Chapter X: Part 10

14
O they rade on, and on they rade,
And a' by the light of the moon,
Until they cam to his mother's ha door,
And there they lighted down.

15
'Get up, get up, lady mother,' he says,
'Get up, and let me in!
Get up, get up, lady mother,' he says,
'For this night my fair lady I've win.

16
'O mak my bed, lady mother,' he says,
'O mak it braid and deep,
And lay Lady Margret close at my back,
And the sounder I will sleep.'

17
Lord William was dead lang ere midnight,
Lady Margret lang ere day,
And all true lovers that go thegither,
May they have mair luck than they!

18
Lord William was buried in St. Mary's kirk,
Lady Margret in Mary's quire;
Out o the lady's grave grew a bonny red rose,
And out o the knight's a briar.

19
And they twa met, and they twa plat,
And fain they wad be near;
And a' the warld might ken right weel
They were twa lovers dear.

20
But bye and rade the Black Douglas,
And wow but he was rough!
For he pulld up the bonny brier,
And flang't in St. Mary's Loch.

C

Motherwell's MS., p. 502. From the recitation of Mrs
Notman.

1
'Rise up, rise up, my seven brave sons,
And dress in your armour so bright;
Earl Douglas will hae Lady Margaret awa
Before that it be light.

2
'Arise, arise, my seven brave sons,
And dress in your armour so bright;
It shall never be said that a daughter of mine
Shall go with an earl or a knight.'

3
'O will ye stand, fair Margaret,' he says,
'And hold my milk-white steed,
Till I fight your father and seven brethren,
In yonder pleasant mead?'

4
She stood and held his milk-white steed,
She stood trembling with fear,
Until she saw her seven brethren fall,
And her father that loved her dear.

5
'Hold your hand, Earl Douglas,' she says,
'Your strokes are wonderous sair;
I may get sweethearts again enew,
But a father I'll ne'er get mair.'

6
She took out a handkerchief
Was made o' the cambrick fine,
And aye she wiped her father's bloody wounds,
And the blood sprung up like wine.

7
'Will ye go, fair Margaret?' he said,
'Will ye now go, or bide?'
'Yes, I'll go, sweet William,' she said,
'For ye've left me never a guide.

8
'If I were to go to my mother's house,
A welcome guest I would be;
But for the bloody deed that's done this day
I'll rather go with thee.'

9
He lifted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple gray;
They drew their hats out over their face,
And they both went weeping away.

10
They rode, they rode, and they better rode,
Till they came to yon water wan;
They lighted down to gie their horse a drink
Out of the running stream.

11
'I am afraid, Earl Douglas.' she said,
'I am afraid ye are slain;
I think I see your bonny heart's blood
Running down the water wan.'

12
'Oh no, oh no, fair Margaret,' he said,
'Oh no, I am not slain;
It is but the scad of my scarlet cloak
Runs down the water wan.'

13
He mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple gray,
And they have reached Earl Douglas' gates
Before the break of day.

14
'O rise, dear mother, and make my bed,
And make it braid and wide,
And lay me down to take my rest,
And at my back my bride.'

15
She has risen and made his bed,
She made it braid and wide;
She laid him down to take his rest,
And at his back his bride.

16
Lord William died ere it was day,
Lady Margaret on the morrow;
Lord William died through loss of blood and wounds,
Fair Margaret died with sorrow.

17
The one was buried in Mary's kirk,
The other in Mary's quire;
The one sprung up a bonnie bush,
And the other a bonny brier.

18
These twa grew, and these twa threw,
Till they came to the top,
And when they could na farther gae,
They coost the lovers' knot.

D

Kinloch MSS, I, 327.

1
'Sleepst thou or wakst thou, Lord Montgomerie,
Sleepst thou or wakst thou, I say?
Rise up, make a match for your eldest daughter,
For the youngest I carry away.'

2
'Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons,
Dress yourselves in the armour sae fine;
For it ne'er shall be said that a churlish knight
Eer married a daughter of mine.'

* * * * * * *

3
'Loup aff, loup aff, Lady Margaret,' he said,
'And hold my steed in your hand,
And I will go fight your seven brethren,
And your father, where they stand.'

4
Sometimes she gaed, sometimes she stood,
But never dropt a tear,
Until she saw her brethren all slain
And her father who lovd her so dear.

5
'Hold thy hand, sweet William,' she says,
'Thy blows are wondrous sore;
Sweethearts I may have many a one,
But a father I'll never have more.'

6
O she's taken her napkin frae her pocket,
Was made o the holland fine,
And ay as she dichted her father's bloody wounds,
They sprang as red as the wine.

7
'Two chooses, two chooses, Lady Margret,' he says,
'Two chooses I'll make thee;
Whether to go back to your mother again,
Or go along with me.'

8
'For to go home to my mother again,
An unwelcome guest I'd be;
But since my fate has ordered it so,
I'll go along with thee.'

9
He has mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself on the dapple gray,
And blawn his horn baith loud and shill,
And it sounded far on their way.

10
They rode oer hill, they rode oer dale,
They rode oer mountains so high,
Until they came to that beautiful place
Where Sir William's mother did lie.

11
'Rise up, rise up, lady mother,' he said,
'Rise up, and make much o your own;
Rise up, rise up, lady mother,' he said,
'For his bride's just new come home.'

12
Sir William he died in the middle o the night,
Lady Margaret died on the morrow;
Sir William he died of pure pure love,
Lady Margaret of grief and sorrow.

E

Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 180. From recitation.

1
He has lookit over his left shoulder,
And through his bonnie bridle rein,
And he spy'd her father and her seven bold brethren,
Come riding down the glen.

2
'O hold my horse, Lady Margret,' he said,
'O hold my horse by the bonnie bridle rein,
Till I fight your father and seven bold brethren,
As they come riding down the glen.'

3
Some time she rade, and some time she gaed,
Till she that place did near,
And there she spy'd her seven bold brethren slain,
And her father who loved her so dear.

