Willie O Winsbury

The king he has been a poor prisoner
And a prisoner long in Spain
While Willie o' the Winsbury
Has lain long with his daughter at hame

"What ails you, what ails you my daughter dear?
For you look so pale and wan
Oh have you had any sore sickness
Or yet been sleepin' wi' a man?"

"I have not had any sore sickness
Nor yet sleepin' wi' a man
'Twas grievin' for you, my father dear
After bidin' so long in Spain"

"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown
Stand naked upon a stane
That I may ken you by your shape
Whether you be a maiden or nane"

So she's cast off her berry-brown gown
Stood naked upon a stane
Her haunches were round and her apron was short
Her cheeks, they were pale and wan

"So is he a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth or fame?
Or is he one of my serving men
That's lately come out of Spain?"

"Oh he is nae a lord or a duke or a knight
Nor a man of birth or fame
But he is Willie o' Winsbury
I could bide nae longer my lane"

So the king, he has called for his merry men all
His merry men thirty and three
Says, "Bring me Willie o' Winsbury
For hangèd he shall be"

But when he came the king before
He was clad all in red silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
His cheeks, they were white as milk

"Well it is nae a wonder," who says the king
"My daughter's heart you did win
For if I were a woman as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been

"So will you marry my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
And will you marry my daughter Janet
And be a lord of the land?"

"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
And I will marry your daughter Janet
But I won't be a lord of the land"

So he's mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple-grey
And he's made her the lady of as much land
As they could ride in a long summer's day