AFC 1933/001 RESEARCH MATERIALS -- DEPT. of the INTERIOR, "AN OPPORTUNITY to 314 HELP IN AN IMPORTANT WORK" Referred to Prof. Lomax W. S. S. Jan. 19, 1914 SPECIAL INQUIRY NOVEMBER 1913 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF EDUCATION WASHINGTON AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IN AN IMPORTANT WORK. Whatever has at any time appealed to the best emotions and moved the heart of a people must have for their children and their children's children political, historical, and cultural value. This is especially true of folk tales and folk songs. The English and Scottish popular ballads given in the following lists helped to mold the character of the men and women who made up the larger part of the Colonial population of the country. For generations these ballads of the lowlands and highlands of England and Scotland were sung along the Atlantic coast and in the valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. The descendants of English, Irish, and Scotch-Irish colonists took many of them with them on their march across the continent, and the ballads were familiar in childhood to millions of men and women whose children have never heard them. Before the march of the public school, the public library, urban civilization, and modern industrial and commercial life, they have vanished like the fresh, cool mists of the morning before the heat of the sun, but they still have their value, and we should not permit them to be lost out of our life. The Nation will be the poorer if we do. The Bureau of Education, therefore, welcomes the cooperation of Dr. C. Alphonso Smith, Edgar Allan Poe professor of English in the University of Virginia and founder and president of the Virginia Folk Lore Society, in collecting the American survivals of these ballads. The first step in this process is, as set forth by Dr. Smith in the following statement, to determine where any of these ballads or their variations are now to be found among the people. May I therefore ask every person into whose hands a copy of this statement comes to read it carefully and then to fill out the inclosed 17891-13 Alan: Please return this pamphlet. I have a big stack of Child [B????] in Ms. Joh. 2 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. blank and return it to me in the inclosed penalty envelope. This cooperation will be greatly appreciated and may result in saving to the Nation valuable treasures which otherwise would be lost. Sincerely, P. P. CLAXTON, Commissioner. ---------- A GREAT MOVEMENT IN WHICH EVERYONE CAN HELP. By C. ALPHONSO SMITH. English and Scottish ballads. - One of the greatest pieces of research work ever done by an American was Prof. Francis J. Child's edition in 10 parts of "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads" (1882-1898). He found that there were 305 of these old ballads, and nobody has yet succeeded in increasing or diminishing this number. You will find all of these ballads (except 5) and many variants of them in a single volume called "English and Scottish Popular Ballads," edited by Helen Child Sargent and George Lyman Kittredge (Boston, 1904). English and Scottish ballads surviving in America. - An interesting discovery made in recent years is that many of these old ballads were brought by the earliest settlers to the United States and have been kept alive through oral tradition ever since. Prof. Child made no studied attempt to collect these American survivals, noting them only incidentally. He reports, if my account is correct, 2 in Maine, 2 in New Hampshire, 10 in Massachusetts, 5 in New York, 1 in Pennsylvania, 1 in Maryland, 4 in Virginia, 4 in North Carolina, and 1 in South Carolina. If we omit duplicates, the total is only 17. Now, however, at least 56 1 of the ballads in Prof. Child's list have been found in the United States and the search has hardly begun. Mr. Phillips Barry of Cambridge, Mass.; Prof. H. M. Belden, of Missouri; Prof. George Lyman Kittredge, of Harvard University; Prof. John A. Lomax, of Texas; and Prof. Hubert G. Shearin, of Kentucky, have been the leaders2 in this work of recovery, and have thus made every American citizen their debtor. Importance of collecting American survivals. - Sidney Lanier did not overstate it when he said of these old ballads, "I know that he who walks in the way these following ballads point will be manful in ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Most of these were published in the Journal of American Folk-Lore, of which Prof. Franz Boas, of Columbia University, New York is editor. 