I

IWhen we were silly sisters seven,—Sisters were so fair,—Five of us were brave knights’ wives,And died in childbed lair[509].IIUp then spake Fair Mary,Marry wou’d she nane;If ever she came in man’s bed,The same gate[510]wad she gang.III‘Make no vows, Fair Mary,For fear they broken be;Here’s been the Knight of Wallington,Asking good will of thee.’—IV‘If here’s been the knight, mother,Asking good will of me,Within three quarters of a yearYou may come bury me.’VBut when she came to Wallington,And into Wallington hall,There she spy’d her [lord’s] mother,Walking about the wall.VI‘You’re welcome, welcome, daughter dear,To thy castle and thy bowers.’—‘I thank you kindly, mother,I hope they’ll soon be yours.’VIIShe had not been in WallingtonThree quarters and a day,Till upon the ground she could not walk,She was a weary prey.VIIIShe had not been in WallingtonThree quarters and a night,Till on the ground she could not walk,She was a weary wight.IX‘Is there ne’er a boy into this town,Who’ll win him hose and shoon,That will run to fair Paddington,And bid my mother come?’XUp then spake a little boy,Near unto her a-kin:‘Full oft I have your errands gone,But now I will it run.’XIThen she call’d her waiting-maidTo bring up bread and wine:‘Eat and drink, my bonny boy,Thou’ll ne’er eat more of mine.XII‘Give my respects to my mother,She sits in her chair of stone,And ask her how she likes the news,Of seven to have but one?XIII‘Give my respects to my mother,As she sits in her chair of oak,And bid her come to my sickening,Or my merry lake-wake[511].XIV‘Give my love to my brothersWilliam, Ralph, and John,And to my sister Betty fair,And to her white as bone:XV‘And bid her keep her maidenhead,Be sure [to keep it lang:]For if e’er she come into man’s bed,The same gate will she gang.’XVIAway this little boy is gone,As fast as he could run;When he came where brigs were broke,He laid him down and swum.XVIIWhen he saw the lady, he said,‘Lord may your keeper be!’—‘What news, my pretty boy,Hast thou to tell to me?’—XVIII‘Your daughter Mary orders meAs you sit in a chair of stone,To ask you how you like the news,Of seven to have but one?XIX‘Your daughter gives you her commands,As you sit in a chair of oak,And bids you come to her sickening,Or her merry lake-wake.XX‘She gives command to her brothersWilliam, Ralph, and John,[And] to her sister Betty fair,And to her white as bone.XXI‘She bids her keep her maidenhead,Be sure [to keep it lang:]For if e’er she come into man’s bed,The same gate will she gang.’XXIIShe kickt the table with her foot,She kickt it with her knee,The silver plate into the fire,So far she made it flee.XXIIIThen she call’d her waiting-maidTo bring her riding-hood,So did she on her stable-groomTo bring her riding-steed.XXIV‘Go saddle to me the black, the black,Go saddle to me the brown,Go saddle to me the swiftest steedThat e’er rid to Wallington!’XXVWhen they came to Wallington,And into Wallington hall,There she spy’d her son Fenwick,Walking about the wall.XXVI‘God save you, my dearest son,Lord may your keeper be!Tell me where is my daughter fair,That used to walk with thee?’XXVIIHe turn’d his head him round about,The tears did fill his e’e:‘’Tis a month,’ he said, ‘since Fair MaryTook her chambers from me.’XXVIIIShe went on [to her daughter’s chamber];And there were in the hallFour and twenty ladies,Letting the tears down fall.XXIXHer daughter had a scope[512]intoHer cheek and eke her chin,All to keep in her dear lifeTill her dear mother came.XXX‘Come take the rings off my fingers,The skin it is so white,And give them to my mother dear,For she was all the wyte[513].XXXI‘Come take the rings off my fingers,The veins they are so red,Give them to Sir William Fenwick,I’m sure his heart will bleed.’XXXIIThen she took out a razorThat was both sharp and fine,And out of her left side she has takenThe heir of Wallington.XXXIIIThere is a race in Wallington,And that I rue full sare;Tho’ the cradle it be full spread up,The bride-bed is left bare.

When we were silly sisters seven,—Sisters were so fair,—Five of us were brave knights’ wives,And died in childbed lair[509].

Up then spake Fair Mary,Marry wou’d she nane;If ever she came in man’s bed,The same gate[510]wad she gang.

‘Make no vows, Fair Mary,For fear they broken be;Here’s been the Knight of Wallington,Asking good will of thee.’—

‘If here’s been the knight, mother,Asking good will of me,Within three quarters of a yearYou may come bury me.’

But when she came to Wallington,And into Wallington hall,There she spy’d her [lord’s] mother,Walking about the wall.

‘You’re welcome, welcome, daughter dear,To thy castle and thy bowers.’—‘I thank you kindly, mother,I hope they’ll soon be yours.’

She had not been in WallingtonThree quarters and a day,Till upon the ground she could not walk,She was a weary prey.

She had not been in WallingtonThree quarters and a night,Till on the ground she could not walk,She was a weary wight.

‘Is there ne’er a boy into this town,Who’ll win him hose and shoon,That will run to fair Paddington,And bid my mother come?’

Up then spake a little boy,Near unto her a-kin:‘Full oft I have your errands gone,But now I will it run.’

