Then up and bespake the lord Mangerton:

‘What news, what news, sister Downie, to me?’

‘Bad news, bad news, my lord Mangerton;

Mitchel is killd, and tane they hae my son Johnie.’

4

‘Neer fear, sister Downie,’ quo Mangerton;

‘I hae yokes of oxen four and twentie,

My barns, my byres, and my faulds, a’weel filld,

And I’ll part wi them a’ere Johnie shall die.

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