6. ‘I mak a vow,’ then the gude king said, ‘Unto the man that dear bought me, I’se either be king of Ettrick Forest Or king of Scotland that Outlaw’s be.’ 7. Then spak the earl hight Hamilton, And to the noble king said he, ‘My sovereign prince, some counsel take, First of your nobles, syne of me. 8. ‘I redd ye, send yon bra’ Outlaw till, And see gif your man come will he: Desire him come and be your man, And hold of you yon forest free. 9. ‘And gif he refuses to do that, We’ll conquer both his lands and he, Or else we’ll throw his castell down, And mak a widow o’ his gay ladye.’ 10. The king called on a gentleman, James Boyd, Earl of Arran, his brother was he; When James he came before the king, He fell before him on his knee. 11. ‘Welcome, James Boyd,’ said our noble king; ‘A message ye maun gang for me; Ye maun hie to Ettrick Forest, To yon Outlaw, where dwelleth he; 12. ‘Ask him of whom he holds his lands, Or, man, who may his master be, Desire him come and be my man, And hold of me yon forest free. 13. ‘To Edinburgh to come and gang, His safe-warrant I sall be; And gif he refuses to do that, We’ll conquer baith his lands and he. 14. ‘Thou may’st vow I’ll cast his castell down, And mak a widow o’ his gay ladye; I’ll hang his merry men pair by pair In ony frith where I may them see.’ 15. James Boyd took his leave of the noble king, To Ettrick Forest fair cam he; Down Birkendale Brae when that he cam, He saw the fair forest with his ee. 16. Baith doe and roe and hart and hind And of a’ wild beastis great plentie; He heard the bows that bauldly ring, And arrows whidderand near him by. 17. Of that fair castell he got a sight; The like he nere saw with his ee; On the forefront o’ that castell Twa unicorns were bra’ to see. 18. The picture of a knight, and a lady bright, And the green hollin abune their bree; Thereat he spy’d five hundred men, Shooting with bows upon the lee. 19. They a’ were in ae livery clad, O’ the Lincoln green sae fair to see; The knight and his ladye in purple clad; O gif they lived right royallie! Therefore he kend he was master-man, And served him in his ain degree. 20. ‘God mot thee save, brave Outlaw Murray, Thy ladye and a’ thy chivalrie!’ ‘Marry, thou’s welcome, gentleman, Some king’s-messenger thou seems to be.’ 21. ‘The King of Scotland sent me here, And, gude Outlaw, I’m sent to thee; I wad wot of whom ye hold your lands, Or, man, wha may thy master be?’ 22. ‘Thir landis are mine,’ the Outlaw said; ‘I own na king in Christentie; Frae Soudron I this forest wan, Whan the king nor ‘s knights were not to see.’