"There the Outlaw keepis five hundred men;
He keepis a royalle cumpanie!
His merrymen in ae livery clad,
O' the Linkome grene sae gaye to see:
"He and his ladye in purple clad;
O! gin they live not royallie!
"He says, yon Foreste is his awin;
He wan it frae the Southronie;
Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it,
Contrair all kingis in Christentie."
"Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith;
Fife up and down, and the Louthians three,
And graith my horse!" said the nobil king,
"For to Ettricke Foreste hie will I me."
Then word is gane the Outlaw till,
In Ettricke Foreste, where dwelleth he,
That the king was cuming to his cuntrie,
To conquess baith his landis and he.
"I mak a vow," the Outlaw said,
"I mak a vow, and that trulie,
Were there but three men to tak my pairt;
Yon king's cuming full deir suld be!"
Then messengers he called forth,
And bade them hie them speedilye--
"Ane of ye gae to Halliday,
The laird of the Corhead is he.
"He certain is my sister's son;
Bid him cum quick and succour me!
The king cums on for Ettricke Foreste,
And landless men we a' will be."
"What news? What news?" said Halliday,
"Man, frae thy master unto me?"
"Not as ye wad; seeking your aide;
The king's his mortal enemie.
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