Archie o Cawfield

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Archie o Cawfield is Child ballad 188 and a border ballad.

[edit] Synopsis

Two brothers lament that their third brother is to be hanged. A proposal of force is met by the more cunning brother with the suggestion that they bring only a handful of men. They get horses, have them shod, and set out. Once they sneak into the prison, the captive brother says he is carrying too heavy a load of chain to escape. They carry him off anyway and cross a river that their pursuers can not. The former captor asks for the chains back. The captive says that he will use them to shod horses.

[edit] See also

• Jock o the Side

[edit] External links

• Archie of Cawfield
• Bold Dickie an American variant with commentary