The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28110   Message #1111888
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
08-Feb-04 - 11:08 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington
Roud 59. A couple of additional texts have come to light since Bronson; there is one, Mild Marie, in Emily Lyle, Andrew Crawfurd's Collection of Ballads & Songs 2 (1996) 72-74 (text only) and apparently one in the Carpenter Collection. (Bronson was aware of that collection but was not allowed access to it). The online index to Carpenter seems to be malfunctioning today, though, so a search will have to wait.

In his notes on the song, (Bronson II 417) Bronson states:

"The only trace of a tune for this ballad is connected with a traditional Norfolk version, beginning 'My father was the first good man,' which was being sung in the early nineteenth century to some form of 'O ponder well.' (N & Q ser. 2, XX, p. 193.) That tune was put to every service."

The issue number is a mis-print; it should be IX. The piece can be seen at The Internet Library of Early Journals:

Ancient Ballad

The tune was not printed, and the song, though it shares with Fair Mary of Wallington the long sequence in which a page is sent to summon help, is surely an example of Lady Maisry (Bonnie Susie Cleland: Child 65 Roud 45).