Hi,

I found a version aversion in "Sitting Out the Winter in the Orkney Islands: Folksong Acquisition in Northern Scotland" by Nancy Cassell McEntire 1990. Does anyone know about this version?

It's based on The Deming Broadside as far as I can tell- here's a bit of it:

In Gosport of Late

1 IN Gosport of late a fair damsel did dwell,
For wit and for beauty few could her excel;
A young man did court her to be his dear,
And he by his trade was a ship-carpenter.

2 With blushes more sweet than roses in June.
She says, "My dear William for To wed I'm too young.
Young men are so fickle I see very plain,
If a maid is not coy they will her disdain."

17 Being merry with liquor, he ran to embrace,
Transported with joy yet beholding her face;
And to his amazement soon vanished away,
Which he ran and told the captain without more delay.

18. The Captain soon summoned his jolly ship's crew, Saying, "I fear my brave fellows that some one of you;
Has murdered a damsel ere' he came away,
Whose innocent ghost now haunts him on sea.

19 "Whoever he be if the truth he confess,
We will land him upon the first island we meet;
But whoever he be if the truth he denies,
He will be hung up on the yard's arm so high."

20 William in horror he fell on his knees,
Saying, "Poor injured ghost thy forgiveness I crave";
Saying, "Poor injured ghost thy forgiveness I crave.
For soon I shall follow thee down to the grave."