{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch193.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch193.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch193.htm","text":"193A.1 THE Liddesdale Crosiers hae ridden a race,\nAnd they had far better staid at hame,\nFor they have lost a gallant gay,\nYoung Whinton Crosier it was his name.\n193A.2 For Parcy Reed he has him taen,\nAnd he\u2019s delivered him to law,\nBut auld Crosier has made answer\nThat he\u2019ll gar the house of the Troughend fa.\n193A.3 So as it happened on a day\nThat Parcy Reed is a hunting gane,\nAnd the three false Halls of Girsonsfield\nThey all along with him are gane.\n193A.4 They hunted up and they hunted down,\nThey hunted all Reedwater round,\nTill weariness has on him siezed;\nAt the Batinghope he\u2019s fallen asleep.\n193A.5 O some they stole his powder-horn,\nAnd some put water in his lang gun:\n\u2018O waken, waken, Parcy Reed!\nFor we do doubt thou sleeps too sound.\n193A.6 \u2018O waken, O waken, Parcy Reed!\nFor we do doubt thou sleeps too long;\nFor yonder\u2019s the five Crosiers coming,\nThey\u2019re coming by the Hingin Stane.\n193A.7 \u2018If they be five men, we are four,\nIf ye will all stand true to me;\nNow every one of you may take one,\nAnd two of them ye may leave to me.\u2019\n193A.8 \u2018We will not stay, nor we dare not stay,\nO Parcy Reed, for to fight with thee;\nFor thou wilt find, O Parcy Reed,\nThat they will slay both us and thee.\u2019\n193A.9 \u2018O stay, O stay, O Tommy Hall,\nO stay, O man, and fight with me!\nIf we see the Troughend again,\nMy good black mare I will give thee.\u2019\n193A.10 \u2018I will not stay, nor I dare not stay,\nO Parcy Reed, to fight for thee;\nFor thou wilt find, O Parcy Reed,\nThat they will slay both me and thee.\u2019\n193A.11 \u2018O stay, O stay, O Johnnie Hall,\nO stay, O man, and fight for me!\nIf I see the Troughend again,\nFive yoke of oxen I will give thee.\u2019\n193A.12 \u2018I will not stay, nor I dare not stay,\nO Parcy Reed, for to fight with thee;\nFor thou wilt find, O Parcy Reed,\nThat they will slay both me and thee.\u2019\n193A.13 \u2018O stay, O stay, O Willie Hall,\nO stay, O man, and fight for me!\nIf we see the Troughend again,\nThe half of my land I will give thee.\u2019\n193A.14 \u2018I will not stay, nor I dare not stay,\nO Parcy Reed, for to fight with thee;\nFor thou wilt find, O Parcy Reed,\nThat they will slay both me and thee.\u2019\n193A.15 \u2018Now foul fa ye, ye traitors all,\nThat ever ye should in England won!\nYou have left me in a fair field standin,\nAnd in my hand an uncharged gun.\n193A.16 \u2018O fare thee well, my wedded wife!\nO fare you well, my children five!\nAnd fare thee well, my daughter Jane,\nThat I love best that\u2019s born alive!\n193A.17 \u2018O fare thee well, my brother Tom!\nAnd fare you well his children five!\nIf you had been with me this day,\nI surely had been man alive.\n193A.18 \u2018Farewell all friends! as for my foes,\nTo distant lands may they be tane,\nAnd the three false Halls of Girsonsfield,\nThey\u2019ll never be trusted nor trowed again.\u2019\n193B: The Death of Parcy Reed\n193B.1 GOD send the land deliverance\nFrae every reaving, riding Scot;\nWe\u2019ll sune hae neither cow nor ewe,\nWe\u2019ll sune hae neither staig nor stot.\n193B.2 The outlaws come fare Liddesdale,\nThey herry Redesdale far and near;\nThe rich man\u2019s gelding it maun gang,\nThey canna pass the puir man\u2019s mear.