They brought in fashions strange and new,
With golden garments bright;
The farthingale, and mighty ruff,
With gowns of rich delight:20
The London dames, in Spanish pride,
Did flourish every where;
Our English men, like women then,
Did wear long locks of hair.
Both man and child, both maid and wife,25
Were drown'd in pride of Spain:
And thought the Spanish taylors then
Our English men did stain:
Whereat the queen did much despite,
To see our English men30
In vestures clad, as brave to see
As any Spaniard then.
She crav'd the king, that ev'ry man
That wore long locks of hair,
Might then be cut and polled all,35
Or shaved very near.
Whereat the king did seem content,
And soon thereto agreed;
And first commanded, that his own
Should then be cut with speed:40
And after that, to please his queen,
Proclaimed thro' the land,
That ev'ry man that wore long hair
Should poll him out of hand.
But yet this Spaniard, not content,45
To women bore a spite,
And then requested of the king,
Against all law and right,
That ev'ry womankind should have
Their right breast cut away;50
And then with burning irons sear'd,
The blood to stanch and stay!
King Edward then, perceiving well
Her spite to womankind,
Devised soon by policy55
To turn her bloody mind.
He sent for burning irons straight,
All sparkling hot to see;
And said, "O queen, come on thy way;
"I will begin with thee."60
Which words did much displease the queen,
That penance to begin;
But ask'd him pardon on her knees;
Who gave her grace therein.
But afterwards she chanc'd to pass65
Along brave London streets,
Whereas the mayor of London's wife
In stately sort she meets;
With music, mirth, and melody,
Unto the church they went,70
To give God thanks, that to th' lord mayor
A noble son had sent.
It grieved much this spiteful queen,
To see that any one
Should so exceed in mirth and joy,75
Except herself alone:
For which, she after did devise
Within her bloody mind,
And practis'd still more secretly,
To kill this lady kind.80