Then she call’d her waiting-maidTo bring up bread and wine:‘Eat and drink, my bonny boy,Thou’ll ne’er eat more of mine.

‘Give my respects to my mother,She sits in her chair of stone,And ask her how she likes the news,Of seven to have but one?

‘Give my respects to my mother,As she sits in her chair of oak,And bid her come to my sickening,Or my merry lake-wake[511].

‘Give my love to my brothersWilliam, Ralph, and John,And to my sister Betty fair,And to her white as bone:

‘And bid her keep her maidenhead,Be sure [to keep it lang:]For if e’er she come into man’s bed,The same gate will she gang.’

Away this little boy is gone,As fast as he could run;When he came where brigs were broke,He laid him down and swum.

When he saw the lady, he said,‘Lord may your keeper be!’—‘What news, my pretty boy,Hast thou to tell to me?’—

‘Your daughter Mary orders meAs you sit in a chair of stone,To ask you how you like the news,Of seven to have but one?

‘Your daughter gives you her commands,As you sit in a chair of oak,And bids you come to her sickening,Or her merry lake-wake.

‘She gives command to her brothersWilliam, Ralph, and John,[And] to her sister Betty fair,And to her white as bone.

‘She bids her keep her maidenhead,Be sure [to keep it lang:]For if e’er she come into man’s bed,The same gate will she gang.’

She kickt the table with her foot,She kickt it with her knee,The silver plate into the fire,So far she made it flee.

Then she call’d her waiting-maidTo bring her riding-hood,So did she on her stable-groomTo bring her riding-steed.

‘Go saddle to me the black, the black,Go saddle to me the brown,Go saddle to me the swiftest steedThat e’er rid to Wallington!’

When they came to Wallington,And into Wallington hall,There she spy’d her son Fenwick,Walking about the wall.

‘God save you, my dearest son,Lord may your keeper be!Tell me where is my daughter fair,That used to walk with thee?’

He turn’d his head him round about,The tears did fill his e’e:‘’Tis a month,’ he said, ‘since Fair MaryTook her chambers from me.’

She went on [to her daughter’s chamber];And there were in the hallFour and twenty ladies,Letting the tears down fall.

Her daughter had a scope[512]intoHer cheek and eke her chin,All to keep in her dear lifeTill her dear mother came.

‘Come take the rings off my fingers,The skin it is so white,And give them to my mother dear,For she was all the wyte[513].

‘Come take the rings off my fingers,The veins they are so red,Give them to Sir William Fenwick,I’m sure his heart will bleed.’

Then she took out a razorThat was both sharp and fine,And out of her left side she has takenThe heir of Wallington.

There is a race in Wallington,And that I rue full sare;Tho’ the cradle it be full spread up,The bride-bed is left bare.

FOOTNOTES:[509]lair = lying-in.[510]gate = way.[511]lake-wake = lyke-wake, corpse-watching.[512]scope = bandage, gag.[513]wyte = blame, cause of trouble.

[509]lair = lying-in.

[510]gate = way.

[511]lake-wake = lyke-wake, corpse-watching.

[512]scope = bandage, gag.

[513]wyte = blame, cause of trouble.

IAbout Yule, when the wind blew cule,And the round tables began,O there is come to our King’s courtMony a well-favor’d man.IIThe Queen luikt owre the castle-wa’Beheld baith dale and down,And there she saw Young WatersCome riding to the town.IIIHis footmen they did rin before,His horsemen rade behind;Ane mantel of the burning gowdDid keip him frae the wind.IVGowden-graith’d[514]his horse before,And siller-shod behind;The horse Young Waters rade uponWas fleeter than the wind.VOut then spak’ a wylie lord,Unto the Queen said he:‘O tell me wha’s the fairest faceRides in the company?’—VI‘I’ve sene lord, and I’ve sene laird,And knights of high degree,Bot a fairer face than Young Waters’Mine eyne did never see.’VIIOut then spake the jealous King,And an angry man was he:‘O if he had bin twice as fair,You micht have excepted me.’VIII‘You’re neither laird nor lord,’ she says,‘But the King that wears the crown;There is not a knight in fair ScotlandBut to thee maun bow down.’IXFor a’ that she cou’d do or say,Appeas’d he wad nae bee,But for the words which she had said,Young Waters he maun dee.XThey hae ta’en Young Waters,And put fetters to his feet;They hae ta’en Young Waters, andThrown him in dungeon deep.XI‘Aft have I ridden thro’ Stirling town,In the wind but and the weet;But I neir rade thro’ Stirling townWi’ fetters at my feet.XII‘Aft have I ridden thro’ Stirling town,In the wind but and the rain;But I neir rade thro’ Stirling townNeir to return again.’XIIIThey hae ta’en to the heiding-hill[515]His young son in his craddle;And they hae ta’en to the heiding-hillHis horse but and his saddle.XIVThey hae ta’en to the heiding-hillHis lady fair to see;And for the words the Queen had spokeYoung Waters he did dee.

About Yule, when the wind blew cule,And the round tables began,O there is come to our King’s courtMony a well-favor’d man.

The Queen luikt owre the castle-wa’Beheld baith dale and down,And there she saw Young WatersCome riding to the town.

