Bluegrass Messengers

No. 8: Erlinton:

[According to Child there is a relationship with this ballad and the previous ballad, No. 7, Earl Brand. Child says in his headnotes for No. 7, "This ballad has only with much hesitation been separated from the foregoing." The problem is that the three ballads of Child No. 7 are similar but different. The three Scottish versions of Erlinton and White's version (Child B) are  closely related and should represent "Erlinton" while Child 8C, of dubious authenticity, seems to be a different ballad.

All the ballads of Child 7 and 8 are the "daughter elopes (or marries without consent) and is pursed by the father (or brothers or both) and also by as many as fifteen of the father's men" ballads. In the ballads of "Earl Brand," "Lady Margaret and Sweet William" and the "Braes of Yarrow" this pursuit and battle have tragic consequences where "William" is killed and "Margaret," who also loses her father and brothers, dies of sorrow.

In the appendix to Child 7 (7A. Lady and the Dragoon) the antecedent broadside (c. 1695) titled The Bold Keeper (also titled, The Master-piece of Love Songs) has a theme that spares her father since during the battle the father asks her lover, the Bold Keeper, to hold his hand. The father's life is spared in exchange for money (land etc) and the newlywed couple live happy-ever-after.  This family of these ballads includes the titles "The Valiant Soldier/Dragoon," "The Bold Soldier/Dragoon,"  "The Lady and the Dragoon," "The Soldier's Wooing." Brewster following Barry (1910 JAFL) identifies them with "Erlinton" (Child No. 8), because of the happy ending, as do Gardner and Chickering, Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth (1929), and others. Mary O. Eddy in Ballads and Songs from Ohio lists the Bold Soldier as versions of "Earl Brand" (Child No. 7).

Although the Bold Soldier/Dragoon" broadside revisions and resulting traditional ballads have a "happy ending" as "Erlinton" they are different ballads. According to Coffin: There is no American text that can be for certain called a derivative of Erlinton. I agree, so I will only be putting British variants for Erlinton.

--R. Matteson 2011, 2014, 2018]


CONTENTS:

1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnote
3. Brief by Kittredge (From the 1905 edition)
4. Child's Ballad Texts: A (made from two copies- A a and Ab), A* (supplemental version from Additions), B (a second copy of B is given) and C;
5. End Notes
6. "Additions and Corrections" 

ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):

1. Recordings & Info: Erlinton
    A. Erlinton: Roud Index Listing

2. Sheet Music: Erlinton (Bronson's texts and some music examples)

3. US & Canadian Versions

4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-C with additional notes)]

__________________________

Child's Narrative

A. "Erlington," Selkirkshire versions, c.1801
   a. 'Erlinton,' Scott's Minstrelsy, in, 235, ed. 1803. 
   b. Designated  A* by Kittredge (1904 edition) from "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 20, obtained from Nelly Laidlaw, and in the handwriting of William Laidlaw.
   c. 'Earlington's Daughter,' the same collection, No 11, in the handwriting of James Hogg.

B. 'True Tammas,' Mr. R. White's papers, collected by James Telfer, a schoolmaster of Saughtree, Liddesdale, c. 1820s.

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^[1] 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.

Footnote: 

1. 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.  

Brief by Kittredge

This ballad has only with much hesitation been separated from the foregoing [Child No. 7 Earl Brand] . Versions A and B have one correspondence with the Scandinavian Ribold ballad not found in 'Earl Brand,' — the strict watch kept over the lady. But notwithstanding the resemblances to the Ribold story, there is a difference in the larger part of the details, and all the 'Erlinton' ballads have a fortunate ending. The copy in Scott's Minstrelsy, in, 235, ed. 1803, was compounded from A* and a closely related version.

Erlinton: Child No. 8- Ballad Texts

'Erlinton'- Version A; Child 8, Erlinton 
Scott's Minstrelsy, in, 235, ed. 1803; ed. 1833, n, 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, 'tis 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 sister 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.' 
-----------------------

'Lord Erlinton'- Version A*; Child 8, Erlinton Abbotsford Manuscript, Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy, No. 20, obtained from Nelly Laidlaw, and in the handwriting of William Laidlaw.

