{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch271.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch271.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch271.htm","text":"271A.1 IT was the worthy Lord of Learen,\nHe was a lord of a hie degree;\nHe had noe more children but one sonne,\nHe sett him to schoole to learne curtesie.\n271A.2 Lear[n]ing did soe proceed with that child,\nI tell you all in veretie,\nHe learned more vpon one day\nThen other children did on three,\n271A.3 And then bespake the schoole-master,\nVnto the Lord of Learne said hee,\nI thinke thou be some stranger borne,\nFor the holy gost remaines with thee.\n271A.4 He said, I am noe stranger borne,\nForsooth, master, I tell it to thee;\nIt is a gift of Almighty God\nWhich he hath giuen vnto mee.\n271A.5 The schoole-master turnd him round about,\nHis angry mind he thought to asswage,\nFor the child cold answer him soe quicklie,\nAnd was of soe tender yeere of age.\n271A.6 The child he caused a steed to be brought,\nA golden bridle done him vpon;\nHe tooke his leaue of his schoolfellows,\nAnd home the child that he is gone.\n271A.7 And when he came before his father,\nHe fell low downe vpon his knee:\n\u2018My blessing, father, I wold aske,\nIf Christ wold grant you wold gine it me.\u2019\n271A.8 \u2018Now God thee blesse, my sonne and my heire,\nHis servant in heauen that thou may bee!\nWhat tydings hast thou brought me, child,\nThou art comen home so soone to mee?\u2019\n271A.9 \u2018Good tydings, father, I haue you brought,\nGoo[d tydings] I hope it is to thee;\nThe booke is not in all s[c]ottlande\nBut I can reade it before your eye.\u2019\n271A.10 A ioyed man his father was,\nEuen the worthy lord of Learne:\n\u2018Thou shalt goe into Ffrance, my child,\nThe speeches of all strange lands to learne.\u2019\n271A.11 But then bespake the child his mother,\nThe Lady of Learne and then was shee;\nSaies, Who must be his well good guide,\nWhen he goes into that strange country?\n271A.12 And then bespake that bonnie child,\nVntill his father tenderlie;\nSaies, Father, I\u2019le haue the hend steward,\nFor he hath been true to you and mee.\n271A.13 The lady to concell the steward did take,\nAnd counted downe a hundred pound there;\nSaies, Steward, be true to my sonne and my heire,\nAnd I will giue thee mickle mere.\n271A.14 \u2018If I be not true to my master,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Christ himselfe be not trew to mee!\nIf I be not true to my lord and master,\nAn ill death that I may die!\u2019\n271A.15 The Lord of Learne did apparell his child\nWith bruche, and ringe, and many a thinge;\nThe apparrell he had his body vppon,\nTh say was worth a squier\u2019s liuinge.\n271A.16 The parting of the younge Lord of Learne\nWith his father, his mother, his fellows deere,\nWold haue made a manis hart for to change,\nIf a Iew borne that he were.\n271A.17 The wind did serue, and th did sayle\nOver the sea into Ffrance land;\nHe vsed the child soe hardlie,\nHe wold let him haue neuer a penny to spend.\n271A.18 And meate he wold let the child haue none,\nNor mony to buy none, trulie;\nThe boy was hungry and thirsty both;\nAlas! it was the more pitty.\n271A.19 He laid him downe to drinke the water\nThat was soe low beneathe the brime;\nHe [that] was wont to haue drunke both ale and wine\nThen was faine of the water soe thinne.\n271A.20 And as he was drinking of the water\nThat ran soe low beneath the brime,\nSoe ready was the false steward\nTo drowne the bonny boy therin.\n271A.21 \u2018Haue mercy on me, worthy steward!\nMy life,\u2019 he said, \u2019lend it to mee,\nAnd all that I am heire vpon,\u2019\nSaies, \u2018I will giue vnto thee.