I've also heard the story that it's about the war of the roses - that was how it was taught to me at girl scout camp when I was a kid. Maybe it's not actually a period song, but it does seem to tell a tale of love lost to war.

Rose, rose, rose, rose
Shall I ever see thee Red?
I will marry at thy will sire,
At thy will

Ding dong ding dong
Wedding bells on an April morning
Carve your name on a moss-covered stone
On a moss-covered stone

Peace, peace, peace, peace
Shall I ever see thee come
I will wait forever and ever
Peace, peace, peace

Ding dong, ding dong.
Funeral bells on an autumn morning
Rose, my Rose is dead and gone
is dead and gone.

Mother, Father dig my grave
Dig it with a golden spade
Bring some friends and a turtle dove
To show that I died for love
To show that I died for love

Descant:
O my love,
Lov'st thou me? Then
Quickly come and save him, that
Dies for thee.