Andwhenhecamyntotheforeyst,Yondertheleffesgrene,Berdysthersangeonbowhesprest,Hetwasgretjoytosene.
\"Herhetysmercytobe,\"seydeRoben,\"Foramanthathadhawttospende;
BemeyhorneweschallawetYeffRobenHodebenerhande.\"
Robensetheshornetohesmowthe,Andblowablastthatwasfullgod,Thatherdehesmenthattherstode,Ferdowneynthewodde;
\"Ihermeymaster,\"seydeLeytellJohn;
Theyranasthaywerwode.
Whanthaytotharmastercam,LeytellJohnwoldnotspar;
\"Master,howhaffeyowfarynNotynggam?
Howhaffeyowsoldeyowrwar?\"
\"Ye,bemeytrowthe,LeytyllJohn,Lokethowtakenocar;
YhaffebrowtthescreffeofNotynggam,Forallhowrchaffar.\"
\"Heysfollwellcom,\"seydeLytyllJohn,\"Thestydyngysfollgodde;\"
Thescreffehadlevernarahundredponde[HehadneverseneRobenHode.]
\"HadIwestthatbeforen,AtNotynggamwhenwewer,ThowscholdenotcomynfeyrforestOfallthesthowsandeeyr.\"
\"Thatwotywell,\"seydeRoben,\"Ythankegodthatyebeher;
Therforschallyeleffeyowrhorsewithhos,Andallyourhotherger.\"
\"ThatfendIgodysforbode,\"kodthescreffe,\"Sotolesemeygodde;\"
\"Hetheryecamonhorsefollhey,Andhomschallyegoonfote;
Andgretwelltheyweyffeathome,Thewomanysfollgodde.
\"Yschallhersendeawheytpalffrey,Hethambelletastheweynde;
Nerfortheloffeofyowrweyffe,Offmorsorowscholdeyowseyng.\"
ThespartedRobynHodeandthescreffe,ToNotynggamhetokethewaye;
Hesweyffefeyrwelcomedhemhom,Andtohemganschesaye:
\"Seyr,howhaffeyowfaredyngreneforeyst?
HaffeyebrowtRobenhom?\"
\"Dam,thedeyellspedehim,bothebodeyandbon,Yhaffehadeafollgreteskorne.
\"Ofallthegodthatyhaffeladetogrenewod,Hehayttakehetfrome,Allbotthisfeyrpalffrey,Thathehaytsendetothe.\"
Withthatschetokeopalowdelawhyng,Andswharbehemthatdeyedontre,\"NowhaffeyowpayedforallthepottysThatRobengaffetome.
\"NowyebecornhomtoNotynggam,Yeschallhaffegodynowe;\"
NowspekeweofRobenHode,Andofthepottyronderthegrenebowhe.
\"Potter,whatwastheypottyswortheToNotynggamthatyleddewithme?\"
\"Theywerworthtwonobellys,\"seydhe,\"Somotytreyffeorthe;
Socowdeyhadfortham,Andyhadtherbe.\"
\"Thowschalthafetenponde,\"seydeRoben,\"Ofmoneyfeyrandfre;
Andyeverwhanthoucomesttogrenewod,Wellcom,pottertome.\"
ThespartydRobyn,thescreffe,andthepotter,Ondernethethegrene-wodtre;
GodhaffemerseyonRobynHodyssolle,Andsaffeallgodyemanrey!
Ballad:RobinHoodAndTheButcherCome,allyoubravegallants,andlistenawhile,WITHHEYDOWN,DOWN,ANADOWN,Thatareinthebowerswithin;
ForofRobinHood,thatarchergood,AsongIintendfortosing.
Uponatimeitchancedso,BoldRobininforrestdid\'spyAjollybutcher,withabonnyfinemare,Withhisfleshtothemarketdidhye.
\"Goodmorrow,goodfellow,\"saidjollyRobin,\"Whatfoodhast[thou]?telluntome;
Thytradetometell,andwherethoudostdwell,ForIlikewellthycompany.\"
Thebutcherheanswer\'djollyRobin,\"NomatterwhereIdwell;
ForabutcherIam,andtoNottinghamIamgoing,myfleshtosell.\"
\"What\'s[the]priceofthyflesh?\"saidjollyRobin,\"Come,tellitsoonuntome;
Andthepriceofthymare,besheneversodear,ForabutcherfainwouldIbe.\"
\"Thepriceofmyflesh,\"thebutcherrepli\'d,\"Isoonwilltelluntothee;
Withmybonnymare,andtheyarenottoodear,Fourmarkthoumustgiveuntome.\"
\"FourmarkIwillgivethee,\"saithjollyRobin,\"Fourmarkitshallbethyfee;
Themonycomecount,andletmemount,ForabutcherIfainwouldbe.\"
NowRobinheistoNottinghamgone,Hisbutcherstradetobegin;
Withgoodintenttothesheriffhewent,Andtherehetookuphisinn.
Whenotherbutchersdidopentheirmeat,BoldRobinhethenbegun;
Buthowfortosellheknewnotwell,Forabutcherhewasbutyoung.
Whenotherbutchersnomeatcouldsell,Robingotbothgoldandfee;
ForhesoldmoremeatforonepenyThenotherscoulddoforthree.
Butwhenhesoldhismeatsofast,Nobutcherbyhimcouldthrive;
ForhesoldmoremeatforonepenyThanotherscoulddoforfive.
WhichmadethebutchersofNottinghamTostudyastheydidstand,Saying,\"Surelyhe\'is\'someprodigal,Thathathsoldhisfathersland.\"
ThebutcherssteppedtojollyRobin,Acquaintedwithhimfortobe;
\"Come,brother,\"onesaid,\"webeallofonetrade,Come,willyougodinewithme?\"
\"Accurstofhisheart,\"saidjollyRobin,\"Thatabutcherdothdeny;
Iwillgowithyou,mybrethrentrue,AsfastasIcanhie.\"
Butwhentothesheriffshousetheycame,Todinnertheyhiedapace,AndRobinHoodhethemanmustbeBeforethemalltosaygrace.
\"PrayGodblessusall,\"saidjollyRobin,\"Andourmeatwithinthisplace;
Acupofsacksogoodwillnourishourblood,AndsodoIendmygrace.\"
\"Comefillusmorewine,\"saidjollyRobin,\"Letusbemerrywhilewedostay;
Forwineandgoodcheer,beitneversodear,IvowIthereck\'ningwillpay.
