#A# is strangely corrupted in several places, 2^2, 11^4, 13^2. Screw is plainly for Scroope. Garlard, sometimes printed Garland, is an obscuration of Cárlisle. The extravagance in 16^3, it is to be hoped, is a corruption also. Stanzas 3, 8 of #B# are obviously, as Cromek says, the work of Burns, and the same is true of 10^{3–4}. But Burns has left some nonsense in 11, 12: ‘my sword that’s bent in the middle clear,’ ‘my sword that’s bent in the middle brown.’ We have more of this meaningless phraseology in #E# 10, 11, 12, where swords are pointed ‘wi the metal clear,’ ‘brown,’ ‘fine.’ Stanza 15 of #E# is borrowed from ‘Johnie Armstrong.’ * * * * * A #a.# Roxburghe Ballads, II, 294. #b.# Douce Ballads, II, 204 b. #c.# Rawlinson Ballads, 566, fol. 9. All printed for P. Brooksby: 1672–95(?). #d.# Pills to purge Melancholy, VI, 289, 17. #e.# Roxburghe Ballads, III, 344. 1 As it befell upon one time, About mid-summer of the year, Every man was taxt of his crime, For stealing the good Lord Bishop’s mare. 2 The good Lord Screw he sadled a horse, And rid after this same scrime; Before he did get over the moss, There was he aware of Sir Hugh of the Grime. 3 ‘Turn, O turn, thou false traytor, Turn, and yield thyself unto me; Thou hast stolen the Lord Bishops mare, And now thou thinkest away to flee.’ 4 ‘No, soft, Lord Screw, that may not be! Here is a broad sword by my side, And if that thou canst conquer me, The victory will soon be try’d.’ 5 ‘I ner was afraid of a traytor bold, Although thy name be Hugh in the Grime; I’le make thee repent thy speeches foul, If day and life but give me time.’ 6 ‘Then do thy worst, good Lord Screw, And deal your blows as fast as you can; It will be try’d between me and you Which of us two shall be the best man.’ 7 Thus as they dealt their blows so free, And both so bloody at that time, Over the moss ten yeomen they see, Come for to take Sir Hugh in the Grime. 8 Sir Hugh set his back against a tree, And then the men encompast him round; His mickle sword from his hand did flee, And then they brought Sir Hugh to the ground. 9 Sir Hugh of the Grime now taken is And brought back to Garlard town; [Then cry’d] the good wives all in Garlard town, ‘Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou’st ner gang down.’ 10 The good Lord Bishop is come to the town, And on the bench is set so high; And every man was taxt to his crime, At length he called Sir Hugh in the Grime. 11 ‘Here am I, thou false bishop, Thy humours all to fulfill; I do not think my fact so great But thou mayst put it into thy own will.’ 12 The quest of jury-men was calld, The best that was in Garlard town; Eleven of them spoke all in a breast, ‘Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou’st ner gang down.’