“O whare will I get a skeely skipper,

To sail this new ship of mine?”

O up and spake an eldern knight,

Sat at the king’s right knee,—

“Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor,

That ever sailed the sea.”—

Our king has written a braid letter,

And seal’d it with his hand,

And sent it to sir Patrick Spens,

Was walking on the strand.