\"Come,\'brothers,\'bemerry,\"saidjollyRobin,\"Letusdrink,andnevergiveore;
FortheshotIwillpay,ereIgomyway,Ifitcostmefivepoundsandmore.\"
\"Thisisamadblade,\"thebutchersthensaid;
Saiesthesheriff,\"Heissomeprodigel,Thatsomelandhassoldforsilverandgold,Andnowhedothmeantospendall.
\"Hastthouanyhornbeasts,\"thesheriffrepli\'d,\"Goodfellow,toselluntome?\"
\"Yes,thatIhave,goodmastersheriff,Ihavehundredstwoorthree;
\"Andahundredakerofgoodfreeland,Ifyoupleaseittosee:
AndIlemakeyouasgoodassuranceofit,Asevermyfathermademe.\"
Thesheriffhesaddledhisgoodpalfrey,And,withthreehundredpoundingold,AwayhewentwithboldRobinHood,Hishornedbeaststobehold.
AwaythenthesheriffandRobindidride,TotheforrestofmerrySherwood;
Thenthesheriffdidsay,\"GodblessusthisdayFromamantheycallRobinHood!\"
Butwhenalittlefarthertheycame,BoldRobinhechancedtospyAhundredheadofgoodreddeer,Cometrippingthesherifffullnigh.
\"Howlikeyoumyhorn\'dbeasts,goodmastersheriff?
Theybefatandfairfortosee;\"
\"Itellthee,goodfellow,IwouldIweregone,ForIlikenotthycompany.\"
ThenRobinsethishorntohismouth,Andblewbutblaststhree;
ThenquicklyanontherecameLittleJohn,Andallhiscompany.
\"Whatisyourwill,master?\"thensaidLittleJohn,\"Goodmastercometelluntome;\"
\"IhavebroughthitherthesheriffofNottinghamThisdaytodinewiththee.\"
\"Heiswelcometome,\"thensaidLittleJohn,\"Ihopehewillhonestlypay;
Iknowhehasgold,ifitbebutwelltold,Willserveustodrinkawholeday.\"
ThenRobintookhismantlefromhisback,Andlaiditupontheground:
AndoutofthesheriffsportmantleHetoldthreehundredpound.
ThenRobinhebroughthimthorowthewood,Andsethimonhisdapplegray;
\"Ohavemecommandedtoyourwifeathome;\"
SoRobinwentlaughingaway.
NOTES
SIRPATRICKSPENS
Mr.Childfindsthefirstpublishedversionof\"thegrandoldballadofSirPatrickSpens,\"asColeridgecallsit,inBishopPercy\'sRELIQUES.Herethenameis\"Spence,\"andthemiddlerhyme-
\"Hafowre,hafowretoAberdour,\"
isnotofearlydate.The\"Cork-heeledShoon,\"too,cannotbeearly,butballadsaresubject,inoraltradition,tosuchmoderninterpolations.Theverseabouttheladieswaitingvainlyisanticipatedinapopularsongofthefourteenthcentury,onadefeatoftheNOBLESSEinFlanders-
\"Theirladiesthemmayabideinbowerandhallwelllong!\"
Iftherebehistoricalfoundationfortheballad,itisprobablyablendingofthevoyageofMargaret,daughterofAlexanderIII.,towedEric,KingofNorway,in1281(someofherescortweredrownedontheirwayhome),withtherathermysteriousdeath,ordisappearance,ofMargaret\'sdaughter,\"TheMaidofNorway,\"onhervoyagetomarrythesonofEdwardI.,in1290.Awoman,whoallegedthatshewastheMaidofNorway,waslaterburnedatthestake.Thegreatnumberandvarietyofversionssufficientlyindicatetheantiquityofthisballad,whereinexacthistoryisnottobeexpected.
THEBATTLEOFOTTERBURN
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY,SirWalterScott\'slatesteditionof1833:thecopyintheeditionof1802islesscomplete.Thegentleandjoyouspassageofarmshererecorded,tookplaceinAugust1388.WehaveanadmirableaccountofOtterburnfightfromFroissart,whorevelsinagallantencounter,fairlyfoughtouthandtohand,withnointerventionofarcheryorartillery,andfornowretchedpracticalpurpose.InsuchacombattheScots,neverrenownedforsuccessatlongbowls,andledbyaDouglas,werelikelytoprovevictorious,evenagainstlongodds,andwhentakenbysurprise.
ChoosinganadvantageinthediscordantdaysofRichardII.,theScotsmusteredaverylargeforcenearJedburgh,merelytobreaklancesonEnglishground,andtakeloot.Learningthat,astheyadvancedbytheCarlisleroute,theEnglishintendedtoinvadeScotlandbyBerwickandtheeastcoast,theScotssentthreeorfourhundredmen-at-arms,withafewthousandmountedarchersandpikemen,whoshouldharryNorthumberlandtothewallsofNewcastle.
ThesewereledbyJames,EarlofDouglas,March,andMurray.InafightatNewcastle,DouglastookHarryPercy\'spennon,whichHotspurvowedtorecover.Theretreatbegan,buttheScotswaitedatOtterburn,partlytobesiegethecastle,partlytoabideHotspur\'schallenge.Hemadehisattackatmoonlight,withoverwhelmingodds,butwashamperedbyamarsh,andincommodedbyaflankattachoftheScots.Thenitcametowhowouldpoundlongest,withaxeandsword.DouglascuthiswaythroughtheEnglish,axeinhand,andwasoverthrown,buthismenprotectedhisbody.TheSinclairsandLindsayraisedhisbanner,withhiscry;
MarchandDunbarcameup;HotspurwastakenbyMontgomery,andtheEnglishwereroutedwithheavyloss.DouglaswasburiedinMelroseAbbey;verymanyyearslatertheEnglishdefiledhisgrave,butwerepunishedatAncramMoor.ThereisanEnglishpoemonthefightof\"about1550\";ithasmanyanalogieswithourScottishversion,and,doubtless,oursdescendsfromaballadalmostcontemporary.TheballadwasagreatfavouriteofScott\'s.Inasevereillness,thinkingofLockhart,notyethisson-in-law,hequoted-
\"Mywoundisdeep,Ifainwouldsleep,Takethouthevanguardofthethree.\"
Mr.Childthinksthecommandto\"yieldtothebracken-bush\"
unmartial.Thisdoesnotseemastrongobjection,inFroissart\'stime.Itisexplainedinanoralfragment-
\"Forthereliesanethyonbracken-bushWhaafthasconqueredmairthanthee.\"
Mr.Childalsothinksthatthe\"dreamydream\"maybecopiedfromHumeofGodscroft.ItisatleastasprobablethatGodscroftborrowedfromtheballadwhichhecites.TheembroideredgauntletofthePercyisinthepossessionofDouglasofCaverstothisday.
