Note 1 — 114 JOHNIE COCK

This manuscript, which Fry bought in Glasgow in 1810, contained several other ballads, “but written so corruptly as to be of little or no authority.” It did not occur to Fry that the illiteracy of the drummer gave his ballads the best of authority. I have done what I could to recover the manuscript, but in vain, though I had the kindest assistance in Bristol from the Rev. J. Percivall, Mr Francis Fry, and Mr J. F. Nicholls.