{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch187.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch187.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch187.htm","text":"187A.1 * * * * *\nPEETER a Whifield he hath slaine,\nAnd Iohn a Side, he is tane,\nAnd Iohn is bound both hand and foote,\nAnd to the New-castle he is gone.\n187A.2 But tydinges came to the Sybill o the Side,\nBy the water-side as shee rann;\nShee tooke her kirtle by the hem,\nAnd fast shee runn to Mangerton.\n187A.3 . . . .\nThe lord was sett downe at his meate;\nWhen these tydings shee did him tell,\nNeuer a morsell might he eate.\n187A.4 But lords, the wrunge their fingars white,\nLadyes did pull themselues by the haire,\nCrying, Alas and weladay!\nFor Iohn o the Side wee shall neuer see more.\n187A.5 \u2018But wee\u2019le goe sell our droues of kine,\nAnd after them our oxen sell,\nAnd after them our troopes of sheepe,\nBut wee will loose him out of the New Castell.\u2019\n187A.6 But then bespake him Hobby Noble,\nAnd spoke these words wonderous hye;\nSayes, Giue my fiue men to my selfe,\nAnd I\u2019le feitch Iohn o the Side to thee.\n187A.7 \u2018Yea, thou\u2019st haue fiue, Hobby Noble,\nOf the best that are in this countrye;\nI\u2019le giue thee fiue thousand, Hobby Noble,\nThat walke in Tyuidale trulye.\u2019\n187A.8 \u2018Nay, I\u2019le haue but fiue,\u2019 saies Hobby Noble,\n\u2018That shall walke away with mee;\nWee will ryde like noe men of warr;\nBut like poore badgers wee wilbe.\u2019\n187A.9 They stuffet vp all their baggs with straw,\nAnd their steeds barefoot must bee;\n\u2018Come on, my bretheren,\u2019 sayes Hobby Noble,\n\u2018Come on your wayes, and goe with mee.\u2019\n187A.10 And when they came to Culerton ford,\nThe water was vp, they cold it not goe;\nAnd then they were ware of a good old man,\nHow his boy and hee were at the plowe.\n187A.11 \u2018But stand you still,\u2019 sayes Hobby Noble,\n\u2018Stand you still heere at this shore,\nAnd I will ryde to Yonder old man,\nAnd see w[h]ere the gate it lyes ore.\n187A.12 \u2018But Christ you saue, father!\u2019 quoth hee,\n\u2018Crist both you saue and see!\nWhere is the way ouer this ford?\nFor Christ\u2019s sake tell itt mee!\u2019\n187A.13 \u2018But I haue dwelled heere three score yeere,\nSoe haue I done three score and three;\nI neuer sawe man nor horsse goe ore,\nExcept itt were a horse of tree.\u2019\n187A.14 \u2018But fare thou well, thou good old man!\nThe devill in hell I leave with thee,\nNoe better comfort heere this night\nThow giues my bretheren heere and me.\u2019\n187A.15 But when he came to his brether againe,\nAnd told this tydings full of woe,\nAnd then they found a well good gate\nThey might ryde ore by two and two.\n187A.16 And when they were come ouer the forde,\nAll safe gotten att the last,\n\u2018Thankes be to God!\u2019 sayes Hobby Nobble,\n\u2018The worst of our perill is past.\u2019\n187A.17 And then they came into Howbrame wood,\nAnd there then they found a tree,\nAnd cutt itt downe then by the roote;\nThe lenght was thirty foote and three.\n187A.18 And four of them did take the planke,\nAs light as it had beene a flee,\nAnd carryed itt to the New Castle,\nWhere as Iohn a Side did lye.\n187A.19 And some did climbe vp by the walls,\nAnd some did climbe vp by the tree,\nVntill they came vpp to the top of the castle,\nWhere Iohn made his moane trulye.