O we were seven young sisters
And we were sisters fair
O five of us were brave knight's wives
Who died in childbear there
And up and spoke young Mary
And she swore to marry none
For if she came into a man's bed
She'd gain a weary fate
O take no vows, Mary dear, broken that they might be
For there's a knight in Wallington
He asks good will of thee
O if there's a knight in Wallington
Who asks good will of me
Then in three quarters of a year
Ye'll come to bury me
O when she reached well Wallington
And into Wallington Hall
She spied there her mother dear
Come a wandering about the wall
O you're welcome here my young daughter
To castles and me bowers
So welcome are you young daughter
They all will soon be yours
She'd not been in Wallington
Three quarters of that day
Till weary and tired on her feet
She bent down for to pray
And she'd not been in Wallington
Three quarters of the night
Till weary and tire upon her feet
She came o'er so slight
O where can I get a bonny little boy
Who would my errand run
I bid him run to Wallington
And bid my mother come
And up and spoke well a bonny little boy
Who sat near of kin
Ofttimes I've your errands gone
But now your errand I'll run
O she's called for a waiting maid
To fetch for meat and wine
Come eat and drink, o me bonny little boy
I want no more of thine
And ye send my regards to my mother
As she sits in her chair of stone
Ask her how she likes the news
Of seven to have one
And you send my regards to my mother
As she sits in her chair of old
You ask her how she likes the news
To come to my way
And ye send my regards to my brothers
To William, Ralph and John
And unto my sister fair Betsy
As pale as any stone
But ye bid she keeps her maidenhead
And on it you must much make
For if she comes to her man's bed
She'd gain a weary fate
So away away this boy he went
And there he did run
Until he came to the broad water
And he bore his breast and swam
O when he's reached her mother dear
He lord to keep her be
What news what news, O me bonny little boy
What news have you brought to me
Well your daughter sends now her regards
As you sit in your chair of auld
And she asks you how you like the news
To come into her way
And your daughter sends now her regards
As ye sit in your chair of stone
She asks you how you like the news
Of seven to have one
And your daughter sends now her regards
To William, Ralph and John
And unto my sister fair Betsy
Who is as pale as any stone
And she bids she keeps her maidenhead
And on it I must much make
For if she comes unto her man's bed
She'd gain a weary fate
Go saddle me my black she said
Go saddle me my brown
Go fetch the finest steed there
To ride to Wallington
O when she's reached Well Wallington
And into Wallington hall
She spied there her son Fenwick
Wandering about the hall
What news what news o me bonny little boy
What news to tell to me
It's gone three quarters of a day
Since your daughter I did see
So she has ran all up the stairs
And into the hall
Where four and twenty maidens there
Were letting the tears down fall
And she held a scope unto her cheek
And unto her chin
And all for to keep her own sweet life
Till her mother she come in
Come take these rings off my fingers
The veins that are so white
Ye give them to me mother dear
She gave me this death's plight
And ye take the rings off my fingers
On the veins that are so red
Ye give them to me love Fenwick
As sure his heart will bleed
And she's taken out a razor then
And held it sharp and fine
And out of her left side
Cut the heir of Wallington
Well there's a race in Wallington
I vow and I declare
Although the cradle lies full up
The bride-bed it lies bare