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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