Queen Eleanor's Confession

Cat. #0608 (MFH #532) - As sung by Boyce Davis, Lincoln, Arkansas on January 13, 1968

VERSE 1
Queen Eleanor was a sick woman
In bed that she would die
So she sent for two Friars out'a France
To come to her speedili

VERSE 2
King Henry called his nobles down
By one, by two, by three
An' he sent away for th Earl Marshall
To come to him speedily

VERSE 3
Now you put on one Friars cloak
An' I'll put on another
An' we will to Queen Eleanor go
One Friar like another

VERSE 4
O God forbid, cried Earl Marshall
That such thing ever could be
Would I beguile but dam th Queen
Then hang-ed I will be

VERSE 5
I'll pawn my living an' my land
My scepter an' my crown
That what so 'er, Queen Eleanor says
I shall not write it down

VERSE 6
Well, thus attire-ed they did go
Till they came unto Whitehall
Th bells did ring an' th chorusters sing
An' th torches did light th hall

VERSE 7
To first vile thing that 'er I did
To you I will unfold
Earl Marshall had my maidenhead
Underneath this cloth of gold

VERSE 8
That is a vile thing, said th King
May God forgiveth thee
Amen, amen, quoth Earl Marshall
With a heavy, heavy heart spoke he

VERSE 9
Now, th next vile thing, said th King
May God forgiveth thee
Amen, amen, quoth Earl Marshall
With a heavy, heavy heart spoke he

VERSE 10
Now, th next vile thing that 'er I dids't
To you I'll not deny
I brewed a batch of pizen strong
T' murder King Henri

VERSE 11
That is a vile thing, said th King
May God forgiveth thee
Amen, amen, quoth Earl Marshall
An', I wish it so may be

VERSE 12
Now, th next vile thing that 'er I did
To you I will discover
I murdered fairest Rosemond
Down in yon wood spot fire

VERSE 13
That is a vile thing, said th King
May God forgive it thee
Amen, amen, quoth Earl Marshall
With a heavy, heavy heart spoke he

VERSE 14
And do you see yonder little boy
A toss'n of th ball
That is Earl Marshall's son, she said
And I love him th best of all

VERSE 15
And do you see yonder little boy
A catch'n of th ball
That is th Kings own son, she said
And I love 'im th least of all

VERSE 16
His head is like unto a ball
His nose is like a boar
No matter for that, King Henry said
O love him th better therefore

VERSE 17
Then th King looked over his left shoulder
An' a grim look, look-ed he
An' he said, Earl Marshall but for my oath
Then hang-ed thou woulds't be

Boyce said he learned this from a girl who lived in Nevada, Missouri. Girls' name was Joyce ? .