British Versions- 7A. Lady and the Dragoon; Roud 321 ("The Bold Soldier," "The Seaman's Renown in winning his fair lady," "The Master-piece of Love Songs," "Bold Keeper," "The Jolly Dragoon," "The Bold Dragoon," "The Light Dragoon" "The Valiant Dragoon")
List of All Complete Texts
A. "The Seaman’s Renown in Winning His Fair Lady" was printed in blackletter by W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood at the Angel in Duck Lane, London in 1670. According to Ebsworth this broadside is likely by Joseph Martin.
B. "The Master-piece of Love-songs," or "The Bold Keeper" progenitor of the revised broadsides of circa 1800.
a. "The Master-piece of Love-songs," printed by Alexander, Milbourn. William, Onley and Tho. Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-lane, 1695. Attributed to Thomas Thackeray.
b. "The Master-piece of Love-songs," probably a recreation from Baring-Gould (Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection- SBG/1/2/220, 2 pages). Taken down by F.W. Bussell from William Nankivel of Roos Tor, on the River Walla above Merrivale Bridge (Devon).
C1. "The Jolly Dragoon," "The Bold Dragoon," "The Light Dragoon" "The Valiant Dragoon." print versions, some in blackletter, c. 1790 London and Glasgow.
a. An excellent Garland, containing 1. The Duke of Berwick. 2. Answer to How sweet's the love that meets return. 3. The Jolly Dragoon; printed Manchester, c. 1790 (British Library)
b. The Light Dragoon: To which are added, the orange and blue, and the humours of Smithfield. Publisher: Glasgow: Printed by J. & M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1800.
c. "The valiant dragoo'n[sic], a new song" as printed by T. Wise, No, 89, Rosemary Lane, London c. 1800. Also printed in War Songs edited by Christopher Stone, 1906.
d. "The bold dragoon." London: H. Such, Machine Printer & Publisher, 177 Union Street, Boro', S.E. c. 1863
C2. "The Lady and the Dragoon" (Sharp master title) "The Dragoon and the Lady" traditional variants of Dragoon prints of c.1800.
a. [Jolly Dragoon.] Taken down from an old man of 87 called Wren Houghton by Mr. Hanaford Worth. From Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection (SBG/1/2/223), version D; Baring-Gould Ms. Ref. PC 2. 106 (165).
b. "Bold Dragon[sic]." From Macmillan's Magazine, Volume 75, London and New York, 1897 quoted in an article "A Winter's Walk." The informant, old Mr. Francis was from Arcadia (Arcady).
c. "Come, all you maids of honour," sung by Henry Hills of Shepperton, Sussex in 1900, from Merrick, JFFS, 1901; also in The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads - Volume 1, page 132 by Bronson.
d. "The Dragoon and the Lady," sung by Mr Charles Turner at Bridgwater, Somerset on August 15, 1904. From: Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/10/554).
e. "The Dragoon and the Lady," sung by William Nott at Meshaw, Devonshire, 8 Jan 1904; from Sharp MS and Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folk Songs, Vol 1, p 13, No 3, ed Maud Karpeles , Oxford University Press, 1974.
f. "The Jolly Dragoon," sung by William Poole of Taunton (in One of the Arm House), Somerset in June, 1905. Collector is H.E.D. Hammond, from Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/2/3/6).
g. "The Bold Dragoon." sung by Mrs. Webb of Bath, Somerset in Feb. 1906. Collected by Henry Hammond; from: Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/3/13/10).
h. "The Bold Dragoon," sung by Mrs. Poole of Beaminister, Dorset in June 1906. Collected by Henry Hammond; from: Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/4/22/4).
i. "The Bold Dragoon," sung by Moses Blake of Lyndhurst, Hampshire in June 1906. Collected by G.B. Gardiner and John F. Guyer; from George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/5/275).
j. The Dragoon and the Lady- Mrs Sage (73) at Chew Stoke, Somerset, 1 April, 1907. Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folk Songs, Vol 1, p 13, No 3, ed Maud Karpeles , Oxford University Press, 1974.
k. "The Bold Dragoon," sung by Joseph Tauton of Carscombe, Dorset in August 1907. Collected by Henry Hammond. From Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/5/34/7).
l. "The Jolly Dragoon," sung by Mrs. Hopkins of Axford, Hampshire in October, 1907. Collected by G.B. Gardiner and Charles Gamblin. From George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/16/1003).
m. "The Dragoon and the Lady," sung by Charles Ash (63) at Crowcombe, Somerset, 9 September, 1908. From: Cecil Sharp's Collection of English Folk Songs, Vol 1, p 13, No 3, ed Maud Karpeles , Oxford University Press, 1974.
n. "Fattinghey Glee," sung by G.H. Harrison of Durrington, Wiltshire. Collected and tune by Francis Collinson about 1946. . From Collinson Manuscript Collection Folksongs Vol. 2 No. 55; https://www.vwml.org/record/COL/2/55.
o. "The Bold Dragoon," as sung by Bob Copper of Sussex, 1955. From: Bob Copper, BBC recording (BBC 21547) made by Peter Kennedy at the Central Club, Peacehaven, on February 2, 1955. The Bold Dragoon is a song from the repertoire of the Copper Family. Also in "Early to rise: a Sussex boyhood" p. 239 by Bob Copper, 1976.
p. "Bold Dragoon." As sung by Enos White of Axford, Hampshire, in July 1955. Collected by Bob Copper from Enos White of Axford, Hampshire, in July 1955, and published in Copper's 1973 book "Songs and Southern Breezes."
q. "The Keeper and the Lady." As sung by Danny Brazil of Gloucester on 5 January, 1966. From: Shepheard, Peter. Folk Songs and Ballads of the Brazil Family of Gloucester (1967); (Springthyme 66.2.6, 7).
D1. "The Bold Soldier" print versions Massachusetts c. 1800
a. The Echo: or, Columbian Songster, 2d ed., Brookfield, Mass., pp. 150-152. Published by Ebenezer and Daniel Merriam.
b. "Minot Baker's favourite collection of ancient and modern songs." handwritten, Boston, 1809. https://archive.org/stream/MinotBakersAncientAndModernSongs/271174#page/n19/mode/2up
c. The broadside--The Bold Soldier: Together with Sweet Pig of Richmond Hill, printed by Nathaniel Coverly, corner of Theater Alley, Boston; 1810.
