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

Sheriff

A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....

 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

Horn (instrument)

The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....

, summoning his brother, John, who wounds and kills many of the men. Willie curses auld Matrons.