Lord Thomas- Carr (ME) 1868 Barry B
[My date, which should be older, through her grandmother but Mary Soper died in 1869 when Susie was 7. From British Ballads from Maine; Barry, Eckstorm, Smyth, 1929
From a manuscript book compiled at least twenty-five years ago (around 1900) by Mrs. Susie Carr Young(b. 1862- d. 1933) of Brewer to preserve the old songs sung by her grandmother, mother, and others of the family.
I assume and Barry alludes that Mrs. Young says learned this song (at least sixty years ago) from her Grandmother Carr, the wife of Hugh Hill Carr (b.1790) of Bucksport, who was born Mary Soper (b.1791) of Orland, where the Sopers were very early settlers (Joseph Soper, from Boston 1654, thought to be the son of John Soper and Elizabeth Rhodes married in 1624 in London). It has without doubt been a long time traditional in that family, and Mrs. Young thinks the first emigrants of some branch in the ancestry brought it to this country with them.
Matteson 2014]
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELEANOR
(Lord Thomas and Fair Annet, Child 73)
B. "Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor." From the manuscript ballad-book of Mrs. Susie Carr Young, Brewer, as passed down in her own family from her grandmother Mary (Soper) Carr.
1 Lord Thomas he was a bold forester
And a chaser of the King's deer;
Fair Eleanor was a lady fair
And he courted her for his dear.
2 "Come riddle my riddle, dear mother," he said,
"And riddle us both in one:
Whether Fair Eleanor I will wed
Or bring the Brown Girl home."
3. "The Brown Girl she has house and land,
Fair Eleanor she has none;
Therefore I charge thee on my blessing
To bring the Brown Girl home."
4 Lord Thomas he went to Fair Eleanor's gate
And knocked at the ring,
There was none so happy as Fair Eleanor
To bid her lover come in.
5 "What news, what news, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"What news have you brought to me?"
"I come to bid you to a wedding,
Tomorrow it is to be."
6. "Bad news, bad news, Lord Thomas," she said,
"Sad news to me!" she cried,
"To know the Brown Girl you will wed
When I should have been your bride."
7 "Come riddle my riddle, dear mother," she said,
"And riddle us both in one:
Whether to Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go,
Or whether I'll stay at home."
8. She dressed herself in the richest robes
And costliest jewels seen,
And everybody who saw her pass
Took her for to be a queen.
9. And when she came to Lord Thomas' door
And knock-ed at the ring,
There was none so glad as Lord Thomas himself
To let the fair lady in.
10. He took her by the lily-white hand
And led her through the room,
And all the people assembled there
Took them for the bride and groom.
11. The Brown Girl drew a little penknife,
And it was long and sharp;
Between the short ribs and the long
ft pierced Fair Eleanor's heart.
12. "O, what is the matter?" Lord Thomas he cried,
"You look death-like unto me,"
"Oh, don't you see my own heart's blood
Run trickling down my knee ?"
13. Lord Thomas cut off the Brown Girl's head
And flung it against the wall.
He stuck his sword into the ground
And onto it did fall.
14. "O, dig my grave," Lord Thomas he said,
“And dig it wide and deep;
And place Fair Eleanor by my side
And the Brown Girl at my feet."
15. Of all who are caught in Cupid's net
Or pierced by Cupid's dart,
Were ever three lovers so lovingly met
And so suddenly to depart?