15 And then bespake him Iohn Stewart,
And these were the words said hee:
There is no office in your court
This day that better pleaseth mee.
16 The Ffryday is gone, the Sunday is come—
All this is true that I doe say—
And to the church that they be gone,
Iohn Stewart and the lady gay.
17 And as they did come home againe—
I-wis itt was a meeten mile—
Iohn Stewart and the lady gay,
They thought itt but a [little] while.
18 'I am a messenger, ladye,' he saies,
'I am a messenger to thee:'
'O speake ffor thy selfe, Iohn Stewart,' shee saies,
'A welcome man that thou shalt bee.'
19 'Nay, by my ffaith,' saies Iohn Stewart,
'Which euer, alas, that may not bee!
He hath a higher degree in honour,
Allas, ladye, then euer I!
20 'He is a lord now borne by birth,
And an erle affter his ffather doth dye;
His haire is yellow, his eyes beene gray;
All this is true that I tell yee.
21 'He is ffine in the middle, and small in the wast,
And pleasant in a woman's eye;
And more nor this, he dyes for your loue,
Therefore, lady, show some pittye.'
22 'If this be soe,' then saies the lady,
'If this be true that thou tells mee,
By my ffaith then, Iohn Stewart,
I can loue him hartilye.
23 'Bidd him meete me att St Patrcke's Church
On Sunday after St Andrew's day;
The fflower of Scottland will be there,
And then begins our summer's play.
24 'And bidd him bring with him a hundred gunners,
And rawnke ryders lett them bee,
And lett them bee of the rankest ryders
That be to be ffound in that countrye.