, + That comes to play them sicken a 'part.' + + I trust to God, no more they shall, + Except it be one for a great chance; 130 + For God will punish all those + With a great heavy pestilence. + + Thir limmer thieves, they have good hearts, + They nevir think to be o'erthrown; + Three banners against Weardale-men they bare, 135 + As if the world had been all their own. + + Thir Weardale-men, they have good hearts, + They are as stiff as any tree; + For, if they'd every one been slain, + Never a foot back man would flee. 140 + + And such a storm amongst them fell + As I think you never heard the like, + For he that bears his head so high, + He oft-times falls into the dyke. + + And now I do entreat you all, 145 + As many as are present here. + To pray for [the] singer of this song, + For he sings to make blithe your cheer. + +5. Thirlwall, or Thirlitwall, is said by Fordun, the Scottish historian, +to be a name given to the Picts' or Roman wall, from its having been +thirled, or perforated, in ancient times, by the Scots and Picts. + +Willie-haver, or Willeva, is a small district or township in the parish +of Lanercost, near Bewcastledale, in Cumberland, mentioned in the ballad +of _Hobie Noble_.--RITSON.] + +31. This would be about eleven o'clock, the usual dinner-hour in that +period.--RITSON.] + +43. The two Earls were Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and Charles +Nevil, Earl of Westmoreland, who, on the 15th of November, 1569, at the +head of their tenantry and others, took arms for the purpose of +liberating Mary, Queen of Scots, and restoring the old religion. They +besieged Barnard castle, which was, for eleven days, stoutly defended by +Sir George Bowes, who, afterward, being appointed the Queen's marshal, +hanged the poor constables and peasantry by dozens in a day, to the +amount of 800. The Earl of Northumberland, betrayed by the Scots, with +whom he had taken refuge, was beheaded at York, on the 22d of August, +1572; and the Earl of Westmoreland, deprived of the ancient and noble +patrimony of the Nevils, and reduced to beggary, escaped over sea, into +Flanders, and died in misery and disgrace, being the last of his +family.--RITSON. See _The Rising in the North_ and _Northumberland +betrayed by Douglas_.] + +48. This is still the phraseology of Westmoreland: a _poorly_ man, a +_softly_ day, and the like.--RITSON.] + +52. The 6th of December.] + +66. Now a straggling village so called; originally, it would seem, the +gate-house, or ranger's lodge, at the east entrance of Stanhope-park. At +some distance from this place is Westgate, so called for a similar +reason.--RITSON. + +The mention of the bailiff's house at the East-gate is (were such a +proof wanting) strongly indicative of the authenticity of the ballad. +The family of Emerson of East-gate, a fief, if I may so call it, held +under the bishop, long exercised the office of bailiff of Wolsingham, +the chief town and borough of Weardale, and of Forster, &c., under +successive prelates.--SURTEES.] + +68. A place in the neighbourhood of East-gate, known at present, as well +as the Dry-rig, or Smale-burns.--RITSON.] + +92. The reciter, from his advanced age, could not recollect the original +line thus imperfectly supplied.--RITSON.] + + + + +THE RAID OF THE REIDSWIRE. + +From _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. 15. + + +This ballad is preserved in the Bannatyne MS., and was first printed in +Ramsay's _Evergreen_, ii. 224. Scott informs us that Ramsay took some +liberties with the original text, and even interpolated the manuscript +to favor his readings. A more accurate copy was given in the _Border +Minstrelsy_. The text in Herd's _Scottish Songs_, i. 91, and Caw's +_Museum_, p. 235, is that of the _Evergreen_. + +"The skirmish of the Reidswire happened upon the 7th of June, 1575, at +one of the meetings held by the Wardens of the Marches, for arrangements +necessary upon the Border. Sir John Carmichael was the Scottish Warden, +and Sir John Forster held that office on the English Middle March. In +the course of the day, which was employed as usual in redressing wrongs, +a bill, or indictment, at the instance of a Scottish complainer, was +fouled (_i. e._ found a true bill) against one Farnstein, a notorious +English freebooter. Forster alleged that he had fled from justice. +Carmichael, considering this as a pretext to avoid making compensation +for the felony, bade him "play fair!" to which the haughty English +warden retorted, by some injurious expressions respecting Carmichael's +family, and gave other open signs of resentment. His retinue, chiefly +men of Redesdale and Tynedale, the most ferocious of the English +Borderers, glad of any pretext for a quarrel, discharged a flight of +arrows among the Scots. A warm conflict ensued, in which, Carmichael +being beat down and made prisoner, success seemed at first to incline to +the English side, till the Tynedale men, throwing themselves too +greedily upon the plunder, fell into disorder; and a body of Jedburgh +citizens arriving at that instant, the skirmish terminated in a complete +victory on the part of the Scots, who took prisoners, the English +warden, James Ogle, Cuthbert Collingwood, Francis Russell, son to the +Earl of Bedford, and son-in-law to Forster, some of the Fenwicks, and +several other Border chiefs. They were sent to the Earl of Morton, then +Regent, who detained them at Dalkeith for some days, till the heat of +their resentment was abated; which prudent precaution prevented a war +betwixt the two kingdoms. He then dismissed them with great expressions +of regard; and, to satisfy Queen Elizabeth, sent Carmichael to York, +whence he was soon after honourably dismissed. The field of battle, +called the Reidswire, is a part of the Carter Mountain, about ten miles +from Jedburgh."--SCOTT. + + The seventh of July, the suith to say, + At the Reidswire the tryst was set;[L2] + Our wardens they affixed the day, + And, as they promised, so they met. + Alas! that day I'll ne'er forgett! 5 + Was sure sae feard, and then sae faine-- + They came theare justice for to gett, + Will never green to come again. + + Carmichael was our warden then, + He caused the country to conveen; 10 + And the Laird's Wat, that worthie man,[L11] + Brought in that sirname weil beseen: + The Armestranges, that aye hae been + A hardy house, but not a hail,[L14] + The Elliots' honours to maintaine, 15 + Brought down the lave o' Liddesdale. + + Then Tividale came to wi' spied; + The Sheriffe brought the Douglas down,[L18] + Wi' Cranstane, Gladstain, good at need, + Baith Rewle water, and Hawick town. 20 + Beanjeddart bauldly made him boun, + Wi' a' the Trumbills, stronge and stout; + The Rutherfoords, with grit renown, + Convoy'd the town of Jedbrugh out.[L24] + + Of other clans I cannot tell, 25 + Because our warning was not wide-- + Be this our folks hae ta'en the fell, + And planted down palliones, there to bide, + We looked down the other side, + And saw come breasting ower the brae, 30 + Wi' Sir John Forster for their guyde,[L31] + Full fifteen hundred men and mae. + + It grieved him sair that day, I trow, + Wi' Sir George Hearoune of Schipsydehouse;[L34] + Because we were not men enow, 35 + They counted us not worth a louse. + Sir George was gentle, meek, and douse, + But _he_ was hail and het as fire; + And yet, for all his cracking crouse, + He rewd the raid o' the Reidswire. 40 + + To deal with proud men is but pain; + For either must ye fight or flee, + Or else no answer make again, + But play the beast, and let them be. + It was na wonder he was hie, 45 + Had Tindaill, Reedsdaill, at his hand,[L46] + Wi' Cukdaill, Gladsdaill on the lee, + And Hebsrime, and Northumberland.[L48] + + Yett was our meeting meek eneugh, + Begun wi' merriment and mowes, 50 + And at the brae, aboon the heugh, + The clark sat down to call the rowes. + And some for kyne, and some for ewes, + Call'd in of Dandrie, Hob, and Jock-- + We saw, come marching ower the knows, 55 + Five hundred Fennicks in a flock,--[L56] + + With jack and speir, and bows all bent, + And warlike weapons at their will: + Although we were na weel content, + Yet, by my troth, we fear'd no ill. 60 + Some gaed to drink, and some stude still, + And some to cards and dice them sped; + Till on ane Farnstein they fyled a bill, + And he was fugitive and fled. + + Carmichaell bade them speik out plainlie, 65 + And cloke no cause for ill nor good; + The other, answering him as vainlie, + Began to reckon kin and blood: + He raise, and raxed him where he stood, + And bade him match him with his marrows; 70 + Then Tindaill heard them reasun rude, + And they loot off a flight of arrows. + + Then was there nought but bow and speir, + And every man pull'd out a brand; + "A Schafton and a Fenwick" thare: 75 + Gude Symington was slain frae hand. + The Scotsmen cried on other to stand, + Frae time they saw John Robson slain-- + What should they cry? the King's command + Could cause no cowards turn again. 80 + + Up rose the laird to red the cumber, + Which would not be for all his boast; + What could we doe with sic a number-- + Fyve thousand men into a host? + Then Henry Purdie proved his cost, 85 + And very narrowlie had mischief'd him, + And there we had our warden lost, + Wert not the grit God he relieved him. + + Another throw the breiks him bair, + Whill flatlies to the ground he fell: 90 + Than thought I weel we had lost him there, + Into my stomack it struck a knell! + Yet up he raise, the treuth to tell ye, + And laid about him dints full dour; + His horsemen they raid sturdily, 95 + And stude about him in the stoure. + + Then raise the slogan with ane shout-- + "Fy, Tindaill, to it! Jedburgh's here!"[L98] + I trow he was not half sae stout, + But anis his stomach was asteir. 100 + With gun and genzie, bow and speir, + Men might see mony a cracked crown! + But up amang the merchant geir, + They were as busy as we were down. + + The swallow taill frae tackles flew, 105 + Five hundredth flain into a flight: + But we had pestelets enew, + And shot among them as we might. + With help of God the game gaed right, + Fra time the foremost of them fell; 110 + Then ower the know, without goodnight, + They ran with mony a shout and yell. + + But after they had turned backs, + Yet Tindail men they turn'd again, + And had not been the merchant packs,[L115] 115 + There had been mae of Scotland slain. + But, Jesu! if the folks were fain + To put the bussing on their thies; + And so they fled, wi' a' their main, + Down ower the brae, like clogged bees. 120 + + Sir Francis Russell ta'en was there,[L121] + And hurt, as we hear men rehearse; + Proud Wallinton was wounded sair,[L123] + Albeit he be a Fennick fierce. + But if ye wald a souldier search, 125 + Among them a' were ta'en that night, + Was nane sae wordie to put in verse, + As Collingwood, that courteous knight.[L128] + + Young Henry Schafton, he is hurt;[L129] + A souldier shot him wi' a bow; 130 + Scotland has cause to mak great sturt, + For laiming of the Laird of Mow.[L132] + The Laird's Wat did weel indeed; + His friends stood stoutlie by himsell, + With little Gladstain, gude in need, 135 + For Gretein kend na gude be ill.[L136] + + The Sheriffe wanted not gude will, + Howbeit he might not fight so fast; + Beanjeddart, Hundlie, and Hunthill,[L139] + Three, on they laid weel at the last. 140 + Except the horsemen of the guard, + If I could put men to availe, + None stoutlier stood out for their laird, + Nor did the lads of Liddisdail. + + But little harness had we there; 145 + But auld Badreule had on a jack,[L146] + And did right weel, I you declare, + With all his Trumbills at his back. + Gude Edderstane was not to lack,[L149] + Nor Kirktoun, Newton, noble men![L150] 150 + Thir's all the specials I of speake, + By others that I could not ken. + + Who did invent that day of play, + We need not fear to find him soon; + For Sir John Forster, I dare well say, 155 + Made us this noisome afternoon. + Not that I speak preceislie out, + That he supposed it would be perril; + But pride, and breaking out of feuid, + Garr'd Tindaill lads begin the quarrel. 160 + +2. _Swire_ signifies the descent of a hill, and the epithet _Red_ is +derived from the color of the heath, or perhaps, from the Reid-water, +which rises at no great distance.--S. + +11. The Laird's Wat is perhaps the young Buccleuch, who, about twenty +years after this _raid_, performed the great exploit of rescuing Kinmont +Willie from Carlisle Castle.--S. + +14. This clan are here mentioned as not being hail, or whole, because +they were outlawed or broken men. Indeed, many of them had become +Englishmen, as the phrase then went. There was an old alliance betwixt +the Elliots and Armstrongs, here alluded to.--S. + +18. Douglas of Cavers, hereditary Sheriff of Teviotdale, descended from +Black Archibald, who carried the standard of his father, the Earl of +Douglas, at the battle of Otterbourne.--See the ballad of that name.--S. + +24. These were ancient and powerful clans, residing chiefly upon the +river Jed. Hence, they naturally convoyed the town of Jedburgh out. The +following fragment of an old ballad is quoted in a letter from an aged +gentleman of this name, residing at New York, to a friend in Scotland:-- + + "Bauld Rutherfurd, he was fou stout, + Wi' a' his nine sons him round about; + He led the town o' Jedburgh out, + All bravely fought that day."--S. + +31. Sir John Forster, or, more properly, Forrester, of Balmbrough Abbey, +Warden of the Middle Marches in 1561, was deputy-governor of Berwick, +and governor of Balmborough Castle.--S. + +34. George Heron Miles of Chipchase Castle, probably the same who was +slain at the Reidswire, was Sheriff of Northumberland, 13th +Elizabeth.--S. + +46. These are districts, or dales, on the English Border. + +48. Mr. George Ellis suggests, with great probability, that this is a +mistake, not for Hebburne, as the Editor stated in an earlier edition, +but for Hexham, which, with its territory, formed a county independent +of Northumberland, with which it is here ranked.--S. + +56. The Fenwicks; a powerful and numerous Northumberland clan.--S. + +98. The gathering word peculiar to a certain name, or set of people, was +termed _slogan_ or _slughorn_, and was always repeated at an onset, as +well as on many other occasions. It was usually the name of the clan, or +place of rendezvous, or leader. In 1335, the English, led by Thomas of +Rosslyne, and William Moubray, assaulted Aberdeen. The former was +mortally wounded in the onset; and, as his followers were pressing +forward, shouting "_Rosslyne! Rosslyne!_" "Cry _Moubray_," said the +expiring chieftain; "_Rosslyne_ is gone!"--S. + +115. The ballad-maker here ascribes the victory to the real cause; for +the English Borderers dispersing to plunder the merchandise, gave the +opposite party time to recover from their surprise. It seems to have +been usual for travelling merchants to attend Border meetings, although +one would have thought the kind of company usually assembled there might +have deterred them.--S. + +121. This gentleman was son to the Earl of Bedford, and Warden of the +East Marches. He was, at this time, chamberlain of Berwick.--S. + +123. Fenwick of Wallington, a powerful Northumbrian chief.--S. + +128. Sir Cuthbert Collingwood of Esslington, Sheriff of Northumberland, +the 10th and 20th of Elizabeth.--S. + +129. The Shaftoes are an ancient family settled at Bavington, in +Northumberland, since the time of Edward I.--S. + +132. An ancient family on the Borders. The Laird of Mowe here mentioned +was the only gentleman of note killed in the skirmish on the Scottish +side.--S. + +136. Graden, a family of Kers.--S. + +139. Douglas of Beanjeddart, an ancient branch of the house of Cavers, +possessing property near the junction of the Jed and Teviot. +_Hundlie._--Rutherford of Hundlie, or Hundalee, situated on the Jed +above Jedburgh. _Hunthill._--The old tower of Hunthill was situated +about a mile above Jedburgh. It was the patrimony of an ancient family +of Rutherfords. I suppose the person, here meant, to be the same who is +renowned in tradition by the name of the _Cock of Hunthill_.--S. + +146. Sir Andrew Turnbull of Bedrule, upon Rule Water.--S. + +149. An ancient family of Rutherfords; I believe, indeed, the most +ancient now extant.--S. + +150. The parish of Kirktoun belonged, I believe, about this time, to a +branch of the Cavers family; but Kirkton of Stewartfield is mentioned in +the list of Border clans in 1597. _Newton._--This is probably Grinyslaw +of Little Newton, mentioned in the said roll of Border clans.--S. + + + + +THE DEATH OF PARCY REED. + + +Taken down from the recitation of an old woman, and first published +(certainly not without what are called "improvements") in Richardson's +_Borderer's Table Book_, vol. vii. p. 364, with an introduction by Mr. +Robert White, which we here abridge. + +Percival or Parcy Reed, was proprietor of Troughend, a tract of land in +Redesdale, Northumberland, a man of courage and devoted to the chase. +Having been appointed warden of the district, he had the misfortune in +the discharge of his duties, to offend a family of the name of Hall, who +were owners of the farm of Girsonsfield, and also to incur the enmity of +a band of moss-troopers, Crosier by name, some of whom had been brought +to justice by his hands. The Halls concealed their resentment until they +were able to contrive an opportunity for taking a safe revenge. In +pursuance of this design, they requested Reed to join them on a hunting +party. Their invitation was unsuspiciously accepted, and after a day of +sport the company retired to a solitary hut in the lonely glen of +Batinghope. Here Reed was attacked in the evening by the Crosiers, and +as the Halls not only refused their assistance, but had treacherously +deprived him of the means of defence by rendering his sword and gun +unserviceable, he fell an easy victim to his savage foes. + +It is probable that we cannot assign to the event on which this piece is +founded, a date later than the sixteenth century. + +The story of Parcy Reed is alluded to in _Rokeby_, canto first, XX.; Sir +Walter Scott has also taken the death of his dog Keeldar as the subject +of a poem contributed to Hood's annual, _The Gem_, for 1829. + + + God send the land deliverance + Frae every reaving, riding Scot; + We'll sune hae neither cow nor ewe, + We'll sune hae neither staig nor stot. + + The outlaws come frae Liddesdale, 5 + They herry Redesdale far and near; + The rich man's gelding it maun gang, + They canna pass the puir man's mear. + + Sure it were weel, had ilka thief + Around his neck a halter strang; 10 + And curses heavy may they light + On traitors vile oursels amang. + + Now Parcy Reed has Crosier ta'en, + He has delivered him to the law; + But Crosier says he'll do waur than that, 15 + He'll make the tower o' Troughend fa'. + + And Crosier says he will do waur-- + He will do waur if waur can be; + He'll make the bairns a' fatherless; + And then, the land it may lie lee. 20 + + "To the hunting, ho!" cried Parcy Reed, + "The morning sun is on the dew; + The cauler breeze frae off the fells + Will lead the dogs to the quarry true. + + "To the hunting, ho!" cried Parcy Reed, 25 + And to the hunting he has gane; + And the three fause Ha's o' Girsonsfield + Alang wi' him he has them ta'en. + + They hunted high, they hunted low, + By heathery hill and birken shaw; 30 + They raised a buck on Rooken Edge, + And blew the mort at fair Ealylawe. + + They hunted high, they hunted low, + They made the echoes ring amain; + With music sweet o' horn and hound, 35 + They merry made fair Redesdale glen. + + They hunted high, they hunted low, + They hunted up, they hunted down, + Until the day was past the prime, + And it grew late in the afternoon. 40 + + They hunted high in Batinghope, + When as the sun was sinking low, + Says Parcy then, "Ca' off the dogs, + We'll bait our steeds and homeward go." + + They lighted high in Batinghope, 45 + Atween the brown and benty ground; + They had but rested a little while, + Till Parcy Reed was sleeping sound. + + There's nane may lean on a rotten staff, + But him that risks to get a fa'; 50 + There's nane may in a traitor trust, + And traitors black were every Ha'. + + They've stown the bridle off his steed, + And they've put water in his lang gun; + They've fixed his sword within the sheath, 55 + That out again it winna come. + + "Awaken ye, waken ye, Parcy Reed, + Or by your enemies be ta'en; + For yonder are the five Crosiers + A-coming owre the Hingin-stane." 60 + + "If they be five, and we be four, + Sae that ye stand alang wi' me, + Then every man ye will take one, + And only leave but two to me: + We will them meet as brave men ought, 65 + And make them either fight or flee." + + "We mayna stand, we canna stand, + We daurna stand alang wi' thee; + The Crosiers haud thee at a feud, + And they wad kill baith thee and we." 70 + + "O, turn thee, turn thee, Johnie Ha', + O, turn thee, man, and fight wi' me; + When ye come to Troughend again, + My gude black naig I will gie thee; + He cost full twenty pound o' gowd, 75 + Atween my brother John and me." + + "I mayna turn, I canna turn, + I daurna turn and fight wi' thee; + The Crosiers haud thee at a feud, + And they wad kill baith thee and me." 80 + + "O, turn thee, turn thee, Willie Ha', + O, turn thee, man, and fight wi' me; + When ye come to Troughend again, + A yoke o' owsen I'll gie thee." + + "I mayna turn, I canna turn, 85 + I daurna turn and fight wi' thee; + The Crosiers haud thee at a feud, + And they wad kill baith thee and me." + + "O, turn thee, turn thee, Tommy Ha', + O, turn now, man, and fight wi' me; 90 + If ever we come to Troughend again, + My daughter Jean I'll gie to thee." + + "I mayna turn, I canna turn, + I daurna turn and fight wi' thee; + The Crosiers haud thee at a feud, 95 + And they wad kill baith thee and me." + + "O, shame upon ye, traitors a'! + I wish your hames ye may never see; + Ye've stown the bridle off my naig, + And I can neither fight nor flee. 100 + + "Ye've stown the bridle off my naig, + And ye've put water i' my lang gun; + Ye've fixed my sword within the sheath, + That out again it winna come." + + He had but time to cross himsel', 105 + A prayer he hadna time to say, + Till round him came the Crosiers keen, + All riding graithed, and in array. + + "Weel met, weel met, now, Parcy Reed, + Thou art the very man we sought; 110 + Owre lang hae we been in your debt, + Now will we pay you as we ought. + + "We'll pay thee at the nearest tree, + Where we shall hang thee like a hound;" + Brave Parcy rais'd his fankit sword, 115 + And fell'd the foremost to the ground. + + Alake, and wae for Parcy Reed, + Alake, he was an unarmed man; + Four weapons pierced him all at once, + As they assailed him there and than. 120 + + They fell upon him all at once, + They mangled him most cruellie; + The slightest wound might caused his deid, + And they have gi'en him thirty-three. + They hacket off his hands and feet, 125 + And left him lying on the lee. + + "Now, Parcy Reed, we've paid our debt, + Ye canna weel dispute the tale," + The Crosiers said, and off they rade-- + They rade the airt o' Liddesdale. 