Lyra Heroica Part 10

And have they e'en ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, Withouten either dread or fear?

And forgotten that the bold Buccleuch Can back a steed or shake a spear?

O were there war between the lands, As well I wot that there is none, I would slight Carlisle castle high, Though it were builded of marble stone.

I would set that castle in a lowe, And slocken it with English blood!

There's never a man in c.u.mberland Should ken where Carlisle castle stood.

But since nae war's between the lands, And there is peace, and peace should be, I'll neither harm English lad or la.s.s, And yet the Kinmont freed shall be!'

THE MARCH

He has called him forty Marchmen bold, I trow they were of his ain name, Except Sir Gilbert Elliot, called The Laird of Stobs, I mean the same.

He has called him forty Marchmen bold, Were kinsmen to the bold Buccleuch; With spur on heel, and splent on spauld, And gluves of green, and feathers blue.

There were five and five before them a', Wi' hunting-horns and bugles bright: And five and five cam' wi' Buccleuch, Like warden's men, arrayed for fight.

And five and five like a mason gang That carried the ladders lang and hie; And five and five like broken men; And so they reached the Woodhouselee.

And as we crossed the 'Bateable Land, When to the English side we held, The first o' men that we met wi', Whae suld it be but fause Sakelde?

'Where be ye gaun, ye hunters keen?'

Quo' fause Sakelde; 'come tell to me!'

'We go to hunt an English stag Has trespa.s.sed on the Scots countrie.'

'Where be ye gaun, ye marshal men?'

Quo' fause Sakelde; 'come tell me true!'

'We go to catch a rank reiver Has broken faith wi' the bold Buccleuch.'

'Where are ye gaun, ye mason lads, Wi' a' your ladders lang and hie?'

'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 d.i.c.kie of Dryhope led that band, And the never a word of lear had he.

'Why trespa.s.s ye on the English side?

Row-footed outlaws, stand!' quo' he; The never a word had d.i.c.kie to say, Sae he thrust the lance through his fause bodie.

Then on we held for Carlisle toun, And at Staneshaw-Bank the Eden we crossed; The water was great and meikle of spait, But the never a horse nor man we lost.

And when we reached the Staneshaw-Bank, The wind was rising loud and hie; And there the Laird garred leave our steeds, For fear that they should stamp and neigh.

And when we left the Staneshaw-Bank, The wind began full loud to blaw; 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 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'dst gaed!

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?_

THE RESCUE

Then speedilie to wark we gaed, 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; It was but twenty Scots and ten That put a thousand in sic a stear!

Wi' coulters and wi' forehammers We garred the bars bang merrilie, Until we came to the inner prison, 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?'

'O I sleep saft, and I wake aft; It's lang since sleeping was fleyed 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, 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; '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, I wot the Kinmont's airns played 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.

And mony a time,' quo' Kinmont Willie, 'I've p.r.i.c.ked a horse out oure the furs; But since the day I backed a steed, I never wore sic c.u.mbrous spurs!'

We scarce had won the Staneshaw-Bank When a' the Carlisle bells were rung, And a thousand men on horse and foot Cam' wi' the keen Lord Scroope along.

Buccleuch has turned to Eden Water, Even where it flowed frae bank to brim, And he has plunged in wi' a' his band, And safely swam them through the stream.

He turned him on the other side, And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he: 'If ye like na my visit in merrie England, In fair Scotland come visit me!'

All sore astonished 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.

'He is either himsell a devil frae h.e.l.l, Or else his mother a witch maun be; I wadna have ridden that wan water For a' the gowd in Christentie.'

x.x.x

THE HONOUR OF BRISTOL

Attend you, and give ear awhile, And you shall understand Of a battle fought upon the seas By a s.h.i.+p of brave command.

The fight it was so glorious Men's hearts it did ful-fill, And it made them cry, 'To sea, to sea, With the Angel Gabriel!'