_Long Lonkin_ (Vol. ii., p. 168.).--If SELEUCUS will refer to Mr.
Chamber's _Collection of Scottish Ballads_, he will find there the whole
story under the name of Lammilsin, of which Lonkin appears to me to be a
corruption. In the 6th verse it is rendered:
"He said to his ladye fair,
Before he gaed abuird,
Beware, beware o, Lammilsin!
For he lyeth in the wudde."
Then the story goes on to state that Lammilsin crept in at a little shot
window, and after some conversation with the "fause nourrice" they
decide to
"Stab the babe, and make it cry,
And that will bring her down."
Which being done, they murder the unhappy lady. Shortly after, Lord
Weirie comes home, and has the "fause nourrice" burnt at the stake. From
the circumstance that the name of the husband of the murdered lady was
Weirie, it is conjectured that this tragedy took place at Balwearie
Castle, in Fife, and the old people about there constantly affirm that
it really occurred. I am not aware that there exists any connection
between the hero of this story and the _nursery rhyme_; for, as I before
stated, I think Lonkin a corruption of Lammilsin.