130 + + It was the hour o' gloamin' gray, + When herds come in frae fauld and pen; + A herd he saw a huntsman lie, + Says he, "Can this be Laird Troughen'?" + + "There's some will ca' me Parcy Reed, 135 + And some will ca' me Laird Troughen'; + It's little matter what they ca' me, + My faes hae made me ill to ken. + + "There's some will ca' me Parcy Reed, + And speak my praise in tower and town; 140 + It's little matter what they do now, + My life-blood rudds the heather brown. + + "There's some will ca' me Parcy Reed, + And a' my virtues say and sing; + I would much rather have just now 145 + A draught o' water frae the spring!" + + The herd flung aff his clouted shoon, + And to the nearest fountain ran; + He made his bonnet serve a cup, + And wan the blessing o' the dying man. 150 + + "Now, honest herd, ye maun do mair,-- + Ye maun do mair as I ye tell; + Ye maun bear tidings to Troughend, + And bear likewise my last farewell. + + "A farewell to my wedded wife, 155 + A farewell to my brother John, + Wha sits into the Troughend tower, + Wi' heart as black as any stone. + + "A farewell to my daughter Jean, + A farewell to my young sons five; 160 + Had they been at their father's hand, + I had this night been man alive. + + "A farewell to my followers a', + And a' my neighbours gude at need; + Bid them think how the treacherous Ha's 165 + Betrayed the life o' Parcy Reed. + + "The laird o' Clennel bears my bow, + The laird o' Brandon bears my brand; + Whene'er they ride i' the border side, + They'll mind the fate o' the laird Troughend." 170 + + + + +CAPTAIN CAR, OR, EDOM O' GORDON. + + +"This ballad is founded upon a real event, which took place in the north +of Scotland in the year 1571, during the struggles between the party +which held out for the imprisoned Queen Mary, and that which endeavoured +to maintain the authority of her infant son, James VI. The person +designated Edom o' Gordon was Adam Gordon of Auchindown, brother of the +Marquis of Huntly, and his deputy as lieutenant of the north of Scotland +for the Queen. This gentleman committed many acts of oppression on the +clan Forbes, under colour of the Queen's authority, and in one collision +with that family, killed Arthur, brother to Lord Forbes. He afterwards +sent a party under one Captain Car, or Ker, to reduce the house of +Towie, one of the chief seats of the name of Forbes. The proprietor of +the mansion being from home, his lady, who was pregnant at the time, +confiding too much in her sex and condition, not only refused to +surrender, but gave Car some very opprobrious language over the walls, +which irritated him so much that he set fire to the house, and burnt the +whole inmates, amounting in all to thirty-seven persons. As Gordon never +cashiered Car for this inhuman action, he was held by the public voice +to be equally guilty, and accordingly [in one of the versions of the +ballad] he is represented as the principal actor himself." (CHAMBERS's +_Scottish Ballads_, p. 67.) It appears that the Forbeses afterwards +attempted to assassinate Adam Gordon in the streets of Paris. See more +of this Captain Ker under _The Battell of Balrinnes_, in the next +volume. + +The ballad was first printed by the Foulises at Glasgow, 1755, under the +title of _Edom of Gordon_, as taken down by Sir David Dalrymple from the +recitation of a lady. It was inserted in the _Reliques_, (i. 122,) +"improved and enlarged," (or, as Ritson more correctly expresses the +fact, "interpolated and corrupted,") by several stanzas from a fragment +in Percy's manuscript, called _Captain Adam Carre_. Ritson published the +following genuine and ancient copy, (_Ancient Songs_, ii. 38,) from a +collection in the Cotton Library. He states that his MS. had received +numerous alterations or corrections, all or most of which, as being +evidently for the better, he had adopted into the text. We have added a +copy of _Edom o' Gordon_ given in Ritson's _Scottish Songs_, and in the +Appendix an inferior version of the story, called _Loudoun Castle_. + +The names vary considerably in the different versions of this piece. The +castle of Towie, or the house of Rothes, is here called the castle of +Crecrynbroghe, in Percy's manuscript the castle of Brittonsborrow, and +in the copy in the Appendix the locality is changed to Loudoun castle in +Ayrshire. In like manner, Alexander Forbes is here turned into Lord +Hamleton, and Captain Car is now called the lord of Easter-town and +again the lord of Westerton-town. + +In the _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. xci. Part 1, p. 451, will be found a +modern ballad styled _Adam Gordon_, founded on the adventure of the +freebooter of that name with Edward the First. Another on the same +subject is given in Evans's _Old Ballads_, iv. 86. + + It befell at Martynmas + When wether waxed colde, + Captaine Care saide to his men, + "We must go take a holde." + + "Haille, master, and wether you will, 5 + And wether ye like it best." + "To the castle of Crecrynbroghe; + And there we will take our reste. + + "I knowe wher is a gay castle, + Is build of lyme and stone, 10 + Within 'there' is a gay ladie, + Her lord is ryd from hom." + + The ladie lend on her castle-walle, + She loked upp and downe; + There was she ware of an host of men, 15 + Come riding to the towne. + + "Come yow hether, my meri men all, + And look what I do see; + Yonder is ther an host of men, + I musen who they bee." 20 + + She thought he had been her own wed lord, + That had comd riding home; + Then was it traitour Captaine Care, + The lord of Ester-towne. + + They were no soner at supper sett, 25 + Then after said the grace, + Or captaine Care and all his men + Wer lighte aboute the place. + + "Gyve over thi howsse, thou lady gay, + And I will make the a bande; 30 + To-nighte thoust ly wythin my arm, + To-morrowe thou shall ere my lan[de]." + + Then bespacke the eldest sonne, + That was both whitt and redde, + "O mother dere, geve over your howsse, 35 + Or elles we shal be deade." + + "I will not geve over my hous," she saithe, + "Not for feare of my lyffe; + It shal be talked throughout the land, + The slaughter of a wyffe. 40 + + "Fetch me my pestilett, + And charge me my gonne, + That I may shott at the bloddy butcher, + The lord of Easter-towne." + + She styfly stod on her castle-wall, 45 + And lett the pellettes flee, + She myst the blody bucher, + And slew other three. + + "I will not geve over my hous," she saithe, + "Netheir for lord nor lowne, 50 + Nor yet for traitour Captaine Care, + The lord of Easter-towne. + + "I desire of Captaine Care, + And all his bloddye band, + That he would save my eldest sonne, 55 + The eare of all my lande." + + "Lap him in a shete," he sayth, + "And let him downe to me, + And I shall take him in my armes, + His waran wyll I be." 60 + + The captayne sayd unto himselfe, + Wyth sped before the rest; + He cut his tonge out of his head, + His hart out of his brest. + + He lapt them in a handerchef, 65 + And knet it of knotes three, + And cast them over the castell-wall + At that gay ladye. + + "Fye upon thee, Captaine Care, + And all thy bloddy band, 70 + For thou hast slayne my eldest sonne, + The ayre of all my land." + + Then bespake the yongest sonn, + That sat on the nurses knee, + Sayth, "Mother gay, geve ower your house, 75 + [The smoke] it smoldereth me." + + "I wold geve my gold," she saith, + "And so I wolde my fee, + For a blaste of the wesleyn wind + To dryve the smoke from thee. 80 + + "Fy upon thee, John Hamleton, + That ever I paid th['e] hyre, + For thou hast broken my castle-wall, + And kyndled in [it] the fyre."[L84] + + The lady gate to her close parler, 85 + The fire fell aboute her head; + She toke up her children thre, + Seth, "Babes, we are all dead." + + Then bespake the hye steward, + That is of hye degree; 90 + Saith, "Ladie gay, you are no 'bote,' + Wethere ye fighte or flee." + + Lord Hamleton dremd in his dreame, + In Carvall where he laye, + His halle 'was' all of fyre, 95 + His ladie slayne or daye. + + "Busk and bowne, my merry men all, + Even and go ye with me, + For I 'dremd' that my hall was on fyre + My lady slayne or day." 100 + + He buskt him and bownd him, + And like a worthi knighte, + And when he saw his hall burning, + His harte was no dele lighte. + + He sett a trumpett till his mouth, 105 + He blew as it plesd his grace; + Twenty score of Hambletons + Was light aboute the place. + + "Had I knowne as much yesternighte + As I do to-daye, 110 + Captaine Care and all his men + Should not have gone so quite [awaye.] + + "Fye upon thee, Captaine Care, + And all thy blody 'bande;' + Thou hast slayne my lady gaye, 115 + More worth then all thy lande. + + "Yf thou had ought eny ill will," he saith, + "Thou shoulde have taken my lyffe, + And have saved my children thre, + All and my lovesome wyffe." 120 + +84, thee. + + + + +EDOM O' GORDON. + + +From Ritson's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 17. We presume this is the ballad +printed by the Foulises. + + It fell about the Martinmas, + Quhen the wind blew schrile and cauld, + Said Edom o' Gordon to his men, + "We maun draw to a hauld. + + "And what an a hauld sall we draw to, 5 + My merry men and me? + We will gae to the house of the Rodes, + To see that fair ladie." + + She had nae sooner busket hersell, + Nor putten on her gown, 10 + Till Edom o' Gordon and his men + Were round about the town. + + They had nae sooner sitten down, + Nor sooner said the grace, + Till Edom o' Gordon and his men 15 + Were closed about the place. + + The lady ran up to her tower head, + As fast as she could drie, + To see if by her fair speeches, + She could with him agree. 20 + + As soon as he saw the lady fair, + And hir yates all locked fast, + He fell into a rage of wrath, + And his heart was aghast.[L24] + + "Cum down to me, ze lady fair, 25 + Cum down to me, let's see; + This night ze's ly by my ain side, + The morn my bride sall be." + + "I winnae cum down, ye fals Gordon, + I winnae cum down to thee; 30 + I winnae forsake my ane dear lord + That is sae far frae me." + + "Gi up your house, ze fair lady, + Gi up your house to me, + Or I will burn zoursel therein, 35 + Bot you and zour babies three." + + "I winna gie up, zou fals Gordon, + To nae sik traitor as thee, + Tho' zou should burn mysel therein, + Bot and my babies three." 40 + + "Set fire to the house," quoth fals Gordon, + "Sin better may nae bee; + And I will burn hersel therein, + Bot and her babies three." + + "And ein wae worth ze, Jock my man, 45 + I paid ze weil zour fee; + Why pow ze out my ground wa' stane, + Lets in the reek to me? + + "And ein wae worth ze, Jock my man, + For I paid zou weil zour hire; 50 + Why pow ze out my ground wa' stane, + To me lets in the fire?" + + "Ye paid me weil my hire, lady, + Ye paid me weil my fee, + But now I'm Edom of Gordon's man, 55 + Maun either do or die." + + O then bespake her zoungest son, + Sat on the nurses knee, + "Dear mother, gie owre your house," he says, + "For the reek it worries me." 60 + + "I winnae gie up my house, my dear, + To nae sik traitor as he; + Cum well, cum wae, my jewels fair, + Ye maun tak share wi me." + + O then bespake her dochter dear, 65 + She was baith jimp and sma, + "O row me in a pair o' shiets, + And tow me owre the wa." + + They rowd her in a pair of shiets, + And towd her owre the wa, 70 + But, on the point of Edom's speir, + She gat a deadly fa'. + + O bonny, bonny, was hir mouth, + And chirry were her cheiks, + And clear, clear was hir zellow hair, 75 + Whereon the reid bluid dreips. + + Then wi his speir he turn'd hir owr, + O gin hir face was wan! + He said, "Zou are the first that eer + I wisht alive again." 80 + + He turn'd her owr and owr again; + O gin hir skin was whyte! + He said, "I might ha spard thy life, + To been some mans delyte." + + "Busk and boon, my merry men all, 85 + For ill dooms I do guess; + I cannae luik in that bonny face, + As it lyes on the grass." + + "Them luiks to freits, my master deir, + Their freits will follow them;[L90] 90 + Let it neir be said brave Edom o' Gordon + Was daunted with a dame." + + O then he spied hir ain deir lord, + As he came owr the lee; + He saw his castle in a fire, 95 + As far as he could see. + + "Put on, put on, my mighty men,[L97] + As fast as ze can drie, + For he that's hindmost of my men, + Sall neir get guid o' me." 100 + + And some they raid, and some they ran, + Fu fast out owr the plain, + But lang, lang, eer he coud get up, + They were a' deid and slain. + + But mony were the mudie men 105 + Lay gasping on the grien; + For o' fifty men that Edom brought out + There were but five ged heme. + + And mony were the mudie men + Lay gasping on the grien, 110 + And mony were the fair ladys + Lay lemanless at heme. + + And round and round the waes he went, + Their ashes for to view; + At last into the flames he flew, 115 + And bad the world adieu. + +24. heart, _pronounced_ hearrut. + +90. Then. + +97. _Qy._ wight yemen? + + + + +WILLIE MACKINTOSH, OR, THE BURNING OF AUCHINDOWN. + + +These fragments appear to relate to the burning of Auchindown, a castle +belonging to the Gordons, in vengeance for the death of William +Mackintosh of the clan Chattan, which is said to have occurred at the +castle of the Earl of Huntly. The event is placed in the year 1592. +After the Mackintoshes had executed their revenge, they were pursued by +the Gordons, and overtaken in the Stapler, where "sixty of the clan +Chattan were killed, and Willie Mackintosh, their leader, wounded." So +says the not very trustworthy editor of the _Thistle of Scotland_. + +Another fragment of four stanzas (containing nothing additional), is +given by Whitelaw, _Book of Scottish Ballads_, p. 248. + + +I. + +From Finlay's _Scottish Ballads_, ii. 97. + + As I came in by Fiddich-side, + In a May morning, + I met Willie Mackintosh + An hour before the dawning. + + "Turn again, turn again, 5 + Turn again, I bid ye; + If ye burn Auchindown, + Huntly he will head ye." + + "Head me, hang me, + That sall never fear me; 10 + I'll burn Auchindown + Before the life leaves me." + + As I came in by Auchindown, + In a May morning, + Auchindown was in a bleeze, 15 + An hour before the dawning. + * * * * * + + "Crawing, crawing, + For my crowse crawing, + I lost the best feather i' my wing, + For my crowse crawing." 20 + + +II. + +From _The Thistle of Scotland_, p. 106. + + "Turn, Willie Mackintosh, + Turn, I bid you, + Gin ye burn Auchindown, + Huntly will head you." + + "Head me, or hang me, 5 + That canna fley me, + I'll burn Auchindown, + Ere the life lea' me." + + Coming down Dee-side + In a clear morning, 10 + Auchindown was in a flame, + Ere the cock crawing. + + But coming o'er Cairn Croom, + And looking down, man, + I saw Willie Mackintosh 15 + Burn Auchindown, man. + + "Bonny Willie Mackintosh, + Whare left ye your men?" + "I left them in the Stapler, + But they'll never come hame." 20 + + "Bonny Willie Mackintosh, + Where now is your men?" + "I left them in the Stapler, + Sleeping in their sheen." + + + + +LORD MAXWELL'S GOODNIGHT. + +_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. 199. + + +"A. D. 1585, John Lord Maxwell, or, as he styled himself, Earl of +Morton, having quarrelled with the Earl of Arran, reigning favourite of +James VI., and fallen, of course, under the displeasure of the court, +was denounced rebel. A commission was also given to the Laird of +Johnstone, then Warden of the West Marches, to pursue and apprehend the +ancient rival and enemy of his house. Two bands of mercenaries, +commanded by Captains Cranstoun and Lammie, who were sent from Edinburgh +to support Johnstone, were attacked and cut to pieces at Crawford-muir, +by Robert Maxwell, natural brother to the chieftain; who, following up +his advantage, burned Johnstone's Castle of Lochwood, observing, with +savage glee, that he would give Lady Johnstone light enough by which 'to +set her hood.' In a subsequent conflict, Johnstone himself was defeated, +and made prisoner, and is said to have died of grief at the disgrace +which he sustained. + +"By one of the revolutions, common in those days, Maxwell was soon after +restored to the King's favour in his turn, and obtained the wardenry of +the West Marches. A bond of alliance was subscribed by him, and by Sir +James Johnstone, and for some time the two clans lived in harmony. In +the year 1593, however, the hereditary feud was revived on the following +occasion. A band of marauders, of the clan Johnstone, drove a prey of +cattle from the lands belonging to the Lairds of Crichton, Sanquhar, and +Drumlanrig; and defeated, with slaughter, the pursuers, who attempted to +rescue their property.--[See _The Lads of Wamphray_, post, p. 168.] The +injured parties, being apprehensive that Maxwell would not cordially +embrace their cause, on account of his late reconciliation with the +Johnstones, endeavoured to overcome his reluctance, by offering to enter +into bonds of manrent, and so to become his followers and liegemen; he, +on the other hand, granting to them a bond of maintenance, or +protection, by which he bound himself, in usual form, to maintain their +quarrel against all mortals, saving his loyalty. Thus, the most powerful +and respectable families in Dumfriesshire, became, for a time, the +vassals of Lord Maxwell. This secret alliance was discovered to Sir +James Johnstone by the Laird of Cummertrees, one of his own clan, though +a retainer to Maxwell. Cummertrees even contrived to possess himself of +the bonds of manrent, which he delivered to his chief. The petty warfare +betwixt the rival barons was instantly renewed. Buccleuch, a near +relation of Johnstone, came to his assistance with his clan, 'the most +renowned freebooters, [says a historian,] the fiercest and bravest +warriors among the Border tribes.' With Buccleuch also came the Elliots, +Armstrongs, and Gr[ae]mes. Thus reinforced, Johnstone surprised and cut +to pieces a party of the Maxwells, stationed at Lochmaben. On the other +hand, Lord Maxwell, armed with the royal authority, and numbering among +his followers all the barons of Nithsdale, displayed his banner as the +King's lieutenant, and invaded Annandale at the head of two thousand +men. In those days, however, the royal auspices seem to have carried as +little good fortune as effective strength with them. A desperate +conflict, still renowned in tradition, took place at the Dryffe Sands, +not far from Lockerby, in which Johnstone, although inferior in numbers, +partly by his own conduct, partly by the valour of his allies, gained a +decisive victory. Lord Maxwell, a tall man, and heavily armed, was +struck from his horse in the flight, and cruelly slain, after the hand, +which he stretched out for quarter, had been severed from his body. Many +of his followers were slain in the battle, and many cruelly wounded, +especially by slashes in the face, which wound was thence termed a +'Lockerby lick.' The Barons of Lag, Closeburn, and Drumlanrig, escaped +by the fleetness of their horses; a circumstance alluded to in the +following ballad. + +"John, Lord Maxwell, with whose 'Goodnight' the reader is here +presented, was son to him who fell at the battle of Dryffe Sands, and +is said to have early avowed the deepest revenge for his father's death. +Such, indeed, was the fiery and untameable spirit of the man, that +neither the threats nor entreaties of the King himself could make him +lay aside his vindictive purpose; although Johnstone, the object of his +resentment, had not only reconciled himself to the court, but even +obtained the wardenry of the Middle Marches, in room of Sir John +Carmichael, murdered by the Armstrongs. Lord Maxwell was therefore +prohibited to approach the Border counties; and having, in contempt of +that mandate, excited new disturbances, he was confined in the castle of +Edinburgh. From this fortress, however, he contrived to make his escape; +and, having repaired to Dumfriesshire, he sought an amicable interview +with Johnstone, under a pretence of a wish to accommodate their +differences. Sir Robert Maxwell, of Orchardstane, (mentioned in the +ballad, verse 1,) who was married to a sister of Sir James Johnstone, +persuaded his brother-in-law to accede to Maxwell's proposal." + +So far Sir Walter Scott. The meeting took place on the 6th of April, +1608, in the presence of Sir Robert Maxwell, each party being +accompanied by a single follower. While the chieftains were conferring +together, Charles Maxwell, the attendant of Lord John, maliciously began +an altercation with the servant of Johnstone, and shot him with a +pistol, and Sir James, looking round at the report, was himself shot by +Lord Maxwell in the back with two poisoned bullets. + +The murderer escaped to France, but afterwards venturing to return to +Scotland, was apprehended, brought to trial at Edinburgh, and beheaded +on the 21st of May, 1613. We may naturally suppose that the _Goodnight_ +was composed shortly after Lord Maxwell fled across the seas, certainly +before 1613. + +This ballad was first printed in the _Border Minstrelsy_ "from a copy in +Glenriddel's MSS., with some slight variations from tradition." + + + "Adieu, madame, my mother dear, + But and my sisters three! + Adieu, fair Robert of Orchardstane! + My heart is wae for thee. + Adieu, the lily and the rose, 5 + The primrose fair to see! + Adieu, my ladye, and only joy! + For I may not stay with thee. + + "Though I hae slain the Lord Johnstone, + What care I for their feid? 10 + My noble mind their wrath disdains,-- + He was my father's deid. + Both night and day I labour'd oft + Of him avenged to be; + But now I've got what lang I sought, 15 + And I may not stay with thee. + + "Adieu, Drumlanrig! false wert aye-- + And Closeburn in a band! + The Laird of Lag, frae my father that fled, + When the Johnston struck aff his hand! 20 + They were three brethren in a band-- + Joy may they never see! + Their treacherous art, and cowardly heart, + Has twined my love and me. + + "Adieu, Dumfries, my proper place, 25 + But and Carlaverock fair! + Adieu, my castle of the Thrieve, + Wi' a' my buildings there! + Adieu, Lochmaben's gate sae fair, + The Langholm-holm, where birks there be! 30 + Adieu, my ladye, and only joy! + For, trust me, I may not stay wi' thee. + + "Adieu, fair Eskdale, up and down, + Where my puir friends do dwell! + The bangisters will ding them down, 35 + And will them sair compell. + But I'll avenge their feid mysell, + When I come o'er the sea; + Adieu, my ladye, and only joy! + For I may not stay wi' thee." 40 + + "Lord of the land,"--that ladye said, + "O wad ye go wi' me, + Unto my brother's stately tower, + Where safest ye may be! + There Hamiltons, and Douglas baith, 45 + Shall rise to succour thee." + "Thanks for thy kindness, fair my dame, + But I may not stay wi' thee." + + Then he tuik aff a gay gold ring, + Thereat hang signets three; 50 + "Hae, tak thee that, mine ain dear thing, + And still hae mind o' me: + But if thou take another lord, + Ere I come ower the sea-- + His life is but a three days' lease, 55 + Though I may not stay wi' thee." + + The wind was fair, the ship was clear, + That good lord went away; + And most part of his friends were there, + To give him a fair convey. 