From the Bodleian broadside collection, Firth c.12(233):


BOLD WILLIAM TAYLOR

I'll sing you a song about two lovers
Who from Lichfield town did come.
The young man's name was William Taylor.
The maiden's name was Sarah Dunn.

Now for a sailor William enlisted.
Now for a sailor William's gone.
He's gone and left his charming Sally
All alone to make me mourn.

She dressed herself in man's apparel.
Man's apparel she put on,
And for to seek her own true lover,
For to find him she is gone.

One day as she was exercising,
Exercising among the rest,
A silver locket flew from her jacket
And exposed her milk-white breast.

O then the captain stepped up to her,
And asked her what brought her there.
All for to seek my own true lover,
For he has proved to me severe.

If you are come to find your lover
You must tell to me his name.
His name it is bold William Taylor,
And from Lichfield town he came.

If your lover's name is William Taylor,
He has proved to you severe.
He is married to a rich lady.
He was married the other year.

If you will rise early in the morning,
In the morning by the break of day,
There you will see bold William Taylor,
Walking with his lady gay.

Then she called for a brace of pistols.
A brace of pistols I command.
Then she shot bold William Taylor
With his bride at his right hand.

O then the captain was well pleased,
Well pleased with what she'd done,
And soon she became a bold commander
On board the ship with all the men.

Then the captain loved her dearly,
Loved her dearly as his life,
Then it was three days after,
Sarah became the captain's wife.