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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

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Bloody Lambkin

LAMKIN—W

[_]

communicated by Mr Macmath as derived from his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, who learned it from her aunt, Minnie Spark, Kirkcudbrightshire.

[OMITTED]

1

And it was weel built,
without and within,
Except a little hole,
to let Bloody Lambkin come in.
[OMITTED]

2

He stabbed her young son,
wi the silver bodkin,
Till oot o the cradle
the reed blude did rin.

3

‘Oh still my babe, nourrice,
still him wi the keys:’
‘He'll no be still, madam,
let me do what I please.’

4

‘Oh still my babe, nourrice,
still him wi the knife:’
‘He'll no be still, madam,
na, no for my life.’

5

‘Oh still my babe, still my babe,
still him wi the bell:’
‘He'll no be still, madam,
till ye come down yoursel.’

6

‘How can I come down,
this cold frosty night?
I have neither coal nor candle,
for to show me light!’

7

‘O haud your tongue, nourrice,
sae loud as ye lee;
Ye'd neer a cut finger
but I pitied thee.’