No. 190: Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
[There are no known US or Canadian versions of this ballad.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnote (Found at the end of Child's Narrative)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Text A (A 2 was added in Additions and Corrections)
5. End-Notes
5. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 190. Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
A. Roud No. 3364: Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead (14 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 190. Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead (Bronson gives no music examples)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child version A with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: 190. Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
A. Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, I, 80, 1802; II, 3, 1833.
Scott, by whom this ballad was first published, and to whom alone it seems to be known, gives us no information how he came by it. He says, "There is another ballad, under the same title as the following, in which nearly the same incidents are narrated, with little difference except that the honor of rescuing the cattle is attributed to the Liddesdale Elliots, headed by a chief, there called Martin Elliot of the Preakin Tower, whose son, Simon, is said to have fallen in the action. It is very possible that both the Teviotdale Sootts and the Elliots were engaged in the affair, and that each claimed the honor of the victory." Ed. 1833, II. 8.
Scott has suggested that an article in the list of attempts upon England, fouled by the commissioners at Berwick in the year 1587, may relate to the subject of the ballad.
October, 1582.[1]
Thomas Mosgrave, deputy of Bewcastle, and the tenants, against
Walter Scott, Laird of Buckluth, and his complices; for
200 kine and oxen, 300 gait and sheep.
Bewcastle, of which Thomas Musgrave at the above date was deputy and captain, was, says Percy, a great rendezvous of thieves and moss-troopers down to the last century. "It is handed down by report," he remarks, "that there was formerly an Order of Council that no inhabitant of Bewcastle should be returned on a jury." That the deputy of the warden, an officer of the peace, should be exhibited as making a raid, not in the way of retaliation, but simply for plunder, is too much out of rule even for Bewcastle, and does not speak favorably for the antiquity of the ballad.
Taking the story as it stands, the Captain of Bewcastle, who is looking for a prey, is taken by a guide to the Fair Dodhead, which he pillages of kye and everything valuable. Jamie Telfer, whose threat of revenge the Captain treats with derision, runs ten miles afoot to the Elliots of Stobs Hall, to whom he says he has paid mail, st. 11, and asks help. Gib Elliot denies the mail, and tells him to go to the Scotts at Branksome where he has paid it. Telfer keeps on to Coultart Cleugh, and there makes his case known to a brother-in-law, who gives him a mount "to take the fray" to Catslockhill. There William's Wat, who had often eaten of the Dodhead basket, gives him his company and that of two sons, and they take the fray to Branksome. Buccleuch collects a body of men of his name, and sends them out under the command of Willie Scott, who overtakes the marauders, and asks the Captain if he will let Telfer's kye go back. This he will not do for love or for fear. The Scotts set on them; Willie is killed, but two and thirty of the raiders' saddles are emptied, and the Captain is badly wounded and made prisoner. Nor is that all, for the Scotts ride to the Captain's house and loose his cattle, and when they come to the Fair Dodhead, for ten milk kye Jamie Telfer has three and thirty.
Walter Scott of Harden and Walter Scott of Goldielands, and, according to Scott of Satchells, Scott of Commonside, st. 26, were engaged with Buccleuch in the rescue of Kinmont Willie. So was Will Elliot of Gorrombye, st. 274.
The ballad was retouched for the Border Minstrelsy, nobody can say how much. The 36th stanza is in Hardyknute style. St. 12 is not only found elsewhere (cf. 'Young Beichan,' E 6), but could not be more inappropriately brought in than here; Scott, how ever, is not responsible for that.
