(D)The king has (A)been a poor pris(E)oner
And a(D) prisoner (E)long in (D)Spain
And (A)Willie (D)of the (A)Winsbu(Bm)ry
Has(D)
lain long with his (E)daughter at (D)home
"What ails you, what ails you, my daughter dear
Why 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 for you, my father dear,
For biding so long in Spain"
"Cast
off, cast off your berry-brown gown
Stand naked on the stone
That I may know you by your shape
If you be a maiden
or none"
So she cast off her berry-brown gown
Stood naked on the stone
Her apron was low, her haunches
round
Her face was pale and wan
"Oh is he a lord or a duke or a knight
Or a man of birth and fame
Or
was it with one of my serving men
That's lately come out of Spain?"
"No it wasn't with a lord or a duke or
a knight
Nor a man of birth and fame
But it was with Willie of Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone"
The
king has called on his merry men all
By thirty and by three
Saying "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 no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter's love
you did win
For if I was a woman, as I am a man
My bedfellow you would have been"
"Now will you marry
my daughter Janet
By the truth of your right hand?
Oh will you marry my daughter Janet
I'll make you lord of my land"
"Well
yes, I'll marry your daughter Janet
By the truth of my right hand
Well yes I'll marry your daughter Janet
But I'll
not be the lord of your land"
He's mounted her on a milk-white steed
Himself on a dapple grey
He has made
her the lady of as much land
As she shall ride in a long summer's day.
