The Ballads
| Number | Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riddles Wisely Expounded | A knight refuses to marry a young woman unless she can answer the riddles he poses. Or the Devil threatens to carry off a young woman (or women) unless his riddles are answered. |
| 2 | The Elfin Knight | A man and woman ask each other to do a series of seemingly impossible tasks. |
| 3 | The Fause Knight Upon the Road | |
| 4 | Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight | A man courts a woman and intends to kill her, but she turns the tables and kills him instead. |
| 5 | Gil Brenton | |
| 6 | Willie's Lady | |
| 7 | Earl Brand | |
| 8 | Erlinton | |
| 9 | The Fair Flower of Northumberland | |
| 10 | The Twa Sisters | A man courts the eldest of a group of sisters while falling in love with the youngest. The eldest sister murders the younger out of jealousy, but the eldest is often punished in the end. |
| 11 | The Cruel Brother | |
| 12 | Lord Randall | A young man has a conversation with his mother in which it is revealed that he has been poisoned by his sweetheart. |
| 13 | Edward | A young man has a conversation with a female relative in which it is revealed that he had killed a male relative. He then pronounces a punishment upon himself. |
| 14 | Babylon; or, The Bonnie Banks o Fordie | A man meets three sisters and threatens to kill each one in turn if she will not be his wife. He kills the first two, but when he tries to kill the youngest, he finds that he is their brother and takes his own life. |
| 15 | Leesome Brand | |
| 16 | Sheath and Knife | A sister is pregnant with her brother's child. She asks him to kill her, or dies in childbirth. He buries both of them and grieves. The sheath and knife represent his sister and child. |
| 17 | Hind Horn | A man leaves his sweetheart while in possession of a ring which will turn pale when she is unfaithful to him. When the ring grows pale, he comes back and finds that she is about to be married to someone else. He exchanges clothes with a beggar, begs for wine from her, and slips the ring in the glass. She recognizes him and abandons her bridegroom. |
| 18 | Sir Lionel | |
| 19 | King Orfeo | King Orfeo's wife is stolen away by the fairies. He plays his instrument for the fairies in order to win her back. |
| 20 | The Cruel Mother | A young woman becomes pregnant while unmarried. She kills her child after it's born and later sees its ghost. Sometimes there are two children. |
| 21 | The Maid and the Palmer (The Samaritan Woman) | |
| 22 | St. Stephen and Herod | |
| 23 | Judas | |
| 24 | Bonnie Annie | |
| 25 | Willie's Lyke-Wake | |
| 26 | The Three Ravens (or Twa Corbies) | A number of ravens see a dead knight and speculate about how they either cannot eat him because his hawk, hounds, and lady are watching him, or can eat him because he has been abandoned. |
| 27 | The Whummil Bore | |
| 28 | Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane | |
| 29 | The Boy and the Mantle | |
| 30 | King Arthur and King Cornwall | |
| 31 | The Marriage of Sir Gawain | Gawain marries a loathly lady in order to save King Arthur from death. It is later revealed that she is a beautiful lady under a spell. |
| 32 | King Henry | |
| 33 | Kempy Kay | |
| 34 | Kemp Owyne | |
| 35 | Allison Gross | |
| 36 | The Laily Worm and the Machrel of the Sea | |
| 37 | Thomas Rymer | A minstrel meets a elfin lady under a tree and has to serve her in elf land for seven years. |
| 38 | The Wee Wee Man | |
| 39 | Tam Lin | A young woman saves her lover from being used for the teind on Hallows Eve. |
