'Fair Mary of Wallington' (A) was communicated to Bishop Percy, with other "old Scots Songs," in 1775, by Roger Halt, and presumably in a copy of the garland from which it is here printed. The story is well preserved in this version. A Breton ballad, 'Pontplaneoat' (Luzel, I, 382 ff.), exhibits such correspondences with the English and Scottish that it may be assumed to have the same source. The localization of A in Northumberland is of no special significance.
This page most recently updated on 09-Dec-2010, 17:14:25. Return to main index
