When she cam to the Netherbow port,[L73] She laughed loud laughters three; But when she cam to the gallows foot, 75 The tears blinded her ee. "Yestreen the Queen had four Maries, The night she'll hae but three; There was Marie Seaton, and Marie Beaton, And Marie Carmichael, and me.[L80] 80 "O often have I dress'd my Queen, And put gold upon her hair; But now I've gotten for my reward The gallows to be my share. "Often have I dress'd my Queen, 85 And often made her bed; But now I've gotten for my reward The gallows tree to tread. "I charge ye all, ye mariners, When ye sail ower the faem, 90 Let neither my father nor mother get wit, But that I'm coming hame. "I charge ye all, ye mariners, That sail upon the sea, Let neither my father nor mother get wit 95 This dog's death I'm to die. "For if my father and mother got wit, And my bold brethren three, O mickle wad be the gude red blude This day wad be spilt for me! 100 "O little did my mother ken, That day she cradled me, The lands I was to travel in, Or the death I was to die!" 73. The Netherbow port was the gate which divided the city of Edinburgh from the suburb, called the Canongate. S. 80. The Queen's Maries were four young ladies of the highest families in Scotland, who were sent to France in her train, and returned with her to Scotland. Keith gives us their names, p. 55. "The young Queen, Mary, embarked at Dunbarton for France, ... and with her went ... and four young virgins, all of the name of Mary, viz. Livingston, Fleming, Seatoun, and Beatoun." Neither Mary Livingston, nor Mary Fleming, are mentioned in the ballad; nor are the Mary Hamilton, and Mary Carmichael, of the ballad, mentioned by Keith. But if this corps continued to consist of young virgins, as when originally raised, it could hardly have subsisted without occasional recruits; especially if we trust our old bard, and John Knox. The Queen's Maries are mentioned in many ballads, and the name seems to have passed into a general denomination for female attendants.--SCOTT. MARY HAMILTON. From Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 311.