Lamerlinkin- (Scotland) c.1825 Motherwell; Child C
'Lamerlinkin'- Version C;
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 9
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 sent for Lamerlinkin,
to give him his hire;
All the hire that he gave him
was to burn him in the fire.