2
Fair Rosamond.
When as King Henry rul’d this land,
The second of that name;
Besides the Queen, he loved dear
A fair and comely dame.
Most peerless was her beauty found,
Her favour and her face;
A sweeter creature in the world
Could never prince embrace.
Her crisped locks, like threads of gold,
Appear’d to each man’s sight,
Her comely eyes like orient pearl,
Did cast a heavenly light.
The blood within her crystal cheeks
Did such a colour drive,
As though the lily and the rose
For mastership did strive.
Fair Rosamond, fair Rosamond,
Her name was called so,
To whom dame Eleanor our Queen,
Was known a deadly foe.
The King therefore for her defence,
Against the furious Queen,
At Woodstock builded such a bower,
The like was never seen.
Most curiously that bower was built,
