Cruel Brother

Three ladies played at cup and ball
With a hey and a lady gay
Three knights there came among them all
The rose it smells so sweetly
And one of them was dressed in red
He asked me with him to wed
And one of them was dressed in yellow
He asked me to be his fellow
And one of them was dressed in green
He asked me to be his queen
O You must ask my father the king
And you must ask my mother the queen
You must ask my sister Ann
And you must ask my brother John
O I have asked your father the King
And I have asked your mother the Queen
And I have asked your sister Ann
And I have asked your her brother John
Her father the king led her down the hall
Her mother the queen led down the stair
Her sister Ann led her down the path
Her brother John set her on her horse
And as she bent to give him a kiss
He stuck his penknife into her breast
Now up and ride my foremost man
My lady fair looks pale and wan
And what will you leave to your father the king
The golden chair that I sit in
And what will you leave to your mother the queen
The golden coach that I ride in
And what will you leave to your sister Ann
My silver broach and ivory fan
And what will you leave to your brother John
A pair of gallows to hang him on