\n187A.20 He sayd, God be with thee, Sybill o the Side!\nMy owne mother thou art, quoth hee;\nIf thou knew this night I were here,\nA woe woman then woldest thou bee.\n187A.21 And fare you well, Lord Mangerton!\nAnd euer I say God be with thee!\nFor if you knew this night I were heere,\nYou wold sell your land for to loose mee.\n187A.22 And fare thou well, Much, Millers sonne!\nMuch, Millars sonne, I say;\nThou has beene better att merke midnight\nThen euer thou was att noone o the day.\n187A.23 And fare thou well, my good Lord Clough!\nThou art thy fathers sonne and heire;\nThou neuer saw him in all thy liffe\nBut with him durst thou breake a speare.\n187A.24 \u2018Wee are brothers childer nine or ten,\nAnd sisters children ten or eleven.\nWe neuer came to the feild to fight,\nBut the worst of us was counted a man.\u2019\n187A.25 But then bespake him Hoby Noble,\nAnd spake these words vnto him;\nSaies, Sleepest thou, wakest thou, Iohn o the Side,\nOr art thou this castle within?\n187A.26 \u2018But who is there,\u2019 quoth Iohn oth Side,\n\u2018That knowes my name soe right and free?\u2019\n\u2018I am a bastard-brother of thine;\nThis night I am comen for to loose thee.\u2019\n187A.27 \u2018Now nay, now nay,\u2019 quoth Iohn o the Side;\n\u2018Itt feares me sore that will not bee;\nFfor a pecke of gold and silver,\u2019 Iohn sayd,\n\u2018In faith this night will not loose mee.\u2019\n187A.28 But then bespake him Hobby Noble,\nAnd till his brother thus sayd hee;\nSayes, Four shall take this matter in hand,\nAnd two shall tent our geldings free.\n187A.29 Four did breake one dore without,\nThen Iohn brake fiue himsell;\nBut when they came to the iron dore,\nIt smote twelue vpon the bell.\n187A.30 \u2018Itt feares me sore,\u2019 sayd Much, the Miller,\n\u2018That heere taken wee all shalbee;\u2019\n\u2018But goe away, bretheren,\u2019 sayd Iohn a Side,\n\u2018For euer alas! this will not bee.\u2019\n187A.31 \u2018But fye vpon thee!\u2019 sayd Hobby Noble;\n\u2018Much, the Miller, fye vpon thee!\n\u2018It sore feares me,\u2019 said Hobby Noble,\n\u2018Man that thou wilt neuer bee.\u2019\n187A.32 But then he had Fflanders files two or three,\nAnd hee fyled downe that iron dore,\nAnd tooke Iohn out of the New Castle,\nAnd sayd, Looke thou neuer come heere more!\n187A.33 When he had him forth of the New Castle,\n\u2018Away with me, Iohn, thou shalt ryde:\u2019\nBut euer alas! itt could not bee;\nFor Iohn cold neither sitt nor stryde.\n187A.34 But then he had sheets two or three,\nAnd bound Iohns boults fast to his feete,\nAnd sett him on a well good steede,\nHimselfe on another by him seete.\n187A.35 Then Hobby Noble smiled and loug[h]e,\nAnd spoke these worde in mickle pryde:\nThou sitts soe finely on thy geldinge\nThat, Iohn, thou rydes like a bryde.\n187A.36 And when they came thorrow Howbrame towne,\nIohns horsse there stumbled at a stone;\n\u2018Out and alas!\u2019 cryed Much, the Miller,\n\u2018Iohn, thou\u2019le make vs all be tane.\u2019\n187A.37 \u2018But fye vpon thee!\u2019 saies Hobby Noble,\n\u2018Much, the Millar, fye on thee!\nI know full well,\u2019 sayes Hobby Noble,\n\u2018Man that thou wilt neuer bee.\u2019\n187A.38 And when the came into Howbrame wood,\nHe had Fflanders files two or three\nTo file Iohns bolts beside his feete,\nThat hee might ryde more easilye.