TAMLIN,ORTAMLANE
Burns\'sversion,inJohnson\'sMUSEUM(1792).Scott\'sversionismadeupofthiscopy,Riddell\'s,Herd\'s,andoralrecitations,andcontainsfeebleliteraryinterpolations,not,ofcourse,bySirWalter.THECOMPLAINTOFSCOTLAND(1549)mentionsthe\"TaleoftheYoungTamlene\"asthenpopular.ItisneedlessheretoenterintothesubjectofFairyland,andcapturesofmortalsbyFairies:theEditorhassaidhissayinhiseditionofKirk\'sSECRET
COMMONWEALTH.TheNereids,inModernGreece,practisefairycantrips,andthesamebeliefsexistinSamoaandNewCaledonia.
ThemetamorphosesarefoundintheODYSSEY,Bookiv.,inthewinningofThetis,theNEREID,ORFAIRYBRIDE,byPeleus,inamodernCretanfairytale,andsoon.ThereisasimilarincidentinPENDABALOA,aSenegambianballad(CONTESPOPULAIRESDELA
SENEGAMBIE,BerengerFerand,Paris,1885).ThedippingofTamlanehasprecedentsinOLDDECCANDAYS,inaHottentottalebyBleek,andinLESDEUXFRERES,theEgyptianstory,translatedbyMaspero(theEditorhasalreadygiventheseparallelsinanotetoBORDER
BALLADS,byGrahamR.Thomson).Mr.ChildalsocitesMannhardt,\"WaldundFeldkulte,\"ii.64-70.Carterhaugh,thesceneoftheballad,isatthejunctionofEttrickandYarrow,betweenBowhillandPhiliphaugh.
THOMASRYMER
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY;theoriginalwasderivedfromaladylivingnearErceldoune(Earlston),andfromMrs.Brown\'sMSS.ThatThomasofErceldounehadsomepopularfameasarhymerandsoothsayerasearlyas1320-1350,seemstobeestablished.AslateastheFortyFive,nay,evenaslateastheexpectedNapoleonicinvasion,sayingsattributedtoThomaswererepeatedwithsomemeasureofbelief.ArealThomasRymerofErceldounewitnessedanundateddeedofPeterdeHaga,earlyinthethirteenthcentury.
ThedeHagas,orHaigsofBemersyde,werethesubjectsoftheprophecyattributedtoThomas,\"Betide,betide,whate\'erbetide,TherewillayebeaHaiginBemersyde,\"
andaHaigstillownsthatancientCHATEAUontheTweed,whichhasasingularsetoftraditions.LearmontisusuallygivenastheErceldounefamilyname;abranchofthefamilyownedDairsieinFifeshire,andwereakindofhereditaryprovostsofSt.Andrews.
IfThomasdidpredictthedeathofAlexanderIII.,orratherreportitbydintofclairvoyance,hemusthavelivedtill1285.ThedateofthepoemontheFairyQueen,attributedtoThomas,isuncertain,thestoryitselfisavariantof\"OgiertheDane.\"ThesceneisHuntlyBank,underEildonHill,andwaspartofthelandsacquired,atfantasticprices,bySirWalterScott.Hispassionforlandwasreallypartofhispassionforcollectingantiquities.ThetheoryofFairylandhere(asinmanyotherScottishlegendsandwitchtrials)isborrowedfromthePre-ChristianHades,andtheFairyQueenisalaterefractionfromPersephone.Nottoeat,intherealmofthedead,isaregularpreceptofsavagebelief,alltheworldover.Mr.RobertKirk\'sSECRETCOMMONWEALTHOFELVES,FAUNS,ANDFAIRIESmaybeconsulted,ortheEditor\'sPERRAULT,p.xxxv.
(Oxford,1888).OfthelaterlegendsaboutThomas,Scottgivesplenty,inTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY.Thelongancientromanticpoemonthesubjectisprobablythesourceoftheballad,thoughalocalballadmayhaveprecededthelongpoem.ScottnamedtheglenthroughwhichtheBogleBurnflowstoChiefswood,\"TheRhymer\'sGlen.\"
SIRHUGH
ThedateoftheMartyrdomofHughisattributedbyMatthewParisto1225.ChaucerputsaversioninthemouthofhisPrioress.NodoubtthestorymusthavebeenamereexcuseforJew-baiting.InAmericatheJewbecomes\"TheDuke\"inaversionpickedupbyMr.
Newells,fromtherecitationofastreetboyinNewYork.ThedaughterofaJewisnotmorelikelythanthedaughterofaduketohavebeenconcernedinthecruelandblasphemousimitationofthehorrorsattributedbyHoracetothewitchCanidia.ButsomesuchsurvivalsofpagansorcerydidexistintheMiddleAges,undertheinfluenceof\"Satanism.\"
SONDAVIE
Motherwell\'sversion.Oneofmanyballadsonfratricide,instigatedbythemother:orinquiredintobyher,asthecasemaybe.\"Edward\"isanotherexampleofthisgloomysituation.
THEWIFEOFUSHER\'SWELL
Here\"Thecockdothcraw,thedaydothdaw,\"
havingamiddlerhyme,canscarcelybeofextremeantiquity.
Probably,intheoriginalpoem,thedeadreturntorebuketheextremegriefoftheMother,butthepoemisperhapsreallymoreaffectingintheabsenceofadidacticmotive.ScottobtaineditfromanoldwomaninWestLothian.Probablythereading\"fashes,\"
(troubles),\"intheflood\"iscorrect,not\"fishes,\"or\"freshes.\"
Themotherdesiresthattheseamayneverceasetobetroubledtillhersonsreturn(verse4,line2).Thepeculiardoomofwomendeadinchild-bearingoccurseveninAztecmythology.
THETWACORBIES
FromthethirdvolumeofBORDERMINSTRELSY,derivedbyCharlesKirkpatrickSharpefromatraditionalversion.TheEnglishversion,\"ThreeRavens,\"waspublishedinMELISMATA,byT.
Ravensworth(1611).InScots,thelady\"hasta\'enanothermate\"
hishawkandhoundhavedesertedthedeadknight.IntheEnglishsong,thehoundswatchbyhim,thehawkskeepoffcarrionbirds,asforthelady-
\"Sheburiedhimbeforetheprime,Shewasdeadherselfeereevensongtime.\"
ProbablytheEnglishistheearlierversion.
THEBONNIEEARLOFMURRAY
HuntlyhadacommissiontoapprehendtheEarl,whowasinthedisgraceofJamesVI.Huntly,asanallyofBothwell,askedhimtosurrenderatDonibristle,inFife;hewouldnotyieldtohisprivateenemy,thehousewasburned,andMurraywasslain,Huntlygashinghisface.\"Youhavespoiledabetterfacethanyourown,\"
saidthedyingEarl(1592).JamesMelvillementionscontemporaryballadsonthemurder.RamsaypublishedtheballadinhisTEA
TABLEMISCELLANY,anditisoftensungtothisday.