60 + They drank the wine, they didna spair, + Even in that gude lord's sight-- + Sae now he's o'er the floods sae gray, + And Lord Maxwell has ta'en his Goodnight. + + + + +THE LADS OF WAMPHRAY + +_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, ii. 148. + + +"The reader will find, prefixed to the foregoing ballad, an account of +the noted feud betwixt the families of Maxwell and Johnstone. The +following song celebrates the skirmish, in 1593, betwixt the Johnstones +and Crichtons, which led to the revival of the ancient quarrel betwixt +Johnstone and Maxwell, and finally to the battle of Dryffe Sands, in +which the latter lost his life. Wamphray is the name of a parish in +Annandale. Lethenhall was the abode of Johnstone of Wamphray, and +continued to be so till of late years. William Johnstone of Wamphray, +called the Galliard, was a noted freebooter. A place, near the head of +Teviotdale, retains the name of the Galliard's Faulds, (folds,) being a +valley, where he used to secrete and divide his spoil, with his +Liddesdale and Eskdale associates. His _nom de guerre_ seems to have +been derived from the dance called the Galliard. The word is still used +in Scotland, to express an active, gay, dissipated character. Willie of +the Kirkhill, nephew to the Galliard, and his avenger, was also a noted +Border robber. Previous to the battle of Dryffe Sands, so often +mentioned, tradition reports, that Maxwell had offered a ten-pound-land +to any of his party, who should bring him the head or hand of the Laird +of Johnstone. This being reported to his antagonist, he answered, he had +not a ten-pound-land to offer, but would give a five-merk-land to the +man who should that day cut off the head or hand of Lord Maxwell. Willie +of the Kirkhill, mounted upon a young grey horse, rushed upon the enemy, +and earned the reward, by striking down their unfortunate chieftain, and +cutting off his right hand."--SCOTT. + + + 'Twixt Girth-head and the Langwood end,[L1] + Lived the Galliard, and the Galliard's men, + But and the lads of Leverhay, + That drove the Crichton's gear away. + + It is the lads of Lethenha', 5 + The greatest rogues amang them a'; + But and the lads of Stefenbiggin, + They broke the house in at the rigging. + + The lads of Fingland, and Helbeck-hill, + They were never for good, but aye for ill; 10 + 'Twixt the Staywood-bush and Langside-hill, + They steal'd the broked cow and the branded bull. + + It is the lads of the Girth-head, + The deil's in them for pride and greed; + For the Galliard, and the gay Galliard's men, 15 + They ne'er saw a horse but they made it their ain. + + The Galliard to Nithsdale is gane, + To steal Sim Crichton's winsome dun; + The Galliard is unto the stable gane, + But instead of the dun, the blind he has ta'en. 20 + + "Now Simmy, Simmy of the Side, + Come out and see a Johnstone ride! + Here's the bonniest horse in a' Nithside, + And a gentle Johnstone aboon his hide." + + Simmy Crichton's mounted then, 25 + And Crichtons has raised mony a ane; + The Galliard trow'd his horse had been wight, + But the Crichtons beat him out o' sight. + + As soon as the Galliard the Crichton saw, + Behind the saugh-bush he did draw; 30 + And there the Crichtons the Galliard hae ta'en, + And nane wi' him but Willie alane. + + "O Simmy, Simmy, now let me gang, + And I'll never mair do a Crichton wrang! + O Simmy, Simmy, now let me be, 35 + And a peck o' gowd I'll give to thee! + + "O Simmy, Simmy, now let me gang, + And my wife shall heap it with her hand!" + But the Crichtons wadna let the Galliard be, + But they hang'd him hie upon a tree. 40 + + O think then Willie he was right wae, + When he saw his uncle guided sae; + "But if ever I live Wamphray to see, + My uncle's death avenged shall be!" + + Back to Wamphray he is gane, 45 + And riders has raised mony a ane; + Saying--"My lads, if ye'll be true, + Ye shall a' be clad in the noble blue." + + Back to Nithsdale they have gane, + And awa' the Crichtons' nowt hae ta'en; 50 + But when they cam to the Wellpath-head,[L51] + The Crichtons bade them light and lead. + + And when they cam to the Biddes-burn, + The Crichtons bade them stand and turn; + And when they cam to the Biddes-strand, 55 + The Crichtons they were hard at hand. + + But when they cam to the Biddes-law, + The Johnstones bade them stand and draw; + "We've done nae ill, we'll thole nae wrang, + But back to Wamphray we will gang." 60 + + And out spoke Willie of the Kirkhill, + "Of fighting, lads, ye'se hae your fill;" + And from his horse Willie he lap, + And a burnish'd brand in his hand he gat. + + Out through the Crichtons Willie he ran, 65 + And dang them down baith horse and man; + O but the Johnstones were wondrous rude, + When the Biddes-burn ran three days blood! + + "Now, sirs, we have done a noble deed,-- + We have revenged the Galliard's bleid; 70 + For every finger of the Galliard's hand, + I vow this day I've kill'd a man." + + As they cam in at Evan-head, + At Ricklaw-holm they spread abread;[L74] + "Drive on, my lads! it will be late; 75 + We'll hae a pint at Wamphray gate. + + "For where'er I gang, or e'er I ride, + The lads of Wamphray are on my side; + And of a' the lads that I do ken, + A Wamphray lad's the king of men." 80 + +1-7. Leverhay, Stefenbiggin, Girth-head, &c., are all situated in the +parish of Wamphray.--S. + +51-53. The Wellpath is a pass by which the Johnstones were retreating to +their fastnesses in Annandale. The Biddes-burn, where the skirmish took +place betwixt the Johnstones and their pursuers, is a rivulet which +takes its course among the mountains on the confines of Nithesdale and +Annandale.--S. + +74-76. Ricklaw-holm is a place upon the Evan-water, which falls into the +Annan, below Moffat. Wamphray-gate was in those days an alehouse.--S. + + + + +THE FIRE OF FRENDRAUGHT. + +From Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 161. + + +"A mortal feud having arisen between the Laird of Frendraught [Sir James +Chrichton] and the Laird of Rothiemay [William Gordon], both gentlemen +of Banffshire, a rencontre took place, at which the retainers of both +were present, on the 1st of January, 1630; when Rothiemay was killed, +and several persons hurt on both sides. To stanch this bloody quarrel, +the Marquis of Huntly, who was chief to both parties, and who had +therefore a right to act as arbiter between them, ordered Frendraught to +pay fifty thousand merks to Rothiemay's widow. In the ensuing September, +Frendraught fell into another quarrel, in the course of which James +Lesly, son to Lesly of Pitcaple, was shot through the arm. Soon after +the last incident, Frendraught, having paid a visit to the Marquis of +Huntly at the Bog of Gight, the Laird of Pitcaple came up with thirty +armed men, to demand atonement for the wound of his son. Huntly acted in +this case with great discretion. Without permitting the two lairds to +come to a conference, he endeavored to persuade the complaining party +that Frendraught was in reality innocent of his son's wound; and, as +Pitcaple went away vowing vengeance, he sent Frendraught home under a +strong escort, which was commanded by his son, the Viscount Aboyne, and +by the young Laird of Rothiemay, son to him whom Frendraught had killed +some months before. The party reached Frendraught Castle without being +attacked by Pitcaple; when, Aboyne and Rothiemay offering to take leave +of Frendraught and his lady, in order to return home, they were +earnestly entreated by these individuals to remain a night, and postpone +their return till to-morrow. Being with difficulty prevailed upon, the +young Viscount and Rothiemay were well entertained, and after supper +went cheerfully to bed. To continue the narrative in the words of +Spalding--"The Viscount was laid in an bed in the Old Tower going off +the hall, and standing upon a vault, wherein there was ane round hole, +devised of old, just under Aboyne's bed. Robert Gordon, his servitor, +and English Will, his page, were both laid in the same chamber. The +Laird of Rothiemay, with some servants beside him, was laid in another +chamber just above Aboyne's chamber; and in another room above that +chamber, were laid George Chalmers of Noth, and George Gordon, another +of the Viscount's servants; with them also was laid Captain Rolloch, +then in Frendraught's own company. All being thus at rest, about +midnight that dolorous tower took fire in so sudden and furious a +manner, yea, and in ane clap, that the noble Viscount, the Laird of +Rothiemay, English Will, Colonel Wat, another of Aboyne's servants, and +other two, being six in number, were cruelly burnt and tormented to the +death, without help or relief; the Laird of Frendraught, his lady, and +haill household looking on, without moving or stirring to deliver them +from the fury of this fearful fire, as was reported. Robert Gordon, +called Sutherland Gordon, being in the Viscount's chamber, escaped this +fire with the life. George Chalmers and Captain Rolloch, being in the +third room, escaped this fire also, and, as was said, Aboyne might have +saved himself also if he would have gone out of doors, which he would +not do, but suddenly ran up stairs to Rothiemay's chamber, and wakened +him to rise; and as he is awakening him, the timber passage and lofting +of the chamber hastily takes fire, so that none of them could win down +stairs again; so they turned to a window looking to the close, where +they piteously cried many times, "Help! help! for God's cause!" The +Laird and Lady, with their servants, all seeing and hearing the woeful +crying, made no help or manner of helping; which they perceiving, cried +oftentimes mercy at God's hands for their sins; syne clasped in each +other's arms, and cheerfully suffered their martyrdom. Thus died this +noble Viscount, of singular expectation, Rothiemay, a brave youth, and +the rest, by this doleful fire, never enough to be deplored, to the +great grief and sorrow of their kin, parents, and hail common people, +especially to the noble Marquis, who for his good will got this reward. +No man can express the dolour of him and his lady, nor yet the grief of +the Viscount's own dear lady, when it came to her ears, which she kept +to her dying day, disdaining after the company of men all her life-time, +following the love of the turtle dove. + +'It is reported that upon the morn after this woeful fire, the Lady +Frendraught, daughter to the Earl of Sutherland, and near cousin to the +Marquis, backed in a white plaid, and riding on a small nag, having a +boy leading her horse, without any more in her company, in this pitiful +manner she came weeping and mourning to the Bog, desiring entry to speak +with my lord; but this was refused; so she returned back to her own +house, the same gate she came, comfortless.'--SPALDING'S _History of the +Troubles in Scotland_. + +"Suspicion formed two theories regarding the cause of the fire of +Frendraught. The first was, that the Laird had wilfully set fire to the +tower, for the purpose of destroying the young Laird of Rothiemay. The +other was, that it originated in the revengeful feelings of the Laird of +Pitcaple. In the first theory there is extremely little probability. +First, it could not have been premeditated; because the circumstance of +Frendraught being accompanied home that day by Aboyne and Rothiemay, was +entirely accidental. In the second place, there was no reason for +Frendraught being inclined to murder Rothiemay, except that he grudged +the payment of the fifty thousand merks to his mother; while there was +every reason for his being inclined rather to befriend a youth whom he +had already injured by occasioning the death of his father. In the third +place, all Frendraught's family papers, with much gold and silver, both +in money and plate, were consumed in the fire. And, in the fourth +place, it is extremely improbable that any man of his rank should commit +so deliberate and so atrocious an act of villainy. On the other hand, it +seems by no means improbable that Pitcaple should have caused fire to be +set to his enemy's house; a mode of reprisal which had been practised in +the same district of country, as we have already seen, by a gentleman of +only the preceding age. Pitcaple's men, moreover, had been heard to +declare an intention of attempting some such enterprise against +Frendraught; as was proved on the trial of a gentleman of the name of +Meldrum, who was apprehended, condemned, and executed, for his alleged +accession to their conspiracy."--CHAMBERS'S _Scottish Ballads_, p. 85. + +This ballad was first printed in the _North Countrie Garland_, p. 4, and +afterwards with a few slight corrections in Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, +having in both cases been furnished by Mr. C. K. Sharpe. The tragic +story was celebrated by one Arthur Johnston, a contemporary scholar, in +two Latin poems, the one entitled, _Querela Sophi[ae] Hay, domin[ae] de +Melgeine, de morte mariti_, and the other, _De Johanne Gordonio, +Vicecomite de Melgeine, el Johanne Gordonio de Rothemay, in arce +Frendriaca combustis_ (Finlay, i. 67). In Herd's Collection (i. 199) is +a modern piece on the subject called _Frennet Hall_, in the detestable +style of the last century. This very feeble production is also to be +found in Ritson's _Scottish Songs_ (ii. 31), Johnson's _Museum_, and +elsewhere. But Ritson gives these few stanzas of an excellent old +ballad, as remembered by the Rev. Mr. Boyd, the translator of Dante: + + The reek it rose, and the flame it flew, + And oh the fire augmented high, + Until it came to Lord John's chamber-window, + And to the bed where Lord John lay. + + "O help me, help me, Lady Frennet! + I never ettled harm to thee; + And if my father slew my lord, + Forget the deed and rescue me." + + He looked east, he looked west, + To see if any help was nigh; + At length his little page he saw, + Who to his lord aloud did cry. + + "Loup doun, loup doun, my master dear! + What though the window's dreigh and hie? + I'll catch you in my arms twa, + And never a foot from you I'll flee." + + "How can I loup, you little page, + How can I leave this window hie? + Do you not see the blazing low, + And my twa legs burnt to my knee?" + + * * * * * + + The eighteenth of October, + A dismal tale to hear, + How good Lord John and Rothiemay + Was both burnt in the fire. + + When steeds was saddled and well bridled, 5 + And ready for to ride, + Then out it came her, false Frendraught, + Inviting them to bide. + + Said,--"Stay this night untill we sup, + The morn untill we dine; 10 + 'Twill be a token of good 'greement + 'Twixt your good Lord and mine." + + "We'll turn again," said good Lord John;-- + "But no," said Rothiemay,-- + "My steed's trapan'd, my bridle's broken, 15 + I fear the day I'm fey." + + When mass was sung, and bells was rung, + And all men bound for bed, + Then good Lord John and Rothiemay + In one chamber was laid. 20 + + They had not long cast off their cloaths, + And were but now asleep, + When the weary smoke began to rise, + Likewise the scorching heat. + + "O waken, waken, Rothiemay! 25 + O waken, brother dear! + And turn you to our Saviour; + There is strong treason here." + + When they were dressed in their cloaths, + And ready for to boun, 30 + The doors and windows was all secur'd, + The roof-tree burning down. + + He did him to the wire-window, + As fast as he could gang; + Says,--"Wae to the hands put in the stancheons, 35 + For out we'll never win." + + When he stood at the wire-window, + Most doleful to be seen, + He did espy her, Lady Frendraught, + Who stood upon the green. 40 + + Cried,--"Mercy, mercy, Lady Frendraught! + Will ye not sink with sin? + For first your husband killed my father, + And now you burn his son." + + O then out spoke her, Lady Frendraught, 45 + And loudly did she cry,-- + "It were great pity for good Lord John, + But none for Rothiemay. + But the keys are casten in the deep draw well, + Ye cannot get away." 50 + + While he stood in this dreadful plight, + Most piteous to be seen, + There called out his servant Gordon, + As he had frantic been. + + "O loup, O loup, my dear master, 55 + O loup and come to me! + I'll catch you in my arms two; + One foot I will not flee. + + "O loup, O loup, my dear master, + O loup and come away! 60 + I'll catch you in my arms two, + But Rothiemay may lie." + + "The fish shall never swim in the flood, + Nor corn grow through the clay, + Nor the fiercest fire that ever was kindled 65 + Twin me and Rothiemay. + + "But I cannot loup, I cannot come, + I cannot win to thee; + My head's fast in the wire-window, + My feet burning from me. 70 + + "My eyes are seething in my head, + My flesh roasting also, + My bowels are boiling with my blood; + Is not that a woeful woe? + + "Take here the rings from my white fingers 75 + That are so long and small, + And give them to my lady fair, + Where she sits in her hall. + + "So I cannot loup, I cannot come, + I cannot loup to thee; 80 + My earthly part is all consumed, + My spirit but speaks to thee." + + Wringing her hands, tearing her hair, + His lady she was seen, + And thus addressed his servant Gordon, 85 + Where he stood on the green. + + "O wae be to you, George Gordon, + An ill death may you die! + So safe and sound as you stand there, + And my lord bereaved from me." 90 + + "I bad him loup, I bad him come, + I bad him loup to me; + I'd catch him in my arms two, + A foot I should not flee. &c. + + "He threw me the rings from his white fingers, 95 + Which were so long and small, + To give to you, his lady fair, + Where you sat in your hall." &c. + + Sophia Hay, Sophia Hay, + O bonny Sophia was her name,-- 100 + Her waiting maid put on her cloaths, + But I wot she tore them off again. + + And aft she cried, "Ohon! alas, alas! + A sair heart's ill to win; + I wan a sair heart when I married him, 105 + And the day it's well return'd again." + + + + +THE BONNIE HOUSE O' AIRLY. + +Finlay's _Scottish Ballads_, ii. 31. + + +The Earl of Airly, a nobleman zealously attached to the cause of King +Charles, withdrew from Scotland in order to avoid subscribing the +Covenant, leaving his eldest son Lord Ogilvie at home. The Committee of +Estates, hearing that Airly had fled the country, directed the Earls of +Montrose and Kinghorn to take possession of his castle, but in this, +owing to the exceeding strength of the place, they did not succeed. +Subsequently the Earl of Argyle, a personal enemy of the Earl of Airly, +was charged with the same commission, and raised an army of five +thousand men to carry out his trust. Lord Ogilvie was unable to hold out +against such a force, and abandoned his father's stronghold, which, as +well as his own residence of Forthar, was plundered and utterly +destroyed by Argyle. Lady Ogilvie is said to have been pregnant at the +time of the burning of Forthar, and to have undergone considerable +danger before she could find proper refuge. She never had, however, more +than one son, though she is endowed with no fewer than ten by the +ballads. According to one account, the event here celebrated took place +in 1639; another assigns it to 1640. (Napier's _Montrose and the +Covenanters_, i. 533.) + +The _Bonnie House of Airly_ was first printed in Finlay's _Scottish +Ballads_. Other copies are given in Cromek's _Remains of Nithsdale and +Galloway Song_, p. 225; Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_, ii. 2; Hogg's +_Jacobite Relics_, ii. 152; Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, p. 59; and +Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 104. + +A modern attempt on the same theme may be seen in Hogg's _Jacobite +Relics_, ii. 411. Allan Cunningham, misled by the Ogilvies' continuing +to the Pretender the devotion they exhibited to the Royal Martyr and his +son, has transferred the burning of Airly to the 18th century. See his +_Young Airly_, in Cromek's _Remains_, p. 196, and, rewritten, in _The +Songs of Scotland_, iii. 218. + + It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day, + When the corn grew green and yellow, + That there fell out a great dispute + Between Argyle and Airly. + + The Duke o' Montrose has written to Argyle 5 + To come in the morning early, + An' lead in his men, by the back o' Dunkeld, + To plunder the bonnie house o' Airly. + + The lady look'd o'er her window sae hie, + And O but she looked weary! 10 + And there she espied the great Argyle + Come to plunder the bonnie house o' Airly. + + "Come down, come down, Lady Margaret," he says, + "Come down and kiss me fairly, + Or before the morning clear daylight, 15 + I'll no leave a standing stane in Airly." + + "I wadna kiss thee, great Argyle, + I wadna kiss thee fairly, + I wadna kiss thee, great Argyle, + Gin you shoudna leave a standing stane in Airly." 20 + + He has ta'en her by the middle sae sma', + Says, "Lady, where is your drury?" + "It's up and down by the bonnie burn side, + Amang the planting of Airly." + + They sought it up, they sought it down, 25 + They sought it late and early, + And found it in the bonnie balm-tree, + That shines on the bowling-green o' Airly. + + He has ta'en her by the left shoulder, + And O but she grat sairly, 30 + And led her down to yon green bank, + Till he plundered the bonnie house o' Airly. + + "O it's I hae seven braw sons," she says, + "And the youngest ne'er saw his daddie, + And altho' I had as mony mae, 35 + I wad gie them a' to Charlie. + + "But gin my good lord had been at hame, + As this night he is wi' Charlie, + There durst na a Campbell in a' the west + Hae plundered the bonnie house o' Airly." 40 + + + + +THE BONNIE HOUSE OF AIRLY. + +From Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, p. 59. + + + It fell on a day, and a bonny simmer day, + When green grew aits and barley, + That there fell out a greet dispute + Between Argyll and Airlie. + + Argyll has raised an hunder men, 5 + An hunder harness'd rarely, + And he's awa' by the back of Dunkell, + To plunder the castle of Airlie. + + Lady Ogilvie looks o'er her bower window, + And O but she looks weary! 10 + And there she spy'd the great Argyll, + Come to plunder the bonny house of Airlie. + + "Come down, come down, my Lady Ogilvie, + Come down, and kiss me fairly:" + "O I winna kiss the fause Argyll, 15 + If he shouldna leave a standing stane in Airlie." + + He hath taken her by the left shoulder, + Says, "Dame where lies thy dowry?" + "O it's east and west yon water side, + And it's down by the banks of the Airlie." 20 + + They hae sought it up, they hae sought it down, + They have sought it maist severely, + Till they fand it in the fair plum-tree, + That shines on the bowling-green of Airlie. + + He hath taken her by the middle sae small, 25 + And O but she grat sairly! + And laid her down by the bonny burn-side, + Till they plundered the castle of Airlie. + + "Gif my gude lord war here this night, + As he is with King Charlie, 30 + Neither you, nor ony ither Scottish Lord, + Durst awow to the plundering of Airlie. + + "Gif my gude Lord war now at hame, + As he is with his king, + Then durst nae a Campbell in a' Argyll 35 + Set fit on Airlie green. + + "Ten bonny sons I have born unto him, + The eleventh ne'er saw his daddy; + But though I had an hundred mair, + I'd gie them a' to King Charlie. 