\u2019\n271A.22 Mercy to him the steward did take,\nAnd pulld the child out of the brime;\nEuer alacke, the more pittye!\nHe tooke his clothes euen from him.\n271A.23 Saies, Doe thou me of that veluett gowne,\nThe crimson hose beneath thy knee,\nAnd doe me of thy cordiuant shoone,\nAre buckled with the gold soe free.\n271A.24 \u2018Doe thou me off thy sattin doublett,\nThy shirtband wrought with glistering gold,\nAnd doe mee off thy golden chaine,\nAbout they necke soe many a fold.\n271A.25 \u2018Doe thou me off thy veluett hat,\nWith fether in that is soe fine;\nAll vnto thy silken shirt,\nThat\u2019s wrought with many a golden seam.\u2019\n271A.26 The child before him naked stood,\nWith skin as white as lilly flower;\nFor [t]his worthy lords bewtie\nHe might haue beene a ladye\u2019s paramoure.\n271A.27 He put vpon him a lether cote,\nAnd breeches of the same beneath the knee,\nAnd sent that bony child him froe,\nService for to craue, truly,\n271A.28 He pulld then forth a naked sword\nThat hange full low then by his side;\n\u2018Turne thy name, thou villaine,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Or else this sword shall be thy guide.\u2019\n271A.29 \u2018What must be my name, worthy steward?\nI pray thee now tell it me:\u2019\n\u2018Thy name shalbe Pore Disaware,\nTo tend sheepe on a lonelye lee.\u2019\n271A.30 The bonny child he went him froe,\nAnd looked to himselfe, truly;\nSaw his apparrell soe simple vppon;\nO Lord! he weeped tenderlye.\n271A.31 Vnto a shepard\u2019s house that childe did goe,\nAnd said, Sir, God you saue and see!\nDoe you not want a servant-boy,\nTo tend your sheepe on a lonelie lee?\n271A.32 \u2018Where was thou borne?\u2019 the shepard said,\n\u2018Where, my boy, or in what country?\u2019\n\u2019Sir,\u2019 he said, \u2018I was borne in fayre Scottland,\nThat is soe farr beyond the sea.\u2019\n271A.33 \u2018I haue noe child,\u2019 the shepard sayd;\n\u2018My boy, thoust tarry and dwell with mee;\nMy liuinge,\u2019 he sayd, a+end all my goods,\nI\u2019le make thee heire [of] after mee.\u2019\n271A.34 And then bespake the shepard\u2019s wife,\nTo the Lord of Learne thus did she say;\n\u2018Goe thy way to our sheepe,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018And tend them well both night and day.\u2019\n271A.35 It was a sore office, O Lord, for him\nThat was a lord borne of a great degree!\nAs he was tending his sheepe alone,\nNeither sport nor play cold hee.\n271A.36 Let vs leaue talking of the Lord of Learne,\nAnd let all such talking goe;\nLet vs talke more of the false steward,\nThat caused the child all this woe.\n271A.37 He sold this Lord of Learne\u2019s his clothes\nFor five hundred pound to his pay [there],\nAnd bought himselfe a suite of apparrell\nMight well beseeme a lord to weare.\n271A.38 When he that gorgeous apparrell bought,\nThat did soe finelie his body vppon,\nHe laughed the bony child to scorne\nThat was the bonny Lord of Learne.\n271A.39 He laughed that bonny boy to scorne;\nLord! pitty it was to heare;\nI haue herd them say, and soe haue you too,\nThat a man may buy gold to deere.\n271A.40 When that he had all that gorgeous apparrell,\nThat did soe finelie his body vpon,\nHe went a woing to the Duke\u2019s daughter of France,\nAnd called himselfe the Lord of Learne.\n271A.41 The Duke of Ffrance heard tell of this,\nTo his place that worthy lord was come, truly;\nHe entertaind him with a quart of red Renish wi[ne],\nSaies, Lord of Learne, thou art welcome to me.\n271A.42 Then to supper that they were sett,\nLords and ladyes in thei degree;\nThe steward was sett next the Duke of France;\nAn vnseemlye sight it was to see.