US & Canada Versions: 267. The Heir of Linne
[Davis in the first line of his notes says: "Only one other text of this ballad has been found in America. See Journal, XXXVIII, 156 (Perrow, North Carolina)." The Davis notes are below as is Perrow's "The Sea Captain," which was mislabeled.
Curiously, neither Davis nor Perrow seemed to carefully compare Perrow's "The Sea Captain" with Child 267. If they did it would be clear that "The Sea Captain" is a version of "Johnny The Sailor" also known as "Young Johnny" or the "Green Bed(s)." Davis' version appears to be the only legitimate version of Child No. 267 found in the US and Canada.
R. Matteson 2013]
CONTENTS: (found below)
The Heir of Linne- Neighbors (VA) 1917 Davis
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From Davis: Traditional Ballads From Virginia
THE HEIR OF LINNE
(Child, No. 267)
Only one other text of this ballad has been found in America. See Journal, XXXVIII, 156 (Perrow, North Carolina). The Virginia text was first announced in Butletin, No. 6, p. 7. No American melody has been noted. The Virginia text evidently belongs to the version published by Percy in his Reliques, 1765, II, 309, 1794, II, 128. This version is practically Child A "revised and completed by the insertion of supplemental stanzas suggested by a modern ballad on a similar subject." Except for the introduction of the lonesome lodge, the rope, and the hundred marks instead of twenty pounds, the Virginia lext might Pass as a much compressed variant of Child A. As this compression and exclusion of stanzas somewhat obscures the narrative,
Child's summary of the story of his A should prove helpful: -
"The heir of Linne, a Scots lord, took to Cards, dice, and wine, sold his lands to John o the Scales, and went on in dissolute ways for three fourths of a year longer; then he was forced to go to Edinburgh and beg his bread. Some gave him, some refused him, somi bade him go to the devil. Brooding over his destitution, he remembered that his father had left him a paper
which he was not to look into till he should be in extreme need. This paper told of a castle wall in which stood three chests of money. Filling three bags of gold, he went to John o Scales's house. John's wife wished herself a curse if she trusted him a penny. One good fellow in the company offered to lend him forty pence, and forty more, if wanted. John o Scales tendered him his lands but for twenty pounds less than they had been sold for. The heir of Linne called the lords present to witness, threw John a Penny to bind the bargain, and counted out the money from his-bags. Then he gave the good fellew forty pounds, and made him keeper of his forest, and beshrewed himself if ever he put his lands on jeopardy again."
Of Percy's alterations suggested by "The Drunkard's Legacy," the chief ones visible in the Virginia text are ihe three mentioned above. The Virginia text is just half the length of Child A and less than a third as long as the Percy text.
"Heir of Linne." Collected by Miss Alfreda M. Peel. Recited by Mrs. Neighbors (aged 90), of Salem, Va. Roanoke County. May 27, 1917.
1. "Welcome, welcome, Lord of Linne,
Let naught disturb your merry cheer;
If you will sell your lands so broad,
Good store of gold I'll give you here."
2 "Swear me now upon the rood,
That lonesome lodge thou 'lt never spend;
For when all the world doth frown on thee,
Thou there shall find a faithful friend."
3. "Now well-a-day," said the heir of Linne,
"Now well-a-day, and woe is me;
For when I had my lands so broad,
On me they lived full merrily."
4. He looked up and he looked down,
In hope some comfort for to win,
But bare and lonely were the walls,
"Here's sorry cheer," said the heir of Linne.
5. Two were full of beaten gold,
The third was full of white money,
And over them in broad letters
These letters were written plain to see.
6. "Once more, my son, I set thee clear
Amend thy life and folly past;
. . .
That rope must be thy end at last."
7. Thus bespake a good fellow,
Which sat at John o' Scales his board,
Said, "Turn again, thou heir of Linne,
Some time thou was a real good lord.
8. "Some time a good fellow thou hast been
And spared not your gold and fee;
There for I'll lend thee forty Pence,
Another forty if need be.
9. "And ever I pray thee, John o' Scales,
To let him sit in company;
For well I wot thou had'st his land,
And a good bargain was to thee."
10. Then spake him John o' Scales,
All would he answer him again,
"Now Christ's curse on my head," said he,
"But I did lose by that bargain."
11. "And here I offer the heir of Linne,
Before these lords so fair and free,
Thou shalt have it back again better and cheap,
By hundred marks than I had of thee."
12. "I'll draw you to record, lord," said he.
