{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch188.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch188.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch188.htm","text":"188A.1 LATE in an evening forth as I went,\n\u2019Twas on the dawning of the day;\nI heard two brothers make their moan,\nI listend well what they did say.\n188A.2 . . . .\n. . .\nWe were three born brethren,\nThere[s] one of us condemnd to die.\n188A.3 Then up bespake Jock the laird:\n\u2018If I had but a hundre men,\nA hundred o th best i Christenty,\nI wad go on to fair Dumfries, I wad loose my brother and set him free.\u2019\n188A.4 So up bespak then Dicky Ha,\nHe was the wisest o the three:\n\u2018A hundre men we\u2019ll never get,\nNeither for gold nor fee,\nBut some of them will us betray;\nThey\u2019l neither fight for gold nor fee.\n188A.5 \u2018Had I but ten well-wight men,\nTen o the best i Christenty,\nI wad gae on to fair Dumfries,\nI wad loose my brother and set him free.\n188A.6 \u2018Jocky Ha, our cousin, \u2019s be the first man\u2019\n(For leugh o Liddesdale cracked he);\n\u2018An ever we come till a pinch,\nHe\u2019ll be as good as ony three.\u2019\n188A.7 They mounted ten well-wight men,\nTen o the best i Christenty;\n. . . .\n. . . .\n188A.8 There was horsing and horsing of haste,\nAnd cracking o whips out oer the lee,\nTill they came to fair Barngliss,\nAnd they ca\u2019d the smith right quietly.\n188A.9 He has shod them a\u2019 their horse,\nHe\u2019s shod them siccer and honestly,\nAnd he as turnd the Cawkers backwards oer,\nWhere foremost they were wont to be.\n188A.10 And there was horsing, horsing of haste,\nAnd cracking of whips out oer the lee,\nUntil they came to the Bonshaw wood,\nWhere they held their council privately.\n188A.11 Some says, We\u2019ll gang the Annan road,\nIt is the better road, said they;\nUp bespak then Dicky Ha,\nThe wisest of that company.\n188A.12 \u2018Annan road\u2019s a publick road,\nIt\u2019s no the road that makes for me;\nBut we will through at Hoddam ford,\nIt is the better road,\u2019 said he.\n188A.13 And there was horsing, horsing o haste,\nAnd cracking of whips out oer the lea,\nUntil they came to fair Dumfries,\nAnd it was newly strucken three.\n188A.14 Up bespake then Jocky Ha,\nFor leugh o Liddesdale cracked he:\n\u2018I have a mare, they ca her Meg,\nShe is the best i Christenty;\nAn ever we come till a pinch,\nShe\u2019ll bring awa both thee and me.\u2019\n188A.15 \u2018But five we\u2019ll leave to had our horse,\nAnd five will watch, guard for to be;\nWho is the man,\u2019 said Dicky then,\n\u2018To the prison-door will go with me?\u2019\n188A.16 Up bespak then Jocky Ha,\nFor leugh o Liddesdale cracked he:\n\u2018I am the man,\u2019 said Jocky than,\n\u2018To the prison-door I\u2019ll go with thee.\u2019\n188A.17 They are up the jail-stair,\nThey stepped it right soberly,\nUntil they came to the jail-door;\nThey ca\u2019d the prisoner quietly.\n188A.18 \u2018O sleeps thou, wakest thou, Archie, my billy?\nO sleeps thou, wakes thou, dear billy?\u2019\n\u2018Sometimes I sleep, sometimes I wake;\nBut who\u2019s that knows my name so well?\u2019 [said he.]\n\u2018I am thy brother Dicky,\u2019 he says;\n\u2018This night I\u2019m come to borrow thee.\u2019\n188A.19 But up bespake the prisoner then,\nAnd O but he spake woefully!\n\u2018Today had been a justice-court,\n. . .\nAnd a\u2019 Liddesdale were here the night,\nThe morn\u2019s the day at I\u2019se to die.\u2019\n188A.20 \u2018What is thy crime, Archie, my billy?\nWhat is the crime they lay to thee?\u2019\n\u2018I brake a spear i the warden\u2019s breast,\nFor saving my master\u2019s land,\u2019 said he.