Pastime with Good Company
"Pastime with Good Company", also known as "The King's Ballad" ("The Kynges Balade"), is an English folk song written by King Henry VIII in the early 16th century, when he was in his early twenties, teens or even younger.[1] It is regarded as the most famous of his compositions,[1] and it became a popular song in England and other European countries during the Renaissance. It is thought to have been written for Catherine of Aragon.
Historical context[edit]
The early years of Henry VIII's reign marked a distinctive era of exuberance and extravagance in the English court, made possible by the political stability of the kingdom and wealth of the state's finances. Royal banquets and feasts were held on a continual basis, as were outdoor sports and pastimes, such as hunting, hawking, and jousting and archery tournaments. The young King himself was a skilled sportsman, excelling in horse riding, archery, wrestling and real tennis. The song was penned during this period, and presents a general praise to all these entertainments and diversions, depicting the general state of mind of leisure and unconcern that prevailed in the royal court at the time. At the same time, the text provides a moral justification for all this merriment: company is preferable to idleness; for the latter breeds vice.
Contemporary renditions[edit]
The song was also subject of numerous contemporary versions in recent times. Renamed as "Past Time with Good Company", it was included as the third track on Under a Violet Moon, the second album by Renaissance-inspired folk rock group Blackmore's Night. The song was also played by rock band Jethro Tull, and appears on the remastered CD Stormwatch and The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull bearing the name "King Henry's Madrigal". The song was arranged and played by English progressive/folk rock band Gryphon, appearing on their 1973, self-titled album.[9] Under the title Mainstream, an electronic version was arranged by Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop for the 1983 album The Soundhouse. The first verse of the song was used as the opening to the song "Legacy of Tudors" by symphonic metal band Serenity on their 2013 album War of Ages. Spanish folk band An Danzza have created their own rendering of this traditional English piece in their album "Whispers of the Forest".