{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch184.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch184.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch184.htm","text":"184A.1 TWIXT the Girthhead and Langwood-end\nLivd the Galiard and Galiard\u2019s men.\n184A.2 It is the lads of Lethenha,\nThe greatest rogues among them a\u2019.\n184A.3 It is the lads of Leverhay,\nThat drove the Crichtons\u2019 gier away.\n184A.4 It is the lads o the Kirkhill,\nThe gay Galiard and Will o Kirkhill,\n184A.5 But and the lads o Stefenbiggin,\nThey broke the house in at the riggin.\n184A.6 The lads o Fingland and Hellbackhill,\nThey were neer for good, but aye for ill.\n184A.7 Twixt the Staywood Bass and Langside Hill,\nThey stelld the broked cow and branded bull.\n184A.8 It is the lads o the Girthhead,\nThe diel\u2019s in them for pride and greed.\n184A.9 . . . .\n. . . .\n184A.10 The Galiard is to the stable gane;\nInstead of the Dun, the Blind he\u2019s taen.\n184A.11 \u2018Come out now, Simmy o the Side,\nCome out and see a Johnston ride!\n184A.12 \u2018Here\u2019s the boniest horse in a\u2019 Nithside,\nAnd a gentle Johnston aboon his hide.\u2019\n184A.13 Simmy Crichton\u2019s mounted then,\nAnd Crichtons has raised mony a ane.\n184A.14 The Galiard thought his horse had been fleet,\nBut they did outstrip him quite out o sight.\n184A.15 As soon as the Galiard the Crichton he saw,\nBeyond the saugh-bush he did draw.\n184A.16 The Crichtons there the Galiard hae taen,\nAnd nane wi him but Willy alane.\n184A.17 \u2018O Simmy, Simmy, now let me gang,\nAnd I vow I\u2019ll neer do a Crichton wrang!\n184A.18 \u2018O Simmy, Simmy, now let me be,\nAnd a peck o goud I\u2019ll gie to thee!\n184A.19 \u2018O Simmy, Simmy, let me gang,\nAnd my wife shall heap it wi her hand!\u2019\n184A.20 But the Crichtons wadna let Willy bee,\nBut they hanged him high upon a tree.\n184A.21 O think then Will he was right wae,\nWhen he saw his uncle guided sae.\n184A.22 \u2018But if ever I live Wamphray to see,\nMy uncle\u2019s death revenged shall be!\u2019\n184A.23 Back to Wamphray Willy\u2019s gane,\nAnd riders has raised mony a ane.\n184A.24 Saying, My lads, if ye\u2019ll be true,\nYe\u2019s a\u2019 be clad in the noble blue.\n184A.25 Back to Nidsdale they are gane,\nAnd away the Crichtons\u2019 nout they hae taen.\n184A.26 As they came out at the Wallpath-head,\nThe Crichtons bad them light and lead.\n184A.27 And when they came to the Biddess-burn,\nThe Crichtons bad them stand and turn.\n184A.28 And when they came to the Biddess-strand,\nThe Crichtons they were hard at hand.\n184A.29 But when they cam to the Biddess-law,\nThe Johnstons bad them stand and draw.\n184A.30 Out then spake then Willy Kirkhill:\n\u2018Of fighting, lads, ye\u2019s hae your fill.\u2019\n184A.31 Then off his horse Willy he lap,\nAnd a burnishd brand in his hand he took.\n184A.32 And through the Crichtons Willy he ran,\nAnd dang them down both horse and man.\n184A.33 O but these lads were wondrous rude,\nWhen the Biddess-burn ran three days blood!\n184A.34 \u2018I think, my lads, we\u2019ve done a noble deed;\nWe have revengd the Galiard\u2019s blood.\n184A.35 \u2018For every finger o the Galiard\u2019s hand,\nI vow this day I\u2019ve killed a man.\u2019\n184A.36 And hame for Wamphray they are gane,\nAnd away the Crichtons\u2019 nout they\u2019ve taen.\n184A.37 \u2018Sin we\u2019ve done na hurt, nor we\u2019ll take na wrang,\nBut back to Wamphray we will gang.\u2019\n184A.38 As they came in at Evanhead,\nAt Reaklaw-holm they spred abread.\n184A.39 \u2018Drive on, my lads, it will be late;\nWe\u2019ll have a pint at Wamphray Gate.\n184A.40 \u2018For where eer I gang, or eer I ride,\nThe lads o Wamphr[a]y\u2019s on my side.\n184A.41 \u2018For of a\u2019 the lads that I do ken,\nThe lads o Wamphr[a]y\u2019s king o men.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 184. The Lads of Wamphray","type":"page"}