title: Auld Matrons
text: # Auld Matrons
  
  Auld Matrons is Child ballad 249.
  
  ## Synopsis
  
  Willie comes to his love, Annie, and she urges him to come to bed. He is wary of the auld Matrons, sitting by the fire, but Annie says she never moves. As soon as they're gone, auld Matrons wakes the sheriff with the news that his daughter's abed with a lover. The sheriff rouses his men. Annie hears them coming and wakes Willie. After they exchange arrows, Willie blows his horn, summoning his brother, John, who wounds and kills many of the men. Willie curses auld Matrons.
  
  