I shal never fight with a fool after thee.'

45.
Then Dickie comed home to lord and master,
Even as fast as he may drie.
'Now, Dickie, I shal neither eat meat nor drink
Till high hanged that thou shall be!'

46.
'The shame speed the liars, my lord!' quo' Dickie,
'That was no the promise ye made to me;
For I'd never gane to Liddesdale to steal
Till that I sought my leave at thee.'

47.
'But what gart thou steal the Laird's Jock's horse?
And, limmer, what gart thou steal him?' quo' he;
'For lang might thou in Cumberland dwelt
Or the Laird's Jock had stoln ought frae thee.'

48.
'Indeed I wat ye lee'd, my lord,
And even so loud as I hear ye lie;
I wan him frae his man, Fair Johne Armstrong,
Hand for hand on Cannobie lee.

49.
'There's the jack was on his back,
The twa-handed sword that hung leugh by his thigh;
There's the steel cap was on his head;
I have a' these takens to lett you see.'

50.
'If that be true thou to me tels
(I trow thou dare not tel a lie),
I'le give thee twenty pound for the good horse,
Wel tel'd in thy cloke-lap shall be.

51.
'And I'le give thee one of my best milk-kye
To maintain thy wife and children three;
And that may be as good, I think,
As ony twa o' thine might be.'

52.
'The shame speed the liars, my lord!' quo' Dickie;
'Trow ye ay to make a fool of me?
I'le either have thirty pound for the good horse,
Or else he's gae to Mattan fair wi' me.'

53.
Then he has given him thirty pound for the good horse,
All in gold and good monie:
He has given him one of his best milk-kye
To maintain his wife and children three.

54.
Then Dickie's come down through Carlile town,
Even as fast as he may drie.
The first of men that he with mett
Was my lord's brother, Bailife Glazenberrie.

55.
'Well may ye be, my good Ralph Scrupe!'
'Welcome, my brother's fool!' quo' he;
'Where did thou gett Fair Johnie Armstrong's horse?'
'Where did I get him but steal him,' quo' he.

56.
'But will thou sell me Fair Johnie Armstrong's horse?
And, billie, will thou sell him to me?' quo' he;
'Ay, and [thou] tel me the monie on my cloke-lap,
For there's not one farthing I'le trust thee.'

57.
'I'le give thee fifteen pound for the good horse,
Wel told on thy cloke-lap shal be;
And I'le give thee one of my best milk-ky