4
'O hold your hand, sweet William,' she said,
'Your bull baits are wondrous sair;
Sweet-hearts I may get many a one,
But a father I will never get mair.'

5
She has taken a napkin from off her neck,
That was of the cambrick so fine,
And aye as she wiped her father's bloody wounds,
The blood ran red as the wine.

* * * * * * *

6
He set her upon the milk-white steed,
Himself upon the brown;
He took a horn out of his pocket,
And they both went weeping along.

F

Percy MS., p. 57; ed. Hales and Furnivall, I, 133.

1
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
Sayes 'Christ thee saue, good Child of Ell!
Christ saue thee and thy steede!

2
'My father sayes he will [eat] noe meate,
Nor his drinke shall doe him noe good,
Till he haue slaine the Child of Ell,
And haue seene his harts blood.'

3
'I wold I were in my sadle sett,
And a mile out of the towne;
I did not care for yo_u_r father
And all his merry men!

4
'I wold I were in my sadle sett,
And a little space him froe;
I did not care for yo_u_r father
And all that long him to!'

5
He leaned ore his saddle bow
To kisse this lady good;
The teares _that_ went them _two_ betweene
Were blend water and blood.

6
He sett himselfe on one good steed,
This lady on a palfray,
And sett his litle horne to his mouth,
And roundlie he rode away.

7
He had not ridden past a mile,
A mile out of the towne,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

8
Her father was readye with her _seuen_ brether,
He said, 'Sett thou my daughter downe!
For it ill beseemes thee, thou false churles sonne,
To carry her forth of this towne!'

9
'But lowd thou lyest, S_i_r Iohn the k_nigh_t,
Thou now doest lye of me;
A knight me gott, and a lady me bore;
Soe neuer did none by thee.

10
'But light now downe, my lady gay,
Light downe and hold my horsse,
Whilest I and yo_u_r father and yo_u_r brether
Doe play vs at this crosse.

11
'But light now downe, my owne trew loue,
And meeklye hold my steede,
Whilest yo_u_r father [and your _seuen_ brether] bold

* * * * * * *

* * * * *

#A. a, b.#

_Obtained from recitation "many years ago" wrote Mr White
in 1873, by James Telfer, of Laughtree Liddesdale, in some
part of the neighboring country: the copy has the date
1818. #c# is said by the editor to have been taken down
from the recitation of an old fiddler in Northumberland,
but when and by whom he does not tell us. The three are
clearly more or less "corrected" copies of the same
original, #c# having suffered most from arbitrary changes.
Alterations for rhyme's sake, or for propriety's, that are
written above the lines or in the margin of #a# 2, 5, 8,
19, are adopted in #c# without advertisement._

_Burden._ #b.# I the brave night sae early:

#c.# I the brave nights so early:

#d.# I (_or_ O) the life o the one, the randy.

1^1. #c.# Brand, _and always in_ #c#.

1^2. #a.# daughters.

#b.# He's courted.

2^1. #c.# years that tide; that tide _is written over_ of
age _in_ #a#.

2^2. #c.# When sae.

4^2. #c.# But thou.

5^2. #b.# best o these.

#c.# best of tho. of tho _is written over_ o them a
_in_ #a#.

6^2. #b, c.# have met.

7^1. #c.# Till at last they met.

7^2. #c.# He's aye for ill and never.

8^1. #b.# O Earl Bran.

#c.# Now Earl Brand. Now _in the margin of_ #a#.

8^2. #b, c.# Slay this.

9^2. #b.# man that wears.

#c.# carl that wears, carl ... wears _written over_ man
... has _in_ #a#.

10. #b.#
O lady fair, I'll no do that,
I'll pay him penny, let him be jobbing at.

#c.#
My own lady fair, I'll not do that,
I'll pay him his fee

11^2. #b.# where have stoln this fair.

#c.# And where have ye stown this fair.

13.
#b.#
She is my sick sister,
Which I newly brought from Winchester.

#c.#
For she is, I trow, my sick sister,
Whom I have been bringing fra Winchester.

14^1. #c.# nigh to dead.

14^2. #b, c.# What makes her wear.

15^1. #c.# If she's been.

15^2. #b, c.# What makes her wear the gold sae high.

16^1. #c.# When came the carl to the lady's yett.

16^2. #b.# rapped at.

#c.# He rudely, rudely rapped thereat.

17^2. #b.# maids playen.

#c.# a playing.

#d.# She's out with the fair maids playing at the ball.

18^1. #b.# mistkane (?):

18^2. #b, c.# Ye may count.

b^2. young Earl.

19. #c.#
I met her far beyond the lea
With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be:

_In ~a lea~ is written over ~moor~, and ~With the young~,
etc., stands as a "correction."_

20. #b.#
Her father, _etc._,
And they have riden after them.

#c.#
Her father of his best men armed fifteen,
And they're ridden after them bidene.

21^1. #b, c.# The lady looket [looked] over [owre] her
left shoulder then.

22^1. #b, c.# If they come on me one by one,

22^2. #b.# Ye may stand by and see them fall.

#c.# You may stand by till the fights be done.

#d.# Then I will slay them every one.

23^1. #b.# all in all.

#d.# all and all.

23^2. #d.# Then you will see me the sooner fall.

24^2. #b.# has slain.

24. #c.#
They came upon him one by one,
Till fourteen battles he has won.
And fourteen men he has them slain,
Each after each upon the plain.

25. #c.#
But the fifteenth man behind stole round,
And dealt him a deep and a deadly wound.

26. #c.#
Though he was wounded to the deid,
He set his lady on her steed.

27^1. #c.# river Donne:

27^2. #b.# And he lighted down.

#c.# And there they lighted to wash his wound.

28^2. #b.# It's but the glent.

#c.# It's nothing but the glent and my scarlet hood.

29^1. #c.# yett.

29^2. #b.# Sae ruddly as he rappet at.

#c.# So faint and feebly he rapped thereat.