2 See Mr. Barry's "Traditional Ballads in New England" (Journal of American-Lore, Vol. xciii, 1905) ; Prof. Belden's "Balladry in America" (Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. xxv, 1912) ; Prof. Kittredge's introduction to "English and Scottish Popular Ballads," 1904 ; Prof. Lomax's "Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads," 1910 ; and Prof. Shearin's "British Ballads in the Cumberland Mountains" (Sewanee Review, July, 1911). ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. 3 necessary fight, fair in trade, loyal in love, generous to the poor, tender in the household, prudent in living, plain in speech, merry upon occasion, simple in behavior, and honest in all things." But if our American versions are not collected quickly they can never be collected at all. It is now or never, Many influences are tending to obliterate them. Catchy, but empty, songs not worthy of comparison with them, the decadence of communal singing, the growing diversity of interests, the appeal to what is divisive and separative in our national life, the presence of the artificial and self-conscious in modern writing are depriving our homes and schoolrooms of a kind of literature which, for community of feeling, for vigor of narrative, for vividness of portraiture, and for utter simplicity of style and content is not surpassed in the whole history of English and American song. How you can help.--You can help by using the inclosed envelope to say whether you know any of these 305 ballads or know of them. Perhaps there is a pupil in your school, or a parent, or a patron, or a friend not connected with the school who knows, or is likely to know, several of them. The report even of a fragment will be welcome. You will be surprised to find that many versions of these old songs are at your very door or may be obtained by a little effort and tact. You are not asked to write down and send on any versions of these ballads. It is desired to know, first, how many of these ballads and how many versions of the same ballad there are in each State. It is believed that the public school teachers are perhaps better fitted than any others to inaugurate a national search, but the cooperation of all into whose hands this circular may fall is earnestly requested. When the returns from the different States have been received and classified, another circular in hand each State in which there is no folklore or ballad society can form one on a definite basis of ascertained results, and thus continue the search. Those States or communities that already have such societies can use the information thus acquired in whatever way they deem best. State organizations will be found most efficient in this rescue work. Not until each State feels itself responsible for the collection of the ballads surviving in its own borders will the search be even approximately complete or the results at all satisfactory. But when each State joins in a sort of cooperative ballad union, a work may be written that shall prove not less significant and certainly not less interesting to Americans than Prof. Child's great work itself. The complete list.--Here are the titles in alphabetical order of the 305 English and Scottish ballads collected and numbered by Prof. Child, his numbering being retained. The different names under which some of these ballads go are given in parentheses. The starred ballads are those that have been found in one or more versions in the 4 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. United States. Please keep this list for reference, but send to the Commissioner of Education the names of all the ballads which you have found or may find in oral circulation in your county or State. Remember that two versions of the same ballad are almost as valuable as two different ballads. ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesley, 116. Alison and Willie, 256 (My Love She Lives in Lincolnshire). Allison Gross, 35. Andrew Lammie, 233 (The Trumpeter of Fyvie). Archie o' Cawfield,* 188. Auld Matrons, 249. Babylon, 14 (The Bonnie Banks o' Fordie). The Baffled Knight, 112 (The Over Courteous Knight). The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington,* 105 (True Love Requited). The Baron of Brackley, 203. The Baron o' Leys, 241. The Battle of Harlaw, 163. The Battle of Otterburn, 161. The Battle of Philiphaugh, 202. The Beggar-Laddie, 280 (The Shepherd Boy). The Bent sae Brown, 71. Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, 201. Bewick and Graham, 211. Blancheflour and Jellyflorice, 300. The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood, 132. Bonnie Annie, 24 (The High Banks o' Yarrow). Bonny Baby Livingston, 222 (Barbara Livingston). Bonny Barbara Allan,* 84 (Barbara Allen's Cruelty, Barbara Ellen, Barbro Allen). Bonny Bee Hom, 92. The Bonny Birdy, 82. The Bonny Earl of Murray,* 181. The Bonny Hind, 50. The Bonnie House o' Airlie, 199. Bonnie James Campbell,* 210 (Bonnie George Campbell). Bonny John Seton, 198. The Bonny Lass of Anglesey, 220. Bonnie Lizie Baillie, 227. Bothwell Bridge, 206. The Boy and the Mantle, 29. The Braes o' Yarrow,* 214 (The Dowy Houms o' Yarrow). The Broom of Cowdenknows, 217 (The Laird of Knotington, Bonny May). The Broomfield Hill,* 643 (I'll Wager. I'll Wager). Broughty Wa's 258 (Burd Helen). Brown Adam, 98 (Brown Edom). The Brown Girl,* 295 (The Bonny Brown Girl). Brown Robin, 97 (Love Robbie). Brown Robyn's Confession, 57. Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane, 28. Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick, 257 (Burd Bell). Captain Car, 178 (Edom o' Gordon). Captain Ward and the Rainbow,* 287. Captain Wedderburn's Courtship,* 46 (The Earl of Rosslyn's Daughter). The Carnal and the Crane, 55. Charlie MacPherson, 234. The Cherry-Tree Carol, 54 (Joseph Was an Old Man.) Child Maurice, 83 (Child Noryce, Gil Morice). Child Owlet, 291. Child Waters, 63 (Burd Ellen). Christopher White, 108. Clerk Colvill, 42 (The Mermaid). Clerk Saunders, 69. The Clerk's Twa Sons o' Owsenford, 72. Clyde's Water, 216 (The Mother's Malison, Willie and May Margaret). The Coble o' Cargill, 242. The Crafty Farmer, 283 (The Crafty Miller). Crow and Pie, 111. The Cruel Brother, 11 (The Bride's Testament). The Cruel Mother,* 20 (The Duke's Daughter's Cruelty, Greenwood Side, Three Little Babes). 5 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. The Daemon Lover,* 243 (James Harris, The House Carpenter, The Carpenter's Wife). The Death of Parcy Reed, 193. The Death of Queen Jane, 170 (Queen Jeanie). Dick o' the Cow, 185. Dives and Lazarus, 56. Drumclog, 205 (Loudon Hill). Dugall Quin, 294 (Donald M'Queen's Flight wi Lizie Menzie). The Duke of Athole's Nurse, 212. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter, 237 (The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters). Durham Field, 159. Earl Bothwell, 184. Earl Brand,* 17 (The Douglas Tragedy, Fair Ellender, The Child of Ell). Earl Crawford, 229. The Earl of Aboyne, 235. The Earl of Errol, 231 (Kate Carnegie). The Earl of Mar's Daughter, 270. The Earl of Westmoreland, 177. Earl Rothes, 297. Edward,* 13. The Elfin Knight,* (The Wind Hath Blown my Plaid Away). Eppie Morrie, 223. Erlington, 8. Fair Annie, 62 (Lord Thomas and Fair Annie, Burd Helen, Lady Jane). The Fair Flower of Northumberland, 9 (The Ungrateful Knight and the Fair Flower of Northumberland). Fair Janet, 64 (Fair Janet and Sweet William). Fair Margaret and Sweet William,* 74 (Margaret's Ghost, Lady Margret, William and Margaret). Fair Mary of Wallington, 91 (The Bonny Earl of Livingston). The False Knight Upon the Road,* 3. The False Lover Won Back, 218 (The Place Where my Love Johnny Dwells). The Famous Flower of Serving-Men,* 106. The Farmer's Curst Wife,* 278 (The Old Man under the Hill, A Woman and the Devil). Fause Foodrage, 89 (The Eastmure King and the Westmure King). The Fire of Frendraught, 196. Flodden Field, 168. The Friar in the Well, 276 (The Friar Well Fitted, The Friar and Fair Maid). The Gardener, 219. The Gay Goshawk, 96. Geordie,* 209 (The Laird of Gigh, Georgia). The George Aloe and the Sweepstake,* 285. A Gest of Robyn Hode, 117. Get up and Bar the Door, 275 (John Blunt). Gil Brenton, 5. Glasgerion, 67 (Glenkindie). Glasgow Peggie, 228. Glenlogie, 238 (Jean o' Bethelnie). The Golden Vanity,* 286 (The Low Lands Low, The Sweet Trinity, The French Galley, The