Lady Owncibell (Ouncebell) Child 75A Lord Lovel- May 22, 1770
[According to Child this is Parsons re-write of the 1775 version (Child A, Lady Ouncebell) of Lord Lovel. Parsons sent this to Percy on May 22, 1770. Parsons says, "I suspect it should be Dowsabell." Dowsabel being archaic for "sweetheart."
Child A is of interest particularly because of the lack of scholarship by Child who used a second version found in the Percy Papers in an unknown hand. The second version (Lady Ouncebell) in a neat hand is said by Child to be the original -- yet Parsons does not mention another version or an "original" version in any of his three letters. Child does not list most of the changes made from the 1770 version or give Parsons version. Child does not say how he knows the 1775 version is the original and backs it with no evidence.
Parsons' version (or versions as the case may be) was presumed to be the first version but Walpole sent Percy an earlier version in 1665 which was not seen by Child and therefore not published in ESPB.
Here are some notes by Susan Lepak:
According to Child’s notes in Additions and Corrections -Vol. 2 1886, the copy sent Percy in 1770 was slightly revised by Parsons; the original was communicated in 1775. These revisions are listed below:
33. along in.
44. coud speed.
63. make.
64. their mourn.
104. Parsons corrects bunch to branch.
Revisions unaccounted for in Child’s notes:
11. Ouncebell to Owncibell
21. Lovill to Lovell
21. said she to she said
42. sadle to saddle
42. stead to steed
43. Refrain: Dey Down, Dey Down, Dey Down, Dery Down to
Hey down down down down derry down
54 Ceserera to Sisseroora
62 set to sat
73 Night to Knight
84 wowman to woman
113 not to knot
114 add “were”
121 wowman to woman
123 to to she; not to knot
If “Lady Ouncebell”, which was supposedly the original sent to Percy in 1775, written in an unknown hand, is indeed the original, then Parsons had to have transcribed it for his 1770 letter. This contradicts his initial claim that the copy he sent Percy in 1770, “Lady Owncibel” in his own hand was “taken from the singer’s mouth” – does it not?
If Parson made the notation regarding his suspicion that the name should be Dowsabel, on the “original” copy, but then decided to transcribe the ballad in his own hand, would he not have expressed this thought in the text of his letter rather than making another notation in the same place on his transcribed copy? Isn’t this just a way to make it appear as if it actually came from Parsons. That notation could have been forged. And all that business in the 1770 “original” with the Middle English misspellings (such as Lord Lovill), couldn’t that be a way of giving the appearance of antiquity? Btw, the notation up in the left hand corner indicating the ballad was from Parsons is not in his hand. It is either Percy’s or Child’s.
At the very least the Dowsabell note indicates that Parsons was not familiar with the ballad. On the other hand, we know Percy was because of the letter he received from Walpole dated February 1765.
Also, note the strange notations on “Lady Ouncebell” MS 129.D. I believe, I believe, I will etc. ]
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Lady Owncibell x I suspect it should be Dowsabell
1
And I fare you well Lady Owncibell
For I must needs be gone
And this time two year I’ll meet you again
To finish the Loves we begun
2
That is a long Time Lord Lovell she said
To live in fair Scotland
And so it is Lady Owncibell
To leave a fair Lady alone
3
He had not been in fair Scotland
Not half above half a year
But a longing mind came into his head
Lady Owncibell - he wou’d go see her-
4
He called up his Stable Groom
To saddle his milk-white steed
Hey down down down down derry down
-And I wish Lord Lovell God Speed
5
He had not been in fair London
Not half above half a day
But he heard the Bells of the High Chapel ring
And they rung with a Sisseroora
6
He asked of a gentleman
That sat there all alone
What made the Bells of the high Chapel ring
And the Ladies make their moan
7
One of the King’s Daughters are dead, said he
Lady Owncibell was her Name
She died for love of a Courteous Young Knight
Lord Lovell he was the Same. –
8
He caused her Corps to be set down
And her winding sheet undone
And he made a vow before them all
That he’d never kiss Woman again
9
Lady Owncibell died on the Yesterday
Lord Lovell on the Morrow
Lady Owncibell died for pure true love
Lord Lovell died for sorrow. –
10
Lady Owncibell was buried in the high chancel
Lord Lovel in the Choir
Lady Owncibell’s Breast sprung out a Sweet rose
Lord Lovell’s a branch of Sweet Briar. –
11
They grew till they grew to the top of the Church
And then they cou’d grow no higher
They grew till they grew to a true Lovers knot
And then they were tyed both together
12
An old Woman coming by that Way
And a blessing she did Crave
She cut off a Bunch of that true Lover’s Knot
And buried them both in one grave