O Johnie 's called his waiting man,
His name was Germanie:
"It 's thou must to fair England gae,
Bring me that gay ladie.20
"And here it is a silken sark,
Her ain hand sewed the sleeve;
Bid her come to the merry green wood,
To Johnie her true love."
He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate,25
He tirled at the pin:
"O wha is there?" said the proud porter;
"But I daurna let thee in."
It's he rode up, and he rode down,
He rode the castle about,30
Until he spied a fair ladie
At a window looking out.
"Here is a silken sark," he said,
"Thy ain hand sewed the sleeve;
And ye must gae to the merry green woods,35
To Johnie Scot thy love."
"The castle it is high, my boy,
And walled round about;
My feet are in the fetters strong,
And how can I get out?40
"My garters are o' the gude black iron,
And O but they be cold;
My breast-plate's o' the sturdy steel,
Instead of beaten gold.
"But had I paper, pen, and ink,45
Wi' candle at my command,
It's I would write a lang letter
To John in fair Scotland."
Then she has written a braid letter,
And sealed it wi' her hand,50
And sent it to the merry green wood,
Wi' her own boy at command.