Page:Murder of King Kenneth.pdf/2

 THE MURDER OF KING KENNETH.

This ballad is founded upon the account of Kenneth’s reign, as given by Hollinshed in his somewhat mythical Chronicle of Scotland.

The best authorities state that Kenneth succeeded Culen about A.D. 971, and that his career was honourable and brilliant until near its close, when it was darkened by the murder either of a cousin or a brother. Hollinshed says it was a cousin; and St. Berchan calls Kenneth, “Fingolach," or the fratricide.

It is agreed by all our historians that Kenneth was killed by stratagem, somewhere near Fettercairn, about A. D. 994-5. Tradition points to Lady Finella as the contriver, and to the castle of Greencairn as the scene. of his death. The figures upon the well-known sculptured stone which stands within the chapel of St. Palladius at Fordoun, are (as noticed in the ballad) popularly associated with the murder of the King.

It is interesting to know that King Malcolm, Kenneth’s father, was killed at no great distance from Fordoun, viz, at Fetteresso, where his burial-place is pointed out near the Railway Station of Stonehaven.

O fine summer eve, whilst wand'ring alone, I came to a sweet bubbling well, Where sat an old man, in a deep pensive mood, ’Neath the wide spreading trees of a dell.

I softly stept forward, and greeted the sage, Who gave me a kind look and smile— “What a nice lonely spot thou hast chosen to rest, And the long summer eve to beguile."