Willie of Winsbury (Child 100)

Lyrics

The king has been a prisoner And a prisoner long in Spain And Willie of the Winsbury Has lain long with his daughter Jane "What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Jane? Why, you look so pale and wan Oh, have you had any ill sickness Or yet been sleeping with a man?" "I have not had any ill 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 robe and gown Stand naked on the stone That I might know you by your shape If you be maiden or none" And she's cast off her robe and gown Stood naked on a stone Her apron was tight and her waist was round Her face was pale and wan "And was it with a lord or a gentleman Or a man of wealth and fame? Or was it with one of my servingmen While I was a prisoner in Spain?" "No, it wasn't with a lord or a gentlemen Or a man of wealth and fame It was with Willie of Winsbury I could bide no longer alone" And the king has called his servingmen By one, by two, by three Saying "Where is this Willie of Winsbury? For hanged he shall be" 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 And Willie of the Winsbury All dressed up in red silk His hair hung like the strands of gold His breast was white as milk "No wonder, no wonder", the king he said "That my daughter's love you did win If I were a woman as I am a man In my own bed you would have been - And will you marry my daughter Jane By the faith of your right hand? And I'll make you the lord of my servingmen I'll make you the heir to my land" "Oh yes, I'll marry your daughter Jane By the faith of my right hand But I'll not be the lord of any man I'll be not be the heir to your land" And he's raised her up on a milk white steed And himself on a dapple gray He has made her the lady of as much land As she can ride on a long summer's day