In the books AG mentionet some songs Cantor used to sing
One of them is:
The King had the drums beatAn old ballad from France. Written in the 17th century (1610-1630).
It's a non-historic love story between King Henry the fourth and Gabrielle d'Estrée. In this song the King (le roi) fell in love with the beautiful Marquise d'Estré. Her husband the Marquis d'Estré tell her goodbye in the 6 and 7 Strophe. She died, killed by the Queen, in the 8 Strophe
In an other but false interpretation the King is Louis XIV (1638-1715).
Angelique:
Good heavens, weren't those the verses Cantor had almost sung before the Queen the other day at Versailles? If
it had not been for the Abbé de Lesdiguières, what damage might he not have done! The abbé is surely a help. I
must give him another token of gratitude.
Lyrics: (There is another translation in the book Angelique and the King)
The King had the drums beat
Le Roy a fait battre tambour
The King had the drums beat1
The King had the drums beat
To see all his ladies
And the first he saw
Delighted his soul2
Marquis tell me do you know her ?
Marquis tell me do you know her ?
Who is this pretty lady ?
And the marquis answered
Lord king it is my wife
Marquis you are happier than me
Marquis you are happier than me
To have a wife so beautiful
If you would grant her to me
I would take care of her
My Lord if you weren't the king
My Lord if you weren't the king
I would exert vengeance
But since you are the king
To your obedience
Marquis do not get angry
Marquis do not get angry
You will have your reward
I will make you in my armies
Good marshall of France
Farewell my love, farewell my heart
Farewell my love, farewell my heart
Farewell my hope
Since you have to serve the king
Let's separate from our union
The king took her by the hand
The king took her by the hand
And led her to his chambers
The beauty rising the steps
Tried to defend herself
Marquise do not weep so
Marquise do not weep so
I will make you a princess
Of all my gold and silver
You will be the mistress
Keep your gold and silver
Keep your gold and silver
They only belong to the queen
I will love better my sweet marquis
Than all of your riches
The queen had a bouquet made
The queen had a bouquet made
Of beautiful lillies flowers
But the scent of that bouquet
Caused the marquise to die
The King had the drums beat
The King had the drums beat
To see all his ladies
And the first he saw
Delighted his soul
PS: "Faire battre tambour" means making an announcement by means of town crier.