And when he to the Douglas came, 25 He halched him right courteouslie; Say'd, "Welcome, welcome, noble earle, Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee." When he had in Lough-leven been Many a month and many a day, 30 To the regent the lord warden sent, That bannisht earle for to betray. He offered him great store of gold, And wrote a letter fair to see, Saying, "Good my lord, grant me my boon, 35 And yield that banisht man to mee." Earle Percy at the supper sate, With many a goodly gentleman; The wylie Douglas then bespake, And thus to flyte with him began. 40 "What makes you be so sad, my lord, And in your mind so sorrowfullye? To-morrow a shootinge will bee held Among the lords of the North countrye. "The butts are sett, the shooting's made, 45 And there will be great royaltye; And I am sworne into my bille, Thither to bring my Lord Percye." "I'll give thee my hand, thou gentle Douglas, And here by my true faith," quoth hee, 50 "If thou wilt ryde to the worldes end I will ryde in thy companye." And then bespake a lady faire, Mary à Douglas was her name; "You shall byde here, good English lord, 55 My brother is a traiterous man. "He is a traitor stout and stronge, As I tell you in privitie; For he hath tane liverance of the erle,[L59] Into England nowe to 'liver thee." 60 "Now nay, now nay, thou goodly lady, The regent is a noble lord: Ne for the gold in all Englànd The Douglas wold not break his word. "When the regent was a banisht man, 65 With me he did faire welcome find; And whether weal or woe betide, I still shall find him true and kind. "Between England and Scotland it wold breake truce, And friends againe they wold never bee, 70 If they shold 'liver a banisht erle, Was driven out of his own countrie." "Alas! alas! my lord," she sayes, "Nowe mickle is their traitorie; Then lett my brother ryde his wayes, 75 And tell those English lords from thee, "How that you cannot with him ryde, Because you are in an ile of the sea,[L78] Then ere my brother come againe, To Edenborow castle Ile carry thee. 80 "To the Lord Hume I will thee bring; He is well knowne a true Scots lord, And he will lose both land and life, Ere he with thee will break his word."