\n271A.43 Then bespake the Duke of Ffrance,\nVnto the Lord of Leearne said hee there,\nSayes, Lord of Learne, if thou\u2019le marry my daught[er],\nI\u2019le mend thy liuing fiue hundred pound a yeere.\n271A.44 Then bespake that lady fayre,\nAnswered her father soe alone,\nThat shee would be his marryed wiffe\nIf he wold make her lady of Learne.\n271A.45 Then hand in hand the steward her he tooke,\nAnd plight that lady his troth alone,\nThat she shold be his marryed wiffe,\nAnd he wold make her the ladie of Learne.\n271A.46 Thus that night it was gone,\nThe other day was come, truly;\nThe lady wold see the robucke run,\nVp hills and dales and forrest free.\n271A.47 Then shee was ware of the younge Lord of Learne\nTending sheepe vnder a bryar, trulye.\n. . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . .\n271A.48 And thus shee called vnto her maids,\nAnd held her hands vp thus an hie;\nSayes, Feitch me yond shepard\u2019s boy,\nI\u2019le know why he doth mourne, trulye.\n271A.49 When he came before that lady fayer,\nHe fell downe vpon his knee;\nHe had beene so well brought vpp\nHe needed not to learne curtesie.\n271A.50 \u2018Where wast thou borne, thou bonny boy?\nWhere or in what countrye?\u2019\n\u2018Madam, I was borne in faire Scottland,\nThat is soe farr beyond the sea.\u2019\n271A.51 \u2018What is thy name, thou bonny boy?\nI pray thee tell it vnto mee;\u2019\n\u2018My name\u2019 he sayes, \u2019is Poore Disaware,\nThat tends sheepe on a lonely lee.\u2019\n271A.52 \u2018One thing thou must tell mee, bonny boy,\nWhich I must needs aske of thee,\nDost not thou know the young Lord of Learne?\nHe is comen a woing into France to me.\u2019\n271A.53 \u2018Yes, that I doe, madam,\u2019 he said,\nAnd then he wept most tenderlie;\n\u2018The Lord of Learne is a worthy lord,\nIf he were at home in his oune country.\u2019\n271A.54 \u2018What ayles thee to weepe, my bonny boy?\nTell me or ere I part thee froe:\u2019\n\u2018Nothing but for a freind, madam,\nThat\u2019s dead from me many a yeere agoe.\u2019\n271A.55 A loud laughter the ladie lought,\nO Lord! shee smiled wonderous hie:\n\u2018I haue dwelled in France since I was borne;\nSuch a shepard\u2019s boy I did neuer see.\n271A.56 \u2018Wilt thou not leaue thy sheep, my child,\nAnd come vnto service vnto mee?\nAnd I will giue thee meate and fee,\nAnd my chamberlaine thou shalt bee.\u2019\n271A.57 \u2018Then I will leaue my sheepe, madam,\u2019 he sayd,\n\u2018And come into service vnto thee,\nIf you will giue me meate and fee,\nYour chamberlaine that I may bee.\u2019\n271A.58 When the lady come before her father,\nShee fell low downe vpon her knee;\n\u2018Grant me, father,\u2019 the lady said,\n\u2018This boy my chamberlaine to be.\u2019\n271A.59 \u2018But O nay, nay,\u2019 the duke did say,\n\u2018Soe my daughter it may not bee;\nThe lord that is come a woing to you\nWill be offended with you and mee.\u2019\n271A.60 n came downe the false steward,\nWhich called himselfe the Lord of Learne, trulie;\nWhen he looked that bonny boy vpon,\nAn angry man i-wis was hee.\n271A.61 \u2018Where was thou borne, thou vagabond?\nWhere?\u2019 he sayd, a+end in what country?\u2019\nSays, I was borne in fayre Scotland,\nThat is soe far beyond the sea.\n271A.62 \u2018What is thy name, thou vagabond?\nHaue done qu[i]cklie, and tell it to me;\u2019\n\u2018My name,\u2019 he sayes, \u2019is Poore Disaware,\nI tend sheep on the lonelie lee.\u2019\n271A.63 \u2018Thou art a theefe,\u2019 the steward said,\n\u2018And soe in the end I will prooue thee;\u2019\n. . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . .