“Its I, Jamie Telfer of the fair Dodhead,
  A harried man I think I be! 
  The captain of Bewcastle has driven my gear;
  For God’s sake rise, and succour me!”

  “Alas for wae!” quo’ William’s Wat,
  Alack, for thee my heart is sair! 
  I never cam bye the fair Dodhead,
  That ever I fand thy basket bare.”

  He’s set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,
  Himsel’ upon a freckled gray,
  And they are on wi’ Jamie Telfer,
  To Branksome Ha’ to tak the fraye.

  And whan they cam to Branksome Ha’,
  They shouted a’ baith loud and hie,
  Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch,
  Said—­“Whae’s this brings the fraye to me?”

  “It’s I, Jamie Telfer o’ the fair Dodhead,
  And a harried man I think I be! 
  There’s nought left in the fair Dodhead,
  But a greeting wife, and bairnies three.”

  “Alack for wae!” quoth the gude auld lord,
  “And ever my heart is wae for thee! 
  But fye gar cry on Willie, my son,
  And see that he come to me speedilie!

  “Gar warn the water, braid and wide,
  Gar warn it sune and hastilie! 
  They that winna ride for Telfer’s kye,
  Let them never look in the face o’ me!

  “Warn Wat o’ Harden, and his sons,
  Wi’ them will Borthwick water ride;
  Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh,
  And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside.

  “Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,
  And warn the Currors o’ the Lee;
  As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack,
  Warn doughty Willie o’ Gorrinberry.”

  The Scots they rade, the Scots they ran,
  Sae starkly and sae steadilie! 
  And aye the ower-word o’ the thrang
  Was—­“Rise for Branksome readilie!”

  The gear was driven the Frostylee up,
  Frae the Frostylee unto the plain,
  Whan Willie has looked his men before,
  And saw the kye right fast driving.

  “Whae drives thir kye?” can Willie say,
  To mak an outspeckle[136] o’ me?”
  “Its I, the captain o’ Bewcastle, Willie;
  I winna layne my name for thee.”

  “O will ye let Telfer’s kye gae back? 
  Or will ye do aught for regard o’ me? 
  Or, by the faith of my body,” quo’ Willie Scott,
  “I’se ware my dame’s cauf’s skin on thee!”

  “I winna let the kye gae back,
  Neither for thy love, nor yet thy fear;
  But I will drive Jamie Telfer’s kye,
  In spite of every Scot that’s here.”

  “Set on them, lads!” quo’ Willie than;
  Fye, lads, set on them cruellie! 
  For ere they win to the Ritterford,
  Mony a toom[137] saddle there sall be!”

  Then till’t they gaed, wi’ heart and hand;
  The blows fell thick as bickering hail;
  And mony a horse ran masterless,
  And mony a comely cheek was pale!

  But Willie was stricken ower the head,
  And thro’ the knapscap[138] the sword has gane;
  And Harden grat for very rage,
  Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.