Hi,

As far as determining age in North American versions (an perhaps this holds true for British versions, I postulate:

1) The versions with Gypsy Laddie (or an approximation) in the text appear to be of greater antiquity. (also)

2) Versions which have "he rode east; he rose west" stanza as found in Child E and inserted in some versions of Child A (ESPB, VII):

E. 12, 13. After 9 of A, says Finlay, some copies insert:

And he 's rode east, and he 's rode west,
      Till he came near Kirkaldy;
There he met a packman-lad,
      And speir'd for his fair lady.

E 13    'I hae been east, and I hae been west,
And in the lang town o Kircadie,
But the bonniest lass that ever I saw
Was following a gypsie laddie.'

The town where he meets his "fair lady" is Kirkaldy/Kircadie in the Scottish versions but in the US it's Barley/Bosly/Borzey/Morty. The versions with Gypsy Laddie in the text appear to be of greater antiquity and also have the "he rode east; he rose west" stanza as found in Child E and inserted in some versions of Child A (ESPB, VII):

E. 12, 13. After 9 of A, says Finlay, some copies insert:

And he 's rode east, and he 's rode west,
      Till he came near Kirkaldy;
There he met a packman-lad,
      And speir'd for his fair lady.

E 13    'I hae been east, and I hae been west,
And in the lang town o Kircadie,
But the bonniest lass that ever I saw
Was following a gypsie laddie.'

The town where he meets his "fair lady" is Kirkaldy/Kircadie in the Scottish versions but in the US it's Barley/Bosly/Borzey/Morty.

3) Rare versions that have a charm or spell (not just "charmed the heart of a lady")

4) Rare versions (one) that have lord Cassilis or an approximation

Do you know of any others? What do you think?

The ballad seems to resemble the Irish and Scotch in the North East (New England/ Canada) as well as Child J and K. The older Virginia/Appalachian versions have elements of A-E but seem to have their own form.

Richie