ANCIENT POEMS.

199

XIV.

THE MURDER OF THE KING OF SCOTS.

The catastrophe of Henry Stewart, lord Darnley, the unfortunate bufband of Mary 2. of Scots, is the fubject of this ballad. It is here related in that partial imperfect manner, in which fuch an event would naturally strike the subjects of another kingdom; of which he was a native. Henry appears to have been a vain capricious worthless young man, of weak understanding, and diffolute morals. But the beauty of his perfon, and the inexperience of his youth, would difpofe mankind to treat him with an indulgence, which the cruelty of his murder would afterwards convert into the most tender pity and regret: and then imagination would not fail to adorn his memory with all thofe virtues, he ought to have poffeffed. This will account for the extravagant elogium beftowed upon him in the firft ftanza, Sc.

Henry lord Darnley was eldest fon of the earl of Lennox, by the lady Margaret Douglas, niece of Henry VIII. and daughter of Margaret queen of Scotland by the earl of Angus, whom that princess married after the death of James IV-Darnley, who had been born and educated in England, was but in his 21st year, when he was murdered, Feb. 9. 1567-8. This crime was perpetrated by the E. of Bothwell, not out of refpect to the memory of Bid Riccio, but in order to pave the way for his own marriage with the

This ballad (printed from the Editor's folio MS.) Seems with forme

to have been written foon after Mary's efcape into England in 1568, see v. 65.—It will be remembered at v. 5. that this princess was 2. dowager of France, having been first married to Francis II. who died Dec. 4. 1560.

W°

OE worth, woe worth thee, falfe Scotlande! For thou haft ever wrought by fleight; The worthyeft prince that ever was borne,

You hanged under a cloud by night.

A

Gare

If the king had risen forth of his place,
Hef wold have fate him downe i the chaire,
Although it befeemed him not fo well,
hadbecnefnd though the kinge werd present there.

And the itt

If you

Some lords in Scotlande waxed wroth,
And quarrelled with him for the nonce;

And I fhall tell how it befell,

Twelve daggers were in him att once.

10

15

20

When

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ANCIENT POEM S.

201

When the queene he faw her chamberlaine flaine, was
For him her faire cheeks fhe did weete,

And made a vowe for a yeare and a day

26

The king and shee wold not come in one sheete.

Then fome of the lords they waxed wrothe
And made their vow all vehementlye;

That for the death of the

the chamberlaine,

30

Aqueenes

The the king himselfe, halde dye. how he shall

With gun-powder they ftrewed his roome,

And layd greene rushes in his way;
For the traitors thought that very night
This worthye king for to betray.

To bedd the king he made him bowne;
To take his reft was his defire ;
He was noe fooner caft on fleepe,

35

ル

But his chamber was on a blafing fire.

40

This

45

Up he lope, and the window brake,

And hee had thirtye foote to fall;

Lord Bodwell kept a privy watch,

Anderneath a caftle wall.

e

Who have we here? lord Bodwell fayd :
Now anfwer me, that I may know.
"King Henry the eighth my uncle was;

For his sweete fake fome pitty show."

Who