Chapter XXII: Appendix (17)

#A# was given from the manuscript by Jamieson "verbatim," that is, with a few slight variations; the first stanza earlier, in the Scots Magazine, October, 1803, p. 700.

For the ring (chain, #A# 7) that makes a man invulnerable, and that which indicates by the discoloration of the stone that his love is dead or untrue, see 'Hind Horn,' I, 200 f; for the vows in #A# 3, 4, #B# 3, 'Clerk Saunders,' at p. 156 f of this volume.[148] The like vows are adopted into a song called 'The Lowlands of Holland,' found in Herd's MSS, I, 97, and inserted in his Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 2; a fragment, but all that concerns us.[149]

1
'My love has built a bony ship, and set her on the sea,
With seven score good mariners to bear her company;
There's three score is sunk, and three score dead at sea,
And the Lowlands of Holland has twin'd my love and me.

2
'My love he built another ship, and set her on the main,
And nane but twenty mariners for to bring her hame;
But the weary wind began to rise, and the sea began to rout,
My love then and his bonny ship turnd withershins about.

3
'There shall neither coif come on my head nor comb come in my hair;
There shall neither coal nor candle-light shine in my bower mair;
Nor will I love another one until the day I die,
For I never lovd a love but one, and he's drowned in the sea.'

4
'O had your tongue, my daughter dear, be still and be content;
There are mair lads in Galloway, ye neen nae sair lament:'
'O there is none in Gallow, there's none at a' for me,
For I never lovd a love but one, and he's drowned in the sea.'

* * * * *

A

Alexander Fraser Tytler's Brown MS., No 6.

1
By Arthur's Dale as late I went
I heard a heavy moan;
I heard a ladie lammenting sair,
And ay she cried Ohone!

2
'Ohon, alas! what shall I do,
Tormented night and day!
I never loved a love but ane,
And now he's gone away.

3
'But I will do for my true-love
What ladies woud think sair;
For seven year shall come and go
Ere a kaim gang in my hair.

4
'There shall neither a shoe gang on my foot,
Nor a kaim gang in my hair,
Nor eer a coal nor candle-light
Shine in my bower nae mair.'

5
She thought her love had been on the sea,
Fast sailling to Bee Hom;
But he was in a quiet chamer,
Hearing his ladie's moan.

6
'Be husht, be husht, my ladie dear,
I pray thee mourn not so;
For I am deep sworn on a book
To Bee Hom for to go.'

7
She has gien him a chain of the beaten gowd,
And a ring with a ruby stone:
'As lang as this chain your body binds,
Your blude can never be drawn.

8
'But gin this ring shoud fade or fail,
Or the stone shoud change its hue,
Be sure your love is dead and gone,
Or she has proved untrue.'

9
He had no been at Bonny Bee Hom
A twelve month and a day,
Till, looking on his gay gowd ring,
The stone grew dark and gray.

10
'O ye take my riches to Bee Hom,
And deal them presentlie,
To the young that canna, the auld that maunna,
And the blind that does not see.'

11
Now death has come into his bower,
And split his heart in twain;
So their twa souls flew up to heaven,
And there shall ever remain.

B

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 169.

1
In Lauderdale I chanc'd to walk,
And heard a lady's moan,
Lamenting for her dearest dear,
And aye she cried, Ohon!

2
'Sure never a maid that eer drew breath
Had harder fate than me;
I'd never a lad but one on earth,
They forc'd him to the sea.

3
'The ale shall neer be brewin o malt,
Neither by sea nor land,
That ever mair shall cross my hause,
Till my love comes to hand.

4
'A handsome lad, wi shoulders broad,
Gold yellow was his hair;
None of our Scottish youths on earth
That with him could compare.'

5
She thought her love was gone to sea,
And landed in Bahome;
But he was in a quiet chamber,
Hearing his lady's moan.

6
'Why make ye all this moan, lady?
Why make ye all this moan?
For I'm deep sworn on a book,
I must go to Bahome.

7
'Traitors false for to subdue
Oer seas I'll make me boun,
That have trepand our kind Scotchmen,
Like dogs to ding them down.'

8
'Weell, take this ring, this royal thing,
Whose virtue is unknown;
As lang's this ring's your body on,
Your blood shall neer be drawn.

9
'But if this ring shall fade or stain,
Or change to other hue,
Come never mair to fair Scotland,
If ye're a lover true.'

10
Then this couple they did part,
With a sad heavy moan;
The wind was fair, the ship was rare,
They landed in Bahome.

11
But in that place they had not been
A month but barely one,
Till he lookd on his gay gold ring,
And riven was the stone.

12
Time after this was not expir'd
A month but scarcely three,
Till black and ugly was the ring,
And the stone was burst in three.

13
'Fight on, fight on, you merry men all,
With you I'll fight no more;
I will gang to some holy place,
Pray to the King of Glore.'

14
Then to the chapel he is gone,
And knelt most piteouslie,
For seven days and seven nights,
Till blood ran frae his knee.

15
'Ye'll take my jewels that's in Bahome,
And deal them liberallie,
To young that cannot, and old that mannot,
The blind that does not see.

16
'Give maist to women in child-bed laid,
Can neither fecht nor flee;
I hope she's in the heavens high,
That died for love of me.'

17
The knights they wrang their white fingers,
The ladies tore their hair;
The women that neer had children born,
In swoon they down fell there.

18
But in what way the knight expir'd,
No tongue will eer declare;
So this doth end my mournful song,
From me ye'll get nae mair.

* * * * *

#A.#

10^3.
To the young that canna
The auld that that maunna.

#B.#

11^3. Till they.

12^4. And stone.

[148] Also 'Bonny Molly Stewart,' Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs, 1859, p. 128, and the Reply to 'Cromlet's Lilt,' Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs, Historical and Traditionary, 1868, II, 59.

