Then Tividale came to wi' spied; The Sheriffe brought the Douglas down,[L18] Wi' Cranstane, Gladstain, good at need, Baith Rewle water, and Hawick town. 20 Beanjeddart bauldly made him boun, Wi' a' the Trumbills, stronge and stout; The Rutherfoords, with grit renown, Convoy'd the town of Jedbrugh out.[L24] Of other clans I cannot tell, 25 Because our warning was not wide-- Be this our folks hae ta'en the fell, And planted down palliones, there to bide, We looked down the other side, And saw come breasting ower the brae, 30 Wi' Sir John Forster for their guyde,[L31] Full fifteen hundred men and mae. It grieved him sair that day, I trow, Wi' Sir George Hearoune of Schipsydehouse;[L34] Because we were not men enow, 35 They counted us not worth a louse. Sir George was gentle, meek, and douse, But _he_ was hail and het as fire; And yet, for all his cracking crouse, He rewd the raid o' the Reidswire. 40 To deal with proud men is but pain; For either must ye fight or flee, Or else no answer make again, But play the beast, and let them be. It was na wonder he was hie, 45 Had Tindaill, Reedsdaill, at his hand,[L46] Wi' Cukdaill, Gladsdaill on the lee, And Hebsrime, and Northumberland.[L48] Yett was our meeting meek eneugh, Begun wi' merriment and mowes, 50 And at the brae, aboon the heugh, The clark sat down to call the rowes. And some for kyne, and some for ewes, Call'd in of Dandrie, Hob, and Jock-- We saw, come marching ower the knows, 55 Five hundred Fennicks in a flock,--[L56] With jack and speir, and bows all bent, And warlike weapons at their will: Although we were na weel content, Yet, by my troth, we fear'd no ill. 60 Some gaed to drink, and some stude still, And some to cards and dice them sped; Till on ane Farnstein they fyled a bill, And he was fugitive and fled. Carmichaell bade them speik out plainlie, 65 And cloke no cause for ill nor good; The other, answering him as vainlie, Began to reckon kin and blood: He raise, and raxed him where he stood, And bade him match him with his marrows; 70 Then Tindaill heard them reasun rude, And they loot off a flight of arrows.