Little Cabin Boy, The Green Willow Tree, The Yellow Golden Tree). The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry, 113. The Grey Cock, 248 (Saw You my Father?). Gude Wallace, 157 (Sir William Wallace). The Gypsy Laddie,* 200 (Johny Faa, The Gypsy Davy, The Gypsy Daisy, Lord Garrick, Black Jack Daley). The Heir of Linne, 267. Henry Martyn,* 250 (Andrew Bartin, Andy Bardan). Hind Etin, 41 (Young Akin). Hind Horn, 17. Hoble Noblem 189. The Holy Nunnery, 303. Hugh Spencer's Feats in France, 158 (Hugh Spencer). Hughie Grame, 191 (The Life and Death of Sir Hugh of the Grime). The Hunting of the Cheviot,* 162 (Chevy Chase). James Grant, 197. James Hatley, 244 (Jamie O'Lee). Jamie Douglas, 204 (Lord Douglas, The Laird of Blackwood). Jamie Telfer in the Fair Dodhead, 190. Jellon Grame, 90 (Hind Henry). The Jew's Daughter,* 155 (Sir Hugh, Hugh of Lincoln, Little Harry Hughes and the Duke's Daughter). Jock o' the Side, 187 (John a Side). 6 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. Jock the Leg and the Merry Merchant, 282. John Dory, 284. John of Hazelgreen, 293. John Thomson and the Turk, 266. Johnie Armstrong, 169 (Johny Armstrong's Last Goodnight). Johnie Cock, 114 (Johnie of Cockerslee). Johnie Scot, 99 (Jack, the Little Scot). The Jolly Beggar,* 279. The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield, 124. Judas, 23. Katharine Jaffray,* (The Laird of Laminton). The Keach i the Creel,* 281. Kemp Owyne, 34 (Kempion). Kempy Kay, 33. King Arthur and King Cornwall, 30. King Edward the Fourth and a Tanner of Tamworth, 273. King Estmere, 60. King Henry, 32. King Henry Fifth's Conquest of France, 164. King James and Brown, 180. King John and the Bishop,* 45 (King John and the Abbot of Canterbury). King Orfeo, 19. The King's Disguise and Friendship with Robin Hood, 151. The King's Dochter Lady Jean, 52. Kinmont Willie, 186. The Kitchie-Boy, 252. The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter,* 110 (The Beautiful Shepherdess of Arcadia). The Knight of Liddesdale, 160. The Knight's Ghost, 265. The Lads of Wamphray, 184. Lady Alice,* 85 (Giles Collins). Lady Diamond, 269 (Lady Daisy). Lady Elspat, 247. Lady Isabel, 261. Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight,* 4 (The Gowans Sae Gay, The Water o' Wearle's Well, May Collin, Pretty Polly, The King's Daughter, Six Pretty Fair Maids, The Six Kings' Daughters, The Seventh King's Daughter, The Pretty Golden Queen). Lady Maisry, 65. The Lady of Arngosk, 224. The Laily Worm and the Machrel of the Sea, 36. The Laird o' Drum, 236. The Laird o' Logie, 182 (The Young Laird of Ochiltrie). The Laird of Wariston, 194. Lamkin,* 93 (Lambert Linkin, Long Longkin). Lang Johnny More, 251. The Lass of Roch Royal,* 76 (Fair Isabel of Roch Royal, Fair Anny, Cold Winter's Night, Bosom Friend, Lover's Farewell). Leesome Brand, 15 (The Broom Blooms Bonnie). Little John a Begging, 142 (Little John and the Four Beggars). Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard,* 81 (Lord Vanner's Wife, Lord Daniel's Wife). Lizie Lindsay, 226 (Donald of the Isles). Lizie Wan, 51. The Lochmaben Harper, 192 (The Blind Harper). Lord Delamere, 207 (The Long-Armed Duke). Lord Derwentwater, 208 (Lord Dunwaters). Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet, 66 (Lord Ingram and Gil Viett). Lord Livingston, 262. Lord Lovel,* 75 (Lady Ouncebell, Lord Lavel, Lord Lovely, Lord Lovinder). Lord Lundy, 254 (Lord William, Sweet William). Lord Maxwell's Last Goodnight, 195. The Lord of Lorn and the False Steward, 271. Lord Randal,* 12 (Lord Donald, The Rope and the Gallows, Lord Lantoun, Sweet William, Fair Elson, Sweet Nelson, Teronto, Tyrante, Tyranting, Terence, Orlando, Fileander). Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie, 239. Lord Thomas and Fair Annet,* 73 (Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor, Fair Ellender and the Brown Girl, Thomas and Ellender, Little Eleanor). Lord Thomas and Lady Margaret, 260. ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS. 7 Lord Thomas Stuart, 259. The Maid and the Palmer, 21 (The Samaritan Woman). The Maid Freed from the Gallows.