190JAMIE TELFER OF THE FAIR DODHEAD

190JAMIE TELFER OF THE FAIR DODHEAD

Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, I, 80, 1802; II, 3, 1833.

Scott, by whom this ballad was first published, and to whom alone it seems to be known, gives us no information how he came by it. He says, “There is another ballad, under the same title as the following, in which nearly the same incidents are narrated, with little difference except that the honor of rescuing the cattle is attributed to the Liddesdale Elliots, headed by a chief, there called Martin Elliot of the Preakin Tower, whose son, Simon, is said to have fallen in the action. It is very possible that both the Teviotdale Scotts and the Elliots were engaged in the affair, and that each claimed the honor of the victory.” Ed. 1833, II. 3.

Scott has suggested that an article in the list of attempts upon England, fouled by the commissioners at Berwick in the year 1587, may relate to the subject of the ballad.

October, 1582.[2]

October, 1582.[2]

October, 1582.[2]

Thomas Musgrave, de- { Walter Scott, Laird } 200 kine andputy of Bewcastle, { of Buckluth, and his } oxen, 300 gaitand the tenants, against { complices; for } and sheep.

Thomas Musgrave, de- { Walter Scott, Laird } 200 kine andputy of Bewcastle, { of Buckluth, and his } oxen, 300 gaitand the tenants, against { complices; for } and sheep.

Thomas Musgrave, de- { Walter Scott, Laird } 200 kine andputy of Bewcastle, { of Buckluth, and his } oxen, 300 gaitand the tenants, against { complices; for } and sheep.

Thomas Musgrave, de- { Walter Scott, Laird } 200 kine and

puty of Bewcastle, { of Buckluth, and his } oxen, 300 gait

and the tenants, against { complices; for } and sheep.

Bewcastle, of which Thomas Musgrave at the above date was deputy and captain, was, says Percy, a great rendezvous of thieves and moss-troopers down to the last century. “Itis handed down by report,” he remarks, “that@ there was formerly an Order of Council that no inhabitant of Bewcastle should be returned on a jury.” That the deputy of the warden, an officer of the peace, should be exhibited as making a raid, not in the way of retaliation, but simply for plunder, is too much out of rule even for Bewcastle, and does not speak favorably for the antiquity of the ballad.

Taking the story as it stands, the Captain of Bewcastle, who is looking for a prey, is taken by a guide to the Fair Dodhead, which he pillages of kye and everything valuable. Jamie Telfer, whose threat of revenge the Captain treats with derision, runs ten miles afoot to the Elliots of Stobs Hall, to whom he says he has paid mail, st. 11, and asks help. Gib Elliot denies the mail, and tells him to go to the Scotts at Branksome where he has paid it. Telfer keeps on to Coultart Cleugh, and there makes his case known to a brother-in-law, who gives him a mount “to take the fray” to Catslockhill. There William’s Wat, who had often eaten of the Dodhead basket, gives him his company and that of two sons, and they take the fray to Branksome. Buccleuch collects a body of men of his name, and sends them out under the command of Willie Scott, who overtakes the marauders, and asks the Captain if he will let Telfer’s kye go back. This he will not do for love or for fear. The Scotts set on them; Willie is killed, but two and thirty of the raiders’ saddles are emptied, and the Captain is badly wounded and made prisoner. Nor is that all, for the Scotts ride to the Captain’s house and loose his cattle, and when they come to the Fair Dodhead, for ten milk kye Jamie Telfer has three and thirty.

Walter Scott of Harden and Walter Scott of Goldielands, and, according to Scott of Satchells, Scott of Commonside, st. 26, were engaged with Buccleuch in the rescue of Kinmont Willie. So was Will Elliot of Gorrombye, st. 274.

The ballad was retouched for the Border Minstrelsy, nobody can say how much. The 36th stanza is in Hardyknute style. St. 12 is not only found elsewhere (cf. ‘Young Beichan,’E6), but could not be more inappropriately brought in than here; Scott, however, is not responsible for that.

