E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Lord Thomas
and the Fair Annet or Elinor, had a lover’s quarrel, when Lord Thomas resolved to forsake Annet for a nut-brown maid who had houses and lands. On the wedding-day Annet, in bridal bravery, went to the church, when Lord Thomas repented of his folly, and gave Annet a rose. Whereupon the nut-brown maid killed her with a “long bodkin from out her gay head-gear.” Lord Thomas, seeing Annet fall dead, plunged his dagger into the heart of the murderess, and then stabbed himself. Over the graves of Lord Thomas and fair Annet grew a “bonny briar, and by this ye may ken right well that they were lovers dear.” In some ballads the fair Annet is called the fair Elinor. (Percy: Reliques, etc., series iii. bk. 3.)
