For the 3 Mary's Stain glass window in Grace Church in Wabasha. Because now there are only three!The four Marys were Mary, Queen of Scots' ladies-in-waiting, but these were Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming and Mary Livingston. There was no Mary Carmichael but this popular song was believed to be relating to Mary, Queen of Scots until it was traced back to the court of the Tsar. The ballad dates between 1719 and 1764 and narrates the story of Mary Hamilton, a Scottish maid of Peter the Great's wife Catherine, who was executed for the murder of her illegitimate child, product of an affair with the Tsar Peter.
The two stories of Mary Hamilton and Mary, Queen of Scots were grafted onto each other.
Last night there were four Marys
Tonight there'll be but three
There was Mary Seaton and Mary Beaton
And Mary Carmichael and me.
Oh, often have I dressed my Queen
And put on her braw silk gown
But all the thanks I've got tonight
Is to be hanged in Edinborough Town.
Full often have I dressed my Queen
Put gold upon her hair
But I have got for my reward
The gallows to be my share.
Oh, little did my mother know
The day she cradled me
The land I was to travel in
The death I was to dee.
Oh, happy, happy is the maid
That's born of beauty free
Oh, it was my rosy, dimpled cheeks
That's been the devil to me.
They'll tie a kerchief around my eyes
That I may not see to dee
And they'll never tell my father or mother
But that I'm across the sea.
Word is to the kitchen gone and word is to the hall,
And word is up to Madam the Queen and that is the worst of all.
That Mary Hamilton's born a child, to the highest Stuart of all.
"Arise,arise Mary Hamilton, Arise and tell to me,
What hast thou done with thy wee baby I heard and I saw 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 Glasgow town, this night we'll go and see."
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.
And as she rode into Glasgow town the city for to see,
The baliff's wife and the provosts wife cried "ach and alas for thee."
"Ah you need not weep for me," she cried,"you need not weep for me.
For had I not slain my own wee babe this night I would not die."
"Ah little did my mother think when first she cradled me,
The lands I was to travel to and the death I was to die."
"Last night I washed the Queen's feet and put the gold in her hair,
And the only reward I find for this is the gallows to be my share."
"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."
Then by and by came the King himself, looked up with a pitiful eye,
"Come down, come down Mary Hamilton, Tonight, you'll dine with me."
"Ah hold your tongue, my soverign leige, and let your folly be;
For if you'd a mind to save my life, you'd never have shamed me here."
"Last night there were four Marys,tonight there'll be but three.
There was Mary Beaton and Mary Seaton and Mary Carmichael and Me."