| 40 | The Queen of Elfan's Nourice | |
| 41 | Hind Etin | |
| 42 | Clerk Corvill | |
| 43 | The Broomfield Hill | |
| 44 | The Twa Magicians | |
| 45 | King John and the Bishop | |
| 46 | Captain Wedderburn's Courtship | |
| 47 | Proud Lady Margaret | |
| 48 | Young Andrew | |
| 49 | The Twa Brothers | |
| 50 | The Bonny Hind | |
| 51 | Lizie Wan | |
| 52 | The King's Dochter Lady Jean | |
| 53 | Young Beichan | |
| 54 | The Cherry-Tree Carol | Mary, the mother of Jesus, asks her husband Joseph to pick her fruit from a tree. When he refuses, Jesus causes the tree to bend its branches down to her. |
| 55 | The Carnal and the Crane | |
| 56 | Dives and Lazarus | |
| 57 | Brown Robyn's Confession | |
| 58 | Sir Patrick Spens | Sir Patrick is ordered by the king to bring the King of Norway's daughter home. A storm comes up while they are sailing back to Scotland from Norway and the crew of the ship are drowned. |
| 59 | Sir Aldingar | Sir Aldingar is spurned by the queen and attempts to get revenge on her by putting a leper in her bed. A child saves her from the stake by championing her in a trial by combat. |
| 60 | King Estmere | |
| 61 | Sir Cawline | |
| 62 | Fair Annie | |
| 63 | Child Waters | |
| 64 | Fair Janet | |
| 65 | Lady Maisry | |
| 66 | Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet | |
| 67 | Glasgerion | |
| 68 | Young Hunting | |
| 69 | Clerk Saunders | |
| 70 | Willie and Lady Maisry | |
| 71 | The Bent Sae Brown | |
| 72 | The Clerk's Twa Sons O Owsenford | |
| 73 | Lord Thomas and Fair Annet | |
| 74 | Fair Margaret and Sweet William | |
| 75 | Lord Lovel | |
| 76 | The Lass of Roch Royal | |
| 77 | Sweet William's Ghost | |
| 78 | The Unquiet Grave | |
| 79 | The Wife of Usher's Well | |
| 80 | Old Robin of Portingale | |
| 81 | Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard (or "Matty Groves") | |
| 82 | The Bonny Birdy | |
| 83 | Child Maurice | |
| 84 | Bonny Barbara Allen | |
| 85 | Lady Alice | |
| 86 | Young Benjie | |
| 87 | Prince Robert | |
| 88 | Young Johnstone | |
| 89 | Fause Foodrage | |
| 90 | Jellon Grame | |
| 91 | Fair Mary of Wallington | |
| 92 | Bonny Bee Hom | |
| 93 | Lamkin | |
| 94 | Young Waters | |
| 95 | The Maid Freed from the Gallows | |
| 96 | The Gay Goshawk | |
| 97 | Brown Robin | |
| 98 | Brown Adam | |
| 99 | Johnie Scot | |
| 100 | Willie O Winsbury | |
| 101 | Willie O Douglas Dale | |
| 102 | Willie and the Earl Richard's Daughter | |
| 103 | Rose the Red and White Lily | |
| 104 | Prince Heathen | |
| 105 | The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington | |
| 106 | The Famous Flower of Serving-Men | |
| 107 | Will Stewart and John | |
| 108 | Christopher White | |
| 109 | Tom Potts | |
| 110 | The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter | |
| 111 | Crow and Pie | |
| 112 | The Baffled Knight | |
| 113 | The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry | |
| 114 | Johnie Cock | Despite his mother's warning, the titular character goes poaching in woods. He is betrayed to a group of foresters, but fights them off. |
| 115 | Robyn and Gandeleyn | |
| 116 | Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly | |
| 117 | A Gest of Robyn Hode | |
| 118 | Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne | |
| 119 | Robin Hood and the Monk | |
| 120 | Robin Hood's Death | |
| 121 | Robin Hood and the Potter | |
| 122 | Robin Hood and the Butcher | |
| 123 | Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar | |
| 124 | The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield | |
| 125 | Robin Hood and Little John | |
| 126 | Robin Hood and the Tanner | |
| 127 | Robin Hood and the Tinker | |
| 128 | Robin Hood and the Newly Revived | |
| 129 | Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon | |
| 130 | Robin Hood and the Scotchman | |
| 131 | Robin Hood and the Ranger | |
| 132 | The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood | |
| 133 | Robin Hood and the Beggar, I | |
| 134 | Robin Hood and the Beggar, II | |
| 135 | Robin Hood and the Shepherd | |
| 136 | Robin Hood's Delight | |
| 137 | Robin Hood and the Pedlars | |
| 138 | Robin Hood and Alan-a-Dale | |
| 139 | Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham | |
| 140 | Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires | |
| 141 | Robin Hood Rescuing Will Stutly | |
| 142 | Little John a Begging | |
| 143 | Robin Hood and the Bishop | |
| 144 | Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford | |
| 145 | Robin Hood and Queen Katherine | |
| 146 | Robin Hood's Chase | |
| 147 | Robin Hood's Golden Prize | |
| 148 | The Noble Fisherman, or, Robin Hood's Preferment | |
| 149 | Robin Hood's Birth, Breeding, Valor and Marriage | |
| 150 | Robin Hood and Maid Marian | |
| 151 | The King's Disguise, and Friendship with Robin Hood | |
| 152 | Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow | |
| 153 | Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight | |
| 154 | A True Tale of Robin Hood | |
| 155 | Sir Hugh, or, The Jew's Daughter | |
| 156 | Queen Elanor's Confession | |
| 157 | Gude Wallace | |
| 158 | Hugh Spencer's Feats in France | |
| 159 | Durham Ford | |
| 160 | The Knight of Liddesdale | |
| 161 | The Battle of Otterburn | |
| 162 | The Hunting of Cheviot (The Ballad of Chevy Chase) | |
| 163 | The Battle of Harlaw | |
| 164 | King Henry Fifth's Conquest of France | |
| 165 | Sir John Butler | |
| 166 | The Rose of England | |
| 167 | Sir Andrew Barton | |
| 168 | Flodden Field (describes the Battle of Flodden Field) | |
| 169 | Johnie Armstrong | |
| 170 | The Death of Queen Jane | |
| 171 | Thomas Cromwell | |
| 172 | Musselburgh Field | |
| 173 | Mary Hamilton | |
| 174 | Earl Bothwell | |
| 175 | The Rising of the North | |
| 176 | Northumberland Betrayed By Douglas | |
| 177 | The Earl of Westmoreland | |
| 178 | Captain Car, or, Edom o Gordon | |
| 179 | Rookhope Ryde | |
| 180 | King James and Brown | |
| 181 | The Bonny Earl of Murray | |
| 182 | The Laird O Logie | |
| 183 | Willie MacIntosh | |
| 184 | The Lads of Wamphray | |
| 185 | Dick o the Cow | |
| 186 | Kinmont Willie | |
| 187 | Jock o the Side | |
| 188 | Archie o Cawfield | |
| 189 | Hobie Noble | |
| 190 | Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead | |
| 191 | Hughie Grame | |
| 192 | The Lochmaben Harper | |
| 193 | The Death of Parcy Reed | |
| 194 | The Laird of Wairston | |
| 195 | Lord Maxwell's Last Goodnight | |
| 196 | The Fire of Frendraught | |
| 197 | James Grant | |
| 198 | Bonny John Seton | |
| 199 | The Bonnie House o Airlie | |
| 200 | The Gypsy Laddie | |
| 201 | Bessy Bell and Mary Gray | |
| 202 | The Battle of Philiphaugh | |
| 203 | The Baron of Brackley | |
| 204 | Jamie Douglas | |
| 205 | Loudon Hill, or, Drumclog (recounts the events of the Battle of Drumclog) | |
| 206 | Bothwell Bridge | |
| 207 | Lord Delamere | |
| 208 | Lord Derwentwater | |
| 209 | Geordie | |
| 210 | Bonnie James Campbell | |
| 211 | Bewick and Graham | |
| 212 | The Duke of Athole's Nurse | |
| 213 | Sir James the Rose | |
| 214 | The Braes o Yarrow | |
