King William's Son- from North Carolina 1936; Niles
[From Niles, The Ballad Book. Niles introduces in verse 2 the name of Isabel- which appears only in Child A and is not found in elsewhere in English or US versions. Niles was careful not to name an informant, and I consider this unique version to be a ballad recreation.
R. Matteson 2014]
King William's Son- [no informant's name] from North Carolina, 1936 Niles .
1. Of all the sons King William had,
Price Jamie was the worst,
And what make the sorrow even more,
Prince Jamie was the first.
2. He sang his song to Isabel,
A song like none did sing,
And she did not follow him away,
A very silly thing.
3. They wandered over hill and dale,
They came upon the sea,
"Light down, light down, fair Isabel,
And give your clothes to me."
4. "Hit's turn, oh turn your head away,
And look at yonder sea.
I do not wish to have it said
I let you see my bare body.
5. "Oh turn, oh turn your head away,
Behold the yon seaside,
And do not look this way a bit
Or you'll see me in my hide."
6. And as he stood a-waiting
And a-looking o'er the lea,
She grabbed him by his slender hips
And pitched him in the sea.
7. "Oh save me, save me from this death,
And when the King is dead,
I will be King Jamie
And you'll be queen instead."
8. "If you could lie to nine young maids,
You'll lie as quick to me,
But soon the fish will eat Your meat
Instead of eating me."
9. She mounted quick the dapple gray,
And then she led the black
Across the fields and pastures,
A-homing she rode back.
10. "Where have you been and what have you done,
Your horse is all a-sweat?
Your father looked the castle o'er
And hasn't found you yet."
11. "If you would only hold your tongue,
You'll never have to lie.
My father ne'er must ever know
How near I come to die.
12. "No talk, no talk, fly pretty poll,
It be the break of day."
"The cat was at my cage's door,
And you shooed her away."
13. "Well said, my parrot bird, well said,
No cat shall bother thee,
And thy cage shall be made of beaten gold
Instead of the willow tree."