Excerpt from <title level="a">The Ballad of Bosworth Field Author Anonymous Editor Toby Malone Conversion and Remediation LEMDO Team Markup and Metadata LEMDO Team Copyright Holder (Content) Toby Malone Copyright Holder (XML and interface) University of Victoria Queen’s Men EditionsQME

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Queen’s Men Editions

Born-digital, peer-reviewed document prepared by Toby Malone. First published in the QME 2.1 anthology on the LEMDO platform. Encoded in TEI-XML by the LEMDO Team.

Encoded in TEI P5 according to the LEMDO Customization and Encoding Guidelines

Edited according to the ISE Editorial Guidelines, with reference in the revision stage to the DRE/NISE Editorial Guidelines and the LEMDO Encoding Guidelines.

 Published file. Added missing quotation marks. Removed stray spaces. Finalized the metadata. Edition was peer reviewed by Janelle Jenstad. Created file.
Source

This modernized excerpt of The Ballad of Bosworth Field was prepared from Bishop Percy’s Folio Manuscript. Ballads and Romances (Hales and Furnivall 3.233–259). These selected stanzas offer a fuller statement on the references in the commentary notes of the play.

Then they countered together sad and sore; Archers they let sharp arrows flee, They shot guns both fell and far, Bows of yew bended did be, 1Springalds sped them speedily, Harquebusiers pellets throughly did thring; So many a banner began to swee That was on Richard’s party, their king. Then our archers let their shooting be, With joined weapons were growden full right, Brands rang on basenetts high, Battle-axes fast on helms did light. There died many a doughty knight, There underfoot can they thring; Thus they fought with main and might That was on Henry’s part, our king. Then to king Richard there came a knight, And said, "I hold it time for to flee; For yonder Stanley’s dints they be so wight, Against them no man may dree." "Here is thy horse at thy hand ready, Another day thou may thy worship win, And for to reign with royalty, To wear the crown, and be our king." He said, "Give me my battle-axe to my hand, Set the crown of England on my head so high! For by him that shope both sea and land, King of England this day I will die!" "One foot will I never flee Whilst the breath is my breast within!" As he said, so did it be: If he lost his life, if he were king. Then they moved to a mountain on height; With a loud voice they cried: "King Henry!" The crown of gold that was bright, To the Lord Stanley delivered it be. Anon to King Henry delivered it he, The crown that was so delivered to him, And said, "Methink ye are best worthy To wear the crown and be our king."