From _The Border Minstrelsy_. The account in Satchells has either been
based on the ballad, or the ballad is based on Satchells. After a
meeting, on the Border of Salkeld of Corby, and Scott of Haining, Kinmont
Willie was seized by the English as he rode home from the tryst. Being
“wanted,” he was lodged in Carlisle Castle, and this was a breach of the
day’s truce. Buccleugh, as warder, tried to obtain Willie’s release by
peaceful means. These failing, Buccleugh did what the ballad reports,
April 13, 1596. Harden and Goudilands were with Buccleugh, being his
neighbours near Branxholme. Dicky of Dryhope, with others, Armstrongs,
was also true to the call of duty. A few verses in the ballad are
clearly by _aut Gualterus aut diabolus_, and none the worse for that.
Salkeld, of course, was not really slain; and, if the men were “left for
dead,” probably they were not long in that debatable condition. In the
rising of 1745 Prince Charlie’s men forded Eden as boldly as Buccleuch,
the Prince saving a drowning Highlander with his own hand.