+The Text+ is that of a copy mentioned by Percy, '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.' The original edition, discovered by Mr. Macmath after
Professor Child's version (from the _Reliques_) was in print, is:--
'Young Waters, an Ancient Scottish Poem, never before printed. Glasgow,
printed and sold by Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1755.' This was also known
to Maidment. Hardly a word differs from Percy's version; but here I have
substituted the spellings 'wh' for Percy's 'quh,' in 'quhen,' etc., and
'y' for his 'z' in 'zoung, zou,' etc.
+The Story+ has had historical foundations suggested for it by Percy and
Chambers. Percy identified Young Waters with the Earl of Murray,
murdered, according to the chronicle of Sir James Balfour, on the 7th of
February 1592. Chambers, in 1829, relying on Buchan's version of the
ballad, had no doubt that Young Waters was one of the Scots nobles
executed by James I., and was very probably Walter Stuart, second son of
the Duke of Albany. Thirty years later, Chambers was equally certain
that the ballad was the composition of Lady Wardlaw.
In a Scandinavian ballad, Folke Lovmandson is a favourite at court;
a little wee page makes the fatal remark and excites the king's
jealousy. The innocent knight is rolled down a hill in a barrel set with
knives--a punishment common in Scandinavian folklore.