Scott makes the following notes on the localities:

2. Hardhaughswire is the pass from Liddesdale to the head of Teviotdale. Borthwick water is a stream which falls into the Teviot three miles above Hawick. 3. The Dodhead was in Selkirkshire, near Singlee, where there are still the vestiges of an old tower. 7. Stobs Hall: upon Slitterick. 10. Branksome Ha, the ancient family-seat of the lairds of Buccleuch, near Hawick. 13. The Coultart Cleugh is nearly opposite to Carlinrig, on the road between Hawick and Mosspaul. 26. The estates mentioned in this verse belonged to families of the name of Scott residing upon the waters of Borthwick and Teviot, near the castle of their chief. 27. The pursuers seem to have taken the road through the hills of Liddesdale in order to collect forces and intercept the forayers at the passage of the Liddel on their return to Bewcastle. 29. The Frostylee is a brook which joins the Teviot near Mosspaul. 33, 38. The Ritterford and Kershopeford are noted fords on the river Liddel. 36. The Dinlay is a mountain in Liddesdale. 44. Stanegirthside: a house belonging to the Foresters, situated on the English side of the Liddel.

1It fell about the Martinmas tyde,Whan our Border steeds get corn and hay,The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,And he’s ower to Tividale to drive a prey.2The first ae guide that they met wi,It was high up in Hardhaughswire;The second guide that they met wi,It was laigh down in Borthwick water.3‘What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?’‘Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;But gin ye’ll gae to the Fair Dodhead,Mony a cow’s cauf I’ll let thee see.’4And when they cam to the Fair Dodhead,Right hastily they clam the peel;They loosed the kye out, ane and a’,And ranshakled the house right weel.5Now Jamie Telfer’s heart was sair,The tear aye rowing in his ee;He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,Or else revenged he wad be.6The Captain turned him round and leugh;Said, Man, there’s naething in thy houseBut ae auld sword without a sheath,That hardly now wad fell a mouse.7The sun was na up, but the moon was down,It was the gryming of a new-fa’n snaw;Jamie Telfer has run ten myles a-foot,Between the Dodhead and the Stobs’s Ha.8And when he cam to the fair tower-yate,He shouted loud, and cried weel hie,Till out bespak auld Gibby Elliot,‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’9‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,And a harried man I think I be;There’s naething left at the Fair DodheadBut a waefu wife and bairnies three.’10‘Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha,For succour ye’se get nane frae me;Gae seek your succour where ye paid blackmail,For, man, ye neer paid money to me.’11Jamie has turned him round about,I wat the tear blinded his ee:‘I’ll neer pay mail to Elliot again,And the Fair Dodhead I’ll never see.12‘My hounds may a’ rin masterless,My hawks may fly frae tree to tree,My lord may grip my vassal-lands,For there again maun I never be!’13He has turned him to the Tiviot-side,Een as fast as he could drie,Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh,And there he shouted baith loud and hie.14Then up bespak him auld Jock Grieve:‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,A harried man I trew I be.15‘There’s naething left in the Fair DodheadBut a greeting wife and bairnies three,And sax poor ca’s stand in the sta,A’ routing loud for their minnie.’16‘Alack a wae!’ quo auld Jock Grieve,‘Alack, my heart is sair for thee!For I was married on the elder sister,And you on the youngest of a’ the three.’17Then he has taen out a bonny black,Was right weel fed wi corn and hay,And he’s set Jamie Telfer on his back,To the Catslockhill to tak the fray.18And whan he cam to the Catslockhill,He shouted loud and cried weel hie,Till out and spak him William’s Wat,‘O whae’s this brings the fray to me?’19‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,A harried man I think I be;The Captain o Bewcastle has driven my gear;For God’s sake, rise and succour me!’20‘Alas for wae!’ quo William’s Wat,‘Alack, for thee my heart is sair!I never cam bye the Fair DodheadThat ever I fand thy basket bare.’21He’s set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,Himsel upon a freckled gray,And they are on wi Jamie Telfer,To