42 ‘To Andrew Murray of Cockpool, That man’s a deir cousin to me; Desire him cum and make me aid, With all the power that he may be. 43 ‘The king has vowd to cast my castell down, And mak a widow of my gay ladye; He’ll hang my merry men pair by pair I[n] ony place where he may them see.’ 44 ‘It stands me hard,’ quoth Andrew Murray, ‘Judge if it stands not hard with me, To enter against a king with crown, And put my lands in jeopardie. 45 ‘Yet, gif I cum not on the daye, Surelie at night he sall me see:’ To Sir James Murray, laird of Traquair, A message came right speedilie. 46 ‘What news? what news,’ James Murray said, ‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’ ‘What needs I tell? for well ye ken The king’s his mortal enemie. 47 ‘He desires ye’ll cum and make him aid, With all the powers that ye may be:’ ‘And, by my troth,’ James Murray said, ‘With that Outlaw I’ll live and die. 48 ‘The king has gifted my lands lang syne, It can not be nae war with me;’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 The king was cumand thro Cadden ford, And fiftene thousand men was he; They saw the forest them before, They thought it awsom for to see. 50 Then spak the erle hight Hamilton, And to the nobil king said he, My sovereign prince, sum counsell take, First at your nobles, syne at me. 51 ‘Desyre him meet you at Penman’s Core, And bring four in his cumpanie; Fyve erles sall gang yoursell before, Gude cause that you suld honord be. 52 ‘And, if he refuses to do that, Wi fire and sword we’ll follow thee; There sall never a Murray after him Have land in Etrick forest frie.’ 53 The king then called a gentleman, Royal-banner-bearer then was he, James Hope Pringle of Torsonse by name; He came and knelit upon his knie. 54 ‘Welcum, James Pringle of Torsonse; Ye man a message gae for me; Ye man gae to yon Outlaw Murray, Surely where bauldly bideth he. 55 ‘Bid him meet me at Penman’s Core, And bring four of his companie; Five erles sall cum wi mysell, Gude reason I suld honord be. 56 ‘And if he refuses to do that, Bid him look for nae gude o me; There sall never a Murray after him Have land in Etric forest frie.’ 57 James came before the Outlaw keene, And served him in his ain degree: ‘Wellcum, James Pringle of Torsonse, What tidings frae the king to me?’ 58 ‘He bids you meet him at Penman’s Core, And bring four of your companie; Five erles will cum with the king, Nae more in number will he be. 59 ‘And gif you refuse to do that, I freely here upgive with thee, There will never a Murray after thee Have land in Etrick forest frie.