Communicated to Percy by the Dean of Derry, as written
from memory by his mother, Mrs. Bernard, February, 1776.
| 1 |
Queen Jane was in labour full six weeks and more,
And the women were weary, and fain would give oer:
'O women, O women, as women ye be,
Rip open my two sides, and save my baby!' |
| 2 |
'O royal Queen Jane, that thing may not be;
We'll send for King Henry to come unto thee.'
King Henry came to her, and sate on her bed:
'What ails my dear lady, her eyes look so red?' |
| 3 |
'O royal King Henry, do one thing for me:
Rip open my two sides, and save my baby!'
'O royal Queen Jane, that thing will not do;
If I lose your fair body, I'll lose your baby too.' |
| 4 |
She wept and she waild, and she wrung her hands sore;
O the flour of England must flurish no more!
She wept and she waild till she fell in a swoond,
They opend her two sides, and the baby was found. |
| 5 |
The baby was christened with joy and much mirth,
Whilst poor Queen Jane's body lay cold under earth:
There was ringing and singing and mourning all day,
The princess Eliz[abeth] went weeping away. |
| 6 |
The trumpets in mourning so sadly did sound,
And the pikes and the muskets did trail on the ground.
. . . .
. . . . |