\n271A.64 Then be-spake the ladie fayre,\n\u2018Peace, Lord of Learne! I doe pray thee;\nFfor if noe loue you show this child,\nNoe favor can you haue of mee.\u2019\n271A.65 \u2018Will you beleeue me, lady faire,\nWhen the truth I doe tell yee?\nAtt Aberdonie, beyond the sea,\nHis father he robbed a hundred three.\u2019\n271A.66 But then bespake the Duke of France\nVnto the boy soe tenderlie;\nSaies, Boy, if thou loue harsses well,\nMy stable-groome I will make thee.\n271A.67 And thus that that did passe vppon\nTill the twelve monthes did draw to an ende;\nThe boy applyed his office soe well\nEuery man became his freind.\n271A.68 He went forth earlye one morning\nTo water a gelding at the water soe free;\nThe gelding vp, and with his head\nHe hitt the child aboue his eye.\n271A.69 \u2018Woe be to thee, thou gelding,\u2019 he sayd,\n\u2018And to the mare that foled thee!\nThou hast striken the Lord of Learne\nA litle tinye aboue the eye.\n271A.70 \u2018First night after I was borne, a lord I was,\nAn earle after my father doth die;\nMy father is the worthy Lord of Learne,\nAnd child he hath noe more but mee;\nHe sent me over the sea with the false steward,\nAnd thus that he hath beguiled mee.\u2019\n271A.71 The lady [wa]s in her garden greene,\nWalking with her mayds, trulye,\nAnd heard the boy this mourning make,\nAnd went to weeping, trulie.\n271A.72 \u2018Sing on thy song, thou stable groome,\nI pray thee doe not let for mee,\nAnd as I am a true ladie\nI wilbe trew vnto thee.\u2019\n271A.73 \u2018But nay, now nay, madam!\u2019 he sayd,\n\u2018Soe that it may not bee;\nI am tane sworne vpon a booke,\nAnd forsworne I will not bee.\u2019\n271A.74 \u2018Sing on thy song to thy gelding,\nAnd thou doest not sing to mee;\nAnd as I am a true ladie\nI will euer be true vnto thee.\u2019\n271A.75 sayd, Woe be to thee, gelding,\nAnd to the mare that foled thee!\nFor thou hast strucken the Lord of Learne,\nA litle aboue mine eye.\n271A.76 First night I was borne, a lord I was,\nAn earle after my father doth dye;\nMy father is the good Lord of Learne,\nAnd child he hath noe other but mee;\nMy father sent me over [the sea] with the false steward,\nAnd thus that he hath beguiled mee.\n271A.77 \u2018Woe be to the steward, lady,\u2019 he sayd,\n\u2018Woe be to him verrily!\nHe hath beene about this twelve months day\nFor to deceiue both thee and mee.\n271A.78 \u2018If you doe not my councell keepe,\nThat I haue told you with good intent,\nAnd if you doe it not well keepe,\nFfarwell! my life is at an ende.\u2019\n271A.79 \u2018I wilbe true to thee, Lord of Learne,\nOr else Christ be not soe vnto me;\nAnd as I am a trew ladye,\nI\u2019le neuer marry none but thee.\u2019\n271A.80 Shee sent in for her father, the Duke,\nIn all the speed that ere might bee;\n\u2018Put of my wedding, father,\u2019 shee said,\n\u2018For the loue of God, this month s three.\n271A.81 \u2018Sicke I am,\u2019 the ladye said,\n\u2018O sicke, and verry like to die!\nPut of my wedding, father Duke,\nFfor the loue of God, this month s three.\u2019\n271A.82 The Duke of France put of this wedding\nOf the steward and the lady month s three,\nFor the ladie sicke shee was,\nSicke, sicke, and like to die.\n271A.83 Shee wrote a letter with her owne hand,\nIn all the speede that euer might bee;\nShee sent [it] over into Scottland,\nThat is soe farr beyond the sea.\n271A.84 When the messenger came beffore the old Lord of Learne,\nHe kneeled low downe on his knee,\nAnd he deliuered the letter vnto him,\nIn all the speed that euer might bee.\n271A.85 [The] first looke he looked the letter vpon,\nLo! he wept full bitterly;\nThe second looke he looked it vpon,\nSaid, False steward, woe be to thee!