Branksome Ha to tak the fray.22And when they cam to Branksome Ha,They shouted a’ baith loud and hie,Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch,Said, Whae’s this brings the fray to me?23‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,And a harried man I think I be;There’s nought left in the Fair DodheadBut a greeting wife and bairnies three.’24‘Alack for wae!’ quo the gude auld lord,‘And ever my heart is wae for thee!But fye, gar cry on Willie, my son,And see that he cum to me speedilie.25‘Gar warn the water, braid and wide!Gar warn it sune and hastilie!They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye,Let them never look in the face o me!26‘Warn Wat o Harden and his sons,Wi them will Borthwick water ride;Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh,And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside.27‘Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,And warn the Currors o the Lee;As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack,Warn doughty Willie o Gorrinberry.’28The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran,Sae starkly and sae steadilie,And aye the ower-word o the thrangWas, Rise for Branksome readilie!29The gear was driven the Frostylee up,Frae the Frostylee unto the plain,Whan Willie has lookd his men before,And saw the kye right fast driving.30‘Whae drives thir kye,’ can Willie say,‘To make an outspeckle o me?’‘It’s I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Willie;I winna layne my name for thee.’31‘O will ye let Telfer’s kye gae back?Or will ye do aught for regard o me?Or, by the faith of my body,’ quo Willie Scott,‘I’se ware my dame’s cauf’s skin on thee.’32‘I winna let the kye gae back,Neither for thy love nor yet thy fear;But I will drive Jamie Telfer’s kyeIn spite of every Scott that’s here.’33‘Set on them, lads!’ quo Willie than;‘Fye, lads, set on them cruellie!For ere they win to the Ritterford,Mony a toom saddle there sall be!’34Then till ‘t they gaed, wi heart and hand;The blows fell thick as bickering hail;And mony a horse ran masterless,And mony a comely cheek was pale.35But Willie was stricken ower the head,And through the knapscap the sword has gane;And Harden grat for very rage,Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.36But he’s taen aff his gude steel cap,And thrice he’s waved it in the air;The Dinlay snaw was neer mair whiteNor the lyart locks of Harden’s hair.37‘Revenge! revenge!’ auld Wat can cry;‘Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie!We’ll neer see Tiviot side again,Or Willie’s death revenged sall be.’38O mony a horse ran masterless,The splintered lances flew on hie;But or they wan to the Kershope ford,The Scotts had gotten the victory.39John o Brigham there was slane,And John o Barlow, as I hear say,And thirty mae o the Captain’s menLay bleeding on the grund that day.40The Captain was run through the thick of the thigh,And broken was his right leg-bane;If he had lived this hundred years,He had never been loved by woman again.41‘Hae back the kye!’ the Captain said;‘Dear kye, I trow, to some they be;For gin I suld live a hundred yearsThere will neer fair lady smile on me.’42Then word is gane to the Captain’s bride,Even in the bower where that she lay,That her lord was prisoner in enemy’s land,Since into Tividale he had led the way.43‘I wad lourd have had a winding-sheet,And helped to put it ower his head,Ere he had been disgraced by the border Scot,Whan he ower Liddel his men did lead!’44There was a wild gallant amang us a’,His name was Watty wi the Wudspurs,Cried, On for his house in Stanegirthside,If ony man will ride with us!45When they cam to the Stanegirthside,They dang wi trees and burst the door;They loosed out a’ the Captain’s kye,And set them forth our lads before.46There was an auld wyfe ayont the fire,A wee bit o the Captain’s kin:‘Whae dar loose out the Captain’s kye,Or answer to him and his men?’47‘It’s I, Watty Wudspurs, loose the kye,I winna layne my name frae thee;And I will loose out the Captain’s kyeIn scorn of a’ his men and he.’48Whan they cam to the Fair Dodhead,They were a wellcum sight to see,For instead of his ain ten milk-kye,Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three.49And he has paid the rescue-shot,Baith wi gowd and white monie,And at the burial o Willie ScottI wat was mony a weeping ee.

