Willie and Lady Maisry [Child 70]

DESCRIPTION: (The lady invites Willie to her bower.) On his way he kills all her father's guards (including her brother). She welcomes him but worries about the blood. Her father discovers them together and kills Willie. The lady (dies of a broken heart/runs mad).
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1826 (Motherwell)
KEYWORDS: courting battle death family brother father homicide madness
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Child 70, "Willie and Lady Maisry" (2 texts)
Bronson 70, brief comments only
Grigson-PenguinBookOfBallads 34, "Willie and Lady Margerie" (1 text)
Gummere-OldEnglishBallads, pp. 228-230+352-353, "Willie and Lady Maisry" (1 text)
Whitelaw-BookOfScottishBallads, p. 74, "Sweet Willie and Lady Margerie" (1 text)
DT 70, WILMAISY*
Roud #198
File: C070

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography