that the king sends him a letter, requesting his presence at court and promising him safety. Johnnie is fooled by this honour and orders his men to dress richly, as befits the court. On their arrival, Johnnie asks for a pardon, but instead the king tries to arrest them, and Armstrong orders them to fight. They are all killed, although Johnnie is brought down only by a treacherous attack from behind. As is common in many such Scottish ballads, his son, still "on his nurse's knee", vows revenge. The variants sometimes open with a lament that it is not safe to appear before the king, or end with a thanksgiving that, as a reiver, Johnnie Armstrong had kept the English out of Scotland. "The Ballad of Johnny Armstrong" has been recorded by David Wilkie and Cowboy Celtic, and by Gunning and Cormier. Armstrong's story was dramatised by John Arden in his play Armstrong's Last Goodnight. References External links Johnie Armstrong History of Johnie Armstrong Commentary by Sir Walter Scott Clan Armstrong Child Ballads Armstrong, Johnnie Armstrong, Johnnie Border ballads Northumbrian folklore Year of song unknown