‘It stands me hard,’ the Outlaw said, ‘Judge gif it stands na hard wi’ me: What reck o’ the losing of mysell?-- But a’ my offspring after me! LVII ‘Auld Halliday, young Halliday, Ye sall be twa to gang wi’ me; Andrew Murray, and Sir James Murray, We’ll be nae mae in companie.’ LVIII When that they cam’ before the King, They fell before him on their knee: ‘Grant mercy, mercy, noble King! E’en for his sake that dyed on tree.’ LIX ‘Siccan[530] like mercy sall ye have; On gallows ye sall hangit be!’-- ‘Over God’s forbode,’ quoth the Outlaw then, ‘I hope your grace will better be! Else, ere you come to Edinburgh port, I trow thin guarded sall ye be. LX ‘Thir lands of Ettrick Forest fair, I wan them from the enemie; Like as I wan them, sae will I keep them, Contrair a’ kings in Christentie.’ LXI All the nobles the King about, Said pity it were to see him dee. ‘Yet grant me mercy, sovereign prince, Extend your favour unto me! LXII ‘I’ll give thee the keys of my castell, Wi’ the blessing o’ my gay ladye, Gin thou’lt make me sheriff of this forest, And a’ my offspring after me.’-- LXIII ‘Wilt thou give me the keys of thy castell, Wi’ the blessing of thy gay ladye? I’se make thee sheriff of Ettrick Forest, Surely while upward grows the tree; If you be not traitor to the King, Forfaulted[531] sall thou never be.’ LXIV ‘But, Prince, what sall come o’ my men? When I gae back, traitor they’ll ca’ me. I had rather lose my life and land, Ere my merry men rebukèd me.’-- LXV ‘Will your merry men amend their lives, An’ a’ their pardons I grant thee? Now, name thy lands where’er they lie, And here I render them to thee.’-- LXVI ‘Fair Philiphaugh is mine by right, And Lewinshope still mine shall be; Newark, Foulshiells, and Tinnès baith, My bow and arrow purchased me. LXVII ‘And I have native steads to me, The Newark Lee and Hanginshaw; I have mony steads in Ettrick Forest, But them by name I dinna knaw.’ LXVIII The keys of the castle he gave the King, Wi’ the blessing o’ his fair ladye; He was made sheriff of Ettrick Forest, Surely while upward grows the tree; And if he was na traitor to the King, Forfaulted he suld never be. LXIX Wha ever heard, in ony times, Siccan an outlaw in his degree Sic favour get before a King, As did Outlaw Murray of the forest free? FOOTNOTES: [520] bigg’d = built. [521] hollin = holly. [522] bree = brow. [523] courtrie = courtiers. [524] rede = advise. [525] frith = wood. [526] whidderand = whizzing. [527] Soudron = Southron, English. [528] rad = afraid. [529] graith = harness. [530] siccan = such. [531] Forfaulted = forfeited.