Willie O Winsbury

Verse 1 The king has been a poor prisoner And a prisoner long in Spain And Willie O the Winsbury Has lain long with his daughter Jane. Verse 2 What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Jane Why you look so pale and wan? Have you had any sore sickness Or yet been sleeping with a man? Verse 3 I have not had no sore sickness Nor yet been sleeping with a man It is for you my father dear For biding so long in Spain. Verse 4 Cast off, cast off, your berry brown gown Stand naked on the stone That I may know you by your shape If you be a maiden or none. Verse 5 And shes cast off her berry brown gown Stood naked on the stone her apron was tight and her haunches was round Her face was pale and wan. Verse 6 And 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 While I was a prisoner in Spain? Verse 7 No it wasnt with a lord or a duke or a knight Or a man of birth and fame It was with Willie o Winsbury I could bide no longer alone. Verse 8 And the king has called his serving men By one by two and by three Saying, Where is this Willie o Winsbury? For hanged he shall be. Verse 9 And when they came before the king By one, by two and by three Willie should have been the first of them But the last of them was he. Verse 10 And Willie O the Winsbury All dressed out in red silk His hair hung like the strands of gold His breast was white as milk. Verse 11 No wonder, no wonder, the king he said, That my daughters love you did win If I were a woman as I am a man In my own bed you would have been. Verse 12 And will you marry my daughter Jane By the faith of your right hand? And Ill make you the lord of my serving men Ill make you the heir of my land. Verse 13 Oh yes, Ill marry your daughter Jane By the faith of my right hand. But Ill not be the lord of any men, Ill not be the heir to your land. Verse 14 And he raised her up on a milk-white steed Himself on a dapple grey He has made her the lady of as much land As she can ride in a long summers day.