#E.# 'The Flower of Northumberland,' Mr Robert White's papers. The earliest copy of this ballad is introduced as 'The Maidens' Song,'[119] in Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, in his younger yeares called Jacke of Newberie, a book written as early as 1597. Mr Halliwell reprinted the "9th" edition, of the date 1633,[120] in 1859, and the ballad is found at p. 61 of the reprint (#A#). The copy in Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169, has a few variations, which are probably to be explained by Ritson having used some other edition of Deloney. Ritson's text is used in The Borderer's Table Book, VI, 25, and was taken thence into Sheldon's Minstrelsy of the English Border, with some arbitrary alterations. The ballad was formerly popular in Scotland. Kinloch and Buchan printed #B# and #C# with some slight changes; the texts are now given as they stand in the manuscripts. #E#, a traditional version from the English border, has unfortunately been improved by some literary pen. An English lady is prevailed upon to release a Scot from prison, and to fly with him, on the promise of being made his wife, and (#A#) lady of castles and towers. She takes much gold with her (#A#), and a swift steed (two, #A#). According to #A# they come to a rough river; the lady is alarmed, but swims it, and is wet from top to toe. On coming within sight of Edinburgh, the faithless knight bids her choose whether she will be his paramour or go back: he has wife and children. She begs him to draw his sword and end her shame: he takes her horse away, and leaves her. Two English knights come by, who restore her to her father. The dismissal takes place at the Scottish cross and moor in #B#; at a moor and a moss, #C#; at Scotland bridge, #D#; at a fair Scottish cross, #E#. She offers to be servant in his kitchen rather than go back, #B#, #C#, #E#; begs him to throw her into the water, #D#; from his castle wall, #E#. He fees an old man to take her home on an old horse, #B#, #E#. We do not find the whole of this story repeated among other European nations, but there are interesting agreements in parts with Scandinavian, Polish, and German ballads.