Child 15/16 Comment

Child 15/16 Sheath and Knife (No title given) Helena Mennie Shire, ed., Poems from Panmure House (Cambridge 1960), pp 13-19 as written into his Music Commonplace Book by Robert Edwards in Fife about 1630.

Translated into English by SKG 1 There was a sister and a brother,

   The sun goes to under the wood                            

Who most entirely loved each other

   God grant we had never been siblings.                 

2 He said, ‘Sister, I would lay thee by, If you would not disclose my deeds.’ 3 ‘Alas, brother, if you do, I would rather now die.’ 4 ‘Tomorrow it is my father’s feast, Well in my clothes I must be laced. 5 When they meet together all at once, To royal feasting in the hall, I must join them, Decked out in a gown of pall. 6 And when I bend down to my toe My lace will break in two. 7 And when I bend down to my knee My lace will break into three. 8 The news will go from one to one Until it comes to brother John 9 Because he has a temper ill He’ll burn us both upon a hill. 10 I’ll go to my father’s stable And take a steed both strong and able 11 And we shall ride till time we spend Until we see our loving end.’ 12 She had not ridden a mile but one When she started shaking and groaning 13 ‘Is there water in your shoes Or is the wind inside your gloves? 14 Or do you think me too simple a knight To ride or go with you all night?’ 15 ‘And when you hear me loud to cry Bend your breast and run nearby. 16 And when you see me lie full still Sound your horn and come to me. 17 I would give all my father’s land For one woman at my command.’ 18 When he quickly came her beside .............................. 19 Then he has taken his young son And carried him to a wet nurse. 20 He drew his sword and wounded himself sore From this time he never rode more. 21 ‘Mother,’ he said, ‘go make my bed, Make it long but not too broad. 22 Mother, alas, I’ve lost my knife I loved better than my life. 23 Mother, I’ve also lost my sheath I loved better than them both. 24 There is no cutler in this land Can make such a knife at my command.’ 25 He turned his face to the wall Gave up the ghost and went his way. 26 The one was laid in Mary’s Kirk The other in Mary’s Quire. From out of his (grave) there grew a birch And out from hers a briar That you may know surely by these signs There were two lovers near.

This ballad clearly demonstrates that both Child 15 ‘Leesome Brand’ and Child 16 ‘Sheath and Knife’ are indeed the same ballad. Buchan’s grotesque expansion, followed by Motherwell, 15A, can be discounted as spurious.