Reliques of Ancient English Poetry consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, (Chiefly of the Lyric kind.) Together with some few of later Date |
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Reliques of Ancient English Poetry | ||
XVIII. YOUNG WATERS.
A Sottish Ballad.
It has been suggested to the Editor, that this ballad covertly alludes to the indiscreet partiality, which Q. Anne of Denmark is said to have shewn for the bonny Earl of Murray; and which is supposed to have influenced the fate of that unhappy nobleman. Let the Reader judge for himself.
The following account of the murder is given by a contemporary writer, and a person of credit, Sir James Balfour, Knight, Lyon King of Arms, whose MS. of the Annals of Scotland is in the Advocates library at Edinburgh.
“The seventh of Febry, this zeire, 1592, the Earle of Murray was cruelly murthered by the Earle of Huntley at his house in Dunibrissel in Fysse-shyre, and with him
The following ballad is here given from a copy printed not long since at Glasgow, in one sheet 8vo. The world was indebted for its publication to the lady Jean Hume, sister to the Earle of Hume, who died lately at Gibraltar.
And the round tables began,
A'! there is cum to our kings court
Mony a well-favourd man.
Beheld baith dale and down,
And then she saw zoung Waters
Cum riding to the town.
His horsemen rade behind,
And mantel of the burning gowd
Did keip him frae the wind.
And siller shod behind,
The horse zoung Waters rade upon
Was fleeter than the wind.
Unto the queen said he,
O tell me qhua's the fairest face
Rides in the company.
And knights of high degree;
Bot a fairer face than zoung Watèrs
Mine eyne did never see.
(And an angry man was he)
O, if he had been twice as fair,
Zou micht have excepted me.
Bot the king that wears the crown;
Theris not a knight in fair Scotland
Bot to thee maun bow down.
Appeasd he wad nae bee;
Bot for the words which she had said
Zoung Waters he maun dee.
Put fetters to his feet;
They hae taen zoung Waters, and
Thrown him in dungeon deep.
In the wind bot and the weit;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Wi fetters at my feet.
In the wind bot and the rain;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Neir to return again.
His zoung son to his craddle,
And they hae taen to the heiding-hill,
His horse bot and his saddle.
His lady fair to see.
And for the words the Queen had spoke,
Zoung Waters he did dee.
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry | ||