'Whenas King Henry rulde this land,
The second of that name,
Besides the queene, he dearly lovde
A faire and comely dame.
Most peerlesse was her beautye founde,
Her favour and her face;
A sweeter creature in this worlde
Could never prince embrace.
Her crisped lockes like threads of golde
Appeard to each man's sight;
Her sparkling eyes, like Orient pearles,
Did cast a heavenly light.'
Ritson's taste actually led him, in comparing the above two first
verses, to prefer the latter.