An Excellent new Ballad, intituled,
The Four drunken Wives that
live at Belsiehil.
To the Tune of The Four drunken Maidens at the Nether-bow.
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1
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AT Noble Hags, we will begin,
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because he is a Knight,
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He sets his Lands to David Corse,
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because he has good Right:
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Because he has good Right, I say,
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to you I tell this Tale,
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There four drunken Wives,
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that live at Belsiehil.
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2
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Noble Hags says to the Wives,
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Will ye go join your Placks?
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And by my Sooth, and that we will,
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and we'll ly by our Rocks;
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And we'll ly by our Rocks,
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and we'll have another Gill.
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There four drunken Wives,
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that live at Belsiehil.
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3
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Noble Hags says to the Wives,
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I fear ye'll all be fow.
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No by my Truth, quoth the Wife,
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your Tale shall not be true:
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Before that we be fow,
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we'll have the other Gill:
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There four drunken Wives,
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that live at Belsiehil.
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4
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The east-most House in Belsiehil,
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James Hepburn's call'd by Name,
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I wote the Wife was travelling,
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that Day the Land was tean.
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They sent for Magie Weir,
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wad had her with good Will;
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But she has got a wee Sope Drink,
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she could not come them till.
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5
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Little Gavin says to his Wife,
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My bonny Magie rise.
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James Hepburn's Folk they have been here,
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ofter nor once or twice:
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James Hepburn's Folk they have been here
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and ye told me not the Tale,
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O dear Gavin, I do now fear,
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That you must go your sell.
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6
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And what can I do Magie,
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when I am to then gean,
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You know I cannot dress the Wife,
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nor yet can handle the Bairn:
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I may then cut a wee Bit Cheese,
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as much as serve my sell.
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And there four drunken Wives,
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that live at Belsiehil.
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7
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They went to Margaret Hunter's,
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they drank her Bots all dry;
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And they came to Jean Marwood,
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her Brandy for to try:
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If that your Brandy it be good,
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we'll have another Gill:
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And there four drunken Wives,
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that live at Belsiehil.
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8
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They went to Marg'ret Hamilton's
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lives west among the Bent,
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And there they got their Dinner free,
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beside the Thing they spent.
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Their Lawing it was half a Crown;
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I wote they were not dear.
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Or all the Wives of Belsiehil,
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Mege Hamilton bears Gree
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9
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Out then comes Jean Marwood,
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and says to James Jack,
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There four and twenty Guinea's,
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tyed in my Sark Lap.
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Out came Margaret Hamilton,
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and says to Piper [?]
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The D---la ma's in my Sark Lap,
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and that I wote right well.
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