[False Sir John] Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight-
[My title, replacing the generic, Lady Isabel. Bronson, after looking over Barry's MS, learned that the informant, S.C, was Mrs. Sarah Carson. Reprinted from Phillips Barry Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States- Version H, from S. C., Boston, Mass., native of Co. Tyrone. Published in 1908. From the article: Irish Come-All-Ye's by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 22, No. 86 (Oct. - Dec., 1909), pp. 374-388.
One of the few versions that name the villain, False Sir John (see Child C). Mrs. Sarah Carson sings the line in stanza 7 also,-- "Instead of the hazel-tree." (Barry footnote)
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
IRISH COME-ALL-YE'S
BY PHILLIPS BARRY
THAT the Irish population of our large cities have had considerable part in the preservation of traditional songs and ballads, is a fact, perhaps known, but which has attracted little attention among folklorists. It is true, nevertheless. In the "come-all-ye's" [1] of the Irish folksinger, one finds endless variety. Not all of them are Irish, by any means. Some are historical ballads of comparatively recent date, as "Brennan on the Moor;"[2] others - for example, "The Test of Love" - are based on themes as old as the world. A few must be classed as "traditional lyrics."[3] The following songs and ballads, noted down during the past two years from the lips of singers in Boston, Mass., and elsewhere, are herewith, as representative specimens of favorite come-all-ye's, offered to readers of this Journal.
I. [False Sir John] Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight [4]
1. It's false Sir John's a courting gone,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . .
2. "Take off, take off that suit of Holland,
That suit of Holland so fine,
For it is too rich and too costly,
To rot in this salt sea brine!"
3. "It's look you round, my false Sir John,
To view the green leaves on the tree,"-
And when he turned him round to view,
She threw him right into the sea!
4. . . . . . . .
. . . . . .
"Of all the promises ever I made,
I'll double them every one!" [5]
5. ". . . .
. . . . . .
It 's seven King's daughters you have drowned here,
And you the eighth shall be."
6. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
And when she came to her father's gate,
The clock had just struck one.
7. "It 's hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
And do not discover on me,
And your cage shall be made of the beaten gold,
Instead of the chestnut-tree!" [6]
8. Then up and speaks her old father,
In the chamber where he lay,
"What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,
You prattle so long before day?"
9. "The cats they have come to devour me,
And tear me clean away,
And I was calling to Mary Goldan
To drive those cats away!"
10. Then he speaks, her father,
In the chamber where he lay,
" Oh, didn't I tell you, Mary Goldan,
You'd rue your going away!"[7]
-------------------------------------
Footnotes:
1 Many Irish historical ballads begin with the phrase "Come, all ye," . . . but folksingers apply the term quite indiscriminately to all classes of traditional song.
2 William Brennan, hanged for highway robbery in Co. Cork, 1804. See letter of Frank Kidson, quoted by Cecil J. Sharp, in Folk-Songs of Somerset, p. 70.
3 "Erin's Green Shore," "Nora McShane," etc. Some songs by Moore and Lover have passed into oral tradition.
4 "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight," H, Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States, from S. C., Boston, Mass., native of Co. Tyrone.
5. A Sligo version ("Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight," B, from E. R., Vineland, N. J.)
has the following stanza: -
"O give me a hold of your little finger,
And a fast, fast hold of your thumb,
There 's not a promise that ever I made,
But I 'll roll it in one bun!"
6. S. C. sings the line also,-
" Instead of the hazel-tree."
7. "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight" is well known to Irish singers. The various forms of the name, Colvin, Collean, Collenendee, Goldan, Goldin, Polly, etc., are evident corruptions of Irish cailin. In another version (E, from M. J. P., Peoria, Illinois, native of
Fulton, Missouri) the event is actually located in Ireland,--
"Mount up, mount up, my pretty Colendee,
Mount up, mount up," said he,
"And I will take you away to the far Scotland,
And there I'll marry thee, thee, thee,
And there I'll marry thee!" -