s seven,
Sisters were so fair,
Five of us were brave knights' wives,
And died in childbed lair.

2.
Up then spake Fair Mary,
Marry woud she nane;
If ever she came in man's bed,
The same gate wad she gang.

3.
'Make no vows, Fair Mary,
For fear they broken be;
Here's been the Knight of Wallington,
Asking good will of thee.'

4.
'If here's been the knight, mother,
Asking good will of me,
Within three quarters of a year
You may come bury me.'

5.
When she came to Wallington,
And into Wallington hall,
There she spy'd her mother dear,
Walking about the wall.

6.
'You're welcome, daughter dear,
To thy castle and thy bowers';
'I thank you kindly, mother,
I hope they'll soon be yours.'

7.
She had not been in Wallington
Three quarters and a day,
Till upon the ground she could not walk,
She was a weary prey.

8.
She had not been in Wallington
Three quarters and a night,
Till on the ground she coud not walk,
She was a weary wight.

9.
'Is there ne'er a boy in this town,
Who'll win hose and shun,
That will run to fair Pudlington,
And bid my mother come?'

10.
Up then spake a little boy,
Near unto a-kin;
'Full oft I have your errands gone,
But now I will it run.'

11.
Then 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.

12.
'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.

13.
'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.

14.
'Give my love to my brother
William, Ralph, and John,
And to my sister Betty fair,
And to her white as bone:

15.
'And bid her keep her maidenhead,
Be sure make much on 't,
For if e'er she come in man's bed,
The same gate will she gang.'

16.
Away this little boy is gone,
As fast as he could run;
When he came where brigs were broke,
He lay down and swum.

17.
When he saw the lady, he said,
'Lord may your keeper be!'
'What news, my pretty boy,
Hast thou to tell to me?'

18.
'Your daughter Mary orders me,
As you sit in a chair of stone,
To ask you how you like the news,
Of seven to