Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/466

 1 1 8 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

False Simpkins was a good mason

As ever laid stone ; He built Lord Donald's castle,

But Lord Donald paid none.

[A verse wanting. 1 ]

Said the lord to his lady,

" I 'm going away from home, And what would you do

If false Simpkins should come ? "

" I fear not false Simpkins Or none of his kin ; I will keep my doors bolted And my windows barred in."

She kept her doors bolted

And her windows barred in, All except one kitchen window,

Where false Simpkins got in.

[A verse wanting. 2 ]

False Simpkins did rock

While false nurse she did sing, And the blood from this little babe's heart

To a silver basin did spin.

[A verse wanting. 8 ]

False Simpkins was hung

On a gallows so high, While false nurse she was burning

In a fire near by.

1 John Lankin then swore,

If the lord did not pay him, He would break into his castle, And murder all his kinsmen.

Version of Mrs. Backus.

2 He took out a penknife,

Baith pointed and sharp, And he stabbed the babie Three times in the heart.

Motherwell MS.

3 In the fuller versions, the lady is lured downstairs by the cries of her babe, and killed in spite of her pleadings.

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