The Two Broters of Wiltshire

Ursula the Widow

There were two brothers of Wiltshire
Both good men and fair
Young William was a baseborn son
And John their father's heir.

In battle and in festival,
In hunt and feast and game,
Young William loved his brother
and good John loved him the same.

John's pride was valor in battle,
But William's was his hair
Long and gold like a maiden's
The wonder of all near.

There came a gang of raiders
out from a neighbor's land.
They kidnapped Brother John away
And ransom did demand.

When word came to young William's ears,
He rose in wrath and cried,
"I'll neither rest nor feast again
Till John is by my side."

But softly spoke his friends then,
And bid him hold his hand,
for he need but do nothing
to gain his father's land.

Then down he struck those false friends
And bid them from his sight,
"I never shall betray good John
And steal his own birthright."

"My father did not own me
Before the face of men
But John has stood my brother
Since he knew we were kin."

"And when he came to his estate
He sought me far and wide.
He took me from the monast'ry
and placed me by his side."

"And let one name me bastard,
My brother by me stands
And says I am his father's son
and share in all his lands."

"So let them name their ransom
and double it again.
For all I have, e'en to my shirt,
I'll give to spare John pain."

He rode to them on his good grey horse
Bold in his satin coat.
They held his brother before his eyes
A knife against his throat.

"What will ye have for my brother's life?
Ye shall have it, an' tis mine."
"No gold will I, but only the length
Of your yellow hair so fine."

When William heard it said thus,
He drew his knife from his boot.
He smiled upon his brother
And cut his braid at the root.

Off ride the brothers on one horse
And William back does call,
"An ye had made my head the price,
Still I had paid it all."

This page maintained by Cerian Cantwr, cerian@minstrel.com.