55 'I'le make thee an erle with a siluer wande,
And adde more honors still to thee;
Thy brother Iohn shall be a lord,
Of the best att home in his countrye.
56 'Thy brother Kester shalbe a knight,
Lands and liuings I will him giue,
And still hee shall liue in court with mee,
And I'le maintaine him whilest he doth liue.'
57 And when the parlaiment was done,
And all the ffolkes away were gone,
Willye Stewart and Iohn his brother,
To Argyle Castle they be gone.
58 But when they came to Argyle Castle,
That was soe ffarr in that countrye,
He thought soe much then of his loue
That into care-bedd then lope hee.
59 Iohn Stewart did see his brother soe ill,
Lord, in his heart that hee was woe!
'I will goe wooing for thy sake
Againe yonder gay ladye to.
60 'I'le cloth my selfe in strange array,
In a beggar's habbitt I will goe,
That when I come before the Erle of Marr
My clothing strange he shall not knowe.'
61 Iohn hee gott on a clouted cloake,
Soe meete and low then by his knee,
With four garters vpon one legg,
Two aboue, and towe below trulye.
62 'But if thou be a beggar, brother,
Thou art a beggar that is vnknowne;
Ffor thou art one of the stoutest beggars
That euer I saw since I was borne.
63 'Heere, geeue the lady this gay gold ringe,
A token to her that well is knowne;
And if shee but aduise itt well,
Shee'le know some time itt was her owne.'
64 'Stay, by my ffaith, I goe not yett,'
Iohn Stewart he can replye;
'I'le haue my bottle ffull of beere,
The best that is in thy butterye.