Thereby Boyd kend he was master man, And served 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.”
“The King of Scotland sent me here, And, gude Outlaw, I am sent to thee; I wad wot of whom ye hold your lands, Or man wha may thy master be?”
“Thir lands are mine,” the Outlaw said; “I ken nae King in Christentie; Frae Soudron I this forest wan, When the King nor his Knights were not to see.”
“He desires you’ll come to Edinburgh, And hauld of him this forest free; And, gif ye refuse to do this thing, He’ll conquer baith thy lands and thee. He hath vowed to cast thy Castle down, And mak’ a widow o’ thy gay Ladye;
“He’ll hang thy merrymen, pair by pair, In ony frith where he may them find.” “Ay, by my troth!” the Outlaw said, “Than wauld I think me far behind.
“Ere the King my fair country get, This land that’s nativest to me, Mony o’ his nobles sall be cauld; Their ladies sall be right wearie.”
Then spak’ his Lady, fair of face: She said, “’T were without consent of me, That an outlaw suld come before a King; I am right rad of treasonrie. Bid him be gude to his lords at hame, For Edinburgh my Lord sall never see.”
James Boyd took his leave o’ the Outlaw keen, To Edinburgh boun’ is he; When James he cam’ before the King, He kneeled lowly on his knee.
“Welcome, James Boyd!” said our noble King, “What forest is Ettrick Forest free?” “Ettrick Forest is the fairest forest That ever man saw wi’ his ee.
“There’s the dae, the rae, the hart, the hind, And of a’ wild beasts great plentie; There’s a pretty Castle of lime and stane, Oh! gin it stands not pleasantlie!
“There’s in the fore front o’ that Castle Twa unicorns, sae bra’ to see; There’s the picture of a Knight, and a Lady bright Wi’ the green hollin abune their bree.
“There the Outlaw keeps five hundred men, He keeps a royal companie; His merrymen in ae livery clad, O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see: He and his Lady in purple clad; Oh! gin they live right royallie!
“He says, yon forest is his awn; He wan it frae the Southronie; Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it, Contrair all Kings in Christentie.”
“Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith, Fife, up and down, and Lothians three, And graith my horse!” said our noble King, “For to Ettrick Forest hie will I me.”