\n271A.86 When the Ladye of Learne these tydings heard,\nO Lord! shee wept soe biterlye:\n\u2018I told you of this, now good my lord,\nWhen I sent my child into that wild country.\u2019\n271A.87 \u2018Peace, Lady of Learne,\u2019 the lord did say,\n\u2018For Christ his loue I doe pray thee;\nAnd as I am a christian man,\nWroken vpon him that I wilbe.\u2019\n271A.88 He wrote a letter with his owne hand,\nIn all the speede that ere might bee;\nHe sent it into the lords in Scottland,\nThat were borne of a great degree.\n271A.89 He sent for lords, he sent for knights,\nthe best that were in the countrye,\nTo go with him into the land of France,\nTo seeke his sonne in that strange country.\n271A.90 The wind was good, and they did sayle,\nFiue hundred men into France land,\nThere to seeke that bonny boy\nThat was the worthy Lord of Learne.\n271A.91 They sought the country through and through,\nSoe farr to the Duke\u2019s place of Ffrance land;\nThere they were ware of that bonny boy,\nStanding with a porter\u2019s staffe in his hand.\n271A.92 Then the worshippfull, th did bowe,\nThe serving-men fell on their knee,\nThey cast their hatts vp into the ayre\nFor ioy that boy that they had seene.\n271A.93 The Lord of Learne then he light downe,\nAnd kist his child both cheeke and chinne,\nAnd said, God blesse thee, my sonne and my heire!\nThe blisse of heauen that thou may winne!\n271A.94 The false steward and the Duke of France\nWere in a castle-topp, trulie;\n\u2018What fooles are yond,\u2019 says the false steward,\n\u2018To the porter makes soe lowe curtesie?\u2019\n271A.95 Then bespake the Duke of Ffrance,\nCalling my Lord of Learne, trulie;\nHe sayd, I doubt the day be come\nThat either you or I must die.\n271A.96 Th sett the castle round about,\nA swallow cold not haue flone away;\nAnd there th tooke the false steward\nThat the Lord of Learne did betray.\n271A.97 And when they had taken the false steward,\nHe fell lowe downe vpon his knee,\nAnd craued mercy of the Lord of Learne\nFor the villanous dedd he had done, trulye.\n271A.98 \u2018Thou shalt haue mercy,\u2019 said the Lord of Learne,\n\u2018Thou vile traitor, I tell to thee,\nAs the lawes of the realme they will thee beare,\nWether it bee for thee to liue or dye.\u2019\n271A.99 A quest of lords that there was chosen,\nTo goe vppon his death, trulie;\nThere th iudged the false steward,\nWhether he was guiltie, and for to dye.\n271A.100 The forman of the iury he came in,\nHe spake his words full lowd and hie;\nSaid, Make thee ready, thou false steward,\nFor now thy death it drawes full nie.\n271A.101 Sayd he, If my death it doth draw nie,\nGod forgiue me all I haue done amisse!\nWhere is that lady I haue loued soe longe?\nBefore my death to giue me a kisse.\n271A.102 \u2018Away, thou traitor!\u2019 the lady said,\n\u2018Auoyd out of my company!\nFor thy vild treason thou hast wrought,\nThou had need to cry to God for mercye.\u2019\n271A.103 First they tooke him and h[a]ngd him halfe,\nAnd let him downe before he was dead,\nAnd quartered him in quarters many,\nAnd sodde him in a boyling lead.\n271A.104 And then they tooke him out againe,\nAnd cutten all his ioynts in sunder,\nAnd burnte him eke vpon a hyll;\nI-wis th did him curstlye cumber.\n271A.105 A loud laughter the lady laught,\nO Lord! she smiled merrylie;\nShe sayd I may praise my heauenly king\nThat euer I seene this vile traytor die.\n271A.106 Then bespake the Duke of France,\nVnto the right Lord of Learne sayd he there;\nSays, Lord of Learne, if thou wilt marry my daught[er]\nI\u2019le mend thy liuing fiue hundred a yeere.\n271A.107 But then bespake that bonie boy,\nAnd answered the Duke quicklie,\nI had rather marry your daughter with a ring of go[ld]\nThen all the gold that ere I blinket on with mine eye.