English and Scottish Ballads Volume VI Part 32

They have shotten little Johnny c.o.c.k, 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 b.l.o.o.d.y 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 wh.o.r.e.

"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.