Synopsis The Wandering Jew's Chronicle

1 synopsis

1.1 differences between earlier , later versions of text
1.2 kings , queens listed in ballad
1.3 other important figures named

synopsis

the ballad, printed woodcut illustrations of monarchs named, begins narrator, wandering jew, declaring fifteen years old when william conqueror came england, , can recall , recount accuracy has happened since. goes on spend 1 stanza (sometimes less, more) telling story of each subsequent english monarch until time narrating. in case of few monarchs (edward i, henry vii, , henry viii, example) indicates more personal knowledge, claiming either have served in armies, or servants @ court. in addition monarchs, names several other figures important medieval , modern british monarchical history (see below examples). ballad written in variation of traditional ballad meter, alternating couplets of iambic tetrameter single lines of iambic trimeter, resulting in six-line stanzas a-a-b-c-c-b rhyme scheme.

differences between earlier , later versions of text

earlier versions (dated last quarter of 17th century) ends restoration of king charles ii, , final stanza mentioning catherine of braganza, charles wife, , offering blessing of peace , fecundity them. later versions, on other hand (dated mid-18th century), eliminates stanza mentioning catherine, , continues through line of english succession king george ii , wife, caroline of ansbach, concluding prayer duration of george s rule.
earlier versions of ballad headed list (often illustrated) of monarchs cataloged. later versions contain same list (and illustrations), list on these versions contains coronation date , length of rule of each monarch.
earlier versions of ballad have alternate title, composed of 9 rhyming lines of iambic trimeter. later versions have shorter, prose alternate title.
earlier versions of ballad describe being sung title of our prince welcome out of spain, ballad. however, later versions attribute song tune of wandering jew s chronicle, suggesting degree of ballad s popularity.

kings , queens listed in ballad

william conqueror
william rufus
henry i
stephen
henry ii
eleanor of aquitaine
richard i
john
henry iii
edward i
edward ii, referred carnarven
edward iii
richard ii
henry iv
henry v
henry vi
edward iv
richard iii
henry vii
henry viii
edward vi
mary i
elizabeth i
james i
charles i
henrietta maria, referred mary
charles ii
catherine of braganza (earlier versions only)
james ii (later versions only)
william iii (later versions only)
mary ii (later versions only)
anne (later versions only)
george (later versions only)
george ii (later versions only)
caroline of ansbach (later versions only)

other important figures named

simon de montfort, 6th earl of leicester
roger mortimer, 1st earl of march
edward, black prince
wat tyler
jack straw
henry percy (hotspur)
jane shore