Going back to the twelfth century, we come, even at that early date, upon one of those extravagances, not to say travesties, which are apt to follow successful strokes of invention. Ignaure loves and is loved by twelve dames. The husbands serve his heart to their twelve wives, who, when they are apprised of what has passed, duly vow that they will never eat again after the precious mess which they have enjoyed. (Lai d’Ignaurès, ed. Monmerqué et Michel.) There are relics of a similar story in Provençal and in German, and a burlesque tale to the same effect was popular in Italy: Le Cento Novelle Antiche, of about 1300, Biagi, Le Novelle Antiche, 1880, p. 38, No 29.[39] A kitchen-boy plays a part of some consequence in several other ballads. A kitchen-boy is the hero of No 252, IV, 400, a very poor ballad, to be sure. There is a bad tell-tale of a kitchen-boy in ‘Lady Maisry,’ =A=, No 65, II, 114, and there is a high-minded kitchen-boy in ‘The Lady Isabella’s Tragedy.’[40] ‘A ballett, The Kitchen-boyes Songe’ (whatever this may be), is entered as licensed to John Alde in the Stationers’ Registers, 1570-71, Arber, I, 438. In about half of the versions of ‘Der grausame Bruder’ (see II, 101 f.), the king of England presents himself as a küchenjung to the brother of a lady whom he asks in marriage after a clandestine intimacy. * * * * * =A= is translated by Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 22, No 9. A Aytoun’s Ballads of Scotland, II, 173, 1859, from the recollection of a lady residing at Kirkaldy. 1 There was a king, and a very great king, And a king of meikle fame; He had not a child in the world but ane, Lady Daisy was her name. 2 He had a very bonnie kitchen-boy, And William was his name; He never lay out o Lady Daisy’s bower, Till he brought her body to shame. 3 When een-birds sung, and een-bells rung, And a’ men were boune to rest, The king went on to Lady Daisy’s bower, Just like a wandering ghaist. 4 He has drawn the curtains round and round, And there he has sat him down; ‘To whom is this, Lady Daisy,’ he says, ‘That now you gae so round? 5 ‘Is it to a laird? or is it to a lord? Or a baron of high degree? Or is it William, my bonnie kitchen-boy? Tell now the truth to me.’ 6 ‘It’s no to a laird, and it’s no to a lord, Nor a baron of high degree; But it’s to William, your bonnie kitchen-boy: What cause hae I to lee?’ 7 ‘O where is all my merry, merry men, That I pay meat and fee, That they will not take out this kitchen-boy, And kill him presentlie?’ 8 They hae taen out this bonnie kitchen-boy, And killd him on the plain; His hair was like the threads o gold, His een like crystal stane; His hair was like the threads o gold, His teeth like ivory bane.