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; The King call'd down his Nobles all, When that he came before the King, A Boon, a Boon, our gracious King, I'll pawn my Lands, the King then cry'd, Do you put on a Fryar's Coat, Thus both attired then they go ; When that they came before the Queen, Are you Two Fryars of France, she said, But if you are Two English Fryars, 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 Earl Marshal had my Maidenhead, That's a vile Sin, then faid the King; Amen, Amen, quoth Earl Marshal; The The next vile Thing that e're I did, I made a Box of Poyson strong, That's a vile Sin, then said the King; 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; Do you fee yonder's little Boy, 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 |