TY Chris,

Interesting take on Ingram-- not sure if a proper name would precede lord tho.

His bride is definitely brown-skinned and thought to be inferior - a gypsy? it's possible.

As far as I know there's only one North American version where the gypsies are hanged - it's one of the finest versions and was collected by Fowke in 1962. Found in most North American versions is "charmed the heart of a lady." It's not "won the heart" or something else. To me charmed indicates a spell although that meaning may have become lost to future generations.

Richie