Note that the original has not "maid" but "maiden of Scalletter". From the first time I heard the McColl recording I assumed that the "maiden" was a female relative of Willie's-- perhaps an as yet unmarried sister. Maid as a job catagory is a secondary meaning, the primary mening is "virgin", as in maidenhead. Thus EM claims to be as "leal" (whole, perhaps, or loyal, chaste) as the maiden who has come in to patronize her. Female employees, though usually unmarried, were by no means always virgins! Also it would be truely insolent for a servant to speak to Willie as the maiden does, while a sister or aunt might get away with it. Why would a relative want Willie to suceed? Perhaps EM "came with" a "portion" or dowery of land or money? Willie apparently wants the rights of a husband, not just sex.

As for the mysterious "rescuer", my guess would be that two different singers added those verses to cater to mail vanity. Not pride or sexual disgust, but true love for another, prompts EM's heroism, they say. "Breadalbane" in one version comes after her. "Forsythe" in the second version is not on the scene at all, but EM promises to come to him-- perhaps that evening.

One might say that this song is the "flip side" of "The False Lover Won Back", where the man's lover refuses to be abandoned, and follows his horse on foot until he gives in and buys her a wedding ring.