A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

355
PART THE FIRST.
Lithe and listen^ gentlemen^
To sing a song I will beginne
It is of a lord of faire Scotland,
Which was the unthrifty Heire of Linne.
His father was a right good lord.
His mother a lady of high degree ;
But they, alas ! were dead, him froe,
And he lov'd keeping companiev
To spende the daye with merrye cheare ;
To drink and revell every night
To cards and dice from even to morn.
It was, I ween, his heart's delight.
To ride, to runne, to rant, to roare.
To alwaye spende, and never sparej
I Avett, an' it were the king himselfe.
Of gold and fee he mote * be bare.
So fares the unthrifty Lord of Linne
Till all his gold is gone and spent ;
And he man sell his landes sae broad.
His house, and landes, and all his rent.
His father had a keen stewarde.
And John o' the Scales Avas called hee
But John is become a gentel-man.
And John has gott both gold and fee.
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