Lambkin

Lambkin was as good a mason
As ever laid a stone
He built Lord Murray's castle
Murray paid him none

Lambkin came down to the house
When Murray's far from home
He came to get his silver
Murray paid him none

All the doors were shut up tight
All the windows pinned
But there was a false false nurse
Lambkin he slipped in

Where's the lady of the house?
Asked Lambkin to the nurse
She's in her chamber sewing
She will not come down

Where's the heir of the house?
Asked Lambkin to the nurse
He's lying in his cradle
Stick him with a pin

Lambkin pricked that baby
All over with a pin
The nurse held up a basin
For the blood all to run in.

Mistress dear, Mistress dear
Hear your baby cry
If you don't come down to help
He will surely die

Lady Murray come downstairs
Not thinking any harm
Lambkin he awaited her
Took her by the arm

Spare my life! Spare my life!
Spare my life so sweet
And you shall have as many coins
As stones lie in the street

Shall I kill her, Lambkin said
Or shall I let her be
Kill her, Lambkin said the nurse
She was never good to me

Scour the silver basin, nurse
Scour it fair and clean
Then hold up the silver
For her blood all to run in

Before the silver basin was
Both scour-ed fair and clean
Lady Murray's life blood
Was dripping on the stone

Murray has arrived at home
Opened up the door
When he saw his dear wife
Dead upon the floor

"There's murder in the kitchen, sir
Slaughter in the hall
Lambkin's killed your son and heir
Your lady fair and all"

Lambkin shall be hung to death
On a gallows high
And the nurse's body shall be burnt
In an oven that's near by

Here you are then, Lambkin
I'll give you your fee
The false nurse shall be burned
And you'll be hanged upon a tree