Mary Hamilton

“ Being so engaged in telling of other people's affairs, I have not had time to mention the fact that I had a love affair of my own, that is, if I may call that a love affair which involved only one person—myself. She who I hoped would one day be the party of the second part was Mary Hamilton, sister to Count Anthony and George Hamilton, mention of whom was made at the outset of this history.
I myself may have been lacking in morals, but at my worst I was a saint compared to George Hamilton and his friends, Lord Berkeley, young Wentworth, and the king's son, James Crofts, Duke of Monmouth. ”

“ Hamilton are very well," she answered, "and Arthur is much—"
"I always said he would be better if he would only make an effort," interrupted Miss Cynthia triumphantly. "But I began to be afraid he never would, and I thought it most likely that he would go off into a decline, I've often told Mary Hamilton that I should be worried to death if he were my boy. Do you hear from your father often? It must be pretty bad to have him so far away; so many things can happen nowadays that you can't tell from one day to the next where you'll be or how you'll be. ”

“ The extreme historic inaccuracy of Mary Hamilton is paralleled by that of all the ballads on real events. The mention of the Pottinger is a trace of real history which has no parallel in the Russian affair, and there is no room, says Professor Child, for the supposition that it was voluntarily inserted by reciter or copyist, p. xixto tally with the narrative in Knox’s History.
On the other side, we have the name of Mary Hamilton occurring in a tragic event of 1719, but then the name does not uniformly appear in the variants of the ballad. ”

“ Mary Carmichael and Mary Hamilton herself are mere poetical myths. Not only does no mention of them occur in any of the lists still extant of the Queen's personal attendants, but there also exist documents of all kinds, from serious historical narrative and authoritative charter to gossiping correspondence and polished epigram, to prove that the colleagues of Mary Beton and Mary Seton were Mary Fleming and Mary Livingston. How the apocryphal names have found their way into the ballad, or how the ballad itself has come to be connected with the Maids of Honour, cannot be determined. ”

“ As fast as she could gang.
'Open your door, Lady Mary,' she says,
'And lat me come in;
For I hear baby greet,
But an a lady meen.'
'There is na bab in my bower, madam,
Nor never thinks to be,
But the strong pains of gravel
This night has seized me.'
She pat her fit to the door,
But an her knee,
Baith of brass and iron bands
In flinders she gard flee. ”

“ Some ten years ago, there resided for a time, in a pleasant suite of apartments at Hampton Court, a young and beautiful gentlewoman, who was greatly beloved by all who knew her, for her goodness and her sweet and winning ways. Lady Mary Hamilton, or "the Lady Mary," as she was called by the pensioners and retainers there, was the youngest daughter of a poor Scottish nobleman, and the widow of a still poorer young officer. ”

“ An the king thoct mair o Marie
Then onie that were there.
Mary Hamilton's to the preaching gane,
Wi ribbons on her breast;
An the king thocht mair o Marie
Than he thocht o the priest.
Syne word is thro the palace gane,
I heard it tauld yestreen,
The king loes Mary Hamilton
Mair than he loes his queen. ”

“ By and cum the king himsell,
Lookd up with a pitiful ee:
'Come down, come down, Mary Hamilton,
This day thou wilt dine with me.'
'Hold your tongue, my sovereign leige,
And let your folly be;
An ye had a mind to save my life,
Ye should na shamed me here.'
=
C
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THERE lived a lord into the west,
And he had dochters three,
And the youngest o them is to the king's court,
To learn some courtesie.
She was not in the king's court
A twelvemonth and a day,
Till she was neither able to sit nor gang,
Wi the gaining o some play. ”

“ See under Family Names. Hamilton, John, Archbishop of St Andrew’s, III, 442, 445 f. Hamilton, Mary, maid of honor to Catharine, Tsar Peter’s wife, her history, III, 382 f.; agreements with the Scottish ballad, 383. Hamilton, Mary, in the ballad, scorns the offer of life after having been put to public shame, III, 386, 388; historical foundation for the ballad of Mary Hamilton (No 299) , views of Andrew Lang, the affair of the Frenchman and the Queen’s apothecary, V, 298 f. Hamiltons in Russia, III, 382 f. Hanpang and Ho, Chinese story, II, 498. Hans ohne Sorgen, tale, I, 408, and n., 409 n. ”

