Prince Robert [Child 87]

DESCRIPTION: Prince Robert asks his mother's blessing on his marriage; instead she poisons him. He sends for his wife. Arriving after the burial, she desires only a ring, but the mother will give nothing. She dies. From the graves grow a birch and brier which entwine.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1802 (Scott)
KEYWORDS: marriage poison homicide burial ring flowers stepmother
FOUND IN: US(Ap) Ireland
REFERENCES (8 citations):
Child 87, "Prince Robert" (4 texts)
Bronson 87, comments only
Lyle/McAlpine/McLucas-SongRepertoireOfAmeliaAndJaneHarris, pp. 146-147, "Prince Robert" (1 text)
Barry/Eckstorm/Smyth-BritishBalladsFromMaine pp. 453-454, "Prince Robert" (notes only)
Quiller-Couch-OxfordBookOfBallads 58, "Prince Robert" (1 text)
Combs/Wilgus-FolkSongsOfTheSouthernUnitedStates 26, pp. 121-123, "Prince Robert" (1 text)
Gainer-FolkSongsFromTheWestVirginiaHills, pp. 61-62, "Harry Saunders" (1 text, 1 tune)
Whitelaw-BookOfScottishBallads, pp. 296-297, "Prince Robert"; pp. 297-298, "Earl Robert" (2 texts)
Roud #55
RECORDINGS:
Jim Kelly, "Lord Abore" (on IREarlyBallads)
Frank Feeney, "Lord O'Bore" (on IREarlyBallads)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Harry Saunders
NOTES [46 words]: According to the liner notes for the Jim Kelly and Frank Feeney recordings, "no [other] sung version of this ballad is known." Jim Kelly learned the song from Frank Feeney who learned it "from his wife who was a Carlow woman." Of the Child texts, theirs is closest to 87c. - BS
Last updated in version 5.0
File: C087

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography