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DICK O' THE COW. |
77 |
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" For lang might thou in Cumberland dwelt, Ere the Laird's Jock had stawn frae thee."
" Indeed I wat ye lied, my lord ! |
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And e'en sae loud as I hear ye lie! I wan him frae his man, fair Johnie |
1J0
Arm- |
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strong,
Hand for hand, on Cannobie lee.
" There's the jack was on his back,
This twa-handed sword that hang laigh by his thigh, And there's the steel cap was on his head; ias
I hae a' these takens to let thee see."
188. The commendation of the Laird's Jock's honesty seems but indifferently founded; for, in July, 1586, a bill was fouled against him, Dick of Dryup, and others, by the Deputy of Bewcastle, at a warden-meeting, for 400 head of cattle taken in open foray from the Drysike in Bewcastle: and in September, 1587, another complaint appears at the .instance of one Andrew Butlege of the Nook, against the Laird's Jock, and his accomplices, for 50 kine and oxen, besides furniture, to the amount of 100 merks sterling. See Bell's MSS., as quoted in the History of Cumberland and Westmoreland. In Sir Richard Maitland's poem against the thieves of Liddesdale, he thus commemorates the Laird's Jock:—
" They spuilye puir men of their pakis,
They leif them nocht on bed nor bakis:
Baith hen and cok,
With reil and rok,
The Lairdis Jock
All with him takis."—S. |
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