Oh Death, Rock Me Asleep

This poem is thought to be written by Anne Boleyn the days before her execution and supports the theory that she welcomed death in the last hours of her life.

Death, rock me asleep,

Bring me to quiet rest,

Let pass my weary guiltless ghost,

Out of my careful breast.

Toll on, thou passing bell;

Ring out my doleful knell;

Let thy sound my death tell.

Death doth draw nigh;

There is no remedy.

My pain who can express?

Alas, they are so strong,

My dolour will not suffer strength,

My life for to prolong.

Toll on, thou passing bell;

Ring out my doleful knell;

Let thy sound my death tell.

Death doth draw nigh;

There is no remedy.

Alone in prison strong,

I wait my destiny.

Woe worth this cruel hap that I;

Should taste this misery

Toll on, thou passing bell;

Ring out my doleful knell;

Let thy sound my death tell.

Death doth draw nigh;

There is no remedy.

Farewell, my pleasures past,

Welcome, my present pain!

I feel my torments so increase

That life cannot remain.

Cease now, thou passing bell,

Rung is my doleful knell;

For the sound my death doth tell.

Death doth draw nigh;

There is no remedy.