40 + + + + +THE BARON OF BRACKLEY. + + +First published as follows in Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, i. 102. The +copy used was derived from Mrs. Brown, and collated with a fragment +taken down by Scott from the recitation of two of the descendants of +Inverey. Buchan has given a different version in his _Gleanings_, which +is annexed to the present. "This ballad," says Chambers, "records an +unfortunate rencontre, which took place on the 16th of September, 1666, +between John Gordon of Brackley, commonly called the Baron of Brackley, +(in Aberdeenshire,) and Farquharson of Inverey, a noted freebooter, who +dwelt on Dee-side. The former gentleman, who is yet remembered by +tradition as a person of the most amiable and respectable character, had +contrived to offend Farquharson, by pounding some horses belonging to +his (Farquharson's) followers, which had either strayed into the +Brackley grounds, or become forfeited on account of some petty +delinquencies committed by their proprietors. Farquharson was a man of +violent habits and passions; he is yet remembered by the epithet +_Fuddie_, descriptive of his hurried, impatient gait; and it is said +that, having been in league with the powers of darkness, he was buried +on the north side of a hill, where the sun never shone. On account of +the miraculous expedition with which he could sweep the cattle away from +a fertile district, _Deil scoup wi'_ _Fuddie!_ is still a popular +proverb, implying that the devil could alone keep his own part with him. +This singular marauder, it appears, from authentic information, wished +at first to argue the point at issue with the Baron of Brackley; but in +the course of the altercation some expression from one of the parties +occasioned a mutual discharge of fire-arms, by which Brackley and three +of his followers fell. An attempt was made by the baron's friends to +bring Fuddie to justice; but the case seems to have been justly +considered one of chance medley, and the accused party was soon restored +to society."--_The Scottish Ballads_, p. 147. + + + Down Dee side came Inverey whistling and playing; + He's lighted at Brackley yates at the day dawing. + + Says, "Baron o' Brackley, O are ye within? + There's sharp swords at the yate will gar your blood spin." + + The lady raise up, to the window she went; 5 + She heard her kye lowing o'er hill and o'er bent. + + "O rise up, ye baron, and turn back your kye; + For the lads o' Drumwharran are driving them bye." + + "How can I rise, lady, or turn them again! + Whare'er I have ae man, I wat they hae ten." 10 + + "Then rise up, my lasses, tak rocks in your hand, + And turn back the kye;--I ha'e you at command. + + "Gin I had a husband, as I hae nane, + He wadna lye in his bower, see his kye ta'en." + + Then up got the baron, and cried for his graith; 15 + Says, "Lady, I'll gang, tho' to leave you I'm laith. + + "Come, kiss me, then, Peggy, and gie me my speir; + I ay was for peace, tho' I never fear'd weir. + + "Come, kiss me, then, Peggy, nor think I'm to blame; + I weel may gae out, but I'll never win in!" 20 + + When Brackley was busked, and rade o'er the closs, + A gallanter baron ne'er lap to a horse. + + When Brackley was mounted, and rade o'er the green, + He was as bald a baron as ever was seen. + + Tho' there cam' wi' Inverey thirty and three, 25 + There was nane wi' bonny Brackley but his brother and he. + + Twa gallanter Gordons did never sword draw; + But against four and thirty, wae's me, what is twa? + + Wi' swords and wi' daggers they did him surround; + And they've pierced bonny Brackley wi' many a wound. 30 + + Frae the head o' the Dee to the banks o' the Spey, + The Gordons may mourn him, and bann Inverey. + + "O came ye by Brackley yates, was ye in there? + Or saw ye his Peggy dear riving her hair?" + + "O I came by Brackley yates, I was in there, 35 + And I saw his Peggy a-making good cheer." + + That lady she feasted them, carried them ben; + She laugh'd wi' the men that her baron had slain. + + "O fye on you, lady! how could you do sae? + You open'd your yates to the fause Inverey." 40 + + She ate wi' him, drank wi' him, welcom'd him in; + She welcom'd the villain that slew her baron! + + She kept him till morning, syne bade him be gane, + And shaw'd him the road that he shou'dna be taen. + + "Thro' Birss and Aboyne," she says, "lyin in a tour, 45 + O'er the hills o' Glentanar you'll skip in an hour." + + --There's grief in the kitchen, and mirth in the ha'; + But the Baron o' Brackley is dead and awa. + + + + +THE BARON OF BRAIKLEY. + +Buchan's _Gleanings_, p. 68, taken from _Scarce Ancient Ballads_, +p. 9. + + + Inverey came down Deeside whistlin an playin, + He was at brave Braikley's yett ere it was dawin; + He rappit fou loudly, an wi a great roar, + Cried, "Cum down, cum down, Braikley, an open the door. + + "Are ye sleepin, Baronne, or are ye wakin? 5 + Ther's sharp swords at your yett will gar your bluid spin: + Open the yett, Braikley, an lat us within, + Till we on the green turf gar your bluid rin." + + Out spak the brave Baronne owre the castell wa, + "Are ye come to spulzie an plunder my ha? 10 + But gin ye be gentlemen, licht an cum in, + Gin ye drink o' my wine ye'll nae gar my bluid spin. + + "Gin ye be hir'd widdifus, ye may gang by, + Ye may gang to the lawlands and steal their fat ky; + Ther spulzie like revers o' wyld kettrin clan, 15 + Wha plunder unsparing baith houses and lan'. + + "Gin ye be gentlemen, licht an cum in, + Ther's meat an drink i' my ha' for every man: + Gin ye be hir'd widdifus, ye may gang by, + Gang down to the lawlans, an steal horse an ky." 20 + + Up spak his ladie, at his bak where she laid, + "Get up, get up, Braikley, an be not afraid; + They're but hir'd widdifus wi belted plaids. + * * * * * + + "Cum kis me, my Peggy, I'le nae langer stay, + For I will go out an meet Inverey; 25 + But haud your tongue, Peggy, and mak nae sic din, + For yon same hir'd widdifus will prove to be men." + + She called on her maries, they came to her han; + Cries, "Bring your rocks, lassies, we will them coman; + Get up, get up, Braikley, and turn bak your ky, 30 + For me an my women will them defy. + + "Come forth than, my maidens, an show them some play; + We'll ficht them, an shortly the cowards will fly. + Gin I had a husband, wheras I hae nane, + He wadna ly in his bed and see his ky taen. 35 + + "Ther's four-an-twenty milk whit calves, twal o' them ky, + In the woods o' Glentanner it's ther they a' ly; + Ther are goats in the Etnach, an sheep o' the brae, + An a' will be plunderd by young Inverey." + + "Now haud your tongue, Peggy, an gie me a gun, 40 + Ye'll see me gae furth, but Ile never return. + Call my bruther William, my unkl also; + My cusin James Gordon, we'll mount an' we'll go." + + Whan Braikley was ready an stood i the closs, + He was the bravest baronne that e'er munted horse; 45 + Whan a' war assembld on the castell green, + Nae man like brave Braikley was ther to be seen. + + "Turn back, bruther William, ye are a bridegroom, + * * * * * + We bonnie Jean Gordon, the maid o the mill, + O sichin and sobbin she'll seen get her fill." 50 + + "I'me nae coward, brither, it's kent I'me a man; + Ile ficht i' your quarral as lang's I can stan. + Ile ficht, my dear brither, wi heart an guid will, + An so will yung Harry that lives at the mill. + + "But turn, my dear brither, and nae langer stay. 55 + What'll cum o' your ladie, gin Braikley they slay? + What'll cum o' your ladie an' bonny yung son, + O what'll cum o' them when Braikley is gone?" + + "I never will turn: do ye think I will fly? + No, here I will ficht, and here I will die." 60 + + "Strik dogs," cries Inverey, "an ficht till ye're slayn, + For we are four hunder, ye are but four men: + Strik, strik, ye proud boaster, your honor is gone, + Your lans we will plunder, your castell we'll burn." + + At the head o' the Etnach the battel began, 65 + At little Auchoilzie they killd the first man: + First they killd ane, an syne they killd twa, + They killd gallant Braikley, the flowr o' them a'. + + They killd William Gordon and James o' the Knox, + An brave Alexander, the flowr o' Glenmuick: 70 + What sichin an moaning war heard i the glen, + For the Baronne o' Braikley, wha basely was slayn! + + "Came ye by the castell, an was ye in there? + Saw ye pretty Peggy tearing her hair?" + "Yes, I cam by Braikley, an I gaed in ther, 75 + An ther saw his ladie braiding her hair. + + "She was rantin, an' dancin, an' singin for joy, + An vowin that nicht she woud feest Inverey: + She eat wi him, drank wi him, welcomd him in, + Was kind to the man that had slayn her baronne." 80 + + Up spak the son on the nourices knee,[L81] + "Gin I live to be a man revenged Ile be." + Ther's dool i the kitchin, an mirth i the ha, + The Baronne o Braikley is dead an awa. + +81. See _Johnie Armstrang_, p. 45. + + + + +GILDEROY. + + +Gilderoy (properly Gilleroy) signifies in Gaelic "the red-haired lad." +The person thus denoted was, according to tradition, one Patrick of the +proscribed clan Gregor. The following account of him is taken from the +_Scot's Musical Museum_, p. 71, vol. iv. ed. of 1853. + +"Gilderoy was a notorious freebooter in the highlands of Perthshire, +who, with his gang, for a considerable time infested the country, +committing the most barbarous outrages on the inhabitants. Some of +these ruffians, however, were at length apprehended through the +vigilance and activity of the Stewarts of Athol, and conducted to +Edinburgh, where they were tried, condemned, and executed, in February, +1638. Gilderoy, seeing his accomplices taken and hanged, went up, and in +revenge burned several houses belonging to the Stewarts in Athol. This +new act of atrocity was the prelude to his ruin. A proclamation was +issued offering [L]1,000 for his apprehension. The inhabitants rose _en +masse_, and pursued him from place to place, till at length he, with +five more of his associates, was overtaken and secured. They were next +carried to Edinburgh, where after trial and conviction, they expiated +their offences on the gallows, in the month of July, 1638." + +In the vulgar story-books, Gilderoy, besides committing various +monstrous and unnatural crimes, enjoys the credit of having picked +Cardinal Richelieu's pocket in the King's presence, robbed Oliver +Cromwell, and hanged a judge. + +The ballad _is said_ to have been composed not long after the death of +Gilderoy, "by a young woman of no mean talent, who unfortunately became +attached to this daring robber, and had cohabited with him for some time +before his being apprehended." A blackletter copy printed in England as +early as 1650 has been preserved. Another, with "some slight +variations," is contained "in Playford's _Wit and Mirth_, first edition +of vol. iii., printed in 1703." The piece is next found in _Pills to +purge Melancholy_, v. 39, and, with one different stanza, in _Old +Ballads_, i. 271. In the second volume (p. 106) of Thomson's _Orpheus +Caledonius_ (1733), it appears with considerable alterations. Lady +Elizabeth Wardlaw (_n['e]e_ Halket) undertook a revision of the ballad, +and by expunging two worthless stanzas and adding three (those enclosed +in brackets), produced the version here given, which is taken from +Ritson's _Scotish Songs_, ii. 24. Percy's copy (_Reliques_, i. 335) is +the same, with the omission of the ninth stanza, and Herd and Pinkerton +have followed Percy. + + Gilderoy was a bonny boy, + Had roses tull his shoone; + His stockings were of silken soy, + Wi' garters hanging doune. + It was, I weene, a comelie sight, 5 + To see sae trim a boy; + He was my jo and hearts delight, + My handsome Gilderoy. + + O sik twa charming een he had, + A breath as sweet as rose; 10 + He never ware a Highland plaid, + But costly silken clothes. + He gain'd the luve of ladies gay, + Nane eir tul him was coy: + Ah, wae is me! I mourn the day, 15 + For my dear Gilderoy. + + My Gilderoy and I were born + Baith in one toun together; + We scant were seven years, beforn + We gan to luve each other; 20 + Our dadies and our mammies, thay + Were fill'd wi' mickle joy, + To think upon the bridal day + 'Twixt me and Gilderoy. + + For Gilderoy, that luve of mine, 25 + Gude faith, I freely bought + A wedding sark of holland fine, + Wi' silken flowers wrought; + And he gied me a wedding ring, + Which I receiv'd wi' joy; 30 + Nae lad nor lassie eir could sing, + Like me and Gilderoy. + + Wi' mickle joy we spent our prime, + Till we were baith sixteen, + And aft we passed the langsome time, 35 + Amang the leaves sae green; + Aft on the banks we'd sit us thair, + And sweetly kiss and toy; + Wi' garlands gay wad deck my hair + My handsome Gilderoy. 40 + + [O that he still had been content + Wi' me to lead his life; + But ah, his manfu' heart was bent + To stir in feates of strife: + And he in many a venturous deed 45 + His courage bauld wad try, + And now this gars mine heart to bleed + For my dear Gilderoy. + + And whan of me his leave he tuik, + The tears they wat mine ee; 50 + I gave tull him a parting luik, + "My benison gang wi' thee! + God speid thee weil, mine ain dear heart, + For gane is all my joy; + My heart is rent sith we maun part, 55 + My handsome Gilderoy."] + + My Gilderoy, baith far and near, + Was fear'd in every toun, + And bauldly bare away the gear + Of many a lawland loun. 60 + Nane eir durst meet him man to man, + He was sae brave a boy; + At length wi' numbers he was tane, + My winsome Gilderoy. + + [The Queen of Scots possessed nought 65 + That my love let me want, + For cow and ew he 'to me brought,' + And een whan they were skant. + All these did honestly possess + He never did annoy, 70 + Who never fail'd to pay their cess + To my love Gilderoy.] + + Wae worth the loun that made the laws, + To hang a man for gear; + To reave of live for ox or ass, 75 + For sheep, or horse, or mare! + Had not their laws been made sae strick, + I neir had lost my joy, + Wi' sorrow neir had wat my cheek + For my dear Gilderoy. 80 + + Giff Gilderoy had done amisse, + He mought hae banisht been; + Ah! what sair cruelty is this, + To hang sike handsome men! + To hang the flower o' Scottish land, 85 + Sae sweet and fair a boy! + Nae lady had sae white a hand + As thee, my Gilderoy. + + Of Gilderoy sae fraid they were, + They bound him mickle strong; 90 + Tull Edenburrow they led him thair, + And on a gallows hung: + They hung him high aboon the rest, + He was sae trim a boy; + Thair dyed the youth whom I lued best, 95 + My handsome Gilderoy. + + Thus having yielded up his breath, + I bare his corpse away; + Wi' tears that trickled for his death + I washt his comelye clay; 100 + And siker in a grave sae deep, + I laid the dear-loed boy, + And now for evir maun I weep + My winsome Gilderoy. + + + + +ROB ROY. + + +The subject of this piece is the abduction of a young Scottish lady by a +son of the celebrated Rob Roy Macgregor. Sentence of outlawry had been +pronounced against this person for not appearing to stand his trial for +murder. While under this sentence, he conceived the desperate project of +carrying off Jane Kay, heiress of Edinbelly, in Sterlingshire, and +obtaining possession of her estate by a forced marriage. Engaging a +party of the proscribed Macgregors to assist him in this enterprise, Rob +Roy entered the young woman's house with his brother James, tied her, +hand and foot, with ropes, and carried her thus on horseback to the +abode of one of his clan in Argyleshire, where, after some mock +ceremony, she was compelled to submit to his embraces. The place in +which the unfortunate woman was detained, was discovered, and she was +rescued by her family. Rob Roy and James Macgregor were tried for their +lives. The latter escaped from prison, but the principal in this outrage +suffered condign punishment in February, 1753. + +Fragments of the story were printed in _Select Scotish Songs_, by Robert +Burns, edited by R. H. Cromek, ii. 199, and in Maidment's _North +Countrie Garland_, p. 44; a complete copy in the _Thistle of Scotland_, +p. 93. Chambers has combined the fragments of Burns and Maidment with a +third version furnished by Mr. Kinloch, and has produced a ballad which +is on the whole the most eligible for this place. (_Scottish Ballads_, +p. 175.) In the Appendix may be seen the editions above referred to, and +also _Eppie Morrie_, a ballad founded on a similar incident. + +This sort of kidnapping seems to have been the commonest occurrence in +the world in Scotland. Sharpe has collected not a few cases in his +_Ballad Book_, p. 99, and he gives us two stanzas of another ballad. + + The Highlandmen hae a' cum down, + They've a' come down almost, + They've stowen away the bonny lass, + The Lady of Arngosk. + + Behind her back they've tied her hands, + An' then they set her on; + "I winna gang wi' you," she said, + "Nor ony Highland loon." + + * * * * * + + Rob Roy frae the Hielands cam + Unto the Lawland Border, + To steal awa a gay ladye, + To haud his house in order. + + He cam ower the loch o' Lynn, 5 + Twenty men his arms did carry; + Himsell gaed in and fand her out, + Protesting he would marry. + + When he cam he surrounded the house, + No tidings there cam before him, 10 + Or else the lady would have gone, + For still she did abhor him. + + "O will ye gae wi' me?" he says, + "O will ye be my honey? + O will ye be my wedded wife? 15 + For I loe ye best of ony." + + "I winna gae wi' you," she says, + "I winna be your honey; + I winna be your wedded wife, + Ye loe me for my money." 20 + + * * * * * + + Wi' mournful cries and watery eyes, + Fast hauding by her mother, + Wi' mournful cries and watery eyes, + They were parted frae each other. + + He gied her nae time to be dress'd, 25 + As ladies do when they're brides, + But he hastened and hurried her awa, + And rowed her in his plaids. + + He mounted her upon a horse, + Himsell lap on behind her, 30 + And they're awa to the Hieland hills, + Where her friends may never find her. + + As they gaed ower the Hieland hills, + The lady aften fainted, + Saying, "Wae be to my cursed gowd, 35 + This road to me invented!" + + They rade till they came to Ballyshine, + At Ballyshine they tarried; + He brought to her a cotton gown, + Yet ne'er wad she be married. 40 + + Two held her up before the priest, + Four carried her to bed O; + Maist mournfully she wept and cried, + When she by him was laid O! + + [_The tune changes_.] + + "O be content, O be content, 45 + O be content to stay, lady, + For now ye are my wedded wife + Until my dying day, lady. + + "Rob Roy was my father call'd, + Macgregor was his name, lady; 50 + He led a band o' heroes bauld, + And I am here the same, lady. + + "He was a hedge unto his friends, + A heckle to his foes, lady, + And every one that did him wrang, 55 + He took him by the nose, lady. + + "I am as bold, I am as bold + As my father was afore, lady; + He that daurs dispute my word + Shall feel my gude claymore, lady. 60 + + "My father left me cows and yowes, + And sheep, and goats, and a', lady, + And you and twenty thousand merks + Will mak me a man fu' braw, lady." + + + + +BOOK VII. + + + + +QUEEN ELEANOR'S CONFESSION. + + +Eleanor of Aquitaine was divorced from her first husband, Louis VII. of +France, on account of misbehavior at Antioch, during the Second Crusade. +Her conduct after her second marriage, with Henry II. of England, is +agreed to have been irreproachable on the score of chastity. It is +rather hard, therefore, that her reputation should be assailed as it is +here; but if we complain of this injustice, what shall we say when we +find, further on, the same story, with others even more ridiculous, told +of the virtuous Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I.? See Peele's +_Chronicle History of Edward I._, Dyce's ed. i. 185, 188, _seq._, and +the ballad in vol. vii., 291. Both of these ballads are indeed pretty +specimens of the historical value of popular traditions. The idea of the +unlucky shrift is borrowed from some old story-teller. It occurs in the +_fabliau Du Chevalier qui fist sa Fame confesse_, Barbazan, ed. M['e]on, +iii. 229, in Boccaccio G. vii. 5, Bandello, Malespini, &c.; also in La +Fontaine's _Le Mari Confesseur_. + +The following ballad is from the _Collection_ of 1723, vol. i. p. 18. +There are several other versions: Percy's _Reliques_, ii. 165 (with +corrections); Buchan's _Gleanings_, p. 77; Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. +1 (_Earl Marshal_, from recitation); Aytoun's _Ballads of Scotland_, new +ed. i. 196; Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 247. + + Queen Eleanor was a sick woman, + And afraid that she should dye; + Then she sent for two fryars of France, + To speak with her speedily. + + The King call'd down his nobles all, 5 + By one, by two, by three, + And sent away for Earl Marshal, + To speak with him speedily. + + When that he came before the King, + He fell on his bended knee; 10 + "A boon, a boon, our gracious king, + That you sent so hastily." + + "I'll pawn my lands," the King then cry'd, + "My sceptre and my crown, + That whatsoe're Queen Eleanor says, 15 + I will not write it down. + + "Do you put on a fryar's coat, + And I'll put on another; + And we will to Queen Eleanor go, + Like fryar and his brother." 20 + + Thus both attired then they go: + When they came to Whitehall, + The bells did ring, and the choristers sing, + And the torches did light them all. + + When that they came before the Queen, 25 + They fell on their bended knee; + "A boon, a boon, our gracious queen, + That you sent so hastily." + + "Are you two fryars of France," she said, + "As I suppose you be? 30 + But if you are two English fryars, + Then hanged you shall be." + + "We are two fryars of France," they said, + "As you suppose we be; + We have not been at any mass 35 + Since we came from the sea." + + "The first vile thing that e're I did, + I will to you unfold; + Earl Marshal had my maidenhead, + Beneath this cloth of gold." 40 + + "That's a vile sin," then said the King; + "God may forgive it thee!" + "Amen, amen!" quoth Earl Marshal; + With a heavy heart spoke he. + + "The next vile thing that e're I did, 45 + To you I'll not deny; + I made a box of poyson strong, + To poyson King Henry." + + "That's a vile sin," then said the King, + "God may forgive it thee!" 50 + "Amen, amen!" quoth Earl Marshal; + "And I wish it so may be." + + "The next vile thing that e're I did, + To you I will discover; + I poysoned fair Rosamond, 55 + All in fair Woodstock bow'r." + + "That's a vile sin," then said the King; + "God may forgive it thee!" + "Amen, amen!" quoth Earl Marshal; + "And I wish it so may be." 60 + + "Do you see yonder's [a] little boy, + A tossing of the ball? + That is Earl Marshal's eldest son, + I love him the best of all. + + "Do you see yonder's [a] little boy, 65 + A catching of the ball? + That is King Henry's son," she said; + "I love him the worst of all. + + "His head is like unto a bull, + His nose is like a boar,"-- 70 + "No matter for that," King Henry cry'd, + "I love him the better therefore." + + The king pull'd off his fryar's coat, + And appeared all in red; + She shriek'd, she cry'd, and wrung her hands, 75 + And said she was betray'd. + + The King look'd over his left shoulder, + And a grim look looked he; + And said, "Earl Marshal, but for my oath, + Or hanged shouldst thou be." 80 + + +From Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, 247. + + The Queen fell sick, and very, very sick, + She was sick, and like to dee, + And she sent for a friar oure frae France, + Her c['o]nfessour to be. + + King Henry, when he heard o' that, 5 + An angry man was he; + And he sent to the Earl Marshall, + Attendance for to gie. + + "The Queen is sick," King Henry cried, + "And wants to be beshriven; 10 + She has sent for a friar oure frae France; + By the rude, he were better in heaven! + + "But tak you now a friar's guise, + The voice and gesture feign, + And when she has the pardon crav'd, 15 + Respond to her, Amen! + + "And I will be a prelate old, + And sit in a corner dark, + To hear the adventures of my spouse, + My spouse, and her holy spark." 