Page:Three new songs.pdf/5

 I han my company fair and free,

Continually for to visit me

But now at last I have not one,

Since I became a servant man.

At last the king from hunting came,

And presently upon the same,

He call’d upon the good old man.

And thus to speak he did begin.

What news? what news? come let me see

What news hast thou to tell to me?

Brave news the old man he did say

Sweet William is a lady gay.

If this be true thou tells to me,

I’ll make the a lord of high degree;

But fi these words to prove a lie,

Thou shalt be hanged instantly.

But when the king the truth had found,

His joy did more and more abound,

Accordingly as the old mznman [sic] did say,

Sweet William was a lady gay.

So then the king without more delay,

put her in glorious fine array.

Upon her head a crown of gold,

Which was most glorious to behold.

So then for fear of farther strife,

He took sweet William for his wife

The like before was never seen,

A servant man become a queen.