His footmen they did rin before,His horsemen rade behind;Ane mantel of the burning gowdDid keip him frae the wind.

Gowden-graith’d[514]his horse before,And siller-shod behind;The horse Young Waters rade uponWas fleeter than the wind.

Out then spak’ a wylie lord,Unto the Queen said he:‘O tell me wha’s the fairest faceRides in the company?’—

‘I’ve sene lord, and I’ve sene laird,And knights of high degree,Bot a fairer face than Young Waters’Mine eyne did never see.’

Out then spake the jealous King,And an angry man was he:‘O if he had bin twice as fair,You micht have excepted me.’

‘You’re neither laird nor lord,’ she says,‘But the King that wears the crown;There is not a knight in fair ScotlandBut to thee maun bow down.’

For a’ that she cou’d do or say,Appeas’d he wad nae bee,But for the words which she had said,Young Waters he maun dee.

They hae ta’en Young Waters,And put fetters to his feet;They hae ta’en Young Waters, andThrown him in dungeon deep.

‘Aft have I ridden thro’ Stirling town,In the wind but and the weet;But I neir rade thro’ Stirling townWi’ fetters at my feet.

‘Aft have I ridden thro’ Stirling town,In the wind but and the rain;But I neir rade thro’ Stirling townNeir to return again.’

They hae ta’en to the heiding-hill[515]His young son in his craddle;And they hae ta’en to the heiding-hillHis horse but and his saddle.

They hae ta’en to the heiding-hillHis lady fair to see;And for the words the Queen had spokeYoung Waters he did dee.

FOOTNOTES:[514]graith’d = harnessed.[515]heiding-hill = beheading mound.

[514]graith’d = harnessed.

[515]heiding-hill = beheading mound.

IMarie Hamilton’s to the kirk gane,Wi’ ribbons in her hair;The King thought mair o’ Marie HamiltonThan ony that were there.IIMarie Hamilton’s to the kirk ganeWi’ ribbons on her breast;The King thought mair o’ Marie HamiltonThan he listen’d to the priest.IIIMarie Hamilton’s to the kirk gane,Wi’ gloves upon her hands;The King thought mair o’ Marie HamiltonThan the Queen and a’ her lands.IVShe hadna been about the King’s courtA month, but barely ane,Till she was beloved by a’ the King’s court,And the King the only man.VShe hadna been about the King’s courtA month, but barely three,Till frae the King’s court Marie Hamilton,Marie Hamilton durstna be.VIThe King is to the Abbey gane,To pu’ the Abbey tree,To scale[516]the babe frae Marie’s heart;But the thing it wadna be.VIIO she has row’d[517]it in her apron,And set it on the sea—‘Gae sink ye or swim ye, bonny babe,Ye’se get nae mair o’ me.’VIIIWord is to the kitchen gane,And word is to the ha’,And word is to the noble roomAmang the ladies a’,That Marie Hamilton’s brought to bed,And the bonny babe’s miss’d and awa’.IXScarcely had she lain down again,And scarcely fa’en asleep,When up and started our gude QueenJust at her bed-feet;Saying—‘Marie Hamilton, where’s your babe?For I am sure I heard it greet[518].’—X‘O no, O no, my noble Queen!Think no sic thing to be;’Twas but a stitch into my side,And sair it troubles me!’—XI‘Get up, get up, Marie Hamilton:Get up and follow me;For I am going to Edinburgh town,A rich wedding for to see.’XIIO slowly, slowly rase she up,And slowly put she on;And slowly rade she out the wayWi’ mony a weary groan.XIIIThe Queen was clad in scarlet,Her merry maids all in green;And every town that they cam to,They took Marie for the Queen.XIV‘Ride hooly[519], hooly, gentlemen,Ride hooly now wi’ me!For never, I am sure, a wearier burdRade in your companie.’XVBut little wist Marie Hamilton,When she rade on the brown,That she was gaen to Edinburgh town,And a’ to be put down.XVI‘Why weep ye sae, ye burgess wives,Why look ye sae on me?O I am going to Edinburgh town,A rich weddìng to see.’XVIIWhen she gaed up the tolbooth stairs,The corks frae her heels did flee;And lang or e’er she cam down again,She was condemn’d to die.XVIIIWhen she cam to the Netherbow port,She laugh’d loud laughters three;But when she came to the gallows footThe tears blinded her e’e.XIX‘Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Marie Seaton, and Marie Beaton,And Marie Carmichael, and me.XX‘O often have I dress’d my Queen,And put gowd upon her hair;But now I’ve gotten for my rewardThe gallows to be my share.XXI‘Often have I dress’d my QueenAnd often made her bed;But now I’ve gotten for my rewardThe gallows tree to tread.XXII‘I charge ye all, ye mariners,When ye sail owre the faem,Let neither my father nor mother get witBut that I’m coming hame.XXIII‘I charge ye all, ye mariners,That sail upon the sea,That neither my father nor mother get witThe dog’s death I’m to die.XXIV‘For if my father and mother got wit,And my bold brethren three,O mickle wad be the gude red bludeThis day wad be spilt for me!XXV‘O little did my mother ken,The day she cradled me,The lands I was to travel inOr the death I was to die!’

Marie Hamilton’s to the kirk gane,Wi’ ribbons in her hair;The King thought mair o’ Marie HamiltonThan ony that were there.

