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Redesdale and Wise William is the 246th ballad from the Child Ballads. The ballad tells of a man who wagers and loses his lands over an attempt to win a woman's affection. [1]
| | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(May 2015) |
Redesdale and Wise William is the 246th ballad from the Child Ballads. The ballad tells of a man who wagers and loses his lands over an attempt to win a woman's affection. [1]
While "drinking wine" and having "an unruly time", Redesdale tells William he can win the love of any lady. William rashly says his sister will not give him her favor, and bets his head against Redesdale's lands. Redesdale throws him into prison, but he writes a letter and sends it to his sister. Redesdale's attempt to woo her are unsuccessful even at getting a glimpse of her. When he sets the house afire, in different variants, the women escape or a shower puts outs the blaze. Redesdale admits defeat, frees William, and gives him his lands.
"Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight" is the English common name representative of a very large class of European ballads. The subject matter is frequently associated with the genre of the Halewyn legends circulating in Europe. There are a number of variants with different names.
Willie's Lady is Child ballad number 6 and Roud #220. The earliest known copy of the ballad is from a recitation transcribed in 1783.
"Hind Horn" is a traditional English and Scottish folk ballad.
Child Waters is Child ballad number 63, existing in several variants.
"The Fair Flower of Northumberland" is a folk ballad.
Fause Foodrage is Child ballad 89, existing in several variants.
Lady Elspat is Child ballad number 247.
"Young Ronald" is an old song catalogued as Child Ballad 304.
"Riddles Wisely Expounded" is a traditional English song, dating at least to 1450. It is Child Ballad 1 and Roud 161, and exists in several variants. The first known tune was attached to it in 1719.
"The Cruel Brother" is Child ballad 11 and Roud #26.
"James Hatley" is Child Ballad 244, existing in several variants. It appears to have no historical basis. The ballad tells the story of a man who steals a king's keys. The identity of the man and his fate differ depending on the ballad's variation.
Sweet William's Ghost is an English Ballad and folk song which exists in many lyrical variations and musical arrangements. Early known printings of the song include Allan Ramsay's The Tea-Table Miscellany in 1740 and Thomas Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry in 1765. Percy believed that the last two stanzas of the version he published were later additions, but that the details of the story they recounted were original.
Clerk Saunders is Child ballad 69. It exists in several variants.
The West Country Damosel's Complaint is a traditional English or Scottish ballad that is part of the Child Ballad anthology.
"The Twa Brothers" is Child ballad 49, Roud 38. existing in many variants.
"Proud Lady Margaret" is Child ballad 47, existing in several variants.
Will Stewart and John is Child ballad 107, indexed as such in Francis James Child's 19th century collection of English and Scottish ballads.
"Young Johnstone" is Child ballad 88, a border ballad that exists in several variants. The ballad tells the story of a woman killed either by her brother or lover, depending on the variant.
The Death of Parcy Reed is a Border ballad concerning the betrayal and murder of Percival Reed, believed to have been Laird of Troughend in Redesdale, Northumberland, in late 16th century England. It is Child ballad number 193 and its Roud number is 335.
The Twa Knights is a traditional Scottish ballad. It was collected by Francis James Child as Child ballad number 268. It is highly possible that the ballad was popularly unknown in Scotland, and only known through print. It has since been given the Roud number of 303.
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