O have ye na heard o' the fause Sakelde? O have ye na heard o' the keen Lord Scroope? How they hae ta'en bauld Kinmont Willie, On Haribee to hang him up?[L4] Had Willie had but twenty men, 5 But twenty men as stout as he, Fause Sakelde had never the Kinmont ta'en, Wi' eight score in his cumpanie. They band his legs beneath the steed, They tied his hands behind his back; 10 They guarded him, fivesome on each side, And they brought him ower the Liddel-rack. They led him thro' the Liddel-rack,[L13] And also thro' the Carlisle sands; They brought him to Carlisle castell, 15 To be at my Lord Scroope's commands. "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?" 20 "Now haud thy tongue, thou rank reiver! There's never a Scot shall set thee free: Before ye cross my castle yate, I trow ye shall take farewell o' me." "Fear na ye that, my lord," quo' Willie: 25 "By the faith o' my body, Lord Scroope," he said, "I never yet lodged in a hostelrie, But I paid my lawing before I gaed." Now word is gane to the bauld Keeper, In Branksome Ha' where that he lay, 30 That Lord Scroope has ta'en the Kinmont Willie, Between the hours of night and day. He has ta'en the table wi' his hand, He garr'd the red wine spring on hie-- "Now Christ's curse on my head," he said, 35 "But avenged of Lord Scroope I'll be! "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! 40 "And have they ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, Against the truce of Border tide, And forgotten that the bauld Buccleuch Is keeper here on the Scottish side? "And have they e'en ta'en him, Kinmont Willie, 45 Withouten either dread or fear, And forgotten that the bauld Buccleuch Can back a steed, or shake a spear? "O were there war between the lands, As well I wot that there is none, 50 I would slight Carlisle castell high, Though it were builded of marble stone. "I would set that castell in a low, And sloken it with English blood! There's never a man in Cumberland, 55 Should ken where Carlisle castell stood. "But since nae war's between the lands, And there is peace, and peace should be; I'll neither harm English lad or lass, And yet the Kinmont freed shall be!" 60