\n193B.3 Sure it were weel, had ilka thief\nAround his neck a halter strang;\nAnd curses heavy may they light\nOn traitors vile oursels amang.\n193B.4 Now Parcy Reed has Crosier taen,\nHe has delivered him to the law;\nBut Crosier says he\u2019ll do waur than that,\nHe\u2019ll make the tower o Troughend fa.\n193B.5 And Crosier says he will do waur,\nHe will do waur if waur can be;\nHe\u2019ll make the bairns a\u2019 fatherless,\nAnd then, the land it may lie lee.\n193B.6 \u2018To the hunting, ho!\u2019 cried Parcy Reed,\n\u2018The morning sun is on the dew;\nThe cauler breeze frae off the fells\nWill lead the dogs to the quarry true.\n193B.7 \u2018To the hunting, ho!\u2019 cried Parcy Reed,\nAnd to the hunting he has gane;\nAnd the three fause Ha\u2019s o Girsonsfield\nAlang wi him he has them taen.\n193B.8 They hunted high, they hunted low,\nBy heathery hill and birken shaw;\nThey raised a buck on Rooken Edge,\nAnd blew the mort at fair Ealylawe.\n193B.9 They hunted high, they hunted low,\nThey made the echoes ring amain;\nWith music sweet o horn and hound,\nThey merry made fair Redesdale glen.\n193B.10 They hunted high, they hunted low,\nThey hunted up, they hunted down,\nUntil the day was past the prime,\nAnd it grew late in the afternoon.\n193B.11 They hunted high in Batinghope,\nWhen as the sun was sinking low;\nSays Parcy then, Ca off the dogs,\nWe\u2019ll bait our steeds and homeward go.\n193B.12 They lighted high in Batinghope,\nAtween the brown and benty ground;\nThey had but rested a little while\nTill Parcy Reed was sleeping sound.\n193B.13 There\u2019s nane may lean on a rotten staff,\nBut him that risks to get a fa;\nThere\u2019s nane may in a traitor trust,\nAnd traitors black were every Ha.\n193B.14 They\u2019ve stown the bridle off his steed,\nAnd they\u2019ve put water in his lang gun;\nTheya\u2019ve fixed his sword within the sheath\nThat out again it winna come.\n193B.15 \u2018Awaken ye, waken ye, Parcy Reed,\nOr by your enemies be taen;\nFor yonder are the five Crosiers\nA-coming owre the Hingin-stane.\u2019\n193B.16 \u2018If they be five, and we be four,\nSae that ye stand alang wi me,\nThen every man ye will take one,\nAnd only leave but two to me:\nWe will them meet as brave men ought,\nAnd make them either fight or flee.\u2019\n193B.17 \u2018We mayna stand, we canna stand,\nWe daurna stand alang wi thee;\nThe Crosiers haud thee at a feud,\nAnd they wad kill baith thee and we.\u2019\n193B.18 \u2018O turn thee, turn thee, Johnie Ha,\nO turn thee, man, and fight wi me;\nWhen ye come to Troughend again,\nMy gude black naig I will gie thee;\nHe cost full twenty pound o gowd,\nAtween my brother John and me.\u2019\n193B.19 \u2018I mayna turn, I canna turn,\nI daurna turn and fight wi thee;\nThe Crosiers haud thee at a feud,\nAnd they wad kill baith thee and me.\u2019\n193B.20 \u2018O turn thee, turn thee, Willie Ha,\nO turn thee, man, and fight wi me;\nWhen ye come to Troughend again,\nA yoke o owsen I\u2019ll gie thee.\u2019\n193B.21 \u2018I mayna turn, I canna turn,\nI daurna turn and fight wi thee;\nThe Crosiers haud thee at a feud,\nAnd they wad kill baith thee and me.\u2019\n193B.22 \u2018O turn thee, turn thee, Tommy Ha,\nO turn now, man, and fight wi me;\nIf ever we come to Troughend again,\nMy daughter Jean I\u2019ll gie to thee.