“The Undaunted Female (The Box Upon Her Head; The Staffordshire Maid; The Maid and the Robber)”

Description

A servant girl sets out for home to help her father. She meets a robber and kills him. She meets another stranger who returns with her to the body. They find a whistle which summons more robbers. Girl and stranger dispose of them and agree to marry

Broadsides

• Bodleian, 2806 c.17(446), "The Undaunted Female" ("It's of a fair damsel in London did dwell"), W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also Harding B 11(3939), Firth c.17(22), Firth c.17(23), Johnson Ballads 610, Firth b.25(41/42), Johnson Ballads 3154, Firth c.26(47), Harding B 11(3940), Harding B 11(3934), Harding B 11(3935), Harding B 11(3941), Harding B 11(3937), Harding B 11(3936), Harding B 16(292c), 2806 d.31(40), 2806 c.17(448), 2806 c.17(447), Harding B 20(229), Harding B 25(1962), "The Undaunted Female"
• Murray, Mu23-y1:052, "The Undaunted Female," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C

References

1. Laws L3, "The Undaunted Female"
2. Mackenzie 130, "The Box Upon Her Head" (1 text)
3. BBI, ZN514, "Come all ye young gallants and listen a while" (?)
4. DT 419, MAIDROBR
5. Roud #289
6. BI, LL03