'My honest friend, my fault has been
To serve God and my prince;
And that I no time-server am,
My death will soon convince.
'In London city was I born,
Of parents of great note;
My father did a noble arms
Emblazon on his coat:
'I make no doubt but he is gone
Where soon I hope to go,
Where we for ever shall be blest,
From out the reach of woe.
'He taught me justice and the laws
With pity to unite;
And eke he taught me how to know
The wrong cause from the right:
'He taught me with a prudent hand
To feed the hungry poor,
Nor let my servants drive away
The hungry from my door:
'And none can say but all my life
I have his wordis kept;
And summed the actions of the day
Each night before I slept.
'I have a spouse, go ask of her
If I defiled her bed?
I have a king, and none can lay
Black treason on my head.
'In Lent, and on the holy eve,
From flesh I did refrain;
Why should I then appear dismayed
To leave this world of pain?
'No, hapless Henry, I rejoice
I shall not see thy death;
Most willingly in thy just cause
Do I resign my breath.
'Oh, fickle people! ruined land!
Thou wilt ken peace no moe;
While Richard's sons exalt themselves,
Thy brooks with blood will flow.