an extract from the play 'The pang valley chalk circle'

CUNNING WOMAN: Now sit you down and tell me all about it. For sure you are a good woman, but I see your burden has come not by your own choice.

They sit and gesture as Cunning Woman listens to Gwen tell her story during this song:

MUSICIANS/SINGERS: Solo voice to the tune of Barbara Allen:

My lover is a soldier boy 

And off to war so willing

But I’m a’feared he won’t return

From all that hate and killing.

When Roundheads came to Newbury town

We offered quarters willing

But the Cavaliers they stole it back

With fear and hate and killing

A lady rich and dressed so fine

With chests of coats oe’r spilling

Abandoned her child and ran away

For fear of hate and killing

I held the child right to my breast

His little eyes were filling

I thought it right and so took flight

To mind the hate and killing

And how I long for my own true love

And how my heart is swelling

To keep this child as kith and kin

And safe from hate and killing 

My loved one lives like a wild hedge rose

My soul ‘tis a bramble wire

Yet we shall grow to a true lover’s knot

With the rose twined round the briar.

Suddenly there are voices off from the searching soldiers.

SOLDIERS: [off] Bloody country weather. All your fault Bindweed! Let’s get out of it.

GWEN: Please don’t tell them about the child.

CUNNING WOMAN: You may be certain that us cunning folk can always "hold water in our mouths".