Synopsis

Willie kills the watch on Lady Maisry's father's hall to get to her chamber. After the night, her father kills him. Lady Maisry taxes him with it. He may tell her that Willie killed the guard, but she retorts that they were in armor but Willie was not.

Variants

This ballad has much in common with Clerk Saunders

Clerk Saunders

-Synopsis:Clerk Saunders and may Margaret are walking in the garden. He persuades her to go to bed with him before their marriage, saying that he will let himself in and she can cover her eyes, so that she can swear that she did not let him in or see him...

, with some influence from The Bent Sae Brown

The Bent Sae Brown

-Synopsis:Willie crosses land and sea to his love Annie. She tries to turn him away: her parents and brothers want her to never meet him. He tells her to cover her eyes and carry him to bed, so she can swear that she did not see him come in, and he never trod in her bower. Her mother sends her...

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