Thereby Boyd kend he was master man,
And servèd him in his ain degree:
‘God mote thee save, brave Outlaw Murray!
Thy ladye, and all thy chivalrie!’—
‘Marry, thou’s welcome, gentleman,
Some king’s messenger thou seems to be.’—
XX
‘The King of Scotland sent me here,
And, gude Outlàw, I am sent to thee;
I wad wot of whom ye hold your lands,
Or man wha may thy master be?’—
XXI
‘Thir lands are mine,’ the Outlaw said;
‘I own nae king in Christentie;
Frae Soudron[527] I this forest wan,
When the King nor his knights were not to see.’—
XXII
‘He desires you’ll come to Edinburgh,
And hauld of him this forest free;
And, gif ye refuse to do this thing,
He’ll conquess baith thy lands and thee.
He hath vow’d to cast thy castle down,
And mak’ a widow o’ thy gay ladye;
XXIII
‘He’ll hang thy merry men, pair by pair,
In ony frith where he may them find.’—
‘Ay, by my troth!’ the Outlaw said,
‘Than wad I think me far behind.