Death & Dying
The Death of Queen Jane (Child 170E)
From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, ed. F. J. Child (1882–98)
‘Ye midwives and women-kind, do one thing for me;
Send for my mother, to come and see me.’
Her mother was sent for, who came speedilie:
‘O Jeanie, Queen Jeanie, are ye gaun to dee?’
‘O mother, dear mother, do one thing for me;
O send for King Henry, to come and see me.’
King Henry was sent for, who came speedilie:
‘O Jeanie, Queen Jeanie, are ye gaun to dee?’
‘King Henry, King Henry, do one thing for me;
O send for a doctor, to come and see me.’
The doctor was sent for, who came speedilie:
‘O Jeanie, Queen Jeanie, are ye gaun to dee?’
‘O doctor, oh doctor, do one thing for me;
Open my left side, and let my babe free.’
He opened her left side, and then all was oer,
And the best flower in England will flourish no more.
Cite this poem
MLA
Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Death of Queen Jane (Child 170E).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/550/.
Chicago
Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Death of Queen Jane (Child 170E).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/550/.
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