\n271A.108 But then bespake the old Lord of Learne,\nTo the Duke of France thus he did say,\nSeeing our children doe soe well agree,\nThey shalbe marryed ere wee goe away.\n271A.109 Lady of Learne shee was sent for\nThroughout Scottland soe speedilie,\nTo see these two children sett vpp\nIn their seats of gold full royallye.\n271B: The Lord of Lorn and the False Steward\n271B.1 IT was a worthy Lord of Lorn,\nHe was a lord of high degree,\nHe sent [his son] unto the schoole,\nTo learn some civility.\n271B.2 He learned more learning in one day\nThen other children did in three;\nAnd then bespake the schoolmaster\nUnto him tenderly,\n271B.3 \u2018In faith thou art the honestest boy\nThat ere I blinkt on with mine eye;\nI hope thou art some easterling born,\nThe Holy Ghost is with thee.\u2019\n271B.4 He said he was no easterling born,\nThe child thus answered courteously;\nMy father is the Lord of Lorn,\nAnd I his son, perdye.\n271B.5 The schoolmaster turned round about,\nHis angry mood he could not swage;\nHe marvelled the child could speak so wise,\nHe being of so tender age.\n271B.6 He girt the saddle to the steed,\nThe bridle of the best gold shone;\nHe took his leave of his fellows all,\nAnd quickly he was gone.\n271B.7 And when he came to his father dear\nHe kneeled down upon his knee;\n\u2018I am come to you, fathe[r],\u2019 he said,\n\u2018God\u2019s blessing give you me.\u2019\n271B.8 \u2018Thou art welcome, son,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018God\u2019s blessing I give thee;\nWhat tidings hast thou brought, my son,\nBeing come so hastily?\u2019\n271B.9 \u2018I have brought tidings, father,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018And so lik d it may be.\nThere\u2019s never a book in all Scotland\nBut I can read it, truly.\n271B.10 \u2018There\u2019s nere a doctor in all this realm,\nFor all he goes in rich array,\nI can write him a lesson soon\nTo learn in seven years day.\u2019\n271B.11 \u2018That is good tidings,\u2019 said the lord,\n\u2018All in the place where I do stand;\nMy son, thou shalt into France go,\nTo learn the speeches of each land.\u2019\n271B.12 \u2018Who shall go with him?\u2019 said the lady;\n\u2018Husband, we have no more but he;\u2019\n\u2018Madam,\u2019 he saith, \u2019My head steward,\nHe hath bin true to me.\u2019\n271B.13 She cal\u2019d the steward to an account,\nA thousand pound she gave him anon;\nSayes, Good Sir Steward, be as good to my child,\nWhen he is far from home.\n271B.14 \u2018If I be fals unto my young lord,\nThen God be [the] like to me indeed!\u2019\nAnd now to France they both are gone,\nAnd God be their good speed.\n271B.15 They had not been in France land\nNot three weeks unto an end,\nBut meat and drink the child got none,\nNor mony in purse to spend.\n271B.16 The child ran to the river\u2019s side;\nHe was fain to drink water then;\nAnd after followed the fals steward,\nTo put the child therein.\n271B.17 \u2018But nay, marry!\u2019 said the child,\nHe asked mercy pittifully,\n\u2018Good steward, let me have my life,\nWhat ere betide my body.\u2019\n271B.18 \u2018Now put off thy fair cloathing\nAnd give it me anon;\nSo put thee of thy s\u2019lken shirt,\nWith many a golden seam.\u2019\n271B.19 But when the child was stript naked,\nHis body white as the lilly-flower,\nHe might have bin seen for his body\nA prince\u2019s paramour.\n271B.20 He put him in an old kelter coat\nAnd hose of the same above the knee,\nHe bid him go to the shepherd\u2019s house,\nTo keep sheep on a lonely lee.\n271B.21 The child did say, What shall be my name?