I have again to express my obligations and my gratitude to many who have aided in the collecting and editing of these Ballads.
To Sir Hugh Hume Campbell, for the use of two considerable manuscript volumes of Scottish Ballads.
To Mr. Allardyce, of Edinburgh, for a copy of the Skene Ballads, and for a generous permission to print such as I required, in advance of a possible publication on his part.
To Mr. Mansfield, of Edinburgh, for the use of the Pitcairn manuscripts.
To Mrs. Robertson, for the use of Note-Books of the late Dr. Joseph Robertson, and to Mr. Murdoch, of Glasgow, Mr. Lugton, of Kelso, Mrs. Alexander Forbes, of Edinburgh, and Messrs. G. L. Kittredge and G. M. Richardson, former students of Harvard College, for various communications.
To Dr. Reinhold Köhler's unrivalled knowledge of popular fiction, and his equal liberality, I am indebted for valuable notes, which will be found in the Additions at the end of this volume.
The help of my friend Dr. Theodor Vetter has enabled me to explore portions of the Slavic ballad-field which otherwise must have been neglected.
Professors D. Silvan Evans, John Rhys, Paul Meyer, and T. Frederick Crane have lent me a ready assistance in literary emergencies.
The interest and coöperation of Mr. Furnivall and Mr. Macmath have been continued to me without stint or weariness.
It is impossible, while recalling and acknowledging acts of courtesy, good will, and friend-ship, not to allude, with one word of deep personal grief, to the irreparable loss which all who are concerned with the study of popular tradition have experienced in the death of Svend Grundtvig.
June, 1884
