Telfer's Cows
I redid this as "Jamie Telfer in the Fair Dodhead" when I found a more authentic text than the one I based this on, which was redone by Sir Walter Scott.
This version was recorded on Telfer's Cows.
It fell about the Martinmas time
When our border steeds get corn and hay
The Captain of Bewcastle rode with his men
To Tividale, to drive a prey.
"What news, what news, my trusty guide?"
"No news, no news, today for thee
But if ye go to the Fair Dodhead
There's many a fine milk-cow you'll see."
And when they came to the Fair Dodhead
They loosed the cows out one and all
Jamie Telfer's wife and children wept
While they ransacked the house as well.
Now Jamie Telfer's heart was sore
The tears were standing in his eye
"Captain leave my family's cows
Or else revenged on you I'll be."
The captain turned around and laughed
Said, "Man, there's nothing in your house
But one old sword without a sheath
Now, that would scarcely fell a mouse."
The sun wasn't up, but the moon was down,
In the sprinkling of new-fallen snow
Jamie Telfer ran 10 miles on foot
Between the Dodhead and the Stob's Hall.
And when he came to the tower-gate
He rang the bell and loud cried he
Until out spoke old Gibby Elliot
"Who's this that brings the fray to me?"
"It's Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
I'm victim of a robbery;
There's nothing left at the Fair Dodhead
But a weeping wife and babies three."
"Go seek your help at Branksome hall
For help ye will get none from me
Go seek succor where ye paid blackmail
For man, ye never paid money to me."
Jamie turned him round about
And oh, the tear stood in his eye
"I'll never pay rent to Elliot again
For the all the help he gives to me."
Then he ran on to his brother-in-law's
He rang the bell and loud cried he
Until up spoke him old Jock Grieve
"Who's this that brings the fray to me"
"It's Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
I'm victim of a robbery.
And six poor calves stand in the stall
All wondering where their mothers be"
"Now that's bad news," said old Jock Grieve
And ever my heart is sad for thee
For I was married on the eldest sister
You to the youngest of the three."
Then he took out a bonny black
Was right well fed with corn and hay
And he's set Jamie Telfer on his back
To the Catslockhill to take the fray."
And when he came to the Catslockhill
He rang the bell and loud cried he
Until up spoke good William Wat
"O who's this brings the fray to me."
"It's Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead,
I'm victim of a robbery
The Captain o' Bewcastle has driven my cows
For God's sake, rise and come with me."
"Now that's bad news," said William Wat
"And man, my heart is sad for thee.
I never came by the Fair Dodhead
But you gave meat and drink to me."
He set his sons on coal-black steeds
Himself upon a freckled grey
And they are on with Jamie Telfer
To Branksome Hall to take the fray.
And when they came to Branksome Hall
He rang the bell and loud cried he
At last did answer old Buccleuch
"Who's this that brings the fray to me?"
"It's Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead,
I'm victim of a robbery;
There's nothing left in the Fair Dodhead
But a weeping wife and babies three."
"Now that's bad news," said the good old lord,
And ever my heart is sad for thee!
Go call on Willie Scott, my son
And bid him come and speak to me."
"Go rouse the clan," cried old Buccleuch,
"Go warn the water, broad and wide
Them that won't ride for Telfer's cows
Shall never look me in the eye.
"Get Wat o' Harden and his sons
With them will Borthwick Water ride
Get Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh
And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside
They rode down the Frostylee,
From the stream up to the plain
Till they spied Jamie Telfer's cows
All driven on by the captain's men.
"Who drives these cows," cried Willie Scott
"To make a laughing stock of me?"
"I'm the Captain of Bewcastle, Willie,
And I won't hide my name from thee."
"Will ye let Telfer's cows go back?
Will ye do it from regard for me?
Or by my faith of my body, said Willie,
I'll ply my mother's whip on thee."
"I won't let the cows go back,
Neither from thy love nor yet from fear
But I will drive Jamie Telfer's cows
In spite of every Scott that's here."
Then Willie was stricken o'er the head
And through his helmet to the brain
And Harden cried for very rage
When Willie on the ground lay slain.
"Revenge! Revenge!" old Wat did cry
Fie lads, lay on them cruelly!
We'll never see Tiviot side again
But Willie's death revenged shall be."
John o Brigham there was slain
And John o' Barlow, as I hear say
And thirty more of the captain's men
Lay bleeding on the ground that day
The captain was run right through the crotch
And broken was his right leg-bone
If he had lived a hundred years,
He'd never make love to a woman again
"Have back the cows!" ‚ the captain cried
"Some damn fine cows, I trust they be
For if I live a hundred years
Never will a fair lady smile on me."
Then they rode on to the Stanegirthside
They felled a tree and burst the door;
They loosed out all the captain's cows
And boldly drove them on before
There sat and old wife before the fire
A woman of the captain's kin
Who dares let out the captain's cows
Or answer to his men and him
"It's I, Wat o' Harden loose the cows
And I won't hide my name from thee
And I will drive the captain's cows
In scorn of all his men and he."
When they came to the Fair Dodhead
They were a welcome sight to see
Jamie Telfer's ten milk-cows
As well the captain's thirty and three
And there was meat and drink for all
And Telfer paid the rescue-fee
And at the burial of Willie Scott
I know was many a weeping eye.