The Elliots and Armstrangs did convene,
They were a gallant companie:
“We’ll ride and meet our lawful king,
And bring him safe to Gilnockie.
“Make kinnen [87] and capon ready, then,
And venison in great plentie;
We’ll welcome here our royal king;
I hope he’ll dine at Gilnockie!”
They ran their horse on the Langholm howm,
And brake their spears with meikle main;
The ladies lookit frae their loft windows—
“God bring our men weel hame again!”
When Johnnie came before the king,
With all his men sae brave to see,
The king he moved his bonnet to him;
He ween’d he was a king as well as he.
“May I find grace, my sovereign liege,
Grace for my loyal men and me?
For my name it is Johnnie Armstrang,
And a subject of yours, my liege,” said he.
“Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight soon may’st thou be!
I granted never a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin with thee.”
“Grant me my life, my liege, my king!
And a bonnie gift I’ll gi’e to thee;
Full four-and-twenty milk-white steeds,
Were all foal’d in ae year to me.
“I’ll gi’e thee all these milk-white steeds,
That prance and nicher [88a] at a spear;
And as meikle gude Inglish gilt, [88b]
As four of their braid backs dow [88c] bear.”
“Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight soon may’st thou be!
I granted never a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin with thee.”
“Grant me my life, my liege, my king!
And a bonnie gift I’ll gi’e to thee:
Gude four-and-twenty ganging [88d] mills,
That gang thro’ all the year to me.