Now Liddesdale has ridden a raid,
But I wat they had better hae staid at hame;
For Michael o’ Winfield he is dead,
And Jock o’ the Side is prisoner ta’en.
II
To Sybill o’ the Side the tidings came;
By the waterside there as she ran
She took her kirtle by the hem
And fast to Mangerton she’s gane.
III
Then up and spoke her Lord Mangerton—
‘What news, what news, my sister to me?’—
‘Bad news, bad news! My Michael is slain;
And they ha’e taken my son Johnie.’
IV
The lords they wrang their fingers white,
Ladyes did pull themsells by the hair,
Crying ‘Alas and well-a day!
For Jock o’ the Side we’ll never see mair!’
V
—‘Ne’er fear, sister Sybill,’ quo’ Mangerton;
‘I have yokes of ousen, eighty and three;
My barns, my byres, and my faulds, a’ weil fill’d.
I’ll part wi’ them a’ ere Johnie shall dee.