Lairds of Glenlyon

1 62 THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON.
Frae the hunds eschapis oft onslane,
Sae did I then, syne schupe me to remain,
In Lochaber with gude Ewin Alesoun,
Where that we wan mony ane malesoun."
Being chased from Lochaber by Archibald, Earl of Argyle,
he returned to his old haunts, but the toils were every-
where set against him, and so he was made prisoner by Sir
Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy. Cast into " ane dungeoun
deep," and expecting merited doom, the Battle of Flodden,
in which Sir Duncan fell, gave him hopes of liberty, which
he soon realised by bribing his keepers : —
" Deliverit, then, of danger and of deid,
Lettin again unto my libertie,
By help of friends, keparis of that steid,
To whom I promissed ane pension yeirlie ;
But in gude faith my intent was trewlie
Never worde to keep of that promiss than
Nor yet sensyne made to nae uther man."
The meeting with his companions is so graphically described
that I give it without curtailment :
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" Then be the way me haistilie their meetis
My companions swift as ony swallows ;
For great blythness sittis doun and greetis,
Sayand, ' Maister, welcome, be Alhallows.
May we be hangit heich upon ane gallows
Gif we be not blyther of you alane.
Nor that we had baith God and Sanct Phillan;.
'What tidings, sir,' quod I, ' frae the host ? '
Quod they, ' In gude faith we bide not for to lane ;
The King, with mony worthy man, is lost,
Baith Earl Archibald and Sir Duncan slain.'
' Offthae tidings,' quod I, ' I am richt fain,
For had the King lived, or yet the Lord,
They had me worrit stark dead in ane cord.