But it fell ance upon a day That my gude lord return'd from sea: Then I did dress in the best array, As blythe as ony bird on tree. I took my young son in my arms, Likewise my nourice me forebye, And I went down to yon shore-side, My gude lord's vessel I might spy. My lord he stood upon the deck, I wyte he hail'd me courteouslie: "Ye are thrice welcome, my lady gay: Wha'se aught that bairn on your knee?" She turn'd her right and roundabout, Says, "Why take ye sic dreads o' me? Alas! I was too young married To love another man but thee." "Now hold your tongue, my lady gay: Nae mair falsehoods ye'll tell to me; This bonny bairn is not mine; You've loved another while I was on sea." In discontent then hame she went, And aye the tear did blin' her e'e: Says, "Of this wretch I'll be revenged For these harsh words he said to me." She's counsel'd wi' her father's steward, What way she cou'd revenged be: Bad was the counsel then he gave: It was to gar her gude lord dee. The nourice took the deed in hand: I wat she was well paid her fee: She keist the knot, and the loop she ran Which soon did gar this young lord dee. [Illustration: HOLYROOD AND BURNS'S MONUMENT.] Another version has: The nurice she knet the knot, And oh, she knet it sicker: The ladie did gie it a twig, Till it began to wicker. The murder was committed on the 2d of July, 1600, and with the speedy justice of that time the punishment followed on the 5th. The lady was sentenced to be "wooried at the stake and brint," but her relatives had influence enough to secure a modification of the sentence, so that she was beheaded by the "maiden," a form of guillotine introduced by the Regent Morton. The original sentence was executed upon the nurse, who had no powerful relatives. [Illustration: STONE ON WHICH THE COVENANT WAS SIGNED.] Directly opposite the Canongate Tolbooth is a very antiquated dwelling, with three gables to the street, which converses with the passer-by on envy and backbiting. It begins: "Hodie.Mihi.Cras.Tibi.Cur.Igitur.Curas" ("To-day, mine; to-morrow, thine; why then care?"). As if premising an unsatisfactory answer, it continues: "Ut Tu Linguae Tuae, Sic Ego Mear. Aurium, Dominus Sum." ("As thou of thy tongue, so I of my ears, am lord"), and finally takes refuge in "Constanti Pectori Res Mortalium Umbra" ("To the steadfast heart the affairs of mortals are but shadows").