God save the king, and bless the land And grant, henceforth, that foul debate BALLAD XXV.* OF THE SIX QUEENS THAT WERE MARRIED TO HENRY THE EIGHTH, KING OF ENGLAND. WHEN England's fame did ring Royally, royally, Of Henry the Eighth our king, All the world over : Such deeds of majesty By the hand of fair heaven. His royal father dead; Curiously, curiously, Was he then wrapt in lead, Such a tomb did he make, For his sweet father's sake, As the whole world may speak Of his gallant glory. * From Johnson's Crowne Garland of goulden Roses,' &c. 1612. England's brave monument And after did provide, His brother's widow he Which queen he loved dear, To have her divorced. * [The chapel called Henry the Seventh's, in Westminster Abbey, where the costly and beautiful tomb of that monarch is still in good preservation. It was the workmanship of one Peter, a Florentine. See Dart's Antiq. of West. Abbey, and Walpole's Anecd. of Painting in England.] When as Queen Catherine knew Good Lord! what bitter woe, From her sweet husband. O my kind sovereign dear! (Said the queen, said the queen,) Full two-and-twenty year "Have I been married: Sure it will break my heart, From thee now to depart, 'I ne'er play'd wanton's part, Amongst our Englishmen Of renown, of renown; The Earl of Wiltshire then Had a virtuous fair daughter; A brave and princely dame, Anna Bullen by name; This virgin was by fame, From this same royal queen, As it was known and seen, When Anna Bullen's place In the king's royal head That cost the queen her head, Then took he to wife Lady Jane, Lovingly, lovingly, That from the Seymours came, Nobly descended; But her love bought she dear, England then understand, Princes three of this land, Thus came from three queens: Catherine gave Mary birth, Anna Elizabeth, Jane, Edward by her death, All crown'd in England. After these married he, All in fame, all in fame, A dame of dignity, Fair Anne of Cleve: Her sorrow soon was seen, Yet liv'd she with grief to see, First a sweet gallant dame, Fair Catherine Howard: Small time of glory! |