1   Lord Erlinton had ae daughter,
I trow he's weird her a grit sin;
For he has bugn a bigly bower,
An a' to pit his ae daughter in.
      An he has buggin a bigly bower,
      An a' to pit his ae daughter in.

2   An he has warn her sisters six,
Her sisters six an her brethren se'en,
Thei'r either to watch her a' the night,
Or than to gang i the mornin soon.
      Thei'r either to watch her a' the night,
      Or than to gang i the mornin soon.

3   She had na been i that bigly bower
Not ae night but only ane
Untill that Willie, her true-love,
Chappit at the bower-door, no at the gin.
      Untill that Willie, her true-love,
      Chappit at the bower-door, no at the gin.

4   'Whae 's this, whae's this chaps at my bower-door,
At my bower-door, no at the gin?'
'O it is Willie, thy ain true-love;
O will ye rise an let me in?'
      'O it is Willie, thy ain true-love;
      O will ye rise an let me in?'

5   'In my bower, Willie, there is a wane,
An in the wane there is a wake;
But I will come to the green woods
The morn, for my ain true-love's sake.'
      But I will come to the green woods
      The morn, for my ain true-love's sake.'

6   This lady she 's lain down again,
An she has lain till the cock crew thrice;
She said unto her sisters baith,
Lasses, it 's time at we soud rise.
      She said unto her sisters baith,
      Lasses, it 's time at we soud rise.

7   She's putten on her breast a silver tee,
An on her back a silken gown;
She's taen a sister in ilka hand,
An away to the bonnie green wood she's gane.
      She's taen a sister in ilka hand,
      An away to the bonnie green wood she's gane.

8   They hadna gane a mile in that bonnie green wood,
They had na gane a mile but only ane,
Till they met wi Willie, her ain true-love,
An thrae her sisters he has her taen.
      Till they met wi Willie, her ain true-love,
      An thrae her sisters he has her taen.

9   He's taen her sisters ilk by the hand,
He 's kissd them baith, an he 's sent them hame;
He 's muntit his ladie him high behind,
An thro the bonnie green wood thei'r gane.
      He 's muntit his ladie him high behind,
      An thro the bonnie green wood thei'r gane.

10   They'd ridden a mile i that bonnie green wood,
They hadna ridden but only ane,
When there cam fifteen o the baldest knights
That ever boor flesh, bluid an bane.
      When there cam fifteen o the baldest knights
      That ever boor flesh, bluid an bane.

11   Than up bespak the foremost knight,
He woor the gray hair on his chin;
'Yield me yer life or your lady fair,
An ye sal walk the green woods within.'
      'Yield me yer life or your lady fair,
      An ye sal walk the green woods within.'

12   'For to gie my wife to thee,
I wad be very laith,' said he;
'For than the folk wad think I was gane mad,
Or that the senses war taen frae me.'
      'For than the folk wad think I was gane mad,
      Or that the senses war taen frae me.'

13   Up than bespak the niest foremost knight,
I trow he spak right boustronslie;
'Yield me yer life or your ladie fair,
An ye sail walk the green woods wi me.'
      'Yield me yer life or your ladie fair,
      An ye sail walk the green woods wi me.'

14   'My wife, she is my warld's meed,
My life, it lyes me very near;
But if ye be man o your manhood
I serve will while my days are near.'
      But if ye be man o your manhood
      I serve will while my days are near.'

15   He's luppen off his milk-white steed,
He's gien his lady him by the head:
'See that ye never change yer cheer
Till ance ye see my body bleed.'
      'See that ye never change yer cheer
      Till ance ye see my body bleed.'

16   An he's killd a' the fifteen knights,
He's killed them a' but only ane;
A' but the auld grey-headed knight,
He bade him carry the tiddins hame.
      A' but the auld grey-headed knight,
      He bade him carry the tiddins hame.

17   He's gane to his lady again,
I trow he's kissd her, baith cheek an chin;
'Now ye'r my ain, I have ye win,
An we will walk the green woods within.'
      'Now ye'r my ain, I have ye win,
      An we will walk the green woods within.'
------------------------

'True Tammas'- Version B;
Manuscript of Robert White, Esq., of Newcastle, from James Telfer's collection.
B.'True Tammas,' Mr. R. White's papers

TRUE TAMMAS

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 ane 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.' 

