Lord Thomas of Winesberry
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Lesley Nelson-Burns


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Cecil Sharp merged several variants from the West of England together and took the title from a similar Scottish ballad Lord Thomas of Winesberry. The Scottish version was also known as Willie o' Winesberry. The tune appeared in Peter Buchan (1790-1854)'s Ancient Ballads of the North of Scotland and Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads (1827). The Traditional Ballad Index dates the tune to at least 1775.

This ballad is Child Ballad #100 (Willie o Winesberry).

For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site go to Francis J. Child Ballads.

Kinloch links the ballad the tale of James V trip to France in 1536 to seek a wife (Princes Madeline, daughter of Francois I). Buchan has the hero as the chamberlain to the daughter of the King of France.

As I look'd over the castle wall
To see what I could see,
O what should I spy but my own father's ship
Come a sailing along the sea,
Come sailing along the sea?

O what is the matter, my daughter, Jane?
That you do look so wan?
I fear you have had some ill sickness,
Or been courting with some young man,
Or been courting with some young man.

O no! I've not had an ill sickness,
Nor been courting with any young man,
But I have been sick, and sick to my heart,
Since you've been so long at sea,
Since you've been so long at sea.

O is it any noble knight, noble knight,
Or any gentlman?
Or is it, by change, that reckish lad
That has just return'd from Spain,
That has just return'd from Spain?

O no! it is not a noble knight,
Nor any gentle man,
But I have been wooed by young William
Who is one of your serving men,
Who is one of your serving men.

If you will marry my daughter Jane,
And take her by the hand,
This day you shall sup and dine with me,
And be heir to all my land.
And be heir to all my land.

O I will marry your daughter, Jane,
And take her by the hand,
And today I will sup and dine with you,
But a fig for all your land,
But a fig for all your land.

For I have houses and I have land,
And money at my command;
And had it not been for your daughter Jane,
I was never your serving man,
I was never your serving man.
Related Links
From One Hundred English Folksongs
See Bibliography for full information.