Chapter LIV: Part IV

The King was coming thro’ Caddon 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 Lord hight Hamilton,
And to the noble King said he,
“My sovereign Liege, 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 honoured be.

“And, gif he refuses to do that,
We’ll conquer baith his lands and he;
There sall never a Murray, after him,
Hold land in Ettrick Forest free.”

The King then called a gentleman,
Royal banner-bearer there was he,
James Hoppringle of Torsonse by name;
He cam’ and kneeled upon his knee.

“Welcome, James Pringle of Torsonse!
A message ye maun gang 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 wi’ mysell,
Gude reason I suld honoured 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 served 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 sall 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 yon bonny Castle down,
And mak’ a widow o’ that gay Ladye.

“He’ll loose yon bloodhound Borderers,
Wi’ fire and sword to follow thee;
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.”

“Sicken 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 Castle,
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 Castle,
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 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 merrymen rebuked me.”

“Will your merrymen amend their lives,
And 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 Tinnies 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,
Sicken an outlaw in his degree
Sic favour get before a King,
As did Outlaw Murray of the forest free?

_Englished by William Allingham_

VALENTINE AND URSINE