Through the fair country of Tiviotdale
King David marched forth;
King David and his princely son,
The heroes of the North.
And holy Thurston fro' merry Carlisle,
In haste his way doth wind,
With many a cross-bearer before,
And many a knight behind.
The arguments used by the bishop to dissuade the invader are of universal interest, and as applicable now as then:—
Out then spoke the holy Thurston,
And full of woe spake he,
"O Christ, thy kingdom of heavenly bliss,
Alas, when shall we see!
For here on earth is nought but sin,
And kings for pride do ill,
And when they with each other war
The poor folks blood must spill.
What hath the husbandman done wrong
That he must spoil his grain?
What the poor widow, and what the child,
That they must all be slain?
And what is the simple maid to blame
To be made of lust the prey?
And what the lowly village priest
That they so oft do slay?
And when the doleful day of doom
Shall call ye from the grave,
From the crying blood of these innocents
What tyrants shall ye save?
Now think thee well, O mortal King,
And thy misdeeds bemoan,
And think what will save thy hapless soul,
When all thy pomp is gone.