Marie Hamilton’s to the kirk ganeWi’ ribbons on her breast;The King thought mair o’ Marie HamiltonThan he listen’d to the priest.

Marie Hamilton’s to the kirk gane,Wi’ gloves upon her hands;The King thought mair o’ Marie HamiltonThan the Queen and a’ her lands.

She hadna been about the King’s courtA month, but barely ane,Till she was beloved by a’ the King’s court,And the King the only man.

She hadna been about the King’s courtA month, but barely three,Till frae the King’s court Marie Hamilton,Marie Hamilton durstna be.

The King is to the Abbey gane,To pu’ the Abbey tree,To scale[516]the babe frae Marie’s heart;But the thing it wadna be.

O she has row’d[517]it in her apron,And set it on the sea—‘Gae sink ye or swim ye, bonny babe,Ye’se get nae mair o’ me.’

Word is to the kitchen gane,And word is to the ha’,And word is to the noble roomAmang the ladies a’,That Marie Hamilton’s brought to bed,And the bonny babe’s miss’d and awa’.

Scarcely had she lain down again,And scarcely fa’en asleep,When up and started our gude QueenJust at her bed-feet;Saying—‘Marie Hamilton, where’s your babe?For I am sure I heard it greet[518].’—

‘O no, O no, my noble Queen!Think no sic thing to be;’Twas but a stitch into my side,And sair it troubles me!’—

‘Get up, get up, Marie Hamilton:Get up and follow me;For I am going to Edinburgh town,A rich wedding for to see.’

O slowly, slowly rase she up,And slowly put she on;And slowly rade she out the wayWi’ mony a weary groan.

The Queen was clad in scarlet,Her merry maids all in green;And every town that they cam to,They took Marie for the Queen.

‘Ride hooly[519], hooly, gentlemen,Ride hooly now wi’ me!For never, I am sure, a wearier burdRade in your companie.’

But little wist Marie Hamilton,When she rade on the brown,That she was gaen to Edinburgh town,And a’ to be put down.

‘Why weep ye sae, ye burgess wives,Why look ye sae on me?O I am going to Edinburgh town,A rich weddìng to see.’

When she gaed up the tolbooth stairs,The corks frae her heels did flee;And lang or e’er she cam down again,She was condemn’d to die.

When she cam to the Netherbow port,She laugh’d loud laughters three;But when she came to the gallows footThe tears blinded her e’e.

‘Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Marie Seaton, and Marie Beaton,And Marie Carmichael, and me.

‘O often have I dress’d my Queen,And put gowd upon her hair;But now I’ve gotten for my rewardThe gallows to be my share.

‘Often have I dress’d my QueenAnd often made her bed;But now I’ve gotten for my rewardThe gallows tree to tread.

‘I charge ye all, ye mariners,When ye sail owre the faem,Let neither my father nor mother get witBut that I’m coming hame.

‘I charge ye all, ye mariners,That sail upon the sea,That neither my father nor mother get witThe dog’s death I’m to die.

‘For if my father and mother got wit,And my bold brethren three,O mickle wad be the gude red bludeThis day wad be spilt for me!

‘O little did my mother ken,The day she cradled me,The lands I was to travel inOr the death I was to die!’

FOOTNOTES:[516]scale = drive away, get rid of.[517]row’d = wrapped.[518]greet = wail, cry.[519]hooly = gently.

[516]scale = drive away, get rid of.

[517]row’d = wrapped.

[518]greet = wail, cry.

[519]hooly = gently.

