Lyra Heroica Part 9

Then quoth the Spanish general, 'Come, let us march away, I fear we shall be spoiled all If that we longer stay: For yonder comes Lord Willoughby With courage fierce and fell, He will not give one inch of ground For all the devils in h.e.l.l.'

And when the fearful enemy Was quickly put to flight, Our men pursued courageously To rout his forces quite; And at last they gave a shout Which echoed through the sky: 'G.o.d, and St. George for England!'

The conquerors did cry.

This news was brought to England With all the speed might be, And soon our gracious Queen was told Of this same victory.

'O! this is brave Lord Willoughby, My love that ever won: Of all the lords of honour 'Tis he great deeds hath done!'

To the soldiers that were maimed, And wounded in the fray, The queen allowed a pension Of fifteen pence a day, And from all costs and charges She quit and set them free: And this she did all for the sake Of brave Lord Willoughby.

Then courage, n.o.ble Englishmen, And never be dismayed!

If that we be but one to ten, We will not be afraid To fight with foreign enemies, And set our country free.

And thus I end the b.l.o.o.d.y bout Of brave Lord Willoughby.

XXVIII

HUGHIE THE GRaeME

Good Lord Scroope to the hills is gane, Hunting of the fallow deer; And he has grippit Hughie the Graeme For stealing of the Bishop's mare.

'Now, good Lord Scroope, this may not be!

Here hangs a broadsword by my side; And if that thou canst conquer me, The matter it may soon be tried.'

'I ne'er was afraid of a traitor thief; Although thy name be Hughie the Graeme, I'll make thee repent thee of thy deeds, If G.o.d but grant me life and time.'

But as they were dealing their blows so free, And both so b.l.o.o.d.y at the time, Over the moss came ten yeomen so tall, All for to take bold Hughie the Graeme.

O then they grippit Hughie the Graeme, And brought him up through Carlisle town: The lads and la.s.ses stood on the walls, Crying, 'Hughie the Graeme, thou'se ne'er gae down!'

'O loose my right hand free,' he says, 'And gie me my sword o' the metal sae fine, He's no in Carlisle town this day Daur tell the tale to Hughie the Graeme.'

Up then and spake the brave Whitefoord, As he sat by the Bishop's knee, 'Twenty white owsen, my gude lord, If ye'll grant Hughie the Graeme to me.'

'O haud your tongue,' the Bishop says, 'And wi' your pleading let me be; For tho' ten Grahams were in his coat, They suld be hangit a' for me.'

Up then and spake the fair Whitefoord, As she sat by the Bishop's knee, 'A peck o' white pennies, my good lord, If ye'll grant Hughie the Graeme to me.'

'O haud your tongue now, lady fair, Forsooth, and so it sall na be; Were he but the one Graham of the name, He suld be hangit high for me.'

They've ta'en him to the gallows knowe, He looked to the gallows tree, Yet never colour left his cheek, Nor ever did he blink his e'e.

He looked over his left shoulder To try whatever he could see, And he was aware of his auld father, Tearing his hair most piteouslie.

'O haud your tongue, my father dear, And see that ye dinna weep for me!

For they may ravish me o' my life, But they canna banish me fro' Heaven hie.

And ye may gie my brither 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 brither James My sword that's bent in the middle brown, And bid him come at four o'clock, And see his brither Hugh cut down.

And ye may tell my kith and kin I never did disgrace their blood; And when they meet the Bishop's cloak, To mak' it shorter by the hood.'

XXIX

KINMONT WILLIE

THE CAPTURE

O have ye na heard o' the fause Sakelde?

O have ye na heard o' the keen Lord Scroope?

How they hae ta'en bold Kinmont Willie, On Haribee to hang him up?

Had Willie had but twenty men, But twenty men as stout as he, Fause Sakelde had never the Kinmont ta'en, Wi' eight score in his c.u.mpanie.

They band his legs beneath the steed, They tied his hands behind his back; They guarded him fivesome on each side, And they brought him ower the Liddel-rack.

They led him thro' the Liddel-rack, And also thro' the Carlisle sands; They brought him on to Carlisle castle To be at my Lord Scroope's commands.

'My hands are tied, but my tongue is free, And wha will dare this deed avow?

Or answer by the Border law?

Or answer to the bold Buccleuch?'

'Now haud thy tongue, thou rank reiver!

There's never a Scot shall set thee free: Before ye cross my castle yett, I trow ye shall take farewell o' me.'

'Fear na ye that, my lord,' quo' Willie: '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.'

THE KEEPER'S WRATH

Now word is gane to the bold Keeper, In Branksome Ha' where that he lay, 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 garred the red wine spring on hie: 'Now a curse upon my head,' he said, '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 lady's lily hand, That an English lord should lightly me!

And have they ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, Against the truce of Border tide?

And forgotten that the bold Buccleuch Is keeper here on the Scottish side?