The Bold Soldier- W.S.C. (MA) 1850s Barry C
[My title, text printed without spelling corrections as it appeared in "Notes and Queries." From British Ballads from Maine, Barry Eckstrom and Smythe, 1929. It was Barry who in a 1909 JAFL article attached this ballad to Child 8, Erlinton. This is one of the earliest dates for collected versions in the US. Barry dates this back to the Revolutionary War but provides no evidence that it existed then.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE SOLDIER'S WOOING
The tragic old ballad of "Erlinton" seems to have left a successor in this humorous song of "The Soldier's Wooing," or "The Valiant Soldier," which is often found in New England. The elopement, the pursuit, the warlike skill of the soldier, or the knightly lover, whose lady stands by and holds the horses, characterize both songs, although the temper of them is entirely different.
C. [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, was employed yearly by my father to come to our farm-home to make boots and shoes for him and his boys, out of stock tanned and dressed from skins of calves whose veal we consumed on the premises. With memory's eye I can still see that quaint old son of Crispin- his twinkling eyes (possibly brightened by his morning dram of old Medford rum), hammering soles on his lap-stone, his T.D. pipe precariously held between his mismated teeth as he sang his song, while hammer and flickering pipe marked its tempo. This is the song":
1. I'll sing to you of a soldier who came from oversea,
He courted a fair ladye of honour, rich and free;
Her fortin[1] was so great that it scurcely could be told,
But yet she loved the soldier because he was so bold.
2 Said she, "My love, my jewel, I'd gladly be your wife,
But my father is so cruel I fear he'd end my life."
He bought a sword and pistol and hung them by his side,
And swore that he would marry her and nought should betide.
3 When they had been to church and returning home again
Her old father met them with seven arm-ed men;
"O, dear," said the ladye, "I fear we shall be slain."
"Fear nothing my charmer," the soldier said again.
4 Th' ol' man unto his daughter with a frown he did say:
"Is this your behavior is this your happy day?
Since you have been so silly 's to be this
Here in this pleasant valley I'll end your useless life."
5 Up starts the soldier: "I do not like your prattle,
'Although I am bridegroom and unprepared for battle."
He snatched his sword and pistil and made 'em for to rattle
And the ladye hild the hoss while the soldier fought the battle.
6. The fust man he come to he quickly had him slain;
The next one to he served him the same;
"Let us run," said the rest, or we all shall be slain,
For to fight a valiant soldier is altogether vain.''
7. 'Pray stay your hand," th' old man cried "you make my blood
I'll give you my daughter and five thousand pounds in gold."
"Fight on," cried the ladye, "my portion is too small."
"Pray stay your hand," th' ol' man cried, "and you shall have it all."
8 He took the soldier home with him and acknowledged him his heir;
'Twas not because he loved him; 'twas nothin' else but fear.
Thert never was a soldier 'twas fit to kerry a gun
'Twould ever flinch ner budge an inch till the battle he had won.
1. fortune