IEttrick Forest is a fair forest,In it grows many a seemly tree;There’s hart and hind, and dae and rae,And of a’ wild beasts great plentie.IIThere’s a castle, bigg’d[520]wi’ lime and stane;O gif it stands not pleasantlie!In the fore-front o’ that castle fair,Twa unicorns are bra’ to see;There’s the picture of a knight, and a lady bright,And the green hollìn[521]abune their bree[522].IIIThere an Outlaw keeps five hundred men,He keeps a royal companie,His merry men are a’ in ae livery clad,O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see;He and his lady in purple clad,O gin they live not royallie!IVWord is gane to our noble King,In Edinburgh where that he lay,That there was an Outlaw in Ettrick Forest,Counted him nought, nor his courtrie[523]gay.V‘I make a vow,’ then the gude King said,‘Unto the Man that dear bought me,I’se either be King of Ettrick Forest,Or King of Scotland that Outlaw’s be!’VIThen spake the Earl hight Hamilton,And to the noble King said he,‘My sovereign prince, some counsel take,First at your nobles, syne at me.VII‘I rede[524]ye, send yon braw Outlaw till,And see gif your man come will he:Desire him come and be your man,And hold of you yon forest free.VIII‘Gif he refuses to do that,We’ll conquess baith his lands and he!Or else we’ll throw his castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ his gay ladye.’IXThe King call’d on a gentleman,James Boyd (the Earl of Arran his brother was he);When James he came before the King,He kneel’d before him on his knee.X‘Welcome, James Boyd!’ said our noble King,‘A message ye maun gang for me:Ye maun hie to Ettrick Forest,To yon Outlàw, where dwelleth he.XI‘Ask him of whom he holds his lands,Or man wha may his master be,And desire him come and be my man,And hold of me yon forest free.XII‘To Edinburgh to come and gang,A safe warrànt I sall him gie;And gif he refuses to do that,We’ll conquess baith his lands and he.XIII‘Thou mayst vow I’ll cast his castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ his gay ladye;I’ll hang his merry men, pair by pair,In ony frith[525]where I may them see.’XIVJames Boyd took his leave o’ the noble King,To Ettrick Forest fair cam’ he;Down Birkendale Brae when that he cam’,He saw the fair forest wi’ his e’e.XVBaith dae and rae, and hart and hin’,And of a’ wild beasts great plentie;He heard the bows that boldly ring,And arrows whidderand[526]him near by.XVIOf that fair castle he got a sight;The like he ne’er saw wi’ his e’e!On the fore-front o’ that castle fair,Twa unicorns were bra’ to see;The picture of a knight, and lady bright,And the green hollìn abune their bree.XVIIThereat he spyed five hundred men,Shooting with bows on Newark Lee;They were a’ in ae livery clad,O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see.XVIIIHis men were a’ clad in the green,The knight was armèd cap-a-pie,With a bended bow, on a milkwhite steed;And I wot they rank’d right bonnilie.XIXThereby Boyd kend he was master man,And servèd him in his ain degree:‘God mote thee save, brave Outlaw Murray!Thy ladye, and all thy chivalrie!’—‘Marry, thou’s welcome, gentleman,Some king’s messenger thou seems to be.’—XX‘The King of Scotland sent me here,And, gude Outlàw, I am sent to thee;I wad wot of whom ye hold your lands,Or man wha may thy master be?’—XXI‘Thir lands are mine,’ the Outlaw said;‘I own nae king in Christentie;Frae Soudron[527]I this forest wan,When the King nor his knights were not to see.’—XXII‘He desires you’ll come to Edinburgh,And hauld of him this forest free;And, gif ye refuse to do this thing,He’ll conquess baith thy lands and thee.He hath vow’d to cast thy castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ thy gay ladye;XXIII‘He’ll hang thy merry men, pair by pair,In ony frith where he may them find.’—‘Ay, by my troth!’ the Outlaw said,‘Than wad I think me far behind.XXIV‘Ere the King my fair country get,This land that’s nativest to me,Mony o’ his nobles sall be cauld,Their ladies sall be right wearíe.’XXVThen spak’ his lady, fair of face:She said, ‘’Twere without consent of me,That an outlaw suld come before a King;I am right rad[528]of treasonrie.Bid him be gude to his lords at hame,For Edinburgh my lord sall never see.’XXVIJames Boyd took his leave o’ the Outlaw keen,To Edinboro’ boun’ is he;When James he cam’ before the King,He kneelèd lowly on his knee.XXVII‘Welcome, James Boyd!’ said our noble King,‘What forest is Ettrick Forest free?’—‘Ettrick Forest is the fairest forestThat ever man saw wi’ his e’e.XXVIII‘There’s the dae, the rae, the hart, the hin’,And of a’ wild beasts great plentie;There’s a pretty castle of lime and stane,O gif it stands not pleasantlie!XXIX‘There’s in the fore-front o’ that castleTwa unicorns, sae bra’ to see,There’s the picture of a knight, and a lady bright,Wi’ the green hollìn abune their bree.XXX‘There the Outlaw keeps five hundred men,He keeps a royal companie;His merry men in ae livery clad,O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see:He and his lady in purple clad;O gin they live not royallie!XXXI‘He says, yon forest is his ain,He wan it frae the Soudronie;Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it,Contrair all kings in Christentie.’