But wae be to her brother's page,
That heard the words thir twa did say;10
He's tald them to her lady mither,
Wha wrought sweet William mickle wae.
For she has ta'en him, sweet William,
And she's gar'd bind him wi' his bow string,
Till the red bluid o' his fair body15
Frae ilka nail o' his hand did spring.
O it fell ance upon a time
That the Lord-justice came to town;
Out has she ta'en him, sweet William,
Brought him before the Lord-justice boun'.20
"And what is the crime, now, lady," he says,
"That has by this young man been dane?"
"O he has broken my bonny castell,
That was weel biggit wi' lime and stane.
"And he has broken my bonny coffers,25
That was weel bandit wi' aiken ban;
And he has stown my rich jewels;
I wot he has stown them every ane."
Then out it spak her Lady Elspat,
As she sat by Lord-justice' knee;30
"Now ye hae told your tale, mither,
I pray, Lord-justice, ye'll now hear me.
"He hasna broken her bonny castell,
That was weel biggit wi' lime and stane;
Nor has he stown her rich jewels,35
For I wat she has them every ane.
"But though he was my first true love,
And though I had sworn to be his bride,
'Cause he hadna a great estate,
She would this way our loves divide."40
Syne out and spak the Lord-justice,
I wat the tear was in his e'e;
"I see nae faut in this young man;
Sae loose his bands, and set him free.