20 + + "My liege, my liege, how can I betray + My mistress and my queen! + O swear by the rude, that no damage + From this shall be gotten or gien!" + + "I swear by the rude," quoth King Henry, 25 + "No damage shall be gotten or gien, + Come, let us spare no cure nor care + For the conscience o' the Queen." + + * * * * * + + "O fathers, O fathers, I'm very, very sick, + I'm sick, and like to dee; 30 + Some ghostly comfort to my poor soul + O tell if ye can gie!" + + "Confess, confess," Earl Marshall cried, + "And ye shall pardoned be:" + "Confess, confess," the King replied, 35 + "And we shall comfort gie." + + "O how shall I tell the sorry, sorry tale! + How can the tale be told! + I play'd the harlot wi' the Earl Marshall + Beneath yon cloth of gold. 40 + + "O wasna that a sin, and a very great sin! + But I hope it will pardoned be:" + "Amen! Amen!" quoth the Earl Marshall, + And a very fear't heart had he. + + "O down i' the forest, in a bower, 45 + Beyond yon dark oak tree, + I drew a penknife frae my pocket + To kill King Henerie. + + "O wasna that a sin, and a very great sin! + But I hope it will pardoned be:" 50 + "Amen! Amen!" quoth the Earl Marshall, + And a very fear't heart had he. + + "O do you see yon pretty little boy, + That's playing at the ba'? + He is the Earl Marshall's only son, 55 + And I loved him best of a'. + + "O wasna that a sin, and a very great sin! + But I hope it will pardoned be:" + "Amen! Amen!" quoth the Earl Marshall, + And a very fear't heart had he. 60 + + "And do you see yon pretty little girl, + That's a' beclad in green? + She's a friar's daughter, oure in France, + And I hoped to see her a queen. + + "O wasna that a sin, and a very great sin! 65 + But I hope it will pardoned be:" + "Amen! Amen!" quoth the Earl Marshall, + And a fear't heart still had he. + + "O do you see yon other little boy, + That's playing at the ba'? 70 + He is King Henry's only son, + And I like him warst of a'. + + "He's headed like a buck," she said, + "And backed like a bear,"-- + "Amen!" quoth the King, in the King's ain voice, 75 + "He shall be my only heir." + + The King look'd over his left shoulder, + An angry man was he: + "An it werna for the oath I sware, + Earl Marshall, thou shouldst dee." 80 + + + + +AULD MAITLAND. + +From _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, i. 306. + + +"This ballad, notwithstanding its present appearance, has a claim to +very high antiquity. It has been preserved by tradition; and is, +perhaps, the most authentic instance of a long and very old poem, +exclusively thus preserved. It is only known to a few old people upon +the sequestered banks of the Ettrick, and is published, as written down +from the recitation of the mother of Mr. James Hogg, who sings, or +rather chants it, with great animation. She learned the ballad from a +blind man, who died at the advanced age of ninety, and is said to have +been possessed of much traditionary knowledge. Although the language of +this poem is much modernized, yet many words, which the reciters have +retained without understanding them, still preserve traces of its +antiquity. Such are the words _springals_ (corruptedly pronounced +_springwalls_), _sowies_, _portcullize_, and many other appropriate +terms of war and chivalry, which could never have been introduced by a +modern ballad-maker[?]. The incidents are striking and well managed; and +they are in strict conformity with the manners of the age in which they +are placed. + +"The date of the ballad cannot be ascertained with any degree of +accuracy. Sir Richard Maitland, the hero of the poem, seems to have +been in possession of his estate about 1250; so that, as he survived the +commencement of the wars betwixt England and Scotland, in 1296, his +prowess against the English, in defence of his castle of Lauder or +Thirlestane, must have been exerted during his extreme old age. + +"The castle of Thirlestane is situated upon the Leader, near the town of +Lauder. Whether the present building, which was erected by Chancellor +Maitland, and improved by the duke of Lauderdale, occupies the site of +the ancient castle, I do not know; but it still merits the epithet of a +"_darksome house_." I find no notice of the siege in history; but there +is nothing improbable in supposing, that the castle, during the stormy +period of the Baliol wars, may have held out against the English. The +creation of a nephew of Edward I., for the pleasure of slaying him by +the hand of young Maitland, is a poetical license;[1] and may induce us +to place the date of the composition about the reign of David II., or of +his successor, when the real exploits of Maitland and his sons were in +some degree obscured, as well as magnified, by the lapse of time. The +inveterate hatred against the English, founded upon the usurpation of +Edward I., glows in every line of the ballad. + +"Auld Maitland is placed, by Gawain Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, among +the popular heroes of romance, in his allegorical Palice of Honour. + + "I saw Raf Coilyear with his thrawin brow, + Crabit John the Reif, and auld Cowkilbeis Sow; + And how the wran cam out of Ailesay, + And Piers Plowman, that meid his workmen fow: + Gret Gowmacmorne, and Fin Mac Cowl, and how + They suld be goddis in Ireland, as they say. + _Thair saw I Maitland upon auld beird gray_, + Robin Hude, and Gilbert with the quhite hand, + How Hay of Nauchton flew in Madin land." + +"It is a curious circumstance that this interesting tale, so often +referred to by ancient authors, should be now recovered in so perfect a +state; and many readers may be pleased to see the following sensible +observations, made by a person born in Ettrick Forest, in the humble +situation of a shepherd: 'I am surprised to hear that this song is +suspected by some to be a modern forgery; the contrary will be best +proved, by most of the old people, hereabouts, having a great part of it +by heart. Many, indeed, are not aware of the manners of this country; +till this present age, the poor illiterate people, in these glens, knew +of no other entertainment, in the long winter nights, than repeating, +and listening to, the feats of their ancestors, recorded in songs, which +I believe to be handed down, from father to son, for many generations, +although, no doubt, had a copy been taken, at the end of every fifty +years, there must have been some difference, occasioned by the gradual +change of language. I believe it is thus that many very ancient songs +have been gradually modernized, to the common ear; while, to the +connoisseur, they present marks of their genuine antiquity.'--_Letter to +the Editor_, _from_ Mr. JAMES HOGG. [June 30, 1801.] To the observations +of my ingenious correspondent I have nothing to add, but that, in this, +and a thousand other instances, they accurately coincide with my +personal knowledge."--SCOTT. + +Notwithstanding the authority of Scott and Leyden, I am inclined to +agree with Mr. Aytoun, (_Ballads of Scotland_, ii. 1,) that this ballad +is a modern imitation, or if not that, a comparatively recent +composition. It is with reluctance that I make for it the room it +requires. + +[1] Such liberties with the genealogy of monarchs were common to +romancers. Henry the Minstrel makes Wallace slay more than one of King +Edward's nephews; and Johnie Armstrong claims the merit of slaying a +sister's son of Henry VIII.--S. (See p. 49.) + + There lived a king in southern land, + King Edward hight his name; + Unwordily he wore the crown, + Till fifty years were gane. + + He had a sister's son o's ain, 5 + Was large of blood and bane; + And afterward, when he came up, + Young Edward hight his name. + + One day he came before the king, + And kneel'd low on his knee-- 10 + "A boon, a boon, my good uncle, + I crave to ask of thee! + + "At our lang wars, in fair Scotland, + I fain hae wish'd to be; + If fifteen hundred waled wight men 15 + You'll grant to ride wi' me." + + "Thou sall hae thae, thou sall hae mae; + I say it sickerlie; + And I mysell, an auld gray man, + Array'd your host sall see." 20 + + King Edward rade, King Edward ran-- + I wish him dool and pyne! + Till he had fifteen hundred men + Assembled on the Tyne. + + And thrice as many at Berwicke[L25] 25 + Were all for battle bound, + [Who, marching forth with false Dunbar,[L27] + A ready welcome found.] + + They lighted on the banks of Tweed, + And blew their coals sae het, 30 + And fired the Merse and Teviotdale, + All in an evening late. + + As they fared up o'er Lammermore, + They burn'd baith up and down, + Until they came to a darksome house, 35 + Some call it Leader-Town. + + "Wha hauds this house?" young Edward cry'd, + "Or wha gies't ower to me?" + A gray-hair'd knight set up his head, + And crackit richt crousely: 40 + + "Of Scotland's king I haud my house; + He pays me meat and fee; + And I will keep my guid auld house, + While my house will keep me." + + They laid their sowies to the wall, 45 + Wi' mony a heavy peal; + But he threw ower to them agen + Baith pitch and tar barrel. + + With springalds, stanes, and gads of airn, + Amang them fast he threw; 50 + Till mony of the Englishmen + About the wall he slew. + + Full fifteen days that braid host lay, + Sieging Auld Maitland keen; + Syne they hae left him, hail and feir, 55 + Within his strength of stane. + + Then fifteen barks, all gaily good, + Met them upon a day, + Which they did lade with as much spoil + As they could bear away. 60 + + "England's our ain by heritage; + And what can us withstand, + Now we hae conquer'd fair Scotland, + With buckler, bow, and brand?" + + Then they are on to the land o' France, 65 + Where auld King Edward lay, + Burning baith castle, tower, and town, + That he met in his way. + + Until he came unto that town, + Which some call Billop-Grace;[L70] 70 + There were Auld Maitland's sons, a' three, + Learning at school, alas! + + The eldest to the youngest said, + "O see ye what I see? + Gin a' be trew yon standard says,[L75] 75 + We're fatherless a' three. + + "For Scotland's conquer'd up and down; + Landmen we'll never be: + Now, will you go, my brethren two, + And try some jeopardy?" 80 + + Then they hae saddled twa black horse, + Twa black horse and a gray; + And they are on to King Edward's host, + Before the dawn of day. + + When they arrived before the host, 85 + They hover'd on the lay-- + "Wilt thou lend me our king's standard, + To bear a little way?" + + "Where wast thou bred? where wast thou born? + Where, or in what countrie?" 90 + "In north of England I was born:" + (It needed him to lie.) + + "A knight me gat, a lady bore, + I am a squire of high renowne; + I well may bear't to any king, 95 + That ever yet wore crowne." + + "He ne'er came of an Englishman, + Had sic an ee or bree; + But thou art the likest Auld Maitland, + That ever I did see. 100 + + "But sic a gloom on ae browhead, + Grant I ne'er see again! + For mony of our men he slew, + And mony put to pain." + + When Maitland heard his father's name, 105 + An angry man was he! + Then, lifting up a gilt dagger, + Hung low down by his knee, + + He stabb'd the knight the standard bore, + He stabb'd him cruellie; 110 + Then caught the standard by the neuk, + And fast away rode he. + + "Now, is't na time, brothers," he cried, + "Now, is't na time to flee?" + "Ay, by my sooth!" they baith replied, 115 + "We'll bear you company." + + The youngest turn'd him in a path, + And drew a burnish'd brand, + And fifteen of the foremost slew, + Till back the lave did stand. 120 + + He spurr'd the gray into the path, + Till baith his sides they bled-- + "Gray! thou maun carry me away, + Or my life lies in wad!" + + The captain lookit ower the wa', 125 + About the break o' day; + There he beheld the three Scots lads, + Pursued along the way. + + "Pull up portcullize! down draw-brigg! + My nephews are at hand; 130 + And they sall lodge wi' me to-night, + In spite of all England." + + Whene'er they came within the yate, + They thrust their horse them frae, + And took three lang spears in their hands, 135 + Saying, "Here sall come nae mae!" + + And they shot out, and they shot in, + Till it was fairly day; + When mony of the Englishmen + About the draw-brigg lay. 140 + + Then they hae yoked carts and wains, + To ca' their dead away, + And shot auld dykes abune the lave, + In gutters where they lay. + + The king, at his pavilion door, 145 + Was heard aloud to say, + "Last night, three o' the lads o' France + My standard stole away. + + "Wi' a fause tale, disguised, they came, + And wi' a fauser trayne; 150 + And to regain my gaye standard, + These men were a' down slayne." + + "It ill befits," the youngest said, + "A crowned king to lie; + But, or that I taste meat and drink, 155 + Reproved sall he be." + + He went before King Edward straight, + And kneel'd low on his knee; + "I wad hae leave, my lord," he said, + "To speak a word wi' thee." 160 + + The king he turn'd him round about, + And wistna what to say-- + Quo' he, "Man, thou's hae leave to speak, + Though thou should speak a' day." + + "Ye said that three young lads o' France 165 + Your standard stole away, + Wi' a fause tale, and a fauser trayne, + And mony men did slay. + + "But we are nane the lads o' France, + Nor e'er pretend to be; 170 + We are three lads o' fair Scotland, + Auld Maitland's sons are we; + + "Nor is there men, in a' your host, + Daur fight us three to three." + "Now, by my sooth," young Edward said, 175 + "Weel fitted ye sall be! + + "Piercy sall with the eldest fight, + And Ethert Lunn wi' thee: + William of Lancaster the third, + And bring your fourth to me!" 180 + + ["Remember, Piercy, aft the Scot[L181] + Has cower'd beneath thy hand:] + For every drap of Maitland blood, + I'll gie a rig of land." + + He clanked Piercy ower the head, 185 + A deep wound and a sair, + Till the best blood o' his bodie + Came rinning down his hair. + + "Now, I've slayne ane; slay ye the twa; + And that's gude companye; 190 + And if the twa suld slay ye baith, + Ye'se get na help frae me." + + But Ethert Lunn, a baited bear, + Had many battles seen; + He set the youngest wonder sair, 195 + Till the eldest he grew keen. + + "I am nae king, nor nae sic thing: + My word it shanna stand! + For Ethert sall a buffet bide, + Come he beneath my brand." 200 + + He clankit Ethert ower the head, + A deep wound and a sair, + Till the best blood of his bodie + Came rinning ower his hair. + + "Now I've slayne twa; slaye ye the ane; 205 + Isna that gude companye? + And tho' the ane suld slaye ye baith, + Ye'se get nae help o' me." + + The twa-some they hae slayne the ane; + They maul'd him cruellie; 210 + Then hung them over the draw-brigg, + That all the host might see. + + They rade their horse, they ran their horse, + Then hover'd on the lee: + "We be three lads o' fair Scotland, 215 + That fain would fighting see." + + This boasting when young Edward heard, + An angry man was he: + "I'll tak yon lad, I'll bind yon lad, + And bring him bound to thee!" 220 + + "Now God forbid," King Edward said, + "That ever thou suld try! + Three worthy leaders we hae lost, + And thou the fourth wad lie. + + "If thou shouldst hang on yon draw-brigg, 225 + Blythe wad I never be:" + But, wi' the poll-axe in his hand, + Upon the brigg sprang he. + + The first stroke that young Edward gae, + He struck wi' might and mayn; 230 + He clove the Maitland's helmet stout, + And bit right nigh the brayn. + + When Maitland saw his ain blood fa', + An angry man was he: + He let his weapon frae him fa', 235 + And at his throat did flee. + + And thrice about he did him swing, + Till on the grund he light, + Where he has halden young Edward, + Tho' he was great in might. 240 + + "Now let him up," King Edward cried, + "And let him come to me: + And for the deed that thou hast done, + Thou shalt hae erldomes three." + + "It's ne'er be said in France, nor e'er 245 + In Scotland, when I'm hame, + That Edward once lay under me,[L247] + And e'er gat up again!" + + He pierced him through and through the heart, + He maul'd him cruellie; 250 + Then hung him ower the draw-brigg, + Beside the other three. + + "Now take frae me that feather-bed, + Make me a bed o' strae! + I wish I hadna lived this day, 255 + To mak my heart sae wae. + + "If I were ance at London Tower, + Where I was wont to be, + I never mair suld gang frae hame, + Till borne on a bier-tree." 260 + +25. North-Berwick, according to some reciters.--S. + +27, 28. These two lines have been inserted by Mr. Hogg, to complete the +verse. Dunbar, the fortress of Patrick, Earl of March, was too often +opened to the English, by the treachery of that baron, during the reign +of Edward I.--S. + +70. If this be a Flemish or Scottish corruption for Ville de Grace, in +Normandy, that town was never besieged by Edward I., whose wars in +France were confined to the province of Gascony. The rapid change of +scene, from Scotland to France, excites a suspicion that some verses may +have been lost in this place.--S. + +75. Edward had quartered the arms of Scotland with his own.--S. + +181, 182, supplied by Hogg. + +247. Some reciters repeat it thus:-- + + "That _Englishman_ lay under me," + +which is in the true spirit of Blind Harry, who makes Wallace say, + + "I better like to see the Southeron die, + Than gold or land, that they can gie to me."--S. + + + + +WILLIE WALLACE. + + +After the battle of Roslin, we are informed by Bower, the continuator of +Fordun's _Scotichronicon_, Wallace took ship for France, and various +songs, both in that kingdom and in Scotland, he goes on to say, bear +witness to the courage with which he encountered the attacks of pirates +on the ocean, and of the English on the continent. Whatever we may +think of Wallace's expedition to France, there can be no doubt that the +hero's exploits were at an early date celebrated in popular song. Still, +the ballads which are preserved relate to only one of Wallace's +adventures, and are of doubtful antiquity. + +Burns communicated to Johnson's _Museum_ (p. 498) a defective ballad +called _Gude Wallace_. A better copy of this, from tradition, is here +given. It is taken from Buchan's _Gleanings_ (p. 114), and was derived +by the editor from a wandering gipsy tinker. Mr. Laing has inserted in +the notes to the new edition of Johnson's _Museum_ (iv. 458*) what may +perhaps be the original of both these recited ballads, though inferior +to either. This copy appeared in a chap-book with some Jacobite ballads, +about the year 1750. There are two other versions of this same story, in +which Wallace's mistress is induced to betray him to the English, but +repents in time to save her lover. The best of these is annexed to the +present ballad. The other, which is but a fragment, is printed in +Buchan's larger collection, ii. 226, _Wallace and his Leman_. + +The principal incidents of this story are to be found in the Fifth Book +of Blind Harry's Metrical _Life of Wallace_. + +Jamieson, in _Popular Ballads_, ii. 166, and Cunningham, in _The Songs +of Scotland_, i. 262, have taken the stanzas in Johnson's _Museum_ as +the basis of ballads of their own. + + Wallace in the high highlans, + Neither meat nor drink got he; + Said, "Fa' me life, or fa' me death, + Now to some town I maun be." + + He's put on his short claiding, 5 + And on his short claiding put he; + Says, "Fa' me life, or fa' me death, + Now to Perth-town I maun be." + + He stepped o'er the river Tay, + I wat he stepped on dry land; 10 + He wasna aware of a well-fared maid + Was washing there her lilie hands. + + "What news, what news, ye well-fared maid? + What news hae ye this day to me?" + "No news, no news, ye gentle knight, 15 + No news hae I this day to thee, + But fifteen lords in the hostage house + Waiting Wallace for to see." + + "If I had but in my pocket + The worth of one single pennie, 20 + I would go to the hostage house, + And there the gentlemen to see." + + She put her hand in her pocket, + And she has pull'd out half-a-crown; + Says, "Take ye that, ye belted knight, 25 + 'Twill pay your way till ye come down." + + As he went from the well-fared maid, + A beggar bold I wat met he, + Was cover'd wi' a clouted cloak, + And in his hand a trusty tree. 30 + + "What news, what news, ye silly auld man? + What news hae ye this day to gie?" + "No news, no news, ye belted knight, + No news hae I this day to thee, + But fifteen lords in the hostage house 35 + Waiting Wallace for to see." + + "Ye'll lend me your clouted cloak, + That covers you frae head to shie, + And I'll go to the hostage house, + Asking there for some supplie." 40 + + Now he's gone to the West-muir wood, + And there he's pull'd a trusty tree; + And then he's on to the hostage gone, + Asking there for charitie. + + Down the stair the captain comes, 45 + Aye the poor man for to see: + "If ye be a captain as good as ye look, + Ye'll give a poor man some supplie; + If ye be a captain as good as ye look, + A guinea this day ye'll gie to me." 50 + + "Where were ye born, ye crooked carle? + Where were ye born, in what countrie?" + "In fair Scotland I was born, + Crooked carle that I be." + + "I would give you fifty pounds, 55 + Of gold and white monie, + I would give you fifty pounds, + If the traitor Wallace ye'd let me see." + + "Tell down your money," said Willie Wallace, + "Tell down your money, if it be good; 60 + I'm sure I have it in my power, + And never had a better bode. + + "Tell down your money, if it be good, + And let me see if it be fine; + I'm sure I have it in my power 65 + To bring the traitor Wallace in." + + The money was told on the table, + Silver bright of pounds fiftie: + "Now here I stand," said Willie Wallace, + "And what hae ye to say to me?" 70 + + He slew the captain where he stood, + The rest they did quack an' roar; + He slew the rest around the room, + And ask'd if there were any more. + + "Come, cover the table," said Willie Wallace, 75 + "Come, cover the table now, make haste; + For it will soon be three lang days + Sin I a bit o' meat did taste." + + The table was not well covered, + Nor yet was he set down to dine, 80 + Till fifteen more of the English lords + Surrounded the house where he was in. + + The guidwife she ran but the floor, + And aye the guidman he ran ben; + From eight o'clock till four at noon 85 + He had kill'd full thirty men. + + He put the house in sic a swither + That five o' them he sticket dead, + Five o' them he drown'd in the river, + And five hung in the West-muir wood. 90 + + Now he is on to the North-Inch gone,[L91] + Where the maid was washing tenderlie; + "Now by my sooth," said Willie Wallace, + "It's been a sair day's wark to me." + + He's put his hand in his pocket, 95 + And he has pull'd out twenty pounds; + Says, "Take ye that, ye weel-fared maid + For the gude luck of your half-crown." + +91. A beautiful plain, or common, lying along the Tay near +Perth.