CHILD OWLET (2)

LADY ERSKINE sits in her chamber,
Sewing at her silken seam,
A chain of gold for Childe Owlet,
As he goes out and in.

But it fell ance upon a day
She unto him did say,
Ye must cuckold Lord Ronald,
For a' his lands and ley.

`O cease! forbid, madam,' he says,
`That this shoud eer be done!
How would I cuckold Lord Ronald,
And me his sister's son?'

Then she's ta'en out a little penknife,
That lay below her bed,
Put it below her green stay's cord,
Which made her body bleed.

Then in it came him Lord Ronald,
Hearing his lady's moan;
`What blood is this, my dear,' he says,
`That sparks on the fire-stone?'

`Young Childe Owlet, your sister's son,
Is now gane frae my bower;
If I hadna been a good woman,
I'd been Childe Owlet's whore.'

Then he has taen him Childe Owlet,
Laid him in prison strong,
And all his men a council held
How they woud work him wrong.

Some said they woud Childe Owlet hang,
Some said they woud him burn;
Some said they woud have Childe Owlet
Bewteen wild horses torn.
`There are horses in your stables stand
Can run right speedilie,
And ye will to your stable go,
And wile out four for me.'

They put a foal to ilka foot,
And ane to ilka hand,
And sent them down to Darling muir,
As fast as they coud gang.

There was not a kow in Darling muir,
Nor ae piece o a rind,
But drappit o Child Owlet's blude
And pieces o his skin.

There was not a kow in Darling muir,
Nor ae piece o a rash,
But drappit o Childe Owlet's blude
And pieces o his flesh.

Child #291
Version in Child
filename[ CHDOWLT2
LMP
mudcat.org

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