D2. "The Soldier's Wooing" traditional North American versions derived from "Bold Soldier" print revisions, earliest version c. 1852.
a. ["The Bold Soldier"] From the Boston Evening Transcript, "Notes and Queries," November 26, 1921 sent in by W.S.C., who says it was learned "from an old shoemaker, who, in my boyhood days, in the early fifties (c. 1852).
b. "A Soldier of Late," as written by William A Larkins of Ohio on May 9th, 1866. From: The Old Album of William A. Larkin by Ruth Ann Musick; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 60, No. 237 (Jul. - Sep., 1947), pp. 201-251.
c. "The Valiant Soldier." Sent in 1926, by Mrs. Annie V. Marston, of West Gouldsboro, who wrote, "I learned this song more than sixty years ago, hearing my brothers sing it, and I have written it from memory." From British Ballads from Maine, Barry Eckstrom and Smythe, 1929.
d. ["The Bold Soldier."] Written down from memory by Mrs. Susie Carr Young, of Brewer, who learned it about 1872 from her uncle, Mr. Fred Fowler of Hampden. My title. From British Ballads from Maine, Barry Eckstrom and Smythe, 1929.
e. "The Soldier." From the manuscript ballad-book of James Ashby of Holt County, compiled in the latter part of the last century and secured by Miss Welby in 1906. From Ballads and Songs, Missouri Folk Song Society, 1940.
f. "[A Soldier] The Soldier's Wooing." Dated c.1908, as sung to Miss Eddy by Mrs. Virginia Summer, Canton, Ohio. published 1922 JOAFL. Additional verses are found in Ballads and Songs from Ohio, version A, 1939.
g. "The Soldier" from L. A., Camden, N. J., by MS. of I. L. M., Vineland, NJ. From Phillips Barry; Version A , "Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States" (1908), and in "A Garland of Ballads" by Phillips Barry, The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 23, No. 90 (Oct. - Dec., 1910), pp. 446-454.
h. "I'll Tell You of a Soldier." Sung by a mountain woman, collected by Miss Martha Davis, Rockingham, Virginia; 1915. From an appendix to Earl Brand by Arthur Kyle Davis editor of the book, Traditional Ballads of Virginia, 1929.
i. [The Little Soldier] Lady and The Dragoon- Sung by Mary Sands; Allanstand, NC, 1916. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Sharp/Campbell, 1917 and Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932, Sharp A.
j. "The Soldier." Text from Mrs. B. B. Wimberly, 1916, who learned it in Louisiana. From Louise Pound's American Ballads and Songs; 1920.
k. [A Soldier] The Lady and the Dragoon- Sung by Mr. T. Jeff Stockton at Flag Pond, Tenn., Sept. 1916. My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932.
l. "Valiant Soldier" was obtained in 1916 by Mr. H. Parkes Pinson, a student at Michigan State Normal College, Ypsilanti, from the singing of Mrs. Mary Ellen Kenyon Baker.
m. [Bold Soldier] No local title. Communicated by Mrs. Hilary G. Richardson, Clarksburg, Harrison County, 1917; obtained from Mrs. Nancy McAtee. My title, taken from the text. From Folk-Songs of the South by John Harrington Cox 1925.
n. [A Little Soldier] -- Sung by Mrs. MARTHA STAMPER at Hindman, Knott Co., Ky., Sept. 18, 1917; Sharp C. My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932.
o. [Bold Soldier] No title given. Obtained by Mrs. Donald MacRae from Betty Coffey of Avery County in November 1917. From The Brown Collection; 1952, version A.
p. "A Gallant Soldier." Sung by Mrs. Tina Dooley at Montvale, Va., June 6, 1918. My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932.
q. [Honored Soldier]- Sung by Mrs. R. A. Hobbes, Fayetteville, Ark., Oct., 21, 1919. My title. From Ozark Folksongs; Vance Randolph, version B.
r. "The Yankee Soldier." From an anonymous typescript which Dr. White, both from the manner of the accompanying note and from the mention of Mrs. Buchanan of Horse Creek, assigns confidently to Mrs. Sutton. From The Brown Collection; 1952, version C.
s. ["A Soldier"] Sung by C. K. "Tink" Tillett for the Brown Collection (Version A 1 in Volume 4, one verse) at Wanchese, Roanoke Island, December 29, 1922. Collected by Chappell in 1924. Also from Folk-Songs of Roanoke and the Abermarle; Chappell; 1939, version A w/music.
t. [Valiant Soldier]- Sung by Mrs. W. A. Patton, Jane, Mo., Nov 7, 1928. Randolph's title, not taken from the text. From Ozark Folksongs, Vol. 1, ballads, version A.
u. "The Gallan Soldier." Obtained from Mrs. Samuel Harmon, Varnell, Georgia, formerly of Cade's Cove, Tennessee, Oct., 1930. From Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands, March 1938, by Mellinger Henry.
v. "A Poor Soldier," sung by Josiah Kennison, Townshend, VT from the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection 1930; Ancient Ballads, Version F.
w. "Young Soldier." This version of the song is from Mrs. Harmon's granddaughter, Mrs. Rachel Brackett, Varnell, Georgia, who recorded the song January, 1932. From: Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands; March 1938; Mellinger Henry, version B.
x. "Song of a Soldier"- Sung by Allan Hartlan, South-East Passage, Nova Scotia. From Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Creighton, 1932, pp. 25-26.
y. "Poor Soldier" sung by Elmer George of East Calias Vermont sang this- printed in "A Garland of Green Mountain Song." Also version C in From Flanders, Ancient Ballads, 1966.
z. "The Poor Soldier,"- sung by George Edwards of Vermont in 1934, Flanders H, from Flanders' Ancient Ballads collected in 1934.
aa. [The Valiant Soldier] sung by Tom Forbes of Old Trap, NC 1934. My title, from Folk-Songs of Roanoke and the Abermarle; Chappell; 1939, version B.
