{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch189.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch189.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch189.htm","text":"189A.1 FOUL fa the breast first treason bred in!\nThat Liddisdale may safely say,\nFor in it there was baith meat and drink,\nAnd corn unto our geldings gay.\nFala la diddle, etc.\n189A.2 We were stout-hearted men and true,\nAs England it did often say;\nBut now we may turn our backs and fly,\nSince brave Noble is seld away.\n189A.3 Now Hobie he was an English man,\nAnd born into Bewcastle dale,\nBut his misdeeds they were sae great,\nThey banishd him to Liddisdale.\n189A.4 At Kershope-foot the tryst was set,\nKershope of the lily lee;\nAnd there was traitour Sim o the Mains,\nWith him a private companie.\n189A.5 Then Hobie has graithd his body weel,\nI wat it was wi baith good iron and steel;\nAnd he has pulld out his fringed grey,\nAnd there, brave Noble, he rade him weel.\n189A.6 Then Hobie is down the water gane,\nEen as fast as he may drie;\nTho they shoud a\u2019 brusten and broken their hearts,\nFrae that tryst Noble he would not be.\n189A.7 \u2018Weel may ye be, my feiries five!\nAnd aye, what is your wills wi me?\u2019\nThen they cryd a\u2019 wi ae consent,\nThou \u2019rt welcome here, brave Noble, to me.\n189A.8 Wilt thou with us in England ride?\nAnd thy safe-warrand we will be,\nIf we get a horse worth a hyndred punds,\nUpon his back that thou shalt be.\n189A.9 \u2018I dare not with you into England ride,\nThe land-sergeant has me at feid;\nI know not what evil may betide\nFor Peter of Whitfield his brother\u2019s dead.\n189A.10 \u2018And Anton Shiel, he loves not me,\nFor I gat twa drifts of his sheep;\nThe great Earl of Whitfield loves me not,\nFor nae gear frae me he eer coud keep.\n189A.11 \u2018But will ye stay till the day gae down,\nUntil the night come oer the grund,\nAnd I\u2019ll be a guide worth ony twa\nThat may in Liddisdale be fund.\n189A.12 \u2018Tho dark the night as pick and tar,\nI\u2019ll guide ye oer yon hills fu hie,\nAnd bring ye a\u2019 in safety back,\nIf you\u2019ll be true and follow me.\u2019\n189A.13 He\u2019s guided them oer moss and muir,\nOer hill and houp, and mony ae down,\nTil they came to the Foulbogshiel,\nAnd there brave Noble he lighted down.\n189A.14 Then word is gane to the land-sergeant,\nIn Askirton where that he lay:\n\u2018The deer that ye hae hunted lang\nIs seen into the Waste this day.\u2019\n189A.15 \u2018Then Hobie Noble is that deer;\nI wat he carries the style fu hie!\nAft has he beat your slough-hounds back,\nAnd set yourselves at little ee.\n189A.16 \u2018Gar warn the bows of Hartlie-burn,\nSee they shaft their arrows on the wa!\nWarn Willeva and Spear Edom,\nAnd see the morn they meet me a\u2019.\n189A.17 \u2018Gar meet me on the Rodrie-haugh,\nAnd see it be by break o day;\nAnd we will on to Conscowthart Green,\nFor there, I think, w\u2019ll get our prey.\u2019\n189A.18 Then Hobie Noble has dreamd a dream,\nIn the Foulbogshiel where that he lay;\nHe thought his horse was neath him shot,\nAnd he himself got hard away.\n189A.19 The cocks could crow, and the day could dawn,\nAnd I wat so even down fell the rain;\nIf Hobie had no wakend at that time,\nIn the Foulbogshiel he had been tane or slain.\n189A.20 \u2018Get up, get up, my feiries five-+--+-\nFor I wat here makes a fu ill day-+--+-\nAnd the warst clock of this companie\nI hope shall cross the Waste this day.\u2019\n189A.21 Now Hobie thought the gates were clear,\nBut, ever alas! it was not sae;\nThey were beset wi cruel men and keen,\nThat away brave Noble could not gae.\n189A.22 \u2018Yet follow me, my feiries five,\nAnd see of me ye keep good ray,\nAnd the worst clock of this companie\nI hope shall cross the Waste this day.\u2019\n189A.23 There was heaps of men now Hobie before,\nAnd other heaps was him behind,\nThat had he been as wight as Wallace was\nAway brave Noble he could not win.\n189A.24 Then Hobie he had but a laddies sword,\nBut he did more than a laddies deed;\nIn the midst of Conscouthart Green,\nHe brake it oer Jers a Wigham\u2019s head.\n189A.25 Now they have tane brave Hobie Noble,\nWi his ain bowstring they band him sae;\nAnd I wat his heart was neer sae sair\nAs when his ain five band him on the brae.\n189A.26 They have tane him [on] for West Carlisle;\nThey askd him if he knew the way;\nWhateer he thought, yet little he said;\nHe knew the way as well as they.\n189A.27 They hae tane him up the Ricker-gate;\nThe wives they cast their windows wide,\nAnd ilka wife to anither can say,\nThat\u2019s the man loosd Jock o the Side!\n189A.28 \u2018Fy on ye, women! why ca ye me man?\nFor it\u2019s nae man that I\u2019m usd like;\nI\u2019m but like a forfoughen hound,\nHa been fighting in a dirty syke.\u2019\n189A.29 Then they hae tane him up thro Carlisle town,\nAnd set him by the chimney-fire;\nThey gave brave Noble a wheat loaf to eat,\nAnd that was little his desire.\n189A.30 Then they gave him a wheat loaf to eat\nAnd after that a can o beer;\nThen they cried a\u2019, wi ae consent,\nEat, brave Noble, and make good cheer!\n189A.31 Confess my lord\u2019s horse, Hobie, they say,\nAnd the morn in Carlisle thou\u2019s no die;\n\u2018How shall I confess them?\u2019 Hobie says,\n\u2018For I never saw them with mine eye.\u2019\n189A.32 n Hobie has sworn a fu great aith,\nBy the day that he was gotten or born,\nHe never had onything o my lord\u2019s\nThat either eat him grass or corn.\n189A.33 \u2018Now fare thee weel, sweet Mangerton!\nFor I think again I\u2019ll neer thee see;\nI wad betray nae lad alive,\nFor a\u2019 the goud in Christentie.\n189A.34 \u2018And fare thee well now, Liddisdale,\nBaith the hie land and the law!\nKeep ye weel frae traitor Mains!\nFor goud and gear he\u2019ll sell ye a\u2019.\n189A.35 \u2018I\u2019d rather be ca\u2019d Hobie Noble,\nIn Carlisle, where he suffers for his faut,\nBefore I were ca\u2019d traitor Mains,\nThat eats and drinks of meal and maut.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 189. Hobie Noble","type":"page"}