ROBERT WILLANCE

Oh Willance he was a wealthy man, in Richmond did reside-o
And all to take of the winter’s air for Marrick he did ride-o
But ere the priory was into view he’s headed back for town–o
As on the top of the Whitcliffe Scar the mist comes clouding down-o

He’s picked his way all through the mist and as he heads for home-o
There’s many a stream aye and ditch to cross along the way he’s come-o
And when he’s come to the first bank side, “Go well me mare”, says he-o
And out she leaps all through the mist and safe has landed she-o

So when he’s come to the next bank side, again she leaps the mare-o
And here again at the third bank side so bravely through the air-o
And when he’s come to the next bank side, he tightly holds the rein-o
As across the ditch be short or wide she blindly leaps again-o

But here’s the edge of the Whitcliffe Scar, two hundred feet below
All tumbled over all through the air does horse and rider go
The poor mare came crashing down and broken lay and dead-o
And Willance he fell by her side, his leg all tore and red-o

And as he lay in the shivering damp, O Willance he did cry-o
If no-one finds me here tonight then surely I may die-o
But as he felt of his broken bones his face was pale and ill-o
Then he says, “Me mare, you’ve served me well but you may serve me still-o

For if I cut open my good mare’s side then I may not be lost -o
And if I place all my leg inside it’ll save me from the frost-o”
So he’s cut open her belly wide and that was how they found him
Alive and with his leg inside, the corpse still warm around him

They’ve taken him down to Richmond town, his leg they have took off him
And in Saint Mary’s old churchyard they’ve placed it in a coffin
And ten years after did Willance die and as he had decided
His leg it was dug up again and they were reunited.

Willance’s Leap why the place is known and you can still read there-o
His words upon the marking stone as thanks to God and mare-o.

1606 Hear Us.
Glory be to our merciful God who miraculously preserved me from the danger so great.