bb. "The Soldier's Wooing." Contributed by Mrs. Thomas M. Bryant, of Evansville, Indiana. Vanderburg County. November 22, 1935. Brewster from Ballads and Songs of Indiana, where he lists this under Child 8 Erlinton. The title (based on Eddy's) is not local and was supplied by Brewster.
cc. "A Brave Soldier," sung by Aunt Delilah Morris of Yellow Branch Pirket, Virginia. From A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains- Scarborough, 1937.
dd. "Red River Shore." Words from Slim Critchlow, Utah Buckaroos, Salt Lake City, Utah. From American Ballads and Folk Songs also Cowboy songs and other frontier ballads by John Avery Lomax, Alan Lomax, Edward Neighbor Waters - 1938.
ee. "A Soldier" From Mrs. Mary Brubaker, Perrysville, Ohio. From Ballads and Songs from Ohio, version B, 1939.
ff. "Dear Soldier" From Mrs. S. T. Topper, Ashland, Ohio. My title. From Ballads and Songs from Ohio, version B, 1939.
gg. "Bold Soldier." Sung by Jonathon Moses of Orford, New Hampshire, as learned from his father. H. H. F. and Alan Lomax, Collectors on November 6, 1939, Flanders G in Ancient Ballads, 1966.
hh. "Bold Soldier," sung by Vivian Salisbury of Pulanski, NY as learned from her father - from his father. From Body, Boots and Britches, Thompson, 1939, p. 398.
ii. "The Rich Lady from London." Sung by Mrs. Nora Hicks. Recorded at Mast's Gap, Watauga county, August 28, 1940. From The Brown Collection; 1952, version 4A (from Volume 4 music).
jj. "The Bold Soldier." From Burl Ives, not date or place named. Ives learned some of his folk songs in Illinois during his childhood. The following info is from Folkways: Asch Recordings Vol. 2- 1939-1945.
kk. "Only a Soldier," sung by Lena Bourne Fish of East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, in 1941, from Traditional American Folk Songs from the Anne and Frank Warner Collection, 1984.
ll. "The Soldier." Sung by Mrs. Belle Richards of Colebrook, New Hampshire. M. Olney, Collector; May 10, 1942; from Flanders, Ancient Ballads, 1966; Flanders A.
mm. "The Valiant Soldier." No title given by informant. From a manuscript notebook lent to Dr. Brown in 1943 by Mrs. Harold Glasscock of Raleigh. My title. The Brown Collection 1952, version B.
nn. "The Bold Soldier." One of the songs collected by Professors W. A. Abrams and Cratis D. Williams in 1945 from the singing of Pat Frye of East Bend, Yadkin county. From The Brown Collection; 1952, version D.
oo. "Bold Soldier," sung by George Edwards of New York, from Cazden c.1948, published 1955 in Cazden's article "The Bold Soldier of Yarrow" and it appears yet again with music in Folk songs of the Catskills by Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht, Norman Studer.
pp. "Gallant Soldier." Words copied by Mrs. Alice Richardson of R.F.D. Manchester Depot, Vermont, as sung by her aunt who lived in Swanton, Vermont, and in Ellenburg Depot, New York. From Flanders, Ancient Ballads, 1966, version E.
qq. "The Soldier's Wife." Sung by Mrs. Miner Griffin; Conway, Ark.. December 12, 1953. From Ozark Folksong Collection Reel 178, Item 1. Collected by M.C. Parler.
rr. "The Soldier's Wife." Sung by John Pennington; Fayetteville, Ark., February 1954. From Ozark Folksong Collection: Reel 186, Item 1. Collected by M.C. Parler.
ss. "The Soldier's Wife." Sung by Mrs. Birdia Glenn; Fayetteville, Ark., April 29, 1954. From Ozark Folksong Collection Reel 187 Item 2. Collected by Mary Celestia Parler.
tt. "The Raftsman." From Wisconsin Lore: Antics and Anecdotes of Wisconsin People and Places, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1962.
uu. "Little Soldier Boy." Sung by Joe Dunn, April 1965. Collected by George Conway. From East Tennessee State Collection; Burton & Manning, Folksongs 1 pp.47-48.
vv. "Little Soldier." Sung by Cas Wallin at his home in Sodom Laurel, Madison County, NC dated August 26, 1980. From Far in the Mountains: Volumes 3 & 4 of Mike Yates' 1979-83 Appalachian Collection.
E. "New River Shore," "Red River Shore" or "Green Briar Shore" variants of "Bold Soldier" c. 1864
a. "New River Shore" from a MS by William H. Landreth, who was with Shelby in Price's army, in Missouri, in 1864." from Frank Moore's Anecdotes, Poetry and Incidents of the War: North and South: 1860-1865.
b. "On Red River Shore," dated c.1890 as taken from J. E. Wilburn and Joe Parks, Lawton County, Oklahoma, collected Dobie, 1925.
c. "Red River Shore." Sung by Thomas Wilson Watley; Pocahontas, Arkansas 8/16/63; learned in 1908. From The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection.
d. The Green Brier Shore- Sung by William Wooten, Hindman, Ky., Sept., 21, 1917. From English Folk Songs in the Southern Appalachians, Sharp, 1932.
e. "New River Shore," sung by Mrs. James Palmer, Waldengrave, NS 1919; from The Quest of the Ballad by William Roy Mackenzie, 1919.
f. "New River Shore." Reported by L. W. Anderson as collected by Delma Haywood from Mrs. Sallie Meekins of Colington, Albemarle Sound, c. 1922. From the Brown Collection, 1952.
g. "Low River Shore," sung by Mrs. Annie V. Marston, West Gouldsboro, Maine. 1931. From BFSSNE, 1931 with notes by Phillips Barry.
h. "Red River Shore," collected by John A. Lomax for the Library of Congress from Mrs. Minta Morgan of Bells, Texas, in 1937.
i. "Dear Jewell," sung by Bertha Poynter of Arizona, 1939. From Vance Randolph's "Ozark Folksongs," Vol. 1, Ballads, 1946, version D. This version is usually titled, "Red River Shore."
j. "White River Shore," sung by Charles Ingenthron of Missouri in 1940, music from Max Hunter collection, Randolph's transcription is very similar; from Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, Vol. 1 ballads, p. 306. Composite with Bold Soldier.
