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
Dunbar, sheriffe of Murray. It was given out and
publickly talkt, that the Earle of Huntley was only the
instrument of perpetrating this facte, to satisfie the King's
jealousie of Murray, quhum the Queene more rashely than
wisely, some few days before had commendit in the
King's hearing, with too many epithets of a proper
and gallant man. The reasons of these surmises proceedit
from a proclamatione of the Kings, the 13 of
Marche following; inhibiteine the zoung Earle of Murray
to persue the Earle of Huntley, for his father's
slaughter, in respect he being wardeit [imprisoned] in
the castell of Blacknesse for the same murther, was willing
to abide a tryall, averring that he had done nothing
but by the King's majesties commissione; and was neither
airt nor part in the murther
.”
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.
About Zule, quhen the wind blew cule,
And the round tables began,
A'! there is cum to our kings court
Mony a well-favourd man.
The queen luikt owre the castle wa,
Beheld baith dale and down,
And then she saw zoung Waters
Cum riding to the town.
His footmen they did rin before,
His horsemen rade behind,
And mantel of the burning gowd
Did keip him frae the wind.
Gowden graith'd his horse before
And siller shod behind,
The horse zoung Waters rade upon
Was fleeter than the wind.
But than spake a wylie lord,
Unto the queen said he,
O tell me qhua's the fairest face
Rides in the company.
I've sene lord, and I've sene laird,
And knights of high degree;
Bot a fairer face than zoung Watèrs
Mine eyne did never see.
Out then spack the jealous king,
(And an angry man was he)
O, if he had been twice as fair,
Zou micht have excepted me.
Zou're neither laird nor lord, she says,
Bot the king that wears the crown;
Theris not a knight in fair Scotland
Bot to thee maun bow down.
For a' that she could do or say,
Appeasd he wad nae bee;
Bot for the words which she had said
Zoung Waters he maun dee.
They hae taen zoung Waters, and
Put fetters to his feet;
They hae taen zoung Waters, and
Thrown him in dungeon deep.
Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town
In the wind bot and the weit;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Wi fetters at my feet.
Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town
In the wind bot and the rain;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Neir to return again.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill
His zoung son to his craddle,
And they hae taen to the heiding-hill,
His horse bot and his saddle.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill
His lady fair to see.
And for the words the Queen had spoke,
Zoung Waters he did dee.
