Geoff and Pennie Harris - Henry V and the King of France

Oh, our King lay dreaming all on his bed
A happy thought came in his head
That he would send to the King of France
And cause his tribute to be paid

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

Come here to me, my trusty page
My trusty page, come here to me
For you must go to the King of France
And fetch the tribute due to me

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

Oh, and then up rose this trusty page
This trusty page, then up rose he
Until he came to the King of France
And there he fell on bended knee

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

“What news, what news, my trusty page
From the English king what news to me?”
“Oh, I have come frim the English king
To fetch the tribute due from thee.”

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

“Your king is young and of tender years
And is not like to our degree
Si we will send him three tennis balls
That with them he may play so free.”

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

Oh then up rose this trusty page
This trusty page then up rose he
Until he came to the English king
And there he bowed on bended knee

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

“What news, what news, my trusty page
From the King of France, what news to me?”
“Oh, he has sent you three tennis balls
That with them you may play so free.”

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

“Come here to me, my trusty page
My trusty page, come here to me
And we will send them such English balls
As in fair France they ne'er shall see.

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

“Recruit me Cheshire and Lancashire
And the men of Derby that are so free
No married man and no widow's son
No widow's curse shall blight on me.”

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

They recruited Cheshire and Lancashire
And the men if Derby that were so free
And when the numbers were counted O'er
There were fifty-thousand men and three

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

They fought the French and they fought the King
Until they gained a victory
They fought the King until he cried
“Have mercy on my men and me!”

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

“Oh, I will send the tribute home
Ten tons in gold is owed to thee
From the fairest lily that is in France
To the Rose of England give I free.”

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray

Oh, our King lay dreaming all on his bed
A happy thought came in his head
That he would send to the King of France
And cause his tribute to be paid

Right fol de rol, right fol de ray
Right fol de rol, right fol de ray