65 'I'le haue my sachell ffilld full of meate,
I am sure, brother, [it] will doe noe harme;
Ffor, before I come to the Erle of Marr's his house,
My lipps, I am sure, they wilbe warme.'
66 And when he came to the Erle of Marr's house,
By chance itt was of the dole-day;
But Iohn cold ffind no place to stand,
Vntill he came to the ladye gaye.
67 But many a beggar he threw downe,
And made them all with weeping say,
He is the devill, hee is no beggar,
That is come fforth of some strange countrye.
68 And now the dole that itt is delte,
And all the beggars be gon away,
Sauing Iohn Stewart, that seemed a beggar,
And the ladye that was soe gay.
69 'Lady,' sais Iohn, 'I am no beggar,
As by my clothes you may thinke that I bee;
I am your servant, Iohn Stewart,
And I am sent a messenger to thee.'
70 'But if thou be Iohn Stewart,
As I doe thinke that thou bee,
Avayle thy capp, avayle thy hoode,
And I will stand and speake to thee.
71 'How doth thy brother, Iohn Stewart,
And all the lords in his countrye?'
'O ffye vpon thee, wicked woman!
My brother he doth the worsse ffor thee.'
72 With that the teares stood in her eyes;
O lord, shee wept soe tenderlye!
Sais, Ligg the blame vnto my ffather;
I pray you, Iohn Stewart, lay itt not to mee.
73 Comend me to my owne true-loue,
That liues soe farr in the North countrye,
And bidd him meete me att Martingsdale,
Ffullye wthin these dayes three.
74 Hang them, sais the lady gay,
That letts their ffather witting bee!
I'le proue a ladye ffull of loue,
And be there by the sunn be a quarter highe.