The king had been a prisoner 
At a prison long in Spain 
And Willie of the Winsbury 
Has lain long with his daughter in staid

“What ails you, what ails you, my daughter fair? 
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 Espana” 

“Was it 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 nor a duke or a knight 
Nor a man of birth and fame 
But it was with Willie of Winsbury 
Alone I was going insane” 

The king has called on his merry men all 
By thirty and by three 
Saying “Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury 
For a hangman he shall see” 

But when poor Willie came ‘fore the king 
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 
If I were to lay with you and my kin
Tis the forming original sin

For death or curse, I propose to thee
To lay with i as my daughter fair 
For Willie thou hast defiled my tree
Of my kingdom and family heir”

For Willie had taken one fair cherry
And the king did see one spare
“To do unto you as you have to me
I can imagine no payment more fair”

He mounted Willie on a milk-white sheet 
Come naked, handsome and gay
The seed was spilled between their feet
Breathless, ecstatic they lay

Willie of Winsbury

lily of the west

Anthropoides Paradisea

Berlingo

A song for fun/work with 1625 Independent People 

http://www.1625ip.co.uk/

Popular tracks by JJarv