\n188A.21 \u2018If that be a\u2019 the crime they lay to thee, Archie, my billy,\nIf that be the crime they lay to thee,\nWork thou within, and me without,\nAnd thro good strength I\u2019ll borrow thee.\u2019\n188A.22 \u2018I cannot work,billy,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018I cannot work, billy, with thee,\nFor fifteen stone of Spanish iron\nLyes fast to me with lock and key.\u2019\n188A.23 When Dicky he heard that,\n\u2018Away, thou crabby chiel!\u2019 cried he;\nHe\u2019s taen the door aye with his foot,\nAnd fast he followd it with his knee.\nTill a\u2019 the bolts the door hung on,\nO th\u2019 prison-floor he made them flee.\n188A.24 \u2018Thou\u2019s welcome, welcome, Archy, my billy,\nThou\u2019s aye right dear welcome to me;\nThere shall be straiks this day,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018This day or thou be taen from me.\u2019\n188A.25 He\u2019s got the prisoner on o his back,\nHe\u2019s gotten him irons and aw,\n. . . .\n. . .\n188A.26 Up bespake then Jocky Ha,\n\u2018Let some o th\u2019 prisoner lean on me;\u2019\n\u2018The diel o there,\u2019 quo Dicky than,\n\u2018He\u2019s no the wightdom of a flea.\u2019\n188A.27 They are on o that gray mare,\nAnd they are on o her aw three,\nAnd they linked the irons about her neck,\nAnd galloped the street right wantonly.\n188A.28 \u2018To horse, to horse,\u2019 then, a+ell,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Horse ye with all the might ye may,\nFor the jailor he will waken next;\nAnd the prisoners had a\u2019 wan away.\u2019\n188A.29 There was horsing, horsing of haste,\nAnd cracking o whips out oer the lea,\nUntil they came to the Bonshaw Shield;\nThere they held their council privately.\n188A.30 Some says, \u2018We\u2019ll gang the Annan road;\nIt is the better road,\u2019 said they;\nBut up bespak than Dicky Ha,\nThe wisest of that company:\n188A.31 \u2018Annan road\u2019s a publick road,\nIt\u2019s not the road that makes for me;\nBut we will through at Annan Holme,\nIt is the better road,\u2019 said he;\n\u2018An we were in at Wamfrey Gate,\nThe Johnstones they will a\u2019 help me.\u2019\n188A.32 But Dicky lookd oer his left shoulder,\nI wait a wiley look gave he;\nHe spied the leiutenant coming,\nAn a hundre men of his company.\n188A.33 \u2018So horse ye, horse ye, lads!\u2019 he said,\n\u2018O horse ye, sure and siccerly!\nFor yonder is the lieutenant,\nWith a hundred men of his company.\u2019\n188A.34 There was horsing, horsing of haste,\nAnd cracking o whips out oer the lea.\nUntil they came to Annan Holme,\nAnd it was running like a sea.\n188A.35 But up bespake the lieutenant,\nUntil a bonny lad said he,\n\u2018Who is the man,\u2019 said the leiutenant,\n\u2018Rides foremost of yon company?\u2019\n188A.36 Then up bespake the bonny lad,\nUntil the lieutenant said he,\n\u2018Some men do ca him Dicky Ha,\nRides foremost of yon company.\u2019\n188A.37 \u2018O haste ye, haste ye!\u2019 said the leiutenant,\n\u2018Pursue with a\u2019 the might ye may!\nFor the man had needs to be well saint\nThat comes thro the hands o Dicky Ha.\u2019\n188A.38 But up bespak Jock the laird,\n\u2018This has been a dearsome night to me;\nI\u2019ve a colt of four years old,\nI wait he wannelld like the wind;\nIf ever he come to the deep,\nHe will plump down, leave me behind.\u2019\n188A.39 \u2018Wae light o thee and thy horse baith, Jock,\nAnd even so thy horse and thee!\nTake thou mine, and I\u2019ll take thine,\nFoul fa the worst horse i th\u2019 company!\nI\u2019ll cast the prisoner me behind;\nThere\u2019ll no man die but him that\u2019s fee.\u2019\n188A.40 There they\u2019ve a\u2019 taen the flood,\nAnd they have taen it hastily;\nDicky was the hindmost took the flood,\nAnd foremost on the land stood he.