/883.1 



EXCURSION TO ETTRICK FOREST. 



55 



gives the king an account of his interview with Murray, whereupon the 

 king gathers an army and sets out for Ettrick. 



' The king was cuming through Caddon Ford, 

 And full five thousand men was he, 

 They saw the dark Foreste them before, • 

 They thought it awsome for to see.' 



The king gives another chance to Murray to submit, whereupon— 



' " It stands me hard,'' the Outlaw said, 

 " Judge gif it stands na hard wi' me ! 

 Wha reck not losing of mysell, 

 But a' my offspring after me. 



>:::'^M:;i: ca^tfj:, from titk kivkr. 



" My merrey men's lives, my widowe's teirs — 



There lies the pang that pinches me, 

 When I am straiight on bluidie eard. 



Yon castell will be right dreirie." ' 



Murray at last agrees to go before the king with some of his noble 



kinsfolk. 



' When that they cam before the king, 

 They fell before him ou their knee — 

 " Grant mercie, mercie, noble king, 

 E'en for His sake that dyed on trie." 



' " Sicken like mercie sail ye haue, 



On gallows ye sail hangit be I" 

 " Over God forbode ! " quoth the Outlaw thwi, 



" I hope your grace will bettir be ! 

 Else ere ye come to Edinburgh port, 



I trow thin guarded sail ye be. 