1It fell about the Martinmas tyde,Whan our Border steeds get corn and hay,The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,And he’s ower to Tividale to drive a prey.2The first ae guide that they met wi,It was high up in Hardhaughswire;The second guide that they met wi,It was laigh down in Borthwick water.3‘What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?’‘Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;But gin ye’ll gae to the Fair Dodhead,Mony a cow’s cauf I’ll let thee see.’4And when they cam to the Fair Dodhead,Right hastily they clam the peel;They loosed the kye out, ane and a’,And ranshakled the house right weel.5Now Jamie Telfer’s heart was sair,The tear aye rowing in his ee;He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,Or else revenged he wad be.6The Captain turned him round and leugh;Said, Man, there’s naething in thy houseBut ae auld sword without a sheath,That hardly now wad fell a mouse.7The sun was na up, but the moon was down,It was the gryming of a new-fa’n snaw;Jamie Telfer has run ten myles a-foot,Between the Dodhead and the Stobs’s Ha.8And when he cam to the fair tower-yate,He shouted loud, and cried weel hie,Till out bespak auld Gibby Elliot,‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’9‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,And a harried man I think I be;There’s naething left at the Fair DodheadBut a waefu wife and bairnies three.’10‘Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha,For succour ye’se get nane frae me;Gae seek your succour where ye paid blackmail,For, man, ye neer paid money to me.’11Jamie has turned him round about,I wat the tear blinded his ee:‘I’ll neer pay mail to Elliot again,And the Fair Dodhead I’ll never see.12‘My hounds may a’ rin masterless,My hawks may fly frae tree to tree,My lord may grip my vassal-lands,For there again maun I never be!’13He has turned him to the Tiviot-side,Een as fast as he could drie,Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh,And there he shouted baith loud and hie.14Then up bespak him auld Jock Grieve:‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,A harried man I trew I be.15‘There’s naething left in the Fair DodheadBut a greeting wife and bairnies three,And sax poor ca’s stand in the sta,A’ routing loud for their minnie.’16‘Alack a wae!’ quo auld Jock Grieve,‘Alack, my heart is sair for thee!For I was married on the elder sister,And you on the youngest of a’ the three.’17Then he has taen out a bonny black,Was right weel fed wi corn and hay,And he’s set Jamie Telfer on his back,To the Catslockhill to tak the fray.18And whan he cam to the Catslockhill,He shouted loud and cried weel hie,Till out and spak him William’s Wat,‘O whae’s this brings the fray to me?’19‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,A harried man I think I be;The Captain o Bewcastle has driven my gear;For God’s sake, rise and succour me!’20‘Alas for wae!’ quo William’s Wat,‘Alack, for thee my heart is sair!I never cam bye the Fair DodheadThat ever I fand thy basket bare.’21He’s set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,Himsel upon a freckled gray,And they are on wi Jamie Telfer,To Branksome Ha to tak the fray.22And when they cam to Branksome Ha,They shouted a’ baith loud and hie,Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch,Said, Whae’s this brings the fray to me?23‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,And a harried man I think I be;There’s nought left in the Fair DodheadBut a greeting wife and bairnies three.’24‘Alack for wae!’ quo the gude auld lord,‘And ever my heart is wae for thee!But fye, gar cry on Willie, my son,And see that he cum to me speedilie.25‘Gar warn the water, braid and wide!Gar warn it sune and hastilie!They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye,Let them never look in the face o me!26‘Warn Wat o Harden and his sons,Wi them will Borthwick water ride;Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh,And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside.27‘Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,And warn the Currors o the Lee;As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack,Warn doughty Willie o Gorrinberry.’28The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran,Sae starkly and sae steadilie,And aye the ower-word o the thrangWas, Rise for Branksome readilie!29The gear was driven the Frostylee up,Frae the Frostylee unto the plain,Whan Willie has lookd his men before,And saw the kye right fast driving.30‘Whae drives thir kye,’ can Willie say,‘To make an outspeckle o me?’‘It’s I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Willie;I winna layne my name for thee.’31‘O will ye let Telfer’s kye gae back?Or will ye do aught for regard o me?Or, by the faith of my body,’ quo Willie Scott,‘I’se ware my dame’s cauf’s skin on thee.’32‘I winna let the kye gae back,Neither for thy love nor yet thy fear;But I will drive Jamie Telfer’s kyeIn spite of every Scott that’s here.’33‘Set on them, lads!’ quo Willie than;‘Fye, lads, set on them cruellie!For ere they win to the Ritterford,Mony a toom saddle there sall be!’34Then till ‘t they gaed, wi heart and hand;The blows fell thick as bickering hail;And mony a horse ran masterless,And mony a comely cheek was pale.35But Willie was stricken ower the head,And through the knapscap the sword has gane;And Harden grat for very rage,Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.36But he’s taen aff his gude steel cap,And thrice he’s waved it in the air;The Dinlay snaw was neer mair whiteNor the lyart locks of Harden’s hair.37‘Revenge! revenge!’ auld Wat can cry;‘Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie!We’ll neer see Tiviot side again,Or Willie’s death revenged sall be.’38O mony a horse ran masterless,The splintered lances flew on hie;But or they wan to the Kershope ford,The Scotts had gotten the victory.39John o Brigham there was slane,And John o Barlow, as I hear say,And thirty mae o the Captain’s menLay bleeding on the grund that day.40The Captain was run through the thick of the thigh,And broken was his right leg-bane;If he had lived this hundred years,He had never been loved by woman again.41‘Hae back the kye!’ the Captain said;‘Dear kye, I trow, to some they be;For gin I suld live a hundred yearsThere will neer fair lady smile on me.’42Then word is gane to the Captain’s bride,Even in the bower where that she lay,That her lord was prisoner in enemy’s land,Since into Tividale he had led the way.43‘I wad lourd have had a winding-sheet,And helped to put it ower his head,Ere he had been disgraced by the border Scot,Whan he ower Liddel his men did lead!’44There was a wild gallant amang us a’,His name was Watty wi the Wudspurs,Cried, On for his house in Stanegirthside,If ony man will ride with us!45When they cam to the Stanegirthside,They dang wi trees and burst the door;They loosed out a’ the Captain’s kye,And set them forth our lads before.46There was an auld wyfe ayont the fire,A wee bit o the Captain’s kin:‘Whae dar loose out the Captain’s kye,Or answer to him and his men?’47‘It’s I, Watty Wudspurs, loose the kye,I winna layne my name frae thee;And I will loose out the Captain’s kyeIn scorn of a’ his men and he.’48Whan they cam to the Fair Dodhead,They were a wellcum sight to see,For instead of his ain ten milk-kye,Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three.49And he has paid the rescue-shot,Baith wi gowd and white monie,And at the burial o Willie ScottI wat was mony a weeping ee.