\n187A.39 Sayes, \u2018Iohn, now leape ouer a steede!\u2019\nAnd Iohn then hee lope ouer fiue:\n\u2018I know well,\u2019 sayes Hobby Noble,\n\u2018Iohn, thy fellow is not aliue.\u2019\n187A.40 Then he brought him home to Mangerton;\nThe lord then he was att his meate;\nBut when Iohn o the Side he there did see,\nFor faine hee cold noe more eate.\n187A.41 He sayes, Blest be thou, Hobby Noble,\nThat euer thou wast man borne!\nThou hast feitched vs home good Iohn oth Side,\nThat was now cleane from vs gone.\n187B: Jock o the Side\n187B.1 \u2018NOW Liddisdale has ridden a raid,\nBut I wat they had better staid at hame;\nFor Mitchel o Winfield he is dead,\nAnd my son Johnie is prisner tane.\u2019\nWith my fa ding diddle, la la dow diddle.\n187B.2 For Mangerton House auld Downie is gane;\nHer coats she has kilted up to her knee,\nAnd down the water wi speed she rins,\nWhile tears in spaits fa fast frae her eie.\n187B.3 Then up and bespake the lord Mangerton:\n\u2018What news, what news, sister Downie, to me?\u2019\n\u2018Bad news, bad news, my lord Mangerton;\nMitchel is killd, and tane they hae my son Johnie.\u2019\n187B.4 \u2018Neer fear, sister Downie,\u2019 quo Mangerton;\n\u2018I hae yokes of oxen four and twentie,\nMy barns, my byres, and my faulds, a\u2019 weel filld,\nAnd I\u2019ll part wi them a\u2019 ere Johnie shall die.\n187B.5 \u2018Three men I\u2019ll take to set him free,\nWeel harnessd a\u2019 wi best o steel;\nThe English rogues may hear, and drie\nThe weight o their braid swords to feel.\n187B.6 \u2018The Laird\u2019s Jock ane, the Laird\u2019s Wat twa,\nOh, Hobie Noble, thou ane maun be;\nThy coat is blue, thou has been true,\nSince England banishd thee, to me.\u2019\n187B.7 Now Hobie was a English man,\nIn Bewcastle-dale was bred and born;\nBut his misdeeds they were sae great,\nThey banishd him neer to return.\n187B.8 Lord Mangerton them orders gave,\n\u2018Your horses the wrang way maun a\u2019 be shod;\nLike gentlemen ye must not seem,\nBut look like corn-caugers gawn ae road.\n187B.9 \u2018Your armour gude ye maunna shaw,\nNor ance appear like men o weir;\nAs country lads be all arrayd,\nWi branks and brecham on ilk mare.\u2019\n187B.10 Sae now a\u2019 their horses are shod the wrang way,\nAnd Hobie has mounted his grey sae fine,\nJock his lively bay, Wat\u2019s on his white horse behind,\nAnd on they rode for the water o Tyne.\n187B.11 At the Choler-ford they a\u2019 light down,\nAnd there, wi the help o the light o the moon,\nA tree they cut, wi fifteen naggs upo ilk side,\nTo climb up the wa o Newcastle town.\n187B.12 But when they cam to Newcastle town,\nAnd were alighted at the wa,\nThey fand their tree three ells oer laigh,\nThey fand their stick baith short and sma.\n187B.13 Then up and spake the Laird\u2019s ain Jock,\n\u2018There\u2019s naething for \u2019t, the gates we maun force;\u2019\nBut when they cam the gates unto,\nA proud porter withstood baith men and horse.\n187B.14 His neck in twa I wat they hae wrung,\nWi hand or foot he neer playd paw;\nHis life and his keys at anes they hae tane,\nAnd cast his body ahind the wa.\n187B.15 Now soon they reach Newcastle jail,\nAnd to the prisner thus they call:\n\u2018Sleips thou, wakes thou, Jock o the Side?\nOr is thou wearied o thy thrall?