Rattling, Roaring Willie. By the late Sir W. Elliot. 483 



3. Rattling Roaring Willy. No. 129 of Wright's "Country Dances, 



English and Scotch," published early in 18th century. 



4. Ranting Billie. No. 47. " An extraordinary collection of Pleasant 

 and Merry Humours," 1713. ' 



In the "Northumbrian Minstrelsy," edited by J. Collingwood 

 Bruce, LL.D., D.C.L., and John Stokoe, and published by the 

 Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1882, there is a 

 florid pipe version of this air called " Eantin' Eoarin' Willie or 

 the Mitford Galloway," to which is added a note to the effect 

 that it is of English parentage as it can be traced to the year 

 1669, where it appears in the first edition of " Apollo's Banquet " 

 as "Tom Noke's Jig;" and afterwards in other ballad operas 

 as "Come open the door Sweet Betty."" The ballad entitled 

 "The Midford Galloway's Eambles,'' consisting of about 20 

 stanzas, and commencing 



" The routing the Earl of Mar's forces 

 Has given their neighbours' supplies," 

 was written by Thomas Whittle of Cambo, and is given at length 

 in " The Rhymes of the Northern Bards," by John Bell, 1812. 3 



I am not competent to go into the vexed question as to the 

 nationality of the air, whether it is of Scotch or English 

 parentage ; but I am assured by Mr Muir Wood that, far from 

 having proved their case, Messrs Bruce and Stokoe are entirely 

 mistaken in thinking there is any similarity between the airs — 

 "Tom Noke's Jig," or " Come open the door, Sweet Betty," as 

 given in Chappell's popular music of the olden time, 4 and 

 " Eantiu' Eoarin' Willie," as given in the Northumbrian 

 Minstrelsy. 



" Eattling Eoaring Willie " was also arranged, with variations, 

 as a pianoforte piece by Daniel Eoss, 5 and published by J. 

 Hamilton, 6 24 North Bridge, Edinburgh. 



1 1, 2, 3, obtained through Mr W. Chappell, who however does not com- 

 mit himself either as to their being Scotch, or identical with the air in 

 question. 



2 Northumbrian Minstoelsy, p. 189. 3 p. 175. 

 * Vol. ii., p. 504. 



5 Daniel Ross was a pianoforte teacher in Edinr., and wrote variations 

 to a large number of airs, chiefly Scottish, (com. by Mr Muir Wood.) 



6 Hamilton was also a teacher of music, and contributed several pieces 

 to Johnson's Musical Museum. He was for many years a music-seller at 

 North Bridge, Edinr., and died in 1814. (Stenhouse's Illustrations, p. 536.) 



