Northumberland Yesterday and To-day Part 18

"Now Jock, my man," quo Hobbie n.o.ble, "Some o' his weight ye may lay on me."

"I wat weel no," quo' the Laird's ain Jock; "I count him lighter than a flee."

Sae out at the gates they a' are gane, The prisoner's set on horseback hie; And now wi' speed they're ta'en the gate, While ilk ane jokes fu' wantonlie.

"O Jock! sae winsomely 's ye ride, Wi' baith your feet upon ae side; Sae weel ye're harnessed, and sae trig, In troth ye sit like ony bride!"

The night, tho' wat, they didna mind, But hied them on fu' merrilie Until they cam' to Cholerford brae, Where the water ran baith deep and hie.

But when they came to Cholerford, 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 gude auld man; "I hae lived here thirty years and three, And I ne'er yet saw the Tyne sae big, Nor running anes sae like a sea."

Then out and spake the Laird's Saft Wat, The greatest coward in the companie; "Now halt, now halt, we needna try't, The day is come we a' maun dee."

"Puir faint-hearted thief!" cried the Laird's ain Jock, "There'll nae man die but him that's fey; I'll guide ye a' right safely thro', Lift ye the prisoner on ahint me."

Wi' that the water they hae ta'en; By anes and twas they a' swam thro'; "Here we are a' safe," quo' the Laird's Jock, "And puir faint Wat, what think ye now?"

They scarce the other brae had won When twenty men they saw pursue; Frae Newcastle toun they had been sent, A' English lads baith stout and true.

But when the land-serjeant the water saw, "It winna ride, my lads," says he; Then cried aloud--"The prisoner take, But leave the fetters, I pray, to me."

"I wat weel no," quo' the Laird's Jock; "I'll keep them a'; shoon to my mare they'll be.

My gude bay mare--for I am sure She has bought them a' right dear frae thee."

Sae now they are on to Liddesdale, E'en as fast as they could them hie; The prisoner is brought to his ain fireside, And there o' his airns they mak' him free.

"Now, Jock, ma billie," quo' a' the three, "The day is com'd thou was to dee.

But thou's as weel at thy ain ingle-side, Now sitting, I think 'twixt thou and me."

BARTHRAM'S DIRGE.

They shot him dead at the Nine-stane Rig, Beside the Headless Cross, And they left him lying in his blood, Upon the moor and moss.

They made a bier of the broken bough The sauch and the aspin grey, And they bore him to the Lady Chapel, And waked him there all day.

A lady came to that lonely bower, And threw her robes aside; She tore her ling lang yellow hair, And knelt at Barthram's side.

She bathed him in the Lady-Well, His wounds sae deep and sair; And she plaited a garland for his breast, And a garland for his hair.

They rowed him in a lily sheet And bare him to his earth; And the Grey Friars sung the dead man's ma.s.s As they pa.s.sed the Chapel garth.

They buried him at the mirk midnight, When the dew fell cold and still, When the aspin grey forgot to play, And the mist clung to the hill.

They dug his grave but a bare foot deep, By the edge of the Nine-stane Burn, And they covered him o'er with the heather-flower, The moss and the lady-fern.

A Grey Friar staid upon the grave, And sang till the morning tide; And a friar shall sing for Barthram's soul While the Headless Cross shall bide.

THE FAIR FLOWER OF NORTHUMBERLAND

It was a knight in Scotland born, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Was taken pris'ner and left forlorn, Even by the good Earl of Northumberland.

Then was he cast in prison strong, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Where he could not walk nor lie along, Even by the good Earl of Northumberland.

And as in sorrow thus he lay, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) The Earl's sweet daughter pa.s.sed that way, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

And pa.s.sing by, like an angel bright, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) The prisoner had of her a sight, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

And aloud to her this knight did cry, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) The salt tears standing in her eye, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

"Fair lady," he said, "take pity on me, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And let me not in prison dee, And you the fair flower of Northumberland."

"Fair sir, how should I take pity on thee, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Thou being a foe to our countrie, And I the fair flower of Northumberland?"

"Fair lady, I am no foe," he said, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) "Through thy sweet love here was I stayed, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland."

"Why shouldst thou come here for love of me, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Having wife and bairns in thy own countrie, And I the fair flower of Northumberland?"

"I swear by the Blessed Trinity, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) That neither wife nor bairns have I, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland."

"If courteously thou wilt set me free, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) I vow that I will marry thee, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.

"Thou shalt be lady of castles and towers, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And sit like a queen in princely bowers, Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland."

Then parted hence this lady gay, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And got her father's ring away, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

Likewise much gold got she by sleight, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And all to help this forlorn knight, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

Two gallant steeds both good and able, (Follow, my love, come over the strand), She likewise took out of the stable, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

And to the goaler she sent the ring, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Who the knight from prison forth did bring, To meet the fair flower of Northumberland.

This token set the prisoner free, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Who straight went to this fair ladye, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

A gallant steed he did bestride, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And with the lady away did ride, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

They rode till they came to a water clear, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) "Good sir, how shall I follow you here, And I the fair flower of Northumberland?

"The water is rough and wonderful deep, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And on my saddle I shall not keep, And I the fair flower of Northumberland?

"Fear not the ford, fair lady," quoth he, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) "For long I cannot stay for thee, Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland."