"Aft ha'e I ridden thro' Striveling town,
Thro' heavy wind and rain;
But ne'er rade I thro' Striveling town75
But thought to ridden't again."
They brought him to the heading-hill,
His horse, bot and his saddle;
And they brought to the heading-hill
His young son in his cradle.80
And they brought to the heading-hill,
His hounds intill a leish;
And they brought till the heading-hill,
His gos-hawk in a jess.
King James he then rade up the hill,85
And mony a man him wi',
And called on his trusty page,
To come right speedilie.
"Ye'll do' ye to the Earl o' Mar,
For he sits on yon hill;90
Bid him loose the brand frae his bodie,
Young Waters for to kill."
"O gude forbid," the Earl he said,
"The like su'd e'er fa' me,
My bodie e'er su'd wear the brand95
That gars young Waters die."
Then he has loos'd his trusty brand,
And casten't in the sea;
Says, "Never lat them get a brand,
Till it come back to me."100
The scaffold it prepared was,
And he did mount it hie;
And a' spectators that were there,
The saut tears blint their e'e.