[149] There are six double stanzas in Johnson's Museum, p. 118, to which Stenhouse, IV, 115, adds a concluding one, the fourth of Herd's. "This ballad," Stenhouse was informed, "was composed about the beginning of the last century by a young widow in Galloway, whose husband was drowned on a voyage to Holland." His authority was probably traditional, and all the information except the date, and, to be accurate, the widowhood, is found in the song itself. Motherwell, Minstrelsy, Introduction, p. lxxii, note 37, observes that neither Herd's nor Johnson's copy is so full "as one which may occasionally be met with in stall editions published about sixty years ago:" 1827. Logan, who prints two vulgar versions, or rather perversions, in which a bridegroom is pressed into the king's sea-service on the night of his marriage, Pedlar's Pack, p. 22, says: "A more lengthened version of the same ballad in the Scotch dialect will be found in Book First of A Selection of Scots Songs, Harmonised.... By Peter Urbani, Professor of Music, Edinburgh, circa 1794." Christie, I, 236, says that 'The Lowlands of Holland' was sung in his father's family, in Aberdeenshire, as far back as the middle of the last century. Herd's copy is translated by Talvj, Charakeristik, p. 594.

93

LAMKIN

#A.# 'Lamkin,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 176.

#B.# 'Lambert Linkin,' Motherwell's MS., p. 15;
Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 290.

#C.# 'Lamerlinkin,' Motherwell's MS., p. 9.

#D.# 'Bold Rankin,' Maidment's New Book of Old Ballads,
p. 73; Whitelaw's Book of Scottish Ballads, p. 246, V.

#E.# 'Lambkin,' Kinloch MSS, V, 246; retouched by
Kinloch, II, 27.

#F.# 'Long Lankyn.' #a.# Notes and Queries, Second
Series, II, 324. #b.# Notes and Queries, Fourth Series,
II, 281.

#G.# 'Long Lonkin,' Richardson's Borderer's Table Book,
1846, VIII, 410; Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1835,
p. 11.

#H.# 'Bauld Rankin,' Kinloch MSS, I, 306.

#I.# Skene MSS, p. 75.

#J.# 'Lammikin,' Kinloch MSS, V, 371.

#K.# 'Long Longkin,' Percy Papers, communicated by Rev.
P. Parsons, 1775.

#L.# 'Lamkin,' Motherwell's MS., p. 14.

#M.# 'Cruel Lammikin.' #a.# Dr Joseph Robertson's
Note-Book, Adversaria, p. 60. #b.# Kinloch MSS, VI, 31.

#N.# 'Lamkin,' Dr Joseph Robertson's Note-Book, Journal
of Excursions, No 2.

#O.# 'Lammikin,' Kinloch MSS, V, 375.

#P.# 'Lammikin,' Herd's MSS, I, 25; Herd's Scottish
Songs, 1776, I, 145.

#Q.# 'Lammikin,' Finlay's Scottish Ballads, II, 45.

#R.# 'Lammikin,' Finlay's Scottish Ballads, II, 55.

#S.# 'Lambkin,' Motherwell's Note-Book, fol. 13.

#T.# Recited by Ellen Healy, as sung by a woman living
near Killarney.

#U.# 'Lamkin.' #a.# Allingham's Ballad Book, p. xxxiii.
#b.# The same, p. 297, No 56.

#V.# Harris MS., No 28, fol. 27b.

'Lammikin: an Old Scotch Ballad,' Aberdeen, Lewis and James Smith, 1862, said to be edited by the Rev. Dr John Burnett Pratt, Episcopal minister at Cruden, Aberdeenshire, is made up of #A#, #B#, #P#, #Q#, #R#, with such alterations as seemed good to the editor, and a few interpolated stanzas.

'Long Lonkin,' edited by A. O. Bell, C. E., York, 1846 (Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, III, 93), I have not seen, but presume it to be a compounded copy.

The story is told without material variation in all the numerous versions. A mason has built a castle for a nobleman, cannot get his pay, and therefore seeks revenge. The name given the builder is Lamkin, #A#, #C#, #E#, #L#, #M#, #N#, #S#, #U#; Lammikin, #J#, #O#, #P#, #Q#; Lankin, Lonkin, #F b#, #G#, #I#; Lantin, #T#; Long Lankyn, or Long Longkin, #F a#, #G#, #K#; Rankin, #D#, #H#; Balankin, or Lambert Linkin, #B#; Balcanqual, #R#. That of the nobleman is Lord Wearie, Weire, #A#, #M#, #P#, #Q#, #U b#; Lord Earie, #N#; Erley, Earley, #J#; Murray, #I#; Arran, #C#; Montgomery, #E#; Cassilis, #S#; he is lord of Prime Castle, #B#. The lord, having occasion to leave his family, fears mischief from the man whom he has wronged, and enjoins his wife to keep the castle well fastened. Precautions are taken, but nevertheless his enemy effects an entrance through some aperture that has not been secured, #B#, #C#, #F#, #G#, #H#, #P#, #R#, #U b#, or by connivance with a nurse, #A#, #D#, #E#, #I#. Most of the servants are away. To get at the lady, Lamkin, as we may call him, by advice of the nurse inflicts some hurt on the babe in the cradle, stabbing it, or "nipping" it, and its cries bring the mother down. The lady proffers large sums of gold to save her life, but Lamkin does not care for gold now. He gloats over his opportunity, and bids the nurse, or a maid-servant, or even one of the daughters of the house, to scour a silver bason to hold the lady's noble blood. The lord has a presentiment of calamity at home, and, returning, finds his house red with the blood of his wife and child. Lamkin is hanged, #B#, #F#, #I#, or burned, #C#, #H#, or boiled in a pot full of lead, #D#. The nurse is burned, #A#, #B#, #D#, #F#, #H#, or hanged, #C#, #Q#, or boiled in a caldron, #I#.[150]

In #K#, the oldest version, except perhaps #P#, which is greatly inferior, Lady Betty is called down by Longkin to see her mother's blood running, then Lady Nelly to see her sister's blood running, Lady Jenny to see Lady Nelly's, etc. In #F#, #T#, the mother, very unnaturally, offers Lamkin her daughter as wife, in ransom of her own life. In #C#, #D#, a servant offers her life for her lady; in #D#, #G#, #K#, a daughter for her mother.

