This appears to be a Ballad of great antiquity, and to have been at all times extremely popular. The present copy seems to have been modernized about the time of James the first, and serves to give us some idea of the zeal displayed and the arts employed to bring the dignitaries of the church into contempt with the people. DICK O' THE COW. Now Liddisdale has lyan lang in, Then Johnie Armstrong to Willie can say, Then they're com❜d on to Hutton Ha', Then he had left nae gear to steal, Quo' Johnie, I'd rather in England die, But how ca'd they the man we last met, And some men ca' him Dick o' the Cow. That fool has three as good ky o' his ain, These three ky shall gae t' Liddisdale wi' me. Q 14 Then they're com❜d on to the poor fool's house, Then on the morn, whan the day was light, O had thy tongue, my wife, he says, Then Dickie's com❜d on for's lord and master, For I may not stand to jest wi' thee. Shame speed a' your jesting, my lord, quo' Dickie, But I may nae langer in Cumberland dwell, T gae t' Liddisdale and steal. I gi' thee leave, my fool, he says, Thou speakest against my honour and me, There is my trowth and my right hand; I'll ne'er cross Carlisle sands again, If I steal frae a man but wha sta frae me. *The place of Execution at Carlisle. Dickie's tane leave at lord and master, He's bought a bridle and a pair o' new spurs, Then Dickie's come on for Pudding-burn*, Now Dickie's come on for Pudding-burn, O! what's this com❜d o' me now, quo' Dickie, What meikle wae's this happen'd o' me, quo' he; When here is but ae innocent fool, And there is thirty Armstrongs and three. Ye he's com❜d up to the ha' amang them a' Weil may ye be, my good laird's Jock, I'm come to 'plain o' your man, fair Johnie Armstrong, How they hae been i' my house the last night, Quo' Johnie Armstrong, we will him hang. Then up and bespake the good laird's Jock, Sit thy ways down a little while Dickie, And a piece o' thy ain cow's hough I'll gi' thee. Pudding-burn Hall was, at that time, the place of abode of the Armstrongs: It is on the farm of Readmoss, and is now converted into a sheepfold. But Dickie's heart it grew sae great, That ne'er a bit o't he dought to eat.- Then Dickie was 'ware o' an auld peat-house, 1 Then it was the use of Pudding-burn, They got nae mair meat t' the neist meal. The lads that hungry and weary were, Then Dickie into the stable is gane, He has tied them a' wi' St. Mary's Knot, He's loupen on ane, tane anither in hand; And out at the door and gane is Dickie. Then on the morn, whan the day grew light, O! where's that thief, quo' the good laird's Jock, O! where's that thief, quo' the good laird's Jock, See unto me ye dinna lie; Dickie's been i' the stable last night, And has my brother's horse and mine frae me. *Ham-stringed the Horses. Ye wad ne'er be tel'd, quo' the good laird's Jock, Till crooked and blind, and a' wad steal. But lend me thy bay, Johnie Armstrong can say, To lend thee my bay, the laird's Jock can say, I wish na thou may make him three. He's tane the laird's jack on his back, The twa handed sword that hang by his thigh; He's tane the steel-cap on his head, And on he is gane to follow Dickie. Then Dickie was na a mile aff the town, Abide, abide now Dickie than, The day is come that thou maun die: Then Dickie look'd o'er his left shoulder, Johnie, has thou any moe in companie. There is a preacher in our chapel, And a' the lee lang day teaches he; Whan day is gane, and night is come, There's ne'er ae word I mark but three: The first and second is Faith and Conscience, The third, ne'er let a traitour free; But, Johnie, what faith and conscience hadst thou, Whan thou took my three ky frae me. * A rising ground in Cannobie, near the border of Liddisdale. |