Ballad II: Queen Eleanor's Confession

QUEEN ELEANOR’S CONFESSION.

Queen Eleanor was a sick woman,
And afraid that she should dye;
Then she sent for two fryars of France,
To speak with her speedily.

The King called down his nobles all,
By one, by two, by three,
And sent away for Earl Marshal,
To speak with him speedily.

When that he came before the King,
He fell on his bended knee;
“A boon, a boon, our gracious king,
That you sent so hastily.”

“I’ll pawn my lands,” the King then cried,
“My sceptre and my crown,
That whatsoe’re Queen Eleanor says,
I will not write it down.

“Do you put on a fryar’s coat,
And I’ll put on another;
And we will to Queen Eleanor go.
Like fryar and his brother.”

Thus both attired then they go:
When they came to Whitehall,
The bells did ring, and the choristers sing,
And the torches did light them all.

When that they came before the Queen,
They fell on their bended knee;
“A boon, a boon, our gracious queen,
That you sent so hastily.”

“Are you two fryars of France,” she said,
“As I suppose you be?
But if you are two English fryars,
Then hanged you shall be.”

“We are two fryars of France,” they said,
“As you suppose we be;
We have not been at any mass
Since we came from the sea.”

“The first vile thing that e’re I did,
I will to you unfold;
Earl Marshal had my maidenhead,
Beneath this cloth of gold.”

“That’s a vile sin,” then said the King;
“God may forgive it thee!”
“Amen, amen!” quoth Earl Marshal;
With a heavy heart spoke he.

“The next vile thing that e’re I did,
To you I’ll not deny;
I made a box of poyson strong,
To poyson King Henry.”

“That’s a vile sin,” then said the King,
“God may forgive it thee!”
“Amen, amen!” quoth Earl Marshal;
“And I wish it so may be.”

“The next vile thing that e’re I did,
To you I will discover;
I poysoned fair Rosamond,
All in fair Woodstock bow’r.”

“That’s a vile sin,” then said the King;
“God may forgive it thee!”
“Amen, amen!” quoth Earl Marshal;
“And I wish it so may be.”

“Do you see yonder’s [a] little boy,
A tossing of the ball?
That is Earl Marshal’s eldest son,
I love him the best of all.

“Do you see yonder’s [a] little boy,
A catching of the ball?
That is King Henry’s son,” she said;
“I love him the worst of all.

“His head is like unto a bull.
His nose is like a boar,” −
“No matter for that,” King Henry cried,
“I love him the better therefore.”

The king pulled off his fryar’s coat,
And appeared all in red;
She shrieked, she cried, and wrung her hands,
And said she was betrayed.

The King looked over his left shoulder,
And a grim look looked he;
And said, “Earl Marshal, but for my oath.
Or hanged shouldst thou be.”