Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

EARL RICHARD.
In Percy's ' Reliques of Ancient English Poe-
try,' vol. 3, will be found a ballad on the same
subject as the present, under the title of The
Knight and Shepherd's Daughter. ' This ballad,'
says Percy, f given from an old black-letter
copy with some corrections, was popular in
the time of Queen Elizabeth, being usually
printed with her picture before it, as Hearne in-
forms us in his preface to ' Gul. Newbrig. Hist.
Oxon.' 1719, 8vo. vol. 1. p. lxx.—It is quoted
in Fletcher's Comedy of the Pilgrim, act IV. sc.
1.' The Editor has fortunately procured from
recitation three different versions of this ballad
in a Scottish dress. Two of these differing only
in the number of stanzas, and some trivial
points, are here incorporated, under the title
of Earl Richard. No other liberty is taken