The bishop dranke, and by and by His belly burst and he fell downe: A just rewarde for his traitery! 55 "This was a posset indeed," quoth Brown. He serched the bishop, and found the keyes, To come to the kinge when he did please. Alas for woe, &c.
As soon as the king got word of this, 60 He humbly fell uppon his knee, And praysed God that he did misse To tast of that extremity: For that he did perceive and know, His clergie would betray him so: 65 Alas for woe, &c.
"Alas," he said, "unhappie realme, My father, and grandfather slaine:[L68] My mother banished, O extreame Unhappy fate, and bitter bayne! 70 And now like treason wrought for me-- What more unhappie realme can be!" Alas for woe, &c.
The king did call his nurse to his grace, And gave her twenty poundes a yeere; 75 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, 80 Which made, &c.
When all this treason done and past Tooke not effect of traytery, Another treason at the last, They sought against his majestie; 85 How they might make their kinge away By a privie banket on a daye. Alas for woe, &c.
'Another time' to sell the king Beyonde the seas they had decreede: 90 Three noble Earles heard of this thing, And did prevent the same with speede. For a letter came, with such a charme, That they should doo their king no harme: For further woe, if they did soe, 95 Would make a sorrowful heigh hoe.
The Earle Mourton told the Douglas then, "Take heede you do not offend the king; But shew yourselves like honest men Obediently in every thing; 100 For his godmother will not see[L101] Her noble child misus'd to be With any woe; for if it be so, She will make," &c.
God graunt all subjects may be true, 105 In England, Scotland, every where, That no such daunger may ensue, To put the prince or state in feare: That God, the highest king, may see Obedience as it ought to be. 110 In wealth or woe, God graunt it be so, To avoide the sorrowful heigh ho.
68. His father was Henry Lord Darnley. His grandfather, the old Earl of Lenox, regent of Scotland, and father of Lord Darnley, was murdered at Stirling, Sept. 5, 1571.--P.