“He gae me a lock o’ his yellow hair, And bade me keep it ever mair; He gae me a carknet o’ bonny beads, And bade me keep it against my needs. “He gae to me a gay gold ring, And bade me keep it abune a’ thing.” “What did ye wi’ the tokens rare, That ye gat frae that gallant there?” “O bring that coffer unto me, And a’ the tokens ye sall see.” “Now stay, daughter, your bour within, While I gae parley wi’ my son.” O she has ta’en her thro’ the ha’, And on her son began to ca’: “What did ye wi’ the bonny beads, I bade ye keep against your needs? “What did you wi’ the gay gold ring, I bade you keep abune a’ thing?” “I gae them to a ladye gay, I met in green-wood on a day. “But I wad gie a’ my halls and tours, I had that ladye within my bours, But I wad gie my very life, I had that ladye to my wife.” “Now keep, my son, your ha’s and tours; Ye have that bright burd in your bours; And keep, my son, your very life; Ye have that ladye to your wife.” Now, or a month was come and gane, The ladye bore a bonny son; And ’twas written on his breast-bane, “Cospatrick is my father’s name.” JOHNNIE ARMSTRANG SOME speak of lords, some speak of lairds, And sic like men of high degree; Of a gentleman I sing a sang, Some time call’d Laird of Gilnockie. The king he writes a loving letter, With his ain hand sae tenderlie, And he hath sent it to Johnnie Armstrang, To come and speak with him speedilie. The Elliots and Armstrangs did convene, They were a gallant companie: “We’ll ride and meet our lawful king, And bring him safe to Gilnockie. “Make kinnen {87} and capon ready, then, And venison in great plentie; We’ll welcome here our royal king; I hope he’ll dine at Gilnockie!” They ran their horse on the Langholm howm, And brake their spears with meikle main; The ladies lookit frae their loft windows— “God bring our men weel hame again!” When Johnnie came before the king, With all his men sae brave to see, The king he moved his bonnet to him; He ween’d he was a king as well as he. “May I find grace, my sovereign liege, Grace for my loyal men and me? For my name it is Johnnie Armstrang, And a subject of yours, my liege,” said he. “Away, away, thou traitor strang! Out of my sight soon may’st thou be! I granted never a traitor’s life, And now I’ll not begin with thee.” “Grant me my life, my liege, my king! And a bonnie gift I’ll gi’e to thee; Full four-and-twenty milk-white steeds, Were all foal’d in ae year to me. “I’ll gi’e thee all these milk-white steeds, That prance and nicher {88a} at a spear; And as meikle gude Inglish gilt, {88b} As four of their braid backs dow {88c} bear.”