Scott makes the following notes on the localities:
2. Hardhaughswire is the pass from Liddesdale to the head of Teviotdale. Borthwick water is a stream which falls into the Teviot three miles above Hawick. 3, The Dodhead was in Selkirkshire, near Singlee, where there are still the vestiges of an old tower. 7. Stobs Hall: upon Slitterick. 10. Branksome Ha, the ancient family-seat of the lairds of Buccleuch, near Hawick. 13. The Coultart Cleugh is nearly opposite to Carlinrig, on the road between Hawick and Mosspaul. 26. The estates mentioned in this verse belonged to families of the name of Scott residing upon the waters of Borthwick and Teviot, near the castle of their chief. 27. The pursuers seem to have taken the road through the hills of Liddesdale in order to collect forces and intercept the forayers at the passage of the Liddel on their return to Bewcastle. 29. The Frostylee is a brook which joins the Teviot near Mosspaul. 33, 38. The Ritterford and Kershopeford are noted fords on the river Liddel. 36. The Dinlay is a mountain in Liddesdale. 44. Stanegirthside: a house belonging to the For esters, situated on the English side of the Liddel.
Footnote:
1. Nicolson and Barn, History of Westmorland and Cumberland, p. xxxi.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
A 2 is from a manuscript written about the beginning of the nineteenth century and now in the possession of Mr. William Macmath. Scott's copy (Minstrelsy, 1802, I, 80) has a few more stanzas than A, and attributes the honor of the rescue to the Scotts of Teviotdale, but it resembles A closely, even in details of phraseology. Scott's title, 'Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead,' makes Jamie proprietor of the estate, whereas 'in' signifies, according to Scottish usage, that he was a tenant simply. The situation of the Dodhead is uncertain.
Child's Ballad Texts
['Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead'] Version A; Child 190 Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, I, 80, 1802; II, 3, 1833.
1 It fell about the Martinmas tyde,
Whan our Border steeds get corn and hay,
The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,
And he's ower to Tividale to drive a prey.
2 The first ae guide that they met wi,
It was high up in Hardhaughswire;
The second guide that they met wi,
It was laigh down in Borthwick water.
3 'What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?'
'Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;
But gin ye'll gae to the Fair Dodhead,
Mony a cow's cauf I'll let thee see.'
4 And when they cam to the Fair Dodhead,
Right hastily they clam the peel;
They loosed the kye out, ane and a',
And ranshakled the house right weel.
5 Now Jamie Telfer's heart was sair,
The tear aye rowing in his ee;
He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,
Or else revenged he wad be.
6 The Captain turned him round and leugh;
Said, Man, there's naething in thy house
But ae auld sword without a sheath,
That hardly now wad fell a mouse.
7 The sun was na up, but the moon was down,
It was the gryming of a new-fa'n snaw;
Jamie Telfer has run ten myles a-foot,
Between the Dodhead and the Stobs's Ha.
8 And when he cam to the fair tower-yate,
He shouted loud, and cried weel hie,
Till out bespak auld Gibby Elliot,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
9 'It's I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's naething left at the Fair Dodhead
But a waefu wife and bairnies three.'
10 'Gae seek your succour at Branksome Ha,
For succour ye'se get nane frae me;
Gae seek your succour where ye paid blackmail,
For, man, ye neer paid money to me.'
11 Jamie has turned him round about,
I wat the tear blinded his ee:
'I'll neer pay mail to Elliot again,
And the Fair Dodhead I'll never see.
12 'My hounds may a' rin masterless,
My hawks may fly frae tree to tree,
My lord may grip my vassal-lands,
For there again maun I never be!'
13 He has turned him to the Tiviot-side,
Een as fast as he could drie,
Till he cam to the Coultart Cleugh,
And there he shouted baith loud and hie.
14 Then up bespak him auld Jock Grieve:
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
'It's I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,
A harried man I trew I be.
15 'There's naething left in the Fair Dodhead
But a greeting wife and bairnies three,
And sax poor ca's stand in the sta,
A' routing loud for their minnie.'
16 'Alack a wae!' quo auld Jock Grieve,
'Alack, my heart is sair for thee!
For I was married on the elder sister,
And you on the youngest of a' the three.'
