James Boyd took leave of the bold Outlaw and went back to Edinburgh, and when he came to the King, knelt lowly on his knee.
"Welcome, James Boyd," said the noble King, "of whom is Ettrick Forest held?"
"Ettrick Forest is the fairest forest that ever man saw. There are doe and roe and hart and hind and wild beasts in plenty; there's a fine castle of lime and stone standing there pleasantly, and in the forefront of the castle two unicorns all fine to see, with a picture of a knight and a lady, and the green holly above their brows. There the Outlaw keeps a royal company—five hundred merry men, all gaily clad in Lincoln green, and the Outlaw and his lady in purple. Surely they live right royally. He says that the forest is his own, that he won it from the English, and that as he won it, so will he keep it against all the Kings in Christendom."
"Go warn me Perthshire and Angus," cried the King, "go warn Fife up and down and the three Lothians, and harness my own horse, for I will myself to Ettrick Forest."
When the Outlaw heard that the King was coming to his country to conquer him and his lands:
"I make a vow," said he. "I make a vow, and that truly, that the King's coming shall be a dear one."
Then he called messengers and sent them in haste hither and thither.
"One of you go to Halliday, Laird of Corehead, my sister's son. Tell him to come quickly to my aid, for that the King comes to Ettrick Forest, and we shall all be landless."
"What news? What news, man, from thy master?" said Halliday.
"No news thou carest to hear; I come seeking your aid; the King is his mortal enemy."