+The Text+ is from the Percy Folio, the spelling being modernised. Percy
printed it (with alterations) in the _Reliques_.
+The Story+ of the ballad represents that Darnley was murdered by way of
revenge for his participation in the murder of Riccio; that Mary sent
for Darnley to come to Scotland, and that she was finally banished by
the Regent. All of these statements, and several minor ones, contain as
much truth as may be expected in a ballad of this kind.
Mary escaped from Lochleven Castle on May 2, 1568, and found refuge in
England on the 16th. The ballad was doubtless written shortly
afterwards. On March 24, 1579, a 'ballad concerninge the murder of the
late Kinge of Scottes' was licensed to Thomas Gosson, a well-known
printer of broadsides.