\nGood steward, tell to me;\n\u2018Thy name shall be Poor Disawear,\nThat thy name shall be.\u2019\n271B.22 The child came to the shepheard\u2019s house,\nAnd asked mercy pittifully;\nSayes, Good sir shepheard, take me in,\nTo keep sheep on a lonely lee.\n271B.23 But when the shepheard saw the child,\nHe was so pleasant in his eye,\n\u2018I have no child, I\u2019le make thee my heir,\nThou shalt have my goods, perdie.\u2019\n271B.24 And then bespake the shepheard\u2019s wife,\nUnto the child so tenderly;\n\u2018Thou must take the sheep and go to the field,\nAnd keep them on a lonely lee.\u2019\n271B.25 let us leave talk of the child,\nThat is keeping sheep on a lonely lee,\nAnd we\u2019l talk more of the fals steward,\nAnd of his fals treachery.\n271B.26 He bought himself three suits of apparrell,\nThat any lord might a seem[d] to worn,\nHe went a wooing to the Duke\u2019s daughter,\nAnd cal\u2019d himself the Lord of Lorn.\n271B.27 The duke he welcomed the yong lord\nWith three baked stags anon;\nIf he had wist him the fals steward,\nTo the devill he would have gone.\n271B.28 But when they were at supper set,\nWith dainty delicates that was there,\nThe d[uke] said, If thou wilt wed my daughter,\nI\u2019le give thee a thousand pound a year.\n271B.29 The lady would see the red buck run,\nAnd also for to hunt the doe,\nAnd with a hundred lusty men\nThe lady did a hunting go.\n271B.30 The lady is a hunting gon,\nOver le and fell that is so high;\nThere was she ware of a shepherd\u2019s boy,\nWith sheep on a lonely lee.\n271B.31 And ever he sighed and made moan,\nAnd cried out pittifully,\n\u2018My father is the Lord of Lorn,\nAnd knows not wha[t]\u2019s become of me.\u2019\n271B.32 And then bespake the lady gay,\nAnd to her maid she spake anon,\n\u2018Go fetch me hither the shepherd\u2019s boy;\nWhy maketh he all this moan?\u2019\n271B.33 But when he came before the lady\n. . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . .\nHe was not to learn his courtesie:\n271B.34 \u2018Where was thou born, thou bonny child?\nFor whose sake makst thou all this mone?\u2019\n\u2018My dearest friend, lady,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Is dead many years agon.\u2019\n271B.35 \u2018Tell thou to me, thou bonny child,\nTell me the truth and do not lye,\nKnost thou not the yong lord of Lorn,\nIs come a wooing unto me?\u2019\n271B.36 \u2018Yes, forsooth,\u2019 then said the child,\n\u2018I know the lord then, veryly;\nThe young lord is a valliant lord\nAt home in his own country.\u2019\n271B.37 \u2018Wilt leave thy sheep, thou bonny child,\nAnd come in service unto me?\u2019\n\u2018Yes, forsooth,\u2019 then said the child,\n\u2018At your bidding will I be.\u2019\n271B.38 When the steward lookt upon the child,\nHe bewraild him villainously:\n\u2018Where wast thou born, thou vagabone?\nOr where is thy country?\u2019\n271B.39 \u2018Ha don! ha don!\u2019 said the lady gay,\nShe cal\u2019d the steward then presently;\n\u2018Without you bear him more good will,\nYou get no love of me.\u2019\n271B.40 Then bespake the false steward\nUnto the lady hastily:\n\u2018At Aberdine, beyond the seas,\nHis father robb d thousands three.\u2019\n271B.41 But then bespake the lady gay\nUnto her father courteously,\nSaying, I have found a bonny child\nMy chamberlain to be.\n271B.42 \u2018Not so, not so,\u2019 then said the duke,\n\u2018For so it may not be,\nFor that young L[ord] of Lorn that comes a wooing\nWill think something of thee and me.\u2019\n271B.43 When the duke had lookt upon the child,\nHe seemd so pleasant to the eye,\n\u2018Child, because thou lovst horses well,\nMy groom of stables thou shalt be.