“ Mary Fawcett, admirable manager as she was, had been lavish with money, particularly when her favourite child was in question; and Rachael's imagination had never worked toward the fact that money could roll down hill and not roll up again. She was long in discovering that the man she loved and admired was a failure in the uninteresting world of business. He was a brilliant and charming companion, read in the best literatures of the world, a thoughtful and adoring husband. It availed Archibald Hamn nothing to rage or Dr. Hamilton to remonstrate. ”

“ Hamilton understood, and his supper lost its relish. Some time since he had concluded that where Mary Fawcett failed he could not hope to succeed, but he had done his duty and lectured his cousin. He understood human nature from its heights to its dregs, however, and promised Hamilton his unaltered friendship, even while in the flood of remonstrance. He was a philosopher, who invariably held out his hand to the Inevitable, with a shrug of his shoulders, but he loved Rachael, and wished that the ship that brought Levine to the Islands had encountered a hurricane. ”

“ The hunters returned, slaves carrying the slaughtered crabs in baskets. There were many hands to shell the victims, and in less than half an hour Mary Fawcett's cook sent in a huge and steaming dish. Then there were mulled wines and port, cherry brandy and liqueurs to refresh the weary, and sweets for the women. A livelier party never sat down to table; and Hamilton, who was placed between two chattering girls, was a man of the world, young as he was, and betrayed neither impatience nor ennui. Rachael sat at the head of the table, between the Governor and Dr. Hamilton. ”

“ I have nothing against him but his appearance, but if he came after Kitty I'd throw him out by the seat of his breeches."
"He never looked at Kitty, at Government House, nor at Mistress Montgomerie's," cried Mary. "You are jealous, Will, because Rachael has carried off the foreign prize."
Dr. Hamilton laughed, then added seriously, "I am too fond of the girl to forbear to give my advice. Let her choose her own husband. If you dare to cut out her future, as if it were one of her new frocks, you have more courage than I. She has more in her than twenty women. ”

“ My husband is Zackery Whalen, sir. He fought in the war, sir. He's a cripple and can't work. He fought under you, sir. It was that winter at Valley Forge—his feet froze so many times, sir. He's on a pension, but we can't get the money.
Hamilton.
Can't get it from your state?
Woman.
We sometimes get it, but not lately at all—only promises, sir. You see, ours is due from Rhode Island. If it had been Virginia or New Hampshire, it'd been all right, because they are paying their men, but Rhode Island says they can't. ”

“ She was much alarmed at my disclosure, but was reassured when I made light of the affair, probably because there was no danger in it to George Hamilton, and, perhaps, because if I should kill Count Hamilton, George would inherit the title and estates.
"But poor Mary! She will grieve," said Frances.
"I think you need waste no tears for her sake," I answered. "She is a fine, pretty little creature, who will take what comes her way without excess of pain or joy. She is incapable of feeling keenly. God has been good to her in giving her numbness."
"No, no, cousin Ned, you are wrong!" ”

“ Busk ye and gang wi me,
For I maun away to Edinbro town,
A rich wedding to see.'
Mary wad na put on the black velvet,
Nor yet wad put on the brown,
But she's put on the red velvet,
To shine thro Edinbro town.
When she came unto the town,
And near the Tolbooth stair,
There stood many a lady gay,
Weeping for Mary fair.
'O haud yeer tongue [s] , ye ladys a',
And weep na mair for me!
O haud yeer tongues, ye ladys a',
For it's for my fault I dee.
'The king he took me on his knee
And he gae three drinks to me,
And a' to put the babie back,
But it wad na gang back for me. ”

“ We're young, you know. Give Alexander Hamilton time to sow some seeds. We'll have a real Merchants' Exchange and a real live country that will be able to pay its debts. [Twinge of gout. Melissa gets chair from in front of post r. and brings it down r. of Schuyler, replacing it against table r., then taking tray with other drinks across to table down l., giving one to Giles and one to Monroe.] And I hope I shall have a real foot, which I haven't at this moment. And if you don't mind, Melissa, my girl, I'll just rest it in the parlor before I hobble along. ”

“ Had Hamilton seen anything so fair in Europe? What part would he play in this scheme of catholicity?
"You will meet this man if you go abroad," she replied. "Better stay here and forbid him the gates."
"And think about him till I leap on my horse and ride to meet him? A fevered imagination will make a god of a Tom Noddy. If I see him daily—with others—he will seem as commonplace as all men."
Mary Fawcett did not speak for some moments. Then she said: "Hark ye, Rachael. ”

