XVIII.
YOUNG WATERS.
A SCOTTISH 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 yeire, 1592, the Earle of Murray was cruelly murthered by the Earle of Huntley at his house in Dunibrissel in Fyffe-shyre, and with him Dumbar, shriffe of Murray. It [was] given out and publickly talked, that the Earle of Huntley was only the instrument of perpetrating this facte, to satisfie the King's jealousie of Murray, quhum the Queine more rashely than wyslie, some few dayes before had commendit in the King's heiringe, with too many epithets of a proper and gallant man. The reasons of these surmises proceidit from proclamatione of the Kings, the 18 of Marche following; inhibiting the younge Earle of Murray to persue the Earle of Huntley, for his father's slaughter, in respect he being wardit [imprisoned] in the castell of Blacknesse for the same murther, was willing to abide his tryall, averring that he had done nothing bot by the King's majesties commissione; and was neither airt nor part of the murther."[668]
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 Earl of Hume, who died at Gibraltar [in 1761].
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[Buchan, who printed a longer version of this ballad in thirty-nine stanzas, believed young Waters to have been David Graham of Fintray, who was found guilty of being concerned in a Popish plot, and beheaded on the 16th of February, 1592. Chambers supposed that the fate of some one of the Scottish nobles executed by James I. after his return from captivity in England is alluded to. The various conflicting conjectures are none of them very probable, and there is nothing in the ballad that would conclusively connect it with authentic Scottish history. Percy's suggestion is peculiarly unfortunate, as young Waters was publicly executed at Stirling. Mr. Maidment points out (_Scottish Ballads and Songs_, vol. i. p. 62) that the first edition appeared under the following title, _Young_ _Waters, an Ancient Scotish Poem, never before printed. Glasgow:_ _printed and sold by Robert and Andrew Foulis, MDCCLV._ sm. 4to. pp. 8; and he suggests that Lord Hailes was the editor of it.]
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About Yule, 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, 5 Beheld baith dale and down, And then she saw young Waters Cum riding to the town.
His footmen they did rin before, His horsemen rade behind, 10 Ane mantel of the burning gowd Did keip him frae the wind.
Gowden graith'd[669] his horse before And siller shod behind, The horse yong Waters rade upon 15 Was fleeter than the wind.
But then spake a wylie lord, Unto the queen said he, O tell me quha's the fairest face Rides in the company. 20
I've sene lord, and I've sene laird, And knights of high degree; Bot a fairer face than young Watèrs Mine eyne did never see.
Out then spack the jealous king, 25 (And an angry man was he) O, if he had been twice as fair, You micht have excepted me.
You're neither laird nor lord, she says, Bot the king that wears the crown; 30 Ther is 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 35 Young Waters he maun dee.
They hae taen young Waters, and Put fetters to his feet; They hae taen young Waters, and Thrown him in dungeon deep. 40
Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town In the wind both and the weit; Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town Wi fetters at my feet.
Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town 45 In the wind both and the rain; Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town Neir to return again.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill[670] His young son in his craddle, 50 And they hae taen to the heiding-hill, His horse both and his saddle.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill His lady fair to see. And for the words the Queen had spoke, 55 Young Waters he did dee.
FOOTNOTES:
[668] [Vol. i. Edin. 1824.]
[669] [caparisoned with golden accoutrements.]
[670] _Heiding-hill_; _i.e._ heading [beheading] hill. The place of execution was anciently an artificial hillock.