CLERKSAUNDERS
FirstknownaspublishedinBORDERMINSTRELSY(1802).Theapparitionoftheloverisborrowedfrom\"SweetWillie\'sGhost.\"
Theevasionspractisedbythelady,andtheausteritiesvowedbyherhavemanyNorse,French,andSpanishparallelsinfolk-poetry.
Scott\'sversionis\"madeup\"fromseveralsources,butis,inanycase,versemostsatisfactoryaspoetry.
WALY,WALY
FromRamsay\'sTEATABLEMISCELLANY,acuriouslycompositegatheringofverses.Thereisaverse,obviouslyavariant,inasixteenthcenturysong,citedbyLeyden.St.Anthon\'sWellisonahillslopeofArthur\'sSeat,nearHolyrood.HereJeanieDeanstrystedwithhersister\'sseducer,inTHEHEARTOFMIDLOTHIAN.TheCairnofNicholMushat,thewife-murderer,isnotfaroff.TheruinsofAnthony\'sChapelarestillextant.
LOVEGREGOR
ThereareFrenchandRomaicvariantsofthisballad.\"Lochroyal,\"
wheretheballadislocalized,isinWigtownshire,butthelocalizationvaries.The\"tokens\"areasoldastheReturnofOdysseus,intheODYSSEY,histokenisthesingularconstructionofhisbridalbed,attachedbyhimtoalivingtree-trunk.AsimilarlegendoccursinChinese.SeeGerland\'sALT-GIECHISCHEMARCHEN.
THEQUEEN\'SMARIE-MARYHAMILTON
Amade-upcopyfromScott\'seditionof1833.Thisballadhascausedagreatdealofcontroversy.QueenMaryhadnoMaryHamiltonamongherFourMaries.NoMariewasexecutedforchild-
murder.Butweknow,fromKnox,thatballadswererecitedagainsttheMaries,andthatoneoftheMary\'schamberwomenwashanged,withherlover,apottinger,orapothecary,forgettingridofherinfant.Theselastfactswerecertainlyquitebasisenoughforaballad,theballadechoing,nothistory,butrumour,andrumouradaptedtothepopulartaste.Thustheballadmighthavepassedunchallenged,asasurvival,moreorlessmodifiedintime,ofQueenMary\'speriod.Butin1719aMaryHamilton,aMaidofHonour,ofScottishdescent,wasexecutedinRussia,forinfanticide.CharlesKirkpatrickSharpeconceivedthatthisaffairwastheoriginoftheballad,andisfollowedbyMr.Child.
Wereply(1)Theballadhasalmostthelargestnumberofvariantsonrecord.Thisisaproofofantiquity.Variantssomany,differinginallsortsofpoints,couldnothavearisenbetween1719,andtheageofBurns,whoquotesthepoem.
(2)Thisisespeciallyimprobable,because,in1719,theoldveinofballadpoetryhadrundry,popularsonghadchosenotherforms,andnoliteraryimitatorcouldhavewrittenMaryHamiltonin1719.
(3)Thereisnoexampleofapopularballadinwhichacontemporaryevent,interestingjustbecauseitiscontemporary,isthrownbackintoaremoteage.
(4)Thename,MaryHamilton,isoftenNOTgiventotheheroineinvariantsoftheballad.Sheisofseveralnamesandranksinthevariants.
(5)AsMr.Childhimselfremarked,the\"pottinger\"oftherealstoryofQueenMary\'stimeoccursinonevariant.Therewasno\"pottinger\"intheRussianaffair.
Allthesearguments,towhichothersmightbeadded,seemfataltothelatedateandmodernoriginoftheballad,andMr.Child\'sownfaithinthehypothesiswasshaken,ifnotoverthrown.
KINMONTWILLIE
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY.TheaccountinSatchellshaseitherbeenbasedontheballad,ortheballadisbasedonSatchells.
Afterameeting,ontheBorderofSalkeldofCorby,andScottofHaining,KinmontWilliewasseizedbytheEnglishasherodehomefromthetryst.Being\"wanted,\"hewaslodgedinCarlisleCastle,andthiswasabreachoftheday\'struce.Buccleugh,aswarder,triedtoobtainWillie\'sreleasebypeacefulmeans.Thesefailing,Buccleughdidwhattheballadreports,April13,1596.HardenandGoudilandswerewithBuccleugh,beinghisneighboursnearBranxholme.DickyofDryhope,withothers,Armstrongs,wasalsotruetothecallofduty.AfewversesintheballadareclearlybyAUTGUALTERUSAUTDIABOLUS,andnonetheworseforthat.
Salkeld,ofcourse,wasnotreallyslain;and,ifthemenwere\"leftfordead,\"probablytheywerenotlonginthatdebatablecondition.Intherisingof1745PrinceCharlie\'smenfordedEdenasboldlyasBuccleuch,thePrincesavingadrowningHighlanderwithhisownhand.
JAMIETELFER
Scott,foronce,waswronginhislocalities.TheDodheadofthepoemisNOTthatnearSinglee,inEttrick,butaplaceofthesamename,nearSkelfhill,onthesouthernsideofTeviot,withinthreemilesofStobs,whereTelfervainlyseekshelpfromElliot.TheotherDodheadisatagreatdistancefromStobs,upBorthwickWater,overthetableland,pastClearburnLochandBuccleugh,andsodownEttrick,pastTushielaw.TheCatslockhillisnotthatonYarrow,nearLadhope,butanothernearBranxholme,whenceitisnofarcrytoBranxholmeHall.BorthwickWater,Goudilands(belowBranxholme),Commonside(alittlefartherupTeviot),Allanhaugh,andtheotherplacesoftheScotts,werealleasily\"warned.\"
Therearetracesofamodernhandinthisexcellentballad.ThetopographyisherecorrectedfromMS.notesinafirsteditionoftheMINSTRELSY,inthelibraryofMr.CharlesGrieveatBranxholme\'
Park,ascionof\"auldJockGrieve\"oftheCoultartCleugh.NameslingerlonginpleasantTeviotdale.
THEDOUGLASTRAGEDY
TheballadhasNorseanalogues,butisherelocalizedontheDouglasBurn,atributaryofYarrowontheleftbank.TheSt.
