Mary Hamilton

News is to the kitchen
News has come to me
That Mary Hamilton's borne a babe
And drowned him in the sea.

Down came the old queen
Gold tassels round her head;
Mary Hamilton, where's the babe
That lay all in your bed?

Mary, put on your robe of black,
Put on your robe of brown;
Mary, come along with me
To ride to Edinburgh town.

She neither put on her robes of black
Or neither her robes of brown
But she put on her snow white robes
To shine through Edinburgh town.

And as she passed by the Canongate
The Canongate passed she;
The ladies leaned over their casement windows
And they wept for this lady.

And as she walked up the Parliament Stairs
A loud, loud laugh gave she.
As she walked down the Parliament Stairs
She was condemned to die.

Go bring me the red wine,
The reddest every could be;
And I'll drink a toast to those jolly bold sailors
Who brought me over the sea.

For they'll tie a napkin round my head
They'll never more let me see;
They'll never let on to my father and mother
I was hung far over the sea.

Last night I dressed the old queen
Put the gold all round her hair;
But all I get for my reward
Is the gallows to be my share.

Last night there were four Marys,
Tonight there'll be but three;
There was Mary Seaton and Mary Beaton,
And Mary Carmichael and me.