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Thomas of Winesbury

The story may be a reference to the travels of James V of Scotland, who met and married a princess while travelling in disguise with a hunting party in France.
Tune published in 1827.
Words from several sources dating from about the same time.

    It fell on a time when the proud king of France
    Went a-hunting five months or more,
    That his daughter fell in love with Thomas of Winesbury
    Who from Scotland was newly come o'er,
         Who from Scotland was newly come o'er.

    You're welcome, you're welcome dear father, she says
    You're welcome again to your own
    For I have been sick, and very, very sick
    Thinking long for your coming home,
         Thinking long for your coming home.

    Put off, put off your gown of green,
    Stand straight upon the stone,
    And I will tell you by and by
    Whether you be a maid or none,
         Whether you be a maid or none.

    She's put off her gown of green,
    Stood straight upon the stone,
    And when she looked down, her belly it was big,
    And her fair colour it was wan,
         And her fair colour it was wan.

    O is it to a man of might, daughter,
    Or is it to a man that's mean,
    Or is it to one of those rank rebels
    That lately from Scotland came,
         That lately from Scotland came ?

    It is not to a man of might, she says,
    Nor yet to a man that's mean,
    But it is to Thomas of Winesbury
    And for him I must suffer pain,
         And for him I must suffer pain.

    If it be to Thomas of Winesbury,
    As I trust well it be,
    Before I either eat or drink
    High hanged he shall be,
         High hanged he shall be.

    When Thomas came tripping up the stair,
    His clothing was of the silk,
    His hair hung like the threads of gold,
    His skin was white as the milk,
         His skin was white as the milk.

    No wonder, no wonder, Lord Thomas, he said,
    My daughter fell in love with thee,
    For if I were a woman, as I am a man,
    My bedfellow you should be,
         My bedfellow you should be.

    Will you wed my daughter Jean,
    By the faith of thy right hand,
    And I'll give you gold, and I'll give you gear,
    And a third part of my land,
         And a third part of my land.

    I will marry your daughter Jean,
    By the faith of my right hand.
    I'll have none of your gold, and none of your gear,
    I've enough in fair Scotland,
         I've enough in fair Scotland.

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