Willie of Winsbury (Child 100)

Willie of Winsbury (Child 100) - Anaïs Mitchell/Jefferson Hamer

The king has been a prisoner

And a prisoner long in spain

And willie of the winsbury

Has laid along with his daughter jane

What ails you what ails you my daughter jane

Why you look so pale and wan

Oh have you had an ill sickness

Or you've been sleeping with a man

I have not have any ill sickness

Nor it been sleeping with a man

It is for you my father dear

For fighting so long in spain

Cast off cast off your robe and gown

Stay naked on the stone

That they might know you by your shame

If you'd be maiden or not

And she's cast off the robe and gown

Stood naked on the stone

Weeping was tired and her waist was round

The face was pale and wan

And was it with a lord or a gentleman

Or a man of wealth and fame

Was it with one of my serving men

While I was a prisoner in spain

No it wasn't with a lord or a gentleman

Or a man of wealth and fame

It was with willie of winsbury

I could cry no longer alone

And the king has called his serving men

By one by 2 and by 3

Saying where is this willie of winsbury

For hanging he shall be

And when they came before the king

By one by 2 and by 3

Willie should have been the first of them

But the last of them was he

And willie he had the winsbury

All dressed out in their silk

His hair hung like the strands of gold

His breast as white as milk

No wonder that one day the king he said

Let my daughters love you

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 my serving men

I'll make you the heir of 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 not be the heir to your land

And he raised her up on a milk white steed

And himself on dapple grey

He has married the lady of

So she can ride on a long summer's day