\u2019\n193B.23 \u2018I mayna turn, I canna turn,\nI daurna turn and fight wi thee;\nThe Crosiers haud thee at a feud,\nAnd they wad kill baith thee and me.\u2019\n193B.24 \u2018O shame upon ye, traitors a\u2019!\nI wish your hames ye may never see;\nYe\u2019ve stown the bridle off my naig,\nAnd I can neither fight nor flee.\n193B.25 \u2018Ye\u2019ve stown the bridle off my naig,\nAnd ye\u2019ve put water i my lnag gun;\nYe\u2019ve fixed my sword within the sheath\nThat out again it winna come.\u2019\n193B.26 He had but time to cross himsel,\nA prayer he hadna time to say,\nTill round him came the Crosiers keen,\nAll riding graithed and in array.\n193B.27 \u2018Weel met, weel met, now, Parcy Reed,\nThou art the very man we sought;\nOwre lang hae we been in your debt,\nNow will we pay you as we ought.\n193B.28 \u2018We\u2019ll pay thee at the nearest tree,\nWhere we shall hang thee like a hound;\u2019\nBrave Parcy raisd his fankit sword,\nAnd felld the foremost to the ground.\n193B.29 Alake, and wae for Parcy Reed,\nAlake, he was an unarmed man;\nFour weapons pierced him all at once,\nAs they assailed him there and than.\n193B.30 They fell upon him all at once,\nThey mangled him most cruellie;\nThe slightest wound might caused his deid,\nAnd they hae gien him thirty-three;\nThey hacket off his hands and feet,\nAnd left him lying on the lee.\n193B.31 \u2018Now, Parcy Reed, we\u2019ve paid our debt,\nYe canna weel dispute the tale,\u2019\nThe Crosiers said, and off they rade;\nThey rade the airt o Liddesdale.\n193B.32 It was the hour o gloaming gray,\nWhen herds come in frae fauld and pen;\nA herd he saw a huntsman lie,\nSays he, Can this be Laird Troughen?\n193B.33 \u2018There\u2019s some will ca me Parcy Reed,\nAnd some will ca me Laird Troughen;\nIt\u2019s little matter what they ca me,\nMy faes hae made me ill to ken.\n193B.34 \u2018There\u2019s some will ca me Parcy Reed,\nAnd speak my praise in tower and town;\nIt\u2019s little matter what they do now,\nMy life-blood rudds the heather brown.\n193B.35 \u2018There\u2019s some will ca me Parcy Reed,\nAnd a\u2019 my virtues say and sing;\nI would much rather have just now\nA draught o water frae the spring.\u2019\n193B.36 The herd flung aff his clouted shoon\nAnd to the nearest fountain ran;\nHe made his bonnet serve a cup,\nAnd wan the blessing o the dying man.\n193B.37 \u2018Now, honest herd, ye maun do mair,\nYe maun do mair, as I you tell;\nYe maun bear tidings to Troughend,\nAnd bear likewise my last farewell.\n193B.38 \u2018A farewell to my wedded wife,\nA farewell to my brother John,\nWha sits into the Troughend tower\nWi heart as black as any stone.\n193B.39 \u2018A farewell to my daughter Jean,\nA farewell to my young sons five;\nHad they been at their father\u2019s hand,\nI had this night been man alive.\n193B.40 \u2018A farewell to my followers a\u2019,\nAnd a\u2019 my neighbours gude at need;\nBid them think how the treacherous Ha\u2019s\nBetrayed the life o Parcy Reed.\n193B.41 \u2018The laird o Clennel bears my bow,\nThe laird o Brandon bears my brand;\nWheneer they ride i the Border-side,\nThey\u2019ll mind the fate o the laird Troughend.\u2019\n193[B2]: The Death of Parcy Reed\n193[B2].1 O Parcy Reed has Crozer taen,\nAnd has deliverd him to the law;\nBut Crozer says he\u2019ll do warse than that,\nFor he\u2019ll gar the tower of the Troughend fa.