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 forest That 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 castle Twa 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!’