k. "New River Shore." Reported by L. W. Anderson as collected by Delma Haywood from Mrs. Sallie Meekins of Colington, Albemarle Sound.From Brown Collection of NC Folklore, 1952, one of two versions, no date- but before 1943.
l. "On Red River Shore." Sung by Rod Drake, Silsbee, Texas, 1952. [From William A. Owens, (ed.), Texas Folk Songs. 2nd edition, SMU Press, Bk (1976/1950), p 56.
m. "Red River Shore." Sung by Mrs. Birdia Glenn; Fayetteville, Ark., April 29, 1954. Ozark Folksong Collection- Reel 187 Item 1. Collected by Mary Celestia Parler.
n. "Red River Shore." As sung by Mrs. Lucy Quigley, Eureka Springs, Arkansas on September 2, 1958; Max Hunter Folk Song Collection, recording available on-line. Composite with Bold Soldier.
o. "The Green Briar Shore." Sung by: Martha Hawkins Combs; Arkansas, July 26, 1958. Ozark Folksong Collection- Reel 241 Item 2. Collected by James Ward Lee and Ralph E. Roberts for Mary Celestia Parler (D version).
p. "The Valiant Soldier," taken from Martin Delorme, pre1960, recorded Pete Seeger on "Champlain Valley Songs," Folkways recording by Pete Seeger, 1960. This version is from Martin Delorme (Lily Delorme's son) of Salmon River, Clinton County, NY.
q. "Red River Shore," As sung by Lula Davis, Fayetteville, Arkansas on July 5, 1960; Max Hunter Folk Song Collection.
r. "The Green Briar Shore." Orlo Brandon sang the The Green Briar Shore on Edith Fowke's "Ontario Ballads & Folksongs" recording- Prestige International INT-DS 25014 released in 1962; also Penguin Book of Canada Folk Songs, Fowke.
s. "Ballad of the Red River Shore." From Kingston Trio; Somethin' Else; Released November 15, 1965; LP record (Decca DL4694).
t. "Red River Shore," From Dobie, 1925 from J. E. Wilburn and Joe Parks, Lawton County Oklahoma, thirty-five years older, from Cowboy and Western Songs, 1969.
[The secondary revisions of "The Bold Soldier" (American) and "Bold Dragoon" (English) originated from two English broadsides of the late seventeenth century: A. "The Seaman's Renown in winning his fair lady" (1670) and a rewrite, B. "The Master-piece of Love Songs,"(1695). Although the broadsides and their revisions are quite different than the ballads of Child 7 (Earl Brand; Douglas Tragedy; Child of Elle) and Child 8 (Erlinton), the theme of the "daughter who elopes and is pursued by her father" is basically the same.
The exemplar is the broadside "The Seaman's Renown in winning his fair lady,"(hereafter "Seaman's Renown") which was printed in 1670 by W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood at the Angel in Duck Lane, London. The entire title is "The Seamans Renown in Winning His Fair Lady: Brave Marriners by this You May Behold what 'tis to be a Seaman Stout and Bold. Their Seaman Won a Lady by His Valour, and with His Sword He Curl'd Her Fathers Choller: Therefore Go Boldly on when You Begin, and Know Fait-heart Did Ne're Fair Lady Win" which is to be sung to the "Tune Of, A Week Before Easter." According to Ebsworth/Chappell[1] the possible author is Joseph Martin, who wrote "The Seaman’s Folly" which has a similar opening.
An opening stanza is followed by 11 stanzas of "wooing" dialogue between a lady of high degree and a bold seaman. After she consents and they marry the couple is confronted by her angry father who wishes to kill the lowly seaman. After the Seaman defeats the father in battle, the father offers the seaman his daughter's hand and ten thousand in land in exchange for his life. The men agree and the newlyweds live happily ever after. Here is the original text as given in Roxburghe ballads, Volume 7 by William Chappell (Ballad Society):
Seaman's Renown in winning his Fair lady
1. There was a bold Seaman, a Ship he could stear,
Of Such a brave Seaman you never did hear,
And he lov'd a Lady of beauty so clear,
And now you shall hear of his wooing,
2. Seaman.—"O pitty, fair Lady, let pitty thee move,
I'm deep in affliction, and tossed in Love,
And you are my Lady, my Turtle, and Dove,
On you I do set my affection."
3. Lady.—"O hold thy peace, Seaman, for that may not be,
For I am a match for a higher degree,
And thy blood and my blood can never agree,
Then, Seaman, take this for (in answer."
4. Seaman.—"O Lady, your answer doth make me to grieve,
'Tis true that we all came from Adam and Eve.
One loving word to my life is a reprieve,
Although I am in Cupid's Prison."
5. Lady.—" Oh, why should you say you'r a prisoner to me?
O hold, forbear, Seaman, for that may not be;
We both may have matches fit for our degree;
Then forbear, and take this for answer."
6. Seaman.—"O, no, for an answer I will it not take,
Although your denial doth make my heart aike;
I'le rather lay down my own life at the stake,
To obtain thy good favour, sweet Lady."
7. Lady.—" It is a meer madness thy life to lay down,
For people will say 'there's an end of a Clown,
That past many dangers till fortune did frown,
That dy'd like a Prodigal Lover.'"
8. Seaman.— " The Dame of a Clown in my heart I do scorn,
Being nobly descended, and a Gentleman born,
Yet I am a Seaman, and must live forlorn,
Unless you can love me, fair Lady."
9. Lady.—"O pardon me, Seaman, for I did not know,
I thought that thy Parentage had been but low;
But I may requite thee before we do go,
And give thee a kiss for a favour."
10. Seaman.—He took her by th' hand and he kissed her twice,
Quoth he, " Dearest Lady, you have been too nice,
To value my love at no higher a price,
But now I do hope you'l requite me."
11. Lady.—" Well, Seaman, I see that thou hast a good heart,
And art a compleat man in every part:
If my Father knew this, we should suffer smart,
He would be so highly enraged."
12 Seaman.—" If you are but willing for to be my Bride,
My Sword and my Pistol I'le take by my side,
And then to the Church we in private will ride,
Where we will be married, fair Lady."
