C.
Motherwell's MS., p. 502. From the recitation of Mrs Notman.
1
'Rise up, rise up, my seven brave sons,
And dress in your armour so bright;
Earl Douglas will hae Lady Margaret awa
Before that it be light.
2
'Arise, arise, my seven brave sons,
And dress in your armour so bright;
It shall never be said that a daughter of mine
Shall go with an earl or a knight.'
3
'O will ye stand, fair Margaret,' he says,
'And hold my milk-white steed,
Till I fight your father and seven brethren,
In yonder pleasant mead?'
4
She stood and held his milk-white steed,
She stood trembling with fear,
Until she saw her seven brethren fall,
And her father that loved her dear.
5
'Hold your hand, Earl Douglas,' she says,
'Your strokes are wonderous sair;
I may get sweethearts again enew,
But a father I'll ne'er get mair.'
6
She took out a handkerchief
Was made o' the cambrick fine,
And aye she wiped her father's bloody wounds,
And the blood sprung up like wine.
7
'Will ye go, fair Margaret?' he said,
'Will ye now go, or bide?'
'Yes, I'll go, sweet William,' she said,
'For ye've left me never a guide.
8
'If I were to go to my mother's house,
A welcome guest I would be;
But for the bloody deed that's done this day
I'll rather go with thee.'