Motherwell remarks, p. lxx of his Minstrelsy, note 27: "There is a 'Lambirkyns wod' near Dupplin, in Perthshire. Can this have got its name from the cruel mason who the ballad assures us 'lived in the wode'? If so, it must be very ancient. It is localized, too, I believe, at Balwearie, in Fifeshire; but there are few places where the ballad is remembered but which have also some ancient edifice in the neighborhood reared by the hands of Lammikin.[151] Indeed, it seems questionable how some Scottish lairds could well afford to get themselves seated in the large castles they once occupied unless they occasionally treated the mason after the fashion adopted in this ballad." And again, at p. 291: "There can be little doubt that the epithet Linkin Mr Lambert acquired from the secrecy and address with which he insinuated him into that notable strength [Prime Castle]. Indeed, all the names of Lammerlinkin, Lammikin, Lamkin, Lankin, Linkin, Belinkin, can easily be traced out as abbreviations of Lambert Linkin." It might be inferred, however, from the mason's seemingly resentful inquiry in #A# 8-11, #J# 3-6, Where's the men, women, bairns, lady, that call me Lamkin? that the view in these particular versions was that Lamkin was a sobriquet applied in derision of the meekness with which the builder had submitted to his injury. Linkin, it will be observed, occurs only in #B#, and it is far more likely that Lamkin, or Lammikin, which is found in a full dozen copies, is a simply ironical designation for the bloody mason, the terror of countless nurseries.[152]

* * * * *

#A# is translated by Talvj, Versuch, etc., p. 571; Allingham's ballad by Knortz, Lieder und Romanzen Alt-Englands, p. 162.

A

Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 176, communicated by Mrs
Brown.

1
It's Lamkin was a mason good
as ever built wi stane;
He built Lord Wearie's castle,
but payment got he nane.

2
'O pay me, Lord Wearie,
come, pay me my fee:'
'I canna pay you, Lamkin,
for I maun gang oer the sea.'

3
'O pay me now, Lord Wearie,
come, pay me out o hand:'
'I canna pay you, Lamkin,
unless I sell my land.'

4
'O gin ye winna pay me,
I here sall mak a vow,
Before that ye come hame again,
ye sall hae cause to rue.'

5
Lord Wearie got a bonny ship,
to sail the saut sea faem;
Bade his lady weel the castle keep,
ay till he should come hame.

6
But the nourice was a fause limmer
as eer hung on a tree;
She laid a plot wi Lamkin,
whan her lord was oer the sea.

7
She laid a plot wi Lamkin,
when the servants were awa,
Loot him in at a little shot-window,
and brought him to the ha.

8
'O whare's a' the men o this house,
that ca me Lamkin?'
'They're at the barn-well thrashing;
'twill be lang ere they come in.'

9
And whare's the women o this house,
that ca me Lamkin?'
'They're at the far well washing;
'twill be lang ere they come in.'

10
'And whare's the bairns o this house,
that ca me Lamkin?'
'They're at the school reading;
'twill be night or they come hame.'

11
'O whare's the lady o this house,
that ca's me Lamkin?'
'She's up in her bower sewing,
but we soon can bring her down.'

12
Then Lamkin's tane a sharp knife,
that hang down by his gaire,
And he has gien the bonny babe
a deep wound and a sair.

13
Then Lamkin he rocked,
and the fause nourice sang,
Till frae ilkae bore o the cradle
the red blood out sprang.

14
Then out it spak the lady,
as she stood on the stair:
'What ails my bairn, nourice,
that he's greeting sae sair?

15
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the pap!'
'He winna still, lady,
for this nor for that.'

16
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the wand!'
'He winna still, lady,
for a' his father's land.'

17
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the bell!'
'He winna still, lady,
till ye come down yoursel.'

18
O the firsten step she steppit,
she steppit on a stane;
But the neisten step she steppit,
she met him Lamkin.

19
'O mercy, mercy, Lamkin,
hae mercy upon me!
Though you've taen my young son's life,
ye may let mysel be.'

20
'O sall I kill her, nourice,
or sall I lat her be?'
'O kill her, kill her, Lamkin,
for she neer was good to me.'

21
'O scour the bason, nourice,
and mak it fair and clean,
For to keep this lady's heart's blood,
for she's come o noble kin.'

22
'There need nae bason, Lamkin,
lat it run through the floor;
What better is the heart's blood
o the rich than o the poor?'

23
But ere three months were at an end,
Lord Wearie came again;
But dowie, dowie was his heart
when first he came hame.

24
'O wha's blood is this,' he says,
'that lies in the chamer?'
'It is your lady's heart's blood;
'tis as clear as the lamer.'

25
'And wha's blood is this,' he says,
'that lies in my ha?'
'It is your young son's heart's blood;
'tis the clearest ava.'

26
O sweetly sang the black-bird
that sat upon the tree;
But sairer grat Lamkin,
when he was condemnd to die.

27
And bonny sang the mavis,
out o the thorny brake;
But sairer grat the nourice,
when she was tied to the stake.

B

Motherwell's MS., p. 15; from the recitation of Mrs
Thomson, Kilbarchan, February 25, 1825.

1
Balankin was as gude a mason
as eer picked a stane;
He built up Prime Castle,
but payment gat nane.

2
The lord said to his lady,
when he was going abroad,
O beware of Balankin,
for he lyes in the wood.

3
The gates they were bolted,
baith outside and in;
At the sma peep of a window
Balankin crap in.

4
'Good morrow, good morrow,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Good morrow to yoursell, sir,'
said the false nurse to him.

5
'O where is your good lord?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'He's awa to New England,
to meet with his king.'

