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When, low! the ceiling burst in twain,
and to the ground came tumbling he.
Astonished lay the Heir of Linne,
nor knew if he were live or dead:
At length he look't and saw a bill,
and in't a key of gold so red.
He took the bill, and look'd on it,
and strait good comfort there found he:
It told him of a certain hole,
into the wall, where stood chests three.
Two were full of beaten gold,
the third was full of white monie,
And over them, in broad letters
these words were wrote so plain to see:
'Once more, my son, I set the clear;
'amend thy life and follies past;
'For without thou amend thy life,
that rope must be thy end at last.'
'Let it be so,' said the Heir of Linne,
'let it be so, if I don't mend;
'For here I now will make a vow,
'this redde shall guide me to the end.'
Away then went the Heir of Linne,
away went he with merry cheer;
I trow he neither (illegible text) nor staid,
'till John o' th'Scales house he came near.
When he came to John o' the Scales,
up at the speer then looked he;
There sat three Lords at the boards end,
werr drinking of the wine so free.
And then bespake the Heir of Linne,
