The twists and turns of this plot are curious. There is obviously a thread of the belief that gypsies are prone to abducting people to live with them. The thread of the uncle condemned to be hanged is possibly out of suspicion that he murdered his niece and so her appearance would reprieve him although this is not clearly stated in the song. Furthermore, if she had been abducted by gypsies, how is it that she has the huge sum, for those days, of a thousand pounds? However, such nicities of the plot did not deter country singers and the sung has turned up regularly in England and the USA. Mr Goode’s incomplete version appears to be the last one collected. It was printed on broadsides from about 1820 onwards.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 25 March 2015