And when shall this poor bosom be at rest?
To see you still thus persecute my soul,
My cousin, sister, every thing that's dear;
"No, rather bury me beneath the centre,
"Or, by some magic, turn me into stone;
"Men fix me like a statue, high as Atlas,
"Round me such gaping monsters as yourselves,
"And underneath be this inscription written,
"Lo, this was once the curs'd Elizabeth,

"The queen of wolves and tygers, not of men.
"Nor. What's this I hear, 'twas some immortal
spoke.

"Down all ye stars, and every gaudy planet, "And with your lambent brightness crown her head.” Mor. The parliament of Scotland, mighty queen, (Begging protection of their infant king)

Have sent me to your Majesty.

Qu. El. What king, what queen have you, but royal
Mary?

I'll hear no more; go home, and tell your masters,
And the crown'd property, your cradle prince,
That here his mother, Mary, shall be own'd

His queen, and absolute, while I am so.

Mor. Most gracious queen

Qu. El. You shall be heard-My lord,

200

[To Nor.

You're welcome, welcome, as you most deserve;

The noblest subject, and the bravest friend

That e'er adorn'd a throne-How does the queen ?
How fares my excellent and royal sister?
Oh, quickly tell me!

THE

ALBION QUEENS;

OR, THE DEATH OF

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.

A

TRAGEDY.

BY JOHN BANKS,

ADAPTED FOR

THEATRICAL REPRESENTATION,

AS PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRES-ROYAL,

DRURY-LANE, AND COVENT-GARDEN.

REGULATED FROM THE PROMPT-BOOKS,
By Permission of the Managers.

"The Lines distinguished by inverted Commas, are omitted in the Representation."

LONDON:

Printed for the Proprietors, under the Direction of
JOHN BELL, British Library, STRAND,
Bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

M DCC XCI.

F

JOHN BANKS.

Or this gentleman the particular history is not known. Thus much however is noted, that he was an Attorney at Law, and of the Society of NEW INN. That falling out with a profession which he most probably deemed disreputable and dry, he became a dramatic writer by chance, and continued so from necessity.-To such a claim how frequently have the pure springs of poetry welled forth with fertilizing plenty in their flow; and how frequently, on the other hand, have they issued contaminated by dirt, and no more profitable than

"The green mantle of the standing pool."

By the fourth and fifth of these compositions

he is now occasionally remembered.

As a writer, if he be considered with reference to the excitement of feeling, he certainly possesses strong claims, but the causes of this effect must be sought after in circumstances foreign both from his sentiment and his diction.