Hiftorians will have it, that he led a very Sober Life with this Second Husband. However, if we may give any Credit to the following Song, the Hiftorians are palpably miftaken. The Jealousy of this Queen was exceeding great, as may be feen by her Behaviour towards Rofamond, and feveral others of King Henry's Concubines; for, in his Life-time, he had a great many; and this he might plead in his Excufe, that he was much younger than his Queen. There are fome Things advanc'd in this old Ballad, which I must beg leave to contradict; particularly the Earl Marshal's having her Maidenhead: But this I take to be inferted, not as a direct Fact, but with regard to the loofe Life fhe had led before she was married to King Henry.

O

Ueen Eleanor was a fick Woman,

And afraid that she should dye;
Then the fent for Two Fryars of France,
To speak with her speedily.

The King call'd down his Nobles all,
By one, by two, by three ;
And fent 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 cry'd,
My Sceptre and my Crown,
That whatfoe're Queen Eleanor fays,
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 Chorifters fing
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 fuppofe you be?

But if you are Two English Fryars,
Then hanged shall you 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 faid the King;
God may forgive it thee :

Amen, Amen, quoth Earl Marshal;
With a heavy Heart spoke he.

The

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 fo may be.

The next vile Thing that e're I did,

To you

I will discover;

I poyfoned fair Rofamond,

All in fair Woodflock 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 fo may be.

Do you fee yonder's little Boy,
A toffing of the Ball?
That is Earl Marshal's eldest Son,
I love him the best of all.

Do you fee yonder's little Boy,

A catching of the Ball?

That is King Henry's Son, fhe said ;

I love him the worst of all.

His Head is like unto a Bull;

His Nofe is like a Boar :

No matter for that, King Henry cry'd,

I love him the better therefore.

The

The King pull'd off his Fryar's Coat,
And appeared all in Red;

She fhriek'd, the cry'd, and wrung her Hands,
And said she was betray'd.

The King look'd over his Left Shoulder,
And a grim Look looked he;

And faid, Earl Marshal, but for my Oath,
Or hanged should'st thou be.

IV. St.