There lived a king in southern land,
King Edward hight his name;
Unwordily he wore the crown,
Till fifty years were gane.
He had a sister's son o's ain,5
Was large of blood and bane;
And afterward, when he came up,
Young Edward hight his name.
One day he came before the king,
And kneel'd low on his knee—10
"A boon, a boon, my good uncle,
I crave to ask of thee!
"At our lang wars, in fair Scotland,
I fain hae wish'd to be;
If fifteen hundred waled wight men15
You'll grant to ride wi' me."
"Thou sall hae thae, thou sall hae mae;
I say it sickerlie;
And I mysell, an auld gray man,
Array'd your host sall see."20
King Edward rade, King Edward ran—
I wish him dool and pyne!
Till he had fifteen hundred men
Assembled on the Tyne.
And thrice as many at [Berwicke]25
Were all for battle bound,
[Who, marching forth with false Dunbar,]
[A ready welcome found.]
They lighted on the banks of Tweed,
And blew their coals sae het,30
And fired the Merse and Teviotdale,
All in an evening late.