  There were many kings of England in ancient Saxon days, But little to remember except their rude wild ways. There was Egbert and King Ethelwolf and also Ethelbald, Ethelbert and Ethelred and Alfred Great so called. There was Edward and King Athelstan followed by three kings Edmund and King Edgar and one whose praise we sing— The good and kindly Edward who won a martyr's crown; Then came a second Ethelred, who never won renown; And as this king was always known just by the name "Unready," So his successor well was called—"Strong Edmund ever steady." And last of all the Saxon kings decreeing England's fate Came the Confessor Edward whom we all consider great. And who the throne of England to Norman monarchs gave, But the royal line he founded had rulers only four, Two Williams and one Henry, one Stephen and no more. Plantagenets just fourteen then came to rule this land, They formed the longest kingly line and made a goodly band. Though they were not all very good and some were very bad, While some were truly gay old sports and others very sad. The founder was King Henry the second Henry king, For cruelty to Becket, no praise to him we sing. Then Richard the Plantagenet, who had a lion heart And whose brave deeds are greatly praised in history and art. Then came the trembling coward, the hated ruler John, And after followed Henry Third a silly royal goose, Within whose head I sadly fear there were some sutures loose. Then came the first King Edward who with his warrior band, Laid bare the minstrels' country and their dear mountain land. A second Edward, then a third directly followed after, Then came poor Richard Second who had small cause for laughter; Then Henry Fourth who conquered all the lands of goodly Wales As we have often heard in rhyme and in historic tales, And Henry Fifth feared by the French, it was within his reign Fair Joan d'Arc's brave blood was shed the English swords to stain. King Henry Sixth spent his last days in mourning in the Tower While Edward Fourth by might of will possessed the kingly power. The little lad, poor Edward Fifth, was never duly crowned, 'Tis said that he was murdered by one who then did rule His uncle the third Richard, hump-backed and very cruel. This wicked monster lost his life at Bosworth's bloody field, Then came the Tudor family their scepters strong to wield. Through Henry Seventh and his son King Henry Eighth, the bold, Then Edward Sixth, the wise young king who ne'er grew to be old, And monstrous blood-soaked Mary at whose dread bloody name, All noble English subjects should feel a blush of shame; Elizabeth, her sister, the red-haired maiden queen, Who sometimes was quite gracious but had a lot of spleen. With this great queen the Tudor line came to a glorious end First came the learned James the First, and Charles the First, his son, Who through the warrior Cromwell forever was undone. This warrior styled "Protector" knew how to rule all men, If not with his good broadsword, why, then with stroke of pen. And after him the second Charles returned to England fair, And claimed that to her glorious crown he was the lawful heir. Then after him the bigot James, the second of his name, Who was deposed from England's throne and earned a crown of shame; Then good King William called the Third, and Mary, his good wife, They ruled o'er happy England and banished horrid strife, But leaving no good children to whom the throne could fall As James's second daughter succeeded to the crown And did her best to rule the land but never won renown. To seventeen fair children she in her life gave birth But as death claimed them every one she had no cause for mirth. The Stuart line was ended with Anne, unhappy queen, Then came four kings called Georges, with wits not very keen, Hanover's line they founded, which line rules England now, And to this line all Englishmen on loyal knee would bow. And after all the Georges had had their rule and died, Then William Fourth, the brother of George the Third, he tried To rule o'er England's country with kind and steady hand, But when his brother's daughter succeeded to this land She made a better ruler than any queen or king She ruled o'er England's empire for years full sixty-four, And her great crown with queenly grace and kindliness she wore. Her son, King Edward Seventh, the ever tactful king, Ruled for a few short seasons until by Death's cruel sting His happy reign was ended and George the Fifth, his heir, Was made the kingly ruler of England's lands so fair. |
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