Hi Joe F,

I appreciate you going back and replying. I agree that either one could be correct and both early Douce broadsides have it differently. I am of the opinion, following Percy, that it should be "take" - it's not only a gut feeling but if I were to check exhaustively - I think it would be take.

So "grave" makes more sense than "grove" - I think it should be and was "grove." Because "grave" makes sense it was changed in some version and the c. 1720 broadside which is child A a.

Again I'm talking about the ur-ballad - what it was and should be in tradition, not what printed broadsides or what a single version is. I believe we need to try and understand what the ballad means by comparing all sources and analogues.

Ty for your thoughts Joe F,

R-