THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND'S DAUGHTER. See p. 114. From Bell's _Ballads of the Peasantry of England_, p. 122. This ballad, which was printed by Bell from the recitation of an old Northumberland fiddler, is defective in the tenth and the last stanzas, and has suffered much from corruption in the course of transmission. The name of the hero, however, is uncommonly well preserved, and affords a link, rarely occurring in English, with the corresponding Danish and Swedish ballads, a good number of which have Hildebrand, though more have Ribold. It may be observed that in _Hildebrand og Hilde_ (Grundtvig, No. 83), the knight has the rank here ascribed to the lady. "Hand heede hertug Hyldebraand, Kongens sönn aff Engeland." The "old Carl Hood" who gives the alarm in this ballad, is called in most of the Danish ballads "a rich earl"; in one a treacherous man, in another a young Carl, and in a third an old man; which together furnish the elements of his character here of a treacherous old Carl. O did you ever hear of the brave Earl Brand? _Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!_ He's courted the king's daughter o' fair England, _I' the brave nights so early._ She was scarcely fifteen years that tide, When sae boldly she came to his bed-side. "O Earl Brand, how fain wad I see 5 A pack of hounds let loose on the lea." "O lady fair, I have no steed but one, But thou shalt ride and I will run." "O Earl Brand, but my father has two, And thou shalt have the best of tho." 10 Now they have ridden o'er moss and moor, And they have met neither rich nor poor. Till at last they met with old Carl Hood, He's aye for ill, and never for good. "Now, Earl Brand, an ye love me, 15 Slay this old carl, and gar him dee." "O lady fair, but that would be sair, To slay an auld carl that wears grey hair. "My own lady fair, I'll not do that, I'll pay him his fee......." 20 "O where have ye ridden this lee lang day, And where have ye stown this fair lady away?" "I have not ridden this lee lang day, Nor yet have I stown this lady away. "For she is, I trow, my sick sister, 25 Whom I have been bringing fra Winchester." "If she's been sick, and nigh to dead, What makes her wear the ribbon so red? "If she's been sick, and like to die, What makes her wear the gold sae high?" 30 When came the carl to the lady's yett, He rudely, rudely rapped thereat. "Now where is the lady of this hall?" "She's out with her maids a-playing at the ball." "Ha, ha, ha! ye are all mista'en; 35 Ye may count your maidens owre again.