US & Canadian Versions: 31. The Marriage of Sir Gawain
[There is one claimed US version of Child 31 titled, Sir Gaunie and the Witch, collected by John Jacob Niles which the Traditional Ballad Index says is "of doubtful authenticity."
Another ballad, "The Half-Hitch" with a similar theme as The Marriage of Sir Gawain, has been found in the US. Some collectors (Barry/Flanders) and performers (Peggy Seeger) list it as a version of Child 31. Coffin flatly states: "To call 'The Half-Hitch' a form of Child 31 is to stretch the concept of the secondary ballad to its limits."
I'm listing the US related versions usually titled, "The Half-Hitch," as No. 31 Appendix or 31 A.]
CONTENTS:
Sir Gaunie and the Witch- Reported to be sung by Bella Hawley, Swannanoa, NC (no date given c. 1930s-1940s). Collected by John Jacob Niles.
1. King Henry was a mighty man,
Who lived in Engeland.
no harm e'er fell on honest folk
From out of Henry's hand.
2. Sir Gaunie was a noble knight,
Handsome for to see,
And he's to marry with a witch,
To save King Henery.
3. The witch from out the deep green wood
Told Henry what to say,
She told him that a woman alwaYs
Wanted for her way.
4. King Henry answered well and true,
He spake so bright, so gay,
The Baron sadly hung his head,
And sadly rode away.
5. Sir Gaunie was a noble knight,
And many a tear was shed
The day he married with the witch
And taken her to bed.
6.'Twas then she turned a princess fair,
And though they all did try,
No fairer one was ever seen
With sight of human eye.