Classic Poem

It was the worthy Lord of learen,
he was a lord of a hie degree;
he had noe more children but one sonne,
he sett him to schoole to learne curtesie.

learing did soe p ro ceed w i th that child —
I tell you all in veretie —
he learned more vpon one day
then other children did on 3:

& then bespake the SchooleM aster ,
vnto the Lo rd of Learne said hee,
" I thinke thou be some stranger borne,
for the holy gost remaines w i th thee. "

he said, " I am noe stranger borne,
forsooth, M aster , I tell it to thee,
it is a gift of almighty god
w hi ch he hath giuen vnto mee. "

the schooleM aster turnd him round about,
his angry mind he thought to asswage,
for the child cold answer him soe quicklie,
& was of soe tender yeere of agee.

the Child, he caused a steed to be brought,
a golden bridle done him vpon;
he tooke his leaue of his schoolfellows,
& home the Child that he is gone.

& when he came before his father,
he ffell low downe vpon his knee,
" my blessing, father, I wold aske,
if christ wold grant you wold giue it me. "

" Now god thee blesse, my sonne & my heire,
his servant in heauen tha t thou may bee!
what tydings hast thou brought me, child?
thou art comen home so soone to mee. "

" good tydings, father, I haue you brought,
Goo[d tydings] I hope it is [?] to mee,
the booke is not in all S[c]ottlande
but I can reade it before yo u r eye. "

a Ioyed man his father was,
euen the worthy Lo rd of Learne,
" thou shalt goe into ffrance, my Child,
to learne the speeches of all strange lands. "

but then bespake the Child his mother, —
the Lady of learne & then was shee, —
saies, " who must be his well good guide
when he goes into that strange country? "

& then bespake that bonnie Child
vntill his father tenderlie,
saies, " father, Ile haue the hend Steward,
for he hath beene true to you & mee. "

the Lady to concell the steward did take,
& counted downe a 100 li : there,
saies, " steward, be true to my sonne & my heire,
& I will giue thee mickle mere. "

" If I be not true to my M aster , " he said,
" Christ himselfe be not trew to mee!
if I be not true to my lord & M aster ,
an ill death tha t I may die! "

the Lo rd of Learne did apparell his Child
w i th Bruche, & ringe, & many a thinge;
the apparrell he had his body vppon,
the say was worth a Squiers liuinge.

the parting of the younge Lo rd of Learne
w i th his ffather, his mother, his ffellows deere,
wold haue made a manis hart for to change,
if a Iew borne that he were.

the wind did serue, & the did sayle
over the sea into ffrance Land:
he vsed the Child soe hardlie,
he wold let him haue neuer a penny to spend,

and meate he wold let the Child haue none,
nor mony to buy none trulie;
the boy was hungry & thirsty both;
alas! it was the more pitty.

he laid him downe to drinke the water
tha t was soe low beneathe the brimn;
he was wont to haue drunke both ale & wine,
then was faine of the water soe thinne;

& as he was drinking of the water
tha t ran soe low beneath the brime,
soe ready was the false steward
to drowne the bonny boy therin.

" haue Mercy on me, worthy steward!
my life, " he said, " lend it to mee!
& all tha t I am heire vpon "
saies, " I will giue vnto thee. "

Mercy to him the steward did take,
& pulld the child out of the brime;
euen, alacke! the more pittye!
he tooke his clothes euen from him;

saies, " doe thou me of that veluett gowne,
the crimson hose beneath thy knee,
& doe me of thy cordiuant shoone
are buckled w i th the gold soe free;

" doe thou me off thy sattin doublett,
thy shirtband wrought w i th glistering gold,
& doe mee off thy golden Chaine
about thy necke soe many a fold;

" doe thou me off thy veluett hat
w i th fether in tha ts is soe ffine,
all vnto thy silken shirt
tha ts wrought with many a golden swaine. "

the child before him naked stood,
w i th skin as white as lilly flower;
for his worthy lords bewtie
He might haue beene a ladyes paramoure.

he put vpon him a lether cote,
& breeches of the same beneath the knee,
& sent that bony Child him froe,
service for to craue, truly.

he pulld then forth a naked sword
tha t hange full low then by his side,
" turne thy name, thou villaine, " he said,
or else this sword shall be thy guide. "

