Thanks for the questions, that improves that section-- headnotes changed now.

Here's the only Carpenter version of Child 11. If anyone has the John Clare text (As three maidens played at ball, B7 34; Folk Tradition 186; Middle Period II 280) I need that. I'm curious to check the text of the Sloane MSS, 1489, fol. 16, from the early 1600s which has the same opening. It's published as a nursery rhyme by Halliwell.

From: James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/2/2/D, pp. 04600-04601

The Cruel Brother- Miss Bell Duncan of Insch, Aberdeenshire. Learned from her mother

There cam a man to my bedside
o'er the hills an' far awa',
He wis askin' me tae be his bride,
For the wind blaws aye my plaid away'.

My father he gaen his consent,
An' my mother she wis weel content,

My sister she was well pleased
But my brother said she sudna reased,

The weddin' was set and the weddin' came,
An' the steed cam there to tak her hame,

Her mother led her through the room,
An' her sister dear she brocht her doon,

Her father led her through the close,
An' her brother set her on her horse,

Below his cloak he wore a brand,
He concealed it weel wi' his left hand,

he has slipped it through a strae,
An' through her body made it gae,

They hadna ridden a mile bet ane;
"Stop, stop! My bonnie bride's pale an' wan,

Frae her steed she then was ta'en,
An' her vera heairts bleed rin on the green,

"Fat will ye leave tee yer father dear?"
"The guid grey steed that brocht me here."

"Fat will ye leave tee yer mother dear?"
"Three long tits o my yellow hair,"

"Fat will ye leave tee yer sister dear?"
"my marriage goon and the weed I wear,"

"Fat will ye leave tee yer Brother John?"
"A high gallows tree for to hang on,"

"Fat will ye leave tee yer bother's wife?"
"A vera sad an unhappy life,"

"Fat will ye leave tee yer brother's bairns?"
"That they may die in each other's arms."
* * * *

Richie