—XXXII‘Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith,Fife, up and down, and Lothians three,And graith[529]my horse,’ said our noble King,‘For to Ettrick Forest hie will I me.’XXXIIIThen word is gane the Outlaw till,In Ettrick Forest, where dwelleth he,That the King was comand to Ettrick Forest,To conquess baith his lands and he.XXXIV‘I mak’ a vow,’ the Outlaw said,‘I mak’ a vow, and that trulie:Were there but three men to tak’ my part,Yon King’s coming full dear suld be!’XXXVThen messengers he callèd forth,And bade them hie them speedilye:‘Ane of ye gae to Halliday,The Laird of the Corehead is he.XXXVI‘He certain is my sister’s son;Bid him come quick and succour me;The King comes on for Ettrick Forest,And landless men we a’ will be.’—XXXVII‘What news? what news?’ said Halliday,‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’—‘Not as ye would; seeking your aid;The King’s his mortal enemie.’—XXXVIII‘Ay, by my troth!’ said Hailiday,‘Even for that it repenteth me;For gif he lose fair Ettrick Forest,He’ll tak’ fair Moffatdale frae me.XXXIX‘I’ll meet him wi’ five hundred men,And surely mair, if mae may be;And before he gets the forest fair,We a’ will die on Newark Lee!’XLThe Outlaw call’d a messenger,And bid him hie him speedilyeTo Andrew Murray of Cockpool:‘That man’s a dear cousin to me;Desire him come and mak’ me aidWith a’ the power that he may be.’XLI‘It stands me hard,’ Andrew Murray said,‘Judge gif it stand na hard wi’ me;To enter against a king wi’ crown,And set my lands in jeopardie!Yet, if I come not on the day,Surely at night he sall me see.’XLIITo Sir James Murray of Traquair,A message came right speedilie:‘What news? what news?’ James Murray said,‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’—XLIII‘What needs I tell? for weel ye kenThe King’s his mortal enemie;And now he is coming to Ettrick Forest,And landless men ye a’ will be.’XLIV‘And, by my troth,’ James Murray said,‘Wi’ that Outlaw will I live and dee;The King has gifted my lands lang syne—It cannot be nae warse wi’ me.’XLVThe King was comand thro’ Cadden Ford,And full five thousand men was he;They saw the dark forest them before,They thought it awsome for to see.XLVIThen spak’ the Earl hight Hamilton,And to the noble King said he,‘My sovereign prince, some counsel tak’,First at your nobles, syne at me.XLVII‘Desire him meet thee at Permanscore,And bring four in his companie;Five earls sall gang yoursell before,Gude cause that you suld honour’d be.XLVIII‘And, gif he refuses to do that,With fire and sword we’ll follow thee;There sall never a Murray, after him,Hold land in Ettrick Forest free.’XLIXThe King then call’d a gentleman,Royal banner-bearer there was he,James Hope Pringle of Torsonse by name;He cam’ and kneel’d upon his knee.L‘Welcome, James Pringle of Torsonse!A message ye maun gae for me:Ye maun gae to yon Outlaw Murray,Surely where boldly bideth he.LI‘Bid him meet me at Permanscore,And bring four in his companie;Five earls sall come mysell before,Gude reason I suld honour’d be.LII‘And gif he refuses to do that,Bid him look for nae good o’ me;There sall never a Murray, after him,Have land in Ettrick Forest free.’LIIIJames cam’ before the Outlaw keen,And servèd him in his ain degree.—‘Welcome, James Pringle of Torsonse!What message frae the King to me?’—LIV‘He bids ye meet him at Permanscore,And bring four in your company;Five earls shall gang himsell before,Nae mair in number will he be.LV‘And gif you refuse to do that,(I freely here upgive wi’ thee,)He’ll cast your bonny castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ your gay ladye.There will never a Murray, after thysell,Have land in Ettrick Forest free.’—LVI‘It stands me hard,’ the Outlaw said,‘Judge gif it stands na hard wi’ me:What reck o’ the losing of mysell?—But a’ my offspring after me!LVII‘Auld Halliday, young Halliday,Ye sall be twa to gang wi’ me;Andrew Murray, and Sir James Murray,We’ll be nae mae in companie.’LVIIIWhen that they cam’ before the King,They fell before him on their knee:‘Grant mercy, mercy, noble King!E’en for his sake that dyed on tree.’LIX‘Siccan[530]like mercy sall ye have;On gallows ye sall hangit be!’—‘Over God’s forbode,’ quoth the Outlaw then,‘I hope your grace will better be!Else, ere you come to Edinburgh port,I trow thin guarded sall ye be.LX‘Thir lands of Ettrick Forest fair,I wan them from the enemie;Like as I wan them, sae will I keep them,Contrair a’ kings in Christentie.’LXIAll the nobles the King about,Said pity it were to see him dee.‘Yet grant me mercy, sovereign prince,Extend your favour unto me!LXII‘I’ll give thee the keys of my castell,Wi’ the blessing o’ my gay ladye,Gin thou’lt make me sheriff of this forest,And a’ my offspring after me.’—LXIII‘Wilt thou give me the keys of thy castell,Wi’ the blessing of thy gay ladye?I’se make thee sheriff of Ettrick Forest,Surely while upward grows the tree;If you be not traitor to the King,Forfaulted[531]sall thou never be.’LXIV‘But, Prince, what sall come o’ my men?When I gae back, traitor they’ll ca’ me.I had rather lose my life and land,Ere my merry men rebukèd me.’—LXV‘Will your merry men amend their lives,An’ a’ their pardons I grant thee?Now, name thy lands where’er they lie,And here I render them to thee.’—LXVI‘Fair Philiphaugh is mine by right,And Lewinshope still mine shall be;Newark, Foulshiells, and Tinnès baith,My bow and arrow purchased me.LXVII‘And I have native steads to me,The Newark Lee and Hanginshaw;I have mony steads in Ettrick Forest,But them by name I dinna knaw.’LXVIIIThe keys of the castle he gave the King,Wi’ the blessing o’ his fair ladye;He was made sheriff of Ettrick Forest,Surely while upward grows the tree;And if he was na traitor to the King,Forfaulted he suld never be.LXIXWha ever heard, in ony times,Siccan an outlaw in his degreeSic favour get before a King,As did Outlaw Murray of the forest free?

