And when we reached the Staneshaw-bank, The wind was rising loud and hie; And there the laird garr'd leave our steeds, For fear that they should stamp and nie. And when we left the Staneshaw-bank, But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet, We crept on knees, and held our breath, 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 land, 'Upon the other side thou hadst gaed!— 'Now sound out, trumpets!' quo' Buccleucia; 'Let's waken Lord Scroop, right merrilie!' Then loud the warden's trumpet blew'O wha dare meddle wi' me?' Then speedilie to work we gaed, And raised the slogan ane and a', And cut a hole thro' a sheet of lead, And so we wan to the castle ha'. They thought King James and a' his men It was but twenty Scots and ten, Wi' coulters, and wi' fore-hammers, Where Willie o' Kinmont he did lie. And when we cam to the lower prison, Its 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, I wot the Kinmont's airns played clang! 'O mony a time,' quo' Kinmont Willie, 'O mony a time,' quo' Kinmont Willie, We scarce had won the Staneshaw-bank, 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 thro' the stream. He turned him on the other side, And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he'If ye like na my visit in merry England, In fair Scotland come visit me!' All sore astonished stood Lord Scroope, 'He is either himself a devil frae hell, ROBIN HOOD BALLADS. ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE WIDOW'S THREE SONS. There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May. Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, With a link a down, and a day, And there he met a silly old woman, Was weeping on the way. 'What news? what news? thou silly old woman, What news hast thou for me?' Said she, 'There's my three sons in Nottingham town To-day condemned to die.' 'O, have they parishes burnt?' he said, Or other men's wives have ta'en ? "They have no parishes burnt, good sir, Nor yet have ministers slain, Nor have they robbed any virgin, Nor other men's wives have ta'en.' 'O, what have they done?' said Robin Hood, 'I pray thee tell to me.' 'It's for slaying of the king's fallow deer, Bearing their long bows with thee.' 'Dost thou not mind, old woman,' he said, 'How thou madest me sup and dine? By the truth of my body,' quoth bold Robin Hood 'You could not tell it in better time.' Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, "What news? what news? thou silly old man, What news, I do thee pray?' Said he, 'Three squires in Nottingham town 'Come change thy apparel with me, old man, 'O, thine apparel is good,' he said. VOL. I. 'Come change thy apparel with me, old churl, Then he put on the old man's hat, Then he put on the old man's cloak, Then he put on the old man's breeks, Was patch'd from leg to side : "By the truth of my body,' bold Robin can say, 'This man loved little pride.' Then he put on the old man's hose, Were patch'd from knee to wrist : "By the truth of my body,' said bold Robin Hood, 'I'd laugh if I had any list.' Then he put on the old man's shoes, Were patch'd both beneath and aboon; Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, 'Save you, save you, sheriff' he said; And what will you give to a silly old man R |