" what must be my name, worthy steward?
I pray thee, now tell it me. "
" thy name shalbe pore disaware,
to tend sheepe on a lonelye lee. "

the bonny Child, he went him froe,
& looked to himselfe truly,
saw his apparrell soe simple vppon;
O Lo rd ! he weeped tenderlye.

vnto a shepards house tha t Childe did goe,
& said, " S i r, god you saue & see!
doe you not want a servant boy
to tend yo u r sheepe on a lonelie lee? "

" where was thou borne? " the shepard said,
" where, my boy, or in what country? "
" S i r, " he said, " I was borne in fayre Scottland
tha t is soe farr beyond the sea. "

" I haue noe child, " the shepard sayd,
" my boy, thoust tarry & dwell w i th mee;
my liuinge, " he sayd, " & all my goods,
Ile make thee heire [of] after mee. "

& then bespake the shepards wife,
to the Lo rd of learne thus did she say,
" goe thy way to our sheepe, " she said,
" & tend them well both night & day. "

it was a sore office, O Lo rd , for him
tha t was a lord borne of a great degree!
as he was tenting his sheepe alone,
neither sport nor play cold hee.

Let vs leaue talking of the Lo rd of Learne,
& let all such talking goe;
let vs talke more of the falst steward
that caused the Child all this woe.

he sold this lo rd of Learnes his Clothes
for 500 li : to his pay,
& bought himselfe a suite of apparrell
might well beseeme a Lo rd to weare.

when he tha t Gorgeous apparrell bought
that did soe finelie his body vppon,
he laughed the bony Child to scorne
tha t was the bonny Lo rd of learne;

he laughed tha t bonny boy to scorne;
Lo rd ! pitty it was to heare!
I haue herd them say, & soe haue you too,
tha t a man may buy gold to deere.

when tha t he had all tha t gorgeous apparrell
tha t did soe finelie his body vpon,
he went a woing to the dukes daughter of france,
& called himselfe the Lo rd of Learne.

the duke of ffrance heard tell of this;
to his place tha t worthy Lo rd was come truly;
he entertaind him w i th a quart of Red renish wi[ne],
saies, " Lo rd of Learne, thou art welcome to me! "

then to supp er that they were sett,
Lords & ladyes in their degree;
the steward was sett next the duke of franco;
an vnseemlye sight it was to see.

then bespake the duke of ffrance,
vnto the Lo rd of leearne said hee there,
sayes, " lo rd of Learne, if thoule marry my daught[er,]
Ile Mend thy liuing 500 a yeere. "

Then bespake tha t Lady fayre,
answered her ffather soe alone,
that shee wold be his marryed wiffe
if he wold make her Lady of Learne.

then hand in hand the steward her he tooke,
& plight tha t Lady his troth alone,
tha t she shold be his Marryed wiffe,
& he wold make her the Ladie of learne.

thus tha t night it was gone,
the other day was come truly,
the Lady wold see the Robucke run
vp hills & dales & forrest free.

then shee was ware of the younge Lo rd of learne
tending sheepe vnder a bryar, trulye;
& thus shee called vnto her maids,
& held her hands vp thus an hie,

sayes, " feitch me yond shepards boy,
Ile know why he doth mourne, trulye. "
when he came before tha t Lady fayer,
he fell downe vpon his knee,

he had beene so well brought vpp
he needed not to learne curtesie
" where wast thou borne, thou bonny boy,
where or in what countrye? "

" Madam, I was borne in faire Scottland
tha t is soe farr beyond the sea. "
what is thy name, thou bonny boy?
I pray thee tell it vnto mee. "

" My name, " he sayes, " is poore Disaware,
that tends sheepe on a lonely lee. "
" one thing thou must tell mee, bonny boy,
w hi ch I must needs aske of thee:

" dost not thou know the young Lo rd of Learne?
he is comen a woing into france to me. "
" yes, tha t I doe, Madam, " he said;
& then he wept most tenderlie;
" the Lo rd of learne is a worthy Lo rd ,
if he were at home in his oune country. "

" what ayles thee to weepe, my bonny boy?
tell me or ere I part thee froe. "
" nothing but for a freind, Madam,
tha ts dead from me many a yeere agoe. "

a loud laughter the Ladie lought;
O Lo rd ! shee smiled wonderous hie;
" I haue dwelled in france since I was borne;
such a shepards boy I did neuer see.

