Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington

Subject: Lyr Add: FAIR MABEL OF WALLINGTON
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 28 Nov 00 - 02:05 PM

This is in some ways like Child # 91 but IMHO much better!

FAIR MABEL OF WALLINGTON

When we were silly sisters seven, sisters (we) were so fair,
Five of us were brave knights wives, and died in childbed fair.
Up then spake fair 'Mabel', marry wou'd she nane,
If ever she came in man's bed the same gate wad she gang.
Make no vows, fair 'Mabel', for fear they broken be,
Here's been the knight of Wallington asking good will of thee.
Here's been the knight (of Wallington), mother, asking good-will of me;
Within three-quarters of a year you may come bury me.

When she came to Wallington, and into Wallingtonhall,
There she spy'd her mother dear walking about the wall.
You're welcome, daughter dear, to thy castle and thy bower.
I thank you kindly, mother; I hope they'll soon be yours.
She had not been in Wallington three-quarters and a day,
Tiull upon the ground she could not walk, she was a weary prey;
She had not been in Wallington three-quarters and a night,
Till on the ground she cou'd not walk, she was a weary 'wight'.

Is there ne'er a boy in this town who'll win hose and shun,
That will run to fair Pudlington, and bid my mother come?
Up then spake a little boy, near unto (her) a-kin,
Full oft I have your errands gone, but now I will it run.
Then she call'd her waiting-maid to bring up bread and wine:
Eat and drink, my bonny boy, thou'sll ne'er eat more of mine:
Give my respects to my mother, as (she) 'sits' in her chair of stone,
And ask her how she likes the news of seven to have but one.

Give my love to my brother William, Ralph, and John;
And to my sister Betty fair, and to her white as bone,
And bid her keep her maidenhead, be sure make much on't,
For if e'er she come in man's bed the same gate will she gang.
Away this little boy is gone as fast as he could run,
When he came where brigs were broke he lay down and 'swum.'
When he saw the lady, he said, Lord may your keepers be!
What news, my pretty boy, 'hast' thou to tell to me?

Your daughter 'Mabel' orders me, as you sit in a chair of stone,
To ask you how you like the news of seven to have but one;
Your daughter gives commands as you sit in a chair of 'state,'
And bids you come to her sickening, her 'weary' lakewake:
She gives command to her brother William, Ralph, and John;
To her sister Betty fair, and to her white (as) bone,
She bids her keep her maidenhead, be sure make much on't,
For if e'er she come in man's bed the same gate wou'd she gang.

She kickt the table with her foot, she kickt it with her knee,
The silver plate into the fire so far she made it flee:
Then she call'd her waiting-maid to bring her riding-hood,
So did she on her stable-groom to bring her 'steed so good:'
Go saddle to me the black, go saddle to me the brown,
Go saddle to me the swiftest steed that e'er rid Wallington.
When she came to Wallington, and into Wallingtonhall,
There she espy'd here son Fenwick walking about the wall.

God save you, dear son, Lord may your keeper be!
Where is my daughter fair, that used to walk with thee?
He turn'd his head round about, the tears did fill his eye;
'Tis a month, he said, since she took her chambers from me.
She went on, and there were in the hall
Four and twenty ladies letting their tears down fall:
Her daughter had a scope into her chest, and into her chin,
All to keep her life till her dear mother came.

Come take the rings off my finger, the skin it is (so) white,
And give them to my mother dear, for she was all the 'weight';
Come take the rings off my fingers, the veins are so red,
Give them to Sir William Fenwick, I'm sure his heart will bleed.
She took out a razor, that was both sharp and fine,
And out of her left side has taken the heir of Wallington.
There is a race in Wallington, and that I rue full sare,
Tho' the cradle it be full spread up, the bride-bed is left bare.

-Resembles Child Ballad #91 but quite a bit different.
-Source: The Northumberland Garland; or Newcastle Nightingale, Joseph Ritson, Newcastle, MDCCXCIII, Harding and Wright, London, 1809.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 28 Nov 00 - 05:29 PM

The above is Child's "A" (primary) text of his #91. Ritson printed it in his 1793 edition. Earlier in 'Lovely Jenny's Garland', c 1775, and later in Bell's 'Rhymes of the Northern Bards'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 28 Nov 00 - 09:26 PM

Thanks Bruce O

Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fair Mable of Wallington
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 10:06 PM

FAIR MARY OF WALLINGTON (Child #91) in the DT.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 02:40 AM

There isn't much of an entry on this one in the Traditional Ballad Index.
-Joe Offer-

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Fair Mary of Wallington [Child 91]

DESCRIPTION: Of seven sisters, five have died in childbirth. The sixth would prefer not to marry, but is made to wed. She expects to die in childbirth, and does, with the child cut out of her after three days labor. The seventh sister can expect the same fate.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1776 (Herd)
KEYWORDS: family marriage childbirth death
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Child 91, "Fair Mary of Wallington" (7 texts)
Bronson 91, comments only
OBB 81, "Fair Mary of Wallington" (1 text)
Gummere, pp. 236-240+354, "Fair Mary of Livingston" (1 text)
DBuchan 15, "Fair Mary of Wallington" (1 text)
Roud #59
File: C091

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All seven of the Child texts for this song are here (click).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fair Mabel of Wallington
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 08 Feb 04 - 11:08 AM

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).