Three new songs/A servant man became a Queen
A Servant Man become a Queen.
YOU beautiful ladies great and small,
Give ear unto me one and all.
And I will let you understand,
What I have suffered in this land.
I was by birth a lady fair,
My father’s chief and only heir,
And when my fond old father died,
Then I was made a knight’s young bride.
My love he built to me a bower,
Bedeck’d with many a fragrant flower,
A braver bower you ne’er did see,
Than my true-love did build for me.
But there came thieves late in the night,
They broke my bower and slew my knight;
And after that my knight was slain,
No longer there I could remain.
My servants all from me did flee
in midst of my ex remity,
And left me by myself alone,
With a heart as cold as any stone.
Yet though my heart was full of care,
Heaven would not suffer me to despair
So then in haste I changed my name,
⟨from⟩ fair Helen to fair William.
So then withal I cut my hair.
And dress’d myself in man’s attire,
With a doublet, horse, and beaver hat,
Aep a golden band about my neck.
With a silver rapier by my side,
So like a gallant I did ride:
But on a day it happened so,
That I to the king s court did go,
With hat in hand I bow’d full lew,
My love and duty for to shew,
All that I of his grace did crave,
That I a servant’s place have.
Stand up young man, the king replied,
Your suit it shall not be denied,
But first tell me what can yon do,
You shall be suited thereunto.
Will you be usher of my hall,
To wait upon my nobles all?
Or will you be taster of the wine?
And wait upon me when I dine?
Or will you be chamberlain,
To make my bed both soft and fine?
Or will you be one of my guard?
And I will give thee thy reward.
Sweet William with a smiling face,
Unto the king if it please your grace,
To shew such favour unto me,
Your chamberlain I fain would be.
The king did all his nobles call,
And ask’d the counsel of them all:
Who gave consent sweet William he,
The king’s own chamberlain should be.
But mark what strange things came to pass,
A the king one day a hooting was,
He carried with him all his train,
Sweet William did at home remain.
Sweet William had no company then,
At home with him, but an old man,
She finding that he house was clear,
Did take a flute which she had there,
On she play’d melodious,
Which made the old man’s heart rejoice,
Upon the flute Sweet William play’d,
And to the same he sung and said,
My father was as brave a lord,
As ever Europe did afford,
My mother was a lady gay,
Was deck’d in glorins rich array.
My husband was a gallant knight,
And I myself a lady bright,
The bravest lady in all the land,
Mad no more pleasure at command
My former joys are past and gone,
For now I am a servant man:
I had curious lessons for to say,
To keep me company night and day.
I han my company fair and free,
Continually for to visit me
But now at last I have not one,
Since I became a servant man.
At last the king from hunting came,
And presently upon the same,
He call’d upon the good old man.
And thus to speak he did begin.
What news? what news? come let me see
What news hast thou to tell to me?
Brave news the old man he did say
Sweet William is a lady gay.
If this be true thou tells to me,
I’ll make the a lord of high degree;
But fi these words to prove a lie,
Thou shalt be hanged instantly.
But when the king the truth had found,
His joy did more and more abound,
Accordingly as the old mzn did say,
Sweet William was a lady gay.
So then the king without more delay,
put her in glorious fine array.
Upon her head a crown of gold,
Which was most glorious to behold.
So then for fear of farther strife,
He took sweet William for his wife
The like before was never seen,
A servant man become a queen.