Fair Rosamund
Traditional (American Variant)
 
"I have a sister" young clifford said
"A sister no man knows"
"She hath a color in her cheeks
like a drop of blood in snows"
 
"She hath a waist, a slender waist
as slim as my silver cane
I would not for ten thousand worlds
king Henry knew her name"
 
King Henry was in his bower,
He hid so close and still
and every word young Clifford said
he wrote down in a bill.
 
The first fair line she looked upon
she did begin to smile
The second fair line she looked upon
her tears began to fall.
 
"Oh, cursed be my brother Clifford
Oh, cursed may he be
Why couldn't he dote on his horse and hounds
Why must he dote on me?"
 
"Go fetch for me my planet book
that's in my secret room
Go fetch for me my planet book
that my might read my doom"
 
Her planet book it was brought down
and laid upon her knee
it said the time was come to pass
when poisoned she must be
 
"Go fetch for me my waiting maid
to come and dress my hair
and summon for me my serving groom
to saddle my grey mare."
 
With four and twenty noble lords
she rode up to the king
and when they came to London Gates
how bright the bells did ring.
 
"Oh, cursed be my brother Clifford
Oh, cursed may he be
Why couldn't he dote on his horse and hounds
Why must he dote on me?"