As I lived in service in Rosemary Lane
I gained the good will of my master and dame
Young William come by one night for to lay
And that's the beginning of my misery!
There he called for a candle to light him to bed
Likewise a silk kerchief to tire on his head
For to tire on his head as he was years do
And he said: "Pretty Nancy, will you come to bed too?"
So poor little Nancy, she thought it no harm
She jumped into bed for to keep herself warm
And what they done there, they never will declare
But they wished that short night had been seven long years!
And early next morning young William arose
And into a apron threw handfulls of gold
"All this I will give you, and more I will give
If you'll be my own true love as long as I live!
And if you have a baby, you put it to nurse
And sit like a lady with gold in your purse
With gold in your purse and milk in your breast
Saying, that's what you've got from sweet William in the west!
Oh, if it be a son, he shall fight for his king
And if it be a daughter, she shall wear a gold ring
She shall wear a gold ring and her top knot shall blow
And that's what you got from William so blue!"