--CHAMBERS. + + + + +SIR WILLIAM WALLACE. + +From _The Thistle of Scotland_, p. 100. + + +The editor states that he took the ballad down from the recitation of an +old gentlewoman in Aberdeenshire. + + Wou'd ye hear of William Wallace, + An' sek him as he goes, + Into the lan' of Lanark, + Amang his mortel faes? + + There was fyften English sogers 5 + Unto his ladie cam, + Said "Gie us William Wallace, + That we may have him slain. + + "Wou'd ye gie William Wallace, + That we may have him slain, 10 + And ye's be wedded to a lord, + The best in Christendeem." + + "This verra nicht at seven, + Brave Wallace will come in, + And he'll come to my chamber door, 15 + Without or dread or din." + + The fyften English sogers + Around the house did wait, + And four brave Southron foragers, + Stood hie upon the gait. 20 + + That verra nicht at seven + Brave Wallace he came in, + And he came to his ladies bouir, + Withouten dread or din. + + When she beheld him Wallace, 25 + She star'd him in the face; + "Ohon, alas!" said that ladie, + "This is a woful case. + + "For I this nicht have sold you, + This nicht you must be taen, 30 + And I'm to be wedded to a lord, + The best in Christendeem." + + "Do you repent," said Wallace, + "The ill you've dane to me?" + "Ay, that I do," said that ladie, 35 + "And will do till I die. + + "Ay, that I do," said that ladie, + "And will do ever still, + And for the ill I've dane to you, + Let me burn upon a hill." 40 + + "Now God forfend," says brave Wallace, + "I shou'd be so unkind; + Whatever I am to Scotland's faes, + I'm aye a woman's friend. + + "Will ye gie me your gown, your gown, 45 + Your gown but and your kirtle, + Your petticoat of bonny brown, + And belt about my middle? + + "I'll take a pitcher in ilka hand, + And do me to the well, 50 + They'll think I'm one of your maidens, + Or think it is your sell." + + She has gien him her gown, her gown, + Her petticoat and kirtle, + Her broadest belt wi' silver clasp, 55 + To bind about his middle. + + He's taen a pitcher in ilka hand, + And dane him to the well, + They thought him one of her maidens, + They ken'd it was nae hersell. 60 + + Said one of the Southron foragers, + "See ye yon lusty dame? + I wou'd nae gie muckle to thee, neebor, + To bring her back agen." + + Then all the Southrons follow'd him, 65 + And sure they were but four; + But he has drawn his trusty brand, + And slew them pair by pair. + + He threw the pitchers frae his hands, + And to the hills fled he, 70 + Until he cam to a fair may, + Was washin' on yon lea. + + "What news, what news, ye weel far'd may? + What news hae ye to gie?" + "Ill news, ill news," the fair may said, 75 + "Ill news I hae to thee. + + "There is fyften English sogers + Into that thatched inn, + Seeking Sir William Wallace; + I fear that he is slain." 80 + + "Have ye any money in your pocket? + Pray lend it unto me, + And when I come this way again, + Repaid ye weel shall be." + + She['s] put her hand in her pocket, 85 + And taen out shillings three; + He turn'd him right and round about, + And thank'd the weel far'd may. + + He had not gone a long rig length, + A rig length and a span, 90 + Until he met a bold beggar, + As sturdy as cou'd gang. + + "What news, what news, ye bold beggar? + What news hae ye to gie?" + "O heavy news," the beggar said, 95 + "I hae to tell to thee. + + "There is fyften English sogers, + I heard them in yon inn, + Vowing to kill him Wallace; + I fear the chief is slain." 100 + + "Will ye change apparell wi' me, auld man? + Change your apparell for mine? + And when I come this way again, + Ye'll be my ain poor man." + + When he got on the beggar's coat, 105 + The pike staff in his hand, + He's dane him down to yon tavern, + Where they were drinking wine. + + "What news, what news, ye staff beggar? + What news hae ye to gie?" 110 + "I hae nae news, I heard nae news, + As few I'll hae frae thee." + + "I think your coat is ragged, auld man, + But wou'd you wages win, + And tell where William Wallace is, 115 + We'll lay gold in your hand." + + "Tell down, tell down your good red gold, + Upon the table head, + And ye sall William Wallace see, + Wi' the down-come of Robin Hood." 120 + + They had nae tauld the money down, + And laid it on his knee, + When candles, lamps, and candlesticks, + He on the floor gar'd flee. + + And he has drawn his trusty brand, 125 + And slew them one by one, + Then sat down at the table head, + And call[e']d for some wine. + + The goodwife she ran but, ran but, + The goodman he ran ben, 130 + The verra bairns about the fire + Were a' like to gang brain. + + "Now if there be a Scotsman here, + He'll come and drink wi' me; + And if there be an English loun, 135 + It is his time to flee." + + The goodman was an Englishman, + And to the hills he ran, + The goodwife was a Scots woman, + And she came to his hand. 140 + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + + +JOHNNY COCK. (See p. 11.) + + +From Fry's _Pieces of Ancient Poetry, from unpublished Manuscripts and +scarce Books_ (p. 51). Bristol, 1814. + +"This ballad is taken from a modern quarto manuscript purchased at +Glasgow of Messrs. Smith and Son in the year 1810, and containing +several others, but written so corruptly as to be of little or no +authority; appearing to be the text-book of some illiterate drummer, +from its comprising the music of several regimental marches." + +Fry did not observe that he was printing fragments of two different +versions as one ballad. They are here separated. + + +I. + + Johnny Cock, in a May morning, + Sought water to wash his hands; + And he is awa to louse his dogs, + That's tied wi iron bans, + _That's tied wi iron bans_. + + His coat it is of the light Lincum green, 5 + And his breiks are of the same; + His shoes are of the American leather, + Silver buckles tying them. + _Silver buckles, &c._ + + 'He' hunted up, and so did 'he' down, + Till 'he' came to yon bush of scrogs, 10 + And then to yon wan water, + Where he slept among his dogs. + + * * * * * + + Johnny Cock out-shot a' the foresters, + And out-shot a' the three; + Out shot a' the foresters, 15 + Wounded Johnny aboun the bree. + + "Woe be to you, foresters, + And an ill death may you die![L18] + For there would not a wolf in a' the wood, + Have done the like to me. 20 + + "For ''twould ha' put its foot in the coll water, + And ha strinkled it on my bree; + And gin [it] that would not have done, + Would have gane and lett me be. + + "I often took to my mother 25 + The dandoo and the roe; + But now I'l take to my mother + Much sorrow and much woe. + + "I often took to my mother + The dandoo and the hare; 30 + But now I'l take to my mother + Much sorrow and much care." + +18-24. Finlay furnishes one beautiful stanza which belongs to this +portion of the story, and, as that editor remarks, describes +expressively the languor of approaching death. + + There's no a bird in a' this foreste + Will do as meikle for me, + As dip its wing in the wan water + An straik it on my ee-bree. + + _Scottish Ballads_, I. xxxi. + + +II. + + Fifteen foresters in the braid alow, + And they are wondrous fell; + To get a drop of Johnny's heart bluid, + They would sink a' their souls to hell. + + Johnny Cock has gotten word of this, 5 + And he is wondrous keen; + He['s] custan aff the red scarlet, + And on 'wi' the Linkum green. + + And he is ridden oer muir and muss, + And over mountains high, 10 + Till he came to yon wan water; + And there Johnny Cock did lie. + + He's taen out a horn from his side, + And he blew both loud and shrill, + Till a' the fifteen foresters 15 + Heard Johnny Cock blaw his horn. + + They have sworn a bluidy oath, + And they swore all in one, + That there was not a man among them a', + Would blaw such a blast as yon. 20 + + And they have ridden oer muir and muss, + And over mountains high, + Till they came to yon wan water, + Where Johnny Cock did lie. + + They have shotten little Johnny Cock, 25 + A little above the ee; + * * * * * + For doing the like to me. + + "There's not a wolf in a' the wood[L29] + Woud 'ha' done the like to me: 30 + 'She'd ha' dipped her foot in coll water, + And strinkled above my ee, + And if I would have waked for that, + 'She'd ha' gane and let me be. + + "But fingers five, come here, [come here,] 35 + And faint heart fail me nought![L36] + And silver strings, value me sma' things, + Till I get all this vengeance rowght!" + + He ha[s] shot a' the fifteen foresters, + Left never a one but one; 40 + And he broke the ribs a that anes side, + And let him take tiding home. + + They have ridden oer muir and muss, + And over mountains high, + Till they met wi 'an' old palmer, 45 + Was walking along the way. + + "What news, what news, old palmer, + What news have you to me?" + "Yonder is one of the proudest wed sons + That ever my eyes did see. 50 + * * * * * + + "* * a bird in a' the wood + Could sing as I could say; + It would go in to my mothers bower,[L53] + And bid her kiss me, and take me away." + +29. word. + +36. faint hearted. + +53. bows. + + + + +THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SIR HUGH OF THE GRIME. (See p. 51.) + +From Durfey's _Pills to purge Melancholy_, vi. 289. + + +The same is printed in Ritson's _Ancient Songs_ (ed. 1790), p. 192, from +a collation of two blackletter copies, one in the collection of the Duke +of Roxburgh, and "another in the hands of John Baynes, Esq." Several +stanzas are corrupted, and the names are greatly disfigured. Ritson +mentions in a note a somewhat different ballad on the same subject, +beginning:-- + + "Good Lord John is a hunting gone." + + * * * * * + + As it befel upon one time, + About mid-summer of the year, + Every man was taxt of his crime, + For stealing the good Lord Bishop's mare. + + The good Lord Screw sadled a horse, 5 + And rid after the same serime; + Before he did get over the moss, + There was he aware of Sir Hugh of the Grime. + + "Turn, O turn, thou false traytor, + Turn, and yield thyself unto me: 10 + Thou hast stol'n the Lord Bishop's mare, + And now thinkest away to flee." + + "No, soft, Lord Screw, that may not be; + Here is a broad sword by my side, + And if that thou canst conquer me, 15 + The victory will soon be try'd." + + "I ne'er was afraid of a traytor bold, + Altho' thy name be Hugh in the Grime; + I'll make thee repent thy speeches foul, + If day and life but give me time." 20 + + "Then do thy worst, good Lord Screw, + And deal your blows as fast as you can; + It will be try'd between me and you + Which of us two shall be the best man." + + Thus as they dealt their blows so free, 25 + And both so bloody at that time, + Over the moss ten yeomen they see, + Come for to take Sir Hugh in the Grime. + + Sir Hugh set his back again[st] a tree, + And then the men compast him round; 30 + His mickle sword from his hand did flee, + And then they brought Sir Hugh to the ground. + + Sir Hugh of the Grime now taken is + And brought back to Garland town; + Then cry'd the good wives all in Garland town, 35 + "Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou'st ne'er gang down." + + The good Lord Bishop is come to town, + And on the bench is set so high; + And every man was tax'd to his crime, + At length he called Sir Hugh in the Grime. 40 + + "Here am I, thou false Bishop, + Thy humours all to fulfil; + I do not think my fact so great + But thou mayst put [it] into thy own will." + + The quest of jury-men was call'd, 45 + The best that was in Garland town; + Eleven of them spoke all in a breast, + "Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou'st ne'er gang down." + + Then other questry-men was call'd, + The best that was in Rumary; 50 + Twelve of them spoke all in a breast, + "Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou'st now guilty." + + Then came down my good Lord Boles, + Falling down upon his knee; + "Five hundred pieces of gold will I give, 55 + To grant Sir Hugh in the Grime to me." + + "Peace, peace, my good Lord Boles, + And of your speeches set them by; + If there be eleven Grimes all of a name, + Then by my own honour they all should dye." 60 + + Then came down my good Lady Ward, + Falling low upon her knee; + "Five hundred measures of gold I'll give, + To grant Sir Hugh of the Grime to me." + + "Peace, peace, my good Lady Ward, 65 + None of your proffers shall him buy; + For if there be twelve Grimes all of a name, + By my own honour [they] all should dye." + + Sir Hugh of the Grime's condemn'd to dye, + And of his friends he had no lack; 70 + Fourteen foot he leapt in his ward, + His hands bound fast upon his back. + + Then he look'd over his left shoulder, + To see whom he could see or 'spye; + Then was he aware of his father dear, 75 + Came tearing his hair most pitifully. + + "Peace, peace, my father dear, + And of your speeches set them by; + Tho' they have bereav'd me of my life, + They cannot bereave me of heaven so high." 80 + + He look'd over his right shoulder, + To see whom he could see or 'spye; + There was he aware of his mother dear, + Came tearing her hair most pitifully. + + "Pray have me remember'd to Peggy my wife, 85 + As she and I walk'd over the moor, + She was the cause of the loss of my life, + And with the old bishop she play'd the whore. + + "Here, Johnny Armstrong, take thou my sword, + That is made of the metal so fine, 90 + And when thou com'st to the Border side, + Remember the death of Sir Hugh of the Grime." + + + + +[JOHNIE ARMSTRANG, OR,] A NORTHERN BALLET. + +From _Wit Restor'd_, p. 132. + + + There dwelt a man in faire Westmerland, + Jonne Armestrong men did him call, + He had nither lands nor rents coming in, + Yet he kept eight score men in his hall. + + He had horse and harness for them all, 5 + Goodly steeds were all milke white, + O the golden bands an about their necks, + And their weapons they were all alike. + + Newes then was brought unto the king, + That there was sicke a won as hee, 10 + That lived lyke a bold out-law,[L11] + And robbed all the north country. + + The king he writt an a letter then + A letter which was large and long, + He signed it with his owne hand, 15 + And he promised to doe him no wrong. + + When this letter came Jonne untill, + His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree; + "Never was I sent for before any king, + My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee. 20 + + "And if wee goe the king before, + I would we went most orderly; + Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak, + Laced with silver laces three. + + "Every won of you shall have his velvett coat, 25 + Laced with sillver lace so white; + O the golden bands an about your necks, + Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke." + + By the morrow morninge at ten of the clock, + Towards Edenburough gon was hee, 30 + And with him all his eight score men, + Good lord, it was a goodly sight for to see! + + When Jonne came befower the king, + He fell downe on his knee; + "O pardon my soveraine leige," he said, 35 + "O pardon my eight score men and mee!" + + "Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor strong, + For thy eight score men nor thee; + For to-morrow morning by ten of the clock, + Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow tree." 40 + + But Jonne looked over his left shoulder, + Good Lord, what a grevious look looked hee! + Saying, "Asking grace of a graceles face-- + Why there is none for you nor me." + + But Jonne had a bright sword by his side, 45 + And it was made of the mettle so free, + That had not the king stept his foot aside, + He had smitten his head from his fair bodd['e]. + + Saying, "Fight on, my merry men all, + And see that none of you be taine; 50 + For rather then men shall say we were hanged, + Let them report how we were slaine." + + Then, God wott, faire Eddenburrough rose, + And so besett poore Jonne [a] rounde, + That fowerscore and tenn of Jonnes best men, 55 + Lay gasping all upon the ground. + + Then like a mad man Jonne laide about, + And like a mad man then fought hee, + Untill a falce Scot came Jonne behinde, + And runn him through the faire boddee. 60 + + Saying, "Fight on, my merry men all, + And see that none of you be taine; + For I will stand by and bleed but a while, + And then will I come and fight againe." + + Newes then was brought to young Jonne Armestrong, 65 + As he stood by his nurses knee, + Who vowed if er'e he lived for to be a man, + O th' the treacherous Scots reveng'd hee'd be. + + +11. syke. + + + + +LOUDOUN CASTLE. (See p. 149.) + + +From _The Ballads and Songs of Ayrshire_, First Series, p. 74, where it +is taken from a _Statistical Account of the Parish of Loudoun_. The +writer of the _Statistical Account_ states that the old castle of +Loudoun is supposed to have been destroyed by fire about 350 years ago. +"The current tradition," he adds, "ascribes that event to the Clan +Kennedy, and the remains of an old tower at Auchruglen, on the Galston +side of the valley, is still pointed out as having been their +residence." + + + It fell about the Martinmas time, + When the wind blew snell and cauld, + That Adam o' Gordon said to his men, + "When will we get a hold? + + "See [ye] not where yonder fair castle 5 + Stands on yon lily lee? + The laird and I hae a deadly feud, + The lady fain would I see." + + As she was up on the househead, + Behold, on looking down, 10 + She saw Adam o' Gordon and his men, + Coming riding to the town. + + The dinner was not well set down, + Nor the grace was scarcely said, + Till Adam o' Gordon and his men 15 + About the walls were laid. + + "It's fause now fa' thee, Jock my man, + Thou might a let me be; + Yon man has lifted the pavement stone, + An' let in the loun to me." 20 + + "Seven years I served thee, fair ladie, + You gave me meat and fee; + But now I am Adam o' Gordon's man, + An' maun either do it or die." + + "Come down, come down, my Lady Loudoun, 25 + Come thou down unto me;[L26] + I'll wrap thee on a feather bed, + Thy warrand I shall be." + + "I'll no come down, I'll no come down, + For neither laird nor loun, 30 + Nor yet for any bloody butcher + That lives in Altringham town. + + "I would give the black," she says, + "And so would I the brown, + If that Thomas, my only son, 35 + Could charge to me a gun." + + Out then spake the Lady Margaret, + As she stood on the stair,-- + The fire was at her goud garters, + The lowe was at her hair. 40 + + "I would give the black," she says, + "And so would I the brown, + For a drink of yon water, + That rins by Galston Town." + + Out then spake fair Anne, 45 + She was baith jimp and sma', + "O row me in a pair o' sheets, + And tow me down the wa'." + + "O hold thy tongue, thou fair Anne, + And let thy talkin' be, 50 + For thou must stay in this fair castle, + And bear thy death with me." + + "O mother," spoke the Lord Thomas, + As he sat on the nurse's knee, + "O mother, give up this fair castle, 55 + Or the reek will worrie me." + + "I would rather be burnt to ashes sma', + And be cast on yon sea foam, + Before I'd give up this fair castle, + And my lord so far from home. 60 + + "My good lord has an army strong, + He's now gone o'er the sea; + He bade me keep this gay castle, + As long as it would keep me. + + "I've four-and-twenty brave milk kye 65 + Gangs on yon lily lee, + I'd give them a' for a blast of wind, + To blaw the reek from me." + + O pitie on yon fair castle, + That's built with stone and lime, 70 + But far mair pitie on Lady Loudoun, + And all her children nine. + +26. down thou. + + + + +ROB ROY. (See p. 203.) + +From _Select Scottish Songs, Ancient and Modern_, by Robert Burns, +edited by Cromek, ii. 199. + + + Rob Roy from the Highlands cam, + Unto the Lawlan' border, + To steal awa a gay ladie + To haud his house in order. + He cam owre the lock o' Lynn, 5 + Twenty men his arms did carry; + Himsel gaed in, an' fand her out, + Protesting he would marry. + + "O will ye gae wi' me," he says, + "Or will ye be my honey? 10 + Or will ye be my wedded wife? + For I love you best of any." + "I winna gae wi' you," she says, + "Nor will I be your honey, + Nor will I be your wedded wife; 15 + You love me for my money." + * * * * * + + But he set her on a coal-black steed, + Himsel lap on behind her, + An' he's awa to the Highland hills, + Whare her frien's they canna find her. 20 + * * * * * + + "Rob Roy was my father ca'd, + Macgregor was his name, ladie; + He led a band o' heroes bauld, + An' I am here the same, ladie. + Be content, be content, 25 + Be content to stay, ladie, + For thou art my wedded wife + Until thy dying day, ladie. + + "He was a hedge unto his frien's, + A heckle to his foes, ladie, 30 + Every one that durst him wrang, + He took him by the nose, ladie. + I'm as bold, I'm as bold, + I'm as bold, an more, ladie; + He that daurs dispute my word, 35 + Shall feel my guid claymore, ladie." + + +II. + +From Maidment's _North Countrie Garland_, p. 44. + + Rob Roy from the Highlands cam, + Unto our Scottish border, + And he has stow'n a lady fair, + To haud his house in order. + + And when he cam, he surrounded the house, 5 + Twenty men their arms did carry, + And he has stow'n this lady fair, + On purpose her to marry. + + And when he cam, he surrounded the house; + No tidings there cam before him, 10 + Or else the lady would have been gone, + For still she did abhor him. + + Wi' murnfu' cries, and wat'ry eyes, + Fast hauding by her mother, + Wi' murnfu' cries, and wat'ry eyes, 15 + They are parted frae each other. + + Nae time he gied her to be dress'd, + As ladies do when they're bride O, + But he hastened and hurried her awa', + And he row'd her in his plaid O. 20 + + They rade till they cam to Ballyshine, + At Ballyshine they tarried; + He bought to her a cotton gown, + Yet ne'er would she be married. + + Three held her up before the priest, 25 + Four carried her to bed O, + Wi' wat'ry eyes, and murnfu' sighs, + When she behind was laid O. + * * * * * + + "O be content, be content, + Be content to stay, lady, 30 + For ye are my wedded wife + Unto my dying day, lady. + +CHORUS. + + _Be content, be content, + Be content to stay, lady, + For ye are my wedded wife + Unto my dying day, lady._ + + "My father is Rob Roy called, + M'Gregor is his name, lady, + In all the country where he dwells, 35 + He does succeed the fame, lady. + + "My father he has cows and ewes, + And goats he has eneuch, lady, + And you, and twenty thousand merks, + Will make me a man complete, lady." 40 + + + + +EPPIE MORRIE. + +From Maidment's _North Countrie Garland_, p. 40. + + +"This ballad is probably much more than a century old, though the +circumstances which have given rise to it were fortunately too common to +preclude the possibility of its being of a later date. Although +evidently founded on fact, the editor has not hitherto discovered the +particular circumstances out of which it has originated." + + Four and twenty Highland men + Came a' from Carrie side, + To steal awa' Eppie Morrie, + 'Cause she would not be a bride. + + Out it's cam her mother, 5 + It was a moonlight night, + She could not see her daughter. + The sands they shin'd so bright. + + "Haud far awa' frae me, mother, + Haud far awa' frae me; 10 + There's not a man in a' Strathdon + Shall wedded be with me." + + They have taken Eppie Morrie, + And horseback bound her on, + And then awa' to the minister, 15 + As fast as horse could gang. + + He's taken out a pistol, + And set it to the minister's breast; + "Marry me, marry me, minister, + Or else I'll be your priest." 