\u2019\n187B.16 Jock answers thus, wi dolefu tone:\nAft, aft I wake, I seldom sleip;\nBut wha\u2019s this kens my name sae weel,\nAnd thus to hear my waes do[es] seik?\n187B.17 Then up and spake the good Laird\u2019s Jock,\n\u2018Neer fear ye now, my billie,\u2019 quo he;\n\u2018For here\u2019s the Laird\u2019s Jock, the Laird\u2019s Wat,\nAnd Hobie Noble, come to set thee free.\u2019\n187B.18 \u2018Oh, had thy tongue, and speak nae mair,\nAnd o thy tawk now let me be!\nFor if a\u2019 Liddisdale were here the night,\nThe morn\u2019s the day that I maun die.\n187B.19 \u2018Full fifteen stane o Spanish iron\nThey hae laid a\u2019 right sair on me;\nWi locks and keys I am fast bound\nInto this dungeon mirk and drearie.\u2019\n187B.20 \u2018Fear ye no that,\u2019 quo the Laird\u2019s Jock;\n\u2018A faint heart neer wan a fair ladie;\nWork thou within, we\u2019ll work without,\nAnd I\u2019ll be bound we set thee free.\u2019\n187B.21 The first strong dore that they came at,\nThey loosed it without a key;\nThe next chaind dore that they cam at,\nThey gard it a\u2019 in flinders flee.\n187B.22 The prisner now, upo his back,\nThe Laird\u2019s Jock\u2019s gotten up fu hie;\nAnd down the stair him, irons and a\u2019,\nWi nae sma speed and joy brings he.\n187B.23 \u2018Now, Jock, I wat,\u2019 quo Hobie Noble,\n\u2018Part o the weight ye may lay on me;\u2019\n\u2018I wat weel no,\u2019 quo the Laird\u2019s Jock,\n\u2018I count him lighter than a flee.\u2019\n187B.24 Sae out at the gates they a\u2019 are gane,\nThe prisner\u2019s set on horseback hie;\nAnd now wi speed they\u2019ve tane the gate,\nWhile ilk ane jokes fu wantonlie.\n187B.25 \u2018O Jock, sae winsomely\u2019s ye ride,\nWi baith your feet upo ae side!\nSae weel\u2019s ye\u2019re harnessd, and sae trig!\nIn troth ye sit like ony bride.\u2019\n187B.26 The night, tho wat, they didna mind,\nBut hied them on fu mirrilie,\nUntil they cam to Cholerford brae,\nWhere the water ran like mountains hie.\n187B.27 But when they came to Cholerford,\nThere they met with an auld man;\nSays, Honest man, will the water ride?\nTell us in haste, if that ye can.\n187B.28 \u2018I wat weel no,\u2019 quo the good auld man;\n\u2018Here I hae livd this threty yeirs and three.\nAnd I neer yet saw the Tyne sae big,\nNor rinning ance sae like a sea.\u2019\n187B.29 Then up and spake the Laird\u2019s saft Wat,\nThe greatest coward in the company;\n\u2018Now halt, now halt, we needna try\u2019t;\nThe day is comd we a\u2019 maun die!\u2019\n187B.30 \u2018Poor faint-hearted thief!\u2019 quo the Laird\u2019s Jock,\n\u2018There\u2019ll nae man die but he that\u2019s fie;\nI\u2019ll lead ye a\u2019 right safely through;\nLift ye the prisner on ahint me.\u2019\n187B.31 Sae now the water they a\u2019 hae tane,\nBy anes and twas they a\u2019 swam through;\n\u2018Here are we a\u2019 safe,\u2019 says the Laird\u2019s Jock,\n\u2018And, poor faint Wat, what think ye now?\u2019\n187B.32 They scarce the ither side had won,\nWhen twenty men they saw pursue;\nFrae Newcastle town they had been sent,\nA\u2019 English lads, right good and true.\n187B.33 But when the land-sergeant the water saw,\n\u2018It winna ride, my lads,\u2019 quo he;\nThen out he cries, Ye the prisner may take,\nBut leave the irons, I pray, to me.\n187B.34 \u2018I wat weel no,\u2019 cryd the Laird\u2019s Jock,\n\u2018I\u2019ll keep them a\u2019, shoon to my mare they\u2019ll be;\nMy good grey mare, for I am sure,\nShe\u2019s bought them a\u2019 fu dear frae thee.