'O, For My Ain King,
' Quo' Gude Wallace

1.
'O, for my ain king,' quo' gude Wallace,
'The rightfu' king of fair Scotland,
Between me and my sovereign blude,
I think I see some ill seed sawn.'
2.
Wallace out over yon river he lap,
And he has lighted low down on yon plain,
And he was a ware of a gay ladie,
As she was at the well washing.
3.
'What tydins, what tydins, fair lady,' he says,
'What tydins hast thou to tell unto me -
What tydins, what tydins, fair lady,' he says,
'What tydins hae ye in the south countrie?'
4.
'Low down in yon wee Ostler-house
There is fyfteen Englishmen,
And they are seekin for gude Wallace;
It's him to take, and him to hang.'
5.
'There's nocht in my purse,' quo' gude Wallace,
'There's nocht, not even a bare pennie;
But I will down to yon wee Ostler-house
Thir fyfteen Englishmen to see.'
6.
And when he cam in to yon wee Ostler-house
He bad benedicite be there;
(The Englishmen at the table sat
The wine-fac'd captain at him did stare.)
7.
'Where was ye born, auld crookit carl,
Where was ye born, -- in what countrie?'
'I am a true Scot born and bred,
And an auld crookit carl just sic as ye see.'
8.
'I wad gie fyfteen shillings to onie crookit carl'
To onie crookit carl just sic as ye,
If ye will get me gude Wallace,
For he is the man I wad very fain see.'
9.
He hit the proud captain alang the chaft blade.
That never a bit o' meal he ate mair;
And he sticket the rest at the table where they sat,
And he left them a' lyin sprawlin there.
10.
'Get up, get up, gudewife,' he says,
'And get to me some dinner in haste;
For it will soon be three lang days
Sin I a bit o' meat did taste.'
11.
The dinner was na weel readie,
Nor was it on the table set,
Till other fyfteen Englishmen
Were a' lighted about the yett.
12.
'Come out, come out, now gude Wallace,
This is the day that thou maun die;'
' I lippen nae sae little to God,' he says,
' Altho' I be but ill wordie.'
13.
The gudewife had an auld gudeman,
By gude Wallace he stiffly stood;
Till ten o' the fyfteen Englishmen
Before the door lay in their blude.
14.
The other five to the greenwood ran,
And he hang'd these five upon a grain;
And on the morn wi' his merry men a'
He sat at dine in Lochmaben town.

'O, For My Ain King,'
Said Good Wallace


'O, for my own king,' said good Wallace,
'The rightfu' king of fair Scotland,
Between me and my sovereign blood,
I think I see some ill seed sown.'

Wallace out over yon river he leaped,
And he has lighted low down on yonder plain,
And he was a ware of a gay lady,
As she was at the well washing.

'What tidings, what tidings, fair lady,' he says,
'What tidings have you to tell unto me -
What tidings, what tidings, fair lady,' he says,
'What tidings have you in the south country?'

'Low down in yonder little Hostler-house
There is fifteen Englishmen,
And they are seeking for good Wallace;
It is him to take, and him to hang.'

'There is nothing in my purse,' said good Wallace,
'There is nothing, not even a bare penny;
But I will down to yonder little Hostler-house
These fifteen Englishmen to see.'

And when he came in to yonder little Hostler-house
He bade benedicite (bless you) be there;
(The Englishmen at the table sat
The wine-faced captain at him did stare.)

'Where was you born, old crooked fellow,
Where was you born, -- in what country?'
'I am a true Scot born and bred,
And an old crooked fellow just such as you see.'

'I would give fifteen shillings to any crooked fellow -
To any crooked fellow just such as you,
If you will get me good Wallace,
For he is the man I would very desirous to see.'

He hit the proud captain along the shaft blade.
That never a bit of meal he ate more (again);
And he stuck the rest at the table where they sat,
And he left them all lying sprawling there.

'Get up, get up, hostess,' he says,
'And get to me some dinner in haste;
For it will soon be three long days
Since I a bit of meat did taste.'

The dinner was not well ready,
Nor was it on the table set,
Till other fifteen Englishmen
Were all lighted about the gate.

'Come out, come out, now good Wallace,
This is the day that you must die;'
' I depend not so little to God,' he says,
' Although I be but ill worded.'

The hostess had an old husband,
By good Wallace he stiffly stood;
Till ten of the fifteen Englishmen
Before the door lay in their blood.

The other five to the green wood ran,
And he hanged these five upon a branch;
And on the morn with his merry men all
He sat at dine in Lochmaben town.