“Fause Foodrage”

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1802 (Scott)
Keywords: royalty death homicide children trick revenge
Found in: Britain(Scotland(Aber))

Description

A lady courted by three kings weds one who is then slain (by one of the rivals/a rebel). Her not-yet-born child will be spared if female. She bears a boy, switches him with a baby girl. When grown the boy is told his heritage and avenges his father.

Notes

Some texts of this ballad share a verse with Elizabeth Halket Wardlaw's "Hardeknute" (for which see Volume II of Percy's _Reliques_; at that time, the authorship of Wardlaw (1677-1727) had not been established). This caused Scott to wonder about the authenticity of the piece, but Child thought the informant might have taken the verse from the "tiresome and affected Hardyknute, so much esteemed in her day." - RBW

Cross references

References

  1. Child 89, "Fause Foodrage" (3 texts, 1 tune)
  2. Bronson 89, "Fause Foodrage" (3 versions)
  3. OBB 70, "Fause Foodrage" (1 text)
  4. DBuchan 14, "Fause Foodrage" (1 text)
  5. DT 89, KINGLUVE
  6. Roud #57
  7. BI, C089
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.