‘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[511].
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.’
XVI
Away this little boy is gone,
As fast as he could run;
When he came where brigs were broke,
He laid him down and swum.