\n188A.41 Dicky\u2019s turnd his horse about,\nAnd he has turnd it hastilly:\n\u2018Come through, come thro, my lieutenant,\nCome thro this day, and drink wi me,\nAnd thy dinner\u2019s be dressd in Annan Holme,\nIt sall not cost thee one penny.\u2019\n188A.42 \u2018I think some witch has bore the, Dicky,\nOr some devil in hell been thy daddy;\nI woud not swum that wan water double-horsed,\nFor a\u2019 the gold in Christenty.\n188A.43 \u2018But throw me thro my irons, Dicky,\nI wait they cost me full dear;\u2019\n\u2018O devil be there,\u2019 quo Jocky Hall,\n\u2018They\u2019l be good shoon to my gray mare.\u2019\n188A.44 O up bespoke then Jock the laird,\n\u2018This has been a dearsome night to me;\nFor yesternight the Cawfield was my ain,\nLandsman again I never sall be.\u2019\n188A.45 \u2018Now wae light o thee and thy lands baith, Jock,\nAnd even so baith the land and thee!\nFor gear will come and gear will gang,\nBut three brothers again we never were to be.\u2019\n188B: Archie o Cawfield\n188B.1 AS I was walking mine alane,\nIt was by the dawning o the day,\nI heard twa brothers make their maine,\nAnd I listned well what they did say.\n188B.2 The eldest to the youngest said,\n\u2018O dear brother, how can this be!\nThere was three brethren of us born,\nAnd one of us is condemnd to die.\u2019\n188B.3 \u2018O chuse ye out a hundred men,\nA hundred men in Christ[e]ndie,\nAnd we\u2019ll away to Dumfries town,\nAnd set our billie Archie free.\u2019\n188B.4 \u2018A hundred men you cannot get,\nNor yet sixteen in Christendie;\nFor some of them will us betray,\nAnd other some will work for fee.\n188B.5 \u2018But chuse ye out eleven men,\nAnd we ourselves thirteen will be,\nAnd we\u2019ill away to Dumfries town,\nAnd borrow bony billie Archie.\u2019\n188B.6 There was horsing, horsing in haste,\nAnd there was marching upon the lee,\nUntill they came to the Murraywhat,\nAnd they lighted a\u2019 right speedylie.\n188B.7 \u2018A smith, a smith,!\u2019 Dickie he crys,\n\u2018A smith, a smith, right speedily,\nTo turn back the cakers of our horses feet!\nFor it is forward we woud be.\u2019\n188B.8 There was a horsing, horsing in haste,\nThere was marching on the lee,\nUntill they came to Dumfries port,\nAnd there they lighted right manfulie.\n188B.9 \u2018There[\u2019s] six of us will hold the horse,\nAnd other five watchmen will be;\nBut who is the man among you a\u2019\nWill go to the Tolbooth door wi me?\u2019\n188B.10 p then spake Jokie Hall\n(Fra the laigh of Tiviotdale was he),\n\u2018If it should cost my life this very night,\nI\u2019ll ga to the Tollbooth door wi thee.\u2019\n188B.11 \u2018O sleepst thou, wakest thow, Archie laddie?\nO sleepst thou, wakest thow, dear billie?\u2019\n\u2018I sleep but saft, I waken oft,\nFor the morn\u2019s the day that I man die.\u2019\n188B.12 \u2018Be o good cheer now, Archie lad,\nBe o good cheer now, dear billie;\nWork thow within and I without,\nAnd the morn thou\u2019s dine at Cafield wi me.\u2019\n188B.13 \u2018O work, O work, Archie?\u2019 he cries,\n\u2018O work, O work? ther\u2019s na working for me;\nFor ther\u2019s fifteen stane o Spanish iron,\nAnd it lys fow sair on my body.\u2019\n188B.14 O Jokie Hall stept to the door,\nAnd he bended it back upon his knee,\nAnd he made the bolts that the door hang on\nJump to the wa right wantonlie.\n188B.15 He took the prisoner on his back,\nAnd down the Tollbooth stairs came he;\nOut then spak Dickie and said,\nLet some o the weight fa on me;\n\u2018O shame a ma!\u2019 co Jokie Ha,\n\u2018For he\u2019s no the weight of a poor flee.