39

‘What news? what news,’ said Halliday,

‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’

‘Not as ye wad; seeking your aid;

The king’s his mortal enemie.’

40

‘Aye, by my troth,’ quoth Halliday,

‘Even for that it repenteth me;

For, gif he lose fair Ettrick forest,

He’ll take fair Moffatdale frae me.