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The Death of Queen Jane

No: 170; variant: 170D

  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.