“Johnie Cock”
Description
Johnie, despite his mother's advice, goes out to hunt the king's deer. He brings the deer down, but is betrayed by a passer-by. Seven foresters attack him; he kills all but one (and wounds that one), but is himself mortally wounded
Notes
The motif of one man fighting and defeating seven adversaries is almost a commonplace (see "Earl Brand," Child #7, and "Erlinton," Child #8, as examples). But this one has an interesting parallel to the French Song of Roland (especially in Motherwell's long text, Child's F):
Like Roland, Johnie sets out freely, despite cautions; like Roland, he is defeated and mortally wounded but defeats his attackers, whose few survivors flee; like Roland, he sends a message of his need only when it is too late; like Roland, he is given great honor after his death. - RBW
Recordings
- John Strachan, "Johnie Cock" (on FSB5) {Bronson's #12}
References
- Child 114, "Johnie Cock" (13 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #4}
- Bronson 114, "Johnie Cock" (16 versions)
- Dixon XVI, pp. 77-81, "Johnnie o' Cocklesmuir" (1 text)
- Ord, pp. 467-469, "Johnnie o' Cocklesmuir" (1 text)
- Davis-Ballads 29, "Johnie Cock" (1 text)
- Creighton/Senior, pp. 65-67, "Johnie Cock" (1 text)
- Leach, pp. 324-332, "Johnie Cock" (4 texts)
- Friedman, p. 233, "Johnie Cock" (2 texts)
- OBB 136, "Johnnie of Cockerslee" (1 text)
- PBB 174, "Johny Cock" (1 text)
- Niles 41, "Johnie Cock" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Gummere, pp. 123-126+328, "Johnie Cock" (1 text)
- Hodgart, p. 108, "Johnie Cock" (1 text)
- TBB 28, "Johnie Cock" (1 text)
- Darling-NAS, pp. 83-86, "Johnie Cock" (1 text)
- DT 114, BRAIDSLY
- Roud #69
- BI, C114