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.
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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.