17 Then he has taen out a bonny black,
Was right weel fed wi corn and hay,
And he's set Jamie Telfer on his back,
To the Catslockhill to tak the fray.
18 And whan he cam to the Catslockhill,
He shouted loud and cried weel hie,
Till out and spak him William's Wat,
'O whae's this brings the fray to me?'
19 'It's I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,
A harried man I think I be;
The Captain o Bewcastle has driven my gear;
For God's sake, rise and succour me!'
20 'Alas for wae!' quo William's Wat,
'Alack, for thee my heart is sair!
I never cam bye the Fair Dodhead
That ever I fand thy basket bare.'
21 He's set his twa sons on coal-black steeds,
Himsel upon a freckled gray,
And they are on wi Jamie Telfer,
To Branksome Ha to tak the fray.
22 And when they cam to Branksome Ha,
They shouted a' baith loud and hie,
Till up and spak him auld Buccleuch,
Said, Whae's this brings the fray to me?
23 'It's I, Jamie Telfer o the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's nought left in the Fair Dodhead
But a greeting wife and bairnies three.'
24 'Alack for wae!' quo the gude auld lord,
'And ever my heart is wae for thee!
But fye, gar cry on Willie, my son,
And see that he cum to me speedilie.
25 'Gar warn the water, braid and wide!
Gar warn it sune and hastilie!
They that winna ride for Telfer's dye,
Let them never look in the face o me!
26 'Warn Wat o Harden and his sons,
Wi them will Borthwick water ride;
Warn Gaudilands, and Allanhaugh,
And Gilmanscleugh, and Commonside.
27 'Ride by the gate at Priesthaughswire,
And warn the Currors o the Lee;
As ye cum down the Hermitage Slack,
Warn doughty Willie o Gorrinberry.'
28 The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran,
Sae starkly and sae steadilie,
And aye the ower-word o the thrang
Was, Rise for Branksome readilie!
29 The gear was driven the Frostylee up,
Frae the Frostylee unto the plain,
Whan Willie has lookd his men before,
And saw the kye right fast driving.
30 'Whae drives thir kye,' can Willie say,
'To make an outspeckle o me?'
'It's I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Willie;
I winna layne my name for thee.'
31 'O will ye let Tefler's kye gae back?
Or will ye do aught for regard o me?
Or, by the faith of my body,' quo Willie Scott,
'I'se ware my dame's cauf's skin on thee.'
32 'I winna let the kye gae back,
Neither for thy love nor yet thy fear;
But I will drive Jamie Telfer's kye
In spite of every Scott that's here.'
33 'Set on them, lads!' quo Willie than;
'Fye, lads, set on them cruellie!
For ere they win to the Ritterford,
Mony a toom saddle there sall be!'
34 Then till't they gaed, wi heart and hand;
The blows fell thick as bickering hail;
And mony a horse ran masterless,
And mony a comely cheek was pale.
35 But Willie was stricken ower the head,
And through the knapscap the sword has gane;
And Harden grat for very rage,
Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.
36 But he's taen aff his gude steel cap,
And thrice he's waved it in the air;
The Dinlay snaw was neer mair white
Nor the lyart locks of Harden's hair.
37 'Refenge! revenge!' auld Wat can cry;
'Fye, lads, lay on them cruellie!
We'll neer see Tiviot side again,
Or Willie's death revenged sall be.'
38 O mony a horse ran masterless,
The splintered lances flew on hie;
But or they wan to the Kershope ford,
The Scotts had gotten the victory.
39 John o Brigham there was slane,
And John o Barlow, as I hear say,
And thirty mae o the Captain's men
Lay bleeding on the grund that day.
40 The Captain was run through the thick of the thigh,
And broken was his right leg-bane;
If he had lived this hundred years,
He had never been loved by woman again.
41 'Hae back the kye!' the Captain said;
'dear kye, I trow, to some they be;
For gin I suld live a hundred years
There will neer fair lady smile on me.'
