Willy O' Winsbury

The king had been a prisoner

In a prison long in Spain

And 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

And stand naked upon the stone

That I may know you by your shape

If you be a maiden or no"

And she's cast off her berry-brown gown

And 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"

And 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

"And 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"

"And 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

And still I'll marry your daughter Jane

But I'll not be the lord of your land"

And he's saddled her on a milk-white steed

And himself on a dapple grey

And he's made her the lady of as much land

As she can ride on a long summer's day