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The Lady Jane Grey Internet Museum Poetry

Ballad: Of the Dolorous Death of the Lady Jane Gray

Author: William Henry Ireland
Source: "Ballads in Imitation of the Antient"
Year: 1801
Found here.

First Part

The fairest morn will have its cloud,
Each pleasure hath its pain;
To strive against Almighty God,
I trow it were but vain.

The Lilly by the running Brook,
At morn may glad the eye;
The Rose alike may waft its sweets,
And in the evening die.

There's naught on earth that can escape,
Or shun the will of God;
We all must yield unto our fate,
And kiss the galling Rod.

Then why complain, since great and small,
Alike must yield to fate;
The Lord he knows ni difference
'Twixt poor man and the great.

So I shall prove an ye will list,
And to my tale give ear;
The Lord well loves the kindly heart,
Then do not check the tear.

But send on high thy dol'rous plaint,
The Lord will not say nay;
But bless thine heart that it doth weep
The death of Lady Gray.

When late upon our Edward sixth
Most cruel death did frown,
And he did quit this mortal state,
To wear a heav'nly Crown:

He will'd, that this our goodly realm,
Should own the Sov'reign sway,
That every man should bend the knee
Before the Lady Gray.

The Duke, this gentle lady's sire.
Unto his child did say,
"To thee, the King hath will'd his crown,
"Thou must his will obey."

The great Duke of Northumberland,
Her husband's fader [father] dear,
Said, "Daughter, thou must wear the Crown,
There is ni cause of fear."

But Lady Jane, she was full meek;
She scan [scarce] had told sixteen;
"I wis [I think] I am to young," quod she,
"To be great England's Queen.

"Ni Crown, ni Kingdom, would I have,
"But pass my life in peace;
"For with a Crown great perils come,
"All happiness doth cease.
"I wou'd," quod she, "the live-long day
"With study feast my mind;
"To golden pomp, and governance [government],
"Mine heart is not incliued.

"But if my fader, 'tis your will,
"That I the crown should wear,
"My duty is, to yield to you,
"All plainings [complaints] I forbear.
This liked well these noble dukes,
They will'd her so to say,
And in our London Citty great,
Proclaim'd she was that day.

There belles yrongen [there rung] were, I trow,
And Citizens did cry
God grant she may for aye enjoy
The goodly sov'reignty.

The tidings of King Edward's death
Were spread, both far and near,
All people sorely plain'd their loss,
And dropp'd the briny tear.

To Mary, Edward's sister, then
A messenger did hie;
Full speed he rode to Kenning Hall,
In Norfolk's fam'd county.

And to the Princess thus he spake,
"Thy royal Broder's dead,
"And goodly yeomen fain would place
"The crown upon thine head.

Then Mary said, "I shall obey,
"My subjects' will, I trow,
"Right faithful are mine Englishmen,
"Their lawful Queen to know."

Ni more, ni less, the Princess spake,
Ni wept her broder's end,
But back to London's City straight,
The horseman she did send.

Saying, "To each Lord my greetings bear,
"And to my people say,
"Their love doth well their Queen belike."
The man then rode away.

Another page came galloping,
The time it was full late;
For bells han [had] rong the midnight hour,
As he knock'd at the Gate,

The steed did pant; while briny sweat,
Ran trickling down a flood,
Begrimed was the messenger,
His spurs were dank'd [wet] with blood,

Most noble Princess," spake the Page,
"Thy royal Broder's dead,
"But he hath will'd great England's Crown,
From off thy rightful head.

"Proclaimed is the Lady Gray,
"Her fader hath done so,
"Likewise the Duke Northumberland,
"And many more I trow."

With that the Princess looked grim,
"By Christe's blood," quod she,
"These traytor nobles shall repent,
And rue their villany.

"Likewise shall they full sorely rail,
"That Jesu did forsake,
"I will ni spare a living soul,
"They shall brin [burn] at the stake.

"Woe-worth betide these churlish hinds [boors],
"That dare deny my right;"
The Messenger then bent his knee,
And left the Princess' sight.

