f Carlisle.

This brings us to the ballad. 'Hairibee' (1.4) is the place of execution
at Carlisle. The 'Liddel-rack' in 3.4 is a ford over the Liddel river.
Branxholm, the Keeper's Hall (8.2) and Stobs (16.4) are both within a
few miles of Hawick.

The remark in 16.2 appears to be untrue: the party that accompanied
Buccleuch certainly contained several Armstrongs, including four sons of
Kinmont Willie, and 'Dickie of Dryhope' (24.3) was also of that ilk; as
well as two Elliots, though not Sir Gilbert, and four Bells. 'Red Rowan'
was probably a Forster.

The tune blown on the Warden's trumpets (31.3,4) is said to be a
favourite song in Liddesdale. See Chambers's _Book of Days_, i. 200.

KINMONT WILLIE

1.
O have ye na heard o' the fause Sakelde?
O have ye na heard o' the keen Lord Scroop?
How they hae taen bauld Kinmont Willie,
On Hairibee to hang him up?

2.
Had Willie had but twenty men,
But twenty men as stout as he,
Fause Sakelde had never the Kinmont taen,
Wi' eight score in his companie.

3.
They band his legs beneath the steed,
They tied his hands behind his back;
They guarded him, fivesome on each side,
And they brought him ower the Liddel-rack.

4.
They led him thro' the Liddel-rack,
And also thro' the Carlisle sands;
They brought him to Carlisle castell,
To be at my Lord Scroop's commands.

5.
'My hands are tied, but my tongue is free,
And whae will dare this deed avow?
Or answer by the Border law?
Or answer to the bauld Buccleuch!'

6.
'Now haud thy tongue, thou rank reiver!
There's never a Scot shall set ye free;
Before ye cross my castle-yate,
I trow ye shall take farewell o' me.'

7.
'Fear na ye that, my lord,' quo' Willie;
'By the faith o' my body, Lord Scroop,' he said,
'I never yet lodged in a hostelrie,
But I paid my lawing before I gaed.'

8.
Now word is gane to the bauld Keeper,
In Branksome Ha' where that he lay,
That Lord Scroop has taen the Kinmont Willie,
Between the hours of night and day.

9.
He has taen the table wi' his hand,
He garr'd the red wine spring on hie;
'Now Christ's curse on my head,' he said,
'But avenged of Lord Scroop I'll be!

10.
'O is my basnet a widow's curch,
Or my lance a wand of the willow-tree,
Or my arm a ladye's lilye hand,
That an English lord should lightly me?

11.
'And have they ta