University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
collapse sectionV. 
expand section114. 
expand section115. 
expand section116. 
expand section117. 
expand section118. 
expand section119. 
expand section120. 
expand section121. 
expand section122. 
expand section123. 
expand section124. 
expand section125. 
expand section126. 
expand section127. 
expand section128. 
expand section129. 
expand section130. 
expand section131. 
expand section132. 
expand section133. 
expand section134. 
expand section135. 
expand section136. 
expand section137. 
expand section138. 
expand section139. 
expand section140. 
expand section141. 
expand section142. 
expand section143. 
expand section144. 
expand section145. 
expand section146. 
expand section147. 
expand section148. 
expand section149. 
expand section150. 
expand section151. 
expand section152. 
expand section153. 
expand section154. 
expand section155. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

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.’