"What news, what news, ye gray-headed carle,
What news bring ye to me?"
"I bring nae news," said the gray-headed carle,
"Save what these eyes did see.40
"As I came down by Merriemass,
And down among the scroggs,
The bonniest childe that ever I saw
Lay sleeping amang his dogs.
"The shirt that was upon his back45
Was o' the Holland fine;
The doublet which was over that
Was o' the Lincome twine.
"The buttons that were on his sleeve
Were o' the goud sae gude:50
The gude graie hounds he lay amang,
Their mouths were dyed wi' blude."
Then out and spak the First Forester,
The heid man ower them a'—
"If this be Johnie o' Breadislee,55
Nae nearer will we draw."
But up and spak the Sixth Forester,
(His sister's son was he,)
"If this be Johnie o' Breadislee,
The first flight of arrows the Foresters shot,
They wounded him on the knee;
And out and spak the Seventh Forester,
"The next will gar him die."
Johnie's set his back against an aik,65
His fute against a stane;
And he has slain the Seven Foresters,
He has slain them a' but ane.