30^1. #b.# O my son's slain and cut down.

#c.# O my son's slain, he is falling to swoon.

32. #b.#
... death of only one,
But it's been the death of fair seventeen.

_Instead of 32, #c# has_:

To a maiden true he'll give his hand,
To the king's daughter o fair England,
To a prize that was won by a slain brother's brand.

#B.#

3. _A stanza resembling this is found in Beaumont and
Fletcher's 'Knight of the Burning Pestle' (1611), Dyce,
II, 172, but may belong to some other ballad, as_ 'The
Knight and Shepherd's Daughter:'

He set her on a milk-white steed,
And himself upon a grey;
He never turned his face again,
But he bore her quite away.

8^4. ware.

18^1. Marie.

20^4. flang'd.

#C.#

12^3. _MS._ scâd.

#D.#

10. _The following stanza, superscribed "~Mrs Lindores,
Kelso~," was found among Mr Kinlock's papers, and was
inserted at I, 331, of the Kinlock MSS. It may be a first
recollection of #D# 10, but is more likely to be another
version_:

'We raid over hill and we raid over dale,
And we raid over mountains sae high,
Until we cam in sicht o yon bonnie castle bowr
Whare Sir William Arthur did lie.'

#E.#

5-6. _"Two stanzas are here omitted, in which Lord William
offers her the choice of returning to her mother, or of
accompanying him; and the ballad concludes with this [the
6th] stanza, which is twice repeated in singing."
Motherwell's preface._

#F.#

3^4. _MS._ merrymen.

6^2. of one palfray.

_7, 8 are written in one stanza. Half a page, or about
nine stanzas, is gone after st. 11._

[107] 'Erlinton,' though not existing in a two-line stanza, follows immediately after 'Earl Brand.' The copy of 'The Douglas Tragedy' in Smith's Scottish Minstrel, III, 86, is merely Scott's, with changes to facilitate singing.

[108] #B*#, III, 853, a fragment of five stanzas, has been dropped by Grundtvig from No 82, and assigned to No 249. See #D. g. F#. IV, 494.

[109] Though the paradise has not been transmitted in any known copy of 'Earl Brand,' it appears very distinctly in the opening stanza of 'Leesome Brand' #A#. This last has several stanzas towards the close (33-35) which seem to belong to 'Earl Brand,' and perhaps derived these, the "unco land," and even its name, by the familiar process of intermixture of traditions.

[110] See No 5, pp. 64, 65, 66.

[111] Compare vv 49-56, "Wilt thou ride to them, or wilt thou fight with them, or wilt thou stand by thy love, sword in hand?" "I will not ride to them, I will not fight with them [i. e., begin the fight], but I will stand by my love, sword in hand," with Norwegian #A#, 29, 30: "Shall we ride to the wood, or shall we bide like men?" "We will not ride to the wood, but we will bide like men." And also with Danish #Æ#, sts 14, 15.

[112] The chief branches, besides the Helgi lay and Walter, are the saga in Snorri's Edda, Skáldskaparmal, § 50; that in Saxo Grammaticus, Stephanius, ed. 1644, pp. 88-90; Sörla þáttr, in Fornaldar Sögur, I, 391 ff; the Shetland ballad printed in Low's Tour through the Islands of Orkney and Shetland, 108 ff, and in Barry's History of the Orkney Islands, 2d ed., 489 ff, and paraphrased in Hibbert's Description of the Shetland Islands, 561 ff; the Thidrik saga, §§ 233-239, Unger; Gudrun, v-viii. The names of father, daughter, and lover in these are: (1) Hügni, ----, Högni, Högin-, Högni, ----, [Artus], Hagen; (2) [Sigrún], Hilde-gunde, Hildr, Hilda, Hildr, Hildina, Hildr, Hilde; (3) Helgi, [Walter], Hedin, Hithin-, Hedin, ----, [Herburt], Hetel. Hagan, in 'Waltharius,' may be said to take the place of the father, who is wanting; and this is in a measure true also of Hedin, Helgi's half-brother, in the lay of Helgi Hiörvard's son. See the excellent discussion of the saga by Klee, Zur Hildesage, Leipzig, 1873.

The Swedish ballad, 'Herr Hjelmer,' #A#, Arwidsson, I, 155, No 21; #B#, #C#, Afzelius, II, 178, 226, No 74 (Helmer); #D#, #E#. Wigström, Folkdiktning, p. 25, No 10 (Hjelman), has several points of agreement with Ribold and the Hilde saga. The hero kills six of seven brothers [also the father, in #A#], spares the seventh on oath of fidelity, and is treacherously slain by him. The youngest brother carries her lover's head to his sister, is invited to drink by her (in three of the four copies), and slain while so engaged; reminding us of Hildina in the Shetland ballad. Danish 'Herr Hjælm,' Grundtvig, Danske Folkeminder, 1861, p. 81, agrees with the Swedish, except that there are only three brothers.

[113] Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, ed. Grundtvig, 42-44, Ribold og Guldborg, #A# 33, 34, #B# 46, #D# 46, 47, #E# 42, #Q# 24. The observation is Professor Bugge's.

[114] Höttr, er Óðinn var reyndar, Hood, who was Odin really, Fornaldar Sögur, II, p. 25. Klee observes, p. 10 f, that Högni [Hagen] is the evil genius of the Hildesage. Sometimes he is the heroine's father; in 'Waltharius,' strangely enough, the hero's old friend (and even there a one-eyed man.) Klee treats the introduction of a rival lover (as in the Shetland ballad and Gudrun) as a departure from the older story. But we have the rival in Helgi Hundingslayer. The proper marplot in this lay is Blind the Ill-witted (Odin), whose part is sustained in 'Earl Brand' by the malicious Hood, in several Norwegian ballads by a very enigmatical "false Pál greive," in two other Norwegian ballads and one Danish by an old man, and, what is most remarkable, in the Shetland ballad by the rejected lover of Hildina (the Sir Nilaus of Danish #D#, Hertug Nilssón of some Norwegian copies), who bears the name Hiluge, interpreted with great probability by Conrad Hofmann (Munich Sitzungsberichte, 1867, II, 209, note), Illhugi, der Bössinnige, evil-minded (Icelandic íllhugaðr, ílluðigr.)

[115] Inimicitias Othinus serit, Saxo, p. 142, ed. 1644. See Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, I, 120, note 2, III, 56, new ed., for Odin's bad points, though some of Grimm's interpretations might now be objected to.

[116] Et de la tombe de monseigneur Tristan yssoit une ronce belle et verte et bien feuilleue, qui alloit par dessus la chapelle, et descendoit le bout de la ronce sur la tombe de la royne Yseult, et entroit dedans. La virent les gens du pays et la comptèrent au roy Marc. Le roy la fist couper par troys foys, et quant il l'avoit le jour fait couper, le lendemain estoit aussi belle comme avoit aultre fois esté. Fol. cxxiv as cited by Braga, Rom. Ger., p. 185.

8

ERLINTON

#A.# 'Erlinton,' Scott's Minstrelsy, III, 235, ed. 1803.

#B.# 'True Tammas,' Mr R. White's papers.

#C.# 'Robin Hood and the Tanner's Daughter,' Gutch's Robin
Hood, II, 345.

'Erlinton' (#A#) first appeared in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, the text formed "from the collation of two copies obtained from recitation." #B# is a manuscript copy, furnished by the late Mr Robert White of Newcastle, and was probably taken down from recitation by Mr James Telfer early in the century. #C#, in which Robin Hood has taken the place of a hero who had at least _connections_ out of Great Britain, was first printed in Gutch's Robin Hood, from a manuscript of Mr Payne Collier, supposed to have been written about 1650.

This ballad has only with much hesitation been separated from the foregoing. In this as in that, a man induces a maid to go off with him; he is set upon by a party of fifteen in #A#, #B#, as in 7 #A#; and he spares the life of one of his assailants [an old man, #A#, #B#, the younger brother, #C#]. Some agreements as to details with Scandinavian Ribold ballads have already been noticed, and it has been observed that while there is no vestige of the dead-naming in 'Earl Brand,' there is an obvious trace of it in 'Erlinton' #A#, #B#. 'Erlinton' #A#, #B# has also one other correspondence not found in 'Earl Brand,'--the strict watch kept over the lady (st. 2). Even the bigly bower, expressly built to confine her in, is very likely a reminiscence or a displacement of the tower in which Hilde is shut up, _after_ her elopement, in some of the Scandinavian ballads (Danish 83 #A#, #B#; Swedish #A#, dark house). But notwithstanding these resemblances to the Ribold story, there is a difference in the larger part of the details, and all the 'Erlinton' ballads have a fortunate conclusion, which also does not seem forced, as it does in Arwidsson, 107, the only instance, perhaps, in which a fortunate conclusion in a Ribold ballad is of the least account; for Grundtvig's #F#, #G# are manifestly copies that have been tampered with, and Landstad 34 is greatly confused at the close. It may be an absolute accident, but 'Erlinton' #A#, #B# has at least one point of contact with the story of Walter of Aquitania which is not found in 'Earl Brand.' This story requires to be given in brief on account of its kinship to both.

Walter, with his betrothed Hildegunde, fly from the court of Attila, at which they have both lived as hostages since their childhood, taking with them two boxes of jewels. Gunther, king of Worms, learns that a knight and lady, with a richly-laden horse, have passed the Rhine, and sets out in pursuit, with twelve of his best fighting men, resolved to capture the treasure. The fugitives, after a very long ride, make a halt in a forest, and Walter goes to sleep with his head on Hildegunde's knees. The lady meanwhile keeps watch, and rouses her lover when she perceives by the dust they raise that horsemen are approaching. Gunther sends one of his knights with a message demanding the surrender of the treasure. Walter scornfully refuses, but expresses a willingness to make the king a present of a hundred bracelets, or rings, of red gold, in token of his respect. The messenger is sent back with directions to take the treasure by force, if it should be refused again. Walter, having vainly offered a present of two hundred bracelets to avoid a conflict, is attacked by the knight, whom he slays. Ten others go the way of this first, and only the king and one of his troop, Hagen, a very distinguished knight and an old comrade of Walter, remain. These now attack Walter; the combat is long and fierce; all three are seriously wounded, and finally so exhausted as to be forced to cease fighting. Walter and Hagen enter into a friendly talk while refreshing themselves with wine, and in the end Gunther[117] is put on a horse and conducted home by Hagen, while Walter and Hildegunde continue their journey to Aquitania. There they were married and ruled thirty happy years. ('Waltharius,' ed. R. Peiper, 1873.)

The particular resemblances of 'Erlinton' #A#, #B# to 'Walter' are that the assailants are "bold knights," or "bravest outlaws," _not_ the lady's kinsmen; that there are two parleys before the fight; and that the hero survives the fight and goes off with his love. The utmost that could be insisted on is that some features of the story of Walter have been blended in the course of tradition with the kindred story of Ribold. 'Erlinton' #C# is much less like 'Walter,' and more like 'Ribold.'

The 'Sultan's Fair Daughter,' translated by Aigner, Ungarische Volksdichtungen, p. 93, 2d ed., has perhaps derived something from the Walter story. Two Magyars escape from the Sultan's prison by the aid of his daughter, under promise of taking her to Hungary. She often looks backwards, fearing pursuit. At last a large band overtake them. One of the Magyars guards the lady; the other assaults the Turks, of whom he leaves only one alive, to carry back information. One of the two has a love at home; the other takes the Sultan's daughter.

* * * * *

'Erlinton' is translated by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder, No 24, and by Karl Knortz, Schottische Balladen, No 12.

A

Scott's Minstrelsy, III, 235, ed. 1803; ed. 1833, II, 353.
Made up from two copies obtained from recitation.

