Here is a line-by-line comparison of Nora Cleary's "Lord Levett" and Child's Scottish ballad 75D "Lord Lovel" (75D is the version of Lord Lovel that most resembles Lord Levett in form and content). It is evident that this particular version is not a parody or burlesque but rather a negative commentary on "Lord Lovel." To those on the Lancastrian side of the War of the Roses, Viscount Francis Lovel was notorious. Lovel was not a neutral name like Levett but rather highly controversial. People must take into account that the entire territory of what is now known as the UK, was divided politically and religiously from roughly the beginning of the War of the Roses (1455) to well after the so-called "Glorious Revolution" (1688) when the question of the political and religious character of the entire region was supposedly decided. This Scottish derivative of Lord Levett does not have the rose-brier motif, probably because the motif is associated with Irish-French Catholicism and no self-respecting Protestant Scot would have anything to do with that. Note that the snow-white steed appears in Celtic legend (pre-Arthurian). Milk-white steed on the other hand, found in most versions of Lord Lovel, is Arthurian, Grey steed indicates that Lord Lovel is not a hero at all but a villain. This is the only version in which a grey steed appears. In fact, Lord Lovel is ultimately named as a "discourteous squire." Of those collected thus far for comparison, this is the only version of a ballad by either name in which this happens…
1/1 Lord Levett, he stood on his own stable door, Lord Lovel stands at his stable door,
And he mounted his snow-white steed Mounted upon a grey steed,
Lady Anne Sweet Belle stood by his side, And bye cam Ladie Nanciebel,
For to bid him his last god-speed. And wishd Lord Lovel much speed
Note: Nan or Nancie is derived from the name Anne, Anne is never derived from Nan or Nancie, "Nanciebel" has obviously replaced "Anne Sweet"
2/2 "Ah, where are you going Lord Levett?" she said, 'O whare are ye going, Lord Lovel?
"Ah, where are you going from me?" My dearest, tell unto me:'
"I am going to a land beyond the sea; 'I am going a far journey,
Strange countries I'd like to see." 'Some strange countrey to see.
3/3
"How long will you be, Lord Levett?" she said, ************************************************************
"How long will you be from me?" 'How long will you be from me?' ******************************************************************
"All for the sake of three long years, 'But I'll return in seven long years,
Lady Anne Sweet Belle", said he Lady Nanciebel to see:'
4/4 "Ah, that is too long for true lovers to part; 'Oh seven, seven, seven long years,
And that is too long for me; They are much too long for me.'
And that is too long for true lovers to part *********************************************************
And never again to meet." **********************************************************
5/5
As he was passing St Mary's Church, He was gane about a year away,
A thought ran into his mind. A year but barely ane,
He thought he had a true lover at home, Whan a strange fancy cam intil his head
And indeed, he dreamt she was dead. That faire Nanciebel was gane.
6/0
"If she is dead", the captain replied, "It's her you ne'er shall see." "But I'll never sleep three nights of my life 'Til I see her dead or alive."
7/6 As he rode in to Saint Mary's Church, It's then he rade, and better rade,
And from that, to Erin Square, Untill he cam to the toun,
It was there he heard the ring of a bell And there he heard a dismal noise,
And the people were mourning there. .For the church bells au did soun.
8/7 "Oh what is this, this pretty fair maid? He asked what the bells rang for;
Oh what is this?" he said. They said, It's for Nanciebel;
Is it any of your friends that's going from home ***************************************
Or is it any that's dead? "*************************
9/7 "Oh yes, oh yes", the captain replied;
"The king's daughter is dead, **********************************
And she died for the sake of a noble young man, She died for a discourteous squire, Lord Levett, she called his name." And his name is Lord Lovel.
10/8 "If she is dead", Lord Levett, he cried; The lid of the coffin he opened up,
"It's her you ne'er shall see; The linens he faulded doun,
But I'll never sleep three nights of my life, And ae he kissd her pale, pale lips,
'Til I see her dead or alive." And the tears cam trinkling doun. …
0/9
'Weill may I kiss these pale, pale lips, For they will never kiss me; I'll mak a vow, and I'll keep it true, That I'll neer kiss ane but thee.'
0/10
Lady Nancie died on Tuesday's nicht, Lord Lovel upon the niest day; Lady Nancie died for pure, pure love, Lord Lovel for deep sorraye.
11/0
He was buried in Saint Mary's Church, And she in Erin Square. One of them grew a red, red rose, The other a bonny briar.
12/0
They grew, they grew to the church steeple top, Till they could not grow any higher, With a laugh and a tie in a true lover's knot, And the red rose covered the briar