Ballads in Imitation of the Antient By W. H. Ireland |
Ballad.
Of the dolorous Death of the
Lady Jane Gray.
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Ballads in Imitation of the Antient | ||
Ballad. Of the dolorous Death of the Lady Jane Gray.
In Two Parts.
Wherein is displayed the unstableness of grandeur, and the untimely fate which it sometimes pleaseth the Lord to inflict on virtuous souls. Shewing also the constancy of this Princess in all her sufferings, and her courage at the moment of execution; with the death also of her virtuous and loving husband, the Lord Dudley, and the manner of their being beheaded in the Tower of London.
This illustrious Personage of the blood Royal, by both parents, was no less conspicuous for virtue and mental accomplishments than for the nobleness of her family; and was it not indeed that some of her panegyrists are remarkable for adherence to truth, we should be led to dispute the accounts handed down to us relating to this Princess. When scarcely emerging from childhood, she is said to have spoke her own language with accuracy, as well as the French, Italian, Latin, and Greek; she was also versed in Hebrew, Chaldee, and Arabic. Her temper was sedate, and she appeared to possess inherently a thirst after knowledge. By the machinations of her father, she was nominated heiress to the Crown, by the youthful Edward VI. at whose death she was proclaimed Queen, in opposition to her own wish, but merely in compliance with the desire of her aspiring father. On the accession of the vengeful Mary, her youth nor virtues could not screen her from the impending fate, and she was adjudged to die, together with her husband, as innocent a victim as herself. She met her fate with the same steady composure she had evinced through life, and may be deemed the wonder of her sex. Lady Jane was not sixteen at the period of her execution.
FIRST PART.
Each pleasure hath its pain;
To strive against Almighty God,
I trow it were but vain.
At morn may glad the eye;
The Rose alike may waft its sweets,
And in the evening die.
Or shun the will of God;
We all must yield unto our fate,
And kiss the galling Rod.
Alike must yield to fate;
The Lord he knows ni difference
'Twixt poor man and the great.
And to my tale give ear;
The Lord well loves the kindly heart,
Then do not check the tear.
The Lord will not say nay;
But bless thine heart that it doth weep
The death of Lady Gray.
Most cruel death did frown,
And he did quit this mortal state,
To wear a heav'nly Crown:
Should own the Sov'reign sway,
That every man should bend the knee
Before the Lady Gray.
Unto his child did say,
“To thee, the King hath will'd his crown,
“Thou must his will obey.”
Her husband's fader dear,
Said, “Daughter, thou must wear the Crown,
There is ni cause of fear.”
She scan had told sixteen;
“I wis I am to young,” quod she,
“To be great England's Queen.
“But pass my life in peace;
“For with a Crown great perils come,
“All happiness doth cease.
“With study feast my mind;
“To golden pomp, and governance,
“Mine heart is not inclined.
“That I the crown should wear,
“My duty is, to yield to you,
“All plainings I forbear.
They will'd her so to say,
And in our London Citty great,
Proclaim'd she was that day.
And Citizens did cry
God grant she may for aye enjoy
The goodly sov'reignty.
Were spread, both far and near,
All people sorely plain'd their loss,
And dropp'd the briny tear.
A messenger did hie;
Full speed he rode to Kenning Hall,
In Norfolk's fam'd county.
“Thy royal Broder's dead,
“And goodly yeomen fain would place
“The crown upon thine head.
“My subjects' will, I trow,
“Right faithful are mine Englishmen,
“Their lawful Queen to know.”
Ni wept her broder's end,
But back to London's City straight,
The horseman she did send.
“And to my people say,
“Their love doth well their Queen belike.”
The man then rode away.
The time it was full late;
For bells han rong the midnight hour,
As he knock'd at the Gate,
Ran trickling down a flood,
Begrimed was the messenger,
His spurs were dank'd with blood,
“Thy royal Broder's dead,
“But he hath will'd great England's Crown,
From off thy rightful head.
“Her fader hath done so,
“Likewise the Duke Northumberland,
“And many more I trow.”
“By Christe's blood,” quod she,
“These traytor nobles shall repent,
And rue their villany.
“That Jesu did forsake,
“I will ni spare a living soul,
“They shall brin at the stake.
“That dare deny my right;”
The Messenger then bent his knee,
And left the Princess' sight.
Enjoy'd the royal state,
When mark the rueful difference,
In this sweet Princess' fate.
With Nobles a great rout,
That were both bold and stout.
Did yield the thorny crown,
But all obedience could not calm
The wrathful Marie's frown.
A Prisoner was ta'en;
Ni murmur'd she, ni shed one tear,
Ni felt a minute's pain.
Her noble husband dear,
Whose face did show all innocence,
Whose heart did feel no fear.
Yfled with mickle speed,
He for his act did bleed.
Upon the block to die;
For beauty, truth and innocence,
Such was the destiny.
By strokesman's blow to end;
Such is the meed which providence,
To virtue oft doth send.
Sore vex'd each feeling heart;
Each man with shake of head did cry
This is a bloody part.