20 + + "Haud far awa' frae me, good sir, + Haud far awa' frae me; + For there's not a man in a' Strathdon + That shall married be with me." + + "Haud far awa' frae me, Willie, 25 + Haud far awa' frae me; + For I darna avow to marry you, + Except she's as willing as ye." + + They have taken Eppie Morrie, + Since better could nae be, 30 + And they're awa' to Carrie side, + As fast as horse could flee. + + Then mass was sung, and bells were rung, + And all were bound for bed, + Then Willie an' Eppie Morrie 35 + In one bed they were laid. + + "Haud far awa' frae me, Willie, + Haud far awa' frae me; + Before I'll lose my maidenhead, + I'll try my strength with thee." 40 + + She took the cap from off her head, + And threw it to the way; + Said, "Ere I lose my maidenhead, + I'll fight with you till day." + + Then early in the morning, 45 + Before her clothes were on, + In came the maiden of Scalletter, + Gown and shirt alone. + + "Get up, get up, young woman, + And drink the wine wi' me;" 50 + "You might have called me maiden, + I'm sure as leal as thee." + + "Wally fa' you, Willie, + That ye could nae prove a man, + And taen the lassie's maidenhead; 55 + She would have hired your han'." + + "Haud far awa' frae me, lady, + Haud far awa' frae me; + There's not a man in a' Strathdon, + The day shall wed wi' me." 60 + + Soon in there came Belbordlane, + With a pistol on every side; + "Come awa' hame, Eppie Morrie, + And there you'll be my bride." + + "Go get to me a horse, Willie, 65 + And get it like a man, + And send me back to my mother, + A maiden as I cam. + + "The sun shines o'er the westlin hills, + By the light lamp of the moon, 70 + Just saddle your horse, young John Forsyth, + And whistle, and I'll come soon." + + + + +MACPHERSON'S RANT. + + +This ballad, worthy of a hangman's pen, was first printed in Herd's +_Scottish Songs_, i. 161. It is found, mutilated and altered, with the +title of _Macpherson's Lament_, in the _Thistle of Scotland_, p. 52. + +The story of Macpherson is given as follows by a writer in the _New +Monthly Magazine_, vol. i. p. 142, cited by Chambers, _Scottish Songs_, +i. 84. + +"James Macpherson was born of a beautiful gipsy, who, at a great +wedding, attracted the notice of a half-intoxicated Highland gentleman. +He acknowledged the child, and had him reared in his house, until he +lost his life in bravely pursuing a hostile clan, to recover a spreach +of cattle taken from Badenoch. The gipsy woman, hearing of this +disaster, in her rambles the following summer, came and took away her +boy; but she often returned with him, to wait upon his relations and +clansmen, who never failed to clothe him well, besides giving money to +his mother. He grew up to beauty, strength, and stature, rarely +equalled. His sword is still preserved at Duff House, a residence of the +Earl of Fife, and few men of our day could carry, far less wield it, as +a weapon of war; and if it must be owned that his prowess was debased by +the exploits of a free-booter, it is certain, no act of cruelty, no +robbery of the widow, the fatherless, or distressed, and no murder, were +ever perpetrated under his command. He often gave the spoils of the rich +to relieve the poor; and all his tribe were restrained from many +atrocities of rapine by the awe of his mighty arm. Indeed, it is said +that a dispute with an aspiring and savage man of his tribe, who wished +to rob a gentleman's house while his wife and two children lay on the +bier for interment, was the cause of his being betrayed to the vengeance +of the law. The magistrates of Aberdeen were exasperated at Macpherson's +escape, and bribed a girl in that city to allure and deliver him into +their hands. There is a platform before the jail, at the top of a stair, +and a door below. When Macpherson's capture was made known to his +comrades by the frantic girl, who had been so credulous as to believe +the magistrates only wanted to hear the wonderful performer on the +violin, his cousin, Donald Macpherson, a gentleman of Herculean powers, +did not disdain to come from Badenoch, and to join a gipsy, Peter Brown, +in liberating the prisoner. On a market-day they brought several +assistants; and swift horses were stationed at a convenient distance. +Donald Macpherson and Peter Brown forced the jail; and while Peter Brown +went to help the heavily-fettered James Macpherson in moving away, +Donald Macpherson guarded the jail-door with a drawn sword. Many persons +assembled at the market had experienced James Macpherson's humanity, or +had shared his bounty; and they crowded round the jail as in mere +curiosity, but, in fact, to obstruct the civil authorities in their +attempts to prevent a rescue. A butcher, however, was resolved to detain +Macpherson, expecting a large recompense from the magistrates; he sprung +up the stairs, and leaped from the platform upon Donald Macpherson, whom +he dashed to the ground by the force and weight of his body. Donald +Macpherson soon recovered, to make a desperate resistance; and the +combatants tore off each other's clothes. The butcher got a glimpse of +his dog upon the platform, and called him to his aid; but Macpherson, +with admirable presence of mind, snatched up his own plaid, which lay +near, and threw it over the butcher, thus misleading the instinct of his +canine adversary. The dog darted with fury upon the plaid, and terribly +lacerated his master's thigh. In the mean time, James Macpherson had +been carried out by Peter Brown, and was soon joined by Donald +Macpherson, who was quickly covered by some friendly spectator with a +hat and great coat. The magistrates ordered webs from the shops to be +drawn across the Gallowgate; but Donald Macpherson cut them asunder with +his sword, and James, the late prisoner, got off on horseback. He was, +some time after, betrayed by a man of his own tribe: and was the last +person executed at Banff, previous to the abolition of hereditable +jurisdiction. He was an admirable performer on the violin; and his +talent for composition is still evidenced by Macpherson's Rant, and +Macpherson's Pibroch. He performed these tunes at the foot of the fatal +tree; and then asked if he had any friend in the crowd to whom a last +gift of his instrument would be acceptable. No man had hardihood to +claim friendship with a delinquent, in whose crimes the acknowledgment +might implicate an avowed acquaintance. As no friend came forward, +Macpherson said, the companion of so many gloomy hours should perish +with him; and, breaking the violin over his knees, he threw away the +fragments. Donald Macpherson picked up the neck of the violin, which to +this day is preserved, as a valuable memento, by the family of Cluny, +chieftain of the Macphersons." + +Burns's magnificent death-song, _McPherson's Farewell_, is too well +known to require more than an allusion. + + I've spent my time in rioting, + Debauch'd my health and strength; + I've pillag'd, plunder'd, murdered, + But now, alas! at length, + I'm brought to punishment direct, 5 + Pale death draws near to me; + This end I never did project, + To hang upon a tree. + + To hang upon a tree! a tree! + That curs'd unhappy death! 10 + Like to a wolf to worried be, + And choaked in the breath. + My very heart would surely break, + When this I think upon, + Did not my courage singular 15 + Bid pensive thoughts begone. + + No man on earth that draweth breath, + More courage had than I; + I dar'd my foes unto their face, + And would not from them fly. 20 + This grandeur stout, I did keep out, + Like Hector, manfullie: + Then wonder one like me, so stout, + Should hang upon a tree! + + Th' Egyptian band I did command, 25 + With courage more by far, + Than ever did a general + His soldiers in the war. + Being fear'd by all, both great and small, + I liv'd most joyfullie: 30 + O! curse upon this fate of mine, + To hang upon a tree! + + As for my life, I do not care, + If justice would take place, + And bring my fellow plunderers 35 + Unto this same disgrace. + For Peter Brown, that notour loon, + Escap'd and was made free; + O! curse upon this fate of mine, + To hang upon a tree! 40 + + Both law and justice buried are, + And fraud and guile succeed; + The guilty pass unpunished, + If money intercede. + The Laird of Grant, that Highland saint, 45 + His mighty majestie, + He pleads the cause of Peter Brown, + And lets Macpherson die. + + The destiny of my life, contriv'd + By those whom I oblig'd, 50 + Rewarded me much ill for good, + And left me no refuge. + For Braco Duff, in rage enough, + He first laid hands on me; + And if that death would not prevent, 55 + Avenged would I be. + + As for my life, it is but short, + When I shall be no more; + To part with life I am content, + As any heretofore. 60 + Therefore, good people all, take heed, + This warning take by me, + According to the lives you lead, + Rewarded you shall be. + + + + +BOOK VIII. + +THE FLEMISH INSURRECTION. + + +The Flemings, having abandoned their legitimate sovereign and attached +themselves to Philip the Fair, found at last cause to repent. In 1301, +two citizens of Bruges, Peter de Koning, a draper, and John Breydel, a +butcher, stirred up their townsmen to revolt, and drove out the French +garrison. The next year, the Count d'Artois, with a superb army, was +defeated by the insurgents at the battle of Courtrai. + +This ballad is found in MS. Harl. No. 2253, "of the reign of Edw. II." +and has been printed in Ritson's _Ancient Songs_ (i. 51), and in +Wright's _Political Songs_, p. 187. We have adopted the text of the +latter. + + Lustneth, lordinges, bothe yonge ant olde, + Of the Freynsshe men that were so proude ant bolde, + Hou the Flemmysshe men bohten hem ant solde, + Upon a Wednesday. + Betere hem were at home in huere londe, 5 + Then for te seche Flemmysshe by the see stronde, + Whare thourh moni Frenshe wyf wryngeth hire honde, + Ant singeth weylaway. + + The Kyng of Fraunce made statuz newe, + In the lond of Flaundres among false ant trewe, 10 + That the commun of Bruges ful sore con arewe, + Ant seiden amonges hem, + "Gedere we us togedere hardilyche at ene, + Take we the bailifs bi tuenty ant by tene, + Clappe we of the hevedes anonen o the grene,[L15] 15 + Ant caste we y the fen." + + The webbes ant the fullaris assembleden hem alle, + Ant makeden huere consail in huere commune halle; + Token Peter Conyng huere kyng to calle, + Ant beo huere cheventeyn. 20 + Hue nomen huere rouncyns out of the stalle, + Ant closeden the toun withinne the walle; + Sixti baylies ant ten hue maden adoun falle, + Ant moni an other sweyn. + + Tho wolde the baylies that were come from Fraunce, 25 + Dryve the Flemisshe that made the destaunce; + Hue turnden hem ayeynes with suerd ant with launce, + Stronge men ant lyht. + Y telle ou for sothe, for al huere bobaunce, + Ne for the avowerie of the Kyng of Fraunce, 30 + Tuenti score ant fyve haden ther meschaunce, + By day ant eke by nyht. + + Sire Jakes de Seint Poul, yherde hou hit was; + Sixtene hundred of horsemen asemblede o the gras; + He wende toward Bruges _pas pur pas_, 35 + With swithe gret mounde + The Flemmysshe yherden telle the cas, + Agynneth to clynken huere basyns of bras, + Ant al hem to-dryven ase ston doth the glas, + Ant fellen hem to grounde. 40 + + Sixtene hundred of horsmen hede ther here fyn; + Hue leyyen y the stretes ystyked ase swyn, + Ther hue loren huere stedes ant mony rouncyn, + Thourh huere oune prude. + Sire Jakes ascapede, by a coynte gyn, 45 + Out at one posterne ther me solde wyn, + Out of the fyhte hom to ys yn, + In wel muchele drede. + + Tho the Kyng of Fraunce yherde this, anon, + Assemblede he is douss['e]-pers everuchon, 50 + The proude eorl of Artoys ant other mony on, + To come to Paris. + The barouns of Fraunce thider conne gon, + Into the paleis that paved is with ston, + To jugge the Flemmisshe to bernen ant to slon, 55 + Thourh the flour de lis. + + Thenne seide the Kyng Philip, "Lustneth nou to me; + Myn eorles ant my barouns, gentil ant fre: + Goth, faccheth me the traytours ybounde to my kne; + Hastifliche ant blyve." 60 + Tho suor the Eorl of Seint Poul, "_Par la goule d['e]_, + We shule facche the rybaus wher thi wille be, + Ant drawen hem [with] wilde hors out of the countr[e'], + By thousendes fyve." + + "Sire Rauf Devel," sayth the Eorl of Boloyne, 65 + "_Nus ne lerrum en vie chanoun ne moyne_; + Wende we forth anon ritht withoute eny assoygne, + Ne no lyves man. + We shule flo the Conyng, ant make roste is loyne; + The word shal springen of him into Coloyne, 70 + So hit shal to Acres ant into Sesoyne, + Ant maken him ful wan." + + Sevene eorls ant fourti barouns y-tolde, + Fiftene hundred knyhtes, proude ant swythe bolde, + Sixti thousent swyers amonge yunge ant olde, 75 + Flemmisshe to take. + The Flemmisshe hardeliche hem come to-yeynes; + This proude Freinsshe eorles, huere knyhtes ant huere sweynes, + Aquelleden ant slowen, by hulles ant by pleynes, + Al for huere kynges sake. 80 + + This Frenshe come to Flaundres so liht so the hare; + Er hit were mydnyht hit fel hem to care; + Hue were laht by the net so bryd is in snare, + With rouncin ant with stede. + The Flemmisshe hem dabbeth o the het bare; 85 + Hue nolden take for huem raunsoun ne ware; + Hue doddeth of huere hevedes, fare so hit fare, + Ant thareto haveth hue nede. + + Thenne seyth the Eorl of Artois, "Y yelde me to the, + Peter Conyng, by thi nome, yef thou art hende ant fre, 90 + That y ne have no shame ne no vylt['e], + That y ne be noud ded." + Thenne swor a bocher, "By my leaut['e], + Shalt thou ner more the kyng of Fraunce se, + Ne in the toun of Bruges in prisone be; 95 + Thou woldest spene bred." + + Ther hy were knulled y the putfalle, + This eorles ant barouns ant huere knyhtes alle; + Huere ledies huem mowe abide in boure ant in halle + Wel longe. 100 + For hem mot huere kyng other knyhtes calle, + Other stedes taken out of huere stalle: + Ther hi habbeth dronke bittrere then the galle, + Upon the drue londe. + + When the Kyng of Fraunce yherde this tydynge, 105 + He smot doun is heved, is honden gon he wrynge: + Thourhout al Fraunce the word bygon to sprynge, + Wo wes huem tho! + Muche wes the sorewe ant the wepinge + That wes in al Fraunce among olde ant yynge; 110 + The mest part of the lond bygon for te synge + "Alas ant weylawo!" + + Awey, thou yunge pope! whet shal the to rede? + Thou hast lore thin cardinals at thi meste nede; 114 + Ne keverest thou hem nevere for nones kunnes mede, + For sothe y the telle. + Do the forth to Rome, to amende thi misdede; + Bide gode halewen, hue lete the betere spede; + Bote thou worche wysloker, thou losest lont ant lede, + The coroune wel the felle. 120 + + Alas, thou seli Fraunce! for the may thunche shome, + That ane fewe fullaris maketh ou so tome; + Sixti thousent on a day hue maden fot-lome, + With eorl ant knyht. + Herof habbeth the Flemysshe suithe god game, 125 + Ant suereth by Seint Omer ant eke bi Seint Jame, + Yef hy ther more cometh, hit falleth huem to shame, + With huem for te fyht. + + I telle ou for sothe, the bataille thus bigon + Bituene Fraunce ant Flaundres, hou hue weren fon; 130 + Vor Vrenshe the Eorl of Flaundres in prison heden ydon, + With tresoun untrewe. + Ye[f] the Prince of Walis his lyf habb['e] mote, + Hit falleth the Kyng of Fraunce bittrore then the sote; + Bote he the rathere therof welle do bote, 135 + Wel sore hit shal hym rewe. + +15. anonen. R. an oven. W. + + + + +THE EXECUTION OF SIR SIMON FRASER. + + +On the 27th of March, 1306, Robert Bruce was crowned king at Scone. +Immediately thereupon, King Edward the First sent the Earl of Pembroke, +Aymer de Valence, to Scotland, to suppress what he called the rebellion +in that kingdom. Pembroke attacked Bruce in his cantonments at Methven +(or Kirkenclif) near Perth, and dispersed his small army, taking several +prisoners of great consequence. Among them was Sir Simon Fraser, or +Frisel, whose cruel fate is narrated in the following ballad. + +This piece has been printed in Ritson's _Ancient Songs_ (i. 28), and in +Wright's _Political Songs_, p. 212, and is extracted from the same MS. +as the preceding ballad. + + Lystneth, lordynges, a newe song ichulle bigynne, + Of the traytours of Scotlond, that take beth wyth gynne; + Mon that loveth falsnesse, and nule never blynne, + Sore may him drede the lyf that he is ynne, + Ich understonde: 5 + Selde wes he glad + That never nes a-sad + Of nythe ant of onde. + + That y sugge by this Scottes that bueth nou to-drawe, + The hevedes o Londone-brugge, whos['e] con y-knawe; 10 + He wenden han buen kynges, ant seiden so in sawe; + Betere hem were han y-be barouns, ant libbe in Godes lawe + Wyth love. + Whos['e] hateth soth ant ryht, + Lutel he douteth Godes myht, 15 + The heye kyng above. + + To warny alle the gentilmen that bueth in Scotlonde, + The Waleis wes to-drawe, seththe he wes an-honge, + Al quic biheveded, ys bowels ybrend, + The heved to Londone-brugge wes send, 20 + To abyde. + After Simond Frysel, + That wes traytour ant fykell, + Ant y-cud ful wyde. + + Sire Edward oure kyng, that ful ys of piet['e], 25 + The Waleis quarters sende to is oune contr['e], + On four-half to honge, huere myrour to be, + Theropon to thenche, that monie myhten se, + Ant drede. + Why nolden he be war 30 + Of the bataile of Donbar, + Hou evele hem con spede? + + Bysshopes ant barouns come to the kynges pes, + Ase men that weren fals, fykel, ant les, + Othes hue him sworen in stude ther he wes, 35 + To buen him hold ant trewe for alles cunnes res, + Thrye, + That hue ne shulden ayeyn him go, + So hue were temed tho; + Weht halt hit to lye? 40 + + To the kyng Edward hii fasten huere fay; + Fals wes here foreward so forst is in May, + That sonne from the southward wypeth away; + Moni proud Scot therof mene may + To yere. 45 + Nes never Scotlond + With dunt of monnes hond + Allinge aboht so duere. + + The bisshop of Glascou y chot he wes ylaht, + The bisshop of Seint-Andr[e'], bothe he beth ycaht, 50 + The abbot of Scon with the kyng nis nout saht, + Al here purpos ycome hit ys to naht, + Thurh ryhte: + Hii were unwis + When hii thohte pris 55 + Ayeyn huere kyng to fyhte. + + Thourh consail of thes bisshopes ynemned byfore, + Sire Robert the Bruytz furst kyng wes ycore; + He mai everuche day ys fon him se byfore, + Yef hee mowen him hente, i chot he bith forlore, 60 + Sauntz fayle. + Soht for te sugge, + Duere he shal abugge + That he bigon batayle. + + Hii that him crounede proude were ant bolde, 65 + Hii maden kyng of somer, so hii ner ne sholde,[L66] + Hii setten on ys heved a croune of rede golde, + Ant token him a kyneyerde, so me kyng sholde, + To deme. + Tho he wes set in see, 70 + Lutel god couthe he + Kyneriche to yeme. + + Nou kyng Hobbe in the mures yongeth, + For te come to toune nout him ne longeth; + The barouns of Engelond, myhte hue him grype, 75 + He him wolde techen on Englysshe to pype, + Thourh streynthe: + Ne be he ner so stout, + Yet he bith ysoht out + O brede ant o leynthe. 80 + + Sire Edward of Carnarvan, (Jhesu him save ant see!) + Sire Emer de Valence, gentil knyht ant free, + Habbeth ysuore huere oht that, _par la grace d['e]e_, + Hee wolleth ous delyvren of that false contree, + Yef hii conne. 85 + Muche hath Scotlond forlore, + Whet alast, whet bifore, + Ant lutel pris wonne. + + Nou i chulle fonge ther ich er let, + Ant tellen ou of Frisel, ase ich ou byhet. 90 + In the batayle of Kyrkenclyf Frysel wes ytake; + Ys continaunce abatede eny bost to make + Biside Strivelyn; + Knyhtes ant sweynes, + Fremen ant theynes, 95 + Monye with hym. + + So hii weren byset on everuche halve, + Somme slaye were, ant somme dreynte hemselve; + Sire Johan of Lyndeseye nolde nout abyde, + He wod into the water, his feren him bysyde, 100 + To adrenche. + Whi nolden hii be war? + Ther nis non ayeyn star:-- + Why nolden hy hem bythenche? + + This wes byfore seint Bartholomeus masse, 105 + That Frysel wes ytake, were hit more other lasse; + To sire Thomas of Multon, gentil baron ant fre, + Ant to sire Johan Jose, bytake tho wes he + To honde: + He wes yfetered weel, 110 + Bothe with yrn ant wyth steel, + To bringen of Scotlonde. + + Sone therafter the tydynge to the kyng com; + He him sende to Londone, with mony armed grom; + He com yn at Newegate, y telle yt ou aplyht, 115 + A gerland of leves on ys hed ydyht, + Of grene; + For he shulde ben yknowe, + Bothe of heye ant of lowe, + For treytour, y wene. 120 + + Yfetered were ys legges under his horse wombe, + Bothe with yrn ant with stel mankled were ys honde, + A gerland of peruenke set on his heved; + Muche wes the poer that him wes byreved + In londe: 125 + So god me amende, + Lutel he wende + So be broht in honde. + + Sire Herbert of Norham, feyr knyht ant bold,[L129] + For the love of Frysel ys lyf wes ysold; 130 + A wajour he made, so hit wes ytold, + Ys heved of to smhyte, yef me him brohte in hold, + Wat so bytyde: + Sory wes he thenne + Tho he myhte him kenne 135 + Thourh the toun ryde. + + Thenne seide ys scwyer a word anon ryht, + "Sire, we beth dede, ne helpeth hit no wyht," + (Thomas de Boys the scwyer wes to nome,) + "Nou, y chot, our wajour turneth us to grome, 140 + So ybate." + Y do ou to wyte, + Here heved wes of-smyte, + Byfore the Tour-gate. + + This wes on oure Levedy even, for sothe ych understonde;[L145] 145 + The justices seten for the knyhtes of Scotlonde, + Sire Thomas of Multone, an hendy knyht ant wys,[L147] + Ant sire Rauf of Sondwyche, that muchel is hold in prys,[L148] + Ant sire Johan Abel; + Mo y mihte telle by tale, 150 + Bothe of grete ant of smale, + Ye knowen suythe wel. + + Thenne saide the justice, that gentil is ant fre, + "Sire Simond Frysel, the kynges traytour hast thou be, + In water ant in londe, that monie myhten se. 155 + What sayst thou thareto, hou wolt thou quite the? + Do say." + So foul he him wiste, + Nede waron truste + For to segge nay. 160 + + Ther he wes ydemed, so hit wes londes lawe; + For that he wes lordswyk, furst he wes to-drawe; + Upon a retheres hude forth he wes ytuht: + Sum while in ys time he wes a modi knyht, + In huerte. 