\u2019\n271B.44 The child plied the horses well\nA twelve month to an end;\nHe was so courteous and so true\nEvery man became his fri[e]nd.\n271B.45 He led a fair gelding to the water,\nWhere he might drink, verily;\nThe great gelding up with his head\nAnd hit the child above the eye.\n271B.46 \u2018Wo worth thee, horse!\u2019 then said the child,\n\u2018That ere mare foal d thee!\nThou little knowst what thou hast done;\nThou hast stricken a lord of high degree.\u2019\n271B.47 The d[uke\u2019s] daughter was in her garden green,\nShe heard the child make great moan;\nShe ran to the child all weeping,\nAnd left her maidens all alone.\n271B.48 \u2018Sing on thy song, thou bonny child,\nI will release thee of thy pain;\u2019\n\u2018I have made an oath, lady,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018I dare not tell my tale again.\u2019\n271B.49 \u2018Tell the horse thy tale, thou bonny child,\nAnd so thy oath shall sav d be;\u2019\nBut when he told the horse his tale\nThe lady wept full tenderly.\n271B.50 \u2018I\u2019le do for thee, my bonny child,\nIn faith I will do more for thee;\nFor I will send thy father word,\nAnd he shall come and speak with me.\n271B.51 \u2018I will do more, my bonny child,\nIn faith I will do more for thee,\nAnd for thy sake, my bonny child,\nI\u2019le put my wedding off months three.\u2019\n271B.52 The lady she did write a letter,\nFull pittifully with her own hand,\nShe sent it to the Lord of Lorn\nWhereas he dwelt in fair Scotland.\n271B.53 But when the lord had read the letter\nHis lady wept most tenderly:\n\u2018I knew what would become of my child\nIn such a far country.\u2019\n271B.54 The old lord cal\u2019d up his merry men,\nAnd all that he gave cloth and fee,\nWith seven lords by his side,\nAnd into France rides he.\n271B.55 The wind servd, and they did saile\nSo far into France land;\nThey were ware of the Lord of Lorn,\nWith a porter\u2019s staff in his hand.\n271B.56 The lords they moved hat and hand,\nThe servingmen fell on their knee;\n\u2018What folks be yonder,\u2019 said the steward,\n\u2018That makes the porter courtesie?\u2019\n271B.57 \u2018Thou art a false thief,\u2019 said the L[ord] of Lorn,\n\u2018No longer might I bear with thee;\nBy the law of France thou shalt be ju[d]gd,\nWhether it be to live or die.\u2019\n271B.58 A quest of lords there chosen was,\nTo bench they came hastily,\nBut when the quest was ended\nThe fals steward must dye.\n271B.59 First they did him half hang,\nAnd then they took him down anon,\nAnd then put him in boyling lead,\nAnd then was sodden, brest and bone.\n271B.60 And then bespake the Lord of Lorn,\nWith many other lords mo;\n\u2018Sir Duke, if you be as willing as we,\nWe\u2019l have a marriage before we go.\u2019\n271B.61 These children both they did rejoyce\nTo hear the lord his tale so ended;\nThey had rather to day then to morrow,\nSo he would not be offended.\n271B.62 But when the wedding ended was\nThere was delicious dainty cheer;\nI\u2019le tell you how long the wedding did last,\nFull three quarters of a year.\n271B.63 Such a banquet there was wrought,\nThe like was never seen;\nThe king of France brought with him then\nA hundred tun of good red wine.\n271B.64 Five set of musitians were to be seen,\nThat never rested night nor day,\nAlso Italians there did sing,\nFull pleasantly with great joy.\n271B.65 Thus have you heard what troubles great\nUnto successive joyes did turn,\nAnd happy news among the rest\nUnto the worthy Lord of Lorn.\n271B.66 Let rebels therefore warn d be\nHow mischief once they do pretend;\nFor God may suffer for a time,\nBut will disclose it in the end.","title":"The Child Ballads: 271. The Lord of Lorn and the False St...","type":"page"}