Here are four versions of "Sir Lionel/Wild Boar" that we have posted that come from a common tradition: Child C from Bromsgrove, "Bold Sir Rylas" from Williams, "Wild Boar" from Sam Harmon, and "The Jobal Hunter" from Rena Hicks. [ We could also add Child D, and the version from Buna Hicks as variations.]

Two are from England and two are from the Southern Appalachians. The Appalachian versions come from a common family source. So there are really three distinct versions here. I don't think that any of them are dependent on the others and that they were all contemporary with each other, and that they all were descended from a common source now lost.

Child 18C "THE JOVIAL HUNTER OF BROMSGROVE"

SIR ROBERT BOLTON had three sons,
[Wind well thy horn, good hunter]
And one of them was called Sir Ryalas.
[For he was a jovial hunter]

He rangd all round down by the woodside,
Till up in the top of a tree a gay lady he spyd.

O what dost thou mean, fair lady? said he;
O the wild boar has killed my lord and his men thirty.
[As thou beest, etc.]

O what shall I do this wild boar to see?
O thee blow a blast, and hell come unto thee.

Then he put his horn unto his mouth,
Then he blowd a blast full north, east, west and south.
[As he was, etc.]

And the wild boar heard him full into his den;
Then he made the best of his speed unto him.
[To Sir Ryalas, etc.]

Then the wild boar, being so stout and so strong,
He thrashd down the trees as he came along.

O what dost thou want of me? the wild boar said he;
O I think in my heart I can do enough for thee.
[For I am, etc.]

Then they fought four hours in a long summers day,
Till the wild boar fain would have gotten away.
[From Sir Ryalas, etc.]

Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword with might,
And he fairly cut his head off quite.
[For he was, etc.]

Then out of the wood the wild woman flew:
Oh thou hast killed my pretty spotted pig!
[As thou beest, etc.]

There are three things I do demand of thee,
Its thy horn, and thy hound, and thy gay lady.

If these three things thou dost demand of me,
Its just as my sword and thy neck can agree.
[For I am, etc.]

Then into his locks the wild woman flew,
Till she thought in her heart she had torn him through.
[As he was, etc.]

Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword again,
And he fairly split her head in twain.
[For he was, etc.]

In Bromsgrove church they both do lie;
There the wild boars head is picturd by
[Sir Ryalas, etc.]
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"BOLD SIR RYLAS", from Alfred Williams

Bold Sir Rylas a-hunting went
I an dan dilly dan,
Bold Sir Rylas a-hunting went
Killy koko an,
Bold Sir Rylas a-hunting went,
To kill some game was his intent
I an dan dilly dan killy koko an.

He saw a wild woman sat in a tree:
Good lord, what brings thee here? said she.
I an dan dilly dan killy koko an.

There is a wild boar all in this wood,
He'll eat thy flesh and drink thy blood,
As thee beest a jovial hunter.

What shall I do this wild boar to see?
Why! Wind thy horn and he'll come to thee,
As thee beest a jovial hunter.

He put his horn unto his mouth,
And blew it east, north, west, and south
I an dan dilly dan killy doko an.

The wild boar heard him to his den,
And out came with young ones nine or ten
I an dan dilly dan killy koko an.

Then bold Sir Rylas this wild boar fell on
He fought him three hours by the day,
Till the wild boar fain would have run away
I an dan dilly dan killy koko an.

Now, since thou hast killed my spotted pig
There are three things I will have of thee:
That's thy horse, thy hounds, and thy fair lady,
As thee beest a jovial hunter.

Now, since I have killed thy spotted pig
There's nothing thou shalt have of me,
Neither my horse, hounds, nor fair lady,
As I am a jovial hunter.

Then bold Sir Rylas this wild woman fell on
He split her head down to her chin,
You ought to have seen her kick and grin
I an dan dilly dan killy koko an.
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"WILD BOAR", from Sam Harmon

Abram Bailey he'd three sons
[Blow your horn center]
And he is through the wildwood gone
Just like a jovial hunter

As he marched down the greenwood side
A pretty girl o there he spied
[As he was a jovial hunter]

There is a wild boar all in this wood
He slew the lord and his forty men

How can I this wild boar see?
Wind up your horn and he'lll come to you
[As you are etc]

He wound his horn unto his mouth
He blew East, North West and South
[As he was etc]

The wild boar heard him unto his den
He made the oak and ash then far to bend

The fit three hours by the day
And at length he this wild boar slay

He meets the old witch wife on the bridge
Begone you rogue, you've killed my pig
[as you are etc]

There is three things I crave of thee
Your hawk, your hound, your gay lady

These three things you'll not have of me
Neither hawk nor hound nor gay lady

He split the old witch wife to the chin
And on his way he went ag'in
Julst like a jovial hunter.
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"THE JOBAL HUNTER" from Rena(Nathan) Hicks

Abe and Bailey had three sons;
The youngest was called Center.
He's gone to the Green's woods hunting
Just like a jobal hunter.

As he walked up the Green Brier Ridge,
Blow your horn, Center,
There he met a Gaily-Dee,
Just like a jobal hunter.

She says, "There is a wild boar in these woods;
Blow your horn, Center,
For he has killed my lord and forty men,
As you are the jobal hunter.

He says, "Oh, how am I to know?"
Blow your horn, Center,
Blow your horn north, east, west and south,
As you are the jobal hunter."

He blowed his horn nothr, east, west, and south,
Blow your horn, Center.
The wild boar hear him unto his den,
Just like a jobal hunter.

And as they crossed the White Oak Mountain,
Blow your horn, Center,
On their way they went again,
Just like a jobal hunter.

As he slayed the wild boar,
Blow your horn, Center,
The oak and ash they did bend,
As he was a jobal hunter.

They met the old witch wife on a bridge,
Blow your horn, Center,
"Begone, you rogue; you've killed my pig,
As you are the jobal hunter.

She says, "These three things I crave of yourn,
Blow your horn, Center,
'S your 'hawk, your hound, and your Gaily-Dee,
As you are the jobal hunter."

He says, "These three things you can't have of mine."
Blow your horn, Center.
"Is my 'hawk, my hound, and my Gaily-Dee,"
Just like a jobal hunter.

He split the old witch wife through the chin,
Blow your horn, Center.
And on their way they went again,
As you are the jobal hunter.
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