Rhymes of Northern Bards / Being a Curious Collection of Old and New Songs and Poems, Peculiar to the Counties of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham

THE COCKLE PARK EWES' RAMBLE.

J. J. Bell

Tune.—John of Badenyon.

PART I.

Or the First Day’s Ride.—March 4th, 1811.

The first of March, from Cockle Park,

A flock of sheep did stray,

Which disappeared in the dark,

And were not miss’d next day;

North west, by north, in zig-zag route,

To their late home did hie,

By innate instinct taught no doubt,

Their yeaning time drew nigh.[61]

They thirty hours a-head had got,

Upon their tour intent;

On searching ev’ry local spot,

A second day was spent;

The third I mounted—by Priest’s Bridge,

And Heron’s Close I veer’d;

To Harelaw Heights, and Ruffhill Ridge,

And Stanton Steads I steer’d.

To Southwardedge, Doehill, and Rea,

Smallburn, and the Haredean,

Blackpool, Todburn, and Garretlea,

And Horsley Moor I’d been;

At Westerheugh, and Sunnyside,

The Busygap also,

Each collier’s cot, and creeks beside,

High Hezleyhurst, and Low.

On wand’ring westward through Wardshill,

I there found the first three;

And heard the mass amissing still,

Had march’d towards the Lee;

I hir’d the herd, these to retain,

’Till in pursuit I went,

To bring the others back again,

But quickly lost the scent.

True, I some stragglers overtook,

Near Leehead, with their lambs;

And all the rest had cross’d the brook,

But these indulgent dams:

The fugitives fecundity,

Allow’d of no delay;

Yet found it would difficult be,

More to collect that day.

Myself fatigu’d, and found my nag,

Fail of his wonted powers;

For want of food we both did fag,

By trav’ling twelve long hours.

So I resolved then to ride

Home at an easy pace;

A gross of hand-bills to provide,

And hence resume the chase.

PART II.

March 5th, 1811.

Next day to the Thatchmeadows, I

(The forest skirts to scour)

Coldrife, and Quarryhouse pass’d by,

To Newbiggin’s bleak moor:

Bullbush, Blueburn, and Blagdon Brakes,

I carefully did scan;

But none on these extensive tracts,

Were seen by any man.

Ward’s Intake, Hut, and Shepherd’s Shield,

Coldside, and Moralhurst;

By Forestburn, and Meadowfield,

To Holyhill I cours’d:

Hence Lordenshaws, and Garlyside,

Crook, Loaning, Stewardshill;

But disappointments did preside,

O’er expectations still.

By the Sheephurst, to Brockleyhall,

And Turnbull’s steed I steer’d;

And at each peasant’s cot did call,

That in my path appear’d:

To the Two Raws, and Butterknows,

I posted on with speed,

Where I was told some of my ewes

Cross’d Coquet at Craghead.

Resolv’d the south side first to seek,

I rang’d that rocky hill,

’Till I explor’d the ’Squires Peak;

Herd’s House, and Little Mill,

By Wagtailhall, and Sandyheughs,

To Rothbury then did ride;

To feed, refresh, and hear what news;

Then search the other side.

Hence by Knocklaw, and Tumbleton,

And ev’ry scatter’d cot,

Through Debdon Dale—and I anon

By Wintercove did trot,

To Rimside Inn, to bait and bouse;—

From Framlington, Blacksow,

To Flambrohead, and Wholluphouse,

But could not find a ewe.

From Frostyfolds, to Whitefield House,

Chilhope, and Cragend Scars,

Where they and lambs might lurk recluse,

Unless rous’d unawares;—

By Healy, Hope, Lynn, and Woodhead,

To Healycoat I trudg’d,

To Cockshot, Brinkburn, and Todstead,

Where for that night I lodg’d.

PART III.

March 6th, 1811.

Good fortune still attends the brave,

As at an early hour,

Intelligence a stranger gave,

Where to extend my tour:

I sprung my gelding to full speed,

’Till I explor’d the spot,

And found by dint of heels my steed

To the rear rank had got.

First three I found on Thropton Hill,

There basking with their brood;

The rest were seen from Snitter Mill,

Past Cartington to crowd:

From Silverside, by Lorbottle,

To Trewhit Mains I march’d,

By Netherton, through Screnwood Dell,

And Fawdon Fell I search’d.

To Prendick Peak, and Alnham Moor,

And all adjacent grounds;

O’er Ingram Edge, I stretch’d my tour,

To seek that spacious bounds:

From Revely, Greenshaws, Hartside Hill,

To Linhope Spout with speed;

On Shillmoor Shank found strayers still,

To Rawhope Rig recede.

To Milkhope, Memmer Kirk, and Haigh,

And Cushet Law I por’d;

To Carlcroft, and Kidlandlea,

Dryhope, and Usway Ford:

The Maiden’s Cross, and Windy Gyle,

And Cheviot’s skirts curv’d round;

To Fleehope—but the front-rank file

At Langlee Ford I found.

Benighted, where these brutes did browse,

Upon the border bent;

I could not retrogade my ewes,

Some couchant seem’d content:

At the stock-farmer of that place,

For lodgings did enquire,

And there receiv’d a sweet solace,

Next morning to retire.

I ask’d both master and his men,

For one a-wanting still;

Who all declar’d they did not ken.

Of stray sheep on their hill:

Squads to collect I did remount,

O’er hills and dales I cross’d;

And that one short of my account,

I then gave up for lost.

[61] It is nothing particular for ewes, at their yeaning time, to stray: some have been known to travel an hundred miles to their native place to yean. The author remembers a ewe which had with others been sold to the southward, and was kept on the Haughs of the Humber, from which she strayed, and reaching Makendon, on the borders of Scotland, she travelling about twenty yards within her original pasture, there squatted and yeaned in half an hour. The owner of the ewe that travelled so far to yean upon her pristine spot, went the year following to buy another lot of the same sort, was asked how the last year’s stock proved, answered, extraordinary well, excepting one that disappeared, which he supposed to be stole. The stocksman said he was sorry for his loss, which however, he said, he would make good if they bargained for the present parcel. The bargain was made, and the seller turned an ewe and lamb, gratis, into the drove, explained the fact, and the poor ewe had to retread the ground she had twice before travelled over.

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