The Death of Queen Jane

rdf:langString The Death of Queen Jane

rdf:langString "The Death of Queen Jane" is an English ballad that describes the events surrounding the death of a Queen Jane. It is catalogued by Francis James Child as Child #170. Some of the versions given are Scottish, in which the queen's name is Jeanie or Jeany. Though the circumstances of the ballad's composition are not documented, a close correspondence of names and events suggests that it very likely describes Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII of England. Historically, Jane Seymour gave birth to a son who became Edward VI of England on October 12, 1537. Unlike in the ballad, where the queen dies of caesarean section, the real Queen Jane gave birth naturally and died of a fever twelve days later.