Mary Hamilton

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

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'.

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

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

"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 bodie."

"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."

"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."

When she gaed up the Canongate
She laughed loud laughters three;
But whan she cam down the Canongate
The tear blinded her e'e.

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

When she cam down the Canongate
The Canongate sae free,
Mony a ladie looked oer her window
Weeping for this ladie.

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

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

"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.

"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.

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

"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.

"Last nicht I washed the Queen's feet,
And gently laid her down;
And a' the thanks I've gotten the nicht
To be hanged in Edinbro' town.

"Last nicht there was four Maries,
The nicht there'll be but three;
There was Mary Seaton, and Mary Beaton,
And Mary Carmichael and me."

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Copyright © 2001, Jack Campin