"I hope your grace will bettir be!

Else, ere ye come to Edinburgh port,

I trow thin guarded sall ye be:

"Thir landis of Ettricke Foreste feir,

I wan them from the enemie;

Like as I wan them, sae will I keep them,

Contrair a' kingis in Christentie."

All the nobilis the king about,

Said pitie it were to see him die—

[98]