The Cruel Brother

There were three knights from the west
Ay the rose and the lily gay
They have courted a lady fair
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
First of them was dressed in white
Ay the rose and the lily gay
He’s asked her to be his heart’s delight
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
The second of them was dressed in green
Ay the rose and the lily gay
He’s asked of her to be his queen
And the ros it blooms so sweetly oh
The third of them was dressd in red
Ay the rose and the lily gay
He’s asked of her, if he might wed
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
Then you must ask my father the king
Ay the rose and the lily gay
You must ask my mother the queen
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
And you must ask my sister, Anne
Ay the rose and the lily gay
But don’t forget my brother, John
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
He has asked her father, the king
Ay the rose and the lily gay
He has asked her mother, the queen
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
He has asked her sister, Anne
Ay the rose and the lily gay
But he forgot her brother, John
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
Her father lead them through the hall
Ay the rose and the lily gay
Her mother, she danced before them all
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
Her sister Anne lead them through the close
Ay the rose and the lily gay
Her brother John helped her on her horse
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
And he had a penknife, keen, and sharp
Ay the rose and the lily gay
He stabbed his sister to the heart
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
Then up and spoke our leading man
Ay the rose and the lily gay
Me thinks our bride looks wondrous wan
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
I wish I was on yonder style
Ay the rose and the lily gay
It’s there I’d sit, and bleed awhile
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
I wis I was on yonder hill
Ay the rose and the lily gay
It’s there I’d sit, and make my will
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh
And what would you leave to your father, the king?
The milk white steed that I ride on
What would you leave to your mother, the queen?
The white silk dress that I lie in
But tell her to wash it very clean
For my heart’s blood sticks in every seem
What would you leave to your sister, Anne?
A comb of gold, and my feathered fan
What would you leave to your brother, John?
A rope, and a gallows to hang him on
What would you leave to your brother John’s wife?
Ay the rose and the lily gay
A widow’s weeds, and a quiet life
And the rose it blooms so sweetly oh