The Royal Forester

I am a forester of this land

As you may plainly see,

It's the mantle of your maidenhead

That I would have from thee.

He's taken her by the milk-white hand

And by the leylan sleeve,

He's lain her down upon her back

And asked no man's leave.

Now since you've lain me down young man,

You must take me up again,

And since you've had your wills of me,

Come tell to me your name.

Some call me Jim, some call me John,

Begad it's all the same,

But when I'm in the king's high court

Erwilian is my name.

She being a good scholar,

She's spelt it o'er again,

“Erwilian, that's a Latin word,

But Willy is your name.

Now when he heard his name pronounced,

He mounted his high horse.

She's belted up her petticoat

And followed with all her force.

He rode and she ran

A long summer day,

Until they came by the river

That's commonly called the Tay.

The water, it's too deep, my love,

I'm afraid you cannot wade.

But afore he'd ridden his horse well in

She was on the other side.

She went up to the king's high door,

She knocked and she went in,

Said, “One of your chancellor's robbed me

And he's robbed me right and clean.

Has he robbed you of your mantle?

Has he robbed you of your ring?

“No, he's robbed me of my maidenhead

And another I can't find.

If he be a married man

Then hanged he shall be,

And if he be a single man

He shall marry thee?

This couple they got married,

They live in Huntley town.

She's the Earl of Airlie's daughter,

And he's the blacksmith's son.