Willie O' Winsbury

The king had been a poor prisoner
And a prisoner lang in Spain
And Willie of the Winsbury
Has lain lang with his daughter at hame

"What ails ye, what ails ye, my daughter dear
Well ye 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 sae lang in Spain"

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

So she's cast off her berry-brown gown
Ahe stood naked upon the stane
Her haunches were round and her apron was short
Her face was pale and wan

"Was it with 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?"

"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 alain"

The king has called on his merry men all
They numbered thirty and three
Saying "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury
For hanged he will be"

But when he came before the king
He was dressed in the red silk
His hair was like the strands of gold
His skin was as white as milk

"It is nae 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"

"Will ye marry my daughter dear
By the truth of your right hand?
Will ye marry my daughter dear
And I'll make you lord of all my land"

"Oh I will marry your daughter dear
By the truth of my right hand
Oh I will marry your daughter dear
But I'll not be a lord of your land"

He's put her on a milk-white steed
Himself on a dapple grey
He's made her the lady of as much land
As she'll ride in a lang summer's day