The Mystery of Barbara Allen

I’ve been looking at all the versions of Barbara Allen. The story line has some major gaps in that as all that is told is that Barbara Allen, the Hot Chick in Scarlet Town, where the narrator was born, that every young man from there and far away wants to have her. A well-off young man named William Green, who lived out of town was dying. He sent his servant into town to find Barbara Allen. He must have had an intense fling with her in the past because something happened in a tavern where he toasted all the other women and somehow slighted Barbara. It must have been a pretty bad dis because she was pissed. Whatever he was dying of had consequences concerning her affection for him, for when she came to his death bed she refused to kiss him. Not only that but when he told her he was dying and asked her to kiss him for, in one version, a kiss from her would revive him. But, in any case, she simply refused to kiss him and rubbed it in by saying, “Yep, you’re dying,” and walked away.

Consistent in all the versions is that a red rose grows from William’s grave and a brier from hers. The brier and the rose intertwine to make a lovers’ knot where their love is forever bound.

If we were to write the story of medieval times today it would go somewhere else and would surely put the onus of blame for Barbara's attitude on Sir William instead of comely Barbara Allen. I would tell it this way. Graham is a Scottish surname so I'm making it an Ulster story Protestant nobility vs Catholic peasantry.

Well now, this was the state of the investigation by the cousin of William into William’s and Barbara’s deaths. After a revolt was put down, in which most of the insurrectionists were killed in battle, and one lowly tradesman was hanged at the crossroads. The tradesman's body dangled from the gibbet until it was cut down and spirited away in the night by compatriots.  We uncovered the truth to the popular ballad touted by troubadours to please their masters that the official investigation would not report. 

The Investigation into the Death of Sir William Green that was never revealed.

William was the lord of the manor for what became know as Scarlet Graham town. His cousin, Lord John Graham, found two graves side by side in a corner by the church tower; one older and one fresh. The few months older one lay his cousin, marked Sir William of Graham, and the fresher one for Barbara Allen. He probed around town about the rebellion and what and how his cousin dyed? The towns folk were reticent to say because the consequences could be severe as the revolt was fresh and conspiracies were still afloat from the town tavern owned by Barbara Allen’s father.

He gleaned from the townsfolk that Barbara Allen was the most beautiful woman all around and every bachelor had hoped for her hand. Lord William saw her serving at the tavern while investigating rumors that there was more than ale brewing there and that an insurrection was sure to arise.

 William lusted for Barbara at first sight, and she fell for him also. And after a brief meeting behind the tavern, they kissed passionately, and he forced himself upon her saying he would marry. Being young and naive she believed his promise that he too loved her.

Barbara came to her senses the next time he came to town and refused to bed William again unless they married.

A young tradesman, Jaimmie Mason, that had grown-up with Barbara, loved her dearly, and had been her #1 suitor. The young tradesman, a leader in the insurrection, watched on each occasion as William rode into town and saw that Barbara fawned on him. This sorely upset the young Jaimmie Mason, as his petitions for her hand had been promised by her father once he had acquired enough gold for her dowry.

William’s title made the promised marriage impossible, but he demanded she surrender to him one evening as she served in her father’s tavern. She slapped his face and walked away. He “slighted” Barbara boasting about his past tryst to all in the tavern and toasted to every wench that took to his lap, saying they were of a higher class than Barbara and called her a slut and a whore while she was present. Though many laughed from the pints he bought but Jaimmie Mason, and the rest of the town, were outraged by his behavior.

It was believed the young rebel tradesman, Jaimmie Mason, challenged William in the forest as he rode through on his way to his manor. Lord William could have been pierced by any one of dozens from all around, not just in Scarlet Graham town. But because wounded William had an epiphany and, for shame and the love of Barbara, he wouldn’t say. All who knew wouldn't speak of the crime, sayin' "it could've been a brother or father that done the stabbin'." No one would say nor would William ever. 
It appeared at first that William would survive his wound as it didn’t kill him right away. He came home to the manor and lay a few days before he realized he lay dying. William sent his servant into town to fetch Barbara Allen. She refused to go until after much pleading. When she arrived, he entreated her forgiveness and pledged his love, promising they would marry as soon as he recovered. She believed he wasn’t dying and that this was just a ruse and standing over him she swore, “I hope that you're dying, but I'll never agree to marry.”

The word came to Barbara that William had suffered long and died after she left his bed. She was glad he was dying, but while serving at the tavern a few months later, all could see her belly was swelling. She appeared at William's grave site with a dagger in her hand. Young Jaimmie saw that she was mourning more than he thought she ought and followed her there. She confessed to him, "I'm with William's child, and I can never marry you. This damned child belongs to William. I've come to to give it back to him." 
With that the Jaimmie Mason cried for her and promised, "I would be the father of your child!" 
But Barbara drew the dagger and pierced her heart for the sake of her Tradesman's love and the crime of William Graham.

Jaimnie Mason, evoked the mob to revenge because William had raped poor Barbara. He later confessed that he had stabbed Barbara Allen. The priest would never allow a suicide to be buried in the churchyard's hallowed grounds next to William. 
Young Jaimmie was hung at the cross-roads for leading the rebellion and further charged with killing both William and Barbara Allen. The truth of that will never be known except for in this tellin’ because, if it was known, the true love of Barbara Allen would be that her grave holds the bodies of two, where the townsfolk placed her Jaimmie Mason with Barbara Allen.
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So that was where the Lord John Graham's investigation took him, and it was he who concocted the silly version we sing today of the plight of Barbara Allen. 

It was in and about the Martinmas time,

When the green leaves were a falling,

That Sir John Graeme in the west country

Fell in love with Barbara Allan.

O Hooly, hooly rose she up,

To the place where he was lying,

And when she drew the curtain by,

'Young man, I think you're dying.'

O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,

And 't is a' Barbara Allan:'

'O the better for me ye's never be,

Tho your heart's blood were a spilling.

O dinna ye mind, young man,' said she,

'When ye was in the tavern a drinking,

That ye made the healths gae round and round,

And slighted Barbara Allan?'

He turned his face unto the wall,

And death was with him dealing:

'Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,

And be kind to Barbara Allan.'

And slowly, slowly raise she up,

And slowly, slowly left him,

And sighing said, she coud not stay,

Since death of life had reft him.

She had not gane a mile but two

When she heartd the death-bell ringing,

And every jow that the death-bell geid,

It cry'd, Woe to Barbara Allan!

'O mother, mother make my bed!

O make it saft and narrow!

Since my love died for me to-day,

I'll die for him to-morrow.'