\u2019\n188B.16 The gray mare stands at the door,\nAnd I wat neer a foot stirt she,\nTill they laid the links out oer her neck,\nAnd her girth was the gold-twist to be.\n188B.17 And they came down thro Dumfries town,\nAnd O but they came bonily!\nUntil they came to Lochmaben port,\nAnd they leugh a\u2019 the night manfulie.\n188B.18 There was horsing, horsing in haste,\nAnd there was marching on the lee,\nUntill they came to the Murraywhat,\nAnd they lihgted a\u2019 right speedilie.\n188B.19 \u2018A smith, a smith!\u2019 Dickie he cries,\n\u2018A smith, a smith, right speedilie,\nTo file off the shakles fra my dear brother!\nFor it is forward we wad be.\u2019\n188B.20 They had not filtt a shakle of iron,\nA shakle of iron but barely three,\nTill out then spake young Simon brave,\n\u2018Ye do na see what I do see.\n188B.21 \u2018Lo yonder comes Liewtenant Gordon,\nAnd a hundred men in his company:\u2019\n\u2018O wo is me!\u2019 then Archie cries,\n\u2018For I\u2019m the prisoner, and I must die.\u2019\n188B.22 O there was horsing, horsing in haste,\nAnd there was marching upon the lee,\nUntill they came to Annan side,\nAnd it was flowing like the sea.\n188B.23 \u2018I have a colt, and he\u2019s four years old,\nAnd he can amble like the wind,\nBut when he comes to the belly deep,\nHe lays himself down on the ground.\u2019\n188B.24 \u2018But I have a mare, and they call her Meg,\nAnd she\u2019s the best in Christendie;\nSet ye the prisoner me behind;\nTher\u2019ll na man die but he that\u2019s fae!\u2019\n188B.25 Now they did swim that wan water,\nAnd O but they swam bonilie!\nUntill they came to the other side,\nAnd they wrang their cloathes right drunk[i]lie.\n188B.26 \u2018Come through, come through, Lieutenant Gordon!\nCome through, and drink some wine wi me!\nFor ther\u2019s a ale-house neer hard by,\nAnd it shall not cost thee one penny.\u2019\n188B.27 \u2018Throw me my irons, Dickie!\u2019 he cries,\n\u2018For I wat they cost me right dear;\u2019\n\u2018O shame a ma!\u2019 cries Jokie Ha,\n\u2018For they\u2019ll be good shoon to my gray mare.\u2019\n188B.28 \u2018Surely thy minnie has been some witch,\nOr thy dad some warlock has been;\nElse thow had never attempted such,\nOr to the bottom thow had gone.\n188B.29 \u2018Throw me my irons, Dickie!\u2019 he cries,\n\u2018For I wot they cost me dear enough;\u2019\n\u2018O shame a ma!\u2019 cries Jokie Ha,\n\u2018They\u2019ll be good shakles to my plough.\u2019\n188B.30 \u2018Come through, come through, Liewtenant Gordon!\nCome throw, and drink some wine wi me!\nFor yesterday I was your prisoner,\nBut now the night I am set free.\u2019\n188C: Archie o Cawfield\n188C.1 AS I walked on a pleasant green-+--+-\n\u2019Twas on the first morning of May-+--+-\nI heard twa brothers make their moan,\nAnd hearkend well what they did say.\n188C.2 The first he gave a grievous sigh,\nAnd said, Alas, and wae is me!\nWe hae a brother condemned to death,\nAnd the very morn must hanged be.\n188C.3 Then out it speaks him Little Dick,\nI wat a gude fellow was he:\n\u2018Had I three men unto mysell,\nWell borrowed shoud Bell Archie be.\u2019\n188C.4 Out it speaks him Johnny Ha,\nA better fellow by far was he:\n\u2018Ye shall hae six men and yoursell,\nAnd me to bear you companie.\n188C.5 \u2018Twa for keepers o the guard,\nSee that to keep it sickerlie,\nAnd twa to come, and twa to gang,\nAnd twa to speak wi Bell Archie.\n188C.6 \u2018But we winna gang like men o weir,\nNor yet will we like cavalliers;\nBut we will gang like corn-buyers,\nAnd we\u2019ll put brechens on our mares.\u2019\n188C.7 Then they are to the jail-house doors,\nAnd they hae tirled at the pin:\n\u2018Ye sleep ye, wake ye, Bell Archie?\nQuickly rise, lat us come in.