1It fell about the Martinmas tyde,Whan our Border steeds get corn and hay,The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,And he’s ower to Tividale to drive a prey.

1

It fell about the Martinmas tyde,

Whan our Border steeds get corn and hay,

The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,

And he’s ower to Tividale to drive a prey.

2The first ae guide that they met wi,It was high up in Hardhaughswire;The second guide that they met wi,It was laigh down in Borthwick water.

2

The first ae guide that they met wi,

It was high up in Hardhaughswire;

The second guide that they met wi,

It was laigh down in Borthwick water.

3‘What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?’‘Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;But gin ye’ll gae to the Fair Dodhead,Mony a cow’s cauf I’ll let thee see.’

3

‘What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?’

‘Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;

But gin ye’ll gae to the Fair Dodhead,

Mony a cow’s cauf I’ll let thee see.’

4And when they cam to the Fair Dodhead,Right hastily they clam the peel;They loosed the kye out, ane and a’,And ranshakled the house right weel.

4

And when they cam to the Fair Dodhead,

Right hastily they clam the peel;

They loosed the kye out, ane and a’,

And ranshakled the house right weel.

5Now Jamie Telfer’s heart was sair,The tear aye rowing in his ee;He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,Or else revenged he wad be.

5

Now Jamie Telfer’s heart was sair,

The tear aye rowing in his ee;

He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,

Or else revenged he wad be.

6The Captain turned him round and leugh;Said, Man, there’s naething in thy houseBut ae auld sword without a sheath,That hardly now wad fell a mouse.

6

The Captain turned him round and leugh;

Said, Man, there’s naething in thy house

But ae auld sword without a sheath,

That hardly now wad fell a mouse.

7The sun was na up, but the moon was down,It was the gryming of a new-fa’n snaw;Jamie Telfer has run ten myles a-foot,Between the Dodhead and the Stobs’s Ha.

7

The sun was na up, but the moon was down,

It was the gryming of a new-fa’n snaw;

Jamie Telfer has run ten myles a-foot,

Between the Dodhead and the Stobs’s Ha.

