Then spak’ his lady, fair of face: She said, ‘’Twere without consent of me, That an outlaw suld come before a King; I am right rad[528] of treasonrie. Bid him be gude to his lords at hame, For Edinburgh my lord sall never see.’ XXVI James Boyd took his leave o’ the Outlaw keen, To Edinboro’ boun’ is he; When James he cam’ before the King, He kneelèd lowly on his knee. XXVII ‘Welcome, James Boyd!’ said our noble King, ‘What forest is Ettrick Forest free?’-- ‘Ettrick Forest is the fairest forest That ever man saw wi’ his e’e. XXVIII ‘There’s the dae, the rae, the hart, the hin’, And of a’ wild beasts great plentie; There’s a pretty castle of lime and stane, O gif it stands not pleasantlie! XXIX ‘There’s in the fore-front o’ that castle Twa unicorns, sae bra’ to see, There’s the picture of a knight, and a lady bright, Wi’ the green hollìn abune their bree. XXX ‘There the Outlaw keeps five hundred men, He keeps a royal companie; His merry men in ae livery clad, O’ the Lincoln green sae gay to see: He and his lady in purple clad; O gin they live not royallie! XXXI ‘He says, yon forest is his ain, He wan it frae the Soudronie; Sae as he wan it, sae will he keep it, Contrair all kings in Christentie.’-- XXXII ‘Gar warn me Perthshire, and Angus baith, Fife, up and down, and Lothians three, And graith[529] my horse,’ said our noble King, ‘For to Ettrick Forest hie will I me.’ XXXIII Then word is gane the Outlaw till, In Ettrick Forest, where dwelleth he, That the King was comand to Ettrick Forest, To conquess baith his lands and he. XXXIV ‘I mak’ a vow,’ the Outlaw said, ‘I mak’ a vow, and that trulie: Were there but three men to tak’ my part, Yon King’s coming full dear suld be!’ XXXV Then messengers he callèd forth, And bade them hie them speedilye: ‘Ane of ye gae to Halliday, The Laird of the Corehead is he. XXXVI ‘He certain is my sister’s son; Bid him come quick and succour me; The King comes on for Ettrick Forest, And landless men we a’ will be.’-- XXXVII ‘What news? what news?’ said Halliday, ‘Man, frae thy master unto me?’-- ‘Not as ye would; seeking your aid; The King’s his mortal enemie.’-- XXXVIII ‘Ay, by my troth!’ said Hailiday, ‘Even for that it repenteth me; For gif he lose fair Ettrick Forest, He’ll tak’ fair Moffatdale frae me. XXXIX ‘I’ll meet him wi’ five hundred men, And surely mair, if mae may be; And before he gets the forest fair, We a’ will die on Newark Lee!’ XL