\u2019\n188C.8 \u2018I sleep not aft, I lie not saft;\nWha\u2019s there that knocks and kens my name?\u2019\n\u2018It is your brothers Dick and John;\nYe\u2019ll open the door, lat us come in.\u2019\n188C.9 \u2018Awa, awa, my brethren dear,\nAnd ye\u2019ll had far awa frae me;\nIf ye be found at jail-house door,\nI fear like dogs they\u2019ll gar ye die.\u2019\n188C.10 \u2018Ohon, alas! my brother dear,\nIs this the hearkening ye gie to me?\nIf ye\u2019ll work therein as we thereout,\nWell borrowd should your body be.\u2019\n188C.11 \u2018How can I work therein, therein,\nOr yet how can I work thereout,\nWhen fifty tons o Spanish iron\nAre my fair body round about?\u2019\n188C.12 He put his fingers to the lock,\nI wat he handled them sickerlie,\nAnd doors of deal, and bands of steel,\nHe gart them all in flinders flee.\n188C.13 He\u2019s taen the prisoner in his arms,\nAnd he has kissd him cheek and chin:\n\u2018Now since we\u2019ve met, my brother dear,\nThere shall be dunts ere we twa twine.\u2019\n188C.14 He\u2019s taen the prisoner on his back,\nAnd a\u2019 his heavy irons tee,\nBut and his marie in his hand,\nAnd straight to Annan gate went he.\n188C.15 But when they came to Annan water,\nIt was roaring like the sea:\n\u2018O stay a little, Johnny Ha,\nHere we can neither fecht nor flee.\n188C.16 \u2018O a refreshment we maun hae,\nWe are baith dry and hungry tee;\nWe\u2019ll gang to Robert\u2019s at the mill,\nIt stands upon yon lily lee.\u2019\n188C.17 Up in the morning the jailor raise,\nAs soon\u2019s \u2019twas light that he coud see;\nWi a pint o wine and a mess sae fine,\nInto the prison-house went he.\n188C.18 When he came to the prison-door,\nA dreary sight he had to see;\nThe locks were shot, the doors were broke,\nAnd a\u2019 the prisoners won free.\n188C.19 \u2018Ye\u2019ll gae and waken Annan town,\nRaise up five hundred men and three;\nAnd if these rascals may be found,\nI vow like dogs I\u2019ll gar them die.\n188C.20 \u2018O dinna ye hear proud Annan roar,\nMair loud than ever roard the sea?\nWe\u2019ll get the rascals on this side,\nSure they can neither fecht nor flee.\n188C.21 \u2018Some gar ride, and some gar rin,\nWi a\u2019 the haste that ye can make;\nWe\u2019ll get them in some tavern-house,\nFor Annan water they winna take.\u2019\n188C.22 As Little Dick was looking round,\nAll for to see what he could see,\nSaw the proud sheriff trip the plain,\nFive hundred men his companie.\n188C.23 \u2018O fare ye well, my bonny wife,\nLikewise farewell, my children three!\nFare ye well, ye lands o Cafield!\nFor you again I neer will see.\n188C.24 \u2018For well I kent, ere I came here,\nThat Annan water woud ruin me;\nMy horse is young, he\u2019ll nae lat ride,\nAnd in this water I maun die.\u2019\n188C.25 Out it speaks him Johnny Ha,\nI wat a gude fellow was he:\n\u2018O plague upo your cowardly face!\nThe bluntest man I eer did see.\n188C.26 \u2018Gie me your horse, take ye my mare,\nThe devil drown my mare and thee!\nGie me the prisoner on behind,\nAnd nane will die but he that\u2019s fay.\u2019\n188C.27 He quickly lap upo the horse,\nAnd strait the stirrups siccarlie,\nAnd jumpd upo the other side,\nWi the prisoner and his irons tee.\n188C.28 The sheriff then came to the bank,\nAnd heard its roaring like the sea;\nSays, How these men they hae got ower,\nIt is a marvel unto me.\n188C.29 \u2018I wadna venture after them,\nFor a\u2019 the criminals that I see;\nNevertheless now, Johnny Ha,\nThrow ower the fetters unto me.\u2019\n188C.30 \u2018Deil part you and the fetters,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018As lang as my mare needs a shee;\nIf she gang barefoot ere they be done,\nI wish an ill death mat ye die.