42 Then word is gane to the Captain's bride,
Even in the bower where that she lay,
That her lord was prisoner in enemy's land,
Since into Tividale he had led the way.
43 'I wad lourd have had a winding-sheet,
And helped to put it ower his head,
Ere he had been disgraced by the border Scot,
Whan he ower Liddel his men did lead!'
44 There was a wild gallant amang us a',
His name was Watty wi the Wudspurs,
Cried, On for his house in Stanegirthside,
If ony man will ride with us!
45 When they cam to the Stanegirthside,
They dang wi trees and burst the door;
They loosed out a' the Captain's kye,
And set them forth our lads before.
46 There was an auld wyfe ayont the fire,
A wee bit o the Captain's kin:
'Whae dar loose out the Captain's kye,
Or answer to him and his men?'
47 'It's I, Watty Wudspurs, loose the kye,
I winna layne my name frae thee;
And I will loose out the Captain's kye
In scorn of a' his men and he.'
48 Whan they cam to the Fair Dodhead,
they were a wellcum sight to see,
For instead of his ain ten milk-kye,
Jamie Telfer has gotten thirty and three.
49 And he has paid the rescue-shot,
Baith wi gowd and white monie,
And at the burial o Willie Scott
I wat was mony a weeping ee.
----------
'Jamie Telfer in the Fair Dodhead'- Version A 2; Child 190 Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead
'Jamie Telfer in the Fair Dodhead,' C. K. Sharpe's papers.
1 It fell about the Martinmas,
When steads were fed wi corn and hay,
The Captain of Bewcastle said to his lads,
We'll into Tiviotdale and seek a prey.
2 The first ae guide that they met with
Was high up in Hardhaugh swire,
The second guide that they met with
Was laigh down in Borthick water.
3 'What tidings, what tidings, my bonny guide?'
'Nae tidings, nae tidings I hae to thee;
But if ye'll gae to the Fair Dodhead
Mony a cow's calf I'll let ye see.'
4 When they came to the Fair Dodhead,
Right hastily they clam the peel,
They loosd the uolt out, ane and a',
And ranshakled the house right weel.
5 Now Jamie's heart it was right sair,
The tear ay rowing in his eye;
He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,
Or else revenged he would be.
6 Bat the Captain turnd himsel about,
Said, Man, there's naethiug in thy house
But an auld sword without a scabbard,
That scarcely now would fell a mouse.
7 The moon was up and the sun was down,
'T was the gryming of a new-fa'n snaw;
Jamie Telfer has run eight miles barefoot
Between Dodhead and Branxholm Ha.
8 And when he came to Branxholm Ha
He shouted loud and cry'd weel he,
Till up bespake then auld Buccleugh,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
9 'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's naething left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three.'
10 'Gae seek your succour frae Martin Elliot,
For succour ye's get nane frae me;
Gae seek your succour where ye paid blackmail,
For, man, ye never paid money to me.'
11 Jamie he's turnd him round about,
And ay the tear blinded his eye:
'I'se never pay mail to Scott again,
Nor the Fair Dodhead I'll ever see.'
12 Now Jamie is up the water-gate,
Een as fast as he can drie,
Till he came to the Coultart Cleugh,
And there he shouted and cry'd weel he.
13 Then up bespake him auld Jock Grieve,
'Whae's this that bring[s] the fray to me?'
'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be.
14 'There's naething left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three,
And sax poor calves stand i the sta,
A' routing loud for their minnie.'
15 'Alack, wae's me!' co auld Jock Grieve,
'Alack, alack, and wae is me!
For ye was married t' the auld sister,
And I t' the younges[t] o the three.'
16 Then he's taen out a bonny black,
It was weel fed wi corn and hay,
And set Jamie Telfer on his back,
To the Catlock hill to take the fray.
