54 



EXCUESION TO ETTRICK FOREST. 



[Nov., 



heritable sheriff of Ettrick Forest, an office held by his descendants till 

 the final abolition of such jurisdictions in the reign of George II., after 

 the Great Eebellion. This is the foundation of the beautiful ballad, 'The 

 Song of the Outlaw Murray.' The ballad sets out with the graphic descrip- 

 tion of Ettrick Forest already quoted, and of the Castle of the Hurrays ; 

 then proceeds — 



' Word is gane to our nobile king 



In Edinburgh, where that he lay, 

 That there was an outlaw in Ettricke Foreste 



Counted him nought, nor a' his courtrie gay. 



' " T make a vowe," then the gude King said, 

 " Unto the man that deir bought me, 

 J'se either be king of Ettricke Foreste. 



Or king of Scotlonde that outlaw sail be." ' 



PHTLIPHALGH 



The King then summons James Boyd, brother of the Earl of Arrau : — 



' " Wellcum,' James Boyd, ' said our nobile king, 

 "A message ye maun gang for me ; 

 Ye maun hye to Etti^icke Foreste, 

 To yon outlaw where bydeth he : 



' '' Ask him of whom he holdis his landia, 

 Or man, wha may his master be. 

 And desyre him cum, and be my man, 

 And hald of me yon Foreste frie." ' 



Should he refuse, Boyd was to threaten the Outlaw with conquest of his 

 lands, the destruction of his castle and the death of himself, his lady, 

 and his followers. Boyd proceeds to the Forest, interviews the Outlaw, 

 who declares that he has won the Forest by his own hand, and will keep 

 it against all the kings in Christentie. The Royal messenger returns and 



