"The castle it is high, my boy, And walled round about; My feet are in the fetters strong, And how can I get out? 40 "My garters are o' the gude black iron, And O but they be cold; My breast-plate's o' the sturdy steel, Instead of beaten gold. "But had I paper, pen, and ink, 45 Wi' candle at my command, It's I would write a lang letter To John in fair Scotland." Then she has written a braid letter, And sealed it wi' her hand, 50 And sent it to the merry green wood, Wi' her own boy at command. The first line of the letter Johnie read, A loud, loud lauch leuch he; But he had not read ae line but twa, 55 Till the saut tears did blind his ee. "O I must up to England go, Whatever me betide, For to relieve mine own fair ladie, That lay last by my side." 60 Then up and spak Johnie's auld mither, A weel spoke woman was she: "If you do go to England, Johnie, I may take fareweel o' thee." And out and spak his father then, 65 And he spak well in time: "If thou unto fair England go, I fear ye'll ne'er come hame." But out and spak his uncle then, And he spak bitterlie: 70 "Five hundred of my good life-guards Shall bear him companie." When they were all on saddle set, They were comely to behold; The hair that hung owre Johnie's neck shined 75 Like the links o' yellow gold. When they were all marching away, Most pleasant for to see, There was not so much as a married man In Johnie's companie. 80 Johnie Scot himsell was the foremost man In the company that did ride; His uncle was the second man, Wi' his rapier by his side. The first gude town that Johnie came to, 85 He made the bells be rung; And when he rode the town all owre, He made the psalms be sung. The next gude town that Johnie came to, He made the drums beat round; 90 And the third gude town that he came to, He made the trumpets sound, Till King Henry and all his merry men A-marvelled at the sound. And when they came to Earl Percy's yates, 95 They rode them round about; And who saw he but his own true love At a window looking out? "O the doors are bolted with iron and steel, So are the windows about; 100 And my feet they are in fetters strong; And how can I get out?