8And when he cam to the fair tower-yate,He shouted loud, and cried weel hie,Till out bespak auld Gibby Elliot,‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’

8

And when he cam to the fair tower-yate,

He shouted loud, and cried weel hie,

Till out bespak auld Gibby Elliot,

‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’

9‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,And a harried man I think I be;There’s naething left at the Fair DodheadBut a waefu wife and bairnies three.’

9

‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,

And a harried man I think I be;

There’s naething left at the Fair Dodhead

But a waefu wife and bairnies three.’

10‘Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha,For succour ye’se get nane frae me;Gae seek your succour where ye paid blackmail,For, man, ye neer paid money to me.’

10

‘Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha,

For succour ye’se get nane frae me;

Gae seek your succour where ye paid blackmail,

For, man, ye neer paid money to me.’

11Jamie has turned him round about,I wat the tear blinded his ee:‘I’ll neer pay mail to Elliot again,And the Fair Dodhead I’ll never see.

11

Jamie has turned him round about,

I wat the tear blinded his ee:

‘I’ll neer pay mail to Elliot again,

And the Fair Dodhead I’ll never see.

12‘My hounds may a’ rin masterless,My hawks may fly frae tree to tree,My lord may grip my vassal-lands,For there again maun I never be!’

12

‘My hounds may a’ rin masterless,

My hawks may fly frae tree to tree,

My lord may grip my vassal-lands,

For there again maun I never be!’

13He has turned him to the Tiviot-side,Een as fast as he could drie,Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh,And there he shouted baith loud and hie.

13

He has turned him to the Tiviot-side,

Een as fast as he could drie,

Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh,

And there he shouted baith loud and hie.

14Then up bespak him auld Jock Grieve:‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,A harried man I trew I be.

14

Then up bespak him auld Jock Grieve:

‘Whae’s this that brings the fray to me?’

‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,

A harried man I trew I be.

15‘There’s naething left in the Fair DodheadBut a greeting wife and bairnies three,And sax poor ca’s stand in the sta,A’ routing loud for their minnie.’

15

‘There’s naething left in the Fair Dodhead

But a greeting wife and bairnies three,

And sax poor ca’s stand in the sta,

A’ routing loud for their minnie.’

16‘Alack a wae!’ quo auld Jock Grieve,‘Alack, my heart is sair for thee!For I was married on the elder sister,And you on the youngest of a’ the three.’

16

‘Alack a wae!’ quo auld Jock Grieve,

‘Alack, my heart is sair for thee!

For I was married on the elder sister,

And you on the youngest of a’ the three.’

17Then he has taen out a bonny black,Was right weel fed wi corn and hay,And he’s set Jamie Telfer on his back,To the Catslockhill to tak the fray.

17

Then he has taen out a bonny black,

Was right weel fed wi corn and hay,

And he’s set Jamie Telfer on his back,

To the Catslockhill to tak the fray.

18And whan he cam to the Catslockhill,He shouted loud and cried weel hie,Till out and spak him William’s Wat,‘O whae’s this brings the fray to me?’

18

And whan he cam to the Catslockhill,

He shouted loud and cried weel hie,

Till out and spak him William’s Wat,

‘O whae’s this brings the fray to me?’

19‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,A harried man I think I be;The Captain o Bewcastle has driven my gear;For God’s sake, rise and succour me!’

19

‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,

A harried man I think I be;

The Captain o Bewcastle has driven my gear;

For God’s sake, rise and succour me!’

20‘Alas for wae!’ quo William’s Wat,‘Alack, for thee my heart is sair!I never cam bye the Fair DodheadThat ever I fand thy basket bare.’

20

‘Alas for wae!’ quo William’s Wat,

‘Alack, for thee my heart is sair!

I never cam bye the Fair Dodhead

That ever I fand thy basket bare.’

21He’s set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,Himsel upon a freckled gray,And they are on wi Jamie Telfer,To Branksome Ha to tak the fray.

21

He’s set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,

Himsel upon a freckled gray,

And they are on wi Jamie Telfer,

To Branksome Ha to tak the fray.

22And when they cam to Branksome Ha,They shouted a’ baith loud and hie,Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch,Said, Whae’s this brings the fray to me?

22

And when they cam to Branksome Ha,

They shouted a’ baith loud and hie,

Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch,

Said, Whae’s this brings the fray to me?

23‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,And a harried man I think I be;There’s nought left in the Fair DodheadBut a greeting wife and bairnies three.’

23

‘It’s I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,

And a harried man I think I be;

There’s nought left in the Fair Dodhead

But a greeting wife and bairnies three.’

24‘Alack for wae!’ quo the gude auld lord,‘And ever my heart is wae for thee!But fye, gar cry on Willie, my son,And see that he cum to me speedilie.

24

‘Alack for wae!’ quo the gude auld lord,

‘And ever my heart is wae for thee!

But fye, gar cry on Willie, my son,

And see that he cum to me speedilie.

25‘Gar warn the water, braid and wide!Gar warn it sune and hastilie!They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye,Let them never look in the face o me!

25

‘Gar warn the water, braid and wide!

Gar warn it sune and hastilie!

They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye,

Let them never look in the face o me!

26‘Warn Wat o Harden and his sons,Wi them will Borthwick water ride;Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh,And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside.

26

‘Warn Wat o Harden and his sons,

Wi them will Borthwick water ride;

Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh,

And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside.

27‘Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,And warn the Currors o the Lee;As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack,Warn doughty Willie o Gorrinberry.’

27

‘Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,

And warn the Currors o the Lee;

As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack,

Warn doughty Willie o Gorrinberry.’

28The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran,Sae starkly and sae steadilie,And aye the ower-word o the thrangWas, Rise for Branksome readilie!

28

The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran,

Sae starkly and sae steadilie,

And aye the ower-word o the thrang

Was, Rise for Branksome readilie!

29The gear was driven the Frostylee up,Frae the Frostylee unto the plain,Whan Willie has lookd his men before,And saw the kye right fast driving.

29

The gear was driven the Frostylee up,

Frae the Frostylee unto the plain,

Whan Willie has lookd his men before,

And saw the kye right fast driving.

30‘Whae drives thir kye,’ can Willie say,‘To make an outspeckle o me?’‘It’s I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Willie;I winna layne my name for thee.’

30

‘Whae drives thir kye,’ can Willie say,

‘To make an outspeckle o me?’

‘It’s I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Willie;

I winna layne my name for thee.’

31‘O will ye let Telfer’s kye gae back?Or will ye do aught for regard o me?Or, by the faith of my body,’ quo Willie Scott,‘I’se ware my dame’s cauf’s skin on thee.’

31

‘O will ye let Telfer’s kye gae back?

Or will ye do aught for regard o me?

Or, by the faith of my body,’ quo Willie Scott,

‘I’se ware my dame’s cauf’s skin on thee.’

32‘I winna let the kye gae back,Neither for thy love nor yet thy fear;But I will drive Jamie Telfer’s kyeIn spite of every Scott that’s here.’

32

‘I winna let the kye gae back,

Neither for thy love nor yet thy fear;

But I will drive Jamie Telfer’s kye

In spite of every Scott that’s here.’

33‘Set on them, lads!’ quo Willie than;‘Fye, lads, set on them cruellie!For ere they win to the Ritterford,Mony a toom saddle there sall be!’

33

‘Set on them, lads!’ quo Willie than;

‘Fye, lads, set on them cruellie!

For ere they win to the Ritterford,

Mony a toom saddle there sall be!’

34Then till ‘t they gaed, wi heart and hand;The blows fell thick as bickering hail;And mony a horse ran masterless,And mony a comely cheek was pale.

34

Then till ‘t they gaed, wi heart and hand;

The blows fell thick as bickering hail;

And mony a horse ran masterless,

And mony a comely cheek was pale.

35But Willie was stricken ower the head,And through the knapscap the sword has gane;And Harden grat for very rage,Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.

35

But Willie was stricken ower the head,

And through the knapscap the sword has gane;

And Harden grat for very rage,

Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.

36But he’s taen aff his gude steel cap,And thrice he’s waved it in the air;The Dinlay snaw was neer mair whiteNor the lyart locks of Harden’s hair.

36

But he’s taen aff his gude steel cap,

And thrice he’s waved it in the air;

The Dinlay snaw was neer mair white

Nor the lyart locks of Harden’s hair.

