(Late-1500s)
Listen iolly gentlemen,
listen and be merry !
a word or tow faine world I speake
in the praiise of old King Harry;
for hee wold sweare, & he wold stare,
& lay hand on his dagger ;
& he wold swiue, if he were aliue,
from the queeene vnto the beggar.
But let him alone, he is dead & gone,
another wee haue in his place,
our Noble King, of whome weele sing
“god blesse King Iames his grace !
With a hey downe downe, with How downe downe,
With a hey downe, downe, downe derry &c.”
King Iames hath meate, King Iames hath men,
King Iames loues to be merry,
King Iames is angry now & then,
but it makes him quickly weary,
[half a page missing]
Of his office bestowed vpon him.
for your whores & your kanues & your merry
drunken slaues
cry a plauge & a pox vpon him !
with a hey downe&c.
Before I haue done with our Kings braue sonne
I must sett forth his praise ;
England had neure a liuelier ladd
to prolonge our happy dayes ;
but I made this song, I must not be long,
for good King Iames his sake ;
god blese his grace, his children & realme !
& soe I make an end.