6
'O where is his auld son?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'He's awa to buy pearlings,
gin our lady lye in.'

7
'Then she'll never wear them,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'And that is nae pity,'
said the false nurse to him.

8
'O where is your lady?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'She's in her bower sleeping,'
said the false nurse to him.

9
'How can we get at her?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Stab the babe to the heart,
wi a silver bokin.'

10
'That would be a pity,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'No pity, no pity,'
said the false nurse to him.

11
Balankin he rocked,
and the false nurse she sang,
Till all the tores of the cradle
wi the red blood down ran.

12
'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the knife!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
tho I lay doun my life.'

13
'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the kame!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
till his daddy come hame.'

14
'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the bell!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
till ye come doun yoursell.'

15
'It's how can I come down,
this cauld winter nicht,
Without eer a coal,
or a clear candle-licht?'

16
'There's two smocks in your coffer,
as white as a swan;
Put one of them about you,
it will shew you licht down.'

17
She took ane o them about her,
and came tripping doun;
But as soon as she viewed,
Balankin was in.

18
'Good morrow, good morrow,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Good morrow to yoursell, sir,'
said the lady to him.

19
'O save my life, Balankin,
till my husband come back,
And I'll gie you as much red gold
as you'll hold in your hat.'

20
'I'll not save your life, lady,
till your husband come back,
Tho you would give me as much red gold
as I could hold in a sack.

21
'Will I kill her?' quo Balankin,
'will I kill her, or let her be?'
'You may kill her,' said the false nurse,
'she was neer good to me;
And ye'll be laird of the castle,
and I'll be ladie.'

22
Then he cut aff her head
fram her lily breast-bane,
And he hung't up in the kitchen,
it made a' the ha shine.

23
The lord sat in England,
a drinking the wine:
'I wish a' may be weel
with my lady at hame;
For the rings of my fingers
the're now burst in twain!'

24
He saddled his horse,
and he came riding doun,
But as soon as he viewed,
Balankin was in.

25
He had na weel stepped
twa steps up the stair,
Till he saw his pretty young son
lying dead on the floor.

26
He had not weel stepped
other twa up the stair,
Till he saw his pretty lady
lying dead in despair.

27
He hanged Balankin
out over the gate,
And he burnt the fause nurice,
being under the grate.

C

Motherwell's MS., p. 9: from Edward King, weaver,
Kilbarchan, taken from the recitation of his mother, an
old woman.

1
Lamerlinkin, as gude a mason
as eer laid a stane,
Built a house to Lord Arran,
but entrance had nane.

2
Says the lord to his lady,
when going abroad,
Take care of Lamerlinkin,
wha bides in the wood.

3
'I care not for Lamkin,
nor none of his kin;
My house is plastered outside,
and bolted within.'

4
The gates they were locked,
baith outside and in,
But there was a wee hole
that let Lamkin creep in.

5
'Good woman, good woman,'
said Lamerlinkin:
'Good woman, good woman,'
said the fause nurse to him.

6
'Where's the lord o this house?
is he not within?'
'He's up in Old England,
he's dining wi the king.'

7
'Where's the lady of this house?
or is she not within?'
'She's up in her high room,
and cannot come down.'

8
'Where is the maids o this house?
or are they not within?'
'They are at the well washing,
and cannot get in.'

9
'Where is the men o this house?
or are they not within?'
'They are at the barn threshing,
and cannot win hame.'

10
'O what will I do,
to mak her come doun?'
'We'll kill her auld son,
to mak her come doun.'

11
He took out a pen-knife,
baith pointed and sharp,
And he stabbed the babie
three times in the heart.

12
Lamerlinkin did rock,
and the fause nurse did sing;
Ower the four-cornered cradle
the red blood did spring.

13
'O please my babie, nurse,
O please him wi wands!'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
for a' his father's lands.'

14
'O please my babie, nurse,
O please him wi keys!'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
let me do what I please.'

15
'O please my babie, nurse,
O please him with bells!'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
till you come down yoursell.

16
'How can I come doun
this cold frosty night,
Without coal or candle
for to shew me light?'

17
'The gold rings on your finger
are bright as the sun;
You may see to cum doun the stair
with the light o them.'

18
O then she came doun the stair,
stepping step by step;
So ready was Lamkin
to grip her in his lap.

19
'Save my life, Lamkin,
till five minutes break,
And I'll give thee gold,
the fu o a peck.'

20
'I'll no save your life,
till five minutes break,
Tho thou should give me gold,
the fu of a sack.'

21
'O Jeany, O Jeany,
O scour the bason clean,
That your lady's noble blood
may be kepped clean.'

22
'O no, no, no, Lambkin,
my heart will be sare;
O take my life, Lambkin,
let my lady go.'

* * * * * * *

23
He sent for the false nurse,
to give her her fee;
All the fee that he gave her
was to hang her on a tree.

24
He sent for Lamerlinkin,
to give him his hire;
All the hire that he gave him
was to burn him in the fire.

D

Maidment's New Book of Old Ballads, p. 73, No XX;
Whitelaw's Book of Scottish Ballads, p. 246, No V: from
a manuscript copy, in the possession of W. H. Logan,
Edinburgh, derived from oral tradition.

1
Said the lord to his lady,
Beware of Rankin;
For I am going to England,
to wait on the king.

2
'No fears, no fears,'
said the lady, said she,
'For the doors shall be bolted,
and the windows pindee.

3
'Go bar all the windows,
both outside and in;
Don't leave a window open,
to let Bold Rankin in.'

4
She has barred all the windows,
both outside and in;
But she left one of them open,
to let Bold Rankin in.

5
'O where is the master of this house?'
said Bold Rankin;
'He's up in Old England,'
said the false nurse to him.

6
'O where is the mistress of this house?'
said Bold Rankin;
'She's up in the chamber sleeping,'
said the false nurse to him.

7
'O how shall we get her down?'
said Bold Rankin;
'By piercing the baby,'
said the false nurse to him.