17 When he came to the Catlock hill,
He shouted loud and cry'd weel he;
'Whae's that, whae's that?' co Martin's Hab,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
18 'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's neathing left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three.'
19 'Alack, wae's me!' co Martin's Hab,
'Alack, awae, my heart is sair!
I never came bye the Fair Dodhead
That ever I faund thy basket bare.'
20 Then he's taen out a bonny black,
It was weel fed wi corn and hay,
And set Jamie Telfer on his back
To the Pricken haugh to take the fray.
21 When he came to the Pricken haugh,
He shouted loud and cry'd weel he;
Up then bespake auld Martin Elliot,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
22 'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's naething left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three.'
23 'Ever alack!' can Martin say,
'And ay my heart is sair for thee!
But fy, gar ca on Simmy my son,
And see that he come hastily.
24 'Fy, gar warn the water-side,
Gar warn it soon and hastily;
Them that winna ride for Teller's kye,
Let them never look i the face o me.
25 'Gar warn the water, braid and wide,
And warn the Currers i the shaw;
When ye come in at the Hermitage slack,
Warn doughty Willie o Gorrenberry.'
26 The gear was driven the Frostily up,
From the Frostily into the plain;
When Simmie looked him afore,
He saw the kye right fast driving.
27 'Whae drives the kye,' then Simmy can say,
'To make an outspeckle o me?'
'It's I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Simmy,
I winna lain my name frae thee.'
28 'O will ye let the gear gae back?
Or will ye do ony thing for me?'
'I winna let the gear gae back,
Nor naething, Simmy, I'll do for the[e].
29 'But I'll drive Jamie Telfer's kye
In spite o Jamie Telfer's teeth and thee;'
'Then by my sooth,' can Simmy say,
'I'll ware my dame's calfskin on thee.
30 'Fa on them, lads!' can Simmy say,
'Fy, fa on them cruelly!
For or they win to the Ritter ford
Mony toom saddle there shall be.'
31 But Simmy was striken oer the head,
And thro the napskape it is gane,
And Moscrop made a dolefull rage
When Simmy on the ground lay slain.
32 'Fy, lay on them!' co Martin Elliot,
'Fy, lay on them cruelly!
For ere they win to the Kershop ford
Mony toom saddle there shall be.'
33 John o Biggam he was slain,
And John o Barlow, as I heard say,
And fifteen o the Captain's men
Lay bleeding on the ground that day.
34 The Captain was shot through the head,
And also through the left ba-stane;
Tho he had livd this hundred years,
He'd neer been loed by woman again.
35 The word is gane unto his bride,
Een in the bower where she lay,
That her good lord was in's enemy's land
Since into Tiviotdale he led the way.
36 'I loord a had a winding sheed
And helpd to put it oer his head,
Or he 'd been taen in's enemy's lands,
Since he oer Liddle his men did lead.'
37 There was a man in our company,
And his name was Willie Wudespurs:
'There is a house in the Stanegarside,
If any man will ride with us.'
38 When they came to the Stanegarside,
They bangd wi trees and brake the door,
They loosd the kye out, ane and a',
And set them furth our lads before.
39 There was an auld wif ayont the fire,
A wee bit o the Captain's kin:
' Whae loo[s]es out the Captain's kye,
And sae mony o the Captain's men wi[t]hin?'
40 'I, Willie Wudespurs, let out the kye,
I winna lain my name frae thee,
And I'll loose out the Captain's kye
In spite o the Captain's teeth and thee.'
41 Now on they came to the Fair Dodhead,
They were a welcome sight to see,
And instead of his ain ten milk-kye
Jamie Telfer's gotten thirty and three.
End-Notes
281, 324, 384. Scots, Scot. In the last edition, Scotts, Scott.
294. drivand in the later edition.
314. cauf in the later edition.
371. gan in the later edition.
40. "The Editor has used some freedom with the original. The account of the Captain's disaster (teste lva vulnerata) is rather too naive for literal publication."
