No burial this pretty pair

From any man receives,
Till Robin Redbreast piously

Did cover them with leaves.

17. And now the heavy wrath of God
Upon their uncle fell;

Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house,
His conscience felt an hell:

His barns were fired, his goods consumed,
His lands were barren made,
His cattle died within the field,
And nothing with him stay'd.

18. And in a voyage to Portugal
Two of his sons did die;

And, to conclude, himself was brought
To want and misery:

He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven years came about,

And now at last his wicked act
Did by this means come out.

19. The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill,

Was for a robbery judged to die,
Such was God's blessed will:
Who did confess the very truth,

As here hath been display'd:

The uncle having died in jail,
Where he for debt was laid.

20. You that executors be made,
And overseers eke,

Of children that be fatherless,
And infants mild and meek,
Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with suchlike misery
Your wicked minds requite.

BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY

1. O BESSIE BELL and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;

They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes.

2. They theekit it o'er wi' rashes green,
They theekit it o'er wi' heather;
But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,
And slew them baith thegither.

3. They thought to lye in Methven kirkyard, Amang their noble kin;

But they maun lye in Stronach haugh,
To biek forenent the sin.

4. And Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;

They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae.
And theekit it o'er wi' rashes.