The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684

Ballads, English; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700

In peace he did lay down his head,
      The sceptre and the royal crown;
   His soul is now to heaven fled,
      Above the reach of mortal frown,
   Where joy and glory will not cease,
   In presence with the King of Peace.

   Alas! we had our liberty,
      He never sought for to devour
   By a usurping tyranny,
      To rule by arbitrary power;
   No, no, in all his blessed reign
   We had no cause for to complain.

   Let mourners now lament the loss
      Of him that did the scepter sway,
   And look upon it as a cross
      That he from us is snatch’d away;
   Though he is free from care or woe,
   Yet we cannot forget him so.

   But since it was thy blessed will
      To call him from a sinful land,
   Oh let us all be thankful still
      That it was done by thine own hand:
   No pitch of honour can be free
   From Death’s usurping tyranny.

   The fourteen day of February
      They did interr our gracious Charles;
   His funeral solemnity,
      Accompanied with lords and earls,
   Four Dukes, I, and Prince George by name,
   Went next the King with all his train.

   And thus they to the Abbey went
      To lay him in his silent tomb,
   Where many inward sighs were spent
      To think upon their dismal doom.
   Whole showers of tears afresh then fell
   When they beheld his last farewell.

   Since it is so, that all must die,
      And must before our God appear,
   Oh let us have a watchful eye,
      Over our conversation here;
   That like great Charles, our King and friend,
   We all may have a happy end.

   Let England by their loyalty
      Repair the breach which they did make;
   And let us all united be
      To gracious James, for Charles his sake;
   And let there be no more discord,
   But love the King and fear the Lord.

               Printed for F. Deacon in Guilt-Spur Street.



“MEMENTO MORI.”


                   AN ELOGY ON THE DEATH OF HIS SACRED
                       MAJESTY KING CHARLES II., OF
                             BLESSED MEMORY.

                From the King’s Pamphlets, British Museum.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684

Ballads, English; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700

In peace he did lay down his head,
      The sceptre and the royal crown;
   His soul is now to heaven fled,
      Above the reach of mortal frown,
   Where joy and glory will not cease,
   In presence with the King of Peace.

   Alas! we had our liberty,
      He never sought for to devour
   By a usurping tyranny,
      To rule by arbitrary power;
   No, no, in all his blessed reign
   We had no cause for to complain.

   Let mourners now lament the loss
      Of him that did the scepter sway,
   And look upon it as a cross
      That he from us is snatch’d away;
   Though he is free from care or woe,
   Yet we cannot forget him so.

   But since it was thy blessed will
      To call him from a sinful land,
   Oh let us all be thankful still
      That it was done by thine own hand:
   No pitch of honour can be free
   From Death’s usurping tyranny.

   The fourteen day of February
      They did interr our gracious Charles;
   His funeral solemnity,
      Accompanied with lords and earls,
   Four Dukes, I, and Prince George by name,
   Went next the King with all his train.

   And thus they to the Abbey went
      To lay him in his silent tomb,
   Where many inward sighs were spent
      To think upon their dismal doom.
   Whole showers of tears afresh then fell
   When they beheld his last farewell.

   Since it is so, that all must die,
      And must before our God appear,
   Oh let us have a watchful eye,
      Over our conversation here;
   That like great Charles, our King and friend,
   We all may have a happy end.

   Let England by their loyalty
      Repair the breach which they did make;
   And let us all united be
      To gracious James, for Charles his sake;
   And let there be no more discord,
   But love the King and fear the Lord.

               Printed for F. Deacon in Guilt-Spur Street.



“MEMENTO MORI.”


                   AN ELOGY ON THE DEATH OF HIS SACRED
                       MAJESTY KING CHARLES II., OF
                             BLESSED MEMORY.

                From the King’s Pamphlets, British Museum.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684

The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684

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