Now scan [scarce] nine days had Lady Gray
Enjoy'd the royal state.
When mark the rueful difference,
In this sweet Princess' fate.

To London Citty Mary came,
With Nobles a great rout [crowd],
Behind them marched many guards,
That were both bold and stout.

The Lady Jane right joyfully
Did yield the thorny crown,
But all obedience could not calm
The wrathful Marie's frown.

By warrant, she unto the Tower
A Prisoner was ta'en;
Ni murmur'd she, ni shed one tear,
Ni felt a minute's pain.

And thither was Lord Guilford brought,
Her noble husband dear,
Whose face did show all innocence.
Whose heart did feel no fear.

The stout Duke of Northumberland,
Yfled with mickle speed,
But ta'en he was, and being tried,
He for his act did bleed.

The Lady Jane adjudged was
Upon the block to die;
For beauty, truth and innocence,
Such was the destiny.

Lord Guilford Dudley sentenac'd was
By strokesman's [executioner] blow to end;
Such is the meed [reward] which providence,
To virtue oft doth send.

This cruel sentence being known,
Sore vex'd each feeling heart;
Each man with shake of head did cry
This is a bloody part.

Thus know ye by this first partie,
Her rise, her fall, and doom;
The next shall tell how willingly,
She enter'd death's cold Tomb.

Second Part.
And now the fatal morn was come,
The sun han gilt the sky,
And clouds of night on mountain tops
In dankish [dewy] mists gan fly.

The clarion cock his wings had shook,
Then rung the matin song;
It sweetly sounded o'er the plain,
And echoed woods among.

The Lady Jane she did arise,
And look'd on heaven so bright;
"Oh Jesu, if I aught have done
"That's shameful in thy sight;

"If from thy goodly ordinance
"My wayward heart was led,
If from thy bless'd commandements
"My mind hath ever fled;

"Oh thou the God of mercy art,
"Then wash the stain away,
"So I before Almighty God
"May purely walk this day.

"I have a husband, bless'd Jesu,
"My soul doth love him well;
"And that same axe that drinks my blood,
"His precious head shall fell.

"For him great God now let me pray,
"Oh bear his Soul to rest,
"May he for aye [ever] repose in peace,
"Upon his Saviour's breast.

"May he in heav'n, to mighty God
"The song of joy upraise,
"And may my voice attune the chant,
"To sing my Maker's praise."

Lord Dudley with the sun did rise,
He rais'd his looks on high;
"An it be so I am content,
"Great God this day to die.

"I ne'er have gladly done offence,
"Nor shunn'd thine holy will;
"Each day it hath been my intent
"Thy purpose to fulfil.

"But grant me grace, if ever I
"To sin have been inclin'd,
"If mortal flesh hath e'er controul'd
"And harm'd my precious mind.

"I have a wife, O Lord of hosts,
"I ne'er yet saw her fere [equal]
"For virtue, beauty and prudence;
"I love my wife full dear.

"Oh, may she by the setting sun,
"With thee, my God, find peace;
"May we above the chant upraise,
"For there all woes shall cease."

And now the bell 'gan loud to beat,
The guards, with spears full bright,
Did march around the Chapel yard,
It was a seemly sight.

There did the Governor attend,
With Wardens near at hand;
Their robes were comely to behold,
As they did take their stand,

Of Bowmen then, a chosen troop,
That were full stout and strong,
With arrows keen hung by their sides,
Were rang'd the walls along.

A reverend Fader eke was there,
His looks they were full meek;
His heart tow'rd mercy was inclin'd,
For tears ran down his cheeke.

The strokesman bore the axe in hond,
With downcast look he stood;
Quod many a Soul "I would not do
"As thou dost, by the rood [holy cross].

With woolen cloth of sable hue,
The block it was bedight [adorned],
Around the edge there did appear
A fringe of purest white.

And to the left that fronten did
The bowmen with their dartes,
There stood a troop with spears full long,
They were stout English heartes.

And those that wou'd the sight behold,
The wardens did yface;
Their looks were sad and sorrowful,
Their thoughts all joy did chace.

