Fair Johnie Armstrong to Willie did say—
‘Billie, a-ryding then will we;
England and us have been lang at feid;
Aiblins[1241] we’ll light on some bootie.’—
III
Then they’re come on to Hutton Ha’;
They rade that proper place about.
But the Laird he was the wiser man,
For he had left nae gear without:
IV
For he had left nae gear to steal,
Except sax sheep upon a lea:
Quo’ Johnie—‘I’d rather in England die,
Ere thir sax sheep gae to Liddesdale wi’ me.
V
‘But how ca’ they the man we last met,
Billie, as we cam owre the know[1242]?’—
‘That same he is an innocent fule,
And men they call him Dick o’ the Cow.’
VI
‘That fule has three as good kye o’ his ain,
As there are in a’ Cumberland, billie,’ quo’ he.
‘Betide me life, betide me death,
These kye shall go to Liddesdale wi’ me.’