At Winchester was a wedding
The like was never seen
Twixt lusty Ralph of Redding
And bonny Black Bess of the Green.
The fidlers were crowding before,
Each lass was as fine as a queen.
There was a hundred and more
For all of the country came in.
Brisk Robin led Rose so fair,
She looked like a Lily o’ the Vale
And ruddy fac’d Harry led Mary,
And Roger led bouncing Nell.
The Bride came out to meet ’em,
Afraid the dinner was spoiled
And usher’d ’em in to treat ’em,
With baked and roasted and boiled.
The lads were so frolick and jolly,
For each had his love by his side,
But Willy was mad melancholy
For he had a mind to the Bride.
Then Philip begins her health,
And turns a beer glass on his thumb,
But Jenkin was reckoned for drinking,
The best in Christendom.
And now they had din’d advancing
Into the midst of the hall,
The fidlers struck up for dancing
And Jeremy led up the brawl.
But Margery kept a quarter
A lass that was proud of her pelf,
’Cause Arthur had stolen her garter
And swore he would tie it himself.
She struggled and blushed and frowned
And ready with anger to cry
’Cause Arthur with tying her garter
Had slip’d up his hand too high.
And now for throwing the stocking,
The bride away was led
The groom got drunk and was knocking
For Candles to light ’em to bed.
Sukey that danced with the cushion
An hour from the room had been gone
And Barnaby knew by her blushing
That some other dance had been done.
And thus of fifty fair maids
That went to the Wedding with men
Scarce five of the fifty were left ye
That so did return again.