Hi,

The letter (below) in 1851 Notes and Queries refers to an arrangement by F. Sheldon in which Sheldon's version was chastised by Blackwood as being a poor recreation of the Scottish "May Collean." EMUN points out that Outlandish Knight is the original of "May Collean."

"Notes and Queries: A Medium of Inter-Communication for Literary ...," Volume 3, 1851:

Ballad Editing — The “Outlandish Knight" (Vol. iii., p. 49.).—I was exceedingly glad to see Mr. F. Sheldon's “valuable contribution to our stock of ballad literature” in the hands of Mr. Rimbault, and thought the treatment it received no better than it deserved. Blackwood, May, 1847, reviewed Mr. Sheldon's book, and pointed out several instances of his “godfathership:” among others, his ballad of the “Outlandish Knight,” which he obtained from “a copy in the possession of a gentleman at Newcastle,” was condemned by the reviewer as “a vamped version of the Scotch ballad of ‘May Collean.'" It may be as the reviewer states, but the question I would wish answered is one affecting the reviewer himself; for, if I mistake not, the Southron “Outlandish Knight” is the original of “May Collean” itself. I have by me a copy, in black letter, of the “Outlandish Knight,” English in every respect, and as such differing considerably from Mr. Sheldon's border edition, and from “May Collean;" and, with some slight alterations, the ballad I have is yet popularly known through the midland counties. If any of your correspondents can oblige me with a reference to the first appearance of “May Collean,” sheet or book, I shall esteem it a favour.
EMUN.

Birmingham.

* * * *

As pointed out by Barry and others the Scottish names similar to "May Collean" may be a derivative of "my colleen" or "my callin" both of which are slang for "my girl."

Child G, the Irish "The Knight and the Chief's Daughter" has "my colleen" and introduces "willow tree" found in later traditional versions in the US.

Both of the early English prints (False Knight Outwitted/Outlandish Knight) name the maid, "Pretty Polly" although some reprints have pretty maid(en)."

Richie