\u2019\n188C.31 \u2018Awa, awa, now Johnny Ha,\nYour talk to me seems very snell;\nYour mither\u2019s been some wild rank witch,\nAnd you yoursell an imp o hell.\u2019\n188D: Archie o Cawfield\n188D.1 \u2018SEVEN years have I loved my love,\nAnd seven years my love\u2019s loved me,\nBut now to-morrow is the day\nThat billy Archie, my love, must die.\u2019\n188D.2 O then out spoke him Little Dickie,\nAnd still the best fellow was he:\n\u2018Had I but five men and my self,\nThen we would borrow billy Archie.\u2019\n188D.3 Out it spoke him Caff o Lin,\nAnd still the worst fellow was he:\n\u2018You shall have five men and yourself,\nAnd I will bear you companye.\u2019\n188D.4 We will not go like to dragoons,\nNor yet will we like grenadiers,\nBut we will go like corn-dealers,\nAnd lay our brechams on our meares.\n188D.5 \u2018And twa of us will watch the road,\nAnd other twa will go between,\nAnd I will go to jail-house door,\nAnd hold the prisoner unthought lang.\u2019\n188D.6 \u2018Who is this at jail-house door,\nSo well as they do know the gin?\u2019\n\u2018It\u2019s I myself,\u2019 [said] him Little Dickie,\n\u2018And oh sae fain\u2019s I would be in!\u2019\n188D.7 \u2018Away, away, now, Little Dickie!\nAway let all your folly be!\nIf the Lord Lieutenant come on you,\nLike unto dogs he\u2019ll cause you die.\u2019\n188D.8 \u2018Hold you, hold you, billy Archie,\nAnd now let all your folly be!\nTho I die without, you\u2019ll not die within,\nFor borrowed shall your body be.\u2019\n188D.9 \u2018Away, away, now, Little Dickie!\nAway, let all this folly be!\nAn hundred pounds of Spanish irons\nIs all bound on my fair bodie.\u2019\n188D.10 Wi plough-culters and gavellocks\nThey made the jail-house door to flee;\n\u2018And in God\u2019s name,\u2019 said Little Dickie,\n\u2018Cast you the prisoner behind me!\u2019\n188D.11 They had not rode a great way off,\nWill all the haste that ever could be,\nTill they espied the Lord Lieutenant,\nWith a hundred men in\u2019s companie.\n188D.12 But when they came to wan water,\nIt now was rumbling like the sea;\nThen were they got into a strait,\nAs great a strait as well could be.\n188D.13 Then out did speak him Caff o Lin,\nAnd aye the warst fellow was he:\n\u2018Now God be with my wife and bairns!\nFor fatherless my babes will be.\n188D.14 \u2018My horse is young, he cannot swim;\nThe water\u2019s deep, and will not wade;\nMy children must be fatherless,\nMy wife a widow, whateer betide.\u2019\n188D.15 hen cried out him Little Dickie,\nAnd still the best fellow was he:\n\u2018Take you my mare, I\u2019ll take your horse,\nAnd Devil drown my mare and thee!\u2019\n188D.16 Now they have taken the wan water,\nTho it was roaring like the sea,\nAnd whan they got to the other side,\nI wot they bragged right crouselie,\n188D.17 \u2018Come thro, come thro now, Lord Lieutenant!\nO do come thro, I pray of thee!\nThere is an alehouse not far off,\nWe\u2019ll dine you and your companye.\u2019\n188D.18 \u2018Away, away, now, Little Dickie!\nO now let all your taunting be!\nThere\u2019s not a man in the king\u2019s army\nThat would have tried what\u2019s done by thee.\n188D.19 \u2018Cast back, cast back my fetters again!\nCast back my fetters! I say to thee;\nAnd get you gane the way you came,\nI wish no prisoners like to thee.\u2019\n188D.20 \u2018I have a mare, she\u2019s called Meg,\nThe best in all our low countrie;\nIf she gang barefoot till they are done,\nAn ill death may your lordship die!\u2019\n188E: Archie o Cawfield\n188E.1 . . . .\n. . . .\n\u2018We\u2019ll awa to bonnie Dundee,\nAnd set our brither Archie free.