The Life and Death of ROSAMOND, King Henry the Seconds CONCUBINE.  
And how she was poisoned to death by Queen elinor.  
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Printed for W. Thackeray, and T. passenger▪   

CHAP. I. The Birth, Behaviour, and lineage of Lady Rosam nd.  
THere sprung from that ancient and Noble House of the Cl●ffords, a beautiful dansel, name Rosamond, Daughter to the Lord Walter Cliffords: Her incomparable Beauty was couched in her Name: she was Natures Masterpiece, and one of the fairest Roses that ever flourished in the Garden of Earth. This fair Lady, as she grew in years, so did she grow in favour, each year adding a moiety to her perfection, who having attained some ripeness of years, her Beauty was the whole discourse of the Country & City; famed did carry the Name of Rosamond upon her nimble wings into many foreign places, whereby she was not only the public and common Discourse of our English Nation, but even the Table talk of remote Countries, and foreign people: Her modesty was s●ch that she sought by all means to alloy that far spread rumour of her Beauty, by a retired Life; but the more she thought to extinguish and quench that ●●p●rt, by sequestering her self from the eyes of Men, the more ●●e was spoken of, and the farther was her praises blown; at length her Name began to bloom in Court, insomuch that there was scarce any Courtier that did not echo forth her praises. She was so honoured among the attendants of the King, that whatsoever subject they talked of, and in what praise soever they delivered it, they thought their discourse not full, except the closure of it was still of Rosamond; so that Rosamonds beauty which was heretofore but Chamber-talk in the Court, and was but privately whispered in peoples ears, now began to be noon-talk, and openly spoken of, insomuch that the King took notice of her unseen, though not unheard of Beauty; being desirous to behold that Creature, whose unl mitted and sounded praises the whole world rung of.   

CHAP. II. How King Henry the Second hearing of Rosamonds Beauty, could not rest u●til he had seen her, and obtained her love.  
THe Kings unquiet thoughts would not suffer him to rest, till he had been made an eye witness of Rosamonds beauty: after some time passed, he beholded her whole Countenance he had so long desired to see: and casting his eyes upon her incomparable favour, he perceived that those Encomiums which in his hearing had been bestowed on her, were but as the Gloomy Morning to the lightsome Day, and came as far short of expressing her comeliness, as the sable night doth the glorious Noontide, or the blackish smoke to the glittering flamme: neither could he be satisfied onely with the view of this beau●iful Creature, but still his boiling breast was vexed with unlawful and lustful thoughts; desiring that there might be some more Familiarity and acquaintance between them: His thoughts slept not long, but many snares were by him laid to entrap her, and many sorts er●cted so partend her unstained purity: many persons did he set at work soliciting her to ●ield to his unchaste desires: which solicitations were as Darts cast against a brazen Wall, and could not enter: which when the King perceived, the next opportunity that presented her self unto his view, he delivers his mind to her himself, manifesting his love to her, who refusing all denials, and with gracious promises and enticing speeches, left her nor till he had gotten her favour, and made her promise to fulfil his will.   

CHAP. III. The King hearing Queen Elenors jealousy, builded a Bower for Rosamond, in Wo●dstock.  
AFter the King had for some time enjoyed the Company of his late-giued Lady, elinor his Queen hearing that her Lord did too too much frequent the company of his loose dansel, and perceiving his affection to be altered, and estranged from her, that was his Lawful Queen, and to be fired on the beauty of another, used all the means that a Womans wit, sharpened with Malice, could invent, to untie the fast knit hands of their affections: which malice of the Queen towards this Lady, the King soon perceived, and fearing that which afterwards happened, lest his dear Rose should come to any untimely Death, erected for her Labyrinth, within his own Palace at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, a place under ground most curiously wrought, having many turnings, windings and broos belonging to it, that it was impossible, being once entred, to find the way out of it, without the guidance of a Clew of Thread. The charge of this place wherein this Paramour was enclosed, he committed to Sir Thomas Vaughn, Knight, his sure and trusty friend.   

