"Prince Robert" (Roud 55, Child 87), also known as "Lord Abore and Mary Flynn" or "Harry Saunders", is a traditional English-language murder ballad,[1] likely originating in Scotland.
[2] Prince (or Earl or Lord) Robert married against his mother's wishes and went to beg her blessing.
She prepared a wine cup with poison, put it to her lips without drinking, and gave it to her son.
The bride was summoned on the pretext of a meal and told the news, and that she will get nothing of his property.
Francis James Child noted that other ballads included a mother who poisoned her son over a match, but considered none to compare to this one.