Rattling, Boarivg Willie. By the late Sir W. Elliot. 475 



A third version, for which I am indebted to Prof. Child, is 

 found in a MS. Collection in the Marchmont Library without 

 date. This collection purports to have been gathered in the 

 Counties of Berwick, Selkirk, Boxburgh, and Peebles. The 

 ballad runs as follows : — 



196 

 " O rattling, roaring Willie, 



Where hae ye been sae late ? 

 I have been at my am kiud Peggy, 



Sae weel as I ken the gate. 

 Sae weel as I ken the gate, 



And far better the gin, 

 An' the night were ever so dark 

 She'd rise and let me in. 



" Willie wadna lie in the kitchen, 

 Nor Willie wadna lie in the ha' ; 

 But he would lie in the parlour, 

 Amang the fair maids a'. 



197 

 " O Willie, come sell yeer fiddle, 

 And go to the belian fair : 

 I wadna sell my fiddle 



For nae kin kind o' ware. 

 If I was to sell my fiddle 



The folk wad think I was gacn mad, 

 For mony a canty day 

 My fiddle and I hae had. 



" Willie has gaen to Jedburgh, 



And he's for the rood to-day, 

 And Stobs and auld Falnath 



They followed him a' the way. 

 They followed him a' the way, 



They followed him up and down ; 

 In the links of Ousenam water 



They found him sleeping sound. 

 198 

 " Stobs lighted off his horse, 



And never a word he spoke, 

 Till he tied young Willie's hands 



Fu' fast behind his back. 

 Fu' fast behind his back, 



And down below his knee, 

 For drunk has been dainty Willie, 



For sweet milk's gart him die. 



