JOHNIE ARMSTRANG.
From Ramsay's Evergreen, ii. 190.
Sum speiks of lords, sum speiks of lairds,
And sicklike men of hie degrie;
Of a gentleman I sing a sang,
Sumtyme calld Laird of Gilnockie.
The King he wrytes a luving letter,5
With his ain hand sae tenderly,
And he hath sent it to Johny Armstrang,
To cum and speik with him speidily.
The Elliots and Armstrangs did convene,
They were a gallant company—10
"We'il ryde and meit our lawfull King,
And bring him safe to Gilnockie.
"Make kinnen and capon ready, then,
And venison in great plenty;
"We'il welcome hame our royal King;15
I hope he'il dyne at Gilnockie!"
They ran their horse on the [Langholme howm],
And brake their speirs with mekle main;
The ladys lukit frae their loft windows—
"God bring our men weil back again!"20
When Johny came before the King,
With all his men so brave to see,
The King he movit his bonnet to him;
He wein'd he was a King as well as he.
"May I find grace, my sovereign liege,25
Grace for my loyal men and me?
For my name it is Johny Armstrang,
And subject of yours, my liege," said he.