13. She then gave consent, and away they did ride,
The valiant bold Seaman and his lovely Bride,
Not fearing of anger, or what might betide,
Their hearts were united together.
14. Being married they back again came speedily;
But riding along they her Father espy.
Quoth he to the Seaman, "I vow thou shalt dye,
For deluding away my dear Daughter."
15. "Come on (quoth the Seaman), 'tis no time to prattle,
I see by your weapons you are for the battle."
With Sword and with Pistol he made him to rattle,
In the place where he gain'd his fair Lady.
16. He cut him and slasht him, and there he did stand,
O then quoth her Father, "Hold, Seaman, thy hand!"
"If you'l give your Daughter ten thousand in land,
I'le spare you as I am a Seaman."
17. "O Seaman," quoth she, "'tis a portion too small!"
"O peace!" (quoth the Lord) "for that Shall not be all,
I'le give him great riches what ever befall,
Because he's a Noble stout Seaman."
18. They put up their Swords, and at last did agree,
And strait-way the Lady did fall on her knee,
And beg'd that her Father would not angry be,
Although she had married a Seaman.
19. Her Father unto her was there reconcil'd
And gave her his blessing, as she was his child,
"Which made the brave Seaman glad, that he smil'd,
When ho see he had gain'd his Lord's daughter.
20. They afterwards lived in joy and content,
The Lady had never no cause to repent,
They passed their time away in merriment,
And lovingly they lived together.
The last stanzas 14-18 are the main stanzas used in the later print revisions and traditional versions. The categorization of these "maid elopes and is pursued by father" ballads has been difficult for Child and other collectors. Child 7 (Earl Brand; Douglas Tragedy); Child 8 (Erlinton); The Braes of Yarrow ballads as well as the Bold Soldier/Dragoon and the Lady ballads all share this common theme: The king's daughter of the daughter of a wealthy man of high social standing is eloping with and sometimes marrying a man from a lower social class. When her father learns of this tryst he (usually accompanied by his men or bold sons) sets out to kill her daughter's lover.
A second black-letter broadside titled, "The Master-piece of Love Songs," was fashioned from "Seaman's Renown" about 25 years later (1695) from the same print shop, the Angel in Duck Lane (London), that issued "Seaman's." This was issued by Thomas Thackeray who was probably the son[2] of William Thackeray who stopped printing at Duck Lane in 1792. The new rewrite was also known as 'The Bold Keeper." Six lines of poetry precede the text and outline the tale:
Being a dialogue betwixt the bold keeper and the Lady gay
Who wooed the Lord's daughter and carried the day.
But soon after marriage was forced to fight,
With his Lord and six gentleman for his own right;
He cut them and hew'd them and paid them with blows,
And made them as friend who before were as foes.
To the tune of A Week Before Easter p. 223- 234
["The Master-piece of Love Songs," or, "The Bold Keeper"]
[View original page]
1. It was a bold Keeper that chased the Deer,
Of a stouter bold spirit you never did hear,
But he loved a Lady of Beauty most clear,
And now you shall hear of his Wooing.
2. Keeper:] "O pity, fair Lady! the Suit which I move,
For I'm deep in Affection, and tossed in Love;
For you are the Lady, the Turtle and Dove,
"Whereon I have cast my Affection."
3 Lady:] "O Keeper, forbear! I shall thus answer thee,
I'm a match for a Lord of a high Degree;
For my Birth and yours they not equal be;
Therefore, Keeper, forbear your Wooing!"
4. Keeper.] "The Kepulse it maketh me sadly to grieve;
And true 'tis we all came from Adam and Eve;
One loving Word to my Life is a Reprieve,
Tho' I'm linked fast in Cupid's Prison."
5. Lady:] "O why should you say you're a prisoner to me?
O hold, forbear, Keeper! for that may not be;
We both may have Matches fitter for each Degree;
Then forbear, and take this for an Answer!"
6. Keeper:] "No, not for an Answer, that I shall it take;
And yet this Denial makes my Heart to ake;
And I shall lay down my Life at the stake,
To obtain the favour of my Lady."
7. Lady:] "It is a meer madness your Life to lay down;
What will people say, 'there's an end of a Clown!
That pass'd many dangers, till Fortune did frown,
And now died a pretended Lover.'"
8. Keeper:] The name of a Clown in my heart I do scorn,
Being nobly descended, and a Gentleman born;
Yet I am a Keeper that must be forlorn,
Except you can love me, fair Lady."
9. Lady:] "Well, Keeper, I perceive thou hast a good heart,
Well art thou compacted in every Part;
If my Lord did know, we both would suffer smart:
My Father would be so offended."
10. Keeper:] "Lady, if you will consent to be my Bride,
I will gird up my Sword and Buckler by my side,
And then to the Church in private we'll ride,
Where we will be marry'd, fair Lady."
11. She then gave Consent, and away they did ride,
The valiant bold Keeper and his lovely Bride;
Not fearing of danger, whatever betide;
For she was a valiant young Lady.
12. Being marry'd, they return'd back speedily,
And riding along her Father did espy;
Alack!" quoth the Lady, "one or both shall die."
"Fear nothing," quoth the Keeper, "fair Lady!"
13. The Lord he came posting so fast as he could hie,
And six lusty Gentlemen for company;
Quoth he to the Keeper, "Villain! thou shalt die,
For deluding away my fair daughter."
14. "Come on," quoth the Keeper, "'tis no time to prattle,
I see by your swords you're prepar'd for battle."
With his sword and buckler he made them to rattle:
The Lady held the Horse for the Keeper.
15. He cut them and hew'd them, on the Place he did stand;
O then, quoth the Lord, "Bold Keeper, hold thy Hand!"
"If you'll give your daughter thirty thousand in Land,
You shan't die by the hand of the Keeper."
16. "Keeper," quoth the Lady, "'tis too small a Portion."
"Daughter," quoth the Lord, "your will shall be done;
I will love thy Husband, and thee ever own!"
Thus a Keeper gain'd a fair Lady.
The "Bold Keeper" (Master-piece of Love-Songs) was clearly fashioned after "Seaman's Renown" and has the "prattle/rattle/battle" identifiers. There are some differences, for example, the father has six of his men when he battles the Bold Keeper. Only one "traditional" version of "Masterpiece" has been reported[3], but it's from an unreliable source and is likely a recreation.