\n193[B2.2] And Crozer says he will do warse,\nHe will do warse, if warse can be;\nFor he\u2019ll make the bairns a\u2019 fatherless,\nAnd then the land it may lie lea.\n193[B2.3] O Parcy Reed has ridden a raid,\nBut he had better have staid at hame;\nFor the three fause Ha\u2019s of Girsenfield\nAlang with him he has them taen.\n193[B2.4] He\u2019s hunted up, and he\u2019s hunted down,\nHe\u2019s hunted a\u2019 the water of Reed,\nTill wearydness has on him taen,\nI the Baitinghope he\u2019s faen asleep.\n193[B2.5] . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . .\nAnd the fause, fause Ha\u2019s o Girsenfield,\nThey\u2019ll never be trowed nor trusted again.\n193[B2.6] They\u2019ve taen frae him his powther-bag,\nAnd they\u2019ve put water i his lang gun;\nThey\u2019ve put the sword into the sheathe\nThat out again it\u2019ll never come.\n193[B2.7] \u2018Awaken ye, awaken ye, Parcy Reed,\nFor I do fear ye\u2019ve slept owre lang;\nFor yonder are the five Crozers,\nA coming owre by the hinging-stane.\u2019\n193[B2.8] \u2018If they be five and we be four,\nIf that ye will stand true to me,\nIf every man ye will take one,\nYe surely will leave two to me.\n193[B2.9] \u2018O turn, O turn, O Johny Ha,\nO turn now, man, and fight wi me;\nIf ever ye come to Troughend again,\nA good black nag I will gie to thee;\nHe cost me twenty pounds o gowd\nAtween my brother John and me.\u2019\n193[B2.10] \u2018I winna turn, I canna turn;\nI darena turn and fight wi thee;\nFor they will find out Parcy Reed,\nAnd then they\u2019ll kill baith thee and me.\u2019\n193[B2.11] \u2018O turn, O turn now, Willie Ha,\nO turn, O man, and fight wi me,\nAnd if ever ye come to the Troughend again\nA yoke of owsen I will gie thee.\u2019\n193[B2.12] \u2018I winna turn, I canna turn;\nI darena turn and fight wi thee;\nFor they will find out Parcy Reed,\nAnd they will kill baith thee and me.\u2019\n193[B2.13] \u2018O turn, O turn, O Thommy Ha,\nO turn now, man, and fight wi me;\nIf ever ye come to the Troughend again,\nMy daughter Jean I\u2019ll gie to thee.;\n193[B2.14] \u2018I winna turn, I darena turn;\nI winna turn and fight with thee;\nFor they will find out Parcy Reed,\nAnd then they\u2019ll kill baith thee and me.\u2019\n193[B2.15] \u2018O woe be to ye, traitors a\u2019!\nI wish England ye may never win;\nYe\u2019ve left me in the field to stand,\nAnd in my hand an uncharged gun.\u2019\n193[B2.16] \u2018Ye\u2019ve taen frae me my powther-bag,\nAnd ye\u2019ve put water i my lang gun;\nYe\u2019ve put the sword into the sheath\nThat out again it\u2019ll never come.\n193[B2.17] \u2018O fare ye weel, my married wife!\nAnd fare ye weel, my brother John!\nThat sits into the Troughend ha\nWith heart as black as any stone.\n193[B2.18] \u2018O fare ye weel, my married wife!\nAnd fare ye weel now, my sons five!\nFor hae ye been wi me this day\nI surely had been man alive.\n193[B2.19] \u2018O fare ye weel, my married wife!\nAnd fare ye weel now, my sons five!\nAnd fare ye weel, my daughter Jean!\nI loved ye best ye were born alive.\n193[B2.20] \u2018O some do ca me Parcy Reed,\nAnd some do ca me Laird Troughend,\nBut it\u2019s nae matter what they ca me,\nMy faes have made me ill to ken.\n193[B2.21] \u2018The laird o Clennel wears my bow,\nThe laird o Brandon wears my brand;\nWhae ever rides i the Border side\nWill mind the liard o the Troughend.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 193. The Death of Parcy Reed","type":"page"}