Dick o the Cow

Dick o the Cow is Child ballad 185 and a border ballad. Unusually for that genre, its hero is not the outlaw.

Synopsis

John Armstrang raids England, but finds only six sheep, which would humiliate him to steal. He asks his companion, Billie, about a man they met; Billie says that he's a simpleton, named Dick o the Cow. They steal his three cows.

Dick gets permission from his lord to go to Liddesdaile for revenge. There, they taunt him. He steals two horses. John chases after him, on horseback, and they fight. Dick fells him and now has three horses. He sells one horse for money and a good milk cow. With his lord's leave, he moves to avoid the Armstrongs.

External links

• Dick o the Cow