\u2019\n* * * * *\n188E.2 They broke through locks, and they broke through bars,\nAnd they broke through everything that cam in their way,\nUntil they cam to a big iron gate,\nAnd that\u2019s where brother Archie lay.\n[Little John says]\n188E.3 . . . .\n\u2018O brither Archie speak to me,\n. . . .\nFor we are come to set ye free.\u2019\n188E.4 . . . .\n\u2018Such a thing it canna be,\nFor there\u2019s fifty pund o gude Spanish airn\nAtween my neckbane and my knee.\u2019\n188F: Archie o Cawfield\n188F.1 AS I walked out one morning in May,\nJust before the break of day,\nI heard two brothers a making their moan,\nAnd I listened a while to what they did say.\nI heard, etc.\n188F.2 \u2018We have a brother in prison,\u2019 said they,\n\u2018Oh in prison lieth he!\nIf we had but ten men just like ourselves,\nThe prisoner we would soon set free.\u2019\n188F.3 \u2018Oh, no, no, no!\u2019 Bold Dickie said he,\n\u2018Oh no, no, no, that never can be!\nFor forty men is full little enough\nAnd I for to ride in their companie.\n188F.4 \u2018Ten to hold the horses in,\nTen to guard the city about,\nTen for to stand at the prison-door,\nAnd ten to fetch poor Archer out.\u2019\n188F.5 They mounted their horses, and so rode they,\nWho but they so merrilie!\nThey rode till they came to a broad river\u2019s side,\nAnd there they alighted so manfullie.\n188F.6 They mounted their horses, and so swam they,\nWho but they so merrilie!\nThey swam till they came to the other side,\nAnd there they alighted so manfullie.\n188F.7 They mounted their horses, and so rode they,\nWho but they so merrilie!\nThey rode till they came to that prison-door,\nAnd then they alighted so manfullie.\n188F.8 . . . .\n. . . .\n\u2018For I have forty men in my companie,\nAnd I have come to set you free.\u2019\n188F.9 \u2018Oh no, no, no!\u2019 poor Archer says he,\n\u2018Oh no, no, no, that never can be!\nFor I have forty pounds of good Spanish iron\nBetwixt my ankle and my knee.\u2019\n188F.10 Bold Dickie broke lock, Bold Dickie broke key,\nBold Dickie broke everything that he could see;\nHe took poor Archer under one arm,\nAnd carried him out so manfullie.\n188F.11 They mounted their horses, and so rode they,\nWho but they so merrilie!\nThey rode till they came to that broad river\u2019s side,\nAnd there they alighted so manfullie.\n188F.12 \u2018Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,\u2019 poor Archer says he,\n\u2018Take my love home to my wife and children three;\nFor my horse grows lame, he cannot swim,\nAnd here I see that I must die.\u2019\n188F.13 They shifted their horses, and so swam they,\nWho but they so merrilie!\nThey swam till they came to the other side,\nAnd there they alighted so manfullie.\n188F.14 \u2018Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,\u2019 poor Archer says he,\n\u2018Look you yonder there and see;\nFor the high-sheriff he is a coming,\nWith an hundred men in his companie.\u2019\n188F.15 \u2018Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,\u2019 High-sheriff said he,\n\u2018You\u2019re the damndest rascal that ever I see!\nGo bring me back the iron you\u2019ve stole,\nAnd I will set the prisoner free.\u2019\n188F.16 \u2018Oh no, no, no!\u2019 Bold Dickie said he,\n\u2018Oh no, no, no, that never can be!\nFor the iron \u2019twill do to shoe the horses,\nThe blacksmith rides in our companie.\u2019\n188F.17 \u2018Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,\u2019 High-sheriff says he,\n\u2018You\u2019re the damndest rascal that ever I see!\u2019\n\u2018I thank ye for nothing,\u2019 Bold Dickie says he,\n\u2018And you\u2019re a damned fool for following me.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 188. Archie o Cawfield","type":"page"}