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EBBA 31173

British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
The Tombs in Westminster Abbey, As Sung
by Brother Popplewell in the manner of
Chanting in a Cathedral.

HERE lies William of Valence, a right good Earl of
Pembroke,
And this is his monument which you see Ill swear upon a book,
He was earl marshall of England, when Henry the third did
reign,
About five hundred years a-go, but never will be so again,
Here the Lord Talbot lies, the Town of Shrewsburys earl
Together with his countess fair who was a-most delicate girl
Next to him there lieth one Sir Richard Peckshall hight,
Of whom we only this do say that he was a Hampshire Knight
Here lies the third King Edwards brother, of whom our
records tell,
Nothing of note, nor say they whether he be in Heaven or Hell;
This same was John of Elderstone, he was no Costermonger
But Cornwalls Earl; and heres one died because he could
live no longer.
Now think your penny well spent good folks and that youre
not beguild,
Within this cup doth lie the heart, of a French Ambassadors child,
But how the Devl it came to pass, on purpose or by chance
The bowels they lie underneath, but the body is in France.
Here lies Oxford countess, and there also the Lady Burleigh
her mother,
And there her Daughter a countess too, lie close by one another;
These once were bonny dames, and though there were no
coaches then,
Yet coud they jog their tails themselves, or get them joggd by the men.
Oh! who is me those high born sinners, that now do pray
so stoutly,
Living they never prayd at all, yet their statues pray devoutly;
This fair monument which you see, Id have you to under-
stand,
It is of a virtuous lady fair who died of a prick in her hand.
In this fair monument which you see, adorned with so many
pillars,
Doth lie the countess of Buckingham, and her husband Sir George Villiers;
This old Sir George was Grandfather, and the Countess
she was Granny,
To the great Duke of Buckingham, who led by the nose King Jamy.
Here lies Sir Robert Eatam a Scootish Knight, this man
was secretary,
He scribbled compliments for two Queens, Queen Ann and Queen Mary:
This same was Mary Queen of Scots, whom Buchanan
doth so bespatter,
She lost her head at Fotheingay, whatever was the matter.
Henry the seventh lies here entombd with his fair Queen
beside him,
He was the founder of this Chapel, Oh! may no ill betide him
And here they stand upright in a press, with their bodies
made of wax,
A globe and a wand in either hand, and their robes upon their backs.
To another Chapel now come we, the people follow and chat
This is the Lady Cottington, the people cry whos that;
Why Sir Thomas Bromley lieth here, Death woud not
him reprieve,
With his four sons, and daughters four, that once were all alive.
Here lies Sir John Fullerton and that is his Lady I trow,
And that is Sir John Pickering whom none of you did know,
Here lies the earl of Torrington, the world neer saw a
madder,
His Countess fair she lies beside him, and now you go up a ladder,
Richard the second lies here entombd, with his fair Queen,
Queen Ann,
Edward the third lies here hard by, and he was a gallant Man;
This is the sword of John of Gaunt, a blade both true and
trusty:
The Frenchmans blood was neer wiped off which makes it look so rusty.
Harry the fifth lies here entombd with his fair Queen,
Queen Eleanor,
To our fifth Edward she was wife thats more than you knew before
Now down the ladder come we again, the man goes first
with a staff,
Two or three tumble down the stairs, and all the people laugh.
Sir Robert Vere lies here entombd, who the Spaniards
hide so curried,
Four colonels brave support his tomb, and here his bodies buried;
That statue up against the wall with one eye, is Major General Nor[r]is,
He bangd the French most cruelly, as affirmd in stories.
Here lies Sir John Holles, who was a Major General,
To Sir John Morris that brave blade, and now you may
depart all,
For now the show is at an end, all things are done and said,
The Citizens pay for their Wives, and the Apprentices
kiss the Maids.

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