Lord Thomas- Edwards (VT) 1933 Flanders B
[From Flanders' Ancient Ballads, 1966. Notes by Coffin/Flanders follow. George Edwards, as well as knowing Yorkshire ballads from his grandparents and family, studied books and occasionally arranged some ballads from print sources (cf. The Edward Ballad) that were labeled traditional. The 2nd and 3rd stanzas, for example, do not seem traditional.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
(Child 73)
Child prints nine versions of "Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor" or "The Brown Girl" as the ballad is so frequently called; all but one are Scottish. However, this one, Child D, a seventeenth-century English broadside, seems to be the progenitor of the entire American and modern British stock of the song. Child D variants have been found frequently on both sides of the Atlantic, and this circulation no doubt accounts not only for the fact most informants know or can recognize the ballad, but also for the fact there is little difference in the ballad from one area to another.
Belden, 38, points out some of the major differences between the Scottish tradition and the American versions of the song. The Scottish opening, borrowed from "Fair Margaret and Sweet William" (Child 74), and the remarks exchanged between the women on the brown girl's complexion are both missing in this country, as may be the "rose-briar" cliche, common to Child 74 and Child 75 in "Lord Lovel"). Furthermore, the American hero himself and, not his messenger goes to see Eleanor, and he seeks advice from his mother, never other members of the family. As many texts in this country open with a description of Lord Thomas as a "bold forester," the phrase used in the Nafis and Cornish Forget-Me-Not Songster, there is little doubt this popular volume had much to do with the spread and consistency of the ballad throughout the States.
B. Lord Thomas- George Edwards, as sung by his family in Yorkshire.
Lord Thomas, he was a forester bold
And a hunter of the King's deer;
Sweet Eleanor was a lady fair
Whom he courted for his dear,
Whom he courted for his dear.
There was a Brown Girl who lived not far
From his and Eleanor's home
Whose wealth was great in houses and lands,
In gold and precious stones. [last line repeats throughout]
Long she had sought Lord Thomas' hand
And tried to obtain his love.
She knew that Lord Thomas' mother did
Her actions and aims approve.
"Come read my riddle, dear mother," he said,
And tell it unto thy son:
Whether Fair Eleanor I shall wed
Or bring the Brown Girl home."
'The Brown Girl she has houses and lands,
Fair Eleanor she has none.
I charge thee, therefore, on my blessing
To bring the Brown Girl home."
Lord Thomas went to Fair Eleanor's home
And knocked loudly at the ring.
Fair Eleanor arose and opened the door
And welcomed her lover in.
"Dear Eleanor," Lord Thomas said,
"I bear bad news to thee,
I have come to bid you to my wedding,
Which tomorrow is to be."
"Bad news indeed, Lord Thomas," she said,
"Most sorrowful news to me
To know that you the Brown Girl will wed
When I Your bride should be."
"Come read my riddle, dear mother," she said,
"And tell it unto me,
Whether to Lord Thomas' wedding to go
Or better at home I'll be."
"There's many that are our friends, my dear,
And many that are our foes.
I charge thee therefore, upon my blessing,
To Lord Thomas' wedding don't go."
"There's many that are our friends, mother dear,
And if thousands were our foes,
Whatever the results of my actions are,
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."
She dressed herself in richest robes
And costliest jewels seen,
And everybody, as she passed by,
Thought her to be a queen.
And when she came to Lord Thomas' door
And softly knocked at the ring,
Lord Thomas himself was waiting there
To let Fair Eleanor in.
Lord Thomas took her by the hand
And led her through the room,
And all the guests assembled there
Thought them the bride and groom.
The Brown Girl drew a little penknife;
Its blade was long and sharp,
And between the short ribs and the long
She stabbed Fair Eleanor's heart.
"What is the matter?" Lord Thomas he said,
"Your agony is plain to see."
"Behold, the life blood from my heart
Is trickling down," said she.
Lord Thomas cleft the Brown Girl's head
And flung her against the wall.
The hilt of his sword he placed on the floor
And on its point did fall.
"Oh, dig my grave," Lord Thomas said,
"And dig it both deep and wide;
Place the Brown Girl at my feet,
And Fair Eleanor at my side."
Of all who are caught in Cupid's net
Or pierced by Cupid's dart,
Were ever lovers so lovingly met
And so suddenly did part?