_Being the right path whereby to advise princely Virgins how to behave themselves, by the example of the renowned Princess the Lady Arabella, and the second son of the Lord Seymour, late Earl of Hertford._
The beautiful, much-injured, and ill-fated Lady Arabella of this touching ballad, whose sole crime was that she was born a Stuart, was the daughter of Elizabeth Cavendish of Chatsworth, in Derbyshire, by her husband Charles Stuart, Earl of Lennox, who was brother to Lord Darnley, the husband of the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots. She was grand-daughter of Sir William Cavendish of Chatsworth, and of his wife, the celebrated "Bess of Hardwick," afterwards Countess of Shrewsbury.
The incidents of the life of this young, beautiful, and accomplished lady, which form one of the most touching episodes in our history,--the jealous eye with which Elizabeth looked upon her from her birth,--the careful watch set over her by Cecil,--the trials of Raleigh and his friends,--her troubles with her aunt (Mary, Countess of Shrewsbury),--her being placed under restraint,--her marriage with Seymour,--her seizure, imprisonment, sufferings, and death as a hopeless lunatic in the Tower of London, where she had been thrown by her cousin, James the First,--are all matters of history, and invest her life with a sad and melancholy interest.
As the autograph signature of this ill-starred but lovely and exemplary young lady is but little known, I append a fac-simile,
[Illustration: Signature of Arbella Stuart]
which no doubt will add to the interest of the following ballad. The ballad was sung to the tune of "The Frog Galliard."
As I to Ireland did pass, I saw a ship at anchor lay, Another ship likewise there was, Which from fair England took her way.
This ship that sail'd from fair England, Unknown unto our gracious king, The lord chief justice did command, That they to London should her bring.
I then drew near and saw more plain, Lady Arabella in distress, She wrung her hands, and wept amain, Bewailing of her heaviness.
When near fair London Tower she came, Whereas her landing place should be, The king and queen with all their train, Did meet this lady gallantly.
"How now, Arabella," said our good king, Unto this lady straight did say, "Who hath first try'd thee to this thing, That you from England took your way?"