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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

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Lammikin

LAMKIN—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.
[OMITTED]

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.’