| 215 | Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow, or, the Water o Gamrie | |
| 216 | The Mother's Malison, or, Clyde's Water | |
| 217 | Broom of the Cowdenknowes | |
| 218 | The False Lover Won Back | |
| 219 | The Gardener | |
| 220 | The Bonny Lass of Anglesey | |
| 221 | Katharine Jaffray | |
| 222 | Bonny Baby Livingstone | |
| 223 | Eppie Morrie | |
| 224 | The Lady of Arngosk | |
| 225 | Rob Roy | |
| 226 | Lizie Lindsay | |
| 227 | Bonny Lizie Baillie | |
| 228 | Glasgow Peggie | |
| 229 | Earl Crawford | |
| 230 | The Slaughter of the Laird of Mellerstain | |
| 231 | The Earl of Errol | |
| 232 | Richie Story | |
| 233 | Andrew Lammie | |
| 234 | Charlie MacPherson | |
| 235 | The Earl of Aboyne | |
| 236 | The Laird o Drum | |
| 237 | The Duke of Gordon's Daughter | |
| 238 | Glenlogie, or, Jean o Bethelnie | |
| 239 | Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie | |
| 240 | The Rantin Laddie | |
| 241 | The Baron o Leys | |
| 242 | The Coble o Cargill | |
| 243 | James Harris (The Daemon Lover) | |
| 244 | James Hatley | |
| 245 | Young Allan | |
| 246 | Redesdale and Wise William | |
| 247 | Lady Elspat | |
| 248 | The Grey Cock, or, Saw You My Father? | |
| 249 | Auld Matrons | |
| 250 | Henry Martyn | |
| 251 | Lang Johnny More | |
| 252 | The Kitchie-Boy | |
| 253 | Thomas o Yonderdale | |
| 254 | Lord William, or, Lord Lundy | |
| 255 | Willie's Fatal Visit | |
| 256 | Alison and Willie | |
| 257 | Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick | |
| 258 | Broughty Wa's | |
| 259 | Lord Thomas Stuart | |
| 260 | Lord Thomas and Lady Margaret | |
| 261 | Lady Isabel | |
| 262 | Lord Livingstone | |
| 263 | The New-Slain Knight | |
| 264 | The White Fisher | |
| 265 | The Knight's Ghost | |
| 266 | John Thomson and the Turk | |
| 267 | The Heir of Linne | |
| 268 | The Twa Knights | |
| 269 | Lady Diamond | |
| 270 | The Earl of Mar's Daughter | |
| 271 | The Lord of Lorn and the Flas Steward | |
| 272 | The Suffolk Miracle | |
| 273 | King Edward the Fourth and a Tanner of Tamworth | |
| 274 | Our Goodman | |
| 275 | Get Up and Bar the Door | |
| 276 | The Friar in the Well | |
| 277 | The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin | |
| 278 | The Farmer's Curst Wife | |
| 279 | The Jolly Beggar | |
| 280 | The Beggar-Laddie | |
| 281 | The Keach i the Creel | |
| 282 | Jock the Leg and the Merry Merchant | |
| 283 | The Crafty Farmer | |
| 284 | John Dory | |
| 285 | The George Aloe and the Sweepstake | |
| 286 | The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity) | |
| 287 | Captain Ward and the Rainbow | |
| 288 | The Young Earl of Essex's Victory over the Emperor of Germany | |
| 289 | The Mermaid | |
| 290 | The Wylie Wife of the Hie Toun Hie | |
| 291 | Child Owlet | |
| 292 | The West Country Damosel's Complaint | |
| 293 | John of Hazelgreen | |
| 294 | Dugall Quin | |
| 295 | The Brown Girl | |
| 296 | Walter Lesly | |
| 297 | Earl Rothes | |
| 298 | Young Peggy | |
| 299 | Trooper and Maid | |
| 300 | Blancheflour and Jollyflorice | |
| 301 | The Queen of Scotland | |
| 302 | Young Bearwell | |
| 303 | The Holy Nunnery | |
| 304 | Young Ronald | |
| 305 | The Outlaw Murray |
Read more about this topic: List Of The Child Ballads
Famous quotes containing the word ballads:
“I am hurt but I am not slaine;
Ile lay mee downe and bleed a-while
And then Ile rise and ffight againe.”
—Unknown. Sir Andrew Barton. . .
English and Scottish Ballads (The Poetry Bookshelf)
“Saint Andrews crosse, that is his guide;”
—Unknown. Sir Andrew Barton. . .
English and Scottish Ballads (The Poetry Bookshelf)