Chapter LIII: Part III

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

“Welcome, James Boyd!” said our noble King,
“What forest is Ettrick Forest free?”
“Ettrick Forest is the fairest forest
That ever man saw wi’ his ee.

“There’s the dae, the rae, the hart, the hind,
And of a’ wild beasts great plentie;
There’s a pretty Castle of lime and stane,
Oh! gin it stands not pleasantlie!

“There’s in the fore front o’ that Castle
Twa unicorns, sae bra’ to see;
There’s the picture of a Knight, and a Lady bright
Wi’ the green hollin abune their bree.

“There the Outlaw keeps five hundred men,
He keeps a royal companie;
His merrymen in ae livery clad,
O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see:
He and his Lady in purple clad;
Oh! gin they live right royallie!

“He says, yon forest is his awn;
He wan it frae the Southronie;
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 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 coming to his countrie,
To conquer 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 called 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 succor 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 Halliday,
“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 called a messenger,
And bid him hie him speedilye
To Andrew Murray of Cockpool:
“That man’s a dear cousin to me;
Desire him come and mak’ me aid
With 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 speedilye:
“What news? what news?” James Murray said,
“Man, frae thy master unto me?”

“What needs I tell? for weel ye ken
The 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.”