Her rise, her fall, and doom;
The next shall tell how willingly,
She enter'd death's cold Tomb.
SECOND PART.
The sun han gilt the sky,
And clouds of night on mountain tops
In dankish mists gan fly.
Then rung the matin song;
It sweetly sounded o'er the plain,
And echoed woods among.
And look'd on heaven so bright;
“Oh Jesu, if I aught have done
“That's shameful in thy sight;
“My wayward heart was led,
If from thy bless'd commandements
“My mind hath ever fled;
“Then wash the stain away,
“So I before Almighty God
“May purely walk this day.
“My soul doth love him well;
“And that same axe that drinks my blood,
“His precious head shall fell.
“Oh bear his Soul to rest,
“May he for aye repose in peace,
“Upon his Saviour's breast.
“The song of joy upraise,
“And may my voice attune the chant,
“To sing my Maker's praise.”
He rais'd his looks on high;
“An it be so I am content,
“Great God this day to die.
“Nor shunn'd thine holy will;
“Each day it hath been my intent
“Thy purpose to fulfil.
“To sin have been inclin'd,
“If mortal flesh hath e'er controul'd
“And harm'd my precious mind.
“I ne'er yet saw her fere
“For virtue, beauty and prudence;
“I love my wife full dear.
“With thee, my God, find peace;
“May we above the chant upraise,
“For there all woes shall cease.”
The guards, with spears full bright,
Did march around the Chapel yard,
It was a seemly sight.
With Wardens near at hand;
Their robes were comely to behold,
As they did take their stand,
That were full stout and strong,
With arrows keen hung by their sides,
Were rang'd the walls along.
His looks they were full meek;
His heart tow'rd mercy was inclin'd,
For tears ran down his cheeke.
With downcast look he stood;
Quod many a Soul “I would not do
“As thou dost, by the rood.
The block it was bedight,
Around the edge there did appear
A fringe of purest white.
The bowmen with their dartes,
There stood a troop with spears full long,
They were stout English heartes.
The wardens did yface;
Their looks were sad and sorrowful,
Their thoughts all joy did chace.
That they might witness be,
How Dudley did his fate ybear:
How Lady Jane should dee.
“Thou hast an honest mien,
“And trust me, one more kind of heart
“I never yet have seen.
“Do not my boon deny,
“So thou wilt serve a dying man,
“And please thy Lord on high.
“And speake these words I pray,
“Thine Lord he wills one parting kiss,
“Ere life be ta'en away.”
The tear rose in his eye;
Quod Dudley “thou'st a noble heart,”
The warden heav'd a sigh.
And gold did put therein;
“To take thine ore,” the warden cried,
“I wis it were a sin.
“My virtue is my store;”
The warden from Lord Guilford turn'd,
And pass'd without the door.
Her Lorde's wordes he spake;
Then tears from her sweet eyne did flow,
Her heart was nigh to break.
“I must not from him part,
“For should I see him ere I die,
'Twou'd break this loving heart.
“Shall bless his gentle name,
“Go bid him suffer with courage,
“Myself shall do the same.”
With smiles he did them greet:
“She's right,” quod he, “ere long, I trow,
“In heav'n our souls shall meet.”
The warden hid his eye;
Quod Dudley, “Weep not, honest heart,
“I'm well prepar'd to die.
“May Jesu bless thine heart;”
From out the door, with solemn step,
Lord Dudley did depart.
To heav'n he pray'd awhile;
He shook the warden by the hand,
Most calmly did he smile.
His neck was cleft in twain;
So sturdily the strokesman struck,
I wis he felt no pain.
It was a woeful sight:
More calm she was than all around,
They were in doleful plight.
Her heart was griev'd full sore;
For guardsmen there beside her pass'd,
Her husband's corse they bore.
“That I mayne look my last;”
They stopp'd while she on Dudley's corse,
A steadfast look yeast.
One briny tear she shed,
Then on her maiden's shoulder leant,
And turn'd away her head.
She there these wordes spake:
“I never compassed the Crown,
“Nor Marie's right would take.
“This heart of mine away:
“I acted as my fader will'd,
“I dar'd not disobey.
“So wills Almighty fate;
“Since innocent, I have done wrong,
“My life shall pay the State.”
And having said one pray'r,
From off her neck the covering,
Her weeping maid did bear.
The strokesman craved grace;
Quod she, “I freely pardon thee,
“Upon this goodly place.”
And down her head did lay,
The strokesman gave the fatal blow
That bore her life away.
Thus ended Lady Gray;
They both were English hearts of truth,
None dare my words say nay.
With weeping eyes went hame:
And those to whom the tale was told,
I wis did do the same.
May we again ne'er see
A deth so rueful as this Lorde's,
And Jane his lov'd Ladie.
This Lady may compare;
Or like the lilly by the brook,
That waves it's head so fair.
Whose beauty glads the eye,
E'en like these flow'rs, at Morn she bloom'd,
And with the Eve did die.
Ni Sov'reign, ni great Earl;
For God in heav'n alike commands,
The Emperor and Churl.
Ballads in Imitation of the Antient | ||