8
'Go please the baby, nursy,
O go please it with a bell;'
'It will not be pleased, madam,
till you come down yoursel.'

9
'How can I come down stairs,
so late into the night,
Without coal or candle,
to shew me the light?

10
'There is a silver bolt
lies on the chest-head;
Give it to the baby,
give it sweet milk and bread.'

11
She rammed the silver bolt
up the baby's nose,
Till the blood it came trinkling
down the baby's fine clothes.

12
'Go please the baby, nursie,
go please it with the bell:'
'It will not please, madam,
till you come down yoursel.

13
'It will neither please with breast-milk,
nor yet with pap;
But I pray, loving lady,
Come and roll it in your lap.'

14
The first step she stepit,
she steppit on a stone;
And the next step she stepit,
she met Bold Rankin.

15
'O Rankin, O Rankin,
spare me till twelve o'clock,
And I will give you as many guineas
as you can carry on your back.'

16
'What care I for as many guineas
as seeds into a sack,
When I cannot keep my hands off
your lily-white neck?'

17
'O will I kill her, nursie,
or let her abee?'
'O kill her,' said the false nurse,
'she was never good to me.'

18
'Go scour the bason, lady,
both outside and in,
To hold your mother's heart's blood,
sprung from a noble kin.'

19
'To hold my mother's heart's blood
would make my heart full woe;
O rather kill me, Rankin,
and let my mother go.'

20
'Go scour the bason, servants,
both outside and in,
To hold your lady's heart's blood,
sprung from a noble kin.'

21
'To hold my lady's heart's blood
would make my heart full woe;
O rather kill me, Rankin,
and let my lady go.'

22
'Go scour the bason, nursy,
both outside and in,
To hold your lady's heart's blood,
sprung from a noble kin.'

23
'To hold my lady's heart's blood
would make my heart full glad;
Ram in the knife, Bold Rankin,
and gar the blood to shed.

24
'She's none of my comrades,
she's none of my kin;
Ram in the knife, Bold Rankin,
and gar the blood rin.'

25
'O will I kill her, nursy,
or let her abee?'
'O kill her,' said the false nurse,
'she was never good to me.'

* * * * * * *

26
'I wish my wife and family
may be all well at home;
For the silver buttons of my coat
they will not stay on.'

27
As Betsy was looking
oer her window so high,
She saw her dear father
come riding by.

28
'O father, dear father,
don't put the blame on me
It was false nurse and Rankin
that killed your lady.'

29
O was n't that an awful sight,
when he came to the stair,
To see his fairest lady
lie bleeding there!

30
The false nurse was burnt
on the mountain hill-head,
And Rankin was boiled
in a pot full of lead.

E

Kinloch MSS, V, 246, from Mary Barr.

1
Lambkin was as good a mason
as ever laid stone;
He builded Lord Montgomery's castle,
but payment got none.

2
He builded the castle
without and within;
But he left an open wake
for himself to get in.

3
Lord Montgomery said to his lady,
when he went abroad,
Take care of Bold Lambkin,
for he is in the wood.

4
'Gar bolt the gate, nourice,
without and within,
Leave not the wake open,
to let Bold Lambkin in.'

5
She bolted the gates,
without and within,
But she left the wake open,
to let Bold Lambkin in.

6
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
says Bold Lambkin then;
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
says the false nurse to him.

7
'Where is Lord Montgomery?
or where is he gone?'
'He is gone up to England,
to wait on the king.'

8
'Where are the servants?
and where are they gone?'
'They are all up to England,
to wait upon him.'

9
'Where is your lady?
or where is she gone?'
'She is in her bower sitting,
and sewing her seam.'

10
'O what shall we do
for to make her come down?'
'We'll kill the pretty baby,
that's sleeping so sound.'

11
Lambkin he rocked,
and the false nurse she sung,
And she stabbed the babe to the heart
with a silver bodkin.

12
'O still my babe, nourice,
O still him with the pap:'
'He'll no be stilled, madam,
for this nor for that.'

13
'O still my babe, nourice,
go still him with the keys:'
'He'll no be stilled, madam,
let me do what I please.'

14
'O still my babe, nourice,
go still him with the bell:'
'He'll no be stilled, madam,
till you come down yoursel.'

15
'How can I come down,
this cold winter night,
When there's neither coal burning,
nor yet candle-light?'

16
'The sark on your back
is whiter than the swan;
Come down the stair, lady,
by the light of your hand.'

17
The lady she cam down
the stair trip for trap;
Who so ready as Bold Lambkin
to meet her in the dark?

18
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
said Bold Lambkin then;
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
said the lady to him.

19
'O where is Lord Montgomery?
or where is he gone?'
'O he is up to England,
to wait on the king.'

20
'O where are your servants?
or where are they gone?'
'They are all up to England,
to wait upon him.

21
'I'll give you as much gold, Lambkin,
as you'll put in a peck,
If you'll spare my life
till my lord comes back.'

22
'Tho you would [give] me as much
as I could put in a sack,
I would not spare thy life
till thy lord comes back.'

23
Lord Montgomery sate in England,
drinking with the king;
The buttons flew off his coat,
all in a ring.

24
'God prosper, God prosper
my lady and son!
For before I get home
they will all be undone.'

F

#a.# Notes and Queries, Second Series, II, 324, as sung
by a nurse nearly a century ago [1856] in Northumberland.
#b.# Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, II, p. 281, from
Northamptonshire, communicated by Mr B. H. Cowper.

1
Said my lord to his ladye,
as he mounted his horse, (_bis_)
Take care of Long Lankyn,
who lies in the moss. (_bis_)

2
Said my lord to his ladye,
as he rode away,
Take care of Long Lankyn,
who lies in the clay.

3
Let the doors be all bolted,
and the windows all pinned,
And leave not a hole
for a mouse to creep in.

4
Then he kissed his fair ladye,
and he rode away;
He must be in London
before break of day.

5
The doors were all bolted,
and the windows were pinned,
All but one little window,
where Long Lankyn crept in.

6
'Where is the lord of this house?'
said Long Lankyn:
'He is gone to fair London,'
said the false nurse to him.