'Robin Hood and the Tanner's Daughter,'- Version C; Child 8, Erlinton
C. 'Robin Hood and the Tanner's Daughter,' Gutch's Robin Hood, II, 345




ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNER'S DAUGHTER- Version C
Gutch's Robin Hood, II, 345, from a manuscript 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.
 

8. Erlinton: End Notes

A.   4². Ed. 1833 has or kens.

B.   1². If A 1² 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.

1², wed her mang his ain kin.
1⁴, this fair.
2³. Till up cam Thamas her only true love.
3². O tirl nae langer at the pin.
3³. I wadna for a hundred pounds, love. 34. can I.
4³. fu soon.
4⁴. 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'.
7¹. He kissed her sisters, a' the six, love.
7³. his winsome true love.
7⁴ . That they might walk.
8¹. didna walk.
8^2-4. Beyond two hours, or barely three,
      Till up cam seven [1] stalwart outlaws,
      The bauldest fellows that ane could see.
9³. 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 '11 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.'
14². my bridled steed.
14³. 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.   1¹. Robinhood, and so always.
3¹. After this: Finis, T. Fleming.   

Footnote in End Notes (See above 8^2-4): 1. "The original ballad had fifteen. Seven would do as well, and the latter number would seem more nearly to resemble the truth."

"Additions and Corrections"

107 b, and also No 53, 'Young Beichan,' 1,463 b. For the Magyar ballads of Szilágyi and Hagymási, see Herrmann, Ethnologische Mittheilungen, cols 65-66; also col. 215. (A Transylvanian-Saxon ballad, a Roumanian tale, and a Transylvanian-Gipsy ballad, which follow, are of more or less questionable authenticity: Herrmann, col. 216.)

109. C, as well as 'Robin Hood and the Pedlars,' III, 170, are found in a manuscript pretended to be of about 1650, but are written in a forged hand of this century. I do not feel certain that the ballads themselves, bad as they are, are forgeries, and accordingly give the variations of Gutch's Robin Hood from the manuscript, not regarding spelling.

3³. hold good.
3⁴. thou will.
7¹. thus he.
10¹. Thorough: I run.
11¹. [kine?]
16³. while.
19¹. He.
21³. he lent.
24³. be not.
25³. eldest.
28¹. leant.
29². wield.
No "Finis" at the end

P. 107. The two copies from which (with some editorial garnish and filling out) A was compounded were: a. "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 20, obtained from Nelly Laidlaw, and in the handwriting of William Laidlaw; b. 'Earlington's Daughter,' the same collection, No 11, in the handwriting of James Hogg. The differences are purely verbal, and both copies may probably have been derived from the same reciter; still, since only seven or eight verses in sixty-eight agree, both will be given entire, instead of a list of the variations.

a. 1   Lord Erlinton had ae daughter,
I trow he's weird her a grit sin;
For he has bugn a bigly bower,
An a' to pit his ae daughter in.
An he has buggin, etc.

2   An he has warn her sisters six,
Her sisters six an her brethren se'en,
Thei 'r either to watch her a' the night,
Or than to gang i the mornin soon.

3   She had na been i that bigly bower
Not ae night but only ane
Untill that Willie, her true-love,
Chappit at the bower-door, no at the gin.

4   'Whae's this, whae's this chaps at my bower-door,
At my bower-door, no at the gin?'
'O it is Willie, thy ain true-love;
will ye rise an let me in?'
 
5   'In my bower, Willie, there is a wane,
An in the wane there is a wake;
But I will come to the green woods
The morn, for my ain true-love's sake.'

6   This lady she's lain down again,
An she has lain till the cock crew thrice;
She said unto her sisters baith,
Lasses, it's time at we soud rise.

7   She's putten on her breast a silver tee,
An on her back a silken gown;
She's taen a sister in ilka hand,
An away to the bonnie green wood she's gane.

8   They hadna gane a mile in that bonnie green wood,
They had na gane a mile but only ane,
Till they met wi Willie, her ain true-love,
An thrae her sisters he has her taen.

9   He's taen her sisters ilk by the hand,
He's kissd them baith, an he's sent them hame;
He's muntit his ladie him high behind,
An thro the bonnie green wood thei'r gane.

10   They'd ridden a mile i that bonnie green wood,
They hadna ridden but only ane,
When there cam fifteen o the baldest knights
That ever boor flesh, bluid an bane.

