And now the horses gently drew
Sir Charles up the high hill;
The axe did glister in the sun,
His precious blood to spill.
Sir Charles did up the scaffold go,
As up a gilded car
Of victory, by valorous chiefs
Gained in the bloody war.
And to the people he did say:
'Behold you see me die,
For serving loyally my king,
My king most rightfully.
'As long as Edward rules this land,
No quiet you will know;
Your sons and husbands shall be slain,
And brooks with blood shall flow.
'You leave your good and lawful king
When in adversity;
Like me, unto the true cause stick,
And for the true cause die.'
Then he, with priests, upon his knees,
A prayer to God did make,
Beseeching Him unto Himself
His parting soul to take.
Then, kneeling down, he laid his head
Most seemly on the block;
Which from his body fair at once
The able headsman stroke:
And out the blood began to flow,
And round the scaffold twine;
And tears, enough to wash't away,
Did flow from each man's eyne.
The bloody axe his body fair
Into four partis cut;
And every part, and eke his head,
Upon a pole was put.
One part did rot on Kinwulph-hill,
One on the minster-tower,
And one from off the castle-gate
The crowen did devour.