Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to this thread -- lightning zapped my modem on the night of August 18th, and I just got a new modem installed today -- it's been a frustrating 2 1/2 weeks!

Malcolm --

re: "Tomorrow the foul fiend of hell will fetch his tribute from among this folk; and you are a great and handsome man; I am sure that he will want to chose you. For all the gold that ever may be, from now to the world's end, you will not be betrayed if I have anything to do with it; therefore I advise you to go with me."

and the similarity with the story of Tam Lin regarding the sacrifice to the Devil every seven years reminds me of the ancient pagan practice in Ulster Ireland (If I'm remembering correctly... If I'm not, someone please correct me) Where the king to be was ritually united to the earth through the 'marrying' and sacrifice of a white mare, then after seven years, the king himself was sacrificed and a new king chosen. After a while, a commoner was chosen as a surrogate for the king, while his sovereignty was "renewed". Eventually (I believe -- again, if I'm wrong, correct me), I think the sacrifice was done entirely in effigy.

In any case, this practice may have remained in Christian memory long after it had ceased to exist in fact as the citizens of Elfland sacrificing a human to the Devil every seven years...

I wonder if the "milk white (or dapple grey) steed" that the queen of Elfland rides represents the white mare that the ancient kings of Ulster mated with.

... just a thought...