The Beggar-Laddie

The Beggar-Laddie is a traditional English ballad existing in several variants.

A man tells a woman that he is a beggar, making his living from spindles or similar items.

After a time, she finds it very hard, but then he takes her on to his father's hall, or sometimes his brother's.

His brothers express envy of his bride, and she gains a husband of high birth.

The first publication of the song could be found in Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs (1876, I).