It was my Ladye Somerville
By her Castle wa' did stand
In deep perplexitie, her lane,
A letter in her hand.
"I canna read my gudeman's write,"
Cowthally's Ladye cried,
"I canna read this hand o' write
Although my best I've tried."
She beckoned to her Seneschal
--John Craw it was his name--
"Come hither, John, a word wi' thee,"
John on the instant came.
"Here is a letter sent in haste
Frae my Lord Somerville,
There's unco little in't, and yet
I canna read it weel.
"Here's three words three times written ower,
Alack, and wae is me!
There's treason in the air; my Lord
I nevermore may see!
"What says he, John, ken you his hand?
I read it 'Spears and Raxes,'
And yet that canna be--but stay--
It runneth 'Speats and Axes.'"
John took the letter in his hand
--He was a skeilly man--
Then with a smile of conscious power
The contents he did scan.
"My Leddy, I've been steward here
The best part o' my life,
While three months only have you reigned
Cowthally's wedded wife.
"The firsten Leddy Somerville,
She was a clever dame,
And though you hae na half her wit
'Tis you maun think nae shame,
"You have na half her years; even she
At first could barely spell,
Until I took the task in hand,
And learned her weel mysel'.
"The firsten Leddy Somerville
Cam' to me in her need;
My second Leddy I maun learn
The Laird's ain hand to read.
"This writing is ower clear to me,
It isna 'Spears and Raxes,'
Athough the words are somewhat like;
Nor is it 'Speats and Axes.'
"Three times he writes the sentence ower,
The words are 'Spears and Jacks,'
My Lord ca's for his spearmen bold,
Wi' their harness on their backs.
"Then gather, gather speedilie,
And to his succour sen'
Cowthally's muster leal and bold,
Twa hunder mounted men.
"If James proves false, my noble Lord
Shall turn upon the King,
And may unto Cowthally's keep
A royal captive bring."
"Your words are wisdom, John," she cried,
"My Lord misdoubts the King,
(When was a Stuart true?) he needs
His trusty following.
"Go, sound the bugle, call to arms,
Go, summon near and far
The real retainers of my Lord,
And bid them arm for war."
The bugle soundit clear and shrill,
They summoned near and far
Cowthally's horsemen leal and bold,
And bade them arm for war.
A goodly companie were they,
And 'twas a glorious sicht
To see them to the muster ride,
Their armour gleaming bricht.
Ilk had his jack upon his back,
Ilk man his wambrace wore,
And ilk his trusty battle-axe
And spear and dagger bore.
Awa', awa' the gallant troop
Rade from Cowthally forth;
Ower moss and muir and hill and howe
They journeyed to the North.
To Edinbruch, to Edinbruch
Rode the undaunted band;
To Edinbruch, to Edinbruch,
For such the Dame's command.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The King was wi' Lord Somerville
For fair Cowthally bound,
And leisurelie they took the way
With merry hawk and hound.
The King he wore a hunting-suit
Covered wi' gold and lace,
And he did rein his gallant steed
Wi' mickle skill and grace.
He wore a red pouch by his side
To bear his falcon's food,
And on his wrist his falcon sat
In bell, and jess, and hood.
O merrily, merrily went the hour,
And merrily went the day,
And wha sae jovial as the King,
And wha sae blythe and gay.
But when he gat to Corsett Hill
He drew the bridle-rein,
Then turned him to Lord Somerville,
And pointed to the plain.
Suspicious was the Monarch's eye,
His glance was wrath and fear;
And at a motion of his hand
His body-guard drew near.
"Behold your troop, Lord Somerville,
Your banner waving hie;
What meaneth this? ambitious man
You arena true to me."
Out then and spake Lord Somerville,
While merrily lauched he,
"A truer vassal to the Crown
Than me there canna be;
"When shall a Somerville prove fause,
Or scheme foul treachery?
When singing birds turn spinning wheels,
And lay their music bye.
"A Somerville may turn a knave
When grass it winna grow,
When trees tap-downward stand, or when
The burnies winna row."
"O Somerville, you speak in jest,
I doubt your knightly word,"
"If this be truly sae, O King,
Then tak' frae me this sword.
"Return it not until I prove
That I am leal and true,
For, O, it grieves me to the heart
To be misjudged by you.
"Yonder my banner waves aloft,
My men are drawing near,
Yet on my oath I canna tell
The cause that brought them here.
"Fain and I solve this mystery,
And I wad forward ride;
But in your hands, as hostage, leave
The gude youth by my side.
"This youth he is my son and heir,
If I prove fause to thee,
My Sov'reign Lord, then spare him not,
But an ill death let him die."
Then down the hill rode Somerville
As fast as he could hie;
And to his gallant horsemen cam'
In sad perplexitie.
"What brings ye here, my vassals a',
Your harness on your backs?"
Then out and spak' the Captain bold,
"You wrote for 'Spears and Jacks.'
"Here is your missive; read it, Lord;
My Ladye gae't to me;
Thrice ower you ca' for 'Spears and Jacks,'
As they wha read can see."
"Whar by your eyne, my Captain bold;
You're but a witless loon;
I ordered "Speates and Raxes" -- see,
Its clearly written down."
Then loudly lauched Lord Somerville--
Loud lauched his faithful band,
As he rode on to join the King
The missive in his hand.
But louder lauched the King himsel'
When he the screed did see;
"I vow," said James, "the letters rin
Like 'Spears and Jacks' to me.
"But weel may Scotland's King be proud
Of you my honest Lord;
If you canna freely wield the pen,
"Tis you can wield the sword.
"And lang life to your faithfu' Dame
Who sent sae readily
The armed retainers of her House
To aid and succour thee.
"If she feared for her gudeman's life,
Not her's but your's the fau't;
As faithfu' Dame, and faithfu' wife,
She did the thing she ought.
"Should troubles rise, and Scotland's King
Require your loyal band,
May those brave men as speedilie
Come forth at my command."
I'd love to have you drop by!--Barbara