CHAP. IV. While the King was in France, Rosamond was poisoned by Queen El nor.  
ALL this while the Queens malice was kindled, but now it began to show itself, and break into flames, she had as many Windows and devices in her heart to procure the overthrow and destruction of Rosamond, as Woodstocks Bower for her safety, which Devices are  woodcut all set going; and the better to effect and bring this Plot to pass, she sets the Son against the Father, who by her means and instigation, raised an Army against him, intending to ring the Diadem from his Fathers head. Whilst the King is forced by his Rebellious Son, to hast to Normanday, and to ab●e●t himself from the company of his Rosamond. His Queen posts to Woodstock, and beholding the Bower wherein Rosamond was kept, assayed to enter: and having before-hand received some notice of the clew of thread, takes it in her hand, and by its guidance is directed to the center of the Labyrinth, where she found Rosamond sitting as the Sun within that little world. Fair Rosamond when she beholded the ghastly visage and meagure Countenance of the jealous Queen, confessed her fault, and craved pardon for her offences; but all in vain, for nothing could appease her fury, nor quench her thirst, but the blood of Rosamond, who was by her in that place deprived of life by a Cup of poison, for depriving her of the favour of her King. She was butted at Godstow in Oxfordshire, where she had a stat●ly Monument raised▪ with this following Epitaph on it, which was demolished by a certain Bishop of that diocese not thinking fit so ill a Liver should have so fair a Tomb in so Sacred a place.   

Her Epitaph.  
THe Rose of the World,  
But not the clean Flower,  
Is here now graved,  
To whom Beauty was lent;  
In this Grave full sure,  
Now is her Bower,  
Sweet and Redolent:  
But now that she is  
From her Life blent,  
Though she were sweet,  
Now foully doth she stink:  
A mirror good for all  
That on her think   

A Mournful Ditty of the Fair Lady Rosamond, KING Henry the Seconds Concubine, who was poisoned to death by Queen elinor, in Woodstock Bower, near Oxford.  woodcut  

When as King Henry ruled this Land,  
the second of that name,  
Besides the Queen he dearly loved,  
a fair and comely dame:  
Most Peerless was her beauty found,  
her favour and her face,  
A sweeter creature in this world,  
did never prince embrace.   

Her crisped Locks like threads of Gold,  
appeared to each mans sight,  
Her comely eyes like orient Pearls,  
did cast a Heavenly light:  
The blood within her Cristial cheeks,  
did such a colour drive,  
As though the lily and the Rose,  
for mastership did strive.   

Yea Rosamond, fair Rosamond,  
her name was called so,  
To whom dame Elinor our Queen,  
was known a deadly foe,  
The King therefore for her defence,  
against the furious Queen,  
At Woodstock builded such a Bower,  
the like was never seen.   

Most curiously that Bower was built,  
of ston and Timber strong,  
A hundred and fifty doors,  
did to this Bower belong,  
And they so cunningly contrived,  
wtih turnings round about,  
That none but with a clew of thread,  
could enter in or out.   

And for his Love and Ladies sake,  
that was so fair and bright,  
The keeping of this Bower he gave,  
unto a valiant Knight:  
But Fortune that doth often frown,  
where it before did smile,  
The Kings delight, the Ladies joy,  
full soon she did beguile.   

For why, the Kings ungracious Son,  
whom he did high advance,  
Against his Father raised Wars,  
within the Realm of France,  
But yet before our comely King  
the English Land forsook,  
Of Rosamond his Lady fair,  
his farewell thus he took.   

My Rosamond, my only Rose,  
that pleasest best mine eye,  
The fairest flower in all the world,  
to feed my fantasy:  
The flower of my affencted heart,  
whose sweetness doth excel,  
My Royal Rose a hundred times,  
I bid thee now farewell.   

For I must leave my fairest flower;  
my sweetest Rose a space,  
And across the Seas to famous France,  
proud Rebels to abase:  
But yet my Rose be sure thou shalt  
my coming shortly see,  
And in my heart when hence I am,  
I'll bear my Rose with me.   

When Rosamond, that Lady bright,  
did hear the King say so,  
The sorrow of her grieved heart,  
her outward looks did show:  
And from her clear and cristial eyes,  
the tears gushed out apace,  
Which like the silver pearled due,  
ran down her comely face.   

Her lips like to the coral read,  
did wax both wan and pale,  
And for the sorrow she conceived,  
her vital spirits did fail:  
And falling down all in a swoon,  
before King Henries face,  
Full oft within his Princely arms,  
her body did embrace.   

