WILLIAM RILEY's COURTSHIP, PART FIRST

Rise up you William Riley and come along with me, I mean for to go with you and leave this country; I will leave my Father's dwelling, fine houses & free land, And away goes Wm. Riley and his dearest Collian Band.

It was over lofty hills & mountains and to its lonesome plain, Through shady groves and vallies her company to obtain; But her father followed after with his well armed band, And so taken was poor Riley & his dearest Collian Band.

And home she was sent and into her closet bound, So taken was poor Riley and sent to Slago town To stand the bar of justice before the judge to stand, And for nothing but for stealing of his dearest Collian Band.

O now I am confin'd in jail, my hands & feet are bound, I'm hand-cuff'd like a murderer & chained to the ground, But for all my toil and slavery I'm willing for to stand, And still in hopes to be saved by my dearest Collian Band.

O then came the jailer's son to Riley where he lay, Saying dress yourself young Riley, you must appear this day Before 'squire Folgier's anger, before the judge to stand, And for nothing but for stealing of his dearest Collian Band,

Then he dreft himself in a suit of green most lovely to behold, His hair hung down his shoulders like yellow links of gold, He's neat and trim in every limb, most lovely to be seen, He's a match for Folgier's daughter was she equal to a queen.

These are the last words Riley, that I have heard them say The lady's oath will hang you or she will set you free; If that be so says Riley, with pleasure I will stand, Still hoping to be saved by my dearest Collian Band.

O then spake her father saying, take pity now on me, This fellow came among us to disgrace my family; This impudent inferior I'am not fit to stand, O I'll have the life of Riley or I'll leave sweet Ireland.

Then up steps the noble Fox (the table he stood by) Saying gentlemen of the jury look on his extremity; To hang a man for love, 'tis murder you may see, O spare the life of Riley, let him leave his country.

O the lady being sensible, though in her tender youth, If Riley has deluded her she must declare the truth: Then like a moving beauty before him she did stand, You're welcome in my heart's delight, my dearest Collian Band.

O you gentlemen of the jury look on his extremity, The blame is not in Riley, the fault is all in me; I caus'd him thus to leave his place & come along with me, I lov'd him out of measure, which prov'd my destiny.

O then spake the noble Fox, and let this prisoner go, The lady's oath has clear'd him the jury well may know; The lady's oath has clear'd him, she hath renew'd his name, Her honor great may raise his estate & always be to fame,

'Tis true my Lord he stole from her, her jewels & rings, Besides her silver watch and many precious things, Which cost me in bright guineas above five hundred pounds, O I'll have the life of Riley if I spend ten thousand pounds.

'Tis true my Lord I gave them him in token of true love, And since we are a parting I will them all remove, If you have got them Riley, pray send them back to me; I will my lady with many thanks to thee.

O but there is one among them I allow yourself to wear, With thirty shining diamonds that's set in silver clear; And for a token of true love wear it on your right hand, That you may think on my broken heart when you're in a foreign land.