"But since your Grace on forrayne coastes, Amonge your foes unkinde, Must goe to hazard life and limbe, Why should I staye behinde? "Nay, rather let me, like a page, Your sworde and target beare; That on my breast the blowes may lighte, Which would offend you there. "Or lett mee, in your royal tent, Prepare your bed at nighte, And with sweete baths refresh your grace, At your returne from fighte. "So I your presence may enjoye No toil I will refuse; But wanting you, my life is death: Nay, death Ild rather chuse." "Content thy self, my dearest love, Thy rest at home shall bee, In Englandes sweet and pleasant isle; For travell fits not thee. "Faire ladies brooke not bloodye warres; Soft peace their sexe delightes; Not rugged campes, but courtlye bowers; Gay feastes, not cruell fightes. "My Rose shall safely here abide, With musicke passe the daye, Whilst I amonge the piercing pikes My foes seeke far awaye. "My Rose shall shine in pearle and golde, Whilst Ime in armour dighte; Gay galliards here my love shall dance, Whilst I my foes goe fighte. "And you, Sir Thomas, whom I truste To bee my loves defence, Be carefull of my gallant Rose When I am parted hence." And therewithall he fetcht a sigh, As though his heart would breake; And Rosamonde, for very griefe, Not one plaine word could speake. And at their parting well they mighte In heart be grieved sore: After that daye, faire Rosamonde The king did see no more. For when his Grace had past the seas, And into France was gone, With envious heart, Queene Ellinor To Woodstocke came anone. And forth she calls this trustye knighte In an unhappy houre, Who, with his clue of twined-thread, Came from this famous bower. And when that they had wounded him, The queene this thread did gette, And wente where Ladye Rosamonde Was like an angell sette. But when the queene with stedfast eye Beheld her beauteous face, She was amazed in her minde At her exceeding grace. "Cast off from thee those robes," she said, "That riche and costlye bee; And drinke thou up this deadlye draught Which I have brought to thee." Then presentlye upon her knees Sweet Rosamonde did falle; And pardon of the queene she crav'd For her offences all. "Take pitty on my youthfull yeares," Faire Rosamonde did crye; "And lett mee not with poison stronge Enforced bee to dye. "I will renounce my sinfull life, And in some cloyster bide; Or else be banisht, if you please, To range the world soe wide. "And for the fault which I have done, Though I was forc'd theretoe, Preserve my life, and punish mee As you thinke meet to doe."