10 'O I must to fair England go,
Whatever me betide,
All for to fight for that gay ladie
That last lay by my side.'
11 O out and spoke his father then,
And he spoke well in time:
O if you to fair England go,
I doubt your coming home.
12 'O no, O no,' said good King James,
'Before such a thing shall be,
I'll send five hundred of my life-guards,
To bear Johnnie company.'
13 When they were all on saddle set,
Most pleasant to behold,
The hair that hung over Johnnie's neck
Was like the links of gold.
14 When they were all marching away,
Most beautiful to see,
There was not so much as a married man
In Johnnie's company.
15 O Johnnie was the foremost man
In the company that did ride;
King James he was the second man,
Wi his rapier by his side.
16 They rode till they came to Earl Percy's yate,
They tirled at the pin:
'O who is there?' said the proud porter;
'But I daurnot let thee in.
17 'Is it the Duke of York,' he said,
'Or James, our Scotish king?
Or is it one of the Scotish lords,
From hunting new come home?'
18 'It's not the Duke of York,' he said,
'Nor James, our Scotish king;
But it is one of the Scotish lords,
Earl Hector is my name.'
19 When Johnnie came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee:
'O the brawest lady in a' my court
With child goes big to thee.'