A Mournful Ditty of the Lady Rosamond, King Henry the seconds Concubine, who was poysoned to death by Queen Elenor in VVoodstoost Bower near Oxford.
To the tune of, Flying Fame,
WHhenas King Henry rul'd this land,
the second of that name,
Besides the Quéen he dearly lov'd
a fair and Princely Dame:
Most Péerless was her beauty found,
her favour and her face.
A swéeter creature in the world
did never Prince imbrace.
Her crisped locks like threds of gold
appear'd to each mans sight,
Her comely eyes like Orient Pearls
did cast a heavenly light.
The blood within her Christal chéek
did such a colour drive,
As if the Lilly and the Rose
for Master-ship did strive,
Yea Rosamond, fair Rosamond,
her name was called so,
To whom Dame Elenor our Quéen
was known a mortal foe:
The King therefore for her defence
against the furious Quéen,
At Woodstock builded such a Bower
the like was never séen.
Most curiously this Bower was built
of stone and timber strong,
A hundred and fifty doors
did to this Bower belong,
And they so cunningly contriv'd
with turnings round about,
That none but with a clew of thred
could enter in or out.
And for his Love and Ladies sake
that was so fair and bright,
The kéeping of that Bower he gave
unto a vallant Knight.
But Fortune that doth often frown,
where she before did smile,
The Kings delight, the Ladies joy
full soon she did beguile.
For why? the Kings ungracious son
whom he did high advance
Against his father raised wars
within the Realm of France:
But yet before our comely King
the English land forsook.
Of Rosamond his Lady fair,
his last farewel he took,
O Rosamond the onely Rose,
that pleaseth best mine eye,
The fairest Rose in all the world
to feed my fantasie.
The flower of my affected heart,
whose swéetness doth excell.
My Royal Rose a thousand times
I bid thée now farewel.
For I must leave my famous Flower,
my swéetest Rose a space,
And cross the sons to famous France
proud Rebels to abase,
But yet my Rose be sure thou shalt
my coming shortly sée,
And in my heart while hence I am
Ile bear my Rose with me.
When Rosamond the Lady fair
did hear the King say so,
The sorrow of her grieved heart,
her outward looks did shew
And from her clear and Christal eyes
the tears gusht out a pace,
Which like the Silver Pearled dew
ran down her comely face.
Her lips like to the Coral red
did wax both wan a pale,
And for the sorrow conceiv'd
her vital spirits did fail.
And falling down all in swound
before King Henries face
Full oft within his princelyarms
her body did embrace.
And twenty times with watry eyes
he kist her tender chéek
Vntill he had reviv'd again,
her sences mild and méek.
Why grieves my Rose, my sweetest Rose
the King did often say,
Because quoth she to bloody wars
my Lord must part away.
But sith your grace in Forraign Coasts
among your Foes unkind,
Most go to hazard life and limb,
why should I stay behind?
Nay rather let me like a Page,
your Sword and Target bear.
That on my breast the blow may light
that should offend you there.
O let me in your Royal tent
prepare your bed at night,
And with sweet baths refesh your grace
at your return from fight,
So I your presence may injoy.
no toyl I will refuse,
But wanting you my life is death
which doth true Love abuse.
Content thy self my dearest Love
thy rest at home shall be
In Englands swéet and pleasant soyl
for travel fits not thee.
Fair Ladys brook no bloody wars
sweet peace their pleasure breed
The nourisher of hearts content,
which fancy first did féed.
My Rose shall rest in Woodstock-bower
with musicks sweet delight.
While I among the piercing Pikes
against my Foe [...] do fight
My Rose in Robes of Pearl and Gold
with Diamonds richly [...]ight
Shall dance the Galliard of my Love
while I my foes do smite.
And you Sir Thomas whom I trust
to be my Loves defence
Be careful of my Royal Rose
when I am parted hence.
And there-withal he forth a sigh
as though his heart would break
And Rosamond for very grief
not one plain word could speak,
The second Part, to the same tune,
ANd at the parting well they might,
in heart be grieved sore,
After that day fair Rosamond
the King did sée no more.
For when his Grace had past the Seas
and into France was cone.
Queen Elenor with evious heart
to Woodstock came anon.
And forth she cal'd this trusty Knight,
who keep this curious Bower,
Who with his clew of twined thred
came from that famous flowes,
And when that they had wounded him
the Queen this thread did get.
And want where Lady Rosamond
was like an Angel set.
But when the Queen with steadfast eyes,
beheld her heavenly face,
She was amazed in her mind,
at her exceeding grace,
Cast of off thy Robes from thée she said
that rich and costly be,
And drink thou up this deadly drought
which I have brought for thee,
But presently upon her knée
swéet Rosmond did fall
And pardon of the Queen she crav'd
for her offences, all.
Take pity on my youthful years,
fair Rosamond did cry.
And let me uot with poyson strong
enforced be to dye.
I will renounce this sinful life,
and in a Cloyster bide,
Or rise be banisht if you please
to range the wor [...]d so wide.
And for that fault w [...]ich I ha [...]e done,
though I was forc'd thereto.
Preserve my life, and punish me
as you think good to do.
And with these wo [...]de her Lilly haud
she wrong full often there
And down along her c [...]mely chéeks
proceeded many a tear
But nothing could this [...]urious Queen
therewith appeased be
The cup of deadly poyson fil'd
as she sate on her knee.
She gave that comely Dame to drink▪
who took it in her hand,
And from her hended knee arose
and on her feet did stand.
And casting up her eyes to heaven
she did for mercy call,
And drinking up the poyson strong
her life she lost withall.
And when that death through every limb
had done her greatest spight,
Her chiefest foes did plain confess;
she was a glorious Wight.
Her body then they did Entomb,
when life was fl [...]d away,
At VVoodstock near to Oxford town
as may be seen this day.
Printed for F. Coles, Tho. Vere and W. Gilbertson.