Queen Elinor's Confession

歌詞

Queen Elinor was a sick woman And afraid that she would die When she sent for two friars from France To come to her speedily When the King he heard the Queen had sent For friars from o'er the sea He called his noble Earl Marshal To come to him speedily Do you put on one friar's coat And I'll put on another And we shall to Queen Elinor go One friar like another Oh God forbid, said Earl Marshal That such a thing would be If I should beguile Madame the Queen Then hanged I would be And the King he swore upon his oath His scepter and his crown That whatsoever Queen Elinor said He would not write it down And thus attired they both did go Till they came to Whitehall The bells did ring, and the choristers sing And the torches did light them all Be you two friars of France, she said As I suppose you be But if you be two English friars Then hanged thou wouldst be We are two friars of France, they said As you suppose we be And we have not been at any mass Since we came over the sea The first vile sin that ere I did To you I will unfold Earl Marshal had my maidenhead Underneath this cloth of gold That is a vile sin, said the King God may forgive it thee Amen, amen, quoth Earl Marshal With a heavy heavy heart spoke he The next vile sin that ere I did To you I'll not deny I brewed a pot of poison strong To poison King Henry That is a vile sin, said the King God may forgive it thee Amen, amen, quoth Earl Marshal I wish it so may be Do you see yonder little child A-tossing of that ball? That is Earl Marshal son, she said And I love him the best of all And do you see yonder little boy A-catching of that ball? That is King Henry's son, she said And 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 said I love him the better therefore Then the King threw off his friar's coat He appeared all in red She shrieked, she cried, she wrung her hands She said she was betrayed And the King looked over his left shoulder And a grim look looked at he And he said, Earl Marshal, but for my oath Then hanged you would be