Peter Robins, his website

AS our king lay musing on his bed,
He bethought himself upon a time
Of a tribute that was due from France,
Had not been paid for so long a time.
Fal, lal, etc.

He called for his lovely page,
His lovely page then called he,
Saying, You must go to the king of France,
To the king of France, sir, ride speedily.

O then went away this lovely page,
This lovely page then away went he;
And when he came to the king of France,
Low he fell down on his bended knee.

`My master greets you, worthy sir;
Ten ton of gold that is due to he,
That you will send him his tribute home,
Or in French land you soon will him see.'

`Your master's young and of tender years,
Not fir to come into my degree,
And I will send him three tennis-balls,
That with them he may learn to play.'

O then returned this lovely page,
This lovely page then returned he,
And when he came to our gracious king,
Low he fell down on his bended knee.

`What news, what news, my trusty page?
What is the news you have brought to me?'
`I have brought such news from the king of France
That you and he will never agree.

`He says you're young and of tender years,
Not fit to come into his degree,
And he will send you three tennis-balls,
That with them you may learn to play.'

`Recruit me Cheshire and Lancashire,
And Derby Hills that are so free;
No marryd man nor no widow's son;
For no widow's curse shall go with me.'

They recruited Cheshire and Lancashire,
And Derby Hills that are so free;
No marryd man, nor no widow's son;
Yet there was a jovial bold company.

O then we marchd into the French land,
With drums and trumpets so merrily;
And then bespoke the king of France,
`Lo, yonder comes proud King Henry.'

The first shot that the Frenchmen gave,
They killd our Englishmen so free;
We killd ten thousand of the French,
And the rest of them they ran away.

And then we marched to Paris gates,
With drums and trumpets so merrily:
O then bespoke the king of France,
`The Lord have mercy on my men and me!

`O I will send him his tribute home,
Ten ton of gold that is due to he,
And the finest flower that is in all France
To the Rose of England I will give free.'