Additions and Corrections
To be Corrected in the Print.
6 a, 81. Read whan. (101. Gar seek in the early editions, Gae in ed. 1833.)
7 b, 411. Read thy kye.
8 a, 463. Read dare.
P. 4 a. James Hogg, writing to Scott, June 30, [1802 ?], says: "I am surprised to find that the songs in your collection differ so widely from my mother's... 'Jamie Telfer' differs in many particulars." (Letters, I, No. 44.) Scott's remarks should have been cited from the edition of 1802, I, 91.
5. Mr. Andrew Lang has obligingly called, my attention to difficulties which attend the assumption that the Dodhead of the ballad is the place of that name in Selkirkshire. Jamie Telfer, st. 7, runs ten miles between Dodhead and Stobs, and this is far enough if help is to be timely; but he would have to run thirty if his Dodhead were in Selkirkshire. With succor not nearer than that, Telfer would soon have been harried out of existence. The distances are too great both for the English and the Scots. But there is a Dod south of the Teviot, not far from Skelfhill, which is some seven miles only from Stobs. (Dodhead is not entered here on the Ordnance map, "but Dodburn is just under Dodrig, and where there is a Dodburn there is 'tied' to be a Dodhead in this country.") Turning from Stobs to Teviot, Telfer would come in due order to Coltherdscleugh, Branxholm, and Borthwick Water, without the loss of time which he would, on the other supposition, incur in passing and returning. (See a note, by Mr. Lang, in Mrs. G.R. Tomson's Ballads of the North Countrie, 1888, p. 435.)
Several other matters are not quite clear. Catslockhill, for instance, seems to be misplaced. Mr. Lang, a native of Ettrick valley, knows of no Catslack but that in Yarrow. Of this, Mr. T. Craig-Brown (Selkirkshire, I, 21), who accepts Scott's Dodhead, says, "A long ride, if Catslack is in Yarrow."
P. 4. I am now able to give the unprinted copy, referred to in the Border Minstrelsy, in which the Elliots take the place assigned in the other version to the Scotts. This I do by the assistance of Mr. Macmath, the present possessor of the manuscript, which was formerly among the papers of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe. The hand "is a good and careful one of about the beginning of this century, with a slight shake in it, and probably that of a person advanced in life." Be it observed that the title, in this case, is 'Jamie Telfer in the Fair Dodhead,' signifying, according to Scottish usage, that Telfer was tenant simply, whereas 'of' would make him proprietor.
Hogg, writing to Sir W. Scott (Letters, vol. i, No 44), says that 'Jamie Telfer,' as printed in the Minstrelsy, differs in many particulars from his mother's way of giving it. Mrs. Hogg's version may very likely have been a third copy.
In this version, Telfer, after the loosing of his nolt and the ranshakling of his house, runs eight miles to Branxholm, to seek aid of Buccleugh, who refers him to Martin Elliot, to whom, and not to himself, Buccleugh affirms, Telfer has paid blackmail. Telfer, as in the other version, runs up the water-gate to Coultart Cleugh, and invokes the help of Jock Grieve, who sets him on a bonny black to take the fray to Catlock Hill, as in the other version again. Catlock Hill Mr. R. B. Armstrong considers to be probably Catlie Hill, marked in Blaeu's map as near Braidlie. It was occupied by an Elliot in 1541. At Catlock Hill Martin's Hab sets Telfer on a bonny black to take the fray to Prickenhaugh, a place which, Mr. Armstrong observes, is put in Blaeu's map near Larriston. Auld Martin Elliot is at Prickenhaugh, and he orders Simmy, his son, to be summoned, and the water- side to be warned (including the Currers and Willie o Gorrenberry, who in the other version, st. 27, are warned as owing fealty to Scott; but an Archibald Eliot is described as "in Gorrenberrie" in 1541,[1] and Will Elliot of Gorrombye was concerned in the rescue of Kinmont Willie in 1596, Sim Elliot takes the lead in the pursuit of the marauders which Willie Scott has in the other version, and like him is killed. Martin Elliot of Braidley had among his sons, in 1580, a Sym, an Arche, and a Hob,[2] and was, during a portion of the second half of the sixteenth century, says Mr. Armstrong, perhaps the most important person of his name.[3] This Martin Elliot would fit very well into our ballad, but that he should be described as of Prickenhaugh, not of Braidley, raises a difficulty. Braidley, at the junction of the Braidley burn with the Hermitage water, is well placed for our purposes; Prickenhaugh, down by the Liddel water, seems rather remote.
