the best that are in this country;
I'll give thee five thousand, Hobby Noble,
That walk in Tyvidale truly.'

8.
'Nay, I'll have but five,' says Hobby Noble,
'That shall walk away with me;
We will ride like no men of war,
But like poor badgers we will be.'

9.
They stuffed up all their bags with straw,
And their steeds barefoot must be;
'Come on, my brethren,' says Hobby Noble,
'Come on your ways, and go with me.'

10.
And when they came to Culerton ford,
The water was up, they could it not go;
And then they were ware of a good old man,
How his boy and he were at the plough.

11.
'But stand you still,' says Hobby Noble,
'Stand you still here at this shore,
And I will ride to yonder old man,
And see where the gate it lies o'er.

12.
'But Christ you save, father!' quoth he,
'Christ both you save and see!
Where is the way over this ford?
For Christ's sake tell it me.'

13.
'But I have dwelled here three score year,
So have I done three score and three;
I never saw man nor horse go o'er,
Except it were a horse of tree.'

14.
'But fare thou well, thou good old man!
The devil in hell I leave with thee,
No better comfort here this night
Thou gives my brethren here and me.'

15.
But when he came to his brether again,
And told this tidings full of woe,
And then they found a well good gate
They might ride o'er by two and two.

16.
And when they were come over the ford,
All safe gotten at the last,
'Thanks be to God!' says Hobby Noble,
'The worst of our peril is past.'

17.
And then they came into Howbrame wood,
And there then they found a tree,
And cut it down then by the root.
The length was thirty foot and three.

18.
And four of them did take the plank,
As light as it had been a flea,
And carried it to the New Castle,
Where as John o' Side did lie.

19.
And some did climb up by the walls,
And some did climb up by the tree,
Until they came up to the top of the castle,
Where John made his moan truly.

20.
He said, 'God be with thee, Sybil o' the Side!
My own mother thou art,' quoth he;
'If thou knew this night I were here,
A woe woman then wouldst thou be.

21.
'And fare you well, Lord Mangerton!
And ever I say God be with thee!
For if you knew this night I were here,
You would sell