Mary Hamilton

[Verse 1]

Word is to the kitchen gone

And word is to the hall

And word is up to Madam the Queen

And that's the worst of all

That Mary Hamilton's borne a babe

To the highest Stuart of all

[Verse 2]

"Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton

Arise and tell to me

What thou hast done with thy wee babe

I saw and heard weep by thee"

[Verse 3]

"I put him in a tiny boat

And cast him out to sea

That he might sink or he might swim

But he'd never come back to me"

[Verse 4]

"Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton

Arise and come with me

There is a wedding in Glasgow town

This night we'll go and see"

[Verse 5]

She put not on her robes of black

Nor her robes of brown

But she put on her robes of white

To ride into Glasgow town

[Verse 6]

And as she rode into Glasgow town

The city for to see

The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife

Cried alack and alas for thee

[Verse 7]

"Oh you need not weep for me", she cried

"You need not weep for me"

For had I not slain my own wee babe

This death I would not lead

[Verse 8]

Oh, little did my mother think

When first she cradled me

The lands I was to travel in

And the death I was to dee

[Verse 9]

Last night I washed the queen's feet

Put the gold in her hair

And the only reward I find for this

The gallows to be my share

[Verse 10]

"Cast off, cast off my gown," she cried

"But let my petticoat be

And tie a napkin round my face

The gallows, I would not see"

[Verse 11]

Then by them come the king himself

Looked up with a pitiful eye

"Come down, come down, Mary Hamilton

Tonight, you will dine with me"

[Verse 12]

"Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liege

And let your folly be

For if you'd a mind to save my life

You'd never have shamed me here"

[Verse 13]

Last night there were four Marys

Tonight there'll be but three

It was Mary Beaton and Mary Seton

And Mary Carmichael and me