Medieval Woman Stood Less Than 5 Feet Tall. She May Have Been Deadly Warrior, Study Says

MSN ^ | 6/5 | Brendan Rascius

[SteveH]

ha! (thanks!)

when i was a fair maid
(lyrics)

When I was a fair maid about seventeen
I enlisted in the Navy for to serve the queen
I enlisted in the Navy a sailor for to stand
For to hear the cannons rattling and the music so grand

The music so grand, the music so grand
For to hear the cannons rattling and the music so grand

The officer that enlisted me was a fine and handsome man
He said You’ll make a sailor so come along my lad
My waist being tall and slender my fingers long and thin
And the minute that they learned me I soon exceeded them

I soon exceeded them, I soon exceeded them
Oh the minute that they learned me I soon exceeded them

Well they sent me to my bunk and they sent me to my bed
To lies with the sailors I never was afraid
But taking off my bluecoat it often made me smile
For to think I laid with a thousand men and a maiden all the while

A maiden all the while, a maiden all the while
For to think I laid with a thousand men and a maiden all the while

Well they sent me up to London for to guard the tower
And surely might I been there till my very dying hour
But a lady fell in love with me so I told her I was a maid
Well she went up to my captain and my secret she betrayed

My secret she betrayed, my secret she betrayed
She went up to my captain and my secret she betrayed

The captain he came up to me and he asked if it was so
I dare not I dare not I dare not say no
A pity we should lose you such a sailor lad you made
It’s a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid

A handsome young maid, a handsome young maid
It’s a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid

So fare thee well my captain you’ve been so kind to me
And fare thee well my shipmates I must depart from thee
But if the Navy ever needs a lad a sailor I’ll remain
I’ll take off my hat and feathers and I’ll run the rigging again

I’ll run the rigging again, I’ll run the rigging again
I’ll take off my hat and feathers and I’ll run the rigging again

[SunkenCiv]

I’d never heard that version before, and I liked it. The slightly later version was Sally Roger’s, but it’s the first version I heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjBQM3Tf8cQ

there’s an army version that may be old or may be a recent adaptation:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4241622/posts?page=12#12

[SteveH]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OALDX4kcjuI

Wearing The Britches
(lyrics)

Come all young men where e’er you be
And listen to me lamentations
I courted a girl beyond compare
And I loved her with admiration
At length in time she became my wife
Twas not for beauty but for riches
And all the time it causes strife
To see which of us will wear the britches

O Paddy Kane it is my name
Me height it is five foot eleven
And me wife is nearly not so big
She only measures four foot seven
The hedges I have oft times stripped
I’ve left them bare of rods and switches
Her skin that’s fair sure I’ve turned black
But still she says she’ll wear my britches

Well, I am a tailor to my trade
At cutting out I am quite handy
But sure all money that I make
She lays it out on tea and brandy
Now sometimes I do shout and ball
With nothing going but rogues and witches
Her head goes oft times to the wall
Still she says she’ll wear me britches

One morning at the tea and eggs
Content and sitting by the fire
Well, she broke the teapot on my legs
And left me leaping to retire
Now I do shout and bawl
As I go hopping on my crutches
I wished I’d broke her collar bone
The day I let her wear me britches

So come all young men where e’er you be
Don’t marry a wife if she’s enchanting
For if you do, you’ll be like me
With other men she’ll go gallanting
Now my advice it is to you
To marry for love and not for riches
And be sure of a wife with a civil tongue
That’ll give you leave to wear your britches