Ettrick Forest is a fair forest,In it grows many a seemly tree;There’s hart and hind, and dae and rae,And of a’ wild beasts great plentie.

There’s a castle, bigg’d[520]wi’ lime and stane;O gif it stands not pleasantlie!In the fore-front o’ that castle fair,Twa unicorns are bra’ to see;There’s the picture of a knight, and a lady bright,And the green hollìn[521]abune their bree[522].

There an Outlaw keeps five hundred men,He keeps a royal companie,His merry men are a’ in ae livery clad,O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see;He and his lady in purple clad,O gin they live not royallie!

Word is gane to our noble King,In Edinburgh where that he lay,That there was an Outlaw in Ettrick Forest,Counted him nought, nor his courtrie[523]gay.

‘I make a vow,’ then the gude King said,‘Unto the Man that dear bought me,I’se either be King of Ettrick Forest,Or King of Scotland that Outlaw’s be!’

Then spake the Earl hight Hamilton,And to the noble King said he,‘My sovereign prince, some counsel take,First at your nobles, syne at me.

‘I rede[524]ye, send yon braw Outlaw till,And see gif your man come will he:Desire him come and be your man,And hold of you yon forest free.

‘Gif he refuses to do that,We’ll conquess baith his lands and he!Or else we’ll throw his castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ his gay ladye.’

The King call’d on a gentleman,James Boyd (the Earl of Arran his brother was he);When James he came before the King,He kneel’d before him on his knee.

‘Welcome, James Boyd!’ said our noble King,‘A message ye maun gang for me:Ye maun hie to Ettrick Forest,To yon Outlàw, where dwelleth he.

‘Ask him of whom he holds his lands,Or man wha may his master be,And desire him come and be my man,And hold of me yon forest free.

‘To Edinburgh to come and gang,A safe warrànt I sall him gie;And gif he refuses to do that,We’ll conquess baith his lands and he.

‘Thou mayst vow I’ll cast his castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ his gay ladye;I’ll hang his merry men, pair by pair,In ony frith[525]where I may them see.’

James Boyd took his leave o’ the noble King,To Ettrick Forest fair cam’ he;Down Birkendale Brae when that he cam’,He saw the fair forest wi’ his e’e.

Baith dae and rae, and hart and hin’,And of a’ wild beasts great plentie;He heard the bows that boldly ring,And arrows whidderand[526]him near by.

Of that fair castle he got a sight;The like he ne’er saw wi’ his e’e!On the fore-front o’ that castle fair,Twa unicorns were bra’ to see;The picture of a knight, and lady bright,And the green hollìn abune their bree.

Thereat he spyed five hundred men,Shooting with bows on Newark Lee;They were a’ in ae livery clad,O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see.

His men were a’ clad in the green,The knight was armèd cap-a-pie,With a bended bow, on a milkwhite steed;And I wot they rank’d right bonnilie.

Thereby Boyd kend he was master man,And servèd him in his ain degree:‘God mote thee save, brave Outlaw Murray!Thy ladye, and all thy chivalrie!’—‘Marry, thou’s welcome, gentleman,Some king’s messenger thou seems to be.’—

‘The King of Scotland sent me here,And, gude Outlàw, I am sent to thee;I wad wot of whom ye hold your lands,Or man wha may thy master be?’—

‘Thir lands are mine,’ the Outlaw said;‘I own nae king in Christentie;Frae Soudron[527]I this forest wan,When the King nor his knights were not to see.’—

‘He desires you’ll come to Edinburgh,And hauld of him this forest free;And, gif ye refuse to do this thing,He’ll conquess baith thy lands and thee.He hath vow’d to cast thy castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ thy gay ladye;

‘He’ll hang thy merry men, pair by pair,In ony frith where he may them find.’—‘Ay, by my troth!’ the Outlaw said,‘Than wad I think me far behind.

‘Ere the King my fair country get,This land that’s nativest to me,Mony o’ his nobles sall be cauld,Their ladies sall be right wearíe.’

Then spak’ his lady, fair of face:She said, ‘’Twere without consent of me,That an outlaw suld come before a King;I am right rad[528]of treasonrie.Bid him be gude to his lords at hame,For Edinburgh my lord sall never see.’

James Boyd took his leave o’ the Outlaw keen,To Edinboro’ boun’ is he;When James he cam’ before the King,He kneelèd lowly on his knee.

‘Welcome, James Boyd!’ said our noble King,‘What forest is Ettrick Forest free?’—‘Ettrick Forest is the fairest forestThat ever man saw wi’ his e’e.

‘There’s the dae, the rae, the hart, the hin’,And of a’ wild beasts great plentie;There’s a pretty castle of lime and stane,O gif it stands not pleasantlie!

‘There’s in the fore-front o’ that castleTwa unicorns, sae bra’ to see,There’s the picture of a knight, and a lady bright,Wi’ the green hollìn abune their bree.

‘There the Outlaw keeps five hundred men,He keeps a royal companie;His merry men in ae livery clad,O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see:He and his lady in purple clad;O gin they live not royallie!

‘He says, yon forest is his ain,He wan it frae the Soudronie;Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it,Contrair all kings in Christentie.’—

‘Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith,Fife, up and down, and Lothians three,And graith[529]my horse,’ said our noble King,‘For to Ettrick Forest hie will I me.’

Then word is gane the Outlaw till,In Ettrick Forest, where dwelleth he,That the King was comand to Ettrick Forest,To conquess baith his lands and he.

‘I mak’ a vow,’ the Outlaw said,‘I mak’ a vow, and that trulie:Were there but three men to tak’ my part,Yon King’s coming full dear suld be!’

Then messengers he callèd forth,And bade them hie them speedilye:‘Ane of ye gae to Halliday,The Laird of the Corehead is he.