By 1800 (one "Jolly Dragoon" version[4] included in a garland is dated c.1790) several broadside/chapbook revisions of "Bold Keeper" appeared in England and Scotland which eliminated the opening stanza and wooing dialogue. The "bold keeper" was replaced by the "bold dragoon," "light dragoon," "jolly dragoon" or the "valiant dragoon." These broadsides were printed until at least the 1860s and entered tradition.
The Light Dragoon: To which are added, the orange and blue, and the humours of Smithfield. Publisher: Glasgow: Printed by J. & M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1800.
It is a pretty story,
A story you shall hear,
Of a jolly light dragoon,
As plainly doth appear;
He courted a rich Lady,
Of honor, birth and fame,
and thought to gain her favour,
But it was all in vain.
Her father was a noble knight,
A man of high renown,
And for to marry a soldier,
'Twould pull her honour down:
For your birth and his birth
They never will agree,
So pray young man take your answer,
And so begone from me.
For an answer is more
Than ever I would take,
For I would lay down my life,
All for the Lady's sake.
Soon as the lady heard this,
Her heart began to bleed;
Then straight the Lady and Dragoon,
Were married with speed.
When ever they were married,
And coming back again,
This you lady espy'd her Father,
And seven well armed men.
Aloud, aloud, the Lady cry'd,
I'm afraid we'll all be slain,
Never fear, said the jolly Dragoon,
We'll rife and fight again.
Then he said, My dearest dear,
we have no time to prattle,
For you see they are all armed,
And ready for the battle.
He drew his sword and pistol
and his coutrements did rattle,
And the Lady held the horse,
Till the Dragoon fought the battle.
Hold your hand, hold your hand,
Her father did cry,
And you shall have my Daughter,
And twenty thousand pound.
Fight on, fight on, my jolly Dragoon,
We will overcome them all.
Come all you pretty maidens,
That soldiers do admire,
O do not slight a soldier,
Let him be ne'er so poor.
For they are men of honour,
Belonging to the crown,
Here's a health to George our king,
And to this light Dragoon.
The similar UK broadside and chapbook revisions were also brought to and revised in America by 1800. The following is from Minot Baker's favourite collection of ancient and modern songs," an edition handwritten in pen, which was published in Boston, 1809 (see: https://archive.org/stream/MinotBakersAncientAndModernSongs/271174#page/n19/mode/2up). The nearly identical Cloverly broadside was printed c. 1810 and is available online.
Bold Soldier
1. I'll tell you of a soldier, who lately came from war,
who courted a lady of honor, rich and fair;
Her fortune was so great, that it scarcely could be told,
But yet, she lov'd the soldier, because he was so bold.
2. She said, my dearest jewel, I would fain be your wife,
But my dadda is so cruel, I fear he'll end my life.
He took his sword and pistols, and hung them by his side,
And swore that he would marry her, Whatever might betide.
3. When they had been to church, and returning home again,
Her old dadda met them, with seven armed men;
O dear, said the lady, I fear we shall be slain.
Fear nothing, my charmer, the soldier said again.
4. The old man to his daughter, with a great frown did say,
Is this your behavior? Is this your merry day?
Since you have been so silly, as to be a soldier's wife,
Here in this lonesome valley, I'll end you[r] pleasant life.
5. And then spake up the soldier, I do not like this prattle,
Although I am a bridegroom, and unprepar'd for battle;
He snatch'd his sword and pistols, and made them all to rattle,
And the lady held the horse, while the soldier fought the battle.
6. The first man he came to, he quickly had him slain,
The next man he came to, he ran him thro amain,
Let's flee, cry'd the rest, for we soon shall all be slain,
To fight with this brave soldier, is altogether vain.
7. Pray, stay your hand, the old man cry'd, you make my blood run cold,
I'll give you with my daughter, five thousand pounds in gold;
Fight on, says the lady, my portion is too small,
O, stay your hand, dear soldier, and you shall have it all.
8. He took the soldier home, acknowledged him his heir,
'T was not because he loved him, But 'twas for dread and fear.
There never is a soldier, who's fit to carry a gun,
Will ever flinch, or start an inch, till the battle he has won.
9. Despise not a soldier because that he is poor,
He's happy in the field as at the barrack door,
Is bold, brisk, and airy, brave, sociable, and free,
As willing to fight for love, as for his Liberty.
The print rewrites are different in the UK and US but clearly they are taken from the same source and have some of the same lines and identifiers. The print revisions entered tradition and versions stem from the c.1800s prints. One fascinating branch of this ballad are the US versions titled "New River Shore" (Brown Collection) or "Red River Shore," which are not widely accepted as versions of "The Bold Soldier." As "The Bold Soldier" is a secondary ballad with the general theme of Earl Brand and Erlinton, the "Shore" ballads are a secondary ballad of "The Bold Soldier." Cecil Sharp lists the Appalachian version he collected titled, "The Green Briar Shore," separate from his "Lady and the Bold Dragoon/Bold Soldier" versions. It may have been notes by Barry on Low River Shore" in 1931 that first pointed out the similarity of this ballad with Erlinton (also Earl Brand) and "The Soldier's Wooing" (Bold Soldier). Following Randolph (Ozark Folksongs), I'm listing them here.
Summation: The two 1600s broadside antecedents and the late 1700s and early 1800s "Bold Soldier/Bold Dragoon" prints have little to do with the ballads of either Earl Brand or Erlinton and are related only through the "daughter elopes and is pursued by father" theme. This theme is common in Scandinavia as well as the Child ballads Braes o Yarrow and Fair Margaret and Sweet William.
A new variant has been found in the US from the 1850s titled "New River Shore," "Red River Shore" or similarly.
R. Matteson 2018]
______________________________
Footnotes:
1. Roxburghe Collection, III, 120, and IV, 72.
2. This information was supplied by David Mason Greene in his article, " 'The Lady and the Dragoon': A Broadside Ballad in Oral Tradition."
