Stories of the Scottish Border — Chapter 30 The Rookhope Ride

*The Rookhope Ride* This Durham border song is supposed to be spoken by a Weardale man, who begins by denouncing the inhabitants of the Tyne valley, "and all their companies there about" as false thieves, "minded to do mischief And at their stealing stands not out."

It must be confessed that the Tynedale men had an unenviable reputation.

They were such lawless desperadoes, so addicted to rapine, that during more than two centuries the merchants of Newcastle regularly refused to take an apprentice born in that district.

The date is December 1572. The rebel Earl of Northumberland, who had taken up arms for Mary Queen of Scots, and for the old religion, had been betrayed by the Scots and beheaded at York.

Owing to this rebellion there was great confusion in the northern counties, hence the time was well chosen by the "limmer thieves" of Tynedale to make a predatory raid on their neighbours.

They gathered together the stoutest men of arms and the best in gear, a hundred or more in number, and in the forenoon, about eleven o'clock, they came into a "bye-fell" and stopped for a meal--the last which some of them would eat.

When they had eaten, they chose their captains, Harry Corbyl, Simon Fell, and Martin Ridley.

Then they rode on over the moss, "with many a brank and whew," saying to one another that they were men enough, "For Weardale-men have a journey ta'en, They are so far out o'er yon fell, That some of them's with the two earls, And others fast in Bernard castell.

There we shall get gear enough, For there is nane but women at hame;

The sorrowful fend that they can make.

Is loudly cries as they were slain."

They came in at Rookhope Head, which is the top of a rocky valley, about five miles long, at the end of which Rookhope Burn empties itself into the river Wear.

This valley is as wild and open to-day as it was then.

In some four hours they gathered together about six hundred sheep and they were engaged in "shifting" the horses, when the hue and cry was raised by one Rowley, whose horse they tried to take.

He was the first man to see them.

The cry spread rapidly down Rookhope burn and through Weardale, and word came to the bailiff's house at the East-gate.

He was out, but his wife had his horse saddled and sent it to him, together with his sword, spear, and jacket quilted with iron plates, the sort of harness worn by the moss-troopers and other light horsemen of the time.

The bailiff had already heard the bad news, and was sorely troubled thereby.

His own brother had been attacked three days before by marauders, and lay sick with nineteen wounds.

Yet the bailiff shrank not at all, but hied fast after the sheep-stealers, with as many of the neighbours as he could gather to bear him company.

The pursuers overtook the thieves in Nuketon Cleugh, and gave them all the fighting they wanted.

Not one of them ever thought to see his wife again.

They bore three banners against the Weardale men, "as if the world had been all their own."

The fray lasted only an hour, but many a tall man lay weaponless and sore wounded before that hour was done, and four of the Northumbrian prickers were slain, including Harry Corbyl whom they had chosen to be their captain.

Eleven of them were taken prisoners.

Only one of the Weardale men fell but-- "These Weardale-men, they have good hearts, They are as stiff as any tree;

For, if they'd everyone been slain, Never a foot back man would flee.

And such a storm amongst them fell, As I think you never heard the like;

For he that bears his head on high, He oft-tymes falls into the dyke.

And now I do entreat you all, As many as are present here, To pray for the singer of this song, For he sings to make blythe your cheer."

*Chapter XXXI*