+The Text+ is from several broadsides and chap-books, but mainly depends
on a stall-copy entitled _The Song of Bewick and Grahame_, approximately
dated 1740. Sir Walter Scott considered this ballad 'remarkable, as
containing probably the very latest allusion to the institution of
brotherhood in arms' (see 14.4, and the use of the word 'bully'); but
Child strongly suspects there was an older and better copy than those
extant, none of which is earlier than the eighteenth century.
+The Story+ is concerned with two fathers, who boast about their sons,
and cause the two lads to fight. Christy Graham is faced with the
dilemma of fighting either his father or his brother-in-arms, and
decides to meet the latter; but, should he kill his friend, he
determines not to return alive. Young Bewick takes a similar vow. They
fight two hours, and at last an 'ackward' stroke kills Bewick, and
Christy falls on his sword. The two fathers lament, and the
ballad-singer finishes by putting the blame on them.