A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

68
Then they are come on to Hutton Ha';
They rade that proper place about
But the laird he was the Aviser man.
For he had left nae gear without.
For he had left nae gear to steal,
Except sax sheep upon a lee
Quo' Johnie, " I'd rather in England die,
Ere thir sax sheep gae to Liddesdale wi' me.
" But how ca' they the man we last met,
Billie, as we cam owre the know ?"
" That same he is an innocent fule.
And men they call him Dick o' the Cow.
" That fule has three as good ky o his ain.
As there are in a' Cumberland, billie," quo' he.
" Betide me life, betide me death.
These ky shall go to Liddesdale wi' me."
Then they have come to the pure fule's house.
And they hae broken his wa's sae wide;
They have loosed out Dick o' the Cow's three ky.
And ta'en three co'erlets aff his wife's bed.
Then on the morn when the day was light.
The shouts and cries raise loud and hie
'' O baud thy tongue, my wife," he says,
*' And o' thy crying let me be I
'' O hand thy tongue, my wife," he says,
" And o' thy crying let me be
And ay where thou hast lost ae cow.
In gude sooth I shall bring thee three."
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