Most peerless was her beauty found, Her favor and her face ; A sweeter creature iu this world Did never prince embrace. Her crisped locks like threads of gold Appeared to each man's sight, Her sparkling eyes like orient pearls Did cast a heavenly light ; The blood withiu her crystal cheeks Did such a color drive, As if the lily and the rose For mastership did strive. Yea, Rosamond, fair Rosamond, Her name was called so, To whom dame Eleanor our queen Was known a deadly foe. The king therefore for her defence Against the furious queen, At Woodstock budded such a bower, The like was never seen. Most curiously that bower was built Of stone and timber 6trong, One hundred and fifty doors Did to this bower belong ; And they so cunningly contrived With turnings round about, That none but with a clew of thread Could enter in or out. And for his love and lady's sake That was so fair and bright, The keeping of this bower he gave Unto a valiant knight. But Fortune, that doth often frown Where she before did smile, The king's delight, the lady's joy Full soon she did beguile. For why, the king's ungracious son Whom he did high advance, Against his father raised wars Within the realm of France. But yet before our comely king The English land forsook, Of Rosamond, his lady fair, His farewell thus he took. ELEANOR.