Redesdale and Wise William [Child 246]

DESCRIPTION: Redesdale tells William that he can win any woman's favor "wi ae blink o my ee." William bets his head against Redesdale's lands that Redesdale cannot win his sister. Redesdale courts the sister, fails to win her (though he burns down her house)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: c. 1818 (Buchan/Moreira-TheGlenbuchatBallads)
KEYWORDS: courting sex gambling virtue wager
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber,Bord))
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Child 246, "Redesdale and Wise William" (3 texts)
Bronson 246, "Redesdale and Wise William" (1 version, properly associated with "Johnnie Cock")
Lyle/McAlpine/McLucas-SongRepertoireOfAmeliaAndJaneHarris, pp. 50-57, "Roudesdales" (2 texts)
Buchan/Moreira-TheGlenbuchatBallads, pp. 132-135, "Wise William and Redesdale" (2 text)
Whitelaw-BookOfScottishBallads, pp. 144-146, "Reedisdale and Wise William" (1 text)
Sedley/Carthy-WhoKilledCockRobin, pp. 123-126, "Redesdale and Wise William" (1 text, 1 unrelated tune)
Roud #243
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Fiddler's Bitch" (plot)
cf. "The Twa Knights" (plot)
File: C246

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