It has generally been accepted by scholars that the concept of romance that is present within the arts of contemporary Western society has its origins in 12th century England. Thus, the literary genre of romance has spanned many generations, and has transcended social standings. In the earliest definitions of the concept, romance was understood as an epic love story, primarily consisting of heroic chivalrous knights, kings, queens, and damsels in distress. However, as a result of generational change, romance fell under the influence of changing social attitudes and structures. Romance has strayed from its 12th century definition and has come to accommodate many variations making it hard to generalize. Between the 12th and 18th centuries depictions of romance came under Elizabethan, Renaissance, and Post-Renaissance influences. We can explore the Scottish chapbooks of the 18th and 19th centuries for evidence of this.