Michael Jesse Owens & Anne Byrne - The Four Marys, 1965

 

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 has borne a babe

To the highest Stuart of all.

Arise, arise Mary Hamilton

Arise and tell to me

What thou hast done with thy wee 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 Glasgow town

This night we'll go and see.

And as she rode into Glasgow town

The city for to see

The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife

Cried out and alas for thee.

Then by them come the king himself

Looked up with a pitiful eye

Come down, come down Mary Hamilton

This night you will dine with me.

Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liege

And let your folly be

For if you'd a mind to save my life

You would never have shamed me here.

Last night the queen had four Marys

Tonight there'll be but three

There was Mary Seton and Mary Beaton

And Mary Carmichael and me.

      As "The Four Marys", eram um grupo de quatro jovens nobres escocesas que serviram como damas de companhia e companheiras da Rainha Maria, de Escócia. Eram elas Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming e Mary Livingston.

Mary Seton: Permaneceu ao serviço da rainha por mais tempo e era conhecida pela sua devoção e habilidade como cabeleireira.

Mary Beaton: Conhecida pela sua inteligência, foi elogiada num poema de George Ballantine.

Mary Fleming: Casou com o estadista William Maitland of Lethington.

Mary Livingston: Foi a primeira a casar e a rainha forneceu-lhe um dote generoso.

      As quatro Marys acompanharam a jovem Maria, da Escócia, para França em 1548. A história destas damas de companhia é referenciada nesta famosa balada escocesa, "Mary Hamilton" (ou "The Fower Maries"), que conta uma história de uma dama de companhia que é enforcada após o assassinato do seu filho ilegítimo.

      Still feel so much sadness when I read that Anne Byrne had passed away on the 28th of December 2020.