1
Erlinton had a fair daughter;
I wat he weird her in a great sin;
For he has built a bigly bower,
An a' to put that lady in.

2
An he has warnd her sisters six,
An sae has he her brethren se'en,
Outher to watch her a' the night,
Or else to seek her morn an een.

3
She hadna been i that bigly bower
Na not a night but barely ane,
Till there was Willie, her ain true love,
Chappd at the door, cryin 'Peace within!'

4
'O whae is this at my bower door,
That chaps sae late, nor kens the gin?'
'O it is Willie, your ain true love,
I pray you rise an let me in!'

5
'But in my bower there is a wake,
An at the wake there is a wane;
But I'll come to the green-wood the morn,
Whar blooms the brier, by mornin dawn.'

6
Then she's gane to her bed again,
Where she has layen till the cock crew thrice,
Then she said to her sisters a',
'Maidens, 't is time for us to rise.'

7
She pat on her back her silken gown,
An on her breast a siller pin,
An she's tane a sister in ilka hand,
An to the green-wood she is gane.

8
She hadna walkd in the green-wood
Na not a mile but barely ane,
Till there was Willie, her ain true love,
Whae frae her sisters has her taen.

9
He took her sisters by the hand,
He kissd them baith, an sent them hame,
An he's taen his true love him behind,
And through the green-wood they are gane.

10
They hadna ridden in the bonnie green-wood
Na not a mile but barely ane,
When there came fifteen o the boldest knights
That ever bare flesh, blood, or bane.

11
The foremost was an aged knight,
He wore the grey hair on his chin:
Says, 'Yield to me thy lady bright,
An thou shalt walk the woods within.'

12
'For me to yield my lady bright
To such an aged knight as thee,
People wad think I war gane mad,
Or a' the courage flown frae me.'

13
But up then spake the second knight,
I wat he spake right boustouslie:
'Yield me thy life, or thy lady bright,
Or here the tane of us shall die.'

14
'My lady is my warld's meed;
My life I winna yield to nane;
But if ye be men of your manhead,
Ye'll only fight me ane by ane.'

15
He lighted aff his milk-white steed,
An gae his lady him by the head,
Sayn, 'See ye dinna change your cheer,
Untill ye see my body bleed.'

16
He set his back unto an aik,
He set his feet against a stane,
An he has fought these fifteen men,
An killd them a' but barely ane.

17
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
For he has left that aged knight.
An a' to carry the tidings hame.

18
When he gaed to his lady fair,
I wat he kissd her tenderlie:
'Thou art mine ain love, I have thee bought;
Now we shall walk the green-wood free.'

B

MS. of Robert White, Esq., of Newcastle, from James
Telfer's collection.

1
There was a knight, an he had a daughter,
An he wad wed her, wi muckle sin;
Sae he has biggit a bonnie bower, love,
An a' to keep his fair daughter in.

2
But she hadna been in the bonnie bower, love,
And no twa hours but barely ane,
Till up started Tammas, her ain true lover,
And O sae fain as he wad been in.

3
'For a' sae weel as I like ye, Tammas,
An for a' sae weel as I like the gin,
I wadna for ten thousand pounds, love,
Na no this night wad I let thee in.

4
'But yonder is a bonnie greenwud,
An in the greenwud there is a wauk,
An I'll be there an sune the morn, love,
It's a' for my true love's sake.

5
'On my right hand I'll have a glove, love,
An on my left are I'll have nane;
I'll have wi' me my sisters six, love,
An we will wauk the wuds our lane.'

6
They hadna waukd in the bonnie greenwud,
Na no an hour but barely ane,
Till up start Tammas, her ain true lover,
He's taen her sisters her frae mang.

7
An he has kissed her sisters six, love,
An he has sent them hame again,
But he has keepit his ain true lover,
Saying, 'We will wauk the wuds our lane.'

8
They hadna waukd in the bonnie greenwud
Na no an hour but barely ane,
Till up start fifteen o the bravest outlaws
That ever bure either breath or bane.

9
An up bespake the foremost man, love,
An O but he spake angrily:
'Either your life--or your lady fair, sir,
This night shall wauk the wuds wi me.'

10
'My lady fair, O I like her weel, sir,
An O my life, but it lies me near!
But before I lose my lady fair, sir,
I'll rather lose my life sae dear.'

11
Then up bespak the second man, love,
An aye he spake mair angrily,
Saying, 'Baith your life, and your lady fair, sir,
This night shall wauk the wuds wi me.'

12
'My lady fair, O I like her weel, sir,
An O my life, but it lies me near!
But before I lose my lady fair, sir,
I'll rather lose my life sae dear.

13
'But if ye'll be men to your manhood,
As that I will be unto mine,
I'll fight ye every ane man by man,
Till the last drop's blude I hae be slain.

14
'O sit ye down, my dearest dearie,
Sit down and hold my noble steed,
And see that ye never change your cheer
Until ye see my body bleed.'

15
He's feughten a' the fifteen outlaws,
The fifteen outlaws every ane,
He's left naething but the auldest man
To go and carry the tidings hame.

16
An he has gane to his dearest dear,
An he has kissed her, cheek and chin,
Saying, 'Thou art mine ain, I have bought thee dear,
An we will wauk the wuds our lane.'

C

Gutch's Robin Hood, II, 345, from a MS. of Mr. Payne
Collier's, supposed to have been written about 1650.

1
As Robin Hood sat by a tree,
He espied a prettie may,
And when she chanced him to see,
She turnd her head away.

2
'O feare me not, thou prettie mayde,
And doe not flie from mee;
I am the kindest man,' he said,
'That ever eye did see.'

3
Then to her he did doffe his cap,
And to her lowted low;
'To meete with thee I hold it good hap,
If thou wilt not say noe.'

4
Then he put his hand around her waste,
Soe small, so tight, and trim,
And after sought her lip to taste,
And she to kissed him.

