The Death of Queen Jane
No: 170; variant: 170D
- 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!'
- 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!'
- 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.
- The babe it was christened, and put out and nursed,
While the royal Queen Jane she lay cold in the dust.
. . . .
. . . .
- 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.
- 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.