Mary\'sKirkwouldbethatnowruinous,onSt.Mary\'sLoch,thechapelburnedbytheLadyofBranxholmewhenshe\"gatheredabandOfthebestthatwouldrideathercommand,\"
intheLAYOFTHELASTMINSTREL.TheancientkeepofBlackhouseonDouglasBurnmayhavebeenthehomeoftheheroine,ifwearetolocalize.
THEBONNYHIND
Herdgotthistragicballadfromamilkmaid,in1771.Mr.Childquotesaverseparallel,preservedinFaroe,andintheIcelandic.
ThereisasimilarincidentinthecycleofKullervo,intheFinnishKALEVALA.ScottsaysthatsimilartragediesarecommoninScotchpopularpoetry;suchcasesare\"LizzieWan,\"and\"TheKing\'sDochter,LadyJean.\"AsorrownearlyasbitteroccursintheFrench\"MilkWhiteDove\":abrotherkillshissister,metamorphosedintoawhitedeer.\"TheBridgeofDeath\"(French)
seemstohintatsomethingofthesamekind;orrathertheEditorfindsthathehasarbitrarilyread\"TheBonnyHind\"into\"LePontdesMorts,\"inPuymaigre\'sCHANTSPOPULAIRESDUPAYSMESSIN,p.60.
(BALLADSANDLYRICSOFOLDFRANCE,p.63)
YOUNGBEICHAN,ORYOUNGBICHAM
ThisistheoriginaloftheCockneyLOVINGBALLADOFLORDBATEMAN,illustratedbyCruikshank,andbyThackeray.Thereisavastnumberofvariants,evidencetotheantiquityofthestory.TheearliestknowntraceisinthefamiliarlegendoftheSaracenlady,whosoughtandfoundherlover,GilbertBecket,fatherofThomaseBecket,inLondon(seeprefacetoLIFEOFBECKET,orBeket),PercySociety,1845.ThedatemaybeCIRC.1300.Thekindofstory,thelovingdaughterofthecruelcaptor,isasoldasMedeaandJason,andhersearchforherlovercomesinsuchMARCHENas\"TheBlackBullo\'Norraway.\"Nostoryismorewidelydiffused(seeAFAR
TRAVELLEDTALE,intheEditor\'sCUSTOMANDMYTH).Theappearanceofthe\"TrueLove,\"justatherlover\'swedding,iscommonintheMARCHENoftheworld,andoccursinaRomaicballad,aswellasinmanyfromNorthernEurope.The\"localcolour\"-theMoororSaracen-isderivedfromCrusadingtimes,perhaps.Motherwellfoundtheballadrecitedwithintervalsofprosenarrative,asinAUCASSINANDNICOLETTE.ThenotestoCruikshank\'sLOVINGBALLAD
are,obviously,byThackeray.
THEBONNYHOUSEO\'AIRLY
LordAirly\'shousesweredestroyedbyArgyll,representingtheCovenanters,andalsoinpursuanceofaprivatefeud,in1639,or1640.Thereareerroneousversionsofthisballad,inwhichLochielappears,andthedateis,apparently,transferredto1745.
Montrose,inhisearlyCovenantingdays,wasnotactuallyconcernedintheburningoftheBonnieHouse,whichhe,whenaRoyalist,revengedonthepossessionsof\"gleyedArgyll.\"Thereferenceto\"Charlie\"isoutofkeeping;noone,perhaps,evercalledCharlesI.bythataffectionatename.LadyOgilviehadnotthelargefamilyattributedtoher:herson,LordOgilvie,escapedfromprisonintheCastleofSt.Andrews,afterPhiliphaugh.ALordOgilviewasoutin1745;and,later,hadaregimentintheFrenchService.Fewfamilieshavearecordsoconsistentlyloyal.
ROBROY
TheabductorsofthewidowedyoungheiressofEdenhellywereRob\'ssons,RobinOig,whowentthroughaformofmarriagewiththegirl,andJamesMohr,agoodsoldier,butadouble-dyedspyandscoundrel.RobinOigwashangedin1753.JamesMohr,adetectedtraitortoPrinceCharles,diedmiserablyinParis,in1754.
ReadersofMr.Stevenson\'sCATRIONAknowJameswell;informationastohisvillaniesisextantinAdditionalMSS.(BritishMuseum).
Thisisprobablythelatestballadinthecollection.Itoccursinseveralvariants,someofwhich,copiedoutbyBurns,derivethenceacertainaccidentalinterest.InMr.Stevenson\'sCATRIONA,theheroineofthatnametakesathoroughlyHighlandviewoftheabduction.RobinOig,inanycase,was\"nanethewauro\'ahanging,\"forheshotaMaclarenattheplough-tail,beforetheForty-Five.ThetrialofthesesonsofAlpenwaspublishedshortlyafterScott\'sROBROY.
KILLIECRANKIE
FoughtonJuly27,1689.NOTonthehaughnearthemodernroadbytherailway,buthigherupthehill,inthegroundsofUrrardHouse.Twosheltertrenches,whenceDundee\'smencharged,arestillvisible,highonthehillsideaboveUrrand.Thereissaid,byMr.Child,tohavebeenacontemporarybroadsideoftheballad,whichisanexampleoftheevolutionofpopularballadsfromtheoldtraditionalmodel.Thereisanothersong,by,orattributedto,Burns,andofremarkablespiritandvigour.
ANNANWATER
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSYScottsaysthatthesearetheoriginalwordsofthetuneof\"AllanWater,\"andthathehasaddedtwoversesfromavariantwithafortunateconclusion.\"AllanWater\"
isacommonrivername;thestreamsocalledjoinsTeviotaboveBranxholme.AnnanisthelargestreamthatflowsintotheSolwayFrith.TheGate-slack,inAnnandale,fixesthelocality.
THEELPHINNOURRICE
ThiscuriouspoemistakenfromthereprintofCharlesKirkpatrickSharpe\'stinyBALLADBOOK,itselfnowalmostINTROUVABLE.Itdoesnot,totheEditor\'sknowledge,occurelsewhere,butisprobablyauthentic.TheviewoftheFaeryQueenismorepleasingandsympatheticthanusual.Whymortalwomenweredesiredasnurses(excepttoattendonstolenmortalchildren,keptto\"paytheKanetohell\")isnotobvious.Irishbeliefsarepreciselysimilar;inEnglandtheyareoffrequentoccurrence.
JOHNNIEARMSTRANG
ArmstrangofGilnockiewasabrotherofthelairdofMangertoun.
HehadakindofRobinHoodreputationontheScottishBorder,asonewhoonlyrobbedtheEnglish.Pitscottie\'saccountofhisslayingbyJamesV.(1529)readsasiftheballadwerehisauthority,andanairforthesubjectismentionedintheCOMPLAINT
OFSCOTLAND.InSirHerbertMaxwell\'sHISTORYOFDUMFRIESAND
GALLOWAYisanexcellentaccountofthehistoricalfactsofthecase.
