Lyrics
The king had been a prisoner
In a prison long in Spain
cnd William of the Winsbury
Has lain long with the king's daughter Jane
"What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Jane
For you look so pale and wan
Have you had any sore sickness
Or yet been sleeping with a man?"
"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet been sleeping with a man
It is but worry for you, father dear
For your biding so long in Spain"
"Cast off, cast off, your berry-brown gown
cnd stand naked upon the stone
That I may know you by your shape
If you be a maiden or no"
cnd she's cast off her berry-brown gown
cnd stood naked upon the stone
Her apron was low and her haunches were round
Her face was pale and wan
"Was it with a lord, a duke, or knight
Or a man of birth and fame
Or was it with one of my serving men
So lately returned from Spain?"
"No it wasn't a lord, a duke, or knight
Or a man of birth and fame
It was with Willie of Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone"
cnd the king has called his merry men all
By thirty and by three
"Oh Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury
For hanged he shall be"
But when he came the king before
He was clad all in the red silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
His skin was as white as the milk
"cnd it is a wonder, " the king he said
"That my daughter's love you did win
For if I were a lady, as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been"
"cnd will you marry my daughter Jane
By the truth of your right hand?
For if you'll marry my daughter Jane
I'll make you lord of my land"
"Well yes, I'll marry your daughter Jane
By the truth of my right hand
cnd still I'll marry your daughter Jane
But I'll not be the lord of your land"
cnd he's saddled her on a milk-white steed