¶A new Ballad, declaring the great Treason conspired against the young King of Scots, and how one Andrew Browne an Englishman, which was the Kings Chamberlaine, preuented the same.
To the tune of Milfield, or els to Greenesleeues.
JEsus God what a griefe is this,
that Princes subiects cannot be true:
But still the Deuill hath some of his,
will play their parts whatsoeuer ensue.
Forgetting what a greeuous thing,
It is to offend the annointed Kinge:
Alas for woe, why should it be so,
This makes a sorowfull heigh ho.
In
Scotland is a bonie Kinge,
as proper a youthe as néede to be:
Well giuen to euery happy thing,
that can be in a Kinge to sée.
Yet that vnluckie countrie still,
Hath people giuen to craftie will,
Alas for woe, &c.
On Whitson Eue it so befell,
a Posset was made to giue the Kinge:
Whereof his Ladie Nurse hard tell,
and that it was a poysoned thing.
She cryed and called piteouslie:
Now helpe or els the King shall die.
Alas for woe, &c.
One
Browne that was an English man,
and hard the Ladies piteous crye:
Out with his Sword, and besturd him than,
out of the doores in haste to flie.
But all the doores were made so fast,
Out of a window he got at last.
Alas for woe, &c.
He met the Bishop comming fast,
hauing the Posset in his hande:
The sight of
Browne made him agast,
who bad him stoutly staie and stand.
With him were two that ranne away,
For feare that
Browne would make a fray.
Alas for woe, &c.
Bishop quoth
Browne what hast thou there,
nothing at all my fréend sayde he:
But a Posset to make the King good chéere,
is it so sayd
Browne, that will I sée,
First I will haue thy selfe begin,
Before thou goe any further in,
Be it weale or woe it shall be so,
This makes a sorrowfull heigh ho.
The Bishop saide,
Browne I doo know,
thou art a young man poore and bare:
Liuings on thée I will bestowe,
let me go on take thou no care.
No no quoth
Browne I will not be
A Traitour for all Christiantie,
Happe well or woe, it shall not be so,
Drinke now with a sorrowfull heigh ho▪
The Bishop dranke, and by and by,
his belly burst and he fell downe:
A iust reward for his traytery,
this was a Posset in déede quoth
Browne,
He serched the Bishop and found the keyes,
To come to the King when he did please,
Alas for woe, &c.
As soone as the King gat word of this,
he humbly fell vppon his knee:
And praysed God that he did misse,
to tast of that extremity.
For that he did perceaue and know,
His Clergie would betray him so:
Alas for woe, &c.
Alas he said vnhappy Realme,
my Father and Godfather slaine:
My Mother banished O extreame,
vnhappy fate and bitter bayne.
And now like Treason wrought for me,
What more vnhappy Realme can be.
Alas for woe, &c.
The King did call his Nurse to his grace,
and gaue her twentie pound a yeere:
And trustie
Browne to in like case,
he Knighted him with gallant géere▪
And gaue him liuings great,
For dooing such a manly feat:
As he did shoe, to the Bishops woe,
which made, &c.
When all this Treason don and past,
tooke not effect of Traytery:
Another Treason at the last,
they sought against his Maiestie.
How they might make their Kinge away:
By a priuie banket on a daye.
Alas for woe, &c.
Wherat they ment to sell the King,
beyonde the seas it was decreede▪
Three noble Earles heard of this thing,
and did preuent the same with speede.
For a Letter came, with such a charme,
That they should doo theyr King no harme:
For further woe, if they did so,
Which made a sorrowfull heigh hoe.
The Earle
Mourton, told the
Douglas then,
take héede you doo not offend the Kinge:
But shew your selues like honest men,
obediently in euery thing.
For his Godmother will not see,
Her noble Childe misusde to be.
With any woe, for if it be so:
She will make a sorrowfull heigh ho.
God graunt all subiects, may be true,
in
England, Scotland, and euerie where:
That no such daunger may ensue,
to put the Prince or state in feare.
That God the highest King may sée,
Obedience as it ought to be.
In wealth or woe, God graunt it be so,
To auoide the sorrowfull heigh ho.
VV. Elderton.
FINIS.
Imprinted at London for Yarathe Iames, dvvelling in Nevvgate Market, ouer against Christes Church.