The familiar ballad-knight of #A#, #B# is converted in #C# into an "unco knicht," who is the devil, a departure from the proper story which is found also in #2 J#. The conclusion of #C#, As soon as she the fiend did name, He flew awa in a blazing flame, reminds us of the behavior of trolls and nixes under like circumstances, but here the naming amounts to a detection of the Unco Knicht's quiddity, acts as an exorcism, and simply obliges the fiend to go off in his real character. #D# belongs with #C#: it was given by the reciter as a colloquy between the devil and a maiden. The earlier affinities of this ballad can be better shown in connection with No 2. Translated, after #B# and #A#, in Grundtvig's Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, p. 181: Herder, Volkslieder, I, 95, after #A d#. A #a.# Broadside in the Rawlinson collection, 4to, 566, fol. 193, Wood, E. 25, fol. 15. #b.# Pepys, III, 19, No 17. #c.# Douce, II, fol. 168 b. #d.# Pills to Purge Melancholy, IV, 130, ed. 1719. 1 There was a lady of the North Country, Lay the bent to the bonny broom And she had lovely daughters three. Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re 2 There was a knight of noble worth Which also lived in the North. 3 The knight, of courage stout and brave, A wife he did desire to have. 4 He knocked at the ladie's gate One evening when it was late. 5 The eldest sister let him in, And pin'd the door with a silver pin. 6 The second sister she made his bed, And laid soft pillows under his head. 7 The youngest daughter that same night, She went to bed to this young knight. 8 And in the morning, when it was day, These words unto him she did say: 9 'Now you have had your will,' quoth she, 'I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?' 10 The young brave knight to her replyed, 'Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny'd. 11 'If thou canst answer me questions three, This very day will I marry thee.' 12 'Kind sir, in love, O then,' quoth she, 'Tell me what your [three] questions be.' 13 'O what is longer than the way, Or what is deeper than the sea? 14 'Or what is louder than the horn, Or what is sharper than a thorn? 15 'Or what is greener than the grass, Or what is worse then a woman was?' 16 'O love is longer than the way, And hell is deeper than the sea. 17 'And thunder is louder than the horn, And hunger is sharper than a thorn. 18 'And poyson is greener than the grass, And the Devil is worse than woman was.' 19 When she these questions answered had, The knight became exceeding glad. 20 And having [truly] try'd her wit, He much commended her for it. 21 And after, as it is verifi'd, He made of her his lovely bride. 22 So now, fair maidens all, adieu, This song I dedicate to you.