And twenty times with watery eyes  
he kist her tender Cheek,  
until he had revived again,  
her senses mildred and meek:  
Why grieves my Rose, my sweetest Rose  
the King did often say,  
Because quoth she, to bloody wins,  
my Lord must pass away.   

But since your Grace in foreign coasts  
amongst your foes unkind,  
Must go to hazard life and limb,  
why should I stay behind?  
Nay rather let me like a page.,  
thy Sword and Target bear,  
That on my Breast the blow may light,  
that should offend you there.   

O let me in your Royal Tent.  
prepare your bed at night,  
And with sweet baths refresh your grace.  
at your return from fight,  
So I your presence may enjoy,  
no toil I will refuse,  
But wanting you my life is death,  
which doth true Love abuse.   

Content thyself my dearest Love,  
thy rest at home shall be,  
In Englands sweet and pleasant soll,  
for travail fits not thee:  
Fair Ladies brook no bloody wars,  
sweet peace their pleasure breed,  
The nourisher of hearts content,  
which fancy first did feed.   

My Rose shall rest in Woodstoock Bower  
with music sweetly dight,  
Whilst I among the piercing Pikes  
against my foes do fight:  
My Rose in Robes of Pearl and Gold,  
with Diamonds richly dight,  
Shall dance the Galliards of my love,  
while I my foes do smite.   

And you Sir Thomas whom I trust,  
to be my Loves defence,  
Be careful of my gallant rose,  
when I am partend hence:  
And therewith he fetched a sigh,  
as though his heart would break,  
And Rosamond for very grief,  
not one plain word could speak:  
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And at their parting well they might,  
in heart be grieved sore,  
After that day fair Rosamond,  
the King did see no more:  
For when his Grace was past the Seas,  
and into France was gon,  
Queen Elinor with envious heart,  
to Woodstock came anon.   

And forth she calls this trusty Knight,  
which kept this curious Bower,  
Who with his clew of twined thread,  
came from the famous Flower:  
And when that they had wounded him,  
the Queen his thread did get,  
And went where Lady Rosamond,  
was like an Angel set.   

But when the Queen with steadfast Eye  
beholded her heavenly Face,  
She was amazed in her mind  
at her exceeding grace.  
Cast off from thee these Robes( she said)  
that rich and costly be,  
And drink thou up this deadly draft,  
which I have brought to thee.   

But presently upon her knees,  
sweet Rosamond did fall,  
And pardon of the Queen she craved,  
for her offences all:  
Take pitty on my youthful years  
( fair Rosamond did cry)  
And let me not with poison strong  
enforced be to die.   

I will renounce my sinful life,  
and in some cloister bide,  
Or else be banished if you please  
to range the World so wide,  
And for the fault that I have done,  
though I was forced thereto,  
Preserve my life and punish me,  
as you think good to do.   

And with these words her lily hands,  
she wrung full often there,  
And down along her comely fare,  
proceeded many a tear:  
But nothing could this furious Queen,  
therewith appeased be,  
The cup of deadly poison strong,  
as she sat on her knee.   

She gave this comely Dame to drink,  
who took it in her hand,  
And from her bended knee arose,  
and on her feet did stand:  
And casting up her eyes to heaven,  
she did for mercy call,  
And drinking up the poison strong,  
her life she lost withal.   

And when that death through every limb,  
had done her greatest spite,  
Her chiefest foes did there confess,  
she was a glorious wight:  
Her body then they did entomb,  
when life was fled away,  
At Woodstock near to Oxford Town,  
as may be seen this day.    

CHAP. V. The Conclusion.  woodcut  
THus you may see the fickle and unconstant state of those that are Inhabitants in this unsettled decayed world, though they are received into the favour of Princes, and are made Companions with them in Nightly Sleeps; yet all this is presently forgotten, and when once their frail and mortal bodies fall upon the earth, all their Pomp and Honour perisheth, and is butted with them. Rosamond, she that was so highly exalted in her Princes favour, one small drop of poison lays her as low as the Earth, and she that was the onely Flower and Rose to please and delight the smell of a King, in comparison of whom, his rich Pomanders and costly odours were unsavoury; yet now of her remains nothing good, only an ill noisome odour to all Posterity, according unto her Epitaph which was engraven on her Tomb at Godstow, where she was most sumptuously Interred.  
FINIS.   

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