James cam before the Outlaw kene,
And served him in his ain degré—
"Welcum, James Pringle of Torsonse!245
What message frae the King to me?"
"He bids ye meet him at [Permanscore],
And bring four in your cumpany;
Five erles sall gang himsell befor,
Nae mair in number will he be.250
"And gif you refuse to do that,
(I freely here upgive wi' thee,)
He'll cast yon bonny castle down,
And make a widowe o' that gay ladye.
"He'll loose yon bluidhound Borderers,255
Wi' fire and sword to follow thee;
There will nevir a Murray, after thysell,
Have land in Ettrick Foreste free."
"It stands me hard," the Outlaw said,
"Judge gif it stands na hard wi' me,260
Wha reck not losing of mysell,
But a' my offspring after me.
"My merryemen's lives, my widowe's teirs—
There lies the pang that pinches me;
"When I am straught in bluidie eard,265
Yon castell will be right dreirie.
"Auld Halliday, young Halliday,
Ye sall be twa to gang wi' me;
Andrew Murray, and Sir James Murray,
We'll be nae mae in cumpanie."270
When that they cam before the King,
They fell before him on their kné—
"Grant mercie, mercie, nobil King!
E'en for his sake that dyed on tree."