With that he cast him a god's-penny,
"Now, by my fay," said the heir of Linne,
"And here, good John, is thy money."
13. He pulled forth three bags of gold,
And laid them down upon the board,
All woe-begone was John o' Scales
So he could say never a word.
14. He told him forth the good red gold,
He told it forth with rattle and din.
"The gold is thine, the land is mine,
And, now I again am Lord of Linne."
15. "Now well-a-day," said Joan of Scales,
"Now well-a-day, and woe's my life;
Yesterday I was Lady of Linne,
Now I'm but John o' Scales his wife'"
16. "Now fare thee well," said the heir of Linne,
"Farewell now, John o' Scales," said he,
"Christ's curse light on me, if ever again
I bring my lands in jeopardy."
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Songs and Rhymes from the South by E.C. Perrow [Perrow says to compare to Child 267, this is too much of a stretch. For comparison see: versions of Young Johnny (Brewster) or Johnny The Sailor (Randolph).]
11. THE SEA-CAPTAIN (cf. Child, 267)* (From North Carolina; mountain whites; MS. given E. N. Caldwell; 1913.)
There was a sea captain lately come to shore,
His ragged apparel like one that was poor.
"What news, what news, dear Johnny, what news have you brought to me?"
"It's bad news, madam, I have brought to thee.
"Our ship had a broken voyage and all was lost," said he;
"And all the rest of our merry men got drownded at sea.
"Call down your daughter Polly, and set her down by me;
We'll drink and drown all sorrow, and married we will be."
And neither can I trust you for one bowl or three."
Then poor Johnny smiled and hung down his head.
"Go light the candle and show me the bed."
"My green beds are all full and have been this week.
And therefore poor Johnny his lodging may seek."
"Pray, tell me what I owe you, and that I will pay;
Pray, tell me what I owe you, and without delay."
"My daughter Polly's busy and cannot come to thee,
"Here's fifty of the new score and something of the old."
Then poor Johnny pulled out both hands full of gold.
When the old hag saw the money, then she began to rue;
Said, "Come back, dear Johnny, I have not done with you.
"If you were in earnest, I was only in a jest;
Upon my reputation I love you the best.
"For my green beds are all empty and have been for a week,
For you and my daughter Polly to take a pleasant sleep."
"No, I won't lie in your green beds, I'd rather lie in the street;
For when I had no money, out of doors I was kicked.
"Now I've got money plenty, I'll make the tavern roar;
With ale and beer and brandy I'll drink about galore."
[* Compare this Journal, vol. xxv, p. 7. ] [This is a reference to "Young Johnny," which is correct.]
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Coffin 1950: Traditional Ballads of North America
267. THE HEIR OF LINNE
Texts: Davis, Trd Bid 7 a, 479 / 7 a FLS Bull, #6.
Local Titles: The Heir of Linne.
Story Types: A: The heir of Linne sells his land to John o' Scales and squanders money for nearly a year. Then he is forced to beg without much luck. He recalls a note that his father gave him for use in a time of dire need, and the message reveals three chests of money in a castle wall. He takes the gold and goes back to John as if he were poor. John's wife will not trust him with a single cent. One man offers to lend him money. John offers to resell the lands for one hundred marks less than the original sale price. Linne takes the bargain to the consternation of John and wife, makes the man who offered to lend him money a keeper of his forest, and promises never to put his estate in jeopardy again.
Examples: Davis.
Discussion: The Virginia version is derived from the text published by Percy in his Reliques (1765), II, 309 and (1794), H I2- Thus the American form of the ballad is close to Child A, though much compressed and corrupted by some of the additions made by Percy and taken by him from The Drunkard's Legacy (see Child, V, 12 for a summary of the plot). The additions are noted by Davis, Trd Sid 7a; 479 to be the introduction of the "lonesome lodge", "the rope", and "one hundred marks" instead of "twenty pounds".
There is a North Carolina text (The Sea Contain) dealing with a sea-captain who appears poor and is rejected as a suitor for Polly's hand by the girl's mother. When he turns out rich, the mother does an about-face and even offers the couple a bed at once. He refuses and sets out to get drunk, XXVIII, 156. The song is not uncommon. For similar stories see JAFL XXV, 7 and Randolph, The Ozarks, 190. These songs may be considered derivatives or distant relations to the Child ballad, at best; their original was the English broadside known as The Liverpool Landlady or Jack Tar, although Young Johnny or Johnny the Sailor are the common American titles.