‘Ye’ve stown the bridle off my naig, And ye’ve put water i’ my lang gun; Ye’ve fixed my sword within the sheath That out again it winna come.’ XXVI He had but time to cross himsel’. A prayer he hadna time to say, Till round him came the Crosiers keen, All riding graith’d[1270] and in array. XXVII ‘Weel met, weel met, now, Parcy Reed, Thou art the very man we sought; Owre lang hae we been in your debt, Now will we pay you as we ought. XXVIII ‘We’ll pay thee at the nearest tree, Where we shall hang thee like a hound.’-- Brave Parcy rais’d his fankit[1271] sword, And fell’d the foremost to the ground. XXIX Alake, and wae for Parcy Reed! Alake, he was an unarmed man! Four weapons pierced him all at once, As they assail’d him there and than. XXX They fell upon him all at once, They mangled him most cruellie; The slightest wound might caused his deid, And they hae gi’en him thirty-three; They hackit off his hands and feet, And left him lying on the lee. XXXI ‘Now, Parcy Reed, we’ve paid our debt, Ye canna weel dispute the tale,’ The Crosiers said, and off they rade; They rade the airt[1272] o’ Liddesdale. XXXII It was the hour o’ gloaming gray, When herds come in frae fauld and pen; A herd he saw a huntsman lie, Says he, ‘Can this be Laird Troughen’?’-- XXXIII ‘There’s some will ca’ me Parcy Reed, And some will ca’ me Laird Troughen’; It’s little matter what they ca’ me, My faes hae made me ill to ken. XXXIV ‘There’s some will ca’ me Parcy Reed, And speak my praise in tower and town; It’s little matter what they do now, My life-blood rudds the heather brown. XXXV ‘There’s some will ca’ me Parcy Reed, And a’ my virtues say and sing; I would much rather have just now A draught o’ water frae the spring.’ XXXVI The herd flung aff his clouted shoon And to the nearest fountain ran; He made his bonnet serve a cup, And wan the blessing o’ the dying man. XXXVII ‘Now, honest herd, ye maun do mair, Ye maun do mair, as I you tell; Ye maun bear tidings to Troughend, And bear likewise my last farewell. XXXVIII ‘A farewell to my wedded wife, A farewell to my brother John, Wha sits into the Troughend tower Wi’ heart as black as any stone. XXXIX ‘A farewell to my daughter Jean, A farewell to my young sons five; Had they been at their father’s hand, I had this night been man alive. XL ‘A farewell to my followers a’, And a’ my neighbours gude at need; Bid them think how the treacherous Ha’s Betrayed the life o’ Parcy Reed. XLI