‘He certain is my sister’s son;Bid him come quick and succour me;The King comes on for Ettrick Forest,And landless men we a’ will be.’—

‘What news? what news?’ said Halliday,‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’—‘Not as ye would; seeking your aid;The King’s his mortal enemie.’—

‘Ay, by my troth!’ said Hailiday,‘Even for that it repenteth me;For gif he lose fair Ettrick Forest,He’ll tak’ fair Moffatdale frae me.

‘I’ll meet him wi’ five hundred men,And surely mair, if mae may be;And before he gets the forest fair,We a’ will die on Newark Lee!’

The Outlaw call’d a messenger,And bid him hie him speedilyeTo Andrew Murray of Cockpool:‘That man’s a dear cousin to me;Desire him come and mak’ me aidWith a’ the power that he may be.’

‘It stands me hard,’ Andrew Murray said,‘Judge gif it stand na hard wi’ me;To enter against a king wi’ crown,And set my lands in jeopardie!Yet, if I come not on the day,Surely at night he sall me see.’

To Sir James Murray of Traquair,A message came right speedilie:‘What news? what news?’ James Murray said,‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’—

‘What needs I tell? for weel ye kenThe King’s his mortal enemie;And now he is coming to Ettrick Forest,And landless men ye a’ will be.’

‘And, by my troth,’ James Murray said,‘Wi’ that Outlaw will I live and dee;The King has gifted my lands lang syne—It cannot be nae warse wi’ me.’

The King was comand thro’ Cadden Ford,And full five thousand men was he;They saw the dark forest them before,They thought it awsome for to see.

Then spak’ the Earl hight Hamilton,And to the noble King said he,‘My sovereign prince, some counsel tak’,First at your nobles, syne at me.

‘Desire him meet thee at Permanscore,And bring four in his companie;Five earls sall gang yoursell before,Gude cause that you suld honour’d be.

‘And, gif he refuses to do that,With fire and sword we’ll follow thee;There sall never a Murray, after him,Hold land in Ettrick Forest free.’

The King then call’d a gentleman,Royal banner-bearer there was he,James Hope Pringle of Torsonse by name;He cam’ and kneel’d upon his knee.

‘Welcome, James Pringle of Torsonse!A message ye maun gae for me:Ye maun gae to yon Outlaw Murray,Surely where boldly bideth he.

‘Bid him meet me at Permanscore,And bring four in his companie;Five earls sall come mysell before,Gude reason I suld honour’d be.

‘And gif he refuses to do that,Bid him look for nae good o’ me;There sall never a Murray, after him,Have land in Ettrick Forest free.’

James cam’ before the Outlaw keen,And servèd him in his ain degree.—‘Welcome, James Pringle of Torsonse!What message frae the King to me?’—

‘He bids ye meet him at Permanscore,And bring four in your company;Five earls shall gang himsell before,Nae mair in number will he be.

‘And gif you refuse to do that,(I freely here upgive wi’ thee,)He’ll cast your bonny castle down,And mak’ a widow o’ your gay ladye.There will never a Murray, after thysell,Have land in Ettrick Forest free.’—

‘It stands me hard,’ the Outlaw said,‘Judge gif it stands na hard wi’ me:What reck o’ the losing of mysell?—But a’ my offspring after me!

‘Auld Halliday, young Halliday,Ye sall be twa to gang wi’ me;Andrew Murray, and Sir James Murray,We’ll be nae mae in companie.’

When that they cam’ before the King,They fell before him on their knee:‘Grant mercy, mercy, noble King!E’en for his sake that dyed on tree.’

‘Siccan[530]like mercy sall ye have;On gallows ye sall hangit be!’—‘Over God’s forbode,’ quoth the Outlaw then,‘I hope your grace will better be!Else, ere you come to Edinburgh port,I trow thin guarded sall ye be.

‘Thir lands of Ettrick Forest fair,I wan them from the enemie;Like as I wan them, sae will I keep them,Contrair a’ kings in Christentie.’

All the nobles the King about,Said pity it were to see him dee.‘Yet grant me mercy, sovereign prince,Extend your favour unto me!

‘I’ll give thee the keys of my castell,Wi’ the blessing o’ my gay ladye,Gin thou’lt make me sheriff of this forest,And a’ my offspring after me.’—

‘Wilt thou give me the keys of thy castell,Wi’ the blessing of thy gay ladye?I’se make thee sheriff of Ettrick Forest,Surely while upward grows the tree;If you be not traitor to the King,Forfaulted[531]sall thou never be.’

‘But, Prince, what sall come o’ my men?When I gae back, traitor they’ll ca’ me.I had rather lose my life and land,Ere my merry men rebukèd me.’—

‘Will your merry men amend their lives,An’ a’ their pardons I grant thee?Now, name thy lands where’er they lie,And here I render them to thee.’—

‘Fair Philiphaugh is mine by right,And Lewinshope still mine shall be;Newark, Foulshiells, and Tinnès baith,My bow and arrow purchased me.

‘And I have native steads to me,The Newark Lee and Hanginshaw;I have mony steads in Ettrick Forest,But them by name I dinna knaw.’

The keys of the castle he gave the King,Wi’ the blessing o’ his fair ladye;He was made sheriff of Ettrick Forest,Surely while upward grows the tree;And if he was na traitor to the King,Forfaulted he suld never be.

Wha ever heard, in ony times,Siccan an outlaw in his degreeSic favour get before a King,As did Outlaw Murray of the forest free?

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