He had but time to cross himsel',105
A prayer he hadna time to say,
Till round him came the Crosiers keen,
All riding graithed, and in array.
"Weel met, weel met, now, Parcy Reed,
Thou art the very man we sought;110
Owre lang hae we been in your debt,
Now will we pay you as we ought.
"We'll pay thee at the nearest tree,
Where we shall hang thee like a hound;"
Brave Parcy rais'd his fankit sword,115
And fell'd the foremost to the ground.
Alake, and wae for Parcy Reed,
Alake, he was an unarmed man;
Four weapons pierced him all at once,
As they assailed him there and than.120
They fell upon him all at once,
They mangled him most cruellie;
The slightest wound might caused his deid,
And they have gi'en him thirty-three.
They hacket off his hands and feet,125
And left him lying on the lee.
"Now, Parcy Reed, we've paid our debt,
Ye canna weel dispute the tale,"
The Crosiers said, and off they rade—
They rade the airt o' Liddesdale.130
It was the hour o' gloamin' gray,
When herds come in frae fauld and pen;
A herd he saw a huntsman lie,
Says he, "Can this be Laird Troughen'?"
"There's some will ca' me Parcy Reed,135
And some will ca' me Laird Troughen';
It's little matter what they ca' me,
My faes hae made me ill to ken.