7
'Where is the ladye of this house?'
said Long Lankyn:
'She's asleep in her chamber,'
said the false nurse to him.

8
'Where is the heir of this house?'
said Long Lankyn:
'He's asleep in his cradle,'
said the false nurse to him.

* * * * * * *

9
'We'll prick him, and prick him,
all over with a pin,
And that will make your ladye
to come down to him.'

10
So he pricked him and pricked,
all over with a pin,
And the nurse held a basin
for the blood to run in.

11
'Oh nurse, how you sleep!
Oh nurse, how you snore!'
And you leave my little son Johnstone
to cry and to roar.'

12
'I've tried him with suck,
and I've tried him with pap;
So come down, my fair ladye,
and nurse him in your lap.'

13
'Oh nurse, how you sleep!
Oh nurse, how you snore!
And you leave my little son Johnstone
to cry and to roar.'

14
'I've tried him with apples,
I've tried him with pears;
So come down, my fair ladye,
and rock him in your chair.'

15
'How can I come down,
'tis so late in the night,
When there's no candle burning,
nor fire to give light?'

16
'You have three silver mantles
as bright as the sun;
So come down, my fair ladye,
by the light of one.'

* * * * * * *

17
'Oh spare me, Long Lankyn,
oh spare me till twelve o'clock,
You shall have as much gold
as you can carry on your back.'

18
'If I had as much gold
as would build me a tower,'
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

19
'Oh spare me, Long Lankyn,
oh spare me one hour,
You shall have my daughter Betsy,
she is a sweet flower.'

20
'Where is your daughter Betsy?
she may do some good;
She can hold the silver basin,
to catch your heart's blood.'

* * * * * * *

21
Lady Betsy was sitting
in her window so high,
And she saw her father,
as he was riding by.

22
'Oh father, oh father,
don't lay the blame on me;
'Twas the false nurse and Long Lankyn
that killed your ladye.'

* * * * * * *

23
Then Long Lankyn was hanged
on a gallows so high,
And the false nurse was burnt
in a fire just by.

G

Richardson's Borderer's Table Book, VIII, 410, 1846,
communicated by Mrs Blackett, Newcastle, as taken
down from the recitation of an old woman of Ovington,
Northumberland, "several years ago;" previously in
Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1835, p. 11.

1
The lord said to his ladie,
as he mounted his horse,
Beware of Long Lonkin,
that lies in the moss.

2
The lord said to his ladie,
as he rode away,
Beware of Long Lonkin,
that lies in the clay.

3
'What care I for Lonkin,
or any of his gang?
My doors are all shut,
and my windows penned in.'

4
There were six little windows,
and they were all shut,
But one little window,
and that was forgot.

5
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
And at that little window
long Lonkin crept in.

6
'Where's the lord of the hall?'
says the Lonkin:
'He's gone up to London,'
says Orange to him.

7
'Where's the men of the hall?'
says the Lonkin:
'They're at the field ploughing,'
says Orange to him.

8
'Where's the maids of the hall?'
says the Lonkin:
'They're at the well washing,'
says Orange to him.

9
'Where's the ladies of the hall?'
says the Lonkin:
'They're up in their chambers,'
says Orange to him.

10
'How shall we get them down?'
says the Lonkin:
'Prick the babe in the cradle,'
says Orange to him.

11
'Rock well my cradle,
and bee-ba my son;
You shall have a new gown
when the lord he comes home.'

12
Still she did prick it,
and bee-ba she cried:
'Come down, dearest mistress,
and still your own child.'

13
'Oh still my child, Orange,
still him with a bell:'
'I can't still him, ladie,
till you come down yoursell.'

* * * * * * *

14
'Hold the gold basin,
for your heart's blood to run in,'
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

15
'To hold the gold basin,
it grieves me full sore;
Oh kill me, dear Lonkin,
and let my mother go.'

H

Kinloch MSS, I, 306.

1
Bauld Rankin was as gude a mason
as eer biggit wi stane;
He has biggit a bonny castle,
but siller he gat nane.

* * * * * * *

2
'Gae bar the gates,' the lady said,
'gae bar them out and in;
Leave not a door open,
lest Rankin should come in.'

3
They've bard them on the outer side,
sae hae they on the in;
But left the cellar-door open,
and Bauld Rankin crap in.

4
'Where's a' the women o the house?'
says Bauld Rankin:
'They're at the well washing,'
says the fause nurse to him.

5
'Where's a' the men of this house?'
says the Bauld Rankin:
'They are at the barn thrashing,'
says the fause nurse to him.

6
'Where's the lady of this house?'
says the Bauld Rankin:
'She's in the chamber, sleeping,'
says the fause nurse to him.

7
'How will we get her wakent?
how will we get her down?'
'We'll pierce the baby's heart's blood,'
says the fause nurse to him.

* * * * * * *

8
'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come please it wi the keys:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
tho I'll down on my knees.'

9
'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come, please it wi the knife:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
should I lay down my life.'

10
'Come, please the babe, nurse,
come, please it wi the bell:'
'It'll no be pleased, madam,
till ye come down yoursel.'

11
'How can I come down, how can I come,
sae late in the night,
And neither coal nor candle,
for to shew me light?'

12
The first step she steppit,
she steppit on a stane;
The next step she steppit,
she met the Bauld Rankin.

13
'O spare my life, Rankin,
O spare it most dear!
I'll gie you as monie guineas
as birds in the air.

14
'O spare my life, Rankin,
O save it most sweet!
I'll gie you as monie guineas
as there's stanes in the street.'

* * * * * * *

15
'I wish my wife and bairns
may be all well at hame;
For the buttons on my waistcoat
they winna bide on.

