_At the end of version #B# Herd says_: The foundation of the preceding song seems to have been the same story with that under the title of 'Sir Andrew Wood' in the former volume [of 1769]. In the Relicks of Antient Poetry is a copy somewhat different from either. _We cannot suppose, after this, that Herd took his copy from Percy and altered it, and yet, excepting the variations noted above, and ~haff~ for ~have~ in 11^1, the copies are the same to a letter. If Herd's copy was one of the two used by Percy, what was the other? Was there, after all, but one copy again, as in the case of 'King Estmere'?_ #B.# _~O~ is added, in singing, to every second and fourth verse. Also in #D#, #E#, #F#, #H#._ #C.# 14^2. I thing. #F.# 14. _In a smaller hand, and detached from the preceding, as if added later._ #G.# _After 4 occurs this stanza, almost verbally repeated in 9, and improperly anticipating matters, according to the arrangement of the story in this version:_ Be't wind, be't weet, be't snaw, be't sleet, Our ships maun sail the morn: Ever alack! my master dear, For I fear a deadly storm. #H.# 24^4. _perhaps ~driven~._ #K.# 'Spendin the queen's meat an her fee' _was said by the reciter to belong to the ballad, though the connection was not remembered._ 13^2. _Var._: An langer will she stan. #L.# _1 is 5 and 5 is 1 in the MS._ [19] Scott's Minstrelsy, ed. 1833, I, 295; Notes and Queries, Second Series, X, 237. [20] Christie, I, 7, makes up a copy from Scott and Buchan, "with some alterations from the way the editor has heard" the ballad "sung." I have not felt called upon always to register Christie's cursory variations, but the fourth stanza may be given as he prints it: The first word that Sir Patrick read A licht licht laugh gae he; But ere he read it to an end The saut tear blint his ee. 'Sir Patrick Spens,' Aberdeen, printed by John Duffus, 1866, is composed from several versions, as Scott's, Buchan's, Aytoun's. [21] Sir Patrick Spens, or Spence, #A#, #B#, #C#, #G#, #H#, #J#, #M#; Young Patrick, #E#; Skipper Patrick, #F#; Young Patrick Spens, #I#, #K#; Sir Patrick, #L#; Earl Patrick Spens, #N#; Sir Andrew Wood, #A b#, #D#; Earl Patrick Graham, #P#. [22] It is so with the Conde Dirlos, when he receives a letter from the emperor: De las cartas placer hubo, de las palabras pesar; que lo que las cartas dicen á él parece muy mal. (Wolf y Hofmann, Primavera, II, 129.)