Willie had ridden and Willie had reiv'd,
Willie had burn'd and Willie had thiev'd;
Lord Scrope he march'd wi' rank and file,
Poor Kinmont Willie to auld Carlisle.
For Willie had mounted many a stile,
But now he is chain'd in auld Carlisle.
The news soon owre the border ran;
Buccleuch petition'd to save the man:
England's queen wad gie Willie his due,
"Then mount and away," said bold Buccleuch.
For Willie had mounted many a stile,
But now he is chain'd in auld Carlisle.
The neet was dark and the Eden strang
As owre the Stanwix they fil'd alang;
At the head of his horse he forded through,
"Let us storm the castle," said brave Buccleuch
For Willie had mounted many a stile,
But now he is chain'd in auld Carlisle.
While loudly the bells of Carlisle rang,
A thousand men to their armour sprang;
They drew their swords to the joul of the bell,
But the castle was ta'en before they could tell
Wi' the stroke of a sword instead of a file
They ransom'd Willie in auld Carlisle.
'Twas horse and away with bold Buccleugh,
As he rode in the van of his border crew;
"You may tell your virgin queen," he cried
"That Scotland's rights were never defied."
Wi' the stroke of a sword instead of a file
He ransom'd Willie in auld Carlisle.
Songs And Ballads Of Cumberland And The Lake Country, Sidney Gilpin,
published in London by John Russell Smith, and in Carlisle by G. & T. Coward, 1874
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