" wilt thou not leaue thy sheepe, my Child,
& come vnto service vnto mee?
& I will giue thee meate & fee,
& my Chamberlaine thou shalt bee. "

" then I will leaue my sheepe, Madam, " he sayd,
" & come into service vnto thee;
if you will giue me meate & fee,
yo u r Chamberlainc tha t I may bee. "

when the Lady came before her father,
shee fell Low downe vpon her knee,
" grant me, father, " the Lady said,
" this boy my Chamberlaine to be. "

" but O Nay, Nay, " the duke did say,
" soe my daughter it may not bee;
the Lo rd tha t is come a woing to you
will be offended w i th you & mee. "

then came downe the false steward
w hi ch called himselfe the Lo rd of learne, trulie:
when he looked that bonny boy vpon,
an angry man I-wis was hee.

" where thou was Borne, thou vagabond?
where? " he sayd, " & in what country? "
says, " I was borne in fayre Scotland
tha t is soe far beyond the sea "

" what is thy name, thou vagabond?
haue done qu[i]cklie, & tell it to me. "
" my name, " he sayes, " is poore disaware;
I tend sheep on the lonelie lee. "

" thou art a theefe, " the steward said,
" & soe in the end I will prooue thee "
then be-spake the Ladie fayre,
" peace, Lord of learne! I doe pray thee;
ffor if noe loue you show this Child,
noe favor can you haue of mee. "

" will you beleeue me, Lady faire,
when the truth I doe tell yee?
att Aberdonie beyond the sea
his father he robbed a 100: 3. "

But then bespake the Duke of france
vnto the boy soe tenderlie,
saies, " boy, if thou loue harsses well,
my stable groome I will make thee. "

& thus tha t tha t did passe vppon
till the 12 monthes did draw to an ende;
the boy applyed his office soe well,
euery man became his freind.

he went forth earlye one morning
to water a gelding at the water soe free;
the gelding vp, & w i th his head
he hitt the Child aboue his eye:

" woe be to thee, thou gelding! " he sayd,
" & to the mare tha t foled thee!
thou hast striken the Lo rd of learne
a litle tinye aboue the knee.

" first night after I was borne, a Lo rd I was;
an earle after my father doth die;
my father is the worthy Lo rd of learne;
his child he hath noe more but mee;
he sent me over the sea w i th the false steward,
& thus that he hath beguiled mee. "

the Lady [wa]s in her garden greene,
walking w i th her mayds, trulye,
& heard the boy this mourning make,
& went to weeping trulie:

" sing on thy song, thou stable groome!
I pray thee doe not Let for mee,
& as I am a true Ladie
I wilbe trew vnto thee. "

" but Nay, now Nay, Madam! " he sayd,
" soe tha t it may not bee,
I am tane sworne vpon a booke,
& forsworne I will not bee. "

" sing on thy song to thy gelding
& thou doest not sing to mee;
& as I am a true Ladie
I will euer be true vnto thee. "
he sayd, " woe be to thy, gelding,
& to the Mare tha t foled thee!

" for thou hast strucken the Lo rd of Learne
a litle aboue Mine eye
first night I was borne, a lord I was;
an Earle after my father doth dye;

" my father is the good Lo rd of Learne,
& child he hath noe other but mee.
My father sent me over w i th the false steward,
& thus tha t he hath beguiled mee.

" woe be to thee steward, Lady, " he sayd,
" woe be to him verrily!
he hath beene aboue this 12 months day
for to deceiue both thee & mee.

" if you doe not my Councell keepe
tha t I haue told you w i th good intent,
& if you doe it not well keepe,
ffarwell! my life is at an ende. "

" I wilbe true to thee, Lo rd of Learne,
or else christ be not soe vnto me;
And as I am a trew ladye,
Ile neuer marry none but thee! "

shee sent in for her father, the Duke,
in all the speed tha t ere might bee;
" put of my wedding, father, " shee said,
for the loue of god, this Monthes 3:

" sicke I am, " the ladye said,
" O sicke, & verry like to die!
put of my wedding, father Duke,
ffor the loue of god this Monthes 3. "

the Duke of france put of this wedding
of the steward & the lady, monthes 3;
for the Ladie, sicke shee was,
sicke, sicke, & like to die.

