little way

Where was thou bred where was thou born
   Wherein in what country—
In the north of England I was born
   What needed him to lie.

A knight me got a lady bare
   I’m a squire of high renown
I well may bear’t to any king,
   That ever yet wore crown.

He ne’er came of an Englishman
   Had sic an ee or bree
But thou art likest auld Maitlen
   That ever I did see

But sic a gloom inon ae browhead
   Grant’s ne’er see again
For many of our men he slew
   And many put to pain

When Maitlan heard his father’s name,
   An angry man was he
Then lifting up a gilt dager
   Hung low down by his kee

He stab’d the knight the standard bore,
   He stabb’d him cruelly;
Then caught the standard by the neuk,
   And fast away rade he.

Now is’t na time brothers he cry’d
   Now, is’t na time to flee
Ay by my soothe they baith reply’d,
   We’ll bear you company

The youngest turn’d him in a path
   And drew a burnish’d brand
And fifteen o’ the foremost slew
   Till back the lave did stand

He spurr’d the grey unto the path
   Till baith her sides they bled
Grey! thou maun carry me away
   Or my life lies in wed

The captain lookit owr the wa’
   Before the break o day
There he beheld the three Scots lads
   Pursued alongst the way

Pull up portculzies down draw briggs
   My nephews are at hame
And they shall lodge wi’ me to-night,
   In spite of all England

Whene’er they came within the gate
   They thrust their horse them frae
And took three lang spears in their hands,
   Saying, here sal come nae mae

And they shott out and they shott in,
   Till it was fairly day
When many of the Englishmen
   About the draw brigg lay.

Then they hae yoked carts and wains
   To ca’ their dead away
And shot auld dykes aboon the lave
   In gutters where they lay

The king in his pavilion door
   Was heard aloud to say
Last night three o’ the lads o’ France
   My standard stole away

Wi’ a fause tale disguis’d they came
   And wi’ a fauser train
And to regain my gaye standard
   These men were a’ down slaine

It ill befits the youngest said
   A crowned king to lie
But or that I taste meat and drink,
   Reproved shall he be.

He went before King Edward straight
   And kneel’d low on his knee
I wad hae leave my liege he said,
   To speak a word wi’ thee

The king he turn’d him round about
   And wistna what to say
Quo’ he, Man, thou’s hae leave to speak
   Though thou should speak a day.

You said that three young lads o’ France,
   Your standard stole away
Wi’ a fause tale and fauser train,
   And mony men did slay

But we are nane the lads o’ France
   Nor e’er pretend to be
We are three lads o’ fair Scotland,
   Auld Maitlen’s sons a’ three

Nor is there men in a your host,
   Dare fight us three to three
Now by my sooth young Edward cry’d,
   Weel fitted sall ye be!

Piercy sall with the eldest fight
   And Ethert Lunn wi’ thee
William of Lancastar the third
   And bring your fourth to me

He clanked Piercy owr the head
   A deep wound and a sair
Till the best blood o’ his body
   Came rinnen owr his hair.

Now I’ve slain one slay ye the two;
   And that’s good company
And if the two should slay ye baith,
   Ye’se get na help frae me

But Ethert Lunn a baited bear
   Had many battles seen
He set the youngest wonder sair,
   Till the eldest he grew keen

I am nae king nor nae sic thing
   My word it sanna stand
For Ethert shall a buffet bide,
   Come he aneath my brand.

He clanked Ethert owr the head,
   A deep wound and a sair
Till a’ the blood of his body
   Came rinnen owr his hair