Mary Hamilton

1
Word's gane to the kitchen,
And word's gane to the ha',
That Marie Hamilton gangs wi' bairn
To the hichest Stewart of a'.
2

He's courted her in the kitchen,
He's courted her in the ha',
He's courted her in the laigh cellar,
And that was warst of a'.
3

She's tied it in her apron
And she's thrown it in the sea;
Says, "Sink ye, swim ye, bonny wee babe!
You'll ne'er get mair o' me."
4

Down then cam the auld queen,
Goud tassels tying her hair:
"O Marie, where's the bonny wee babe
That I heard greet sae sair?"
5

"There was never a babe intill my room,
As little designs to be;
It was but a touch o' my sair side,
Come o'er my fair body."
6

"O Marie, put on your robes o' black,
Or else your robes o' brown,
For ye maun gang wi' me the night,
To see fair Edinbro' town."
7

"I winna put on my robes o' black,
Nor yet my robes o' brown;
But I'll put on my robes o' white,
To shine through Edinbro' town."
8

When she gaed up the Cannogate,
She laughed loud laughters three;
But when she cam down the Cannogate
The tear blinded her ee.
9

When she gaed up the Parliament stair,
The heel cam aff her shee;
And lang or she cam down again
She was condemned to dee.
10

When she cam down the Cannogate,
The Cannogate sae free,
Many a lady looked o'er her window,
Weeping for this lady.
11

"Ye need nae weep for me," she says,
"Ye need nae weep for me;
For had I not slain mine own sweet babe,
This death I wadna dee.
12

"Bring me a bottle of wine," she says,
"The best that e'er ye ha'e,
That I may drink to my weil-wishers,
And they may drink to me.
13

"Here's a health to the jolly sailors,
That sail upon the main;
Let them never let on to my father and mother
But what I'm coming hame.
14

"Here's a health to the jolly sailors,
That sail upon the sea;
Let them never let on to my father and mother
That I cam here to dee.
15

"Oh little did my mother think,
The day she cradled me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.
16

"Oh little did my father think,
The day he held up me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.
17

"Last night I washed the queen's feet,
And gently laid her down;
And a' the thanks I've gotten the night
To be hanged in Edinbro' town!
18

"Last night there was four Maries,
The night there'll be but three;
There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beton,
And Marie Carmichael, and me."
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