O then bespoke our noble king,
A solemn vow then vowèd he;
"I'll promise him such tennis balls,
As in French lands he ne'er did see.40
"Go, call up Cheshire and Lancashire,
And Derby hills, that are so free;
Not a married man, nor a widow's son,
For the widow's cry shall not go with me."
They called up Cheshire and Lancashire,45
And Derby lads that were so free;
Not a married man, nor a widow's son,
Yet they were a jovial bold companie.
O then he sailed to fair French land,
With drums and trumpets so merrilie;50
O then bespoke the king of France,
"Yonder comes proud king Henrie."
The first fire that the Frenchmen gave,
They killed our Englishmen so free;
We killed ten thousand of the French,55
And the rest of them they were forced to flee.
And then we marched to Paris gates,
With drums and trumpets so merrilie;
O then bespoke the king of France,
"Lord have mercy on my poor men and me!60
"Go! tell him I'll send home his tribute due,
Ten ton of gold that is due from me;
And the fairest flower that is in our French land
To the Rose of England it shall go free."