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I
GUDE Lord Scroope ’s to the hunting gane, | |
| He has ridden o’er moss and muir; | |
| And he has grippit Hughie the Graeme, | |
| For stealing o’ the Bishop’s mare. | |
| |
II
‘Now, good Lord Scroope, this may not be! | 5 |
| Here hangs a broadsword by my side; | |
| And if that thou canst conquer me, | |
| The matter it may soon be tryed.’— | |
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III
‘I ne’er was afraid of a traitor thief; | |
| Although thy name be Hughie the Graeme, | 10 |
| I’ll make thee repent thee of thy deeds, | |
| If God but grant me life and time.’— | |
| |
IV
‘Then do your worst now, good Lord Scroope, | |
| And deal your blows as hard as you can! | |
| It shall be tried within an hour, | 15 |
| Which of us two is the better man.’— | |
| |
V
But as they were dealing their blows so free, | |
| And both so bloody at the time, | |
| Over the moss came ten yeomen so tall, | |
| All for to take brave Hughie the Graeme. | 20 |
| |
VI
Then they hae grippit Hughie the Graeme, | |
| And brought him up through Carlisle town: | |
| The lasses and lads stood on the walls, | |
| Crying, ‘Hughie the Graeme, thou’se ne’er gae down!’ | |
| |
VII
Then they hae chosen a jury of men, | 25 |
| The best that were in Carlisle town; | |
| And twelve of them cried out at once, | |
| ‘Hughie the Graeme, thou must gae down!’ | |
| |
VIII
Then up bespak him gude Lord Hume, | |
| As he sat by the judge’s knee; | 30 |
| ‘Twenty white owsen, my gude lord, | |
| If you’ll grant Hughie the Graeme to me.’— | |
| |
IX
‘O no, O no, my gude Lord Hume! | |
| For sooth and sae it mauna be; | |
| For, were there but three Graemes of the name, | 35 |
| They suld be hangèd a’ for me.’— | |
| |
X
’Twas up and spake the gude Lady Hume, | |
| As she sat by the judge’s knee; | |
| ‘A peck of white pennies, my gude lord judge, | |
| If you’ll grant Hughie the Graeme to me!’— | 40 |
| |
XI
‘O no, O no, my gude Lady Hume, | |
| Forsooth and so it must na be; | |
| Were he but the one Graeme of the name, | |
| He suld be hangèd high for me.’— | |
| |
XII
‘If I be guilty,’ said Hughie the Graeme, | 45 |
| ‘Of me my friends shall have small talk’; | |
| And he ’s loupèd fifteen feet and three, | |
| Though his hands they were tied behind his back. | |
| |
XIII
He lookèd over his left shoulder, | |
| And for to see what he might see; | 50 |
| There was he aware of his auld father, | |
| Came tearing his hair most piteouslie. | |
| |
XIV
‘O hald your tongue, my father,’ he says, | |
| ‘And see that ye dinna weep for me! | |
| For they may ravish me o’ my life, | 55 |
| But they canna banish me fro’ Heaven hie. | |
| |
XV
‘Here, Johnie Armstrang, take thou my sword, | |
| That is made o’ the metal sae fine; | |
| And when thou comest to the English side, | |
| Remember the death of Hughie the Graeme.’ | 60 |
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