5
'Where dost thou dwell, my prettie maide?
I prithee tell to me;'
'I am a tanner's daughter,' she said,
'John Hobbes of Barneslee.'

6
'And whither goest thou, pretty maide?
Shall I be thy true love?'
If thou art not afeard,' she said,
'My true love thou shalt prove.'

7
'What should I feare?' then he replied;
'I am thy true love now;'
'I have two brethren, and their pride
Would scorn such one as thou.'

8
'That will we try,' quoth Robin Hood;
'I was not made their scorne;
Ile shed my blood to doe the[e] good,
As sure as they were borne.'

9
'My brothers are proude and fierce and strong;'
'I am,' said he, 'the same,
And if they offer thee to wrong,
Theyle finde Ile play their game.

10
'Through the free forrest I can run,
The king may not controll;
They are but barking tanners' sons,
To me they shall pay toll.

11
'And if not mine be sheepe and kine,
I have cattle on my land;
On venison eche day I may dine,
Whiles they have none in hand.'

12
These wordes had Robin Hood scarce spoke,
When they two men did see,
Come riding till their horses smoke:
'My brothers both,' cried shee.

13
Each had a good sword by his side,
And furiouslie they rode
To where they Robin Hood espied,
That with the maiden stood.

14
'Flee hence, flee hence, away with speede!'
Cried she to Robin Hood,
'For if thou stay, thoult surely bleede;
I could not see thy blood.'

15
'With us, false maiden, come away,
And leave that outlawe bolde;
Why fledst thou from thy home this day,
And left thy father olde?'

16
Robin stept backe but paces five,
Unto a sturdie tree;
'Ile fight whiles I am left alive;
Stay thou, sweete maide, with mee.'

17
He stood before, she stoode behinde,
The brothers two drewe nie;
'Our sister now to us resign,
Or thou full sure shalt die.'

18
Then cried the maide, 'My brethren deare,
With ye Ile freely wend,
But harm not this young forrester,
Noe ill doth he pretend.'

19
'Stande up, sweete maide, I plight my troth;
Fall thou not on thy knee;
Ile force thy cruell brothers both
To bend the knee to thee.

20
'Stand thou behinde this sturdie oke,
I soone will quell their pride;
Thoult see my sword with furie smoke,
And in their hearts' blood died.'

21
He set his backe against a tree,
His foote against a stone;
The first blow that he gave so free
Cleft one man to the bone.

22
The tanners bold they fought right well,
And it was one to two;
But Robin did them both refell,
All in the damsell's viewe.

23
The red blood ran from Robins brow,
All downe unto his knee;
'O holde your handes, my brethren now,
I will goe backe with yee.'

24
'Stand backe, stand backe, my pretty maide,
Stand backe and let me fight;
By sweete St. James be no[t] afraide
But I will it requite.'

25
Then Robin did his sword uplift,
And let it fall againe;
The oldest brothers head it cleft,
Right through unto his braine.

26
'O hold thy hand, bolde forrester,
Or ill may thee betide;
Slay not my youngest brother here,
He is my father's pride.'

27
'Away, for I would scorne to owe,
My life to the[e], false maide!'
The youngest cried, and aimd a blow
That lit on Robin's head.

28
Then Robin leand against the tree,
His life nie gone did seeme;
His eyes did swim, he could not see
The maiden start betweene.

29
It was not long ere Robin Hood
Could welde his sword so bright;
Upon his feete he firmly stood,
And did renew the fight.

30
Untill the tanner scarce could heave
His weapon in the aire;
But Robin would not him bereave
Of life, and left him there.

31
Then to the greenewood did he fly,
And with him went the maide;
For him she vowd that she would dye,
He'd live for her, he said.

* * * * *

#A.#

4^2. _Ed. 1833 has ~or kens~._

#B.#

1^2. _If #A# 1^2 be right, gross injustice is done the
father by changing ~I wat he weird her~ into ~he wad wed
her~. One of the two is a singular corruption._

_There is another copy of #B# among Mr White's papers,
with the title 'Sir Thamas,' which I have no doubt has
been "revised," whether by Telfer, or by Mr White himself,
it is impossible to say. The principal variations are here
given, that others may be satisfied._

1^2. wed her mang his ain kin.

1^4. this fair.

2^3. Till up cam Thamas her only true love.

3^2. O tirl nae langer at the pin.

3^3. I wadna for a hundred pounds, love.

3^4. can I.

4^3. fu soon.

4^4. And by oursels we twa can talk.

5^{1,2}.
I'll hae a glove on my right hand, love,
And on my left I shall hae nane.

6^{2-4}.
Beyond an hour, or scarcely twa,
When up rode Thamas, her only true love,
And he has tane her frae mang them a'.

7^1. He kissed her sisters, a' the six, love.

7^3. his winsome true love.

7^4. That they might walk.

8^1. didna walk.

8^{2-4}.
Beyond two hours, or barely three,
Till up cam seven[118] stalwart outlaws,
The bauldest fellows that ane could see.

9^8. We'll take your life, for this lady fair, sir.

10^1. My lady's fair, I like her weel, sir.

11^{2,3}.
And he spak still mair furiously;
'Flee, or we'll kill ye, because your lady.

12.
'My lady fair, I shall part na frae thee,
And for my life, I did never fear;
Sae before I lose my winsome lady,
My life I'll venture for ane sae dear.

13.
'But if ye're a' true to your manhood,
As I shall try to be true to mine,
I'll fight ye a', come man by man then,
Till the last drop o my bloud I tine.'

14^2. my bridled steed.

14^3. And mind ye never change your colour.

15.
He fought against the seven outlaws,
And he has beat them a' himsel;
But he left the auldest man amang them
That he might gae and the tidings tell.

16.
Then he has gane to his dearest dearie,
And he has kissed her oer and oer;
'Though thou art mine, I hae bought thee dearly,
Now we shall sunder never more.'

#C.#

1^1. _~Robinhood~, and so always._

31. _After this_: Finis, T. Fleming.

