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Frae this aback near forty year,
I of this place was overseer,
When this Laird's father had the land,
A' thing was then at my command,
Wi' power to do as I thought fit,
In ilka cause I chief did sit:
The Laird paid great respect for me,
But I an ill return did gie;
The Title-Deeds of his Estate"
Out of the same I did him cheat,
And stale them frae whare they did lie,
Some days before the Laird did die.
His son at that time was in France,
And sae I thought I'd hae a chance
Gif he sud never come again,
That the Estate would be my ain.
But scarcely three bare weeks were past,
When death did come and grip me fast,
Sae sudden that I hadna 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 and nights
But never yet hae they been seen,
As I aneath a muckle stane,
Did hide them i' this cham’er wa',
Weel sew'd up in a leather ba';
But I was ne'er allow'd 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 it a' to you;
And now I'll tell you what to do.
