Mike,

After reading your notes, it seems that a gypsy has spawned, not only The Gypsy Laddie and The Gypsy Countess but probably Child 295 "The Brown Girl" (who is a nut-brown maid) as well as Child 73, Lord Thomas.

Since Baring Gould had a hand (and maybe even an ear) in both The Gypsy Countess and The Brown Girl, does this suggest that they are both about a gypsy girl? Can we also assume that the "brown girl" betrothed to Lord Thomas could also be a gypsy?

Richie