"He says, yon foreste is his awin; 135 He wan it frae the Southronie; Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it, Contrair all kingis in Christentie." "Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith, Fife, up and downe, and Louthians three, 140 And graith my horse!" said our nobil King, "For to Ettricke Forest hie will I me." Then word is gane the Outlaw till, In Ettricke Forest, where dwelleth he, That the King was cuming to his cuntrie, 145 To conquess baith his landis and he. "I mak a vow," the Outlaw said, "I mak a vow, and that trulie, Were there but three men to tak my pairt, Yon King's cuming full deir suld be!" 150 Then messengers he called forth, And bade them hie them speedilye-- "Ane of ye gae to Halliday, The Laird of the Corehead is he.[L154] "He certain is my sister's son; 155 Bid him cum quick and succour me! The King cums on for Ettricke Foreste, And landless men we a' will be." "What news? What news?" said Halliday, "Man, frae thy master unto me?" 160 "Not as ye wad: seeking your aide; The King's his mortal enemie." "Ay, by my troth!" said Halliday, "Even for that it repenteth me; For gif he lose feir Ettricke Foreste, 165 He'll tak feir Moffatdale frae me. "I'll meet him wi' five hundred men, And surely mair, if mae may be; And before he gets the foreste feir, We a' will die on Newark Lee!" 170 The Outlaw call'd a messenger, And bid him hie him speedilye, To Andrew Murray of Cockpool,[L173] "That man's a deir cousin to me; Desyre him cum, and make me aide, 175 With a' the power that he may be." "It stands me hard," Andrew Murray said, "Judge gif it stand na hard wi' me; To enter against a king wi' crown, And set my landis in jeopardie! 180 Yet, if I cum not on the day, Surely at night he sall me see." To Sir James Murray of Traquair,[L183] A message came right speedilye-- "What news? What news?" James Murray said, 185 "Man, frae thy master unto me?" "What neids I tell? for weel ye ken The King's his mortal enemie; And now he is cuming to Ettricke Foreste, And landless men ye a' will be." 190 "And, by my trothe," James Murray said, "Wi' that Outlaw will I live and die; The King has gifted my landis lang syne-- It cannot be nae warse wi' me."