Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border Volume I Part 11

"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 right crousely:

"Of Scotland's king I haud my house; "He pays me meat and fee; "And I will keep my gude auld house, "While my house will keep me."

They laid their sowies to the wall, 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; 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 fair, 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.

"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, Where auld King Edward lay, Burning baith castle, tower, and town, That he met in his way,

Untill he came unto that town, Which some call Billop-Grace; 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[92], "We're fatherlesse a' three.

"For Scotland's conquer'd, up and down; "Landmen we'll never be: "Now, will ye go, my brethren two, "And try some jeopardy?"

Then they hae saddled twa black horse, Twa black horse, and a grey; And they are on to King Edward's host, Before the dawn of day.

When they arriv'd before the host, They hover'd on the lay-- "Wilt thou lend me our king's standard, "To bear a little way?"

"Where was thou bred? where was thou born?

"Where, or in what countrie?"

"In north of England I was born: (It needed him to lie.)

"A knight me gat, a lady bore, "I'm a squire of high renowne; I well may bear't to any king, "That ever yet wore crowne."

"He ne'er came of an Englishman, "Had sic an e'e or bree; "But thou art the likest Auld Maitland, "That ever I did see.

"But sick a gloom, on ae brow-head, "Grant I ne'er see agane!

"For mony of our men he slew, "And mony put to pain."

When Maitland heard his father's name, 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; 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?"

"Aye, by my sooth!" they baith replied, "We'll bear you company."

The youngest turn'd him in a path, And drew a burnished brand, And fifteen of the foremost slew, Till back the lave did stand.

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', 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; 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, 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.

Then they hae yoked carts and wains, To ca' their dead away, And shot auld d.y.k.es aboon the lave, In gutters where they lay.

The king, at his pavilion door, 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; "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, "Reproved sall he be."

He went before King Edward strait, And kneel'd low on his knee; "I wad hae leave, my lord," he said, "To speak a word wi' thee."

The king he turned him round about, And wistna what to say-- Quo' he, "Man, thou's hae leave to speak, Tho' thou should speak a' day."

"Ye said, that three young lads o' France "Your standard stole away, "Wi' a fause tale, and fauser trayne, "And mony men did slay:

"But we are nane the lads o' France, "Nor e'er pretend to be; "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, "Weel fitted ye sall be!

"Piercy sall wi' the eldest fight, "And Ethert Lunn wi' thee; "William of Lancaster the third, "And bring your fourth to me!"

"_Remember, Piercy, aft the Scot[93]

"Has cow'rd beneath thy hand_: "For every drap of Maitland blood, "I'll gie a rigg of land."

He clanked Piercy ower the head, A deep wound and a sair, Till the best blood o' his bodie Cam rinning down his hair.

"Now, I've slayne ane; slay ye the twa; "And that's gude companye; "And if the twa suld slay you baith, "Ye'se get na help frae me."

But Ethert Lunn, a baited bear, Had many battles seen; He set the youngest wonder sair, Till the eldest he grew keen--

"I am nae king, nor nae sic thing: "My word it shanna stand!

"For Ethert sail a buffet bide, "Come he beneath my brand."

He clanked Ethert ower the head, A deep wound and a sair, Till the best blood of his bodie Cam rinning ower his hair.

"Now I've slayne twa; slay ye the ane; "Is na that gude companye?

"And tho' the ane suld slay ye baith, "Ye'se get na help o' me."

The twa-some they hae slayne the ane; They maul'd him cruellie; Then hung them over the draw-brigg, That all the host might see.