The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
375
The Death of Queen Jane
THE DEATH OF QUEEN JANE—D
[_]
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.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
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.
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||