11   Than up bespak the foremost knight,
He woor the gray hair on his chin;
'Yield me yer life or your lady fair,
An ye sal walk the green woods within.'

12   'For to gie my wife to thee,
I wad be very laith,' said he;
'For than the folk wad think I was gane mad,
Or that the senses war taen frae me.'

13   Up than bespak the niest foremost knight,
I trow he spak right boustrouslie;
'Yield me yer life or your ladie fair,
An ye sail walk the green woods wi me.'

14   'My wife, she is my warld's meed,
My life, it lyes me very near;
But if ye be man o your manhood
I serve will while my days are near.'

15   He's luppen off his milk-white steed,
He's gien his lady him by the head:
See that ye never change yer cheer
Till ance ye see my body bleed.'

16   An he's killd a' the fifteen knights,
He's killed them a' but only ane;
A' but the auld grey-headed knight,
He bade him carry the tiddins hame.

17   He's gane to his lady again,
I trow he's kissd her, baith cheek an chin;
'Now ye'r my ain, I have ye win,
An we will walk the green woods within.'  

2³. Their struck out.
9³. muntit struck out, and set written above.
12³. than struck out.
14⁴. while, are, struck out, and till, be, written above.
16⁴. tiddins: one d struck out. These changes would seem to be somebody's editorial improvements.
Wi me in 13⁴ sacrifices sense to rhyme. We are to understand in 11^3,4, 13^3,4 that Willie is to die if he will not give up the lady, but if he will resign her he may live, and walk the wood at his pleasure. 14⁴ is corrupt in both texts.

b. 1   O Earlington, he has ae daughter,
And I wot he has ward her in a great sin;
He has buggin to her a bigly bowr,
And a' to put his daughter in.

2   he has warnd her sisters six,
Her sisters six and her brethren seven,
Either to watch her a' the night,
Or else to search her soon at morn.

3   They had na been a night in that bigly bowr,
'T is not a night but barely ane,
Till there was Willie, her ain true-love,
Rappd at the door, and knew not the gin.

4   'Whoe's this, whoe's this raps at my bowr-door,
Raps at my bowr-door, and knows not the gin?'
'O it is Willie, thy ain true-love;
I pray thee rise and let me in.'

5   'O in my bower, Willie, there is a wake,
And in the wake there is a wan;
But I'll come to the green wood the morn,
To the green wood for thy name's sake.'

6   O she has gaen to her bed again,
And a wait she has lain till the cock crew thrice;
Then she said to her sisters baith,
Lasses, 't is time for us to rise.

7   She's puten on her back a silken gown,
And on her breast a silver tie;
She's taen a sister in ilka hand,
And thro the green wood they are gane.

8   They had na walkt a mile in that good green wood,
'T is not a mile but barely ane,
Till there was Willie, her ain true-love,
And from her sisters he has her taen.

9   He's taen her sisters by the hand,
He kist them baith, he sent them hame;
He's taen his lady him behind,
And thro the green wood they are gane.

10   They had na ridden a mile in the good green wood,
'T is not a mile but barely ane,
Till there was fifteen of the boldest knights
That ever bore flesh, blood or bane.

11   The foremost of them was an aged knight,
He wore the gray hair on his chin:
'Yield me thy life or thy lady bright,
And thou shalt walk these woods within.'

12   ''T is for to give my lady fair
To such an aged knight as thee,
People wad think I were gane mad,
Or else the senses taen frae me.'

13   Up then spake the second of them,
And he spake ay right bousterously;
'Yield me thy life or thy lady bright,
And thou shalt walk these woods within.'

14   'My wife, she is my warld's meed,
My life it lies me very near;
But if you'll be man of your manheed,
I'll serve you till my days be near.'

15   He's lighted of his milk-white steed,
He's given his lady him by the head:
'And see ye dinna change your cheer
Till you do see my body bleed.'

16   O he has killd these fifteen lords,
And he has killd them a' but ane,
And he has left that old aged knight,
And a' to carry the tidings hame.

17   O he's gane to his lady again,
And a wait he has kist her, baith cheek and chin:
'Thou art my ain love, I have thee bought,
And thou shalt walk these woods within.' 

   5. wake should be wane and wan, wake, as in A.