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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. Lear[n]ing did soe proceed with that child, I tell you all in veretie, He learned more vpon one day Then other children did on three, And then bespake the schoole-master, Vnto the Lord of Learne said hee, I thinke thou be some stranger borne, For the holy gost remaines with thee. He said, I am noe stranger borne, Forsooth, master, I tell it to thee; It is a gift of Almighty God Which he hath giuen vnto mee. The schoole-master turnd him round about, His angry mind he thought to asswage, For the child cold answer him soe quicklie, And was of soe tender yeere of age. The child he caused a steed to be brought, A golden bridle done him vpon; He tooke his leaue of his schoolfellows, And home the child that he is gone. And when he came before his father, He fell low downe vpon his knee: 'My blessing, father, I wold aske, If Christ wold grant you wold gine it me.' 'Now God thee blesse, my sonne and my heire, His servant in heauen that 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 thee; The booke is not in all s[c]ottlande But I can reade it before your eye.' A ioyed man his father was, Euen the worthy lord of Learne: 'Thou shalt goe into Ffrance, my child, The speeches of all strange lands to learne.' But then bespake the child his mother, The Lady of Learne and then was shee; Saies, Who must be his well good guide, When he goes into that strange country? And then bespake that bonnie child, Vntill his father tenderlie; Saies, Father, I'le haue the hend steward, For he hath been true to you and mee. The lady to concell the steward did take, And counted downe a hundred pound there; Saies, Steward, be true to my sonne and my heire, And I will giue thee mickle mere. 'If I be not true to my master,' he said, 'Christ himselfe be not trew to mee! If I be not true to my lord and master, An ill death that I may die!' The Lord of Learne did apparell his child With bruche, and ringe, and many a thinge; The apparrell he had his body vppon, Th say was worth a squier's liuinge. The parting of the younge Lord of Learne With his father, his mother, his fellows deere, Wold haue made a manis hart for to change, If a Iew borne that he were. The wind did serue, and th 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 and thirsty both; Alas! it was the more pitty. He laid him downe to drinke the water Thatwas soe low beneathe the brime; He [that] was wont to haue drunke both ale and wine Then was faine of the water soe thinne. And as he was drinking of the water Thatran 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, And all that I am heire vpon,' Saies, 'I will giue vnto thee.' Mercy to him the steward did take, And pulld the child out of the brime; Euer 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, And doe me of thy cordiuant shoone, Are buckled with the gold soe free. 'Doe thou me off thy sattin doublett, Thy shirtband wrought with glistering gold, And doe mee off thy golden chaine, About they necke soe many a fold. 'Doe thou me off thy veluett hat, With fether in that is soe fine; All vnto thy silken shirt, That'swrought with many a golden seam.' The child before him naked stood, With skin as white as lilly flower; For [t]his worthy lords bewtie He might haue beene a ladye's paramoure. He put vpon him a lether cote, And breeches of the same beneath the knee, And sent that bony child him froe, Service for to craue, truly, He pulld then forth a naked sword Thathange 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, And looked to himselfe, truly; Saw his apparrell soe simple vppon; O Lord! he weeped tenderlye.