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BROWN ROBIN'S [OR ROBYN'S] CONFESSION, by                    
First Line: It fell upon a wednesday
Last Line: You've made upon the sea


It fell upon a Wednesday
Brown Robyn's men went to sea,
But they saw neither moon nor sun,
Nor starlight with their ee.
"We'll cast kevels us amang,
See what the unhappy man may be":
The kevel fell on Brown Robyn,
The master-man was hee.
"It is nae wonder," said Brown Robyn,
"Altho I dinna thrive;
(For if the deidly sins be seven,
Befallen me hae five.)
"But tie me to a plank o wude,
And throw me in the sea;
And if I sink, ye may bid me sink,
But if I swim, lat me bee."
They've tyed him to a plank o wude,
And thrown him in the sea;
He didna sink, tho they bade him sink;
He swimd, and they lat him be --
He hadna been into the sea
An hour but barely three,
Till by and came Our Blessed Lady,
Her dear young son her wi.
"Will ye gang to your men again?
Or will ye gang wi me?
Will ye gang to the high heavens,
Wi my dear son and me?"
"I winna gang to my men again,
For they would be feared at mee;
But I woud gang to the high heavens,
Wi thy dear son and thee."
"It's for nae honour ye did to me, Brown Robyn.
It's for nae guid ye did to mee;
But a' is for your fair confession
You've made upon the sea."





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