Robin Hood and the Monk (119): “Too much could not be said in praise of this ballad, but nothing need be said. It is very perfection in its kind; and yet we have others equally good, and beyond doubt should have had more, if they had been written down early, as this was, and had not been left to the chances of tradition. Even writing would not have saved all, but writing has saved this (in large part), and in excellent form.” III, 95.
Child Waters (63): “This charming ballad, which has perhaps no superior in English, and if not in English perhaps nowhere.” II, 84. (“Caution is imperative where so much ground is covered, and no man should be confident that he can do absolute justice to poetry in a tongue that he was not born to; but foreign poetry is as likely to be rated too high as to be undervalued.” II, 84, n.)
Jock o the Side (187): “The ballad is one of the best in the world, and enough to make a horse-trooper of any young borderer, had he lacked the impulse.” III, 477.
Sir Patrick Spens (58, A): “This admired and most admirable ballad.” “It would be hard to point out in ballad poetry, or other, happier or more refined touches than the two stanzas in A which portray the bootless waiting of the ladies for the return of the seafarers.” II, 17 f.[392]
Young Beichan (53): “A favorite ballad and most deservedly.” I, 455.
King Estmere (60): “While we cannot but be vexed that so distinguished a ballad, not injured much, so far as we can see, by time, should not come down to us as it came to Percy, our loss must not be exaggerated. The changes made by the editor, numerous enough, no doubt, cannot be very material until we approach the end. Stanzas 63-66 are entirely suspicious, and it may even be questioned whether the manuscript contained a word that is in them.” II, 49.
Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard (81): “The noble English ballad.” II, 260.
The Bonny Birdy (82): “A fine ballad upon the same theme.” II, 243.
Old Robin of Portingale (80): “This fine ballad.” II, 240.
Sir Aldingar (69): “This ballad, one of the most important of all that the Percy manuscript has saved from oblivion.” II, 33.