University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
collapse sectionVII. 
expand section189. 
expand section190. 
expand section191. 
expand section192. 
expand section193. 
expand section194. 
expand section195. 
expand section196. 
expand section197. 
expand section198. 
expand section199. 
expand section200. 
expand section201. 
expand section202. 
expand section203. 
expand section204. 
expand section205. 
expand section206. 
expand section207. 
expand section208. 
collapse section209. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section210. 
expand section211. 
expand section212. 
expand section213. 
expand section214. 
expand section215. 
expand section216. 
expand section217. 
expand section218. 
expand section219. 
expand section220. 
expand section221. 
expand section222. 
expand section223. 
expand section224. 
expand section225. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

The Queen's Maries

MARY HAMILTON—N

[_]

Murison MS., p. 33; from recitation at Old Deer, 1876.

1

The streen the queen had four Maries,
This nicht she'll hae but three;
There's Mary Heaton, an Mary Beaton,
An Mary Michel, an me,
An I mysel was Mary Mild,
An flower oer a' the three.

2

Mary's middle was aye sae neat,
An her clothing aye sae fine,
It caused her lie in a young man's airms,
An she's ruet it aye sin syne.

3

She done her doon yon garden green,
To pull the deceivin tree,
For to keep back that young man's bairn,
But forward it would be.

4

‘Ye winna put on the dowie black,
Nor yet will ye the broon,
But ye'll put on the robes o red,
To shine through Edinburgh toon.’

5

She hasna pitten on the dowie black,
Nor yet has she the broon,
But she's pitten on the robes o red,
To shine thro Edinburgh toon.

6

When she came to the mariners' toon,
The mariners they were playin,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]

7

‘Ye needna play for me, mariners,
Ye needna play for me;
Ye never saw grace in a graceless face,
For there's nane therein to be.

8

‘Seven years an I made Queen Mary's bed,
Seven years an I combed her hair,
An a hansome reward noo she's gien to me,
Gien me the gallows-tows to wear!

9

‘Oh little did my mither think,
The day she cradled me,
What road I'd hae to travel in,
Or what death I'd hae to dee!’