\u2019\n187B.35 Sae now they\u2019re away for Liddisdale,\nEen as fast as they coud them hie;\nThe prisner\u2019s brought to his ain fire-side,\nAnd there o\u2019s airns they make him free.\n187B.36 \u2018Now, Jock, my billie,\u2019 quo a\u2019 the three,\n\u2018The day was comd thou was to die;\nBut thou\u2019s as weel at thy ain fire-side,\nNow sitting, I think, tween thee and me.\u2019\n187B.37 They hae gard fill up ae punch-bowl,\nAnd after it they maun hae anither,\nAnd thus the night they a\u2019 hae spent,\nJust as they had been brither and brither.\n187C: Jock o the Side\n187C.1 \u2018NOW Liddisdale has ridden a rade,\nBut I wat they had a better staid at home;\nFor Michel of Windfield he is slain,\nAnd my son Jonny, they have him tane.\u2019\nWith my fa dow diddle, lal la dow didle\n187C.2 Now Downy\u2019s down the water gone,\nWith all her cots unto her arms,\nAnd she gave never over swift running\nUntill she came to Mengertown.\n187C.3 Up spack Lord Mengertown and says,\nWhat news, what news now, sister Downy? what news hast thou to me?\n\u2018Bad news, bad news, Lord Mengertown,\nFor Michal of Windfield he is slain, and my son Jonny they have him tain.\u2019\n187C.4 Up speaks Lord Mengertown and says, I have four and twenty yoke of oxen,\nAnd four and twenty good milk-ky,\nAnd three times as mony sheep,\nAnd I\u2019ll gie them a\u2019 before my son Jonny die.\n187C.5 I will tak three men unto myself;\nThe Laird\u2019s Jack he shall be ane,\nThe Laird\u2019s Wat another,\nFor, Hobbie Noble, thow must be ane.\n187C.6 . . . .\n. thy cot is of the blue;\nFor ever since thou cam to Liddisdale\nTo Mengertown thou hast been true.\n187C.7 Now Hobbie hath mounted his frienged gray,\nAnd the Laird\u2019s Jack his lively bey,\nAnd Watt with the ald horse behind,\nAnd they are away as fast as they can ride.\n187C.8 Till they are come to the Cholar foord,\nAnd there they lighted down;\nAnd there they cut a tree with fifty nags upo each side,\nFor to clim Newcastle wall.\n187C.9 And when they came there . .\nIt wad not reach by ellish three;\n\u2018There\u2019s nothing for\u2019t,\u2019 says the Laird\u2019s Jack,\n\u2018But forceing o New Castle gate.\u2019\n187C.10 And when they came there,\nThere was a proud porter standing,\nAnd I wat they were obliged to wring his neck in twa.\n187C.11 Now they are come to New Castle gile:\nSays they, Sleep thou, wakes thou, John o the Side?\n187C.12 Says he, Whiles I wake, but seldom sleep;\nWho is there that knows my name so well?\n187C.13 Up speaks the Laird\u2019s Jack and says,\n. . . .\nHere is Jack and Watt and Hobby Noble,\nCome this night to set thee free.\n187C.14 Up speaks John of the Side and says,\nO hold thy tongue now, billy, and of thy talk now let me be;\nFor if a\u2019 Liddisdale were here this night,\nThe morn is the day that I must die.\n187C.15 For their is fifty stone of Spanish iron\nLaid on me fast wee lock and key,\n. . . .\n. . . .\n187C.16 Then up speaks the Laird\u2019s Jack and says,\nA faint heart neer wan a fair lady;\nWork thou within and we without,\nAnd this night we\u2019el set thee free.\n187C.17 The first door that they came at\nThey lowsed without either lock or key,\n. . . .\nAnd the next they brock in flinders three.