Queen Elinor’s Confession

[Verse 1]
Queen Elinor was a sick woman
And afraid that she would die
When she sent for two friars out of France
To come to her speedily

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
"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"

[Verse 4]
"Oh God forbid", said Earl Marshal
"That such a thing would be
If I should beguile Madame the Queen
Then hanged I would be"

[Verse 5]
And the King he swore upon his oath
His scepter and his crown
That whatsoever Queen Elinor said
He would not write it down

[Verse 6]
And thus attired they both did go
'Til they came to Whitehall
The bells did ring, and the choristers sing
And the torches did light them all

[Verse 7]
"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"

[Verse 8]
"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"

[Verse 9]
"The first vile sin that e'er I did
To you I will unfold
Earl Marshal had my maidenhead
Underneath this cloth of gold"

[Verse 10]
"That is a vile sin", said the King
"God may forgiveth thee"
"Amen, amen", quoth Earl Marshal
With a heavy, heavy heart spoke he

[Verse 11]
"The next vile sin that e'er I did
To you I'll not deny
I brewed a pot of poison strong
To poison King Henry"

[Verse 12]
"That is a vile sin", said the King
"God may forgiveth thee
"Amen, amen", quoth Earl Marshal
"I wish it so may be"

[Verse 13]
"Do you see yonder little child
A-tossing of that ball?
That is Earl Marshal's son, she said
And I love him the best of all"

[Verse 14]
"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"

[Verse 15]
"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"

[Verse 16]
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

[Verse 17]
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"