EDOMO\'GORDON
FoundedonaneventinthewarsbetweenKingsmenandQueensmen,intheminorityofJamesVI.,whileQueenMarywasimprisonedinEngland.\"Edom\"wasAdamGordonofAuchindown,brotherofHuntley,andaQueen\'sman.He,byhisretainer,Car,orKer,burnedTowieHouse,aseatoftheForbes\'s.KerrecursinthelongandmoreorlessliteraryballadofTHEBATTLEOFBALRINNES.Invariantsthelocalitiesaremuchaltered,and,inoneversion,thesceneistransferredtoAyrshire,andLoudounCastle.Alltheballadsoffire-raising,averyusualpractice,havepointsincommon,andtransferencewaseasy.
LADYANNEBOTHWELL\'SLAMENT
TraditionhasconfusedtheheroineofthispiecewiththewifeofBothwelhaugh,whoslewtheRegentMurray.Thathismotivewasnotmerepoliticalassassination,buttoavengetheill-treatmentanddeathofhiswife,seemstobedisprovedbyMaidment.Theaffair,however,isstillobscure.ThisdesertedLadyAnneoftheballadwas,infact,notthewifeofBothwelhaugh,butthedaughteroftheBishopofOrkney;herloverissaidtohavebeenhercousin,AlexanderErskine,sonoftheEarlofMar.Partofthepoem(Mr.
Childpointsout)occursinBroome\'splay,THENORTHERNLASS
(1632).Thoughapopularfavourite,thepieceisclearlyofliteraryorigin,andhasbeenseverely\"edited\"byaliteraryhand.
ThisversionisAllanRamsay\'s.
JOCKO\'THESIDE
ALiddesdalechant.Jockflourishedabout1550-1570,andiscommemoratedasareceiverbySirRichardMaitlandinapoemoftenquoted.Theanalogiesofthisballadwiththatof\"KinmontWillie\"
areveryclose.Thereferencetoapunch-bowlsoundsmodern,andthetaleismuchlessplausiblethanthatof\"KinmontWillie,\"
which,however,bearsafewobviousmarksofSirWalter\'sownhand.
Ascepticaleditormustchoosebetweentwotheories:eitherScottofSatchellsfoundedhisaccountoftheaffairof\"KinmontWillie\"
onapre-existingballadofthatname,ortheballadprintedbyScottisbasedontheprosenarrativeofScottofSatchells.Theformerhypothesis,everythingconsidered,isthemoreprobable.
LORDTHOMASANDFAIRANNET
PublishedinPercy\'sRELIQUES,fromaScotchmanuscript,\"withsomecorrections.\"Thesituation,withvariousdifferencesindetailandconclusion,ispopularinNorseandRomaicballads,andalsoinmanyMARCHENofthetypeofTHEBLACKBULLOFNORRAWAY.
FAIRANNIE
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY.ThereareDanish,Swedish,Dutch,andGermanversions,andthethemeentersartisticpoetryasearlyasMariedeFrance(LELAIDELFREISNE).InScotchtheEarlofWemyssisarecentimportation:theearldomdatesfrom1633.OfcoursethisprocessofattachingalegendorMARCHENtoawell-knownname,orplace,isoneofthemostcommoninmythologicalevolution,andbyitselfinvalidatesthetheorywhichwouldexplainmythsbyaphilologicalanalysisofthepropernamesinthetale.Thesemaynotbe,andprobablyarenot,theoriginalnames.
THEDOWNIEDENSOFYARROW
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY.ScottthoughtthattheherowasWalterScott,thirdsonofThirlestane,slainbyScottofTushielaw.The\"monument\"(astandingstonenearYarrow)isreallyofaveryearly,ratherPost-Romandate,andreferstonofeudofThirlestane,Oakwood,Kirkhope,orTushielaw.ThestoneisnotfarfromYarrowKrik,nearaplacecalledWarrior\'sRest.HamiltonofBangour\'sversionisbeautifulandwellknown.Quiterecentlyaveryearlyintermentofacorpse,inthecurvedposition,wasdiscoverednotfarfromthestandingstonewiththeinscription.
Ballad,stone,andintermentmayallbedistinctandseparate.
SIRROLAND
FromMotherwell\'sMINSTRELSY.Theauthenticityoftheballadisdubious,but,ifaforgery,itisaveryskilledonefortheearlynineteenthcentury.PoetslikeMr.Swinburne,Mr.Rossetti,andMrs.MarriotWatsonhaveimitatedthegenuinepopularballad,butneversocloselyastheauthorof\"SirRoland.\"
ROSETHEREDANDWHITELILY
FromtheJamieson-BrownMS.,originallywrittenoutbyMrs.Brownin1783:SirWaitermadechangesinTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY.Theballadisclearlyacompositeaffair.RobertChambersregardedMrs.BrownastheMrs.Harrisofballadlore,butMr.NorvalClyne\'sreplywasabsolutelycrushingandsatisfactory.
THEBATTLEOFHARLAW
FoughtonJuly24,1411.ThisfightbroketheHighlandforceinScotland.Thefirstversionis,ofcourse,literary,perhapsacompositionof1550,orevenearlier.Thesecondversionistraditional,andwasprocuredbyAytounfromLadyJohnScott,herselftheauthorofsomebeautifulsongs.ButthebestballadontheRedHarlawisthatplacedbyScottinthemouthofElspeth,inTHEANTIQUARY.This,indeed,isbeyondallrivalrythemostsplendidmodernimitationoftheancientpopularMuse.
DICKIEMACPHALION
AgreatfavouriteofScott\'s,whohearditsungatMissEdgeworth\'s,duringhistourinIreland(1825).OneverserecursinaJacobitechant,probablyof1745-1760,butthebibliographyofJacobitesongsisespeciallyobscure.
ALYKE-WAKEDIRGE
FromtheBORDERMINSTRELSY.Theideasaremainlypre-Christian;
theBrigo\'DreadoccursinIslamiteandIroquoisbelief,andinalmostallmythologiesthesoulshavetocrossaRiver.MusicforthisdirgeisgiveninMr.HaroldBoulton\'sandMissMacleod\'sSONGSOFTHENORTH.
