WILLIE O WINSBURY—D
[_]
Communicated to Percy by the Rev. P. Parsons, of Wey,
apparently in 1775. “This I had from the spinning-wheel.”
1
There was a lady fine and gay,
She was so neat and trim;
She went unto her own garden-wall,
To see her own ships come in.
2
And there she spied her daughter Jane,
Who lookd so pale and wan:
‘What, have you had some long sickness,
Or lain with some young man?’
3
‘No, I have had no long sickness,
Nor lain with no young man:’
Her petticoats they were so short,
She was full nine months gone.
4
‘Oh is it by some nobleman?
Or by some man of fame?
Or is it by Johnny Barbary,
That's lately come from Spain?’
5
‘No, it is by no nobleman,
Nor by no man of fame;
But it is by Johnny Barbary,
That's lately come from Spain.’
6
Then she calld down her merry men,
By one, by two, by three;
Johnny Barbary used to be the first,
But now the last came he.
7
‘Oh will you take my daughter Jane,
And wed her out of hand?
And you shall dine and sup with me,
And be heir of my land.’
8
‘Yes, I will take your daughter Jane,
And wed her out of hand;
And I will dine and sup with you,
But I do not want your land.’
9
Then she calld down her merry men,
With a shrill and a pleasant voice:
‘Come, let us all now mery be,
Since she has made such a happy choice.’
