Willy 'O Windsboro

The king has been a poor prisoner

A prisoner lying in Spain

And Willy 'O the Winsboro

Has lain long with his daughter at home

"What troubles you, my daughter dear

You look so pale and wan

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

Stand naked upon the stane

That I may know you by your shape

Whether you be a maiden or nane"

So she cast off her berry-brown gown

Stood naked upon the stone

Her haunches were round, and her apron lay shorn

Her cheeks, thеy were pale and wan

"Was hе lord or a duke or a knight

Or a man of birth and fame

Or is he one of my serving men

That's lately come out of Spain?"

"He is nay a lord or a duke or a knight

Nor a man of birth or fame

But he is Willy 'O the Winsboro

I could bide no longer alain"

The king has called on his merry men all

By thirty and three

Saying "Bring me this Willy 'O the Winsboro

For hanged he shall be"

But when he came the king before

He was clad in blood red-silk

His hair was like the strands of gold

His skin was as white as the milk

"It is no wonder," said the king

"That my daughter's love you did win

For if I'd been a woman, as I am a man

My bedfellow you would have been"

"Oh and will you marry my daughter Janet

By the truth of your right hand?

Oh and will you marry my daughter Janet

And be a lord of all the land"

"Oh and I will marry your daughter Janet

By the truth of my right hand

Oh and I, I will marry your daughter Janet

But I won't be the lord of the land"

Then he's mounted her on a milk-white steed

Himself on a dapple grey

And he's made her a lady of as much land

As she can ride in a long summer's day