37‘Revenge! revenge!’ auld Wat can cry;‘Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie!We’ll neer see Tiviot side again,Or Willie’s death revenged sall be.’

37

‘Revenge! revenge!’ auld Wat can cry;

‘Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie!

We’ll neer see Tiviot side again,

Or Willie’s death revenged sall be.’

38O mony a horse ran masterless,The splintered lances flew on hie;But or they wan to the Kershope ford,The Scotts had gotten the victory.

38

O mony a horse ran masterless,

The splintered lances flew on hie;

But or they wan to the Kershope ford,

The Scotts had gotten the victory.

39John o Brigham there was slane,And John o Barlow, as I hear say,And thirty mae o the Captain’s menLay bleeding on the grund that day.

39

John o Brigham there was slane,

And John o Barlow, as I hear say,

And thirty mae o the Captain’s men

Lay bleeding on the grund that day.

40The Captain was run through the thick of the thigh,And broken was his right leg-bane;If he had lived this hundred years,He had never been loved by woman again.

40

The Captain was run through the thick of the thigh,

And broken was his right leg-bane;

If he had lived this hundred years,

He had never been loved by woman again.

41‘Hae back the kye!’ the Captain said;‘Dear kye, I trow, to some they be;For gin I suld live a hundred yearsThere will neer fair lady smile on me.’

41

‘Hae back the kye!’ the Captain said;

‘Dear kye, I trow, to some they be;

For gin I suld live a hundred years

There will neer fair lady smile on me.’

42Then word is gane to the Captain’s bride,Even in the bower where that she lay,That her lord was prisoner in enemy’s land,Since into Tividale he had led the way.

42

Then word is gane to the Captain’s bride,

Even in the bower where that she lay,

That her lord was prisoner in enemy’s land,

Since into Tividale he had led the way.

43‘I wad lourd have had a winding-sheet,And helped to put it ower his head,Ere he had been disgraced by the border Scot,Whan he ower Liddel his men did lead!’

43

‘I wad lourd have had a winding-sheet,

And helped to put it ower his head,

Ere he had been disgraced by the border Scot,

Whan he ower Liddel his men did lead!’

44There was a wild gallant amang us a’,His name was Watty wi the Wudspurs,Cried, On for his house in Stanegirthside,If ony man will ride with us!

44

There was a wild gallant amang us a’,

His name was Watty wi the Wudspurs,

Cried, On for his house in Stanegirthside,

If ony man will ride with us!

45When they cam to the Stanegirthside,They dang wi trees and burst the door;They loosed out a’ the Captain’s kye,And set them forth our lads before.

45

When they cam to the Stanegirthside,

They dang wi trees and burst the door;

They loosed out a’ the Captain’s kye,

And set them forth our lads before.

46There was an auld wyfe ayont the fire,A wee bit o the Captain’s kin:‘Whae dar loose out the Captain’s kye,Or answer to him and his men?’

46

There was an auld wyfe ayont the fire,

A wee bit o the Captain’s kin:

‘Whae dar loose out the Captain’s kye,

Or answer to him and his men?’

47‘It’s I, Watty Wudspurs, loose the kye,I winna layne my name frae thee;And I will loose out the Captain’s kyeIn scorn of a’ his men and he.’

47

‘It’s I, Watty Wudspurs, loose the kye,

I winna layne my name frae thee;

And I will loose out the Captain’s kye

In scorn of a’ his men and he.’

48Whan they cam to the Fair Dodhead,They were a wellcum sight to see,For instead of his ain ten milk-kye,Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three.

48

Whan they cam to the Fair Dodhead,

They were a wellcum sight to see,

For instead of his ain ten milk-kye,

Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three.

49And he has paid the rescue-shot,Baith wi gowd and white monie,And at the burial o Willie ScottI wat was mony a weeping ee.

49

And he has paid the rescue-shot,

Baith wi gowd and white monie,

And at the burial o Willie Scott

I wat was mony a weeping ee.

281, 324, 384. Scots, Scot.In the last edition, Scotts, Scott.

294. drivandin the later edition.

314. cauf inthe later edition.

371. ganin the later edition.

40. “The Editor has used some freedom with the original. The account of the Captain’s disaster (teste læva vulnerata) is rather too naive for literal publication.”

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