Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Part 38

'... the old ballad of the Lord of Lorne Whose last line in King Harry's day was born.'

Probably this implies little more than that the ballad was known in Henry VIII.'s day. Three broadsides are known, two in the Roxburghe and one in the Pepys collection. Both the Roxburghe ballads are later than the Folio version.

+The Story+ is derived from that of _Roswall and Lillian_. Roswall, the king's son, of Naples, overhearing three lords bewailing their long imprisonment, promised to set them free, and did so by stealing the keys from under the king's pillow at night. The king, on hearing of their escape, vowed to slay at sight the man who had set them free. The queen, however, interceding for her son, Roswall was banished under charge of a steward. From this point our ballad follows the romance fairly closely.

Roswall and the steward, after changing places, entered the kingdom of Bealm. At length Roswall, under the name Dissawar (see 29.2, etc.), became chamberlain to the Princess Lillian, and she fell in love with him. The King of Bealm meanwhile sent to the King of Naples, proposing to wed his daughter to the young prince of Naples, and the Neapolitan king a.s.sented. A joust was proclaimed, and Lillian told Dissawar to joust for her; but he preferred to go a-hunting. However, in the wood he found the three knights he had helped to escape, and they equipped him for the three days' tourney, in which he defeated the steward. He did not, however, proclaim himself, and Lillian was forced to ask the king herself for Dissawar; but her father married her to the steward. During the wedding feast the three Neapolitan lords appeared, but would not acknowledge the steward as their prince, and went in search of Roswall, who told the king of the steward's treachery, and announced himself to be the victor of the jousts. The steward was hanged and Roswall married to Lillian.

Other romances and stories exist, with similar foundations, especially amongst the Slavic nations. But the best known is the _Goose-girl_ (_Die Ganse-magd_) of the Grimms, where the s.e.xes are reversed. A connection may be traced between the horse Falada's head and the gelding of the ballad; and the trick of a person, who is sworn to secrecy, divulging the secret to some object (as the gelding, here; but more often a stove or oven) in the presence of witnesses has obtained a wide vogue.

THE LORD OF LEARNE

1.

It was the worthy lord of Learne, He was a lord of a high degree; He had no more children but one son, He set him to school to learn courtesy.

2.

Learning did so proceed with that child-- I tell you all in verity-- He learned more upon one day Than other children did on three.

3.

And then bespake the school-master, Unto the lord of Learne said he, 'I think thou be some stranger born, For the Holy Ghost remains with thee.'

4.

He said, 'I am no stranger born, Forsooth, master, I tell it to thee, It is a gift of Almighty G.o.d Which He hath given unto me.'

5.

The school-master turn'd him round about, His angry mind he thought to a.s.suage, For the child could answer him so quickly, And was of so tender year of age.

6.

The child, he caused a steed to be brought, A golden bridle done him upon; He took his leave of his schoolfellows, And home the child that he is gone.

7.

And when he came before his father, He fell low down upon his knee, 'My blessing, father, I would ask, If Christ would grant you would give it me.'

8.

'Now G.o.d thee bless, my son and my heir, His servant in heaven that thou may be!

What tidings hast thou brought me, child, Thou art comen home so soon to me?'

9.

'Good tidings, father, I have you brought, Good tidings I hope it is to me; The book is not in all Scotland, But I can read it before your eye.'

10.

A joyed man his father was, Even the worthy lord of Learne; 'Thou shalt go into France, my child, The speeches of all strange lands to learn.'

11.

But then bespake the child his mother-- The lady of Learne and then was she-- Says, 'Who must be his well good guide, When he goes into that strange country?'

12.

And then bespake that bonny child Untill his father tenderly, Says, 'Father, I'll have the hend steward, For he hath been true to you and me.'

13.

The lady to counsel the steward did take, And counted down a hundred pounds there, Says, 'Steward, be true to my son and my heir, And I will give thee mickle mere.'

14.

'If I be not true to my master,' he said, 'Christ himself be not true to me!

If I be not true to my lord and master, An ill death that I may die!'

15.

The lord of Learne did apparel his child With brooch, and ring, and many a thing; The apparel he had his body upon, They say was worth a squire's living.

16.

The parting of the young lord of Learne With his father, his mother, his fellows dear, Would have made a man's heart for to change, If a Jew born that he were.

17.

The wind did serve, and they did sail Over the sea into France land: He used the child so hardly, He would let him have never a penny to spend.

18.

And meat he would let the child have none, Nor money to buy none truly; The boy was hungry and thirsty both; Alas! it was the more pity.

19.

He laid him down to drink the water That was so low beneath the brim; He was wont to have drunk both ale and wine, Then was fain of the water so thin.

20.

And as he was drinking of the water That ran so low beneath the brim, So ready was the false steward To drown the bonny boy therein.

21.

'Have mercy on me, worthy steward!

My life,' he said, 'lend it to me!

And all that I am heir upon,'

Says, 'I will give unto thee.'

22.

Mercy to him the steward did take, And pull'd the child out of the brim; Ever alack! the more pity, He took his clothes even from him.

23.

Says, 'Do thou me off that velvet gown, The crimson hose beneath thy knee, And do me off thy cordivant shoon Are buckled with the gold so free.

24.

'Do thou me off thy satin doublet, Thy s.h.i.+rtband wrought with glistering gold, And do me off thy golden chain About thy neck so many a fold.

25.

'Do thou me off thy velvet hat With feather in that is so fine, All unto thy silken s.h.i.+rt That's wrought with many a golden seam.'

26.

The child before him naked stood, With skin as white as lily flower; For his worthy lord's beauty He might have been a lady's paramour.

27.

He put upon him a leather coat, And breeches of the same beneath the knee, And sent that bonny child him fro, Service for to crave, truly.

28.