165 + Wickednesse ant sunne, + Hit is lutel wunne + That maketh the body smerte. + + For al is grete poer, yet he wes ylaht; + Falsnesse ant swykedom, al hit geth to naht; 170 + Tho he wes in Scotlond, lutel wes ys thoht + Of the harde jugement that him wes bysoht + In stounde. + He wes foursithe forswore + To the kyng ther bifore,[L175] 175 + Ant that him brohte to grounde. + + With feteres ant with gyves i chot he wes to-drowe, + From the Tour of Londone, that monie myhte knowe, + In a curtel of burel, a selkethe wyse, + Ant a gerland on ys heved of the newe guyse, 180 + Thurh Cheepe; + Moni mon of Engelond + For to se Symond + Thideward con lepe. + + Tho he com to galewes, furst he wes anhonge, 185 + Al quic byheveded, thah him thohte longe; + Seththe he wes y-opened, is boweles ybrend, + The heved to Londone-brugge wes send, + To shonde: + So ich ever mote the, 190 + Sumwhile wende he + Ther lutel to stonde. + + He rideth thourh the sit['e], as y telle may, + With gomen ant wyth solas, that wes here play; + To Londone-brugge hee nome the way, 195 + Moni wes the wyves chil that theron laketh a day, + Ant seide, Alas, + That he wes ibore, + Ant so villiche forlore, + So feir mon ase he was! 200 + + Nou stont the heved above the tu-brugge, + Faste bi Waleis, soth for te sugge; + After socour of Scotlond longe he mowe prye, + Ant after help of Fraunce, (wet halt hit to lye?) + Ich wene. 205 + Betere him were in Scotlond, + With is ax in ys hond, + To pleyen o the grene. + + Ant the body hongeth at the galewes faste, + With yrnene claspes longe to laste; 210 + For te wyte wel the body, ant Scottysh to garste, + Foure ant twenti ther beoth to sothe ate laste, + By nyhte: + Yef eny were so hardi + The body to remuy, 215 + Al so to dyhte. + + Were sire Robert the Bruytz ycome to this londe, + Ant the erl of Asseles, that harde is an honde,[L218] + Alle the other pouraille, forsothe ich understonde, + Mihten be ful blythe ant thonke godes sonde, 220 + Wyth ryhte; + Thenne myhte uch mon + Bothe riden ant gon + In pes withoute vyhte. + + The traytours of Scotland token hem to rede 225 + The barouns of Engelond to brynge to dede: + Charles of Fraunce, so moni mon tolde, + With myht ant with streynthe hem helpe wolde, + His thonkes. + Tprot, Scot, for thi strif! 230 + Hang up thyn hachet ant thi knyf, + Whil him lasteth the lyf + With the longe shonkes. + +66. Bruce's wife, it is said, replied to her husband, when he was +boasting of his royal rank, "You are indeed a summer king, but you will +scarce be a winter one," alluding to the ephemeral sovereignty of the +Lord of the May. + +129. He was one of the Scottish prisoners in the Tower; and is said to +have been so confident of the safety or success of Sir Simon Fraser, +that he had offered to lay his own head on the block, if that warrior +suffered himself to be taken; and (however involuntarily) it seems he +kept his word. Vide M. West. 460.--RITSON. MS. Morham. + +145. 7th September. + +147. Sir Thomas Multon was one of the justices of the King's Bench in +1289. Sir Ralph Sandwich was made Baron of the Exchequer in 1312.--RITSON. + +148. MS. told. + +175. Sir Simon was one of those whom King Edward brought out of Scotland +in 1296, when that kingdom was first subdued. He remained a close +prisoner about eight months, and was then freed, on entering into the +usual engagement with the conqueror, to which, however, it is certain he +did not think proper to adhere; esteeming it, perhaps, more sinful to +keep such a forced obligation than to take it. Abercrombie, i. +552.--RITSON. + +218. The Earl of Athol, John de Strathbogie. Attempting to escape by +sea, he was driven back by a storm, taken, and conveyed to London, where +he was tried, condemned, and, with circumstances of great barbarity, put +to death, 7th, &c. November, 1306. (M. West. 461.) Which proves the +present ballad to have been composed between that time and the 7th of +September preceding.--RITSON. + + + + +GLOSSARY. + +[right pointing hand] Figures placed after words denote the pages in +which they occur. + + + ablins, _perhaps_. + + aboon, abune, _above_. + + abugge, _aby_, _pay for_. + + adrenche, _drown_. + + ae, _one_; first ae, _first_. + + agynneth, _begin_. + + ahint, _behind_. + + airns, _irons_. + + airt, _quarter of the compass_, _direction_. + + alacing, _saying alas_. + + alane, mine, _alone by myself_. + + alast, _latterly_. + + alles, _all_. + + allinge, _altogether_. + + alow, 245, _below_. + + al so, _at once_. + + amense, _amends_. + + American leather, 244? + + anew, _enough_. + + an honde, 283, _in hand_. + + anis, _once_. + + aplyht, 273, a particle of confirmation, _indeed_, _on my word_, &c. + + aquelleden, _killed_. + + arewe, 269, _rue_, _feel aggrieved by_. + + assoygne, 271, _delay_: (lines 66, 67, should probably be transposed.) + + asteir, _astir_, _moved_, (his anger.) + + avow, 261, _consent_, _undertake_. + + avowerie, _protection_, _support_. + + awin, _own_. + + awsome, _frightful_. + + ayeyn, _against_: 278, v. 103, a word seems to have dropped out. The + sense is, _there is no resisting the stars_. Wright reads _stare_. + + ayont, _beyond_, _on one side of_. + + + bangisters, _violent and lawless people_, _those that have the upper + hand_, _victors_. + + basnet, _helmet_. + + batts, _beating_. + + beet, 90, _help_. + + ben, _in_. + + bent, _coarse grass_; + _open country_, covered with the same. + + benty, _covered with the coarse grass called bent_; + benty-line, 13? + + beseen, weil, 132, _well appointed_. + + bide, 273, _pray to_. + + bigged, _built_. + + biheveded, _beheaded_. + + billie, _comrade_. + + birk, _birch_. + + birst, (_burst_) _fray_. + + blan, _stopped_. + + blink, 49, _glanced_. + + blive, _quickly_. + + bobaunce, _vanity_, _presumption_. + + bode, _bid_. + + borrow, _rescue_. + + bot and, _and also_. + + bote, 274, _amends_; + bote, no, _not better off_. + + boun, _ready_, _gone_. + + brae, _hill-side_. + + braid, 245, qy. corrupt? + + brain, gang, _go mad_. + + brank, 124, _prance_, _caper_. + + branks, _a rude sort of bridle of rope and wood_, used by country people. + + braw, bra', _brave_, _fine_. + + brayd on, 32, _move on_ (rapidly). + + breast, 249, _voice_. + + breasting, _springing forward_. + + brecham, _collar of a working horse_. + + brede, o, ant o leynthe, _in breadth and in length_, _far and wide_. + + breek, _breeches_; + 70, breek-thigh, _the side pocket of the breeches_. + + brie, _brow_. + + broked cow, _a cow that has black spots mixed with white in her face_. + + broken men, _outlawed men_. + + browhead, _forehead_. + + brugge, _bridge_. + + brusten, _burst_. + + bryd, _bird_. + + bryttled, _cut up_. + + bueth, _be_. + + bufft coat, _leather coat_. + + bund, _bound_. + + burel, _sackcloth_. + + burn, _brook_. + + busk, _make ready_. + + buss, _bush_. + + bussing, 137, _covering_ (stolen from the packs). + + but, _out_; + 236, but the floor, _across the floor out of the room_, or _to the + outer part of the house_. + + by (sometimes) _besides_. + + byhet, _promised_. + + byres, byris, _barns_, _cowhouses_. + + bysoht, _prepared for_. + + bytake, _committed_. + + bythenche, _bethink_. + + + ca', _call_. + + ca', 90, _drive_. + + carle, _churl_, _fellow_. + + carpit, _talked_, _told stories_. + + ca's, _calves_. + + cauler, _cool_. + + cess, _tax_, _black-mail_. + + cheventeyn, _chieftain_. + + chot, _wot_, _know_, + + chulle, _shall_. + + claes, _clothes_. + + clanked, _gave a smart stroke_. + + cleugh, _a rugged ascent_. + + closs, 191, _area before the house_, (_close_.) + + coll, _cool_. + + coman, _command_. + + con, 269, _began_. + + conquess, _conquer_. + + continaunce, _countenance_. + + corbie, _crow_. + + corn-caugers, _corn-carriers_, or _dealers_. + + cost, 135, _loss_, _risk_. + + could, 102, _began_. + + coune, _began_. + + courtrie, _band of courtiers_. + + couthe, _knew_. + + cowte, _colt_. + + coynte, _quaint_, _cunning_. + + crabit, _crabbed_. + + cracking, _boasting_. + + crooks, _the windings of a river_, _the space of ground closed in on + one side by these windings_. + + crouse, _brisk_, _bold_. + + cumber, to red the, _quell the tumult_. + + cunnes, _kinds_. + + curch, _kerchief_, _coif_. + + cure, 214, _care_, _pains_. + + curtel, 281, _shirt_, _gown_. + + custan, cast. + + + dae, _doe_. + + dandoo, 245, apparently should be _dun doe_. + + dane, _done_, _taken_. + + dang, _beat_. + + daw, _dawn_. + + de, (Fr.) _God_. + + dede, _dealt_. + + dee, _die_. + + deid, _death_. + + deme, _adjudge_. + + destaunce, _disturbance_. + + ding down, _beat down_. + + dints, _blows_. + + doddeth, 272, _lop_. + + dool, _grief_. + + dought, _could_, _was able_. + + dour, _hard_. + + douse, _quiet_, _mild_. + + douss['e]-pers, (Fr. douze pairs) _gallant knights_. + + douteth, _feareth_. + + dow, _can_, _are able_; + downa, _cannot_. + + down-come of Robin Hood, 242, _as quick as R. H. would knock one + down?_ or _pay down?_ + + dreigh, (_tedious_, _long_) _high_. + + dreynte, drowned. + + drie, _bear_, _endure_. + + drifts, 100, _droves_. + + drivand, _driving_. + + drue, _dry_. + + drunkily, _merrily_. + + drury, _treasure_. + + dub, _pool_, _pond_. + + duere, _dear_. + + dule, _sorrow_. + dunt, _dint_, _stroke_. + + dyhte, 282, _dispose of_. + + + e'en, 93, _even_, _put in comparison_. + + een, _eyes_. + + elshin, _shoemaker's awl_. + + ene, 270, _even_. + + enew, _enough_. + + er, _before_. + + ettled, _designed_. + + everuche, _every_; + everuchon, _every one_. + + + falla, _fellow_. + + fand, _found_. + + fang, _catch_. + + fankit, _entangled_, _obstructed_; + here, _so fixed that it could not be drawn_. + + fared, _went_. + + fasten, 276, _plight_. + + fay, _faith_. + + fear't, _frightened_. + + fecht, _fight_. + + fee, _income_, _property_, _wages_. + + feid, _feud_. + + feir, 222, _sound_, _unhurt_. + + feiries, _comrades_. + + fell, _high pasture land_. + + fend, _defence_. + + feren, _comrades_. + + ferly, _wonder_. + + fet, _foot_. + + fie, _predestined_. + + fiend, 9, i. e. _the devil a thing_. + + fit, _foot_. + + flain, _arrows_. + + flatlies, _flat_. + + fley, _fright_. + + flinders, _fragments_. + + flo, _flay_. + + fon, 274, _foes_. + + fonge, _take up_. + + forbode, over God's, (_on God's prohibition_), _God forbid_. + + forehammer, _the large hammer which strikes before the small one_, + _sledge-hammer_. + + foreward, _covenant_. + + forfaulted, _forfeited_. + + forfend, _forbid_. + + forfoughen (i. e. forfoughten) _tired out_. + + forst, _frost_. + + fot-lome, _foot-lame_. + + fou, _full_ (_of drink_). + + four-half, on, _in quarters_. + + foursithe, _four times_. + + fow, 219, _full?_ + + frae hand, _forthwith_. + + freits, _omens_. + + frith, _wood_. + + furs, _furrows_. + + fyn, _end_. + + + gar, _make_, _let_. + + garste, 282, (should probably be gast) _frighten away_. + + gaun, _going_. + + gavelocks, (_javelins_) _iron crows_. + + gear, _goods_, _property_; + 16, _spoil_. + + ged, _went_. + + geir, same as gear. + + genzie, _engine of war_. + + gifted, 31, _given away_. + + gilt, _gold_. + + gin, _if_. + gin, _trick_. + + gleed, _red-hot coal_, _a glowing bar of iron_. + + gloamin', _twilight_. + + gomen, 282, _game_, _mockery_. + + goud, _gold_. + + goule, (Fr.) _throat_. + + graith, _armor_. + + graith, _make ready_; + graithed, _armed_. + + grat, _wept_. + + green, _yearn_, _long_. + + greeting, _weeping_. + + gripet, _seized_. + + grom, _groom_, _man_. + + grome, 279, _sorrow_. + + gryming, _sprinkling_. + + guided, 172, _treated_. + + gynne, _trap_. + + + had, haud, _hold_. + + haif, _have_. + + hail, 133, (_vigorous_, and so) _boisterous?_ + + halewen, _saints_. + + halt, 276, 282, _profits?_ + + halve, _side_. + + haly, _holy_. + + happers, _hoppers_. + + hardilyche, _boldly_. + + harpit, _harped_. + + harried, _plundered_. + + hastifliche, _hastily_. + + haud, _hold_, _keep_. + + he, 282, _they_. + + head, 117, _assemblage_. + + heckle, _a hatchel_, _flax-comb_. + + hem, _them_. + + hende, hendy, _gentle_. + + hente, _caught_. + + herry, _harry_, _spoil_. + + he's, _he shall_. + + het, _head_. + + het, _hot_. + + heugh, _a ragged steep_, sometimes, _a glen with steep overhanging + sides_. + + heved, _head_. + + hi, _they_. + + hie, _high_. + + hirst, _a barren hill_. + + hold, 276, _faithful_. + + hope, houp, _a sloping hollow between two hills_. + + hostage house, 233, _inn_. + + how, _pull_. + + howm, _a plain on a river side_. + + hue, _they_; + huem, _them_; + huere, _their_. + + hulles, _hills_. + + + ibore, _born_. + + ich, _I_. + + ichulle, _I shall_. + + ilka, _every_. + + intill, _in_. + + is, _his_. + + I'se, _I will_. + + + jack, _a short coat plated with small pieces of iron_. + + jeopardy, 223, _adventure_. + + jimp, _slender_. + + jugge, 271, _condemn_. + + + keekit, _peeped_. + + kend, _known_. + + kettrin, _cateran_, _thieving_. + + keverest, 273, _recoverest_. + + kilted, _tucked_. + + kinnen, _rabbits_. + + kirns, _churns_. + + Kirsty, _Christy_. + + knapscap, _head-piece_. + + know, _knoll_. + + knulled, 272, _pushed_, _beaten_ (_with the knuckles_). + + kunnes, _kinds_. + + kyne-yerde, _king's wand_ or _sceptre_. + + kyneriche, _kingdom_. + + + laht, _caught_. + + laigh, _low_. + + langsome, _tedious_. + + lap, _wrap up_. + + lave, _rest_. + + law, _low_. + + lawing, _scot_, _reckoning_. + + lay, _lea_. + + layne, _conceal_. + + leal, leel, _loyal_, _true_, _chaste_. + + lear, _lore_. + + leaut['e], _loyalty_. + + lede, _people_. + + lee, _waste_, _lonely_. + + lee-lang, _live-long_. + + lee, shelter, peace; + set at little lee, 101, _left little peace?_ "_left scarcely any + means of shelter_." JAMIESON. + + leeze me on, 90, _I take pleasure or comfort in_. + + lerrum, (Fr.) _leave_. + + les, _lying_. + + let, 278, _ceased_. + + leugh, _laughed_. + + levedy, _lady_. + + libbe, _live_. + + lidder, _lazy_. + + lidder fat, _fat from laziness_; + (qu. same as leeper fat?) + + lightly, _make light of_, _treat with contempt_. + + limmer, _rascal_, _scoundrelly_. + + Lincome, _Lincoln_; + Lincum twine, _Lincoln manufacture_. + + ling, _heath_. + + loan, _a piece of ground near a farm house where the cows are milked_. + + loot, _let_. + + lordswyk, _traitor to his lord_. + + lore, loren, _lost_. + + loup, _leap_, _waterfall_. + + louped, loupen, _leapt_. + + lourd, _liefer_, _rather_. + + low, _flame_. + + lowne, _loon_. + + luid, _loved_. + + lyan, _lain_. + + lyart, _hoary_. + + lyke-wake, _watching of a dead body_. + + lyves man, 271, _living man_. + + + ma, shame a, 93, _devil a bit_. + + mae, _more_. + + maill, _rent_. + + mane, _moan_. + + maries, _maids_. + + marrows, _equals_. + + maun, _must_. + + may, _maid_. + + me, _they_ (Fr. _on_). + + mear, _mare_. + + mene, _moan_. + + mergh, _marrow_. + + mest, _most_. + + minnie, _mother_. + + mirk, _dark_. + + modi, _bold_. + + mot, _may_. + + mounde, 270, _might?_ + + mowe, _may_. + + mowes, _jests_. + + mudie, _bold_. + + muss, _moss_. + + + naggs, _notches_. + + nede, 280, _he had not_. + + neist, _next_. + + nes, _was not_. + + neuk, 224, _corner?_ + + nicher, nicker, _neigh_. + + nie, _neigh_. + + niest, _next_. + + nogs, _stakes_. + + noisome, 139, _annoying_, _vexatious_. + + nolden, _would not_. + + nome, _name_. + + nome, nomen, _took_. + + nones, _no_. + + notour, 267, _notorious_. + + noud, nout, _nought_, _not_. + + nowt, _cattle_. + + nule, _will not_. + + nythe, 275, _wickedness_. + + + oht, _oath_. + + onde, 275, _malice_, _envy_. + + other, _or_. + + ou, _you_. + + ouir, _our_. + + our, oure, _over_. + + outspeckle, _laughing-stock_. + + ower-word, _burden_. + + owsen, _oxen_. + + + palliones, _tents_. + + paw, neer play'd, 84, _did not stir hand or foot_. + + peel, 106, _the stronghold, where the cattle were kept_. + + pellettes, _balls_. + + peruenke, _periwinkle_. + + pestelets, _pistols_, _fire-arms_. + + pleugh, _plough_. + + plumet, 75, _pommel_. + + poer, _power_. + + pouraille, _common people_. + + pris, 276, _praise_. + + prude, _pride_. + + prye, _pray_. + + pure, _poor_. + + putfalle, _pitfall_. + + pyne, _pain_. + + + questry, _jury_. + + quey, _young cow_. + + quhavir, _whoever_. + + quhilk, _which_. + + + rack, _a shallow ford, extending to a considerable breadth before it + narrows into a full stream_. JAMIESON. + + rad, 27, _afraid_. + + rae, _roe_. + + raid, _foray_, _predatory incursion_, _fight_. + + rank'd, 25, i. e. _looked finely_, _formed in ranks_. + + ranshackled, _ransacked_. + + rantin', _gay_, _jovial_. + + rathere, 274, _sooner_, _beforehand_. + + raxed, _stretched_. + + ray, 102, _path_ or _track_. + + reaving, _robbing_. + + redd, rede, _advise_, _advice_. + + reek, _smoke_. + + reif, _bailiff_. + + reif, _robbery_; + reiver, _robber_. + + reil, _reel_. + + remuy, _remove_. + + res, 276, (Ang. Sax. _raes_,) _incursions_, _exploits_? + + retheres hude, _bullock's hide_. + + rig, 119, _ridge_. + + rigging, _ridge_, _top_. + + rin, _run_. + + rok, _distaff_. + + roof-tree, _the beam which forms the angle of the roof_. + + rouncyn, _horse_. + + routing, _bellowing_. + + row, _roll_. + + row-footed, 63, _rough-footed?_ + + rudds, _reddens_. + + rude, _rood_. + + Rumary, 249? + + rybaus, _ribalds_, _villains_. + + + saft, 65, _light_. + + saht, 276, _at one_, _reconciled_. + + sark, _shirt_, _shift_. + + saugh, _willow_. + + sawe, _speech_. + + schaw, _wood_. + + scroggs, _stunted trees_. + + see, _protect_. + + see, 277, _seat_, _throne_. + + seen, _soon_. + + seld, _sold_. + + selkethe, _strange_. + + serime, 248, corrupt: qy. _betime_? + + seth the, _after_. + + served, 25, _behaved to_. + + shame a ma, 93, _devil a bit_. + + sheen, _shoes_. + + sheil, _shepherd's hut_. + + shome, _shame_. + + shonde, _disgrace_. + + shonkes, _shanks_. + + sic, sicken, _such_. + + skaithd, _injured_. + + skeigh, _sky_. + + slack, _a shallow dell_, _morass_. + + slae, 119, _sloe_. + + sleuth-dog, _blood-hound_. + + slogan, _the gathering word peculiar to a family or clan_, _a war-cry_. + + sloken, _slake_. + + slough-hounds, _blood-hounds_. + + slowen, _slew_. + + smoldereth, _smothereth_. + + snear, _snort_. + + so, _as_. + + solas, _amusement_. + + sonde, godes, _God's sending_. + + sote, _soot_. + + soth, soht, _truth_. + + Soudron, _Southerner_, _English_. + + sould, suld, _should_. + + sowie, _sow_ (Lat. _vinea_, _pluteus_), _a shed or pent-house + under cover of which the walls of a besieged town were assailed_. + + soy, _silk_. + + spaits, _floods_, _torrents_. + + spauld, _shoulder_. + + spene, 272, _cost_. + + spier, _ask_. + + spin, _run_. + + splent, _armor_. + + springald, _a military engine for discharging heavy missiles at the + walls of a beleaguered town_. + + spuilye, spulzie, _despoil_. + + star, see _ayeyn_. + + starkest, _strongest_. + + staun, _stolen_. + + steads, _places_. + + stear, _stir_. + + stont, _stands_. + + stots, _bullocks_. + + stounde, _time_. + + stour, _turmoil_, _affray_. + + straught, _stretched_. + + streynthe, _strength_. + + strick, _strict_. + + strinkled, _sprinkled_. + + Strivelyn, _Sterling_. + + stude, _place_. + + sturt, 138, _trouble_, _disturbance_. + + suereth, _swear_. + + sugge, _say_. + + suithe, _very_. + + sunne, _sin_. + + sweynes, 272, _swains_, _men in general below the rank of knights_. + + swithe, _very_. + + swither, _doubt_, _consternation_. + + swyers, _squires_. + + swykedom, _treachery_. + + swythe, _very_. + + syke, _ditch_. + + syne, _then_. + + + tackles, _arrows_. + + tald, _told_. + + targats, 49, _tassels_. + + te, _to_. + + temed, 276, _tamed_. + + thae, _these_. + + thah, _though_. + + the, _thrive_. + + then, _than_. + + thenche, _think_. + + theynes, _thanes_. + + thir, _these_; + thir's, _these are_. + + this, _these_. + + tho, _then_. + + thole, _bear_, _endure_. + + thonkes, his, 283, _willingly_, _gladly_, _by his good will_. + + thrawin, 219, _distorted_, _wrinkled_. + + thunche, 273, _seem_. + + til, _to_; + til't, _to it_. + + tint, _lost_. + + to-drawe, to-drowe, _drawn_. + + to-dryven, 270, _break to pieces_. + + token, 277, _gave to_. + + tome, _tame_. + + toom, _empty_. + + tour, 192, _course or road_. + + tow, 158, _throw_. + + tprot, _interjection of contempt_. + + trayne, _stratagem_. + + tree, _staff_. + + trepan'd, 180, _foully dealt with_. + + trew, _trust_. + + tryst, _meeting_. + + tu-brugge, _draw-bridge_. + + tul, _to_. + + twa-fald, 15, _two-fold_, i. e. _with his body hanging down both sides_. + + twa-some, _couple_. + + twined, _parted_. + + + uch, _each_. + + unkensome, _not to be recognized_. + + unthought lang, hold, _keep from growing weary_. + + upgive, 34, _acknowledge_. + + + villiche, _vilely_. + + vor, _for_. + + Vrenshe, _French_. + + vyhte, _fighting_. + + vylt['e], _disgrace_. + + + wad, _would_. + + wad, 225, _wager_, _forfeit_. + + Waleis, _Wallace_. + + wally fa', 262, _ill luck befall_. + + wan, _pale_, _dark_, _black_. + + wan, _reached_. + + wap, _tie round_. + + waran, _guaranty_. + + ware, 111, _lay out_, _use_. + + ware, 272, (Ang. S. were, _capitis [ae]stimatio_) _ransom_, _life-money_. + + wark, _work_. + + warrand, _protection_. + + wat, _know_. + + wat, _wet_. + + waur, _worse_. + + way, to the, 262, _away?_ + + wear, _guard_. + + webbes, _weavers_. + + wed, 247, qy. corrupt? + + weht, _what_. + + weel-fared, _well-favored_. + + weil, 92, _eddy_. + + weir, _war_. + + wel the felle, 273, _will fall from thy head?_ + + wende, _weened_. + + wes, _was_. + + wesleyn, _western_. + + wether, _whither_. + + weylaway, _well-a-day!_ + + whang, _thong_. + + whidderan, _whizzing_. + + whet, _what_. + + whew, _whistle_. + + whos['e], _any one whatever_. + + wicker, 119, _switch_. + + widdifu, _one who deserves to fill a widdie or halter_, _gallows + bird_, _ruffian_. + + wight, _strong_, _quick_; + wightmen (Ang. Sax. wigman) _fighting men_, _brave fellows_; + waled wightmen, 220, _picked warriors_. + + win, _get_. + + winna, _will not_. + + winsomely, _handsomely_. + + wit, _knowledge_. + + wod, _waded_. + + wombe, _belly_. + + won, 120, misprint for win? + + wons, _dwells_. + + wood, _mad_. + + worries, _strangles_. + + Wudspurs, _Madspur_, _Hotspur_. + + wyht, _wight_. + + wysloker, _more wisely_. + + wyte, _know_. + + wyte, 282, _wait_, _watch_ (?) + + + y, _in_. + + yate, _gate_. + + ybate, 280? + + y-be, _been_. + + y-brend, _burnt_. + + y-caht, _caught_. + + y-core, _chosen_. + + y-cud, _known_. + + y-demed, _judged_. + + y-dyht, 278, _arranged_. + + yeate, _gate_. + + yef, _if_. + + yeme, _govern_. + + yere, to, 276, _this year_. + + yestreen, _yesterday_. + + yett, _gate_. + + y-herde, _heard_. + + y-knawe, _recognize_. + + y-laht, _caught_, _taken_. + + y-nemned, _named_. + + yongeth, _goeth_. + + y-suore, _sworn_. + + y-tuht, _drawn_. + + yynge, _young_. + + + zour, &c., _your_, &c. + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Page 87 and note on page 88: changed "169" to "129" (129. The +land-sergeant (mentioned also in _Hobbie Noble_) ...) + +Page 93 (note to line 70): changed "ross" to "across" ( ... chains drawn +across the chest of a war-horse ...) + +Page 129 (note to line 66): changed "East-gath" to "East-gate" (The +family of Emerson of East-gate, a fief, ...) + +Page 139 (note to line 24): added missing closing quotation mark (All +bravely fought that day."--S.) + +Page 148: changed "opprobious" to "opprobrious" ( ... gave Car some very +opprobrious language ...) + +Page 189: added missing closing quotation mark ( ... the accused party +was soon restored to society.") + +Page 214 (line 34): added missing closing quotation mark ("And ye shall +pardoned be:") + +Page 253 (line 54): changed "Jonne[a] rounde" to "Jonne [a]rounde" (And +so besett poore Jonne [a]rounde,) + +Page 260 (first line of chorus): changed "Re" to "Be" (_Be content, be +content,_) + +Page 260 suspected typo "fortunately" should perhaps be read +"unfortunately" ( ... the circumstances which have given rise to it were +fortunately too common ...) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of English and Scottish Ballads, Volume +VI (of 8), by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH, SCOTTISH BALLADS, VOL VI *** + +***** This file should be named 39766.txt or 39766.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/7/6/39766/ + +Produced by Simon Gardner, Dianna Adair, Louise Davies and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by the Digital & Multimedia +Center, Michigan State University Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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