Willy O'Winsbury

The king has been a prisoner And a prisoner long in Spain And Willy o' the Winsbury Has laid long with his daughter at home "What ails thee, what ails thee my daughter Janet? Well, you look so pale and worn 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 You stand naked upon the stone That I may know you by your shape Whether you be a maiden or no" And she's cast off her berry-brown gown She stood naked upon the stone And her apron was low and her haunches were round And her face was pale and worn "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 me serving men That's lately come out of Spain?" "No it wasn't with a lord or a duke or a knight Or a man of birth and fame It was with Willy of Winsbury I could bide no longer alone" And the king has called on his merry men all By thirty and by three Saying, "Fetch me this Willy of Winsbury For hangèd he shall be" And when he came the king before He was clad all in the red silk His hair was like the strands of gold And his skin was as white as the milk "And it is no wonder," said the king "That my daughter's love you did win If I was a woman as I am a man My bedfellow you would have been "And will you marry my daughter Janet By the truth of your right hand? Oh will you marry my daughter Janet I will make you the lord of my land" "Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet By the truth of my right hand Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet But I'll not be the lord of your land" And 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 she'll ride on a long summer's day