Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 173
Mary Hamilton
Version Y

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.'

This page most recently updated on 19-Dec-2008, 19:43:25.
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