  IWhen we were silly sisters seven, —Sisters were so fair,— Five of us were brave knights’ wives, And died in childbed lair IIUp then spake Fair Mary, Marry wou’d she nane; If ever she came in man’s bed, The same gate III‘Make no vows, Fair Mary, For fear they broken be; Here’s been the Knight of Wallington, Asking good will of thee.’— IV‘If here’s been the knight, mother, Asking good will of me, Within three quarters of a year You may come bury me.’ VBut when she came to Wallington, And into Wallington hall, There she spy’d her [lord’s] mother, Walking about the wall. VI‘You’re welcome, welcome, daughter dear, To thy castle and thy bowers.’— ‘I thank you kindly, mother, I hope they’ll soon be yours.’ VIIShe had not been in Wallington Three quarters and a day, Till upon the ground she could not walk, She was a weary prey. VIIIShe had not been in Wallington Three quarters and a night, Till on the ground she could not walk, She was a weary wight. IX‘Is there ne’er a boy into this town, Who’ll win him hose and shoon, That will run to fair Paddington, And bid my mother come?’ XUp then spake a little boy, Near unto her a-kin: ‘Full oft I have your errands gone, But now I will it run.’ XIThen she call’d her waiting-maid To bring up bread and wine: ‘Eat and drink, my bonny boy, Thou’ll ne’er eat more of mine. XII‘Give my respects to my mother, She sits in her chair of stone, And ask her how she likes the news, Of seven to have but one? XIII‘Give my respects to my mother, As she sits in her chair of oak, And bid her come to my sickening, Or my merry lake-wake XIV‘Give my love to my brothers William, Ralph, and John, And to my sister Betty fair, And to her white as bone: XV‘And bid her keep her maidenhead, Be sure [to keep it lang:] For if e’er she come into man’s bed, The same gate will she gang.’ XVIAway this little boy is gone, As fast as he could run; When he came where brigs were broke, He laid him down and swum. XVIIWhen he saw the lady, he said, ‘Lord may your keeper be!’— ‘What news, my pretty boy, Hast thou to tell to me?’— XVIII‘Your daughter Mary orders me As you sit in a chair of stone, To ask you how you like the news, Of seven to have but one? XIX‘Your daughter gives you her commands, As you sit in a chair of oak, And bids you come to her sickening, Or her merry lake-wake. XX‘She gives command to her brothers William, Ralph, and John, [And] to her sister Betty fair, And to her white as bone. XXI‘She bids her keep her maidenhead, Be sure [to keep it lang:] For if e’er she come into man’s bed, The same gate will she gang.’ XXIIShe kickt the table with her foot, She kickt it with her knee, The silver plate into the fire, So far she made it flee. XXIIIThen she call’d her waiting-maid To bring her riding-hood, So did she on her stable-groom To bring her riding-steed. XXIV‘Go saddle to me the black, the black, Go saddle to me the brown, Go saddle to me the swiftest steed That e’er rid to Wallington!’ XXVWhen they came to Wallington, And into Wallington hall, There she spy’d her son Fenwick, Walking about the wall. XXVI‘God save you, my dearest son, Lord may your keeper be! Tell me where is my daughter fair, That used to walk with thee?’ XXVIIHe turn’d his head him round about, The tears did fill his e’e: ‘’Tis a month,&# |
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