5, 582. See more as to Dodhead in The Saturday Review, May 20, 1893, p. 543.
[A 2] Jamie Telfer in the Fair Dodhead
1 It fell about the Martinmas,
When steads were fed wi corn and hay,
The Captain of Bewcastle said to his lads,
We'll into Tiviotdale and seek a prey.
2 The first ae guide that they met with
Was high up in Hardhaugh swire,
The second guide that they met with
Was laigh down in Borthick water.
3 'What tidings, what tidings, my bonny guide?'
'Nae tidings, nae tidings I hae to thee;
But if ye'll gae to the Fair Dodhead
Mony a cow's calf I'll let ye see.'
4 When they came to the Fair Dodhead,
Right hastily they clam the peel,
They loosd the nolt out, ane and a',
And ranshakled the house right weel.
5 Now Jamie's heart it was right sair,
The tear ay rowing in his eye;
He pled wi the Captain to hae his gear,
Or else revenged he would be.
6 Bat the Captain turnd himsel about,
Said, Man, there's naething in thy house
But an auld sword without a scabbard,
That scarcely now would fell a mouse.
7 The moon was up and the sun was down,
'T was the gryming of a new-f a'n snaw;
Jamie Telfer has run eight miles barefoot
Between Dodhead and Branxholm Ha.
8 And when he came to Branxholm Ha
He shouted loud and cry'd well he,
Till up bespake then auld Buccleugh,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
9 'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's naething left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three.'
10 'Gae seek your succour frae Martin Elliot,
For succour ye's get nane frae me;
Gae seek your succour where ye paid black-mail,
For, man, ye never paid money to me.'
11 Jamie he's turnd him round about,
And ay the tear blinded his eye:
'I'se never pay mail to Scott again,
Nor the Fair Dodhead I'll ever see.'
12 Now Jamie is up the water-gate,
Een as fast as he can drie,
Till he came to the Coultart Cleugh,
And there he shouted and cry'd weel he.
13 Then up bespake him auld Jock Grieve,
'Whae's this that bring[s] the fray to me?'
'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be.
14 'There's naething left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three,
And sax poor calves stand i the sta,
A' routing loud for their minnie.'
15 'Alack, wae's me!' co auld Jock Grieve,
'Alack, alack, and wae is me!
For ye was married t' the auld sister,
And 1 1' the younges[t] o the three.'
16 Then he's taen out a bonny black,
It was weel fed wi corn and hay,
And set Jamie Telfer on his back,
To the Catlock hill to take the fray.
17 When he came to the Catlock hill,
He shouted loud and cry'd weel he;
'Whae's that, whae's that?' co Martin's Hab,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
18 'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's neathing left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three.'
19 'Alack, wae's me!' co Martin's Hab,
'Alack, awae, my heart is sair!
I never came bye the Fair Dodhead
That ever I faund thy basket bare.'
20 Then he's taen out a bonny black,
It was weel fed wi corn and hay,
And set Jamie Telfer on his back
To the Pricken haugh to take the fray.
21 When he came to the Pricken haugh,
He shouted loud and cry'd weel he;
Up then bespake auld Martin Elliot,
'Whae's this that brings the fray to me?'
