Mary Hamilton
Word is to the kitchen gone,and word is to the hallAnd word is up to madam the queen,and that's the worst of allThat Mary Hamilton has borne a babeTo the highest stuart of all
Oh rise, arise Mary HamiltonArise and tell to meWhat thou hast done with thy wee babeI saw and heard weep by thee
I put him in a tiny boatAnd cast him out to seaThat he might sink or he might swimBut he'd never come back to me
Oh rise arise Mary HamiltonArise and come with meThere is a wedding in Glasgow townThis night we'll go and see
She put not on her robes of blackNor her robes of brownBut she put on her robes of whiteTo ride into Glasgow town
And as she rode into Glasgow townThe city for to seeThe bailiff's wife and the provost's wifeCried alack and alas for thee
Oh you need not weep for me she criedYou need not week for meFor had I not slain my own wee babeThis death I would not dee
Oh little did my mother thinkWhen first she cradled meThe lands I was to travel inAnd the death I was to dee
Last night I washed the queen's feetPut the gold in her hairAnd the only reward I find for thisThe gallows to be my share
Cast off, cast off my gown, she criedBut let my petticoat beAnd tie a napkin round my faceThe gallows, I would not see
Then by them come the king himselfLooked up with a pitiful eyeCome down, come down Mary HamiltonTonight you will dine with me
Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liegeAnd let your folly beFor if you'd a mind to save my lifeYou'd never have shamed me here
Last night there were four MarysTonight there'll be but threeIt was Mary Beaton and Mary SetonAnd Mary Carmichael and me