THELAIRDOFWARISTOUN
ThisversionwastakendownbySirWalterScottfromhismother\'srecitation,forJamieson\'sbookofballads.JamiesonlaterquarrelledbitterlywithSirWalter,aslettersatAbbotsfordprove.AvariantisgivenbyKinloch,andalonger,lesspoetical,butmorehistoricallyaccurateversionisgivenbyBuchan.TheHouseofWaristounis,orlatelywas,amelancholyplacehangingaboveanarrowlake,inthenorthernsuburbsofEdinburgh,neartheWaterofLeith.KincaidwasthenameoftheLaird;accordingtoChambers,themorefamouslairdsofCovenantingtimeswereJohnstons.Kincaidissaidtohavetreatedhiswifecruelly,whereforeshe,orhernurse,engagedoneRobertWeir,anoldservantofherfather(LivingstoneofDunipace),tostrangletheunhappymaninhisownbedroom(July2,1600).Theladywasbeheaded,thenursewasburned,and,later,Weirwasalsoexecuted.
Theline\"Iwishthatyemaysinkforsin\"
occursinanearlierballadonEdinburghCastle-
\"AndthatallfortheblackdinnerEarlDouglasgottherein.\"
MAYCOLVEN
FromHerd\'sMS.VersionsoccurinPolish,German,Magyar,Portuguese,Scandinavian,andinFrench.TheballadisherelocalisedontheCarrickcoast,nearGirvan.TheladyiscalledaKennedyofCulzean.Prof.BuggeregardsthiswidelydiffusedballadasbasedontheApocryphallegendofJudithandHolofernes.
Ifso,thelegendisDIABLEMENTCHANGEENROUTE.MoreprobablytheoriginisaMARCHENofakindofRAKSHASAfataltowomen.Mr.
Childhascollectedavastmassoferuditiononthesubject,andbynomeansacquiescesinProf.Bugge\'singenioushypothesis.
JOHNIEFAA
FromPinkerton\'sScottishBallads.TheeventnarratedisalegendofthehouseofCassilis(Kennedy),butiswhollyunhistorical.
\"SirJohnFaa,\"inthefable,isaidedbyGypsies,but,apparently,isnotoneoftheEarlsofEgypt,onwhomMr.Crockett\'snovel,THE
RAIDERS,maybeconsulted.Theballadwasfirstprinted,asfarasisknown,inRamsay\'sTEATABLEMISCELLANY.
HOBBIENOBLE
TheherorecursinJOCKO\'THESIDE,andJocko\'theMainsisanhistoricalcharacter,thatis,findsmentioninauthenticrecords,asScottpointsout.TheArmstrongsweredeportedingreatnumbers,as\"anillcolony,\"toUlster,byJamesI.SirHerbertMaxwell\'sHISTORYOFDUMFRIESANDGALLOWAYmaybeconsultedfortheseandsimilarreivers.
THETWASISTERS
Aversionof\"Binnorie.\"Theballadhereendsabruptly;doubtlessthefiddlermadefiddle-stringsofthelady\'shair,andafiddleofherbreast-bone,whiletheinstrumentprobablyrevealedthecrueltyofthesister.Otherextantversionsarecompositeorinterpolated,sothisfragment(Sharpe\'s)hasbeenpreferredinthisplace.
MARYAMBREE
TakenbyPercyfromapieceinthePepysCollection.Thegirlwarriorisafavouritefigureinpopularromance.Oftensheslaysatreacherouslover,asinBILLYTAYLOR.NothingisknownofMaryAmbreeasanhistoricalpersonage;shemaybeaslegendaryasfairmaidenLilias,ofLiliarid\'sEdge,who\"foughtuponherstumps.\"
InthatcasethelocalnameisdemonstrablyearlierthanthemythicalLilias,whofoughtwithsuchtenacity.
ALISONGROSS
Jamiesongavethisballadfromamanuscript,alteringthespellinginconformitywithScotsorthography.Mr.Childprintsthemanuscript;hereJamieson\'smorefamiliarspellingisretained.
TheideaoftheromanceoccursinaRomaicMARCHEN,but,inplaceoftheQueenofFaery,amorebeautifulgirlthanthesorceress(NereidinRomaic),restorestheyouthtohistrueshape.Mr.
Childregardedthetaleas\"oneofthenumerouswildgrowths\"fromBEAUTYANDTHEBEAST.ItwouldbemorecorrecttosaythatBEAUTY
ANDTHEBEASTisalate,courtly,Frenchadaptationandamplificationoftheoriginalpopular\"wildgrowth\"whichfirstappears(inliteraryform)asCUPIDANDPSYCHE,inApuleius.
Exceptforthemetamorphosis,however,thereislittleanalogyinthiscase.ThefriendlyactoftheFairyQueeniswithoutparallelinBritishFolklore,butMr.ChildpointsoutthattheNereidQueen,inGreece,isstillaskindasThetisofold,notasepulchralsiren,theshadowofthepagan\"FairyQueenProserpina,\"
asCampioncallsher.
THEHEIROFLYNNE
FromPercy\'sFolioManuscript.ThereisacognateGreekepigram-
[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]
GORDONOFBRACKLEY
This,thoughprobablynotthemostauthentic,isdecidedlythemostpleasingversion;itisfromMackay\'scollection,perhapsfromhispen.
EDWARD
PercygotthispiecefromLordHailes,withpseudo-antiquatedspelling.Mr.Swinburnehaspublishedaparallelballad\"FromtheFinnish.\"ThereareanumberofparallelballadsonCruelBrothers,andCruelSisters,suchasSONDAVIE,whichmaybecompared.Fratricidesandunconsciousincestsweremotivesdeartopopularpoetry.
YOUNGBENJIE
FromtheBORDERMINSTRELSY.ThatcorpsesMIGHTbeginto\"thraw,\"
ifcarelesslywatched,wasaprevalentsuperstition.Scottgivesanexample:thefollowingmaybeadded,aslesswellknown.Thewatchershadleftthecorpsealone,andwerediningintheadjoiningroom,whenaterriblenoisewasheardinthechamberofdeath.Nonedaredenter;theministerwassentfor,andpassedintotheroom.Heemerged,askedforapairoftongs,andreturned,bearinginthetongsABLOODYGLOVE,andthenoiseceased.Healwaysdeclinedtosaywhathehadwitnessed.
Ministerswereexorcistsinthelastcentury,andthefatherofJamesThomson,thepoet,diedsuddenlyinaninterviewwithaguest,inahauntedhouse.Thehousewaspulleddown,asbeinguninhabitable.
