12
But scarcely three bare weeks were past,
When Death did come and grip me fast,
Sae sudden that I had nae pow'r
The charter back for to restore.
Soon after that hame came the heir,
And syne got up the reefu' rair,
What sorrow was come o' the Rights ?
They sought them several days an' nights,
But never yet hae they been seen,
As I aneath a meikle stane,
Did hide them, i' this cham'er wa',
Well sewed up in a leather ba';
But I was ne'er allowed to rest,
Until that I the same confest;
But this to do I hadna power,
Frae yon time to this verra hour,
That I've reveal'd a' to you ;
And now I'll tell you what to do.
Till nae langsyne nae mony kent,
That this same Laird the Rights did want;
But now they ha'e him at the law,
An' the neist owk the Laird maun shaw,
Afore ihe Court, the Rights o's land,
This puts him to an unco stand :
For if he disna shaw them there,
O' a' his lands he'll be stript bare :
Nae hopes has he to save's estate,
This make him sowr and unco blate ;
He canna think whar's Rights may be,
And ne'er expects them mair to see,
But now, my friend, mark what I tell,
And ye'll get something to yoursel';
