THE DEATH OF PARCY REED. Taken down from the recitation of an old woman, and first published (certainly not without what are called "improvements") in Richardson's _Borderer's Table Book_, vol. vii. p. 364, with an introduction by Mr. Robert White, which we here abridge. Percival or Parcy Reed, was proprietor of Troughend, a tract of land in Redesdale, Northumberland, a man of courage and devoted to the chase. Having been appointed warden of the district, he had the misfortune in the discharge of his duties, to offend a family of the name of Hall, who were owners of the farm of Girsonsfield, and also to incur the enmity of a band of moss-troopers, Crosier by name, some of whom had been brought to justice by his hands. The Halls concealed their resentment until they were able to contrive an opportunity for taking a safe revenge. In pursuance of this design, they requested Reed to join them on a hunting party. Their invitation was unsuspiciously accepted, and after a day of sport the company retired to a solitary hut in the lonely glen of Batinghope. Here Reed was attacked in the evening by the Crosiers, and as the Halls not only refused their assistance, but had treacherously deprived him of the means of defence by rendering his sword and gun unserviceable, he fell an easy victim to his savage foes. It is probable that we cannot assign to the event on which this piece is founded, a date later than the sixteenth century. The story of Parcy Reed is alluded to in _Rokeby_, canto first, XX.; Sir Walter Scott has also taken the death of his dog Keeldar as the subject of a poem contributed to Hood's annual, _The Gem_, for 1829. God send the land deliverance Frae every reaving, riding Scot; We'll sune hae neither cow nor ewe, We'll sune hae neither staig nor stot. The outlaws come frae Liddesdale, 5 They herry Redesdale far and near; The rich man's gelding it maun gang, They canna pass the puir man's mear. Sure it were weel, had ilka thief Around his neck a halter strang; 10 And curses heavy may they light On traitors vile oursels amang. Now Parcy Reed has Crosier ta'en, He has delivered him to the law; But Crosier says he'll do waur than that, 15 He'll make the tower o' Troughend fa'. And Crosier says he will do waur-- He will do waur if waur can be; He'll make the bairns a' fatherless; And then, the land it may lie lee. 20 "To the hunting, ho!" cried Parcy Reed, "The morning sun is on the dew; The cauler breeze frae off the fells Will lead the dogs to the quarry true. "To the hunting, ho!" cried Parcy Reed, 25 And to the hunting he has gane; And the three fause Ha's o' Girsonsfield Alang wi' him he has them ta'en.