The rich Svend wooes Lisbet, who favours William for his good qualities. Svend, ill with grief, is well-advised by his mother, not to care for a plighted maid, and ill-advised by his sister, to kill William. Svend takes the latter advice, and kills William. Forty weeks later, Lisbet gives birth to a son, but Svend is told that the child is a girl. Eighteen years later, the young William, sporting with a peasant, quarrels with him; the peasant retorts, ‘You had better avenge your father’s death.’ Young William asks his mother who slew his father, and she, thinking him too young to fight, counsels him to bring Svend to a court. William charges him in the court with the murder of his father, and says that no compensation has been offered. Not a penny shall be paid, says Svend. William draws his sword, and slays him. Icelandic, Swedish, and Färöe ballads tell a similar story. FAUSE FOOTRAGE 1. King Easter has courted her for her gowd, King Wester for her fee; King Honor for her lands sae braid, And for her fair body. 2. They had not been four months married, As I have heard them tell, Until the nobles of the land Against them did rebel. 3. And they cast kaivles them amang, And kaivles them between; And they cast kaivles them amang, Wha shoud gae kill the king. 4. O some said yea, and some said nay, Their words did not agree; Till up it gat him Fa’se Footrage, And sware it shoud be he. 5. When bells were rung, and mass was sung, And a’ man boon to bed, King Honor and his gay ladie In a hie chamer were laid. 6. Then up it raise him Fa’se Footrage, While a’ were fast asleep, And slew the porter in his lodge, That watch and ward did keep. 7. O four and twenty silver keys Hang hie upon a pin, And ay as a door he did unlock, He has fasten’d it him behind. 8. Then up it raise him King Honor, Says, ‘What means a’ this din? Now what’s the matter, Fa’se Footrage, Or wha was’t loot you in?’ 9. ‘O ye my errand well shall learn Before that I depart’; Then drew a knife baith lang and sharp And pierced him thro’ the heart. 10. Then up it got the Queen hersell, And fell low down on her knee: ‘O spare my life now, Fa’se Footrage! For I never injured thee. 11. ‘O spare my life now, Fa’se Footrage! Until I lighter be! And see gin it be lad or lass, King Honor has left me wi’.’ 12. ‘O gin it be a lass,’ he says, ‘Weel nursed she shall be; But gin it be a lad-bairn, He shall be hanged hie. 13. ‘I winna spare his tender age, Nor yet his hie, hie kin; But as soon as e’er he born is, He shall mount the gallows-pin.’ 14. O four and twenty valiant knights Were set the Queen to guard, And four stood ay at her bower-door, To keep baith watch and ward.