22 'It's I, Jamie Telfer i the Fair Dodhead,
And a harried man I think I be;
There's naething left i the Fair Dodhead
But only wife and children three.'
23 'Ever alack!' can Martin say,
'And ay my heart is sair for thee!
But fy, gar ca on Simmy my son,
And see that he come hastily.
24 'Fy, gar warn the water-side,
Gar warn it soon and hastily;
Them that winna ride for Telfer's kye,
Let them never look i the face o me.
25 'Gar warn the water, braid and wide,
And warn the Currers i the shaw;
When ye come in at the Hermitage slack,
Warn doughty Willie o Gorrenberry.'
26 The gear was driven the Frostily up,
From the Frostily into the plain;
When Simmie looked him afore,
He saw the kye right fast driving.
27 'Whae drives the kye,' then Simmy can say,
'To make an outspeckle o me?'
'It's I, the Captain o Bewcastle, Simmy,
I winna lain my name frae thee.'
28 'O will ye let the gear gae back?
Or will ye do ony thing for me?'
'I winna let the gear gae back,
Nor naething, Simmy, I'll do for the[e].
29 But I'll drive Jamie Telfer's kye
In spite o Jamie Telfer's teeth and thee;'
'Then by my sooth,' can Simmy say,
'I'll ware my dame's calfskin on thee.
30 'Fa on them, lads!' can Simmy say,
'Fy, fa on them cruelly!
For or they win to the Hitter ford
Mony toom saddle there shall be.'
31 But Simmy was striken oer the head,
And thro the napskape it is gane,
And Moscrop made a dolefull rage
When Simmy on the ground lay slain.
32 'Fy, lay on them!' co Martin Elliot,
'Fy, lay on them cruelly!
For ere they win to the Kershop ford
Mony toom saddle there shall be.'
33 John o Biggam he was slain,
And John o Barlow, as I heard say,
And fifteen o the Captain's men
Lay bleeding on the ground that day.
34 The Captain was shot through the head,
And also through the left ba-stane;
Tho he had livd this hundred years,
He 'd neer been loed by woman again.
35 The word is gane unto his bride,
Een in the bower where she lay,
That her good lord was in's enemy's land
Since into Tiviotdale he led the way.
36 'I loord a had a winding sheed
And helpd to put it oer his head,
Or he 'd been taen in's enemy's lands,
Since he oer Liddle his men did lead.'
37 There was a man in our company,
And his name was Willie Wudgspurs:
'There is a house in the Stanegarside,
If any man will ride with us.'
38 When they came to the Stanegarside,
They bangd wi trees and brake the door,
They loosd the kye out, ane and a',
And set them furth our lads before.
39 There was an auld wif ayont the fire,
A wee bit o the Captain's kin:
'Whae loo[s]es out the Captain's kye,
And sae mony o the Captain's men wi[t]hin?'
40 'I, Willie Wudespurs, let out the kye,
I winna lain my name frae thee,
And I'll loose out the Captain's kye
In spite o the Captain's teeth and thee.'
41 Now on they came to the Fair Dodhead,
They were a welcome sight to see,
And instead of his ain ten milk-kye
Jamie Telfer's gotten thirty and three.
162. feel fed: cf. 202.
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P. 5 a first paragraph. However, "in the list of Border thieves made in the year 1552, William Patrick, the priest, and John Nelson, the curate of Bewcastle, are both included": Denham Tracts, I, 150. This shows that the society was homogeneous
Additions and Corrections footnotes:
1. R. H. Stodart, Scottish Arms, 1881, II, 277, 276. What is there said of Elliot of Braidley was mostly communicated by Mr. R.B. Armstrong.
2. R. H. Stodart, Scottish Arms, 1881, II, 277, 276. What is there said of Elliot of Braidley was mostly communicated by Mr. R.B. Armstrong.
3. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1880-81, p. 93. At several places above I have used a letter from Mr. Armstrong to Mr. Macmath