AULDMAITLAND
FromTHEBORDERMINSTRELSY.Thisballadisinserted,notforitsmerit,stilllessforitsauthenticity,butfortheproblemofitspuzzlinghistory.ScottcertainlygotitfromthemotheroftheEttrickShepherd,in1801.TheShepherd\'sfatherhadbeenagrown-
upmanin1745,andhismotherwasalsoofagreatage,andunlikelytobeabletolearnanew-forgedballadbyheart.TheShepherdhimself(thenamostunsophisticatedperson)said,inaletterofJune30,1801,thathewas\"surprizedtohearthissongissuspectedbysometobeamodernforgery;thecontrarywillbebestprovedbymostoftheoldpeople,hereabout,havingagreatpartofitbyheart.\"Thetwolastlinesofversesevenwere,confessedly,addedbyHogg,tofillaLACUNA.Theyareespeciallymoderninstyle.NowthustofillupshamLACUNAEinshamballadsofhisown,withlinesmanifestlymodern,wasafavouritetrickofSurteesofMainsforth.Heusedthedevicein\"Barthram\'sDirge,\"
whichentirelytookinSirWalter,andwasguiltyofmanyotherSUPERCHERIES,especiallyofthe\"FrayofSuportMill.\"CouldtheunletteredShepherd,fondofhoaxesashewas,haveinventedthisstratagem,sixteenyearsbeforehejoinedtheBLACKWOODset?Andisitconceivablethathisoldmother,enteringintothejoke,wouldcommitherson\'sfraudulentversestomemory,andrecitethemtoSirWalterasgenuinetradition?ShesaidtoScott,thattheballad\"neverwasprintedi\'theworld,formybrothersandmelearneditandmanymaefraeauldAndrewMoore,andhelearneditfraeauldBabyMettlin\"(Maitland?)\"whawashousekeepertothefirstlairdo\'Tushilaw.\"(OnEttrick,nearThirlestane.ShedoubtlessmeantthefirstoftheAndersonsofTushielaw,whosucceededtheoldlairds,theScotts.)\"Shewassaidtohaebeenanotheroraguidane,andtherearemanyqueerstoriesabouthersel\',butO,shehadbeenagrandsingero\'auldsongsan\'
ballads.\"(Hogg\'sDOMESTICMANNERSOFSIRWALTERSCOTT,p.61,1834.)
\"Maitlanduponauldbeirdgray\"ismentionedbyGawainDouglas,inhisPALICEOFHONOUR,whichtheShepherdcanhardlyhaveread,andScottidentifiedthisMaitlandwiththeancestorofLethington;hisdatewas1250-1296.Onthewhole,eventheastuteShepherd,inhisearlydaysofauthorship,couldhardlyhavelaidaplotsoinsidious,andthequestionoftheauthenticityandoriginoftheballad(obviousinterpolationsapart)remainsamystery.Whocouldhaveforgedit?Itis,asanexerciseinimitation,farbeyondHARDYKNUTE,andatleastonalevelwithSIRROLAND.Thepossibilityofsuchforgeriesisnowveryslightindeed,butvitiatesearlycollections.
IfwesuspectLeyden,whoalonehadthenecessaryknowledgeofantiquities,wearestillmetbytheimprobabilityofoldMrs.Hoggbeingengagedinthehoax.Moreover,LeydenwasprobablytookeenanantiquarytotakepartinoneofthedeceptionswhichRitsonwishedtopunishsoseverely.Mr.Childexpresseshisstrongandnaturalsuspicionsoftheauthenticityoftheballad,andHoggis,certainly,adubioussource.HetookinJeffreywiththesongof\"DonaldMacgillavray,\"andinstantlyboastedofhistriumph.Hecouldnothavekepthissecret,afterthedeathofScott.Theseconsiderationsmustnotbeneglected,howeversuspicious\"Auld,Maitland\"mayappear.
THEBROOMFIELDHILL
FromBuchan\'sBALLADSOFTHENORTHOFSCOTLAND.ThereareElizabethanreferencestothepoem,andatwelfthcenturyromanceturnsonthemainideaofsleepmagicallyinduced.Theloverthereinismorefortunatethantheherooftheballad,and,finally,overcomesthespell.TheidearecursintheNorsepoetry.
WILLIE\'SLADYE
ScotttookthisballadfromMrs.Brown\'scelebratedManuscript.
ThekindofspellindicatedwaspractisedbyHerauponAlcmena,beforethebirthofHeracles.Analogousisthespellbybindingwitch-knots,practisedbySimaethaonherlover,inthesecondIdyllofTheocritus.Montaignehassomecuriousremarksontheseenchantments,explainingtheirpowerbywhatisnowcalled\"suggestion.\"ThereisaDanishparallelto\"Willie\'sLadye,\"
translatedbyJamieson.
ROBINHOODBALLADS
Thereisplentiful\"learning\"aboutRobinHood,butnorealknowledge.Heisfirstmentionedinliterature,asthesubjectof\"rhymes,\"inPIERSPLOWMAN(CIRC.1377).Asatopicofballadshemustbemucholderthanthatdate.In1439hisnamewasasynonymforabandit.Wyntoun,theScotschronicler,datestheoutlawinthetimeofEdwardI.Major,theScotsphilosopherandmasterofJohnKnox,makesaguess(takenupbyScottinIVANHOE)astheperiodofRichardI.KuhnseekstoshowthatHoodisasurvivalofWoden,orofhisWOODEN,\"woodenhorse\"orhobbyhorse.TheRobinHoodplaywasparallelwiththeMaygames,which,asMr.FrazershowsinhisGOLDENBOUGH,werereallysurvivalsofaworld-widereligiouspractice.ButRobinHoodneednotbeconfusedwiththelegendaryMayKing.Mr.Childjudiciouslyrejectsthesemythologicalconjectures,based,astheyare,onfar-fetchedetymologiesandanalogies.Robinisanidealizedbandit,reiver,orKlepht,asinmodernRomaicballads,andhisadventuresarepreciselysuchaspopularfancyeverywhereattachestosuchpopularheroes.AnhistoricalRobintheremayhavebeen,butPREMITNOX
ALTA.
ROBINHOODANDTHEMONK
ThiscopyfollowsinMr.Child\'searlyedition,\"fromthesecondeditionofRitson\'sROBINHOOD,ascollatedbySirFredericMadden.\"Itisconjecturedtobe\"possiblyasoldasthereignofEdwardII.\"Thatthemurderofamonkshouldbepardonedinthefacilewaydescribedismanifestlyimprobable.EveninthelawlessGallowayof1508,McGhieofPhumptonwasfinedsixmerksfor\"throwingWilliamSchankis,monk,fromhishorse.\"(HistoryofDumfriesandGalloway,bySirHerbertMaxwell,p.155.)
ROBINHOODANDTHEPOTTER
PublishedbyRitson,fromaCambridgeMS.,probablyofthereignofHenryVII.
ROBINHOODANDTHEBUTCHER
PublishedbyRitson,fromaBlackLettercopyinthecollectionofAnthonyWood,theOxfordantiquary.