The Queen's Marys
MARY HAMILTON—Y
[_]
“Scotch Ballads, Materials for
Border Minstrelsy,” No 144, Abbotsford.
1
‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,
The night she'll hae but three;
She had Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton,
And Mary Carmichael, and me.
2
‘My feather was the Duke of York,
My mother a gay lady,
And I mysell a bonnie young may,
And the king fell in love we me.
3
‘The king's kisses they were so sweet,
And his wine it was so strong,
That I became a mother
Before fifteen years old.’
4
‘O tell the truth now, Mary,
And sett this matter right;
What hae ye made o the babey
Was greeting yesternight?’
5
‘O I will tell you, madam the queen,
I winna tell a lie;
I put it in a bottomless boat
And bad it sail the sea.’
6
‘Ye lie, ye lie now, Mary,
Sae loud's I hear you lie!
You wasnae out o the palace,
So that coud never be.’
7
‘Weel I will tell you, madam,
Though it should gar me weep;
I stabbd it we my little pen-knife,
And bad it take a sleep.’
8
When she came up the Netherbow,
She geed loud laughters three;
But when she came out o the Parliament Close
The tear blinded her ee.
9
‘O little does my feather ken
The death I am to die,
Or muckel wad be the red, red gould
Wad be payed doun for me.
10
‘O little does my mother think
The death that I am to die,
Or monie wad be the saut, saut tears
That she wad shed for me.
11
‘O never lett my brothers ken
The death that I am to die,
For muckel wad be the red, red blood
That wad be shed for me.
12
‘Aft hae I washd the king's bonnie face,
Kaimd doun his yellow hair,
And this is a' the reward he's geen me,
The gallows to be my share.’