“ Hamilton.
[Coming down between them, laughing.] Let us resign it to Jefferson—on the Potomac. It's a long way from civilization, and the river will carry off the refuse of debate. The representative of the separate states can pour their slander and vituperation into the Potomac—until they damn it, while the Hudson will remain unrestrained to carry on the business of the country.
[They all laugh. Hamilton goes back of table l., Schuyler toward sofa and sits on l. end of it.
Betsy.
[Curtseying to Jay.] Good-morning, Your Honor. I must tell you that my husband has promised this day to me. ”

“ You are so good, Hamilton, and I love you for it, but I see the boy leap into your eyes when I say little spree.
[He puts hands on Hamilton's shoulders. Exit Zekiel up r. at back. Hamilton.
[Laughing and moving away to r.] Do you? By Jove, I believe I deserve it!
Tallyrand.
We are all of us human—except General Washington.
Hamilton.
[Protesting.] Tallyrand!
Tallyrand.
A little spree will do you good.
[Going quickly back of sofa and getting hat and gloves. Hamilton.
[Crossing to table c. and picks up Betsy's letter.] No, I think not. I think I'll stay at home. ”

“ That I hae lien in a young man's arms,
An I rued it aye synsyne.
Queen Marie she cam doon the stair,
Wi the goud kamis in her hair:
'Oh whare oh whare is the wee wee babe
I heard greetin sae sair?'
'It's no a babe, a babie fair,
Nor ever intends to be;
But I mysel, wi a sair colic,
Was seek and like to dee.'
They socht the bed baith up an doon,
Frae the pillow to the straw,
An there they got the wee wee babe,
But its life was far awa.
'Come doon, come doon, Marie Hamilton,
Come doon and speak to me;
. . . .
. . . . ”

“ Maria now, at the request of Hamilton, favoured them with a song, which happened to be “One day I heard Mary say,” which she performed with exquisite taste and pathos, and appeared [118] to our hero to dwell with peculiar softness on the words, “I’ll never leave thee;” Hamilton thought he had never seen her so bewitching, and whispered to her, that he could live no longer without her; and that unless she consented to be immediately his, his reason, if not even his life, must pay the price of the delay. “Could you bear, my beloved Maria, to see me a miserable lunatic or a lifeless corpse?” ”

“ Schuyler.
Do you wish me to go, Judge?
Jay.
No, General, I very much desire that you should stay. Mr. Hamilton, it is sometimes difficult to determine how far a public man realizes the extent of his influence on the character of others. You are a modest man, but I think you must know that the eyes of the nation are turned toward you as an honorable man who is to steer this country clear of grave dangers. ”

“ Oh, yes, I love wine! [He gives it to her laughing. She drinks.] Oh, I don't think I should have had it—I've had nothing to eat.
Hamilton.
In that case, I believe it goes straight to the head.
[They laugh. Mrs. Reynolds.
[Putting down glass.] Aren't you going to have one?
Hamilton.
Yes, I'm going to have one. Here's wishing that joy may come back into your life.
[Drinks the glass he had already filled when the knock came. Mrs. Reynolds.
[Watches him and comes down a little in front of table.] Do you know what it is to be lonely?
Hamilton.
[At r. corner of table.] I do. ”

“ Any student taking a cursory glance at the epoch of violence and complicated intrigue which marked the infancy of Mary of Scotland, may well be astonished that a man so weak and vain and incompetent as James Hamilton—albeit his footing was made more secure by his position as the Queen's heir-presumptive—should have held possession of his high dignities so long as he did. ”

“ Betsy.
No, Alexander. Let me stand by you.
Hamilton.
[Kisses her hand and she moves down r. He becomes a different man and going up he throws open the great centre doors. The room beyond is brilliantly lighted and the entire scene is lighted up. There is a murmur of conversation. The room beyond is filled with men—about a dozen or more; some are seated. Present are Marshall, Morris, Jay, Jefferson, Monroe, Livingston, Madison, Muhlenburg, etc.] ”

“ Hamilton, here—is, I wouldn't have made that mistake, would I? Come on, let's you and me go find David and break the news to him. Say, he'll be some surprised to find he's booked for a foreign v'yage, won't he? Come on, we'll go find him.”
Mary-'Gusta slowly rose from Mr. Hamilton's knee. She regarded the Captain steadily for a moment; then, hand in hand, they left the barn together.
Judge Baxter whistled. “Well!” he exclaimed. “I must say I didn't expect this.”
Zoeth smiled. “There ain't many better men than Shadrach Gould,” he observed, quietly. ”