"He says, yon foreste is his awin;135
He wan it frae the Southronie;
Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it,
Contrair all kingis in Christentie."
"Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith,
Fife, up and downe, and Louthians three,140
And graith my horse!" said our nobil King,
"For to Ettricke Forest hie will I me."
Then word is gane the Outlaw till,
In Ettricke Forest, where dwelleth he,
That the King was cuming to his cuntrie,145
To conquess baith his landis and he.
"I mak a vow," the Outlaw said,
"I mak a vow, and that trulie,
Were there but three men to tak my pairt,
Yon King's cuming full deir suld be!"150
Then messengers he called forth,
And bade them hie them speedilye
—
"Ane of ye gae to Halliday,
[The Laird of the Corehead is he.]
"He certain is my sister's son;155
Bid him cum quick and succour me!
The King cums on for Ettricke Foreste,
And landless men we a' will be."
"What news? What news?" said Halliday,
"Man, frae thy master unto me?"160
"Not as ye wad: seeking your aide;
The King's his mortal enemie."
"Ay, by my troth!" said Halliday,
"Even for that it repenteth me;
For gif he lose feir Ettricke Foreste,165
He'll tak feir Moffatdale frae me.
"I'll meet him wi' five hundred men,
And surely mair, if mae may be;
And before he gets the foreste feir,
We a' will die on Newark Lee!"170