Brewer's: Lord Thomas

and the Fair Annet or Elinor, had a lover's quarrel, when Lord Thomas resolved to forsake Annet for a nut-brown maid who had houses and lands. On the wedding-day Annet, in bridal bravery, went to the church, when Lord Thomas repented of his folly, and gave Annet a rose. Whereupon the nut-brown maid killed her with a “long bodkin from out her gay head-gear.” Lord Thomas, seeing Annet fall dead, plunged his dagger into the heart of the murderess, and then stabbed himself. Over the graves of Lord Thomas and fair Annet grew a “bonny briar, and by this ye may ken right well that they were lovers dear.” In some ballads the fair Annet is called the fair Elinor. (Perey. Reliques, etc., series iii. bk. 3.)

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