\n187C.18 Till now Jack has got the prisner on his back,\nAnd down the tolbooth stair came he;\n. . . .\n. . . .\n187C.19 Up spack Hobby Noble and says,\nO man, I think thou may lay some weight o the prisner upo me;\n\u2018I wat weel no,\u2019 says the Laird\u2019s Jack,\n\u2018For I do not count him as havy as ane poor flee.\u2019\n187C.20 So now they have set him upo horse back,\nAnd says, O now so winsomly as thou dost ride,\nJust like a bride, wee beth thy feet\nUnto a side.\n187C.21 Now they are away wee him as fast as they can heye,\nTill they are come to Cholar foord brae head;\nAnd they met an ald man,\nAnd says, Will the water ride?\n187C.22 \u2018I wat well no,\u2019 says the ald man,\n\u2018For I have lived here this thirty years and three,\n. . . .\nAnd I think I never saw Tyne running so like a sea.\u2019\n187C.23 Up speaks the Laird\u2019s Watt and says-+--+-\nThe greatest coward of the companie-+--+-\n. . . .\n\u2018Now, dear billies, the day is come that we must a\u2019 die.\u2019\n187C.24 Up speaks the Laird\u2019s Jack and says, Poor cowardly thief,\nThey will never one die but him that\u2019s fee;\n. . . .\nSet the prisner on behind me.\n187C.25 So they have tain the water by ane and two,\nTill they have got safe swumd through.\n187C.26 Be they wan safe a\u2019 through,\nThere were twenty men pursueing them from New Castle town.\n187C.27 Up speaks the land-sergeant and says,\nIf you be gone with the rog, cast me my irons.\n187C.28 \u2018I wat weel no,\u2019 says the Laird\u2019s Jack,\n\u2018For I will keep them to shew my good grey mere;\n. . . .\nFor I am sure she has bought them dear.\u2019\n187C.29 \u2018Good sooth,\u2019 says the Laird\u2019s Jack,\n\u2018The worst perel is now past.\u2019\n187C.30 So now they have set him upo hoseback,\nAnd away as fast as they could hye,\nTill they brought him into Liddisdale,\nAnd now they have set him down at his own fireside.\n187C.31 And says, now John,\nThe day was come that thou was to die,\nBut thou is full as weel sitting at thy own fireside.\n. . . .\n187C.32 And now they are falln to drink,\nAnd they drank a whole week one day after another,\nAnd if they be not given over,\nThey are all drinking on yet.\n187D: Jock o the Side\n187D.1 LIDDISDAILE has ridden a raid,\nBut they had better ha staid at hame;\nFor Michael o Wingfield he is slain,\nAnd Jock o the Side they hae taen.\n187D.2 Dinah\u2019s down the water gane,\nWi a\u2019 her coats untill her knes,\n. . . .\nTo Mangerton came she.\n187D.3 . . . . .\nHow now? how now? What\u2019s your will wi me?\n. . . .\n. . . .\n187D.4 To the New Castle h[e] is gane.\n187D.5 They have cuttin their yad\u2019s tailes,\nThey\u2019ve cut them a little abune the hough,\nAnd they nevir gave oer s. . . . d running\nTill they came to Hathery Haugh.\n187D.6 And when they came to Chollerton ford\nTyne was mair running like a sea.\n. . . .\n. . . .\n187D.7 And when they came to Swinburne wood,\nQuickly they ha fellen a tree;\nTwenty snags on either side,\nAnd on the top it had lang three.\n187D.8 \u2018My mare is young, she wul na swim,\u2019\n. . . .\n. . . .\n. . . .\n187D.9 . . . .\n\u2018Now Mudge the Miller, fie on thee!\nTak thou mine, and I\u2019ll tak thine,\nAnd the deel hang down thy yad and thee.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 187. Jock o the Side","type":"page"}