Skene Manuscript, p. 39.
| 1 |
Our queen's sick, an very sick,
She's sick an like to die;
She has sent for the friars of France,
To speak wi her speedilie. |
| 2 |
'I'll put on a friar's robe,
An ye'll put on anither,
An we'll go to Madam the Queen,
Like friars bath thegither.' |
| 3 |
'God forbid,' said Earl Marishall,
'That ever the like shud be,
That I beguile Madam the Queen!
I wad be hangit hie.' |
| 4 |
The King pat on a friar's robe,
Earl Marishall on anither;
They're on to the Queen,
Like friars baith thegither. |
| 5 |
'Gin ye be the friars of France,
As I trust well ye be —
But an ye be ony ither men,
Ye sall be hangit hie.' |
| 6 |
The King he turnd him roun,
An by his troth sware he,
We hae na sung messe
Sin we came frae the sea. |
| 7 |
'The first sin ever I did,
An a very great sin 'twas tee,
I gae my maidenhead to Earl Marishall,
Under the greenwood tree.' |
| 8 |
'That was a sin, an a very great sin,
But pardond it may be;'
'Wi mendiment,' said Earl Marishall,
But a heavy heart had he. |
| 9 |
'The next sin ever I did,
An a very great sin 'twas tee,
I poisened Lady Rosamond,
An the King's darling was she.' |
| 10 |
'That was a sin, an a very great sin,
But pardond it may be;'
'Wi mendiment,' said King Henry,
But a heavy heart had he. |
| 11 |
'The next sin ever I did,
An a very great sin 'twas tee,
I keepit poison in my bosom seven years,
To poison him King Henrie.' |
| 12 |
'That was a sin, an a very great sin,
But pardond it may be;'
'Wi mendiment,' said King Henry,
But a heavy heart had he. |
| 13 |
'O see na ye yon bonny boys,
As they play at the ba?
An see na ye Lord Marishal's son?
I lee him best of a'. |
| 14 |
'But see na ye King Henry's son?
He's headit like a bull, and backit like a boar,
I like him warst awa:'
'And by my sooth,' says him King Henry,
'I like him best o the twa.' |
| 15 |
The King he turned him roun,
Pat on the coat o goud,
. . . .
The Queen turnd the King to behold. |
| 16 |
. . . .
. . . .
'Gin I hadna sworn by the crown and sceptre roun,
Earl Marishal sud been gart die.' |
