They bound his legs beneath the steed, They tied his hands behind his back, They guarded him, five score on each side, And brought him over the Liddel-rack. They led him through the Liddel-rack, And also through the Carlisle sands, They brought him to Carlisle Castell To be at my Lord Scrope's commands. Now word is gone to the bold keeper In Branksome hall where that he lay, That Lord Scrope had taken Kinmont Willie Between the hours of night and day. He struck the table with his hand, He made the red wine spring on hie-- "Now Christ's curse on my head," he said, "But avenged on Lord Scrope I will be. "O is my helmet a widow's cap, Or my lance a wand of the willow tree? Or my arm a lady's lily hand, That an English Lord should lightly me? "And have they taken him, Kinmont Willie, Against the truce of Border tide? And forgotten that the bold Buccleugh Is keeper here on the Scottish side? "And have they taken him, Kinmont Willie, Withouten either dread or fear, And forgotten that the bold Buccleugh, Can back a steed and shake a spear? "O were there war between the lands, As well as I wot that there is none, 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 Should tell 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 shall go free." Then on we held for Carlisle town And at Staneshaw bank the Eden we crossed, The water was great and mickle of spait But there never a man nor horse we lost. And when we reached the Staneshaw bank, The wind was rising loud and hie, And there the laird gar'd leave our steeds For fear that they should stamp and nie. And when we left the Staneshaw bank, The wind began full loud to blaw, But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet, When we came beneath the castle wa'. We crept on knees and held our breath, Till we placed the ladders against the wa', And ready was bold Buccleugh himself To mount the first before us a'. He has ta'en the watchman by the throat, He flung him down upon the lead; "Had there not been peace between our land, Upon the other side thou hadst gaed." "Now sound our trumpet," quoth Buccleugh, Let's waken Lord Scrope, right merrilie; Then loud the Warder's trumpet blew, "Wha daur meddle wi' me?" Wi' coulters and wi' forehammers We garred the bars bang merrilie, Until we came to the inner prison, Where Kinmont Willie he did lie.