Lady Margaret, daughter and heiress of Lord Vesci, who married John, Lord Clifford—the Clifford of Shakespeare's Henry VI. He was killed at Ferrybridge near Knottingley in 1461. Their son was Henry, "the Shepherd-lord." His mother is buried in Londesborough Church, near Market Weighton.
Now Who is he that bounds with joy
On Carrock's side, a Shepherd-boy?
Carrock-fell is three miles south-west from Castle Sowerby, in Cumberland.
The Boy must part from Mosedale's groves,
And leave Blencathara's rugged coves.
There are many "Mosedales" in the English Lake District. The one referred to here is to the north of Blencathara or Saddleback.
And quit the flowers that summer brings
To Glenderamakin's lofty springs.
The river Glenderamakin rises in the lofty ground to the north of Blencathara.
—Give Sir Lancelot Threlkeld praise!
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Thou tree of covert and of rest
For this young Bird that is distrest.
It was on Sir Lancelot Threlkeld's estates in Cumberland that the young Lord was concealed, disguised as a shepherd-boy. He was the "tree of covert" for the young "Bird" Henry Clifford. Compare The Waggoner, ll. 628-39 (vol. iii. p. 100)—
And see, beyond that hamlet small,
The ruined towers of Threlkeld-hall,
Lurking in a double shade,
By trees and lingering twilight made!
There, at Blencathara's rugged feet,
Sir Lancelot gave a safe retreat
To noble Clifford; from annoy
Concealed the persecuted boy,
Well pleased in rustic garb to feed
His flock, and pipe on shepherd's reed
Among this multitude of hills,
Crags, woodlands, waterfalls, and rills.