25 Jun 05 - 09:08 PM (#1509846)
Subject: Lyr Add: 'The twelfth day of November last...'
From: chico
[From Ancient Ballads & Broadsides Published in England in the Sixteenth Century … edited by Henry Huth (London: Whittingham and Wilkins, 1867), page 270:] [spelling modernized]
A famous ditty of the joyful receiving of the Queen's most excellent majesty by the worthy citizens of London, the xii day of November, 1584, at her grace's coming to Saint James.
To the tune of Wigmore's Galliard F C F The twelfth day of November last Dm C A Elizabeth, our noble queen, F C F C To London-ward she hied fast (7) F A Dm|D Which in the country long had been. The citizens went then apace On stately steeds to meet her grace In velvet coats and chains of gold Most gorgeously for to behold.
Each company in his degree Stood orderly in good array To entertain her majesty As she did pass along the way, And by each man did duly stand A waiter with a torch in hand Because it drew on toward night Along the way her grace to light.
The people flockéd there amain. The multitude was great to see. Their joyful hearts were glad, and fain To view her princely majesty Who at length came riding by Within her chariot openly Even with a noble princely train Of lords and ladies of great fame.
Her majesty was glad to see Her subjects in so good a case Which then fell humbly on their knee Desiring God to save her grace And like a noble prince that day For them in like sort did she pray And courteously she answered still: "I thank you all for your good will,"
And bowing down on every side Most lovingly unto them all A poor man at the length she spied Which down before her grace did fall; And courteously she then did stay To hear what he had then to say To whom he did present anon An humble supplication.
Then pleasantly she passéd on Till she unto Saint James's came And always as she went along The people cried with might and main: "O Lord preserve your noble grace And all your secret foes deface! God bless and keep our noble queen Whose like on earth was never seen!"
What traitor's heart can be so hard To hurt or harm that princely flower? What wretch from grace is so debarred That can against her seem to lower Which is the only star of light That doth amaze all princes' sight A most renowned virgin queen Whose like on earth was never seen?
The daughter of a noble king Defending of a royal race Whose fame through all the world doth ring Whose virtues shine in every place The diamond of delight and joy Which guides her country from annoy A most renowned virgin queen Whose like on earth was never seen!
The peerless pearl of princes all So full of pity peace and love Whose mercy is not provéd small When foul offenders do her move A phoenix of most noble mind Unto her subjects good and kind A most renownéd virgin queen Whose like on earth was never seen!
The servant of the mighty God Which doth preserve her day and night For whom we feel not of his rod Although the pope hath done his spite The chief maintainer of his word Wherein consists our heavenly food. O Lord, preserve our noble queen Whose like on earth was never seen!
And such as hollow-hearted be Partakers of the Romish rout Which thinketh mischief secretly The Lord will surely find them out And give them their deservings due Which to her grace is found untrue But. Lord, preserve our noble queen Whose like on earth was never seen!
In many dangers hath she been But God was evermore her guide. He will not see our gracious queen To suffer harm through traitors' pride, But every one which sought her fall The Lord did still confound them all And such as thought her life to spill Themselves most desperately did kill.
And every traitor in this land Whose wicked thoughts are yet unknown The Lord consume them out of hand Before they be more riper grown; Whose hearts are set with one accord Against th'anointed of the Lord, But God perserve our noble queen Whose like on earth was never seen!
Lord, send her long and happy days In England for to rule and reign, God's glory evermore to raise, True justice always to maintain, Which now these six and twenty years So royally with us appears. O Lord, preserve our noble queen Whose like on earth was never seen!
Finis. Richard Harrington
At London: printed by Edward Allde for Yarath James, and are to be sold in Newgate Market against Christ Church gate. 1584.
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