9 ‘And gif he refuses to do that, We’ll conquess both his lands and he, Or else we’ll throw his castell down, And mak a widowe of his gaye ladie.’ 10 The king called on a gentleman, James Boyd, Erle of Arran; his brother was he; When James he came before the king He fell before him on his knie. 11 ‘Welcum, James Boyd,’ said our nobil king, ‘A message ye maun gang for me; Ye maun hie to Etrick forrest, To yon Outlaw, where dwelleth he. 12 ‘Ask hym of quhom he haldis his lands, Or, man, wha may his master be; Desyre him come and be my man, And hald of me yon forrest frie. 13 ‘To Edinburgh to cum and gang His safe-warrand I sall be; And, gif he refuses to do that, We’ll conquess baith his lands and he. 14 ‘Thou mayst vow I’ll cast his castell doun, And mak a widow of his gay ladie; I’ll hang his merrie men pair by pair In ony frith where I may them see.’ 15 James Boyd took his leave of the nobill king, To Etrick forrest fair came he; Down Birkendale brae when that he cam, He saw the fair forest with his ee. 16 Baith dae and rae and hart and hynd, And of all wylde beastis grete plentie; He heard the bows that bauldly ring, And arrows whidderand near him by. 17 Of the fair castell he got a sight, The like he nere saw with his ee; On the fore front of that castell Twa unicorns were bra to see. 18 The picture of a knight and a ladie bright, And the grene hollin aboon their brie; Thereat he spy’d five hundred men, Shuting with bows upon the lee. 19 They a’ were in ae liverie clad, Of the Lincoln grene, 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 ladie and a’ thy chivalrie!’ ‘Marry, thou’s wellcum, gentleman, Sum king’s-messenger thou seems to be.’ 21 ‘The King of Scotland sent me hier, And, gude Outlaw, I’m sent to thee; I wad wat of whom ye hald 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, When the king nor’s knights were not to see.’ 23 ‘He desires you’l come to Edinburgh, And hald of him this forest frie; And gif you refuse to do this, He’ll conquess both thy landis and thee; He has vowd to cast thy castell down, And make a widow of thy gaye ladie. 24 ‘He’ll hang thy merrie men pair by pair, In ony frith where he may them finde;’ ‘Aye, by my troth,’ the Outlaw said, ‘Then wad I think me far behinde.