Abby - I knew I had info on this ballad ...... it has just taken time to find it

The ballad was collected by Dr Thomas Percy , Bishop of Dromore , 1729 - 1811

Together with 49 others all dating from the time of Chaucer up to Charles 1st , it was published in RELIQUES OF ENGLISH POETRY IN 1765.

The documents of this collection are held in the British Museum although it is said that among the authentic documents were some that Percy had himself composed

The copy I have is in the "The BLUE POETRY BOOK for Schools" edited by ANDREW LAING and published by Longman, Greens and co in 1892

This version has two verses which are omitted from the copy given above, which come before the last verse and add even more mystery to the origins of the ballad

The Prince of Great Parma heard of her renown
Who long had advanced for England's fair crown
He wooed her and sued her his mistress to be
And offered rich presents to Mary Ambree

But this virtuous maiden despised them all
"I'll ne'er sell my honour for purple and pall
A maiden of England , Sir , never shall be
The wench of a monarch , quoth Mary Ambree

Also the first line of the second verse is stated as :-

When the brave sergeant - major was slain in her sight
This line was also printed in BALLADS - ANCIENT AND MODERN - published 1929

Perhaps the two extra verses will give you more to work on
Personally I've always wondered if this was pertaining ( in an obscure way ) to Elizabeth 1