16
'I wish my wife and family
may be all well at home;
For the rings upon my fingers
they winna bide on.'

* * * * * * *

17
He has kindled a big bane-fire,
in the middle o the closs,
And he has burned Bauld Rankin,
likewise the fause nurse.

I

Skene MSS, p. 75, North of Scotland, 1802-03.

1
Lanckin was as guid a mason
as ever did use stane;
He biggit Lord Murray's house,
an payment neer got nane.

2
It fell ance on a day
Lord Murray went frae hame,
An Lankin came to the fause nourice,
. . . . . . .

* * * * * * *

3
'O still my bairn, nourice,
still him wi the knife:'
'He winna still, lady,
Tho I should lay down my life.'

4
'O still my bairn, nurice,
still him wi the bell:'
'He winna still, lady,
till ye come down yersel.'

5
The first [step she steppit],
she came on the marble stane;
The next step [she steppit],
she met him Lankin.

6
'O spare my life, Lankin,
an I'll gie ye a peck o goud;
An that dinna please ye,
I'll heap it wi my hand.'

7
'O will I kill the lady, nurice,
or will I lat her be?'
'O kill her, Lankin,
she was never guid to me.'

8
'O wanted ye yer meat, nurice?
or wanted ye yer fee?
Or wanted ye the othir bounties
ladys are wont to gie?'

9
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
'O kill her, Lankin,
she was never guid to me.'

10
'Gae wash a bason, nurice,
an ye wash it clean,
To cape this ladie's blood;
she is come o high kine.'

11
'I winna wash a bason,
nor will I wash it clean,
To cape this ladie's blood,
tho she's come o high kine.'

* * * * * * *

12
Bonny sang yon bird,
as he sat upon the tree,
But sare grat Lankin,
for he was hangit hie.

13
Bonny sang the bird,
that sat upon the hill,
But sare grat the nurice,
whan the caudron gan to boil.

14
. . . . . . .
Lankin was hangit hie,
And the fause nourice burnt
in the caudron was she.

J

Kinloch MSS, V, 371, in the handwriting of Dr John Hill
Burton.

1
O Lammikin was as good a mason
as ever bigget stane;
He's bigget Lord Erley's castle,
but money he got nane.

2
It fell out upon a time
Lord Earley went from home;
He left his lady in his castle,
but and his young son.

* * * * * * *

3
'Where is the lord o this house,
that calls me Lammikin?'
'He's on the sea sailing,
he will not come home.'

4
'Where are the men o this house,
that call me Lammikin?'
'They are at the barn threshing,
they will not come in.'

5
'Where are the maids of this house,
that call me Lammikin?'
'They are at the well washing,
they will not come in.'

6
'Where is the lady o this house,
that calls me Lammikin?'
'She's in her room shewing,
she will not come down.'

7
'How shall we contrive
for to make her come down?'
'We'll stick her dear infant,
and make her come down.'

8
O Lammikin he rocket,
and the fause nurice sung,
While out o the cradle
the infant's blude sprung.

9
'O still my bairn, nurice,'
the lady did cry:
'He will not still, lady,
for you nor for I.'

10
'O still my bairn, nurice,
still him wi the wan:'
'He will not still, lady,
for a' his father's lan.'

11
'Oh still my bairn, nurice,
still him wi the keys:'
'Oh he winna still, lady,
for a' his father's leys.'

12
'Oh still my bairn, nurice,
still him wi the bell:'
'Oh he winna still, lady,
till ye come down yersell.'

13
The firsten step that lady stepped,
it was upon a stone;
The nexten step that lady stepped,
she saw him Lammikin.

14
The nexten step that lady stepped
was in her own child's blood,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

* * * * * * *

15
'Oh will I kill her, nurice,
or will I let her be?'
'Kill her, dear Lammikin,
she was never gude to me.'

16
'Oh wanted you meat, nurice?
or wanted you fee?
Or wanted you anything
that a lady can gie?'

17
'I wanted no meat, lady,
nor wanted I fee,
But I wanted mony a thing
that a lady could gie.'

* * * * * * *

K

Communicated to Percy by Rev. P. Parsons, of Wye, near
Ashford, Kent, April 19, 1775.

1
My lord said to my lady,
when he went from home,
Take care of Long Longkin,
he lies in the lone.

2
My lady said to my lord,
when he went abroad,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

3
'I care not for Longkin,
nor none of his kin,
For my gate 's fast barrd,
and my windows shut in.'

4
My lord was not gone
many miles from the place,
Untill the false Longkin
came straight to the place.

* * * * * * *

5
'Pinch the bairn, nourry,
pinch it very sore,
Untill the mother
shall come down below.'

6
'Still the bairn, nury,
still it with the pap:'
'It wont be stilld, madam,
with neither this nor that.'

7
'Still the bairn, nury,
still it with a bell:'
'It wont be stilld, madam,
till you cum down yoursell.'

* * * * * * *

8
'Come down, Lady Betty,
the flower of all your kin,
And see your mother's heart's blood,
so freely running.

9
Down came Lady Betty,
her heart full of woe:
'Oh take my life, Longkin,
and let my mother go.'

10
'Come down, Lady Nelly,
the flower of all your kin,
And see your sister's heart's blood,
so freely running.'

11
Down came Lady Nelly,
her heart full of woe:
'Oh take my life, Longkin,
and let my sister go.'

12
'Come down, Lady Jenny, etc.

L

Motherwell's MS., p. 14, from Mr W. Steele, Greenock.

* * * * * * *

1
'O where's the men of this house?'
quo the Lamkin:
'They're in the barn threshing,'
quo the false nurse within.

2
'O where's the women of the house?'
quo the Lamkin:
'They're at the well washing,'
quo the false nurse within.

3
'O where's the lord of this house?'
quo the Lamkin:
'He's in the wood hunting,'
quo the false nurse within.

4
'O where's the lady of the house?'
quo the Lamkin:
'She's in her bower dressing,'
quo the false nurse within.