3. "The Master-piece of Love-songs," probably a recreation by Baring-Gould (Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection- SBG/1/2/220) which Baring-Gould says in his MS was "taken down from 'Old Capul', W. Nankivell, Merrivale Bridge (Devon)" by Bussell before 1892.
4. From “Garlands & Penny Merriments” An excellent Garland, containing 1. The Duke of Berwick. 2. Answer to How sweet's the love that meets return. 3. The Jolly Dragoon; printed by Swindell of Manchester, c. 1790 but possibly earlier (British Library)
_______________________________
Songs and Ballads of the West: A Collection Made from the Mouths of the People
By Sabine Baring-Gould, 1892
No two singers give the same ballad exactly alike, the variations are sometimes so great that we suspect they are reproductions by local poets of the old themes. A striking instance of this is “The Masterpiece of Love Songs," that was printed
about 1670; and has been reproduced by Mr. Ashton, in his “Century of Ballads.” I have taken down one form of this, tolerably like the earliest printed form. It exists as a modern broadside in another. Mr. R. N. Worth has sent me another taken down
from an old man of 87 quite different, and I have had a fourth also different from another singer.
-----------------------
Title
The Masterpiece of Love Songs [A]
The Masterpiece of Lovesongs
Taken down by F.W.B. from Wm. Nankivel
Taken down from Sam Fone, by F.W.B., Dec. 23 1892.
1. There was a gallant Forester,
Who chased the king’s deer,
He was a man of spirit bold,
And loved a lady dear,
“O prithee harken fair Lady,
My suit do you approve,
|: For I am in affection deep,
Toss’d to and fro in love.” :|
2. “My father is a nobleman
I do thus answer thee
And I am match for any lord
Of any high degree.”
“Both you & I, my lady sweet
From Adam came & Eve,
One loving word from your sweet lips,
To me is a reprieve.”
3. “My father is a haughty man,
An Earl of high Estate
And many gallant gentlemen
Upon his pleasure wait.
That I should wed a forester
He never would agree,
So mount your horse, good forester
And ride away from me.”
4. “O pretty lady fair & sweet
No warning will I take.
My life I gladly will lay down
All for thy dear sake.”
“Then set thee on thy saddle high
And I with thee will ride,
Unto the Church, & there indeed
I’ll make the my dear Bride.”
5. He set her on his milk white steed
And he rode her before
He spurr’d along the King’s highway,
Of miles they were a score.
And as they rode along the way
Her father she did spy.
Alack! alack! the Lady said
One or both soon shall die.
6. “Thy father, maid, I do not fear
Nor all his men beside,
The church is but a mile before,
Where you shall be my bride.”
Nor whip nor spur was stinted then
He never did give oer,
Until the rein, the Forester,
He drew at the Church door.
7. The Earl he came a riding up
As fast as he could hie,
With six & twenty gentlemen
All in his company.
“Come on, come on the Forester said,
It is no time to prattle
I see by all your shining swords,
That you’re prepared to battle.
8. The wedding bells were ringing out
He stood against the wall
“Come on! come on! my gallant Earl,
Your merry men & all!”
To right, to left his sword did smite
And many there were slain,
The lady by the Churchyard wall
His horse held by the rein.
9. O then out spake the noble Earl,
“Stay, stay & hold thy hand.
I’ll give my daughter unto you,
Five thousand too in land.
“Strike on! strike on!” the lady said
The portion is too small!”
And still she held the horse she’d rode
Hard by the Churchyard wall.
10. “Now stay, now stay,” the Earl he said,
And let your will be done.
And I will give my daughter dear
A goodly fair portion.
And I will never bear a grudge
For all that thou hast done,
But I will love thee honestly,
And hold thee as a son.”
Taken down from 'Old Capul', W. Nankivell, Merrivale Bridge. clearly corrupt in metre, & lacking a last verse.
---------------------
[Bold Dragoon] Such broadside
1. My father is a lord, and a lord of high renown,
If I should wed a soldier, ‘twould pull his honour down,
For your birth and my birth, that never will agree,
So take it for a warning, bold dragoon, said she.
2. No warning, no warning will I take,
It’s either wed or die love, for your sweet sake.
Then hearing these expressions it made her heart to bleed
To church they went straightway and got married with speed.
3. Going to the church, and coming back again
They met the noble father with fifty armed men,
I am afraid, said the lady, that we shall slain be soon,
I fear them not, answered the bold dragoon.
4. Then off his horse he lighted, & left it by the wall,
Come on, says the bold dragoon, I will fight you all.
Then he pulled out his sword and made his scabbard rattle,
The lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.
5. Hold your hand, bold dragoon, and lay your broadsword down,
Then you shall have my daughter and fifty thousand pound.
Fight on, said the lady, the portion is but small
O hold your hand, bold dragoon, & you shall have it all.
6. Come all you young men wherever you may be
Don’t despise a soldier for his poverty.
Although he’s poor he’ll fight for his own,
So here’s a health to Queen Victoria and her jolly bold dragoon.
Broadside by Such.
-----------------------
Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection (SBG/1/2/223)
Taken down from an old man of 87 called Wren Houghton by Mr. Hanaford Worth.
Baring-Gould Ms. Ref. PC 2. 106 (165)
D. [Jolly Dragoon]
1. ‘Twas of a jolly Dragoon as ever you did hear
He courted of a lady, & he lovéd her so dear.
O no! cries the lady, that never Sir can be,
For a Lord I am fitted of higher degree.
2. Now when the Dragoon heard those words that she spoke,
In his heart he’d a rather been tied to a yoke.
But he saddled his horse, & away he did ride,
Till he gainéd the lady to ride by his side.
3. This couple they got married, & returning home again,
She saw her father coming with seven arméd men.
‘O now,’ cried the lady, ‘there is no time to prattle,
For see those armed men are fitted for the battle.’
4. The dragoon cocked his pistol, while sword and carbine rattle
And the lady held the horse, while the dragoon fought the battle.
‘Hold your hand dear Dragoon, dear Dragoon hold your hand
And thou shalt have my daughter & pounds five thousand.
5. ‘Five thousand!’ cries the lady,’ that portion is but small,
‘O hold your hand my dear dragoon & thou shalt have it all.’
