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Fine 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,
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 where 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 should never come again,
That the Estate would he 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 rufu 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' the cham'er wa',
Weal sew'd 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 revealed it a' to you,
And now I'll tell you what to do.