The Royal Forrester

I am a forester of the land as ye may plainly see
It's the mantle of your maiden-head that I will have for me
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

He's taken her by the milk white hand and by the leylan sleeve
He laid her down upon her back and asked no man's leave
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

Now since you've lain me down, young man, you must take me up again,
And since you've had your will with me come tell to me your name
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

Some call me Jim some call me John, begat it's all the same,
But when I'm in the king's high court Erwilian is me name
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

She being nay a scholar she spelt it o'er again,
Erwilian that's a latin word but Willy is your name
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

Now when he heard his name pronounced he mounted his high horse
She's belted up her petticoat and followed with all her force
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

He rode and she ran a long summer day
until they came to the river, that's commonly called the Tay
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

The water it's too deep my love, I'm afraid you cannot wade
But afore he'd ridden his horse well in, she was on the other side
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

She went up to the king's high door, she knocked and she went in
Said, one of your chancellor's robbèd me, and he's robbed me right and clean
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

Has he robbed you of your mantle, has he robbed you of your ring?
No, he's robbed me of me maiden-head and another I cannot find
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

Then if he be a married man then hangèd he shall be
And if he be a single man he shall marry thee
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye

This couple they got married, they live in Huntley Down
She's the earl of Airlie's daughter and he's the blacksmith's son
with me riddle dum riddle-dy rye, dom roddle-dy rye do roddle-de rye