Lamkin (Child 93J)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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