It fell about the gude Yule time,
When caps and stoups gaed roun',
Down it came him young Waters,
To welcome James, our king.
The great, the great, rade a' together,5
The sma' came a' behin';
But wi' young Waters, that brave knight,
There came a gay gatherin'.
The horse young Waters rade upon,
It cost him hunders nine;10
For he was siller shod before,
And gowd graith had behin'.
At ilka tippit o' his horse mane
There hang a siller bell;
The wind was loud, the steed was proud,15
And they gae a sindry knell.
The king he lay ower's castle wa',
Beheld baith dale and down;
And he beheld him, young Waters,
He turn'd him right and round about,
And to the queen said he,—
"Who is the bravest man, my dame,
That ever your een did see?"
"I've seen lairds, and I've seen lords,25
And knights o' high degree;
But a braver man than young Waters
My e'en did never see."
He turn'd him right and roun' about,
And ane angry man was he;30
"O wae to you, my dame, the queen;
Ye might ha'e excepted me!"
"Ye are nae laird, ye are nae lord,
Ye are the king that wears the crown;
There's nae a lord in fair Scotland,35
But unto you maun a' bow down."