Willie O' Winsbury

The king has been a prisoner, been a prisoner long in Spain

And Willie of the Winsbury, has long lain with his daughter at home

"What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Janet

That you look so pale and wan?

Oh, 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 for you, my father dear

For biding so long in Spain"

"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown

Stand naked on the stone

That I may know you by your shade

If you be a maiden or no"

So she cast off her berry-brown gown

She stood naked on the stone

Her apron was low and her haunches were round

And her face was pale and wan

"Oh, was it with a lord or a duke or a knight

Or a man of birth and fame

Or was it with one of my serving-men

So lately returning from Spain?"

"No, it wasn't with a lord or a duke or a knight

Or a man of birth and fame

But it was with Willie of Winsbury

For I could bide no longer alone"

The king has called on his merry-men all

By thirty and by three

Saying, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury

That hanged he may be"

And when he came before the king

He was clad all in the red silk

His hair was like thick bands of gold

And his skin was as white as the milk

"It is no wonder," said the king

"That my daughter's heart you did win

For if I was a woman, as I am a man

My bedfellow you would have been"

"Now, will you marry my daughter Janet

By the truth of your right hand?

Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet?

I'll make you a lord in my land"

"Oh, yes, I will marry your daughter Janet

By the truth of my right hand

Oh, yes, I will marry your daughter Janet

But I'll not be a lord in your land"

Now he's mounted her on a milk-white steed