shee wrote a letter w i th her owne hand
in all the speede tha t euer might bee;
shee sent over into scottland
tha t is soe ffarr beyond the sea.

when the Messenger came beffore the old Lo rd of Learne,
he kneeled low downe on his knee,
& he deliuered the letter vnto him
in all the speed tha t euer might bee.

first looke he looked the letter vpon,
Lo! he wept full bitterly,
the second looke he looked it vpon,
said, " false steward! woe be to thee! "

when the Ladye of learne these tydings heard,
O Lo rd ! shee wept soe biterlye:
" I told you of this, now good my lord,
when I sent my Child into that wild country. "

" peace, Lady of learne, " the Lord did say,
" for Christ his loue I doe pray thee;
& as I am a christian man,
wroken vpon him tha t I wilbe. "

he wrote a letter w i th his owne hand
in all the speede tha t ere might bee;
he sent it into the Lords in Scottland
tha t were borne of a great degree;

he sent for lords, he sent for k nigh ts,
th e best that were in the countrye,
to goe w i th him into the land of france,
to seeke his sonne in tha t strange Country.

the wind was good, & they did sayle,
500 men into france Land,
there to seeke tha t Bonny boy
tha t was the worthy Lo rd of Learne.

they sought the country through & through,
soe farr to the dukes place of ffrance Land:
there they were ware of tha t bonny boy
standing w i th a porters staffe in his hand.

then the worshippfull, the did bowe,
the serving men fell on their knees,
they cast their hatts vp into the ayre
for Ioy tha t boy tha t they had seene.

the Lo rd of learne, then he light downe,
& kist his Child both Cheeke & chinne,
& said, " god blesse thee, my sonne & my heire,
the blisse of heauen tha t thou may wiine! "

the false steward & the Duke of france
were in a Castle topp trulie:
" what fooles are yond, " says the false steward,
" to the porter makes soe Lowe curtesie? "

Then bespake the duke of ffrance,
calling my Lo rd of Learne trulie,
he sayd, " I daubt the day be come
tha t either you or I must die. "

the sett the Castle round about,
a swallow cold not haue flone away;
& there the tooke the false steward
That the Lo rd of Learne did betray.

& when they had taken the false steward,
he fell lowe downe vpon his knee,
& craued mercy of the Lo rd of learne
for the villanous dedd he had done, trulye.

" thou shalt haue mercy, " said the Lo rd of Learne,
" thou vile traitor! I tell to thee;
as the Lawes of the realme they will thee beare,
wether it bee for thee to liue or dye. "

a quest of lords tha t there was chosen
to goe vppon his death, trulie:
there the Iudged the false steward,
whether he was guiltie, & for to dye.

The forman of the Iury, he came in;
he spake his words full Lowd & hiye:
said, " make thee ready, thou false steward,
for now thy death it drawes full nie! "

sayd he, " if my death it doth draw nie,
god forgiue me all I haue done amisse!
where is tha t Lady I haue loued soe longe,
before my death to giue me a Kisse. "

" away, thou traitor! " the Lady said,
" auoyd out of my company!
for thy vild treason thou hast wrought,
thou had need to cry to god for mercye. "

first they tooke him & h[a]ngd him halfe,
& let him downe before he was dead,
& quartered him in quarters Many,
& sodde him in a boyling Lead;

& then they tooke him out againe,
& cutten all his ioynts in sunder,
& burnte him eke vpon a hyll;
I-wis the did him curstlye cumber.

a loud laughter the lady laught;
O lord! she smiled merrylie;
She sayd, " I may praise my heauenly K ing
that euer I seene this vile traytor die. "

then bespake the duke of france,
vnto the right Lo rd of Learne sayd he there,
says, " Lo rd of Learne, if thou wilt marry my daught[er]
Ile mend thy liuing 500 a yeere. "

but then bespake tha t bonie boy,
& answered the Duke quicklie,
" I had rather marry yo u r daughter w i th a ring of go[ld,]
then all the gold tha t ere I blinket on w i th mine eye. "

But then bespake the old Lo rd of Learne,
to the Duke of france thus he did say,
" seeing our Children doe soe well agree,
they shalbe marryed ere wee goe away. "

they Lady of learne, shee was for sent
throughout Scottland soe speedilio,
to see these 2 Children sett vpp
in their seats of gold full royallye.