"O had your tongues, my brethren dear,105
And mourn nae mair for me;
Ye're seeking grace frae a graceless face,
For there is nane to gie.
"Ye'll tak' a bit o' canvas claith,
And pit it ower my ee;110
And Jack, my man, ye'll be at hand,
The hour that I su'd die.
"Syne aff ye'll tak' my bluidy sark,
Gie it fair Margaret Grahame;
For she may curse the dowie dell115
That brought King James him hame.
"Ye'll bid her mak' her bed narrow,
And mak' it naeways wide;
For a brawer man than young Waters
Will ne'er streek by her side.120
"Bid her do weel to my young son,
And gie him nurses three;
For gin he live to be a man,
King James will gar him die."
He call'd upon the headsman then,125
A purse o' gowd him gae;
Says, "Do your office, headsman, boy,
And mak' nae mair delay."
"O head me soon, O head me clean,
And pit me out o' pine;130
For it is by the king's command;
Gang head me till his min'.
"Tho' by him I'm condemn'd to die,
I'm lieve to his ain kin;
And for the truth, I'll plainly tell,135
I am his sister's son."
"Gin ye're my sister's son," he said,
"It is unkent to me."
"O mindna ye on your sister Bess,
That lives in the French countrie?"140