‘But I may nae langer in Cumberland dwell,
To be your puir fule and your leal,
Unless you gie me leave, my lord,
To gae to Liddesdale and steal’—
XIII
‘I gie thee leave, my fule!’ he says;
‘Thou speakest against my honour and me,
Unless thou gie me thy troth and thy hand,
Thou’lt steal frae nane but wha sta’ frae thee.’—
XIV
‘There is my troth, and my right hand!
My head shall hang on Hairibee[1243];
I’ll never cross Carlisle sands again,
If I steal frae a man but wha sta’ frae me.’
XV
Dickie’s ta’en leave o’ lord and master;
I wat a merry fule was he!
He’s bought a bridle and a pair o’ new spurs,
And packed them up in his breek thie[1244].
XVI
Then Dickie’s come on to Puddingburn house,
Even as fast as he might dree[1245]:
Then Dickie’s come on to Puddingburn,
Where there were thirty Armstrangs and three.