She['s] put her hand in her pocket,85
And taen out shillings three;
He turn'd him right and round about,
And thank'd the weel far'd may.
He had not gone a long rig length,
A rig length and a span,90
Until he met a bold beggar,
As sturdy as cou'd gang.
"What news, what news, ye bold beggar?
What news hae ye to gie?"
"O heavy news," the beggar said,95
"I hae to tell to thee.
"There is fyften English sogers,
I heard them in yon inn,
Vowing to kill him Wallace;
I fear the chief is slain."100
"Will ye change apparell wi' me, auld man?
Change your apparell for mine?
And when I come this way again,
Ye'll be my ain poor man."
When he got on the beggar's coat,105
The pike staff in his hand,
He's dane him down to yon tavern,
Where they were drinking wine.
"What news, what news, ye staff beggar?
What news hae ye to gie?"110
"I hae nae news, I heard nae news,
As few I'll hae frae thee."
"I think your coat is ragged, auld man,
But wou'd you wages win,
And tell where William Wallace is,115
We'll lay gold in your hand."