Robert Bell's Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the
Peasantry of England, p. 113; "taken down from the singing
of a young gipsy girl, to whom it had descended orally
through two generations."
| 1 |
Queen Jane was in travail for six weeks or more,
Till the women grew tired and fain would give oer:
'O women, O women, good wives if ye be,
Go send for King Henrie, and bring him to me!' |
| 2 |
King Henrie was sent for, he came with all speed,
In a gownd of green velvet from heel to the head:
'King Henrie, King Henrie, if kind Henrie you be,
Send for a surgeon, and bring him to me!' |
| 3 |
The surgeon was sent for, he came with all speed,
In a gownd of black velvet from heel to the head;
He gave her rich caudle, but the death-sleep slept she,
Then her right side was opened, and the babe was set free. |
| 4 |
The babe it was christened, and put out and nursed,
While the royal Queen Jane she lay cold in the dust.
. . . .
. . . . |
| 5 |
So black was the mourning, and white were the wands,
Yellow, yellow the torches they bore in their hands;
The bells they were muffled, and mournful did play,
While the royal Queen Jane she lay cold in the clay. |
| 6 |
Six knights and six lords bore her corpse through the grounds,
Six dukes followed after, in black mourning gownds;
The flower of Old England was laid in cold clay,
Whilst the royal King Henrie came weeping away. |