* * * * * * *

5
'O please my babie, nourrice,
O please him with the keys:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
let me do what I please.'

6
'O please my babie, nourrice,
O please him with the bell:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
till ye come down yoursell.'

* * * * * * *

7
There was blood in the chaumer,
and blood in the ha,
And blood in his ladie's room,
which he liked warst of a'.

* * * * * * *

M

#a.# Dr Joseph Robertson's Note-Book, Adversaria, p.
60, from tradition. #b.# Kinloch MSS, VI, 31, in Dr
Robertson's handwriting.

* * * * * * *

1
But it fell out upon a day
Lord Wearie was to gae frae hame,
And he has left his lady gay
In his castell to stay her lane.

* * * * * * *

2
Lamkin rocked,
and fausse nourice sang,
And a' the four tors o the cradle
red blood sprang.

3
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the wan:
'He winna still, lady,
for a' his father's lan.'

4
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the keys:
'He winna still, lady,
for a' his father's leys.'

5
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the pap:'
'He winna still, lady,
for this nor for that.'

6
'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the bell:'
'He winna still, lady,
untill ye cum down yersell.'

7
The firsten step she steppet,
she stepped on a stane,
And the nexten step she stepped,
she keppit him fause Lamkin.

8
The thirden step she steppit,
she saw her young son's red blood run on,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

9
'Ye've killed my bairn, Lamkin,
but lat mysell be;
Ye'se be as weel payit a mason
as was ever payd a fee.'

N

Dr Joseph Robertson's Journal of Excursions, 1828-29, No
2.

1
Lamkin was as gude a mason
as ever biggit stone;
He biggit Laird Earie's house,
and payment he got none.

2
O it fell ance upon a day
Laird Earie went from home,
And Lamkin came cravin
his lady alone.

3
'O far's the laird o this place?
O neerice, tell me:'
'He's on the sea sailin,
O Lamkin,' said she.

4
'O far's the lady o this place?
neerice, tell me:'
'She's up the stair dressin,
O Lamkin,' said she.

5
'O far's the bairns o this place?
neerice, tell me:'
'The're at the scheel...
O Lamkin,' said she.
'O will I get a word o her,
neerice?' said he.

* * * * * * *

6
The first step that lady steppet
she steppd on a stone;
The next step that lady stept
she met wi Lamkin.

* * * * * * *

7
Ere the basin was washen,
or haf made clean,
The ladie's heart-bleed
was rinnin in the reem.

O

Kinloch MSS, V, 375, from Mrs Forbes, Milne's Court,
Edinburgh, in the handwriting of Robert Chambers.

* * * * * * *

1
'You have two bright diamonds,
as bright as the stars,
Put one on each finger,
they'll show you doun stairs.'

2
The first step this lady took,
she dreaded no harm;
But the second step this lady took,
she was in Lammikin's arms.

3
'Will I kill her, nursie,
or will I let her be?'
'Oh yes, kill her, Lammikin,
she was never gude to me.'

4
'How can [ye] say so, nursie?
how can ye say so?
For your head neer did ache
but my heart it was sore.

5
'Oh spare my life, nursie,
oh spare my life, spare;
Ye'll have as mony gowd guineas
as there's birds in the air.

6
'Oh spare my life, nursie,
till my lord comes back;
Ye'll have as mony gowd guineas
as the fou of a sack.'

7
'Oh yes kill her and...
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

8
'Go scour the silver basin,
go scour it fine,
For our lady's heart's blude
is gentle to tine.

9
'Go scour the silver skewer,
oh scour it richt fine,
For our lady's heart's blude
is gentle to tine.'

P

Herd's MSS, I, 25.

1
A better mason than Lammikin
nevir builded wi the stane,
Wha builded Lord Weire's castill,
but wages nevir gat nane.

* * * * * * *

2
They stecked doors, they stecked yates,
close to the cheik and the chin;
They stecked them a' but a little wickit,
and Lammikin crap in.

3
'Now where's the lady of this castle?
nurse, tell to Lammikin:'
'She's sewing up intill her bowir,'
the fals nourrice she sung.

4
'What sall we do, what sall we say,
to gar her cum there down?'
'We'll nip the baby in the cradle,'
the fals nourrice she sung.

5
Lammikin nipped the bonie babe,
while loud fals nourice sings;
Lammikin nipped the bony babe,
while hich the red blude springs.

6
'O gentil nourice, please my babe,
O please him wi the keys:'
'He'll no be pleased, gay lady,
gin I'd sit on my knees.'

7
'Gude gentil nourice, please my babe,
O please him wi a knife:'
'He winna be pleased, mistress myne,
gin I wad lay down my lyfe.'

8
'Sweet nourice, loud, loud cries my babe,
O please him wi the bell:'
'He winna be pleased, gay lady,
till ye cum down yoursell.'

Q

Finlay's Scottish Ballads, II, 45.

1
Lammikin was as gude a mason
as ever hewed a stane;
He biggit Lord Weire's castle,
but payment gat he nane.

* * * * * * *

2
'Where are the lads o this castle?'
says the Lammikin:
'They are a' wi Lord Weire, hunting,'
the false nourice did sing.

3
'Where are the lasses o this castle?'
says the Lammikin:
'They are a' out at the washing,'
the false nourice did sing.

4
'But where's the lady o this house?'
says the Lammikin:
'She is in her bower sewing,'
the false nourice did sing.

5
'Is this the bairn o this house?'
says the Lammikin:
'The only bairn Lord Weire aughts,'
the false nourice did sing.

* * * * * * *

6
'Still my bairn, nourice,
O still him if ye can:'
'He will not still, madam,
for a' his father's lan.'

7
'O gentle nourice, still my bairn,
O still him wi the keys:'
'He will not still, fair lady,
let me do what I please.'

8
'O still my bairn, kind nourice,
O still him wi the ring:'
'He will not still, my lady,
let me do any thing.'

* * * * * * *