Cruel Lincoln - Sol Invictus

Said the Lord to the Lady I am now going out

Beware of Cruel Lincoln when I am gone out

What cares I for Lincoln or any of his kin

For my doors are all bolted an my windows are pinned

As soon as the Lord had got out of sight

Cruel Lincoln crept in in the middle of the night

Got and pricked the sweet Baby which caused it to cry

Whilst the Nurse sat a singing o hush a lullaby

Cruel Lincoln rocked the cradle and the False Nurse she sung

And all round the cradle the Babies blood ran

O Nurse, O Nurse how sound you do sleep

Whilst my little Baby almost bitterly does weep

O Nurse, O Nurse, O still him with the keys

He will not still my Lady, let me do what 'ere I please

O Nurse, O Nurse, O still him with the ring

He will not still my Lady, let me do most anything

Cruel Lincoln rocked the cradle and the False Nurse she sung

While out of the cradle the Babies blood sprung

O Lady, dear Lady come and take him in your lap

For I cannot quiet him with milk nor with pap

How can I come down so late in the night

Without coal or candle for to grant me any light

There’s two smocks in your coffer as white as any swan

Put one of these about you, it will show a light down

The Lady came down, not thinking any harm

Cruel Lincoln stood a waiting for to catch her in his arms

O Lincoln, Cruel Lincoln spare my life for one hour

You shall have my daughter Betsy, she’s my own blooming flower

Go and fetch your daughter Betsy, she will do very well

To hold up the silver basin for to catch your hearts blood

There was blood in the kitchen, there was blood in the hall

There was blood in the parlour where the Lady did fall

As soon as the Lord had heard what was done

Tears from his eyes in torrents they ran

Saying the Nurse shall be hung on the scaffold so high

Cruel Lincoln shall be burned in the furnace close by Cruel Lincoln shall be burned in the furnace close by