And in such order all did stand,
That they might witness be,
How DUDLEY did his fate ybear:
How Lady Jane should dee.

Quoth Dudley, to his warden sad,
"Thou hast an honest mien,
"And trust me, one more kind of heart
"I never yet have seen.

"Now warden, I thy pitty crave,
"Do not my boon deny,
"So thou wilt serve a dying man,
"And please thy Lord on high.

"Go, speed thee to my Lady dear,
"And speake these words I pray,
"Thine Lord he wills one parting kiss,
"Ere life be ta'en away."

The warden silent stood awhile,
The tear rose in his eye;
Quod Dudley "thou'st a noble heart,"
The warden beav'd a sigh.

Lord Guilford press'd the warden's hand,
And gold did put therein;
"To take thine ore," the warden cried,
"I wis [I think] it were a sin.

"I crave ni filthy gold," he said,
"My virtue is my store;"
The warden from Lord Guilford turn'd,
And pass'd without the door.

And when to Lady Jane he came,
Her Lorde's wordes he spake;
Then tears from her sweet eyne did flow,
Her heart was nigh to break.

"Go tell my husband warden kind,
"I must not from him part,
"For should I see him ere I die,
'Twou'd break this loving heart.

"Go tell him that my parting breath,
"Shall bless his gentle name,
"Go bid him suffer with courage,
"Myself shall do the same."

Now when these wordes Lord Dudley heard,
With smiles he did them greet:
"She's right," quod he, "ere long, I trow,
"In heav'n our souls shall meet."

And as he spake, the guard did come,
The warden hid his eye;
Quod Dudley, "Weep not, honest heart,
"I'm well prepar'd to die.

Once more the yeoman's hand he press'd,
"May Jesu bless thine heart;"
From out the door, with solemn step,
Lord Dudley did depart.

Unto the Chapel-yard he march'd,
To heav'n he pray'd awhile;
He shook the warden by the hand,
Most calmly did he smile.

Upon the block his head he plac'd,
His neck was cleft in twain;
So sturdily the strokesman struck,
I wis he felt no pain.

Next came the Lady Gray full meek,
It was a woeful sight:
More calm she was than all around,
They were in doleful plight.

But as she marched through the yard,
Her heart was griev'd full sore;
For guardsmen there beside her pass'd,
Her husband's corse they bore.

"I prithee yeomen halt awhile,
"That I mayne look my last;"
They stopp'd while she on Dudley's corse,
A steadfast look ycast.

She gaz'd upon the lifeless form,
One briny tear she shed,
Then on her maiden's shoulder leant,
And turn'd away her head.

And to the scaffold being come,
She there these wordes spake:
"I never compassed the Crown,
"Nor Marie's right would take.

"Ambition never did beguile
"This heart of mine away:
"I acted as my fader will'd,
"I dar'd not disobey.

"Yet joyfully I yield my life:
"So wills Almighty fate;
"Since innocent, I have done wrong,
"My life shall pay the State."

Then down she knelt upon her knee,
And having said one pray'r,
From off her neck the covering,
Her weeping maid did bear.

With visage calm around she look'd,
The strokesman craved grace;
Quod she, "I freely pardon thee,
"Upon this goodly place."

Then fore the block she plac'd herself.
And down her head did lay,
The strokesman gave the fatal blow
That bore her life away.

Thus died Lord Dudley, gallant youth;
Thus ended Lady Gray;
They both were English hearts of truth,
None dare my words say nay.

All that beheld their bloody end,
With weeping eyes went hame [home]:
And those to whom the tale was told,
I wis did do the same.

Christ Jesu to his breast them take:
May we again ne'er see
A deth so rueful as this Lorde's,
And Jane his lov'd Ladie.

Thus to the morn most purely bright,
This Lady may compare;
Or like the lilly by the brook,
That waves it's head so fair.

Or like the Rose upon it's spray,
Whose beauty glads the eye,
E'en like these flow'rs, at Morn she bloom'd,
And with the Eve did die.

Thus none the will of God can scape,
Ni Sov'reign, ni great Earl;
For God in heav'n alike commands,
The Emperor and Churl.
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