A lady of birth falls in love with her father's kitchen-boy (foot-boy, C). She makes her passion known to him. He begs for secrecy, for her father would hang him; this is quite too likely, and she would be sent to a nunnery. The danger quickens her wits: she will send him off in a fine ship, and he can come back 'like some earl or baron's son' and marry her (C). Being well provided with gold, her mother's legacy, she has no difficulty in carrying out her plan; a very noble ship is provided, and she gives Willie (B, C, E) a ring to mind him of her. She warns him, C 8, E 13, that there are pressing reasons why he should not stay away very long. After a voyage of from three weeks to twelve months, Willie lands at London, A, B; in Spain, B, C, D. A lady, looking over her castle-wall, sees the ship coming in, and goes down to the shore with her maries to invite the master to dine. The master excuses himself; she asks him if he can fancy her; the woman he loves is far over the sea; the fairest woman in Scotland would break her heart if he should not return to her. The Spanish (or English) lady offers him a rich ring, to wear for her sake; he has a ring on his finger which is far dearer than any she could give him. He sails homeward; the lady's father sees the ship coming in, and is as much impressed as his daughter could desire; he thinks some man of mark must be aboard, and tells his daughter to busk herself, for he means to ask the squire or lord to dine; he would give all his rents to have this same marry his daughter. Willie blackens or paints or masks or veils his face, and goes with the father to the castle. He asks the lady if she can fancy him; her father asks her if she will marry this lord, C. The man is far over sea that shall have her love, she replies. Willie hands her the ring which she had given him. Gat ye that by sea? or gat ye that by land? or gat ye it on the Spanish coast upon a dead man's hand? He gat it on a drowned man's hand. Alas! she cries, my true-love Willie! Upon this, Willie reveals himself. The father calls for a priest, little knowing that this lord was his own kitchen-boy.
The ballad is a modern "adaptation" of 'King Horn,' No 17, from which A 33, 34, B 47, D 7, 8, are taken outright. In the particular of the hero's having his choice of two women it is more like the gest of 'King Horn,' or 'Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild;' but an independent invention of the Spanish lady is not beyond the humble ability of the composer of 'The Kitchie-Boy.'
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