Baron of Brackley, The [Child 203]

DESCRIPTION: Inverey comes to Brackley's gate, calling for Brackley to come forth. The baron, with few men on hand, would stay within, but his wife shames him into going out (with 4 men against 400). Brackley is killed; Lady Brackley rejoices. (His son vows revenge)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1806 (Jamieson)
KEYWORDS: revenge death feud betrayal
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1666 - Reported date of the fatal feud between Brackley and Inverey.
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber,Bord))
REFERENCES (13 citations):
Child 203, "The Baron of Brackley" (4 texts)
Bronson 203, "The Baron of Brackley" (3 versions+6 in addenda)
Bronson-SingingTraditionOfChildsPopularBallads 203, "The Baron of Brackley" (4 versions: #1, #2.3, #3, #3.1)
Chambers-ScottishBallads, pp. 130-132, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
Riewerts-BalladRepertoireOfAnnaGordon-MrsBrownOfFalkland, pp. 249-250, "The Baron of Braikly" (1 text)
Buchan/Moreira-TheGlenbuchatBallads, pp. 4-6, "The Baron of Brackly, Old Ballad" (1 text)
Greig/Duncan2 234, "The Baron o' Braikley" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Leach-TheBalladBook, pp. 544-546, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
Quiller-Couch-OxfordBookOfBallads 149, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
Gummere-OldEnglishBallads, pp. 151-154+333, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
Buchan-ABookOfScottishBallads 23, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
HarvardClassics-EnglishPoetryChaucerToGray, pp. 119-121, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
DT 203, BRNBRKLY* BRNBRKL2
Roud #4017
RECORDINGS:
Ewan MacColl, "The Baron of Brackley" (ESFB1, ESFB2)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Baron o' Braichley
NOTES [84 words]: The feud between Brackley and Inverey seems to have arisen when the former raided Inverey's cattle and refused to give compensation. Inverey rode to Brackley's, and recovered both his own cattle and Brackley's own. Brackley, his brother, and two or three others rode forth and were killed.
It is worth noting that Margaret Burnet, Lady Brackley, married Brackley without her family's consent, implying that it was a love match. The rumour that she was untrue may have arisen because she later remarried. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.1
File: C203

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