Ballads of Robin Hood and other Outlaws Part 40

26.

Then spak his ladye, fair of face, She said, 'Without consent of me, That an Outlaw shuld come before the king; I am right rad of treasonrie.

27.

'Bid him be gude to his lordis at hame, For Edinburgh my lord sail never see.'

James tuke his leave of the Outlaw keen, To Edinburgh boun is he.

28.

And when he cam before the king, He fell before him on his knee: 'Welcome, James Boyd!' said the n.o.ble king; 'What forest is Ettrick Forest free?'

29.

'Ettrick Forest is the fairest forest That ever man saw with his ee; There's the doe, the roe, the hart, the hynde, And of a' wild beastis great plentie.

30.

'There's a pretty castell of lime and stane, O gif it stands not pleasauntlie!

There's on the foreside of that castell Twa unicorns sae bra' to see.

31.

'There's the picture of a knight, and a ladye bright, And the green hollin abune their bree.

There the Outlaw keepis five hundred men, O gif they live not royallie!

32.

'His merry men in ae livery clad, O' the Lincoln green so fair to see; He and his ladye in purple clad; O! gif they live not royallie!

33.

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

34.

'Gar ray my horse,' said the n.o.ble king, 'To Ettrick Forest hie will I me'; Then he gard graith five thousand men, And sent them on for the forest free.

35.

Then word is gane the Outlaw till, In Ettrick Forest, where dwelleth he, That the king was coming to his c.u.n.trie, To conquer baith his lands and he.

36.

'I mak a vow,' the Outlaw said, 'I mak a vow, and that trulie, Were there but three men to take my part Yon king's coming full dear suld be.'

37.

Then messengers he called forth, And bade them haste them speedilie: 'Ane of you go to Halliday, The laird of the Covehead is he.

38.

'He certain is my sister's son; Bid him come quick and succour me; Tell Halliday with thee to come, And show him a' the veritie.'

39.

'What news, what news?' said Halliday, 'Man, frae thy master unto me?'

'Not as ye wad; seeking your aid; The king's his mortal enemie.'

40.

'Aye, by my troth,' quoth Halliday, 'Even for that it repenteth me; For gif he lose fair Ettrick Forest, He'll tak fair Moffatdale frae me.

41.

'I'll meet him wi' five hundred men, And surely mae, if mae may be.'

The Outlaw call'd a messenger, And bid him hie him speedily.

42.

'To Andrew Murray of c.o.c.kpool, That man's a dear cousin to me; Desire him come, and make me aid, With all the power that he may be.

43.

'The king has vow'd to cast my castle down, And mak a widow of my gay ladye; He'll hang my merry men pair by pair In ony place where he may them see.'

44.

'It stands me hard,' quoth Andrew Murray, 'Judge if it stands not hard with me; To enter against a king with crown, And put my lands in jeopardie!

45.

'Yet gif I come not on the day, Surely at night he sall me see.'

To Sir James Murray, laird of Traquair, A message came right speedilie.

46.

'What news, what news?' James Murray said, 'Man, frae thy master unto me?'

'What need I tell? for wel ye ken The king's his mortal enemie.

47.

'He desires ye'll come and make him aid, With all the powers that ye may be.'

'And, by my troth,' James Murray said, 'With that Outlaw will I live and die;

48.

'The king has gifted my lands lang syne, It can not be nae war with me.'

49.

The king was coming thro' Caddon Ford, And fifteen thousand men was he; They saw the forest them before, They thought it awsome for to see.

50.

Then spak the earl hight Hamilton, And to the n.o.ble king said he, 'My sovereign prince, some counsel take, First at your n.o.bles, syne at me.

51.

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

52.

'And, if he refuses to do that, Wi' fire and sword we'll follow thee; There sall never a Murray, after him, Have land in Ettrick Forest free.'

53.

The king then call'd a gentleman, Royal banner-bearer then was he; James Hope Pringle of Torsonse, by name: He came and knelit upon his knee.

54.

'Welcome, James Pringle of Torsonse!

Ye maun a message gae for me; Ye maun gae to yon Outlaw Murray, Surely where bauldly bideth he.

55.