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
6. Come all you brisk young ladies that have got gold in store,
Don’t never slight a bold dragoon, though he is sometime poor.
For they are men of honour, belonging to the crown
So here’s a health to the lady & her jolly dragoon.
-----------------------
The Jolly Dragoon
Roud Broadside Index (B151543)
First Line
My father is a lord, and a lord of high renown
Roud No
321 [Search for 321 in the current indexes]
Other nums
Laws M27
Named Tune
Source
An Excellent Garland containing.. (British Library via ECCO)
Format
Printed : Street literature : Chapbook
Src Contents
Text
Repository
Printer / Publisher
G. Swindells (Manchester) [c1790?]
----------------
Minot Baker's favourite collection of ancient and modern songs.
Boston, 1809
https://archive.org/stream/MinotBakersAncientAndModernSongs/271174#page/n19/mode/2up
1. I'll tell you of a soldier, who lately came from war,
who courted a lady of honor, rich and fair.
Her fortune was so great, that it scarcely could be told,
But yet she loved the soldier, because he was so bold.
2. She said, my dearest jewel, I would fain be your wife,
But my dadda is so cruel, I fear he'll end my life.
He took his swords and pistol, and hung them by his side,
And swore that he would marry her, Whatever might betide.
3. When they had been to church, and returning home again,
Her old dadda met them, with seven armed men.
Oh, dear, said the lady, I fear we shall be slain.
Fear nothing, my charmer, the soldier said again.
4. The old man to his daughter, with a great frown did say,
Is this your behavior? Is this your marry day?
Since you have been so silly, as to be a soldier's wife,
Here in this lonesome valley, I'll end you[r] pleasant life.
5. And then up spake the soldier, I do not like this prattle,
Although I am a bridegroom, and unprepared for battle.
He snatched his sword and pistols, and made them all to rattle,
And the lady held the horse, while the soldier fought the battle.
6. The first man he came to, he quickly had him slain,
The next one he came to, he ran him thro amain,
Let's flee, cry'd the rest, for we soon shall all be slain,
To fight with this brave soldier, as altogether vain.
7. Pray, stay your hand, the old man cry'd, you make my blood run cold,
I give you wih my daughter, five thousand pounds in gold;
Fight on, says the lady, my portion is too small,
O, stay your hand, dear soldier, and you shall have it all.
8. He took the soldier home, acknowledged him his heir,
'T was not because he loved him, But 't was for dread and fear.
There never is a soldier, who's fit to carry a gun,
Will ever flinch, or start an inch, till the battle he has won.
9. Despise not a soldier because he is poor,
He's happy in the field as at the barrack door,
Is bold, brisk, and lively, brave, sociable, and free,
As willing to fight for love, as for his liberty.
------------------
Bronson 7. [The Bold Dragoon and the Lady]
Sharp MSS., fi69/ryr8-r9. Sung by Charles Ash (69) of Crowcombe on September 9, 1908.
a I/Ly
My father he's a lord and a lord of high renown
If I shall wed a soldier it shall pull his honour down
It's your birth and my birth it never will agree-
So take it as a warning, bold dragoon, said she.
A warning, a warning I never intend to take
I'd rather lie than leave you it's all for your sweet sake
And then he pressed her hand which made her heart to bleed
To church let-us go and get married with speed.
--------------------
5. [The Dragoon and the Lady]
Sharp MSS., 8Z/t+Z-++. Sung by William Nott, Meshaw,
Devon, January 8, 1904.
a I (inflected VII)
Come now all you good people,
I pray now lend an ear.
'Tis of a jolly dragoon and soon ye shall hear.
He courted a lady, a lady rich and fair,
So how they got married oh now* you shall hear.
My father was a knight and an honour to the crown,
And if I wed a soldier you'll pull his honour down,
And thy birth and my birth will never agree,
So take-it as an answer, dear dragoon, says she.
An answer, an answer, an answer I won't take.
I'd rather lay my life down or of my love forsake.
In hearing of these words wishing the lady's heart to bleed,
Together they went and was married with speed.
Oh when they were married and returning back again
She saw her father coming took by armed men.
O dear, replies the lady, I fear I shall be slain.
O fear not at all, says the valiant dragoon.
So now my dearest Polly no time there is to prattle.
So see how they are armed and fixed for the battle.
He drawed his-sword and pistol the buckles they did rattle,
The lady held the horse while the dragoon fought the battle.
Now all you good people that have got rich in store'
Never disdain a soldier because he is poor.
For he that is poor will fight for his own.
Here's health to the King and the iolly dragoon.
* Sharp Music Bk. has "soon."
__
The valiant dragoo'n, a new song
Printed by T. Wise, No, 89, Rosemary Lane
My father is a knight
The bold dragoon
London: H. Such, Machine Printer & Publisher, 177 Union Street, Boro', S.E.
c. 1863
http://www.chapbook.ugent.be/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Bh13-d.2-i61-The-Light-Dragoon.pdf
The Light dragoon. : To which are added, the orange and blue, and the humours of Smithfield.
Publisher: Glasgow : Printed by J. & M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1800.
It is a pretty story,
A story you shall hear,
Of a jolly light dragoon,
As plainly doth appear;
He courted a rich Lady,
Of honor, birth and fame,
and thought to gain her favour,
But it was all in vain.
-------
The Masterpiece Of Love Songs
Lucy Broadwood Manuscript Collection (LEB/4/26/40)
87 of approx 287 results
First Line
Performer
Fone, Samuel
Date collected
[c. 1894?]
Place
[England : Devon : Mary Tavy]
Collector
Baring-Gould, Sabine
--------------
SBG/4/2/6/7 The Lover's Harmony No. 13
Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection (SBG/4/2/6/7/12)
88 of approx 287 results
First Line
My father is a lord, a lord of renown
Performer
Date collected
Place
Collector
Roud No
321 [Search for 321 in the current indexes]
Show all fields
Media
1 media item.
Image number 0 for SBG/4/2/6/7/12
Relationships
SBG/4/2/6/7 The Lover's Harmony No. 13
SBG/4/2/6/7/12 The Jolly Dragoon (This record)
Sharing
Permanent URL: https://www.vwml.org/record/SBG/4/2/6/7/12