* 95 (The Hangman's Tree). The Marriage of Sir Gawain, 31. Mary Hamilton, 173. The Mermaid,* 289 (The Seamen's Distress, The Stormy Winds do Blow, Shipwreck). Musselburgh Field, 172. The New Slain Knight, 263. Northumberland Betrayed by Douglas, 176. Old Robin of Portingale, 80. Our Goodman*, 274 (The Merry Cuckold and Kind Wife). The Outlaw Murray, 305. Prince Heathen, 104 (The Disconsolate Lady). Prince Robert, 87 (Earl Robert). Proud Lady Margaret,* 47 (Fair Margaret). Queen Eleanor's Confession, 156. The Queen of Elfan's Nourice, 40. The Queen of Scotland, 301. The Rantin Laddie, 240 (Lord Aboyne). Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow, 215 (The Water o'Gamrie, Willie's Rare and Willie's Fair). Redesdale and Wise William, 246. Richie Story, 232. Riddles Wisely Expounded. 1 (The Cambric Shirt). The Rising in the North. 175. Rob Roy, 225. Robin Hood and Allen a Dale, 138. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne, 118. Robin Hood and Little John,* 125 Robin Hood and Maid Marian, 150. Robin Hood and Queen Katherine, 145 (Renowned Robin Hood). Robin Hood and the Beggar. I, 133; Robin Hood and the Beggar. II, 134. Robin Hood and the Bishop, 143. Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford, 144. Robin Hood and the Butcher, 122. Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar, 123 (Robin Hood and Friar Tuck). Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, 152. Robin Hood and the Monk, 118. Robin Hood and the Pedlars, 137. Robin Hood and the Potter, 121. Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon, 129 (Robin Hood, Will Scadlock, and Little John). Robin Hood and the Ranger, 131. Robin Hood and the Scotchman, 130. Robin Hood and the Sheperd, 135. Robin Hood and the Tanner,* 126 (Robin Hood and Arthur o'Bland). Robin Hood and the Tinker, 127. Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight, 153. Robin Hood Newly Revived, 128. Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires, 140 (Robin Hood Rescuing the Widow's Three Sons). Robin Hood Rescuing Will Stutly,* 141. Robin Hood's Birth, Breeding, Valor, and Marriage, 149. Robin Hood's Chase, 146. Robin Hood's Death,* 120. Robin Hood's Delight, 136. Robin Hood's Golden Prize, 147. Robin Hood's Preferment, 148 (The Noble Fisherman). Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham, 139. Robyn and Gandeleyn, 115. Rookhope Ryde, 179. The Rose of England, 166. Rose the Red and White Lily, 103. St. Stephen and Herod, 22. Sheath and Knife, 16. Sir Aldingar, 59 (Sir High le Blond). Sir Andrew Barton, 167. Sir Cawline, 61. Sir James the Rose, 213. Sir John Butler, 165. Sir Lionel,* 18 (Isaac-a-Bell and Hugh the Graeme, Bangum and the Boar). Sir Patrick Spens, 58 (Sir Patrick Spence). The Slaughter of the Laird of Mellerstain, 230. The Suffolk Miracle, 272. Sweet William's Ghost, 77. Tam Lin, 39. Thomas Cromwell, 171. Thomas O'Yonderale, 253. Thomas Rymer, 37. 8 ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BALLADS The Three Ravens,* 26 (The Twa Corbles). Tom Potts, 109. Trooper and Maid, 209. A True Tale of Robin Hood, 154. The Twa Brothers,* 49 (Little Willie). The Twa Knights, 268. The Twa Magicians, 44. The Twa Sisters,* 10 (Lord of Old Country, The Old Man in the North Countree, The Miller and the King's Daughter). The Unquiet Grave, 78. Walter Lesly, 296. The Wee Wee Man, 38. The West-Country Damosel's Complaint, 292. The White Fisher, 264. The Whummil Bore,* 27. The Wife of Usher's Well,* 79 (Lady Gay, The Widow-Woman, The Lone Widow). The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin,* 277 (Dandoo, Sweet Robin, Robin He's Gane to the Wude). Will Stewart and John, 107. Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter, 102 (The Birth of Robin Hood). Willie and Lady Maisry, 70 (Willie the Widow's Son). Willie MacIntosh, 183 (The Burning of Auchindown). Willie o' Douglas Dale, 101. Willie o' Winsbury, 100. Willie's Fatal Visit, 255. Willie's Lady, 6. Willie's Lyke-Wake, 25. The Wylie Wife of the Hie Toun Hie, 290. Young Allan, 245. Young Andrew, 48. Young Bearwell, 302. Young Beichan,* 53 (Lord Bacon, Lord Bateman, Lord Bakeman, the Turkish Lady, Lord Beham, Young Bekie). Young Benjie, 86. The Young Earl of Essex's Victory over the Emperor of Germany, 288 (Queen Elizabeth's Champion). Young Hunting,* 68 (Loving Henry, Sweet William and Fair Ellender). Young Johnstone, 88 (The Cruel Knight). Young Peggy, 298. Young Ronald, 304. Young Waters, 94. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.