The Queen's Maries
MARY HAMILTON—BB
[_]
Communicated by Mr Andrew Lang as received
from Mrs Arthur Smith; sung by a nurse. 4 is clearly
modern.
1
Yestreen the queen had four Maries,
But the nicht she'll hae but three;
There was Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton,
And Mary Carmichell, and me.
2
Oh little did my mither think,
At nicht when she cradled me,
That I wad sleep in a nameless grave
And hang on the gallows-tree.
Yestreen, etc.
3
They'll tie a kerchief round my een,
And they'll na let me see t'dee,
And they'll spread my story thro a' the land,
Till it reaches my ain countrie.
4
I wish I micht sleep in the auld kirkyard,
Beneath the hazel tree,
Where aft we played in the long simmer nichts,
My brithers and sisters and me.
