“The Bold Soldier”

Description

A father threatens to kill his daughter because she loves a soldier. He settles for sending (seven) men to kill her lover. The soldier fights the brigands off. The frightened father is then negotiated into making the soldier his heir

Notes

It will be observed that Bronson lists this as an appendix to Child 7, "Earl Brand," though he notes the obvious signs of broadside publication. Laws mentions that others have connected it to Child 7 (and Child 8, "Erlinton," which is where Barry et al file it), but does not seem himself to consider the two related. Neither does he mention Bronson's title, "The Lady and the Dragoon." Cazden connects it with Child 214 and/or 215. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Earl Brand" [Child 7]
• cf. "Erlinton" [Child 8]

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 11(2237), "The Bold Dragoon" ("My father is a lord, a lord of high renown"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also Firth c.14(210, "The Bold Dragoon"; Harding B 22(320), "The Valiant Dragoon"

Recordings

• Harry Brazil, "Bold Keeper" (on Voice18)
• Pete Seeger, "The Valiant Soldier" (on PeteSeeger29)

References

1. Laws M27, "The Bold Soldier"
2. Bronson 7a, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (24 versions)
3. BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 377-382, "The Soldier's Wooing" (3 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #6}
4. Flanders/Brown, pp. 232-233, "The Poor Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #14}
5. Flanders-Ancient1, pp. 131-149, "The Bold Soldier" (7 texts plus a fragment, 5 tunes) {C= Bronson's #18, F=#14}
6. Belden, pp. 103-104, "The Soldier's Wooing" (1 text)
7. Randolph 70, "The Valiant Soldier" (4 texts, 3 tunes)
8. Randolph/Cohen, pp. 88-90, "The Valiant Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 70A)
9. Eddy 3, "Earl Brand" (3 texts, 1 tune, but all clearly this piece) {Bronson's #3}
10. FSCatskills 46, "The Bold Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. BrownII 86, "The Soldier's Wooing" (4 texts)
12. Chappell-FSRA 50, "The Lady and the Dragon" (sic.) (1 text plus a fragment, 1 tune) {Bronson's #4}
13. Davis-Ballads [4], "[Earl Brand]" (1 text, filed as an appendix to that ballad)
14. Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 201-202, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (1 text, with local title "A Brave Soldier"; 1 tune on pp. 409-410) {Bronson's #16}
15. Brewster 5, "Erlinton" (1 text, called "The Soldier's Wooing" by the informant)
16. SharpAp 51, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (4 texts plus 4 fragments, 8 tunes) {Bronson's #19, #8, #21, #23, #20, #24, #22, #17}
17. Sharp/Karpeles-80E 30, "The Lady and the Dragoon" (1 text, 1 tune -- a composite version) {Bronson's #23}
18. Warner 55, "Only a Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune)
19. Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 248-249, "The Bold Dragoon" (1 text, 1 tune)
20. Creighton-NovaScotia 12, "Song of a Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #15}
21. Leach-Labrador 32, "The Soldier and the Lady" (1 text, 1 tune)
22. LPound-ABS, 27, pp. 68-69, "The Soldier" (1 text)
23. JHCox 117, "The Soldier's Wooing" (1 text)
24. Darling-NAS, pp. 116-117, "The Valiant Soldier" (1 text)
25. Silber-FSWB, p. 169, "The Bold Soldier" (1 text)
26. DT, (DOUGTRD4*)
27. Roud #321
28. BI, LM27