And word is up to madam the Queen and that's the worst of all
That Mary Hamilton bore a babe to the highest Stewart of all
"Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton, arise and tell to me
Where is thy wee and newborn babe I saw and heard weep by thee?"
"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"
"Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton, arise and come with me
There is a wedding in Glascow town this night that you must see."
She put not on her robes of black nor wore her robes of brown
But she put on her robes of white for to ride into Glascow town
And as she rode into Glascow town the city for to see
The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife cried, "Ach and alas for thee."
"You need not weep for me," she cried, "You need not weep for me.
If I'd not killed my own wee babe, this death I would not die" [pronounced dee]
"Ah, little did my mother think when first she cradled me
The lands I was to travel in or the death I was to die"
"Cast off, cast off my gown," she cried, "but let my petticoat be
And tie a napkin 'round my face. The gallows I'd not see."
Then by and comes the king himself, looks up with a pitiful e'e
"Come down, come down Mary Hamilton, and tonight you'll dine with me."
"Ah, hold your tongue, my soveriegn liege, and let your folly be
For if you'd a mind to save my life, you'd have never a-sham-ed me."
"Last night there were four Marys...tonight there'll be but three
Mary Seton, Mary Keaton, Mary Carmichael and me."
Email me: sca_bard@yahoo.com