In sign of truce, his better hand
Display'd a peeled willow-wand;
His squire, attending in the rear,
Bore high a gauntlet on a spear.

When they espied him riding out,

Lord Howard and Lord Dacre stout

Sped to the front of their array,

To hear what this old knight should say.

XXII.

"Ye English warden Lords, of you

Demands the Ladye of Buccleuch,

Why, 'gainst the truce of Border-tide,
In hostile guise ye dare to ride,

With Kendal bow, and Gilsland brand,

And all yon mercenary band,

Upon the bounds of fair Scotland?

My Ladye redes you, swith return!
And, if but one poor straw you burn,
Or do our towers so much molest,
As scare one swallow from her nest,

St Mary! but we'll light a brand,

Shall warm your hearths in Cumberland."—

XXIII.

A wrathful man was Dacre's lord,

But calmer Howard took the word:

66 May't please thy dame, Sir Seneschal,
To seek the castle's outward wall,
Our pursuivant-at-arms shall show,
Both why we came, and when we go.".
The message sped, the noble Dame
To the wall's outward circle came;

Each Chief around lean'd on his spear,

To see the pursuivant appear.

All in Lord Howard's livery dress'd,

The lion argent deck'd his breast;
He led a boy of blooming hue-
O sight to meet a mother's view!
It was the heir of great Buccleuch.
Obeisance meet the herald made,

And thus his master's will he said.

XXIV.

“It irks, high Dame, my noble Lords,

'Gainst ladye fair to draw their swords;
But yet they may not tamely see,
All through the western wardenry,
Your law-contemning kinsmen ride,
And burn and spoil the Border-side ;
And ill beseems your rank and birth
To make your towers a flemens-firth.*
We claim from thee William of Deloraine,
That he may suffer march-treason pain ;†

It was but last St Cuthbert's even

He prick'd to Stapleton on Leven,
Harried the lands of Richard Musgrave,
And slew his brother by dint of glaive.
Then, since a lone and widow'd Dame

These restless riders may not tame,

An asylum for outlaws.
Plundered.

Border treason.

Either receive within thy towers
Two hundred of my master's powers,
Or straight they sound their warrison,*

And storm and spoil thy garrison :

And this fair boy, to London led,

Shall good King Edward's page be bred.'

XXV.

He ceased-and loud the boy did cry, And stretch'd his little arms on high, Implored for aid each well-known face, And strove to seek the Dame's embrace. A moment changed that Ladye's cheer, Gush'd to her eye the unbidden tear; She gazed upon the leaders round,

And dark and sad each warrior frown'a; Then, deep within her sobbing breast, She lock'd the struggling sigh to rest;

*Note of assault.

Unalter'd and collected stood,

And thus replied, in dauntless mood:

XXVI.

"Say to your Lords of high emprize,

Who war on women, and on boys,

That either William of Deloraine

Will cleanse him, by oath, of march-treason stain,

Or else he will the combat take

'Gainst Musgrave, for his honour's sake.

No knight in Cumberland so good,

But William may count with him kin and blood.
Knighthood he took of Douglas' sword,

When English blood swell'd Ancram ford; :
And but that Lord Dacre's steed was wight,

And bore him ably in the flight,

Himself had seen him dubb'd a knight.

For the young heir of Branksome's line,

God be his aid, and God be mine!