480 Rattling, Roaring Willie. By the late Sir W. Elliot. 



more fortunate, as he was undoubtedly an Elliot. Allan Cunn- 

 ingham's Bob Rool seems to be a double mistake, due perhaps 

 to the alliteration. 



In a recent communication, Professor Veitch writes that the 

 lines are given obviously by each writer as his own production. 

 He does not think either Scott or Cunningham had in their 

 possession or mind, an}' old ballad or set of verses on which they 

 founded, both writing simply from the tradition, and each em- 

 bodying it in his own fashion. 1 



Willie's fame and history fell naturally within the scope of 

 Wilson's Memories of Hawick, but his remarks add nothing to 

 what has been stated above, and he has no authority for his 

 statement that the duel was fought between two brothers. 2 



Another modern invention is that of the incident ascribed to 

 Willie in one of Wilson's Tales of the Borders, to the effect that, 

 during a visit to the kingdom of Fife, he is represented as having 

 crossed his erratic sovereign's path, while on one of his incognito 

 expeditions in search of adventure. 3 It is sufficient to state that 

 James V. died in 1542, many years before William Henderson, 

 who was cut off in the prime of life, could have been born. 



Notwithstanding his meagre history, it can hardly be doubted 

 that Henderson was a man of ability and determination, mixing 

 freely in all gatherings and festivities, to which his profession 

 gave him ready access, and where his social talents made him a 

 welcome gUest. Allan Cunningham describes him as " a noted 

 ballad-maker and brawler, whose sword-hand was dreaded as 

 much as his bow-hand was admired." 



The fragmentary lines of his composition which survive do not 

 convey a high impression of his talent, but it would be unfair to 



1 [In his notice of Allan Cunningham (Hist, and Poetry of the Scottish 

 Border, p. 538,) Prof. Veitch alludes to this as an original ballad, and a 

 very fine one ; but when it is seen side by side with Sir Walter Scott's, 

 which appeared 20 years earlier, its claim to originality seems surely rather 

 doubtful, is it not rather one of those instances, of which Prof. Veitch 

 himself deplores the existence, wherein Cunningham " did not accurately 

 distinguish the outflowing* of his own wealth of genius from the older 

 fragments of poetry which he found and incorporated with his own ?" It 

 is even possible that the Marchmont version may be older than Sir Walter 

 Scott's.— W.E.L.] 2 p. 206. 



3 Alexr. Campbell, the contributor of the story, was the author of 

 " Albyn's Anthology," and other works, and latterly acted as amanuensis 

 to Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsfxgd. ._ 



26 A£g_m8a 



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