+++ I cannot help subjoining to the above fonnet another difficb of Elizabeth's preserved by Puttenham (p. 197.) “ which isays he) our Goveraigne lady wrote in defiance of "fortune.'

Never thinke you, Fortune can beare the fway,
Where Vertue's force can cause her to obay.

The slightest effufion of szich a mind deserves attention.

xv.

KING OF SCOTS AND ANDREW BROWNE.

This ballad is a proof of the little intercourse that subfifted bet een the Scots and English, before the accrfion of James I. to the crown of Englund. The tale which is here so circumftantially related does not appear to have had the least foundation in history, but was probably built upın some confused hearsay report of the tumults in Scotland during the mirrority of that prince, and of the conspiracies formed by different frica tions to get poDesfion of his person. It should seem from ver. 97 to have been written during the regency or at least bea fore the death, of the earl of Norton. quho was condemned and executed June 2, 1581; when ames was in his sth year.

The original copy (preserved in the archives of ile Ansi. quarian Society, Lonilon) is intitled, “ A new Ballad, dlvr. * ing the great treafor con/pired azainst the young ing of 66 Scots, and how one Andrew Browne an English-min,

which was the king's chamberlaine, prevented the 1. m'. "" To the tune of Miljieled, or els to Green-sleeves.' fit the end is subjoined the name of the author W. ELDERLYN.

“ Imprinted at London for Yarathe James, dwelling in New

gate Market, over against Ch. Church,” in black-letter, folio.

This ELDERTON, who had been originally an attorney in the sheriffs courts of London, and aft. rwards (if we may believe Oldys) a comedian. was a facetious fuddling companion, whole rippling and rhymes rendered bim famous among his contemporari's He was author of many popular songs and ballails : and probably other pieces in these volumes, befies the following are of his composing. He is believed to have fallen a victim to his bortle before the year 1992. His epitaph has been recorded by Camden, and translated by Ollys. Hic fitus eft fitiens, atque ebrius Eldertonus,

Quid dico hic fitus eft? hic potius fitis est.

Dead drunk here Elderton doth lie ;
Dead as he is he fill is dry :
So of him it may well be said,
Here he, but not his thirst, is laid.

See Stow's Lond. [Guild-hall.]-Biogr. Brit. [DRAYTON, hy Oldys, Note B.) Ath. O.x.-Camden's Remains. The Exale-tation of Ale, among Beaumont's Poems, 8vo. 1653.

Ou

UT alas a griefe

That princes subjects cannot be true,
But still the devill hath some of his,

Will play their parts whatsoever ensue;
Forgetting what a grievous thing
It is to offend the anointed king?

Alas for woe, why should it be so,
This makes a forrowful heigh ho.

10

In Scotland is a bonnie kinge,

As proper a younh as neede to be, Well given to every happy thing,

That can be in a kinge to see : Yet that unluckie country still, Hath people given to craftie will.

Alas for woe, &c.

15

On Whitsun eve it so befell,

A poflet was made to give the king, Whereof his ladie nurse hard tell,

And that it was a poysoned thing: She cryed, and called piteouflie; Now help, or els the king shall die !

Alas for woe, &c.

25

One Browne, that was an English man,

And hard the ladies piteous crye,
Out with his sword, and bestir'd him than,

Out of the doores in haite to flie;
But all the doores were made so fast,
Out of a window he got at last.

Alas for woe, &c.

30

He met the bishop coming fast,

Having the posset in his hande:
The light of Browne made him aghaft,

Who bad him stoutly staie and stand.
VOL.II.

р

With

With him were two that ranne awa,
For feare that Browne would make a fray.

Alas for woe, &c.

35

40

Bishop, quoth Browne, what halt thou there?

Nothing at all, my friend, fayde he;
But a posset to make the king good cheere.

Is it so? sayd Browne, that will I fee,
First I will have thyself begin,
Before thou go any further in;

Be it weale or woe, it shall be so,
This makes a forrowful heigh ho.

45

The bishop fayde, Browne I doo know,

Thou art a young man pocre and bare; Livings on thee 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 be so,
Drink now with a sorrowfull, &c.

50

55

The bishop dranke, and by and by

His belly burst and he fell downe: A just rewarde for his traitery.

This was a poífet indeed, quoth Brown ! Ile ferched ihe bishop, and found the keyes, To come to the kinge when he did please.

Alas for woe, &c.

As

60

As soon as the king got word of this,

He humbly fell uppon his knee,
And prayfed God that he did misse

To tast of that extremity:
For that he did perceive and know,
His clergie would betray him so:

Alas for woe, &c.

65

Alas, he said, unhappie realme,

My father, and grandfather flaine :
My mother banished, O extreame!

Unhappy fate, and bitter bayne !
And now like treason wrought for me,
What more unhappie realme can be !

Alas for woe, &c.

70

75

The king did call his nurse to his grace,

And gave her twenty poundes a yeere;
And trustie Browne too in like case,

He knighted him with gallant geere ;
And gave him lands and livings great,
For dooing such a manly feat,

As he did showe, to the bishop's woe,
Which made, &c.

80

V.67. His father was Henry Lord Darnley. His grandfather the old Earl of Lenox, regent of Scotland, and father of Lor.l Durnley, was murdered at Stirling, Sept. 5, 1571.