[117] Gunther, as well remarked by Klee, 'Zur Hildesage,' p. 19, cannot have belonged originally to the Hildegunde saga. No sufficient motive is furnished for introducing him. In the Polish version of the story there is only one pursuer, Arinoldus, whom Walter slays. Rischka, Verhältniss der polnischen Sage von Walgierz Wdaly zu den deutschen Sagen von W. v. Aquitanien, p. 8 ff.

[118] "The original ballad had fifteen. Seven would do as well, and the latter number would seem more nearly to resemble the truth."

9

THE FAIR FLOWER OF NORTHUMBERLAND

#A. a.# Deloney's 'Jack of Newbury,' reprint of 1859, p.
61. #b.# 'The Ungrateful Knight and the Fair Flower of
Northumberland,' Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169.

#B. a.# Kinloch MSS, V, 49. #b.# 'The Provost's Dochter,'
Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 131.

#C.# 'The Betrayed Lady.' #a.# Buchan's MSS, II, 166. #b.#
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 208.

#D.# Motherwell's MS., p. 102.

#E.# 'The Flower of Northumberland,' Mr Robert White's
papers.

The earliest copy of this ballad is introduced as 'The Maidens' Song,'[119] in Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, in his younger yeares called Jacke of Newberie, a book written as early as 1597. Mr Halliwell reprinted the "9th" edition, of the date 1633,[120] in 1859, and the ballad is found at p. 61 of the reprint (#A#). The copy in Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169, has a few variations, which are probably to be explained by Ritson having used some other edition of Deloney. Ritson's text is used in The Borderer's Table Book, VI, 25, and was taken thence into Sheldon's Minstrelsy of the English Border, with some arbitrary alterations. The ballad was formerly popular in Scotland. Kinloch and Buchan printed #B# and #C# with some slight changes; the texts are now given as they stand in the manuscripts. #E#, a traditional version from the English border, has unfortunately been improved by some literary pen.

An English lady is prevailed upon to release a Scot from prison, and to fly with him, on the promise of being made his wife, and (#A#) lady of castles and towers. She takes much gold with her (#A#), and a swift steed (two, #A#). According to #A# they come to a rough river; the lady is alarmed, but swims it, and is wet from top to toe. On coming within sight of Edinburgh, the faithless knight bids her choose whether she will be his paramour or go back: he has wife and children. She begs him to draw his sword and end her shame: he takes her horse away, and leaves her. Two English knights come by, who restore her to her father. The dismissal takes place at the Scottish cross and moor in #B#; at a moor and a moss, #C#; at Scotland bridge, #D#; at a fair Scottish cross, #E#. She offers to be servant in his kitchen rather than go back, #B#, #C#, #E#; begs him to throw her into the water, #D#; from his castle wall, #E#. He fees an old man to take her home on an old horse, #B#, #E#.

We do not find the whole of this story repeated among other European nations, but there are interesting agreements in parts with Scandinavian, Polish, and German ballads.

There is some resemblance in the first half to a pretty ballad of the northern nations which treats in a brief way the theme of our exquisite romance of 'The Nutbrown Maid:' #Danish#, 'Den Trofaste Jomfru,' Grundtvig, No 249, IV, 494, nine copies, #A-I#, the first three from 16th or 17th century manuscripts, the others from tradition of this century, as are also the following: #K-M#, 'Den Fredløse,' Kristensen, II, 191, No 57: Swedish, 'De sju Gullbergen,' #A#, Afzelius, No 79, III, 71, new ed., No 64, I, 322; #B#, #C#, Grundtvig, IV, 507 f: #Norwegian# #A#, 'Herre Per og stolt Margit,' Landstad, No 74, p. 590; #B#, 'Herr' Nikelus,' Landstad, No 75, p. 594.[121] All tell very much the same tale. A knight carries off a maid on his horse, making her magnificent promises, among which are eight gold castles, Dan. #C#, #D#, #E#, #H#, #I#; one, #K#, #L#, #M#; eight, Norw. #A#; nine, Norw. #B#; seven, Swed. #B#; seven gold mountains, Swed. #A#, perhaps, by mistake of ber_gen_ for bor_gar_[122] She gets her gold together while he is saddling his horse, Dan. #A, C, D, F, H, M#; Swed. #A#; Norw. #A#, #B#. They come to a sea-strand or other water, it is many miles to the nearest land, Dan. #B#, #D#, Swed. #A#, #C#; the lady wishes she were at home, Dan. #E#, #F#, Swed. #B#, #C#. He swims the horse across, Dan. #A#, #B#, #D#, #E#, #F#, #H#, #K#, #L#, #M#; Swed. #A#, #B#, #C# [part of the way, having started in a boat, Norw. #A#, #B#]. The maid wrings her clothes, Dan. #A#, #D#, #K#, #L#; Swed. #A#; Norw. #A#, #B#. She asks, Where are the gold castles which you promised? Dan. #C# 7, #D# 14, #K# 9, #L# 7, #M# 8; Norw. #A# 22, #B# 16.[123] He tells her that he has no gold castle but this green turf, Dan. #C# 8; he needs none but the black ground and thick wood, Dan. #K# 10: he is a penniless, banished man. She offers him her gold to buy him a charter of peace. In all, except Dan. #A#, #B#, #C#, and the incomplete Dan. #I#, Norw. #B#, he goes on to say that he has plighted faith to another woman, and she meekly replies, Then I will be your servant. He continues the trial no further, reveals himself as of wealth and rank, says that she shall have ladies to wait on her, and makes her his queen. The knight is king of England in Dan. #B#, #H#, King Henry, simply, in Dan. #F#. The gold castles prove to be realities: there is in Dan. #E# even one more than was promised.[124]

The #Polish# ballads of the class of 'Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight' (see p. 39 f) have thus much in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland:' a maid is induced to go off with a man on horseback, and takes gold with her; after going a certain distance, he bids her return home; in #AA#, #H#, #R#, he gives her her choice whether to return or to jump into the river; she prefers death (cf. #D# 3, 5, p. 116); in all they finally come to a river, or other water, into which he throws her.[125]

There is a #German# ballad which has some slight connection with all the foregoing, and a very slight story it is altogether: 'Stolz Heinrich,' Simrock, No 9, p. 23, 'Stolz Syburg,' Reiffenberg, No 16, p. 32, No 17, p. 34, from the Lower Rhine and Münster; made over, in Kretzschmer, I, 187, No 106. Heinrich, or Syburg, wooes a king's daughter in a distant land. He asks her to go with him, and says he has seven mills in his country. "Tell me what they grind," says Margaret, "and I will go with you." The mills grind sugar and cinnamon, mace and cloves. They come to a green heath. Margaret thinks she sees the mills gleaming: he tells her that a green heath is all he has. "Then God have mercy that I have come so far," she says; draws a sword; kneels before him, and stabs herself.

The ballad of 'Young Andrew,' further on, has points in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland.'

* * * * *

#C# is translated by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Lieder der Vorzeit, No 31, p. 137.

A

#a.# Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, 9th
ed., London, 1633, reprinted by Halliwell, p. 61. #b.#
Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169.

1
It was a knight in Scotland borne
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Was taken prisoner, and left forlorne,
Even by the good Earle of Northumberland.

2
Then was he cast in prison strong,
Where he could not walke nor lie along,
Even by the goode Earle of Northumberland.

3
And as in sorrow thus he lay,
The Earle's sweete daughter walkt that way,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

4
And passing by, like an angell bright,
The prisoner had of her a sight,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

5
And loud to her this knight did crie,
The salt teares standing in his eye,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

6
'Faire lady,' he said, 'take pity on me,
And let me not in prison dye,
And you the faire flower of Northumberland.'

7
'Faire Sir, how should I take pity on thee,
Thou being a foe to our countrey,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'

8
'Faire lady, I am no foe,' he said,
'Through thy sweet love heere was I stayd,
For thee, the faire flower of Northumberland.'

9
'Why shouldst thou come heere for love of me,
Having wife and children in thy countrie?
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'

10
'I sweare by the blessed Trinitie,
I have no wife nor children, I,
Nor dwelling at home in merrie Scotland.

11
'If curteously you will set me free,
I vow that I will marrie thee,
So soone as I come in faire Scotland.

12
'Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers,
And sit like a queene in princely bowers,
When I am at home in faire Scotland.'

13
Then parted hence this lady gay,
And got her father's ring away,
To helpe this sad knight into faire Scotland.

14
Likewise much gold she got by sleight,
And all to helpe this forlorne knight
To wend from her father to faire Scotland.

15
Two gallant steedes, both good and able,
She likewise tooke out of the stable,
To ride with this knight into faire Scotland.

16
And to the jaylor she sent this ring,
The knight from prison forth to bring,
To wend with her into faire Scotland.

17
This token set the prisoner free,
Who straight went to this faire lady,
To wend with her into faire Scotland.

18
A gallant steede he did bestride,
And with the lady away did ride,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

19
They rode till they came to a water cleare:
'Good Sir, how should I follow you heere,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland?

20
'The water is rough and wonderfull deepe,
An[d] on my saddle I shall not keepe,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'

21
'Feare not the foord, faire lady,' quoth he,
'For long I cannot stay for thee,
And thou the faire flower of Northumberland.'

22
The lady prickt her wanton steed,
And over the river swom with speede,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

23
From top to toe all wet was shee:
'This have I done for love of thee,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'

24
Thus rode she all one winter's night,
Till Edenborow they saw in sight,
The chiefest towne in all Scotland.

25
'Now chuse,' quoth he, 'thou wanton flower,
Whe'r thou wilt be my paramour,
Or get thee home to Northumberland.

26
'For I have wife, and children five,
In Edenborow they be alive;
Then get thee home to faire England.

27
'This favour shalt thou have to boote,
Ile have thy horse, go thou on foote,
Go, get thee home to Northumberland.'

28
'O false and faithlesse knight,' quoth shee,
'And canst thou deale so bad with me,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland?

29
'Dishonour not a ladie's name,
But draw thy sword and end my shame,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'

30
He tooke her from her stately steed,
And left her there in extreme need,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.

31
Then sate she downe full heavily;
At length two knights came riding by,
Two gallant knights of faire England.

32
She fell downe humbly on her knee,
Saying, 'Courteous knights, take pittie on me,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.

33
'I have offended my father deere,
And by a false knight that brought me heere,
From the good Earle of Northumberland.'

34
They tooke her up behind them then,
And brought her to her father's againe,
And he the good Earle of Northumberland.

35
All you faire maidens be warned by me,
Scots were never true, nor never will be,
To lord, nor lady, nor faire England.

B

#a.# Kinloch MSS, V, 49, in the handwriting of J. Beattie.
#b.# Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 134, from the
recitation of Miss E. Beattie.

1
The provost's daughter went out a walking,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,
And she was the fair flower of Northumberland.

2
'If any lady would borrow me
Out into the prison strong,
I would make her a lady of high degree,
For I am a great lord in fair Scotland.'

3
She's done her to her father's bed-stock,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She's stolen the keys o many braw lock,
And she's loosd him out o the prison strong.

4
She's done her to her father's stable,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She's taen out a steed that was both swift and able,
To carry them both to fair Scotland.

5
O when they came to the Scottish cross,
A may's love whiles is easy won
'Ye brazen-faced whore, light off o my horse,
And go get you back to Northumberland!'

6
O when they came to the Scottish moor,
A may's love whiles is easy won
'Get off o my horse, you're a brazen-faced whore,
So go get you back to Northumberland!'

7
'O pity on me, O pity,' said she,
'O that my love was so easy won!
Have pity on me as I had upon thee,
When I loosd you out of the prison strong.'

8
'O how can I have pity on thee?
O why was your love so easy won!
When I have a wife and children three
More worthy than a' Northumberland.'